Review: Wailulu Bar & Grill Is a Taste of the Tropics With the Feel of Island Time

If you’re staying at Disney’s Polynesian Resort & Villas, you’ll find Wailulu Bar & Grill over in the Island Tower. And if you’re staying at another Magic Kingdom resort, or taking a break from the parks, it just might be worth a wander to spend a bit of time relaxing with some excellent Polynesian-inspired fare. The theme parks might be hectic, but this lovely restaurant feels like you’ve dropped into island time.

The outdoor seating has beautiful views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and prime views of Happily Ever After in the evenings. The indoor seating is cool and comfortable, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that make you feel like you’re almost sitting outside.

The excellent food (which we’ll get to in a moment), laid-back vibe, and atmospheric views make Wailulu a popular spot at lunch and dinner. Reservations aren’t available, but you can put your name in using the Walk-Up Waitlist and relax in the Island Tower’s lobby or outside nearby until your table is ready. If you’re taking a break from the Magic Kingdom, waits are shorter at lunch or when heading for an early dinner. We wouldn’t advise planning to see the fireworks from here unless you’re staying at the Polynesian or planning to devote a good chunk of your evening to it.

We recently stopped by for a light lunch; our thoughts on the food are below!

Hibiscus Iced Tea – $5.79

I rarely review the drinks, but this hibiscus iced tea was great: tart, floral, a bit sweet, and beautiful to boot. It’s worth setting aside your usual soda order and getting this instead.

Ahi Tuna Crisps – $17.00
Marinated Ahi Tuna, Crispy Fried Wontons, Avocado Crema, Sriracha-Aïoli, Soy Glaze

“Poke nachos” have become popular, but these were superior. They weren’t overloaded with toppings, and the crisps were more than just a vehicle to hold the stuff. The dabs of avocado and criss-crosses of aioli and glaze made a nice bit of creamy-tangy-salty, with the tuna as a pop of contrasting flavor and texture.

Garlic Shrimp – $16.00
Smoked Paprika, Black Garlic Emulsion, Garlic-Lemon Butter, Crispy Garlic

There were only three shrimp, but as you can see, they were large. The garlic lemon butter was bright, but the mild funky umami of the black garlic and the rounded sweet notes of the paprika blended into some seriously complex flavors. Shrimp-lovers be warned: you won’t want to share.

Grilled Fish of the Day – $32.00
Green Curry Broth, Jasmine Rice, Chickpeas, Sweet Potato

On the day of our visit, the fish was hamachi (yellowtail), which we gather that it often is. It’s a meaty white fish (as opposed to a flaky or delicate one) that was a good pairing with the rich notes of the mild curry. And speaking of that curry broth, it was so good that we drank it out of the bowl at the end.

DOLE Whip Sundae – $8.00
Hibiscus Meringue, Macerated Pineapple and Berries

Dole Whip is never wrong, but I thought the macerated fruit stole this show. Lightly sweetened and juicy, the pineapple almost tasted candied. And any tart notes from the berries were smoothed into the background where they wouldn’t compete with the tang of the Dole Whip. It shouldn’t be overlooked that this sundae brings a smile to your face when it lands in front of you. If you had forgotten that you were meant to be dining in a tropical land full of lush fruits and warm breezes, the whimsical presentation will bring it right back to mind.

Have you wandered over to the Wailulu Bar & Grill? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!