Add Wailulu Bar & Grill to your Disney Must-do List!
I love a good surprise, and if perchance that surprise has anything to do with food and Disney, oh friends, I’m flying high. It’s with this in mind that I’ve stopped by today to tell of the VERY surprising meal that I had at the new Wailulu Bar & Grill.
You’ll find Wailulu Bar & Grill located at the new DVC Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It was my first time exploring the Polynesian’s new expansion, and I loved getting to see the elevated touches found throughout the tower’s lobby firsthand. My experience, however, did not end there, and I’m so fortunate that it didn’t. My husband and I were able to join the walk up list for Wailulu Bar & Grill, the tower’s table service restaurant. With a name like “bar and grill” you might think that the menu and the offerings would be quite pedestrian. Perhaps a burger and a sandwich, but really nothing too terribly innovative to write home about. My goodness, was I wrong. When I say that the food being served here takes the Polynesian’s culinary artistry up to a new level, please believe me. Also, when I say that you simply must stop by Wailulu for a meal on your next Walt Disney World vacation, place it as a high priority. You won’t regret it.
First things first, the environment of the restaurant is gorgeous. Sandy watery tones are used throughout the location and guests will find Moana-inspired touches throughout. The weather was absolutely gorgeous the day that we stopped by, so we asked to sit outside. I’m so glad that we did. There are banquettes built into a wall that supports a water feature around the exterior seating area. We were at a table up against glass windows that looked into the interior dining area, but it was just as lovely.
We began our meal with the Sweet Potato Hummus ($12). My hubby and I have sweet potatoes on regular rotation each week at home, but to be honest, I have never considered them as something from which hummus would be created. But the dish’s description intrigued us, so we ordered it. We did not go wrong here. Please, by all means, if you enjoy hummus, try this dish. It was delicious and creamy and having breadfruit chips stand in for pita as an accompaniment was intriguing. This dish perfectly complimented the tropical aesthetic and theming of this restaurant. And it got the meal started off on the right foot.
There are seven entrées on the menu, with everything from a specialized burger to what my husband chose as his entrée, the Marinated Pork Chop ($31). Yes, nothing fancy about that title, but that’s okay. All the fanciness came when that plate was sat before him. My goodness this pork chop was lovely. It was bone in, thick and moist, and was beautifully marinated and set alongside the creamiest, most divine smashed potatoes. He devoured every morsel.
My entrée had me channeling a bit of the tropics, as I was immediately drawn to the Short Rib Loco Moco ($33). I recently told of my experience ordering the Loco Moco during breakfast at Kona Cafe, and when I saw that Wailulu was offering their own spin on the dish, I knew I had to try it. Add in the fact that I adore short rib and will order it whenever I see it on a Disney menu. Needless to say, my hopes for the Short Rib Loco Moco were high. Thankfully, the dish paid off in spades. The short rib was fork tender and moist, the fried egg was perfectly prepared, and the rice being in the form of a rice cake was unique and an excellent foundation for the dish. I will order this dish again and again.
We simply had to try one of the three desserts featured on the menu, and decided that sharing the Chocolate Cake ($11) would be the right way to go. Goodness, this was amazing. Thick and creamy coffee-infused Chantilly Cream topped a rich chocolate cake; this was the perfect end to a perfect meal. If you’re a fan of dulce de leche, it’s worth noting that the cake arrives to the table sitting on a bed of salted caramel ganache. It’s a feast for the eyes and the taste buds.
As dusk settles in and the lights come on, the restaurant becomes even more enchanting than it is during the day. The energy is palpable, and savoring the evening breezes is easy to do at Wailulu. My experience at the location was lovely for beginning to end, and I can’t wait to go back!
Ready to experience the tropical paradise of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows? By renting DVC points with the DVC Rental Store, you can save up to 65% off Disney’s rack rates and enjoy all the benefits of staying at this deluxe resort for a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping a Lapu Lapu by the pool, watching fireworks from the beach, or immersing yourself in the resort’s rich theming, now is the perfect time to book your stay!
