Hula's Island Grill in Monterey started off initially with more of a Hawaiiana/Surf feel, but has been deepening its tiki roots over the years, most notably with the addition of their Tiki Room. Carved masks and trim details by the artist Bosko are throughout the restaurant, and a very large Tiki Tony carving shares the space with much bamboo and Leeteg reproductions. The restaurant is enormously popular with locals, and has a very cozy, intimate feel. Traditional drinks include a proper Mai Tai, and Hula's has their own tiki mug (produced by nearby Munktiki) available for sale.
In 2006, a second location opened up the coast in Santa Cruz
StinkyMatt has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
February 11, 2020, 6:22 PM
Huge disappointment. I will say that the decor will probably make some people happy, but I’m more in it for the drinks and food. The food here was ok. The highlight was the abalone style calamari, which was cooked perfectly, but the batter tasted like the fry oil was maybe a little old. The pork sliders were decent. But the coconut shrimp rolls were inedible. They were made with those tiny shrimp, which weren’t deveined, and the dish tasted like bait. I didn’t try many of the drinks because after painkiller and the mai tai I didn’t see the point. The painkiller was ok, but the rum wasn’t pussers and the drink definitely suffered. It was also a little OJ heavy for my taste. The mai tai was sour and somehow watery and too strong at the same time. If you like tiki drinks, this is not the place to get them. That said, the bartenders were fast and attentive and friendly. The bad rating is not the fault of the service staff.
KevinCrossman has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
November 19, 2018, 5:02 PM
Finally got to visit the last Hula’s location we haven’t been to yet (though we haven’t been to the new Phoenix location). Hula’s in Monterey is right in line with the Santa Cruz location. Decor in the main dining room is a little more elaborate, but the tiki room has open windows so isn’t dark and mysterious like the Santa Cruz location. Energetic crowd on Saturday for lunch, with lots of families.
We enjoyed our lunch. The Coconut Shrimp Rolls were very tasty and I liked my Pork Sandwich. Mrs Mai Tai liked her Jungle Tofu too. Service was spot on, though the restaurant was a little chilly due to the open door from the patio.
We tried some cocktails from their premium cocktail menu. Julie liked her Summer on the Porch made with Bourbon. I had worse luck. The Reverend Stiggins with Plantation Pineapple rum, Myers’s White, Pineapple Juice, Mint and Sosa was too minty in my opinion. But the presentation was pretty interesting.
I had a very poor experience with the Pele’s Punch, made with Skipper Dark Rum, Myers’s Platinum White, Falernum, blood Orange, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice.... and Firewater Bitters. The bitters completely overpowered the drink, totally out of balance. I knew I was taking a bit of risk but I don’t think the bitters would be so forward. I turned this back in and had their Island Mai Tai instead. They’re trying to do more with the cocktail program but not quite hitting the mark.
This was tiki bar number 30 for me this year (so far...).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTUs5Ygn5N/
Island Queen has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
August 17, 2018, 12:27 AM
We visited Hula's Island Grill and Tiki Room in July 2018. We had a few drinks in the bar. The drinks were very good. we also had dinner at the Grill the Poke was delicious and we went back the next day for lunch and the Fish soup was very tasty. We will go back on our next trip to Monterey.
StinkyMatt has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
February 11, 2020, 6:22 PM
Huge disappointment. I will say that the decor will probably make some people happy, but I’m more in it for the drinks and food. The food here was ok. The highlight was the abalone style calamari, which was cooked perfectly, but the batter tasted like the fry oil was maybe a little old. The pork sliders were decent. But the coconut shrimp rolls were inedible. They were made with those tiny shrimp, which weren’t deveined, and the dish tasted like bait. I didn’t try many of the drinks because after painkiller and the mai tai I didn’t see the point. The painkiller was ok, but the rum wasn’t pussers and the drink definitely suffered. It was also a little OJ heavy for my taste. The mai tai was sour and somehow watery and too strong at the same time. If you like tiki drinks, this is not the place to get them. That said, the bartenders were fast and attentive and friendly. The bad rating is not the fault of the service staff.
KevinCrossman has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
November 19, 2018, 5:02 PM
Finally got to visit the last Hula’s location we haven’t been to yet (though we haven’t been to the new Phoenix location). Hula’s in Monterey is right in line with the Santa Cruz location. Decor in the main dining room is a little more elaborate, but the tiki room has open windows so isn’t dark and mysterious like the Santa Cruz location. Energetic crowd on Saturday for lunch, with lots of families.
We enjoyed our lunch. The Coconut Shrimp Rolls were very tasty and I liked my Pork Sandwich. Mrs Mai Tai liked her Jungle Tofu too. Service was spot on, though the restaurant was a little chilly due to the open door from the patio.
We tried some cocktails from their premium cocktail menu. Julie liked her Summer on the Porch made with Bourbon. I had worse luck. The Reverend Stiggins with Plantation Pineapple rum, Myers’s White, Pineapple Juice, Mint and Sosa was too minty in my opinion. But the presentation was pretty interesting.
I had a very poor experience with the Pele’s Punch, made with Skipper Dark Rum, Myers’s Platinum White, Falernum, blood Orange, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice.... and Firewater Bitters. The bitters completely overpowered the drink, totally out of balance. I knew I was taking a bit of risk but I don’t think the bitters would be so forward. I turned this back in and had their Island Mai Tai instead. They’re trying to do more with the cocktail program but not quite hitting the mark.
This was tiki bar number 30 for me this year (so far...).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTUs5Ygn5N/
Island Queen has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
August 17, 2018, 12:27 AM
We visited Hula's Island Grill and Tiki Room in July 2018. We had a few drinks in the bar. The drinks were very good. we also had dinner at the Grill the Poke was delicious and we went back the next day for lunch and the Fish soup was very tasty. We will go back on our next trip to Monterey.
Maddmax has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
January 6, 2018, 5:52 AM
Impromtu visit after hiking at Pinnicles National Park. The food was very good. The calamari was very tender and tasty. The shrimp rolls were very good as well., However if you're looking for traditional Don the Beachcomber recipes, this may not be your place. Perhaps it was because it was happy hour, but the drinks did not meet my expectations. Also although the doubles are served with a tiki mug that is branded with Hula's and comes from Tiki Farm they do not offer it for sale. They are selling generic Chinese Tiki mugs though if you're into that kind of thing. The decor was nice in the tiki room area, but not quite to the scale of Pagan Idol or False Idol.
It's great to see a tiki bar in the area but leave any high expectations behind when you enter.
My husband and I are going to be in Monterey 6/29 thru 7/5 we have heard good things about Hula's. We're celebrating our wedding anniversary and want to celebrate! Should celebrate at Hula's?
TylerBateman has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
April 26, 2017, 8:45 PM
This is the one that started it all for us, the first Tiki bar we ever went to. I'm glad we started with the best. It fostered our undying passion for all things Tiki.
I really can't describe Hula's in glowing enough terms. The drinks are flawless, their custom mugs are awesome (we have at least one of all of them), their food is literally the best I've ever had at a restaurant and I've lived all over the US. Craig, the owner, is an amazing, genuine guy and has a great eye for who he hires to work in his beloved restaurant. The staff is always attentive, friendly, and helpful.
We used to live walking distance from Hula's, and were there at least twice a week. I miss those days, and I miss Hula's more than I've ever missed any other place. If you're in the area, go. If you're close to the peninsula, make the trip.
TikiKolin has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
September 22, 2012, 9:28 PM
Decor A+ Drinks A+ Food A+...Bartender F-, unfriendly, she belongs in a Hooters not here! no knowledge of Tiki, not friendly to tourist, only to her friends(free drinks) and just updated her Facebook status at work.
Zombie Mike has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
March 13, 2012, 10:15 PM
The food here is awesome. The ceviche is easily the best thing on the menu! You owe it to yourself to try it. I was disappointed with the Tiki drink menu and the knowledge of the bartender. When I asked her what was in one of the drinks she said "rum and different juices." Duh! That's not very helpful. Also the Dr. Funk was nothing like how I know the drink which was kind of lame. It is very much more Hawaiian themed than Tiki themed in it's decore and play rock and roll music which isn't very Tiki at all. But the food was so good, I'd certainly go back.
catmomma has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
November 4, 2011, 9:19 PM
Visited here when they first opened a few years back and was thrilled to see them doing so well when we made it back to Monterey this weekend. It was PACKED tonight! I had the ahi katsu tacos which were heaven on a plate and a nice maitai. Happy to see they have opened 2 more locations and I hope to check them out too. Might hit the Santa Cruz location tomorrow!
The tiki pinstriper has visited Hula's Island Grill & Tiki Room.
January 28, 2011, 9:13 AM
I stopped on my last California adventure up the coast I enjoyed my visit i ate before i went but what i saw coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled awesome. I ended up getting a lobster coconut egg roll with pineapple dipping sauce which made my eyes cross because of the burst of flavor just awesome. Had a scorpion bowl and a Dr. Funk the funk was more to the coconut style than citrus but still good I will return again when im in the area.
We enjoyed our lunch. The Coconut Shrimp Rolls were very tasty and I liked my Pork Sandwich. Mrs Mai Tai liked her Jungle Tofu too. Service was spot on, though the restaurant was a little chilly due to the open door from the patio.
We tried some cocktails from their premium cocktail menu. Julie liked her Summer on the Porch made with Bourbon. I had worse luck. The Reverend Stiggins with Plantation Pineapple rum, Myers’s White, Pineapple Juice, Mint and Sosa was too minty in my opinion. But the presentation was pretty interesting.
I had a very poor experience with the Pele’s Punch, made with Skipper Dark Rum, Myers’s Platinum White, Falernum, blood Orange, Pineapple Juice, Lime Juice.... and Firewater Bitters. The bitters completely overpowered the drink, totally out of balance. I knew I was taking a bit of risk but I don’t think the bitters would be so forward. I turned this back in and had their Island Mai Tai instead. They’re trying to do more with the cocktail program but not quite hitting the mark.
This was tiki bar number 30 for me this year (so far...).
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqTUs5Ygn5N/