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    The Islander

    3.9 (219 reviews)

    The Islander Photos

    THE ISLANDER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Islander

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fish & chips
    Cindy C.

    The Islander was a fun restaurant. Service was excellent and fast. Food was amazing! The Wagyu smash burger was juicy and delicious. The fries were very fresh. Fish and chips were also yummy. Portion size was huge! The drinks were also fun, but didn't care for the coconut mai tai. We also had the spiked mango lemonade and hibiscus margarita which were very good. Enjoy! Highly recommend!!

    Stephanie W.

    How this place has 4 stars is beyond me. I came here with my parents and aunt and everyone was shocked at how awful this place was. Like my mom said, you wouldn't expect this from how it looked on the outside. Not only was the food super expensive. (Burger was $23) But all the food came out cold!! My dad eats anything and he didn't eat his food! They even saw his burger get placed on someone else's table and the guy said it wasn't his, and then the waiter just took it back and brought it to him so late and cold. The bathrooms, both men and women were extremely disgusting. It shows how much they take care of their place. My family had an awful time. I'm so sad they picked this place and weren't able to enjoy a good restaurant in San Diego. Do not come here. Anywhere else would have been better.

    Menu
    Julio S.

    Chill sports bar in Coronado. Super friendly staff. Several TVs. Reggae music in background. Incredible weather while hanging out with friends. Several fish and Mexican menu options. I had the chilaquiles and the poke tacos. Friends also ordered a California burger, fried chicken sandwich, and Kailua pork plate. All were good. Beer list filled with local beers. Street parking only. I'd recommend this place when in town.

    Big Trouble in Little Watermelon
    Andrea R.

    The vibes, the food, the music... eating here feels like vacation. It truly transports you to a laidback tropical destination (I've never been to Hawaii so I can't compare it to there). It even slightly bothered me because our dining experience there made me wish I was on vacation, but it was only an average weekend Saturday . We had a warm and sunny Saturday for one of the first times in a while in San Diego, so my boyfriend and I decided to split a meal here and started off with the Big Trouble in Little Watermelon drink. Such a fun presentation and very refreshing. I'm obsessed with anything watermelon, however the tequila was a bit strong for my liking, but my boyfriend really loved it and said he could've ordered another all to himself. The Kalua Pork Sliders were tender and the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. My wish is that there were more... since there were only 3 we were fighting over the last one. The Ahi Poké was fresh and FILLING! I'll be the first to say that poke never really satisfies my hunger, but this portion size was actually perfect for 2. Every single ingredient in it just made it better, just total flavor burst in every bite. Last but definitely the star of the show... Hula Bula Pie. I have been dreaming about this since the first bite. Apparently it's made by their nextdoor neighbor (which the waitress actually let us know that The Islander owns them) MooTime! So you already know the ice cream is to die for. The salty of the macadamia nut ice cream in contrast with the Oreo crust and decadent fudge surrounding it set fireworks on my tastebuds. An absolute must! Especially now that the warmth is returning to SD. Will be back and cannot wait!

    Wings & Mai tai!
    Claire J.

    Okay - a definite go-to for us in Coronado!! The classic Mai-Tai is greatttttt, as well as the other drinks. The bartenders are great to chat with and fun to sit at the bar. Now WHY did they take the wings off their menu !! They were fab... especially the chili oil ones. Hoping they bring them back. Overall a nice place, and they are pretty quick to get you your orders even when it's pretty busy.

    Nyssa B.

    Not gonna lie this place wasn't my first choice, the restaurant I wanted to go to had over an hour wait and your girl was hungry. We weren't going to be waiting that long. And it's not very often you stumble across a new restaurant in this area. So you know I had to give it a try! It's got a cute little tiki bar vibe which I'm a sucker for. I didn't have a cocktail this time but when the waitress passed by them they looked super cute and yummy (will definitely get one next time) hehe. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Food was freaking great! This place definitely has potential to be around for a while. I'll be a returning customer for sure. Keep up the great work! :)

    Crab Rangoon Dip
    John T.

    We stopped by here for a little "something-something" during our day in Coronado. Like my wife said, "best crab dip she had ever had" here at the Islander. The Crab Rangoon dip was outstanding and second to none. Also had the Stone Buenavista Salt and Lime Lager. It was ice cold and refreshing. Ambiance is obviously "island like" but would also say it's warm and welcoming. Great service from the bar was provided by Taylor. Recommend you sit at the bar if she is tending it. PS - We had the Hawaiian Poke too, just as good at the Crab Rangoon.

    Poke bowl
    Kelly L.

    Came for a quick dinner before heading out to see the Coronado Christmas lights. The portion sizes are pretty generous. The Hulu Hulu chicken tasted more like bbq chicken, not the traditional Hawaiian bbq flavor. The poke bowl had good flavors. The garlic shrimp tacos were just ok, not too much garlic flavor, mostly just the cream sauce flavor.

    Huli huli chicken
    Kevin T.

    TL;DR: Relaxed vibe and decent food. Good service and pet-friendly. Came for a bite while walking the doggo and was pleasantly surprised with the food Ordered: - Hanalei Hippie - added tuna and it was definitely the move despite the upcharge. Fresh seafood on top of a bed of crisp greens. Not much more to ask for - Huli Huli Chicken - the chicken entree took a little longer (server let us know beforehand which we appreciated) but totally worth it. The skin was flavorful and crispy. Balanced out the juiciness of the chicken. The Mac salad was alright - wish it was a little more balanced (too sweet for me). All in all, a good meal and a huge plus that they're pet-friendly! Will definitely be back - cheers, Islander!

    Marc W.

    I use a system for my reviews of no more than 5 Pros and 5 Cons. All reviews are candid and well-researched! Pros: **Food: An absolute surprise when you think of Tiki and/or Hawaiian food. It was fresh, delicious and unique in preparation. Standout dishes: The Pupu Platter(huge), Pineapple Froed Rice with different combinations--yummy! **Atmosphere: Fun, colorful, good music and great Surfer videos playing nonstop. **Service: So attentive and when we announced our allergies, they checked on them. Also great guidance on what are their best dishes to try--even the seaweed wrapped Spam. Cons: **Parking. Just wished they had Valet or easier parking.

    Did not take a photo of the food
    Cydney M.

    THE SERVICE WAS GOOD ==================== I have decided I really need to stop listening to my husband when he has a food craving. He wanted some kind of fried chicken within walking distance and this place popped up. My husband ordered some kind of fried chicken tacos. I ended up with fish tacos. We weren't thrilled with either. Maybe trying to find a good restaurant on Coronado wasn't my best idea. We should have gone to Little Italy instead. The Islander was cute with lots of surfboards on the ceiling. It definitely has potential, but the food wasn't good.

    Lea D.

    This place was so good, my coworkers and I wound up coming back multiple times! The vibe was very cool, very island-y. I loved the decor and the overall style. The service was great. The servers were all really friendly and offered suggestions on what to get. The food came in big portions and the presentation was perfect. Everyone really enjoyed their options. The drinks were strong, tasty and large. We, of course, had to do the big volcano bowl drink one night (dangerous!). 10/10 would come back if I was in town!

    Bacon smash burger and fries
    Kimberly E.

    Ok first time here and it has a tiki vibe with a bar and tables and lots of TVs to watch sports. Now it was hot and they should have had the air on better than what it was . Flies were a problem once our food arrived but it was hot so what can you do. Food was good my only complaint would be if you give ketchup let the consumer know it's spicy and not just regular ketchup. They give you a glass pitcher of water for your table which was nice. Price seemed a little high but the area of town and near the bay it's understandable. I had fish n chips which was good and my son had a bacon smash burger . He usually eats all of his hamburgers but he said the bun was soggy so he only had less than half. Their lemonade is 8.00 and no free refills. But server was nice and place is clean. Parking is bad because there are so many shops. Not much else to say.

    The care and quality into doing prep work, repurposing the pineapple, even saving the prawns to put in drinks just so much quality care

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Islander

    Are dogs allowed?

    I think they would allow them in the outdoor seating area.

    Are you open this weekend and can zi make a reservation for 2 people?

    They are open on the weekends and I think it's first come first serve, but try calling to make reservations.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    I love it here; this is one of my go to spots to bring people when they are in town for…read morework/visiting etc. Be warned, you can have a very long wait here if you just pop in, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening. Make a reservation if you know this is your destination. They have some spot on Tiki decor and the staff here is really friendly, happy to share their favorite drinks, or make suggestions based on your likes. If fruity drinks are not your jam... what are you doing in a Tiki Bar!! No really, they have great options for on the rocks or straight as well as ordering your favorite cocktail or beer. They have a ton of options, all sorts of alcohol bases depending on what your vice is, they also have non-alcoholic drinks for those so inclined. Hard to pass on a Mai Tai or a Zombie to start your evening off. lately I have been enjoying the Eastern Sour which is their take on a whiskey sour. It's always fun when someone orders a bowl and the room shakes and the lights flash with thunder and lightning adding a bit of excitement for first timers. Just to recap: Don't get mad if you have to wait and did not make a reservation. While they have lots of options, most drinks and all specialties are Tiki Drinks. Tiki drinks can be strong, mind yourself. If a place like this is not your vibe, that is fine, head back into Craft & Commerce, make room for others who are waiting to get in, just have fun!

    We ate at Craft and Commerce and decided to jump in line for False Idol as walk-ins. Luckily we…read morelined up near opening because there were quite a few reservationists that showed up on a Friday night. We were led into a dimly lit speakeasy soon after lining up. Fortunately we got bar seating. The bar then quickly filled up with many standing as the bar got crowded. As far as drinks, their menu had many listed drinks. Wifey and I started with Rum Old Fashioneds and they were delicious. Our second drink was a King Kong Old Fashioned and it too was yummy. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The place was hopping and packed. We will definitely return.

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    False Idol - Tiki themed decor

    Tiki themed decor

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    The Grass Skirt - Tuna cones very interesting

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    4.1(1.4k reviews)
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    Although I am not the biggest fan of the new drinks, the staff was and is always incredible. The…read moreambiance, Henry, and Mike are the reason why we keep coming back. Thanks so much guys, you're awesome!

    The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach is a fantastic tiki bar. This place is everything you'd want in a…read morelegit tiki experience. They pay attention to details which is why you feel like you're in a Hawaiian cave somewhere or in the Hawaii episode of the Brady Bunch . We tried a number of their signature recipes. I started off with "Boozin Susan's World Famous Chi Chi". It's a frozen vodka cocktail that tastes like vacation. The vodka is complemented with pineapple, coconut, lime, Demerara syrup and cinnamon. It was a perfect recipe when you think about tiki. (Pic 2) We also tried "Hella Missionary" which is another frozen cocktail with tequila, mezcal, adobo-spiced honey, pineapple, lime and mint. It's the blended mint that makes it green. It was quite tasty with a very fun crazy straw. (Pic 4). We had some bonus fun with a signature shot called "OJ Did It". It was a delicious add to the vibe with vodka, liquor 43, coconut and orange juice. (Pic 7). I couldn't remember what pic 6 is but it was tasty. Maybe it's "OOO-BAE I Love You So". It starts with rhum agricole, salted cream, pineapple, cinnamon, macadamia nut and toasted coconut flakes. I could be totally wrong so oh well. The Grass Skirt is always a great idea if you're in the PB area when in San Diego. Go check them out. Salute @thejohnnycocktail

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    Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

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    My husband and I recently spent some days in San Diego. He found this speak easy and we decided we…read moreneeded to try it out. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. From the spooky, dark, skulls old school ambiance and decor, to the experience of not ordering from a menu, everything about it made it feel unique and curated making it feel like a true individualized experience. As mentioned, there are no menus. We sat at the bar, the bartender makes casual conversation with you regarding the types of drinks you enjoy. He curated something for both my husband and I based on what we shared we enjoyed. The drinks were delicious. The entry was very cool! It felt as if you were entering a hidden spot - which you do. When you enter the restaurant, you let the hostess know you're there for the Noble Experience. She let us know to head to the wall with the kegs (which is actually a door). You enter and there's a small waiting area where you're greeted by another hostess. This place is a 20/10. We can't wait to return on our next visit to SD.

    This is an easy one and Consortium Holdings does it again...a MUST go. You know the rules...one…read moreshort review, let's go: Drinks: no menu. Love it. True bartender skills. Love it. Drinks. Love them! Whole crew did. Well done Ambiance: top tier. As with anything CH. so fun Service: amazing. Knowledgeable. Attentive. And so nice. Go go go to NE

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    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

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    The Islander - tikibars - Updated August 2026

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