Aulani trip 10/1 Restaurant reservations

[TNewman1024]

We are a fly by the seat of our pant folks. We just go do our thing and when its time to eat we find something. What are the reservations we need to make for dinner? We are planning a Luau one night...but will be at Aulani for 6 days before heading to Maui. Maui everything seems to be really booked up already.

Ideas appreciated we want to eat at least one night at fine dining / table service. We are easy going with food trucks and other stuff for breakfast and lunch. We will have a car. Mom, Dad, and 12yr old son.

We eat variety, just about anything and like to try new things and experience the best restaurants in terms of food and service in some cases that's the food truck down the road. Looking for suggestions to plan our dinners. and so on.

We are spending a full day at Pearl Harbor, and another day doing a circle tour of the island. SO we can hit some good foodie spots down by Waikiki, or "downown area"

Thanks

Troy Newman

 

[Drewski77]

We are a fly by the seat of our pant folks. We just go do our thing and when its time to eat we find something. What are the reservations we need to make for dinner? We are planning a Luau one night...but will be at Aulani for 6 days before heading to Maui. Maui everything seems to be really booked up already.

Ideas appreciated we want to eat at least one night at fine dining / table service. We are easy going with food trucks and other stuff for breakfast and lunch. We will have a car. Mom, Dad, and 12yr old son.

We eat variety, just about anything and like to try new things and experience the best restaurants in terms of food and service in some cases that's the food truck down the road. Looking for suggestions to plan our dinners. and so on.

We are spending a full day at Pearl Harbor, and another day doing a circle tour of the island. SO we can hit some good foodie spots down by Waikiki, or "downown area"

Thanks

Troy Newman

We are going in mid-September and booked a dinner at Mina’s Fish House at the Four Seasons.

Really enjoy the food, and the outside dinning views are fantastic as you are very close to the water.

 

[monsterkitty]

If you're going to be in the Waikiki area, Dukes or Hula Grill are required. Cheeseburger in Paradise is a tradition for us.

 

[LoveMickey]

We also enjoyed Maui Brewing company in Waikiki No reservations accepted.

 

[nkereina]

Keep in mind that Aulani is in Ko Olina, which is a gated tourist community. There's one way in and one way out via the highway. You'd have to drive a bit to find food trucks, and you'd have to drive to the next exit up in Kapolei to find chain restaurants and/or more local type restaurants that don't have tourist pricing.

Within the gates of Ko Olina, most of the table service restaurants at the various hotels will require reservations. Roy's across the street is considered fine dining and would take reservations. Monkeypod across the street is more casual table service and reservations are recommended.

PP mentioned Duke's in Waikiki above - perhaps its changed since we were there, but our experience was that the "nicer" dining room/menu at Duke's required reservations, but the patio dining/bar food was first come first serve (and always had a wait).

 

[cedricandsophie]

both the Four seasons, next door to aulani, and the Marriott, down the street, have nice restaurants but reservations are required. You might be able to walk into the Monkeypod across the street but the wait would be lengthy. As someone said, kapolei has lots of chain restaurants but based on my experience, there is often a lengthy wait.

there used to be a Starbucks at the four seasons. Not sure of it still there when they reopened. But there is at least one or two in kapolei.

when you are driving to aulani from the airport, you could stop at the Safeway, Costco, target etc in kapolei to get provisions assuming you have a Room with a kitchen,

you won’t find any food trucks around Aulani. there is a casual walk in restaurant at aulani that serves breakfast as take out. And there is abc market across the street behind Monkeypod where you can get food to go. It’s pretty good.

keep in mind that based on what I read in USA Today this morning, beginning September 13 restaurants will require proof of vaccination Or a negative test within 48 hours.

we used to go aulani yearly but haven’t been since 2019. It’s one of our favorite places and are desperate to return but we will wait until this COVID mess is over. We all are vaccinated but it’s just too much for us to be on a plane for 10 hours in a mask, and have so many restrictions when we land. We will probably wait until 2022 or 2023 to return.

 

[Kristie71]

Keep in mind that Aulani is in Ko Olina, which is a gated tourist community. There's one way in and one way out via the highway. You'd have to drive a bit to find food trucks, and you'd have to drive to the next exit up in Kapolei to find chain restaurants and/or more local type restaurants that don't have tourist pricing.

Within the gates of Ko Olina, most of the table service restaurants at the various hotels will require reservations. Roy's across the street is considered fine dining and would take reservations. Monkeypod across the street is more casual table service and reservations are recommended.

PP mentioned Duke's in Waikiki above - perhaps its changed since we were there, but our experience was that the "nicer" dining room/menu at Duke's required reservations, but the patio dining/bar food was first come first serve (and always had a wait).

Monkeypod is not taking reservations. it is currently stand by only.

 

[nkereina]

Monkeypod is not taking reservations. it is currently stand by only.

That's right, I believe that's due to the current environment. I'd assume reservations will come back eventually!