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.

We decided to come to Hula's for dessert after spending some time on Cannery Row. The ambiance of…read morethis place is great and the lighting and vibe are perfect for a date night. All of the desserts seemed delicious but we settled on the Ohana Pie for $15. This pie is Oreo cookie crust, ice cream (the flavor changes and this day it was chocolate fudge brownie), whipped cream, macadamia nuts, and hot fudge. The dessert was so delicious! It was exactly what I wanted and a large serving that was perfect for the both of us. I have absolutely no complaints about the food. The service however was bad. There is a bar in one room and additional bar style seating in another. We took a seat at the bar style seating (not the actual bar) since it was self seating and the restaurant was mildly busy. It took a while for a waitress to come up to us and take our order. When she did we made it clear that we just wanted to dessert to split and a couple glasses of water. When she brought the dessert out 15 minutes later she brought our check out with it. I took a bite of the dessert and then immediately put my card down so that she could take it whenever she came back. She did not check on us again for a full 40 minutes. The only reason she ended up coming up to us is because I was turned in my barstool waiting for her with the bill in my hand. We wanted to ask for napkins since we were eating what was essentially ice cream cake and didn't even get those until we were actively leaving. The dessert was good, but I hate when a restaurant offers self seating and then does not do a good job actually servicing it. I don't know if that was the reason the service was so terrible or if it was because we were only ordering dessert. It was disappointing to feel like we were being ignored by our waitress when she was incredibly attentive to other tables.

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==

Two friends/colleagues and I skipped out of a nearby conference to chow down on sushi and were so…read morestoked on Kuma! We had good service and even scored some free sake when one of the wait staff misunderstood a request (likely because the dining room is so loud! not great acoustics because it's so cavernous, but bright and welcoming, too). I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by their extensive menu, but we loved pretty much everything we ordered. Left stuffed and satisfied!

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.

Wow! Best sushi on the Monterey Peninsula - hands down…read more My daughter, nephew, and I sat down on a Saturday night at this place. I was worried because there always seems to be a line waiting outside the door to get in. We arrived about 7:30p and were seated right away. The store was nearly full with just a few tables open. Our server immediately greeted us and took our drink order. When she returned we ordered the teriyaki chicken, gyoza (appetizer), 2 rolls and six pieces of nigiri. The gyoza was wonderful. Pan fried - with a little crunch on the outside and a soft on the inside. Delicious. The rolls that we ordered we perfectly put together. The fish was tremendous. Very tender, soft, and tasty. The nigiri - the best! Beautifully crafted and topped with fresh fish that melted in my moUth. We liked the food so much that we ordered 2 more rolls and that were just as tasty as the first 2 that we ordered. It is a bit pricy, but definitely worth it. I'll be back for sure..

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.

One of the best bang for your buck dining experiences. Everything about Roy's is incredibly…read morepleasant, from the minute you walk into the upscale lobby to the sweet dessert at the end. The drinks were strong and tasty. I especially loved the bloody Mary, which was on the spicier side. Service was attentive. The octopus starter absolutely blew our minds. Portions are generous and everything is delicious. Ask to be seated outside under the heatlamp/fire pitts and enjoy the dinner overlooking spectacular beach views. Self parking is free and the lot is ample. There is also valet parking. If you're not staying at the hotel, simply inform the security staff of your reservation and you won't need to pay the entrance fee. Take a stroll around the golf course and beach boardwalk afterwards.

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.

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.

8.6/10 Tried the Pad…read moreThai Noodles, Yellow Curry, and Tom Yum Noodle Soup, overall a really enjoyable experience! The Pad Thai hit the flavor perfectly with that sweet and savory balance and a generous portion of beef. The sauce was fantastic, but the noodles were very clumped together, which made it a bit tricky to eat, each bite felt like a single dense clump. The Yellow Curry was the star of the meal definitely a must-try! The sauce was rich and flavorful, and pairing it with rice really helps soak it all up. Plenty of chicken and potatoes, with carrots and onions that were cooked just right. Saucy, hearty, and satisfying. The Tom Yum Noodle Soup was also excellent. I got the chicken version, and they don't skimp on protein! The soup had perfect rice noodles, mushrooms, and fresh cilantro. The broth was rich yet light, perfect for warming up. My only small gripe: the tomatoes were a bit too tart. Service was fast and attentive, and the ambiance felt clean and upscale.

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.

This is a cute spot in Monterey for Vietnamese cuisine. Apparently, they are a chain, but I…read morehaven't been to other locations. Even though they were a little busy, we got seated right away, and it didn't take too long for our food to come out. They offer a wide selection of milk tea and boba drinks, as well as many Vietnamese classics. I wasn't in the mood for soup, so I ordered the beef with glass noodles instead of pho, which would have been my go-to. It was very fresh. This is a good place to pop in for a quick Vietnamese meal. They do have a parking lot, but it was full when we got there, and it was easy enough to find street parking.

Service- slow Waiting area- confusing…read more Food- got a soup I've never had- flavor was odd. Asked for chicken and got a chicken drumstick (?) Was really wanting something warm and yummy on that cold night, was not :(

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!

The food is fine and the dessert I would probably come back for but unfortunately I had a mixed…read morecustomer service experience. I tried to call the establishment multiple times to change my resy and no answer. I go there and it's nearly empty, so I'm wondering why there's no answer. However, they were kind enough to adjust my reservation due to my full party not able to make it, to avoid the $100 cancellation charge. On the resy it asked if there were any special occasions and I put down my cousin's birthday and even confirmed before we were seated that we were celebrating a birthday and if they did anything special - the hostess said that they hand out a free dessert. Great! We get seated and even the waitress acknowledged that there's a birthday celebrant at our table. We get our drinks and food ordered - the highlights were the miso cacio pepe entree, yuzu crème brûlée, and the black sesame panna cotta. Before we get the desserts, they have us pay the bill. Kinna weird considering we weren't done eating yet, but as they bring out the desserts I'm expecting they're gonna bring out the bday dessert and sing or something. They only bring out the desserts we ordered (not our waitress) and she never comes back. By the time I could even ask anyone, my party had already finished eating. After finishing, I asked the hostess if I had misunderstood about the birthday dessert. She apologized for them not bringing it out, but another staff member decides to butt in WITH ATTITUDE and said they didn't bring it out because I had marked "vegan" on the reservation--and the dessert isn't vegan. That explanation didn't really make sense, since the birthday celebrant wasn't specified as vegan, it was brought up to us multiple times without explaining the dessert wasn't vegan prior, and we had already ordered non-vegan desserts. It was disappointing because the birthday was acknowledged multiple times, but nothing was actually done to follow through. The attempt to cover their mistake instead of just owning it left a worse impression than the mistake itself. Pissed me off, please get your ownership together! Great customer service makes a big difference. Also the establishment needs blinds - me and another customer were blinded by the sun the entire time due to facing a huge ass window.