Ohana in Hawaii?

[thornton0511]

I know it's probably been asked here a million times already but I can't seem to find it....is there a restaurant in Hawaii based off of Ohana at WDW Poly resort?

 

[jliehr]

Nothing at Aulani, we never ran across anything similar on Oahu.

 

[thornton0511]

Nothing at Aulani, we never ran across anything similar on Oahu.

Thank you. I would be interested to know where Disney collected the inspiration for the restaurant!

 

[Midoria]

I know it's probably been asked here a million times already but I can't seem to find it....is there a restaurant in Hawaii based off of Ohana at WDW Poly resort?

Looked up this place out of curiosity and it's very beautiful. Were you looking for something similar in terms of decor? Menu?

 

[thornton0511]

Looked up this place out of curiosity and it's very beautiful. Were you looking for something similar in terms of decor? Menu?

Both lol. It's a must do for us everytime we go to WDW and was curious

 

[buffettgirl]

Ohana at Poly is disney's idea of what a Hawaii restaurant should be like. So the question you should ask is if there are real Hawaiian restaurants which Ohana has been based on. Not the other way around.


Or as my son just said, there are plenty of restaurants here that serve bad mac and cheese and chicken fingers and bad pizza. LOL

 

[Midoria]

So the question you should ask is if there are real Hawaiian restaurants which Ohana has been based on. Not the other way around.

You know what, sis? This is how I actually read the initial post. lol I didn't realize I had it backwards until now.

 

[Shanti]

Ohana at Poly is disney's idea of what a Hawaii restaurant should be like. So the question you should ask is if there are real Hawaiian restaurants which Ohana has been based on. Not the other way around.

That's what the OP was asking.

 

[Allison]

That's what the OP was asking.

That isn't the way the question was worded.

 

[Shanti]

That isn't the way the question was worded.

When the OP said, "I would be interested to know where Disney collected the inspiration for this restaurant", that is what the OP wanted to know.

 

[thornton0511]

Sorry for all of the confusion my question may have caused. We go to WDW often and Ohana is one place we never miss eating at. We love the atmosphere and the open grill. We also love the food and the manner in which it is served. We are in the beginning process of possibly planning a trip to Hawaii next summer and so I was curious if there was anywhere in Hawaii that we could find something similar to what we eat/experience at Ohana. I assumed that when Disney was brainstorming the idea of this restaurant they would have had some inspiration from an island such as the ones in Hawaii. They also have a luau at the poly that is based on ones found in Hawaii so I just figured Ohana might be a possibility as well.

 

[Allison]

When the OP said, "I would be interested to know where Disney collected the inspiration for this restaurant", that is what the OP wanted to know.

The poster who commented was talking about the original post.

Have fun on your trip, OP.

 

[buffettgirl]

So again, Ohana is Disney's idea of what 'old" Polynesia was like. It's not actually representative of real modern day hawaii or representative of how the people in Hawaii actually exist now. Ohana is a restaurant in a resort. You might find other themed restaurants in other resorts on the island, but it's not typical of what food or eating is like on Oahu. Most restaurants (away from waikiki) are older, and the decor is 1970s / 1980s and they're in strip malls and look like nothing more than bad mainland restaurants, but if you take a chance they're fantastic places to eat, with fantastic food which is a great blend of all the cultures here. One of my favorite local spots is probably in a neighborhood which most people won't go, and looks like a roach infested hole in the wall. Best local food ever. Not a stitch of "ohana" theme to be found. My advice is to step outside of what you think you know from the Poly and take a chance.

For theme, Dukes probably comes closest to that look.

 

[Lain]

Great post by @buffettgirl.

One of my favorite local spots is probably in a neighborhood which most people won't go, and looks like a roach infested hole in the wall. Best local food ever.

By any chance, Helena's, Ono's, or Side Street Inn?

For theme, Dukes probably comes closest to that look.

I'd also add a few restaurants that have that "tiki" vibe, like La Mariana Sailing Club near Sand Island, and Tiki’s Grill & Bar and Hula Grill in Waikiki. For breakfast or brunch, you might want to check out Wailana Coffee House and Eggs N Things in Waikiki, and Cinnamon's in Kailua. But then again, there are just too many good restaurants with good food in Hawaii to list and you shouldn't find any shortage of recommendations.

 

[Midoria]

By any chance, Helena's, Ono's, or Side Street Inn?.

Side Street Inn on Kapahulu? That's the only one I know of, and it's quite nice.

 

[Lain]

Side Street Inn on Kapahulu? That's the only one I know of, and it's quite nice.

I'm thinking of the one in Kakaako. It's kind of an easy to miss hole in the wall on a sketchy, well, side street, but it has some of the best local food.

 

[buffettgirl]

Side Street Inn on Kapahulu? That's the only one I know of, and it's quite nice.

I got to Side Street on Hopaka (it's between Pensacola and Piikoi) I'm pretty sure that's the original. It's so old inside. I don't know if the food is any different from Kapahulu though. But I love it there. Craving spicy chicken and pork chops now. And fried rice. yummmm
Edit: just saw Lain's response. That's the one. We often will go to the Brewseum and then walk over there afterwards for dinner - or vice versa.

Great post by @buffettgirl.
By any chance, Helena's, Ono's, or Side Street Inn?

All my favorites. But not even the one I was thinking about. And I just thought of another too. Which sort of makes my point right? Those are the places I"m going to miss - not so much Dukes (though, I still like the vibe on Sunday there). And food trucks. All the food trucks.

 

[buffettgirl]

I just decided I'm bringing myself to Kailua for the farmers market tonight. Why not.

 

[Midoria]

I got to Side Street on Hopaka (it's between Pensacola and Piikoi) I'm pretty sure that's the original. It's so old inside.

Oh, I've been to that one when I worked at Ala Moana during the Christmas season. I just never knew the name! lol The oldness of the place was never something I thought about. Perhaps we are just used to it?

 

[buffettgirl]

Oh, I've been to that one when I worked at Ala Moana during the Christmas season. I just never knew the name! lol The oldness of the place was never something I thought about. Perhaps we are just used to it?

I haven't been here long, but I know that I'm totally used to it and I love it. You really can't judge what's happening inside a place by the outside. Side Street is a good example. Brewseum - basically down an alley, and there you have an awesome WW2 museum and one of the funkiest little bars upstairs and a brewery next door. I'm sometimes shocked at how new and shiny things seem when I'm on the mainland. But I think that's what really gives Honolulu its character. This whole mish mash of people and buildings and flavors and sounds. It has really quickly become my favorite place on earth. And none of that is because of a Disneyfied version of the place.