Pasifika Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Bellevue

Loco moco - not salty like others I’ve tried. It was tasty! They were creative in placing tuna Mac between the patty and the rice. It was like a fun surprise! I thought the mac salad would get warm from being placed beneath the patty but so glad it wasn’t. The beef patty wasn’t dry, rubbery, or undercooked. I will say that it wasn’t juicy either. But that’s what the gravy is for. You can tell the party was homemade because of the shape. It wasn’t like a regular frozen patty shape. The white rice was perfect. Not dry or wet.

The amount of the beef patty and the rice was just right. But if you’re hungry and want more protein, one patty is probably not enough to keep you satisfied unless you are going to order extra sides.

I would prefer a heartier amount of patty for the amount of rice given.

I’m guesstimating the beef patty was around 2 ounces. It was pretty flat.

Beef kelaguen - not the traditional sliced beef. It was like tar tar so I was a little afraid because the texture already was a turn off. Surprisingly it wasn’t what I expected. It was really delicious. The lemon was on point. Again, it wasn’t salty, and it came with Taro chips that you can use as a scooper for the kelaguen.

Not sure of the taro chips were from a bag or if they fried it from fresh.

There are some local restaurants that serve Chamorro food where they get a little bit too creative, or have too much of a fusion with other cuisines. So for the beef kelaguen As an example, that was my main concern being that it was not traditional.

I was seriously surprised. I had to mention this again because I would go back and order it another time. There was something refreshing about the way they created that dish. Glad I was open to it or else I wouldn’t have known that I actually enjoy it.

Island fried rice - it had chorizo throughout the fried rice and Portuguese sausage on top. If you’re hoping for big, or round slices of Portuguese sausage, you will be disappointed. It was probably equivalent to about two medium sized diagonal round slices of Portuguese sausage. Overall, the fried Rice was tasty and the good part is that it wasn’t salty! It had a slightly sweet taste throughout. Not sure if there was teriyaki sauce or something in it? But the sweetness wasn’t overpowering the dish, which is good because I wouldn’t want to eat sweet fried rice. As for the greasy part, it’s expected when you’re using chorizo in a dish. So I was expecting to have a greasy plate and have grass throughout the rice. To my surprise, it wasn’t swimming in greasy chorizo oil. That was one of my concerns was that the entire fried rice was going to be oily. It wasn’t!

The amount of fried rice was reasonable. Would be warned, if you love fried rice, it might not be enough for you. It’s definitely not a shareable size amount.

It was topped with one sunny side of egg. The local moco also came with one sunny side of egg.

Wish I took photos, but we were all too hungry and dug right in! We will be back and highly recommend going if you want Chamorro dishes.

They don’t have a large menu with tons of options for Chamorro food but I’m glad they have This cuisine in Bellevue now because if we want Chamorro food we would have to drive about 45 minutes to an hour away.

I’m hoping they will expand their menu and include other foods like traditional Chamorro bone-in chicken cooked on a charcoal grill (NOT pretend bbq where it’s marinated and then fried and then slathered with some kind of special sweet sauce… But marinated with the traditional Kikoman soy sauce and white vinegar with onions and garlic. Nothing fancy, just traditional.)

Plus, red rice, finadene, and desserts including ahu and buchi buchi would be a nice addition. Being away from home I think it’s very important to keep with the traditional recipes and not veer too much away because that’s what customers go to specific cuisine for. (Partly) because they miss comfort food from home.

Parking - free and we had no problems finding a...

Pasifika is a Polynesian themed restaurant and bar inside a Bellevue hotel. The friendly staff is inviting and attentive and eager to share the various items on the menu with newcomers. This is not a food forward establishment. The emphasis is on cocktails and the lively atmosphere. Pasifika feels very much like a locals bar in Honolulu with many patrons and most of the staff appearing to have a connection to Hawaii, Samoa or Guam. The menu is heavy on Polynesian favorites like Mochiko Chicken. Lau Lau and Poke but made for a mainland clientele with a decidly upscale emphasis given it's Bellevue location. The environment on the Friday night we went was lively with a DJ playing music you would likely hear on Honolulu radio. It was busy but we were able to walk in at 6pm and get a table for two right away. Prices for the meals were on the high side, a plate lunch place this is not. Same goes for the cocktails; we paid $12 a piece for basic margaritas though they were nothing special. We ordered Lau Lau, Mochiko Chicken and the Poke appetizer. The Mochi Chicken was on point, sweet and crispy. The poke was more salad than fish although the tuna was high quality and it came with tasty taro chips. The Lau Lau was a big miss. The Lau Lau was quite small, contained only pork rather than the traditional pork/beef/fish combination, was wrapped with what tasted like spinach and swimming in a bowl of coconut milk. I have eaten LauLau countless times before and love it. I have never had it in coconut milk like this. It may be another way of presenting the dish I'm unfamiliar with but I was looking forward to the way every plate lunch place in Hawaii offers the dish. The biggest surprise was the modest amount of rice served with our meals. Both of us expected the obligatory "two scoops" of fluffy white rice and were shocked that each of our meals came with only one. When we asked for more there was difficulty as they did not seem to have a price established for extra rice. The wait staff was in many ways the highlight of the experience. They were attentive, friendly and always seemed to be there at the right time for our needs. Dinner for two with cocktails and an appetizer came to around $120 with tip. Not a budget buster but by no means cheap eats. Honestly, I went to Pasifika hoping for a more casual (and less expensive) place to get my Hawaiian food fix. If you go expecting that you will be disappointed. However, what you get is something like the experience at a hotel bar in Honolulu. If you enjoy that kind of vibe you will love Pasifika as you'll feel transported to a place like the Shorebird or Dukes on Waikiki beach. If you want real Hawaiian grinds, plate lunch or something truly authentic that's low cost and big portions this is...

Heads up: This is an extended review and it still doesn’t justify the experience.

Our experience at Pasifika Bar and Grill was more than we could ask for. The live music and friendly customer service created a welcoming, cheerful atmosphere with a sophisticated ambiance, setting the perfect tone for a relaxed night filled with good times. The staff went above and beyond to make everyone feel welcomed and well cared for.

As someone raised on traditional Pacific Island foods, I was captivated with Pasifika’s twist on classic dishes. They expertly balance authenticity and innovation, paying homage to traditional flavors while introducing other island elements that elevate the dining experience. The dishes were not only comforting but also inventive, giving an experience that goes well beyond the typical island food.

Overall, Pasifika Bar and Grill gave us a memorable dining experience in a warm and inviting setting. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for quality food and an engaging atmosphere that celebrates both tradition and innovation in every bite of the Pacific Islands. Great for professional and wedding events.

Recommended

Alcohol Drinks:

Old Fashioned Passion: My absolute favorite - a perfectly balanced, smoked rendition. The best way to end any day! The bitters beautifully complement the whiskey, and would pair great with a good cigar.

Green Tea Shots: just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering. Loved it!

Appetizers:

Pork Belly Bites: A family favorite with a perfectly charred skin, flavored fats and a sauce that gave a satisfying kick for spice lovers.

Kimchi Wings: Crispy wings paired with a kimchi dipping sauce - an absolute must for any kimchi fan.

Kulua Pork Nachos: Light, airy chips paired with juicy kulua pork in a creamy sauce - an amazing combination.

Mango BBQ Sauce Wings: Crispy wings with a hint of tangy, mango-infused BBQ sauce.

Beef Chop Su’i: glass noodles made the way I like with tender beef slices, giving flavor beyond just soy sauce.

Musubi Platter: a mix of traditional spam, shrimp, and katsu - an all-time favorite island comfort food.

Entrees:

Ota w/Taro: A creative merge of Samoan poke meets ceviche, served with taro chips for an extra island kick. Wish there were options for a tub lol

Steak Moco: A sophisticated twist on the classic loco moco, with a tender, flavorful steak - a comfort food elevated to a new level.

Huli Huli Chicken: A crowd-pleaser and my husband’s favorite.

Shoyu Poke w/Taro Chips: Cousin wanted more...