Disney Aulani has a total of 10 restaurants, offering options ranging from elegant Hawaiian cuisine to quick-service spots serving delicious burgers, sophisticated bars crafting a variety of cocktails, and themed restaurants where you can enjoy character dining with beloved Disney characters like Mickey & Minnie.
It's important to note that Disney Aulani isn’t an all-inclusive resort, so you'll need to pay for your meals at each restaurant. Dining expenses can add up quickly, especially when factoring in beverages and desserts. Some guests opt to dine at nearby restaurants across the street or purchase food from a convenience store and bring it to their rooms. This is a perfectly valid strategy, by the way.
Good news: currently, you don’t need to dress formally to dine at Disney Aulani. Bad news: some restaurants do require reservations, and it's highly recommended to make reservations up to 30 days in advance for certain dining establishments.
Restaurants at Disney Aulani & Reservations
Currently, there are four restaurants at Disney Aulani that require your attention regarding reservations.
- ‘Ama‘Ama (reservations recommended)
- Ka Wa‘A (reservations are required)
- Makahiki (reservations are recommended, especially for character breakfast)
Dining Types to Disney Aulani
At Aulani, you'll find a wide range of dining options. From restaurants like Ama Ama that specialize in Hawaiian cuisine to choices catering to picky eaters, there's something for everyone. We recommend booking reservations for Ama Ama, Ka Wa’A, and Makahiki at least thirty days in advance and visiting them at least once during your stay.
Just a heads up: if you have any allergies, inform the front desk upon arrival so meals can be prepared with your health in mind.
Here is the list of restaurants at Disney Aulani and the types of food they offer:
- ‘Ama ‘Ama (hawaiian)
- Ka Wa’A (hawaiian)
- Makahiki (international)
- Ulu Cafe (snacks & sandwiches)
- Off the Hook (beers & fast food)
- The Olelo Room (cocktails, sushi & more)
- Wailana Pool bar (beers & fast food)
- Mama’s Snack Stop (comfort food)
- Papalua Shave Ice (desserts)
- Little Opihi’s (snacks)
The restaurants at Disney Aulani are divided into:
Quick-service restaurants
You just need to order your food at a counter, grab it, and you’re good to go. Casual restaurants and food trucks often follow this style. These spots are perfect for a quick bite, offering items like tacos, hamburgers, pizza, and fries. Ulu Cafe is a quick-service restaurant open from 11am all the way to 9pm.
Sit-Down restaurants & Buffet
Fancy dining options typically fit this description. Guests sit down and order their food à la carte, similar to a traditional restaurant. Many places that offer Italian and French cuisine follow this style. Some restaurants offer buffets throughout the day, while others transition from buffet to a traditional à la carte style in the evening.
What do you wear to dinner in Disney Aulani?
Many guests often wonder what to wear when going out for dinner. “Do I need to dress all fancy? Do I need a beautiful dress or the tuxedo I last wore to my high school prom?” Relax, friends.
As of 2024, every restaurant at Disney Aulani requires only Resort Casual attire. This means you just need shorts, a t-shirt, and slippers to dine at any restaurant. However, we still recommend bringing one fancy outfit for a romantic night out or a special event or party.
Let’s take a look at the restaurants waiting for you, from the best choices to quick-service options and sit-down restaurants.
The Best restaurants at Disney Aulani
Ka Wa’A
Type: Resort casual, Hawaiian, show, reservation required, sit down, dinner.
Price: Depends. Usually starting at $180 for adults ($110 for children) for general seating; $210 for adults ($130 for children) for preferred seating.
Check out the Dinner Menu
Welcome to the most unique restaurant at Disney Aulani. Ka Wa’A isn’t only a place to have dinner, but you will sit down, eat and enjoy traditional Hawaii performers and dancers for three hours during a very special luau! There are even pre-activities before the main shows, where you can walk around and partake in ukulele sessions, learn how to make your own lei, get a temporary tattoo and much more.
The activities last one hour, from 5pm to 6pm, and that’s when the preferred seating comes into play: sure, you are going to be seated closer to the main stage, but the main perk of being a preferred guest is that you can check in before anyone else, so you can partake in the activities as early as possible. All these activities (and the food) is included in the price.
The food is good, and there is even a bar offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You can eat as much as you want for the duration of the show, so save space in your belly for seafood, ribs and more. The show itself is also pretty fun and amazing for kids! It even has Moana welcoming the crowd to the luau, and you can see Mickey and Minnie dancing on stage. If you have kids, you should come here at least once.
Makahiki
Type: Resort Casual, International cuisine, reservation recommended, character dining, sit-down, breakfast, dinner.
Price: 3-course character breakfast at $50 ($29 for children), $75 for dinner.
Check out the Breakfast Menu and the Dinner Menu
Makahiki is popular at Disney Aulani for one special reason: it's the only place in the resort offering a character breakfast. This means you should make a reservation thirty days before your trip to ensure you can get a photo with Mickey and his friends.
The three-course meal isn’t a buffet, but it's plentiful, and you have the opportunity to take photos with classic Disney characters like Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip & Dale. The breakfast receives positive reviews, with guests praising the above-average quality of the food. However, dinner tends to receive negative feedback; guests often find the price too high for the average quality of the meal.
Quick-Service restaurants at Disney Aulani
Ulu Cafe
Type: Resort Casual, snacks, quick service, breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Price: Sandwiches cost around $18; Poke Bowls are $22.
Check out the All-Day Menu
Ulu Cafe is open all day, from 11am to 9pm, offering a selection of drinks and comfort food such as acai bowls, sandwiches, and burgers. Located conveniently near the pools, Ulu Cafe has limited outdoor seating, as many guests prefer to grab their food and return to the pool. While sandwiches are considered slightly pricey, they receive positive reviews with guests praising the fresh ingredients.
Off the Hook
Type: Resort Casual, fast food, quick-service, breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Price: beer costs $8-10, sandwiches are about $25.
Check out the Breakfast Menu and the Traditional Menu
Off the Hook is a bar and restaurant situated by the main pools. While prices are a bit higher than at Ulu Cafe, the dishes are more carefully crafted. Staff members also roam around the pools to take orders, allowing you to order a beer without leaving your spot and still enjoying a nice tan.
Wailana Pool Bar
Type: Resort Casual, beers & fast food, quick-service, lunch.
Price: 4-course dinner at $125 ($55 for children), wine pairing costs $65.
Check out the Menu
Wait a minute… the Wailana Pool Bar offers the same menu as the Off the Hook Bar! Huh. Well, they are basically the same, and the name doesn’t lie: this is a bar right by the pool. Do you like beer and sandwiches? Then you will probably enjoy this place.
The ‘Ōlelo Room
Type: Resort Casual, drinks & snacks, quick-service, breakfast, dinner.
Price: $7 for a cappuccino, $16 for a cocktail, $23 for 8 pieces of Sushi
Check out the Breakfast Menu and the Traditional Menu
The Olelo Room serves primarily as a grab-and-go restaurant, ideal for a quick bite. They offer a variety of cocktails and alcoholic beverages, and they also serve breakfast. However, the breakfast menu is simple, featuring coffee and Portuguese sweets called Malasadas. From 5pm to 10pm, The Olelo Room offers specialty cocktails, sake, sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls.
Mama’s Snack Stop
Type: Resort Casual, snacks, quick-service, lunch.
Price: Local Style Fish & Chips at $16, Chicken Tenders cost $15.
This classic shack offers comfort food that evokes memories of Disney World! They serve items like chicken tenders, sandwiches, and fries. Compared to other quick-service options, this place tends to be less crowded and often has more affordable prices, though the food quality is just average. The Local Style Fish & Chips is often regarded as the best item on the menu.
Papalua Shave Ice
Type: Resort Casual, desserts, quick service, lunch.
Price: usually $6.
Check out the Menu
Shave ice is a must-try Hawaiian classic that you shouldn't miss. It's especially refreshing during the peak of summer or after enjoying the waterslides multiple times. You can enjoy it in the traditional Hawaiian style with condensed milk and ice cream, or try the simple version. You can even add Mickey ears for just $1! Prices are quite reasonable, typically around $6.
Little ‘Opihi's
Type: Resort Casual, snacks, quick-service, lunch.
Price: $7 for an ice-cream, $12 for a Waffle Bowl.
Check out the Menu
Little Opihi’s is conveniently located at the base of the pool stairs, right by the beach, making it the only spot along the beachfront to grab a quick snack. If you don't want to leave the comfort of the sands and that beautiful ocean view, you should come here. They offer fruits on a stick, ice cream, waffle bowls and cold beer.
Sit-Down & Buffet restaurants at Disney Aulani
‘Ama ‘Ama
Type: Resort Casual, Hawaiian, reservation recommended, sit-down, dinner.
Price: 4-course dinner at $125 ($55 for children), wine pairing costs $65.
Check out the Dinner Menu
This is THE fanciest restaurant in the whole resort, but still asks you to just dress casually. ‘Ama ‘Ama is closed on Tuesdays and opens for dinner. Make sure to reserve a spot well in advance if you plan to eat there! Even for a fancy restaurant, ‘Ama ‘Ama looks simple yet cute, and offers some incredible ocean views.
It might be a good idea to come here at 5pm - when the restaurant opens - to enjoy the sunset. The food is good, but probably not $125-dollars-good. Should you go there at least once? Sure, especially to check out the sunset. The whole experience is great, and keep in mind that the 4-course dinner can take from 2 to 3 hours.
The Best restaurants NEAR Disney Aulani
Feeling like Disney Aulani is too pricey or the food isn't hitting the spot? No worries. We've curated a list of top-rated restaurants that consistently earn rave reviews and make frequent appearances on Hawaii's 'best restaurants' lists. Remember, you don't have to stay close to Mickey all the time to enjoy delicious food and have a fantastic vacation.
Eggs ‘n Things
Type: Resort casual, pancakes & waffles, sit-down, breakfast, across the street from Disney Aulani.
Price: hot chocolate for $4, Fresh fruit rainbow pancakes for $20, Fresh Strawberry Whipped Cream Pancake for $18.
Check out the Menu
This is often considered one of the best breakfast spots near Aulani, and it’s just across the street from the resort! Make sure to wake up early and walk over. Eggs ‘n Things is a small restaurant, so it can fill up quickly. You can make a reservation by clicking the link above. The most important thing? The food receives excellent reviews.
Broke Da Mouth Grindz
Type: Resort casual, grab to go, Hawaiian & polynesian, quick-service, lunch, 5 minutes away from Disney Aulani if you get an Uber.
Price: usually cheap, $15-20 for lots of food.
The fried garlic chicken is a huge hit here. Another great thing? The price. For around $15, you can get a lot of food. This is a takeout-only spot, so there aren’t any seating areas. You can buy your meal and eat outside or bring it back to your room. Many locals frequent this restaurant, so you know it’s good. If your room has a microwave, you can even save some for later.
Mina’s Fish House
Type: Resort casual, seafood & hawaiian, sit-down, dinner, right next to Disney Aulani.
Price: $110 for a three-course meal.
Check out the Menu
Mina’s Fish House might be one of the best restaurants in Hawaii, and is located in the Four Seasons resort - that is next to Disney Aulani! It has a 4.7/5 rating on Trip Advisor and often features in lists of the Top 10 restaurants in Hawaii. It was opened by Michal Mina, a James Bear award-winning chef. Now, do I know what a James Bear is? Nope. Does this mean that this restaurant is good? Prooobably yes. This restaurant has a romantic feel to it featuring incredible views of the ocean AND good food. That’s the perfect combo.
Monkeypod Kitchen
Type: Resort casual, hawaiian & pizza, sit-down, lunch, dinner, across the street from Disney Aulani.
Price: $21 for a Marguerita Pizza, $19 for a Big Island Cheeseburger, $49 for a Seared Ahi Steak.
Check out the Menu
This restaurant feels almost like a part of Disney Aulani due to its immense popularity. Sometimes, reservations are necessary to get a table. Located just across the street from Aulani, you can easily visit whenever you like. The menu offers a wide variety of options, including pizza, burgers, steaks, and fish, all at reasonable prices. Isn’t it funny that this is one of the few places with pizza on the menu?
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