Fodor's Expert Review Tiki's Grill and Bar
$$$
Waikiki
Modern Hawaiian
Tiki's is the kind of place people come to Waikiki for: a retro–South Pacific spot with a back-of-the-bar faux volcano, open-air lounge with live local music, indoor-outdoor dining, and a view of the beach across the street. Chef Ronnie Nasuti, who for years helmed the Roy's flagship, stronghold of Hawaiian regional cuisine, turns out beautifully composed plates and manages to put fresh twists on the super familiar—like lilikoi wasabi-grilled wings, watermelon and Naked Cow feta salad, and Thai-style shrimp puttanesca. Be sure to try one of the mai tais, which come in a variety of flavors, then settle in and stay a while. It may look like a place designed for tourists, but it's the locals who keep coming back again and again.
Quick Facts
Known For:
- Surpisingly good food in a made-for-TV setting
- Pacific Rim menu inspired by a noted island chef
- Can get pricey, but a fun experience worthy of a hana hou (encore)
