Wooow just amazing food and excellent service. This is one of my favorite restaurants to bring my family. Thank you to all the hard workers in the back. Thank you !!!!!! read more

Service here is always fantastic! Billie is amazing- she makes great recommendations and offers prompt and friendly service. Definitely going to request her next time I come in read more

VERY disappointed! My husband was told that the "Impossible" burger tasted like a real burger. NOPE! He was told the coleslaw had a light dressing on it. NOPE, it was basically plain cabbage. The replacement fries were so slow in coming that we were done eating before they arrived. We ordered strawberry lemonade with no ice. NOPE, lots of ice but they ended up needing to serve lots of ("free") refills. And, we didn't think the meals were worth the cost of over $40 including the tip. LOCATION: Carlsbad Mall. read more

we came in for happy hour and were informed it went until 8:30 when the angels games were on. SCORE! they have a killer happy hour if you didn't know. i honestly think islands has some of the best buffalo wings i have ever had. they are not over cooked and the sauce isn't too spicy/overpowering/greasy. plus they have really good ranch which i think is important because ranch is life. we also got the sliders on the happy hour menu and it was a really generous portion for under $5. 4 good sized sliders and a handful of fried onions/fancy sliced pickles. my husband and i will definitely be back...to eat dinner and have a few drinks for under $50 is pretty rare these days. the bartender was really nice too! read more

So I meet up with the girls from the OC for dinner. We went to Islands. Oh dear. I'll try to be concise. Going to Islands is like eating at a Denny's with a tropical Hawaiian theme. I ordered some of their soft "tacos" (I use the word taco loosely here.) What I received was your typical chain-establishment institutional food with a processed cheese, their interpretation of "spicy" chicken wrapped up in a tortilla and served in a plastic basket. Had it not been for the party of six screaming eight-year-old boys at the next table I might have been able to think clearly. Is it just me, or do parents nowadays seem to let their children run wild in restaurants? I remember getting some serious butt-whoopin' for running and screaming in public places. Made me wish I had my mom with me and her handy sandal to dish out some tough love to the adorable little tykes. read more

Are you surprised by the two star review? Really? My wife and I were talking about the last time we came to this Islands on the way to the restaurant. We determined that it must have been eight or ten years ago despite the fact that we live close by and pass it all the time. Our son wanted to come here because he saw the building one day and thought it was cool. Unfortunately, he does not have what you would call a refined food sense. So, in order to indulge the little guy, we decided to come for Sunday dinner. Parking was fine, and we were seated quickly. Unfortunately, we had to wait a while after being seated to actually order. Then, the food took its time getting to our table. My son said, "this place cooks slowly." That pretty much summed it up. The food was mediocre. My son did not finish his chicken strips because they were yucky. I ate my burger and salad but was not impressed. The wife's tacos left a lot to be desired. Even my other son's hot dog was just okay. I think I can wait another eight to ten years before coming back. There are much better places to spend your money. At least no one got sick - this time. read more

For me, going to Island's is like attending my high-school reunion. The bummer is, I graduated in 2000, and these people have been trapped there ever since. Being a waiter at Islands was a coveted job for the "surfer" kids at high school. The standard uniform of Hawaiian shirt and shorts was a fantastic way to show off their wicked tans. The food is okay. They go out of their way to name dishes retarded Hawaiian sounding things. Order the Moa Eke and a Trade Wind Smoothie, and duuude, you'll totally feel like you're on vacation. Except, sigh, you are in a shitty strip mall in Orange (next to an old Music Plus! R.I.P.) People rave about the chicken tortilla soup. Its decent, but not a reason in itself to go to a restaurant. They have really good ranch dressing though, and the Cabo Loco (whoa! now we're in Mexico!) tacos are delicious in a for-real way. read more

Just loved Islands! The endless fries are fantastic, and they also have a gluten free menu with AMAZING tacos! I visited this place twice while I was in California for a week and actually miss it :P The food was served fairly quickly and the endless fries were always served immediately upon request. Prices were great, service was also great. I'd definitely recommend stopping by, gluten free or not, if you're near an Islands restaurant! read more

Happy hour in their extended bar. Last time the bar was enclosed and a bit tight, now it's totally open on the right side so the bar flows into the restaurant. The hightops are the bar area and then the booths are in the restaurant. Kinda nice... We had the Mai Tai ($4.95) and house Chardonnay ($3.95?), yay! And the nachos and chicken wings. Definitely good for happy hour, decent drinks, decent food...we got outta there for just over $30 for 3 drinks and 2 apps (nachos were $8.95 but we added chili and chicken which were extra, about $4.50 extra). Filled my nacho fix, that's all that matters! read more

Jake was our server, very nice and attentive! We had the best turkey burger today. It was so charred and done perfectly. The onion rings are the best here. Some places use huge slices of onions. Here they use thin slices with a light batter. Very good! read more

Islands is a great place to go when you're craving a tasty burger. They have a whole bunch of different varieties like teriyaki burgers (amazing), mushroom burgers, and guac and swiss burgers (very tasty). They also have salads, wraps, tacos, and other kinds of sandwiches. My friend ordered the chicken club wrap and he said it was really good. All entrees come with a choice of endless fries, sweet potato fries, steamed veggies, onion rings (they only give you about 4-5), a small garden salad, or a small caesar salad. They have a full bar and the beers come out soooo cold and icy. I've eaten here a couple times and the servers always seem to be on it and friendly, so no complaints there. The food comes out pretty quickly and I've never had anything I didn't like. And bonus! They have sweet potato fries now and they're awesome. Just a warning for those who care about this sort of thing, they only have 4 low calorie options and everything else is pretty unhealthy and the calories are listed next to everything - but it's all delicious! read more

Eat here all the time. Tonight the server was great. Really quick with taking our order. The fries were warm and the server offered more when we were done eating. The person with me requested 2 lemons in their water and our server was on it. He gave 2 lemons every time a refill was given. Sadly I didn't get his name. read more

1). Everyone in our group wanted bottomless fries. Our waiter said he would give to us just as long as ONE person orders an entree that automatically comes with bottomless fries. Done! 2). I am a sucker for Caesar Salads- really, I am. Surprisingly, they have one of the BEST salads. Unexpected, I know. But it's true. As long as I have bottomless fries and that salad, I am good to go. Thanks server guy! read more

love this place! their happy hour is soo good! awesome prices and good food and great drinks!! hannah is a great waitress! super friendly and helped out a lot! def coming back! read more

Product - Burgers are huge & they now come with endless fries. The sandwich, in general, is a bit greasier than usual. The fries were not impressive almost like the leftover pieces. Price - I remember seeing these burgers around $8 or less but since they added the fries the typical burger now averages $10. Red Robin would be a better choice in regards to endless fries, price, burger variety, promos/specials and ambience but in terms of simplicity & getting a damn good burger, In & Out still dominates this category. The service was good just the food left myself & my guests wanting to go to Rite Aid for some Pepto-bismo instead of ice cream. Disappointed. read more

Wonderful service! Delicious food and great people! Troy came over to help out our table and was very helpful. He gave us recommendations and it was great! 10/10 read more

I don't like this Islands. First off, my Baja tacos were burnt. Burnt carmelized onions? Yuck, right? Most of my chicken was also burnt, had to pick those out. Not only that but can we get some air up in that mother fucker? The place is cramped as is and considering the heatwave, you'd think a restaurant like Islands would have some decent air conditioning. My mistake. Like always, however, the employees are nice. They're friendly. Our waitress didn't tell us about the free chips + salsa but I felt stupid for not knowing. I mean, the sign was right in front of us. But still, let a sister know about the freebies! No matter how shitty, I will always give an Islands at least 3 stars because they're more than likely a safe bet. Their beer is to die for, the bar is great and it's a good place to have dinner on Fridays after a long work week. P.S. The parking is ugly. read more

This location was just "okay". The service was pretty good but other than that the food was just okay and the fries were old. I asked for fresh fries twice and both times they were old. read more

Even though we were there till closing, we had great service! There was no more tortilla soup and our server George did an amazing job accommodating for it! He the coolest read more

I spent my Valentine's dinner here and I was content with the yummy mushroom burger & large cheese fries! Oh and we had some fruity alcoholic drinks so it made the visit extra yummy!!!! I cannot wait to go back to taste all the other burgers!!! YuMMY!!! read more

I've been to several Islands, and this place met the standard of the others. I came here with my wife one night when we were bored and decided to eat out. The burger was average, just like any other Islands. I had the Maui burger and she had the Hawaiian. The fries were "endless" but the burger itself was too filling for me to actually order another batch. I didn't buy any of their drinks because I had to drive after but I did enjoy about 5 free refills worth of their delicious strawberry lemonade (made with real strawberries). The price was about $25 + tip and the service was amazing (5 freakin refills...) even though it was moderately crowded. There is a bar in the restaurant and it does offer happy hours. It's a nice place to eat with friends if you are bored and can't think of anything else. read more

I have always loved Islands, been coming here since I was a kid. I love the decor in the many times I have been here I have had one bad experience, food was cold so not that big of a deal. Now alot of restaurants are doing the calories next to the items on the menu now. I know if your going to Islands you probably are not worried about the amount of calories and I'm not a calorie counter either. But I was just surprised when I saw some of the damage on most of the items on the menu. It just made me laugh as I never knew and I will tell yah IGNORANCE IS BLISS. PUT IT ON A DIFFERENT PAGE!!! : ) But hey one positive my absolutely FAVORITE thing there is the North Shore (3 spicy chicken tacos) its one of the best things on the menu and not that bad on the fat kid meter. Islands has great fries and food and is in my opinion a 3.75 place. Try their Island IPA I'm not sure who does it but it hits the spot....CHEERS read more

It all started when I walked through the door with my friend. We had the worst experience at Red Robin down the street. But we were really craving a burger still. Showed up at this joint and were greeted by the friendliest hostess Bridgette who sat as at our table and made us aware of the $5 mai tai special. Bangggg for ya buck. Then our server Marissa was so funny and attentive and not to leave out super cute. It was pretty busy so, the bartender Kelsey ended up bringing out our mai tais .. godddammm .. that mama is sexy. All 3 girls plus that amazing food made us thirsting for more .. see you again tonight ladies .. hope you will be there. Btw best fries ever!! read more

I wish that I could give Islands 5 stars, but since I've moved beyond the strip malls of my hometown Orange to SF, I know better. (actually if there were one in SF, I'd probably go to it at least once a month) BUT that being said, I grew up at this Islands. Well not literally but my family, my friends would go ALL the time. I even remember having 10th and 11th birthdays at Islands. Always start out with Cheddar fries with ranch or my personal fav...Nachos (Not sure if all the waiters/waitresses know how to do this but in the old day they would concoct a ranch/salsa mix for the chips to dip that was incredible!!) Then either onto chicken tenders or ..as I've been getting for the past 10 years, the tuna with cheddar cheese on the wheat bun, no pickles or tomatoes with a fruit punch to wash it down. It is a great chain, expect nothing more read more

Hi everyone, First of I want to let everyone know that this is a good fine establishment, and my review is based on the service alone. I was greeted with friendly people at the door, but once inside the staff was useless. The servers took a looking time to ask me and my family for a drink. They then took an even longer time to order and bring our food. The only employees I actually saw working and clearing tables even running food (not their job) were the bussers. They were the only ones actually working. I would like to come back if the waiters are more organized and better trained. I've been to other Islands restaurants and the service has been up to high end establishments. read more

Hey if you have been to one Islands you have been to all of them. That being said, What is it about Islands that keeps me coming back? I can get a great Juicy filling burger, and I can get some awesome crispy fries with my burger. If any of you loved the restaurant spoons in the late 80's and early 90's, then you will love this. The fries are identical to the ones back then, and the burgers are big juicy, and come at a fair price. I don't ever remember getting bad service at this or any islands, Just keep the free refills of drinks and fries coming and I will be happy. "I don't always eat fries, but when I do I eat them at Islands, and I eat alot. Stay hungry my friends." read more

I'm so glad this location is open, especially for dine in! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming! Our waiter, Jorge, was respectful and funny - an excellent server. Definitely will come back again. read more

I always forget that there's an islands in orange because it's tucked away, however, when we went in it was busy so that's a good sign. The food gets 3 stars: It's islands so obviously nothing fancy just burgers, salads, tacos, fries and other random items. I ordered the kailua burger with fries and my friend went healthy with their turkey burger and salad. The Kailua is a pepper crusted burger with chipotle aioli and pepper jack cheese, I expected it to have a kick but goodness there was so much black pepper I felt heartburn kicking in after 1 bite, other than that the burger was juicy and not dry. The fries were mostly burnt small pieces and when I asked for a refill the second batch was exactly the same. My friend said her burger for being in their healthy menu was very good and to be honest it looked good also! The extra star was for the service, I forgot our servers name but she was awesome, constantly checking on is and bringing us refills without having to ask, without her I would've given our visit 3 stars altogether. Also, bring a sweater it's freezing in there! read more

I've been to several Islands in the past and this is the only one where I had extreme stomach cramps and food poisoning after eating here. Not sure if this was accidental or intentional from their service/kitchen. In either case, definitely not recommended. Update: It's great that Jessica (see below) contacted me on here, but after asking for my contact info so that they could "investigate" the issue, I've heard not a peep from them. read more

I was 2 hrs late picking up my order-dead battery needing to be replaced-and mgr was quick to direct staff to remake my order for cobb salads-which were delicious! Great place to eat in Orange! read more

I usually get the Maui burger and decided to get the spicy option burger this time. It was good but it had hardly no spice, it would have been better with actual jalapeños. They had $3 beers so that was great. read more

Great place, great employees, food is always consistent... this is the best island location by far.

Let me preface this review by saying that I LOVE Islands! I mean a love so pure and real that they maybe have my name in some kind of database somewhere as a possible stalker. Years ago when I was still living in Long Beach, I wrote them many, many e-mails requesting that they open up an Islands in Long Beach (thanks, Islands, for waiting until I moved away to do so). Now I petition for an Islands in Reno. Islands is my very favorite hamburger joint. But this Islands? Meh. I don't know if they are making changes on a corporate level, or if this Islands just falls short, but I was somewhat disappointed. The atmosphere here wasn't as vibrant, the burgers seemed smaller, and I KNOW that I've gotten burgers done rare and medium rare at other Islands, but here they wouldn't go below medium. Still, for the price I was happy with our food; I was mainly disappointed because after talking up Islands to all of my Reno friends for so long, this visit fell short of being fabulous. read more

Big downside to curbside I called at 5:45 on 8/30/20 to place an order for curbside pick-up at 6:20. (I had called earlier in the day and was told to call back at 5:45.) The person taking the order was competent and friendly. I was pleased because this was a special surprise meal for a family of four with other moving parts. The home had already been decorated in an island theme. I arrived at 6:15 and called. The person who took my order came out and settled the bill. I gave him a 22% tip. He said he didn't put the order in until 6pm, so it would probably be 5 minutes late, but drinks were already being made. An ice cream cake in the car and the desire to get the food to the destination before the guests arrived prompted me to call again at 6:30. I was told the order was ready, it just had to be bagged and they would be right out. At 6:38, the food arrived, and I was told the drinks were also coming out right behind her. At 6:45 I walked into the place (so much for curbside) and asked for my drinks. They (two shakes and two smoothies) hadn't been made yet. If the island theme hadn't already been set up at the home, I would have cancelled the order on the spot. I had already lost the element of surprise, and my ice cream cake was melting. For those planning a curbside order, be warned that once I paid the bill I was completely forgotten about. The only reason I had my order 25 minutes late was because I persisted. My drive from the restaurant to the home was 6 minutes. I wish I would have canceled the order and gone somewhere else. The food was COLD. The fish tacos, fries, chicken wrap and Mac N Cheese had zero warmth to the touch. One of the fry orders was wrong. The burger was very slightly warm, the beans were also very slightly warm. Everything had to be microwaved which meant soggy fries. No condiments offered or supplied. The pineapple missing from kid's meal. No receipt enclosed. Whatever I paid for the kid's meal, it was too much for a small cold Kraft Mac N Cheese and an apple juice. Overall, I wasted $105.00, Islands wasted my time and ruined my attempt to give a family a special evening. The ice cream cake didn't make it. Like another reviewer mentioned, I could have had fresh hot food from a McDonalds down the street at a small fraction of the cost. If you read this review and still decide to try their curbside service, I have a tip for you. Don't give them a tip until the transaction is completely over. After I paid, my order sat around getting cold while I sat in the parking lot. I regret the tip. They did everything wrong. Incomplete order, cold soggy food, and 25 minutes late. The apology is empty and meaningless, I won't go back. read more

This Island's location is another restaurant I've been coming back to for years. As expected, the atmosphere is a mix of cheesy Hawaiian decor and tropical-looking trees and hanging birds. The waiting staff wear hawaiian shirts and khakis. Don't dread too much over it, it's nice to see some cheesiness left in the world. It's a welcoming environment all in all. Island's burgers are solid burgers. They're very generous in size and are always fresh and tasty. I used to stick with the regular hamburger or cheeseburger, but the last time I went I tried the Rincon burger with onion-strings as an add-on. (And yes, the menu item names are pretty cheesy too). The burger was delicious! The creaminess of the avocado and swiss, the crispiness of the bacon and onion-strings, the juiciness of the meat...I'm drooling as I write this review. Island's also does a tasty fish taco, and spicy chicken taco if you're in the mood to switch it up. Where Island's has fallen a bit in recent years is in their fries and menu prices. The french fries used to be a highlight. Fresh, crispy, and LONG. Paired with a serving of ranch and they were killer. Now Island's fries are short, stubby, and more often than not pretty bland. The ranch is still good though. A minor compromise is that burgers are now served with endless fries. The prices have also risen noticeably, but that is more likely attributed to the higher costs of food on a global scale. It's only a dollar or two increase, but still noticeable. Service is consistently prompt, and I have always had friendly waiters. And to this day I still ask for a coloring sheet and a pack of crayons. Nostalgia, much? All in all, the price increase I don't mind so much as the fries. If Island's can get its act together and restore their fries to their original glory, then I will return to this review and add another star. That said, I still recommend this place if you're in the Orange area. read more

I love Islands. The food is food and fresh and it's a good value. But lately at this location the service has been sub-par, especially when you sit at the bar I order the shorebird sandwich and today the chicken breast was half of the breast that I had to cut in half to fill the sandwich and there was so much lettuce, tomato and pickles to mask the lack of protein, I had to take it all off to actually eat it I feel the quality is going way down and it's really disappointing. read more

The prices have gone up. Less fries, probably a good thing. I do love the turkey burgers. Same good food, service was good. I do like this place. read more

They were fast, courteous and kind with me and my guest (at my table). Definitely is a comeback again; the food was delicious and fast as I expected .. I understand that it may take a little longer on weekends but as of today (Monday evening) there were not bad at all-- read more

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We were sat next to a celebratory group of 6 ladies who were all part of a soccer team or something like that. Young and lively. We might have enjoyed the atmosphere a bit better had we been seated farther away. It was just us two. I ordered the beach bowl with fish. The fish was like a dry piece of bread. And kinda stinky. I choked on the snow peas. They should have added mushrooms or something to help with the textures. There was so much broccoli it seemed laughable. I liked the sauces that were served. The 1 cocktail that was ordered didn't come out until the meal. That was a long wait. The manager apologized and comped the drink. Nice try. He was nice. We remember now why we don't come to islands. read more

This location is new to me, I've been to a couple others and the experience is similar but the staff here were going above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and accommodating ect. The food was great, the drinks were constantly refilled. Will be back for sure when we are in the mood for burgers. read more