Ambiance: 4/5 Service: 5/5…read moreFood: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Price: 4/5 Parking: 4/5 Second time at Hula's, and I'm a fan. Good food and drinks. Hazen was our server, and he was great. Price is what you'd expect in Monterey, and while often paid, the parking is everywhere.

I really like the ambiance and decor of this place. It was quite cold out side so the staff sat us…read moreby the heat lamp in the patio which was decorated with Hawaii theme. There menu had indicators of nuts, vegetarian, and gluten free. We actually ate like kings at that place. We had their teriyaki rib eye steak that was cooked perfectly to my preference; their curry prawn dish that had really good rich flavors; fancy mac and cheese, edamame, crab cakes and shishito peppers. Really enjoyed the place for sure.

If you're ever in Monterey County, be sure to check out my absolute favorite sushi bar called Kuma!…read moreThis is our 2nd time coming to this restaurant and we will keep coming back. The "Lover Plate" for 2 is an especially good deal that features Chef's Choice of a special roll, 8 pieces of Nigiri, 2 hand rolls, 4 pieces of gyoza and wakame seaweed salad -- all for $65! You let the server know what you like and don't like and they will customize the meal for you! Kuma gets 5 stars for SAFAV: Service Ambiance Food Alcohol Value for Money For more food recommendations of restaurants rated 5 stars for SAFAV, check out my IG: https://www.instagram.com/cindythechomper?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Really good sushi in Monterey. This is located in downtown Monterey and we stopped in because our…read moreoriginal destination had a huge wait. Kuma had a few minute wait. This place is really family friendly, and there were a lot of people with loud kids on a Saturday night around 6. It was also really packed, so the servers were running around getting everyone everything pretty quickly. I thought they were very pleasant and energetic. They have an interesting variety of sushi rolls, including some vegetarian and vegan selections. I felt like the serving size was pretty large, and I ended up taking some home. All the fish was fresh and high quality. A very enjoyable dinner!

What a special place! Had the best dinner! And got to be waited on by the owner himself. You can…read moretell how much he loves what he does. Thank you Honza for the best experiece....We felt so cared for and welcome. Our plates were licked clean! Definitely order the peppered ahi...you won't regret it. The Halibut was incredible too. We can't wait to go back. 10

Fish You Were Here A…read moreJapanese fusion fish-centric restaurant located in Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, it has had the same owners since 1975, when it was FKA "Shabu Shabu" before receiving its current moniker in 1993. The Good: * We loved the location--down a set of stairs into a dimly lit, cozy space. * And speaking of cozy spaces, we love that every table is its own private booth. Nothing is more annoying than having to dine with strangers just inches away, in my opinion. * Service was, uhhh, interesting but passable. We actually liked the dude who was following up behind our server, as he seemed like a really cool guy with definite opinions on the food. * Make sure you order their unique take on chips and salsa! Their fried wonton wrappers paired with a deliciously unique ginger pico de gallo were fantastic. * The Fried Fish Cakes (a daily special, so they might not always be on the menu) were delicious and full of flavor. * We both loved our entrées; my Black Bean Halibut was cooked perfectly--tender and flaky--and I loved the funky fermented black bean sauce. Carissa is still talking about her Almond Sea Bass weeks later, so 'nuff said. * The Warm Tempura Banana Sundae was a bit odd but worked in a weird way. We normally skip dessert unless it's something unique, and this certainly fit the bill! The Meh: * Reservations are handled the old-fashioned way: via telephone. * No outdoor dining. The Ugly: * While being underground is part of their charm, as mentioned above, it is definitely not ADA-compliant. So if you or anyone in your party has difficulty traversing stairs, this probably isn't the place for you. Conclusion: Fantastic date-night spot with great service, ambiance, and food. Highly recommended.

Legit . I'm sitting…read morehere right now writing this review because it is SO good!! The fish is so fresh, it's so smooth, it's so EVERYTHING you want sushi to be! I added cream cheese and macadamia nuts to my roll and it's just amazing. Quick friendly service. My food came out fast! The combo of the lemon and cilantro is killer! Can't wait to come back

IN THIS ECONOMY DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY…read more Every single roll tastes the same. The udon soups are bland. The teriyaki sauce is too sweet. The beef ribs and beef and chicken teriyaki came out cold. Makes you wonder if all they do is try to reheat it gross! The appetizers were also bland and full of soy sauce. You're better off going somewhere else to spend your money. The service was subpar. No one acknowledges you when you walk in the door. They make you stand there and wait to eventually get unflavored food and terrible service. This review is written in February 2026. There's better places in the area just go there. At the end after over a $350 bill they refused to give us a plastic bag to go home. I offered to pay for it, but they had an attitude about it. They don't even know how to make spicy edamame. It's just soy sauce and grilled onions. The only waitress that was actually helping people was the Hispanic lady. Everyone else just stands and stares at you like they are a statue. You're better off going to Kokoro in Salinas. At least they give you better service and some flavor.

Took my wife here for our anniversary. Beautiful views, delicious food, great service. This was…read morequite the highlight. HOT TIP: Make a reservation beforehand and they'll waive entrance fee to the 17 mile drive when you show your reservation . We made a reservation for lunch and opted for a 3 course meal. Take advantage of walking the beautiful scenery along the boardwalk. Lounge in the lobby of the Spanish Inn and have a drink. We'll definitely be back.

Located in Spanish Bay at Pebble Beach, the views are incredible. You're looking out over the golf…read morecourse with the ocean just beyond, and it feels upscale and peaceful. If you time it right, you can even catch the bagpiper at 5:30pm. I've been to other Roy's locations and always order the miso butterfish. This time, it was still good, but slightly off compared to what I'm used to. It had a faint fishiness that usually isn't there, so while I still enjoyed it, it didn't quite hit that usual top tier standard. We also ordered pasta for my son, which he devoured, and a steak that was solid and well prepared. Overall, the food was good, but not necessarily the highlight. The real standout was dessert. The chocolate lava cake was an absolute slam dunk. Just a heads up, it takes about 20 minutes to prepare, so ordering it midway through your meal is the move. Totally worth it. Service was excellent. Our waiter was polite and thoughtful, especially recommending we order the lava cake early, which saved us a long wait at the end. Parking is easy with plenty of self parking available, and after your meal you can walk around or head into 17 Mile Drive, which makes the whole outing feel like more than just dinner. One tip: try to get a reservation on the earlier side and request a window seat if possible. A lot of people come just to see the bagpiper, so being able to enjoy that from inside the restaurant is a nice bonus. Overall, you're coming here for the experience. The views, the atmosphere, and the setting make it hard to beat, especially around sunset.

I usually only do positive reviews, but I had to share how put-off I was with my family's…read moreexperience here. When we originally walked in there were very few parties seated. We had a party of nine. Shortly after we were seated, a party of well-dressed ladies that the employees seemed to be familiar with, so I can only guess they were "regulars", arrived. When we first got there, it was fine, but once the other party arrived, we were completely cast aside. We ordered two cups of coffee that we observed an employee walk around with for 20 minutes, stopping to chat , before he plopped it down on a counter before our server brought it to our table. Needless to say, it was already cold. As far as other drinks, we didn't order any. We all drank water and we weren't offered a refill literally until the end when we were almost done with our meal. They were tending to the other party the entire time. When I saw that the other party received all their meals before we did - even though we were there, seated and ordered before they were, I stopped what I can only guess was the manager (dare I say an owner?) and said, "Excuse me sir, we got here before the other party and they've already gotten their food, and we're still waiting." His response was not, "I'm sorry it's taking so long. Let me check on it." Or "I know it's been a while, your food is coming right out." He actually said to me in an irritated tone, "Well because they got all fried food and you got all grilled!" And walked away. And here's the kicker - all our food wasn't grilled. Most of us ordered salads. Granted one had chicken and one had salmon, but who says this to a customer? I honestly wouldn't have cared so much about getting our food after the other party had he responded differently but for someone in the food service industry to treat a customer that way is just gross; for someone to run a business that way is just gross. I wanted to walk out of there without paying, because honestly, the food was gross and the service made it even worse. We got an order of egg rolls (that were all lumpia wrapper with no meat, by the way), my Caesar salad? Every piece of lettuce in my salad was the core, so I pretty much picked out the chicken, and to top it off we ordered clams, which wasn't even part of the delay because they forgot to include it in the order all together. Don't even get me started about how he couldn't answer the question about the menu. I'm Filipino, and that was an insult to Filipino food and to Filipino hospitality. I have so many family and friends in the food service industry and for this reason, I have never given less than 20% gratuity. I cringed doing that here, but I honestly wanted to leave nothing. That's how bad the taste Edwin's left in my mouth. Do better next time. No matter who enters your restaurant, treat all your customers with some warmth, no matter who they are, even if they aren't your regulars, don't make out-of-towners feel like you're doing THEM a favor by LETTING you feed them. Everyone who enters your doors helps keeps your doors open. They have a lot of restaurant choices in the area. Don't make them regret choosing yours.

I really wanted to love this place…read more We came across this cute corner spot in Carmel flying a Filipino flag, and as a Filipino myself, I was so excited to see Filipino food represented here. Unfortunately, the experience didn't live up to that excitement. After being seated with menus, we waited about 15 minutes without anyone checking in, offering water, or asking for a drink order. It honestly felt like we had walked into a private gathering, as staff were engaged in long conversations with other tables. Since we were already pretty hungry and hadn't even received water, we decided to leave, so I can't comment on the food itself. This is a bit of a late review, as the visit happened just shy of New Year's Eve. To be fair, they may have been understaffed or we came on an off day, but it was still disappointing. I hope others have a better experience.

We are in Monterey once a year for an event and I am always looking forward to my yellow curry from…read moreKrua Thai. We also usually show up with a big group without a reservation and the owner has always been doing everything he could to sit us all together and give us the best experience possibl. 10/10 would recommen.

I been coming to Krua Thai for many years. They have just updated the inside of their restaurant…read more Not to many restaurant's are so clean and continue keep things up to date and with good food and great service. If you haven't come for lunch then you are missing out. I know for a fact that they every day they get the freshest vegetables and other supplies. I see the owner out and about shopping daily. If you haven't been here or think it is just another Thai restaurant then you are mistaken. People I have run into in other states who have traveled to Monterey say to me they have had dinner there and have praised and raved about the food. People on vacation mostly talk about the Monterey Bay aquarium or the golf course is not too many people talk about restaurants except for Krua Thai so if you miss it when you came to Monterey, then you're missing out.

Still as delicious as I last remembered! Make sure to order in advance if you are picking up for…read moretake out (20-30 min). A must stop place when we are in Monterey!

Good food, reasonable portions, and decent pricing! They have a wide variety of items on their…read moremenu and have authentic Japanese restaurant taste.

JEJU Kitchen in Carmel Plaza is truly one of the best additions Carmel has had in years. Located…read moreright in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, inside Carmel Plaza off Ocean and Mission, this family-owned and family-run restaurant opened in early 2024 and has quickly become one of my family's favorite places to eat. I am an absolute foodie, and over the years I have honestly become harder to impress. I've been disappointed many times by restaurants that look great but do not deliver when it comes to quality, flavor, consistency, or service. JEJU Kitchen is different. From the first time we tried it, it felt special. The food is fresh, creative, flavorful, and made with care. It has a new and exciting twist on Korean food, with touches of California and even a little Hawaiian influence mixed in. In my opinion, it is the best twist on Korean food in Monterey County. One of the absolute standouts is the coconut shrimp. These are not your average coconut shrimp. They are the largest coconut shrimp I have seen since the late 1990s at Chart House. I believe they use a very large shrimp count, something like 8/12 count shrimp, which means only about 8 to 12 shrimp per pound. These are extra, extra large, and they are incredible. Even though they are technically an appetizer, several members of my family order them as their main dish because they are that good. My family absolutely loves them. The kimchi is also excellent, and they have so many other great dishes, but one of my personal favorites is their kimchi burger. It is such a fun and delicious twist on a classic burger. The balance of flavors is exactly what makes JEJU Kitchen so unique. I have also uploaded photos of the jalapeño smashburger and the jalapeño chicken sandwich, both of which are outstanding. You can choose onion rings, fries, or a side salad, and honestly, you cannot go wrong with any of them. The staff is another big reason this place stands out. Everyone is friendly, welcoming, and always there to help. You can tell they care about their customers and take pride in what they are building. The service feels genuine, not forced, and that makes a big difference. In a town with so many restaurants, it is refreshing to find a place that combines great food, warm hospitality, and a family-run atmosphere. My family has lived in Carmel for over 12 years, and I have personally been visiting Carmel Plaza for more than 35 years. JEJU Kitchen is one of the best additions I have seen come to the plaza. It brings something fresh, creative, and much needed to the area. One thing to know before going: this place gets very busy. I highly recommend making a reservation. If you do not have one, they do have bar seating that is first come, first served. You can also order through DoorDash or directly through their website, which I do regularly. Just keep in mind that on busy weekends, they may be too backed up to take online orders, which is completely understandable given how popular they have become. JEJU Kitchen is warm, flavorful, creative, and sincere. Whether you are local, visiting Carmel, or just walking through Carmel Plaza, this is a restaurant worth trying. I hope they continue to grow, and I would be very excited to see them open more locations around the Peninsula.

Awesome spicy chicken burger and fries. I ordered the cider too, really refreshing!…read more The vegan chocolate dessert is out of this world! Love these guys!

Great little place in Carmel! Dog friendly which was awesome. My wife and I shared the Dolmas, Clam…read moreChowder, and Treehouse Burger. Dolmas, speechless, wow Skip the chowder, in my opinion. Less of a chowder, more of a soup. Treehouse Burger so tasty. Their take on a smash burger... must try Service was quick and friendly. Attentive as well! Will be back!

I do really appreciate Treehouse is dog-friendly and they were kind to provide a water bowl for my…read morepup. The patio ambiance is very nice, but other than that, the food was so basic and mediocre with not a lot of taste. I don't understand why this cafe is on so many vegetarian guides when the veggie options are actually kind of limited (hummus, lentil soup, etc.) and not very good. I don't understand the hype. Seems like other restaurants in Carmel have way more interesting and tasty vegetarian options.