Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Tropicali

    4.9 (4.2k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Tropicali Photos

    TROPICALI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Classy
    Casual

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Tropicali

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Front Entrance
    Rianna M.

    This place has such a great, chill, laid-back vibe! We went on a Sunday night, and it was pretty empty, which made for a really relaxed experience. Ordering is done through a kiosk, which was super easy. While we were looking over the menu, an employee noticed we were considering one of the really spicy options and kindly recommended that we go with something else instead. We really appreciated her attentiveness and the recommendation--it ended up being a great choice! They also have free water available inside, which was a nice touch. The drinks were okay, but I did feel like some of the menu items had more coconut than I expected. That's partly on me because I could have asked for it to be removed, but I didn't think it would be as noticeable as it was. Overall, the poke was great, and my boyfriend really enjoyed his food as well. But the waffle was definitely the highlight--it was AMAZING! I included photos with the names of everything we ordered. Overall, a really nice spot with a relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and good food. I'd definitely come back!

    Sergio R.

    Vibes!! From the eccentric island decor to the vibrant lively staff you're in for a good time! It's not a standard dining experience, you walk in and order your food off a screen and they call you up off the mic and you come and get it The drinks are pricey but they're not lacking so I guess it's worth it. The food comes in a container, kinda cafeteria style, but it's super tasty. Overall it's a neat experience and a cool spot for a lunch. Come try em out for yourself!!!

    Cyndi L.

    Holy cow!! I have lived in San Diego my entire life and gone to big Bear almost every single winter that I've lived here and somehow I have never heard of this place. I am blown away!! My nephew is an ad Fisherman and I'm used to fresh tasting tuna and tropicali may have my nephews tuna beat. Beyond the absolutely exceptional food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor of this place is top-notch and the people working there were absolutely incredible.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There is not one thing that I could say that wasn't top-tier about my experience at Tropicali. also want to mention i got the kraken bowl which was the perfect mix of spicy and sweet. drooling thinking about it now !

    The front
    Audry S.

    The vibes are here, the boys up front are hilarious and friendly! It's a self order place with 3 kiosk stations and one line funneling us in. The wait wasn't long, but maybe because we came on a weekday. I ordered the Pele because I wanted to taste the tuna instead of having all these other yummy sauces on top. The ahi tuna is very fresh and tender, definitely get this if you want a more ahi tuna forward dish. My partner had the Cabo and he enjoyed the textures of this bowl. He added extra spice, but it wasn't spicy to us (we have a high spice tolerance). The rice was surprisingly good and everything came together beautifully in this delicious bowl. Definitely not overhyped ! Wash ashore to try this place !

    Jason W.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience: 5 stars[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Poke Bowls: 3 stars [[HIGHLIGHT]]Immersive island theme restaurant meets Disney's Tiki Room in Big Bear, the last place you'd probably expect it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We tried the Pele and Kraken poke bowls. I really wanted to like them, but they were just average at best. The tuna was only average quality, I didn't vibe with the sauces - I prefer shoyu or vinegar based more than cream based, there weren't many toppings at all and no acids (citrus, ginger, radish, seaweed) to brighten up the bowls. The service is wonderful and the staff is very well trained and in character the whole time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience and kiosk ordering queue truly feels like you're in Disneyland.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely worth a visit, but I'm a bit perplexed by the people who rave about their Poké bowls.

    Entrance-outdoors
    Alejandra F.

    Super cool place, they have so much to offer starting from a big menu of food and drinks, also they do have a big selection of coffee, the place is huge, the have more sitting indoors which is very cool and outdoors is more reduce but also very nice and they have a great view, the line for orders is not so big, it is actually btw 5-10 minutes. The only thing I will probably point out is that from the big selection of food just 2 dishes were not spicy, as a person who doesn't eat spicy I will like to see maybe more selection of mild food, thanks.

    Victoria L.

    10 stars. Seriously! I was here years ago when it was in a different - smaller location. But they keep upping their game. The space is so fun to hang out at - and you go in and order and your order gets called - "VICTORIA YOUR FOOD JUST WASHED UP ASHORE." Haha they commit to the bit. The food is SO delicious and their coffee is amazing. I wish it wasn't so far for me

    Ashley D.

    a must go to spot in big bear! Pretty long line to order at 3 kiosks but food came out super quick. Staff is very friendly and hilarious, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]it's such a cool looking place overall with lots of photo ops.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I tried the paniolo and it was very good, not spicy at all tho, and more on the sweet teriyaki side.

    Island Style Cold Brew
    Beatrice V.

    This place is such a vibe!! We swung by here as our final meal in Big Bear and I'm so glad we did. They have a small parking lot to the side of the restaurant. As you walk up, you're greeted by a massive shark head and you can spot their fun desert decor like cactus and peach umbrella covers. Instantly you know you're going somewhere fun. When you walk in, you stand in a line to order your food off a screen, and they call your name when your order is ready. There are QR codes so you can order a drink while waiting and you'll be entertained by the quirky surfer bro who's calling out names when people's drinks are ready. Everyone is donned with Hawaiian shirts and look genuinely happy to work there. There's a big outdoor patio with those peach umbrella covers to provide some shade, as well as seating inside. It kinda feels like you're in Disneyland because there's so much decor and so many things to look at. While waiting to order food, I ordered the island style cold brew with macadamia nut milk. It was good! We also got a tropical gangster, a frozen drink with passion orange and guava and it was the perfect drink to sip on for a hot day. For food, we got the pele poke bowl and the cabo poke bowls. The portions weren't big, they come in small bowls, and you're paying about $20 each for them, but they were surprisingly good. Not the best poke ever, but good enough for Big Bear. Both bowls had ahi but different flavorings and toppings. The cabo came with crunchy wonton strips and jalapeños, while the pele came with rice and veggies like cucumbers and peppers. My bf and I split both bowls and we enjoyed them! This is def a must visit if you're in town!

    Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
    Johnna E.

    I heard a lot of great things about this place on Yelp, online, and from people I know. We went on a Saturday and oh my goodness did this place have quite the line (side note drove by on Sunday morning a couple of minutes before they opened and there was already line outside!). To say this place is a "vibe" is an understatement. The people working here clearly LOVE their job, you can hear it in their voice when calling out the orders over the speaker. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience, decorations and experience was very cool definitely a tourist spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I did enjoy my teriyaki bowl, the bowl was a good size and very yummy; this place was a little on the pricier side (a little less than $20 for my bowl). But overall a fun place to go. Highly recommend going right when they open.

    Bar
    Shontel C.

    We spotted this place on our drive up and stopped for lunch. It's really a vibe and fun to experience. You enter and get in line for drinks and food orders from on the large tablets. Food comes out pretty quick too. The decor, menu, and staff are all on point. I wish there were more menu options with veggies but other than that it's fun and great for photos. The view from the patio is the est too!

    Front entrance
    Tania T.

    This place just amazes me. I mean the big giant shark head as you walk in, at Big Bear? Unheard of. This was our first time trying this poke joint. And honestly, getting a poke bowl at Big Bear woul not be my first choice of dinner, but this might be our go to place from now on! The kids love it, adults love it, food is great, vibe is A+, plenty of tables, and all the staff we've encountered are very nice, friendly, and helpful. Our party had little ones that needs stroller and high chair and this place is definitely accessible and accommodating for all ages. They were even kind enough to notify us to go ahead and grab a dining table with our stroller as you have to place the order via a self serve tablet. They also serve alcoholic beverages! Basically after you order, they'll call your name with a Hawaiian groovy twist to it, and you grab your own utensils, napkins, and water on a separate area. And then off to enjoy your food. They have 3 different dining areas, out on the patio, inside dining with varying table sizes, chairs, and booth, and a backyard with a nice enclosed grassy area with standing tables only. Again, the vibes here are really great! So detailed and unique! So the food, we ordered the Cuba and the Krakatoa, both have white rice with tuna but different mixture of sauces. Both bowls were delicious and tuna was cut into little cubes and are fresh! We ordered the grilled teriyaki rice for the kids that came with a mayo dipping sauce and pickled pineapple with a bit of a kick. The teriyaki sauce and chicken was well cooked and the taste were delicious! Our kids devoured their plates. This was definitely a great spot for poke when you're in the Big Bear area! We will be back and eat some more yummy poke bowls.

    Kraken Poke Bowl
    Mariel D.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambiance, love the island, surfer vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I had the kraken poke and it was not too spicy. It was a good portion for the price. When your food is ready, they announce over the intercom like it's a radio station. So much fun! I also would like to shout out to the staff who was so nice and tried to calm down our little toddler, who got scared because of the shark entrance.

    Pele bowl

    See all

    Review Insights

    28 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Really unique place and the food is amazing! Easy ordering system and the menu is highly customizable

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    30 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    22 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 4
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah F.
    107
    79
    1

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tammi M.
    99
    11
    10

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 105

    Tropicali Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tropicali

    Is their patio dog friendly? I have a dachshund?

    yes i saw dogs there !

    Is alcohol served?

    yes they have very good drinks!

    How can I make a reservation for a large party? The phone number doesn't work and I can't find an email address.

    They don't do reservations and there is no wait service. There are large tables that can fit large parties though. You stand in line and order from a kiosk and they call your name. You could have someone wait in the dining room to try to get a large… 

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes

    Do you have menu for the kids?

    No- I got my kid a waffle lol

    I read that you have vegan options, Is this true? If, so what are they? Thank you!

    They offer a tofu bowl

    Will you be open on Labor Day?

    They were open on 4th of July, so I would guess they'd be open Labor Day

    Do you guys serve salmon too?

    No. Tuna only as far as fish goes

    Will you guys be open on July 4th?

    Yes, they're open.

    Do you guys offer a brown rice bowl option?

    yes

    Are they still out of Tuna?

    Not at all

    Will you be open New Years day?

    Are you open Black Friday ? We are planning a trip to the mountain for TG and would love revisit your locations.

    Aloha Bec! Yes we will be open on Black Friday from 11-7 We look forward to serving you.… 

    What alcoholic drinks do you serve?

    No alcohol.

    Is there indoor dining? If no, are there heat lamps outdoor?

    No plan to eat in your car. Patio has no covering and no heaters. Indoor was closed when we were there last 3 weeks ago.

    Is it possible to order & pick up without waiting inside? I came by but the interior line in a cramped space didn't seem safe with COVID.

    They do not let you call in your order, so you do have to wait in that line to order. It has prevented us from getting Tropicali several times during the pandemic. To avoid too much of a line, I recommend going right when they open. You can can then… 

    How is this place vegan?

    Aloha Patricia! We serve a collection of organic vegan options. We make our own housemade organic… 

    Do you guys have a working telephone number to call in orders?

    Aloha Darian, Unfortunately we don’t take Togo orders as we want to ensure your food being as fresh as possible.… 

    Do they offer any low carb options without rice? Maybe on a bed of lettuce rather than on a bed of rice?

    Yes! My go-to is the Pele Bowl on a bed of cucumbers instead of rice.

    What time do you close today? We just moved here from Oahu, and we are very hungry!

    Aloha Clyde, Welcome to Big Bear. We close at 8pm. We look forward to serving you.… 

    View All 40 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hawaiian 794 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Oakside

    Oakside

    4.0
    (2.3k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    Had dinner here last night with my fiancé and both of us were so thoroughly impressed by every…read moreaspect of our experience - that I just had to log-in to write this review. There were a a handful of people waiting to be seated when we arrived and the couple before us were seated at the last outdoor patio table available. The hostess told us that we could go upstairs to the bar area and sit anywhere we wanted and a server would be with us directly. So that's what we did. As a side note, the whole vibe of the restaurant was very comfortable and the building itself is pretty remarkable. Water and menus were delivered within minutes of us selecting our table, and our waitress Victoria maintained that same level of attentiveness the whole time we were there. The biggest shortcoming of so many restaurants in and around Big Bear is the bar and their specialty drinks. But this place just slam dunked on every other restaurant we've ever tried over the years - and not just for the drinks. I love a good old fashioned but until last night, every place I'd been to served their old fashioned in a glass full of ice like I was getting a soda at a fast food drive through. Not here. A proper big block ice cube made the "Maple old fashioned" (hands down) the best drink I've ever had. (I think they've got like 7 or 8 different varieties of the old fashioned and I will definitely be back to try them.) Our potato skins appetizer was on another level and that was before our entrees even arrived. My beef dip sandwich was perfect as was wifey's chicken Scaloppini. The timing of food arriving and the periodic check-ins from our waitress was flawless. We spoke briefly with the bartender, Doug (who may or may not have been one of the owners) to express how much we enjoyed our drinks and dinner. The hallmark of a well-run restaurant is that everyone who works there conducts themselves like it's their name on the sign out front. That's exactly what we got from everyone involved. Whoever is in charge of the kitchen staff deserves a Michelin star rating. The rest of the staff is equally impressive. I can't say enough about this place. Excellent drinks, excellent food and dynamite service. If you want a top-notch dining experience in Big Bear, this should be your first and only choice. From now on, it'll be mine.

    We were quoted a 15-25 minute wait, which somehow turned into nearly an hour. Apparently, Oakside…read moremeasures time the same way airlines measure "a slight delay." We're a family of four with a well-behaved standard poodle, so we completely understood that our seating options were limited. What we didn't understand was watching two other families with dogs arrive after us and get seated well before us, along with what felt like half of Big Bear. Our "table is ready" text finally arrived 53 minutes after we joined the waitlist. If the real wait is an hour, just say an hour. At least then we could have taken our dog for a hike, grabbed lunch somewhere else, and possibly returned in time for our table.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Chopped American Wagyu Steak Burger*
    Chopped American Wagyu Steak Burger*
    Pulled Pork Sandwich

    See all

    Pulled Pork Sandwich
    572 Social Kitchen  & Lounge

    572 Social Kitchen & Lounge

    3.7
    (1.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Great place to hang out and chill at The Village with live music. Dogs are welcome too which was a…read moreplus cos we had a golden with us. We ordered our food and drinks at the outside bar and grabbed a number to our seats. The food and drinks came out quick which was nice. We got the Fire burger, chicken strips, extra red ale, and nut brown ale. We ordered the burger medium rare but it got to us probably more medium. It was very tender and tasty nevertheless with great caramelized onions. Chicken strips were decent. Looking forward to another chill, relaxing night.

    I was extremely disappointed and honestly disgusted by what occurred during our visit and, even…read moremore so, by the lack of response from the staff after it was reported. To be clear, I have absolutely no issue with restaurants allowing dogs in designated outdoor patio areas. That is completely different from what happened here. A customer brought her dog inside the women's restroom, pulled out a dog pad, placed it on the restroom floor, and allowed the dog to relieve itself inside a shared customer restroom. I had to literally shimmy past the woman and her dog to get out of the restroom while my mother-in-law was still inside. I immediately reported what was actively occurring to approximately five employees who were gathered together at the bar inside the restaurant. Instead of anyone going to address the situation, they simply stood there. No one appeared to take any action while the woman and dog were still in the restroom. After seeing that nothing was being done, I had to approach the employees a second time. Only then was I told they would "have to tell our boss." At that point, my mother-in-law was still inside the restroom, which made the complete lack of urgency even more frustrating. My concern is not simply that a dog was inside the restaurant. There is a major difference between being pet-friendly and allowing someone to intentionally use a dog pad so their dog can relieve itself inside a customer restroom. That is an extremely unsanitary situation, particularly in a food-service establishment. What made the experience unacceptable was that multiple employees were made aware of the situation while it was actively occurring and still did not immediately address it. Customers should not have to repeatedly ask restaurant staff to intervene when something this obviously inappropriate and unsanitary is happening in a shared restroom. Management needs to seriously review both its policies regarding animals inside the establishment and how employees are expected to respond when customers report sanitation concerns. Being dog-friendly is one thing. Allowing a restroom to be used this way and then showing virtually no urgency when it is reported is something entirely different.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Shishito Peppers
    Shishito Peppers
    Chicken Teriyaki bowl

    See all

    Chicken Teriyaki bowl
    Teddy Bear Restaurant

    Teddy Bear Restaurant

    3.8
    (3.1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    TLDR: Cash only;…read more Portion sizes are still on the bigger side; Our favorites: buckwheat pancakes, corn beef/pastrami hash. ----- Been here many times over the last decade whenever we are in Big Bear. Our latest visit yesterday was still overall a very positive experience. Much to our delight, their buckwheat pancakes are still the best pancakes EVER (imho). These pancakes are the reason why we come to Teddy Bear every time. Something about the flavor and texture just makes them stand out. In fact, we no longer order pancakes anywhere else. Corn beef hash and pastrami hash are still so very flavorful and satisfying. The cinnamon cornbread is still good. Coffee might seem a little weak for some (like my husband) but good enough for me. Our server was super busy so service was understandably a tad slow but decidedly adequate.

    Pros: We liked the feel of a "small town diner" and staff were very friendly. They have tons of…read morefood options and service was quick. Came here on a Saturday for lunch and we were seated right away! Cons: We were not expecting this place to be cash only! The chairs were uncomfortable and the bathrooms are not nice. Their soda machine wasn't working and they didn't offer iced coffee (although they did give us hot coffee and a cup of ice). Their Ceaser salad had way too much dressing to the point where it was soggy! Overall it was an alright place for our weekend getaway lunch. But we would not eat here again.

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Bacon, Eggs, and House Potatoes
    Bacon, Eggs, and House Potatoes
    Hot water (not coffee) on this chilly morning.

    See all

    Hot water (not coffee) on this chilly morning.
    North Pole Fudge & Ice Cream Co.

    North Pole Fudge & Ice Cream Co.

    4.1
    (643 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    The wife and I walked by here frequently as we're getting our steps in around the village. This…read moretime we had the grandkids with us and we were on a mission for ice cream. When we stopped in the line was extremely long, which is great for the local businesses. The store has three unique sections. Ice cream, candy, chocolate, gummy, worms, etc., and caramel apples. I'm not sure if the employee was happy with us, but we ordered from every section. It almost seemed like he wanted us to go back and get in line to order from a new section but we didn't. I had peanut butter and chocolate on a cake cone that was outstanding. The wife had chocolate chip on a sugar cone and she also enjoy it. The grandkids had a variety of different flavors and I have to assume they enjoyed it because there was none left. The daughter ordered a caramel apple with some topping on it that she thoroughly enjoyed. She also ordered an extra one that was sliced that she shared with all of us. It had caramel and nuts on it. Very tasty. We also ordered different chili, flavored gummy worms and gummy rings. The grandkids thoroughly enjoyed. In addition, had to try out the chocolates. Had the dark chocolate haystack wasn't too impressed with it. Had a couple of dark chocolate cashew clusters. The wife said they were very good. The three employees that were working behind the counter we're doing a great job keeping the line moving. They also offer a discount if you eat at saucy mamas beforehand and bring your receipt. If you're visiting the village and get a sweet tooth this is a great place to stop.

    I haven't had real ice cream in a while so this was refreshing. When you walk in it's full on…read morechocolate fudge covered & infused items. The ice cream is in the back, so you can browse and order chocolate while you wait in line. The ice cream is by Dreyer's with quite a few options during the summer. A lot of them were traditional flavors but there's a good mix of different and new concoctions like coconut pineapple, banana cream, and peaches and cream. I got the strawberry cheesecake, but it didn't have strawberry chunks or much strawberry flavor, and chocolate peanut butter. The chocolate is overpowering unless you get a good chunk of peanut butter. Overall, it's a good place to catch a treat.

    Photos
    Single scoop on sugar cone Espresso chip  June 2024
    Single scoop on sugar cone Espresso chip June 2024
    Even snacks for My Leo !
    Even snacks for My Leo !
    North Pole Fudge & Ice Cream Co.

    See all

    Tropicali - hawaiian - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...