The Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill

**revised: went back and service was WAY better. Looks like they had some new staff and are training more. Moving up to (4) stars. Keep it up!** I tried sooooo hard and wanted to give it five stars. I love the food and atmosphere is incredibly stylish and transports you to Hawaii (which is why it is still getting three stars). The burger is incredible. Any of the fried rices are delicious and the presentation is fantastic. The macaroni salad is light and not too much mayo with a solid vinegar hint which is the way i love macaroni salad. Fries are fabulous too. That being said, the service has been sub par. The staff seems incredibly green and often confused except one server/bartender who was very helpful. I’ve come four times before writing this review each time hoping the service would get better and each time it got a bit worse. I’m going to come back again in a month and re-rate it again and hopefully by then the service has improved. I’m rooting for you Royal Hawaiian!!!

I only drank here, but they have legit tiki here. The Zombie is classic, boozy, and perfect for the location. I can’t believe they don’t have a Navy Grog on the menu but they made a great one. But the remodel was just perfect. They did a great job with the seashell in the entry and plenty of nautical tidbits. The bar are is really where it’s at. And if you’re single, probably the perfect date spot in Laguna.

We had a fabulous time here. All the food was very tasty and the drinks were amazing. Decor is fantastic. Only complaint is that my meal was very small for the price. I had the Korean Short Ribs and there was just one piece. I feel like there needed to be at least 2 if not 3 to make it anywhere near the price that was charged. The bbq ribs on the other hand were plentiful and also delicious. Stopped by again while in the area. They have a good happy hour with drink and appetizer discounts. Everything was great.

Very unclear what all the bad reviews are about on this place. We came in on a week day afternoon around maybe 2 or so and it was basically empty. The staff greeted us and were friendly and took our orders. We ordered several drinks and were blown away by the presentation of all of them. This bar was curated by someone with a clear passion for tiki drinks and tiki kitsch. So much attention to detail, but not in a cheap rendering of plastic beachside cosplay. From the tile wall in the entryway to the lighting and decor on the walls, it is clear someone has put a lot of heart and soul into creating a tiki experience to be enjoyed. I firmly believe that photos do not do tiki justice (partly because the quality drops drastically after you've had one or two) but also partly because the environment enhances the experience. Regardless, the Bali Bali and the Triple Happiness have the most going on, theatrics-wise. The Triple Happiness seemed only to impress me with its strong mezcal flavor and was soundly rejected by the rest of the table, but if you're mezcal fan - this is for you. The Dragon's Milk and the Purple Haze were also enjoyed by the table. Again, the pictures provided do not do it justice, stop in and try it for yourself!

The Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill is a Tiki bar and restaurant with great food and cocktails (and mocktails). We started with the Lumpia pork egg roll appetizer. It was crispy fried, but not overly greasy and came with a side of sweet and sour sauce. I ordered the Royal burger with no teriyaki or pineapple and a side of fries. It was two beef patties with cheese and all the standard fixings. Fantastic burger! Same can be said for the fried chicken sandwich. The curry pineapple rice was more like fried rice with a few shrimp, but tasty nevertheless. The drinks were fantastic and stiff. We ordered the Mai Tai, Dragon's Milk, and a virgin Piña Colada. The restaurant was clean and the staff were attentive and friendly.

If I can recall, this is the 4th or so iteration of this classic spot. So you may see very different reviews from across the years pop up. But as of June 10th 2023, it’s under new ownership and has gone through another remodel, a throwback to the original Francis Cabang historic location. All that aside, what a comeback! There are very few places you walk in and feel completely immersed and transported that are not some kind of theme park ride or resort location. Notch of Top Notch Customs was brought in to overhaul the space and you automatically get that authentic lived in island feel. It’s absolutely gorgeous. From the bar, booths, dining tables and outdoor spaces, every wall, corner and ceiling area is covered with tropical ephemera. But what about the food and drinks?! None of this matters if that’s no good right? Well I went with a huge thirst and big appetite and while I couldn’t order a ton, what I did was absolutely delicious. They have a classic cocktail menu featuring tiki staples from the best along with modern cocktails to balance in the new. I tried a few on each side and I was impressed with how balanced (though still boozy) they were. Be sure to order a lot of water and eat something while you’re at it! Food wise I had to eat the classic Loco Moco and Spam Musubi. These are traditional dishes that continue to last the test of time and they were both very good. A bit pricier than most for the Loco Moco but a really good portion of food. Typically this dish is a fried egg over gravied hamburger (though many places will use spam as well both good) meat over a bed of rice. But this dish comes with a few sides and not with rice off the bat. So if you’re wanting that classic setup make sure to ask for the rice. Though I think that’s something they should tell you upfront. Otherwise your options are Mac salad, fries, salmon poke, and one more thing. I love this dish because it’s the perfect entree to soak in all the alcohol you’ll be imbibing! There’s a bunch of other delicious staples on the menu that I hope to try on repeat visits. But for now I highly recommend you check it out if it interests you. Seating for tables are by reservation only but bar walk-ins are welcome anytime. One last highlight; the staff. They’re a great bunch of people who are very accommodating and welcoming and just so fun to talk to. I personally love dining at the bar to get to know them and everyone I talked to was a pleasure to get to know.

We had a great dinner here. The food was done very well although the main draw is the atmosphere and the cocktails. All of the cocktails were great, and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. I’d recommend this place although when we came they had the music turned up a bit too loud so it was really hard to hear other people at the table. Parking of course sucked but just be prepared for that.