ULU
Hawaii
Reviews
An Absolute Masterclass in Seasonal Hawaiian Dining Our dinner at 'ULU Ocean Grill was nothing short of spectacular. Experiencing their seasonal "Summer is Served" pre-fixe menu proved to be an unforgettable culinary journey that perfectly celebrates local island ingredients. In addition, we also ordered the poke, king crab noodle and tuna Wellington. The Highlights The Appetizer (Kona Kanpachi Crudo) from the pre-fix menu: The absolute star of the first course was the Hayden Mango Salad. The local mango possessed a distinctive, outstanding tropical floral aroma that completely elevated the dish. Paired with the fresh crudo, Kekela Farm greens, and a bright green yuzu kosho dressing, it was an incredibly vibrant and aromatic start to the meal. The Poke "HAPA" (Bigeye & Kanpachi): it was absolute perfection. Incredibly savory and perfectly balanced with soy sauce, sesame oil, crisp green onions, and seaweed. It’s a beautifully executed, fresh take on a traditional Hawaiian staple. Bigeye tuna has a gorgeous, deep red color and a higher fat content than Yellowfin. This gives it a rich, buttery, and savory flavor with a firm yet melt-in-your-mouth texture. It holds up beautifully to bold poke marinades like soy sauce and sesame oil. KANPACHI features a beautiful translucent white or pale pink flesh. It is incredibly clean, crisp, and mildly sweet with a rich, fatty richness. Texture-wise, it provides a wonderful, slightly firm "crunch" or snap when you bite into it, creating a perfect textural contrast to the softer tuna. Love the dish. Tuna Wellington was a masterfully executed twist on a classic technique. The tuna Wellington was a triumph—perfectly seared, beautifully encased, and incredibly rich in flavor. The foie gras was perfectly balanced and didn’t overpower the rare tuna. My only critique is that the moisture from the mushroom and luau leaf filling made the inside of the pastry a bit soggy. Gordon Ramsay’s The River Restaurant at The Savoy solves this in their beef Wellington by using a thin savory crepe layer to protect the pastry. Implementing a similar technique here would keep the crust beautifully crisp and make this dish truly spectacular! The Rapoza Mango Mille-Feuille is an absolute triumph of a dessert. It beautifully layers a light Mango Chantilly and a vibrant Mango Compote, but the real star is the genius addition of Pickled Mango Sorbet. It brings a brilliant brightness that balances the entire plate. It’s remarkably light, incredibly pleasant, and the perfect finale to a wonderful meal. Amazing service at Ulu! The service didn’t just match the world-class food—it exceeded it. The lead server knows the menu inside and out. She broke down the ingredients for every dish so beautifully that we couldn't wait for the food to arrive. We had a family member with severe food allergies with us, and the staff's handling of the situation was flawless. After letting them know, every single server who brought out a dish was fully aware of the allergy, and every item that could contain nuts was clearly and properly marked. The level of care and cross-contamination awareness gave us total peace of mind. To top off an already perfect evening, we were celebrating my husband's birthday, and the staff went above and beyond by surprising us and removing the soufflé charges from our bill. It is exactly this kind of thoughtful, genuine hospitality that elevates 'ULU from a great restaurant to an unforgettable experience. From the very first bite to the last, the execution was flawless. If you have the chance to experience this seasonal menu, do not hesitate. It is definitely a pleasant addition to the classic menu. Overall is a true 5-star dining experience.
Badass atmosphere……great beach and restaurant vibe, but it is overpriced for the food they serve. Even more importantly is the service. It took us three hours from start yo finish this meal. Most of our time spent with empty glasses and plates. We’ve eaten at many places we enjoy more than here on in the same area of the island. EDIT: I do need to edit……of all the bad service Braxton was a shining light and the only reason we stayed. She was great.
We celebrated our anniversary here and enjoyed the unique flavors, the atmosphere, and the great view from our table right by the beach. A wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion! All of the employees we interacted with were friendly and personable.
We had an absolutely wonderful dinner at Ulu at the Four Seasons Hualālai on the Big Island. The setting was simply breathtaking—our table overlooked the ocean, creating the perfect atmosphere for a memorable evening. The restaurant was also very family-friendly, with a great kids’ menu that made dining with children easy and enjoyable. Every dish we ordered was exceptional. We started with the oysters, which were incredibly fresh and delicious. The pork belly was perfectly prepared, and the salad was fresh and flavorful. The Hawaiian sea bass special of the day was outstanding—beautifully cooked and full of flavor. We also enjoyed the tuna poke, which was one of the best we’ve had. From the spectacular oceanfront ambiance to the outstanding food and service, everything exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended for anyone visiting the Big Island and looking for an unforgettable dining experience. We can’t wait to return! 🌺🌊🍽️
Delivered on every front, and rly made our anniversary feel special! Beautiful ocean view, great food, and service that struck exactly the right balance between attentive and unobtrusive. The tableside poke presentation was great, even if the seasoning was a little salty for our taste. Still, quality was top notch across everything we ordered, and we seriously loved the banana soufflé. Our server also made the evening feel genuinely special without being over the top. Defo 5/5 and would totally recommend - can’t wait to go back!
