Where to start? Â First thing, the restaurant was a bit crowded which is o.k. I don't mind waiting. Â I asked the hostess if they served the lunch special with the burger, endless fries, and drink refills on the weekend. Â She said "I don't know but we do have endless fries". Â What first line employee says "I don't know" and makes no effort to find out? Â Second, I asked if there were tables rather than booths because I cannot be comfortable in a booth. Â She said no, unless I wanted to sit in the free seating area. Â Now, I am a big woman, o.k., I'll say it ... fat, and if I wouldn't be comfortable in a booth why would I want to attempt to jump up into a high barstool? I asked her if there was a way to pull up some kind of regular chair to a table and she said no. Â No effort, just "no". Â I understand it was busy but I was willing to wait to be accommodated. Â But, "no". Â I was becoming visibly upset and decided to wait outside for my god-daughter, she had dropped me off because I am disabled and she went to park the car. Â When she got there she could tell I was upset and went in to talk to the hostess. Â She asked the same questions about seating that I did and then asked what they normally did for a handicapped person. Â She (hostess) said they had a table to pull a wheelchair up to. Â Guess what? Â Not all handicapped/disabled people have a wheelchair. Â So are fat, older, disabled people not welcome at this Islands? Â I have never had this problem at other Islands and I will NEVER go to this one again.
I am only giving one star because I have to in order to make a rating/comment otherwise ... zero stars!
Nothing special about this islands that differs from the many others I have eaten at. Service here is good, food is good, and wait times are ok.
My family really got either here or to the one on Colorado. It all depends on traffic and if we need to run errands in the area.
This location can get really busy at times. But definitely an ok place to eat.
*Happy hour review*.
Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4-7
Came here with Stephanie V to hit up their happy hour and boy was it decent! They do have a selection of beers and decent well drinks for $2.95. Other Island's might have difference price, but this one is cheap!
If sitting at the bar tables, make sure you don't trip people, because a bit tight. If you're sitting at the bar, you are better off with full customer service. I've seen a few people bringing their books and laptops here. Must be nice while working and having a drink on the other hand. :)
Tried their fries before, don't expect much out of the fries since Island is known for their burger. Their fries baskets are really big. Even the two of us couldn't kill it. It's big enough to share up to 4-5 people. Friendly bartender's and well poured drinks. Yes, i will continue to come here when I'm in the area.
TIP: Free wifi at the bar using Panera's wifi. Sh... :P
Better than arclight Pasadena one. Â We were actually seated in 3 iminutes. Â Food was traditional Island joint delights as usual. Â The cheddar fries were a little rubbery but overall, it was as I remembered these chain restaurants to be (EXCEPT ARCLIGHT PASADENA, ISLANDS)......I would never go to THAT Islands if my life depended on it
Review Source:I've been here quite a few times and even though I really appreciate how attentive, friendly and amenable the waiters are, it really does not outweigh the very average food. Â It's a little loud and they have TVs playing a surfing reel on loop to go with their casual hawaiian surfer-esque vibe. Â
The food is so-so and can waver from good to "meh." Â But for the prices, it really is not worth it. Â I now order generally the guilt free vegetable tacos and those are actually better than when I did eat meat and would order their Maui burgers. Â However, even those aren't that great, particularly not for their prices. Â Also their drinks are not consistent in their quality, at times they are too strong and other times they are overly watered down. Â
Honestly, when I go there, it's usually because the other restaurants on the block have too long of a waiting period. Â
Not entirely a great place but if you just want a meal at a sit-down place with short wait or no wait at all and don't mind that the food quality is par at best, this place is certainly the place to go.
This is my all time favorite Islands to come too. I like this location because it is away from the Old Town crowd and there is always available seating. I come here for Happy Hour whenever I get a chance to stop in. Their Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4-7 with a complete list of appetizers and a great selection of beer. When I come to this Islands, I usually always order the well drinks because they are $2.95 each! And of course my bartender CHRISSY always hooks me up! On Monday and Thursday they have all night Happy Hour during Football season only. On Sundays they have Sunday Happy hour for football but not everything is on Happy Hour only certain beers and items. BUT they do have Bloody Mary's on Sundays so that makes up for everything.
I don't really eat much here but when I do it is always the Big Wave with Cheese on Wheat bun. Or for an appetizer I get the Island Fries which are just natural cut french fries.
Always great service here, I have never been disappointed. Try to stop in and sit at the bar and ask for Chrissy. You won't regret that night :)
-We popped in here today for a quick bite and we've been here before, so we knew what to expect. What we found today though was extra-ordinary in that the staff was REALLY making an effort to please the customers, in particular getting the orders right. Now. we're not picky people, but we do tweak our orders when we can, and sometimes we're met w/ indifference or rolling eyes. Today we encountered 2 root beers that tasted poorly due to the syrup/carbonics mixture being out of sync, no problem Jessica G. our server took care of it. In addition, my wife's burger was far too pink for her liking (and she ordered a well-done burger). Once again, Jessica Graciously took care of it IN MINUTES and Sanford the manager came by to apologize and make sure we were contented customers. My Mahi-Mahi sandwich was delicious, and I had no complaints at all. Everything else was just great, and I enjoyed the surf footage too...Cowabunga!
-Overall, the vibe was nice, the staff was friendly and they worked hard to GET IT RIGHT. It's a "CAN_DO ATTITUDE that brings me back, and we most likely will even if it's a few miles out of our way. Thanks Islands for not leaving us STRANDED!
-Signed, the "Crew of the SS NAMASTE"
The Maui burger is delicious, and the bottomless fries is even better. Â It is best to ask for more fries as soon as you get your first order because sometimes it can take a long time. Â The food is great but the service is where I would down grade to the three stars. Â By the time we ask for the third order of fries the servers seem less interested in getting it for you. Â After all isn't it bottomless? Which is usually my last, I would think that tipping is based on service not just because it is expected. Â I start at 15% and move up and down from here. Â I was a server so I know how we live for tips but you also need to earn it too.
Review Source:I was never a big fan of Islands. I've been to the Burbank location but I wasn't impressed. I reluctantly came to the Pasadena location when my friend picked the place. I have to say my experience at the Pasadena location was much better.
The lunch is pretty good. I had the burger and strawberry lemonade. My friend has the burger with soda. The bill was $25 so a bit of a better deal than dinner. I got honey mustard on the side for my fries and I really liked it! I don't know how they make their honey mustard or what they put in it but it was delicious!
The service was awesome. Our waiter was really nice and attentive. The food came out quickly and the meat was cooked exactly as ordered. My burger was actually medium. We finished our lunch in 40 minutes so I had plenty of time to get back to work. I'll definitely be back.
Endless fries or onion rings or steam veggies or salad with your burger or wrap order! Maverick burger recommended.
Service is slow and could  lag, but they're really nice.
Again, don't  order tacos or wraps or other items. They're known for their  burgers, so get it. The beef is really soft and juicy. If you're the type to love the end super  crispy crunchy fries no one touches at the end of a mcdonald's fry frenzy with friends, these are your fries.
However, I'm not a fan of the onion rings being that crispy. If it wasn't for endless fries, I would make it a 3 stars haha
Fine burgers and drinks, Islands doesn't stand a chance. This was my first time here and I thought for a burger restaurant I will get a quality burger. NOT. There was more bun than burger, where is the old lady when you need her, "Where's the beef"!
There are too many burger joints out there and this chain doesn't deliver a 'fine' burger. Sorry, I won't be going back.
My boyfriend and I are like an old married couple: we spend our weeknights at the theater, we bicker over repeating ourselves, and we eat at designated restaurants. For about a year and a half, the boyfriend and I found ourselves at Islands up to two times a week, and we just about order the same thing every time.
RECOMMEND:
- Â BURGERS: the boyfriend enjoys the classic Big Wave Burger and he gets it every time with a side of bottomless fries. I dont generally get burgers, but when I did, I ordered the one with bacon and guacamole. I tried to pace myself and eat half, but I just destroyed that meal. I never get to eat burgers, and I remembered why I love burgers: I love the toasted, buttery bun, the juicy patty, and I love cleaning off the condiments off my fingers with my mouth. Mmmm!
- Â FRIES: I love the fact that these fries are "bottomless fries," meaning that there are free refills on fries. I've noticed that everybody I'm with usually stops after the second order of fries, which is fine (I just think the option is nice). The fries aren't the best fries I've ever had, but I do appreciate the quality (they are made from fresh potato). I eat these guys with barbecue sauce, ketchup, or honey mustard.
- Â CHICKEN NACHOS: These nachos are served with real, melted cheese, sour cream, pieces of chicken, jalapenos (which aren't hot but a bit spicy), and salsa. Pretty tasty!
- Â FISH TACOS: Grilled or fried, I love these tacos because they come with cabbage slaw and a chipotle cream sauce that ties all the flavors together. The thing I don't appreciate about the tacos are the side of beans, which I don't like because the beans come with too much water. Generally I get the beans replaced with a side salad.
2 stars for the food only! I came here this past weekend and the service was super slow! Yes, it was raining, but they still had full staff and less customers, so I don't understand why it takes so long to take our order, refill the fries, bring the check and get a box. I was literally there for 2 hrs and 80% of the time I was waiting for one of the things I mentioned previously.
I luv Islands and I luv the chain, but if the service continues to be like this I'll just go to In-and-Out instead.
AMBIENCE: All their interior decorations fit the Hawaiian theme. All they are missing are the servers in hula attire, but otherwise, you feel like you're in Hawaii.
FOOD: Delicious enough to make my jaws drop. I always come here to eat the Hawaiian burger with unlimited fries. The portions are pretty big and there is no way anyone can just bite into their juicy burgers with their mouth. Better to cut it in half.
SERVICE: Great. The friendly servers stop by to ask how everything is, if we need anything, etc.
PRICE: About $12.
RECOMMENDATION: Be prepared to get your hands dirty!
Yum who doesn't love a huge burger every once in a while?! I took my parents here for the first time on Saturday, and they're not a huge fan of burgers but they liked Islands. I love the decor and the atmosphere is loud and fun.
Service: My servers are always happy-looking and that makes any dining experience more enjoyable. They'll come to check up on you and just ask how you're enjoying the food. I feel like waiters do this less and less so I like that they do it.
Cleanliness: Well when you actually eat the burgers or buffalo wings (my sister and I LOVE the buffalo wings) it's definitely going to be pretty messy, but the place is clean and there's nothing to complain about. They decorate it like their name brand, an island, and it's a cool dining experience. If you've never been to a tropical place I guess you can pretend you're in Hawaii or something, hahahah.
Food: Their burgers are pretty huge! Let me be the first to say that I eat a LOT. When we went on Saturday, we each ordered some kind of burger (except my dad, who got the fish tacos) and an order of buffalo wings. I finished my entire burger minus like two bits, and like four wings, and my fries on the side. They have endless fries but I was too full! It was super yummy.
I love Islands but I feel like I can only come once every two or three weeks, or even longer than that, because otherwise it because it's really just too much haha.
I have been here countless times with so many different groups over the years. From my high school tuba section in the marching band, my high school lunch group, random gatherings to catchup, and even for dates I have always chosen Islands as a viable place. Islands is one of those restaurants that will have lots of memories.
The wait has always been at the very MOST 30 minutes, depending on whether it was peak hours. The waiters and service is a hit and miss, but after coming here so many times some of them have recognized me and they always been really attentive. Â I shouldn't have to be a regular to get exceptional service though.
The burgers are huge, and that isn't an understatement. Each of them are juicy, diverse, delicious and almost too big for your mouth. Whether you want it slathered up in teriyaki, with avocado, onion rings, bacon, or pineapple, Islands has them all.
The bottomless fries are really just that. Endless fries. Sometimes they add way too much seasoning, and sometimes the waiters seem to intentionally slow you down and not bring out as many fries as you'd like. My record with a group of two is 4 baskets of fries after our own basket of burgers and fries.
Overall, if you want a good place to relax, catch up with friends, or just want a really great burger, Islands is the way to go.
Ive been coming here since high school...and still come here on occasions. Â Usually when i come here i order the Maui Burger and Cheddar fries...Their burgers are juicy and flavorful however i think the one thing that brings me back time and time again is their Cheddar fries with scallions and bacon bits...i can never get enough of it.
Will def be back again
Since going and eating at such a variety of places recently...I came to Islands on a whim! My first intention on Fourth of July was to go and eat Chipotle but it was closed. So the next option was try to find something that was open.
I called about four different cafe, places all around Pasadena and they were all closed!! I didn't know it was soo hard to eat on Fourth Of July!! But ok I guess this was a challange that I needed to overcome.
Next we called Panera bread and they said they would be open till 7 P.M. Well when we found this Panera bread it was right next to Islands and me and my girlfriend decided that we should just go get a burger and live a little!
Our seats were quick and our server was a nice guy. The place was pretty dead but that was good! Gave us some alone time to catch up! Woohoo!!
I ordered the burger that got Island famous- The Big Wave which includes lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and mustard. I also added the crispy onion rings for 55 cents.
When I got me meal it had fries with it and the burger was gigantic!! I was like this is all for 1,000 calories now I know why! But it was super good. I was loving it and wanting to try another burger! If this burger was great than who knows what other burgers might be also awesome too!
Yum it has been one of my best meals this week and I am soo glad that we ended up coming here randomly !! :) I now know why Islands is a popular burger chain and I'm glad I actually got to try it out.
I'm on a diet, which sucks, but Islands made it really bearable!
You can get your burger sandwiched in between Romaine leaves, which was insanely delicious. You need a knife and fork because it's so big! I also tried their side salad with low calorie ranch and it was okay. The ranch didn't taste like ranch at all, but it was tasty. I tried my mom's "turkey light" burger and it was insanely good!
I'll definitely be back now that I know they have meals under 500 calories that are crazy delicious.
I get sick thinking of Islands' burgers. They're mediocre, bland, and dry most of the time. Islands' burgers are too... plain? to cost as much as it does. Okay, maybe 'plain' isn't the right word -- they stack on their burgers with a lot of stuff. Â I guess what I'm trying to say is that their burgers are so overwhelming with so many ingredients that it just isn't flavorful altogether. Â The burgers are heavy and they're not good. The fries that accompany the burgers are virtually flavorless and sometimes soggy (I like my french fries to have a bit of crunch). Â Their spinach dip, although very oily and fatty, is really good, though.
I think Islands is a fun place to take your little cousins or siblings but it doesn't satisfy my burger cravings. If you want quality burgers, go try The Counter, Father's Office, Umami Burger, Peter's Gourmade Grill, Irv's Burgers, (or In & Out even!) or... switch it up a little and try a burger waffle from Bruxie in Orange.
Islands is one of those restaurants that you have to try at least once. They used to be one of the places to go to for a great hamburger. Now they have a bunch of other competitors. Anyways Islands is a California surfer themed restaurant that serves a wide variety of hamburgers. They also serve fries. You can order your hamburger with various toppings and can also order how you want your hamburger cooked. A basket of fries are extra as it does not come with your hamburger. Â They also serve salads and tacos. I usually order the dinner Caesar salad and it is good! You can also order the bottomless sodas, which means endless refills of your favorite soda. A burger will run you around 7-9 bucks depending on what you order.
You can order their chips and dip, which is a fun appetizer for a big group. Their dining area is always nice and it feels like you're in a surfer's hut. The lighting isn't too bright and the surfer type music is blaring through their speakers. The dining area is pretty big and you normally don't have to wait a long time for a table. There is a waiting area when you go through the doors or you can wait outside.
They accept cash and credit cards. Parking is in front of Islands but can be packed due to the other restaurants in the area. So if you're looking for a surfer themed hamburger joint to go to, Islands is there for you.
I used to go to Islands all the time when I was a kid, and I remember enjoying the fake birds that hung out near the ceilings. Â I stopped going at some point, and later heard from a friend that her family stopped going when her mom found a cockroach in her food. Â Yikes.
Still, sometimes you have limited options and limited time, and you go to Islands. Â I actually had a decent meal. Â Our waitress was friendly, and the vibe was chill. Â The menu listed calorie counts next to every item, most of which were frightening. Â I ended up ordering a healthy menu item and it was fairly tasty. Â This was the Northshore tacos, limited, two corn tortillas with spicy chicken, cheddar, lettuce, and tomatoes, with beans and salsa on the side. Â Nothing amazing, but easily edible. Â My boyfriend ordered a burger and fries, and both were mediocre.
I would never go out of my way for islands, and on most days - when I'm not, for instance, in the middle of taking the bar - I would probably think hard and find a better option. Â The place isn't dismal, though, and as long as you don't get roaches you'll do okay.
OK burger chain restaurant, Ive eaten at sooo many of these I figured I should comment. Idk what keeps bringing me back? The food is good but never great, prices are average (should be cheaper), and I always have horrible service! No matter what location I go to we always end up waiting a while to get our food and get out. It should take under 30 mins but normally takes an hour. My mom and I even went right when it opened and it still took forever.
I would come back for the food if it wasnt so pricey, since its a chain they just try to rip you off by charging top dollar for something that no one leaves thinking that it was amazing.
As far as food goes:
Fish tacos are always tasty, but not filling.
Tasty Burgers
Tasty Fries
I LOVE their coke/lime frozen drinks.
Overall its not horrible but im just tired of the crappy service and waits.
This place is simply not worth your time or money. The menu selections are dull and uninspired, and the food is very salty. Look at the nutritional menu sometime. An average of 1,200-1,500mg of sodium per serving! I know no one goes to Islands for healthy food but there has got to be a way to serve food with lower a sodium content than the Great Salt Lake. Plus these guys won't cook a burger below medium. Maybe this is because the Islands corporation supplies poor quality meat?
Prices run between $8-10 for each item on the menu. For their boring overcooked burgers this is far too expensive.
Aside from all the above, the service was quick and attentive, even as the evening dinner rush went into full swing.
There are better burger places a few blocks away. Only go here if you have no choice, like for instance if you're being held up at gunpoint by two guys in suits demanding a briefcase.
I wouldn't have considered Island's anything too special before coming to this one, as a joint known mostly for it's surf cuisine, Mexican food, big burgers, and bottomless fries, but what they do, they really do well.
Our server was so on top of things, keeping our drinks full and being attentive overall. Â The bottomless fries (which now come with every sandwich/burger) are awesome and well-seasoned. Â They are crispy but not oily and almost taste baked even though the menu says they are fried with no trans-fats. Â I got the sliders, which were great and two of the four filled me up (with some fries of course). Â The rotisserie chicken half served with tortillas and salsa was also really good, tender and way too much for one person. Â My brother got onion rings which were so tasty he refused to share. Â The sandwich only came with 4, after all.
This is definitely a casual restaurant but the food is well-executed. Â It's perfect for families with kids or friends meeting up over a few drinks.
I ate here last week due to a sudden craving after not having any for more than a year (I got kind of sick of it due to having the same thing every week). Â
Anyways, I missed it! Â I ordered the Toucan and it was just as good as I remembered. Â The BEST part is that the fries now come with any burger/sandwich! Â You cannot believe how ecstatic I was when I saw the advertisement 'cause I loved the fries and it was like $5 a basket. Â They hands down have the best fries.
Our waitress was very on-her-hands-and-feet most of the time without being eccentric. Â Every time she saw that we didn't have any lemonade left in our cup, before we even noticed we didn't have anything left to drink and wanted to request a refill, she had already given us a new cup. Â Love the place!
Roger (my friend): "I'll have the endless soup.."
Aaron (my other friend): "We'll start with a basket of fries and I'll have the Hula...."
me: "I'll have the Maui...." (you guys know about my time-saving ordering system)
Server (whose name I forgot): "Just to let you guys know, the burgers are served with fries now, so if you wanted to sub those out for a salad, you can still get the basket of fries...."
all of us: "What? Â really?"
me: "when did you guys start doing that?"
server: "like a week and a half ago..."
me: "and that's across the chain?"
server: "yeah"
Riveting dinner conversations with an old friend? Si.
Cheddar Cheese Fries? Yes Please. I'm not sharing with you, I mean, I just ran a marathon for fuck's sake! I'm entitled to a fatty meal! AHHH!!!!
Substitute a "meh" veggie patty on any burger? Check.
Strawberry Daiquiri? Absolutely......GAY!
I is satisfied, if not a little gassy.
Well technically three and a half stars it's just hamburgers that's it. The other stuff like tacos and stuff I suspect, are only there to give it a more tropical theme to it. First off the food wasn't bad at all it just wasn't spectacular or anything and I know that it's a chain so I also took that into consideration.
The thing about theme restaurants that I never really understood was, whats the point? I mean you really need to be delusional or 8 to be fooled by restaurant themes. Islands manages to take two things, hamburgers, and tropical island paradises, which can't be further apart and turn it into a theme. I don't get this because when the hell have you seen someone stranded  on a tropical paradise chowing down on the most typical of typical foods. Lets see if I can come up with a few CRAZY themes myself...
sushi in a military theme
Italian food in a car factory
banana splits in a mummy tomb
Chinese food in space
chicken in a gold mine...oh wait
yeah so overall Islands is pretty good the hamburgers were pretty tasty and you can't go wrong with any of the choices they give you. Ive tried the tacos but you can get better for cheaper in other places so yeah if your in the mood for hamburgers on a deserted tropical island inhabited by other restaurant goers this is your place!
* fish tacos are delicious.
* nachos are cold and hard (that's what she said)
* burgers are average to just above average
* atmosphere is fun and lively. Â Â
* Also, on the T.V. why do they always have snowboarding? Â Island food doesnt make me want to do an ollie. Â strange.
GO LAKERS!
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