Love this spot! I've been coming here for 12+ years but don't live close so I don't come as often as I want. Decided to stop and so happy I did! Food is great, per usual and Jordan was super nice too! Thank you Nalu's I always get the panko crusted seared ahi tuna and it's exactly as I remember. LOVE IT!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kenny Dang
Food was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
D D
Don’t know if it’s fact or fiction but the two employees there tonight (Sat 2024JAN13 7p) claimed computer froze so they closed early while 8 customers wanted to order dinner. If fiction, you lost a lot of business because your employees didn’t want to stay open.Came back a week later 1/20 & this time excuse from same 2 guy for closing 7p is because they ran out of rice. Really, that’s one of the main staple item with every dish & they’re out?Owner needs to look into how these guys are causing lost business while getting paid for doing nothing the last hour the store is open.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jon Lundfelt
Meh. Waiting for their lease to expire at this location.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
B S
Great hole in the wall spot for Hawaiian food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Crystal B.
Omg I tried the seafood noodles stir fried and it was super salty no flavor fishy that make me want to throw up!!! Talked to the waitress she told me this how customers there refer to eat like that . Yucky
Carolyn M
The food here is always delicious and satisfying. However they have cut back on the portion and raised prices, but I will still go back. The staff is nice and pretty quick when making our order. Definitely recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arshad H.
Nalu's Hawaiian Fish is a casual Hawaiian place offering grilled meats as well as katsu, served with some sides. I didn't have high expectations when I visited but was pleasantly surprised by the pricing and offerings here. Each plate comes with 3 sides: rice (white or brown), slaw, and macaroni salad. I'm watching my carbs so I always ask for slaw to replace the rice and macaroni sides.Chicken ($12) - By default they grill chicken breast but they do offer chicken thigh as an option. The chicken is plentiful though a little on the drier side unfortunately. It tastes like it was marinated with a soy sauce. It pairs nicely with the freshly made coleslaw.Salmon ($13) - The salmon is my favorite here. It has great flavor and is tender with a wonderful caramelized soy glaze. They also offer ahi tuna and mahi mahi as options, which both sound great and something I'll probably get on subsequent visits.Overall, the prices are reasonable here and service is fast and efficient. I definitely look forward to coming back again and trying other items on the menu.
Daph H.
The coleslaw was the best part of my meal. After reading some of the Yelp reviews, I was kind of scared to try this place. I got the Teri chicken breast, which I thought would be safe. The menu said that chicken thigh was available, but it was not. It was extremely average, with an odd texture. Entrees come with rice, mac salad and that coleslaw. My husband got the kalua pork & cabbage and said that the coleslaw was good. Not the pork, which I tried and was disappointed by.Giving this place a generous three stars. I may give them another try, just in case I caught them on an off day. Plenty of free parking in the lot!
Brandon V.
I don't usually go out to eat, but it's Friday and wanted to treat myself to a good salad. They're hard to find! Since Nalu's is 10 minutes from my work I decided to call my order in for the Tutu Eat Right Salad with Salmon. I've had it plenty of times before and it's normally delicious. This time wasn't super bad, there were a couple issues with my experience today. First, when I came in and told him my name for the order he said, "ok, it's $28" I was like, what? For one salad? He said you ordered two. I corrected and said no, I ordered one TuTu salad with salmon. I can see why he may have thought I ordered two, so no big deal. I just waited while they made the correct salad. He gave it to me within a few minutes and I took it to work. When I got to work I was a little disappointed that there was no lemon wedge like I normally get and maybe that contributed to the somewhat muted flavor of this one. Not the end of the world, but when I took my first bite all the "fresh" ingredients were warm, like the kale lettuce, tomato, etc. the tomato especially tasted like it had just been sitting out awhile. Overall, just disappointing to pay nearly $20 for a salad of this quality when I could have walked to a nearby cafe and spent less than half of what this cost me for a decent salad. I still love their menu, but sad to see how the quality has changed. I guess I'll go back another time when it is not as busy and hopefully they turn it around. I'll take my time coming back to let them get their kitchen in order.
At approx. 5pm, I call to order pickup and they hang up. What the heck? As I live within walking distance and decided to go to Alberton's to get a whole chicken at half the price of what I was going to get here, I went in the store to inquire. I met a guy at the front (he's a heavy-set individual who wears white ear buds and a hat) and I asked him why he hung up on me? he claimed the phone does not work, but the phone clearly was working when I called him. I asked him if they were taking pick up orders and he said no, which is weird because they are open until 7:30. I then proceed to leave the store, and he and the other line cook started to laugh and giggle as I walked away. I looked back at them in disgust and the heavy-set individual at the front started cussing at me. Wonderful people, eh? Not sure I'd trust them with the food you put in your mouth
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Kendra Knight
The favorite restaurant in our entire family is this one.What more could you ask for—great food, excellent services, and an ideal location? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephanie E.
Hawaiian food is one of my favorites to order for takeout. Since moving to Irvine, Nalu's has always been my go-to. I always order their chicken katsu plate with double mac salad. Easily split between two people or enough to split between two meals (also, no shame if you eat the entire thing in one sitting... it is that good LOL!)My only critique would be that they out the mac salad in the same to-go container as the rice and chicken katsu... It just doesn't feel right to me.
Russ Brown
Disappointed with the mahi mahi sandwich. The fish was literally the same thickness as the slice of American cheese. If you like dry cabbage you'll love this sandwich.
amy alloway
The macaroni salad was the best thing I can say anything good about. My chicken Katsu was extremely dry and over fried, almost as if it was premade, and they reheated it again, which dried it out. The rice was good, but came with a very small scoop for a huge plate. The spam musubi was good, but very lacking in flavor there was no teriyaki or any kind of dressing within the spam musubi, which is not traditional Hawaiian. If they were going for a very untraditional way of representation of Hawaiian food, then they’re on that path. The actual place itself is very clean and very Hawaiian themed.
Love this spot! I've been coming here for 12+ years but don't live close so I don't come as often as I want. Decided to stop and so happy I did! Food is great, per usual and Jordan was super nice too! Thank you Nalu's I always get the panko crusted seared ahi tuna and it's exactly as I remember. LOVE IT!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t know if it’s fact or fiction but the two employees there tonight (Sat 2024JAN13 7p) claimed computer froze so they closed early while 8 customers wanted to order dinner. If fiction, you lost a lot of business because your employees didn’t want to stay open.Came back a week later 1/20 & this time excuse from same 2 guy for closing 7p is because they ran out of rice. Really, that’s one of the main staple item with every dish & they’re out?Owner needs to look into how these guys are causing lost business while getting paid for doing nothing the last hour the store is open.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Meh. Waiting for their lease to expire at this location.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Great hole in the wall spot for Hawaiian food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Omg I tried the seafood noodles stir fried and it was super salty no flavor fishy that make me want to throw up!!! Talked to the waitress she told me this how customers there refer to eat like that . Yucky
The food here is always delicious and satisfying. However they have cut back on the portion and raised prices, but I will still go back. The staff is nice and pretty quick when making our order. Definitely recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nalu's Hawaiian Fish is a casual Hawaiian place offering grilled meats as well as katsu, served with some sides. I didn't have high expectations when I visited but was pleasantly surprised by the pricing and offerings here. Each plate comes with 3 sides: rice (white or brown), slaw, and macaroni salad. I'm watching my carbs so I always ask for slaw to replace the rice and macaroni sides.Chicken ($12) - By default they grill chicken breast but they do offer chicken thigh as an option. The chicken is plentiful though a little on the drier side unfortunately. It tastes like it was marinated with a soy sauce. It pairs nicely with the freshly made coleslaw.Salmon ($13) - The salmon is my favorite here. It has great flavor and is tender with a wonderful caramelized soy glaze. They also offer ahi tuna and mahi mahi as options, which both sound great and something I'll probably get on subsequent visits.Overall, the prices are reasonable here and service is fast and efficient. I definitely look forward to coming back again and trying other items on the menu.
The coleslaw was the best part of my meal. After reading some of the Yelp reviews, I was kind of scared to try this place. I got the Teri chicken breast, which I thought would be safe. The menu said that chicken thigh was available, but it was not. It was extremely average, with an odd texture. Entrees come with rice, mac salad and that coleslaw. My husband got the kalua pork & cabbage and said that the coleslaw was good. Not the pork, which I tried and was disappointed by.Giving this place a generous three stars. I may give them another try, just in case I caught them on an off day. Plenty of free parking in the lot!
I don't usually go out to eat, but it's Friday and wanted to treat myself to a good salad. They're hard to find! Since Nalu's is 10 minutes from my work I decided to call my order in for the Tutu Eat Right Salad with Salmon. I've had it plenty of times before and it's normally delicious. This time wasn't super bad, there were a couple issues with my experience today. First, when I came in and told him my name for the order he said, "ok, it's $28" I was like, what? For one salad? He said you ordered two. I corrected and said no, I ordered one TuTu salad with salmon. I can see why he may have thought I ordered two, so no big deal. I just waited while they made the correct salad. He gave it to me within a few minutes and I took it to work. When I got to work I was a little disappointed that there was no lemon wedge like I normally get and maybe that contributed to the somewhat muted flavor of this one. Not the end of the world, but when I took my first bite all the "fresh" ingredients were warm, like the kale lettuce, tomato, etc. the tomato especially tasted like it had just been sitting out awhile. Overall, just disappointing to pay nearly $20 for a salad of this quality when I could have walked to a nearby cafe and spent less than half of what this cost me for a decent salad. I still love their menu, but sad to see how the quality has changed. I guess I'll go back another time when it is not as busy and hopefully they turn it around. I'll take my time coming back to let them get their kitchen in order.
Restaurantji Recommends
At approx. 5pm, I call to order pickup and they hang up. What the heck? As I live within walking distance and decided to go to Alberton's to get a whole chicken at half the price of what I was going to get here, I went in the store to inquire. I met a guy at the front (he's a heavy-set individual who wears white ear buds and a hat) and I asked him why he hung up on me? he claimed the phone does not work, but the phone clearly was working when I called him. I asked him if they were taking pick up orders and he said no, which is weird because they are open until 7:30. I then proceed to leave the store, and he and the other line cook started to laugh and giggle as I walked away. I looked back at them in disgust and the heavy-set individual at the front started cussing at me. Wonderful people, eh? Not sure I'd trust them with the food you put in your mouth
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
The favorite restaurant in our entire family is this one.What more could you ask for—great food, excellent services, and an ideal location? ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hawaiian food is one of my favorites to order for takeout. Since moving to Irvine, Nalu's has always been my go-to. I always order their chicken katsu plate with double mac salad. Easily split between two people or enough to split between two meals (also, no shame if you eat the entire thing in one sitting... it is that good LOL!)My only critique would be that they out the mac salad in the same to-go container as the rice and chicken katsu... It just doesn't feel right to me.
Disappointed with the mahi mahi sandwich. The fish was literally the same thickness as the slice of American cheese. If you like dry cabbage you'll love this sandwich.
The macaroni salad was the best thing I can say anything good about. My chicken Katsu was extremely dry and over fried, almost as if it was premade, and they reheated it again, which dried it out. The rice was good, but came with a very small scoop for a huge plate. The spam musubi was good, but very lacking in flavor there was no teriyaki or any kind of dressing within the spam musubi, which is not traditional Hawaiian. If they were going for a very untraditional way of representation of Hawaiian food, then they’re on that path. The actual place itself is very clean and very Hawaiian themed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Macaroni Salad