Aulani Dining - Ama Ama gonna rip you off!

[Dizny Dad]

We ate at the J.W. Marriott next door to Aulani last summer. The food was great. They had a seafood buffet that was reasonably priced. I wonder what will happen to their prices once Disney gets in the mix.

You can always go across the street to the ABC store. They have counter carry out sandwiches and the like for a very reasonable price. Not very romantic, but a full belly is a full belly.

 

[GoofItUp]

On our vacation to Hawaii in 2006 we stayed at the JW Marriott. When we arrived we were hungry and tired and ended up eating at their pasta buffet for convenience. It was $40 per person! For pasta! We found some places that were better deals, but overall, as others have mentioned, it's expensive to eat in Hawaii. I also had a hard time finding things I liked. I tend to like my meat to be spicy or cooked to let the meat flavors come out...several of the dishes I ate had a sweet-meat flavoring which was different for me. It probably also didn't help that I was 3 months pregnant and was not the best time for me to be trying new foods!

I would recommend having a car when staying at Aulani and not just so you can eat off-site. There's too much to see on a vacation to Hawaii to stay at the resort the whole time.

 

[Chef Louis]

Those prices seem high. If you want a fantastic meal at a good price go to Town in Honolulu. Absolutely one of the best meals I ever had in Hawaii, food is mostly local and organic. Trust me you will not be disappointed. http://www.townkaimuki.com/menu/

 

[OurDogCisco]

I imagine that groceries are also more expensive than on the mainland. But I'd like to hear from someone with experience whether grocery prices are up by the same percentage as restaurant prices. Given a 1- or 2-bedroom with a kitchen, cooking in might make sense.

I think, it depends where you are from and what your prices are like at home. When we go to Marriott Ko'Olina, we shop at Costco and then, get smaller items like butter at Target. I found their Costco prices to be pretty comparable to California Costco prices. They also have a Safeway as well. But I find Target prices are cheaper. It is a super Target with all the groceries. Don't forget to buy the pineapple it tastes great and it is only $2.99 per pineapple (the pineapple is not from Costa Rica so, they taste very sweet). I guess, I'd find out if the Aulani will have gas or charcoal BBQs. I also plan to roll over my food. By that I mean, I'll buy the turkey breast with all the fixins like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and a vegetable at Costco. Then, I will use the leftover turkey for sandwiches. Then, with the leftover bread I'll make french toast one morning, etc.. So, I make sure my grocery items can be used for more than one meal.

 

[OurDogCisco]

These seem a little high to me even for HI fine dining, not a lot but some. I wonder how they compare to Roy's next door? or Longhi's. They are a little higher than Hy's it seems.

Roy's is probably not as expensive. I know I've ordered their special drink one trip and it was $15 per glass (it was pineapple martini) but totally worth it as it was homemade liquor. Roy's usually has a Fix price menu for around $45 per person that includes appetizer, entree and dessert but it is set items. Otherwise, it can get pricey with their meals.

Next, door at Ko'Olina I've ordered drinks at the pool they were around $12 and they weren't even the same quality as the drink I got at Roy's. The food at the bar/grill area at the Marriot is expensive. I'd rather eat at Roy's to get a better meal.