Tropicali

We visited during Thanksgiving weekend for lunch, and while the line was quite long, we only waited about an hour thanks to their efficient service. One of the staff members (maybe the owner’s brother?) was incredibly friendly and attentive. He frequently checked in with everyone in line, offering drinks and making the wait much more bearable. I ordered the Baja Bowl with beef since I’m pregnant and can’t have raw fish, but it ended up being way too spicy for me (I have zero tolerance for spice 😭). Just as I was debating whether to order something else, the same staff member came by to check on us and kindly offered to replace my dish with a Teriyaki Chicken Bowl. I was so grateful! 😭 It was absolutely delicious, and I finished every bite. I’ve never written a review before, but the experience here was just too good not to share. Amazing service and great food—definitely worth the wait. Highly recommend!

Great delicious food. Super friendly service. Google delivered. I searched top rated restaurants, and this one is one of the best. The atmosphere is very welcoming and relaxing. The plates looked small, and I got worried that the teenager was not going to get full, but he did, so that was a plus. The whole party wished we would have been able to go back, but we didn't make it a second time. Next time we're up there, we sure will go back. Even people we know asked if we stopped at this amazing restaurant, and when we asked Tropicali? They were like, "Yes!" We were proud to say yes, we did, and yes, we agree.

The food here is absolutely spectacular, amazing, and out of this world. I never leave reviews, but I had to take the time to give praise where praise is due. I tried their poke bowl, pulled pork bowl, and Belgian waffle with the cinnamon banana on top and all were incredible. The customer service was incredible as well; the staff were so friendly and clearly very passionate about their work. I highly recommend, this is a must visit if you are rolling through Big Bear!

If the service had more stars to add I would max it out.the staff are so dope I was having an okay day and they made it so much better by their personalities and hooked me up with a passion fruit waffle which was amazing.food was great we will definitely visit them Everytime we're around the area.

A fun yummy experience from the set- up to the food. A food plate for everyone's tast buds. Most of the dishes have rice and your choice of combination of meat and veggies. I had the kauai Bowl, absolutely delicious. There is seating inside and outside as to continue enjoying the weather. The owners are friendly and helpful as to what to order. If you like spicy sauce you definitely have to try theirs with the food.

Long line. Went on a Saturday in August around 12. Waited for 50 minutes. Met some cool people standing in line. Dog friendly patio. I would suggest some umbrellas be added. We could have definitely used the shade. They brought beers and frozen drinks while in line. High energy employees were fun and helped ease the pain of the wait. Purchased 6 poke bowls 1 beer and 2 frozen drinks. $140 😳. They don't have any other fish besides ahi which was a little disappointing but still yummy.. Cute vibe inside with Hawaiian vibe music. Shout out to Kyle...keep up.the high energy!! You have fams in San Diego

Feels super homey, the staff make you comfortable as you wait in line, will grab you drinks. They chat with you about the menu as you get closer so you be confident about what to order. Food is delicious. Highly recommend.

Amazing experience! Everyone so friendly. Poke is fresh. Bowls are flavorful. Family owned business and you can tell this is their passion to serve great food every single time!

Wow! This place is a whole vibe! Family owned, nicest people working there and the energy and positivity are awesome! Not to mention the best poke bowl I have ever had. Ordered the Krakentoa off the secret menu! Did not disappoint! Can't wait to come back!

We had an outstanding experience at Tropicali! The hospitality extended to our family by Kyle and the rest of the team was absolutely over the top. The food was delicious, packed with flavor, and perfectly prepared. The ambiance was fun and refreshing--such a nice surprise! With stellar, personalized service and a welcoming vibe, Tropicali is a place we'll definitely be returning to. Highly recommend!

Nice food and very welcoming service! The poke bowl is good, and the Paniolo bowl is great as well! Love the flavor!

order: pele bowl, tropicali gangster SOO YUMMMY!! DEF ONE OF MY FAVSSS. went to big bear and saw this place was the number one recommended on yelp so decided to stop by, WARNING the line is hella long like over an hour. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AMAZING THOO this one guy was in the front near the cashier helping every individual person with recommendations and asking what you liked and customizations you could do!! everyone was super nice and loved the energy. pele bowl was DELICOUS!! the fish is super freshhh, added some extra cilantro and some wonton chips for some freshness and crunch. the smoothie was delicious, you can get mixes with other smoothies too, i didn't know that but my friends got mixes and thu were rlly tastyyy. overall, energy is great, fish was super fresh, and everything was yummyy yummy rating: 9.5/10

Heard about this place through food influencers in social media and figured it out that it had such RAVING reviews on help so I had to try it for myself during a big bear trip. I must admit that I am a bit of a poke snob as I've been to hawaii multiple times. Poke bowls at this place are not really considered authentic poke I guess and more of a fusion but let me tell you, it's fricken DELICIOUS. I tried the Cabo bowl and Kraken bowl (Yes, I went two days in a row). Flavors are insane and so addicting and I love the wonton chips on the bowls to give a nice crunch. We also tried the waffles, the Kahala is delish! Really enjoyed it. My husband got the pulled pork and teriyaki chicken and he also enjoyed the bowls a lot. As for customer service, employees are very happy and ensure that customers have a great experience. Food comes out really quick too even if it's really busy and honestly, I think this place is always busy and I'm not surprised. HIGHLY recommend this place, gotta try it when you're in Big Bear. I miss it already :')

Wow place is amazing top notch customer service Food matches secret menu items and more

I was kind of skeptical on this shop being the #1 in all of America... still a bit skeptical as they're located in the middle of nowhere, up a mountain! But dang, the food here was surprisingly very good! The owners are originally from Kauai and have made their own version of poke and other hot dishes to meet the Californian expectations. It's located in a standalone area with parking behind and in front of the shop on Village Dr. at Big Bear Mountain. The parking situation was kind of confusing because we didn't know if we had to pay or not in the lots. Luckily, I was able to snatch a parking in front of the shop which wasn't paid. But it was almost impossible to find a spot with the amount of people lining up here! The day my friends and I went was on a weekend and there was already a very long line waiting outside at around 5pm. It took us about 45mins to an hour to order and finally get our food. However, I would say the line was kind of worth it. We got to try the poke from here to see how this little shop received so many positive reviews! My friends and I got different things to have as our own but still share with each other. We got their Kraken Bowl, Pele Bowl, Luau Bowl, and Kahala Belgian waffle. I also got their Island Style Cold Brew while my two friends got their Tiki Tea and Pina Coladidadi. Loved the drinks especially my cold brew with had a nice cold foam on top (sucker for cold foams). First off, the most shocking of all, was that the ahi (tuna) was fresh! A poke shop up in the mountains had fresh fish! That's honestly quite crazy to me! Or maybe my radar of fresh fish has slowly plummeted after moving out of Hawaii LOL. But the mix of sauces and flavor in the bowl was sooooo good. The Pele Bowl was actually not spicy at all as the name implied (thankfully, as one of my friends can't eat too spicy). It was more of a sriracha mayo sauce. The sweet onions cucumber, mmm. Sooo good! Definitely added more to the flavor of the poke bowl. The Kraken Bowl was sweetish because of the unagi sauce but the crunch of the wonton chips made it have some character to it! It was actually a bit too sweet in my opinion because the entire bowl was slathered in unagi sauce. But I actually could not get enough of the two poke bowls as they were both very tasty! The Luau Bowl with supposed smoked kalua pork (Hawaiian pulled pork) was VERY interesting. The pork was apparently supposed to be smoky (never really tasted the smokiness - kind of bummed about that) and infused with pineapple flavor, hence, why there were pineapples as a side. Interesting... It also had a sriracha mayo(?) sauce and li hing powder doused all on top of the entire bowl (peep at pic). The entire bowl was basically red, haha! The bowl itself was relatively good. I did like the kalua pork but there was just too much going on with the li hing powder + the sauce - the kalua pork itself would have been good itself or maybe those as a side to elevate its flavor. Interesting take as many people don't know or like li hing! The Kahala Belgian waffle had only a singular waffle with lilikoi (passion fruit) whip and popping boba. It was kind of small for the price point but thankfully, it was only one because this dessert was extremely sweet (recommended to those sweet lovers!). The flavor of the whip was soooo good and gave the waffle a nice sweet-tanginess. Overall, I was thoroughly surprised by this visit as I didn't know what to expect aside from the high reviews this shop received. My friends and I definitely enjoyed everything here and would come back when we visit Big Bear again!

Spent the weekend in big bear and I couldn't come without trying this place!! What makes this place amazing is the incredible service! The second you walk in, you are treated like you are the most important person in the room! Now onto the food, the poke is some of the freshest I've ever had and the bowls are curated with the perfect amount of flavor. My husband had the chicken teriyaki bowl and the flavor was out of this world! Perfect balance of sweet and salty!

Wow amazing!! Let's start off with the customer service, 100/10! The vibes are great in there, one of the employees greeted everyone and made sure they understood the menu and what they wanted based on their likings. Ambiance is super cute too, very Hawaiian themed. Food wise we got: Tikiyaki- 6/10 it's okay, pretty simple and not an overwhelming amount of flavor... but I really do feel it's basic compared to their poke. If you come here get the poke!! Pele bowl- 10/10 AMAZING! The ahi is so fresh the combination of flavors is amazing. All of it was so good. Croquette (i dont know how it's spelt, also not in the menu) bowl: 10/10 also SO good, very fresh and it's like the pele bowl with a bit of crunch to it, so so good. Island time brew: amazing! I don't like cold brews but this was delicious. Really recommend. Ice tea: also very good, the flavors are really there which I have a hard time finding in ice teas. Kahala: sweet treat hit the spot! Super yummy it was a little too sweet but that's okay because we split it.

Second time coming here and the line was all the way out to the back patio, but overall went by pretty fast and we got our food in 30min ish. Recommend the pele bowl or there's a hybrid one krakatoa that was good! Overall food and ambiance of the place is nice (takes you truly back to Hawaii), but I am giving this place a 3 star because we had a bit of an odd encountering. Because of the long line, we thought the workers were giving out free smoothies and beers since they asked everyone what we wanted. No mention of cost and the way it was phrased sounded like it was on the house.... even asking young kids what they wanted to make them happy! We could've confirmed earlier but when we got to the cashier they asked if we got drinks in the back of the line and if we knew there was a charge. It was a bit condescending how he phrased it like "well we have to source the fruits from somewhere", and we wouldn't have gotten drinks if we had known. Felt a bit too scheming to my liking. Also the total cost included a credit card fee which I feel should also be called out too.

I've been wanting to come here since my partner and I became regulars for the 23/24 szn. We finally got to go at the start of our second szn. I had always heard this place gets way packed, especially when the mountain becomes more populated. We came opening weekend and for dinner I suggested this place to my honey and when he looked at the menu, he was totally about it. Upon entering I noticed the cutesy decor that was a mix btwn Hawaiian beach and desert vibes. While waiting in line, I was able to look at the menu that they have big in the wall. The art based on the plate is cute, one of the had rasta, a skeloton rasta, and a día de los muertos persona. I was between the Kraken and the Tahiti bowl. I was trying to decide in line when I overheard the group behind me talking about how popular the Kraken was and voted best plate in the restaurant. That pretty much determined my decision, I was influenced. The Kraken bowl was everything I wanted and more. I asked for the spice in the side, and to my surprise it was a spice I could totally handle! Also, the hisbiscus tea was perfectly paired. My honey ordered the teriyaki chicken and a sweet waffle which he thoroughly enjoyed. I did too because he let me have the pineapple slices that came with his plate and it made mine THAT much better. Totally coming back and trying the Tahiti next time. Thanks Tropicali!

Hawaiian vibes in the cold Big Bear Village! The poke bowls are the best! The wait was worth, food served fast! We will surely be coming back for more.

I tried really hard not to get overhyped about this place before trying it.. but I was already loving this place while standing in line. The waiting line is often long (they only have one cashier at a time) but one of the brothers who owns this place is usually reaching out to see if anyone wants to order a drink and receive it while waiting in line! Customer service was incredible and poke food + drinks were amazing. I enjoyed the Blue Crush smoothie & Pele Kraken off menu combo poke bowl (aka Krakatoa bowl). They gave a good amount of ahi tuna :) I did think the kraken sauce did have a lot of unagi sauce in it and was a bit overpowering. Overall, I can definitely see what the hype is all about. I would come back again!

My friends would not stop raving about this place. They hyped it up so my expectations were high. I ordered the Tahiti Bowl per their recommendation, and wow! I have never had poke from Hawaii, so I can't compare. But when I usually get poke, I prefer salmon. However, all these bowls come with ahi tuna. It was so good I was blown away! Just thinking about it makes me want some more right now. Also, the service was amazing. The owner really interacted with all the customers to ensure they had a good experience. The restaurant itself is super cozy and inviting. I will definitely be back here the next chance I get.

The ambiance here is really neat! They got a fireplace in one corner with some skull logs in there, which adds a fun twist. There's not much seating inside, there is seating outside though but I didn't notice any fire pits outside to keep warm during the cooler season. Staff was 100/10. Super fun and extremely friendly, one came by and noticed my daughter didn't like her jerk chicken torta, so they replaced it free with a teriyaki chicken bowl. I tried a hour and I think that was tied with my poke bowl I had ordered. I got a secret menu bowl that combined the kraken with the pele bowl, delicious!! My mom got the carnitas bowl, that was also good and tastes very sweet.

The food is always so good! we got Poké bowls chicken they have fun, flavored seltzers. I've been here a couple times and will continue to keep going back when we're up in the area. The service is great. The staff is so friendly and nice. It's a cool tropical tiki vibe which is super fun considering you're up in the mountains. I definitely recommend this place if you're in the area it's definitely worth visiting!

There was a fire burning in Lake Arrowhead next to Big Bear when my friends and I were visiting. That didn't stop us from seeking out the best of the best, that's what Tropicali is. They have the one of the best customer service, vibes, and poke that a restaurant could offer. One of the owners was bringing out smoothies for customers who were waiting in line in the heat and told them to just let the cashier know if we grabbed any. My gf and I both got the Tropicali Gangster and Berry Jane smoothies. They were both good/refreshing but when I drank both at the same time, it added another layer of complexity and was better than drinking them individually in my opinion. The quality of fish here is reminiscent of Hawaii poke in the best way possible. I got the Pele bowl but was also able to try the Kraken bowl, Cabo bowl, Kauai Bowl, and Krakatoa bowl (Pele + Kraken) which is like their own little hidden menu item. My favorites were the Pele, Kraken, and Krakatoa bowls. The Krakatoa won my heart with the deliciously combined sauces of Pele + Kraken since it had a great balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. I'll be visiting for another bowl anytime I visit Big Bear.

You HAVE to go here if you're in the area. The food is just as good as everyone says it is!! But I have to say, because it's a tourist stop - you definitely will have to pack your patience. The lines are long and everyone is eyeing for a table. Let me preface by saying, I do not eat tuna. When we have sushi I gravitate to salmon, albacore and a few other dishes - but my husband got a poke bowl and I ate the ENTIRE BOWL! My poor husband couldn't even get in line to order a new one for himself because it was so long and we had to leave - but I cleaned his bowl, every bit of it! Experience. * Line up to place your order. * View the menu on your phone or see it on the wall as you get closer/approach the counter. * Place your order. * Find a spot to sit at and wait for your order to be called. The ambiance is super casual! There's seating indoors and outdoors. Parking. You could park in their lot or on the street. Tons of options. The coffee hit home. It really reminded me of Hawaii. Like a few other yelpers - I do wish they had salmon on the menu, too!

This is such a great place to visit when we're in Big Bear! It's a tropical Mexican fusion style restaurant and it lives up to the name! First of all everyone who works there is so friendly and chats you up while you wait in line (don't be scared it might be long but the service is quick!) that it almost flies by. They will offer recommendations based on your preferences and it never disappoints! We had the Rasta la Vista bowl and the Choloha one was spicy jerk chicken and the other was a carnitas style bowl both with Hawaiian flavors. We also tried their desserts and drinks. Definitely a must see when you're up here.

The absolute BEST place to visit if you are ever in Big Bear. Don't be intimidated if you see a long line upon arrival because it goes by pretty quick and the service here goes above and beyond! My boyfriend and I have never been to a place that prioritizes customer service so much, it made everything so much more fun. We ordered off the menu, the Krakatoa bowl with a smoothie blend of their pina colada and tropicali gangster. I am a sucker for a good pina colada, and this blend tasted divine! The bowls were so fresh and every bite was delish! Absolutely worth your money and we would definitely be back :)

We seen this place all over social media as we planned our big bear trip, and let me tell you it lived up to the hype. Kyle and Ian are some of the best people you can meet while eating here and truly bring the Hawaiian vibe to big bear mountain. The poke bowl, Krakatoa, is by far the best poke I have ever had. The bowl was full of flavor and very filling for its size. The overall vibe of the restaurant is amazing from the inside to the outside. This is a MUST stop place to eat. And don't worry about the line, Kyle will make sure to bring you a beer while you wait, and it honestly goes by pretty quick. This place deserves to have a perfect 5 stars. God bless you Kyle and Ian.

This place doesn't need another 5 star review but here we are. It's truly one of the best restaurants in Big Bear. From their service to the creative approach on dishes, it's such a fun experience. The guy personally came up to each person in line to give recommendations and it felt like a homie talking to you. I'd def come back here again and again. The line can get long but it moves quick!

Service is awesome, workers literally guide everyone on their orders. Went here on a thurs afternoon and there was still a line, but it went by quick! Got the pele bowl (fav) and cabo bowl. My Toddler got the chicken teriyaki bowl which had really good sauce! (Which we got on the side incase he didn't like it). The banana cinnamon waffle was really flavorful. They also have alcohol off the menu, we had a hard kombucha and an IPA. Bill came out to about $80, a little on the pricey side. Parking is a bit small, but theres seating inside and out, def worth trying!

5 = food 5 = service 4 = decor 5 = atmosphere It's everything that it's been hyped to be. Such a fun place to hang out. We stopped here on our way home. We were able to catch it when it opened. When we got to Big Bear it was already closed so we had to wait 2 days to go during their open hours. I ordered their off the menu Pele Kraken Bowl. Pele is the spicy part of the bowl. Wasn't sure if I could eat the spice so I asked for it on the side. It wasn't too spicy if you added as desired. The heat was 5 out of 10 if you ate it normally. The staff is great. They make the whole experience enjoyable from taking the order to announcing our order is ready. Not too crazy about the skulls however. The other decor reminds me of hawaii. The skulls remind me more of the Mexican tradition.

Obsessed with this place. The workers are always so helpful and friendly. We always stop here for some good food when we visit big bear. Our go to is always a poke bowl however we recently tried the waffles and they are just as delicious. I recommend the kraken bowl and the Cabo bowl for waffles a must try are the Kingston and islands.

This spot has amazing poke. The wait was a little crazy, however, it's worth it. I highly recommend you explore their menu and their cold brew was pretty good.

The reviews weren't lying, this is the best place for poke. The ambience is a vibe, service is impeccable, food is mouthwatering. The line was quite long but they were moving pretty fast. So so good!

Saw some of the negative reviews for this place and it seems like some people just don't like good customer service? Staff were friendly and welcoming, not over bearing. Place is decorated with tropical vibes. I did not feel like it was cultural appropriation and I am native Hawaiian. Staff was well knowledgeable and really seamed to care about the family business. I was hesitant because I'm from SD where we have a ton of poke spots and this is an isolated location up in big bear.. but the tuna literally melts in your mouth. And the flavor combinations are unique and creative.

Staying in Big Bear for a few days. My family and I tried this place out. Recommended: 1) If you can grab a seat inside, you'll get the Hawaiian vibe. 2) One of the highlights was actually the ordering process. The people who took our order were so fun. They would yell out our names when our order was ready. For example, my daughter's name is Allison, so they yelled out " princess Allison, your order is ready." The food was amazing. The only thing that detoured us from going again was that they're closed on Tuesday/Wednesday and there is a long line. I you go get a piña colada and a poke bowl, you won't regret it. Aloha!

Big Bear unexpectedly dropped the hottest poke and I'm totally here for it. The bros who run this place have off the charts enthusiasm for their craft, and love to make sure their customers are having a good time. They totally pull off the interior tiki aesthetics which makes dining-in a fun experience. I ordered the "of the menu" krakatoa poke bowl which came out a smaller than other bowls I'm used to, but it's because the rice to fish ratio is super generous on the fish and I got filled with the tasty protein regardless. Keep up the good work chaps.

Shoutout to the boys for always keeping it --cool, personable, and just straight vibes. Y'all the real MVPs! My go-to? THE CRACK-A-TOA (off-menu). You're welcome. That thing is absolutely GAS, my friends. To wash it down? You gotta hit either the Berry Gangster (also off-menu, because we're ahead of the game) or the Gangster Piña . Both are liquid gold. The music? Fire. The vibe? Immaculate. The food? Next-level, top-tier, never-been-done-before--DESTROYING all other poke spots out there. Yes, the line can be a little long , but hey, greatness takes time. Meet someone cool, vibe out, and prepare for the best poke of your LIFE. Cheers, legends! - Nick "The Solar Guy"

Welcoming atmosphere, food was great, and a new taste that will refresh your palette. If you are coming from out of town I recommend stopping by. Service was 100% satisfactory.

The best place to eat in Big Bear, and it isn't even close! I come here every time I am in town, usually during the fall and winter. All the workers are super friendly and treat you like family! The place is usually packed and the line can easily go out the door if you're going sure prime lunch time. But it's always a good vibe! Food is top tier and the poke is top 5 in the world, and my wife and I go to Hawaii every year. There's a reason they're rated so high and win awards. The tuna is always fresh, which is insane to think about how far away they are from the ports! I've tried every bowl, and they're all good. I'd say go with what sounds good to you. I always get the off the menu Krakatoa bowl now since I like all the flavors, and it's pretty much all the toppings and sauces combined! My wife always gets the Baja bowl since that's her favorite and the smoke barbacoa beef is always cooked to perfection. I always snag a bite or two check them out and you won't be disappointed! I recommend this place to all my friends, and they're mind blown every time.

My brothers both tried the Kraken bowl and said the flavor was too strong. However, I LOVED my Cabo Bowl (replaced wonton chips with cucumber). I've had better fish quality in Hawaii, but this place is a close second. And their sauce is so uniquely incredible. I can definitely see why this is considered the "best poke" spot in the U.S. For drinks, I tried the Tropicali, Pina Coladidadi, and Acai smoothie. Since I am sensitive to sweets, the Pina Coladidadi and Acai were my favorite, with the Coladidadi being more creamy and the Acai tasting more like a slushie. But all of them were delicious! 10/10 overall experience with unforgettable service and food.

Food was top notch. Great service Very friendly Loved it! Wished it wasn't so far away Be eating there daily

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! From the moment you step in line you can feel such a welcoming environment. It took us about 20-30 mins to get to the front of the line and order but went by fast. One of the employees kept checking in with everyone in line and recommending different choices based off their preferences. We ordered the Krackatoa Bowl and it did not disappoint. We also order a coffee and tea and was amazing. Definitely coming back.

Rarely will I write a yelp review, but this place deserves it. Tucked away in Big Bear Village is great customer service, ambiance, and even better food.

This place is absolutely amazing. The ambiance, the service, and the most important thing would be the food. Everything here is a 10/10 and I wish I can say more. All the workers are so nice and so active to talk to the customers and truly care about the customers experience. They also know how to manage huge groups. I came in with a group of over 40+ people but they knew how to keep the line moving quickly and at the same time keeping us with good vibes. The poke bowls are so fresh and probably the best poke you can find. It comes from Hawaii which makes sense why it tastes so fresh and deep in flavor. I wish they would have multiple locations not just in Big Bear!!! Would come here every time I come to Big Bear.

This place is an anomaly.. that many reviews and 4.9 stars.. had to try it and it made perfect sense. The host with the most goes to Kyle who's hitting the line with an assortment of drinks to keep people cheery in the heat & offering all the recommendations. The line is the only hurdle you have to get through because food is served sooo quick after you order. Everything was incredible, but I think the waffle combos are probably what would bring me back. This literally is the best poke you can find without going somewhere tropical. And it might seem insane to find in the mountains, but just do it.

Food was excellent and a great value, service was superb. One of the owners was working the line to explain their offerings and make recommendations. Iced coffee alone would be worth the wait. I will go back.

There is a reason Tropicali is a 5-star festive dining spot. Brothers Ian and Kyle are all about making sure guests have a great experience. Kyle took a personal interest in my picky son and gave him a sample which my son loved. Ian customized our orders to enhance our experience. Think of the food as a blend of Hawaiian and Mexican. I love ceviche so they set me up with the Cabo poke. It was delicious!

This place is a must visit when in Big Bear. The food is amazing, the service is better than the food and of course the ambiance makes you feel like you're in a TIki room at Disney! I don't want to say too much about the place because it is better if you are surprised!

**A Hidden Gem in Big Bear - Tropicali is a Must!** I've been in Big Bear for a week now, and I have to say, nothing I've had compares to what I found at Tropicali. I'm honestly sad I discovered it just before leaving! The cold brew I tried, called Trench Town, was hands down the best coffee I've had in a long time--it's infused with a Jamaican Gingerbread Rum that's absolutely delicious. You *have* to try it! I also had the Kraken Bowl (poke), and wow, it was so fresh and flavorful. I'm seriously tempted to come back for dinner before I leave town tomorrow. On top of the amazing food and drinks, the vibe of the place is so inviting. It's run by a husband-and-wife team, and they couldn't have been more welcoming. They've created such a cool, laid-back atmosphere, it felt like I was hanging out at a friend's place. If you're visiting Big Bear, do yourself a favor and check out Tropicali. You won't be disappointed!

The atmosphere and vibe of Tropicali far outweighs the actual taste of the food. The food is pretty mediocre in comparison to other restaurants that have a near perfect Yelp score. However, there really aren't that many restaurant options in Big Bear, so I see why this place gets a huge chunk of visitors. Tropicali has really unique decor and definitely feels very Hawaiian-inspired. The inside is very well crafted and you feel like you've entered a whole different universe. Part of the allure is that the employees are unbelievably nice and they all try to make the experience very positive. It really adds to the appeal. It's a family owned restaurant so you'll see two brothers man the register along with interacting with people waiting in line. It really adds a little extra fun to the visit. It's the service that keeps you coming back. The food itself was good, but nothing incredible. We ordered the Pele Bowl and the Tikiyaki Bowl and both were pretty good. The menu is very clever that it really only has a few proteins (ahi tuna, chicken and pork) and crafts an entire menu around those three proteins by changing sides and sauces. Overall, really fun experience and I see why people love it. If you see people having a good time working at the restaurant, you'll have a good time.

This has been the first restaurant where I would rate it over 5 stars if possible! The staff were extremely friendly as they made us feel welcomed. Everyone there was positive & the vibes were the just as good. The restaurant was decorated creatively and on top of all of this, the food was amazing! 10 out of 10; no complaints & will definitely be coming back!

I kept seeing reviews about how incredible the service was and now I finally know what they meant because two people we talked to were so welcoming and knowledgeable. All their bowls sounded the same to me besides the sauce so I asked for their most popular or recommended items and she asked for my flavor profile so I chose sweet and spicy. That landed me at one of their secret menu items: the Krackatoa. It used the pele bowl as a base and added some extra sauce and topping (I think) but she explained everything so fast that I just said yes. It had some sort of sweet unagi sauce with a hint of spice so it was creamy. I also tried some of the Cabo bowl which was a lot more refreshing and it had a Mexican twist, according to their description. It came with a side of lime and a sauce that resembled the color of sriracha mayo but it was most definitely not. I can't describe it so you'll have to try it for yourself. There's indoor and outdoor seating but probably not enough when you come during peak hours. We went at 3 p.m. and the lady informed us that we came at the right time because the line was out the door with the wait being over an hour...on a Monday! Our wait was around 15 minutes and after we ordered the food came out pretty quickly.

Poke in Big Bear? I mean, how good can it be. I was a little skeptical but decided to try it. The building was a regular looking building with reflective tint on the windows and doors so you couldn't see in. Once we stepped in, we were immediately transported to a tropical oasis. The aesthetic was a 10/10. They even had a fireplace and fountain. It was giving tiki room vibes and I LOVED it! We were greeted by the owner. He explained the menu, asked us what we liked, and gave us recommendations on what we would like. We tried the Pele bowl, Rasta plate, berry smoothie, and pina colada smoothie. The pele bowl was closer to a traditional poke with tuna in spicy mayo on rice and topped with cucumber. It was very good and fresh! The Rasta plate was so flavorful. It came with pieces of chicken, beans, rice, and pineapple. The flavor combination was insanely good. Sweet, savory, spicy. The smoothie was also good. My favorite was the pina colada. It was creamy and perfectly sweet. This place was a good little break from the basic burgers and pizza. The vibes were amazing and the staff were so great! And of course the food was excellent. This will def be added to our favorite places to eat when in Big Bear. If you haven't tried it, do yourself a favor and stop by!

Superb service! You can tell the co-owners really go out of their way to make this a personal experience, by the way they talk to you in line and explain the different bowls offered. The poke bowls were good. However, compared to poke bowls I've had in Hawaii or other poke shops, I would say this would be a solid 6/10. All in all, good store with friendly staff and yummy food. Just not too sure if it justifies a 40 minute wait line

Pro: fresh, cool theme, great service, good amount of fish! Grow: needs more flavor/sauce. Visited big bear last weekend and heard this was one of the top spots for Poke in the state. It was snowing the day we visited and we were instantly transported to a tropical paradise upon entering this restaurant. I do have to say the service here is top notch. The staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcomed and ensure that you have a top notch experience. I loved all the tropical decor and especially the fireplace. It kept us cozy during the snow storm. Food: I have the Cabo bowl which included: "WILD CAUGHT SASHIMI GRADE AHI TUNA SERVED ON A BED OF RICE TOPPED WITH ONIONS JALEPENOS CILANTRO WONTON CHIPS DRIZZLED WITH CALI DREAM BOSS SAUCE". The menu sounds cool but perhaps they should describe the Cali dream boss sauce to give the customer a better idea of the flavor profile. It was definitely tasty and generous with the portions of tuna. I just feel as though it needed a little more sauce or flavoring as the rice was a bit dry at the bottom. A self serve sauce bar would definitely bring this up to a 5/5 for me. Overall, this is a solid spot for a healthy and satisfying snack at big bear.