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Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Southern Restaurants Cajun/Creole Seafood, Southern, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
75-5776 Alii DrKailua Kona, HI 96740
(808) 331-8442
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Review Highlights
55 reviews in English
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Review from Susan L.
5/10/2012 2 photos
I have been wanting to go to Bubba Gumps for a long time. I'm glad I came to this one above all the others. This is one of the few restaurants in the area that is on the water. We sat on the patio where we overlooked the beautiful scenery while we waited on our food.
I ordered the Shrimp Shack Mac and Cheese ($9.29) to start off . It had sauteed shrimp mixed with noodles Monterrey Jack Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, topped with golden bread crumbs. I was afraid it would be overly salty but it was perfect! The shrimp was sweet and the cheese had flavor without excessive salt. You would think I would be all shrimped out but I ordered more shrimp! I ordered The Shrimpers Heaven ($21.29) it came with coconut shrimp, tempura shrimp, fried shrimp, Chili shrimp but I replaced the Chili shrimp for more coconut shrimp. It was good but I think I over did it! I got shrimp wasted!
The service was efficient because they have these cute signs on the table. If you don't need anything keep the sign flipped to "Run Forest Run". If you need a refill or something flip the sign on "Stop Forest Stop". Servers that pass by even if they are not yours will stop and help.
I couldn't leave without stopping at the gift shop. We also had to pick up one of their glasses. If you order one of their specialty drinks a glass comes with it. They give you a fresh one at the gift shop. I bought some shirts and a magnet before we left. It was a cute place and I'm glad we chose to eat here! -
Review from Sarah I.
Apache Junction, AZ
5/10/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Best deal on drinks anywhere in town, especially during happy hour ($5.00 for big fancy drinks).
My husband and I wanted to visit the more unique places in town rather than the chain restaurants when we stayed in Kona for a few weeks, so we avoided this place when we first got here. BIG MISTAKE. After a few days we decided to try out the happy hr. and boy, it made us HAPPY. Compared with the other places in town the drinks here are the best! the Lava flow is great: Nice size with top shelf rum. The Medal Margarita was one of the best I've had anywhere Food was OK. -
Review from Xuxa X.
Hilo, HI
4/14/2012
I came in for breakfast on a Sunday and had the stuffed French toast which was good. Prices were right and the breakfast menu looked interesting. There was nothing like eating good food outside hearing the waves crash.
-3 because the waitress ignored me. Never came by to give me a single refill. Took forever to track her down for my bill as well as took forever to get my card back.
I gave a 0 tip and wrote "shitty service". -
Review from Steven H.
Lakeside, CA
5/23/2012
Great Happy Hour! Prices were fair and our bartender Nate did a super job. Definitely would come back. Margarita and a big beer, fish tacos, calamari, and shrimp for $27 on the Kona waterfront was perfect. Get there before 5pm.
-
Review from Svetlana I.
San Francisco, CA
4/7/2012
I picked this place because I love the food and service in the restaurant I frequent in San Francisco. We were visiting, so based on my previous experiences, I thought wow Bubba Gump Shrimp with an ocean view deck - it doesn't get much better! I was wrong.
The hostess was super nice, even though there was a long wait time, we felt welcome. We got a great table right by the water front, and then everything just went downhill. Our drinks arrived and got spilled all over us and our table, the food was cold and some of the vegetables were of questionable freshness. To top it all off they tried charging us for the drink that got spilled.
Of course it may have just been a bad day for them, I saw a lot of commotion on the deck, seems like a lot of tables had some complaints. Either way, think twice before you go into this place with expectations. Beautiful location, service needs improvement. -
Review from Bill B.
Pahoa, HI
3/11/2012
Mediocre food with a view. Heather's biscuits and gravy were lukewarm at best....and that was after the second time sending them back. My eggs over easy were more like soft boiled and the potatoes were lukewarm. The pancakes were good!
Our waitress was gracious...which is what saved these guys from one star. The other waiter was obnoxiously loud.
There are many other better places in Kona for great meals with a view.
Try them first before heading here. -
Review from Ida C.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Say what you will about chain tourist trap restaurants, but the back porch of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Kona is gorgeously set with crashing surf and sunset water views.
We initially went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to satisfy a non-poke eating picky eater, but it turned out to be a great choice for an early evening drink. Prices are decent for Hawaii and the service was spot on. You can also send cues to your server with the handy license plate-style signs on the table.
You really can't go wrong with an order of the "Best Ever Popcorn Shrimp" ($8.99) to go with your umbrella cocktail. Served in a cone, you get lots of fried small shrimps, pepperoncinis and red bell peppers with a trio of dipping sauces. The shrimp were tender and flavorful and I really liked the creativity of the fried peppers! Good luck keeping your dining companions from mooching!
We also tried the "Boat Sized Basket o' Fries" ($3.99), which was large, extra crispy (as requested) and seasoned with some old bay. Not exceptional but good, all-American, shoestring fries.
PARTING THOUGHT: Overall a good spot, especially if you're in the mood for shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp! -
Review from Bob S.
Merrill, WI
3/10/2012
Great atmosphere. Waiter was friendly and helpful. Food was fantastic. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Drinks were delicious.
-
Review from Lucy K.
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Let me just start off by saying i was VERY VERY Anti going here. I hate touristy places and chains! I would prefer a mom and pop shop, but my fiance read some of the yelper's reviews and decided to give it at ry.
THe prices were reasonable and the view was stunning. THe food was great, I literally ate every single bite. I had the Lt. Dan drunken shrimp and my fiance had a bucket of different kind of seafood and he loved it.
Considering the area and other restaurants quality and prices, this place was a surprising win! -
Review from DENISE A.
Virgin, UT
3/2/2012
Always my #1 choice when in Kona...they have the best service people, the best atmosphere, the best & always consistently fresh & Delicious Food, across the menu...you can't go wrong! So where did I want to go on my Leap-Year Birthday Party??? No contest, Bubba Gumps! I'm definitly HOOKED! Thank you for a Great Evening, Bubba Gump!
-
Review from Matthew B.
Seattle, WA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sure, this place has pretty average food, but they do provide good service and have a fantastic location. Be sure you ask to sit outside. I'd go so far as to wait for a table outside rather than sit inside with no ocean view. Let's be real... You go here for the location. There are plenty of other restaurants with equal or better food for a better price.
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Review from Jeremy G.
Humble, TX
7/16/2011
I was dreading going here, because I couldn't stand the thought of going to a place named "Bubba Gump." But I got out-voted.
Actually, I was pleasantly surprised, if not blown away. Everything was reasonably good and not outrageously expensive. The parking wasn't too bad, either.
And the view. Wow. They must have paid a fortune for this property. You don't merely have a great view of the ocean; you ARE on the ocean! That enhanced my experience here considerably.
So, I'm not quite a converted believer; however, I would go back, but only to this location. I still hate the name, though.... -
Review from Carter F.
Newport Beach, CA
1/11/2012
I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, and BGS is no exception. The food and drinks were ok, drinks were a bit on the weak side. But the view at this location is very nice. If you want to watch the sunset (in Kona) and eat, you might try here. If you want to watch the sunset and just get a drink, I recommend the bar at Royal Kona Resort on the other side of the bay. Staff (Thanks Mike) was very friendly and very attentive.
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Review from Slur P.
Honolulu, HI
9/17/2011
NO ALOHA!
Went on a family vacation with my husband and our small children. The location of the restaurant is on the beach in Kailua-Kona overlooking the ocean. Beautiful way to eat a meal and watch the sunset at the same time.
HOWEVER...when we arrived it took them sometime to seat us even though there were more than enough empty tables near the front entrance. We were then stuffed in a corner next to the only other Hawaiians in the restaurant. We then preceded to wait 1 HOUR FOR FOOD THAT "NEVER" CAME. The ice cubes in our drinks had even melted and was warm.Three other vacationing families were seated and served on the side and to the rear of us. One family that had even been seated after us were done with their meal and left way before we did.
My husband was furious and our children were so bored they colored their entire childrens menu. We even heard another local family near us complaining about the wait and their orders being wrong. After patiently waiting for an hour and even soothing our starving children who were crying from their grumbling tummies, we finally decided to leave. As we made our way to the door I wanted to do the right thing and asked another waitress to let our waitress know we were leaving. My husband didn't want to make "hum-bug" and just wanted to go.
Upon exiting, the greeters at the front asked us what happened and as we tried to explain our waitress finally came running out. But it wasn't to apologize, oh no, she shouted at my husband, "Whose gonna pay for this bill?" So I told her, "You are!" My husband quickly came between us to save me from me being viewed as a "crazy local girl" and giving her something to go on. We asked for the Manager and even he seemed appauled by her combative behavior and the spectical she created infront of co-workers and customers. So much so that he told her to "Be quiet, and go back inside."
Unlike our waitress, the Manager was very accommodating and even offered to personally take care of us. We thanked him graciously but declined. I explained that if we had maybe ate our food and then walked out, that would be different, but our food never even came. We later found out that our food wasn't even placed until 45 MINUTES AFTER WE WERE SEATED!!! Who wouldn't walk out? The Manager definately did his best to try to make the most of our sour experience but we had all but lost our appetites. Thankfully there are many eateries along Ali'i Drive and the trip was not a total loss afterall...but be carefull when dining here less they bring the "PELE" out in you. "Mai maka'u i ka hana, maka'u i ka moloa!" (Be not afraid of work, be afraid of laziness!) -
Review from Russell K.
Orange County, CA
7/16/2011
I normally avoid the touristy places, so despite seeing Bubba Gump Restaurants everywhere, I have never actually eaten at one. That is, until our trip to Kona a couple weeks ago.
Well, I guess restaurants are like a box of chocolates. . . you never know what yer gonna get. Because I was pleasantly surprised with our dining experience. Food: good quality and fresh ingredients; Service: A+ from our friendly waitress, who was very attentive; Cost/Value: Much less $$ than I had expected, but menu items could bit a tad lower; Ambiance/View: WOW!!! You are literally right on the water.
All in all a very nice visit to Bubba Gump. Only knock that I have was that the Berry and Pear Salad did not have a single pear in it. Perhaps it was out of season, but we were not told this -- and, after all, it (pear) is in the title of the dish.
I would definitely return to Bubba Gump, but probably only at this (or a similar) location. The nearest one to me is in Anaheim near Disneyland, and I can't see myself ever choosing to eat at that location. The food was pretty good, but not enough to stand on its own. Without the prime oceanfront location, it simply would have been just another pretty good restaurant. -
Review from Vic M.
Chico, CA
1/12/2012
Food isn't bad.
Be sure to insist on a table by the water.
On both vacations that we've been here we've been happy with the food however the "formula" of service and the Bubba Gump theme gets to us. Meaning it just feels so phony or old. -
Review from Biswajit R.
Franklin Park, NJ
1/16/2012
Great location if you are sitting on the deck area. You could literally hear the waves crashing by the rocky shore right beside you. Must try popcorn shrimp, grilled salmon and Mai Tai cocktail drinks.
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Review from Vladimir G.
Washington, DC
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Come here for sunset, you won't regret it. The view and the atmosphere here is so nice and relaxing. My advise is to get the local, daily fresh catch. I had some amazing fish here with crab melted butter and sauce on top. Great selection of shrimp styles. If you're not a big seafood person this place will not "WOW" you, but if you're a tourist looking for good dinner and some nice friendly locals, this is the place for you.
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Review from Sara P.
West Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2011
There are lots of Bubba Gump's where I live (Southern California), but my husband and I had never been to one until our trip to the Big Island. We ended up hungry and ready for dinner around 9pm, wondering what would be open in this touristy town on a Tuesday night. Bubba's to the rescue! Easy street parking (we found a space right in front) and we were seated on the deck next to the ocean, since there was no wait for people to be seated outside. I guess this place is gorgeous at sunset, but it was already dark when we came.
For our appetizer we ordered the tower of onion rings. It was good... much more fun to look at than to eat! For our entree, we got small salads and split the shrimp platter, which is a ridiculous helping of different types of shrimp, including their best seller, the coconut. This was plenty of food for us to share. I wish we'd saved room for dessert, but alas, all that fried food filled us up pretty quickly. The service was good and we had a good time, I'd recommend it if you're looking for a casual place to eat on Alii Drive. -
Review from Robin M.
Bay Area
3/10/2011
Went here for dinner the other night and I can't wait to go back to San Francisco to go to the one down by the wharf.
I LOVE SHRIMP so of course this place would be hands-down fantastic.
My boyfriend and I both got shrimp dishes and shared a shrimp app. All were delicious. Overall, including tip and drinks, we spent about $75-80. It was well worth it. Plus, it was considered our "nice" expensive dinner out.
We had a drink in the bar then sat outside on the patio overlooking the bay. Beautiful!
Our server was awesome and we played Forest Gump trivia afterwards.
Good times. -
Review from jonathan r.
Las Vegas, NV
1/27/2012
OK comfort food at a reasonable price for the ocean front terraceif you order carefully. However, my wife and I were very annoyed by an upsell we fell for. The peel and eat shrimp are listed on the menu for $12.95. The waiter asked my wife if she would like the large portion and she said yes. When the bill came it was for $25.90. The waiter should have asked my wife if she wanted two orders. I thought that was a dishonest upsell and will avoid this chain in the future.
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Review from Jilly P.
Kamuela, HI
7/14/2010
I used to love going to Bubba Gump when I was a kid. But now-a-days, I don't know . . . It's nothing Special. :(
The food is the same as everywhere else. My favorite is Mama's Southern Fried Chicken. Oh my goodness, talk about DELISH! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that entree! Definitely my fave! I also like their speckled lemonade. :) Sooo good.
Anyway, three-star rating due to their hostess' and sometimes their servers. :( I find that they're often rude.
They do have outdoor seating and tend to seat people outdoors before they do indoors, which I personally think is great. :) There's nothing like sitting next to the ocean and taking in a beautiful view.
If you're going to eat here, I think you should go around sunset! Ali`i drive has the MOST beautiful sunsets ever. :) -
Review from Janelle W.
Detroit, MI
8/22/2008
Bubba Gump's food is Bubba Gump's food no matter where you go. But the location is what makes the Kailua Kona franchise stand out.
Try to get a seat on the open-air patio, where you're just a few feet from the waves and can sometimes feel the foam when the winds are high and the ocean is rough. But even from the restaurant's "indoor" seats, you'll still have a good view of the water.
The servers are more than willing to tell the BG's story to first-time customers. I don't like how they make you walk through their Bubba Gump store on the way out, to try to snag a few extra dollars out of a tourist coming off of a sunset-dinner-and-daiquiris high. I prefer going for lunch, when the restaurant is less busy, although an early dinner works for avoiding the crowd as well.
My main gripe with BG's is that the menu scores low on creativity and inventiveness. The preparation methods used are very tried-and-true, bordering on boring. Sure, the food tastes good, but I'd like to see them be a little more creative and add a bit more flair to their methods and flavors. -
Review from Michelle O.
Honolulu, HI
10/22/2009
After a long, hot drive around Kona with the top down, we ventured out for a late afternoon lunch. My companions were on vacay from the mainland but they wanted shrimp and we were too exhausted to look for a local shrimp shack.
We sat outside in an intimate area, sheltered from the unrelenting sun but directly on the shoreline of the breaking waves. We watched people boogie board in the cool water, as we chatted about our beautiful surroundings.
Like any BGS I've been to, the food's nothing to rave about but I'm comforted to know how the standard items should taste. We shared the hushpuppies which were wonderful with the cream sauce. I ordered the 'flash fried' shrimp tacos. It was breaded w/a hint of paprika, to give it some mild heat.
While the men settled the bill, the ladies ventured to the gift shop. I spied an unusual box of Jelly Belly's. It came with a 2X2 spinner that pointed to flavors like sour apple, strawberry, popcorn as well as barf, stinky skunk, and booger, etc. The kicker is that the gross JBs are the same color as the tasty ones. The cashier must've been the owner b/c she saw me looking @ it & opened one up so we could play. My spin landed on stinky skunk but I got lucky & my JB was actually licorice flavored. Great gag gift. The guys refused to play.
Had fun poking around the store and enjoyed a decent meal with people I adore ; ) -
Review from A E.
Kailua-Kona, HI
4/5/2012
Very disappointed with the service today. We sat at the bar and the bartender didn't greet us, we had to tell him we were ready to order...he didn't make any small talk with us ..got us our drinks, after we finished, the empty glasses just sat there and he finally asked us if we wanted another and we ordered water. The MOD even asked him to clean the glasses that were piling up in the corner and he never did. after we finished our appetizers, we ordered three(which was good) we wanted our bill and he basically just threw it at us..we waited for him to collect our form of payment and he didnt..the manager didn't either and he was right in-front of us washing glasses..so we paid with cash and left...food is always pretty good for the most part but the choice of servers and bartenders are terrible. we dint have a lot of "chain" restaurants here and it will be sad to see another one go if they keep this up.
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Review from Tammy C.
Lowell, MA
8/3/2011
Very great spot right by the beautiful bay. Food was magnificent from what I can remember! Menu was it bit small ...could have been greater knowing the chain. I thought the restaurant had a great feel to it. I liked the atmosphere. Had dinner late at night with the family on my last night on the Big Island. Burgers and seafood were good and prices reasonable. Heck, give it a shot. :-)
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Review from Staci S.
Saint Louis, MO
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
For being a chain, the food is pretty good. Love to sit out on the patio over the water.
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Review from Yukonher s.
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ugh....gross food and my husband got sick... Never going back to Bubba Chump.
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Review from Chase M.
Torrance, CA
9/11/2011
Pretty good food, okay service. Thats all I have to say.
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Review from Shirley M. J.
CA
3/23/2011
I was craving caipiranihas! I wanted to drink one so badly! Nat! Look! Bubba's serves mango caipiranihas! Let's have a couple! Wap one down! Delicious. Hiccup!
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Review from Katie Y.
Woodside, CA
3/22/2010
The food here is okay, and the view is stellar. The hush pups (I think that's what they're called) are tasty and addictive. The coconut shrimp was too heavily battered, greasy, and not very flavorful. Also way overpriced for what we got.
The best thing this place has going for it is that it's open late in a town that shuts down pretty early. When we got into town, it was almost 10 pm. We looked around unsuccessfully for the Kona Brewing Company (it's not on Ali'i Drive, it turns out), then finally went here. The service was nice, and very friendly. Some good beers on tap. But unless it's the only place open, why would you come here when there are so many interesting local places from which to choose? -
Review from Nari H.
Wheaton, IL
4/4/2010
I'd say 3.5 is accurate but i rounded up for good service.
Came here w/my mom and we just got two drinks and a shrimp appetizer.
Pros:
Server Kaitlin was great at making us feel at home despite our meager order and was very accomodating.
Food: Shrimp appetizer was tasty though small and had shells still on shrimp.
Drinks: mango sparklers and strawberry emonade were nice.
Outdoor seating is a plus here.
Cons: Pricey like everything else in Hawaii and not all foods here taste great. Plus had mud pie here with friends b4 and was a little disapointed.
Overall, food tastes pretty good depending on what you order and servers help you to have a good time. :) -
Review from Ticia G.
Albany, NY
5/4/2010
The staff was very nice and helpful - we were about to leave for NY and I didn't want or need the souvenier glass that the drink I wanted came in - our waitress volunteered to not charge me for it and I would just not take it with me.
Kenz had the Jumbo shrimp cocktail - we had ordered the smaller size and didn't realize until we got the bill that we got a different one (5$) but she ate it so I paid with no gripes. The crab was good and the fried mahi mahi was light and fresh. The prices were a bit high but we were in a touristy area so it was to be expected.
Sitting out on the deck was lovely as well watching the sun go down and the waves rolling in. -
Review from Elaine F.
Carlsbad, CA
12/26/2011
This is one of our favorite places to visit when on the Big Island. It is a fun place with an excellent location. Service is great because you just change the sign and the wait staff shows up right away. Food is okay but not fantastic just a real fun place to visit.
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Review from Jeanne J.
Chicago, IL
5/5/2008
I came to Bubba Gump's to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a good experience - friendly staff and your typical Bubba Gump food. A great thing to try at Bubba Gump's (as well as any other restaurant in Kona if they have it on the menu) is their mud pie - theirs is delicious.
Of course, in comparison to other restaurants that are just near the water, Bubba Gump's is really on the front of the ocean, and the view/sounds/breeze is great if you're seated outside (which we were).
I don't particularly like going to Bubba Gump's in the mainland (it's really too overpriced and mediocre to me) and this one had just the same, typical food, but the atmosphere is nice and I had a really good time celebrating with friends. -
Review from Brad W.
Redmond, WA
8/9/2010
Horrible service even for Hawaii. We waited for 15 minutes after being sat at the table before the waiter took our order.
Food was ok, but nothing special. The popcorn shrimp had a mix of popcorn shrimp and calamari that looked green underneath the breading. The jalapeño dip with the popcorn shrimp was good though. The blueberry smoothies were also good.
A good blueberry smoothie and jalapeño dip isn't enough to get me back there ever again. -
Review from Shahin N.
Kirkland, WA
8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was the second time coming here, first was on maui. The shrimp is pretty spectacular here. A little on the pricey side so expect so spend about $20 a plate. Drinks were crazy pricey, bout $8-15 per drink!!! Granted some come with glasses you take home.
The bucket of trash (can't remember exact name but you won't miss it) was probably my fav, battered shrimp, fish, and steamed lobster claws with cajun favoring. The shrimp and veggie skewers were also incredible. The bourbon mahimahi mahimahi and Lt. Dans shrimp and sausage were ok...both had bourbon sauce that wasnt too great but ok. Overall a place you should check out, if not for the ambience alone. Dessert was great..the cinnamon bread pudding was titilating. Check it out if you love forest gump and aren't short on cash. -
Review from Dianne V.
Valencia, CA
4/1/2011
Slow service, small portion, they gave us dirty cups that looked like spit and never refilled our drinks.
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Review from Rose T.
Oceanside, CA
2/17/2011
The atmosphere is fun especially for families. We sat outside on the deck with a nice view of the sunset. We had shrimp appetizer in cajun and butter suace to start off our dinner. We shared a steak entree and a delicious light flaky fish machang, sorry if I spelled it wrong, with lobster sauce. They were both served over garlic mash potatoes. Oohhh they serve the BEST garlic mash potatoes!! We saw someone order a tower of onion rings and wished we had ordered that, too. But, it was just too much food! I highly recommend this restaurant for all ages. My son ate pizza and a shake. We had our first Mai Tai at Bubba Gumps and they sure do an excellent one!
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Review from Alon L.
Gilbert, AZ
3/26/2011
Pretty standard restaurant. It provides a nice view of the sunset on Alii Drive and you get a nice view of the water. There's a pretty wide variety of shrimp dishes (as expected), and the food is pretty good. Price is average too. I can't say anything really stood out for me, but then again, I can't complain either.
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