A full review of the new Wailulu Bar & Grill, part of Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in Walt Disney World.
There are few things in life I love more than a tropical meal on vacation. A delicious, refreshing drink in hand, bar food, and a view of the sunset just scream of paradise to me. So when I learned about the newest dining location at Disney World, Wailulu Bar & Grill at the new Island Tower, I had a feeling it may be love at first sight (spoiler alert: it was).
Wailulu Bar & Grill Overview
Wailulu Bar & Grill is located on the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon, just steps away from Island Tower’s Cove Pool. The restaurant is comprised of three separate parts: there’s the walk-up bar with lounge seating, leading into outdoor tables and booths with unparalleled views of the water.
Photo by CJ Ayd
The restaurant also offers indoor seating, which still allows you to take advantage of the views of Seven Seas Lagoon by way of floor-to-ceiling windows.
Menu
The restaurant features menu items influenced by ingredients common in the Polynesian islands, with its own Disney twist. Chef Brian Piasecki, Culinary Director at Walt Disney World, expanded on the influence. “It all started with really bringing in some cultural representatives to really kind of walk us through what it’s like to live in the islands, what it’s like to really experience life in Polynesia,” Chef Brian explained to WDW Magazine. “We had several conversations [about] what is popular, [and] what is very common in that bar, family-style type of restaurant.”
Chef Brian Piasecki. Photo by CJ Ayd
The influence is evident from the menu, where the all-day lunch and dinner include items such as loco moco, spam, sweet potatoes, and more. The restaurant serves grab-and-go breakfast options as well, including bites like Pineapple-Coconut Bread, Cinnamon Buns, and a Banana Muffin. But, if you’re really looking to partake in Polynesian inspired flavors, lunch and dinner are when you’ll get it. Here’s a look at the full menu.
Wailulu Bar & Grill Breakfast
Food
- Croissant ($4.29)
- Banana Muffin ($4.49)
- Fresh Fruit ($4.19)
- Cinnamon Bun ($4.99)
- Pineapple-Coconut Bread ($4.79)
- Strawberry Yogurt Parfait ($5.99)
Drinks
- Orange Juice ($5.29)
- Apple Juice ($4.29)
- Small Whole Milk ($2.29)
- Small Skim Milk ($2.29)
- Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew ($4.79)
- DASANI Bottled Water ($4)
- Freshly Brewed Joffrey’s Coffee Hawaiian Kona Blend ($4.49)
- Assorted Twinings Hot Teas ($4.49)
- Espresso-Based Beverages: Espresso, Cappucino, Cafe Latte, or Americano ($4.49 to $5.99)
Wailulu Bar & Grill Lunch and Dinner
Starters
- Sweet Potato Hummus: Crispy chickpeas, espelette pepper dust, and breadfruit tostones ($12)
- Ahi Tuna Crisps: Marinated ahi tuna, crispy fried wontons, avocado crema, sriracha-aioli, and soy glaze ($17)
- Garlic Shrimp, smoked paprika, black garlic emulsion, garlic-lemon butter, and crispy garlic ($16)
- Musubi with glazed spam seasoned with traditional furikake and served with crispy rice pearls ($12)
- Crispy Chicken Wings: Adobo-marinated, soy glaze, and tomato-fresno pepper relish ($15)
- Grilled Shishito Peppers: Eggplant-tahini puree ($11)
- Sticky Pork Ribs, salt-cured green cabbage, jicama slaw, and pineapple chips ($15)
Mains
- Wayfinder Burger: Two pressed patties, American cheese, onion jam, volcano sauce, and sweet bun served with mac salad or sweet potato fries ($23)
- Teriyaki Chicken Sliders: Kimchi slwa, sweet bun served with mac salad or sweet potato fries ($19)
- Beef Short Rib Loco Moco: Shiitake mushroom gravy, crispy rice cake, and fried egg ($33)
- Grilled Fish of the Day: Green curry broth, jasmine rice, chickpeas, and sweet potato ($32)
- Poke Bowl: Sushi-style rice, pickled cucumbers, vegetables, spicy poke sauce, and macadamia nuts with choice of ahi tuna, grilled teriyaki chicken, or grilled tofu ($22 to $26)
- Chow Mein Salad: Charred cabbage, shishito peppers, hearts of palm, pickled sweet potato, and sunflower butter dressing with choice of sauteed shrimp, grilled teriyaki chicken, or grilled tofu ($18 to $22)
Kids Meals
- Sweet Potato Hummus Appetizer ($3.25)
- Apple Slices with Sunflower Butter Appetizer ($3.25)
- Create Your Own Entree: Includes two selections and choice of lowfat milk, bottled water, or apple juice ($10.50 to $13.50)
- Entrees
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicke
- White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
- Cheeseburger
- Grilled Whitefish
- Selections (Choose Two)
- Steamed Baby Carrots
- Jasmine Rice
- Steamed Broccoli
- French Fries
- DOLE Whip Pineapple
- Entrees
Desserts
- DOLE Whip Sundae with hibiscus meringue and passion fruit crispies ($8)
- Chocolate Cake with salted caramel ganache and Chantilly cream infused with the essence of Kona coffee ($11)
- Vanilla Crème Brûlée: With Macerated berries ($11)
Beverages
- Hibiscus Tea: Hibiscus flower-infused tea with lime and agave nectar ($5.79)
- Yuzu Oolong Tea Lemonade ($5.79)
- Kula Strawberry Sake: Wildflowers Junmai Sake, Campari Liqueur, Rockey’s Botanical Liqueur, and wild strawberry ($16.50)
- Passionfruit and Pineapple Daiquiri: Ten to One Caribbean White Rum, Minute Maid Passion Fruit Orange Guava Juice, pineapple, and lime ($15.50)
- Pandan Gin Gin Mule: Pandan-infused Fords Gin, lime juice, and ginger beer ($15.50)
- Banana Old Fashioned:Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, Tempus Fugit Spirits Crème de Banane, Appleton Estate 8 yr Reserve Rum, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram Liqueur, Angostura Bitters ($17.50)
- Zero-Proof Piña Colada: Lyre’s Cane Non-Alcoholic Spirit, Coconut Cream, DOLE Pineapple Juice, Lime ($12.50)
- Lili’uokalani Mai Tai: Lili’uoakalani Tea-infused Vodka, Jamaican Rum, Passion Fruit, Guava, Lime, Orgeat (Almond), Falernum ($16.50)
- Oceania Espresso Martini: Mr Black Cold Brew Liqueur, SelvaRey Chocolate Rum, Joffrey’s Coffee™ Espresso ($16.50)
- Passion Fruit Garibaldi: Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur, Campari Liqueur, Minute Maid Orange Juice ($16.50)
- Hibiscus Margarita: Teremana Blanco Tequila, Sorel Liqueur, Cinnamon Syrup, Hibiscus, Agave ($17.50)
In addition, the restaurant offers a variety of bottled, canned, or on draft beer choices, as well as wine.
Why Wailulu Bar & Grill is Worth a Visit
As someone who loves a tropical getaway, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has always been one of my favorite spots at Disney World. So I was thrilled to check out their newest dining spot, which not only has a delicious Polynesian-inspired menu but may also be situated in one of the prettiest locations I’ve seen in Disney World.
Photo by CJ Ayd
The restaurant takes its name from the Hawaiian words for wai (meaning “water”) and lulu (meaning “calm”), both of which are fitting for the setting and menu options you’ll find here. Immediately upon walking up, you’ll find the walk-up bar, which leads into an outdoor dining space, as well as an enclosed interior restaurant. The interior space is home to artwork crafted with recycled materials and reclaimed fishing nets, lending itself well to the overall vibe of the hotel.
Photo by CJ Ayd
For me, the outdoor dining is the real standout, though. You’ll find tables, as well as half-circle booths situated next to running water (talk about relaxing!). The open space offers unparalleled views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom and is sure to be a prime fireworks viewing spot (the music will be piped in nightly). While I have never visited Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii, my co-worker shared that the restaurant reminded him quite a bit of the popular ‘AMA’AMA at the resort.
Food Review
Aside from the location, though, the real standout for me was the food. As part of a media preview, I tried the Beef Short Rib Loco Moco, Seet Potato Hummus, Musubi, and Hibiscus Iced Tea. All the flavors lent themselves well to a bar-type setting, with more casual eats than you’d find at a fine dining restaurant. But the flavors were excellent.
Sweet Potato Hummus. Photo by CJ Ayd
The loco moco in particular was a winner for myself and my co-worker (and it should be noted he is a huge loco moco fan in general). I also was shocked at how much I enjoyed the sweet potato hummus, which paired perfectly with the accompanying breadfruit tostones. Even as someone who is not a big spam fan, I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the musubi was, topped with crispy rice pearls for the perfect bite.
Wailulu Bar & Grill vs ‘Ohana
With a new restaurant available, many people may wonder whether they should head to ‘Ohana, Kona Cafe, or Wailulu Bar & Grill for their Polynesian-inspired flavors. And it’s important to note there are some major differences between the three. The biggest is reservations: ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe both require advance reservations (and they both fill up fast) while Wailulu is walk-up on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Bar at Wailulu Bar & Grill. Photo by CJ Ayd
Kona Cafe and Wailulu Bar & Grill are both a la carte menus, while ‘Ohana offers family-style dining for breakfast and dinner. While each also offers tropical-inspired flavors, you’ll also find fairly different menus. ‘Ohana’s dinner is most famous for its Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings, Noodles, and teriyaki meats, while Kona Cafe’s lunch and dinner offers a variety of sushi rolls and other Asian-inspired flavors. Wailulu Bar & Grill is something different, inspired by popular bar spots you may find on the tropical islands from which it takes its inspiration.
Why to Choose Wailulu Bar & Grill
As a major ‘Ohana fan, I’m never going to tell you to skip the restaurant (those noodles are simply too good). But, I will also admit that as someone who has been there multiple times, I fully intend to choose Wailulu Bar & Grill for my next visit to the Polynesian. The food and atmosphere offer something completely different, and I personally love the flexibility of being able to order a la carte in a slightly more casual, less chaotic environment.
If you are looking to stick to a schedule, you may prefer the guaranteed seating that comes with a reservation at ‘Ohana or Kona. However, if you are hoping to grab a last-minute meal, it’s definitely worth going to Wailulu to check for availability. I have a feeling it’s going to be a particularly hot spot around fireworks time, but for a lunch or dinner just a Monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom, the experience can’t be beat.
Thank you to Disney Vacation Club for hosting us for a preview of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to experience the food and amenities available.
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