About Royal Hawaiian
Beyond their size, small businesses are defined by their spirit. And at the helm are their intrepid founders—scrappy, ambitious, and resilient. They invent and build things despite uncertainty, because it’s what drives them. Their risks lead to innovation that moves the world forward. And we need them.
Such a fun and yummy night! Saw this place on oc_foodie’s instagram so we wanted to give it a try. We loved the pupu platter, which was the sampler of several of the delicious appetizers. So worth it! This alone with some drinks at the bar would make an amazing happy hour. We were here for dinner so we got the ahi with Mac salad and veggies, and the shrimp skewers with rice and fries. Both of the dishes were fresh and delicious. I would definitely add the gravy to the fries next time. The shrimp skewers were so garlicky which we loved. We ended the meal with the lava cake, which had yummy macadamia nuts. Live music on weekends is such a nice touch and service was attentive and prompt. Can’t wait to come back and try them for happy hour too!
Went two nights ago for happy hour before watching the sunset at Heisler Park, 2 minutes away. I got the Happy Hour Mai Tai $10 and vegetable spring rolls $10. Both were delicious! Very friendly staff and bartenders make great cocktails. Decor is fun, restaurant is clean and love the vibe. It's a staple in Laguna, definitely recommend it! The only somewhat complaint...put music on that visitors guests want to hear at a tiki bar ie Polynesian, Surfer, 1960s etc NOT Led Zeppelin (which happens to be one of my favorite bands). Think lots of times staff puts on their picks vs what guests want.
I had made a reservation way in advance and then what followed didn’t feel right and actually never experienced this from a business. The situation was resolved and I was happy to finally get to be in the Royal Hawaiian . A place I used to walk by when I grew up in Laguna Beach as a kid. Parking was easy , hostess very nice . We took photos in the shell , looked around it was fun. And then there was no music at all. The table we sat at was dark as in no ambiance . I asked if it was possible to turn the lamps on , which they did. The food I thought was good. I had no bloating or tummy issues . I did think that the Pu Pu platter was too salty but everyone else seemed to enjoy it . 6 of us then sat at the bar . Jose the greatest bartender made Tiki drinks for us that were perfect !
We just had drinks so my food stars are really just a comment on the excellent quality of the drinks. I had the Smoke and Roses and the Dragon’s Milk. Both were some of the best tiki cocktails I’ve had. RH relies more on flavor and presentation than ABV and sugar. Great complex flavors that tell a story. Amazing decor and music. And our server was top-notch. Can’t wait to come back.
Beautiful highly-themed establishment with beautifully crafted cocktails and a broad range of delicious food offerings--both for full meals or small bites. My salmon was flavorful and perfectly cooked with a lovely crisp on the outside, but still flaky and moist on the inside.