Hula Grill Waikiki — Restaurant in Honolulu

I have some mixed fillings about this place.

this place has a couple of entrances one by the beach side and the other by the hotel that houses the restaurant.

I am not sure about the parking situation but I will assume it may be street parking mostly since I did not see many parking lots around the area when we walked around during the day time.

here is why I am so confused about this place though.

as we came in we wanted to sit by the outside where we could have a view of the sea while eating a nice dinner, right away when we came to the hostess asking for that kind of table she said that if we wanted we could have bar food at the bar and at the tables was formal dinner and not bar food....... I was like...... confused cause I dont get it why she said that since we explicitly asked for the outside sits, anyways moving on.

they told us it would be a long wait so we did go to the bar to wait and have some drinks.

at the bar:

TUTU`S MOONSHINE- this drink comes inside a pineapple and it is very good. it does sneak up on you, it tastes very sweet and easy to drink but it can get you a bit loopy so drink with caution, overall I loved it. also if you keep your pineapple your refill is cheaper so remember that and don't be asking for new pineapples.

finally after about an hour and some amazing live music and hula dancing by the bar area we were called for our table.

THEY GAVE US A TABLE BEHIND A COLUMN NOT EVEN OUTSIDE! we were like.... are they joking now? we said no and denied the table. real fast and finally the hostess gave us a table by the balcony.

OPHA- this is a Hawaiian native fish it seems we googled it and it looks like a gigantic gold fish it is so pretty, as pretty as it is delicious, this is one of the best fish dishes I have ever had. the sauce with pineapple was not super but the rice and the fish were amazing it was a perfect plate I would definitely recommend this plate.

ONO- this fish is also an Hawaiian native and it looks like a eel with stripes in some ways. this plate came with some mash potatoes and some capers. I would tell you that this fish was a bit rubbery and not as tasty as the other one we had, so If you wanna taste this fish go for it but I would not recommend it over the OPHA.

soooo, as we were finishing our meal I told the waiter that my bday was that week and it was 2 days before we came to HAWAII.

HULA PIE- this is like an ice ream cake with nuts and hot fudge topping and cake it seems, it was pretty good and they added a candle for my bday. here is the odd thing though, they still charged me the cake lol. well back home they usually complement desert for bday ppl but I will not assume it is that way in Hawaii but it is odd.

This place is beautiful, the food pretty good if you know what to order but I think what really brought my experience to the mediocre was the staff, the hustle to get the table we wanted, the cake situation that I not sure if they didn't complement cause it is policy or if it was because she actually thought I was joking.... I am not sure what it was but I can safely say that I would like to come back but at the same time I wouldn't .

they need better...

You have to go upstairs to find it but it's like a hidden gem. While everyone was downstairs looking for food, we saw the signs and went upstairs and there was no wait. We didn't get a table with a view or there was a wait but there's a view from everywhere and the view is really what makes this place worth trying. I have Celiac so I have trouble finding places to eat when we're out. At Hula Grill I had their pecan crusted cod with something and something. I would have remembered it except it was the most bland plate of food I've had in probably a decade. I asked for their hot chili water, which they sell and it is truly delicious, and it helped me finish my plate. I ordered the only gluten free dessert they had, some jackfruit thing, again very unremarkable. I am not one who complains about the cost of things, especially when it's really for the experience but I did regret spending so much on such bland food. I like food and, despite having Celiac, I still enjoy finding new places and trying out their dishes, or what I am able to. My husband had their special dessert, I can't remember the name BUT it is basically a little bit of cake surrounding a gigantic piece of ice cream. He said it was delicious but the menu really should say this is HUGE and should be shared, lol. He couldn't eat it all himself but he also was a little disappointed that it was ice cream and not all cake. The food looks amazing and my husband enjoyed his dish but clearly it's not the most flavorful when I can't even remember the name of a single thing we had, lol. Overall I would recommend it for a safe place to eat gluten free, just ask for the chili water for more flavor, and the views really are nice to see while taking a break for a meal after all the walking and shopping. I live here now but the view isn't something we see normally so I get now why so many tourists rave about how awesome Waikiki is if this is the only thing they are...

My wife and I chose Hula Grill Waikiki to celebrate our anniversary—and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve ever had. Perched above the beach with breathtaking views of Diamond Head and the ocean, the setting was every bit as romantic and scenic as we’d hoped. The sound of the waves and warm breeze created the perfect Hawaiian atmosphere.

I ordered the macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, and it completely blew me away. The fish was perfectly cooked—tender, flaky, and rich with island flavor. The crunchy macadamia crust and the crab topping added just the right amount of indulgence. Every bite was a balance of flavor and texture, served with fragrant rice and fresh green beans.

My wife went with the seafood special, which featured swordfish and mahi mahi. The dish was vibrant, fresh, and beautifully plated. Both cuts of fish were expertly prepared, and the flavors were layered yet light—exactly what you want when dining by the ocean.

For drinks, my wife had the lilikoi coconut cocktail, which was tropical and refreshing—like sipping sunshine from a glass. I had the Kona Longboard Lager, a crisp, smooth brew that paired perfectly with the seafood and warm breeze.

The service was impeccable—friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. Our server made us feel celebrated without being overbearing, and the pace of the meal was relaxed and enjoyable.

We were tempted to try the famous Hula Pie, but we were simply too full from our entrées to indulge—something we now consider the perfect excuse to come back again.

All in all, Hula Grill Waikiki delivered a flawless evening that made our anniversary feel truly special. Incredible food, unmatched views, and heartfelt service—what more could you ask...