Why does O'Hanas seem to be on everyone's list?

[niceblueeyedwoman]

Is O'Hanas so popular because of the food or because it is all you can eat? During my one and only trip to Disney 18 years
ago, we ate at the Luau and the Hoop de Doo and did not like the food at all. My husband and I enjoy fine food and would love any opinions on the O'Hana experience. We will going alone this time. Thanks...........

 

[Gwene65]

I eat there every trip because it is GOOD and is all you can eat. It also makes a nice trip from MK. It's a nice break and enables us to look around at other surroundings before taking the boat back to MK.

I love this place.

 

[jennymouse]

I've never eaten at the Luau but I understand the food is similar, so if you didn't like that, I wouldn't go to Ohana. I happen to love the food at Ohana and go for the family atmosphere, food and fun!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

O'hana's is a fun relaxed atmosphere. Very island feel. We have no kids so do not get involved in the "games", but children appear to have a good time. Be very hungery. I would not say Ohana's has "fine" food, I would say they have a lot of MEAT! skewer's & skewer's of meat. So if you like a LOT of MEAT, turkey, shrimp, pork, steak, etc... this is THEY place. The side dishes on the salad caddy are really good but that is just the little sides the main course are all MEAT!!!! (Can you tell I've O'D on Atkin's too long) . Needless to say, I don't have a Ps this year. The dessert is a large pineapple with carmel sauce and its GREAT! You really don't need to buy the extra ones. It is a fun place to do if your very hungery & a big eater.

MKY

 

[mic_key_mouse]

The food is OK, but not great. We do O'hana's for the overall experience, cousin

Blessings,
mic_key_mouse

 

[sha_lyn]

Well 'Ohana is not "fine" dining, but it is very good food. From the menus I've seen of the Luau it is not the same food.
Luau menu... http://allearsnet.com/din/luau.htm

'Ohana menu ... http://allearsnet.com/din/luau.htm

I think the atsmophere has a lot to do with it too. It is a perfect place for kids because of all the kids activities. It is not the place to go for a quiet adults only meal.

 

[sotoalf]

'Ohana is most definitely not gourmet food. I was unimpressed with our dinner when we ate there last August: the pork was too dry (you should NEVER overcook pork) and the shrimp burned to a crisp. But you definitely get your money's worth, and there's so much food coming at you that there's bound to be something you like.

Having said that, 'Ohanas is MUCH better than the Luau's food, which always tasted to me like the sort of bland unoffensive food you'd eat at a wedding - with a Polynesian touch.

At the Polynesian I always preferred Kona Cafe myself, and the long-gone Tangarora Terrace (sigh...)

 

[oogieboogie]

We love Ohana for the food. The meats are great but what really floats our boat is the green beans. They're so good I've asked and gotten the recipe for them.

And nothing beats getting pineapple and caramel dipping sauce at the end of your meal, then getting nice hot towels to wipe your hands with.

I'm drooling just thinking about it.

 

[Pete W.]

I think it's because everyone's looking forward to real Irish food, but then they find out the restaurant's name is 'Ohana, not O'hana's.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

LOL Pete!

 

[CamColt]

We tried it for the first time last year. The reason it is now a must do for us is because it was wonderful. The food was great(my favorites were the rice, salad, bread, turkey and beef), we love the Poly atmosphere, and the kids really enjoyed the coconut races.

 

[Magic2000]

We ate at Ohanas for the first time this past October - and it is defifnitely on our "Must Do" list!!! It is our new "first night at Disney" tradition - and we'll be back in July!!! We really had a great time, and the food was really good.

Our meats were cooked perfectly - and DH & I really liked the side dishes! I really don't normally care for chicken wings, but these were delicious!!!! Also, the lapu lapu was VERY GOOD!!! My DD liked the hoola hoop contest and the coconut races!

We were going to stay for the fireworks, but we finished up a little early. Our waiter suggested walking along the beach, which we did - and it was wonderful!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We like 'Ohanas for the food. The atmosphere was okay, nothing to really scream about, and we're all adults, so the kids activities didn't do anything for us. We are there for the first time a couple of weeks ago and loved it. We felt we actualyl got our moneys worth, had a good variety, and the food was all good - except the pork which was too dry (seems to be a common problem! I wonder if anyones complained?)

The sides you begin with are delicious, the breads good, and the meats were yummy. My husband had to have seconds on the pineapple dessert it was so good. Plus your drink is included, too, and everything is all you can stuff.

I don't think it compares to the Luau, you should try it and see for yourself. Some people love the grilled meats, some dont... we love grilled meats at home, so we knew we'd enjoy this. =)

 

[Terk-1]

I did HDD several years ago and thought the food was just so-so. Took my sister for her birthday to O'Hana's and we enjoyed everything about it. The food was excellent and so was the service. We wanted to try the desserts, but were too full. We had a nice table next to the window, behind the bar, and found it relatively quiet. We even watched the Electrical Parade.

 

[LYNSUE]

We experienced O'hana's for the first time March 2004. A big reason for having the PS was because of the rave reviews I read on these boards. I was really curious. I was not disappointed with our meal. The starter tray with the salad, vegs, wings, etc was excellent. The pork and turkey were very good, the steak just so so, with the shrimp being the best. (I'm a seafood lover).

We do not plan on eating there again on our next trip November 2004, (way too many other things to try) however we will eat there again in the future.

 

[B3LM]

It's our favorite at WDW!!!

 

[Forever42]

I love 'Ohana for the food, the service, the atmosphere, and the view. Especially the food.

I think a lot of people like it because of the unique dining experience, as well. I don't believe this style of dining (Brazilian bbq) is that common around the country, and this is an easy introduction into it.

 

[jwfla422]

I really like the food at O'Hana. I don't think it's anything like that Luau grub. No way!! I like the appetizers, especially the salad mix they have. The shrimp is my favorite with the turkey right behind. I'm not a big beef eater, but the beef is pretty good for someone who isn't a big beef eater. And, the pork is pretty good most of the time.

Like anything else, it's certainly worth a try especially if you're comparing it with something from 18 years ago, I don't even think the luau food is the same as it was then.

We don't go for the games, we go for the yummy food! But, dd likes to watch them (she's a bit shy about participating). It has a fun atmosphere.

WDW has tons of buffets that are "all you can eat", this one is nice since they bring it to you. We don't normally go to places that have "all you can eat" so we can eat and eat and eat. We go because the food is good.

 

[bhillier]

We just came back from a 7 night stay @ poly. We ate @ O'hanas and loved it. The food was great. The CM's were awsome. They say that everyone is your cousin and it sure feels like it. I looked around and saw smiles everywhere. The place has a tropical relaxed feel to it. Along with that it's full of disney magic. In fact, the whole resort has that feel. I'll say it again LOVED IT!!! This is a must do......have a great time.

 

[Desi]

ATMOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE!
AND THE FOOD'S GOOD TOO.
AND THE VIEW!!!!!!!!!!