HULA'S Modern Tiki Uptown — Restaurant in Phoenix

I went for supper on a Saturday around 6 o’clock in early summer, so the restaurant wasn’t terribly busy just yet and the adjacent businesses were closed. The parking lot is one way flow southbound from 7th street. Entirely sensible. There is a sign (with a subtle gray background and white lettering) and….I missed it. Fortunately able to make a loop on Camelback and west into a neighborhood to come around for another shot. Successful second attempt, and at that time, plentiful parking options.

The hostess was at her post and friendly and greeted us right away with refreshing eye contact and enthusiasm—like she actually cared we were there and made us welcome. Great start!

She was most accommodating when we requested a table other than the first offering; what I consider a design flaw of the seating here is a serious lack of personal space; very tight quarters with one booth melting into another adjacent. I’m old fashioned, I suppose, and value a bit less togetherness with total strangers. So she moved us to a different table. It was 108 degrees outside that day, and she brought water right away. Much appreciated.

Our server was friendly and came to the table soon after we were seated. He was attentive throughout our visit. This place has a wonderful variety of beautiful tropical cocktails, and each one sounded better than the last. Too late, I realized they had dessert cocktails that sounded like absolutely heaven. Uber next time!

Decided upon the Hurricane and a summer menu special tequila and peach concoction that was beautiful in a coup glass and frothy and cold and just yummy.

We ordered the ceviche starter and placed our supper at the same time. More on the consequences of that choice later. The ceviche was among the best I’ve ever had. The fish was tender and flavorful, all the veggies fresh and chopped so tiny there was multiple, complex flavors in every bite. Served on a plate without juice and fried wonton chips that had a slight coconut flavor. Fabulous!!

For supper, I ordered the Mongolian beef sticks from the starter menu and my companion ordered the salmon. I found the beef a bit tough and cooked more than I normally like, but the flavor was excellent and the sauce was a good compliment. The asparagus on the skewer was, as is most grilled asparagus, fibrous and not fabulous, but I didn’t order for the asparagus. Reports on the salmon were positive (I didn’t try the offered taste because I was too in love with the ceviche).

Now for the promised explanation of consequences: this is not a large restaurant and the designers made good use of the space even though to my mind the tables are a bit crowded together. We had a two-top, obviously a small table. Fine. Our ceviche appetizer required little last-minute preparation other than plating, so it was out very fast. Great! My annoyance is that we barely had two bites in on the ceviche before our dinner entrées arrived. So now our tiny table has the ceviche platter, appetizer plates, supper plates, cocktails and water glasses that we’re juggling about. It felt rushed and frankly amateurish, though I’m sure well-intended. Quick food delivery isn’t usually an unappreciated gesture. It is only a problem when multiple courses are ordered.

I found all the prices reasonable and affordable. Had we only ordered one cocktail each, the bill would have comfortably been under $100.

I will definitely return, hopefully not miss the parking lot entrance, save room for dessert cocktails, and order my entrée AFTER my ceviche arrives at the table. Because I’m definitely...

If you're near the Phoenix airport and craving bold island flavors with a modern twist, Hula’s Modern Tiki is a must-visit. Tucked away just minutes from the terminal, this vibrant, tiki-inspired spot offers an unexpected escape with tropical vibes, exceptional food, and one of the best happy hours around.

We stopped in recently and were seated and served incredibly fast a huge plus when you’re on a schedule or just looking to unwind quickly after a flight. The atmosphere is fun and inviting, with modern tiki decor that hits the perfect balance between playful and polished. Whether you're sitting at the bar or in a cozy booth, the place immediately feels like a getaway.

The happy hour here is nothing short of fantastic. From the moment we sat down, the energy was upbeat, the service was on point, and our bartender was absolutely incredible. Personable, knowledgeable, and quick on the pour, they made the experience even better with excellent drink suggestions and spot-on execution. The cocktail menu is filled with tropical classics and creative twists, and each drink we tried was perfectly balanced strong enough to feel it, but smooth and flavorful.

Now onto the food and wow. We started with the ceviche, which was light, bright, and absolutely bursting with citrus. It had just the right amount of heat, and the fish was fresh, tender, and perfectly marinated. It’s easily some of the best ceviche we’ve had in Phoenix.

Next up were the fish cakes, which were nothing short of phenomenal. Crispy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside, they were perfectly seasoned and served with a zesty aioli that brought everything together. The texture was spot on not too dense, not too soft and every bite was packed with island-inspired flavor.

The menu has a lot of tempting options, but these two appetizers alone would be reason enough to come back. Combined with the attentive service and upbeat atmosphere, Hula’s makes you feel like you’re on a mini vacation without ever leaving the city.

Whether you're a local looking for a great happy hour or a traveler passing through Phoenix, Hula’s Modern Tiki delivers a memorable dining experience. It's fast, flavorful, and full of good vibes a rare find so close to the airport.

Final Verdict: A tropical oasis in the desert don’t miss the ceviche, fish cakes, or happy hour cocktails. Cheers to great food and even...

UPDATE: I was contacted by the owner, who has AMAZING customer service skills! Dana was very disappointed to hear about our experience and was helpful in explaining that the restaurant was actually short on staff that night, and a manager was out with an injury. Despite this pandemic going on for almost two years, restaurants are still trying to recover and get back to previous staffing levels, and things do happen. The fact that Dana was SO responsive (in a very positive way) to my complaint tells me that customer service is extremely important and I feel confident that the restaurant wants to ensure their customers have the best possible experience. So, overall, I caught them on a bad night. I've since bumped up my star rating from 3 to 4.

Food was average - good, but service was terrible. Had to go to the hostess station after 15-20 minutes to see if we could get a waiter/waitress to the table. Ordered drinks and dinner when she came by. Plates remained in front of us for quite a while after we finished eating. Had to ask for dessert menus. Waitress left and came back about 15 minutes later and asked if we wanted dessert. I told her we were waiting for menus. She told us what the four dessert items were and we ordered. Dessert was brought to our table with our dinner plates still on the table. Had to ask them to take the plates as there was no room for dessert plates. And, of course, had to ask for our check after some time. The restaurant didn’t appear to be...