Tropic'aina Bar & Grill

We LOVED this place! The first time we stopped and 6 of us had Pork Sandwiches, Burgers and a Platter of Garlic Shrimp. We ate out on the patio and I got bit a few times by mosquito's but that's no big deal. The view was spectacular and as we sat there taking in the view several Kite Gliders came soaring over the mountain. We stayed on Oahu for a month and before we left the 6 of us had to visit this Tropicaina Bar & Grill one more time. This time I came prepared with Mosquito propellant wipes and had no problems with the mosquito's. The Garlic Shrimp was so good that we each ordered our own platter and drinks. I felt the price was excellent. The little shrimp trucks are a joke compared to the quality and quantity of shrimp served at the Tropicaina. We only paid $14.95 for 30 large pieces of Garlic Shrimp. When we ordered 6 platters the waitress was a bit shocked but we all had a good laugh and I will eat here again next time!

My wife and I stopped here on our way to the airport from Turtle Bay and this place was one of the highlights of our trip. Our server Sheila was the sweetest lady and we talked like old friends for a long time as she related some of the local mythology. My wife had a burger and I had the mahi fish & chips. The burger was perfect and most certainly fresh beef. Don't know what these folks are talking about with the frozen b.s. I savour beef on special occasions and couldn't help but eat half of my wife's burger it was so good. I washed everything down with a huge papaya mango smoothie that was creamy and delicious. The outdoor dining area had a beautiful view of the cliffs. We didn't get bothered by mosquitos but I had to keep an eye on the bold as hell marauding chickens. Seriously, give them a kick.

Bottom line in my opinion is that this place has been unfairly slammed by my fellow reviewers. Giving a place 1 star based on a to-go burger that sat in a bag for a while makes no sense. And 2 stars based on a grilled cheese that was apparently "yummy"? I'm afraid you have complained too much "brewgirl". Complaining about mosquitos in the tropics like it's the restaurant's fault? WTF!
News Flash! Things are more expensive on the islands! So don't be surprised at spending more than $10 for a burger. But even with island prices we got stuffed for less than $35.

My wife and I have been to several of the islands several times now and spent our honeymoon on Kauai and the big isle. We love the people and lifestyle. We feel at home there and it gets my goat when people review a place with the same expectations they have in a metropolis.

This isn't a 5 star place but I have to wipe some of the egg off their face. This is an isolated restaurant on the northeast shore of Oahu with real island charm if you've got the eye for this stuff. It's a tourist trap for tourists and the real thing for locals. Snobs should pass it up. It's not gourmet but if you're looking for some good Hawaiian/American eats served with some real Hawaiian charm then it's a good stop.

Sheila is the best and she gives good hugs. We look forward to seeing her again as we'll definitely eat here next time we're on Oahu. Aloha Sheila!

Definitely a MUST to stop at when visiting the island of Oahu, or even being a local.  I moved to the island just over a year ago and have driven by this location several times , and each time telling myself "One day I'll stop there."  Now I'm moving back to the mainland and finally decided to make a visit.  And this is how it goes....

Almost buried under tress and brush sits this little getaway from the rest of the world.  Tropic'aina Bar & Grill, but you would never know that just by looking at the place.  Once inside, you senses almost become overwhelmed.  The aroma from the kitchen fills the interior, with sounds of local music echoing in the air, and just the sheer sight of the brightly colored walls and amazing mountain vistas.  This is exactly what you pictured Hawaiian restaurants to be like in your dreams, nothing like the fake tourist trap businesses found in Waikiki.

The food itself will be hit or miss with some people, but that depends on what your looking for.  Most tourist are looking for flavor that bursts off their tongue, or something more reminiscent of home.  But if your looking for real, and I mean REAL hawaiian flavor, look no further than this.  I had the Kalua Pork Sandwich, which was brought to me very quickly by the way, and you can tell just by looking at it, that it was fresh.  I don't remember seeing any pigs running around anywhere, but my sandwich might be the reason why.  Extremely tender and juicy, this is what Kalua Pork REALLY is.  Now this isn't Wolfgang Puck's or anything close, but you definitely know that this was made with local flavor.  I have eaten at many local places, but something about the quality and taste of the food here is different, and real.  Something you can't find anywhere else.

If there is another good reason to visit, it's Laura, the waitress here.  She provided a warm and friendly feel that could only be found at home.  With service done quickly and with a smile, she instantly made me feel welcome.  Laura even took the time to talk with me about the place (which by the way was opened in the 1960's by Don Ho) and let me feel like the place was mine.  She called me by my first name when asking if I needed anything.  She even let me walk around the facility looking at the birds and scenery without having to worry about a waitress chasing me down thinking I didn't pay.

Overall:
Tropic'aina Bar & Grill is one of my favorite new places to eat on the island.  This is not a place for tourists, this is a place for travelers.  A place where you can experience real local flavor, without the tacky luaus or souvenir T-shirts.  You aren't going to be "Wow'd" by the flavor's here, but the experience as a whole that will "Wow" you.  Throughout my stay on the island, I have never felt more far away from everything, yet felt so welcome.  This is what a REAL Hawaiian dining experience is like.