Dining at and near Aulani

[Minnie824]

We'll be going to Aulani for the first time this summer and looking for some good restaurant recommendations. I'm sure Aulani has some good restaurants, but we don't want to eat every meal for a week there as well. Anything nearby? We'll have a car rental so getting there isn't an option. Thanks!

 

[alohamom]

Check out this thread, lots of great suggestions

http://www.disboards.com/threads/whats-your-favorite-restaurant-off-aulani-but-on-oahu.3523137/

 

[eculmone]

We will be there in 7 days. DD is vegetarian DH and I are not. Anyone hear of this place 'Monkeypod?' We will not have a car so we are looking for walking distance?

 

[skylynx]

Monkeypod is definitely within walking distance...five minutes from the Aulani lobby and in the same shopping complex as the wonder of wonders ABC store with alchohol, some groceries, and lots of souvenirs. Several vegetarian options on their menu. Not cheap, but cheaper than Aulani and with lovely alfresco dining.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

I'm a vegetarian, ate at Monkeypod and highly enjoyed it! It is very walkable from Aulani, just across the street. They had a corn chowder that was amazing and some very flavorful entrees. The pizza were very good too. The happy hour is a great value for food and drinks. It was a great restaurant, we at there twice on our trip last month. You can make reservations in advance through Open Table, but you probably won't need one. Have fun!

 

[alohamom]

Big thumbs up for Monkeypod and vegetarians! They do 1/2 price on most appetizers for happy hour which runs from 3:00 to 5:30 and 9:30 to 11:00. They have garlic truffle fries that are really good, an eggplant babaganoush and veggie plate that was AMAZING and pumpkin ravioli that was probably one fo the best things I have ever eaten (I do think there was goat cheese)

 

[eculmone]

Thank you everyone. I'm so EXCITED!!!!

 

[alice74]

Monkeypod was actually one of my favorite restaurants while we were in Hawaii. We had the fish tacos which were fabulous , the garlic truffle fries (also great), and the best mai tai ever(order extra froth)

 

[eculmone]

Will do for SURE

 

[Vernie822]

We liked Monkeypod. We also walked to Roy's and Pizza corner. Any of the restaurants at the Four Seasons and I think the Marriott will also be within walking distance. We honestly ate minimal meals from Aulani, we did dinner at Ama Ama and lunch once or twice but that was it. There's a lot of great food to be had all over the islands!!

 

[CaliAdventurer]

We just got home from our second trip. Thought we would eat more in room but we never got around to going to costco. We ate nearly all of our meals at ama ama (breakfast and early dinner and skipped lunch) and did the makahiki breakfast buffet 3 times.
We ate at both FishHouse and the Asian buffet at the Four Seasons. I do not recommend. My $65 steak was shoe leather. The vegetables however were sublime and if you are veg I'd go there to do a veg dinner- brussel sprouts, broccolini and potatoes, all bomb.
the Spring Rolls at Aulani are a great lunch (have shrimp you can remove). That's our fav. We had Ulu Cafe once for lunch it was pork and roast veg and was pretty good actually. Monkeypod was nice if you are upstairs. The food is good enough. I'd go at happy hour which we did and ordered nearly all the apps but we also ordered dinner and then said we wish we'd just done the happy hour stuff. The wings are tasty. Roys is one of the few still owned by Roy and we loved it!
Make your aulani reservations as soon as you can though. Dinner at Ama Ama is difficult until 8 pm and with the time difference that's way too late for our kids. Everyone wants to book the sunset which will be much later when you are there. Makahiki breakfast is another you will have a huge problem with if you don't book early. The spread is incredible and I was a fruitarian previously and got to fill up on TONS of gorgeous fruits, A great value!!

ENJOY!