Ohana

[jpaxton1118]

We are scheduled to eat at O'hana's while we are there. I am so worried about it. I keep hearing mixed reviews and I know it sounds silly but I really want the meals to be great since we only go every 3 years. I want to have a great experience but I just don't know. I keep thinking I should change it. What do ya'll think?

 

[notaclue]

Just our opinion so no flames please. We were not impressed at all. The meat was all dry, the servers seemed to rush the meal, the noise level was deafening. I asked our server twice for a wet towel to clean the sticky wings off our hands; they are supposed to bring one without being asked, but he never brought ours. We won't bother eating there again. Narcoosee's was fantastic, but it's 2 DDP credits. We also loved Chefs de France.

 

[ms_missy66]

I have a feeling you'll get a bunch of mixed reviews in this thread too, including the one I'm about to give you.

We went to 'Ohana a few years ago and were soooo over the moon about it! I couldn't wait to go back this past August with our family. And, unfortunately, that experience was just so/so. The meat was dry and I, also, felt kind of rushed and neglected by the server. The food was still good and we still enjoyed it, but it just wasn't the same.

Sorry I wasn't more helpful.

 

[JoePa4Ever]

Almost every WDW restaurant gets mixed reviews - whether it's due to different individual tastes, different expectations, luck, or whatever the case may be. If the menu & the polynesian atmosphere seems appealing to you, then try it. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if a restaurant will be a great experience for you until you try it yourself.

Even if Ohana got all rave reviews, you could still go & not have a great experience. As an example, we went to Boma dinner for the 1st time about a month ago because of all the rave reviews - we didn't really care for it because we felt there were too many "flavors of Africa" type foods, however, we're glad we tried it.

 

[MK032197]

We love it!!

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

Everybody is different & likes different things. We aren't so much the
dress-up folks that likes the fancy places. However, we love good food.

We went last year for our first time - & it was totally awesome! Best food ever. I love Outback Steakhouse & call it my favorite all time restaurant BUT I had to put Ohana up there with it! Just love the place!!

Was only my Hubby & I & it was fun to eat there & see the castle w/ its lights out the window & we saw the electric parade too while there. The kids chasing the coconuts around the room w/ brooms was cute to watch.

I just thought it a super fun place w/ awesome eats...And it was the first restaurant we booked that morning. I never want to go to Walt Disney w/o getting the eat there.

 

[Coconuts]

I was worried about the reviews like you but we ate there for the first time this Sept and loved it. DH said that this was definetly one of the best meals of the trip. Our server was great and so were the meats. On the down side, yes it was fairly loud and hectic, but we didn't feel rushed to get out of there. The waiting area was packed but when we sat down, there were a lot of empty tables. Also my kids were pumped to try the coconut races, but there were so many kids there that they ran out of coconuts and brooms. My kids said that when kids finished a race, they kept their coconuts and brooms and wouldn't let others have a turn.

I always feel that no matter what the reviews may be for a restaurant, you should try it for yourself first.

 

[LuvinDisney83]

My family and I (group of 9) went for the first time last June, and we all absolutely LOVED it! It was the group favorite of everywhere we ate for the week. I hear a lot of people say the meat was dry and they aren't impressed with it. We had a wonderful experience and all of the food was very tasty. We did have the first seating tho, and maybe that's why everything was cooked to perfection and very good. We had a great server and can't wait to go back. I say, try it! If you don't like it, just don't go back. Hope this helps!

 

[Tiger926]

Everyone has answered based on dinner, but not sure if OP is asking about breakfast or dinner?

If breakfast, we have classified it as one of the worst on property for many reasons: slow service, always overbooked, yucky food, way too long for characters and not the cleanest.

We have eaten here 2 times, a few years apart, in the hopes that it had changed, and the 2nd time was actually worst than the first!

We love Kona Cafe though as it's a must-do for us each trip - we won't ever eat at 'O Hana for dinner based on our breakfast experiences and all of the reviews.

Tiger

 

[mommycrawford]

I was a vegetarian for 22 years and I wouldn't miss it!

A quiet meal, it is not. Can you find better food, sure...just next door at Kona Cafe.

O'hana is a whole experience, and you do need a sense of humor about lots....You may get hit with a broom, or embarassed doing a bad hula, or throw your back out doing the limbo, but much like a Disney vacation, your own attitude has a lot to do with what you come away with.

For me, it starts our holiday off and gets us ready for the stuff to come.

 

[dvcdisney]

We have only been to 'Ohana for dinner. In the past few years, we have loved it. The food was great, fresh, not overcooked and generally, we had an okay to great service. I have always booked 2 ADRs for 'Ohana per trip.

The past couple of vacations (March and Aug 2009), we were not too thrilled with the food. The service was a bit off as well. We requested more noodles (since we love them) and our "cousin" didn't bring it until just before dessert. I guess it does depend also on the server. We've had great ones which made our dinner/experience much better. All he did was refill drinks and checked with us to see if we wanted more of anything else. That's all I expected and that's what most do. But there were a few, where even if you remind them about something you requested, you don't get it until you no longer want it.

Also, although, this is really a personal taste. But I really miss the previous singer. He was great. He made us feel like we were immersed in Hawaii. Now, they have a female singer, which, although she seems fine, doesn't have that Hawaii-ness.

Anyways, we are going again in March and I will be making another ADR for 'Ohana, but I think it'll be just one this time. I'm hoping that I will be pleasantly surprised and the food will not be overcooked and the service will be good.

 

[FlyingBelle]

I overlooked 'Ohana every trip until this last one a few weeks ago. It's now on our list to do every year!

The food was great - my MIL (who is sometimes difficult to please) loved the salad so much she asked for the dressing recipe (we're having it for Thanksgiving this year!)

Loved the pot stickers (and I'm not an adventurous eater), and our server brought more since she knew I was dancing w/ my daughter and they were luke-warm when I got back to the table. The steak & shrimp were good. The turkey was OK.

We also loved that our 2 year old DD had a blast! She was able to get up and move around and dance without stressing me or DH. Made for a really enjoyable dinner.

Is is the best food I've ever had at Disney, no, but I suggest you try it... we'll definitely go there again.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I seriously just texted my hubby this morning to say I was craving Ohana noodles and salad!

It's one of our faves. Love the steak, I pass on the turkey because I think it's a bit dry, but DH loves it!! Love the atmosphere and I'm pretty sure my hubby has a crush on the singer!

This last time we were there our server was very rushed, and we found ourselves eating like someone was going to take it away from us. After a few minutes, we both cracked up, realizing what we were doing, then just slowed down and relaxed! Will definately go back next trip. Make sure you ask to sit in the main dining room so you can get the full experience!

 

[GovieMom]

The past couple of vacations (March and Aug 2009), we were not too thrilled with the food.

We were very underwhelmed with the food. The overly dry meats tasted like they had been injected with liquid smoke, or lighter fluid, or something. Yuck!

 

[FireDancer]

As with all restaurant opinion threads you will get everything from 'Ohana was biblical to they should be bulldozed under. Two people can get the exact same meal prepared the exact same way and disagree on the quality, so take all the opinions for what they are worth.

Of the monorail restaurants I would choose Kona for Lunch and The Wave for Dinner. I prefer either to 'Ohana because I like the kids of food on the menu better.

 

[bluesky225]

We were there at the beginning of this month, and it was our favorite meal our whole trip! The food was awesome (ALL of us loved it), and we had a great server. They didn't rush us at all and kept bringing stuff out for us (even when we were stuffed)....great meal!

 

[luvdiz2]

We have eaten there many times. Haven't had a good experience in years and have permenently crossed this off our list. Poor food, either over cooked or raw, the service is poor as we are always rushed and then ignored. Servers don't care, neither does the Management apparently. Kona was no better, 5 of us ate there last week, I couldn't eat my steak as it was charred, and two people were sick that night - again, off my list!

 

[AbbyPan]

I love Ohana's wings & shrimp, they are just delish!!

The noodles and veggies are also very good as is the salad & wontons.

I think the only items that may bomb are the chicken, turkey and beef that are brought out on skewers. But that's mostly because the meat is sometimes undercooked or overcooked. Either way, you can always ask your server to bring another.

That being said, my absolute favorite thing about Ohana's is their dessert...its my favorite of all the TS's we've been too, and we've been to most. Nothing like warm bread pudding with Banana's Foster and Vanilla ice cream dripping all over it.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

It is loud and very busy. The service can be slow. If you expect this ahead of time, you'll have a fantastic time, especially if you have kids that would like to participate in the activities. I liked it and will return again, because we don't have to keep the kids voices down. They liked participating and we liked the food.

 

[jlearn]

My family and MIL have eaten at O'Hana for breakfast the last three trips and we loved it everytime. We plan on having dinner there on our upcoming trip as well as breakfast again. Like a previous poster stated, give it a try and form your own opinion. I hope you enjoy your meal as we have. Good Luck. I might add that France is an awesome place to eat.