Read on for my Wailulu Bar & Grill review and for all the info on this restaurant:
During my last trip to Disney, I ended up coming in a day earlier than I had originally planned due to airline prices. That meant I needed one more dinner reservation! I had one night booked at the Contemporary Resort, so I scoped out what was available on the monorail line. Wailulu Bar & Grill, the new restaurant that opened recently at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, had some availability. Since I hadn’t tried it yet, this seemed like the perfect time!
All about Wailulu Bar & Grill
Type of restaurant: table service (lunch, dinner), quick service (breakfast)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, grab-and-go breakfast
Dining plans accepted? Yes, for lunch and dinner only (1 table service credit)
Location: Disney’s Polynesian Resort – Island Tower
Price: Entrees range from around $20-35
Discounts: DVC 10%
Accepts reservations? Yes, and recommended
The atmosphere
Located inside the new Polynesian DVC tower, Wailulu looks rather small at first, but it’s a bit bigger than it seems from the outside. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s an interesting setup, because my understanding is that Wailulu was intended as a casual eatery and bar, not a sit-down restaurant. They originally did not take reservations, but changed that a few months after opening.
I was seated outside on the patio, and you can get some very lovely views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. I did not stay long enough to see what the fireworks view was like, but I did get to watch the Electrical Water Pageant! So that was a nice bonus.
What I saw of the inside was neat too. Polynesian artwork was on display, and it was well-decorated. Some was definitely Moana inspired, but there was lots of non-IP stuff too. I just went to Disney’s Aulani resort a few months ago and it felt very much like some of their restaurants – so I think they nailed the vibe. Disney’s website says a lot of the artwork is made from recycled materials, which is really cool.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Wailulu is solely grab & go, so you’re looking at items like breakfast sandwiches, croissants, muffins, etc. For a fun tropical option, pick up the pineapple-coconut bread. There are also your usual breakfast drinks, like juices, coffee, and tea.
Lunch & Dinner
The menu is the same at Wailulu for both lunch and dinner. You have a section of starters, mains, and desserts. The food is Polynesian-inspired, so expect lots of tropical flavors and a number of seafood options. I had just visited Aulani in Hawaii, and the cuisine is very similar.
Starters – these include items like ahi tuna crisps, sweet potato hummus, and sticky pork ribs.
Mains – here you’ll find poke bowls, teriyaki chicken, and loco moco.
Desserts – three desserts are currently available, with the highlight of the menu being a dole whip sundae. They also have a creme brulee and chocolate cake.
Wailulu also has a nice drink list. They have 8 signature cocktails, and a nice selection of beer, wine, and hard cider. In addition to your typical soft drinks, they have 2 specialty non-alcoholic drinks, plus some specialty coffees and teas.
Take a look at the most recent version of the menu here.
Wailulu Bar & Grill drinks
A number of the drinks on the menu sounded really good to me, so I had a hard time deciding. I ultimately asked my server which one he recommended between a few of them.
He said the Banana Old Fashioned (Rye Whiskey, Crème de Banane, Rum, Allspice Dram Liqueur, Angostura Bitters) is a favorite, so that’s what I tried:
Add me to the list of people who like this one – I can see why it’s a favorite! If you like banana flavor and old fashioned (I enjoy both), this is a win. It was extremely well-balanced, with some nice notes of spice. A very easy drinking old fashioned with a slight sweetness, but not an in-your-face banana flavor.
I decided to get a second drink, and this time I was in the mood for a beer. So I couldn’t pass up the Terrapin Luau Krunkles Passionfruit-Orange-Guava IPA:
A POG beer seems like the perfect fit at the Poly! An IPA is an interesting choice, too. I would have expected a sour or maybe a blonde ale. At first it felt much more IPA-heavy than anything else, but as I kept sipping the other flavors did come out. Don’t expect this one to be super fruity or anything. It’s more of an IPA with hints of those fruit flavors.
Wailulu Bar & Grill food
I dined solo this time around, so I don’t have as many food items to share with you as I sometimes do. That being said, I really loved everything I ate here. So I have a feeling I’ll be back again in the future. Hopefully not too far in the future, either!
I was really interested in a number of the appetizers, but I also wasn’t sure what portion sizes would be like. I decided to order the thing on the menu that sounded most appealing to me, and then if I was still hungry I’d get something else.
And that item was the Ahi Tuna Crisps (Marinated Ahi Tuna, Crispy Fried Wontons, Avocado Crema, Sriracha-Aïoli, Soy Glaze):
I 100% made the right choice, because these were fantastic! Such a great combination of flavors and an excellent distribution of toppings. You got a nice kick of spice from the sriracha, and a perfect sweetness from the soy glaze. When I return to a Disney restaurant I normally try to order something new, but if I came back here I would absolutely get this again. Hopefully with other people so I can try additional items, too!
The ahi tuna crisps could have been a light dinner, but I hadn’t eaten lunch that day and was particularly hungry, so I chose to order more food. I chose the Teriyaki Chicken Sliders (Kimchi Slaw, Sweet Bun served with Mac Salad or Sweet Potato Fries) with a side of sweet potato fries:
This was good, if not a particular standout. The chicken was nice and juicy, and well flavored. Two are included, and they are pretty big for being called “sliders”! I think they were really something in between a slider and full-sized burger. I also really enjoyed the sweet potato fries. They had the perfect crispiness to them and were nice and salty. I ate one slider and most of the fries, and took the other one to go.
That’s because I needed to save room for dessert! Of course I had to try the Dole Whip Sundae (Hibiscus Meringue, Macerated Pineapple and Berries):
Now, I’m not actually a diehard dole whip lover. I will forever grieve the loss of the far superior Citrus Swirl from Magic Kingdom. But I enjoy dole whip well enough. When it comes with something else that’s when I like it the most, because it’s just too much pineapple for me by itself. The sundae had some really nice additions to create a variety of flavors! The berries and meringue added some good texture contrast too.
Overall thoughts on Wailulu Bar & Grill
I was very impressed with the food I had here, and I’d love to come back to sample more of their offerings! Many of the menu descriptions sounded appealing to me. The Ahi Tuna Crisps were a definite food standout.
My meal did last for quite a long time (over an hour and a half, and I was solo). My server was fantastic and this was definitely not his fault. Every time I saw him he was running around and clearly hustling. He always checked in when he passed, even though he was almost always multitasking. It seemed an issue of understaffing to me – I don’t know if that was just this night or not. I was not in a rush at all, but it would be good to see a quicker turnaround time for a restaurant that says it’s casual and is so close to the theme park.
The atmosphere was nice, and while it would have been cool to see the fireworks, I loved watching the Electrical Water Pageant. I think I would enjoy going back during the daytime though, because it would be a great view when it’s light out too.
Overall I had positive impressions of my meal at Wailulu, and I hope to be back!
Wailulu FAQs
Is Wailulu Bar and Grill a quick service restaurant?
No, it is not quick service. They call it casual dining, but for lunch & dinner you are seated and have a server come to your table. There is a bar on the far end of the restaurant, closer to the pool, where you could get a drink to go (or try to get a seat if you wanted).
Does Wailulu take reservations?
Yes, they do take reservations for lunch and dinner. This was a change from when the restaurant originally opened and they did not accept reservations.
Can you see the fireworks from Wailulu?
Yes, there are very good views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from here, especially if you are seated outside at one of the booths. You can also watch the Electrical Water Pageant.
How do you get to the restaurant?
Arrive at either the Polynesian Resort or the Grand Floridian (if you’re coming from a different Disney resort or theme park, you’ll probably want to go to Magic Kingdom and then take a boat or monorail). You can walk to the Polynesian tower from either the main Polynesian building or the Grand Floridian. Once you get there, it’s just off the side of the lobby.
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