I have eaten many meals at Walt Disney World, from the quickest of quick service to the formal five star elegance of Victoria and Alberts, but there is only one meal which stacks up as my all time favorite- dinner at ‘Ohana. This is the meal that I dream about in between vacations, and I have been known to skip lunch to “make extra room” in my stomach for this all-you-care-to-eat experience.
‘Ohana is located on the second floor of the Grand Ceremonial House at the Polynesian Village Resort. It serves breakfast and dinner. If you are looking to have dinner at ‘Ohana, it is important to get a reservation, and to look for that reservation as soon as possible (you can begin booking dining reservations 180 days prior to your resort check-in if you are staying onsite or 180 days prior to your proposed reservation date if you are staying offsite, and that is a good time to look if possible). I have found dinner at ‘Ohana to be one of the most difficult reservations to secure, so it is usually one of the first reservations I try to book. (Editor’s Note: Because of how hard it is to make reservations, Disney recently began taking reservations beginning at 3:30 p.m. for Guests wishing to enjoy dinner.)
The wait staff at ‘Ohana calls the guests “cousins”, with true Hawaiian spirit, making you feel completely at home, even within the immersive tropical décor. One of the best parts about eating at ‘Ohana is that you feel like you’ve been transported to Hawaii, with the carved tikis, the large plants and the giant fire pit that cooks the meat skewers. At the same time, you are so close to the Magic Kingdom that if you’re seated near the windows, you can see Cinderella’s Castle from your table.
If you’re looking for a quiet meal, this is not the place. ‘Ohana has an entertainment director who performs for most of the night, singing Hawaiian songs, teaching guests the hula, giving out flower leis, and organizing coconut races for the children. This is the type of meal where guests may be running through the aisles or dancing near your table, and you’re bound to sing “Happy Birthday” to some strangers.
As you walk to your table, your server/cousin will pick up a loaf or two of ‘Ohana’s pineapple coconut bread. This bread is a treat unto itself- warm and sweet. Inevitably, the loaf disappears into our bellies soon after we sit down and needs to be replaced at least once. There is no need to place orders here. The meal is family style and brought right to your table. Nonalcoholic beverages are included in your dinner price, but for the full experience, I have been known to order the “Lapu Lapu,” a rum cocktail served from a whole pineapple. Notably, if you do have any allergies or special requests, please tell your server. We have always found ‘Ohana to be very accommodating for guests who require a special menu.
That being said, the regular menu suits me perfectly. It begins with a house salad with passion fruit dressing. This salad has your basic lettuce, cucumber, onion and tomato, but the sweet dressing makes it delectable. It is one of the only salads I know where I have to stop myself from going back for more (to save room for the other courses).
The next items to come to the table are honey coriander chicken wings and pork pot stickers. I don’t know what makes the ‘Ohana pot stickers so perfect, but they are amazing- crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and the right combination of pork stuffing. I never admit to how many pork pot stickers I’ve eaten after a dinner at ‘Ohana. A girl has her secrets. The last family sized entree is a platter of peanut flavored noodles and vegetables. These are all delicious as well, and pairing the noodles with the pot stickers is the way to go. Trust me.
While the family platters could be enough for an entire dinner, they are only part of the meal. Next, your server will come to the table with some dipping sauces (peanut sauce and sweet and sour sauce) and some skewers of meat that have been roasting over the giant fire pit. On our last visit, we had chicken and steak kebobs as well as spicy peel and eat shrimp. All of them were great. The fire creates the right amount of char on everything, and each piece was well seasoned.
By this point, I am usually quite full, but no dinner at ‘Ohana is complete without at least a taste of their signature dessert, bread pudding with bananas foster topping and vanilla ice cream. It should be said, I do not normally eat bread pudding, but this one is an exception. It’s sweet and creamy, and the sauce is on the side so that you can add as much or as little as you want.
There are so many high notes at ‘Ohana that it’s hard to clarify what makes this my favorite meal. It is truly the sum of all parts adding up to perfection. ‘Ohana qualifies as one table service meal on the Disney Dining Plan and accepts a discount with Tables in Wonderland. So go, make a reservation for your next trip, but be sure to save me a table!
What is your favorite part about dining at ‘Ohana? Do you have any great tips? Share in the comments!
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This all sounds delicious, but I don’t think my family would be able to eat there. 🙁 My niece is allergic to peanuts and many fruits — she also has a gluten sensitivity. I’m not sure how much of it she could actually eat. My brother also has a sensitive palette. What do kids eat there that have pickier eating habits or allergies? Do you think it would be possible to get a plain steak or perhaps good ‘ol American chicken tenders? I know my mom, sister and I would enjoy every single thing you listed here (my mouth watered just reading it!), but not only can my niece and brother not eat any of it, I don’t think this is their speed. We certainly wouldn’t want to eat at separate restaurants though…especially if we stay at the Poly… I feel like we’d be at an impasse here.
Disney is really good when working with allergies and preferences, so you don’t have to fear. Just speak with the Cast Members and they should be able to make something special for those who are picky or allergic. (Disney is especially great with allergies, they will send a chef out to speak with the family about the allergy to make sure everything is taken care of.)
As someone with a picky palate, I have one as well and didn’t have any major issues here. There is steak, shrimp, and chicken that are served Brazilian style. (On a stick). However, if your brother is that picky, they will be able to work with him.
Don’t ever fear a Disney restaurant. They will always work with you, I promise!
Courtney- I just popped you an email. I think you’d be fine. This restaurant is very experienced with allergies and picky eaters, and I have had positive experiences with both.