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    The Polynesian Luau

    4.1 (61 reviews)
    ModeratePolynesian
    Closed 9:30 am - 4:50 pm

    The Polynesian Luau Photos

    THE POLYNESIAN LUAU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Polynesian Luau

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    Sapasui, fasi povi, Turkey tails and fa'i
    Monique S.

    This is a childhood staple for me, my dad used to take me here. I don't think there's another spot in the city that serves Samoan food. You walk in, it's a counter space to the left that sells accessories, jewelry, keychains etc. all from Samoa. The right side of the store has clothing and ie lavalavas. The food is in the back, cafeteria style serving of course. What they make everyday is half the same as usual and other days it's different. But there's always taro, fa'i (plantains), and sapasui(noodles). I got a regular plate, I opted for all fa'i and no taro. It came with sapasui, fasi povi(corned beef), and Turkey tails. When I tell you the Turkey tails do it every time for me. Slow cooked in gravy with veggies, tender and fall of the bone. Just delicious. The corned beef is a little on the salty side but I just assume it's from cooking in such large batches. The older woman (I call her aunty every time I go in) she's so kind, asks how I'm doing, how my dad and my kids are. It's like walking into your family's place. Always feel welcome. Good and quick customer service.

    Fyi Yelp hours are wrong... Updated hours as of May 1st, 2024  You're Welcome!
    Gee D.

    Was dropping off my car for service up the street and needed to get another tortoise bracelet because my old one broke. I checked on yelp, hours listed that they were open so I decided to take a walk. When I got there they were Closed today(Wed). I was so bummed but I guess I'll come back another day since it's close by. Here's the updated Hours for your reference. I've bought Polynesian print material, pearl braided necklace, tortoise bracelets, earrings, they sell Poly food, kukui nut necklaces, and Poly outfits too! It's an Awesome store and the owner is really nice!! Support Small Businesses!

    My 21 dollar plate missing my sausage
    Amia P.

    First off i been coming here since levi closed born and raised in city . Cant believe they charged me 21 dollars for large plate its always a different server this lady that served me i known her for living in sunnydale projects so why do your people like that . Not asking for anything free but really the owner lady always scoops and hooks my plate up because i come there alot . I cant believe my plate is the way it looks and she didnt even add my sausage . No one was in there and its Friday. Thats bad smh no wonder yall went down to 3 days and is not having buisiness like yall should . Yall should be popping being the only samoan food place around the city . A city full of of polys . Its always a hit or miss but today thought it will be good for lunch im glad didnt have my coworkers pull up this embarrassing. Yeah its not the owner, its always the servers she made sure i had the smallest taro . Never again

    The front of the store with some outdoor seating in case you REALLY can't wait to eat your food, lol
    Lili M.

    I love love love this place. My family and I have gone here for years (I'm surprised this is my first Yelp review about the place). It is located near the Cow Palace and pretty easy to get to from across the Bay Bridge. I legit don't mind driving here from the other side of the bridge for this food. I've had Samoan food elsewhere in the East Bay and it simply does not compare. The food is always fresh and delicious. The staff is nice and sweet, always greeting you as you walk in. The plates are $20 I believe and they come with taro, banana and 3 other items of your choice ranging from sapasui, corned beef, turkey tail, lamb curry, etc. The lamb curry is freaking BOMB and don't forget to get some palusami while you're at it. I think my mom and I have gone here weekly this summer lol but that's because it is SO good. Can't wait to see them again next week!

    Corned beef (tasty but very salty) noodles (had ginger in it, yuck)
    Terri M.

    I was in the area and I came here. It wasn't busy. When the lady opened the food, it didn't look appetizing at all. I got some noodles which weren't good because it had ginger which I cant stand. Odd that ginger would be in noodles like that. The corned beef was very salty but it did have a good flavor to it.

    Lamb Curry

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    5 months ago

    Nice staff. Good home food and beautiful textiles. Ambiance is nice too, will return.

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    27 days ago

    Best Polynesian food in the peninsula. Been coming for years. Service is good, owners are friendly.

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    3 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Food is always good! Service is good and friendly. Place is clean! Must go for authentic Polynesian food.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is always good but I have to say lately the corn beef has been a little tough other than that always delicious

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    1 year ago

    Took my kids here for the first time and they loved it! Been coming here every since with my parents

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Nice ladies behind the counter. Nice to have ready made Samoan food. Bongos, wahoo, corned beef also for sale.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great service, Great Food, the only flawed , they stopped making half moon pineapple pies.....

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    3 years ago

    One of the pricey food place. It's best go buy the food and fix it yourself than here.

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Best Samoan/Polynesian food around. Turkey tails and chop suey are delicious. We come here every time we're in the city.

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    7 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Polynesian Luau

    I’d love to try the dish offerings. Is it like a Panda Express take out where we point to a dish and it’s placed in a to go box or ordered and it’s packaged from the kitchen…

    I went before Covid but yes it is done Panda Express style. You pick 3 meat dishes (there might be options for fewer or more entrees) and it comes with standard sides.

    View All 2 Questions

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Polynesian 532 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Diamond Head General Store

    Diamond Head General Store

    4.0
    (473 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    Ok so I was kind of a hater. I didn't love morning wood or the wait. Felt it wasn't worth it so…read moreavoided this place like the plague for years. Today I saw it and was like f it, let's give it another go. Man, I was so wrong for so long. This place is legit. When you enter it feels like you're in Hawaii. Not kitschy Hawaii, local Hawaii. Then you get to the food. The garlic shrimp was excellent. Had a ton of garlic and butter. The Kalua pork was tasty and the Michiko chicken was to die for. But you know what was the best? The Poke. Man I haven't had poke this good in the mainland before. Their Hawaiian Ahi Poke had Limu/Ogo, onions, green onions and just tasted as if I was back in Oahu. Man it was better than some of the poke I had in Kauai. It was damned good. I will def be back. But next time it'll be to try all the different types of poke, because I'm in love.

    Super cool spot I wouldn't have found if I wasn't browsing on Yelp…read more The decor and vibe instantly brought me to Hawaii. Lots of options for food from rice plates to fries to musubi and shaved ice. They even have a little grocery section for Hawaiian food and drink. Everything is on the pricier side tbh. $21 for the bbq chicken plate and a canned coconut water from the fridge for $6. Rice plates were delicious and steaming hot made to order. Mac salad was creamy. Didn't like the tako fries really. Too fried and crunchy and loaded with sauce. Super heavy compared to the light and freshness of the rice plates. Overall I had a wonderful time here, and would likely come again. But be prepared to spend a little more than usual.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Crunchy Chili Garlic Chicken
    Crunchy Chili Garlic Chicken
    Special: Matcha Strawberry Mochi

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    Special: Matcha Strawberry Mochi
    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR

    TONGA ROOM & HURRICANE BAR

    3.4
    (3.3k reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$$

    We came to Tonga Room as a stop when we were tiki bar hopping around Union Square. Without a…read morereservation, it's open to walk in, grab a drink and stand in their bar area. I got the Divine Dragon which was super yummy. I love POG and dragonfruit and this was just a really great tropical drink that wasn't too sweet or artificial tasting. I also tried the classic mai tai and wiki wiki which were both great. Drinks are on the pricier side but with the live band and fun rain showers, you're definitely paying for the atmosphere as well!

    I had a deeply disappointing experience here that completely ruined my night. After a long drive…read morefrom San Jose, my lower back began severely flaring up in the middle of dinner. Anyone with chronic back pain knows that sometimes you just need two minutes to lie flat to reset the spine. Since we had already been waiting about an hour for our food, I stepped away to lay down on the front bench for a quick recovery. Instead of a manager checking to see if a guest was okay, a staff member named Shrami approached me. Without even asking what was wrong, he aggressively insisted I get off the bench right away. Even after I explained I was experiencing medical pain and just needed two minutes, he completely lacked any human empathy and refused to listen. The way I was treated made me feel dehumanized and cast aside, as if my physical well-being didn't matter as long as I wasn't "disrupting" the aesthetic of the business. We are all human, and a little basic compassion goes a long way. To top it off, the food and drinks are overpriced for what you get, and the live band was just mediocre. Between the long wait times, overpriced menu, and the completely cold, disrespectful management, I will absolutely not be returning.

    Photos
    Decorative sculpture.
    Decorative sculpture.
    Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke
    Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke
    Lava Flow- alcohol free

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    Lava Flow- alcohol free
    Manuia Polynesian Revue

    Manuia Polynesian Revue

    4.8
    (16 reviews)
    3.3 mi

    I started my daughter this year (2019) through a referral of one of the moms I knew from my…read moredaughter's daycare. Auntie Camille was super sweet and welcoming. My daughter enjoys the Monday classes. We also started the Saturday classes which I have to get her warmed up to. The instructors are good, they do their best I don't have an outrageous high expectation, its hard enough to be a teacher yet, it's even harder to be a teacher to children because not all kids have a long attention span. Im happy that I found this new dance family for my daughter. We plan to be with them for a long time.

    Manuia is family. I started my daughter at Manuia when she was 3 and right before the lockdown. I…read morewas going to pull her out when COVID happened, as when they started virtual classes I thought it was not going to be worth it, but I am so glad I let her stay. It was a perfect extra curricular for her during lockdown and she learned so much virtually. They had virtual showcase and the kids learned the dances just though the screen and to me that was amazing. Teachers Fue and Jackie are very patient to the kids. Now that Manuia has been open in person, they were able to do in person shows lately, one of which was in Chase Center for the Warriors Polynesian Heritage Night. That was a very memorable experience for my daughter. Not only that she's learning different dances, coming out of her shell and is more confident, but Manuia is like a family to us. She's making new friends and the amazing team: Auntie Camille, Uncle Tommy, lovely teachers Fue and Jackie and the rest of the Manuia teachers and drummers are very welcoming and talented in more ways than one.

    Pa'ina Lounge & Restaurant

    Pa'ina Lounge & Restaurant

    3.9
    (946 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    Probably one of the best happy hour spots in the city. They have different happy hour specials most…read moreof the days of the week, AND they last until a time that I can actually come in and get a deal. My friends and I came on a Friday. The Mai Tai was so easy to drink. It was like juice but so dangerous because they don't skimp on the alcohol. For the poke specials, they do not add fillers. There's a good amount of toppings, and it's a good sizable portion. Fish is decently fresh. Definitely come in for them. Wings are okay, but they aren't the best that I've had. If I was in the area or happy hour crawling again, this would definitely be one of my go to spots.

    I came here for a volunteer thank you dinner hosted by Asians Are Strong to wrap up their annual…read moreHeritage 5K event. While the organization and timing of the event were off, I have no issues with the food, staff or restaurant itself. Anyways, I organized my plate with a bit from multiple trays including salad, poke, fried tofu cubes, kimchi fried rice, and galbi cubes. If the food was indicative of the restaurant's standard menu offerings, then I really liked the kimchi fried rice and tofu. Not as big of a fan of the galbi cubes and poke, but I honestly can't really complain about catered, sponsored food. Overall seems like a solid spot in the city to satisfy Hawaiian food cravings.

    Photos
    Loco Moco
    Loco Moco
    Kona Tasting Flights
    Kona Tasting Flights
    Island cocktails - Ku'uipo

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    Island cocktails - Ku'uipo
    Ono Hawaiian BBQ

    Ono Hawaiian BBQ

    3.3
    (373 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    A Taste of Excellence at Ono Restaurant, Colma!…read more Stepping into Ono Restaurant in Colma was a fantastic decision, and I'm thrilled to share my experience! From the moment I walked in, the inviting ambiance set the stage for what turned out to be a truly delightful meal. If you're looking for a spot that consistently delivers, keep reading! My go-to order, the Grilled Chicken Breast, was, as always, absolutely delicious and utterly dependable - it truly never disappoints. Beyond the fantastic food, the service was exceptional. Nicole, who assisted me, was wonderful, adding to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. It's clear that great food paired with attentive service makes all the difference. What truly impressed me was not just the delicious meal, but also the immaculate environment. Junior, the manager, is doing an outstanding job ensuring the place is sparkling clean, which definitely enhances the dining experience. With delicious food, great service, and a spotlessly clean setting, Ono Restaurant comes with my highest recommendation!

    The island fire chicken brought me on a trip to the island where volcanoes were raging in an epic…read moregeological display of nature's most powerful forces. It was fire. It was gloriously spicy and awesome to behold. The leafy greens with its tangy, gingery yet light dressing toned down the heat just enough like the trees that that offer a respite from the raging heat. Yep, the meat was super tender and bountiful like a luau. I was invited to join in Ono's festivities, its culture, and its flavors. They were very quick with the prep too, as I was out of there in just a few minutes! The string of orders before me also were completed very quickly. The food and containers were still very hot when I took out the takeout containers.

    Photos
    Ono Hawaiian BBQ
    Ono Hawaiian BBQ
    Line out the door!

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    Line out the door!

    The Polynesian Luau - polynesian - Updated June 2026

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