What was I thinking...Don't know how I got talked in to coming back to this place. Should of known when we walked in the place, couldn't find a host, they were cleaning tables..We asked for a table for 3, the host had to clean it before seating us. Don't they have bussers? Our server looked at us with regret, we weren't able to get even a glass of water until asking for it twice. We were told to ask our server for "hot " crab legs, because they don't serve it heated on the buffet line. It took forever to get a plate of "hot" crab legs, that came in such a small portion that was suppose to feed three people. It was shrimp night, basically fried crispy overcooked shrimp. The prime rib was tough and hard to eat. The dessert station was bare. We tried to get a 2nd round of drinks, our first order stayed empty on our table with out being asked for another order and our water glasses weren't refilled. This place is crazy, the floors are filthy food everywhere, tables around us stayed dirty most of time that we were there, and no one took away our dirty plates, so we stacked our plates in the middle of the table. We had to ask the host for our check, the same host that had to clean a table to get us in. The server gave us our check and ran off. Does he deserve a tip? What a nightmare and guess what this cost me $50 bucks...
(1)
Jon Y.
I had lunch here today with my family. If there is someone in your party that is vegetarian there was not much for them to eat outside green salad. I picked up about 20 items from the buffet and didn't finish any of them. The desserts looked really good (cheesecake, cookies etc) until we figured out they were all warm. Between my wife and I we tried about 10 desserts and they were all warm. Not under 40 degrees for sure more like 75 to 85. Speaking of temperature I was talking with the manager on duty as we walked the buffet and as we walked by the ginger chicken I felt the underside of the dish (where it should be the hottest) and it felt luke warm (it should be 135 degrees). I pointed this out to the manager who's response was oh well we normally sell through the food faster. I checked a few other items and found the same thing. There is no way I would ever eat here again.
(1)
Lori C.
MMM, I want to live here during the brunch buffet. So much fresh poke, mashed potatoes, baked ahi, endless crab legs, seafood rice platter (or something), delicious desserts like almond jelly, mini carrot cakes, mini red velvet cake, coconut cookies, and tons more. SO SO SO GOOD. The only complaint I had was about the eggs benedict. It was just so tasteless... but whatever, can't complain when you got delicious food surrounding you everywhere else!
(5)
Matthew M.
This buffet's food is well above par but the price is very high. I would say mid $30 is fair. Otherwise show/aquarium is neat. Parking is supposed to be validated but I could not get it to work when I pulled out at automatic gate.
(4)
Matt R.
This place really isn't THAT great as it seems. I'm sitting here right now & I'm over it. Don't get your hopes up. The seating is so awkward because we're a foot away from another couple. Environment feels/looks dirty & dusty. Save yourself the trouble of coming out to Waikiki & go to Tsukijis for a real buffet 10x better. I can't even express how horrible our dinner time was here. It ruined the whole night. I paid $87 to sit there & eat dried sushi (which by the way, had a flying bug chilling on the sushi tray), nothing tasted amazing at all. I couldn't even talk to my girlfriend because it was so awkward sitting so close to strangers. The seats are so cramped, we had to wait till the couple next to us got up to go get food so we could go get food without squeezing through. Service was nothing special. But just to know that I paid that much for what we ate, quality, & how we felt about it...just pissed me off. Oh, so then we decided to just grab desert there for the hell of it, right? Might as well make the best of our meal. So, we go take a look at the deserts, & the table with all the toppings & what not was just trashed. Didn't look 'customer ready' at all. It was gross. But the grossest part was the chocolate fountain. So, they had strawberries & bananas next to the chocolate fountain, ready to dip...the bananas were all turning black already & the chocolate just looked disgusting. It looked like there was oil in it. If you looked at the chocolate from an angle, you could see the different shades of color & it just wasn't flowing smoothly...looked chunky. Don't eat here.
(1)
Roseann S.
We wanted to celebrate our last dinner at Waikiki beach. So we yelped seafood buffets and this popped up. Me and the hubby are always up for any seafood especially crab legs. Upon arrival, we were told it would take 30-45min to be seated and that the buffet closes at 10pm, which would have given us only 30 minutes to eat if we didn't get called. We sat down for less than 5 minutes and was buzzed in. Our table was definitely FAR! But i guess it was worth it. We can work out the food walking to the buffet line lol. They had all you can eat crab legs, poke, baked ahi, prime rib, oh and the almond jelly dessert was amazing. They also had this pineapple that was smoking. can't really explain, but I'll post a pic up later. I ended up getting a virgin drink which consisted of pina colada and strawberry. I'm not to big about drinking alcohol so having that drink was good enough for me. The price was what kinda made me gasp. it was pretty expensive for 3 adults and 1 child. Came up to $160.00 but all worth it. I wont know when I will come back to Hawaii.
(5)
Heather B.
Customer service was non existent. So RUDE. Go anywhere else but this restaurant.
(1)
Tim H.
This has got to be one of the best breakfast buffets I have ever had. It had loads of fruits, breakfast meats, pancakes, cereals and juices. I think I would have given it another star if it weren't for the fact that a kid dropped the tongs to the bacon on the floor and then the father picked them up and put them back on top of the bacon stack as if nothing happened when in fact a server saw him do that and so did a few other people waiting for the bacon. Other than that, my meal was great and I would eat there again just as long as I do not see that father and son again.
(3)
Radiant C.
The Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel is a great venue for all occasions! I know that I have been going to this restaurant even as a toddler. Yeah, I'm pretty young, but still, that's a pretty long time that I've been a customer! We try to think of every type of celebration to dine at the restaurant, from birthdays, to graduations, to national holidays, etc., and this restaurant is always great. However, the only buffet selection that I really fancy is their Sunday brunch menu. But, I think that is due to my fondness of breakfasts dishes. They are usually booked especially from 11:00 AM to 1:15PM. I suggest calling at least a week ahead of time to make a reservation. I've called three days ahead of time and I was not able to get a reservation in, and of course just recently, I called the day before to make a reservation - of course, no such luck either. Be sure to check out their website for menus and any discounts or any other inquiries. They are also helpful when you contact a spokesperson via landline! Is it bad that I don't even pay attention to the large tank in front of me during my meal? I guess it goes to say that I am too engrossed in my meal to even pay attention. However, it is a good distraction while you wait for some food to digest before you get up to get more food from the buffet, eh!
(4)
Kristen C.
This is the best place hands down to get the all you can eat crab legs experience. The service is okay and it's a bit pricey but we love the crab legs! There is the aquarium and they do a dive show which is neat for those with kids. I don't really like how the servers somewhat hover over you as you eat. But if you are looking for all you can eat, this is the go to place!
(4)
Char D.
I've been here three times in the last 3 years and I think their food is so so, although my hubby loves their food. They don't have a really great selection in my opinion and especially for the price you pay. I've only eaten dinner here, so this opinion isn't based on brunch. I've tried their mahi mahi (didn't get any seconds), crab legs (yum! with the bad-for-you melted butter), tako poke (yum! look this up if you aren't local), lomi salmon (NO thank you), some chicken thing covered in some sauce I don't remember, prime rib (okay), and pasta with scallops (made to order). Their dessert table does have pineapples that are actually sweet, but their selection of pastries are mediocre, kinda like Todai. I do like their plantation ice tea and their service. Each time I've gone, the servers are very attentive. The fish tank is HUGE and is a great attraction for the tourists. Overall, only a place I'd go to if I had visitors. It's a tourist-y destination.
(3)
Lance H.
We went here for the Friday lunch buffet. Based upon the crowed there, it looked like if you are older and Japanese/Hawaiian that this may be food you would like (but it probably isn't necessarily the finest though). For a mainlander though, the selection didn't really stand out. I had trouble finding things I liked there. We went there mainly to see the aquarium. It was neat, but not worth the price of the parking garage and buffet. The water was also a bit cloudy and the fish weren't particularly colorful or seemed to have much variety. Lastly, the restaurant looks like it really could use a refresh to bring it to the current decade in decor. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)
Stephanie L.
As my family and I were in Hawaii for the holidays, we wanted to go somewhere nice for Christmas dinner. We settled on the Oceanarium as we love buffets and thought it'd be cool to be right next to a large aquarium. If you want a table right by the aquarium, it is recommended that you make reservations in June. Crab legs, crab legs, and MORE crab legs! Oh crab legs. They are so fresh and delicious. I think I ate more than my money's worth by taking plate after plate of crab legs. Yum!! Another type of seafood I love?? OYSTERS. I would strongly suggest NOT eating the oysters as I got sick from them. The first one I ate tasted a bit funny, but I ignored it as I was so happy to be having oysters. Then, I tried a second one that tasted equally as funky so I spit it out. I had my sister try one just in case it was the batch I picked up, but she immediately made a face and spit her's out as well. You may be thinking that I got sick from the crab legs, but everyone else in my family had the crab legs and only my sister had that one oyster she spit out and everyone felt just fine. The only thing I had different from anyone else were the oysters. The rest of my night consisted of me, a bottle of gatorade, and the porcelain goddess. Pepto Bismol was my new best friend after that.
(3)
Amy H.
My relatives are huge fans of food and especially all-you-can-eat food, so as a pre-Christmas celebration, we came here for brunch. I filled my plate with as many different things as I could. Sadly, much of it was not to my liking. Everything cooked was overcooked (dry ahi, chewy chicken) and not flavorful. Luckily, they had poke, sashimi, and green papaya salad with seaweed (ocean salad?), which were fantastic. The desserts were also disappointing: pies were ehh in texture and flavor and the cookies were nothing interesting. They did have soft serve and lots of toppings, so I ended up finishing off the meal with that. We watched a diver with a santa hat feed the fish; he was really friendly, luring the ray around so we could see its mouth and belly. I also thought the service could have been better. The hostess ignored us for a good while as she did something on the computer.
(3)
Jhoren C.
Their buffet ROCKS! seafood seafood and lot's of it! Prime rib is also good (even though I don't care for red meat) what I take advantage of is their crab legs with extra butter please! and they have a pretty good selection of desserts, but of course you don't come here for that. Nice, clean restauarant and service was fantastic.
(4)
Brandon B.
OMG: we sure made the wrong choice for dinner here. Super-overpriced stale buffet food that was mediocre to start and even worse after sitting out for so long. Cheesy mermaids swimming in a big fish tank holding up happy birthday signs for happy patrons. Expensive drink that didn't have any alcohol that any of us could tell. A few people were sick later that night. Avoid!
(1)
Jocelyn L.
OMG. could this place be more old school?! the food is...really rather bad. the aquarium is mildly interesting for all of...10 mins. really not worth the $$$
(2)
Tori P.
I decided to round up the 3.5! Went here with my fiance's big family of 22 people. We reserved a table for a nice dinner because we thought the family would enjoy the giant fish tank. The waiters were nice, and came back to ask us how we were doing and if we needed refills on our drinks. What I took advantage of was all the crab legs they had! Not once did they let any crab tray run out. It was always refilled to the brim and fresh ones were brought out once people have grabbed plates full. I got at least 3 big full plates of crab legs, yummm. The had butter but I got lemon for dipping instead. The sushi didn't look great, so I skipped out on that. I tried the 'build your own' pasta at the pasta station and I liked that it was fresh and that you could customize your own order. The clam chowder was decent. Since I don't eat beef or pork, I didn't try the meats they had available. Oh, and they had a chocolate fountain! I WAS SO EXCITED, lol. I dipped a bunch of fruits, and tried their other pastries (not too great, meh.) Anyways, it was an overall good experience. I suggest families go here :) We saw the mermaid too! Everyone was fascinated, haha.
(4)
Edward L.
I'm hovering between three and four stars here but a few extras pulled it up over to four. First off the website says "No swimwear or tank tops. Shorts and t-shirts are discouraged". Well let me tell you, I saw plenty of people in swimwear and shorts and tank tops were the norm. So go ahead and eliminate those thoughts of upscale dining and don't worry about being too casual. As for the food it's pretty decent if not somewhat better. I've definitely been to my share of buffets and the food here is pretty good. You get a good selection of turf (NY strip, prime rib, turkey (?) and dressing) and a higher proportion of surf (lots of crab legs, paella, mahi mahi, seafood pasta). Also on the menu are gobs and gobs of tourists. Now, admittedly, it's in a really touristy spot, but man, I nearly had to shiv some tourists just to get a decent crab claw. Luckily they bring out food frequently so you don't have to wait long even if the group from the Japanese tour bus clears out the chaffing dish of crab. Salad was standard, cold dishes were okay, and desserts were above average. Service was great, our waiter cleared our plates very quickly and was very attentive without being too cloying. Also a highlight was the mermaid show in the fish tank. Unfortunately the show got started after we had gotten up to leave. The biggest drawback is the hefty $37 price tag. It's almost just too much, but if you're in the mood for a crapload of decent food, this might be the place to go.
(4)
Lauren W.
What an amazing dining experience I had at the oceanarium. There were too many options and I will definitely have to go back and try more. The crab legs were unbelievable. Not only were they hot and fresh, but they were huge! They had a prime rib carving station and a create your own seafood pasta bar. But I ended the buffet with soft serve ice cream and chocolate fondue. My server was very attentive and was available anytime I needed anything. If you want great good in Waikiki-this is the place!!
(5)
Glen L.
Had the dinner buffet last night. The buffet costs around $36 per person. I never know how to tip when a buffet costs this much. 10%, 15% or 20% seems too much when you are not being served. Valet parking with validation was $5.00 The prime rib was neither here or there. The first piece I got was seasoned ok, but overcooked and therefore was barely edible. The second piece I got cooked about medium well and not seasoned at all. For the price they are charging you can find much better. Both pieces of prime rib were served sliced paper thin. I occasionally make my own prime rib and it is quite a skill to be able to cut a steak that is 1/4" thick steak. The raw oysters were fresh and tasted good. Everything else was pretty average. There are plenty of choices but if this buffet was on the Las Vegas main strip, they wouldn't last more than a week. The 3 story fish tank is a neat attraction. There are a couple of large sting rays. But the tank seems to need some more larger fish. The one thing that really annoyed me were the bowls they have for your wasabi and soy sauce. These bowls have a very narrow base and are not very stable when nearly empty because they are really meant for soups or tempura sauce. If the bowl is nearly full (as in the case of soup or tempura sauce) there is no problem, but when they are nearly empty, with just a little soy and wasabi, they are easy to tip over. Of course I tipped my bowl over and spilled soy sauce all over my clothes. Went to the rest room to try to wash some of it off and there are no paper towels, just those tacky heated air machines that you find at gas stations and airports. Overall this is type of place to go to just to say you have been there so you can cross it off your checklist.
(3)
Sunny D.
I've gone to the Oceanarium a number of times, this last time we took my father in law who was visiting from the Midwest. We had reservations on the same Saturday of the Aloha week parade so we were able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. It was not overly crowded as I've seen many times before, and there was a surprising amount of locals as well. No mermaids, just a gal in a wetsuit & tank who brought two "Happy birthday" signs down. She later fed the fish, actually it looked like she was "chuming" the water. Took a swim with the Rays...very cool. About a half hour later two gals came down to clean the tank, brushed the rocks and such. The poke was really good, my father in law doesn't like seafood but really enjoyed the shrimp tempura. He said it didn't taste fishy at all. He also raved about the German potato salad (a bit strong for my taste) and liked the roast beef as well as some other meat entrees. We went for the bread pudding as Oceanarium's is very tasty with the vanilla sauce. We got one fresh from the oven, yum! My favorite is always the crab legs although I'm not a big eater, they do make money on people like me. There were two separate tables of local people who were scarfing up mounds of crab legs! One guy actually had a humongous pile of just legs on his plate, I though he was gonna share but NO, he ate it all himself and went back for more! Eeek! They lost money on him and one other table who were also eating mostly just crab legs. I guess they were doing what my mom always told us as kids, "Eat what you don't usually have at home." Wish I could have fit more in my tiny tummy but hate that overly stuffed feeling. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. Lots of selection of meat, chicken, fish ,shellfish (yum) , fruits, salads and nice desserts too! We will be back!
(4)
COURTNEY K.
Very disappointing.
(2)
O O.
I have to comment first on the tacky Halloween decor inside the aquarium tank. I cannot for the life of me think it was worth the money spent on the effort. It was out of place, ugly, gruesome and along with that, thoughtless. We the people, go to such beautiful restaurants to escape the mundane and the common ground so to speak. There was nothing that bespoke of Halloween fun, holiday cheer, etc. The little, glittery do dads at the hostess podium was quite enough. I went there to see the tank of fish. I always try to spot at least one or two fishies that I wished I could eat. That's who I am and that's how it is. At last! The food is of much better quality than in past years, cooked well and to perfection (although I like my Eggs Benedict completely runny, such a feat is difficult to manage on a buffet line), the prime rib was seasoned, pink and tender, and best of all, the crab legs weren't frozen in the middle. Oh yes, they used to be. The crab legs were honking large, prime pieces, not dry or overly salty. But I tells ya, these places put crab crackers on the table even though they know the crab legs are too soft to actually crack. The knife does a better job. I also had at one time, been to a restaurant that pre-sliced each crab leg lengthwise to help the diner peel that sweet meat out of it's hiding place. So the place was so popular they aren't around anymore. Think they lost business because too many people ate the crab legs too fast. The sashimi, though not ahi, was fresh, the mussels were good but the oysters were not possibly, freshly shucked. They didn't taste badly but they were dried out and flat, not plump and juicy. They appeared to have been sitting open for quite a while and were flat and stringy when I lifted them with my fork.) At least the lemon slices were fresh and unlimited and cut the long way, the only way to maximize the juice flow. Don't care how tony the joint, a half lemon in a cheesecloth, (where most of the juice saturates the cloth and only drips sparingly onto your seafood) is really dumb, not to mention wasteful. Man, the shrimp and vegetable tempura was better than in many Japanese restaurants, crisp with panko, not greasy and when I bit into the first shrimp, the umami shot up and out of my nose. O-o-o-oink! The salads and fresh fruit seemed fresh but as anyone should, I walk from stuff I can have any time. At a seafood buffet, I'm there to get any foods I can't get at other times to stuff in my fat face. Service was swift but spotty. Well and kinda weird. Dishes that were clearly still with food were dumped upon with other scraps and whisked rapidly off our table before we could object, other empty plates were left and had to be pushed aside when our table of diners returned with seconds or dessert. But the beverages flowed quickly and the coffee was sublime. Fresh cream...ahhhh. Three cups during lunch will keep me up till past midnight. No matter, was worth it. I'm not much of a dessert person except on a special occasion and someone else's birthday isn't special enough for me. But the desserts were varied and pretty and everyone who at them said they were, "very good!" I myself cannot be sure of that, having had a second plate of crab legs and drawn butter, for dessert.
(4)
Gina J.
I've been to the Oceanarium twice and both experiences were great! The buffet is amazing and everything tasted fresh and delicious! I also had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and they were very accommodating to our large party size. Yes, this place is a bit pricey but you are getting what you are paying for - delicious food and great service! We never had to ask the waiters for refills or our plates to be taken away, they were always on top of it. I also miscounted my own party and ended up having to get a refund, they were really nice about it especially since they counted correctly and I didn't (oops!). I highly recommend this place if you're looking for that "Hawaiian" experience, it's also a huge plus that you get to watch the amazing fish floating around in the aquarium itself. I also liked how the divers come in and do special messages.
(4)
Susan F.
Its been awhile since the last time I've been here, I want to say 5 years at least. Maybe my palette has changed a bit or I was just expecting more of it because I loved it all those years ago. I made reservations for Christmas brunch, first seating in mid May. My step-dad seems to be forgetful the past few years and we've been scrambling for a place to eat for christmas brunch in late November. I use to love the raw oysters here, but this year I was a bit disappointed. Some of the oysters didn't look too fresh :-/ The set up for the entire buffet area was a little messed up. The long line for the omelet bar was in the way of the crab legs, and the prime rib. The cocktail sauce was on a totally different area from where the oysters were (an old lady even scolded my sister for it being there, like it was her fault it was set up that way). Even the soft serve was in the corner and hard to get to. It was just really oddly set up. The service was pretty pathetic too. We asked a wait staff to bring an extra set of crab cracker and pick and he told us we needed to ask someone else :-/ I don't think they work as a team here. The food itself, it was not all that memorable. Very forgettable.... Average. The prime rib looked good as it was carved and placed on my plate, but when I sat down to eat it all the au ju sauce was soaked up into it like it was dry. It also needed to add salt to it. Crab was okay, but like I said, all the food was not memorable at all and its only been a couple of days since I've eaten there. Overall its a good place to eat, because of the awesome aquarium, but I think next year I'll choose somewhere else to eat.
(3)
Kassie C.
We ate here because it was my parents' anniversary dinner...emailed a request for a "dive sign" to say Happy Anniversary (not knowing it would cost $50!?!) Food is good: full buffet includes 3 types of crab legs (BBQ, snow crab and dungeness) as well as prime rib, pasta served however you wish (with either scallops, shrimp, calamari or clam, as well as with white or marinara sauce). The roasted potatoes were delicious, as well as the sushi, steamed veggies and soup. There was an extensive dessert table, including guava cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, a chocolate fountain (with pineapple, strawberries, etc. for dipping), a soft serve machine and a sundae buffet with assorted toppings. All in all, the food was delicious and we were pleasantly plump when we left. The aquarium was nice, complete with local fish, a large stingray and the diver/mermaid. But still, I'll reserve this restaurant only for special celebrations when we're in Waikiki.
(4)
Min K.
Holy shananigans can one say better than Todai? I arrived late to a family dinner because exercise is a priority. I still worked out, so I know that I burned more calories than what I ate, and that's the philosophy I follow and abide by. Located in the Pacific Beach Hotel, for those of you who are inclined to know it as where the 24 Hour Waikiki is, located in the lobby is the Oceanarium. It's a buffet, and have a plethora of food such as paella, mashed potatoes for the Anna Nicole Smith followers, fresh shucked oysters, mussels, assorted vegetables, a beet salad, and more. I didn't really care for the cheese platter, it was very generic and cheddar and mozzarella isn't going to cut it for me. I'll stick to Brasserie DuVin. My favorite, dessert, was enough to keep me satisfied. A bite of the marbled cheesecake, the pineapple chunks, the carrot cake, and the "I dont know if I like you or dislike you Almond Float". It was basically fruit cocktail with lychee and almond tofu. The lychee really overtook the flavor of the almond tofu. Not too good for me. Simply put, it's good food at a decent price for buffet. The service was great: I think his name was Ardin. Thank you for my extra water and the constant refills. It was great and so much fun to see the sexy mermaid! They need a merman and I think it'll be The big blonde mermaid sequel in real life. I'll go again and pay good money to watch that and eat food!
(4)
Jenn S.
We threw a fairly large party there during their Saturday Brunch - it was an important occasion (1st birthday) and were looking for a different, fun venue to celebrate. After dining there on several occasions and being completely happy with the service and food, we were sure that with our mermaid and fish themed party, it was going to be awesome. We are all about the food and were positive that the Oceanarium would be a hit with our guests as well. Long story short, I went there a week before to clarify some details about the seating arrangements and set up. I consider myself a very polite and patient person. After I took out my seating chart and started to ask questions, the GM abruptly said "Well, this isn't a banquet hall." Wow. Really? He flat out refused to accommodate me in any way. I couldn't even move ONE chair. We couldn't even get a clear start time when we got there. So after we scrambled to set up and everything was in place (BTW, I moved the chair), we had an awesome party. Everyone was happy with the food and had a great time. Alex, our waiter, was awesome, as was the original reception crew that helped take our reservation. Did the GM, who was there, even bother to check on our party? Nope. You would think he would since we had 90 people there and dropped over $2000...Oceanarium should only have crab on their spectacular menu. Not in charge.
(3)
Josh L.
I really liked the crab legs. They were very fresh and the size was amazing. Although I did not enjoy how the tables were set up it seemed very tacky and crowded. I did not like the sushi very much or the poke because it did not seem fresh. The hot was very forgettable and I did not go back for seconds.
(3)
Lalee M.
Nice aquarium but food is bad.
(2)
R K.
I admit it. I was enticed to try the Oceanarium because of the mermaid. However, I never saw her/him because she/he only comes out at 9pm. Is this a restaurant or a strip club? The huge fish tank that makes up one wall of the restaurant was interesting. As we came down the stairs, I could smell a fishiness, and I wondered if it was the tank or the food being served. Either way, that was not a good thing. Also, during the dinner, a crab was flailing about in the tank right next to us as we ate crab. It was an awkward moment. The buffet was better than expected. A lot of options besides the expected seafood. Overall, it was a worthwhile visit, but not something I'd rush to do again.
(3)
Jaclyn H.
Celebrated my son's 1st birthday here. We enjoyed the food and the fish. The scuba gal was amazing, as she played with the sting rays. I must say, we were very disappointed with the mermaid show :( There was only one mermaid, and she didn't swim as much as the scuba gal
(5)
jen s.
the only reason why my hubby and i eat here is for the CRAB. We mainly go for dinner so im not sure how good the lunch buffet is. For the CRAB it's hit or miss... sometimes its really delish and other times a fail. we totally lucked out one day with a variety of snow, dungeness, and king crab... yummm! there is also a HUGE salt water tank. Majority of the bigger fishes died so the tank is filled with little ones. It's always so relaxing to watch the fishes. Occasionally a diver will pop up to feed/play with the fishes. kamaaina rates before 530 pm! check out the website for a run down of the buffet line.
(4)
Marcie M.
First I have to give this place only three stars, b/c I had better seafood elsewhere in Waikiki and I hate buffets, but what I loved most was the pineapple drinks and the aquarium. This thing is HUGE and the workers dive down and feed the fish while you are eating. The buffet is the only way to go but MAN, it was pricey!! So add that to drinks and it's at least $50 a person ...which I think is great if the selection is better. But, I was quite disappointed with the variety, which I didn't find much of. The salads and dessert options were awesome though and as I mentioned, GET the pineapple drink. It comes in a huge pineapple shell and has smoke (not real smoke, just dry ice or something) rolling out of it. Soooo fun and good! It's worth the extra money on the bill :). This place is great for groups, tourists to try new things and those lovers of all things buffet and "all you can eat" (gross).
(3)
C M.
Amazing! 40$ a person, but if you are local or military you get 25% off from 4:30 - 5:30pm and after 8:30pm. They have 3 different types of crab legs! Alaskin, Dungenous, and Snow. Delicious! Sweet aquarium that is huge and have mermaids at 9pm. Love it.
(5)
Scott V.
4 stars, as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. 1. It's touristy. 2. It's an all you can eat buffet of goodness. 3. There are mermaids. Yes, you heard me correctly. At 5, 7, and 9, the fish in the huge floor to ceiling fish tank are "fed" by a woman in a scuba mask, fins, tank and a bathing suit. She waves at you, can hold a sign saying "Happy Birthday Kimoko," etc. I don't think she actually fed any fish, but it was funny. Then, wait - a second woman dives down. No mask though. Oh my God. It's a mermaid! Flowing blond hair, coconut bra, and yes, a waist to tail fin fitted mermaid suit! Hahahahaha. I nearly lost my &*^%. But you're there because you're hungry, right? I really stuffed myself. They've got Alaskan crab legs, stuffed crab, New England clam chowder, sushi, BBQ pork belly, and the best damn prime rib I've EVER had. A real carving station with a guy saying, "It's all here for you man." No joke. He actually did say that to me and the little kid oggling him from the stairway just adjacent. Also, there's a full dessert area, with pies, cakes, and ice cream. Yes, it's expensive at $40. However, let's say you like buffets, and you think the Golden Corral is a great deal. It's totally worth more than four trips to your normal buffet place to save for this one. It's like the Hawaii you know from Elvis movies and the Brady Bunch Hawaii episodes. And surprisingly, that's not a bad thing!
(4)
Rho M.
My family and I love buffets and the Oceanarium is one of our favs! Crab legs, tempura, sushi, pasta station, prime rib, just to name a few of their selection.. My kids especially love their chocolate fountain, ice cream, dessert station and their beautiful mermaid in their huge aquarium keeps them entertained which is always a plus at dinner!!
(5)
Johnny L.
This is one of the most interesting restaurants in Hawaii for its gigantic aquarium. Located within walking distance of many hotels in Waikiki, this place will keep you entertained during your meal with sights of interesting tropical fishes and other sea creatures. "... Oceanarium was built in 1979 and is the biggest of its kind located in a single hotel. The three-story, 280,000-gallon, larger-than-life aquarium provides guests with incredible views of nearly 400 fish from more than 70 different species of Indo-Pacific marine life." Source: pacificbeachhotel.com
(4)
Sean D.
I came here with my gf expecting a decent buffet and dining experience...I was extremely overwhelmed by the quality of food and service! The selections on the buffet were tasty and delightful! I swear I tried to commit crabicide with the dungeoness and snow crab...so sweet and plentiful...and our sever was always there to remove our plates so we didn't look too guilty. The manager, Brian? Was attentive to touching all the tables around us and seemed to have a great presence. I loved the pasta action station where the chef amazed anything u wanted...seafood pastas on demand with great attitude, demeanor, suggestions...and the flavors were fabulous! Prime rib cut to order...perfect with the condiments. I noticed a lot of Asian options on the buffet, not normally seen around other restaurants...lots of sushi, rolls, and oxtail soup? Who does that? I was expecting mostly tourists as we are in the heart of Waikiki, but I saw many local families here, celebrating or just here for the excellent service and food, so the word must be out that this is the place to go for good eats and a great experience. We stayed to see the mermaid come out and took lots of photos...very unique! Oops...forgot the desserts...holy moly...my gf went back 3 times for desserts...too much to offer... All I can say is yummy... Whoever is directing this restaurant must know what they are doing...love it!!!
(5)
Shay F.
I went here once or twice...but I never thought it was all that great. Yah, that tank is awesome but if the food you're eating isn't good....it's not worth it. And yes, there is a time limit. Time limit on a buffet? Yah....
(2)
Joey N.
Keep in mind last buffet I had was at the Wynn in Vegas. Not worth 40 bucks. Fish is overcooked. Crab was dead. Flavor was ok. Reminded me more of a 20 dollar Chinese buffet.
(2)
Holland M.
Mmmm, the first time I went here was for Easter weekend. They had a great tasting furikake salmon. Wide variety of seafood, not so much in the way of Poke, but oysters, shrimp, and king crab legs were plentiful. Nice buffet of great local foods. My favorites when I go are definitely the shrimp curry and furikake salmon. Followed by a Plantation ice tea. Mmmhmmm good P: Oh, and there is a great view of the aquarium. The scuba divers feed them regularly and it's always a nice show.
(5)
Jay B.
I came here with my family (total 12). I was visiting from the mainland and we decided to hit a "tourist spot" for buffet. We had an early dinner reservation, 4:30. The staff was very attentive and friendly. They made sure our plates were picked up and water filled to the top. They came around every so often to make sure we were okay. Buffet consisted of - Oysters & Mussels On-The-Half-Shell, Shrimp with cocktail Sauce, Island Sashimi, Fish and Tako Poke, Lomilomi Salmon, Tossed Green Salad, Potato Macaroni Salad, Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit, Assorted Cheeses and Crackers, and New England Clam Chowder. Prime Rib Au Jus, Steamed Snow Crab Legs, Freshly made Nigiri Sushi featuring: Ahi, Salmon, Ebi, Ika and Nairagi. Hosomaki, Futomaki, California Roll and Chirashi and a PASTA STATION! I went up numerous times!! I was not able to get dessert, but it was worth it! My family and I will be back again when I visit the islands :) *TIP* Mention KAMA'AINA!! see what the locals get ;)
(4)
Faryoung B.
I'm a sucker for buffets.. the food is never really all that good, and I never really eat enough to make it worth my money.. but.. I LOVE BUFFETS!!! The Oceanarium actually has some key highlights that keep their buffet a cut above the rest: 1. A huge aquarium to view all the lovely fishes while you eat. At one point a scuba diver appears with food which drives the entire fish tank, especially the sting rays, into a frenzy. 2. All you can eat crab legs night 3. Fresh oysters with lemon and hot sauce 3. A 3 foot high chocolate fondue fountain with a side of strawberries, bananas and pineapples to dip 4. A bar. Now i've been to buffets that have crab legs.. but do they have all five? I don't think so. But the food...No joke. Can you believe I found a buffet that actually tastes good? I really enjoyed the experience and 2 thumbs way up for the grub.
(5)
Victoria M.
My sister in law took me here for Dinner while I was in Hawaii in February - & I just want to say that this is prob the BEST/FRESHEST buffet I've ever been to! They had a beautiful array of different foods & I normally don't eat prime rib but I had some when we went & it was super delish! They also had a chocolate fountain which was super yummy! :) It was a little pricy but definitely worth the $$! :) (My sister in law treated but I heard the total) They also had a good mix of seafood, but too bad I'm not big on that :/ However I saw a lot of people grubbing on the crab legs!!! But when my hubby & I go back we are definitely hitting this place up again!!!
(5)
Jayson D.
I'm a seafood junkie, and I'm always on the hunt for mass quantities of GOOD seafood at a decent price. The usual mainland Asian buffet scares me because they're all about quantity over quality. But The Oceanarium leaves these buffets in the dust with food that is superior, a pretty kick-butt atmosphere (where else can you dine next to a 30-feet tall aquarium full of reef fish?), and a wide variety of food selections. I often go on a Monday or Thursday night when Alaskan king crab and Dungeness are available. I tend to reserve my stomach space for the crab legs, so I don't usually fill up on the sides, but there are plenty: sushi, sashimi, salads, chicken, fish, local favorites, soup, and so on. Plus, there's a make your own pasta bar and a chef on hand to freshly carve you a slice of prime rib if that's your thing. You won't have room for desserts, but try to shoehorn in some anyway. There's even a soft serve ice cream machine with toppings to make a sundae. And--you didn't hear this from me, okay you did--I like to make a cone from the soft serve machine, pack it really well into the bottom of the cone, then dip it into a bowl of chocolate from the nearby chocolate fountain. It makes it like Magic Shell! :) They even have divers and mermaids that enter the tank once in awhile to feed the fish and swim around for the guests. And for $20 extra they'll place a sign in the tank against the window to welcome your mainland guests, recognize a birthday, or wish someone a happy whatever. That's always good for pictures and memories. Only drawback could be the price. It's not cheap at $40 a person. Last I knew they had a 25% Kama'aina discount, though, if you went after 8:30 p.m. That's what I'd always do. Go in, order a Midori daquiri, hit up the buffet, pack in five pounds of crab legs, and leave happy and full. I love seafood and I'm not terribly picky about it so long as it's tasty and plentiful. So for my money, I'm a fan of The Oceanarium!
(4)
Tessa t.
yelp 365 challenge #72/365 whoa! i have always passed this place... when my friends and i were younger and used to "cruise waiks..." we would always use the restroom in this hotel... and see the aquarium... i have finally come here to eat... wowzers!! monday is the day to go... they have king crab, snow crab, and dungeness crab... i was in absolute heaven!!! they have a pretty ok pasta station... CRAB but i wouldn't suggest filling up on that... CRAB! prime rib...a tad salty, but still good... CRAB ice cream station... CRAB and wait for it.... a chocolate fondue station!!!! CRAB chocolate covered B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!!! CRAB i will definitely be back!!! oh yeah...they have crab too :P
(4)
Marjorie C.
Disappointed that it seemed no better than the buffet place that's by Nimitz (Chan's I think). The staff seems depressed (but our waiter tried to put on a happy face) and the clientele is mostly local which I was surprised at. Went here for Valentine's day and I love aquariums, water, fish, cutesy decorations that go along with Valentine's day...their aquarium is spectacular and I feel like the ambiance could be so much more. The way they have their chairs and tables situated feels all wrong to me, you're either in someone's way or having to weave in and out of other people's chairs. The aquarium screams "classy," "romantic," "awesome experience" but the decor is so tacky and touristy. Got there at 7:30ish and was seated next to the aisle, I admired the hearts in the aquarium and got to see different kinds of fish swimming around. When I went to the buffet I was sad to see food items dried out from the heat lamp. I stuck to prime rib and crab legs which were awesome, everything else tasted very blah...even the dessert which makes me cry inside because they were so pretty! I know an establishment can't make their workers pretend to be happy and I would never want them to, however, when staff are walking around with no expressions on their faces, no courtesy to patrons and no interest in serving customers it really makes an impression on the diners.
(2)
Alfred G.
I've been to better buffet places but the Oceanaruim is a pretty decent one, I guess this is the place to go if it's your birthday because there were 3 or four birthdays going on while I was there which was cool. The food here was good. Although alot of people come here for the crab, I was impressed how thick and juicy the prime rib was!! the other entrees (e.g. pasta, sushi, clam chowder) were good as well. The only downside for me food wise was the desserts, it was bad, very bland and it was a little hard which would make you think if it were previously frozen or not. the atmosphere and the service was good and of courser the huge aquarium is always nice but they could add more fish to make it look more full.
(3)
Dave R.
Had to wait for a table, not because the food was good, it's Just a lack of decent places for dinner. We were seated and everywhere you looks were piles of crab legs, before and after the neat was sucked out. The buffet was bland . What happened to the kahlua pig! That's what I want in Hawaii .
(1)
Phil K.
This was a very fun lunch buffet! We took my son here for his 7th birthday meal, and he (and we) fully enjoyed it. The buffet had a wide range of selections, including salad, poke, peel-and-eat shrimp, sashimi, oysters and mussels on the half shell, fresh fruit, crab legs, tempura shrimp and veggies, omelets, waffles, danish, eggs benedict rockerfeller, penne w/ chicken, seafood paella, adobo london broil, prime rib, basil chicken, and fresh fruit. The cold dishes and sushi were only so-so, but almost every hot dish was very good. The kids really enjoyed the breakfast foods, the crab legs, and the fruit, of course. For dessert, there were a variety of French pastries, pies, and a soft serve ice cream bar. We were sad to find out the chocolate fondue fountain is reserved for dinners only. What really made the lunch special for my son was they "Happy Birthday" sign presented by the diver inside the giant aquarium. Overall, this place is a great 'experience' meal, but if you can find better dishes elsewhere if that is your primary interest. If you will enjoy the aquarium view, the special birthday/anniversary message, and the wide variety of food for adults and children alike, then don't delay a make a visit soon!
(4)
John K.
Price: Lunch $15 Dinner:$38 The Oceanarium offers great quality food but this comes at a cost to your wallet. I went there for the Sat King Crab Leg dinner in which I paid $38 dollars to feast on king crab. Pro: Lots and lots of King crab; has sushi and my fav:baked mahi mahi; made to order pasta was actually decent; the huge aquarium that is centered in the buffet; prime rib Cons: sushi rolls are made for..toddlers? why so small?; the chocolate fountain was running dry; oysters were disgusting(not fresh at all) FOr the price I paid I could have gotten better food but everything is expensive in waikiki. I was hoping for more options on food and of fresher quality for some of the seafood but in the end, I may return to feast on those delicious crab legs :D
(3)
Shirley Y.
I seriously don't understand where did all the starts come from? I would understand it's pricy since it's Wakiki, but for the price the food was really really really bad!!! The food choice was so limited I regreted come in once I walked in. The oysters were not fresh, the chinese sauteed food was all soggy probably because it's been sitting there for awhile, and the sushi was bad too. The only good thing was the snow crab legs, which was fresh and big, but a buffet shouldnt only have ONE good dish.
(1)
Bill C.
This place has gone down down down hill. Oceanarium use to serve the largest and best Snow crab anywhere and i mean anywhere. Now the snow crab looks diseased and not very appetizing. The legs are covered with a dark slimy substance although the meat inside seems alright the legs will have your hands slimy and dirty...be careful. The Rib Roast they served was medium which is disappointing when paying $41.00/ person. Fish was overcooked, sashimi served was marlin it would have been nice to mix in with Ahi, sushi was mediocre, clam chowder was good as was the roast pig(tues night). Service was spot on continuously clearing the tables and refilling drinks (8 of us). Fruits were fresh and good, desserts were okay as well as the pasta station. For the price and the poor quality of the Crab and Prime Rib we will have to find a better place for out family.
(2)
Norm D.
On Easter Sunday, what better way is there to celebrate this spiritual holiday than to practice the 7 deadly sins? Pride: Woke up. Got ready. Winked at myself in the mirror. Envy: Envied everyone who already had reservations for Easter Sunday Brunch. Wrath: Experienced road rage on my way to Oceanarium Restaurant. Oceanarium Restaurant is a buffet located in the Pacific Beach Hotel. One of the main draws to this place is that it houses a large aquarium which is truly a sight to see. Reservations are recommended; however, if they tell you it's full; you could take a chance by showing up and hope there are available tables. I've been lucky every time as my friends and I usually have a table within 20 minutes max. You can always choose to sit at the bar if there are empty stools available. On this Easter holiday, my friend and I sat at the bar as there were no available tables. After this experience, I'd rather sit at the bar from now on because (1) you're closer to the food, (2) the bartender constantly refills your drink so you're never thirsty, and (3) you have the bartender at your beckon call for miscellaneous items (e.g. wet naps, more silverware, cleaning up after a crab feast aftermath). Lust: Strongly desired the all-you-can-eat snow crab legs. As for the food, I would say that the taste is mediocre at best. The prime rib is never consistent (either too dry or tough), the omelet station is uninspiring, and the other choices could be hit or miss. The only reason why I am willing to dish out cash for this buffet (roughly $40 on Easter Sunday, but prices vary on different days and time) is because I crave... no lust for their succulent steamed snow crab legs (deserving of 5 stars in my book). Greed: Piled on mounds of snow crab legs onto my plate. Sometimes it baffles me when I see patrons go back to the buffet line and pile up on everything else EXCEPT the crab legs. I see guys piling on the bacon (mmmm bacon), gals piling on the fruit or salad, or people in general loading up on carbo-loaded food that's going to make your stomach burst on the first round. This is a buffet, dammit! If you're going to pay a hefty price you might as well enjoy the more expensive and quality products that this place has to offer (CRAB LEGS). Gluttony: Ate ALL of the crab legs that I could possibly eat without vomiting (2 rounds). I would say that the only other thing that I do enjoy about this buffet is the bread pudding. It's kept warm and you have the option of adding condensed milk and preserved fruits on top of it as well. It's a good and sweet way to end the crab leg extravaganza. Sloth: Enjoyed the rest of the day in a self-induced food coma.
(3)
April m.
This place is awesome ! Not just because of the food but the restaurant itself.. Atmosphere is great ! Whole bunch of tourist, but whatever it was a nice experience . When we went it was a buffet style dinner.. All you can eat sushi, crab legs, Japanese food, udon, and my favorite ... The chocolate fondue fountain I'm not sure of the price per person, because my cousin from Hawaii had treated the husband , myself and kiddo out for dinner.. But if you like buffets this place is pretty good! You have to call and make reservations from what I saw they weren't taking any walk-ins. What's unique about this place is there's a huge oceanarium in the restaurant OBVIOUSLY! The restaurant name gives that away.. They have scuba divers feeding the fish so that's a little entertainment while your enjoying your crab legs and warm butter ;) They also do personal greetings from the scuba divers.. There was a table next to us and a young man had made a proposal to this young lady.. It was cute! You see this scuba man holding up a sign inside the aquarium saying " ______ will you marry me?" well shit I thought that only happened in movies! Well not! They do that stuff right here! In this restaurant! we saw two engagements that night! It was lovely.. Anyway you should check it out! It's an experience !
(3)
Kimberly H.
What can I say? You are either gonna love it or hate it for some reason or another. As far as buffets go, this is by far the best that I have encountered in Hawaii, the crab legs are fresh and delicious, the prices, well, this is Waikiki, HI, what do you expect to pay for a Prime Rib and Seafood buffet in the TOURIST district? I could not find one thing on the buffet that I did not like, I read through some of the reviews and there were complaints of the oysters but what do you expect when you are consuming raw seafood, there are risks associated with it, especially oysters, considering they are filter feeders, might want to ask where they are harvested. This is a very nice, kid friendly place, and I have experienced their Sunday Brunch, and it is probably better than their dinner. If you want to avoid paying the high prices, go on Fridays, where it is discounted 25%; or if you are residents, then it is discounted 25% before 5:30pm or after 8pm seating. Nothing bad to say really, good customer service, and parking was validated and paid only a $1.
(5)
Anna D.
Brunch was so good here. Well worth the price and the crablegs were delish. I went to the omelette bar twice and has lots of visits to get more crab. This is a must try if youre looking to buffet somewhere.
(4)
Mark G.
This place is a TERRIBLE DIRTY mess. went here with a group of 8 and by far the worst.. The kids loved the mermaid in the fish tank... but there was food all over the floor... the tables are dirty... drink were juice and water... no alcohol... and seating was crammped... AVOID at all cost...
(1)
Kc J.
This resteraunt is wayyyyyy overpriced. Food was cold but the mashed potatoes were very good as well as the coconut shrimp. The rest of the food seemingly we are paying for what they have to throw out. I gave it two stars only because I really like the aquarium and like I said the coconut shrimp fill me up everything else I wasn't impressed. The buffet should really consider heating their crab legs because who wants cold crab legs with heated melted butter. it just didn't taste very good and that was what I was looking the most forward to. Also I didn't like how when I first walked up the lady at the counter immediately told me the price of the buffet as if I wasn't already aware. That was kind of insulting. Sorry to say it but I won't be returning. I am a huge fan of buffets and this just made me sad. I probably should have gotten that double stack fish fillet at McDonalds across the way for a better dinner experience.
(2)
Donna V.
A lot of people had told me this place was great so I had to see for myself. Maybe I came at the wrong time but me and my family went during a weekday dinner. Buffet is pricey and the selection wasn't all that great. There were different salads, a basic ramen station, pasta, chicken/fish, crab legs and prime rib. There was nothing in particular that I was in love with. Food was a bit salty for my liking and unsure if they had any MSG. The aquarium was nice to look at and is pretty much the attraction at the restaurant. You can see the fish being fed or a "mermaid" which is appealing to the kids. You can valet park or self park.
(2)
Mybotoitchy T.
Living in Honolulu up until 2013, coming to the Oceanarium was always a treat. Fast forward 2 yrs and now I am here for dinner as an out of towner on vacation. I really looked forward to eating here as it was king crab night. The crab shells looked burnt and tasted much too salty. The shells were huge but the meat was very small in comparison. The taste was not sweet as I expected and was a huge disappointment. The snow crab used to be hot but is now chilled. No dungeness crab legs anymore either. There is no shrimp tempura anymore and it looks as if there is a smaller selection of food. Will I come back here on my next vacation home? I highly doubt it. If I want quality king crab legs and buffet, I will stick to the Bellagio in Las Vegas where I live, where the buffet price is $10 cheaper and much better food and selection. This place is definitely not worth the $50 I paid for dinner.
(2)
Beverly N.
Came here awhile ago. food was alright. Service was alright. I jist remember this waiter coming to refill our waters all the time lol. It was kinda pricey for the type of food they have here. I would have to eat a lot of snow crab to get my moneys worth :/ . I wouldnt come back
(3)
Samantha S.
If I would have done a review last year I would have gave it a five. I just went this past weekend and unfornately I have to give it a bad review. I only come here on Mondays because they have both King crab and Snow crab. This is the first time I went and the snow crab was on ice! If we are paying $50/person I think the crab should both be steamed. There isn't a big selection of food either. The clam sauce is good but the seafood to go with is basically frozen. The saimin was good, but for $50 I would rather not just go for saimin The make your ice cream was good I guess. I definitely do not plan on going in the future anymore. Not until they start steaming all their crab!
(1)
Wendy P.
Dear Yelp, we need a half star. I'm trying to split the rating between a five and a one. My first visit, I ordered a special of the week from the menu at breakfast, and immensely enjoyed my steak and eggs with hollendaise sauce on the side, and we had a lovely time and spent a reasonable amount. This was on a Monday or Tuesday. Then the next time, based on my first experience, I brought a friend visiting from California. This was on a Saturday. Breakfast had apparently given way to Brunch, we were told as we entered-- Not given any other information. We were sat in a rather awkward corner table and given no menus. I waited a while for a server, and when he finally came I asked for a menu he said there's only the buffet. I didn't see a price for the buffet anywhere. Given no other options, my guests and I headed over with plates to a chaotic little buffet scene, where lines were not formed and people were pushy. At one point a large amount of very cold water hit the back of my legs as I was waiting for my turn at some tongs- It was not a simple splash, but a direct hit of abut half a cup. I turned around to find a server delivering a large replacement pan of crab legs. He had just turned too quickly, and seemed to understand he'd doused me, but rather than saying "excuse me" he said "watch out" with a smile. The first waiter whom I couldn't understand very well due to a strong accent was teamworking our table with another waiter, and they both explained this to us a couple of times, and then proceeded to spend way too much time checking on us, hovering, reaching intrusively across our table for things, repeatedly offering things and when we said we were fine, still bringing those things... And at the end of the meal, after signatures had gone down on reciepts, the waiter opened and read the document carefully on the table before taking it. It was not a glance, just to make sure it was signed-- It was a long slow read and probably math-check not just at the table, but ON the table. Big no-no for servers. The whole thing was so uncomfortable and really felt like a bad joke, especially at the price of nearly $40 per person for this meal. How was the food this time? I can hardly remember.
(2)
Cj S.
Loved the huge fish tank theme. Food was excellent! So many types of food to choose from. I think I starred at the fish more than I ate lol. 100 bucks for the buffet. That's alot! Great for a date if you have the cash. Make sure u tip something so you won't get a dirty look as you walk out. Good place though. Not bad.
(3)
Scott S.
Even though I have lived on Oahu all my life and I worked in Waikiki for over ten years, I had never been to the Oceanarium in the Pacific Beach hotel. But, my wife was celebrating her birthday and she wanted crab and since the restaurant offered a King Crab night we decided to splurge and go for it. Overall, the buffet food was great. We arrived fairly early so the restaurant wasn't too crowded but we were pretty much as far from the buffet as you could get while still remaining in the area. Truthfully, that wasn't really a big deal since we weren't there to see the fish while we ate, but another family arrived a few minutes after us with several young children and I overheard them complaining about how they made reservations and why couldn't they sit a little closer to the aquarium so their kids could see the fish better. To their credit, the wait staff did move them several tables closer so they did get to see the fish a little better. As advertised, it was King Crab night and like I said the food at the buffet was good. The prime rib was a little overcooked for me (it was more medium well/well done) but I'm not that choosy. The carver didn't ask me how well done I wanted my prime rib so I can't really blame him on that one. The pasta bar looked and smelled delicious but I'm not really a pasta guy and we were really there to celebrate with King Crab so my wife and I quickly zeroed in on chafing dishes full of King Crab. Not wanting to be greedy we took some legs and made our way to the table. While we were enjoying our crab and having a good time we were almost to the end of our first round and we were discussing how much we enjoyed eating such delicious crab and lo and behold our waiter brought out a full plate of crab legs and dropped them off at our table. At first we thought, what a nice gesture! He clearly saw that we were there for the crab and he brought us more so we wouldn't have to stand up and walk the far distance to the buffet. But, as he put the plate down, I noticed that he had pulled the ol' switcheroo. He brought us a full plate of snow crab and not the King Crab that we had come for. I'm not sure if that's what they do when they notice people taking lots of King Crab but I didn't appreciate being brought the snow crab when we didn't ask for it. Of course, we didn't feel like we should send it back but we also didn't want to fill up on the snow crab since we came specifically for the King Crab. Maybe it was just a nice gesture we should accept it as such, or maybe it's their subtle way to keep you from getting too much of the more expensive King Crab, I'm not sure. What I do know though is now I have doubts about what a nice gesture it really was. Too bad too because we were having such a nice time. In the end we did finish the plate of snow crab, but I also went back for more King Crab since I figured that's why we were there. Overall, it was a good experience but beware when they try to bring you things you didn't ask for especially if you don't see them doing it for anyone else.
(3)
Lin L.
This place has a lot going for it. The tank with the mermaid is awesome! but that's it. Came here mainly for the crab legs and oysters. The hot/cold food and crab legs is typical, nothing special. The oysters were crap. Seriously made me think twice about my love for oysters. I thought they were crappy because they didn't have ponzu, only cocktail sauce, not the case, they were just crappy. This place is still a good place to bring family. The atmosphere is pretty positive. We all had fun. Again, the mermaid was awesome. Just don't expect anything special with the food.
(2)
Sherry T.
Once upon a time, the Oceanarium was a great buffet. NOT ANYMORE. After many years away, we went back on a Saturday night at approximately 5:30 pm. Many of the food items had not been replenished and the sushi was tiny, to the extreme. Food was not hot and did not taste fresh. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT -- management. I found fruit flies in my plate of food. When I reported it to Paul (manager), he said "what do you want me to do?" Don't you find that an odd question for a manager to ask? He went on to say you have to expect fruit flies at dining establishments because this is Hawaii. We quickly pointed out that Kai market is an open air restaurant and has absolutely no bugs in their food. You would think he would have taken away our plates and offered to 'comp' us but instead, he repeated "what do you want me to do". That attitude on the part of management alone makes me absolutely certain I will never go again. I have never written on yelp but Paul's response was absolutely wrong. Instead of gaining an appreciative repeat customer, he has pushed me away and lost scores of my friends.
(1)
judith s.
Make a reservation. Military & kama'aina discount before 5:30pm. I had Prime rib & pasta. Not bad just average. Selectio
(4)
Rebekah T.
As part of our whole Waikiki experience, I really wanted to go to a Luau buffet but found the Oceanarium and made reservations instead. We arrived and wanted to sit near the full wall aquarium, yet it was pretty busy and we were told the next seat was in 45 minutes. We sat in a table not too far from the aquarium, ordered a couple drinks and hit the buffet. No joke, I went for a full plate of King Crab and Dungeness Crab Legs. goo.gl/Qf5CK That's all I really wanted. I also picked up some sushi, but I was all about the crab. The stuffed crab was really good as well. goo.gl/wqVOE I wasn't really into the meat, but my guy tried the beef teriyaki and prime rib. We skipped the salad bar, all the other soups and the huge dessert bar, opting to split a soft serve with mochi. Straight to seafood for us. After dinner, I became extremely quiet. Overwhelmed by my crab indulgence, I was really full by the time the scuba feeding and mermaid show came on. It was really cute to see the fish swimming in schools, waiting for food and majestic to see them swimming around in the tank. Who knows if it was all that pretty...I was probably high on seafood at the time. goo.gl/YICWf We definately thought the buffet was worth the cost because we love crab. If you are not a crab or seafood lover, you may not agree. I thought it was a great experience.
(4)
Butterfly P.
OMG! The food was just ok. Our bus boy (guy) Jason was great! He was working hard clearing our plates and refilling our drinks. Can't say much more than what it is.......
(3)
Jeremy P.
Unique setting with very good food. Great for families, our 9 year olds loved watching the fish as well as the Scuba diver and Mermaid. Service was excellent. My only complaint is that it is overpriced, but then again, everything on Honolulu is expensive.
(4)
Matt H.
Amazing food and view of the aquarium. Really enjoyed the breakfast. Must visit on any trip to Honolulu.
(5)
Robynne M.
Yes not recommended for a place for couples to enjoy unless you are seated away from big parties. We were and they were putting their belongings on our table when arriving to their table greeting one another. Cutting into our table when clearly they had there own path way to their table. I think the design of the buffett could of been better you are walking into people as they were coming in and walking to their table as you were making your way in and out of the buffett.
(1)
Antawan N.
The food and service was great. I Paid $25 for the diver to swim in the tank with a Happy Birthday sign. The sign sat in front of our table inside the tank for 10mins. The all you can eat seafood was also great. They had a cooked pig with the head still on lol. I recommend that if your in Waikiki go and try out this spot.
(4)
Helena A.
Wish I could give this place a good review... Was really hopeful, but this place is just horrible. The crab legs are "chilled", but after waiting 20 min for the staff to replenish the buffet line, the crab legs were actually FROZEN. The dessert area was completely decimated at 8:45 when we arrived, and never replenished. While walking through the buffet area there was food all over the floor you had to avoid to keep off the bottom of your shoes. The mermaid in the tank was nice to watch, but I could have done that from the lobby for free. For $45 and drinks that are $11, I expect a crab leg that isn't a crabsicle full of crab-meat slushie, and for there to be a dessert available instead of empty pie tins.
(1)
Ed G.
Ok so most of these golden trough places are the same concept. Gorge out on moderate quality "exotic" foods. Yes this one is overpriced. But hey you're in Waikiki. Everything is overpriced. Aside from the sticker price it's a decent buffet for a lazy Monday. The fish tank is crazy two story big. Interesting to watch them as you chow down on their friends. The decor is very dated however. The drop ceiling looks like it just might drop on your head. And the tables look like they have been thru a war. But the food that comes from the aging and sometimes broken buffet trays is good. They attempt some decent Japanese and Hawaiian fare. Some fails some great. The prime rib was dull and tough. The snow crab was good as well the king crab. Scallops. Clams. Mussels. Fish. Calamari. Octopus represent. Our server Chan was top notch. Which at a buffet is a miracle. Would I come here again? No, but the place works in a pinch.
(4)
Lois T.
We had an outstanding Saturday Brunch! The food was delicious and fresh! The waiters were attentive, helpful and charming. We had many discounts....senior citizen, kaminina, children... quite amazing! Everyone loved it! We will return! Lois Tarquin
(5)
Mike R.
I really wanted to like eating here. I made reservations for a King Crab night. The staff did everything they are supposed to do but the quality of food was simply ordinary. It's all you can eat but for $50 a person you can do so much better at so many other places. I was fine until I asked to get my parking ticket validated and the cashier looked at me and said,"$9.00 please". I was amazed. Once again, the staff was great. I just think I'd rather spend $50 a person at a place that serves better food.
(2)
Angela D.
The service is awesome. Food is outstanding king crab night and prime rib is ono...My kids loved the chocolate foundation. Best part was it was my husband's birthday and they did a special sign for him that was super cool. And it's halloween season so we got to see the Skeleton mermaid. All in all I give this place 5 stars. GREAT PLACE TO BRING THE KIDS.
(5)
tyler n.
It costs $48 per person for the buffet. The food was only so so and the crabs are EXTREMELY SALTY !! I guess they purposely make them salty so you can't eat much. Staff is ok. Will not come back here again.
(2)
Lauren M.
Went to the Oceanarium yesterday for my mom's bday. Brunch buffet was pretty good. Not spectacular, but not horrible. Omelet station, waffles, balsamic beef, shrimp tempura, and bacon were my faves. HUGE Crab Legs were also delicious. The only negative I have is the Prime Rib. Whenever I go to a buffet, the Prime Rib is the first thing I look for. I was greatly disappointed. The pieces had a lot of fat on it and it was so rare that it practically walked off my plate. I was sad that I couldn't enjoy it. Other than that, desserts were also good and we enjoyed ourselves. Also, a scuba diver came down to feed the fish while we were there so that was entertaining for my son. Adults: 33.95, Seniors 22.95. and Children: 13.50. Tip: Make reservations and ask for a table near the tank. They will try to accommodate, but first preference goes to those who purchase "signs" (birthday, wedding, etc..) A sign costs $25.00.
(4)
Jennifer L.
If you love seafood the in you will LOVE this place. If you don't I wouldn't recommend you go here. It is a buffet style not like the Vegas style buffets like a wedding buffet. The roast pork (which looks like a pig still) was not very good. I was looking forward to it and was really disappointed. I can't even remember what else I had. The aquarium was really cool with lots of fish and even a mermaid! The people we were with stuffed themselves with king crab legs and tons of butter! So if you like seafood go and stuff yourself!
(3)
Fanny W.
It has been more than a year since we came last time. Price has gone up but quality doesn't seem to match. This place used to be my daughter's favorite place but this time she didn't eat much. A guy offering free picture taking was somehow annoying. We found out that he tried to sell the picture to us for $20 when we were ready to leave. The fish tank was awesome and that is probably the best thing to come here. We did enjoy watching the mermaid feeding the fish.
(3)
Rose F.
I had to try this place even with the mixed reviews. So, we had dinner tonight. Most of the food was horrible. The only items I liked were the Snow and Dungeness crab legs. Otherwise, the entire dinner was a huge worst of money. Our bill for 3 ppl came to $157.00. Stay away! We didn't see the mermaid show because the show is at 5 and 7 pm.
(1)
Xiao L.
Made reservations online for Sunday 4:30PM then got a call from restaurant to confirm reservation which I thought was thoughtful. Booked before 5:30 to take advantage of the 15% Special rate and another 15% for Kamaina rate. Also wanted to make sure we see the mermaid shows at 5PM.; Yep, all planned out! When we got there it was pretty empty. It was just us and 3 or 4 more groups of people. Service was good. Friendly and helpful waiters. They always checking up on you. The buffet food selection seems somewhat limited. only 3 variety of sushi and two selection of sashimi. If you want sushi buffet then place like Todai would be better. If you are craving for crabs then this place is it. The dungeons crab was a bit dry and bland but the Alaskan crab was good. I asked for garlic butter sauce for the crab but they didn't have any but the waiter served us some garlic and butter sauce and we just mixed the two made our own. Overall the food was fresh and good. The dessert was good too.They had different assortment of fresh fruits, cakes, pastries, ice cream, pudding, etc... My date enjoyed the mermaid show and the diver feeding the fish. Too busy taking pictures then eating. There is a 2 hour limit and when the time is up the waiter will bring you the check. The parking was no problem. Just park at the hotel parking structure. They will validate up to 3 hours, i believe. We had to pay $7 for parking. I think we stayed of 4.5 hours there. The automated pay system was bit difficult to use. Trying to feed a $10 bill into the machine while in the driver seat was a challenge. Total bill was $80+ and tip. We made sure we both ate about $80 of crab before we left! :-)
(4)
Dana S.
HUGE buffet!! They will feed the fish next to your table if you request it. Cool tables next to huge fish tank
(5)
Austin B.
Overpriced. Given the quality of the food, I'd say this place warrants about $20 for dinner. Maybe bump it up a couple dollars for the service, which was actually pretty good. But buffets are all about the food, and that was a disappointment, especially for $40+ for dinner. Likes: The servers were attentive. My iced tea was always full (annoyingly so because the sweetness was always changing) and the plates were cleared quickly. I guess the view of the aquarium is cool, especially when the mermaid comes, but the novelty wears off quickly. Dislikes: I tried most of the dishes, and the most offending one was the pork dish. I forgot what it was supposed to be, something like pork with a sweet glaze, but it tasted like eating pork with a Vicks VapoRub glaze. The desserts looked pretty, but were disappointingly bland. There was a pretty little parfait thingy, but it was just a little raspberry glaze with a dollop of whipped cream. Yuck. Favorites: The only thing I enjoyed was the pasta station, the prime rib, and the crab legs. If this place was under $30, it consider going here again. At the current price (I forgot exactly what it was, but it was ridiculous), I would not recommend this buffet. Just go to a nice restaurant and pay for quality food.
(2)
David K.
Mediocre food for a ridiculous price. Waiter charged us the wrong bill and the goons chased us illegally for three blocks because they thought we dined and ditched. Absolute embarrassment, go anywhere else but here. Worst experience of the trip!!!!
(1)
Jamie B.
We are a seafood loving family so the Oceanarium is a dream come true. All you can eat buffet with 2 types of crab legs - Dungeness & snow crab - , sushi, sashimi, poke, a seafood pasta station, shrimp cocktail & shrimp tempura. Not to mention oxtail soup, saimin bar, and desserts galore. It's buffets like this that make me wish I were a literal cow with multiple stomachs. Seriously. The service was great as our waters were always filled and our dishes cleared pretty quickly. The only complaint I would have was that the crab legs weren't refilled fast enough but that's just the piggy in me complaining. Although the buffet is on the pricey side, you can get a kamaaina discount if you dine before 530 pm or after 830 pm. Overall a great place to celebrate a special occasion or if you just love seafood!
The food selection was fantastic. My husband and I love seafood and their selection had my husband drooling. They had sashimi, sushi rolls, nigiri, fish, crab legs, raw oysters, shrimp. There was chicken and prime rib with lots of sides. The desert bar had everything. Did I mention the aquarium? It was great. They have feelings at 5pm, 7pm and the mermaid at 9pm. The staff not so good about picking up plates right away, but you get over it real quick. Highly recommend!!!
(4)
J.D. G.
The one star is for the friendly wait staff. The breakfast buffet is worth going somewhere else if you want you food hot. If your good with luke warm food and coffee, this is the place for you.
(1)
Donna M.
I'm all over this buffet. I don't eat buffet very often... But when I do, trust me, I do it right. Salad? Rice? Uh-uh. I go straight for the crab legs until I feel like I never want to see a crab leg again and this place definitely delivers! I fully appreciate that I can go and choose how much crab I want, which crab I want..... As opposed to some other seafood buffets where the crab is regulated by someone else. Todai, I'm looking at you. When I'm done nomming on the crab, I do try some of the other things. I enjoy the sashimi and poke that they offer, tastes awesomely fresh. I also love the pasta station. The dudes working it are magic! I don't know how they make such good pasta with so few ingredients so quickly. I usually stay away from the hot entrees because they aren't really anything very special that I can't get anywhere else. I've tried a few of them the first few times I've come here and they are just alright. This place is a little spendy, and definitely not somewhere that I come very often. But it's a nice place to go to on a special occasion and gouge yourself! Definitely make reservations if you're planning on coming because it does get packed. I think if you want a view of the tank you do need to ask, so keep that in mind. Oceanarium, until next time!
(5)
Mia L.
We love Oceanarium! In addition to their beautifully kept three story aquarium, their buffet is incredible. Some nights they have three kinds of crab, Snow, King & Dungeness. My other favorites include the prime rib, sushi, and the chocolate fountain. You get so much value from this place and they even have divers who feed the fish and will swim to your table with a message like "happy birthday" or "will you marry me". They also have Kama'aina deals if you go at a certain time. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)
Sasha L.
Went here for a birthday dinner for all you can eat crab. They used to give you a voucher for a free meal next time if it is your birthday, but now they just give you a slice of cake and a birthday song. But even so..it was a nice dinner :]. Seafood allergies aside (my heart said YES but my tummy said NO), it was a nice meal! They have this awesome piña colada drink that comes in a hollowed it pineapple that I love! It comes over a block of dried ice that is so corny and tourist..love it! It used to be banana flavored (my favorite blended drink) but they discontinued that and now only have regular piña colada. This place is much improved from the last time I was here. Previously, they only had whole crab legs that you had to crack open yourself. Now, they offer their snow crab pre cut in half so that you can just dig right in to your meal! No more time wasted struggling with spikey crab legs, hurting your hands and wasting time getting full! Also, our server brought us out some warm butter with fresh garlic to dip the crab in..SO GOOD! (You have to ask for it, the butter they have on the buffet line is just regular melted butter). I don't know how the rest of the buffet was..I only ate the snow and Alaskan king crab. I have heard the other items are not very good. But that being said..get your money's worth with some crab legs, garlic butter and a pineapple piña colada! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Hoai L.
This place suck ass! Over price for food under the lamp.. Not that much selection! It taste like shit!
(1)
Kitty B.
Let me start by saying I have been to buffets all over the country, so my rating is based in comparison to some of the greats. So currently the best buffet in the country is at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The worst would be any Hometown Buffet Location. The Oceanarium falls right 4.5 on a scale of 1-10. I know everyone gives this place great reviews and I guess it would be the best in the area as far as All You Can eat establishments go. In all honesty, I don't think I would come back here. It was not worth the money for me. The sushi was not great. The drinks were just ok. The whole experience was just ok. I just feel I could get more for my money elsewhere as a regular. If you want unlimited buffet in Honolulu come here. This will be your best option.
(2)
Brad K.
I wanted to give a 5 star rating because the menu was exactly what I was looking for and our server was very personable but.......we had a bit of a snag as they tried to sit a family of four adults on a table for 2. I asked politely if we could move tables because I felt like I was sitting on my mother's lap. With the few ridiculous excuses of why they couldn't move us, they finally moved us to a table set for 6. All we were asking for is, at $65 a head for easter brunch buffett, you could be more flexible in seating (we had confirmed reservations, too!!), no matter your booking procedure, to sit us on a table we could comfortably eat on. I am a big guy, but my family are average sized, there was no way we could eat without each others elbows in each others faces. That is my only complaint. Everything else was as good as expected. I assume there are better practices to address a simple request.
(3)
Jennifer S.
I love aquariums, so I was extremely excited when I booked a dinner reservation for this restaurant. I went with my boyfriend for his birthday, and we got kinda dressy. Definitely wasn't necessary. For a Friday night at 8:30pm, there were a lot of sweat pants and not overly nicely dressed people there. Which kinda brought down the overall vibe of the restaurant. It was a very nice buffet, but with they didn't have a lot of vegetable options. Lots of meat and fish, but only one mixed vegetable option. The mermaid show was kinda neat, but her fin was not very nice looking. I feel like if the mermaid show is something they do like 15 times a week they can probably invest in a nicer set of fins for her. The diver was cool, and she brought up my happy birthday sign for my boyfriend. Yea.. Overall, I wasn't super impressed, but I think that's because I expected something a bit classier. If I was in jeans and a regular shirt I probably would have enjoyed it more.
(3)
F G.
This is the 3rd time on a diff day I am trying to call to make a Rez and all times they mumble something on hold and never come back! Longest wait time was 5 min! I'm getting pissed. I'm gonna try one more time and if the same result I'm making a Rez elsewhere. So rude.
(1)
Brad M.
Give this place a pass (unless you have children). Add two stars if you have kids because they'll get a kick out of the giant aquarium in the middle of the restaurant. Every 30 minutes or so scuba divers swim around and feed the fish. As for the food, the Oceanarium is an all-you-can-eat buffet that isn't much better than your local Chinese Buffet from back home. The subpar sushi is reminiscent to supermarket quality sushi.
(2)
Lori B.
Had my bday dinner here. It's quite spendy but you sure do get bang for your buck. Luckily we got a table close to the aquarium. Got a pic of the scuba diver doing the Shaka :) the buffet is huge. You won't go hungry. I might go back here if I'm appealed to going to Waikiki.
(4)
DO K.
I had a hard time deciding whether to give this place a one star or a two star. But I ended up giving them two stars since it seemed to be a better place for young kids. FOOD: foods and sushi are not fresh at all. Compared to the price, the food was awful except the crab legs. AQUARIUM: I know that many people come here for the aquarium inside, but the aquarium can be seen from the hotel lobby and the stair area and there aren't that much pretty or jaw-dropping fish in there. This is in Hawaii so I've seen the same fish except closer and much more lively by snorkeling. SERVICE: When I called to modify my reservation that was made through yelp, it not only took a long time to speak to a person but also they hung up on me after saying few 'hello's . Maybe the person did not hear me but I definately felt unwelcomed. My server was nice, but asked for my i.d. after they swiped my card. I signed everything and then they asked me for my i.d. which I found very weird and out of order. This place is not worth the money. Just peek through the aquarium at the stair area and eat something better somewhere else.
(2)
Tiffany L.
I feel, in general, that this buffet is very low quality at a very high price. It is very much your typical buffet, with some things being decent and some being underwhelming. Their "cheese" selection, for example, included Kraft American cheese slices. Um, yeah. If I'm paying over $50 I do NOT want Kraft cheese slices in my "International Cheese Display" option. Are you kidding?!?! Certainly not all of their options were bad. Some of their meats were good, and their Crab and Corn Chowder was amazing. Some of the fish was definitely not the highest quality or freshest it could be. Our service was decent. The Mermaid Show was on a special schedule when we came, and we were told multiple times it was 8PM so we stuck around to see it, only to find out it wasn't until 10PM.
(2)
Mai T.
Im not much of a buffet person, but with family dinners I get the chance to try different buffets and that is always exciting! Where else can you just walk up and make yourself a plate full of items that you love. We had a out of town guest and it was decided that Oceanarium would be the place to host them. I have gone here previously to see the fishes with my daughter, but it was the first time to dine here. The atmosphere was really nice, you get that ohh.. its a nice place to eat and you want to dress nice, but at the same time you don't have to go all out with heels and pearls. I was surprised to see that there were so many local people compared to tourist.... it being in Waikiki i thought more tourist would frequent this place. We were a party of 10 and they accommodated us nicely! The food at the buffet had a selection from Fish, sushi, chicken, crab to a pasta station. I tried a little of everything, but came to the conclusion that the clam chowder was the best item i had. Sorry i didn't try to the crab, but my husband said it was delis ..( can't go wrong with crab!) Clam chowder was one of those country style.. lots of vegetables, good solid flavor with lots of actual clam type of soup. Not too soupy.. not too chunky... just right! They also had the chocolate fountain which is always fun for the kids or sweet tooth people like myself. Im sure if you go there and have yourself a load of crab you will get your moneys worth. I heard the mermaid show was pretty good, although some how we must have missed it.
(3)
Harmony L.
Pros: the servers were super friendly & helpful. The sashimi was really fresh & yummy. Cons: the food was not very good. Crab legs were plentiful but not tasty. Not much of a variety of foods. Did not find the aquarium to be very impressive at all.
(2)
Nikki S.
Took my husband here for our date night. He has two saltwater tanks of his own, so I thought this would be a hit. The visit was ok. We were kinda disappointed in the fish, we were expecting more colorful fish and Aquarius decor. It was fun to watch the feeding session, and it looked like the kiddos around us enjoyed the mermaid show. The food was good, but was informed Military discount was only if you came before 5:30 that evening. If we go again, it will be for a small dessert but not for dinner. It was 100 dollars for buffet style dinner, food was good, but wasn't impressive for 50/person.
(3)
Vanessa S.
It is beautiful since they have the aquarium in the middle but it doesn't cover the fact of the mediocre seafood they serve... the only decent food were the snow crab legs but thats it. I was kinda surprised too as how empty the restaurant was for a usual busy hour... that should of been my queue to leave when I saw that.
(2)
Kim T.
The breakfast buffet is alright... It's nice that there was no wait since we went on a weekday plus we made reservations prior to going. Nothing fancy or outstanding about the buffet and I was a little disappointed that we were rushed to eat. It would have been nice to know what time they were going to close. We didn't even get to enjoy the omelet bar and I guess because they were almost closing they didn't have all of the food out. I think the buffet at the Aulani was way better and worth the money.... Will try the dinner another time to see how it is. But the bacon is delish... It's nice and crispy.
(3)
Gary A.
On June 28th I went to the Oceanarium with my family to celebrate a birthday. I haven't been there for a while and was somewhat disappointed. The food and service was okay but the dining room needs to improve its appearance. A room makeover is recommended to provide a more enjoyable dining experience.
(3)
TT H.
Went with my parents to celebrate their anniversary. It was Crab night. They were really happy. Not only did they get a senior discount, we were there for an early bird special. What a deal. The aquarium is really cool. Check their website to see what the special of they day is. Really good selection. Salad bar could be better, but most people are there for the meat.
(4)
Scott S.
This is one of the best buffets I've ever had. The food is delicious. There's a huge aquarium at the center of it that creates a spectacular view. At 5pm and 9pm (don't hold me to those times), they have a diver feed the fish and a mermaid swim around waiving to the guests. There's a wide variety of food to choose from.
(4)
Elizabeth O.
As we entered the elevator from the parking structure we noticed what was being highlighted at the buffet, tonight oysters. We were quickly helped, as we stepped to the front of the podium and was able to be seated about 15 minutes early. The server was prompt as we sat and offered us drinks and brought water as we decided on our seating arrangements. We had a view of the large tank which our kids loved to watch before, during and after their meal. The buffet line was nicely organized and spread out. The highlight of my meal was the fresh cut kajiki sashimi, shrimp tempura, peel and eat shrimp, snow crab crab legs, and the Chinese style fish. Also the chocolate fountain and soft serve was a hit. I wanted to try the made to order pasta station with the tortellini but ran out of room in my tummy. We will be visiting again soon. Thank you to the servers and bussers that took away our plates and kept our waters filled, you were like ninjas because I would never see our plates being taken away :)
(5)
Morgan G.
Experience : 4.5 stars , Food : 3 stars I thought it was totally awesome to see the gorgeous aquarium with happy fish swimming around while eating. Even better when the diver got in and put on a show. She fed the fish, making them all surround her so you can see them much better! Swam with the stingrays, held signs up wishing some people a Happy Birthday! Waved at everyone & somehow even made a heart out of bubbles. She was great and very good at her job! Thank you lady for making my experience that much better. Also the staff was also on it. Getting our drinks fast, taking our dirty plates quickly, giving us complimentary wet wipes! The food on the other hand, was a bit mediocre. Wasn't familiar with what many items even were. I tried almost everything though and it was decently tasting! Did I believe the buffet was worth $100 for two people? No, but the experience was so we still left happy customers :) Probably wouldn't be coming back, but it was great for a one time thing! Also ask for military discount - we received $15 off.
The only reason why I wanted to come to this restaurant was for the huge aquarium inside the restaurant. My BF (at the time) let me pick this place, even though he really didn't want to go here). How cool is that to be able to watch the scuba divers swim with the fishes inside the aquarium while you were dining?! The buffet items had your typical Hawaiian foods like poke, leaf wrapped Kalua pork, as well as other items. I didn't care for the food, it wasn't anything special. They did have a chocolate fountain along with assortment of desserts. Oceanarium is definitely a one time dining experience, at least for me. Been there, done that...
(3)
Fran C.
It was pops burfday today, so I got da ohana together for a buffet meal at The Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel. The Oceanarium........what a neat place! I was mesmerized by the enormous fish tank that was several stories high sitting in the center of the restaurant. Man, I gotta tell you folks I can sit here for hours just looking at the fish.........I kinda felt like a little kid.........you know, when my parents use to take me to the Waikiki Aquarium to look at the fish when I was - "small kid time" . Now I'm - "BIG Kid Time"...........and I still like looking at the fish..........what's wrong with me? Nothing! Lol! Well, the Oceanarium had a very large buffet spread (see pics)..........lots of different types of seafood, as well as desserts, salads & fruit, and of course prime rib! All of this for just under $46.00 per person.....not bad at all, considering they offer soooooooooo much different types of food. There were so many choices........and one can only eat so much, so it's sad to say, I couldn't sample and eat everything that was there on the buffet spread.........but on the bright side, I did eat the most important thing on the menu while I was there.......... What's that did I eat? PRIME RIB & CRAB my friends!!!! Yes.........I did eat other things, but I must tell you........... I totally put on an eating exhibition tonight, and ate the hell out of the crab & prime rib! Of course as much as I liked the crab & prime rib..........you gotta remember to balance, so I threw down some ono Coconut Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, Turkey Katsu, a plate of salad, and a plate of fruit & desserts to top off my meal. Maaaaaaaaan! I was so stuffed! Good thing I had my elastic shorts on.........no need worry about unbuckling my belt! Lol! A trip to the park with Makana, & 24 Hour Fitness followed after doing this eating exhibition! Lol! Service was outstanding tonight! Plates were constantly taken away when we got up to get more food. They also left two large bowls in the middle of our table for the crab shells, and these bowls were replaced quickly when the bowls filled up. As our dinner was coming to an end.........the nice staff of the Oceanarium gave a piece of Chocolate Mousse cake to my pops and sang "Happeeeeeeeeeeeee Burfday" to him. And may I point out......the dudes sang pretty good too! Loud, & in tune too! 10+ stars for their singing skills! Lol!
(4)
Charles H.
What a difference. What ever oceanarium did to turn this place around has worked. Food was great, a lot better then the first time I went which was last year. Staff was so polite and attentive to our needs. My family had a great time and we hope who ever runs this place continues to keep the food quality high and staff trained as it was evident during our visit last night. If your considering going here, it is well worth having a sign made to have the diver diplay your message on the glass next to your seat. Oh, and they steam the crabs legs now!
(5)
Anna G.
Amazing. Loved it. It's super entertaining. Food quality was great. The place was lovely. Wait it's were super friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)
Alec F.
Wooo night out for the boyfriend's birthday in Waikiki wooo! I made the reservation for all eight of us only a few hours before 7:30 and the staff was super nice and accommodating - they ended up getting us seated right near the tank, as we requested. I had walked through this hotel and seen the tank before, but I'd never spent enough time here to notice the mermaid or diver with the "Happy Birthday" signs. It was a creative touch and made the experience of it all a lot cooler than other buffets I've been to. But coming from a strong-buffet-background, I can't tell you if the food was worth the price. Everything I tried was fresh and delicious, but it was also pretty expensive, so I'd expect as much. Their coconut shrimp, prime rib, and roasted potatoes stood out to me and had me half passed out on the table by the end of dinner. The waitstaff were crazy attentive, running by every few minutes to refill drinks and clear plates. What's a little strange is that the price includes only specific drinks - coffee, teas, and juice - instead of soda? I found that a bit odd but I love me some iced tea so I got over it pretty quick. The food was displayed well and tasted great, the staff were kind, and the aquarium itself was huge and fun to have nearby. Would I come back? Maybe on another special occasion, but this buffet is just as good as any other buffet, not necessarily AMAZING. I'd definitely recommend it to tourists (hence it being in Waikiki, I'm sure), but as locals, I'll just add it to the list of other $$$ restaurants to hit up when the time calls for it (and my empty stomach, hopefully).
(4)
Roxanne Lynn T.
If you're a seafood lover, then this place hits the spot. I've been to the oceanarium many times with family and friends for many years now usually for special occasions. It is a bit pricey but there is a huge variety of seafood from the buffet to choose from. King crab and snow crab is a must when you're there. There's a salad bar, poke, fruits, seafood main dishes, prime rib carving station, make your own pasta, dessert table, etc. You'll wonder where to begin first with the many choices to choose from. I suggest to call the restaurant first rather than making reservations online because online seating won't give you the best seats especially if you want to sit closer to the Aquarium and the times online aren't really accurate for sooner availability. The aquarium is probably the most anticipated attraction filled with different variety of fishes and during certain time frames there'll be a swimmer that will greet you by your table along with a mermaid that will be swimming around the tank with the fishes. You may request for a sign prior to the event during your reservation. Most common greetings would be a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary. But I believe you may put anything of a greeting on the sign. It's such a great family place to bring kids as well to enjoy the little aquarium entertainment. The service is overall pretty good. Servers were attentive and friendly. They were constantly filling up our drinks and made sure to take our used plates off the table. The ambiance is casual and laid back since it is a tourist attraction but it may seem crowded and loud because the tables are close to each other. One of the best place for buffets to bring out of town people. I just didn't like waiting past our reservation times. Always had to wait at least 30 minutes for our tables to be ready. Possibly because this restaurant is always busy.
(4)
Kelly L.
* Price: $ 50 per person, not bad for the area. 3 star. * Ambiance: casual. Ocean theme. Impressive tank with many fishes, stink rays. Feeding shows. 4+ star. * Location: inside of the Pacific hotel. Some reviews said they do not validate your parking 3 star. * Meals: pretty good. Better than last time I was here! 4 star. * Service: the reception/host is below standard and lack of aloha. The waiter makes it up! 3 star. Averaged to 3 1/2 star for me! We decided to dine here since we stayed at Pacific beach hotel and just got in from Hilo... We called the restaurant around 8 pm and asked if we can still be seated. We gave them our room number and we're told we could come down any time. When we got there, waited for 15 min even though it was on tuesday night and no one in line. There were many emptied tables. The man and woman at the desk asked if we want buffet... I thought that is what they serve here.... and told us that they are closing in 2 hours if we still want to dine here! Anyway, we got seated next to a rowdy group and by the walkway! We asked them nicely to switch to different table and that we stayed at this hotel! The food does make up for unwelcoming hosts! There are many seafood choices (poke, sushi, sashimi, shrimp, snow crab legs...) The deserts are excellent with mouthwatering dishes (cheese cakes, creme brulee etc.) The feeding show is quite fun and entertaining for every guests regardless their age! The food and show does make the money worth and make up my rating ( I dropped 1/2 star because of the host!) If you are visiting Waikiki, it is worth a visit for the food and experience!
(3)
Joseph E.
Came here on a Friday night with the family. Good spread of offerings, especially the seafood. Crab legs were large and not over cooked in salted water like some places. I was really looking forward to the oysters on the half shell that other reviewers wrote about but was disappointed to find they were not offered on our visit. Not impressed with the baked salmon which was over cooked and, strangely, drizzled with KC's barbecue sauce. Another observation was that some of the warming pans didn't seem to be working well leaving the BBQ ribs and the chicken wings cold. Everything else was good. We were pleasantly surprised with the roast beef which, in our opinion, was the best we've had in a long time. Aquarium experience was fine but if it's really important to you I recommend calling to request a front and center table. Ours was off to the side so our view was so-so. Validated parking in the PB hotel garage gets you 3 hours for $5. Overall we were happy with our visit.
(3)
Maile K.
Food is consistently good. The king crab legs mad my pops very happy. The servers are very vigilant and clear plates as needed. They also replaced full crabshell bowls as they filled up. The buffet was constantly being filled with fresh food. Love the aquarium. There was a huge grouper in the tank that would come up to the glass and just float there. If you saw the movie The Little Mermaid, he looks just like one of the fish when Sebastian is singing Under The Sea, with the pouty mouth. My brother in law said those fish get up to 400lbs and can swallow a person whole. We were trying to get it to open its mouth so my nephew could stand below like he was about to be eaten.
(4)
Rachel W.
I took my boyfriend Jake here for a surprise birthday dinner because he LOVES buffets. We went on a Saturday night, and it was oyster night -- but they still offered all you can eat crab and prime rib. Boy, did he eat enough crab for the both of us! The buffet is $45.95 per person. My favorite things were the New England Clam Chowder and the soft serve ice cream bar, but there was also a seafood pasta bar along with a *saimin* bar! Only in Waikiki. I originally booked our reservation online through Open Table, but called the restaurant to order a "Happy Birthday" sign that a diver brings down into the aquarium. (You can order for any occasion for $25.) The hostess told me it's a good thing I called back because most people who make online reservations don't get good seats -- and she took care of us! We were seated at a table right in front with a perfect view of the sign. The signs will stick around in a spot in the aquarium near your table for a while -- long enough to take some pictures and admire it before it's taken away. A photographer will also come over to take your picture. You can buy it for $20 (cash or credit). Ours came out really nice! A perfect memory. Service was very attentive when we first got there, but after a while our waiter seemed to forget about us and our plates started to stack up, crowding our table. After we stuffed ourselves silly, they brought out a complimentary slice of red velvet cheesecake with a candle in it and sang happy birthday to Jake. He couldn't even finish it, as those few bites put him over the edge. Overall, it's a nice place to celebrate a birthday. There are a lot of ways to craft a special evening here, but you've gotta be willing to pay up! Just wish the service was a little better for what I paid for. KAMA'AINA RATE: What irritates me is that if you spring for the dive sign, you'll want to be there at 7pm when the diver comes out with the sign. However, they only offer Kama'aina rates before 5:30pm and after 8:30pm. A nice little tap they've concocted. PARKING: There's valet, or you can self-park in the hotel garage. If you self-park, with validation you'll end up paying $5 (cash or credit).
(3)
Holly B.
Haven't been to this restaurant in over 25 years... The buffet is nice, though I can only comment on the few items I ate: Hot snow crab legs - good, a little salty Cold snow crab legs - delicious and sweet, though some of the crab was frozen Coconut fried shrimp with sweet chili sauce - delicious, not overcooked Cold shrimp with shell - delicious Paella - tasty with shrimp, scallops, mussels Poke - mushy and tasteless I love crab and shrimp and concentrated on those items during our meal - no rice, salad or even dessert, just crab and shrimp! And I eat it with fresh lemon squeezed over it, along with cocktail sauce for dipping! Got my money's worth! The waitstaff is friendly and attentive and kept our table cleared and our water and fruit punch glasses filled. The aquarium was a little devoid of fish. There was a female diver bringing celebratory signs out for parties, which was nice. The noise level was high from all the large parties there, as well as little children and screaming babies, so NOT a restaurant for romance or quiet conversation. The 1-1/2 hour time limit causes one to concentrate on eating fast rather than enjoying the meal or the company. But if you love seafood, you can definitely get your money's worth here - quantity, not necessarily quality.
(3)
Frank R. K.
Brunch lookes good but the quality leaves a lot to be desired The waiter was really nice and I like my sweets. So the bread pudding with vanilla sauce was my favorite
(4)
Christine S.
The oceanarium is always a go to buffet here on the island. My boyfriend and I decided to go for my birthday dinner, and since we were staying at the pacific beach hotel, we thought why not? First of all, I'm happy with how we were able to get seated quite fast. We were able to go and grab food just like that, awesome. No waiting! The food that day, tasted okay to me. Maybe it was because I wasn't super hungry, but it tasted different. The food was alright. I thought the crab was the best part though. I always look forward to their crab. The oceanarium, like its name, has a beautiful scenery. You sit next to a huge tank full of different types of fish. HUGE fish in fact. It's absolutely awesome. Sometimes you'll see mermaids swimming, and you can't help but to look at them amazed no matter how much times you've been there. This is also a wonderful place to have anniversaries, you can request to have a sign in front of your table with a message saying "happy anniversary, I love you" or whatever u you want it to say. I do think it cost a little more extra, but why not go the extra mile to have your sweetheart smile? The service here is overall pleasant. I had to wait a while for the waiter to consistently refill my water, but it's okay. I understand it can get busy sometimes. Overall, It was nice to have them sing happy birthday to me, thank you for making it a memorable one!
(4)
LeeAnn T.
Came in for dinner on labor day. Was sitted really quick and server came to the table as we was sitting. Dinner was great. Crab legs juicy.
(5)
Summer F.
Amazing dinner last night... Best buffet I've been to in a long time! Tons of selection and crab for days!!! My kids love the amazing fish tank & it keeps them entertained
(5)
Liam C.
After much discussion with my family about where to go for my birthday dinner, we finally decided to come to the Oceanarium buffet. I was told that their buffet is $48 + gratuity for larger parties, BUT there is a kamaaina discount before 5:30 or after 8:30. Both of which are inconvenient times for dinner, but I guess that's why they do the discount at those times. Personally, I didn't think the $48 was too bad considering the amount of food they have compare to some other buffets, but it does add up quickly with a larger party. I also picked this place though mainly because I had a fond memory of their selections the last time I was here. Crab legs, sushi/sashimi, salad bar, prime rib, a huge variety of meat and cooked seafood, and a deeeelicious dessert station. I'm not usually one to get too excited about desserts, but I did end up having 5 cream puffs and dipped a bunch of things in their chocolate fountain. As far as their atmosphere, staff is very friendly and attentive. I felt like my table had three servers and people endlessly coming to take away our empty plates so we'd have space for our next rounds. I was a little confused why sodas weren't included in the buffet price though; the only options for included drinks were fruit punch, iced/hot teas, and coffee. Overall, if you're going to celebrate something, this is definitely a good place to consider and they even have the option of having a mermaid (yes, literally a mermaid) hold a sign with your words of celebration in the aquarium tank. What's cooler than that?
(4)
Ron A.
Bad customer service. I reserved 16 seats for my sons birthday on 8/9/15. About 2 months in advance put a deposit down and requested for a certain seating arrangement so we could see the mermaid show. When we came in they couldn't accommodate the sitting arrangement I requested. I called them prior to this day and they said everything would be setup the way we wanted. During that day we arrived they said they couldn't arrange it that way. Spoke to the manager and he also said he couldn't accommodate the seat in we requested because the amount of people we had. And I told the manager you should have notified us before we arrived that it wasn't possible to make the seating arrangement. Instead of finding out last minute. Who can in talk for the complaint
(1)
Bubba S.
Today was my birthday and my honey took me here for a surprise buffet meal....yummy yummy.....all you can eat crab legs and much much more!!! Highly recommend it to y'all da huge aquarium was center stage with a large variety of sea life. Try em........
(5)
Pat R.
What happened to this place? I took the GF here to see if she wanted to reserve it for our rehearsal dinner. In the past, this was the not so best kept secret place to take out of town guests. So naturally this was near the top of my list of places for the GF to try. Sadly, this place has become a ghost of its former glory. What's wrong you ask? 1. Service: I made a reservation for an early dinner to take advantage of the kama'aina pricing. We were quickly ushered to a table in the far back corner near the bathrooms. This was a problem for me as the place was nearly empty and we had made reservations. I could understand if we walked in during a crowded time w/o a reservation but that was not the case. I asked for a table a little closer to the tank and was told that we could only have the table till 5:30. What kind of crap is that? Was my reservation not important enough? There was no further explanation why we could not sit and enjoy our dinner. So needless to say, our dinner started off the wrong way. 2. The once impressive centerpiece fish tank is nearly empty. Once upon a time it was overflowing with fish and was like going to Waikiki Aquarium with dinner! This was the main WOW factor of this place and now its just a wall of water. 3. The food selection has been drastically reduced and is not worth the $50ish cover or even the $40ish kama'aina rate. There was no ahi sashimi on the night we went. The fish of the day was tilapia?!? Shame Shame..I remember in this places hey day we would see mahi mahi, miso butterfish and lots of sushi and sashimi at the buffet spread... Granted the prime rib, crab legs and pasta bar make up some of the value but still falls short. I don't know about you, but when I want to take guests out and show what local food is all about, crab legs and prime rib are not high on the list. This place is off of my must take people to list until they clean up their act. Check out my other reviews and lists for my other "must eats" while on Oahu.
(2)
S S.
Time for an update ! This review is for this buffet and has nothing to do with the hotel. I'm a regular here and brought my friends all the way from San Diego to enjoy this time with me. First of all they told us we couldn't use our coupons at certain hours ( even though we were told otherwise) , second of all once we are in finally after all the back and fourth, they told my friend to "put a shirt on" and she wasn't topless by any means, if you looked around there were other people in bathing wear. Last but not least I arrived this evening to check into my reservation and was told once again I couldn't use the coupon I was given. This buffet is amazing but , wow! That's how you treat your regular clients? Interesting .
(3)
Angela C.
My husband was looking for a seafood buffet so we decided to check this place out on one of their special nights where they serve crab legs. $50 went a long way with the large menu they had. We were seated right next to the tank and enjoyed the view, especially when the mermaids swam by. A good choice if you want to splurge on dinner a little. Tasty food, good options for a non-seafood water, such as myself. My husband was pleased with his snow crabs and king crabs.
(4)
WhyMe M.
Was told about this place by our hotel. Not disappointing. Fresh seafood galore and the waiters were very attentive Strongly recommend
(4)
Joel G.
The food was ok. Def not a cozy atmosphere. Felt like I was eating in a school cafeteria. Way overpriced imo. Won't be going back.
(3)
Shirley Y.
My kids enjoy watching the fish and seeing the two divers feeding the fish during dinner. Our table server is awesome. The Italian chef who served snow crab legs and pastas is very nice and funny. The only problem was the lady who assigned a really really bad table for us. We reserved first seating which was 4:30pm and it was not full . We requested to switch table to get closer to the oceanarium but the lady was very mean and she didn't want to change at first.Then, she unwillingly changed the table and then kept reminding us its 2-hour seating. Very rude. The thing is the restaurant is not full at all , plenty of tables and why she picked the worst far back table for us. I really have no idea how the seating works. is it a bad decision to eat early and to make reservation....? But, I really appreciate the owner's effort of maintaining the oceanarium! Bravo!
(3)
Matt S.
Very overpriced and touristy. The service was very poor for the cost of the buffet. At $50 a plate the waiter should at least check on you once! The items on the menu other than the buffet were very disappointing. The ravioli was bland, and the sauce was very watery. It looked like they literally dumped a can of diced tomatoes, water and all, on the plate, and called it sauce. Some of the buffet items were decent. The prime rib and crab legs wee good, but not great. For the price would expect much better. Do yourself a favor and find something better on Waikiki!
(1)
Jayleen Y.
I would NEVER recommend this resteraunt, due to poor poor and insanely the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my life (and I am not over exaggerating). I was there for a birthday dinner(first time there too). Food is average. Scenery was not mind blowing but it was beautiful. You would expect more fishes. But the service was the WORST. Management should be shameful of their employees. Had the drink menu but our server took it and said that we wouldn't be needing it, I mean really we are all adults wanting have a good time. And for some reason our server decided to put our checks into one, when clearly I requested for split when reservations were made. Supposedly he asked but that is questionable. My advise is you're better off at Dennys.
(1)
Cody H.
I love this place. If you eat off the menu it is relatively inexpensive. Eat the buffet, you're going broke (but the buffet is certainly worth every penny). Tonight I had a grilled chicken Caesar salad for $13 and a bowl of New England Clam Chowder for $8. Can't beat it...
(5)
Elson L.
Came here for Sunday brunch and it was not a terrible experience. Definitely expected a lot more for the price. As for the food, the prime rib was tough as nails and the rest of the breakfast items were pretty mediocre. Coffee and tea is included and added a nice touch to an otherwise very forgettable experience. In terms of the service, it was great! Management is doing something right with the servers and wait staff. But please, do something about the quality of the food items!
(3)
Nina G.
We went here for Valentine's Day brunch. It wasn't crowded at all. We loved the ambiance and their service. Workers were friendly and nice. It was a little bit pricey. I called them and asked how much per person and the lady told me its $36 per person, but we ended up paying $60 per person. We paid $5 for parking with validation. Overall, this place would be great for family/ group. I could've went to somewhere else for that price.
(3)
Naz E.
Breakfast was great! Our server Edmund was so friendly and awesome! We loved having him as our server. Definitely beats the lines and eggs and things !
(5)
John Y.
If you are a snow crab leg lover then this should be your go to place, don't find too many buffets nowadays serving unlimited crab legs. Even better, eat starting at 1730 (2 hour limit) and you get a discount off the normal buffet cost. For a change of pace, go for the Prime rib which is flavorful and moist. Save room for dessert, dip the fruit bits into the chocolate fountain
(4)
Kimo K.
I like buffets because obviously you can eat what you like as much as you like and with this buffet you get a free show. They also welcome local patronage among the tourist throngs and offer a discount. The food was good the presentation was good the service was great and Unobtrusive the mermaid is real because she never came up for air I wonder if they have to pay Disney to use the little mermaid song could make some money selling T-shirts and hats with the mermaid on it. I think after 9 o'clock mermaid should be topless. My suggestion would be that they would use Hawaiian rolls instead of the dry white rolls. It's a good buffet it's worth the price is great for tourists and locals alike the music was good. Big complaint about fat Haole who get huge plate only snow crab legs and eat only end meat, bitch throw plenty good crab meat around joint in trash cause HE CAN as it is buffet, dude hungry people right outside door let alone wasting and disrespecting food, karma you and your obese kids one day will go without cause you waste and do not even know the best part of crab is around the joint but takes a little work to get...You waste you eat too much you do not catch own food or cook your food thinking money is God you Duck Dynasty glutinous McDonalds eating slug... but I have aloha for everyone. I wonder what to do with all the leftover food. But if you think about it if you put all that food together clam chowder sashimi sushi and crab a couple slabs of prime rib au jus one or two pieces of broccoli some chicken kalbi ribs noodles rice some pinapple papaya grapes raisins nuts and mix it all together with Apple pie chocolate creme brulee banana cake ice cream and M&ms ....you have garbage. Enjoy your meal. The price is about $50 (15% off for Hawaiians) but when you think about it you can go spend $50 for 4 beers and a burger fries at Dukes so is actually pretty good deal skip a couple happy hours and enjoy a good meal and eat like a pig or the last day of your life on EArth.
Vegas buffet prices with hole in the wall Chinese buffet quality. In fact I think I've had better food at Chinese buffets in Texas. Crab legs were soggy, and room temp. Didn't taste good. Crumbled apart. Prime rib was overcooked. Not red, not pink, but dark brown and cooked all the way through. Not the way prime rib is supposed to be served. Dessert area was very basic and portions were small. Only about 4 or 5 options. You definitely won't be impressed by the food, but the fish tank is cool. Worth the price? I don't think so.
(2)
Hope Y.
Celebrated the hubs birthday at the Oceanarium. We usually do brunch there, but wound up doing dinner for the first time. I really enjoy the crab, and we had snow crab on the menu. First course: 1 plate, overflowing with crab, side of butter and some lemons (best guess would be about a pound and a half). Second course (after washing buttery hands off in the ladies room) prime rib, Asian steamed fish, sashimi, and coconut shrimp. Hubs went for the ramen station and chowder, then on to the prime rib. They had a pasta bar that the chef made seafood pasta, and the spread included things like chicken, veggies, fish, and sushi. We ended the evening with some sweets, I had the panna cotta, a brownie bite, and some creme brulee, and hubs had more chocolatey goodies. All in all, a nice evening with some good food. Seating can be kinda iffy, because you could be stuck behind a pole, or back in the corner with a junk view of the mermaids. If you are celebrating something, be sure to let them know when you make your reservations, so the mermaid can write it on her board or wave to your table.
(4)
Susan L.
I have never walked out on a reservation before, but when the waiter can't find a menu..... Smelly cafeteria, beware. One star too much
(1)
Susynoid A.
Okay first off CRAB!!!!! We went on a Thursday which is crab day so the crab was very delicious , and the service was very good as well. We had a slight problem and the manager came right out to check on us and to fix the problem. I also ordered a smoking pineapple drink and since they brought it while I was getting another plate of crab the server came back with more dry ice so that I could see it in all its glory ! I really enjoyed myself and I will definitely come back
(5)
Holly L.
Thought this would be a total gimmick. But it was so great. The brunch buffet was hot and tasty and refilled and the fish were so nice. Call first and get a seat near the fish. Well worth it!
(4)
Yolanda R.
omg, what an experience to sit next to the glass window and watch the diver! Really cool and fun experience. Plus lunch was GREAT, I loved my mahi mahi. YUM. Thank you so much
(5)
Ric C.
Nice buffet option for Waikiki. The weekend brunch is great especially the huge steamed snow crab legs. Nice selection of dishes, salads, desserts and also an omelet station. The service is great and attentive. They also offer a senior discount. It's the crab legs that push it to a solid 4 stars. (See my review on Studio B buffet at the M Resort in Vegas) Ok a pic added from a recent meal 3/14.
(4)
Kendra O.
I would give the Oceanarium 3 1/2 stars, but because Yelp only allows for full stars, I'm rounding down to 3. Whether I round up or down is dependent on my experience. In this case, a couple of things during this experience are causing the round down -- the photographer and the layout. My friend had 2 complimentary dinners that were included as part of a room/meal package that she bought and she needed to use the certificate by the end of the month. If we had paid for it, it would have been $48 for the night we went, in which king crab was featured. Overall, I would say the food was a peg above average. However, for the price, I would go to Prince Court instead (even if they don't have crab), as the food quality there is much better. At Oceanarium, the spread was pretty decent: a make-your-own saimin station, assorted salad, peel-and-eat shrimp, sushi (maki and ahi nigiri), sashimi (I can't remember the type of fish -- I think maybe kajiki), fruit, cheese, desserts, seafood medley, kalbi, shrimp and veggie tempura, prime rib, pasta station, roasted potatoes, mixed veggies, and king crab. For the most part, the food was pretty good. But one thing I would note is the crab -- it did not have the nice orange/red color that King crab typically does, and my friend commented that it was salty, but that she liked it that way. As much as I love salt, this was a different kind of salty, and it didn't have the sweet flavor that King crab usually does. When I mentioned this to another friend, she said that it was probably old crab; thawed, refrozen, thawed, refrozen, etc. I'm inclined to agree. Now on to the annoyances: the primary annoyance was the cheesy photographer. She completely interrupted us while eating and was very aggressive and in my opinion, rude. What really got me was when she was showing us the completed photos, my friend wanted to buy one and asked whether it could be put on our bill -- the photographer said no, she had to pay her now. Fine. But my friend was eating crab at the time and her fingers were dirty, so she said, "ok, wait" (in a local-style way) as she cleaned her fingers off. Then the photographer proceeds to tell ME to take the credit card out for my friend (and my friend wasn't even at the point of reaching her purse yet). Irraz. This along would deter me from going back there. The second annoyance was the way they positioned the tables. When we arrived it was fine, there was a slightly larger group next to us sitting at a set of tables consisting of two tables pushed together. However, when they left, the two tables were separated, thereby leaving probably less than 2 feet between tables. This wouldn't have been a big deal except we were sitting toward the front of the section and all the people sitting behind us had to maneuver their way between these small spaces to get to the buffet, not to mention posing a safety hazard should there by an emergency. And no way someone in a wheelchair could've gotten through. So, considering it was free, it was fine. Would I pay to come back here? Not likely. As I mentioned, Prince Court is in the same price range (probably no more than $5 more on seafood night) and the food and service quality there are MUCH better. And no annoying photographers.
(3)
Dextr M.
Thursday evening, all you can eat buffet, snow crabs and a huge fish tank. First off, I'm not a fan of buffets. ( came here to take some out of town family out for dinner ), however this place isn't what it used to be back when I came 2 years ago. I just seem to loose its awesomeness. Service is good. Nothing shady. You get what you pay for. Kamaaina price is before 5:30pm which is $41...regular is $47. Food wise, good but not great. Nothing out of the ordinary. Prime rib and pasta station. Assorted sushi and sashimi . Seafood nage , coconut shrimp , kalbi and chicken just to name a few entrees. Also fruits and cheese . Dessert to name a few were lemon bars, chocolate mousse brownies, tarts and tropical cobbler. Also not to mention soft serve ice cream and chocolate fountain and all there toppings. To me, a typical Hawaiian buffet , nothing amazing. That's why 3 stars. Ambience wise it's a bit more than casual. the fish tank lost choke fishes from my last visit. But it's cool though a lot of people were taking picture still. I will probably not be back unless I am forced to go, but it's koo doe, buffet all you can eat and as long as I'm not paying. Haha Nonetheless still a good place to take fam out for dinner for some grinds!
(3)
Andrew H.
Cool restaurant located in the Pacific Beach Hotel. I thought it was awesome that they have these huge stingrays swimming around as you eat. They have some incredible fish in the tank. I also saw advertisements for a dinner-time show with someone swimming amongst the fish. My girlfriend and I came here for brunch. We had a few bloody mary's which were tasty. We went for the breakfast buffet and caught the tail-end. My favorite items were the Portuguese sausages, omelets, and last but not least, the bacon. Everyone knows this restaurant/hotel as "the one with the aquarium." You should definitely come and check this one out! And trust me, the stingrays are massive.
(4)
Debi V.
We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. The buffet was sooo good! Crab legs, a omelet station, prime rib carving station, various meat dishes and various salads, fruits and desserts. We enjoyed the food and the service given to us by Edmund and Chun was excellent! It's a great place to bring the family!
(5)
Lynnette S.
Had the Buffett Dinner lastnight. Brought My Sister & a brother in Law who came from Kauai & never experienced this awesome restaurant! Called to make reservations & asked the Girl on the phone for a table nearest to the aquarium. She was going to put me on a waiting list. Well, got to talk to Charlie (the Manager) & he took care of it. Seating near the aquarium, 25% off our dinner, VIP Valet parking!! Wow! We had a wonderful dinner. My Sister & Brother in Law just Loved this restaurant & definitely will be back! Eddie was our waiter & He was so awesome ALL night! He was on it! Best service ever! Not to mention the Bus Boy too! Talk about being on it!! Charlie...your Staff is AWESOME!! From when We got there with the Valet who was so ON IT! from the Hostesses when We walked in & sat us right away with a wonderful greeting! Than Eddie & everyone @ the Buffett station. Charlie...Much Mahalo for the VIP service...We will surely be back & will surely keep sending My Hotel Guest to The Oceanirium Restaurant
(5)
Marko C.
Three stars for the Ocenarium! The family went here to celebrate my sister's birthday celebration. She wanted to go here becasue of the crab legs. We got to the restaurant at 5:00 on a Thursday evening for the Kama'aina discount! Upon being seated, I wanted to sit next to the big glass aquarium because I wanted my nephew to enjoy looking at the fish. When we asked the waitress if we could sit closer to the fish, she was very rude and said, "No" then proceeded to walk away - giving us no chance to engage in a conversation about my request. FAIL. We came specifically to this restaurant because we were told that there was going to be three different types of crab legs - Dungeness, Snow, and King. We got to the buffet, and there was only one type of crab offered - snow crab. FAIL. The restaurant offers a nice assortment of local-inspired foods - fresh ahi and marlin sashimi, roast beef, roasted pork, shrimp, etc. They had a wonderful assortment of desserts and appetizers. Overall the food was good, and was what you can expect from a buffet restaurant. The one saving grace behind our visit was that the waiter service was impeccible. Our server was super friendly and constantly was at the table offering drink refreshments, a change of plates, and additional napkins. I don't know if I'd rush back to have dinner here again. Note: Two hour limit on your visit. Food Grade: B+ Service Grade: A+ Hostess Grade: D Worth the Money Grade: B- Overall Impression: B-
(3)
Laci B.
We had a party of 10, 6 of which were kids. We were seated right by the glass & close to the bathrooms. We were happy to pay for the experience. The fish & rays were awesome. We got to see a feeding & oh my goodness, the kids went wild with the mermaid. We had read reviews on the buffet & it definitely exceeding our expectations. We all left stuffed & happy.
(4)
Phil K.
This place is WAY overpriced for the level of quality, and is a little run-down. The food overall was bleh, to ok. It actually felt like I was in a Golden Corral with a huge aquarium and bill. The dining areas were quite filthy, and there was food particulate and dining utensils all over the place. The service was sparse, as it would take forever for our non-smiling non-friendly to even refill our drinks... This to us felt much more like a tourist gimmick than a quality restaurant, which is unfortunate. There are MUCH better restaurants all over Oahu, so please go somewhere better than this!
(2)
Joy C.
I expected more for what i paid but i went there for the crab legs, it satisfied me but the snow crab is a little salty, the mahi is dry the prime rib is so bloody not fond of it, too many employees at the stairs, workers are chatting and they are speaking foreign language fortunately i understand it and its not really nice to talking about customers lol.. Will i go back? Maybe. Forgot to add the Ambiance is nice and the fishes are entertaining, the diver and mermaid its a plus
(3)
Albert F.
I have not been here since my mother passed away, which was over 15 years ago. Ive read all the recent reviews but we decided to try it anyway. Every year we celebrate our annivsary at Pinrce Court but thought the kids would enjoy the giant aquarium, and they did. The food was great, the service also good.
(4)
Cynthia B.
This place is probably getting three stars from me because of the pretty aquarium that we get to eat next to. The feeding of the fish was pretty cool too. But the food was very meh. The selection was really small and I felt like I had way much more carbs than necessary because there was not much else to eat. There was a steak area but I only had a bite, it was just alright. The dessert portion was really big compared to how much actual food they had. But I did not enjoy their dessert much either except for maybe the fruit tart, but I remember it being a bit sweet. Overall, it was just alright, nothing was special about the place except for the aquarium. With that said, the price was much higher than the quality of the food.
(3)
Wendy O.
We just had a fabulous breakfast at The Oceanarium! The Loco Moco and breakfast buffet are divine! Thank you to Edmund for excellent service - you exceeded our expectations! We will come back again to see you. The fish tank is incredibly beautiful and impressive - we love to see the Stingray and the giant Grouper! Cool. Mahalo!
(5)
Julie D.
I grew up going to this restaurant for special occasions. Food is decent for the price you pay. Their main attraction is the humungous aquarium with variety of fish, sharks, and stings rays. You could also see people swimming in the tank acting as mermaids. If you're celebrating a special occasion and would like to greet a special someone sit next to the tank and make a request with the staff. The mermaids swim up to your table and greet you a "happy birthday" or "happy anniversary." They have a sushi, poke, prime rib, crab legs, dessert, etc. The staff is really friendly and attentive. Every time I come to this place, it's filled with many happy tourist. They have a parking garage with validation.
(4)
Jay A.
Had Mothers Day dinner buffet. Food was good, variety of seafood and desserts pasta chef, prime rib. The cost was pricey at $60 for adults, $28 for kids. My kids loved the aquarium, especially the sting rays, no mermaids though. Service was good. Don't know if I'll go back with the price that high.
(3)
Jennifer T.
This once was a very good value with top quality food. Sadly it is not anymore. The kama aina discount went from 25% off to 15% off. Plus the price of the buffet went up by 25% to almost $50.00. For crab that was so dirty and soft I was afraid I was going to get sick from the old, overly salty, frozen defrosted refrozen and re defrosted crab. Plus the snow crab was even worse and served cold:(. Used to be top quality snow crab. I will not be back.
(1)
Chevonne J.
This place is pretty good. Don't let the casino like buffet decor and ambiance fool you. The tables are old and worn but the food and service were great. Crab was delish! So many good choices! They had snow crab, Alaskan king, oysters, shrimp, sushi, prime rib, salads, pastas, soups, veggies, potatoes, countless sides, other proteins like chicken etc, and more than 5 dessert options. There was a tank feeding at 9 and a mermaid show shortly after. Would definitely go again. Not a trendy hot spot but definitely good food.
(4)
Alyssa Y.
My fam love the buffet here! We get treated out by my grandparents once a year! Im not so much of a seafood eater but they have such a variety, it covers you! My fam eats up the crab! I always love the people who are behind the table making the omelet, or cutting the meat, or making the pasta! Theyre friendly, talkative and playful! The aquarium is ginormous and is just beautiful to watch all these different creatures of the sea swim around! They sometimes send scuba divers to feed, be taken photos of, or place a personal happy birthday sign in front of the person who is dining there! Pretty darn cool. Theres a variety of meats, veggies, sushi, snacks, fruit, salads, soups, and ooooh the dessert. Theyre small so I can try many kinds! Love it. They got it all. Pretty good for a buffet.
We eat here often and always greeted with a smile. Excellent service, Oceanarium is a wonderful place for families or couples only. We love the life size aquarium, the food is Aaamazing! Everything that we tried was made the way it suppose to be, like the Crab legs, Prime Rib, Sushi station, Pasta station, freshly baked desserts, Ice cream station. It all was deeelish!!
(4)
Joe D.
The aquarium earned it's only star. Our server was ok. Our bottle of Perrier was good in fact it was the best part of our meal. Every thing pretty much sucked. Oh, wait the potatoes were edible and the tempura was tempura. We didn't expect much. We had to try it.
(1)
Philip K.
UPDATE: My wife is now throwing up following this meal. DO NOT EAT HERE One star for the rays and the Liliko'i lemonade. Zero stars for the food, the service, the sad and depressing mermaid show. There is a reason the price for this terrible buffet is not listed anywhere: it is ludicrously expensive for food that is disappointing at best. We were shocked to see the bill (~$107 for two people). We were hoping for a nice seafood buffet in a place that should effortlessly do great seafood, but instead we got an embarrassing landlocked execution of seafood. You are twenty feet from the ocean and the best you can do is one offering of slimy sashimi and no Ahi tuna? For shame. But in case you really miss Thanksgiving dinner, don't even worry because they have roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Also poorly executed. Do not eat here. Ever.
(1)
Yong X.
I like the environment over there, let a person feel comfortable. I feel generally for food, but on the other side of the delicious fruit. My children over there to play of very happy, because there in the evening have to feed the fish show!^_^^_^
(3)
Rhea Cherie B.
This is one of my favorite buffets, mainly because it's all you can eat crab legs! PROS: +Celebration Message-When the diver goes into the tank to feed the fishes, you can pay them to swim around with a sign for your celebrant. My family brought me here for my birthday and had them do a "Happy Birthday Rhea Cherie" sign for me. It was awesome; she swam right up to our table and left the sign there after she was done. +All you can eat-I usually go back 2 or 3 times just for the crab legs! +Sushi bar, pasta bar, prime rib, soft serve machine w/toppings to choose from, many types of desserts CONS: -Price -a little high but there's a 15% Kamaaina discount -Restaurant gets busy so be sure to make a reservation SERVICE: Overall pretty good. Servers are usually quick and attentive and make sure to take your used plates off your table quickly but because the restaurant gets so busy, sometimes you can't always depend on them to be quick AMBIANCE: Casual but many people are dressed in Aloha attire as a lot of the patrons are tourists. One of the best parts of the restaurant is the huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. There are tons of fishes in the tank including sting rays. VALUE: Although the buffet is a bit pricey, it's definitely worth it. It's all you can eat and they're not serving hotdogs and hamburgers! You get all kinds of seafood, meat and dessert.
(5)
Carolyn P.
Crap- Wow a one word review perfectly sums up this place. We came here so our son could see the mermaid show ( what a joke). The scuba diver was more entertaining than the mermaid. If you want to see a great mermaid show, rent the little mermaid. The food was sub par. The desserts were covered in fruit flies. This was not worth $50 a head.
(2)
Fred B.
Pretty good. A little expensive (i think dinner is $30-40 now...). They have sushi, crab, hot apps, cold apps, carving station, pasta made to order. Only problem is the price, and the fact that there are always fruit flies swarming the sushi...... Reserve a spot next to the aquarium in advance! Its worth it!!!!
(3)
Krista J.
Awesome service.. cool fish tank veiw.. very boring food.. the crab legs were ok, nothing special. Everything else was junk. not a whole lot to chose from. Bad sushi. Over priced for what u get. They also have a time limit to be there. If they put out better food, it would be an awesome place
(3)
Tim G.
I believe this is the most over priced restaurant in Honolulu. The tank is spectacular, but can be viewed for free with the kids from the second floor of the hotel. Food is average at best. Buffet is ok, but too expensive and average quality. They have the nerve to include an 18% tip for serving yourself! Ridiculous!
(1)
Brian T.
This place went down hill after the new management took over. They used to be my favorite place for good crab...But not anymore. Cold crab.... They ran out a couple of times while I was there. Seems like they don't care about the local crowd anymore cause the food sucks!! They don't even have a good selection of hot entrees. Emerson where are you... You need to take over this place and turn it around AGAIN!!!... You had the best food!!!
(1)
Rebekah H.
I went with my family just because we like to try new restaurants as often as possible. The kids love nature, so we made dinner reservations and off we went. There's valet, which is nice. We went down to the restaurant and were seated quickly. The tank was great and the kids were mesmerized. We ordered the kids food (because paying buffet prices for them is a ridiculous waste of money). Then we got our food. The hot food was in covered containers, which was nice. It tasted okay. Not spectacular, but not horrible. They have food cooked to order, which was good. Then I went back for sushi. It looked like it had been out all day. It was sitting on the table with no cooling. The sushi was dried on the edges and room temperature. So, needless to say, the sushi was a no-go. Then dessert (my favorite part of any meal)! The dessert, like the sushi, was sitting out on the tables, no cooling or coverings what-so-ever. I walked over to the table and a swarm of fruit flies lifted off the desserts. They were visible from 5 feet away! I was lucky not to have gotten sick! We promptly left and went to get ice cream down the street. I definitely think they need to brush up on their food sanitation and cool and cover everything if it's going to be out all day. The only thing that saved this from a 1 star review was the service was good, the kids food ordered was good, and the tank kept the kids quiet.
(2)
Lea T.
I used to love coming here with my family growing up! Now days, this place takes top 3 in one of the worst buffets in hawaii!! No variety! Prime rib is really tough & over cooked. Sashimi was so frozen, I couldn't even eat it! Kalbi tasted funky! The crab legs are a hot or miss. Need I say more?! Much rather spend the money else where, instead of this over priced buffet! Even the fish in the tank look sad!!!
(1)
Jo Y.
Oh, how I love CRAB LEGS!!! As CRAB LEGS are expensive, it is always a special treat for me when I get to eat them! And yes, this AYCE buffet has steamed CRAB LEGS - juicy Dungeness CRAB LEGS and sweet huge snow CRAB LEGS! (King CRAB LEGS are also on the buffet on Mondays & Thursdays only, but a friend said that the King CRAB was not as good as the Dungeness and snow CRAB); we were there on a Saturday night.) The Dungeness and snow CRAB LEGS were soooo ono and amazing - juicy, sweet, and succulent! The Dungeness CRAB LEGS were a good size, and the snow CRAB LEGS were larger than the normal-sized legs found in other restaurant buffets. They were so good that instead of eating the rest of the buffet items, the CRAB LEGS made up 98% of my meal; in fact, I had four heaping plates of CRAB LEGS before I gave up! No regrets there! (Tip - we brought our sharp Joyce Chen scissors which easily sliced through the shells as we pulled out the CRAB meat flawlessly and intact!) The buffet items were varied: Salads and pupus - raw oysters, sashimi, shrimp w/ cocktail sauce, tossed veggies, pasta salad, fresh fruits, cheeses, clam chowder, sushi. Entrees - Dungeness and snow CRAB LEGS; prime rib; steamed fish; teriyaki chicken; stir-fried veggies; mussels; seafood risotto; seafood pasta station cooked to order w/ shrimps, scallops, mussels, calamari; and others items I can't remember. (There are different specials daily; the Saturday night specials included shrimp tempura and braised short ribs). Desserts - chocolate fountain w/ strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows; soft serve ice cream with toppings (chocolate and caramel syrups, candy sprinkles, oreos, marshmallows, nuts); pies; mini slices of cakes; parfaits; and almond float. Although my heart was with the CRAB LEGS, I tried to make an effort to taste a few items from the buffet. Most of the items were just so-so, nothing spectacular or memorable. The shrimps in the seafood risotto were mushy; the prime rib was a little tough; and the sushi and mini cakes were not as flavorful as they should be. I liked the clam chowder, however, the minced clams were so tiny. The chocolate fountain-dipped strawberries (some were huge) were good, but a few of the strawberries were moldy, and the cut bananas (with the banana peel on them) were discolored from standing out too long, and they did not look appetizing. I enjoyed the soft-serve ice cream and the almond float to end a great meal of CRAB LEGS. The service was excellent! The attentive staff replenished all the buffet items very quickly, so there were never any empty trays. As the CRAB LEGS were very popular, they were constantly replaced with full trays, and you could take as many as you wanted, knowing that they just came out of the steamer. I took an empty plate back to my table to be used for the empty CRAB LEG shells, but was pleasantly surprised that one was already on the table. The bus help were on the ball, as dirty plates (we had lots of them with CRAB LEG shells) were constantly replaced with clean ones and water/drinks were continually refilled without asking. The atmoshpere and decor were impressive. Our tables were in the back corner next to the 280,000 gallon aquarium. The aquarium made it a pleasant surrounding to dine in. As an added touch, a mermaid will bring out a large sign to wish someone a happy birthday, offer a marriage proposal, or any other message; cost is somewht pricey at $25 (with 12 hours advance notice). Although we were on the far end from the buffet, we enjoyed the privacy. Personally, the aquarium didn't excite me as I've lived here all my life and have seen my share of aquariums, but for children and tourists, it is a mesmerizing experience. The cost of the dinner buffet is pricey - regular price is $44.95 + tax/tip. There's a 25% kamaaina discount, which brings it down to $33.71 + tax/tip, and seating times are only before 5:30 pm or after 8:30 pm; reservations are a must. Complimentary coffee, iced tea, or fruit punch comes with the meal. As self-parking is $5 w/ validation, we self-parked (entrance is on Kuhio Ave.) and did not have any problems finding a space. When we drove out, we noticed that there was no parking attendant. Instead, there was a machine (where the attendant used to be) and from your car, you put in $$ or credit card. There weren't any cars in front of us, so we were able to exit quickly; however, if there were a line of cars, I would imagine that it would be a time-consuming process in using the machine to pay for parking. There is valet parking available (entrance via Liliuokalani Ave.) for $9 + tip, I gave 4 stars because of the superb CRAB LEGS, excellent service, and pleasant atmosphere. The rest of the buffet items could use some improvement. Value wise, you'll love this place only if you're a CRAB LEG eater. I'll certainly be back......as long as they continue to have their quality CRAB LEGS!
(4)
Erika A.
I love this place! I only eat there on Mondays because of their all you can eat crab legs. Yes, I am a fan of crab legs and I am that one annoying person who stands in line waiting for the crab and eats all the crab before you get there. Not only do they have king crab but they also have dungeness crab and snow crab. They also have rib eye steak as well as other delicious items. The best part about this place is their awesome flaming pineapple drinks. They are quite exquisite and filled with yumminess. They also have the amazing fish tank with the sting rays! if you go there at 7pm or 9 pm you can see the mermaid swimming around and also the feeding of the sting rays. I am sure there are other times in which they do this but I have only been there during these times. As far as price goes, its not the cheapest! but if you are like me and eat lots of crab or lots of anything then it's well worth the money. The kids always seem to enjoy going there because of the fish tank. I would say its family friendly. The staff is always very polite and I have never had any issues. Getting there can be a bit difficult if you are not familiar with the area so I recommend being prepared. Make sure you make a reservation to get a table with a view.
(5)
Sarah M.
This place is a hit or miss. When I heard that they had a 3 story aquarium, I couldn't pass up the chance to come here. Next time, I might swing by and take pics but then leave and go elsewhere for dinner. They had a buffet which was around $38 per person and it had virtually everything. Crab legs, prime rib, a seafood pasta bar, sushi, chicken, fruit, salad, soup, a dessert bar...you name it, it was probably there. While they had an impressive selection, the quality was not quite there. I tried a huge assortment of chicken, prime rib, cucumber sushi, green beans, bean sprout salad, pasta salad, carrot cake, coconut cake, and a chocolate fountain. The Hawaiian chicken was tasty - definitely worth getting - as was the cucumber sushi, prime rib, and green beans. Oh, and of course the chocolate fountain. Everything else...I'd definitely leave behind. The bean sprout salad tasted like nothing and the pasta salad was just plain bad. The cakes were unremarkable as well. The layout of the restaurant is also another point of contention. They cram way too many tables into this restaurant. While the space is fairly large, I felt like I was sitting on the family next to me. That, and not all of the tables have a view of the fish tanks which is the main reason for coming here in the first place. I would only come here if you have time to wait for a table by the tanks. Oh, and did I mention this place was packed? All you can eat crab legs? You'd better believe it's crowded although Mike said that they crab legs were cold and tasted like they had been sitting out all day. Otherwise, he was happy with his choices. I always have a complex tipping servers at these places because they do nothing. They tell you to go to the buffet...bring you a drink and then bring your check. They don't even clear the plates, the bussers took ours. I'd definitely skip this place the next time around, but it's a cool experience...I guess.
(2)
H F.
2 weeks ago we made dinner reservations to be at a table next to the aquarium. When we arrived for our friends Birthday dinner, they sat us at a table with no view, though we requested a good table. The manager, was so rude that he actually told us that since the reservation was made with a phone number with an area code other than 808, we would never be seated in a good spot. SERIOUSLY?!?! Then, after we explained that our friends are MILITARY, and we are Hawaii residents he didn't budge, even though there were EMPTY TABLES next to the aquarium! Rude, obnoxious and racist behavior will NOT bring good business! EVER!
(1)
Heidi K.
I love the crab legs! Very clean and well stocked . My husband and I had dinner here a few weeks ago, and I was pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend this restaurant . The service was right on as well. Everyone visiting our island should dine here at least once.
(5)
Ajie P.
Just came home from a crab feast from this beautiful oceanarium dining!! I dont even know how I can start to write a review about dinner because I feel myself entering a food coma lol. Been coming here maybe like 1x every 2 months now and tonight was the best. Great service by our waiter and the best part, FRESH new batch of CRAB LEGS every like 5min. Never had to wait once for crab legs!! Tried their roast beef, OMG melt in your mouth buttteerrr!! Even better..DIP in Aaju... BROKE DA MOUTH!!! 5 of us = $230.36 Good way to end a weekend!
(4)
Rachel Q.
Joe Q. and I sat through a mini-timeshare-esque presentation.. we got some free touristy things.. AND we won a little contest that got us a $25 gift card for the Oceanarium Restaurant.. We decided to check out the lunch buffet.. it was about $16ish bucks a person.. comes with drink.. There wasn't a lot of food.. but the selection was pretty good.. some "Hawaiian" type food.. it wasn't half-bad.. Their dessert bar was full of soo many good pies and goodies.. I had to try them all.. my favorite was the custard pie.. They had a great selection of fruits.. but there were little fruity flies flying in and around it.. that was pretty gross.. but Joe still got some.. he said he dug into the bottom to get the fruit.. They need to watch out for those flies.. other than that.. I was pretty satisfied with the food selections and service.. Oh ya.. and that ginormous aquarium wall was pretty nifty..
(3)
Kara L.
I LOVE this place! My mouth waters just thinking about the variety of fresh, juicy crab legs dipped in warm, buttery deliciousness. Mmmmm. The pasta was okay. The salads, prime rib, sashimi and poke were good. There were other tasty dishes, but the crab legs stole the show! The giant aquarium in the main dining area, along with my yummy cocktail, made the experience even more relaxing and enjoyable. My boyfriend and I had a excellent time. We both like The Oceanarium better than the buffets at the Bellagio and Rio in Las Vegas. Tip: A post-dinner stroll along the beach and down the Waikiki strip is a great way to walk off the "food coma".
(5)
Terry K.
Food- mediocre so I would give them 3 stars Service and the Aquarium- Service for our group (12 of us) was terrific. We had a table looking into the Aquarium... Ok- if you love seafood- crab legs and fresh oysters, this is the place to go. I am not a buffet person but this place was worth my trying.... Would I go again? Yep!
(4)
Justine L.
Save your money, because the food sucks and the selection is small. I wouldn't have minded paying 45 for a buffet in Hawaii except I can't think of one thing I liked and my boyfriend and I couldn't even eat seafood after we hot back home because this place was so bad. It could be that we came an hour before clsing but still the section was pretty small. The only reason I gave this place an extra star was because we sat right next the the mermaid show thing- that was pretty boring too but it looked nice.
(2)
Vic C.
This restaurant is one of the best places to go if you are in Oahu... it is about $31 for dinner (that comes with fancy things such as lobster tail, oyster rockefeller, prime rib, etc.) but if you walk into the hotel and go to the lobby, you can just pick up one of the 25% off coupons... so then it would only be around $23 per person. It is well worth it. There is this aquarium in the restaurant and it is really neat to eat when they have their feeding time. There is an actual person who swims in the tank and feeds all the fishes... what a show to see! The service is fantastic and our server was very nice! This place is a great place for your money and should not be missed!
(5)
Grace L.
This is definitely a first for me. The first time to dine alongside a kajillion gallon aquarium tank filled with manta rays and exotic fish! Check out my pics...it was at least two stories tall! The buffet was a nice spread. They served hot main dishes that looked delish, but my attention was solely directed on a few things: King crab legs, raw oysters on the half shell, ahi poke, salmon sashimi, and cocktail shrimp! Yes, this was all you can eat, so I did what anyone in my position would've done: piled plate after plate with these seafood delectables! After two plates worth of seafood, I had a hankering for meat. Surf and turf in my tummy, anyone? So I headed over to the prime rib station and got the most beautiful cut I've seen coming from a buffet. With horseradish cream on the side, each and every bite from this perfectly pink (and slightly bloody -- just how I like it) flesh was heavenly. To supplement this (as if this hunky piece of meat needed supplementing,) I had the clam chowder, which was probably the only miss of the night. Too thick and salty, I couldn't even swallow it. Mid-meal, I was interrupted by what I thought was a fish tapping the glass of the aquarium. I looked up and found a scuba diver! He was waving to me! He pointed to my food. I interpreted this as, "Are you enjoying the food?" I gave a thumbs up. He then continued to feed the pretty fish. Of course, I made sure to make room for dessert because the first thing that caught my eye as I was walking in was.....the CHOCOLATE FONDUE FOUNTAIN! Score! Chocolate covered cantaloupe and pineapple and strawberries galore. Aside from the chocolate galore, I had the mango cheesecake, which was nice and creamy. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at this establishment. The fishies make for great after dinner entertainment. Worth visiting if you're in the Waikiki area.
(4)
Coreen L.
I recently helped to coordinate a 1st birthday party here and have to send a shout out to the staff and crew for a wonderfully attentive experience the day of the event. Food was delicious and plentiful, and the service was excellent. The family and their guests really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and overall ambiance. Of course, everyone loved the up close viewing of the ocean life too - especially the guest of honor!! A few days earlier, Charlie (manager), who helped us hammer out all the little details, was excellent and absolutely a plus to the team there. HOWEVER, I must note, that the GM of the restaurant, Robert W. was a REAL disappointment!! I can't imagine a worse leader and definite deterrent for anyone considering having a party here (unless they were lucky enough to have someone else help them). He was rude, curt, unaccommodating to even the smallest request and most of all no aloha spirit!! Our party was set to start at 11.00 am to which we were told we couldn't set up till 10.45 - not the greatest window of time but doable. That day, under Robert's guidance, we were not let in to our area till 10.55 and as you can imagine, party guest had already arrived as we scrambled feverishly to place center pieces and favors for 85 people!! The worst part, is that it disrupted the WHOLE restaurant, including people who weren't here to attend our party, but there just trying to enjoy the restaurant. His attitude and decisions are bad for the Oceanarium!! It really seems like he doesn't even like his job!
(3)
Pie C.
know that there are probably a ton of other place that are more luxurious and romantic than Oceanarium, but I give this place a 5 star because not only does the food taste so so so good The staffs are very helpful, friendly and every time I take my family and friends here I never get disappointed. The place is not huge but the ambiance is relaxing, the huge aquarium located at the center is so amusing, I love looking at the fishes and the stingray while eating my freshly cooked sea food pasta. OH! Yes they have a chef that is super entertaining and is always ready to cook for you. I usually get the shrimp scalloped alfredo pasta and I love it, it's so good and the shrimp and scallops are so fresh. Then I camp on their chocolate fondue fountain hehe~ my gosh those are to die for. They recently added an ice cream station, which sadly only serve vanilla but It's alright because you can just put whatever topping that they have. This place is perfect for any occasion and will be enjoyed by anyone. Also if you want to make a certain event extra special you can reserve a special greeting dive, but you have to let them know I think 4 days in advance so that they can call a diver and make the bday sign for you... every Friday at 9pm they also do a mermaid swim.
(5)
eric e.
its just an alright buffet. For the price its better to get less serving and more quality at a normal restaurant. Nothing really stood out here.
(2)
Eduardo R.
We went here for our rehearsal dinner before our wedding. My dad loves this place and highly recommended it. They have a massive dinner buffet that was pretty good. I ate a lot of tempura and sampled many of the dishes. Rarely do I ever go to an all you can crab legs place, but I really indulged this time. Not only do they have king crab, they have dungeness crab. I ate a lot of both! They also have a woman jump into the aquarium dressed as a mermaid, that swims around. Unfortunately, my niece fell asleep before this happened and slept through the whole event.
(3)
Jake A.
Buffet good, but not great. The Good Garlic mashed potatoes Sushi station Dessert station with chocolate fountain Steamed vegetables Salad bar Prime rib Crab claws The bad and ugly Lobster claws so overcooked, they are inedible. Steak like shoe leather, well, well done. Coffee, horrible Lobster bisque, weak, flavorless. We got there 10 minutes after they opened, so there is no excuse for overcooked food. And at $41 per person, I want all the food to be fresh and cooked properly.
(3)
Lily V.
I was visiting waikiki with my mother and was really in the mood for a variety of things. We decided a buffet would be fun. We dressed up a little thinking it was fancy, but it isnt. The food was delicious. The fruit was so fresh! We had crab legs which were a little too salty, but still yummy. The prime rib was cooked to perfection. It was also a lot of fun to see the aquarium. The diver comes(and maybe a mermaid) and play with the fish. There were some really cool sting rays. They looked sooo friendly. It looked like a little family of 3. I had a great experience and look forward to returning. They do not always accept reservations so it is good to show up early or expect to wait a little. So, for about $40 a person, the oceanarium is a very nice choice for a buffet dinner.
(4)
Katie B.
The wait staff was GREAT! I need to say that to be fair. They were polite and kept our drinks full. The guy who cooks the pasta was nice. The crab legs were dry and cold, SO VERY disappointing. We spent $200 for our family to eat there, and were seated at the table furthest from the fish tanks. But that really wasnt the greatest disappointment, it was that the food was bland. I didnt try the sushi, but my teenage daughter did say it was good. The desert options were good, but really $50 a plate is too much for bland food and a few deserts. Wont go back.
(2)
Shireen G.
I'm convinced my family hates me. Why? I've been forced to come here on multiple occasions and I was even "treated" to brunch here for my birthday. I hate coming here. If you're not big on seafood, then you're SOL. There are a few non-seafood items, a salty prime rib and some dry chicken. Or you can do what I do and head straight for the cheese and crackers. Or the bread. The seating is ridiculous. The last time my family came here, we were seated almost back to back with the group next to us. If the food was decent, maybe I could forgive having to practically sit in the lap of the other group. The desserts don't taste as good as they look and that's a shame. The almond float is your best bet, just watch out for those bugs flying around. Speaking of those bugs, they're also near the sushi. I quit eating the sushi after I saw that. The one star is actually for the soft serve. Then again, you have to really suck if you screw that up. In short, don't come here if you absolutely don't have to. Me? I'm moving in a few months.... hopefully my family won't have my farewell dinner here.
(1)
Kathaleya W.
Crab legs!!!!
(5)
Lee Ann H.
Way to expensive! The aquarium was ok but it costs more to sit by the aquarium and it costs more to have soda. the food was only ok but to pay more than $300 for 9 people to eat is outrageous. The prices were not clearly posted anywhere we were astonished that it was over $300 we had 5 adults and 4 kids. Way not worth the price. For this price we could have gone to Buca's and probably spent less and enjoyed the way more.
(2)
Peter R.
Alaskan King Crab on Mondays! Quality and size of these were not bad considering it's a buffet. The sashimi was also decent for a buffet, as was the prime rib. Can't comment on anything else because I didn't waste my time or stomach space for anything else! The giant floor to ceiling aquarium had tons of cool fish, sharks and rays and was a nice change of pace for a view because I had been staring at the ocean most of the day.
(3)
A D.
I usually cant go to a place that does "all you can eat" because I cant eat enough to get my moneys worth. $45 a person is alot, but this time for dinner....It was worth it! I think my husband and I ate about 25 crab legs :). The best crab. He raved about the prime rib. All the food was FRESH. The desserts were sooo good. The staff was on top of everything. As soon as we finished they cleaned the table and brought new plates and filled our water serveral times.
(5)
Jennifer H.
The buffet was over priced for the selection of food. In fact the food was kind of gross. The tank in the middle was pretty but the water was not clear and the mermaid only does a few shows. We had reservations and were seated quickly but they sat us by the server door....why would you even put a table there?!?!?! I would give it one star but I didn't get food poisioning so I guess it is okay but I would never go back or recommend anyone else waste $50.00 here ..... I think dare I say it... Golden Corral has a better buffet! OUCH!
(2)
Vanessa C.
Place was not that great. Food was not worth the price at all. The only thing that was good was the 15 mins of seeing the mermaid show. Was not satisfied with this place at all. The crab legs were to salty, they had no lobster, no shrimp, no oysters, and the list goes on. My recommendation go somewhere else for seafood.
(1)
Dani S.
I stumpled upon this place one nite while wandering aimlessly through Waikiki with my bladder about to burst and unable to find a public restroom (yeah yeah, I shouldn't have drank that much). The staff here was really sweet and let me use their facilities. +1 star. Then I caught a glimpse of the gaint 2 story high aquarium with this huge manta ray and dang was I impressed. +1 star The following day, we decided to come back to have breakie. The food was ok, but the portions were huge. +1 star The service staff was attentive and very nice. +1 star.
(4)
Joe Q.
The place has a really nice decor. Nice beautiful aquarium to enjoy your food. However, the buffet does not hold up to the atmosphere. My wife and I had the lunch buffet and the cool thing is that you can either choose circle plates or square bento boxes to serve yourself. The selection of meats were limited to maybe 4 choices and mediocre at best. The desserts consisted mostly of pies and some sort of red bean concoction at the edge of the table and a fruit salad on the other side. The big no-no from me is that there were tiny flies roaming around the fruit salad and fruit selections in the salad bar. That can't be good. If this really bugs you, check out the buffet before you sit and pay.
(3)
Derek N.
Oceanarium is one of the places that my family goes to for special occasions; we're about as regular customers as people can be without being ridiculously rich. We went for a family birthday, and apparently it was also St. Patrick's Day. I don't care for crab (I much prefer lobster) so the crab doesn't impress me. What does impress me, however, is the prime rib, which is consistently good. It's flavorful, it's fatty, and it's all you can eat; I couldn't and don't ask for much more. Now, as the prime rib is most of what I eat here, it's generally the reason I give this place such a high rating, but today, it's part of what ruined the experience for me. The Asian gentleman that was cutting the prime rib was stingy. This is what this really boils down to, and that's no way to treat customers who are paying for a premium buffet, can we agree on that? I had a few slices of prime rib that were good; I always ask for rare because I like my prime rib rare. The slices were a little thin, but I figured it would be fine; I can just go back for more, even though I know I could easily eat slices three times as thick. Now one of the times I went back for more, the guy had one leftover slice from the old slab, and the new slab. The leftover slice was well done, and I don't like well done (less flavor, tougher texture) so I asked him if he had anything rare. The polite thing for him to do would be to cut into the new slab, right? This is not what he did at all. He instead tried, rather aggressively, to sell me on the old piece. My "beef" (pun intended) with the lone slice was not that it was older, it was that it was well done. I inquired about the new slab and he said "No, that's all well done." This went back and forth for a few times, and I was like whatever, I'll take it. Then I stepped five feet to the left to get some pasta, which was just alright. But while waiting for the pasta, the next guy to get prime rib got a well done piece right from the end. Why couldn't that guy have gotten the slice I got and I got the one I wanted? People are going to want rare and well done, why not make them all happy? The kicker? The very next guy after that asked for a rare and got it without resistance. None at all. The server cut right into the middle of the slab, revealing a pretty rare cut. My slice on the other hand was pretty inedible and killed my appetite. Previously I've never really had any problems with this place. However, the only good thing about eating here, for me, was ruined by this jerk who wasn't fit to bus tables. Some of the waiters here are VERY friendly, why not let them slice the prime rib? Is ruining the one joy I get from this place enough for a one star review? Probably, given the price. But there's more. There was no nigiri sushi out on the buffet until we were about 2/3s done with our meal; if you're going to include it, why not have it out there when people are actually eating dinner? Also, with it being St. Patty's Day, they had corned beef and cabbage, but it was terrible; totally bland, but somehow still greasy and fatty. I don't know if my idea of good corned beef only exists in my father's kitchen, but good corned beef is bursting with flavor to the extent that you don't have to drown it in mustard.
(1)
Cara K.
It's been years since I've dined at the Pacific Beach Hotel. I was pleasantly surprised with the wide variety of food at Oceanrium's buffet! There was definitely something there for everyone. The crab legs were delicious! I also liked the pasta station. The fresh fruit and desserts were a nice close to a wonderful meal. The staff was pleasant and always kept the buffet well stocked. As good as it was, the $50 per person price tag was a little steep for my pocketbook.
(4)
Christine S.
I ate here with my family last night for my birthday and made reservations online. Also, left a comment that I'd be celebrating my birthday there so if they could seat is near the aquarium. Upon arrival they seated us near the aquarium but in between the two viewing glasses so we couldn't see very much but the wall. The food selection wasn't very good and the king crab legs were super salty. It was just too overpriced. I also thought I'd be acknowledged since I left that comment when I made the reservation, but nothing! So it was nothing special. Then when I asked for the bill, I noticed that someone handwritten the tip ($40). I know we had a party of six but I thought that would be on the printed receipt. So did someone just decide to write down what they wanted as for the tip? Anyway, I don't know if I would come back here again.
(2)
Megan F.
The snow crab legs are great, the king crabs are not! Order bottled beer, not cocktails, because they can't water that down. Overall, I think it's a decent value, if you come hungry.
(3)
Ashley H.
Horrible, I'm now very depressed that I spent the money I did here. Went for the crab legs and they were cold, mushy, soggy and not a great flavor. So overpriced, extremely crowded, and skimpy selection. I'm not very hard to please, I'm far from a picky person and I never write bad reviews, but this was so bad I have to let others know. Save your money, I'd rather eat fast food than here!!
(1)
TK T.
Once was enough. Pos: Great big portions of crab and thats it. Aquarium? What aquarium? It was there but I didn't pay attention to it. Still kinda cool so its a pro. Service was very fast. Almost psychic too. Cons: Over priced! (I meant it...the "!") Small variety of food Long wait to get in so make a reservation Cramped dinning space If you must go for that "at least once" satisfaction then go...just keep in mind the above.
(2)
Jason L.
Not great. Highlight item being their king and snow crab legs with latter being quite average and former was too salty with the shell very soft/stringy and hard to manage. Rest of menu was also sub par in taste (prime rib was so tough and Maui ribs were too chewy). Aquarium and the "show" were a nice (but subtle) distraction but our table of 8 had a terrible view with a large pillar in our sight line. On the plus side there was good variety for side items, desserts and mains, so likely you can find something to fill up on but for an overpriced sub-par buffet I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(2)
Melessa V.
The Buffet had AMAZING choices and changes daily (so be sure to check their website). Although it's a Buffet, the staff provides superb service in accommodating to your dining needs. I will definitely recommend this place to my out of town family and friends!
(5)
Richie I.
We came here for Mother's day, and again on Fathers Day. We love the atmosphere and the buffet they offer here, but the reason for the 5* star rating was for the awesome service Anson, and Eddie gave us. I mean, c'mon people. We can easily get these same foods at other places, but only get one shot for having return customers like us, based on the service that was offered each time we came. Will definitely be back for sure. Mahalo for a memorable dining experience Anson and Eddie. Aloha.
(5)
Jack R.
For what you pay for this place the food was completely subpar, ive seen much better buffet places that are just a fraction the cost and twice as much selection. the food was all old too at the time we went. The only thing this place has going for it was the massive aquarium, even then it needs a cleaning, the water was murky and a brownish green tint. If yelp would let you rate based on multiple things the waitstaff deserves 5 stars, attentive, accomidating, friendly, and excellent. My wife wanted to meet some friends who were visiting from Japan, they seemed ok with the place, but i felt completely let down due to all the advertised hype in the tour guide books, i shoulda known better as a local to avoid tourist traps in waikiki. Of note, the prime rib was actually pretty good.
(2)
Val B.
I liked it. I loved the seafood. Did spend $37 / person. It included tea, coffee, or juice. We got all three. I didn't need a reservation and were seated right away. We went on Sunday morning around 11 AM. My fav attraction was hanging with family, the staff, and the diver feeding the fishies. It was so nice to see tourists and local people. People celebrate tons of events. Birthdays. Etc.
(5)
Brenda H.
So me and the parents went here tonight and had dinner with family. This place is kinda weird when you first enter. First of all, the hotel creeped me out. Its "THAT" hotel you stay at when you are a starving student and you want to hang out with your homies and go to hawaii. But i shouldn't be quick to judge, and this is NOT a review on Pacific Beach Hotel. Back to Oceanarium. Well, since I was with my father (who moves fairly slow) it was a challenge to go to the restaurant due to the stairs from the main lobby. After getting to the restaurant, i went to get food for my dad. They had a good selection of food. My dad is pretty easy. A plate full of snow crab legs and local pineapple...and the guy was happy. Now for the VEGAN..... surprisingly, they had a good selection of food for me! I had an avocado nigiri, hijiki salad, pineapple, watermelon, honeydew, cantelope, pasta + marinara sauce. SUPER YUM!! I did find a little fly in my fruit. I wasn't wigged out, but again.... it was a buffet. Anywhoo.... eh, a-ok....
(3)
Annie L.
Oceanarium is an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet located inside the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki. The focal point of the restaurant is the giant aquarium which houses a wide array of exotic species of fish. The aquarium is so large, you can see the scuba diver dive in to feed the fish, which they did while we were dining there. It was almost like a show. They can also arrange for proposals, where the diver will hold up a "will you marry me" sign for those who want to propose in style. The seafood they offer is fresh, and the ahi poke was very flavorful and fresh. The crab legs were plentiful, and prime rib was pretty tasty. The place is clean and large. There's also an impressive assortment of desserts (my favorite part). Prices can be a bit steep, but they offer a coupon in one of those tourist magazines in the magazine kiosks on the street that offers a bit of discount off the bill. After a large meal, you can always walk off some of the food by walking around Kalakaua Ave and enjoy the lively buzz the city has to offer.
(4)
James V.
Food was ok. They had plenty of it. If you don't expect a top of the line menu you'll be alright.
(3)
Nitti L.
This is a busy restaurant, pricey, but not that good; very good service however. Food court was small; not enough to choose for, but they do have many different dessert. When we were there, two kids had a birthday party. After waiters sing them birthday song, a diver in the big fish tank emerged from the bottom with two Happy Birthday signs, each of them had a name on it; that was cute. Later, the diver swam with a school of fish a little and left. I think they need to provide more dishes to meet the price they charged.
(3)
Dodie S.
For paying $41.00, eat only the crab (snow, king and dungeness), oysters were good, and the sushi & sashimi. Prime rib was delicious too. The sides were not tasty at all. The potato salad had way too much mayo. The garlic mash potatoes were way to pasty like when you over beat/mix it. Cauliflower tasted funny. Fresh salad is the way to go. Deserts were ok. The 9pm mermaid show was treat. They need to put more colorful fish in the tank, like some blue uhu, menpachi, mahi-mahi.... LOL. Be sure you're hungry when you go to eat crab!
(3)
Lyn L.
Okay this is what I have to say my experience at this restaurant was very awful. I made reservations month in advance for a party of 13 on the day of ny birthday. On my way to The Oceanarium my sister called to add onto the reservation that we had, come to find out the person who I spoked to I the phone that took my reservations put ONLY for two people. (Really?! Clearly I said for 13 people, to make it clear i also asked the hostess on how much per head was going to cost me she stated $30) but anyways on my way there while my sister was talking the the manger on the phone. The manager had the audacity to question how long I was going to be there and how soon? (Manager was planning on leaving upon my arrival) luckily I got there sooner to talk to him. The manager wasn't nice nor apologized for the inconvenient situation, he just offered of us a place to sit cause we just arrived there. But I have more our waiter was very nice but at the end he end up double charging my card in a different amount total. (First he told me that my card didn't go thru, second he charged me card again it went thru). Let me feeling not to ever come to this place again. Very disappointed it turned my birthday... my day BAD.
(1)
Erica Y.
While on Oahu, we went to several buffets...the Oceanarium was hands down the best. We went on a Tuesday night with family for the all you can eat crab night and we were impressed. We LOVED the crab - king, dungeoness, snow! The crab was the best we had during our trip to Hawaii, it was fresh, moisture, not- salty, and they kept bringing out fresh buckets of crab. The best part was my husband's cousin's getting to see the diver feed the fish. It was a really fun and entertaining evening. You can park at the hotel and get it validated by the Oceanarium - parking free for three hours.
(5)
Kirk P.
The quality of this place has really gone down in recent months. They now serve their crab legs colds, chilled on ice which is very disappointing. This place used to be top-quality but we don't like it here anymore.
(2)
Lily B.
My sister and her family were visiting last month... so after a long day at the beach we all went to dinner at the Oceanarium for the all you can eat seafood buffet. We had 10 people in our party and making a reservation was pretty easy. BIG fish! yelp.com/user_local_phot… We were seated promptly near the huge tank. The kids enjoyed seeing all of the fish and the 'mermaid' swim by. While we were dining, a guy (re)proposed to his wife and the sign said "will you marry me again and grow old with me"... how sweet!!! Everyone started clapping. :) We dined on a Thursday evening. They had king crab, snow crab, and dungeness crab. They also had a variety of sushi/sashimi/poke, salads (greens and mac salad), breads and cheese, soup, and hot items such as teriyaki chicken, roast pork, baked salmon, roasted potatoes, prime rib, and a few other items I can't recall. There was also a seafood pasta station. There was a decent selection of food available. King crab is by far my favorite, BUT, I must admit, the SNOW crab outshined the king crab tonight! The snow crab legs were LARGE, and the meat was pulled out EASILY. The meat itself was JUICY and SWEET (no butter needed believe it or not!) yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Ohhhhh yum! yelp.com/user_local_phot… We had 2 servers and they were ON IT. Our plates were cleared away in a timely manner and our drinks were refilled promptly. My 13 year old nephew sipped the last of his Sprite and was about to set it down when the waiter asked him if he wanted a refill. Shoulda seen my nephews face... lol he was like "they're fast!" The prompt service was greatly appreciated... sometimes wait staff will 'slack off' because they know they're getting an automatic gratuity (due to the party size) but this was definitely not the case when we dined. We had exceptional sevice! We received a kama'aina discount for us which is 25% off the regular price, so that's a deal! My sister and brother in law enjoyed it so much, we returned the following week (just us adults, heehee) and enjoyed more snow crab legs. They had garlic mashed potatoes (yum) as well as new york steak with mushrooms (which was delicious!) and a teppanyaki station with garlic shrimp (yum)... and this was on a Wednesday night, so the menu changes daily. Desserts are not bad. I like the almond float (boring I know!), and they also have soft serve vanilla ice cream (with a variety of toppings) as well as various cakes/pies/cheesecakes/cookies/etc. OOH! They also have a chocolate fountain where you can dip strawberries, bananas, or marshmellows. Parking is $3 after validation. Each additional hour is $2. Clean restrooms and very nice staff! Food is replenished quickly. For $33 after kama'aina discount, you can't beat it! (FYI, you must be seated BEFORE 5:30PM or after 8:30PM for the discount.)
(5)
Carol Y.
Very tourist attraction since you just go there for the aquarium BUT awesome FOOD and SERVICE best snow crabs i ever had very good quality also the prime rib was really good and tender too. the meat practically melted in my mouth but the snow crabs was the best. omg i want more!!
(4)
Trisha G.
One of my favorite buffets in Oahu. There are some places that are better, but for the price this is one of the best. Located in the Pacific Beach Hotel, there's plenty of parking. There are some cute things that they do for special occasions in the aquarium, including having someone dive in next to your table to deliver a happy birthday sign. Best to note that it's not worth it unless there's crab legs on that day. Make sure it's being served when you make reservations (which is highly suggested, since every time that I've gone, it's been busy) I've gone to this buffet with a bunch of young kids. Not sure on the pricing, but it's kid friendly enough, with enough space for high chairs. With the aquarium, it makes the kiddos happy and occupied during the meal.
(4)
Henry C.
The first reservation operator was extremely rude and has problem hearing!The second one was courteous, clear and precise. Memo, the waiter's service was great! Good selection on food!
(4)
Edie S.
Here on vacation and my son found this restaurant online, and wanted to "take" me here for my birthday (he's 12, so I'm still paying). The aquarium was cool. The restaurant itself looked like it's seen better days. It needs paint, some repairs, new furniture - it was just dingy. The service wasn't great, either. We had to pile our used plates at an empty seat, even though half the tables weren't occupied, and I had to hunt down the waiter for the check! The seafood was good, but the non-seafood items were ... not. I expected the buffet to be bigger for the price. Especially disappointing was the dessert buffet; the desserts looked tasty, but they weren't anything special. Definitely didn't feel like I got my money's worth. The only reason this got 3 stars is that my son was very proud of his choice for my birthday. Won't recommend this to friends who will be visit ion Oahu in August.
(3)
Heather K.
I'm not really a fan of buffets, but this place is one that I have come to for years and for good reason! This is another buffet that my grandmother, used to love coming too (she didn't get out of Kailua much the older she got - so when we would visit it was a food/buffet frenzy! Holy okole!!!!). They have a plethora of delicious choices, but I always go for the steamed crab legs, tempura shrimp and all the ahi poke and shashimi my belly can handle. For the amount of fresh fish that they offer, I think this one of the most reasonably priced buffets on Waikiki at $29.99 per person.
(5)
Mich S.
Me and my girlfriends had a Christmas party here. The food is awesome, our server Tony totally catered to all our needs. The crab never ran out and it was steaming hot! It was a busy, Saturday night and all the food never ran out. We all were surprise. The mermaids came out they were stunning swimming around waving to everyone the bonus.. We mention to our server Tony. Our occasion and Wow! Boom! there one of the mermaids came by our side. Put on a sign said: Merry Christmas to all of you! That just melted all our hearts ^-^. definitely coming back, this time with my ohanas.
(5)
Bryan W.
Can't say anything good so far. The service was horrible and the staff was extremely rude. The scenery was the only thing good. On my 2 week trip this was the worst dinner we had.
(1)
Boosted C.
I don't know what happened to the food here. It was better before. Tastier. The last 3 times we went here, it has gotten worse and the price almost doubled. It's not worth the price you pay. The Prince Court has better food, nice atmosphere and service. Price isn't much different now that Oceanarium raised their price again.
(2)
Joanna Y.
Crab leg lovers!!! This is the best spot and best deal for crab legs in Hawaii!!! No joke! They have fresh snow crab legs everyday, which are huge meaty legs that are easy to eat/crack... At $40/person or kamaaina discount $35/person this is a really great deal. I've never seen so many crab legs this size and at this price anywhere else in Hawaii. Other honorable mentions are the clam chowder (so rich and tasty), the seafood pasta station serving up marinara or white clam sauce spagetti, the soft serve ice cream (McDonald's quality with toppings such as mochi, marshmallows, crushed Oreos/nuts/sprinkles/etc), and the chocolate fountain. That's all I eat at the Oceanarium, literally. I would give 5 stars but I had to dock a star because the rest of the food is pretty mediocre. The sashimi is ok, salads ok, other main entrees ok, desserts ok. Nothing to woot about. But if you are a crab lover like me, then you will definitely enjoy this place!
(4)
Jared O.
We went in at 8am for breakfast and were greeted by line of happy hosts and seated at our table. It took about 5-10 mins for a server to come give us water or offer us coffee. He pushed the "kona coffee special" on us so hard we would have felt rude to say no. It was not the greatest restaurant experience and ended in food poisoning. So for the first 3 days of my honeymoon I was drained, tired and angry. The food was overpriced, we ordered 2 omelettes and ended up paying $60 ($7 tip included). The next morning we walked 3 blocks to another place and spent $6 for two sandwiches and 2 beverages and this food was better than the oceanarium. The drawing factor of this place is the 3 story aquarium that they fill with a plethora of fish and 2 sting rays. You can also pay a scuba diver to dive down and hold a sign to wish someone a happy b-day/ anniversary or proposal. It's a fun experience for a one time thing, but hardly worth the money.
(3)
Jennifer A.
I would not recommend this restaurant. Desert suck! They need to fire whoever makes those desert. Have to stand in line to get my waffles. Food was cold....the only good this is their crab legs. Not worth it....
(1)
Jennifer K.
I have been coming here for every birthday for 4 years. Being a college student on a budget, a $50 dinner is a rarity, but when I splurged, it was at the Oceanarium. They would sing Happy Birthday and give me a buy one get one free coupon for next time, so I could always count on going back soon after with friends who couldn't make the actual birthday party. This has been the ritual for 4 years. But they changed all that. There's some new hotshot from New York running the place. Even the servers and manager talk shit about the new owners. The server asked me to talk to the manager about my dissatisfaction. The mgr said the owners just don't care about the locals. They are there for the tourists, so business isn't suffering just because they disappoint some of us that live on Oahu. I like the aquarium, but it's not that cool. The mermaid is ok, but I have mermaid friends and don't need to pay exorbitant prices to see one swim uncomfortably in a nasty tank while feeding lettuce to the fish. If you want mermaids, check out Mermaids of Hawaii. If you want fish, go snorkeling at Electric Beach. Changes for the worse: They got rid of some of the food, notably the bread setup and many entrees, and they no longer give a coupon on your birthday. I sure wish I had known that before I went! I would have gone somewhere else. At least I was able to enjoy the meal before being let down, but it made the already crappy desserts taste worse. They also raised the price $5 and lowered the Kama'aina rate from 25% to 15%. It's nice that they have the discount, but it's only from 8:30 pm to close, so you get the shit food leftover from the rush! I will no longer return for my birthday to the Oceanarium, and neither should you. Only come here knowing you are spending $50 to eat as much crab & prime rib as you can.
(2)
Humble B.
Recommend making reservations. The restaurant was packed. Tables crammed. Not a "romantic" atmosphere! Food was delish... the macadamia Mahi & King crab legs were very good! The waiter was very attentive. After being seated you are told you have only an hour an a half to eat. So, there ain't much time for socializing! It's in and out! A photographer is available to capture your special occasion but it will cost you... $20 a picture!
(4)
Nate S.
This is a generous 3... It had been 8 years since I last visited this mouth watering sounding buffet. I will pay $50 any day of the week for all you can eat king crab. The problem is, this King Crab is salty, less tasteful and much more scrawny than the King Crab I'm use to getting. I still managed to eat a family of crabs, but It was more work than enjoyment. The prime rib was surprisingly tasty, although a "medium" done prime rib was a little overcooked for my liking. If you are starving and want to stuff yourself for $50, this is the place. If you want to say you enjoyed the meal then you may want to head elsewhere.
Not bad, somethings i didnt like some of the sushi, probably because the sushi had too much vinegar. i probably only liked the omelette station.
(2)
Brandon Y.
As a young one, I loved coming to the Oceanarium for breakfast buffet - dining next to the large aquarium/oceanarium, being able to choose between an American and Japanese breakfast, and having my family pay for it all (lol). During my recent visit, I realized that although I still hold the first two near and dear to me, finding out that it costs $26/person came as a bit of a shock to me. For a breakfast buffet, their American food selection is average (eggs, bacon, potatoes, fruit, muffins, breads, cereals, etc) and the only thing that really stood out was the portuguese sausage. Japanese food included miso soup, yudofu, curry, saba (mackerel), and nasu (eggplant). Service was nice, though. It felt like the waiters were coming by quite frequently to make sure everything was okay, and to refill drinks/take plates away. Their juices are excellent - pineapple is refereshing, and I even had the waiter mix pineapple and guava juice together - ultimatejuiceWIN. Overall, I'd go for the experience and if you're really a fan of both American and Japanese foods for breakfast. Otherwise, the cost is a bit high for a breakfast buffet for me...but it really made me grateful of when I was being covered for meals by my family back in the day ;)
(3)
Robert W.
Thought it would be better than the average place. Food was OK, service was excellent.
(3)
Anna K.
I refer to my mother & her sisters as the golden girls, I include the sister in law too because she's a bit of a whore like Blanche was, just sayin. This is the golden girls favorite buffet ever since Shogun closed :( So for family functions we usually end up here 3-4 times a year. It's not the best but it's pretty decent. I dont get excited for it like yay were going to Ocenarium! It's more of a well atleast they have prime rib type of yayness. Shogun was also located in this hotel so it always brings back memories whenever we are here .I loooooooved Shogun, the food was excellent plus it was primarily Japanese & i love Japanese food. Ocenarium is not even close to the awesomeness of what Shogun was, but it's still good. I think I'm just extremely bias in my opinion of the place.The atmosphere to the restaurant is nice, the golden girls & kids love it. Partially due to the huge three story aquarium the restaurant is half surrounded by. It's cool to look at but in all reality after a few mins of seeing it , i could care less.Perhaps it would be more thrilling for first timers and tourists but I've seen it a thousand times so it's not a big enjoyment. Plus its hard for me to eat sushi while watching fish swim by, it's like watching baby chicks play in front of you while your snacking on chicken nuggets.It just doesnt work for me. I only eat a select few things here because I dont care for most of the items they serve. *Prime Rib- Most times it's good sometimes its really dry. Do not expect 5 star quality on a 3 star budget, it's decent but nothing spectacular. The line can be a nuance because when they are busy the same guy that's running the pasta station is also carving the prime rib. *Pasta station- They cook pasta to order, you pick the type of pasta/sauce & ingredients and they prepare to your liking.I rarely get the pasta because the lines are usually long and move slow. But on the occasions that I have gotten it, it was really good. *Tempura- This is a no fail always good thing about this place. The Tempura is great, no complaints what so ever. *Salad bar- The basic tossed salad & broccoli slaw is the only things I like off the salad bar. The fruits are ok but most times they are sour. *Sushi- The sushi is not the greatest, i can go to kozo and get better sushi.It's edible but pre pared in advance & it tastes that way. *Crab legs- The crab legs are one of the main reasons the golden's pick this place, idk why they all eat like birds so 3 crab legs tops and the golden's are done.The crab is good but i need to be motivated to eat them. Usually we Jedi mind trick my cousin's husband in to shelling them for us. You gotta say things like oh i suck at this and your such a champ, I wish i could be like you. Next thing you know the guy is your personal crab sheller lol. He is catching on so now he doesnt sit anywhere near us at the table. I could shell them myself and if im in the mood to eat crab then i will but it's really messy. *Desserts- I eat the soft serve because everything else sucks. I dont care for much of the desserts they put out. Visually they look appealing but taste wise, the quality is lacking. Rather than disappoint myself i avoid the desserts and just eat the ice cream. It never fails The service here is great. The waiters are always on point and never let plates pile up or glasses go empty. The crowd that frequents is touristy with a blend of ghetto'ish ppl. Three plates every time they hit the buffet line like the food is gonna run away. Like get a grip people, the food aint that great to be hoarding over. It's not the best but better than eating at Todai or Makino Chaya. Two places that i wouldnt recommend to anyone not even my worst enemy. pacificbeachhotel.com/di… They offer weekly dinner buffets and weekend brunch buffets. Sunday brunch buffet was pretty good, i liked it better than the dinner buffet. Also the bartenders here are fabulous, they make a signature drink called the Haleakula and it's super yummmm :) If you have golden girls in your family these drinks come in handy lol . yelp.com/biz_photos/PsqA…
(4)
Trish I.
We came here last night for Mother's Day. Since we came here with our friends who are "regulars" they requested to have their favorite server serve us. His name is Anson(?). Our friends introduced my husband and I to him. He is why I give this place 5 stars. His service was on point all night. He was kind and very attentive. Although it was Mother's Day and obviously busy, he still managed to clear our tables of the mounting crab leg shells, replacing the plates each time, and at the end of the night he thanked us for coming in BY NAME. I didn't think he would remember our names cause as I watched him, he served tables front one side of the restaurant all the way to the other (we sat in the middle, next to the tank). So this gave him major points. He also let us know when it was last call for food, so that I can stop eating those yummy crab legs and get some dessert before they took it away.
(5)
Fredeelyn F.
Went for brunch buffet. .. everything about this place is mediocre. My friend really wanted crab legs. It was so bland, and dry. You had to slather them in the clarified butter. The desserts looked so yummy but were bland as well. Only thing I went back for was tempura shrimp. The service was ok. They were more concerned about the two big parties in the back, then us. My friend was perfectly happy with the experience. She seems to enjoy bland food. I just wasn't impressed with food and don't care for having to ask, let alone wave down, the waiter to get a drink refill. You keep passing your tables, how hard is it to glance over and check? Afterward I was nauseous from my buttery meal. So disappointed.
(2)
Valerie M.
I love buffets especially when they have seafood! I stuffed myself with crab legs, shrimp, and sushi! But I did try a little of everything. They had some Hawaiian BBQ short ribs that are just amazing! Eating here just put the cherry on top of an amazing trip to Hawaii! They have lots to choose from and they're desert bar was just as amazing! They also have fresh fruit and I just couldn't get enough of he pineapples from Hawaii so going here was great to cure my craving for more! While dining you get to see all the fish they have in the aquarium and if your lucky like we were u get to catch the mermaid show! Awesome dining experience!
(5)
Michael C.
Food Comments Grade B Let me start out with what was ok. The food was ok. Reasonable selection. But very expensive for what it was. The pasta was excellent, cooked to order. The sashimi was excellent. The turkey was also cooked well. Now lets talk about what is wrong Service Comments Grade F The service was terrible. Very very slow. The restaurant was not very busy. The waiter was just plain bad. Except for the check-in process it was an F. No excuse. It was a Buffet. Lets face it, they should have been able to get a better score. Restaurant Management Grade F They took our 9:00 pm reservation. By 9:40 they were taking everything down. No one came and told us it was going to happen. Given the Restaurant was open till 10:00. give it a break. Does the owner know you are packing up 15-20 minutes early. Did not give us enough time to enjoy the meal. For $45.00 dollars a person. This is not right. I guess the owner was out of town and did not know you decided to pack it up early and and make sure the customer never comes back. Mermaid Show Grade F. She comes out. She swims by twice slowly and leaves. Given the advertisement, that is just plain wrong. What makes it a show ? Its really miss-leading advertisement. My recommendation. Don't eat here. Go to the Hula Grill down the street. You will spend less money and have an awesome meal there.
(1)
Harley M.
My bf and I came here the first day we arrive we showed up around 5:30pm for the buffet on a Monday we were tired we didn't feel good we just wanted to get a quick bite and go to bed. Well as soon as we get down the steps we tell the woman table for two and she goes do you have a reservation and I say no as I look around with a puzzled look because one entire seating side and yes I said side not a little tiny area with like a group of 3 tables I'm talking an entire side stretching from the host stand all the way to the back completely empty and she goes well you should make a reservation so I look at my bf with this tf face and now he looks puzzled like does this woman want us to go upstairs to our room and make a reservation to make her happy and I look at this older couple who walked down around the same time we did and she must have heard everything and because she had a puzzled look as well because she didn't have a reservation either luckily a person came around the corner and sat us right away or we would have turned around and left with this whole reservation nonsense. The server we had was awesome! The food was ok I'm not quite sure to be honest since my bf and I only had a plate each because like I said earlier we were tired. The selection was poor very tiny for $48 per person that's the price of a good giant buffet in Las Vegas. The reservation nut job was very unpleasant she made us feel very un welcomed.
(2)
Jacob N.
It may not be the best quality buffet in Waikiki, but they do have a pretty decent spread, and they also have a feature that's pretty unique to this buffet here. They've got a large aquarium in the restaurant. Not just a big glass tank, but a three story 280,000 gallon aquarium housing almost 400 fish! PROS: + It's all about the Brunch, baby! + Kamaaina rates + Can accommodate large parties + The Aquarium + They have a soft serve machine CONS: - Not gourmet quality - Can get pretty crowded Ok, so the food nothing fancy. It isn't at the same level as Kai Market, or Five Star International, but it's sure a whole lot better than Todai and Makinochaya. It's a solid buffet choice. I like to think of if as a good working mans buffet. In fact, when I was there most recently there was a table full of bouncers from Mai Tai's enjoying the brunch spread! Not enough buffets have a brunch option. Most have breakfast, and lunch, but no brunch! Sad Hobbit! We went there for the weekend brunch which consisted of assorted salads and fresh fruits, cheese and crackers, sushi, eggs, breakfast meats (yes, including bacon), starch dishes, waffles, eggs benedict, a prime rib carving/omelet station, Alaskan King Crab legs, desserts, and other items I passed over this time around. I was mostly focused on the omelet, bacon, prime rib and crab legs, and I sampled the eggs benedict. The quality of the food and service are alright. From my experiences they're both a little above average. Nothing stellar, but also nothing bad. With the kamaaina discount we each paid $36 for brunch. That includes tax and tip. The great thing about buffets. It's all the same price for everyone, so the bill is a lot easier to take care of at the end. Just divide the total by the amount of people! You may be thinking that $36 is kind of steep for a daytime meal, and I would normally agree, but a brunch buffet covers two meals, and chances are that you'll probably eat so much that you'll opt for a very light dinner. Also, you're getting a breakfast spread along with prime rib and crab legs. Did I also mention that they have a bar too? It's definitely not a dining option that you'd want to do every weekend, but it's a nice great place for family occasions, or gatherings with friends or co-workers.
(4)
Bernard S.
It was alright they just gotta control the flys flying around the food other then that food was good
(4)
Andrew P.
A good seafood buffet with lots of variety. Went here for family reunion lunch. They have a giant fish tank with live fish and even a diver in it. the quality of the food is decent.
(3)
Louis B. M.
The rudest hostesses ever, if you're not Asian you can forget getting treated right. I had a voucher for one free buffet so I go to this place with my wife and 2 kids the place was so empty you could swing a dead cat in here and hit no one, the hostess who spoke little to no English was ready to sit us down until she saw my coupon and then she said "No reservation, you come back 9:30" how in the hell are 2 small kids going to eat at 9:30 when it was 5pm. As I stood there like the tool I am, an Asian family comes in and is immediately given a table. I only came her for the large aqarium for the kids to look at the fish. The place stinks like bad fish when you walk in there and the sushi has been sitting under the lights. They charge you 47.95 per person when you weigh it all out you could go somewhere really nice and spend 100.00 bucks on quality food with great service. I would not recommend this place at all
(1)
Mikey H.
Me: Where should we eat? Mom: Where ever you want Sis: We can walk back toward the beachwalk? Me: We can also go outside, since we're right here at my hotel and I can go get the car. Mom: okay Since I was staying at the Pacific Beach hotel, we were walking back from the Korean Festival, and I went up to get my car remote (no, it's not the Batmobile but one of those new keyless cars that I grew to hate...lol). But as I was coming down the elevator, my sister called and said we were going to eat in the hotel. During the weekend, the Oceanarium has a brunch buffet...and I just loves my buffet! They have a variety of fruit and salads but who really eats any of that at a buffet? I mean, my mom will ask me, "No vegetables?" o_0??? If I wanted to be healthy, or if you wanted me to be healthy, don't bring me to a buffet! I just dove in and ate the chicken and beef entrees (they were some fancy names), with noodles and sushi. There was also eggs florentine and prime rib! They also offered sushi selections, which were pretty good for a buffet. Mom: You're not eating crab legs? Me: Too much work They also had an assortment of desserts: creme brulee, key lime pie, cakes, more pie, and white chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise. Sis: Those look good! Me: Yeah, there's a lot to choose from. Mom always says I need to lose weight, but here we are at a buffet. Oh, and she always sends me mac candies and cookies! One of the attractions is the large aquarium in the center of the dining room. We were able to see one of the girls feed the fish during our meal. We joked about one of the stingrays attacking her. Wouldn't that be a sight to see during brunch...LOL! All kidding aside, this is a very enjoyable place for a buffet meal. I don't know how much it was because...well...you know how mom's can be. I would definitely come back...maybe for dinner later....hhhhhmmmmmmm Dang, talk about a fat ass!
(4)
Norm G.
We just had the dinner buffet tonight at The Oceanarium. In general, buffets are dangerous for me, because I tend to overeat, and tonight was no exception. We were seated next to the giant aquarium, so that was nice for the kids. We got to see the diver feed the fish at 7:00, so that was a treat to watch. Now to the food. The salad bar was interesting. They had the typical big bowl of fresh greens. They also had a kim chee and tofu salad, eggplant salad, a chicken salad with bits of seaweed in it, and some watermelon, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe. Oh, and a platter of cheeses. The entrees consisted of steamed fish, shrimp, crab legs, shrimp tempura and some assorted sushi. After I ate my fill of that, I looked over and saw the prime rib. I wish I had seen it sooner! Desert consisted of these mini "cakey" things, like a key lime cheese cake and I forget what else. You know, those little one inch square things. Ah heck, I'm just going to call them "cakeys!" They also had soft serve ice cream with sprinkles, which is always a hit with the kids. The kamaaina rate for the first seating (4:30-5:30) ran about $32 per person. The second seating for kamaaina isn't until 8 pm. The food was decent, but not exceptional. Still, probably good value for the money. We saw some people loading up their plates with crab legs, so they really got their money's worth, I am sure. I don't like to mess with crab legs, because they are, well, messy! Rating: 3-1/2 stars for salad and entrees; 3 stars for desert; 4 stars for friendly service. I would give it 3-1/2 stars total, but since Yelp's algorithm only allows for whole and not half stars, we'll round it up to an overall rating of four (4). I am so full, I am going to have to run a full marathon tomorrow to run off the excess weight (about 10 pounds) I picked up in one night!
(4)
Michael M.
During the last night of our stay-cation, my wife wanted to try an easy dinner after a tough service experience the night before. We walked to the Pac-Beach hotel and wound up here. "Do you have a kama aina rate?" "Yes it's 25 percent off." She never told me what the real cost. My wife and I don't normally go to buffets as you get this strange urge to eat more than you possibly digest to get your money's worth. There is also this competitive vibe like its the apocalypse and the patrons are survivors clawing their way for the last food they'll see in years. With that said, I went straight for the prime-rib guy while wife went for crab legs. You have to work as a team in this kind of environment. I also picked up a few sides, like the ahi tataki and some olives. Buffets yield the randomest of plate contents. When we get back to the table, I noticed a discoloration on the ahi that looked like an oil spill. I opted not to eat it. Prime rib and crab legs were excellent. This lady was walking around taking pictures of people. I think that's so they can identify you if you decide to dine and dash. Maybe that is the other use of the shark tank during off hours. Wife and I went back for round to and got desserts that all tasted exactly the same. Flavorless. We even got exited when we saw a creme brulee type dessert that tasted like day old cold scrambled eggs. How much is 25% off? 70 bucks for 2 people. I should have jogged around the aquarium for a few hours and then went back to get my money's worth.
(3)
Siliala C.
Celebrated our son's high school graduation with a Monday Night Buffet Dinner on May 21. Everything was awesome - the seating area was great; the food was onolisious; parking was ez; atmosphere kept the adults and children amazed. Food: the prime rib, the sushi, three different kinds of crab legs, and the soft serve ice cream was a huge hit. We left happy... HapPeee!!!
(5)
Steven U.
We went for Mom's birthday brunch yesterday. The place was packed! That is really what you want when you go to a buffet.....a packed house means the food is going to turn over and that also means fresh food keeps coming out. The service was just ok....the servers seemed flustered (maybe it was all the large parties) but I have had better service at other buffets before. The space is nice.....the aquarium is huge....and their was a girl in scuba gear that went in the aquarium twice while we ate to feed the fish. That was kind of fun to watch...plus it's fun to eat sashimi while you watch fish swim around... I was able to try quite a few different items..... Loves: Crab (sweet and yummy) Shrimp tempura (crunchy and yummy) Kim chee mussels (good flavor) LIkes Poke Bacon Desserts (the desserts were all pretty good!) sashimi sushi lox and bagels pan cet eggplant tempura kabocha tempura Dislikes provencal soup (had to salt and pepper the heck out of it) prime rib (too salty) potatoes au gratin (bland) I would go back again, not the largest buffet and not the fanciest, but it was good...if you like crab....this is your buffet! 3.5 stars
(3)
Charisse K.
I love taking my family here and meeting up with friends for brunch and just eat up. My son loves the mermaid in the tank swimming with the fish and I just love the variety of food offered. Because it's a buffet you would expect the lines to be long but the way they space out the food allows you to choose where you want to grab from first. My son loves the sushi variety, my husband everything, and I love the fresh fruit and eggs benedict/Florentine. So so good!
(5)
Tiffaney P.
Absolutely terrific! My family and I love the Oceanarium. The crab legs are to die for! I have been to many buffets where the crab legs are the size of chopsticks and not worth the hastle, but not here! There is something for everyone. My fave is the tempura. Nice and lightly battered. Real Japanese style. So ono!! My twin daughters love the humongous fish tank and of course the chocolate fondue fountain. We celebrated my uncles 83rd birthday here. The look on his face when the mermaid came down with a HB sign personalized for him was the icing on the cake after a wonderful meal. The location is also terrific, parking with ease in Waikiki. Can't get any better!!
(5)
Teri K.
Food was good but FLIES were sitting all over the food even worst by the raw seafood!!!! Gross and not worth the $45.99 a person!!!!!
(2)
Anthony C.
My wife and I love this place. We visit The Oceanarium a lot everything anyone could really want sashimi, poke, prime rib, crab just to name a few not to mention a beautiful aquarium friendly staff what more could you ask for? Check it out you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lamont W.
The Oceanarium located inside the Pacific Beach Hotel has the best snow crab legs seafood buffet that I ever had. Just the vibe of the whole place is dynamic. For starters, there is a huge aquarium with various sea creatures lurking about. Such as, sharks, stingrays, and other fish. A diver will go in the aquarium occasionally to feed the fish. If you go try the pineapple drink and bring your camera. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to my next visit back to the Oceanarium. Note: This restaurant can be a bit pricy. Mahalo
(5)
Brian K.
Payed a lot for this seafood buffet, only to find it very crowded and loud- more like a cafeteria feel to it. The food was quite bland , really just barely average. I went away from this place feeling really ripped off - don't waste your money here!!
(1)
Clay A.
I used to love bringing family and friends here for the buffet but especially the crab legs. They had the best crab legs on the island. They were hot, fresh, huge and tasty. My bill was always about $250-$300 and I never once blinked an eye because it was worth every penny I sent. Now that they are under new management they seem to think if they serve crappy food then people will eat less. I mean they literally cook the crab legs then quick chill it in ice to serve it cold. What kind of sense does that make? I guess people will eat less because they will just stop going there. I won't be going back anytime soon and I suggest any locals to not waste your time on this place. You will be very disappointed.
(1)
Kevin H.
I was fortunate to have received a complimentary dinner buffet for two here, so I ended up taking my girlfriend here on a Wednesday evening. Thank goodness, since for nearly $50 a person, it definitely would not have been worth it. This buffet offers a decent variety of food. A fresh array of pasta salads, sushi and sashimi, several entrees include dungeness and snow crab (including king crab on select days), a seafood pasta bar and prime rib, and a plethora of desserts including a chocolate fountain and self-serve ice cream. Everything was good, but there was nothing special in my opinion; it was all rather pedestrian for such a price. Even the crabs you can get the same caliber elsewhere. I personally enjoyed the swai fish with dill sauce and these semi-sweet pieces of steak. A full bar with ~$11 cocktails makes a nice complement to everything. My girlfriend and I shared and enjoyed a nice Blue Hawaii. Of course this wasn't included with our complimentary dinner, but if only! Do remember that when you're going to a dine-in restaurant, nevertheless a buffet in Waikiki, you're going for not just the food but also the experience. The surrounding environment is unique to this restaurant, with a full aquarium occupied by underwater species including groupers and sting rays. Divers also come in occasionally, feeding the fish and placing up signs on the wall saying messages such as "Happy birthday [your name here]!" or "Congrats [your name here] Class of 2013!" We also had a photographer randomly but graciously take a couples picture for us, giving us an option of purchasing a nice quality photo with a frame for $15 each. Service was quite excellent, given everything that is happening there. Someone was always checking in on us at least every ten minutes. In all, the only area of controversy here is the price. Maybe $25 or so for the variety of food, and an extra $10 for everything else so $35 total. But for $50 excluding bar drinks, it is a bit iffy. If money is not an issue, such as for a grad party (or in our case a complimentary dinner for two!), then this place is definitely a nice experience; otherwise, it really is just A-OK.
(3)
A L.
My experience here was just okay. The other reviewer mentioned that the hostess was a bit rude and I agree! We didn't request to sit near the fish but we did try to ask her a question in regards to the kamaaina rate and she blatantly ignored us. Even when we were waving her down and asking her loudly to her face. She was very very rude and just pretended like she didn't hear us and walked away. I hope the manager reads this so that the hostess can get better training or something. Now onto the food selection; it was okay. There were some sushi, like oshinko, futomaki, ahi tuna. I liked the make your own sailing and the chocolate fondue. They also had a make to order pasta station with choice of seafood or white/red sauce. And a person cutting up meat too. The crab legs were cold but we saw people asking their waiters to warm it up at the back for them. And our waiter Tony was super attentive and was checking in on us at appropriate times and also refilling our drinks etc. If I were to come back, I would come back for the aquarium experience bc that was pretty neat. There were a few birthdays that night and the diver would swim in the tank holding up a happy birthday sign for all to see and place it to near where they sat. Also there was a person dressed like a mermaid swimming in there too.
(3)
Mai F.
This is a late review, but earlier in 2013 (around February-ish) was our second and last time at the Oceanarium, reason being: it was an 'ehh' dining experience. The food was good but.... My only problem with the place was that we made reservations for a party of 13--and put a $50 deposit down, but when we got there, they put us at 2 different tables next to each other!! I asked if we could combine the tables and the hostess said "oh no no, we can't do that."...They couldn't put the two tables together because there wasn't "enough room in that area"...So why allow us to make a reservation for a large party?! But once we all sat down at our separate tables, I was still irritated so I asked a waiter if we could combine the tables and he said "Sure!" right away. He and 2 other waiters immediately started moving chairs and tables to allow all of us to sit together. I don't understand why the hostess wouldn't allow us to do that, there was PLENTY of room. Other than that, the food was pretty good...but since then, I haven't gone back. It was just really weird that the hostess said that and I'm always reminded of it when I think about going there, so I've never gone back. Also! I heard that they changed management awhile ago so now the kamaaina rate policy is different. Something about only a certain number of people in your party can get the kamaaina rate (which is higher than before), and everyone else has to pay the usual rate.... :/
(2)
Bonnie O.
We've been on a hunt for a place to celebrate Mom's big 8-OH. Mom loves food and buffets really make her smile. We have our standard faves but this will be a really special day and we want the experience to align with the occasion. I had heard a LOT about the Oceanarium. A few people I spoke with had tagged it as THE best buffet in Honolulu. Previous to our dining experience I had only ogled its ginormous salt water aquarium from a distance. I was excited! The staff was friendly and accommodating. My parents aren't sure-footed and the hostess quickly opened the handicap ramp for them to enter the main dining area. Our server was also attentive and pleasant but we had to ask for certain items like the crab sheller. As we walked around the stations I was amazed that they had king, snow AND dungeness crab. Wowow and a yipee! Other offerings included chicken, fish, pork, a pasta action station, prime rib carving station, sushi and lots more. I'm a dungeness fan so I loaded my plate with crustaceans, sushi and beef and plopped happily into my seat. The crab was okay. Taste was definitely there but it was so dry! The prime rib was again okay. In fact nothing was bad. But nothing was super yum either. As I tried to hold back my disappointment the waitstaff broke into a bright happy birthday song for a neighboring table. The singers' faces were glowing almost as much as the birthday girl. These people really got into the celebration! Then almost on cue, the mermaid appeared in the aquarium. She too, seemed to enjoy herself as she swam and waved and held up a "Happy Birthday Sunny" sign. My parents loved the food and their evening so maybe my taste buds were just off that night. Based on the experience I'd be willing to give the restaurant another shot. Service: 4 Stars Aquarium: 4 stars Food: 3 stars OVERALL: 4 stars
(4)
Linda P.
My sister and aunt were visiting from Florida and we went to the Oceanarium to celebrate my sisters birthday. We had the first seating for dinner and were delighted to be seating right next to the oceanarium. The buffet was extensive and very good. We all enjoyed all of the food, the shrimp, crab veggies, etc. were all delicious. The desserts were all good, I just wish I had saved more room for desserts because the chocolate fountain looked fun to try. At the end of the meal they brought out a special piece of cake for my sister. And 3 waiters sang happy birthday to her, which ended our evening there very nicely. I holy recommend The Oceanarium and we can't wait to go back.
(5)
Nat N.
There were bugs hovering over the salad bar, and the ambiance is just meh. After dining at the buffet at the Sheraton (Kai Market), every other buffet is just mediocre. The highlights at this buffet is the sushi, prime rib, and crab legs. The tempura was not bad too. But don't waste the space in your stomach on anything else if you're aiming to eat your money's worth, and don't feel inclined to save room for dessert, because the desserts are nothing to write home about (the creme brulee is the best item). One of my pet peeves at any buffet is when you go up for more food and your old plate is has yet to be picked up by the staff before you return to your seat. That happened to my dad when he returned from the buffet line with two plates of food. I think they jacked up the price when we went for dinner on Easter Sunday, even though they served the same food as any other day. Boo.
(2)
Kesha W.
Someone recommended this restaurant to me and I was very pleased. Since it was my anniversary I purchase to have the mermaid to display a sign that said Happy Anniversary to my husband. The price is about 40.00 per person
(4)
Raych D.
Me and a gf was craving for prime rib and crab legs one night and decided to come here. When we got there the host told us it'd be a hour wait and being that we where already there decided to wait. As soon as we sat down super far from the buffet I was not happy so asked if we could sit closer to the buffet which thankfully they had open tables. I tried several dishes and my fave has to be the PRIME RIB! the chef gave me huge ass slices and it was juicy and delicious for a $40 buffet dinner. The sashimi wasn't to bad either. Since, I normally don't eat crab legs or care for it I decided to give it a go and Mann was it yummy in my tummy especially with the melted butter dipping sauce! The atmosphere wasn't all to great, I felt like i was at a cheap motel with their cheap looking carpet and furniture. It was a bit to dark to see what you where eating. Only thing pleasant to see other than you're food was the huge fish tank in the middle of the room. As we we're eating a girl in a mermaid suit was swimming in the tank with some guy diver, guess that was their entertainment of the night.
(4)
Jane L.
Location: In Pacific Beach Hotel I LOVE this place. The buffet is wonderful because there is a lot of seafood yummers!!!! There is so much food I can't even eat it all hahahaha. Writing this review is making me want to eat here again. Hmmm... I guess I need to find a friend to go and eat with here. I've come here a few times and seen a few proposals too it was really cute. Parking: Easy in the same building.
(5)
Christina K.
No bueno and let me tell you why. Sure they have crab legs and prime rib which was not horrible, but the horrible was pretty horrible. I told my friend I'm now a "food brat," but if you have been to a really good seafood buffet or any good buffet for that matter you'll want to avoid this place like the plague. I tend to expect most items on the buffet to taste fresh and delicious. They had thee worst mashed potatoes. I could tell just by grabbing the spoon they were completely gummy and over-whipped. Wow. What chef let that out of the kitchen? The cauliflower sauce was not good. Just throw them in a pan with butter, salt and pepper and they would've tasted better. The side salads were interesting, but interesting doesn't always turn out to be a success now, does it? The potato/macaroni salad was drenched with mayo, which is typical in Hawaii, but even I couldn't eat this one. I kept looking at the lady's face sitting across from me as she took her first bites to see if I caught a glimmer of what I was feeling...she just looked tired so I couldn't tell. Sometimes I don't think people care what the hell they put in their bodies. The hotel has open doorways facing the beach so little bugs were flying under the glass hoods of the buffet tables. There was a lot of shellfish and sushi laying out so this sort of disgusted me. I know it's not their fault, but still looked pretty unappetizing. They boast a fish feeding and mermaid show in the humongous fish tank. It was neat that the diver was playing with the sting ray and holding onto him, but when the "mermaids" came out it was just creepy. They'd swim slowly by and stare creepily. I didn't like it. Lol I didn't even like the desserts. Ugh. It was expensive for the quality. I felt totally ripped the F&%$ off. Stick with local food for a lot smaller fraction of the price and you will be just fine. Parking: pay hotel lot, but who cares because you won't be coming here. =)
(2)
Mai N Roman C.
loved the food and our whole experience in general! it's the coolest restaurant and the food is AMAZING!!!! I keep looking for reasons to go back! Mondays/Thursdays are the nights to go.....CRAB!!! haven't been to the breakfast buffet yet but I am DYING to check it out! oh, and I out ate my husband!!!!!! favorite buffet by far!!!!
(5)
Leslie S.
Just finished my first and last time at The Oceanarium. If you prefer quantity over quality and a sad aquarium, then this is your place. If you prefer quality, attentive wait staff, and a great aquarium then DO NOT EAT HERE. It was almost $50 per person and NOT worth the money for mediocre food, including the cold crab legs. Also, the drinks were way over priced. Yes I realize this is Waikiki, but come on! Luckily I had my boyfriend with me and we have fun together wherever we go, even if it happens to be The Oceanarium...
(1)
Mark H.
Overpriced, overcrowded, and underwhelming. On paper this place sounds great, a huge seafood buffet with a 3 story aquarium. The reality was an overpriced buffet with a limited selection of mediocre food in a packed and noisy dining room. The aquarium was neat but is really more of a gimmick than anything else. There are better (and cheaper) buffet options available within a couple of blocks so I'd highly recommend exploring other options.
(2)
Margaret L.
I don't even want to give this restaurant a star, but the waiter was very nice. My husband and I dined here tonight expecting an awesome buffet. Save yourself from a high bill for HORRIBLE food. It was a very small buffet, and we tried mostly everything. The hot foods were not even luke warm, and they lacked flavor. The desserts were a joke! See a pattern forming? I agree with the comment below that stated McDonald's would have been a better choice. I wish I listened!!! We actually called the manager over and he did not offer to comp our meal- he gave us 15% off ( I imagine he thought we were scamming him, even though our plates were full!!). So we still paid $90!
(1)
Jennee G.
I'm not sure what was better, the aquarium entertainment or the all you can eat buffet! The buffet is $48.00 but if your Kama'aina on Monday and Thursday from 8:30 to closing you get a discount. It come out to be just a few cents over $40.00 per person. What a deal! Buffet offers snow crab, king crab, a variety of sushi, a Saimin station, oysters, fresh sashimi, shrimp cocktail, a salad station, a variety of veggie and pasta salads, hot dishes, a seafood pasta station, prime rib and of course dessert! The entire middle of the restaurant is a huge fish tank from floor to ceiling. I'd say it's about 60-80 feet deep. Lots of sea life occupied the tank. It was a mans birthday sitting at a table next to us. A diver got in the tank and swam up next to their table with a sign wishing him a happy birthday by name. ( this may be arranged in ADVANCE for $25) Shortly after her birthday wish a woman dresses as a mermaid entered the tank and swam around in their for a good 20-30 minutes. What a nice treat this was while enjoying all you can eat for a great price!
(4)
Martha L.
We had a great time. Deserts were very good and there were lots of them. Great seafood and catch of the day was excellent. We had several types of shrimp. Sweet and sour shrimp was delicious. Nice salads and soups. Chicken and pork was a bit tough and tasteless, so if you are going for the meat forget it. Server was excellent! We got in on a senior discount, so it was only $37 each. (Also, they do a special birthday or anniversary thing (but you need to make a reservation and tell them beforehand)
(4)
Teresa L.
It's hard to like a buffet in Hawaii after eating in Vegas but this spot isn't so bad. My family comes here often because it's one of the few decent buffets on the island. We love eating the Alaskan Crab and this place definitely has the best. It's not as salty as other buffets and they don't control the portions you get (like at Todai). We grab plate-full of crab and sit at our table very satisfied. The great thing about this place is that the buffet price includes complimentary iced tea, fruit punch, or coffee with the meal. They also have a really neat pasta bar! However, it tends to be on the bland side =/ Another neat thing is their chocolate fountain! Who doesn't like that?! Ask them about their kamaaina discounts when you call to make a reservation. The only downside is the 2 hour seating. It's hard to eat within that time limit if people arrive late or if you eat slow. I guess it's the only way they can make sure they make enough money since the restaurant is not very large. Parking: Entrance on Kuhio Ave. It's about $3 validated parking. Valet entrance is on Liliuokalani Ave and is a little bit more expensive. Don't forget to ask your server to get your parking ticket validated before you leave the restaurant.
(4)
Shannon B.
I wish I could give negative stars. Aside from the food being blah at best, I am writing this from my toilet due to the food poisoning. On the bright side the manager, Calvin, did say he would remove the items I ate (that the rest of my non-sick companions did not eat) from the buffet when I called. In fact, we spoke to the manager when we were there about the subpar buffet: overcooked somen, watery disgusting pasta and it's overall low quality. Let's just say customer service is also lacking. Bottom line-- take the near $50 per person and go to Roy's, Hiroshi, or even The Yard. You will enjoy youself much more.
(1)
Aki S.
The concept of this restaurant was cool. Really enjoyed the fish tank. Paid about $49/person for a very small buffet. The crab and oysters were what I came for, but be careful, they only have oysters on Saturday. Our server was so friendly that I almost forgot about how bad the food was, lol.
(3)
Abi S.
The food was pretty decent, we really enjoyed the skeleton mermaid & scuba diver who fed the fish!! I was hoping for more typed of poke and more sashimi but we arrived near the closing of the restaurant.
(4)
Moala P.
I'm not gonna complain when it comes to Buffet but i enjoyed eating next to a big tank full of fishes.The food is good.That made my eating experience more tasty Lol.
(4)
Jerry E.
The only compliment that I can give is for the waiters; they do tried hard.That was the only reason that I didn't rated it one star. No question, this place is a tourist trap with overpriced meal, rude receptionists, and terrible setting. The 15% discount for the locals was a joke. The snow crab legs were good, but not sure what was wrong with the prime ribs. They look fine, but tasted lousy. As for the parking, even with validation, it was still $5.00. Not sure when the aquarium water was changed, it sure looked filthy. And, the table for two was so small that it was virtually impossible to place more than a couple of plates with drinks. In sum, this is not a place to relax and enjoy a good dinner for a reasonable price.
(2)
Jeana A.
This place is nice for its scenery for their aquariums and professional waitstaff. As far as the food goes.... it's honestly not worth it. Find another place with better food because at least you'll get your money's worth for dinner and not some sight seeing... It's Hawaii... there are PLENTY of places to be romantic and sight see....
(2)
Marfel L.
During our 10-day stay, we ate here twice. It's about $50/person but it's worth the buffet price. They serve three types of boiled crab: dungeness, snow and alaskan - all very tasty if you like your crab salty. They also serve prime rib which was a huge plus. Another popular dish is the seafood pasta that you order and is prepared while you wait (included in the buffet price). You may not enjoy the buffet if you prefer variety, but we specifically went here for the crab and the prime rib. Every hour they have this "mermaid" show - definitely not worth seeing. Kids under 5 eat free (we don't have any kids but thought that information is worth sharing).
(5)
Val D.
For a great ambiance, go to Oceanarium. The kids love to look at the fish and manta ray in awe, as we sat next to the huge aquarium as you eat an all you can eat seafood buffet. Good for special occasions, however, the food is mediocre - $36/adult $16/kids ages 5-10 for dinner. The best deal is the Saturday brunch buffet, havnig the same food as sunday, but cheaper and an assortment of breakfast and lunch dishes. However, tonight, we went to the Oceanarium for a birthday dinner. Because we went early, there was no line, and we got first pick of the food. It later became crowded as the usual dinner time approached: Crab Legs 5 star - so huge, juicy and warm, and all you can eat with melted butter. You can't ask for anything better. Pasta - 4 star - fresh since there is a chef station that will cook it in front of you. You can select a variety of seafood to mix with your pasta. Prime rib - 3 star - a bit chewy. I like mine medium rare, but they cook it at medium. Hot foods - 3 star - potatoes were good, fish were dry, and a bit fishy tasting, The spring rolls were good. Too bad they didn't have the tempura this time. I was too full from the crab legs to eat any of the other hot dishes. The clam chowder was really good. Assortment of sushi -3 star - ok, same as any sushi, at Genki or kurukuru, nothing fancy. Salad bar -2 1/2 star - there's an assortment of sashimi, blackened ahi, korean vegetables, raw oysters and shellfish. However, there were still little gnats flying around the area. They haven't gotten rid of the gnats since the last time I went about half a year ago. The sashimi and poke tasted really fishy, so only ate one piece of each. Dessert bar - 4 star - arrangement of little tarts, cakes, custard pie, fruits with a bowl of chocolate to dip in, and frozen icemilk bar with coconut, oreo, candy sprinkles, hot fudge and caramel as toppings. No nuts for topping though. The guava cake was light, as well as the coconut cake, but I've tasted better. I think the best desserts they had were the icecmilk and almond float. Service - 5 star - They sang happy birthday to those who were celebrating, and the service was excellent. You can also order for $25 for the scubadiver to swim in the aquarium and show a happy birthday sign with their name on it to the celebrant. The waiter would take our plates away when we left our seats, there's a middle dish to put our crab shells, which were replaced with a new empty dish when filled, and our waters were filled. The only bad thing is the little gnats that they need to get rid of.
(4)
Grace L.
Quantity over quality for sure. If you want to eat until your food is backed up into your lungs, this is a good place to go. We came on a monday for the king crab. It was too salty.. The prime rib was the best thing I had all night. The dessert selection is GRAND, lots of choices. But everything was just "alright". It's pretty sad when your favorite desert was the soft serve with sprinkles...just food for thought. No oysters tonight, and I love oysters. Everything else was simply just alright, I would have been happy eating a $5 meal at Wendy's or something to be honest. I really feel as though buffets make their food really salty so people can't eat like there's no tomorrow... Parking was $3 with validation...what? why... Service was great, 5 stars! 2 stars simply to reflect how I felt about the food... We got the 25% off kama'aina though, so the total came out okay. My parents really just wanted to stuff themselves with crab so they were happy since that was basically all they ate. Me...not so much. I think I'll go eat a PB&J sandwich now...
(2)
Kekela S.
Had brunch today and its not the same. We were expecting steamed crab legs and got cold crab legs instead. The rest of the buffet was not as good as it was before. Very disappointing. The only good thing was the wait staff. They did offer to heat up some crab for us but it wasn't the same. Not worth the money any longer. Very sad it was our go to place.
(3)
Karen T.
I think it's all been said. Love the Crab Legs!
(5)
Kristin F.
Disclaimer-I didn't go here for the seafood dinner buffet but only for the breakfast buffet. I was staying in the hotel which this is located so it was extremely convenient. I only ate here one morning because it was pretty expensive and there were cheaper options outside the hotel, but it had a good selection of breakfast foods including a wide variety of fruits that you don't often see if you're not in Hawaii. It's a great way to start off your morning while you're on vacation sitting by a huge aquarium with a good breakfast and you haven't even left your hotel yet! I would have eaten here more often, but like I said, it was pretty costly and I don't really eat enough to need a buffet breakfast every morning! If you're staying in the hotel though, I would definitely recommend going at least once.
(4)
Jennifer M.
Recently took my husband and some friends here for dinner. I called ahead, made a reservation. We arrived 30 mins early and 2 of our friends had come down very sick and not come to dinner, so the reservation I made for 6 was changed to 4 at 8pm. (reservation was at 830pm) We were told our table was ready and we were sat directly behind a pillar. We asked for a different table because nobody would even be able to see the tank from that table and we were sat even further away. There were MANY open tables in the front, and we requested a closer table. The manager told us because our reservation was made under a 425 area code and not 808 (local area code) we could not move to a closer table or receive the Kama'aina Discount (even though 3 out of the 4 of us had Hawaii State ID, and 2 are Active Duty Navy). I have been taking my family, friends and guest here at least 4 times a year for the past 8 years and after this last experience I will never come back. I really feel like for the first time in Hawaii we were discriminated against.
(1)
Maddie H.
My first time here and it wasn't all that! I will not be returning here to eat. I thought the food was great but it's nothing special at all. For the price you pay for so not worth it and just to let you know Pagoda buffet is a lot better than here. Thank you but no thanks to oceanarium restaurant. The only good thing about this place is the fish tank with all the fishes and the girl comes out only twice to swim with n feed the fishes. What's so great about that?
(2)
D. C. Y.
We were a group of 40 on a busy Sunday evening. Even tho' there was a slight glitch in the reservation time, manager Brian S worked a miracle to seat us quickly and avert a disaster of 40 hungry people. The buffet was as good as we all remember and the chocolate fountain was a hit. Even better was a kama'aina discount. This was the only restaurant that welcomed our business when I called around for possible banquet sites - returned phone calls every time, thanked me for considering them, offered to take a no-obligation preliminary reservation. We will definitely give them our future business.
(5)
Chad A.
2.7 stars Went here for our 6th Wedding Anniversary. Made reservations and we sat for about 20 minutes before any water was served to us and ITS a BUFFET! I tactfully complained and my wife's smoking pineapple was comped, but I was thouroughly disappointed. The atmosphere is kinda dated, and it must have been the hip spot in 1991, but it really shows its age. The food was about the same....very overcatered to Asians and rather bland for most of it. I was expecting a whole lot more and was substantially let down.
(2)
Valerie I.
This place is horrible. Spent 600$ for 9 people and everyone HATED it. Went to the 5star Italian restaurant down the street way classier and spent 450$ way over priced. There are flies everywhere. rude people inside. the mermaid show is horrible. lame. all around horrible. too expensive. cheap buffet.
(1)
Sam H.
I think this place is pretty great as long as you're ready to pay a good price for your meal. Parking is free or cheap so its not a big problem. First off, if you you're local and want a cheaper meal you HAVE to be there between 4:00pm to 5:30pm or after 8:30pm. This also applies to those staying at the hotel and have a coupon. The food here is not bad. It can sometimes be inconsistent with other days but for the most part its pretty good. The main things i come for are the Crab Legs, Oysters, and Prime Rib. Those 3 things are ALWAYS there and are usually very good. They have a salad bar, lots of fresh fish, fruit, sushi line, a great hot food line (that changes every day), a pasta ordering station, prime rib station, and a pretty good dessert line with various treats. The food isn't always the greatest quality and the price is kind of hefty but if you have visitors or just want a different experience id say to try it at least once.
(3)
Darlene P.
We were able to get a seat next to the tank, our waiter was very nice, friendly and helpful. The food was great! Lot's and lot's of food, our stomachs weren't big enough to try everything, but everything we tried we loved. The prime rib was really, really good, the king crab legs were great, excellent food! Ah, we also got to see the Mermaid come swim around and wave hello, too kewl! Thank you for a wonderful evening out w/my daughter. Aloha, darlene
(4)
Igor M.
Save your self $100 and the embarassment and take your wife elsewhere. Very disappointed with this "joint". The selection is less then a cheap Chinese buffet, on top of it all it doesnt even taste good :( The crab legs taste like eating salt. Where is the negative stars option?
(1)
Michael S.
Family was in town and wanted to go back to the Oceanarium Parking: Validated parking available for $3. Can park for cheaper a couple of blocks away at Honolulu Zoo Atmosphere: The main reason why you come to the Oceanarium is the huge tank. It's a huge fish tank with a pretty decent assortment of fish life. They typically have their "dive times" at 5, 7 and 9pm. Other then the fish tank the restaurant is pretty plain. Service: First of all you want to make a reservation using Opentable.com . Hopefully you get some points out of it. If you have a reservation then everything should be fine mainly due to it being a buffet. Prices: Prices have definitely gone up in the recent years. Your looking at dropping $42+ per person. Be sure to try and get the early bird special(I believe sit down by 5:30 or 6pm) for 25$ off for Kamaaina(they only checked my ID). In my opinion probably $10 more then what you should be paying. Also don't expect any cheap drinks. All the lava flows will add up. Food: So we went on a Tuesday night which was seafood night. Tons of crab (snow, Dungeness) and shrimp scampi station, Sushi and lots of other dishes. Nothing was spectacular but my gf and family members at as much crab as they could handle. Conclusion: If you really want to go see a huge aquarium then go check out the Oceanarium. Just go during breakfast or at least make sure you have a discount or other special. The buffet while decent just isn't worth the extra money.
(2)
Stefan G.
I feel ripped off after going here. First off, its 48$ per person. This might be acceptable if they were serving Filet Mignon and the like, but they're not. The crab legs were mostly overcooked, the meat was dry and way too salty, half the dessert table wasn't refilled, and the other smaller dishes were mediocre at best. While the service was friendly, it was lacking. (Missing a water, missing silverware, etc...). The aquarium in the middle was ok I guess. They eventually had a scuba diver doing a feeding, and someone dressed as a mermaid swimming around. For a few moments, it took my thoughts away from how shafted I felt. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. If you're paying that much per person for food, it should be better then it was.
(1)
Katy R.
My family visited here to celebrate my son's 5th birthday, and he was mesmerized by the aquarium...as was my 3-year-old daughter (who was free!). The prices seemed a little high for what we received but the experience was worth it. The food was decent; the service was great; and the atmosphere was fun. I enjoyed the sushi and desserts, and my family enjoyed the seafood options. Would I come back? If it was a special occasion.
(4)
Michelle E.
Everything is great about this buffet.. EXCEPT the hostess ladies!!! They are sooooo RUDE!
(4)
Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge #60/365 It is a waste of money for me when it comes to buffets because I never go back for thirds. It is rare that I'll even go back for seconds. For the past four years, this has been the women's pick for our last night of our annual retreat since it is a walk away from our hotel. This year, I limped to Pacific Beach Hotel where Oceanarium is located (I injured myself earlier that day from running a hill at Kakaako) and the one thing that hasn't changed is the smell...the fishy smell. But, then again, there is a huge aquarium looming over everyone as they eat. The food is pretty much the same. Nothing wowing but it was good. I didn't care for the desserts because it seemed like it was previously frozen but I could be wrong. The fruit punch was extra sweet to where I had to dilute it with water. Nevertheless, overall for the food--it was pretty good. The service was great especially because we had about two to three servers waiting on us to refill our drinks and take away the plates that the women were using to discard their crab leg shells. The only thing that I am waiting for each year is for the fish to gang up on the diver as he or she feeds the fish. Now THAT will be MY entertainment for the night!
(4)
Erin S.
The divers only enter the tank every two hours. We were told we could only book a 5:30 reservation which required we wait 1.5hrs to see the Happy Birthday message we requested! Big Bust!! Wouldn't go again!
(2)
Stewart C.
You might expect for $50 that you would get better quality: home made broth vs generic broth, home made vinigrette vs store bought salad dressing, something better than bagged bacon bits, canned black olives, canned horseradish, canned apple filling in the pie, extruded soft serve, rehydrated pasta, crap-pre-shredded cheddar. But you won't get it here. Poor quality is pretty standard in Waikiki, so when people get all starry eyed from sea food, they seem to be easily deceived. God, I'm so disillusioned with this city.
(2)
Lulu C.
Great venue to plan your next event! Attended and assisted with my friend's son 1st birthday party. Everything went smoothly as we had planned with the management. Moreover, both our waiters were on top of it without a complaint for a party of 63 guests!
(4)
Joyce C.
Went here a few weeks ago and it's not the same. I hate the cold crab legs. And the butter tasted gross. Not the same quality as before. I use to come here for the crab legs but I think I will just go to ragging crab or one of those other type of places. Now they are only good for their huge fish tank
(2)
David Z.
also have to have the Sr buffet when we arrive-great selection of seafood and beef, sushi,desserts,atmosphere
(4)
Ross A.
Located at the Pacific Beach Hotel, this restaurant boasts one of the better seafood buffets around. Honestly, I am divided on how I feel about this place. Although the seating and decor is pleasant, the food/buffet is not worth the $40+ /per person. I feel you could receive the same kind of buffet for almost half the price. The menu selection is very small, forcing customers to choose the buffet instantly. There are plenty of other seafood restaurants around this area of Waikiki to choose from, and even if you're staying at the Pacific Beach Hotel, you can find better places (I would imagine).
(3)
Lora H.
Talk about nostalgia... my friends invited me to dinner tonight at the Oceanarium - she said all you can eat crab and I was in!! I haven't been here since I was in high school! Took me back to the good old days! The giant aquarium is still amazing and there's still a person who comes into the aquarium every two hours to feed the fish and wave at you! You have to love that! The ambiance.... well, maybe back when I used to come, the restaurant seemed bigger, but it seemed waaaaaay crowded, like they packed people in. I couldn't push my chair out without hitting someone behind me. And it was so loud... Now, for the food! I have to say you get a quite a bit of good seafood... great value! And seriously, how can you go wrong with all you can eat crab!!!!! Awesome! And the sashimi was good quality too!! And for you oyster lovers... lots of those too! Food definitely worth it. The reason I'm giving the 3 stars is because of the ambiance and service. First of all, the waiters were somewhat clueless. One spilled a bunch of butter crab right next to me it splattered all over my jacket, pants, shoes! Seriously! And then, another was serving my friend coffee and poured it right in front of her that as he pulled away, the hot coffee dripped right onto her dress! UGH! That in and of itself just kind of killed it for me! I mean, it's a restaurant! Don't spill things on people! But in terms of the food, definitely worth it! And I have to give this place kudos because they were constantly refilling the buffet with fresh new food! I'll go back for sure, but next time, I am not wearing nice clothes!
(3)
Trista S.
This buffet was okay. Just okay. The crab legs weren't fresh, the prime rib was overcooked, and the seafood pasta was not very flavorful. The sushi and dessert fruit were pretty good. This place is definitely not worth $50 a head.
(2)
Merlene A.
Best Mothers' Day Weekend Brunch!! Delicious crab, prime rib, shrimp and much much more! The service was fantastic and the view was amazing!
(5)
John K.
This lunch buffet is awesome. There is an aquarium next to the dining area. Has a lot of my favorite foods: crab, prime rib, omelettes, bacon, pasta, tempura, waffles, bread pudding to name a few. They also refill the oj and coffee. Left feeling very satisfied. Got fifteen percent off from the coupon on yelp. Definitely will come back.
(4)
Grace C.
To be honest, not the best buffet...BUT the view is AMAZING! I love marine life and the ocean and this is definitely one of the coolest experiences ever! They bring out scuba people who feed the fish, and if you're lucky, you'll even catch a mermaid (no, not real) swimming around! (Poor girl, she has to swim around holding her breath...but no worries she breathes from an oxygen tank strategically placed near one of the walls!) They also have the option of the scuba person holding up birthday signs and "will you marry me?" signs! Super cool! Now, the buffet -- was alright...The sushi was a bit bland and didn't taste fresh. The crab legs were quite delicious (basically everyone comes for that -- I mean come on all you can eat king crab legs -- yes please!!!) The other foods included pastas and other seafood -- not very tasty and it was a bit on the lukewarm side...I generally like my pastas warm! The dessert bar is a bit sad...Not much selection...Little cakes here and there, but there is a chocolate fountain! Toppings included strawberries, marshmallows, and even mini rice krispies treats (stale). I'm not the biggest fan of dark chocolate, so it wasn't a win for me. The service is like any other buffet. They clear your dishes when you're done with them, and don't really bother you during your meal. For the price, you can't beat especially if you're there for the all you can eat crab legs and if you're kama'aina! You get the special rate of getting 25% off, but remember to bring a state ID!
(3)
Courtney C.
We took my son to dinner here for his birthday. Good food...crab legs are perfect and the pasta station was delicious! The desserts aren't so great, but we just stuck with the ice cream. Fabulous views whilst you eat...I recommend going for early seating (before 5:30pm) as the cost is $30! If you make a reservation & it's a special occasion, they will have the "diver" bring a sign to your table! Very cool!
(4)
Brandon C.
My wife and I decided to go here on a Monday night which the buffet featured Crab Legs and they were very good. It is all you can eat and the food is decent. They have a sushi bar area, and a kind of sashimi area with ahi poke and mussels poke then there are some hot dishes may 10-15 different varities. They have a desert bar that has some selection, but not a lot maybve 7-12 different types, we grabbed a couple different on each of our plates and we actually only like 1-2 of our selections that we grabbed. The rating would be lower if there was not sure an expensive item, crab legs, which we both ate our share of, to make help coverage the $45 per person charge. For ambiance it has a great aquarium as the center piece of a dimly lit dining room. There was a couple birthdays at the time an they had a diver in the tank with happy birthday signs with the person name on it and they will pose for pictures.
(3)
Oinkarella O.
Warning: Wear an elastic waistband to prevent splitting your pants. It's that good. And just when you think it can't get any better, a mermaid will appear. Do not be ashamed to stuff your face in front of her. She knows it's that good. It's her job to make sure the seafood pasta station will knock your fins off. The snow and dungeness crab is always succulent and fresh (Alaskan King Crab is served on Mondays and Thursdays). She won't judge you as the drawn butter dribbles down your chin and fingers. The prime rib is so tender and juicy that it will leave drip stains on your shirt anyway. As long as you wear those stretchy pants, you'll have room to devour a slice of heavenly cheesecake, and sinfully dip your own strawberries and bananas in chocolate. Elastic never felt so good!
(5)
Aloha G.
Rudest customer service wanted to make reservations and she asked for a credit card number for party's over 10 cause if I didnt show up ill have to pay $50. Then she tells me that if I dont im just taking up tables. Sorry u aint getting no business from my party of over 9 people.
(1)
Sean C.
Since I've been on island, Oceanarium keeps coming up as a place to go for nicer (yet kid safe) dinners. While I had never been before today, it had always been on my list. As Orchid had no tables available for brunch, we decided to give Oceanarium a try. I regret this decision. As soon as we entered, my first thought was that it looks nothing like any picture of it that I'd seen before. My second thought was that it was loud: like Chuck-E-Cheese loud. While we were seated immediately, it was at a table that was less than two feet away from the next table. The aquarium, which the slow wait staff gave me plenty of time to look at, was pretty unimpressive: even my four year-old moved on quickly. The buffet was average at best. The crab legs were indeed good, but the prime rib was grey and the eggs benedict was sub-par (the poached eggs were cold and a little under-done). There was little in the way of traditional breakfast foods, but was a decently large selection of fresh fruit. For my money, I would go elsewhere as neither the food, ambiance, or service is very good. Basically, everything you want in a restaurant isn't here.
(1)
Erin K.
OMG amazing! We go on a crab and prime rib night (after 8:30 to get the Kama'aina/military discount of 15%) and it has always been SUPER tasty. They have 3 different kinds of crab, and tons of it, so you're never stuck waiting. I personally love their chocolate fountain and array of delicious desserts, not to mention they have a sushi/sashimi section as well. This place is a seafood lover's dream, and meets all of our expectations. For my husband and I to eat there, with the discount, it costs us about $95. Definitely a special occassion place for us, but well worth it :)
(5)
Stephen W.
It's our Family Tradition to give the household cooks (mom/dad) a holiday break and so for CHRISTMAS Day and NEW YEARS Day we reserve a table at the OCEANARIUM for a spectacular FEAST. This year was the BEST and YES we will be back at the end of this year (2014) also ! I have to compliment the staff (receptionists, waiters, carving station chefs and of course the back of the house - the talented cooks who must've started to prepare this feast the night before in the weeee hours, thus sacrificing their family time to serve our families for that morning. Much MAHALO for their dedication and consistency each year ! Our waiter made all the difference always - friendly, smiling and so so accommodating. He anticipated all our concerns and satisfied all our needs - water glass filled constantly, refills for juice & delicious coffee, to clearing all our used plates every-time we left to replenish new ones. He even pre-validated our parking tickets ("BIG-NOTE" the only real "DETRACTOR" to our entire experience at this brunch - Even w/validation from the restaurant it still cost us $5.00 to get our vehicle out of their parking structure and the "NEW AUTOMATED MACHINE SYSTEM" is slow and with traffic backing up during peak periods it can all add up to "road-rage" for some customers. BIG suggestion - employ a "live-attendant" during peak busy periods and leave the machine on for "LESS-TRAFFIC" after hour business.) PRIME RIB & SHRIMP TEMPURA were excellent - as a local and oriental this did not disappoint at all. CRAB LEGS (Steamed) were plentiful and the size portion of the crustacean legs were good. When I got to the warming pan it was down to scraps, but before I could start to frown two attendants promptly appeared behind me with a fresh full tray more crab legs - how awesome is that. DESSERT was varied and each was specially tasty. My daughter was pleasantly surprised when she sampled a small cocktail filled cup of Chocolate Pudding finished off with a very tasteful berry filling at the end. She gave a "big smile" of surprise and pleasure after her very first spoonful and finished the entire glass. SUCKLING PIG and ROASTED DUCK BREASTS were great, especially that little baby pig - so moist and tender. AND the crackling skin was spot on what makes it even more special. In the oriental culture a suckling pig was the over the top accompaniment to a celebration that offered everyone at this feast a wish for a very profitable and rich new year since pork was so highly prized ! SASHIMI was a very simple preparation and with the wasabi just completed a totally pleasant appetizer to this brunch. AQUARIUM, that huge towering salt water and live fish show always amazes young and old. The feeding show is always a crowd pleaser and we got to see that also. The two young twin boys at the adjoining table brought back precious memories of when my children when they were their age and experienced the similar awesomeness of the food and live fish show. THANK YOU OCEANARIUM for a great start to this NEW YEAR (2014)! One BIG EXCEPTION - - - The RAISE in the brunch price was a little surprising (approximately $58.00 per person) but not surprising since we all know nothing ever goes down. It was like paying for a Prime Rib-Eye Steak at WOLFGANG's or at MORTON's. BUT that "parking charge" EVEN AFTER VALIDATION of $5.00 - ouch and ahway - we are KAMAIANAs (locals) doesn't PACIFIC BEACH HOTEL make more than enough off the Japanese and Mainland Tourists year round already ?!!!! How about some consideration for the local residents who during slow periods of occupancy are always urged to purchase a weekend package stay at these over priced hotels but at kamaiana prices !
(5)
Gina L.
Don't stress about not getting your money's worth. If you love crab legs, this place is a real treat. I think it may have been about $40 per guest, but as I said, it's worth it. Plus, I believe it's $30 if you are seated before 5:30pm (if you want to eat that early). The place is pretty booked, but we were told you can dine at the bar, so we did instead of drooling for a 45 minute wait. I mean, it was located right next to the buffet area, so why not?! We also got a prime view of the giant fish tank, and prime seating next to the alcohol! I suggest you come here on a Thursday night. Although they have Dungeness crab legs and Snow crab legs every night of the week, Thursday nights offer King crab legs. However, I learned that I much prefer the Dungeness and Snow crab legs because they don't slice up my fingers. The crab legs were cooked to perfection! Usually when I go to buffets, the seafood is way overcooked. I didn't try much of their other food, because I wanted to save all the room for crab. I did try a few of the oysters, but they weren't as fresh. Anyways, if you're a crab lover, feast here! I recommend sitting at the bar to avoid any long walks to the buffet area, and to avoid a possible long wait for a table that could end up by the restrooms.
(4)
Lilian N.
Visited again for the Sunday brunch buffet and it was fairly good. Most of the items were as tasty as I remembered, but the prime rib and pork loin were both dry and forgettable. Service is always awesome here, and they replenish the food line frequently. My favorites are the tempura, king crab legs, sashimi, cold salads, eggs benedict, and desserts. Definitely worth the $29.99 price tag for the enormous variety of brunch & seafood items in Waikiki. Oh, and only $19.99 for senior citizens! $3 hotel parking with validation, good for 2.5 hours; now that I think about it...would've been a good idea to walk-off the food with the 45 minutes or so we had remaining! ;) Will be back soon!
(4)
Erwin R.
I have eaten here for breakfast and dinner. The buffet for breakfast is not bad at all. If you are in Hawaii you need to try the staple breakfast, fried egg, spam and rice with your traditional american style breakfast. Dinner was excellent! Lobster and Filet. We reserved the table next to the aquarium, I even requested that a diver come down and write a note on a whiteboard which the diver can stick next to the window where we were eating. It was a surprise for the entire table and it added a great touch. Everyone in the restaurant was wondering who what the occasion was and everyone started taking pictures of us like we were movie stars. It was funny. I recommend calling them ahead for any type of reservation. Its a nice place to eat for a 4 star place.
(4)
Jamila J.
It's a seafood buffet. But doesn't leave out the prime rib. I enjoy a good buffet and this is a good buffet. Loads of fresh seafood, prime rib and a ton of desserts. Pasta on demand! There's something for everyone. Great place for families. The huge fish tank is awesome. I like that you can put special messages in the water. I just want to know if you can pay to go in the tank, but that's a bit off topic. It creates a conversation piece and who doesn't like to see big fish in a fish tank, it's like Seaworld! Parking in Waikiki is always a pain, but you can park at the Pacific Beach Self-Parking or valet. They validate, so it's not so expensive to park. Enjoyed my time there and it's a nice place to go every so often.
(3)
Ka'ili H.
Buffet eating is a rare occurrence for me. So to treat ourselves, my best friend's birthday and my going away buffet brunch, we headed down to the Oceanarium Restaurant. I made reservations right when it starts, at 11am and it was THE best time to have reservations at. We were lucky enough to have the first pick of the food because people started showing up mostly around 1130am or later. It was nice to see a bunch of locals partaking in this buffet as well. Our table was seated just in front of the tank, there was enough room to enjoy a huge view of it but not too close that my neck would get sore from looking up the whole time. As we started eating we were fortunate to watch one of the divers, dressed in holiday splendor, Santa!, feed the fishes. This was really fun cuz he swam around with them and stuck some lettuce against the window for the fish and watched him play with the manta rays. It was such a delight and it really made me have a soft spot for this place. The buffet had such a large variety of food, I wanted to eat everything, but I had to discriminate. So I got a few seafood items: mussels, sashimi, an oyster. These I enjoyed a lot. I also had an Omelet made and picked up an eggs Benedict to try. My best got a slice of prime rib and an assortment of seafood as well. We both enjoyed the seafood, we liked that the eggs Benedict had onions in it, it was different for us and it tasted pretty great!. We went back for a piece of waffle with the assortment of toppings. I tried the guava sauce and though it was yummy it was a bit to sweet for me. He also got a few shrimp tempuras as well, which he finished up pretty quickly. I'm guessing they were delicious! I grabbed a few crab legs after eating my waffle and started digging for that meat. A few of the crab legs were kind of soft, not sure if it was because it was sitting on the bottom or the pan or...something else. The crab, dipped in the butter sauce, tasted rich and good. I couldn't finish the rest of my meat. We finished off our buffet brunch with some soft serve ice cream. It was the perfect end to our Buffet Brunch at the Oceanarium Restaurant.
(4)
Andy S.
Read this for the truth. It will save you $$$ and probably some type of stomach problem. We ( girlfriend ) have been to a lot of buffets... Unfortunately ... And this place is in the lower tier. Atmosphere : ok so there is a big fish tank.. Which is cool I guess. But eating seafood next to little fishies feels wrong. 1980s pretty much sums up the decor and environment.. Which consists of mirrors.. Old tables and chairs and not much else. Watching a girl mermaid swim next to you while shoving your face is also strange. Price: 40$ regular.. But 45$ for Easter dinner at 9 pm... Come on. Half the price still would not be fitting. Service: Server was actually very efficient. As you finish your plate you never want to see it again.. This guy removed the plates quickly. Food: So crab legs are good, and expensive which would be the only reason to come here .. Not that 45$ is worth all you can eat crab... Depending on where you are. For Waikiki I guess it's not possible to be less. Sashimi was warm... Warm raw fish.. Not so good. Other "catch of the day" was way over cooked. Chicken was over cooked... Prime rib was extremely over cooked. Desert was terrible.. Some things just had that funny taste, luckily there was pineapple.. Which is hard to fk up. Cheesecake was the worst possible and other things you would have no idea what it was without a sign telling you. Nothing more to say really... 90$ for two people without alcohol could get you an insane meal at a real restaurant.
(2)
Jessica d.
We went for an early Mother's Day brunch today. We were so late (which is awful, I feel like a jerk) and they were SUPER nice about holding our table for us. They also made a big point of putting us as close to the fish tanks as they could because we had requested so on our open table reservation. The diver went out of his way to put on a show, dancing with the sting rays and herding fish. Any time he saw kids at a table he lingered and really hammed it up. I can't really speak to the food, I have a head cold and everything tastes the same right now. My husband said it was kind of bland. But it was pretty, lots of fun choices, great location and I would for sure return.
(3)
Kris T.
Came here with the whole family (9 people) for my mom's birthday. The kids loved and enjoyed watching the fishes and mermaids. Mom was in awe when the mermaid held a sign that said "Happy Birthday!" with her name on it! Super Special! Awesome service and Great Buffet!
(5)
Jeffrey D.
We came here with family visiting from out of country. This is definitely a place to go for the ambiance. The whole restaurant centers around a gigantic aquarium. My daughter was a newborn and slept for half the time and watched fish for the rest. There was a very large selection of food too. My folks were a little more interested in Asian dishes but there were American favorites too. I am not a huge buffet fan, but we left very satisfied. The food quality was decent and the price, though a little spendy, was not as high as other buffets around the Waikiki area. It seems to be very popular with groups so I would either make reservations or go early. A diver held a proposal sign next to a table which I thought was different. Overall, a good experience here with a middle priced buffet. It is certainly worth the money if not for the food just to see that aquarium.
(3)
Deja M.
great food! service was great! huge aquarium worth the $50. When my in-laws visit I plan on taking them here.
(5)
Brent S.
We came here for a Christmas brunch party. Honestly I was expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised. The king crab was plentiful and of good quality. The poke and sushi was pretty fresh. The prime rib was on the better end of the buffet range. The other entrees were good. Not great, but good. But they had a great selection for the price. If you have young kids. they're going to mesmerized by the fish with the frequent feedings from the scuba divers. Great place for a family outing.
(4)
Keoni U.
I'm not really a fan of buffet's but I can't complain when someone else is paying. You get a nice view of a 2 story salt water aquarium complete with a manta ray and a scuba diver holding up signs and feeding the fish. The food is very good (dinner). They have king crab legs and the sushi taste fresh and good. I enjoyed the prime rib. They don't have a large variety of food but what they do have is very good. The desserts are also on hit too.
(4)
Annie W.
Crab legs, crab legs, crab legs is all you have to say and it's worth every penny of my $34.56 that we spent here for each person for 5p.m. dinner on Saturday night. I organized a small company party for 35 and that was a small challenge in itself. Oceanarium made it simple enough for me to make reservations, put a small down payment and we were ready for the holiday celebration. I appreciated that this place has a slight dress code, so people are apt to dress up a bit more. This fit right into our company's party very nicely. The choices were in abundance, the food quality was great, the service was friendly and so the buffet is worth visiting again. We got seated in the back section closest to the aquarium and during our meal we had two divers show off a feeding frenzy. Get your cameras ready! Do ask for kama'aina (because that price I listed is tax and tips already included), and if you roll in a large party 2 hours is the limit. Specialty drinks do cost, but not your average tea or water. Check out their website, you'll drool over their selection.
(4)
Elizabeth N.
Although not the best buffet I've been to in my life, its a decent one, I'd really give it a 3 star for food etc, but the aquarium and the service we get there is the consistent 4th star. They have the same food over at Pagoda Hotel, but not the nice ambiance. Food quality is good, I've never gotten sick eating here but I'm always cautious about the seafood at places like this so seafood always gets a second sniff from me. Pros: -Huge aquarium, nice and clean ambiance -Good selection of food and for the price, it includes seafood, a pretty good value -Family friendly -Have discounts & validated parking -Very attentive and friendly wait staff Cons: -Considering the simple preperation of the food, it should be priced a little lower but its not cheap keeping a 2 story aquarium running... -Inconsistency of the seafood:one time crab legs were good, another time dry and salty. Tips:Call for reservations, and if you want prime seating next the the tank, best to call a week out.
(4)
Jerry F.
The breakfast buffet was so onolicious! Lots of seating during the weekdays. It gets quite crowded on Fridays and the weekends.
(4)
Juv C.
Good but not great. I was expecting the spread to be bigger, but i suppose it was still plentiful. The crab, I feel, is the main attraction and the star. 3 different kinds: snow, king and dungeness. I had a little slice of the prime rib and that was good. They also had a seafood pasta that looked good but I was too stuffed to try it. The oysters were a big disappointment. They weren't fresh at all. If you want crab and you love crab, come here. That's all I wanted and that's all I ate, I was happy. They also have a nice dessert spread, complete with a chocolate fountain. Heaven if you have a sweet tooth. At $40 a person, I guess it's worth it because of how much crab they offer, you definitely get your money's worth in that, but if you don't eat that much crab this may not be the buffet for you. On the plus side they had a pretty cool, and pretty large aquarium in the dining room. We sat down just as someone swam in the aquarium feeding the fish and sting rays. The tourists and kids were eating it up with big wide amazed eyes. And yet all I could think was, "isn't that how Steve Irwin died?"
(3)
Faye M.
I've been here many a time for family gatherings, a baby's 1st birthday party, a bridal shower, even a work Christmas party. It's really great for people who love to eat a lot and get MORE than their money's worth! I usually go for the sushi, shrimp tempura, sashimi, chicken, fish, beef or pork - whatever meat looks good at the time of my visit. I really don't care for prime rib and never understood why almost everyone gets excited at wedding receptions with prime rib in the buffet line! Anyway, I do like crab legs, but if it isn't ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS, it just isn't worth the fight to crack them all open! Luckily my BF cracked some open for me and I got to eat some crab legs the other night :) There was also some kind of ginger soy spare rib thing that was soo good!! Dessert was pretty good...nothing really stood out to me though. It's hard for me to get my money's worth at a buffet; don't get me wrong - I love food, but I don't love the after effects of too much food: short and long term!
(4)
Wendy C.
I am a buffet snob, so the buffet here didn't make a big impression on me. It's probably not fair to compare this place to all the buffets I've had in Vegas. We came here to celebrate my aunt's birthday. My aunt lives in Waikiki and we happened to be on vacation on her birthday. The restaurant was insanely busy. So I think it must be popular among tourists and locals alike. However, I think what attracts the dinners was not the food but the 2-story aquarium it houses. OMG! I've never seen anything like that. I guess the price of the buffet includes 'admission' to the aquarium, so it's not too bad. We saw divers feeding the fish and guiding a stingray by its mouth, and a mermaid swam by. It's a pretty cool sight. The food? It's forgettable.
(3)
Chase A.
Alright I think I'm going to do it. Yep, my first five star review! The entire experience of this reatraunt was great. The food was excellent, especially for a buffet. The crab legs, clams, and chowder were delicious. They even had a cheese section!!! The huge fish tank, the fish feeding, and mermaid are fun to watch. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Overall an excellent experience I will be back again soon!
(5)
Samoa Surf Gu Y.
This is my favorite restaurant in all of Waikiki. The menu tends to lean more on the seafood side hence the name. If you like poke, sushi, oysters, shrimp, crab and fish then its the place to go. They have a huge variety of seafood and also a decent carvery churning out prime rib and pork. If you don't find something in there that you like then you're the problem. The fish are awesome to watch if you're a nature lover like me. Also the floral arrangements throughout the hotel are second to none.
(4)
Mindy T.
Went here with my family for dinner. The crab legs were awesome. Shrimp pasta was okay, a little bland though. Must not forget the chocolate fountain! :) Service is okay. The dives aren't that exciting, mermaid looks totally fake. I guess it'd be sweet/cool if you request them to dive down with a message for someone. This place is overall good, a little bit pricy though... expect to pay $90 for dinner for 2.
(4)
Kim M.
The HUGE fish tank in the middle of the Oceanarium Restaurant dining area is really cool. And the buffet menu features a pretty hefty seafood selection...with awesome seafoody daily specials. The last time I ate here, I was kind of weirded out at the fact that all those fish and sea creatures in there were watching me eat their friends and family. But they were tasty. And it's not like I actually killed them. Anyway, the buffet has an assortment of other types of food as well: salad, baked potatoes, build-your-own-fajitas, pig with bun and plum sauce, a prime rib carving station, and a bunch of other tasty dishes. And there is a chocolate fondue fountain thing if you're into that kind of stuff. The desserts are sinful. Trust me. Mondays and Thursdays are the days to go! Freakin' King Crab! w00t. Interestingly enough, the price for this seafood buffet is pretty decent. I think it's roughly $37 per person. However, if you're seated before 5:30pm your meal is discounted. I'm not sure if it's a Kama'aina thing or happy hour-esque deal.. Whatever the reason for the discount, I'll take it! I think the discounted price was somewhere around $28...so around a 25% discount. Any buffet with this kind of selection of food at this price is a steal! :) I will definitely be back for more.
(4)
Gary N.
I'm known for my appetite and I did not disappoint! Last night I dined here with some friends and I had a plate of King Crab legs with even more Snow crab legs from a friend who took too many. I had three slices of prime rib, two plates of seafood pasta (one with marinara sauce, and one with creamy sauce), rib eye steak, three kinds of toast with three kinds of spread, nigiri, potatoes, and steamed brocolli. For dessert I had a lot of fun. I put some strawberries into the chocolate fountain, took a white mousse with blueberries and strawberries, a slice of carrot cake, and I dipped an ice cream cone in the chocolate fountain. Funny thing was that I didn't know that you're not supposed to put ice cream into the chocolate fountain until after I ate half of my cone. No wonder the people were looking at me so weird! This place has a huge aquarium and many people were celebrating birthdays. I was surprised that so many people had their birthdays at the same day here. A diver swam by and held up a sign that said " "Happy Birthday!" The food was so delicious and the waiter was very attentive to refilling our drinks. Everything was perfect except for one small thing. The men's restroom has super-slow hand-drying air-blowing machines. It takes about five minutes to dry your hands with them =/. Come early for the early bird special! If you come before 530 pm, you save $15.
(4)
Vinny T.
I thought this would be a great place to take my daughter since it is the restaurant with the 3 story aquarium. Boy was i wrong. First off, there weren't any fishes to go ooh & ahh over. Just your typical fish you can see anywhere. Dinner was way overpriced, $30 !! I don't mind paying for it if the food was good, but this was not worth it at all
(1)
Fat M.
(-) Bad service. 2 hour limit. Had an elderly person in our party and asked to be seated closer to the buffet and they would only accomodate if we agreed to leave after eating for one hour- we needed longer so had to sit farther away. (+) Good crab and all you can eat. Other meats not as tasty/ fresh. Saw the fish being fed.
(3)
Phillip S.
So I look at yelp reviews from time to time and wonder how people got such bad experiences at places wish they would stop crying. BUT I now have to complain. Reading the positive reviews I saw nothing close to that. Seating: CRAP. I even reserved a spot right next to the tank. You were closer to the people all around you than the tank and it was 2 feet away. Food: Crap. Everything had a really old and generic feeling to it. Even the cooked in front of you seafood pasta tasted bad. The shrimp was simply cocktail shrimps that werent even de-vained. Sushi. Old and cruddy. Crab legs could barely hold my attention but were ok for a cheap place but not here. Service: Seemed really shy and didnt get much attention BUT they were on the ball keeping my table clean and getting my bill to me promptly. I cant even bare to keep writing this. So all in all. If you looking to waste your money for bad food and a crappy Mermaid show then go here. If you wanna save your money for some good food for a great price go to Lu Lu's.
(1)
Valentina L.
This was a Thanksgiving buffet with a group of people. There were a lot of Buffett stations and for $40 something dollars, you really want to fast two days prior! As a Vegetarian, there wasn't as much, but the PUMPKIN SOUP was incredible! And the DESSERT station would put Willy Wonka to shame! TRULY! And yes, V had 8 different desserts that night! Aside from the food, the highlight was the divers swimming in the wraparound tank that hand fed the rays, being a diver myself, I was more interested in that than the food! But overall, if you eat meat and seafood, I saw people piling up on crab legs and smiling a lot, so I guess that is good! Ahahaha
(4)
Ruth T.
Haven't been here in years. The king crab legs were sooo good -moist and tasty! Really enjoyed the prime rib and fresh Moloka'i catch too. My fav of the meal? The sashimi!! There was a really nice spread of desserts, especially the chocolate fountain and ice cream machine. Was too stuffed to appreciate the sweets. Will have to return to sample the rest of the dishes :)
(4)
R R.
Okay...My boss and I decided to venture to the Seafood Buffet...OMG! Talk about "waddle out" when we were done. There are good things and bad things about a buffet, but I'm a sucker when it comes to CRAB!!! And they didn't disappoint in anyways possible. We got the table right there next to the buffet so I didn't have to walk far. They had King Crab legs, Snow Crab legs and Dungeness! And I have to admit I really didn't eat much more then the Shrimp w/ cocktail sauce, some Mahi Mahi w/ lobster sauce and I think I even had the steamed uhu-chinese style. No carbs or anything else but MOUNDS AND MOUNDS of CRAB LEGS!!! The bad thing is that I made a total "hog" of myself and by the end of the night felt as if I had just swallowed all the water in the fish tank. Then not to mention that they had the all you can eat soft serve ice cream machine too! I used to work at McDonald's and loved to make those cones as high as I could and I did a little show off and made the cone super huge-only to regret it at the end and felt like my stomach was going to EXPLODE!!! Go there with an appetite and enjoy!!!
(4)
JimBob L.
Came here on Thursday for their Crabs buffet. All I can say is what a waste of money. The food was really bad. Nothing was fresh. Service was okay but the hostess was rather rude. Will never come back here again!
(2)
Jennifer U.
This restaurant is alright...After hearing about it being an oceanarium & everything, I thought it would be a little bit more fancy but I was totally off. I also thought there would be more of a selection with the food but there wasn't. Maybe it was because it was already 8:45pm by the time I got there? Still, that shouldn't be an exucse. ESPECIALLY for a buffet. I feel like I could've went to Makino Chiya or Todais & got a better deal ONLY because the price ranges are the same but Makino Chiya & Todais have a way bigger selection of food. I mean I'm not complaing about how "expensive" it is because its really not but with the prices being the way it is, I feel like there should've been more of a selection. The major thing that had turned me off were the CRAB LEGS. They did not look appetizing at all! They were all brown looking & gross. Seemed like the cooks didn't even clean the algae off the crab before they cooked it. The only thing I really enjoyed was the prime rib, dessert, & the virgin lava flow my friend had given me, lol. Another thing...the fishes in the tank weren't even that nice! I thought the tank was going to be filled with nice colorful fishes but no I was wrong...again. Hopefully by the time I do go back, things will be a bit different :)
(3)
Monica S.
With the amount of food they served, the price is actually not that bad. But the seafood was just alrite. I can see that they are known for the Oceanarium show. But the service was very cordial. Three stars.
(3)
Tara A.
Prime rib and fresh sashimi- and we're talking a mountain pile! You dine and are surround by the aquarium. My sister recommended this restaurant and can't wait to go back. It is inside a hotel. Top notch food for this all you can eat buffet. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Amy F.
eh, it was ok. I don't like seafood at all but my husband LOVES it, especially poke, which he thought was very good here. We came on a Monday night and were seated right next to the tank, which was way cool. I could have stayed and watched the fish all night. I wish we would have known about the mermaid show times, 5 and 9, we came at 7 and were done eating at 8:15 and didn't want to sit and The food was just ok, I know it was a seafood buffet but wish more of the sides had less seafood in them, most of the salads had fish in them. My husband visited the sushi bar twice and enjoyed the crab legs. He wasn't too pleased with the spaghetti bar though, Only one type of pasta, two sauces (which were bland) and 3 seafood to choose from. Parking was in the hotel deck, but was still $5 with validation, wish we would have paid the extra $4 for valet because once I pulled up to the gate found out that it wasn't taking credit cards and we had no cash. With a line a cars behind me a valet parker had to move traffic around so I could back out and my husband could find an atm. They should have had sign saying it when coming in so we would have known before we were leaving.
(3)
Zoe B.
We got FOUL and BITTER tasting dungeness crab there last night! You wanna know more? please read on... My husband and I went there for dinner buffet. We were craving for crab legs in particular. I first got a first plate of snow crab legs, and my husband first got a plate of prime rib. Then we got a second plate of dungeness crab legs. And that's where the wrongs started. We took a first bite and it had a foul bitter taste. The color of the flesh looked a bit funny too. And I was stupid enough to swallow that bite while I should have spitted it out instead of swallowing it. Then I cracked couple other dungeness legs and they all tasted bitter and smelled foul too. So we were really grossed out by that, and asked for a manager to report the issue. The manager took away our plate of dungeness crab and told the chef to change out the batch that was at the buffet table as well, as I told the manager that I suspected the whole batch would have the same problem. Before having the dungeness crab legs, we weren't full yet. We were actually hungry before the dungeness crab. But after those couple bites of dungeness crab, I really felt that I wanna vomit, and my husband developed abdominal pain afterwards. I didn't want to get any more food after swallowing that foul bitter tasting dungeness crab, and my husband still tried to see if he could eat some more prime rib to make the meal worth. (we weren't offered any compensation yet at that point). And I resorted to eating dessert because I just couldn't get rid of that foul bitter taste and nausea in my system, so hoped that the sweet taste would help me out. However, after eating the dessert, I didn't feel better, only felt more worse, and my husband also couldn't eat any further because of the escalated abdominal pain. So we decided to talk to the manager again. Because we basically didn't really eat much before hitting those foul bitter tasting dungeness crab. And we couldn't eat further after eating the foul bitter tasting dungeness crab, and also had a worry of having food borne illness. We spoke with that lady manager we spoke with earlier. She said we could file a report at the front after paying the bill. We were like, "what the heck?" Why would you still ask us to pay for something that made us ill? She even wanted to rule out food poisoning by saying that it would have to take 3-6 hours for the symptoms to appear if it's food poisoning. So I asked her back, "would you want us to come back if we really got worse after 3-6 hours? You really have to talk to someone else as we don't think it's right to pay for something that we got sick from!" (and we didn't even eat much because of the foul bitter tasting dungeness crab). So she went to talk to someone and another male manager came and let us file the report. He asked if we needed an ambulance. We denied the offer because we would rather drive ourselves to ER if we really needed it later on; never knew who would be responsible for the cost of an ambulance. So we denied that offer. And then the male manager let us file a report and find out if another manager would compensate our meals. So we wrote our report while he talked to another manager. My husband was too sick to write much on that paper at that point. And I, though felt sick, was actually very upset at the female manager we met earlier, and also I was extremely grossed out by that foul bitter dungeness crab. So I put an effort to write down all the dissatisfaction and concern. I wrote that it's really not acceptable to have such foul bitter dungeness crab serving at the buffet table, as it's totally inedible. To my knowledge, any seafood that has a foul bitter taste is not consumable. And I also added a note to tell them how unhappy we were with that female manager. After the male manager checked with the other higher manager, he said the higher manager offered 30% discount on our tab. My husband and I felt that it's not right. You can't ask someone to pay for something that is not edible and makes him sick; and we couldn't eat much because of that inedible item! So we weren't fed, and got sick from the inedible thing.......and still needed to pay a penny? So my husband told the male manager about how we felt about it, then the male manager went back to the higher manager, and then the male manager came back and said that they would take care of our whole tab. At the end, I emphasized to the male manager that we were so not happy with the inedible dungeness crab, and also even more unhappy with that female manager who spoke with us earlier. I really hope that they would check their seafood with more caution from now on. Foul bitter tasting crab can be an indication of rotten flesh. Ewwww.............. I developed abdominal pain later on, and I still have nausea right now. And my husband started feeling better after a long overnight sleep. I hope I get to feel better soon. Totally lost confidence in dining there from now on.
(1)
Anj D.
A perfect place to take your family and just someone to spend a nice day with! :) Memorable
(5)
Vi Y.
Once upon a time, this was my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. 3 story aquarium paired with all you can eat seafood, what more can one ask for? However, either my tastes have just grown, or they're just not trying as hard anymore. Plus it's weird to eat sushi, as you're watching it swim all around you. I almost asked the waiter to cook the sting ray swimming around, like we were at a Chinese restaurant, picking out our own fish. We came at 8:30pm on a Thursday, and got to sit at a window table, We almost lost it to another group, but I gave the host boy a little cleavage, so we were quickly seated. :) Imagine what else I could get if I had fakies! I would totally use my boobie powers for evil and not good... The seafood was great. I never got down on so much king crab leg and snow crabs. They also had sushi, sashimi, mussels, oysters, scallops, poke, octopus, and the list goes on. Everything was fresh and great. They also had a meat carving station for prime rib and I think turkey. The prime rib was over cooked, and not that great. :( Sodas were not included in the buffet price of $35/person. For 1 bottle of wine, 3 sodas, and 4 people, the bill came out to $200. After all these years, the restaurant is starting to age, and doesn't look as good as it used to. The quality of the food has gone down greatly as well. They used to have all you can eat fresh lobster, prepeeled. Yummy! It used to be free to have the diver hold a sign at your table saying "Happy Birthday" or whatever, as he was feeding the fish in front of you, but now they charge $20 for it. So sad for me to say this, but I wouldn't come back, and I wouldn't recommend it to my friends anymore. :( Hubby said the bathroom here was the ONLY place in Hawaii that he saw a COCKROACH. OMFG. Gross.
(2)
n p.
I'm already biased considering buffets are not my cup of tea unless they're brunch buffets - those I can't resist. However the Oceanarium didn't fall into that category - my family decided to go here for a belated Mother's Day dinner. The buffet itself seemed a bit small, but that may have just been my impression and my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to shellfish. It had a seafood pasta station, sushi area, salads, starchier foods in the middle and a few other things along with a dessert table. I didn't try a ton of food but from the things I did eat, I didn't feel satisfied. Most disappointing was the sushi, that wasn't even cold but more room temp, didn't feel fresh at all. I found a lot of the food to be not even warm but more lukewarm, which wasn't pleasant at all. I mean not only is the food sitting out there for people to touch but it's not even sitting there at a decent edible temperature. I didn't see the need to eat more than one plate for the actual dinner part. As for the dessert - I was even more bummed out. I usually relish in the thought that I can have an endless amount of choices for dessert but this was definitely not the case. I tried a few of there "mini cakes" - the carrot cake, an almond concoction, a chocolate-cream layer cake, a raspberry mouse, a lemon meringue tartelette and an eclair. All failed to impress. A bite of each was enough to deem all of them lackluster. The almond float on the other hand was delicious and was the sole high point of the evening. That deserved a round of seconds. Overall, if an endless mountain of crab is your heaven than this might be a place to eat, but if a shellfish overload isn't something that makes your mouth water I'd say find somewhere else to dine.
(2)
Sal K.
I went on Monday for their trio of crabs aka crab, crab and more crab. There was dungeness, snow and king. I also got the pineapple drink that amuses you for the first 4 seconds until you ditch it to grab some food. I feel like if you are not going for the main attraction (i.e. crab, prime rib, etc), you will be disappointed, hence the mixed reviews! It's not one of those vegas buffets that have much "fillers." As far as those selections, it's heavily disappointing. But back to the crabs, I definitely had my fill of crabs that I was craving. I accidentally poke myself with the sharp claw of the crab and few seconds later, a waiter came and asked if I wanted a bandage. They were also quick to take away the plates and refill my water. The mermaid show was slightly amusing. I guess I can say it's just as amusing as the pineapple drink with dry ice on the bottom. It's about $40-ish per person and I think highly worth it if you go for the right reasons.
(4)
Gina E.
All I can say is that their breakfast buffet is to die for, and it's well worth your money. The varieties of food seemed endless to me, compared to other breakfast places that I've been to. They had a full salad and fruit bar, with yogurt to go with your fruits yum, or you could just eat it on the side. They had a corner where you could make miso soup, and toast bread or bagels. But, if you prefer a hardy meal, they serve bacon, rice, two types of scrambled eggs, corn beef hash, just to name a few. Oh, and but of course they also had a dessert table. A must try is their bread pudding and guava crepes :P
(5)
Sharina N.
If you love sea food in variety this is the place to go! The aquarium is massive with gigantic sting rays! If you inform the staff before 11am a diver will dive into the gigantic aquarium and hold up a sign for your occasion (i.e. Happy Birthday). The wait staff were welcoming. Great location but wasn't too impressed with the taste of some of the food choices.
(3)
Hasmik A.
Wow I never write reviews on yelp but the service was soo bad that I just still in shock. We were forced to leave after an hour. The manager named Brian shimokawa came up to my husband when I went to restroom and said that he has to live. My husband has been in US for couple months and we were visiting Hawaii. When he told the manager he doesn't speak English he didn't believe him saying that he is acting. After I came back my husband said the manager came up to him so I asked the waiter to call the manager so he did come up and he said that he is nice enough to ask us to leave because someobody else reserve the table so they we have to leave so they have the table to that party for reservation There was no time limit mentioned by staff or written anywhere whatsoever when I told him about the time limit not being mentioned the manager said if you don't leave now I will call the security on you... It was horrible being in that situation he ruined our night. When my husband was telling me things so I can translate the manager was like your husband can speak English why is he acting He also was like I am nice enough to ask you to leave and he is like ill give you 5 minutes to leave Wow he ruined our night if anyone knows where else I can complain about this please help me
(1)
Frank S.
Enjoyable buffet with a 2 story salt water aquarium, mermaid. Prime rib and extensive seafood choices including king crab and sushi.
(4)
Lina P.
Sunday brunch buffet is $28. Validation is $1 for 4 hours. The aquarium is a neat idea and nothing beats seeing a lady with an orange one-zy scribble 'happy anniversary" on a dry erase board inside the tank. There was mostly locals and the item of choice to eat was the snow crab and eggs benedict. Unfortunately Im not the biggest fan of either but I tried. Of the fruit the crunchy purple grapes where the best. The pies were good, and ahi poke not bad. They have an omelet station and soft serve ice cream corner. One thing I enjoyed, they had a small cheese and cracker selection which I dabbled in. Would I come here again? probably not. Would I recommend it? Only if your a snow crab lover. Today I came to terms with my fantasy of having one of those Willy Wonka experiences. Its never gonna happen and it will never be like in your dreams. If your gonna do a buffet, ShoreBirds is the best bang for your buck!
(2)
Sovannary S.
This is by far my favorite restaurant on Oahu. It is a bit pricey but SOO worth it. It's a buffet, so I usually just eat until I can't anymore! The seafood is very fresh, I LOVE they're crab legs. and for some reason, the butter tastes so different..so much sweeter! I dont know? Maybe hawaiin butter is better? Yeah, sounds stupid but you'll see what I mean! The employees weren't ver accomodating, but it's a buffet... and the food is amazing so I didnt care!
(5)
Anne W.
I really liked this place. I came here for dinner twice while I was in Hawaii. They have a wide selection and very good service.. plus you can watch the diver feed the fish in their gigantic fish tank.. while you eat. I would steer clear of the raw oysters.. not so great. I thought the night where king crab and lobster was the special was terrific! Also.. the roasted pig was terrific. I would try going in the middle of week instead of the weekend. You can also pick up a coupon in the day trip travel desk... but you must sit down before 6 I think. It's well worth it though.
(4)
Mojojojo Y.
even though i don't really care for buffets in hawaii, this one is a good one since it has quite a variety of food and they replenish consistently. the aquarium provides a nice atmosphere and i've had nothing but stellar service from the staff here. parking structure is located next door (on the left side of the hotel) with entrances on both kuhio and liliuokalani street. i think they still provide kamaaina discount (they definitely provide seniors discount) so ask about it when you make your reservation (sorry i can't be definitive but i just went here for a party so someone else footed the bill). and they can accommodate large parties (ours was 20-something) as well.
(4)
Carl G.
... Excellent!!!! Long Island Iced Teas .... a little pricy, but well, well worth it ...... indoor aquarium (hence the name) ..... diver periodically appears in the tank ...... good to great service ...... don't settle for a table bordering the aisle to the buffet ...... nice for 2-3 .... great for 5-6 people ...... if you don't leave here stuffed, it's your own fault ...... no need for reservations ..... do the buffet or nothing ......
(4)
KT L.
Looked kinda weird when we entered the restaurant..but once we sat down and saw the array of food we were pleased. They had an amazing array of seafood...the dungeons crab was amazing. I had plates and plates of them. They were very meaty and tasty. Got 25% off for going early. Great price and food, especially in Hawaii.
(4)
Nathan W.
Yum! Good Seafood Buffet. Lunch. Saturday, December 3, 2011. Busy, but we were seated and service was very good - nee- excellent. And friendly! The food was pretty good. Snow Crab, Boiled Shrimp, Poke, Sashimi. Good Hot Dishes. Nice Desserts. Fair selection of sushi. The only downside was the undercooked Prime Rib..verging on bloody and no discernable crust! But the mermaids and divers added a lot to the ambience!
(4)
Francisco C.
A family favorite of ours! The view is amazing, the food is fresh and with lots of diversity. The staff is very friendly as well! This is our "go to" place when friends and family come from out of town.
(5)
Aggie A.
One of the better buffets I've been to. Decent raw bar, with Lomi-Lomi, poke, the usual assortment of peeled shrimp, steamed mussels, and crab artichoke salad. Also have tempura shrimp and vegetables (a bit greasy), an omlette bar, king crab legs, hot entrees like pork, chicken, macadamia-crusted mahi-mahi, white and brown rice, soft-serve ice cream with lots of topping choices, two tables of desserts, including a mousse cake made of a Hawaiian fruit I cannot remember. Saturday brunch came to $100 for 2 adults and 2 seniors--they ask if there are any seniors in the party. Much better food than HS Lordship, at a comparable price...Not as good as the Sunday brunch at the La Valencia. The waiters are attentive, although the hostess was snooty and gave us a tiny table that was surely made for 2, but when we asked the waiter asked if we can change tables and it wasn't a problem. Our reservation was for 11 a.m., when it first opens, but 30 min. later it was packed. Also, while we were there, a party was celebrating someone's birthday, and a scuba diver (mermaid) got into the large fish tank in the middle and flashed the Happy Birthday sign. This caused a considerable excitement. I would definitely go there if I were in Honolulu again!
(4)
Saane M.
One of the benefits of living so close to Waikiki is that when I feel like eating at a food spot, I don't hesitate to just pick up and GO. One of those food spots is my favorite buffet in Hawaii so far, the Oceanarium. The best part, as just about everyone here mentions, CRAB LEGS! No other buffet is better at this. There is a nice array of diverse selections that are pretty tasty and nothing really to gag at. However, I might not be the one to judge on everything since I don't eat prime rib or oysters. Another PLUS for me here is the unique setting. I make sure I have time before going to this place because I like to take my time and enjoy the atmosphere here. Although it is kind of ironic that I enjoy watching the sea creatures in the huge aquarium while eating a couple plates full of the same creatures. Oh well, whoever came up with the idea is a genius in my book=) Next time I go, I will make sure it will be a time when I can take in a few drinks with some booze. The drinks look great. I just haven't had a chance to try them.
(4)
Bat F.
We went for lunch. $56.00 (before tip) for two adults and a five year old with non-alcoholic drinks. Ouch, but it is something of a tourist attraction with the giant aquarium in the middle of the restaurant. Some of the food selections were pretty good but oddly they were not the seafood items. The spicy garlic chicken (not spicy), tempura and braised pork were pretty good for a buffet. As far as sushi goes there were California and futomaki rolls. Not really worthy of being able to say sushi is part of the buffet. There was some sashimi (albacore, I think), in-the-shell shrimp and imitation crab seafood salad but I remember there being more seafood dishes before. I guess the lunch selection is a lot different from the dinner menu. Definitely would not recommend going here for lunch. I did give the place an extra star for having an excellent aquarium with sting rays that have learned to interact with the divers.
(3)
Nikki N.
If you are Kamaaina I would go at 5:30p to get the Kamaaina discount. Plus at 6pm is when they start feeding the mantas and fish. So you get a great show and great food. I would also call to see which night you want to go because they have different things on different nights. Like some nights they have 3 different types of crabs - Dungeons, Snow, and King. The food is great, the service is great, the only thing is we were seated pretty far from the buffet area.
(4)
Gil A.
I always have to stop by this buffet at least once while I'm in Honolulu. Super fresh crab legs, sashimi as good as it gets, oysters, and made to order pasta's is what brings me back. Their desserts kick ass too: red velvet cheesecake, what?! Last time we were there we just occupied the entire bar with no wait and David, our bartender, provided great service... refreshing drinks quickly, constantly replacing used plates, witty insight to different beers, and even split our bill no problem. And the place has a great view of underwater life when you're not chowing down on gigantic crab legs with drawn butter! hhmmm
(4)
Brianna F.
I do not think this place was worth the money. Number one, I had a 7 pm reservation and we showed up at 6:50. The hostess told us rather rudely "we can't seat you until 7pm" I said "ok, we just wanted to check in" and she told us to basically get lost and we couldn't just wait there. Excuse me for trying to be on time. I was already annoyed. They told us we could come in and go to the bar. My husband got this pineapple drink and there were bugs flying all around it... Disgusting. After being seated at 7:20 (what on earth was the point of making a reservation?) we waited for ten minutes for someone to take our drink orders. Nothing. So we got up and got food. Half way through my first plate was the first time I was asked if I wanted a drink. The aquarium is totally depressing. All the fish are like grey lake fish and the water is lackluster. I m ean there are two sting rays but they look like they hate their lives. The only redeeming quality of this restaurant is that the food was pretty fabulous. They need to just make it a regular buffet for a cheaper price and not think they are some impressively fancy restaurant ...because its not.
(3)
Hannah K.
I hate buffets because the quality of food you usually get is pretty mediocre. HOWEVER, I LOVED the Oceanarium! The all-you-can-eat steaming hot crab legs were fresh and delicious. Although the selection is not very large, what they do offer is quality and the tastiest buffet food I've ever had. Their pasta station was good, the sushi was ok, and their dessert section was pretty good. They have a frozen yogurt machine, a chocolate fountain you can dip fruit in, and all kinds of pie. Their chocolate macadamia nut pie was the best. The cherry on top is the entertainment factor. That aquarium is pretty amazing and I couldn't stop staring. Would highly recommend it!
I love anything buffet, but this place has that extra kick and that is the aquarium situated right inside the restaurant. My 5 year old daughter loves this place. She gets to eat good food and watch the tropical fishes all at the same time. They also have a diver feeding the fish at certain time of the day. This place is pricy, but it's expected. Someone has to pay to feed the fish somehow!
(4)
Shannon C.
I was there for a baby's 1st birthday yesterday afternoon. it was a first for my husband and me. We thought that the food was pretty good. There was all sorts of brunch items like an omelette station, bacon, eggs benedict, pastries, waffles and etc. They also had king crab legs, prime rib and pastas. Oh and all sorts of fruits and salads. They even had an ice cream machine for the kiddies. All the kids had a great time looking at the fishes and also the scuba diver who was feeding the fishes and he also wished the birthday boy a happy birthday with a sign. The waitstaff was also very nice and efficent.
(4)
Shannon T.
I've been going here for years - the food has consistently been delicious and the staff are really friendly! The Oceanarium has a nice balance of different kinds of food that appeals to kama'aina folks. I love that the crab legs are always moist and juicy. My bf took me to Pagoda's one night and their crab legs were all dried out and hard. Totally disappointing. Anywho, the Oceanarium is my go-to place for celebrating birthdays and other special occasions. The only bummer is that it's become so popular that we have to call super early to make holiday reservations! I also think that they changed the way they do their seating, so you'd have to come in at a certain time - either time A or time B, and that's it. Other than that, I and my family love this place!
(4)
T Lin L.
I should have known the food would be just as gross as the smell of the restaurant. Over priced for the nasty food served at the buffet. I was sick to my stomach after eating at this restaurant.
(1)
Wade H.
I haven't been to the Pacific Beach Hotel since Shogun closed. This time, I went to the Iceanarium buffet for my work holiday party. I was pleasantly surprised with the food. We went on a Thursday so it was mostly Jpnse food. They had lots of salads - the usual - greens, cold tofu, namasu. They also had sashimi. The starch included regular rice, yakisoba noodles, california sushi and futomaki. The main dishes included shrimp and vegetable tempura, shrimp dynamite (spicy fried shrimp), butterfish, chicken katsu, roast beef, and pork. There was also fresh fruits. For dessert, there was zenzai, different cakes and pies, and almond float and soft serve ice cream. The price was reasonable at $18 and change including tax and tip. Parking was $3 with validation. The price also included, coffee, tea, fruit punch or iced tea. The hotel is rather dated and you can see it and smell it in the carpets. The Oceanarium is on the ground floor of the Pacific Beach Hotel and there is a large oceanrium with fishes and other creatures from the ocean. it's not that impressive but nonetheless is something kids can watch while eating. They have a diver go into feed the fish and stingrays. It was pretty crowded the day we went with locals as well as tourists but the lines for the buffet were short. The wait staff was busy so they didn't come around too often to take away our plates of food or maybe we were eating too fast for them since we were hungry! All in all, it was a good experience. If you are in Waikiki, check it out.
(4)
Sunny D.
Over the years I come here maybe 6-7 times and always enjoy the ambiance. Watching the fish and rays is mesmerizing. The hubby and I were there for a Christmas party recently. The place was very crowded and we were seated at the far end of the restaurant so the walk was a far as you could get. The cool thing is watching the "Mermaid" who swims at 8:45 p.m. and the gal who feeds the fish! The only thing I really eat here is the crab-legs! King, Dungeness and Snow crabs! Don't know if they have all three year round but they did that night and I loved it! I hate when the crab legs are all dried out and these were pretty tender, I really didn't use the drawn butter much. Tried the spicy tuna mini sushi, yeah it was spicy but good. I took one mussel since they tend to over cook it occasionally, this time it was perfectly moist and juicy. I pretty much ignored everything else except the dessert. They had a nice array of cakes cut in bite sized pieces, even Red Velvet, though I didn't try it. I was pretty full on the crab legs so I only had a small dish of the soft serve with chocolate. All in all to food (crab legs) was delish. Just sorry that I choose not to really try much else!
(4)
A J.
Ate at the Oceanarium tonight, April 28, 2010. Food was plentiful, but just average. Definitely not worth $40 per person. Pasta was good, but who can eat $40 worth of pasta? Soft drinks don't even come with your meal!! Tourist trap. Would not recommend to anyone. We had better food at the North Shore for $3 a serving from one of those trailers on the side of the road. Rent a car and go see the locals. They do it better and way cheaper.
(2)
Ashley K.
Love this place.. great for families and kids- feeding the fish is pretty neat. Don't come here if you don't like seafood. No buffet is amazing, but this is the best I've found, and totally worth the $$. Check out the menu online (as it changes by day of the week) and go on a day where it's stuff you like.. ie crab legs!
(4)
Ed K.
located @ the pacific beach hotel, formerly known as neptune, is Oceanarium. is a highclass hotel seafood buffet & been ma's top choice since i was baby, is the main reason why we go lol. parking is in the hotel. then u catch the elevator to the 2nd floor. call in advance to make reservations. perfect place for party such as birthday, baby shower, or if u slacking off from work (go on a weekday lunch to catch them & bring a resume lol). variety might be less than franchise buffet, but quality is tadbit better, and organized in categories: sushis, cold dishes, baked or hot dishes, deserts, crab, oyesters, primerib, larger selection of island recipes makes them unique to most buffets. would be better if there was more room in the food area for both food and people to access the food tho. area is cramped because there is so many tables and guests. space it out a littlebit. theres aquarium within the dining area which is impressive. u might not notice, the lighting is dim, exactly the same lighting as when the bar turns on the lights @145am.. are u open? are u closed? aarghh my eyees! other than those 2 criticisms, the buffet is onolicious and the hotel is located in the perfect location if u want to walk it off @ waikiki beach and international marketplace is nearby. happy birthday mama.. MAAMAA MAAMAA..=x lol SHOOTS!
(5)
Brandon M.
First, the spectacle of a scuba diver in a large fish tank full of fish earns it a nice rating. Second, I always loose in a buffet because I don't eat much in one sitting, especially an expensive one, but I didn't have to pay. I met one of the locals I'm shooting a personal project for and she treated me to this cool place. The food was above average, all the customers seemed to have a wonderful time because you're eating in Waikiki next to a big fish tank and a scuba girl swims by. I recommend this place but come very hungry or you're going to loose.
(4)
Diane L.
Oceanarium is famous for the acquarium wall they have so that you can watch all the fishes, stingrays, and other beautiful sea life as you dine.. (it was made famous through an episode in Full House). If you are to go, make sure you call in advance and ask about when the feeding times are and try to go during that time. During my last stay in Oahu, I came here for dinner where they only have a seafood buffet.. it was good food.. they had prime rib and crab legs.. a seafood pasta.. and lots of different desserts.. It was $35 a person, which I didn't think was overally expensive, albeit I don't think I ate enough food to hit that cost. Still - I think its an experience worth checking out at least once!
(4)
Sita L.
I have been taking people here for over 20 years for the brunch. It was always good. I know they have had some money issues and I don't know if that has affected the food? I always found it to be really good. The seafood was always fresh, the prime rib was really good, salads, pies. I have to admit, I haven't been there since last year. But, again. Sunday brunch was always good.
(4)
Larry L.
Fine for a seafood buffet. But they could at least try to do something different than Las Vegas Cheese.
(3)
Gary P.
The last time I went to this place was back in the 70's when the top floor was called the Neptune. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that its still around and that the food and service is terrific. If you have a desire to have a "crab comma", this is THE place to go. One great benefit is that if you go on your birthday, they will give you a buy one get one free certificate and you do not have to wait until the following year to use it (unlike some of the other buffets in town). There are also early bird specials like the seating before 5:30. They do tell you that you are limited to two hours which is in extreme poor taste. I mean who really spends more than two hours at a crab buffet? Everything else including salads, entrees and deserts are good as well but understand that this is the classic buffet hook. We only had one disappointment and that was with the quality of raw fish in the sushi - it was similar to Genki s opposed to Yanagi....
(4)
sky i.
My review is for their dinner service only. I came here once because I wanted to try Ostrich meat which was advertised as their special. I was a bit disappointed as the Ostrich looked and tasted EXACTLY like beef, except it was much tougher than its bovine counterpart. My jaw ached halfway through my meal and could not finish it. See, that's what happens when you try to eat meat that's 98% fat free. Meanwhile my date enjoyed her standard surf and turf, which was very good. The best part about this restaurant is their 3 story aquarium which featured several stingrays and small sharks. Furthermore, for special occasions, a diver will display messages in the tank for any table willing to pay a little extra.
(4)
Joel C.
On vacation to Hawaii and I'm thinking "boy I bet they have some good buffets out here!" Unfortunately I wouldn't know because I happened to go to this here buffet for dinner. Most reviews here say its absolutely great--------untrue. I literally just left there less than 30 minutes ago and I still can't believe I paid 90 bucks for a dinner of two. Well let's get to the nitty, gritty. The dining room is quite nice, good atmosphere, typical buffet style set-up. I happened to get some roasted potatoes, prime rib, and some other sides that I can't remember. All were tasteless and pretty overdone. The desserts were terrible. Cheap mousses, frozen yogurt and some really bad peach cobbler. The only plus to this buffet is the plentiful salad bar, the ton of crab legs, and the service which is exceptional. The waiters work their behinds off making sure that you are taken care of. Unfortunately you can see that they're all overworked, their slacken faces depicting fake smiles give you the feeling that they just wanna go home. This place reminded me of home town buffet in the California, minus the crab legs but four times the price. I would not recommend going here.
(2)
Danielle Y.
Three words: Crappy Breakfast Buffet. Ugh. I was So Excited! to see some fish swimming around while I ate breakfast, and the fish did not disappoint. I personally am a bit in love with the biggest sting ray. He's a cutie. The service was great, but the food! I was soooo sad. They even had turkey bacon, which should have made it an Anumber1 experience, but...meh. And 17.95 of meh. Everything was just a little bit cold, and though the fruit selection was nice, everything else felt super lacking. I could have spent way less, had better food, but missed out on the fish.
(2)
Rachel L.
Popped in for dinner on a Saturday night because we heard about the "Restaurant with the aquarium view". After keeping my body fit and toned for Waikiki Beach I figured it'd be safe to indulge my last night in Honolulu since I'd be flying back to California in Jeans at a T-shirt the next morning. So can you believe that I called in at 11am Saturday morning and the first available dinner reservation was for 8:30pm? I thought to myself, "Wow.. they seem busy, maybe the food really IS that good". It was our last night in Waikiki so we figured we'd spend the afternoon at the beach, work up our appetite and then get ready for dinner. Not to sound picky but the aquarium itself wasn't at all impressive. Only interesting sea creatures worth "oohing" and "aahing" at were the various sting and batrays. Other than that the fish were "so-so". The buffet selection wasn't impressive either. Complete let down! Their wannabe sushi was bland and nothing more than shrimp surrounded by rice. Fail!!! Their selection of food was limited to a pasta station where a chef would customize your plate of pasta, various salads that looked like they had sat out too long and a few other meet trays that were either dried out from sitting out too long or a sloppy mess because people picked all of the decent pieces out. Their prime rib station I didn't bother trying because all of the pieces they were carving out were Flinstone size. Remember that scene at the beginning credits where the car tips over once the food is brought to them? yeah.. it's that big at the buffet. Our waiter was no where to be seen after we ordered our drinks. Thank goodness for our bus-boy who continued to clear our plates. We went through the crab but that was about it. After our 3rd plate I was sick of the seafood smell surrounding me. Not to mention I was watching Nemo and Dori swim by ever other minute which made me feel bad for eating the steamed fish. Only highlight was that my daughter had a blast and was entertained while we sat and tried to have a decent dinner. Didn't realize we got 25% of our check because it was Saturday night. Apparently there are other discounts given depending on the night. Check the website and book ahead! Oh.. one last thing.. so what really pissed me off was I ordered a diet soda which they served me in a tall fancy glass filled with ice. After I finished my first glass I asked our waiter for a refill. He charged me another +$2 for my refill. He said, "yeah.. we have to charge you!" WTF? I pay for a buffet so I can eat everything in sight but I'm charged every time I want a soda? Well dangit maybe I wouldn't need to ask for a refill if my first soda wasn't packed with ice!
(2)
Sean V.
The food was okay, nothing to write home (or on Yelp) about. The setting though was great. We took our five-year-old there for lunch and she was mesmerized by the giant fish tank. It was a pleasant, quiet place when we were there and a nice break from the noise and bustle outside. The prices, like anyplace else in Waikiki, were a little high for what we got.
(3)
Brandon Z.
ALL YOU CAN EAT!!! Very good for the hungry person. No need to wait for your food to arrive - You arrive to your food! Food varies from day-to-day menu, but some are always on menu: Sushi Prime rib Snow crab legs various dessert One of the best things is the aquarium. You could enjoy your food while watching fish swimming around and eating too! Great for family occasions and outings.
(4)
Javier D.
Do my eyes deceive me? Is that a 3-story fish tank in my restaurant? No, and yes. I love fish, they are beautiful creatures. I love the way they swim out of the water and onto my plate. They offer themselves with a wink and a smile saying, "Eat me, I will now descale and lie quietly on this bed of lettuce with my friends rice and crab leg. We love you Javier." As I sloppily make my way through plate after plate of the freshest seafood I have experienced in my life, I am not distracted by the diver in the fishtank who is feeding the 10' long Spotted Eagle Ray. No I'm not. I can only think that just yesterday the fish I'm eating now was saying goodbye to its family and felt complete in knowing that he would serve the purpose of filling my already swollen tourist belly. This is what heaven tastes like little fishy. Heaven. Buffet at the Oceanarium -----$35. 3 Courvoisier served in a warm snifter--- $30. Having the airline pay for it all because they can't be bothered to tell you they canceled your flight -------Priceless
(5)
Kelly A.
My kids are 2.5 and 4 and loved the surrounding and were quiet in their seats for most of the time. The sting ray was so beautiful and the cashier, waiter, photographer were all very polite and professional. The diver show was just *okay*. We went on a Monday at 8:30pm and it was busy but not too busy. The mermaid show was a bit strange. She didn't do very much throughout the show except go back up to get a breaths of air. She looked great but the moment we could take a picture was when she needed to swim back up. We stayed focus on the diver instead. It would have almost been a better show if the mermaid were in a diver's suit, I think. Still, this was a good change in venue for us in Hawaii. Very cute place. Loved the buffet! :)
(5)
Vanessa N.
Place is clean and the food is fresh. I also like how they are so attentive to the customers there. Water is refilled, plates taken, food is hot and new food is constantly coming out. My daughter loved the diver who while we were eating was feeding the fish in the big tank.
(5)
Sheri M.
Food: It was okay...nothing special. Service: Bad, bad, bad. The reception area don't receive you properly, no smile...nothing. They didn't even have us on their reservation list, luckily I took down the name of the guy I made reservations with. The waiter we had should not be working there, he disappeared and came back 45 minutes later with the bill. I wouldn't recommend anyone to come here unless they have a free meal. I'll stick with Shogun...that's another review.
(1)
Mary M.
Went here at 4:30 to fill our tummys before the 6 hour plane ride home. The food was awesome and table service was great. Minus 1 star for the staff not doing anything when this french lady was bitching me out for not taking care of these 3 kids that I didn't even know. (The kids were running around everywhere and they were asian so the lady assumed they belonged to me even though I'm 21 but look 16 and the kids were like 8 years old!!!)
(4)
Kristen C.
Came here for sunday brunch around 1130 and the place was packed, we had a group of 8 and they told us we would have to wait an hr OR we could get the last 2 tables but we would be split because we were already hungry. Buffet selection is typical, you have your prime rib waffles, eggs benedict, bacon, eggs, omelet station, and yes...crab legs! They had only 2 selections of sushi, california or futo maki. The eggs benedict was good but there was no canadian bacon underneath! only mushrooms, which I dont mind at all, but come on...im paying for this? lol. They also had a chicken sausage which was good and a shrimp, baby scallop and mussel thing in a tomato broth/sauce. They have your usual fruit bar and the dessert bar was nothing special. There was guava mousse cake, a cheesecake with a carrot cake "crust", some mini petit fours, a weird looking pumpkin pie, some haupia cake. The best thing was the bread pudding. I was really looking forward to the soft serve ice cream station too but nope, when I went for my dessert it wasnt working, some kid in front got the last swirl =(...i knew I should have had my dessert first lol. Overall, it was just a-ok. i have yet to find a buffet that WOWs me.
(3)
Rei H.
Mediocre food. The worst was spoiled Dungeness crabs smelled like ammonia. I notified a waiter but he only said "oh really..." and left. He didn't seem to talk to manager. Nothing was done, I saw the tray still there at a serving table when I went for another plate. Looks like everyone gets 25% off for dinner. Only cool thing about this place is the aquarium by the tables.
(1)
Elle B.
Had the lunch buffet to celebrate a relative's visit to Hawaii. If you couldn't tell already by the giant floor to ceiling aquarium that makes you look like you're dining at SeaWorld this place is a real tourist trap. The lunch buffet is pretty cheap. At $17++ that's a bargain these days given that it's Waikiki and that a so-so plate lunch is gonna run you about $10. However the quality of the food is definitely correlated to the buffet price. Decent salad bar and lots of fresh seasonal fruits. Tiny shrimp cocktail. Marlin (not Ahi) sashimi, somewhat ricey maki sushi, boring hot entrees, and unexciting desserts. Best thing was the lau lau (which I have a feeling was outsourced). A few things not related to the food really bugged me and degraded my perception of the buffet. First the bartender was cutting pineapple straight out of the case and left the empty boxes on a wagon in front of the bar (prep station anyone?). Second, buffet runners were servicing the buffet on nasty looking plastic carts which almost are an insult to whatever effort was made to set up an attractive spread. Made me feel like I was at a turn and burn chinese buffet. Lastly service broke the experience for me. Our server had no aloha whatsoever. Looking around I could sense the same lack of care and attention to detail by other servers. It is NEVER okay for a server to count tips at the table which made me want to tip down drastically from 20%... Don't know whether its the terrible economy or the ongoing labor struggle with management, its regrettable that they forget who actually pays their paycheck!
(2)
Niesha M.
The food is nothing special here, but three stars goes to the huge aquarium and all the interesting fish!
(3)
Jennifer H.
Oh hell-yea! This place is def worth it... Go for your Birthday and get a buy one get one free gift certificate. They have roast duck, prime rib, crab legs, salmon, laulau, chirashi,poke, shirimp tempura and the best dang chocholate sauce to go with your strawberries. i like how they get beautiful girls to swim in the tank to feed the fish in the giant fish tank . Always a hit at this buffet. Just save room for that Chocholate sauce I'm telling you it's the best i ever had.
(5)
Tara F.
I don't understand the terrible reviews. Yesterday for my birthday we were thinking of places to celebrate. My friend told us to try Oceanarium. I wasn't going to go because of the bad reviews on yelp that said the food was terrible, pricey and the aquarium is boring. First of all, if you go from 4-5:30 its only about $25! I really wanted crab and sushi so this was the right choice! Awesome, huge snow crab and very fresh sushi, all you can eat for $25. That in itself made it worth going here. Anywhere else we looked it was about $24 for a few crab legs and fries. We must have eaten like $50 worth of crab not to mention the sushi. Also, I love my poke so this made it well worth it. They have a pretty good fish selection, shell fish, a pasta station, huge roasted pig, sashimi, prime rib and a bunch of other things. The aqurium was a really great part of it and fun to look at. Don't listen to other reviews and try this place- at least during happy hour. $25 was very much worth it if you like to eat crab and sushi!
(4)
CJ C.
I won a gift certificate at a silent auction for a buffet dinner for 2 to Oceanarium. My memory of this restaurant is that it had a bountiful selection with many tasty items. Came here Friday and all my dining companion and I could think was how far this had gone downhill. It was SO disappointing. The prime rib was, in a word, tough. The crab selection that night was Jonah crab claws, snow crab and Dungeness crab. Only the Dungeness crab had some flavor, and, of course, you had to dig for the morsels. Sushi offering was meh. The cooked to order pasta with seafood looked promising, but the shrimp and scallops in my dish had NO FLAVOR and mushy texture. Bland stuff--no flavor, no texture. It was a sad night for me when the best items were the ciabatta which you toasted yourself (nice touch) and mashed potatoes. It's a good thing that I donated the money to charity when I picked up this certificate. If I had to pay $38.95 each for that dinner, I would have been ticked! The servers, at least, were good about clearing our plates and keeping our beverages filled. They worked hard and were pleasant. Hate to see a local restaurant like this fall so far off the mark. Two stars because the servers were nice and the fish in the tank were pretty.
(2)
J K.
Not a fan of the buffet. Lots of seafood, but nothing great. Not worth the price. Service was okay. I don't like buffets that give you a time limit. Seems like it defeats the purpose of a buffet.
(2)
Wendy C.
Dont go there. This place has edible food, but nothing spectacular or special. The big tank is dirty, and no mermaid swims arround during designated times. The service is slow. We arrived a few minutes early to our reservation, and even though there was an available table, they didnt let us in and insisted that we wait. When time comes, they gave us a crappy little table by the entrance. During reservation, we already explained that we want a table close to the tank. The food is mediocre. The price to food ratio is very high. Overall, it is not worth spending $37/person to eat a whole bunch of really just mediocre food and deal with horrible service. Dont trust those pictures. The place is really run down and and needs serious remodeling.
(1)
Jamie Q.
My aunt took my family and I here for the dinner buffet. At first glance, this buffet blew my mind. I can't remember the last time I went to a buffet and saw king crab legs, prime rib, ahi poke, and other seafood dishes offered at the same place. Yet after literally trying all the food, there is no one dish that can be called memorable. Don't get me wrong, it's good. Just not great. The restaurant is a nice place. Its in a hotel located in Downtown Waikkiki and it has a circular aquarium in the middle complete with tropical fish and rays. Nice touch, I say.
(3)
Leigh N.
My friend and I were staying the weekend in Waikiki and as a last minute idea decided on going to brunch. We tried to get reservations at the Halekulani but they were booked so we ended up here. The food while not outstanding, was not horrible either. The servers were attentive and helpful. There's lots to choose from, an omelet station, prime rib, crab legs, salads, fruit, waffles with all the toppings, some other entrees and desserts too. The cost of brunch for 2 people here is probably the same as what you'd pay for one person at the Halekulani. Bonus here is the giant fish tank. It's very relaxing to watch those fish. Like being at the Waikiki Aquarium only better since you get to eat while you watch the fishes!
(4)
Emiko T.
Oceanarium was crowded on New Years Eve, and though I made a reservation, we still waited over 20 minutes to get a table next to the aquarium, which, trust me people, is only worth waiting for if you have kids who'd love nothing more than to sit next to the fishies. Only THEN you may wait for a seat next to the tank. I almost thought they forgot about us. The REAL reason you're there is for the food, right?? So, let's get down to it. My two favorite dishes were the Portuguese seafood stew with yummy sausage, scallops and shrimp and the infamous crab legs. All you can eat crab legs, and if you went there to eat nothing else but that and dessert, I'd say you're set. Price definitely matches Waikiki wallet-zapping establishments, but for a fun treat to indulge and bust your diet, this is a pretty good place. Not to mention, there are a ton of dessert options, making a sweet-tooth like me hard to stay away from that side of the buffet. The strawberries for the fondue were HUGE and they had lots of little cakes to choose from. Though I have fond things to say about Oceanarium, I probably wouldn't go back right away just in case I ever find another buffet with even more seafood and a lower price.
(4)
Jeff H.
We stumbled upon this restaurant after a long relaxing day at the beach. The stingrays in the huge 3-story tank caught our attention, so we decided to check it out. We then realized it's actually a seafood buffet restaurant. So we're starving and tired anyway, so we gave it a whirl. I tried every thing there, but nothing really stuck out. The food was fulfilling. Afterward, we ordered drinks and just chilled out in front of the huge aquarium. It's a quaint place if you're just looking for something quiet with live fishies.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Went there for lunch around 12 and there only a few other groups there so we got to sit right next to the tank. They have one huge sting ray, two small ones and fish. The prices are very decent for Hawaii and the Mahi Mahi was the best I have had so far. My husband also loved his burger. Great place to bring our of town guests.
(5)
Su Y.
this place is actually good. they have happy hour from 4:30-5:30, 20% off. and for cinco de mayo 25% off. so normally it's $35/person. they usually have steaks, fish, warm crab legs, sashimi, sushi, salads, made to order seafood pastas, and a large array of deserts. plus the aquarium is a plus. something to look at while eating. the service is great too. so definitely check it out during happy hour. bc $35 seems a little to high during regular hours.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Joe K.
What was I thinking...Don't know how I got talked in to coming back to this place. Should of known when we walked in the place, couldn't find a host, they were cleaning tables..We asked for a table for 3, the host had to clean it before seating us. Don't they have bussers? Our server looked at us with regret, we weren't able to get even a glass of water until asking for it twice. We were told to ask our server for "hot " crab legs, because they don't serve it heated on the buffet line. It took forever to get a plate of "hot" crab legs, that came in such a small portion that was suppose to feed three people. It was shrimp night, basically fried crispy overcooked shrimp. The prime rib was tough and hard to eat. The dessert station was bare. We tried to get a 2nd round of drinks, our first order stayed empty on our table with out being asked for another order and our water glasses weren't refilled. This place is crazy, the floors are filthy food everywhere, tables around us stayed dirty most of time that we were there, and no one took away our dirty plates, so we stacked our plates in the middle of the table. We had to ask the host for our check, the same host that had to clean a table to get us in. The server gave us our check and ran off. Does he deserve a tip? What a nightmare and guess what this cost me $50 bucks...
(1)Jon Y.
I had lunch here today with my family. If there is someone in your party that is vegetarian there was not much for them to eat outside green salad. I picked up about 20 items from the buffet and didn't finish any of them. The desserts looked really good (cheesecake, cookies etc) until we figured out they were all warm. Between my wife and I we tried about 10 desserts and they were all warm. Not under 40 degrees for sure more like 75 to 85. Speaking of temperature I was talking with the manager on duty as we walked the buffet and as we walked by the ginger chicken I felt the underside of the dish (where it should be the hottest) and it felt luke warm (it should be 135 degrees). I pointed this out to the manager who's response was oh well we normally sell through the food faster. I checked a few other items and found the same thing. There is no way I would ever eat here again.
(1)Lori C.
MMM, I want to live here during the brunch buffet. So much fresh poke, mashed potatoes, baked ahi, endless crab legs, seafood rice platter (or something), delicious desserts like almond jelly, mini carrot cakes, mini red velvet cake, coconut cookies, and tons more. SO SO SO GOOD. The only complaint I had was about the eggs benedict. It was just so tasteless... but whatever, can't complain when you got delicious food surrounding you everywhere else!
(5)Matthew M.
This buffet's food is well above par but the price is very high. I would say mid $30 is fair. Otherwise show/aquarium is neat. Parking is supposed to be validated but I could not get it to work when I pulled out at automatic gate.
(4)Matt R.
This place really isn't THAT great as it seems. I'm sitting here right now & I'm over it. Don't get your hopes up. The seating is so awkward because we're a foot away from another couple. Environment feels/looks dirty & dusty. Save yourself the trouble of coming out to Waikiki & go to Tsukijis for a real buffet 10x better. I can't even express how horrible our dinner time was here. It ruined the whole night. I paid $87 to sit there & eat dried sushi (which by the way, had a flying bug chilling on the sushi tray), nothing tasted amazing at all. I couldn't even talk to my girlfriend because it was so awkward sitting so close to strangers. The seats are so cramped, we had to wait till the couple next to us got up to go get food so we could go get food without squeezing through. Service was nothing special. But just to know that I paid that much for what we ate, quality, & how we felt about it...just pissed me off. Oh, so then we decided to just grab desert there for the hell of it, right? Might as well make the best of our meal. So, we go take a look at the deserts, & the table with all the toppings & what not was just trashed. Didn't look 'customer ready' at all. It was gross. But the grossest part was the chocolate fountain. So, they had strawberries & bananas next to the chocolate fountain, ready to dip...the bananas were all turning black already & the chocolate just looked disgusting. It looked like there was oil in it. If you looked at the chocolate from an angle, you could see the different shades of color & it just wasn't flowing smoothly...looked chunky. Don't eat here.
(1)Roseann S.
We wanted to celebrate our last dinner at Waikiki beach. So we yelped seafood buffets and this popped up. Me and the hubby are always up for any seafood especially crab legs. Upon arrival, we were told it would take 30-45min to be seated and that the buffet closes at 10pm, which would have given us only 30 minutes to eat if we didn't get called. We sat down for less than 5 minutes and was buzzed in. Our table was definitely FAR! But i guess it was worth it. We can work out the food walking to the buffet line lol. They had all you can eat crab legs, poke, baked ahi, prime rib, oh and the almond jelly dessert was amazing. They also had this pineapple that was smoking. can't really explain, but I'll post a pic up later. I ended up getting a virgin drink which consisted of pina colada and strawberry. I'm not to big about drinking alcohol so having that drink was good enough for me. The price was what kinda made me gasp. it was pretty expensive for 3 adults and 1 child. Came up to $160.00 but all worth it. I wont know when I will come back to Hawaii.
(5)Heather B.
Customer service was non existent. So RUDE. Go anywhere else but this restaurant.
(1)Tim H.
This has got to be one of the best breakfast buffets I have ever had. It had loads of fruits, breakfast meats, pancakes, cereals and juices. I think I would have given it another star if it weren't for the fact that a kid dropped the tongs to the bacon on the floor and then the father picked them up and put them back on top of the bacon stack as if nothing happened when in fact a server saw him do that and so did a few other people waiting for the bacon. Other than that, my meal was great and I would eat there again just as long as I do not see that father and son again.
(3)Radiant C.
The Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel is a great venue for all occasions! I know that I have been going to this restaurant even as a toddler. Yeah, I'm pretty young, but still, that's a pretty long time that I've been a customer! We try to think of every type of celebration to dine at the restaurant, from birthdays, to graduations, to national holidays, etc., and this restaurant is always great. However, the only buffet selection that I really fancy is their Sunday brunch menu. But, I think that is due to my fondness of breakfasts dishes. They are usually booked especially from 11:00 AM to 1:15PM. I suggest calling at least a week ahead of time to make a reservation. I've called three days ahead of time and I was not able to get a reservation in, and of course just recently, I called the day before to make a reservation - of course, no such luck either. Be sure to check out their website for menus and any discounts or any other inquiries. They are also helpful when you contact a spokesperson via landline! Is it bad that I don't even pay attention to the large tank in front of me during my meal? I guess it goes to say that I am too engrossed in my meal to even pay attention. However, it is a good distraction while you wait for some food to digest before you get up to get more food from the buffet, eh!
(4)Kristen C.
This is the best place hands down to get the all you can eat crab legs experience. The service is okay and it's a bit pricey but we love the crab legs! There is the aquarium and they do a dive show which is neat for those with kids. I don't really like how the servers somewhat hover over you as you eat. But if you are looking for all you can eat, this is the go to place!
(4)Char D.
I've been here three times in the last 3 years and I think their food is so so, although my hubby loves their food. They don't have a really great selection in my opinion and especially for the price you pay. I've only eaten dinner here, so this opinion isn't based on brunch. I've tried their mahi mahi (didn't get any seconds), crab legs (yum! with the bad-for-you melted butter), tako poke (yum! look this up if you aren't local), lomi salmon (NO thank you), some chicken thing covered in some sauce I don't remember, prime rib (okay), and pasta with scallops (made to order). Their dessert table does have pineapples that are actually sweet, but their selection of pastries are mediocre, kinda like Todai. I do like their plantation ice tea and their service. Each time I've gone, the servers are very attentive. The fish tank is HUGE and is a great attraction for the tourists. Overall, only a place I'd go to if I had visitors. It's a tourist-y destination.
(3)Lance H.
We went here for the Friday lunch buffet. Based upon the crowed there, it looked like if you are older and Japanese/Hawaiian that this may be food you would like (but it probably isn't necessarily the finest though). For a mainlander though, the selection didn't really stand out. I had trouble finding things I liked there. We went there mainly to see the aquarium. It was neat, but not worth the price of the parking garage and buffet. The water was also a bit cloudy and the fish weren't particularly colorful or seemed to have much variety. Lastly, the restaurant looks like it really could use a refresh to bring it to the current decade in decor. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)Stephanie L.
As my family and I were in Hawaii for the holidays, we wanted to go somewhere nice for Christmas dinner. We settled on the Oceanarium as we love buffets and thought it'd be cool to be right next to a large aquarium. If you want a table right by the aquarium, it is recommended that you make reservations in June. Crab legs, crab legs, and MORE crab legs! Oh crab legs. They are so fresh and delicious. I think I ate more than my money's worth by taking plate after plate of crab legs. Yum!! Another type of seafood I love?? OYSTERS. I would strongly suggest NOT eating the oysters as I got sick from them. The first one I ate tasted a bit funny, but I ignored it as I was so happy to be having oysters. Then, I tried a second one that tasted equally as funky so I spit it out. I had my sister try one just in case it was the batch I picked up, but she immediately made a face and spit her's out as well. You may be thinking that I got sick from the crab legs, but everyone else in my family had the crab legs and only my sister had that one oyster she spit out and everyone felt just fine. The only thing I had different from anyone else were the oysters. The rest of my night consisted of me, a bottle of gatorade, and the porcelain goddess. Pepto Bismol was my new best friend after that.
(3)Amy H.
My relatives are huge fans of food and especially all-you-can-eat food, so as a pre-Christmas celebration, we came here for brunch. I filled my plate with as many different things as I could. Sadly, much of it was not to my liking. Everything cooked was overcooked (dry ahi, chewy chicken) and not flavorful. Luckily, they had poke, sashimi, and green papaya salad with seaweed (ocean salad?), which were fantastic. The desserts were also disappointing: pies were ehh in texture and flavor and the cookies were nothing interesting. They did have soft serve and lots of toppings, so I ended up finishing off the meal with that. We watched a diver with a santa hat feed the fish; he was really friendly, luring the ray around so we could see its mouth and belly. I also thought the service could have been better. The hostess ignored us for a good while as she did something on the computer.
(3)Jhoren C.
Their buffet ROCKS! seafood seafood and lot's of it! Prime rib is also good (even though I don't care for red meat) what I take advantage of is their crab legs with extra butter please! and they have a pretty good selection of desserts, but of course you don't come here for that. Nice, clean restauarant and service was fantastic.
(4)Brandon B.
OMG: we sure made the wrong choice for dinner here. Super-overpriced stale buffet food that was mediocre to start and even worse after sitting out for so long. Cheesy mermaids swimming in a big fish tank holding up happy birthday signs for happy patrons. Expensive drink that didn't have any alcohol that any of us could tell. A few people were sick later that night. Avoid!
(1)Jocelyn L.
OMG. could this place be more old school?! the food is...really rather bad. the aquarium is mildly interesting for all of...10 mins. really not worth the $$$
(2)Tori P.
I decided to round up the 3.5! Went here with my fiance's big family of 22 people. We reserved a table for a nice dinner because we thought the family would enjoy the giant fish tank. The waiters were nice, and came back to ask us how we were doing and if we needed refills on our drinks. What I took advantage of was all the crab legs they had! Not once did they let any crab tray run out. It was always refilled to the brim and fresh ones were brought out once people have grabbed plates full. I got at least 3 big full plates of crab legs, yummm. The had butter but I got lemon for dipping instead. The sushi didn't look great, so I skipped out on that. I tried the 'build your own' pasta at the pasta station and I liked that it was fresh and that you could customize your own order. The clam chowder was decent. Since I don't eat beef or pork, I didn't try the meats they had available. Oh, and they had a chocolate fountain! I WAS SO EXCITED, lol. I dipped a bunch of fruits, and tried their other pastries (not too great, meh.) Anyways, it was an overall good experience. I suggest families go here :) We saw the mermaid too! Everyone was fascinated, haha.
(4)Edward L.
I'm hovering between three and four stars here but a few extras pulled it up over to four. First off the website says "No swimwear or tank tops. Shorts and t-shirts are discouraged". Well let me tell you, I saw plenty of people in swimwear and shorts and tank tops were the norm. So go ahead and eliminate those thoughts of upscale dining and don't worry about being too casual. As for the food it's pretty decent if not somewhat better. I've definitely been to my share of buffets and the food here is pretty good. You get a good selection of turf (NY strip, prime rib, turkey (?) and dressing) and a higher proportion of surf (lots of crab legs, paella, mahi mahi, seafood pasta). Also on the menu are gobs and gobs of tourists. Now, admittedly, it's in a really touristy spot, but man, I nearly had to shiv some tourists just to get a decent crab claw. Luckily they bring out food frequently so you don't have to wait long even if the group from the Japanese tour bus clears out the chaffing dish of crab. Salad was standard, cold dishes were okay, and desserts were above average. Service was great, our waiter cleared our plates very quickly and was very attentive without being too cloying. Also a highlight was the mermaid show in the fish tank. Unfortunately the show got started after we had gotten up to leave. The biggest drawback is the hefty $37 price tag. It's almost just too much, but if you're in the mood for a crapload of decent food, this might be the place to go.
(4)Lauren W.
What an amazing dining experience I had at the oceanarium. There were too many options and I will definitely have to go back and try more. The crab legs were unbelievable. Not only were they hot and fresh, but they were huge! They had a prime rib carving station and a create your own seafood pasta bar. But I ended the buffet with soft serve ice cream and chocolate fondue. My server was very attentive and was available anytime I needed anything. If you want great good in Waikiki-this is the place!!
(5)Glen L.
Had the dinner buffet last night. The buffet costs around $36 per person. I never know how to tip when a buffet costs this much. 10%, 15% or 20% seems too much when you are not being served. Valet parking with validation was $5.00 The prime rib was neither here or there. The first piece I got was seasoned ok, but overcooked and therefore was barely edible. The second piece I got cooked about medium well and not seasoned at all. For the price they are charging you can find much better. Both pieces of prime rib were served sliced paper thin. I occasionally make my own prime rib and it is quite a skill to be able to cut a steak that is 1/4" thick steak. The raw oysters were fresh and tasted good. Everything else was pretty average. There are plenty of choices but if this buffet was on the Las Vegas main strip, they wouldn't last more than a week. The 3 story fish tank is a neat attraction. There are a couple of large sting rays. But the tank seems to need some more larger fish. The one thing that really annoyed me were the bowls they have for your wasabi and soy sauce. These bowls have a very narrow base and are not very stable when nearly empty because they are really meant for soups or tempura sauce. If the bowl is nearly full (as in the case of soup or tempura sauce) there is no problem, but when they are nearly empty, with just a little soy and wasabi, they are easy to tip over. Of course I tipped my bowl over and spilled soy sauce all over my clothes. Went to the rest room to try to wash some of it off and there are no paper towels, just those tacky heated air machines that you find at gas stations and airports. Overall this is type of place to go to just to say you have been there so you can cross it off your checklist.
(3)Sunny D.
I've gone to the Oceanarium a number of times, this last time we took my father in law who was visiting from the Midwest. We had reservations on the same Saturday of the Aloha week parade so we were able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. It was not overly crowded as I've seen many times before, and there was a surprising amount of locals as well. No mermaids, just a gal in a wetsuit & tank who brought two "Happy birthday" signs down. She later fed the fish, actually it looked like she was "chuming" the water. Took a swim with the Rays...very cool. About a half hour later two gals came down to clean the tank, brushed the rocks and such. The poke was really good, my father in law doesn't like seafood but really enjoyed the shrimp tempura. He said it didn't taste fishy at all. He also raved about the German potato salad (a bit strong for my taste) and liked the roast beef as well as some other meat entrees. We went for the bread pudding as Oceanarium's is very tasty with the vanilla sauce. We got one fresh from the oven, yum! My favorite is always the crab legs although I'm not a big eater, they do make money on people like me. There were two separate tables of local people who were scarfing up mounds of crab legs! One guy actually had a humongous pile of just legs on his plate, I though he was gonna share but NO, he ate it all himself and went back for more! Eeek! They lost money on him and one other table who were also eating mostly just crab legs. I guess they were doing what my mom always told us as kids, "Eat what you don't usually have at home." Wish I could have fit more in my tiny tummy but hate that overly stuffed feeling. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. Lots of selection of meat, chicken, fish ,shellfish (yum) , fruits, salads and nice desserts too! We will be back!
(4)COURTNEY K.
Very disappointing.
(2)O O.
I have to comment first on the tacky Halloween decor inside the aquarium tank. I cannot for the life of me think it was worth the money spent on the effort. It was out of place, ugly, gruesome and along with that, thoughtless. We the people, go to such beautiful restaurants to escape the mundane and the common ground so to speak. There was nothing that bespoke of Halloween fun, holiday cheer, etc. The little, glittery do dads at the hostess podium was quite enough. I went there to see the tank of fish. I always try to spot at least one or two fishies that I wished I could eat. That's who I am and that's how it is. At last! The food is of much better quality than in past years, cooked well and to perfection (although I like my Eggs Benedict completely runny, such a feat is difficult to manage on a buffet line), the prime rib was seasoned, pink and tender, and best of all, the crab legs weren't frozen in the middle. Oh yes, they used to be. The crab legs were honking large, prime pieces, not dry or overly salty. But I tells ya, these places put crab crackers on the table even though they know the crab legs are too soft to actually crack. The knife does a better job. I also had at one time, been to a restaurant that pre-sliced each crab leg lengthwise to help the diner peel that sweet meat out of it's hiding place. So the place was so popular they aren't around anymore. Think they lost business because too many people ate the crab legs too fast. The sashimi, though not ahi, was fresh, the mussels were good but the oysters were not possibly, freshly shucked. They didn't taste badly but they were dried out and flat, not plump and juicy. They appeared to have been sitting open for quite a while and were flat and stringy when I lifted them with my fork.) At least the lemon slices were fresh and unlimited and cut the long way, the only way to maximize the juice flow. Don't care how tony the joint, a half lemon in a cheesecloth, (where most of the juice saturates the cloth and only drips sparingly onto your seafood) is really dumb, not to mention wasteful. Man, the shrimp and vegetable tempura was better than in many Japanese restaurants, crisp with panko, not greasy and when I bit into the first shrimp, the umami shot up and out of my nose. O-o-o-oink! The salads and fresh fruit seemed fresh but as anyone should, I walk from stuff I can have any time. At a seafood buffet, I'm there to get any foods I can't get at other times to stuff in my fat face. Service was swift but spotty. Well and kinda weird. Dishes that were clearly still with food were dumped upon with other scraps and whisked rapidly off our table before we could object, other empty plates were left and had to be pushed aside when our table of diners returned with seconds or dessert. But the beverages flowed quickly and the coffee was sublime. Fresh cream...ahhhh. Three cups during lunch will keep me up till past midnight. No matter, was worth it. I'm not much of a dessert person except on a special occasion and someone else's birthday isn't special enough for me. But the desserts were varied and pretty and everyone who at them said they were, "very good!" I myself cannot be sure of that, having had a second plate of crab legs and drawn butter, for dessert.
(4)Gina J.
I've been to the Oceanarium twice and both experiences were great! The buffet is amazing and everything tasted fresh and delicious! I also had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and they were very accommodating to our large party size. Yes, this place is a bit pricey but you are getting what you are paying for - delicious food and great service! We never had to ask the waiters for refills or our plates to be taken away, they were always on top of it. I also miscounted my own party and ended up having to get a refund, they were really nice about it especially since they counted correctly and I didn't (oops!). I highly recommend this place if you're looking for that "Hawaiian" experience, it's also a huge plus that you get to watch the amazing fish floating around in the aquarium itself. I also liked how the divers come in and do special messages.
(4)Susan F.
Its been awhile since the last time I've been here, I want to say 5 years at least. Maybe my palette has changed a bit or I was just expecting more of it because I loved it all those years ago. I made reservations for Christmas brunch, first seating in mid May. My step-dad seems to be forgetful the past few years and we've been scrambling for a place to eat for christmas brunch in late November. I use to love the raw oysters here, but this year I was a bit disappointed. Some of the oysters didn't look too fresh :-/ The set up for the entire buffet area was a little messed up. The long line for the omelet bar was in the way of the crab legs, and the prime rib. The cocktail sauce was on a totally different area from where the oysters were (an old lady even scolded my sister for it being there, like it was her fault it was set up that way). Even the soft serve was in the corner and hard to get to. It was just really oddly set up. The service was pretty pathetic too. We asked a wait staff to bring an extra set of crab cracker and pick and he told us we needed to ask someone else :-/ I don't think they work as a team here. The food itself, it was not all that memorable. Very forgettable.... Average. The prime rib looked good as it was carved and placed on my plate, but when I sat down to eat it all the au ju sauce was soaked up into it like it was dry. It also needed to add salt to it. Crab was okay, but like I said, all the food was not memorable at all and its only been a couple of days since I've eaten there. Overall its a good place to eat, because of the awesome aquarium, but I think next year I'll choose somewhere else to eat.
(3)Kassie C.
We ate here because it was my parents' anniversary dinner...emailed a request for a "dive sign" to say Happy Anniversary (not knowing it would cost $50!?!) Food is good: full buffet includes 3 types of crab legs (BBQ, snow crab and dungeness) as well as prime rib, pasta served however you wish (with either scallops, shrimp, calamari or clam, as well as with white or marinara sauce). The roasted potatoes were delicious, as well as the sushi, steamed veggies and soup. There was an extensive dessert table, including guava cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, a chocolate fountain (with pineapple, strawberries, etc. for dipping), a soft serve machine and a sundae buffet with assorted toppings. All in all, the food was delicious and we were pleasantly plump when we left. The aquarium was nice, complete with local fish, a large stingray and the diver/mermaid. But still, I'll reserve this restaurant only for special celebrations when we're in Waikiki.
(4)Min K.
Holy shananigans can one say better than Todai? I arrived late to a family dinner because exercise is a priority. I still worked out, so I know that I burned more calories than what I ate, and that's the philosophy I follow and abide by. Located in the Pacific Beach Hotel, for those of you who are inclined to know it as where the 24 Hour Waikiki is, located in the lobby is the Oceanarium. It's a buffet, and have a plethora of food such as paella, mashed potatoes for the Anna Nicole Smith followers, fresh shucked oysters, mussels, assorted vegetables, a beet salad, and more. I didn't really care for the cheese platter, it was very generic and cheddar and mozzarella isn't going to cut it for me. I'll stick to Brasserie DuVin. My favorite, dessert, was enough to keep me satisfied. A bite of the marbled cheesecake, the pineapple chunks, the carrot cake, and the "I dont know if I like you or dislike you Almond Float". It was basically fruit cocktail with lychee and almond tofu. The lychee really overtook the flavor of the almond tofu. Not too good for me. Simply put, it's good food at a decent price for buffet. The service was great: I think his name was Ardin. Thank you for my extra water and the constant refills. It was great and so much fun to see the sexy mermaid! They need a merman and I think it'll be The big blonde mermaid sequel in real life. I'll go again and pay good money to watch that and eat food!
(4)Jenn S.
We threw a fairly large party there during their Saturday Brunch - it was an important occasion (1st birthday) and were looking for a different, fun venue to celebrate. After dining there on several occasions and being completely happy with the service and food, we were sure that with our mermaid and fish themed party, it was going to be awesome. We are all about the food and were positive that the Oceanarium would be a hit with our guests as well. Long story short, I went there a week before to clarify some details about the seating arrangements and set up. I consider myself a very polite and patient person. After I took out my seating chart and started to ask questions, the GM abruptly said "Well, this isn't a banquet hall." Wow. Really? He flat out refused to accommodate me in any way. I couldn't even move ONE chair. We couldn't even get a clear start time when we got there. So after we scrambled to set up and everything was in place (BTW, I moved the chair), we had an awesome party. Everyone was happy with the food and had a great time. Alex, our waiter, was awesome, as was the original reception crew that helped take our reservation. Did the GM, who was there, even bother to check on our party? Nope. You would think he would since we had 90 people there and dropped over $2000...Oceanarium should only have crab on their spectacular menu. Not in charge.
(3)Josh L.
I really liked the crab legs. They were very fresh and the size was amazing. Although I did not enjoy how the tables were set up it seemed very tacky and crowded. I did not like the sushi very much or the poke because it did not seem fresh. The hot was very forgettable and I did not go back for seconds.
(3)Lalee M.
Nice aquarium but food is bad.
(2)R K.
I admit it. I was enticed to try the Oceanarium because of the mermaid. However, I never saw her/him because she/he only comes out at 9pm. Is this a restaurant or a strip club? The huge fish tank that makes up one wall of the restaurant was interesting. As we came down the stairs, I could smell a fishiness, and I wondered if it was the tank or the food being served. Either way, that was not a good thing. Also, during the dinner, a crab was flailing about in the tank right next to us as we ate crab. It was an awkward moment. The buffet was better than expected. A lot of options besides the expected seafood. Overall, it was a worthwhile visit, but not something I'd rush to do again.
(3)Jaclyn H.
Celebrated my son's 1st birthday here. We enjoyed the food and the fish. The scuba gal was amazing, as she played with the sting rays. I must say, we were very disappointed with the mermaid show :( There was only one mermaid, and she didn't swim as much as the scuba gal
(5)jen s.
the only reason why my hubby and i eat here is for the CRAB. We mainly go for dinner so im not sure how good the lunch buffet is. For the CRAB it's hit or miss... sometimes its really delish and other times a fail. we totally lucked out one day with a variety of snow, dungeness, and king crab... yummm! there is also a HUGE salt water tank. Majority of the bigger fishes died so the tank is filled with little ones. It's always so relaxing to watch the fishes. Occasionally a diver will pop up to feed/play with the fishes. kamaaina rates before 530 pm! check out the website for a run down of the buffet line.
(4)Marcie M.
First I have to give this place only three stars, b/c I had better seafood elsewhere in Waikiki and I hate buffets, but what I loved most was the pineapple drinks and the aquarium. This thing is HUGE and the workers dive down and feed the fish while you are eating. The buffet is the only way to go but MAN, it was pricey!! So add that to drinks and it's at least $50 a person ...which I think is great if the selection is better. But, I was quite disappointed with the variety, which I didn't find much of. The salads and dessert options were awesome though and as I mentioned, GET the pineapple drink. It comes in a huge pineapple shell and has smoke (not real smoke, just dry ice or something) rolling out of it. Soooo fun and good! It's worth the extra money on the bill :). This place is great for groups, tourists to try new things and those lovers of all things buffet and "all you can eat" (gross).
(3)C M.
Amazing! 40$ a person, but if you are local or military you get 25% off from 4:30 - 5:30pm and after 8:30pm. They have 3 different types of crab legs! Alaskin, Dungenous, and Snow. Delicious! Sweet aquarium that is huge and have mermaids at 9pm. Love it.
(5)Scott V.
4 stars, as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. 1. It's touristy. 2. It's an all you can eat buffet of goodness. 3. There are mermaids. Yes, you heard me correctly. At 5, 7, and 9, the fish in the huge floor to ceiling fish tank are "fed" by a woman in a scuba mask, fins, tank and a bathing suit. She waves at you, can hold a sign saying "Happy Birthday Kimoko," etc. I don't think she actually fed any fish, but it was funny. Then, wait - a second woman dives down. No mask though. Oh my God. It's a mermaid! Flowing blond hair, coconut bra, and yes, a waist to tail fin fitted mermaid suit! Hahahahaha. I nearly lost my &*^%. But you're there because you're hungry, right? I really stuffed myself. They've got Alaskan crab legs, stuffed crab, New England clam chowder, sushi, BBQ pork belly, and the best damn prime rib I've EVER had. A real carving station with a guy saying, "It's all here for you man." No joke. He actually did say that to me and the little kid oggling him from the stairway just adjacent. Also, there's a full dessert area, with pies, cakes, and ice cream. Yes, it's expensive at $40. However, let's say you like buffets, and you think the Golden Corral is a great deal. It's totally worth more than four trips to your normal buffet place to save for this one. It's like the Hawaii you know from Elvis movies and the Brady Bunch Hawaii episodes. And surprisingly, that's not a bad thing!
(4)Rho M.
My family and I love buffets and the Oceanarium is one of our favs! Crab legs, tempura, sushi, pasta station, prime rib, just to name a few of their selection.. My kids especially love their chocolate fountain, ice cream, dessert station and their beautiful mermaid in their huge aquarium keeps them entertained which is always a plus at dinner!!
(5)Johnny L.
This is one of the most interesting restaurants in Hawaii for its gigantic aquarium. Located within walking distance of many hotels in Waikiki, this place will keep you entertained during your meal with sights of interesting tropical fishes and other sea creatures. "... Oceanarium was built in 1979 and is the biggest of its kind located in a single hotel. The three-story, 280,000-gallon, larger-than-life aquarium provides guests with incredible views of nearly 400 fish from more than 70 different species of Indo-Pacific marine life." Source: pacificbeachhotel.com
(4)Sean D.
I came here with my gf expecting a decent buffet and dining experience...I was extremely overwhelmed by the quality of food and service! The selections on the buffet were tasty and delightful! I swear I tried to commit crabicide with the dungeoness and snow crab...so sweet and plentiful...and our sever was always there to remove our plates so we didn't look too guilty. The manager, Brian? Was attentive to touching all the tables around us and seemed to have a great presence. I loved the pasta action station where the chef amazed anything u wanted...seafood pastas on demand with great attitude, demeanor, suggestions...and the flavors were fabulous! Prime rib cut to order...perfect with the condiments. I noticed a lot of Asian options on the buffet, not normally seen around other restaurants...lots of sushi, rolls, and oxtail soup? Who does that? I was expecting mostly tourists as we are in the heart of Waikiki, but I saw many local families here, celebrating or just here for the excellent service and food, so the word must be out that this is the place to go for good eats and a great experience. We stayed to see the mermaid come out and took lots of photos...very unique! Oops...forgot the desserts...holy moly...my gf went back 3 times for desserts...too much to offer... All I can say is yummy... Whoever is directing this restaurant must know what they are doing...love it!!!
(5)Shay F.
I went here once or twice...but I never thought it was all that great. Yah, that tank is awesome but if the food you're eating isn't good....it's not worth it. And yes, there is a time limit. Time limit on a buffet? Yah....
(2)Joey N.
Keep in mind last buffet I had was at the Wynn in Vegas. Not worth 40 bucks. Fish is overcooked. Crab was dead. Flavor was ok. Reminded me more of a 20 dollar Chinese buffet.
(2)Holland M.
Mmmm, the first time I went here was for Easter weekend. They had a great tasting furikake salmon. Wide variety of seafood, not so much in the way of Poke, but oysters, shrimp, and king crab legs were plentiful. Nice buffet of great local foods. My favorites when I go are definitely the shrimp curry and furikake salmon. Followed by a Plantation ice tea. Mmmhmmm good P: Oh, and there is a great view of the aquarium. The scuba divers feed them regularly and it's always a nice show.
(5)Jay B.
I came here with my family (total 12). I was visiting from the mainland and we decided to hit a "tourist spot" for buffet. We had an early dinner reservation, 4:30. The staff was very attentive and friendly. They made sure our plates were picked up and water filled to the top. They came around every so often to make sure we were okay. Buffet consisted of - Oysters & Mussels On-The-Half-Shell, Shrimp with cocktail Sauce, Island Sashimi, Fish and Tako Poke, Lomilomi Salmon, Tossed Green Salad, Potato Macaroni Salad, Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit, Assorted Cheeses and Crackers, and New England Clam Chowder. Prime Rib Au Jus, Steamed Snow Crab Legs, Freshly made Nigiri Sushi featuring: Ahi, Salmon, Ebi, Ika and Nairagi. Hosomaki, Futomaki, California Roll and Chirashi and a PASTA STATION! I went up numerous times!! I was not able to get dessert, but it was worth it! My family and I will be back again when I visit the islands :) *TIP* Mention KAMA'AINA!! see what the locals get ;)
(4)Faryoung B.
I'm a sucker for buffets.. the food is never really all that good, and I never really eat enough to make it worth my money.. but.. I LOVE BUFFETS!!! The Oceanarium actually has some key highlights that keep their buffet a cut above the rest: 1. A huge aquarium to view all the lovely fishes while you eat. At one point a scuba diver appears with food which drives the entire fish tank, especially the sting rays, into a frenzy. 2. All you can eat crab legs night 3. Fresh oysters with lemon and hot sauce 3. A 3 foot high chocolate fondue fountain with a side of strawberries, bananas and pineapples to dip 4. A bar. Now i've been to buffets that have crab legs.. but do they have all five? I don't think so. But the food...No joke. Can you believe I found a buffet that actually tastes good? I really enjoyed the experience and 2 thumbs way up for the grub.
(5)Victoria M.
My sister in law took me here for Dinner while I was in Hawaii in February - & I just want to say that this is prob the BEST/FRESHEST buffet I've ever been to! They had a beautiful array of different foods & I normally don't eat prime rib but I had some when we went & it was super delish! They also had a chocolate fountain which was super yummy! :) It was a little pricy but definitely worth the $$! :) (My sister in law treated but I heard the total) They also had a good mix of seafood, but too bad I'm not big on that :/ However I saw a lot of people grubbing on the crab legs!!! But when my hubby & I go back we are definitely hitting this place up again!!!
(5)Jayson D.
I'm a seafood junkie, and I'm always on the hunt for mass quantities of GOOD seafood at a decent price. The usual mainland Asian buffet scares me because they're all about quantity over quality. But The Oceanarium leaves these buffets in the dust with food that is superior, a pretty kick-butt atmosphere (where else can you dine next to a 30-feet tall aquarium full of reef fish?), and a wide variety of food selections. I often go on a Monday or Thursday night when Alaskan king crab and Dungeness are available. I tend to reserve my stomach space for the crab legs, so I don't usually fill up on the sides, but there are plenty: sushi, sashimi, salads, chicken, fish, local favorites, soup, and so on. Plus, there's a make your own pasta bar and a chef on hand to freshly carve you a slice of prime rib if that's your thing. You won't have room for desserts, but try to shoehorn in some anyway. There's even a soft serve ice cream machine with toppings to make a sundae. And--you didn't hear this from me, okay you did--I like to make a cone from the soft serve machine, pack it really well into the bottom of the cone, then dip it into a bowl of chocolate from the nearby chocolate fountain. It makes it like Magic Shell! :) They even have divers and mermaids that enter the tank once in awhile to feed the fish and swim around for the guests. And for $20 extra they'll place a sign in the tank against the window to welcome your mainland guests, recognize a birthday, or wish someone a happy whatever. That's always good for pictures and memories. Only drawback could be the price. It's not cheap at $40 a person. Last I knew they had a 25% Kama'aina discount, though, if you went after 8:30 p.m. That's what I'd always do. Go in, order a Midori daquiri, hit up the buffet, pack in five pounds of crab legs, and leave happy and full. I love seafood and I'm not terribly picky about it so long as it's tasty and plentiful. So for my money, I'm a fan of The Oceanarium!
(4)Tessa t.
yelp 365 challenge #72/365 whoa! i have always passed this place... when my friends and i were younger and used to "cruise waiks..." we would always use the restroom in this hotel... and see the aquarium... i have finally come here to eat... wowzers!! monday is the day to go... they have king crab, snow crab, and dungeness crab... i was in absolute heaven!!! they have a pretty ok pasta station... CRAB but i wouldn't suggest filling up on that... CRAB! prime rib...a tad salty, but still good... CRAB ice cream station... CRAB and wait for it.... a chocolate fondue station!!!! CRAB chocolate covered B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!!! CRAB i will definitely be back!!! oh yeah...they have crab too :P
(4)Marjorie C.
Disappointed that it seemed no better than the buffet place that's by Nimitz (Chan's I think). The staff seems depressed (but our waiter tried to put on a happy face) and the clientele is mostly local which I was surprised at. Went here for Valentine's day and I love aquariums, water, fish, cutesy decorations that go along with Valentine's day...their aquarium is spectacular and I feel like the ambiance could be so much more. The way they have their chairs and tables situated feels all wrong to me, you're either in someone's way or having to weave in and out of other people's chairs. The aquarium screams "classy," "romantic," "awesome experience" but the decor is so tacky and touristy. Got there at 7:30ish and was seated next to the aisle, I admired the hearts in the aquarium and got to see different kinds of fish swimming around. When I went to the buffet I was sad to see food items dried out from the heat lamp. I stuck to prime rib and crab legs which were awesome, everything else tasted very blah...even the dessert which makes me cry inside because they were so pretty! I know an establishment can't make their workers pretend to be happy and I would never want them to, however, when staff are walking around with no expressions on their faces, no courtesy to patrons and no interest in serving customers it really makes an impression on the diners.
(2)Alfred G.
I've been to better buffet places but the Oceanaruim is a pretty decent one, I guess this is the place to go if it's your birthday because there were 3 or four birthdays going on while I was there which was cool. The food here was good. Although alot of people come here for the crab, I was impressed how thick and juicy the prime rib was!! the other entrees (e.g. pasta, sushi, clam chowder) were good as well. The only downside for me food wise was the desserts, it was bad, very bland and it was a little hard which would make you think if it were previously frozen or not. the atmosphere and the service was good and of courser the huge aquarium is always nice but they could add more fish to make it look more full.
(3)Dave R.
Had to wait for a table, not because the food was good, it's Just a lack of decent places for dinner. We were seated and everywhere you looks were piles of crab legs, before and after the neat was sucked out. The buffet was bland . What happened to the kahlua pig! That's what I want in Hawaii .
(1)Phil K.
This was a very fun lunch buffet! We took my son here for his 7th birthday meal, and he (and we) fully enjoyed it. The buffet had a wide range of selections, including salad, poke, peel-and-eat shrimp, sashimi, oysters and mussels on the half shell, fresh fruit, crab legs, tempura shrimp and veggies, omelets, waffles, danish, eggs benedict rockerfeller, penne w/ chicken, seafood paella, adobo london broil, prime rib, basil chicken, and fresh fruit. The cold dishes and sushi were only so-so, but almost every hot dish was very good. The kids really enjoyed the breakfast foods, the crab legs, and the fruit, of course. For dessert, there were a variety of French pastries, pies, and a soft serve ice cream bar. We were sad to find out the chocolate fondue fountain is reserved for dinners only. What really made the lunch special for my son was they "Happy Birthday" sign presented by the diver inside the giant aquarium. Overall, this place is a great 'experience' meal, but if you can find better dishes elsewhere if that is your primary interest. If you will enjoy the aquarium view, the special birthday/anniversary message, and the wide variety of food for adults and children alike, then don't delay a make a visit soon!
(4)John K.
Price: Lunch $15 Dinner:$38 The Oceanarium offers great quality food but this comes at a cost to your wallet. I went there for the Sat King Crab Leg dinner in which I paid $38 dollars to feast on king crab. Pro: Lots and lots of King crab; has sushi and my fav:baked mahi mahi; made to order pasta was actually decent; the huge aquarium that is centered in the buffet; prime rib Cons: sushi rolls are made for..toddlers? why so small?; the chocolate fountain was running dry; oysters were disgusting(not fresh at all) FOr the price I paid I could have gotten better food but everything is expensive in waikiki. I was hoping for more options on food and of fresher quality for some of the seafood but in the end, I may return to feast on those delicious crab legs :D
(3)Shirley Y.
I seriously don't understand where did all the starts come from? I would understand it's pricy since it's Wakiki, but for the price the food was really really really bad!!! The food choice was so limited I regreted come in once I walked in. The oysters were not fresh, the chinese sauteed food was all soggy probably because it's been sitting there for awhile, and the sushi was bad too. The only good thing was the snow crab legs, which was fresh and big, but a buffet shouldnt only have ONE good dish.
(1)Bill C.
This place has gone down down down hill. Oceanarium use to serve the largest and best Snow crab anywhere and i mean anywhere. Now the snow crab looks diseased and not very appetizing. The legs are covered with a dark slimy substance although the meat inside seems alright the legs will have your hands slimy and dirty...be careful. The Rib Roast they served was medium which is disappointing when paying $41.00/ person. Fish was overcooked, sashimi served was marlin it would have been nice to mix in with Ahi, sushi was mediocre, clam chowder was good as was the roast pig(tues night). Service was spot on continuously clearing the tables and refilling drinks (8 of us). Fruits were fresh and good, desserts were okay as well as the pasta station. For the price and the poor quality of the Crab and Prime Rib we will have to find a better place for out family.
(2)Norm D.
On Easter Sunday, what better way is there to celebrate this spiritual holiday than to practice the 7 deadly sins? Pride: Woke up. Got ready. Winked at myself in the mirror. Envy: Envied everyone who already had reservations for Easter Sunday Brunch. Wrath: Experienced road rage on my way to Oceanarium Restaurant. Oceanarium Restaurant is a buffet located in the Pacific Beach Hotel. One of the main draws to this place is that it houses a large aquarium which is truly a sight to see. Reservations are recommended; however, if they tell you it's full; you could take a chance by showing up and hope there are available tables. I've been lucky every time as my friends and I usually have a table within 20 minutes max. You can always choose to sit at the bar if there are empty stools available. On this Easter holiday, my friend and I sat at the bar as there were no available tables. After this experience, I'd rather sit at the bar from now on because (1) you're closer to the food, (2) the bartender constantly refills your drink so you're never thirsty, and (3) you have the bartender at your beckon call for miscellaneous items (e.g. wet naps, more silverware, cleaning up after a crab feast aftermath). Lust: Strongly desired the all-you-can-eat snow crab legs. As for the food, I would say that the taste is mediocre at best. The prime rib is never consistent (either too dry or tough), the omelet station is uninspiring, and the other choices could be hit or miss. The only reason why I am willing to dish out cash for this buffet (roughly $40 on Easter Sunday, but prices vary on different days and time) is because I crave... no lust for their succulent steamed snow crab legs (deserving of 5 stars in my book). Greed: Piled on mounds of snow crab legs onto my plate. Sometimes it baffles me when I see patrons go back to the buffet line and pile up on everything else EXCEPT the crab legs. I see guys piling on the bacon (mmmm bacon), gals piling on the fruit or salad, or people in general loading up on carbo-loaded food that's going to make your stomach burst on the first round. This is a buffet, dammit! If you're going to pay a hefty price you might as well enjoy the more expensive and quality products that this place has to offer (CRAB LEGS). Gluttony: Ate ALL of the crab legs that I could possibly eat without vomiting (2 rounds). I would say that the only other thing that I do enjoy about this buffet is the bread pudding. It's kept warm and you have the option of adding condensed milk and preserved fruits on top of it as well. It's a good and sweet way to end the crab leg extravaganza. Sloth: Enjoyed the rest of the day in a self-induced food coma.
(3)April m.
This place is awesome ! Not just because of the food but the restaurant itself.. Atmosphere is great ! Whole bunch of tourist, but whatever it was a nice experience . When we went it was a buffet style dinner.. All you can eat sushi, crab legs, Japanese food, udon, and my favorite ... The chocolate fondue fountain I'm not sure of the price per person, because my cousin from Hawaii had treated the husband , myself and kiddo out for dinner.. But if you like buffets this place is pretty good! You have to call and make reservations from what I saw they weren't taking any walk-ins. What's unique about this place is there's a huge oceanarium in the restaurant OBVIOUSLY! The restaurant name gives that away.. They have scuba divers feeding the fish so that's a little entertainment while your enjoying your crab legs and warm butter ;) They also do personal greetings from the scuba divers.. There was a table next to us and a young man had made a proposal to this young lady.. It was cute! You see this scuba man holding up a sign inside the aquarium saying " ______ will you marry me?" well shit I thought that only happened in movies! Well not! They do that stuff right here! In this restaurant! we saw two engagements that night! It was lovely.. Anyway you should check it out! It's an experience !
(3)Kimberly H.
What can I say? You are either gonna love it or hate it for some reason or another. As far as buffets go, this is by far the best that I have encountered in Hawaii, the crab legs are fresh and delicious, the prices, well, this is Waikiki, HI, what do you expect to pay for a Prime Rib and Seafood buffet in the TOURIST district? I could not find one thing on the buffet that I did not like, I read through some of the reviews and there were complaints of the oysters but what do you expect when you are consuming raw seafood, there are risks associated with it, especially oysters, considering they are filter feeders, might want to ask where they are harvested. This is a very nice, kid friendly place, and I have experienced their Sunday Brunch, and it is probably better than their dinner. If you want to avoid paying the high prices, go on Fridays, where it is discounted 25%; or if you are residents, then it is discounted 25% before 5:30pm or after 8pm seating. Nothing bad to say really, good customer service, and parking was validated and paid only a $1.
(5)Anna D.
Brunch was so good here. Well worth the price and the crablegs were delish. I went to the omelette bar twice and has lots of visits to get more crab. This is a must try if youre looking to buffet somewhere.
(4)Mark G.
This place is a TERRIBLE DIRTY mess. went here with a group of 8 and by far the worst.. The kids loved the mermaid in the fish tank... but there was food all over the floor... the tables are dirty... drink were juice and water... no alcohol... and seating was crammped... AVOID at all cost...
(1)Kc J.
This resteraunt is wayyyyyy overpriced. Food was cold but the mashed potatoes were very good as well as the coconut shrimp. The rest of the food seemingly we are paying for what they have to throw out. I gave it two stars only because I really like the aquarium and like I said the coconut shrimp fill me up everything else I wasn't impressed. The buffet should really consider heating their crab legs because who wants cold crab legs with heated melted butter. it just didn't taste very good and that was what I was looking the most forward to. Also I didn't like how when I first walked up the lady at the counter immediately told me the price of the buffet as if I wasn't already aware. That was kind of insulting. Sorry to say it but I won't be returning. I am a huge fan of buffets and this just made me sad. I probably should have gotten that double stack fish fillet at McDonalds across the way for a better dinner experience.
(2)Donna V.
A lot of people had told me this place was great so I had to see for myself. Maybe I came at the wrong time but me and my family went during a weekday dinner. Buffet is pricey and the selection wasn't all that great. There were different salads, a basic ramen station, pasta, chicken/fish, crab legs and prime rib. There was nothing in particular that I was in love with. Food was a bit salty for my liking and unsure if they had any MSG. The aquarium was nice to look at and is pretty much the attraction at the restaurant. You can see the fish being fed or a "mermaid" which is appealing to the kids. You can valet park or self park.
(2)Mybotoitchy T.
Living in Honolulu up until 2013, coming to the Oceanarium was always a treat. Fast forward 2 yrs and now I am here for dinner as an out of towner on vacation. I really looked forward to eating here as it was king crab night. The crab shells looked burnt and tasted much too salty. The shells were huge but the meat was very small in comparison. The taste was not sweet as I expected and was a huge disappointment. The snow crab used to be hot but is now chilled. No dungeness crab legs anymore either. There is no shrimp tempura anymore and it looks as if there is a smaller selection of food. Will I come back here on my next vacation home? I highly doubt it. If I want quality king crab legs and buffet, I will stick to the Bellagio in Las Vegas where I live, where the buffet price is $10 cheaper and much better food and selection. This place is definitely not worth the $50 I paid for dinner.
(2)Beverly N.
Came here awhile ago. food was alright. Service was alright. I jist remember this waiter coming to refill our waters all the time lol. It was kinda pricey for the type of food they have here. I would have to eat a lot of snow crab to get my moneys worth :/ . I wouldnt come back
(3)Samantha S.
If I would have done a review last year I would have gave it a five. I just went this past weekend and unfornately I have to give it a bad review. I only come here on Mondays because they have both King crab and Snow crab. This is the first time I went and the snow crab was on ice! If we are paying $50/person I think the crab should both be steamed. There isn't a big selection of food either. The clam sauce is good but the seafood to go with is basically frozen. The saimin was good, but for $50 I would rather not just go for saimin The make your ice cream was good I guess. I definitely do not plan on going in the future anymore. Not until they start steaming all their crab!
(1)Wendy P.
Dear Yelp, we need a half star. I'm trying to split the rating between a five and a one. My first visit, I ordered a special of the week from the menu at breakfast, and immensely enjoyed my steak and eggs with hollendaise sauce on the side, and we had a lovely time and spent a reasonable amount. This was on a Monday or Tuesday. Then the next time, based on my first experience, I brought a friend visiting from California. This was on a Saturday. Breakfast had apparently given way to Brunch, we were told as we entered-- Not given any other information. We were sat in a rather awkward corner table and given no menus. I waited a while for a server, and when he finally came I asked for a menu he said there's only the buffet. I didn't see a price for the buffet anywhere. Given no other options, my guests and I headed over with plates to a chaotic little buffet scene, where lines were not formed and people were pushy. At one point a large amount of very cold water hit the back of my legs as I was waiting for my turn at some tongs- It was not a simple splash, but a direct hit of abut half a cup. I turned around to find a server delivering a large replacement pan of crab legs. He had just turned too quickly, and seemed to understand he'd doused me, but rather than saying "excuse me" he said "watch out" with a smile. The first waiter whom I couldn't understand very well due to a strong accent was teamworking our table with another waiter, and they both explained this to us a couple of times, and then proceeded to spend way too much time checking on us, hovering, reaching intrusively across our table for things, repeatedly offering things and when we said we were fine, still bringing those things... And at the end of the meal, after signatures had gone down on reciepts, the waiter opened and read the document carefully on the table before taking it. It was not a glance, just to make sure it was signed-- It was a long slow read and probably math-check not just at the table, but ON the table. Big no-no for servers. The whole thing was so uncomfortable and really felt like a bad joke, especially at the price of nearly $40 per person for this meal. How was the food this time? I can hardly remember.
(2)Cj S.
Loved the huge fish tank theme. Food was excellent! So many types of food to choose from. I think I starred at the fish more than I ate lol. 100 bucks for the buffet. That's alot! Great for a date if you have the cash. Make sure u tip something so you won't get a dirty look as you walk out. Good place though. Not bad.
(3)Scott S.
Even though I have lived on Oahu all my life and I worked in Waikiki for over ten years, I had never been to the Oceanarium in the Pacific Beach hotel. But, my wife was celebrating her birthday and she wanted crab and since the restaurant offered a King Crab night we decided to splurge and go for it. Overall, the buffet food was great. We arrived fairly early so the restaurant wasn't too crowded but we were pretty much as far from the buffet as you could get while still remaining in the area. Truthfully, that wasn't really a big deal since we weren't there to see the fish while we ate, but another family arrived a few minutes after us with several young children and I overheard them complaining about how they made reservations and why couldn't they sit a little closer to the aquarium so their kids could see the fish better. To their credit, the wait staff did move them several tables closer so they did get to see the fish a little better. As advertised, it was King Crab night and like I said the food at the buffet was good. The prime rib was a little overcooked for me (it was more medium well/well done) but I'm not that choosy. The carver didn't ask me how well done I wanted my prime rib so I can't really blame him on that one. The pasta bar looked and smelled delicious but I'm not really a pasta guy and we were really there to celebrate with King Crab so my wife and I quickly zeroed in on chafing dishes full of King Crab. Not wanting to be greedy we took some legs and made our way to the table. While we were enjoying our crab and having a good time we were almost to the end of our first round and we were discussing how much we enjoyed eating such delicious crab and lo and behold our waiter brought out a full plate of crab legs and dropped them off at our table. At first we thought, what a nice gesture! He clearly saw that we were there for the crab and he brought us more so we wouldn't have to stand up and walk the far distance to the buffet. But, as he put the plate down, I noticed that he had pulled the ol' switcheroo. He brought us a full plate of snow crab and not the King Crab that we had come for. I'm not sure if that's what they do when they notice people taking lots of King Crab but I didn't appreciate being brought the snow crab when we didn't ask for it. Of course, we didn't feel like we should send it back but we also didn't want to fill up on the snow crab since we came specifically for the King Crab. Maybe it was just a nice gesture we should accept it as such, or maybe it's their subtle way to keep you from getting too much of the more expensive King Crab, I'm not sure. What I do know though is now I have doubts about what a nice gesture it really was. Too bad too because we were having such a nice time. In the end we did finish the plate of snow crab, but I also went back for more King Crab since I figured that's why we were there. Overall, it was a good experience but beware when they try to bring you things you didn't ask for especially if you don't see them doing it for anyone else.
(3)Lin L.
This place has a lot going for it. The tank with the mermaid is awesome! but that's it. Came here mainly for the crab legs and oysters. The hot/cold food and crab legs is typical, nothing special. The oysters were crap. Seriously made me think twice about my love for oysters. I thought they were crappy because they didn't have ponzu, only cocktail sauce, not the case, they were just crappy. This place is still a good place to bring family. The atmosphere is pretty positive. We all had fun. Again, the mermaid was awesome. Just don't expect anything special with the food.
(2)Sherry T.
Once upon a time, the Oceanarium was a great buffet. NOT ANYMORE. After many years away, we went back on a Saturday night at approximately 5:30 pm. Many of the food items had not been replenished and the sushi was tiny, to the extreme. Food was not hot and did not taste fresh. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT -- management. I found fruit flies in my plate of food. When I reported it to Paul (manager), he said "what do you want me to do?" Don't you find that an odd question for a manager to ask? He went on to say you have to expect fruit flies at dining establishments because this is Hawaii. We quickly pointed out that Kai market is an open air restaurant and has absolutely no bugs in their food. You would think he would have taken away our plates and offered to 'comp' us but instead, he repeated "what do you want me to do". That attitude on the part of management alone makes me absolutely certain I will never go again. I have never written on yelp but Paul's response was absolutely wrong. Instead of gaining an appreciative repeat customer, he has pushed me away and lost scores of my friends.
(1)judith s.
Make a reservation. Military & kama'aina discount before 5:30pm. I had Prime rib & pasta. Not bad just average. Selectio
(4)Rebekah T.
As part of our whole Waikiki experience, I really wanted to go to a Luau buffet but found the Oceanarium and made reservations instead. We arrived and wanted to sit near the full wall aquarium, yet it was pretty busy and we were told the next seat was in 45 minutes. We sat in a table not too far from the aquarium, ordered a couple drinks and hit the buffet. No joke, I went for a full plate of King Crab and Dungeness Crab Legs. goo.gl/Qf5CK That's all I really wanted. I also picked up some sushi, but I was all about the crab. The stuffed crab was really good as well. goo.gl/wqVOE I wasn't really into the meat, but my guy tried the beef teriyaki and prime rib. We skipped the salad bar, all the other soups and the huge dessert bar, opting to split a soft serve with mochi. Straight to seafood for us. After dinner, I became extremely quiet. Overwhelmed by my crab indulgence, I was really full by the time the scuba feeding and mermaid show came on. It was really cute to see the fish swimming in schools, waiting for food and majestic to see them swimming around in the tank. Who knows if it was all that pretty...I was probably high on seafood at the time. goo.gl/YICWf We definately thought the buffet was worth the cost because we love crab. If you are not a crab or seafood lover, you may not agree. I thought it was a great experience.
(4)Butterfly P.
OMG! The food was just ok. Our bus boy (guy) Jason was great! He was working hard clearing our plates and refilling our drinks. Can't say much more than what it is.......
(3)Jeremy P.
Unique setting with very good food. Great for families, our 9 year olds loved watching the fish as well as the Scuba diver and Mermaid. Service was excellent. My only complaint is that it is overpriced, but then again, everything on Honolulu is expensive.
(4)Matt H.
Amazing food and view of the aquarium. Really enjoyed the breakfast. Must visit on any trip to Honolulu.
(5)Robynne M.
Yes not recommended for a place for couples to enjoy unless you are seated away from big parties. We were and they were putting their belongings on our table when arriving to their table greeting one another. Cutting into our table when clearly they had there own path way to their table. I think the design of the buffett could of been better you are walking into people as they were coming in and walking to their table as you were making your way in and out of the buffett.
(1)Antawan N.
The food and service was great. I Paid $25 for the diver to swim in the tank with a Happy Birthday sign. The sign sat in front of our table inside the tank for 10mins. The all you can eat seafood was also great. They had a cooked pig with the head still on lol. I recommend that if your in Waikiki go and try out this spot.
(4)Helena A.
Wish I could give this place a good review... Was really hopeful, but this place is just horrible. The crab legs are "chilled", but after waiting 20 min for the staff to replenish the buffet line, the crab legs were actually FROZEN. The dessert area was completely decimated at 8:45 when we arrived, and never replenished. While walking through the buffet area there was food all over the floor you had to avoid to keep off the bottom of your shoes. The mermaid in the tank was nice to watch, but I could have done that from the lobby for free. For $45 and drinks that are $11, I expect a crab leg that isn't a crabsicle full of crab-meat slushie, and for there to be a dessert available instead of empty pie tins.
(1)Ed G.
Ok so most of these golden trough places are the same concept. Gorge out on moderate quality "exotic" foods. Yes this one is overpriced. But hey you're in Waikiki. Everything is overpriced. Aside from the sticker price it's a decent buffet for a lazy Monday. The fish tank is crazy two story big. Interesting to watch them as you chow down on their friends. The decor is very dated however. The drop ceiling looks like it just might drop on your head. And the tables look like they have been thru a war. But the food that comes from the aging and sometimes broken buffet trays is good. They attempt some decent Japanese and Hawaiian fare. Some fails some great. The prime rib was dull and tough. The snow crab was good as well the king crab. Scallops. Clams. Mussels. Fish. Calamari. Octopus represent. Our server Chan was top notch. Which at a buffet is a miracle. Would I come here again? No, but the place works in a pinch.
(4)Lois T.
We had an outstanding Saturday Brunch! The food was delicious and fresh! The waiters were attentive, helpful and charming. We had many discounts....senior citizen, kaminina, children... quite amazing! Everyone loved it! We will return! Lois Tarquin
(5)Mike R.
I really wanted to like eating here. I made reservations for a King Crab night. The staff did everything they are supposed to do but the quality of food was simply ordinary. It's all you can eat but for $50 a person you can do so much better at so many other places. I was fine until I asked to get my parking ticket validated and the cashier looked at me and said,"$9.00 please". I was amazed. Once again, the staff was great. I just think I'd rather spend $50 a person at a place that serves better food.
(2)Angela D.
The service is awesome. Food is outstanding king crab night and prime rib is ono...My kids loved the chocolate foundation. Best part was it was my husband's birthday and they did a special sign for him that was super cool. And it's halloween season so we got to see the Skeleton mermaid. All in all I give this place 5 stars. GREAT PLACE TO BRING THE KIDS.
(5)tyler n.
It costs $48 per person for the buffet. The food was only so so and the crabs are EXTREMELY SALTY !! I guess they purposely make them salty so you can't eat much. Staff is ok. Will not come back here again.
(2)Lauren M.
Went to the Oceanarium yesterday for my mom's bday. Brunch buffet was pretty good. Not spectacular, but not horrible. Omelet station, waffles, balsamic beef, shrimp tempura, and bacon were my faves. HUGE Crab Legs were also delicious. The only negative I have is the Prime Rib. Whenever I go to a buffet, the Prime Rib is the first thing I look for. I was greatly disappointed. The pieces had a lot of fat on it and it was so rare that it practically walked off my plate. I was sad that I couldn't enjoy it. Other than that, desserts were also good and we enjoyed ourselves. Also, a scuba diver came down to feed the fish while we were there so that was entertaining for my son. Adults: 33.95, Seniors 22.95. and Children: 13.50. Tip: Make reservations and ask for a table near the tank. They will try to accommodate, but first preference goes to those who purchase "signs" (birthday, wedding, etc..) A sign costs $25.00.
(4)Jennifer L.
If you love seafood the in you will LOVE this place. If you don't I wouldn't recommend you go here. It is a buffet style not like the Vegas style buffets like a wedding buffet. The roast pork (which looks like a pig still) was not very good. I was looking forward to it and was really disappointed. I can't even remember what else I had. The aquarium was really cool with lots of fish and even a mermaid! The people we were with stuffed themselves with king crab legs and tons of butter! So if you like seafood go and stuff yourself!
(3)Fanny W.
It has been more than a year since we came last time. Price has gone up but quality doesn't seem to match. This place used to be my daughter's favorite place but this time she didn't eat much. A guy offering free picture taking was somehow annoying. We found out that he tried to sell the picture to us for $20 when we were ready to leave. The fish tank was awesome and that is probably the best thing to come here. We did enjoy watching the mermaid feeding the fish.
(3)Rose F.
I had to try this place even with the mixed reviews. So, we had dinner tonight. Most of the food was horrible. The only items I liked were the Snow and Dungeness crab legs. Otherwise, the entire dinner was a huge worst of money. Our bill for 3 ppl came to $157.00. Stay away! We didn't see the mermaid show because the show is at 5 and 7 pm.
(1)Xiao L.
Made reservations online for Sunday 4:30PM then got a call from restaurant to confirm reservation which I thought was thoughtful. Booked before 5:30 to take advantage of the 15% Special rate and another 15% for Kamaina rate. Also wanted to make sure we see the mermaid shows at 5PM.; Yep, all planned out! When we got there it was pretty empty. It was just us and 3 or 4 more groups of people. Service was good. Friendly and helpful waiters. They always checking up on you. The buffet food selection seems somewhat limited. only 3 variety of sushi and two selection of sashimi. If you want sushi buffet then place like Todai would be better. If you are craving for crabs then this place is it. The dungeons crab was a bit dry and bland but the Alaskan crab was good. I asked for garlic butter sauce for the crab but they didn't have any but the waiter served us some garlic and butter sauce and we just mixed the two made our own. Overall the food was fresh and good. The dessert was good too.They had different assortment of fresh fruits, cakes, pastries, ice cream, pudding, etc... My date enjoyed the mermaid show and the diver feeding the fish. Too busy taking pictures then eating. There is a 2 hour limit and when the time is up the waiter will bring you the check. The parking was no problem. Just park at the hotel parking structure. They will validate up to 3 hours, i believe. We had to pay $7 for parking. I think we stayed of 4.5 hours there. The automated pay system was bit difficult to use. Trying to feed a $10 bill into the machine while in the driver seat was a challenge. Total bill was $80+ and tip. We made sure we both ate about $80 of crab before we left! :-)
(4)Dana S.
HUGE buffet!! They will feed the fish next to your table if you request it. Cool tables next to huge fish tank
(5)Austin B.
Overpriced. Given the quality of the food, I'd say this place warrants about $20 for dinner. Maybe bump it up a couple dollars for the service, which was actually pretty good. But buffets are all about the food, and that was a disappointment, especially for $40+ for dinner. Likes: The servers were attentive. My iced tea was always full (annoyingly so because the sweetness was always changing) and the plates were cleared quickly. I guess the view of the aquarium is cool, especially when the mermaid comes, but the novelty wears off quickly. Dislikes: I tried most of the dishes, and the most offending one was the pork dish. I forgot what it was supposed to be, something like pork with a sweet glaze, but it tasted like eating pork with a Vicks VapoRub glaze. The desserts looked pretty, but were disappointingly bland. There was a pretty little parfait thingy, but it was just a little raspberry glaze with a dollop of whipped cream. Yuck. Favorites: The only thing I enjoyed was the pasta station, the prime rib, and the crab legs. If this place was under $30, it consider going here again. At the current price (I forgot exactly what it was, but it was ridiculous), I would not recommend this buffet. Just go to a nice restaurant and pay for quality food.
(2)David K.
Mediocre food for a ridiculous price. Waiter charged us the wrong bill and the goons chased us illegally for three blocks because they thought we dined and ditched. Absolute embarrassment, go anywhere else but here. Worst experience of the trip!!!!
(1)Jamie B.
We are a seafood loving family so the Oceanarium is a dream come true. All you can eat buffet with 2 types of crab legs - Dungeness & snow crab - , sushi, sashimi, poke, a seafood pasta station, shrimp cocktail & shrimp tempura. Not to mention oxtail soup, saimin bar, and desserts galore. It's buffets like this that make me wish I were a literal cow with multiple stomachs. Seriously. The service was great as our waters were always filled and our dishes cleared pretty quickly. The only complaint I would have was that the crab legs weren't refilled fast enough but that's just the piggy in me complaining. Although the buffet is on the pricey side, you can get a kamaaina discount if you dine before 530 pm or after 830 pm. Overall a great place to celebrate a special occasion or if you just love seafood!
(4)Maria R.
This place was so fun! We went with the whole family and enjoyed the great seafood buffet. The kids loved the mermaid performances and we really liked the fun and friendly atmosphere. We even recommended our friend to propose to his now fiancée here with the mermaid in the tank! It was so great and we can't wait to go back.
(4)Darlene S.
The food selection was fantastic. My husband and I love seafood and their selection had my husband drooling. They had sashimi, sushi rolls, nigiri, fish, crab legs, raw oysters, shrimp. There was chicken and prime rib with lots of sides. The desert bar had everything. Did I mention the aquarium? It was great. They have feelings at 5pm, 7pm and the mermaid at 9pm. The staff not so good about picking up plates right away, but you get over it real quick. Highly recommend!!!
(4)J.D. G.
The one star is for the friendly wait staff. The breakfast buffet is worth going somewhere else if you want you food hot. If your good with luke warm food and coffee, this is the place for you.
(1)Donna M.
I'm all over this buffet. I don't eat buffet very often... But when I do, trust me, I do it right. Salad? Rice? Uh-uh. I go straight for the crab legs until I feel like I never want to see a crab leg again and this place definitely delivers! I fully appreciate that I can go and choose how much crab I want, which crab I want..... As opposed to some other seafood buffets where the crab is regulated by someone else. Todai, I'm looking at you. When I'm done nomming on the crab, I do try some of the other things. I enjoy the sashimi and poke that they offer, tastes awesomely fresh. I also love the pasta station. The dudes working it are magic! I don't know how they make such good pasta with so few ingredients so quickly. I usually stay away from the hot entrees because they aren't really anything very special that I can't get anywhere else. I've tried a few of them the first few times I've come here and they are just alright. This place is a little spendy, and definitely not somewhere that I come very often. But it's a nice place to go to on a special occasion and gouge yourself! Definitely make reservations if you're planning on coming because it does get packed. I think if you want a view of the tank you do need to ask, so keep that in mind. Oceanarium, until next time!
(5)Mia L.
We love Oceanarium! In addition to their beautifully kept three story aquarium, their buffet is incredible. Some nights they have three kinds of crab, Snow, King & Dungeness. My other favorites include the prime rib, sushi, and the chocolate fountain. You get so much value from this place and they even have divers who feed the fish and will swim to your table with a message like "happy birthday" or "will you marry me". They also have Kama'aina deals if you go at a certain time. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)Sasha L.
Went here for a birthday dinner for all you can eat crab. They used to give you a voucher for a free meal next time if it is your birthday, but now they just give you a slice of cake and a birthday song. But even so..it was a nice dinner :]. Seafood allergies aside (my heart said YES but my tummy said NO), it was a nice meal! They have this awesome piña colada drink that comes in a hollowed it pineapple that I love! It comes over a block of dried ice that is so corny and tourist..love it! It used to be banana flavored (my favorite blended drink) but they discontinued that and now only have regular piña colada. This place is much improved from the last time I was here. Previously, they only had whole crab legs that you had to crack open yourself. Now, they offer their snow crab pre cut in half so that you can just dig right in to your meal! No more time wasted struggling with spikey crab legs, hurting your hands and wasting time getting full! Also, our server brought us out some warm butter with fresh garlic to dip the crab in..SO GOOD! (You have to ask for it, the butter they have on the buffet line is just regular melted butter). I don't know how the rest of the buffet was..I only ate the snow and Alaskan king crab. I have heard the other items are not very good. But that being said..get your money's worth with some crab legs, garlic butter and a pineapple piña colada! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Hoai L.
This place suck ass! Over price for food under the lamp.. Not that much selection! It taste like shit!
(1)Kitty B.
Let me start by saying I have been to buffets all over the country, so my rating is based in comparison to some of the greats. So currently the best buffet in the country is at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The worst would be any Hometown Buffet Location. The Oceanarium falls right 4.5 on a scale of 1-10. I know everyone gives this place great reviews and I guess it would be the best in the area as far as All You Can eat establishments go. In all honesty, I don't think I would come back here. It was not worth the money for me. The sushi was not great. The drinks were just ok. The whole experience was just ok. I just feel I could get more for my money elsewhere as a regular. If you want unlimited buffet in Honolulu come here. This will be your best option.
(2)Brad K.
I wanted to give a 5 star rating because the menu was exactly what I was looking for and our server was very personable but.......we had a bit of a snag as they tried to sit a family of four adults on a table for 2. I asked politely if we could move tables because I felt like I was sitting on my mother's lap. With the few ridiculous excuses of why they couldn't move us, they finally moved us to a table set for 6. All we were asking for is, at $65 a head for easter brunch buffett, you could be more flexible in seating (we had confirmed reservations, too!!), no matter your booking procedure, to sit us on a table we could comfortably eat on. I am a big guy, but my family are average sized, there was no way we could eat without each others elbows in each others faces. That is my only complaint. Everything else was as good as expected. I assume there are better practices to address a simple request.
(3)Jennifer S.
I love aquariums, so I was extremely excited when I booked a dinner reservation for this restaurant. I went with my boyfriend for his birthday, and we got kinda dressy. Definitely wasn't necessary. For a Friday night at 8:30pm, there were a lot of sweat pants and not overly nicely dressed people there. Which kinda brought down the overall vibe of the restaurant. It was a very nice buffet, but with they didn't have a lot of vegetable options. Lots of meat and fish, but only one mixed vegetable option. The mermaid show was kinda neat, but her fin was not very nice looking. I feel like if the mermaid show is something they do like 15 times a week they can probably invest in a nicer set of fins for her. The diver was cool, and she brought up my happy birthday sign for my boyfriend. Yea.. Overall, I wasn't super impressed, but I think that's because I expected something a bit classier. If I was in jeans and a regular shirt I probably would have enjoyed it more.
(3)F G.
This is the 3rd time on a diff day I am trying to call to make a Rez and all times they mumble something on hold and never come back! Longest wait time was 5 min! I'm getting pissed. I'm gonna try one more time and if the same result I'm making a Rez elsewhere. So rude.
(1)Brad M.
Give this place a pass (unless you have children). Add two stars if you have kids because they'll get a kick out of the giant aquarium in the middle of the restaurant. Every 30 minutes or so scuba divers swim around and feed the fish. As for the food, the Oceanarium is an all-you-can-eat buffet that isn't much better than your local Chinese Buffet from back home. The subpar sushi is reminiscent to supermarket quality sushi.
(2)Lori B.
Had my bday dinner here. It's quite spendy but you sure do get bang for your buck. Luckily we got a table close to the aquarium. Got a pic of the scuba diver doing the Shaka :) the buffet is huge. You won't go hungry. I might go back here if I'm appealed to going to Waikiki.
(4)DO K.
I had a hard time deciding whether to give this place a one star or a two star. But I ended up giving them two stars since it seemed to be a better place for young kids. FOOD: foods and sushi are not fresh at all. Compared to the price, the food was awful except the crab legs. AQUARIUM: I know that many people come here for the aquarium inside, but the aquarium can be seen from the hotel lobby and the stair area and there aren't that much pretty or jaw-dropping fish in there. This is in Hawaii so I've seen the same fish except closer and much more lively by snorkeling. SERVICE: When I called to modify my reservation that was made through yelp, it not only took a long time to speak to a person but also they hung up on me after saying few 'hello's . Maybe the person did not hear me but I definately felt unwelcomed. My server was nice, but asked for my i.d. after they swiped my card. I signed everything and then they asked me for my i.d. which I found very weird and out of order. This place is not worth the money. Just peek through the aquarium at the stair area and eat something better somewhere else.
(2)Tiffany L.
I feel, in general, that this buffet is very low quality at a very high price. It is very much your typical buffet, with some things being decent and some being underwhelming. Their "cheese" selection, for example, included Kraft American cheese slices. Um, yeah. If I'm paying over $50 I do NOT want Kraft cheese slices in my "International Cheese Display" option. Are you kidding?!?! Certainly not all of their options were bad. Some of their meats were good, and their Crab and Corn Chowder was amazing. Some of the fish was definitely not the highest quality or freshest it could be. Our service was decent. The Mermaid Show was on a special schedule when we came, and we were told multiple times it was 8PM so we stuck around to see it, only to find out it wasn't until 10PM.
(2)Mai T.
Im not much of a buffet person, but with family dinners I get the chance to try different buffets and that is always exciting! Where else can you just walk up and make yourself a plate full of items that you love. We had a out of town guest and it was decided that Oceanarium would be the place to host them. I have gone here previously to see the fishes with my daughter, but it was the first time to dine here. The atmosphere was really nice, you get that ohh.. its a nice place to eat and you want to dress nice, but at the same time you don't have to go all out with heels and pearls. I was surprised to see that there were so many local people compared to tourist.... it being in Waikiki i thought more tourist would frequent this place. We were a party of 10 and they accommodated us nicely! The food at the buffet had a selection from Fish, sushi, chicken, crab to a pasta station. I tried a little of everything, but came to the conclusion that the clam chowder was the best item i had. Sorry i didn't try to the crab, but my husband said it was delis ..( can't go wrong with crab!) Clam chowder was one of those country style.. lots of vegetables, good solid flavor with lots of actual clam type of soup. Not too soupy.. not too chunky... just right! They also had the chocolate fountain which is always fun for the kids or sweet tooth people like myself. Im sure if you go there and have yourself a load of crab you will get your moneys worth. I heard the mermaid show was pretty good, although some how we must have missed it.
(3)Harmony L.
Pros: the servers were super friendly & helpful. The sashimi was really fresh & yummy. Cons: the food was not very good. Crab legs were plentiful but not tasty. Not much of a variety of foods. Did not find the aquarium to be very impressive at all.
(2)Nikki S.
Took my husband here for our date night. He has two saltwater tanks of his own, so I thought this would be a hit. The visit was ok. We were kinda disappointed in the fish, we were expecting more colorful fish and Aquarius decor. It was fun to watch the feeding session, and it looked like the kiddos around us enjoyed the mermaid show. The food was good, but was informed Military discount was only if you came before 5:30 that evening. If we go again, it will be for a small dessert but not for dinner. It was 100 dollars for buffet style dinner, food was good, but wasn't impressive for 50/person.
(3)Vanessa S.
It is beautiful since they have the aquarium in the middle but it doesn't cover the fact of the mediocre seafood they serve... the only decent food were the snow crab legs but thats it. I was kinda surprised too as how empty the restaurant was for a usual busy hour... that should of been my queue to leave when I saw that.
(2)Kim T.
The breakfast buffet is alright... It's nice that there was no wait since we went on a weekday plus we made reservations prior to going. Nothing fancy or outstanding about the buffet and I was a little disappointed that we were rushed to eat. It would have been nice to know what time they were going to close. We didn't even get to enjoy the omelet bar and I guess because they were almost closing they didn't have all of the food out. I think the buffet at the Aulani was way better and worth the money.... Will try the dinner another time to see how it is. But the bacon is delish... It's nice and crispy.
(3)Gary A.
On June 28th I went to the Oceanarium with my family to celebrate a birthday. I haven't been there for a while and was somewhat disappointed. The food and service was okay but the dining room needs to improve its appearance. A room makeover is recommended to provide a more enjoyable dining experience.
(3)TT H.
Went with my parents to celebrate their anniversary. It was Crab night. They were really happy. Not only did they get a senior discount, we were there for an early bird special. What a deal. The aquarium is really cool. Check their website to see what the special of they day is. Really good selection. Salad bar could be better, but most people are there for the meat.
(4)Scott S.
This is one of the best buffets I've ever had. The food is delicious. There's a huge aquarium at the center of it that creates a spectacular view. At 5pm and 9pm (don't hold me to those times), they have a diver feed the fish and a mermaid swim around waiving to the guests. There's a wide variety of food to choose from.
(4)Elizabeth O.
As we entered the elevator from the parking structure we noticed what was being highlighted at the buffet, tonight oysters. We were quickly helped, as we stepped to the front of the podium and was able to be seated about 15 minutes early. The server was prompt as we sat and offered us drinks and brought water as we decided on our seating arrangements. We had a view of the large tank which our kids loved to watch before, during and after their meal. The buffet line was nicely organized and spread out. The highlight of my meal was the fresh cut kajiki sashimi, shrimp tempura, peel and eat shrimp, snow crab crab legs, and the Chinese style fish. Also the chocolate fountain and soft serve was a hit. I wanted to try the made to order pasta station with the tortellini but ran out of room in my tummy. We will be visiting again soon. Thank you to the servers and bussers that took away our plates and kept our waters filled, you were like ninjas because I would never see our plates being taken away :)
(5)Morgan G.
Experience : 4.5 stars , Food : 3 stars I thought it was totally awesome to see the gorgeous aquarium with happy fish swimming around while eating. Even better when the diver got in and put on a show. She fed the fish, making them all surround her so you can see them much better! Swam with the stingrays, held signs up wishing some people a Happy Birthday! Waved at everyone & somehow even made a heart out of bubbles. She was great and very good at her job! Thank you lady for making my experience that much better. Also the staff was also on it. Getting our drinks fast, taking our dirty plates quickly, giving us complimentary wet wipes! The food on the other hand, was a bit mediocre. Wasn't familiar with what many items even were. I tried almost everything though and it was decently tasting! Did I believe the buffet was worth $100 for two people? No, but the experience was so we still left happy customers :) Probably wouldn't be coming back, but it was great for a one time thing! Also ask for military discount - we received $15 off.
(4)Linh L.
I was so excited to try the Oceanarium buffet. Based on the reviews I had my heart set on the crab legs, prime rib, oysters, creme brûlée, and soft serve ice cream. Sadly there was only the crab legs. Pros: the crab legs were good and they had melted butter to go with it. The coconut shrimp was tasty. The clams were good. The service was nice. I liked the big aquarium. Cons: It was unbearably hot in there! We live 2 blocks away so initially I thought I was just hot from the walk even though it was a very cool and breezy night. The waiters were nice and refilled our drinks and cleared our plates but after we had to flag him down to give us the check, it took him another 15 min before he came with the bill. It wouldn't have matter but we were sweating from the heat. Walking up a few steps into the lobby was at least 10 degrees cooler. I'm not over exaggerating. When I called for reservations at 7pm, the hostess informed me the next seating wouldn't be available until 9. I asked her if we would have enough time to eat and do they start clearing everything away before 10. She said no, they start clearing at 10 and we would have enough time. When we got there at 8:50 I saw them take away the chocolate fountain. So plain marshmallows and bananas but no chocolate :(. No prime rib, no oysters, no creme brûlée, and when I was ready for soft serve ice cream at 9:30 they already put away all the toppings and cones. The fish was extremely dry. The clam chowder had way too much herb flavor. I think it was tarragon that over powered it. The potatoes were okay but nothing special. None of the desserts really stood out to me. I did stuff myself with melons. The steamed stone crab was dry and mushy at the same time. The cold crab was close to frozen, but it still tastes good after dunking into butter. I know it's waikiki but for the price it was not worth it to me. I would much rather spend that $47 at chuck's cellar for their prime rib and huge lobster and baked potato with a soup and salad bar. Or any of the Cajun restaurants that serves 1.5lb crab legs for under $20. The food was mediocre. The lack of options was disappointing. The service was good, except for the end. The aquarium is nice and different. The unbelievable heat was unbearable, and I'm a local girl. I would not come back unless I found a 50% off coupon and I would bring my own fan.
(2)Yuka N.
The only reason why I wanted to come to this restaurant was for the huge aquarium inside the restaurant. My BF (at the time) let me pick this place, even though he really didn't want to go here). How cool is that to be able to watch the scuba divers swim with the fishes inside the aquarium while you were dining?! The buffet items had your typical Hawaiian foods like poke, leaf wrapped Kalua pork, as well as other items. I didn't care for the food, it wasn't anything special. They did have a chocolate fountain along with assortment of desserts. Oceanarium is definitely a one time dining experience, at least for me. Been there, done that...
(3)Fran C.
It was pops burfday today, so I got da ohana together for a buffet meal at The Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel. The Oceanarium........what a neat place! I was mesmerized by the enormous fish tank that was several stories high sitting in the center of the restaurant. Man, I gotta tell you folks I can sit here for hours just looking at the fish.........I kinda felt like a little kid.........you know, when my parents use to take me to the Waikiki Aquarium to look at the fish when I was - "small kid time" . Now I'm - "BIG Kid Time"...........and I still like looking at the fish..........what's wrong with me? Nothing! Lol! Well, the Oceanarium had a very large buffet spread (see pics)..........lots of different types of seafood, as well as desserts, salads & fruit, and of course prime rib! All of this for just under $46.00 per person.....not bad at all, considering they offer soooooooooo much different types of food. There were so many choices........and one can only eat so much, so it's sad to say, I couldn't sample and eat everything that was there on the buffet spread.........but on the bright side, I did eat the most important thing on the menu while I was there.......... What's that did I eat? PRIME RIB & CRAB my friends!!!! Yes.........I did eat other things, but I must tell you........... I totally put on an eating exhibition tonight, and ate the hell out of the crab & prime rib! Of course as much as I liked the crab & prime rib..........you gotta remember to balance, so I threw down some ono Coconut Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, Turkey Katsu, a plate of salad, and a plate of fruit & desserts to top off my meal. Maaaaaaaaan! I was so stuffed! Good thing I had my elastic shorts on.........no need worry about unbuckling my belt! Lol! A trip to the park with Makana, & 24 Hour Fitness followed after doing this eating exhibition! Lol! Service was outstanding tonight! Plates were constantly taken away when we got up to get more food. They also left two large bowls in the middle of our table for the crab shells, and these bowls were replaced quickly when the bowls filled up. As our dinner was coming to an end.........the nice staff of the Oceanarium gave a piece of Chocolate Mousse cake to my pops and sang "Happeeeeeeeeeeeee Burfday" to him. And may I point out......the dudes sang pretty good too! Loud, & in tune too! 10+ stars for their singing skills! Lol!
(4)Charles H.
What a difference. What ever oceanarium did to turn this place around has worked. Food was great, a lot better then the first time I went which was last year. Staff was so polite and attentive to our needs. My family had a great time and we hope who ever runs this place continues to keep the food quality high and staff trained as it was evident during our visit last night. If your considering going here, it is well worth having a sign made to have the diver diplay your message on the glass next to your seat. Oh, and they steam the crabs legs now!
(5)Anna G.
Amazing. Loved it. It's super entertaining. Food quality was great. The place was lovely. Wait it's were super friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)Alec F.
Wooo night out for the boyfriend's birthday in Waikiki wooo! I made the reservation for all eight of us only a few hours before 7:30 and the staff was super nice and accommodating - they ended up getting us seated right near the tank, as we requested. I had walked through this hotel and seen the tank before, but I'd never spent enough time here to notice the mermaid or diver with the "Happy Birthday" signs. It was a creative touch and made the experience of it all a lot cooler than other buffets I've been to. But coming from a strong-buffet-background, I can't tell you if the food was worth the price. Everything I tried was fresh and delicious, but it was also pretty expensive, so I'd expect as much. Their coconut shrimp, prime rib, and roasted potatoes stood out to me and had me half passed out on the table by the end of dinner. The waitstaff were crazy attentive, running by every few minutes to refill drinks and clear plates. What's a little strange is that the price includes only specific drinks - coffee, teas, and juice - instead of soda? I found that a bit odd but I love me some iced tea so I got over it pretty quick. The food was displayed well and tasted great, the staff were kind, and the aquarium itself was huge and fun to have nearby. Would I come back? Maybe on another special occasion, but this buffet is just as good as any other buffet, not necessarily AMAZING. I'd definitely recommend it to tourists (hence it being in Waikiki, I'm sure), but as locals, I'll just add it to the list of other $$$ restaurants to hit up when the time calls for it (and my empty stomach, hopefully).
(4)Roxanne Lynn T.
If you're a seafood lover, then this place hits the spot. I've been to the oceanarium many times with family and friends for many years now usually for special occasions. It is a bit pricey but there is a huge variety of seafood from the buffet to choose from. King crab and snow crab is a must when you're there. There's a salad bar, poke, fruits, seafood main dishes, prime rib carving station, make your own pasta, dessert table, etc. You'll wonder where to begin first with the many choices to choose from. I suggest to call the restaurant first rather than making reservations online because online seating won't give you the best seats especially if you want to sit closer to the Aquarium and the times online aren't really accurate for sooner availability. The aquarium is probably the most anticipated attraction filled with different variety of fishes and during certain time frames there'll be a swimmer that will greet you by your table along with a mermaid that will be swimming around the tank with the fishes. You may request for a sign prior to the event during your reservation. Most common greetings would be a Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary. But I believe you may put anything of a greeting on the sign. It's such a great family place to bring kids as well to enjoy the little aquarium entertainment. The service is overall pretty good. Servers were attentive and friendly. They were constantly filling up our drinks and made sure to take our used plates off the table. The ambiance is casual and laid back since it is a tourist attraction but it may seem crowded and loud because the tables are close to each other. One of the best place for buffets to bring out of town people. I just didn't like waiting past our reservation times. Always had to wait at least 30 minutes for our tables to be ready. Possibly because this restaurant is always busy.
(4)Kelly L.
* Price: $ 50 per person, not bad for the area. 3 star. * Ambiance: casual. Ocean theme. Impressive tank with many fishes, stink rays. Feeding shows. 4+ star. * Location: inside of the Pacific hotel. Some reviews said they do not validate your parking 3 star. * Meals: pretty good. Better than last time I was here! 4 star. * Service: the reception/host is below standard and lack of aloha. The waiter makes it up! 3 star. Averaged to 3 1/2 star for me! We decided to dine here since we stayed at Pacific beach hotel and just got in from Hilo... We called the restaurant around 8 pm and asked if we can still be seated. We gave them our room number and we're told we could come down any time. When we got there, waited for 15 min even though it was on tuesday night and no one in line. There were many emptied tables. The man and woman at the desk asked if we want buffet... I thought that is what they serve here.... and told us that they are closing in 2 hours if we still want to dine here! Anyway, we got seated next to a rowdy group and by the walkway! We asked them nicely to switch to different table and that we stayed at this hotel! The food does make up for unwelcoming hosts! There are many seafood choices (poke, sushi, sashimi, shrimp, snow crab legs...) The deserts are excellent with mouthwatering dishes (cheese cakes, creme brulee etc.) The feeding show is quite fun and entertaining for every guests regardless their age! The food and show does make the money worth and make up my rating ( I dropped 1/2 star because of the host!) If you are visiting Waikiki, it is worth a visit for the food and experience!
(3)Joseph E.
Came here on a Friday night with the family. Good spread of offerings, especially the seafood. Crab legs were large and not over cooked in salted water like some places. I was really looking forward to the oysters on the half shell that other reviewers wrote about but was disappointed to find they were not offered on our visit. Not impressed with the baked salmon which was over cooked and, strangely, drizzled with KC's barbecue sauce. Another observation was that some of the warming pans didn't seem to be working well leaving the BBQ ribs and the chicken wings cold. Everything else was good. We were pleasantly surprised with the roast beef which, in our opinion, was the best we've had in a long time. Aquarium experience was fine but if it's really important to you I recommend calling to request a front and center table. Ours was off to the side so our view was so-so. Validated parking in the PB hotel garage gets you 3 hours for $5. Overall we were happy with our visit.
(3)Maile K.
Food is consistently good. The king crab legs mad my pops very happy. The servers are very vigilant and clear plates as needed. They also replaced full crabshell bowls as they filled up. The buffet was constantly being filled with fresh food. Love the aquarium. There was a huge grouper in the tank that would come up to the glass and just float there. If you saw the movie The Little Mermaid, he looks just like one of the fish when Sebastian is singing Under The Sea, with the pouty mouth. My brother in law said those fish get up to 400lbs and can swallow a person whole. We were trying to get it to open its mouth so my nephew could stand below like he was about to be eaten.
(4)Rachel W.
I took my boyfriend Jake here for a surprise birthday dinner because he LOVES buffets. We went on a Saturday night, and it was oyster night -- but they still offered all you can eat crab and prime rib. Boy, did he eat enough crab for the both of us! The buffet is $45.95 per person. My favorite things were the New England Clam Chowder and the soft serve ice cream bar, but there was also a seafood pasta bar along with a *saimin* bar! Only in Waikiki. I originally booked our reservation online through Open Table, but called the restaurant to order a "Happy Birthday" sign that a diver brings down into the aquarium. (You can order for any occasion for $25.) The hostess told me it's a good thing I called back because most people who make online reservations don't get good seats -- and she took care of us! We were seated at a table right in front with a perfect view of the sign. The signs will stick around in a spot in the aquarium near your table for a while -- long enough to take some pictures and admire it before it's taken away. A photographer will also come over to take your picture. You can buy it for $20 (cash or credit). Ours came out really nice! A perfect memory. Service was very attentive when we first got there, but after a while our waiter seemed to forget about us and our plates started to stack up, crowding our table. After we stuffed ourselves silly, they brought out a complimentary slice of red velvet cheesecake with a candle in it and sang happy birthday to Jake. He couldn't even finish it, as those few bites put him over the edge. Overall, it's a nice place to celebrate a birthday. There are a lot of ways to craft a special evening here, but you've gotta be willing to pay up! Just wish the service was a little better for what I paid for. KAMA'AINA RATE: What irritates me is that if you spring for the dive sign, you'll want to be there at 7pm when the diver comes out with the sign. However, they only offer Kama'aina rates before 5:30pm and after 8:30pm. A nice little tap they've concocted. PARKING: There's valet, or you can self-park in the hotel garage. If you self-park, with validation you'll end up paying $5 (cash or credit).
(3)Holly B.
Haven't been to this restaurant in over 25 years... The buffet is nice, though I can only comment on the few items I ate: Hot snow crab legs - good, a little salty Cold snow crab legs - delicious and sweet, though some of the crab was frozen Coconut fried shrimp with sweet chili sauce - delicious, not overcooked Cold shrimp with shell - delicious Paella - tasty with shrimp, scallops, mussels Poke - mushy and tasteless I love crab and shrimp and concentrated on those items during our meal - no rice, salad or even dessert, just crab and shrimp! And I eat it with fresh lemon squeezed over it, along with cocktail sauce for dipping! Got my money's worth! The waitstaff is friendly and attentive and kept our table cleared and our water and fruit punch glasses filled. The aquarium was a little devoid of fish. There was a female diver bringing celebratory signs out for parties, which was nice. The noise level was high from all the large parties there, as well as little children and screaming babies, so NOT a restaurant for romance or quiet conversation. The 1-1/2 hour time limit causes one to concentrate on eating fast rather than enjoying the meal or the company. But if you love seafood, you can definitely get your money's worth here - quantity, not necessarily quality.
(3)Frank R. K.
Brunch lookes good but the quality leaves a lot to be desired The waiter was really nice and I like my sweets. So the bread pudding with vanilla sauce was my favorite
(4)Christine S.
The oceanarium is always a go to buffet here on the island. My boyfriend and I decided to go for my birthday dinner, and since we were staying at the pacific beach hotel, we thought why not? First of all, I'm happy with how we were able to get seated quite fast. We were able to go and grab food just like that, awesome. No waiting! The food that day, tasted okay to me. Maybe it was because I wasn't super hungry, but it tasted different. The food was alright. I thought the crab was the best part though. I always look forward to their crab. The oceanarium, like its name, has a beautiful scenery. You sit next to a huge tank full of different types of fish. HUGE fish in fact. It's absolutely awesome. Sometimes you'll see mermaids swimming, and you can't help but to look at them amazed no matter how much times you've been there. This is also a wonderful place to have anniversaries, you can request to have a sign in front of your table with a message saying "happy anniversary, I love you" or whatever u you want it to say. I do think it cost a little more extra, but why not go the extra mile to have your sweetheart smile? The service here is overall pleasant. I had to wait a while for the waiter to consistently refill my water, but it's okay. I understand it can get busy sometimes. Overall, It was nice to have them sing happy birthday to me, thank you for making it a memorable one!
(4)LeeAnn T.
Came in for dinner on labor day. Was sitted really quick and server came to the table as we was sitting. Dinner was great. Crab legs juicy.
(5)Summer F.
Amazing dinner last night... Best buffet I've been to in a long time! Tons of selection and crab for days!!! My kids love the amazing fish tank & it keeps them entertained
(5)Liam C.
After much discussion with my family about where to go for my birthday dinner, we finally decided to come to the Oceanarium buffet. I was told that their buffet is $48 + gratuity for larger parties, BUT there is a kamaaina discount before 5:30 or after 8:30. Both of which are inconvenient times for dinner, but I guess that's why they do the discount at those times. Personally, I didn't think the $48 was too bad considering the amount of food they have compare to some other buffets, but it does add up quickly with a larger party. I also picked this place though mainly because I had a fond memory of their selections the last time I was here. Crab legs, sushi/sashimi, salad bar, prime rib, a huge variety of meat and cooked seafood, and a deeeelicious dessert station. I'm not usually one to get too excited about desserts, but I did end up having 5 cream puffs and dipped a bunch of things in their chocolate fountain. As far as their atmosphere, staff is very friendly and attentive. I felt like my table had three servers and people endlessly coming to take away our empty plates so we'd have space for our next rounds. I was a little confused why sodas weren't included in the buffet price though; the only options for included drinks were fruit punch, iced/hot teas, and coffee. Overall, if you're going to celebrate something, this is definitely a good place to consider and they even have the option of having a mermaid (yes, literally a mermaid) hold a sign with your words of celebration in the aquarium tank. What's cooler than that?
(4)Ron A.
Bad customer service. I reserved 16 seats for my sons birthday on 8/9/15. About 2 months in advance put a deposit down and requested for a certain seating arrangement so we could see the mermaid show. When we came in they couldn't accommodate the sitting arrangement I requested. I called them prior to this day and they said everything would be setup the way we wanted. During that day we arrived they said they couldn't arrange it that way. Spoke to the manager and he also said he couldn't accommodate the seat in we requested because the amount of people we had. And I told the manager you should have notified us before we arrived that it wasn't possible to make the seating arrangement. Instead of finding out last minute. Who can in talk for the complaint
(1)Bubba S.
Today was my birthday and my honey took me here for a surprise buffet meal....yummy yummy.....all you can eat crab legs and much much more!!! Highly recommend it to y'all da huge aquarium was center stage with a large variety of sea life. Try em........
(5)Pat R.
What happened to this place? I took the GF here to see if she wanted to reserve it for our rehearsal dinner. In the past, this was the not so best kept secret place to take out of town guests. So naturally this was near the top of my list of places for the GF to try. Sadly, this place has become a ghost of its former glory. What's wrong you ask? 1. Service: I made a reservation for an early dinner to take advantage of the kama'aina pricing. We were quickly ushered to a table in the far back corner near the bathrooms. This was a problem for me as the place was nearly empty and we had made reservations. I could understand if we walked in during a crowded time w/o a reservation but that was not the case. I asked for a table a little closer to the tank and was told that we could only have the table till 5:30. What kind of crap is that? Was my reservation not important enough? There was no further explanation why we could not sit and enjoy our dinner. So needless to say, our dinner started off the wrong way. 2. The once impressive centerpiece fish tank is nearly empty. Once upon a time it was overflowing with fish and was like going to Waikiki Aquarium with dinner! This was the main WOW factor of this place and now its just a wall of water. 3. The food selection has been drastically reduced and is not worth the $50ish cover or even the $40ish kama'aina rate. There was no ahi sashimi on the night we went. The fish of the day was tilapia?!? Shame Shame..I remember in this places hey day we would see mahi mahi, miso butterfish and lots of sushi and sashimi at the buffet spread... Granted the prime rib, crab legs and pasta bar make up some of the value but still falls short. I don't know about you, but when I want to take guests out and show what local food is all about, crab legs and prime rib are not high on the list. This place is off of my must take people to list until they clean up their act. Check out my other reviews and lists for my other "must eats" while on Oahu.
(2)S S.
Time for an update ! This review is for this buffet and has nothing to do with the hotel. I'm a regular here and brought my friends all the way from San Diego to enjoy this time with me. First of all they told us we couldn't use our coupons at certain hours ( even though we were told otherwise) , second of all once we are in finally after all the back and fourth, they told my friend to "put a shirt on" and she wasn't topless by any means, if you looked around there were other people in bathing wear. Last but not least I arrived this evening to check into my reservation and was told once again I couldn't use the coupon I was given. This buffet is amazing but , wow! That's how you treat your regular clients? Interesting .
(3)Angela C.
My husband was looking for a seafood buffet so we decided to check this place out on one of their special nights where they serve crab legs. $50 went a long way with the large menu they had. We were seated right next to the tank and enjoyed the view, especially when the mermaids swam by. A good choice if you want to splurge on dinner a little. Tasty food, good options for a non-seafood water, such as myself. My husband was pleased with his snow crabs and king crabs.
(4)WhyMe M.
Was told about this place by our hotel. Not disappointing. Fresh seafood galore and the waiters were very attentive Strongly recommend
(4)Joel G.
The food was ok. Def not a cozy atmosphere. Felt like I was eating in a school cafeteria. Way overpriced imo. Won't be going back.
(3)Shirley Y.
My kids enjoy watching the fish and seeing the two divers feeding the fish during dinner. Our table server is awesome. The Italian chef who served snow crab legs and pastas is very nice and funny. The only problem was the lady who assigned a really really bad table for us. We reserved first seating which was 4:30pm and it was not full . We requested to switch table to get closer to the oceanarium but the lady was very mean and she didn't want to change at first.Then, she unwillingly changed the table and then kept reminding us its 2-hour seating. Very rude. The thing is the restaurant is not full at all , plenty of tables and why she picked the worst far back table for us. I really have no idea how the seating works. is it a bad decision to eat early and to make reservation....? But, I really appreciate the owner's effort of maintaining the oceanarium! Bravo!
(3)Matt S.
Very overpriced and touristy. The service was very poor for the cost of the buffet. At $50 a plate the waiter should at least check on you once! The items on the menu other than the buffet were very disappointing. The ravioli was bland, and the sauce was very watery. It looked like they literally dumped a can of diced tomatoes, water and all, on the plate, and called it sauce. Some of the buffet items were decent. The prime rib and crab legs wee good, but not great. For the price would expect much better. Do yourself a favor and find something better on Waikiki!
(1)Jayleen Y.
I would NEVER recommend this resteraunt, due to poor poor and insanely the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my life (and I am not over exaggerating). I was there for a birthday dinner(first time there too). Food is average. Scenery was not mind blowing but it was beautiful. You would expect more fishes. But the service was the WORST. Management should be shameful of their employees. Had the drink menu but our server took it and said that we wouldn't be needing it, I mean really we are all adults wanting have a good time. And for some reason our server decided to put our checks into one, when clearly I requested for split when reservations were made. Supposedly he asked but that is questionable. My advise is you're better off at Dennys.
(1)Cody H.
I love this place. If you eat off the menu it is relatively inexpensive. Eat the buffet, you're going broke (but the buffet is certainly worth every penny). Tonight I had a grilled chicken Caesar salad for $13 and a bowl of New England Clam Chowder for $8. Can't beat it...
(5)Elson L.
Came here for Sunday brunch and it was not a terrible experience. Definitely expected a lot more for the price. As for the food, the prime rib was tough as nails and the rest of the breakfast items were pretty mediocre. Coffee and tea is included and added a nice touch to an otherwise very forgettable experience. In terms of the service, it was great! Management is doing something right with the servers and wait staff. But please, do something about the quality of the food items!
(3)Nina G.
We went here for Valentine's Day brunch. It wasn't crowded at all. We loved the ambiance and their service. Workers were friendly and nice. It was a little bit pricey. I called them and asked how much per person and the lady told me its $36 per person, but we ended up paying $60 per person. We paid $5 for parking with validation. Overall, this place would be great for family/ group. I could've went to somewhere else for that price.
(3)Naz E.
Breakfast was great! Our server Edmund was so friendly and awesome! We loved having him as our server. Definitely beats the lines and eggs and things !
(5)John Y.
If you are a snow crab leg lover then this should be your go to place, don't find too many buffets nowadays serving unlimited crab legs. Even better, eat starting at 1730 (2 hour limit) and you get a discount off the normal buffet cost. For a change of pace, go for the Prime rib which is flavorful and moist. Save room for dessert, dip the fruit bits into the chocolate fountain
(4)Kimo K.
I like buffets because obviously you can eat what you like as much as you like and with this buffet you get a free show. They also welcome local patronage among the tourist throngs and offer a discount. The food was good the presentation was good the service was great and Unobtrusive the mermaid is real because she never came up for air I wonder if they have to pay Disney to use the little mermaid song could make some money selling T-shirts and hats with the mermaid on it. I think after 9 o'clock mermaid should be topless. My suggestion would be that they would use Hawaiian rolls instead of the dry white rolls. It's a good buffet it's worth the price is great for tourists and locals alike the music was good. Big complaint about fat Haole who get huge plate only snow crab legs and eat only end meat, bitch throw plenty good crab meat around joint in trash cause HE CAN as it is buffet, dude hungry people right outside door let alone wasting and disrespecting food, karma you and your obese kids one day will go without cause you waste and do not even know the best part of crab is around the joint but takes a little work to get...You waste you eat too much you do not catch own food or cook your food thinking money is God you Duck Dynasty glutinous McDonalds eating slug... but I have aloha for everyone. I wonder what to do with all the leftover food. But if you think about it if you put all that food together clam chowder sashimi sushi and crab a couple slabs of prime rib au jus one or two pieces of broccoli some chicken kalbi ribs noodles rice some pinapple papaya grapes raisins nuts and mix it all together with Apple pie chocolate creme brulee banana cake ice cream and M&ms ....you have garbage. Enjoy your meal. The price is about $50 (15% off for Hawaiians) but when you think about it you can go spend $50 for 4 beers and a burger fries at Dukes so is actually pretty good deal skip a couple happy hours and enjoy a good meal and eat like a pig or the last day of your life on EArth.
(5)Margarita R.
Their buffet is to die for! Great seafood. Cold and hot crab at your choice. Their peel and eat shrimp seasoned with Cajun spices were so delish! I could just eat that the entire night! They offered a Prime rib carving station. Roast pork w/the pigs head as an attraction really gained a lot of pictures with the tourist.... Fresh saimin with your choice of garnishes and the desserts... Oh my! I'm in love with their chocolate fountain and their soft serve cone and their creme brûlée and their fresh fruit. Did mention their chocolate fountain? Can't forget their enormous aquarium with all those beautiful tropical fish. And, if you're celebrating a special occasion, they can create a greeting and display it the aquarium for all to see. Overall, always a pleasant experience when I visit the oceanarium. Will be returning soon! (Mahalo for the memories Gerri, Larry and Papa Paul!)
(5)James W.
Vegas buffet prices with hole in the wall Chinese buffet quality. In fact I think I've had better food at Chinese buffets in Texas. Crab legs were soggy, and room temp. Didn't taste good. Crumbled apart. Prime rib was overcooked. Not red, not pink, but dark brown and cooked all the way through. Not the way prime rib is supposed to be served. Dessert area was very basic and portions were small. Only about 4 or 5 options. You definitely won't be impressed by the food, but the fish tank is cool. Worth the price? I don't think so.
(2)Hope Y.
Celebrated the hubs birthday at the Oceanarium. We usually do brunch there, but wound up doing dinner for the first time. I really enjoy the crab, and we had snow crab on the menu. First course: 1 plate, overflowing with crab, side of butter and some lemons (best guess would be about a pound and a half). Second course (after washing buttery hands off in the ladies room) prime rib, Asian steamed fish, sashimi, and coconut shrimp. Hubs went for the ramen station and chowder, then on to the prime rib. They had a pasta bar that the chef made seafood pasta, and the spread included things like chicken, veggies, fish, and sushi. We ended the evening with some sweets, I had the panna cotta, a brownie bite, and some creme brulee, and hubs had more chocolatey goodies. All in all, a nice evening with some good food. Seating can be kinda iffy, because you could be stuck behind a pole, or back in the corner with a junk view of the mermaids. If you are celebrating something, be sure to let them know when you make your reservations, so the mermaid can write it on her board or wave to your table.
(4)Susan L.
I have never walked out on a reservation before, but when the waiter can't find a menu..... Smelly cafeteria, beware. One star too much
(1)Susynoid A.
Okay first off CRAB!!!!! We went on a Thursday which is crab day so the crab was very delicious , and the service was very good as well. We had a slight problem and the manager came right out to check on us and to fix the problem. I also ordered a smoking pineapple drink and since they brought it while I was getting another plate of crab the server came back with more dry ice so that I could see it in all its glory ! I really enjoyed myself and I will definitely come back
(5)Holly L.
Thought this would be a total gimmick. But it was so great. The brunch buffet was hot and tasty and refilled and the fish were so nice. Call first and get a seat near the fish. Well worth it!
(4)Yolanda R.
omg, what an experience to sit next to the glass window and watch the diver! Really cool and fun experience. Plus lunch was GREAT, I loved my mahi mahi. YUM. Thank you so much
(5)Ric C.
Nice buffet option for Waikiki. The weekend brunch is great especially the huge steamed snow crab legs. Nice selection of dishes, salads, desserts and also an omelet station. The service is great and attentive. They also offer a senior discount. It's the crab legs that push it to a solid 4 stars. (See my review on Studio B buffet at the M Resort in Vegas) Ok a pic added from a recent meal 3/14.
(4)Kendra O.
I would give the Oceanarium 3 1/2 stars, but because Yelp only allows for full stars, I'm rounding down to 3. Whether I round up or down is dependent on my experience. In this case, a couple of things during this experience are causing the round down -- the photographer and the layout. My friend had 2 complimentary dinners that were included as part of a room/meal package that she bought and she needed to use the certificate by the end of the month. If we had paid for it, it would have been $48 for the night we went, in which king crab was featured. Overall, I would say the food was a peg above average. However, for the price, I would go to Prince Court instead (even if they don't have crab), as the food quality there is much better. At Oceanarium, the spread was pretty decent: a make-your-own saimin station, assorted salad, peel-and-eat shrimp, sushi (maki and ahi nigiri), sashimi (I can't remember the type of fish -- I think maybe kajiki), fruit, cheese, desserts, seafood medley, kalbi, shrimp and veggie tempura, prime rib, pasta station, roasted potatoes, mixed veggies, and king crab. For the most part, the food was pretty good. But one thing I would note is the crab -- it did not have the nice orange/red color that King crab typically does, and my friend commented that it was salty, but that she liked it that way. As much as I love salt, this was a different kind of salty, and it didn't have the sweet flavor that King crab usually does. When I mentioned this to another friend, she said that it was probably old crab; thawed, refrozen, thawed, refrozen, etc. I'm inclined to agree. Now on to the annoyances: the primary annoyance was the cheesy photographer. She completely interrupted us while eating and was very aggressive and in my opinion, rude. What really got me was when she was showing us the completed photos, my friend wanted to buy one and asked whether it could be put on our bill -- the photographer said no, she had to pay her now. Fine. But my friend was eating crab at the time and her fingers were dirty, so she said, "ok, wait" (in a local-style way) as she cleaned her fingers off. Then the photographer proceeds to tell ME to take the credit card out for my friend (and my friend wasn't even at the point of reaching her purse yet). Irraz. This along would deter me from going back there. The second annoyance was the way they positioned the tables. When we arrived it was fine, there was a slightly larger group next to us sitting at a set of tables consisting of two tables pushed together. However, when they left, the two tables were separated, thereby leaving probably less than 2 feet between tables. This wouldn't have been a big deal except we were sitting toward the front of the section and all the people sitting behind us had to maneuver their way between these small spaces to get to the buffet, not to mention posing a safety hazard should there by an emergency. And no way someone in a wheelchair could've gotten through. So, considering it was free, it was fine. Would I pay to come back here? Not likely. As I mentioned, Prince Court is in the same price range (probably no more than $5 more on seafood night) and the food and service quality there are MUCH better. And no annoying photographers.
(3)Dextr M.
Thursday evening, all you can eat buffet, snow crabs and a huge fish tank. First off, I'm not a fan of buffets. ( came here to take some out of town family out for dinner ), however this place isn't what it used to be back when I came 2 years ago. I just seem to loose its awesomeness. Service is good. Nothing shady. You get what you pay for. Kamaaina price is before 5:30pm which is $41...regular is $47. Food wise, good but not great. Nothing out of the ordinary. Prime rib and pasta station. Assorted sushi and sashimi . Seafood nage , coconut shrimp , kalbi and chicken just to name a few entrees. Also fruits and cheese . Dessert to name a few were lemon bars, chocolate mousse brownies, tarts and tropical cobbler. Also not to mention soft serve ice cream and chocolate fountain and all there toppings. To me, a typical Hawaiian buffet , nothing amazing. That's why 3 stars. Ambience wise it's a bit more than casual. the fish tank lost choke fishes from my last visit. But it's cool though a lot of people were taking picture still. I will probably not be back unless I am forced to go, but it's koo doe, buffet all you can eat and as long as I'm not paying. Haha Nonetheless still a good place to take fam out for dinner for some grinds!
(3)Andrew H.
Cool restaurant located in the Pacific Beach Hotel. I thought it was awesome that they have these huge stingrays swimming around as you eat. They have some incredible fish in the tank. I also saw advertisements for a dinner-time show with someone swimming amongst the fish. My girlfriend and I came here for brunch. We had a few bloody mary's which were tasty. We went for the breakfast buffet and caught the tail-end. My favorite items were the Portuguese sausages, omelets, and last but not least, the bacon. Everyone knows this restaurant/hotel as "the one with the aquarium." You should definitely come and check this one out! And trust me, the stingrays are massive.
(4)Debi V.
We came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. The buffet was sooo good! Crab legs, a omelet station, prime rib carving station, various meat dishes and various salads, fruits and desserts. We enjoyed the food and the service given to us by Edmund and Chun was excellent! It's a great place to bring the family!
(5)Lynnette S.
Had the Buffett Dinner lastnight. Brought My Sister & a brother in Law who came from Kauai & never experienced this awesome restaurant! Called to make reservations & asked the Girl on the phone for a table nearest to the aquarium. She was going to put me on a waiting list. Well, got to talk to Charlie (the Manager) & he took care of it. Seating near the aquarium, 25% off our dinner, VIP Valet parking!! Wow! We had a wonderful dinner. My Sister & Brother in Law just Loved this restaurant & definitely will be back! Eddie was our waiter & He was so awesome ALL night! He was on it! Best service ever! Not to mention the Bus Boy too! Talk about being on it!! Charlie...your Staff is AWESOME!! From when We got there with the Valet who was so ON IT! from the Hostesses when We walked in & sat us right away with a wonderful greeting! Than Eddie & everyone @ the Buffett station. Charlie...Much Mahalo for the VIP service...We will surely be back & will surely keep sending My Hotel Guest to The Oceanirium Restaurant
(5)Marko C.
Three stars for the Ocenarium! The family went here to celebrate my sister's birthday celebration. She wanted to go here becasue of the crab legs. We got to the restaurant at 5:00 on a Thursday evening for the Kama'aina discount! Upon being seated, I wanted to sit next to the big glass aquarium because I wanted my nephew to enjoy looking at the fish. When we asked the waitress if we could sit closer to the fish, she was very rude and said, "No" then proceeded to walk away - giving us no chance to engage in a conversation about my request. FAIL. We came specifically to this restaurant because we were told that there was going to be three different types of crab legs - Dungeness, Snow, and King. We got to the buffet, and there was only one type of crab offered - snow crab. FAIL. The restaurant offers a nice assortment of local-inspired foods - fresh ahi and marlin sashimi, roast beef, roasted pork, shrimp, etc. They had a wonderful assortment of desserts and appetizers. Overall the food was good, and was what you can expect from a buffet restaurant. The one saving grace behind our visit was that the waiter service was impeccible. Our server was super friendly and constantly was at the table offering drink refreshments, a change of plates, and additional napkins. I don't know if I'd rush back to have dinner here again. Note: Two hour limit on your visit. Food Grade: B+ Service Grade: A+ Hostess Grade: D Worth the Money Grade: B- Overall Impression: B-
(3)Laci B.
We had a party of 10, 6 of which were kids. We were seated right by the glass & close to the bathrooms. We were happy to pay for the experience. The fish & rays were awesome. We got to see a feeding & oh my goodness, the kids went wild with the mermaid. We had read reviews on the buffet & it definitely exceeding our expectations. We all left stuffed & happy.
(4)Phil K.
This place is WAY overpriced for the level of quality, and is a little run-down. The food overall was bleh, to ok. It actually felt like I was in a Golden Corral with a huge aquarium and bill. The dining areas were quite filthy, and there was food particulate and dining utensils all over the place. The service was sparse, as it would take forever for our non-smiling non-friendly to even refill our drinks... This to us felt much more like a tourist gimmick than a quality restaurant, which is unfortunate. There are MUCH better restaurants all over Oahu, so please go somewhere better than this!
(2)Joy C.
I expected more for what i paid but i went there for the crab legs, it satisfied me but the snow crab is a little salty, the mahi is dry the prime rib is so bloody not fond of it, too many employees at the stairs, workers are chatting and they are speaking foreign language fortunately i understand it and its not really nice to talking about customers lol.. Will i go back? Maybe. Forgot to add the Ambiance is nice and the fishes are entertaining, the diver and mermaid its a plus
(3)Albert F.
I have not been here since my mother passed away, which was over 15 years ago. Ive read all the recent reviews but we decided to try it anyway. Every year we celebrate our annivsary at Pinrce Court but thought the kids would enjoy the giant aquarium, and they did. The food was great, the service also good.
(4)Cynthia B.
This place is probably getting three stars from me because of the pretty aquarium that we get to eat next to. The feeding of the fish was pretty cool too. But the food was very meh. The selection was really small and I felt like I had way much more carbs than necessary because there was not much else to eat. There was a steak area but I only had a bite, it was just alright. The dessert portion was really big compared to how much actual food they had. But I did not enjoy their dessert much either except for maybe the fruit tart, but I remember it being a bit sweet. Overall, it was just alright, nothing was special about the place except for the aquarium. With that said, the price was much higher than the quality of the food.
(3)Wendy O.
We just had a fabulous breakfast at The Oceanarium! The Loco Moco and breakfast buffet are divine! Thank you to Edmund for excellent service - you exceeded our expectations! We will come back again to see you. The fish tank is incredibly beautiful and impressive - we love to see the Stingray and the giant Grouper! Cool. Mahalo!
(5)Julie D.
I grew up going to this restaurant for special occasions. Food is decent for the price you pay. Their main attraction is the humungous aquarium with variety of fish, sharks, and stings rays. You could also see people swimming in the tank acting as mermaids. If you're celebrating a special occasion and would like to greet a special someone sit next to the tank and make a request with the staff. The mermaids swim up to your table and greet you a "happy birthday" or "happy anniversary." They have a sushi, poke, prime rib, crab legs, dessert, etc. The staff is really friendly and attentive. Every time I come to this place, it's filled with many happy tourist. They have a parking garage with validation.
(4)Jay A.
Had Mothers Day dinner buffet. Food was good, variety of seafood and desserts pasta chef, prime rib. The cost was pricey at $60 for adults, $28 for kids. My kids loved the aquarium, especially the sting rays, no mermaids though. Service was good. Don't know if I'll go back with the price that high.
(3)Jennifer T.
This once was a very good value with top quality food. Sadly it is not anymore. The kama aina discount went from 25% off to 15% off. Plus the price of the buffet went up by 25% to almost $50.00. For crab that was so dirty and soft I was afraid I was going to get sick from the old, overly salty, frozen defrosted refrozen and re defrosted crab. Plus the snow crab was even worse and served cold:(. Used to be top quality snow crab. I will not be back.
(1)Chevonne J.
This place is pretty good. Don't let the casino like buffet decor and ambiance fool you. The tables are old and worn but the food and service were great. Crab was delish! So many good choices! They had snow crab, Alaskan king, oysters, shrimp, sushi, prime rib, salads, pastas, soups, veggies, potatoes, countless sides, other proteins like chicken etc, and more than 5 dessert options. There was a tank feeding at 9 and a mermaid show shortly after. Would definitely go again. Not a trendy hot spot but definitely good food.
(4)Alyssa Y.
My fam love the buffet here! We get treated out by my grandparents once a year! Im not so much of a seafood eater but they have such a variety, it covers you! My fam eats up the crab! I always love the people who are behind the table making the omelet, or cutting the meat, or making the pasta! Theyre friendly, talkative and playful! The aquarium is ginormous and is just beautiful to watch all these different creatures of the sea swim around! They sometimes send scuba divers to feed, be taken photos of, or place a personal happy birthday sign in front of the person who is dining there! Pretty darn cool. Theres a variety of meats, veggies, sushi, snacks, fruit, salads, soups, and ooooh the dessert. Theyre small so I can try many kinds! Love it. They got it all. Pretty good for a buffet.
(4)Madeline A.
My fiancé and I were staying at this hotel and we're tired from a day of traveling (and a little day drinking) so we decided to eat here. I was pleasantly surprised! Service is good. It's touristy and expensive but if you like crab legs or prime rib, you can EASILY get your money's worth.
(4)Edie N Alizabeth H.
We eat here often and always greeted with a smile. Excellent service, Oceanarium is a wonderful place for families or couples only. We love the life size aquarium, the food is Aaamazing! Everything that we tried was made the way it suppose to be, like the Crab legs, Prime Rib, Sushi station, Pasta station, freshly baked desserts, Ice cream station. It all was deeelish!!
(4)Joe D.
The aquarium earned it's only star. Our server was ok. Our bottle of Perrier was good in fact it was the best part of our meal. Every thing pretty much sucked. Oh, wait the potatoes were edible and the tempura was tempura. We didn't expect much. We had to try it.
(1)Philip K.
UPDATE: My wife is now throwing up following this meal. DO NOT EAT HERE One star for the rays and the Liliko'i lemonade. Zero stars for the food, the service, the sad and depressing mermaid show. There is a reason the price for this terrible buffet is not listed anywhere: it is ludicrously expensive for food that is disappointing at best. We were shocked to see the bill (~$107 for two people). We were hoping for a nice seafood buffet in a place that should effortlessly do great seafood, but instead we got an embarrassing landlocked execution of seafood. You are twenty feet from the ocean and the best you can do is one offering of slimy sashimi and no Ahi tuna? For shame. But in case you really miss Thanksgiving dinner, don't even worry because they have roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Also poorly executed. Do not eat here. Ever.
(1)Yong X.
I like the environment over there, let a person feel comfortable. I feel generally for food, but on the other side of the delicious fruit. My children over there to play of very happy, because there in the evening have to feed the fish show!^_^^_^
(3)Rhea Cherie B.
This is one of my favorite buffets, mainly because it's all you can eat crab legs! PROS: +Celebration Message-When the diver goes into the tank to feed the fishes, you can pay them to swim around with a sign for your celebrant. My family brought me here for my birthday and had them do a "Happy Birthday Rhea Cherie" sign for me. It was awesome; she swam right up to our table and left the sign there after she was done. +All you can eat-I usually go back 2 or 3 times just for the crab legs! +Sushi bar, pasta bar, prime rib, soft serve machine w/toppings to choose from, many types of desserts CONS: -Price -a little high but there's a 15% Kamaaina discount -Restaurant gets busy so be sure to make a reservation SERVICE: Overall pretty good. Servers are usually quick and attentive and make sure to take your used plates off your table quickly but because the restaurant gets so busy, sometimes you can't always depend on them to be quick AMBIANCE: Casual but many people are dressed in Aloha attire as a lot of the patrons are tourists. One of the best parts of the restaurant is the huge fish tank in the middle of the restaurant. There are tons of fishes in the tank including sting rays. VALUE: Although the buffet is a bit pricey, it's definitely worth it. It's all you can eat and they're not serving hotdogs and hamburgers! You get all kinds of seafood, meat and dessert.
(5)Carolyn P.
Crap- Wow a one word review perfectly sums up this place. We came here so our son could see the mermaid show ( what a joke). The scuba diver was more entertaining than the mermaid. If you want to see a great mermaid show, rent the little mermaid. The food was sub par. The desserts were covered in fruit flies. This was not worth $50 a head.
(2)Fred B.
Pretty good. A little expensive (i think dinner is $30-40 now...). They have sushi, crab, hot apps, cold apps, carving station, pasta made to order. Only problem is the price, and the fact that there are always fruit flies swarming the sushi...... Reserve a spot next to the aquarium in advance! Its worth it!!!!
(3)Krista J.
Awesome service.. cool fish tank veiw.. very boring food.. the crab legs were ok, nothing special. Everything else was junk. not a whole lot to chose from. Bad sushi. Over priced for what u get. They also have a time limit to be there. If they put out better food, it would be an awesome place
(3)Tim G.
I believe this is the most over priced restaurant in Honolulu. The tank is spectacular, but can be viewed for free with the kids from the second floor of the hotel. Food is average at best. Buffet is ok, but too expensive and average quality. They have the nerve to include an 18% tip for serving yourself! Ridiculous!
(1)Brian T.
This place went down hill after the new management took over. They used to be my favorite place for good crab...But not anymore. Cold crab.... They ran out a couple of times while I was there. Seems like they don't care about the local crowd anymore cause the food sucks!! They don't even have a good selection of hot entrees. Emerson where are you... You need to take over this place and turn it around AGAIN!!!... You had the best food!!!
(1)Rebekah H.
I went with my family just because we like to try new restaurants as often as possible. The kids love nature, so we made dinner reservations and off we went. There's valet, which is nice. We went down to the restaurant and were seated quickly. The tank was great and the kids were mesmerized. We ordered the kids food (because paying buffet prices for them is a ridiculous waste of money). Then we got our food. The hot food was in covered containers, which was nice. It tasted okay. Not spectacular, but not horrible. They have food cooked to order, which was good. Then I went back for sushi. It looked like it had been out all day. It was sitting on the table with no cooling. The sushi was dried on the edges and room temperature. So, needless to say, the sushi was a no-go. Then dessert (my favorite part of any meal)! The dessert, like the sushi, was sitting out on the tables, no cooling or coverings what-so-ever. I walked over to the table and a swarm of fruit flies lifted off the desserts. They were visible from 5 feet away! I was lucky not to have gotten sick! We promptly left and went to get ice cream down the street. I definitely think they need to brush up on their food sanitation and cool and cover everything if it's going to be out all day. The only thing that saved this from a 1 star review was the service was good, the kids food ordered was good, and the tank kept the kids quiet.
(2)Lea T.
I used to love coming here with my family growing up! Now days, this place takes top 3 in one of the worst buffets in hawaii!! No variety! Prime rib is really tough & over cooked. Sashimi was so frozen, I couldn't even eat it! Kalbi tasted funky! The crab legs are a hot or miss. Need I say more?! Much rather spend the money else where, instead of this over priced buffet! Even the fish in the tank look sad!!!
(1)Jo Y.
Oh, how I love CRAB LEGS!!! As CRAB LEGS are expensive, it is always a special treat for me when I get to eat them! And yes, this AYCE buffet has steamed CRAB LEGS - juicy Dungeness CRAB LEGS and sweet huge snow CRAB LEGS! (King CRAB LEGS are also on the buffet on Mondays & Thursdays only, but a friend said that the King CRAB was not as good as the Dungeness and snow CRAB); we were there on a Saturday night.) The Dungeness and snow CRAB LEGS were soooo ono and amazing - juicy, sweet, and succulent! The Dungeness CRAB LEGS were a good size, and the snow CRAB LEGS were larger than the normal-sized legs found in other restaurant buffets. They were so good that instead of eating the rest of the buffet items, the CRAB LEGS made up 98% of my meal; in fact, I had four heaping plates of CRAB LEGS before I gave up! No regrets there! (Tip - we brought our sharp Joyce Chen scissors which easily sliced through the shells as we pulled out the CRAB meat flawlessly and intact!) The buffet items were varied: Salads and pupus - raw oysters, sashimi, shrimp w/ cocktail sauce, tossed veggies, pasta salad, fresh fruits, cheeses, clam chowder, sushi. Entrees - Dungeness and snow CRAB LEGS; prime rib; steamed fish; teriyaki chicken; stir-fried veggies; mussels; seafood risotto; seafood pasta station cooked to order w/ shrimps, scallops, mussels, calamari; and others items I can't remember. (There are different specials daily; the Saturday night specials included shrimp tempura and braised short ribs). Desserts - chocolate fountain w/ strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows; soft serve ice cream with toppings (chocolate and caramel syrups, candy sprinkles, oreos, marshmallows, nuts); pies; mini slices of cakes; parfaits; and almond float. Although my heart was with the CRAB LEGS, I tried to make an effort to taste a few items from the buffet. Most of the items were just so-so, nothing spectacular or memorable. The shrimps in the seafood risotto were mushy; the prime rib was a little tough; and the sushi and mini cakes were not as flavorful as they should be. I liked the clam chowder, however, the minced clams were so tiny. The chocolate fountain-dipped strawberries (some were huge) were good, but a few of the strawberries were moldy, and the cut bananas (with the banana peel on them) were discolored from standing out too long, and they did not look appetizing. I enjoyed the soft-serve ice cream and the almond float to end a great meal of CRAB LEGS. The service was excellent! The attentive staff replenished all the buffet items very quickly, so there were never any empty trays. As the CRAB LEGS were very popular, they were constantly replaced with full trays, and you could take as many as you wanted, knowing that they just came out of the steamer. I took an empty plate back to my table to be used for the empty CRAB LEG shells, but was pleasantly surprised that one was already on the table. The bus help were on the ball, as dirty plates (we had lots of them with CRAB LEG shells) were constantly replaced with clean ones and water/drinks were continually refilled without asking. The atmoshpere and decor were impressive. Our tables were in the back corner next to the 280,000 gallon aquarium. The aquarium made it a pleasant surrounding to dine in. As an added touch, a mermaid will bring out a large sign to wish someone a happy birthday, offer a marriage proposal, or any other message; cost is somewht pricey at $25 (with 12 hours advance notice). Although we were on the far end from the buffet, we enjoyed the privacy. Personally, the aquarium didn't excite me as I've lived here all my life and have seen my share of aquariums, but for children and tourists, it is a mesmerizing experience. The cost of the dinner buffet is pricey - regular price is $44.95 + tax/tip. There's a 25% kamaaina discount, which brings it down to $33.71 + tax/tip, and seating times are only before 5:30 pm or after 8:30 pm; reservations are a must. Complimentary coffee, iced tea, or fruit punch comes with the meal. As self-parking is $5 w/ validation, we self-parked (entrance is on Kuhio Ave.) and did not have any problems finding a space. When we drove out, we noticed that there was no parking attendant. Instead, there was a machine (where the attendant used to be) and from your car, you put in $$ or credit card. There weren't any cars in front of us, so we were able to exit quickly; however, if there were a line of cars, I would imagine that it would be a time-consuming process in using the machine to pay for parking. There is valet parking available (entrance via Liliuokalani Ave.) for $9 + tip, I gave 4 stars because of the superb CRAB LEGS, excellent service, and pleasant atmosphere. The rest of the buffet items could use some improvement. Value wise, you'll love this place only if you're a CRAB LEG eater. I'll certainly be back......as long as they continue to have their quality CRAB LEGS!
(4)Erika A.
I love this place! I only eat there on Mondays because of their all you can eat crab legs. Yes, I am a fan of crab legs and I am that one annoying person who stands in line waiting for the crab and eats all the crab before you get there. Not only do they have king crab but they also have dungeness crab and snow crab. They also have rib eye steak as well as other delicious items. The best part about this place is their awesome flaming pineapple drinks. They are quite exquisite and filled with yumminess. They also have the amazing fish tank with the sting rays! if you go there at 7pm or 9 pm you can see the mermaid swimming around and also the feeding of the sting rays. I am sure there are other times in which they do this but I have only been there during these times. As far as price goes, its not the cheapest! but if you are like me and eat lots of crab or lots of anything then it's well worth the money. The kids always seem to enjoy going there because of the fish tank. I would say its family friendly. The staff is always very polite and I have never had any issues. Getting there can be a bit difficult if you are not familiar with the area so I recommend being prepared. Make sure you make a reservation to get a table with a view.
(5)Sarah M.
This place is a hit or miss. When I heard that they had a 3 story aquarium, I couldn't pass up the chance to come here. Next time, I might swing by and take pics but then leave and go elsewhere for dinner. They had a buffet which was around $38 per person and it had virtually everything. Crab legs, prime rib, a seafood pasta bar, sushi, chicken, fruit, salad, soup, a dessert bar...you name it, it was probably there. While they had an impressive selection, the quality was not quite there. I tried a huge assortment of chicken, prime rib, cucumber sushi, green beans, bean sprout salad, pasta salad, carrot cake, coconut cake, and a chocolate fountain. The Hawaiian chicken was tasty - definitely worth getting - as was the cucumber sushi, prime rib, and green beans. Oh, and of course the chocolate fountain. Everything else...I'd definitely leave behind. The bean sprout salad tasted like nothing and the pasta salad was just plain bad. The cakes were unremarkable as well. The layout of the restaurant is also another point of contention. They cram way too many tables into this restaurant. While the space is fairly large, I felt like I was sitting on the family next to me. That, and not all of the tables have a view of the fish tanks which is the main reason for coming here in the first place. I would only come here if you have time to wait for a table by the tanks. Oh, and did I mention this place was packed? All you can eat crab legs? You'd better believe it's crowded although Mike said that they crab legs were cold and tasted like they had been sitting out all day. Otherwise, he was happy with his choices. I always have a complex tipping servers at these places because they do nothing. They tell you to go to the buffet...bring you a drink and then bring your check. They don't even clear the plates, the bussers took ours. I'd definitely skip this place the next time around, but it's a cool experience...I guess.
(2)H F.
2 weeks ago we made dinner reservations to be at a table next to the aquarium. When we arrived for our friends Birthday dinner, they sat us at a table with no view, though we requested a good table. The manager, was so rude that he actually told us that since the reservation was made with a phone number with an area code other than 808, we would never be seated in a good spot. SERIOUSLY?!?! Then, after we explained that our friends are MILITARY, and we are Hawaii residents he didn't budge, even though there were EMPTY TABLES next to the aquarium! Rude, obnoxious and racist behavior will NOT bring good business! EVER!
(1)Heidi K.
I love the crab legs! Very clean and well stocked . My husband and I had dinner here a few weeks ago, and I was pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend this restaurant . The service was right on as well. Everyone visiting our island should dine here at least once.
(5)Ajie P.
Just came home from a crab feast from this beautiful oceanarium dining!! I dont even know how I can start to write a review about dinner because I feel myself entering a food coma lol. Been coming here maybe like 1x every 2 months now and tonight was the best. Great service by our waiter and the best part, FRESH new batch of CRAB LEGS every like 5min. Never had to wait once for crab legs!! Tried their roast beef, OMG melt in your mouth buttteerrr!! Even better..DIP in Aaju... BROKE DA MOUTH!!! 5 of us = $230.36 Good way to end a weekend!
(4)Rachel Q.
Joe Q. and I sat through a mini-timeshare-esque presentation.. we got some free touristy things.. AND we won a little contest that got us a $25 gift card for the Oceanarium Restaurant.. We decided to check out the lunch buffet.. it was about $16ish bucks a person.. comes with drink.. There wasn't a lot of food.. but the selection was pretty good.. some "Hawaiian" type food.. it wasn't half-bad.. Their dessert bar was full of soo many good pies and goodies.. I had to try them all.. my favorite was the custard pie.. They had a great selection of fruits.. but there were little fruity flies flying in and around it.. that was pretty gross.. but Joe still got some.. he said he dug into the bottom to get the fruit.. They need to watch out for those flies.. other than that.. I was pretty satisfied with the food selections and service.. Oh ya.. and that ginormous aquarium wall was pretty nifty..
(3)Kara L.
I LOVE this place! My mouth waters just thinking about the variety of fresh, juicy crab legs dipped in warm, buttery deliciousness. Mmmmm. The pasta was okay. The salads, prime rib, sashimi and poke were good. There were other tasty dishes, but the crab legs stole the show! The giant aquarium in the main dining area, along with my yummy cocktail, made the experience even more relaxing and enjoyable. My boyfriend and I had a excellent time. We both like The Oceanarium better than the buffets at the Bellagio and Rio in Las Vegas. Tip: A post-dinner stroll along the beach and down the Waikiki strip is a great way to walk off the "food coma".
(5)Terry K.
Food- mediocre so I would give them 3 stars Service and the Aquarium- Service for our group (12 of us) was terrific. We had a table looking into the Aquarium... Ok- if you love seafood- crab legs and fresh oysters, this is the place to go. I am not a buffet person but this place was worth my trying.... Would I go again? Yep!
(4)Justine L.
Save your money, because the food sucks and the selection is small. I wouldn't have minded paying 45 for a buffet in Hawaii except I can't think of one thing I liked and my boyfriend and I couldn't even eat seafood after we hot back home because this place was so bad. It could be that we came an hour before clsing but still the section was pretty small. The only reason I gave this place an extra star was because we sat right next the the mermaid show thing- that was pretty boring too but it looked nice.
(2)Vic C.
This restaurant is one of the best places to go if you are in Oahu... it is about $31 for dinner (that comes with fancy things such as lobster tail, oyster rockefeller, prime rib, etc.) but if you walk into the hotel and go to the lobby, you can just pick up one of the 25% off coupons... so then it would only be around $23 per person. It is well worth it. There is this aquarium in the restaurant and it is really neat to eat when they have their feeding time. There is an actual person who swims in the tank and feeds all the fishes... what a show to see! The service is fantastic and our server was very nice! This place is a great place for your money and should not be missed!
(5)Grace L.
This is definitely a first for me. The first time to dine alongside a kajillion gallon aquarium tank filled with manta rays and exotic fish! Check out my pics...it was at least two stories tall! The buffet was a nice spread. They served hot main dishes that looked delish, but my attention was solely directed on a few things: King crab legs, raw oysters on the half shell, ahi poke, salmon sashimi, and cocktail shrimp! Yes, this was all you can eat, so I did what anyone in my position would've done: piled plate after plate with these seafood delectables! After two plates worth of seafood, I had a hankering for meat. Surf and turf in my tummy, anyone? So I headed over to the prime rib station and got the most beautiful cut I've seen coming from a buffet. With horseradish cream on the side, each and every bite from this perfectly pink (and slightly bloody -- just how I like it) flesh was heavenly. To supplement this (as if this hunky piece of meat needed supplementing,) I had the clam chowder, which was probably the only miss of the night. Too thick and salty, I couldn't even swallow it. Mid-meal, I was interrupted by what I thought was a fish tapping the glass of the aquarium. I looked up and found a scuba diver! He was waving to me! He pointed to my food. I interpreted this as, "Are you enjoying the food?" I gave a thumbs up. He then continued to feed the pretty fish. Of course, I made sure to make room for dessert because the first thing that caught my eye as I was walking in was.....the CHOCOLATE FONDUE FOUNTAIN! Score! Chocolate covered cantaloupe and pineapple and strawberries galore. Aside from the chocolate galore, I had the mango cheesecake, which was nice and creamy. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at this establishment. The fishies make for great after dinner entertainment. Worth visiting if you're in the Waikiki area.
(4)Coreen L.
I recently helped to coordinate a 1st birthday party here and have to send a shout out to the staff and crew for a wonderfully attentive experience the day of the event. Food was delicious and plentiful, and the service was excellent. The family and their guests really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and overall ambiance. Of course, everyone loved the up close viewing of the ocean life too - especially the guest of honor!! A few days earlier, Charlie (manager), who helped us hammer out all the little details, was excellent and absolutely a plus to the team there. HOWEVER, I must note, that the GM of the restaurant, Robert W. was a REAL disappointment!! I can't imagine a worse leader and definite deterrent for anyone considering having a party here (unless they were lucky enough to have someone else help them). He was rude, curt, unaccommodating to even the smallest request and most of all no aloha spirit!! Our party was set to start at 11.00 am to which we were told we couldn't set up till 10.45 - not the greatest window of time but doable. That day, under Robert's guidance, we were not let in to our area till 10.55 and as you can imagine, party guest had already arrived as we scrambled feverishly to place center pieces and favors for 85 people!! The worst part, is that it disrupted the WHOLE restaurant, including people who weren't here to attend our party, but there just trying to enjoy the restaurant. His attitude and decisions are bad for the Oceanarium!! It really seems like he doesn't even like his job!
(3)Pie C.
know that there are probably a ton of other place that are more luxurious and romantic than Oceanarium, but I give this place a 5 star because not only does the food taste so so so good The staffs are very helpful, friendly and every time I take my family and friends here I never get disappointed. The place is not huge but the ambiance is relaxing, the huge aquarium located at the center is so amusing, I love looking at the fishes and the stingray while eating my freshly cooked sea food pasta. OH! Yes they have a chef that is super entertaining and is always ready to cook for you. I usually get the shrimp scalloped alfredo pasta and I love it, it's so good and the shrimp and scallops are so fresh. Then I camp on their chocolate fondue fountain hehe~ my gosh those are to die for. They recently added an ice cream station, which sadly only serve vanilla but It's alright because you can just put whatever topping that they have. This place is perfect for any occasion and will be enjoyed by anyone. Also if you want to make a certain event extra special you can reserve a special greeting dive, but you have to let them know I think 4 days in advance so that they can call a diver and make the bday sign for you... every Friday at 9pm they also do a mermaid swim.
(5)eric e.
its just an alright buffet. For the price its better to get less serving and more quality at a normal restaurant. Nothing really stood out here.
(2)Eduardo R.
We went here for our rehearsal dinner before our wedding. My dad loves this place and highly recommended it. They have a massive dinner buffet that was pretty good. I ate a lot of tempura and sampled many of the dishes. Rarely do I ever go to an all you can crab legs place, but I really indulged this time. Not only do they have king crab, they have dungeness crab. I ate a lot of both! They also have a woman jump into the aquarium dressed as a mermaid, that swims around. Unfortunately, my niece fell asleep before this happened and slept through the whole event.
(3)Jake A.
Buffet good, but not great. The Good Garlic mashed potatoes Sushi station Dessert station with chocolate fountain Steamed vegetables Salad bar Prime rib Crab claws The bad and ugly Lobster claws so overcooked, they are inedible. Steak like shoe leather, well, well done. Coffee, horrible Lobster bisque, weak, flavorless. We got there 10 minutes after they opened, so there is no excuse for overcooked food. And at $41 per person, I want all the food to be fresh and cooked properly.
(3)Lily V.
I was visiting waikiki with my mother and was really in the mood for a variety of things. We decided a buffet would be fun. We dressed up a little thinking it was fancy, but it isnt. The food was delicious. The fruit was so fresh! We had crab legs which were a little too salty, but still yummy. The prime rib was cooked to perfection. It was also a lot of fun to see the aquarium. The diver comes(and maybe a mermaid) and play with the fish. There were some really cool sting rays. They looked sooo friendly. It looked like a little family of 3. I had a great experience and look forward to returning. They do not always accept reservations so it is good to show up early or expect to wait a little. So, for about $40 a person, the oceanarium is a very nice choice for a buffet dinner.
(4)Katie B.
The wait staff was GREAT! I need to say that to be fair. They were polite and kept our drinks full. The guy who cooks the pasta was nice. The crab legs were dry and cold, SO VERY disappointing. We spent $200 for our family to eat there, and were seated at the table furthest from the fish tanks. But that really wasnt the greatest disappointment, it was that the food was bland. I didnt try the sushi, but my teenage daughter did say it was good. The desert options were good, but really $50 a plate is too much for bland food and a few deserts. Wont go back.
(2)Shireen G.
I'm convinced my family hates me. Why? I've been forced to come here on multiple occasions and I was even "treated" to brunch here for my birthday. I hate coming here. If you're not big on seafood, then you're SOL. There are a few non-seafood items, a salty prime rib and some dry chicken. Or you can do what I do and head straight for the cheese and crackers. Or the bread. The seating is ridiculous. The last time my family came here, we were seated almost back to back with the group next to us. If the food was decent, maybe I could forgive having to practically sit in the lap of the other group. The desserts don't taste as good as they look and that's a shame. The almond float is your best bet, just watch out for those bugs flying around. Speaking of those bugs, they're also near the sushi. I quit eating the sushi after I saw that. The one star is actually for the soft serve. Then again, you have to really suck if you screw that up. In short, don't come here if you absolutely don't have to. Me? I'm moving in a few months.... hopefully my family won't have my farewell dinner here.
(1)Kathaleya W.
Crab legs!!!!
(5)Lee Ann H.
Way to expensive! The aquarium was ok but it costs more to sit by the aquarium and it costs more to have soda. the food was only ok but to pay more than $300 for 9 people to eat is outrageous. The prices were not clearly posted anywhere we were astonished that it was over $300 we had 5 adults and 4 kids. Way not worth the price. For this price we could have gone to Buca's and probably spent less and enjoyed the way more.
(2)Peter R.
Alaskan King Crab on Mondays! Quality and size of these were not bad considering it's a buffet. The sashimi was also decent for a buffet, as was the prime rib. Can't comment on anything else because I didn't waste my time or stomach space for anything else! The giant floor to ceiling aquarium had tons of cool fish, sharks and rays and was a nice change of pace for a view because I had been staring at the ocean most of the day.
(3)A D.
I usually cant go to a place that does "all you can eat" because I cant eat enough to get my moneys worth. $45 a person is alot, but this time for dinner....It was worth it! I think my husband and I ate about 25 crab legs :). The best crab. He raved about the prime rib. All the food was FRESH. The desserts were sooo good. The staff was on top of everything. As soon as we finished they cleaned the table and brought new plates and filled our water serveral times.
(5)Jennifer H.
The buffet was over priced for the selection of food. In fact the food was kind of gross. The tank in the middle was pretty but the water was not clear and the mermaid only does a few shows. We had reservations and were seated quickly but they sat us by the server door....why would you even put a table there?!?!?! I would give it one star but I didn't get food poisioning so I guess it is okay but I would never go back or recommend anyone else waste $50.00 here ..... I think dare I say it... Golden Corral has a better buffet! OUCH!
(2)Vanessa C.
Place was not that great. Food was not worth the price at all. The only thing that was good was the 15 mins of seeing the mermaid show. Was not satisfied with this place at all. The crab legs were to salty, they had no lobster, no shrimp, no oysters, and the list goes on. My recommendation go somewhere else for seafood.
(1)Dani S.
I stumpled upon this place one nite while wandering aimlessly through Waikiki with my bladder about to burst and unable to find a public restroom (yeah yeah, I shouldn't have drank that much). The staff here was really sweet and let me use their facilities. +1 star. Then I caught a glimpse of the gaint 2 story high aquarium with this huge manta ray and dang was I impressed. +1 star The following day, we decided to come back to have breakie. The food was ok, but the portions were huge. +1 star The service staff was attentive and very nice. +1 star.
(4)Joe Q.
The place has a really nice decor. Nice beautiful aquarium to enjoy your food. However, the buffet does not hold up to the atmosphere. My wife and I had the lunch buffet and the cool thing is that you can either choose circle plates or square bento boxes to serve yourself. The selection of meats were limited to maybe 4 choices and mediocre at best. The desserts consisted mostly of pies and some sort of red bean concoction at the edge of the table and a fruit salad on the other side. The big no-no from me is that there were tiny flies roaming around the fruit salad and fruit selections in the salad bar. That can't be good. If this really bugs you, check out the buffet before you sit and pay.
(3)Derek N.
Oceanarium is one of the places that my family goes to for special occasions; we're about as regular customers as people can be without being ridiculously rich. We went for a family birthday, and apparently it was also St. Patrick's Day. I don't care for crab (I much prefer lobster) so the crab doesn't impress me. What does impress me, however, is the prime rib, which is consistently good. It's flavorful, it's fatty, and it's all you can eat; I couldn't and don't ask for much more. Now, as the prime rib is most of what I eat here, it's generally the reason I give this place such a high rating, but today, it's part of what ruined the experience for me. The Asian gentleman that was cutting the prime rib was stingy. This is what this really boils down to, and that's no way to treat customers who are paying for a premium buffet, can we agree on that? I had a few slices of prime rib that were good; I always ask for rare because I like my prime rib rare. The slices were a little thin, but I figured it would be fine; I can just go back for more, even though I know I could easily eat slices three times as thick. Now one of the times I went back for more, the guy had one leftover slice from the old slab, and the new slab. The leftover slice was well done, and I don't like well done (less flavor, tougher texture) so I asked him if he had anything rare. The polite thing for him to do would be to cut into the new slab, right? This is not what he did at all. He instead tried, rather aggressively, to sell me on the old piece. My "beef" (pun intended) with the lone slice was not that it was older, it was that it was well done. I inquired about the new slab and he said "No, that's all well done." This went back and forth for a few times, and I was like whatever, I'll take it. Then I stepped five feet to the left to get some pasta, which was just alright. But while waiting for the pasta, the next guy to get prime rib got a well done piece right from the end. Why couldn't that guy have gotten the slice I got and I got the one I wanted? People are going to want rare and well done, why not make them all happy? The kicker? The very next guy after that asked for a rare and got it without resistance. None at all. The server cut right into the middle of the slab, revealing a pretty rare cut. My slice on the other hand was pretty inedible and killed my appetite. Previously I've never really had any problems with this place. However, the only good thing about eating here, for me, was ruined by this jerk who wasn't fit to bus tables. Some of the waiters here are VERY friendly, why not let them slice the prime rib? Is ruining the one joy I get from this place enough for a one star review? Probably, given the price. But there's more. There was no nigiri sushi out on the buffet until we were about 2/3s done with our meal; if you're going to include it, why not have it out there when people are actually eating dinner? Also, with it being St. Patty's Day, they had corned beef and cabbage, but it was terrible; totally bland, but somehow still greasy and fatty. I don't know if my idea of good corned beef only exists in my father's kitchen, but good corned beef is bursting with flavor to the extent that you don't have to drown it in mustard.
(1)Cara K.
It's been years since I've dined at the Pacific Beach Hotel. I was pleasantly surprised with the wide variety of food at Oceanrium's buffet! There was definitely something there for everyone. The crab legs were delicious! I also liked the pasta station. The fresh fruit and desserts were a nice close to a wonderful meal. The staff was pleasant and always kept the buffet well stocked. As good as it was, the $50 per person price tag was a little steep for my pocketbook.
(4)Christine S.
I ate here with my family last night for my birthday and made reservations online. Also, left a comment that I'd be celebrating my birthday there so if they could seat is near the aquarium. Upon arrival they seated us near the aquarium but in between the two viewing glasses so we couldn't see very much but the wall. The food selection wasn't very good and the king crab legs were super salty. It was just too overpriced. I also thought I'd be acknowledged since I left that comment when I made the reservation, but nothing! So it was nothing special. Then when I asked for the bill, I noticed that someone handwritten the tip ($40). I know we had a party of six but I thought that would be on the printed receipt. So did someone just decide to write down what they wanted as for the tip? Anyway, I don't know if I would come back here again.
(2)Megan F.
The snow crab legs are great, the king crabs are not! Order bottled beer, not cocktails, because they can't water that down. Overall, I think it's a decent value, if you come hungry.
(3)Ashley H.
Horrible, I'm now very depressed that I spent the money I did here. Went for the crab legs and they were cold, mushy, soggy and not a great flavor. So overpriced, extremely crowded, and skimpy selection. I'm not very hard to please, I'm far from a picky person and I never write bad reviews, but this was so bad I have to let others know. Save your money, I'd rather eat fast food than here!!
(1)TK T.
Once was enough. Pos: Great big portions of crab and thats it. Aquarium? What aquarium? It was there but I didn't pay attention to it. Still kinda cool so its a pro. Service was very fast. Almost psychic too. Cons: Over priced! (I meant it...the "!") Small variety of food Long wait to get in so make a reservation Cramped dinning space If you must go for that "at least once" satisfaction then go...just keep in mind the above.
(2)Jason L.
Not great. Highlight item being their king and snow crab legs with latter being quite average and former was too salty with the shell very soft/stringy and hard to manage. Rest of menu was also sub par in taste (prime rib was so tough and Maui ribs were too chewy). Aquarium and the "show" were a nice (but subtle) distraction but our table of 8 had a terrible view with a large pillar in our sight line. On the plus side there was good variety for side items, desserts and mains, so likely you can find something to fill up on but for an overpriced sub-par buffet I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(2)Melessa V.
The Buffet had AMAZING choices and changes daily (so be sure to check their website). Although it's a Buffet, the staff provides superb service in accommodating to your dining needs. I will definitely recommend this place to my out of town family and friends!
(5)Richie I.
We came here for Mother's day, and again on Fathers Day. We love the atmosphere and the buffet they offer here, but the reason for the 5* star rating was for the awesome service Anson, and Eddie gave us. I mean, c'mon people. We can easily get these same foods at other places, but only get one shot for having return customers like us, based on the service that was offered each time we came. Will definitely be back for sure. Mahalo for a memorable dining experience Anson and Eddie. Aloha.
(5)Jack R.
For what you pay for this place the food was completely subpar, ive seen much better buffet places that are just a fraction the cost and twice as much selection. the food was all old too at the time we went. The only thing this place has going for it was the massive aquarium, even then it needs a cleaning, the water was murky and a brownish green tint. If yelp would let you rate based on multiple things the waitstaff deserves 5 stars, attentive, accomidating, friendly, and excellent. My wife wanted to meet some friends who were visiting from Japan, they seemed ok with the place, but i felt completely let down due to all the advertised hype in the tour guide books, i shoulda known better as a local to avoid tourist traps in waikiki. Of note, the prime rib was actually pretty good.
(2)Val B.
I liked it. I loved the seafood. Did spend $37 / person. It included tea, coffee, or juice. We got all three. I didn't need a reservation and were seated right away. We went on Sunday morning around 11 AM. My fav attraction was hanging with family, the staff, and the diver feeding the fishies. It was so nice to see tourists and local people. People celebrate tons of events. Birthdays. Etc.
(5)Brenda H.
So me and the parents went here tonight and had dinner with family. This place is kinda weird when you first enter. First of all, the hotel creeped me out. Its "THAT" hotel you stay at when you are a starving student and you want to hang out with your homies and go to hawaii. But i shouldn't be quick to judge, and this is NOT a review on Pacific Beach Hotel. Back to Oceanarium. Well, since I was with my father (who moves fairly slow) it was a challenge to go to the restaurant due to the stairs from the main lobby. After getting to the restaurant, i went to get food for my dad. They had a good selection of food. My dad is pretty easy. A plate full of snow crab legs and local pineapple...and the guy was happy. Now for the VEGAN..... surprisingly, they had a good selection of food for me! I had an avocado nigiri, hijiki salad, pineapple, watermelon, honeydew, cantelope, pasta + marinara sauce. SUPER YUM!! I did find a little fly in my fruit. I wasn't wigged out, but again.... it was a buffet. Anywhoo.... eh, a-ok....
(3)Annie L.
Oceanarium is an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet located inside the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki. The focal point of the restaurant is the giant aquarium which houses a wide array of exotic species of fish. The aquarium is so large, you can see the scuba diver dive in to feed the fish, which they did while we were dining there. It was almost like a show. They can also arrange for proposals, where the diver will hold up a "will you marry me" sign for those who want to propose in style. The seafood they offer is fresh, and the ahi poke was very flavorful and fresh. The crab legs were plentiful, and prime rib was pretty tasty. The place is clean and large. There's also an impressive assortment of desserts (my favorite part). Prices can be a bit steep, but they offer a coupon in one of those tourist magazines in the magazine kiosks on the street that offers a bit of discount off the bill. After a large meal, you can always walk off some of the food by walking around Kalakaua Ave and enjoy the lively buzz the city has to offer.
(4)James V.
Food was ok. They had plenty of it. If you don't expect a top of the line menu you'll be alright.
(3)Nitti L.
This is a busy restaurant, pricey, but not that good; very good service however. Food court was small; not enough to choose for, but they do have many different dessert. When we were there, two kids had a birthday party. After waiters sing them birthday song, a diver in the big fish tank emerged from the bottom with two Happy Birthday signs, each of them had a name on it; that was cute. Later, the diver swam with a school of fish a little and left. I think they need to provide more dishes to meet the price they charged.
(3)Dodie S.
For paying $41.00, eat only the crab (snow, king and dungeness), oysters were good, and the sushi & sashimi. Prime rib was delicious too. The sides were not tasty at all. The potato salad had way too much mayo. The garlic mash potatoes were way to pasty like when you over beat/mix it. Cauliflower tasted funny. Fresh salad is the way to go. Deserts were ok. The 9pm mermaid show was treat. They need to put more colorful fish in the tank, like some blue uhu, menpachi, mahi-mahi.... LOL. Be sure you're hungry when you go to eat crab!
(3)Lyn L.
Okay this is what I have to say my experience at this restaurant was very awful. I made reservations month in advance for a party of 13 on the day of ny birthday. On my way to The Oceanarium my sister called to add onto the reservation that we had, come to find out the person who I spoked to I the phone that took my reservations put ONLY for two people. (Really?! Clearly I said for 13 people, to make it clear i also asked the hostess on how much per head was going to cost me she stated $30) but anyways on my way there while my sister was talking the the manger on the phone. The manager had the audacity to question how long I was going to be there and how soon? (Manager was planning on leaving upon my arrival) luckily I got there sooner to talk to him. The manager wasn't nice nor apologized for the inconvenient situation, he just offered of us a place to sit cause we just arrived there. But I have more our waiter was very nice but at the end he end up double charging my card in a different amount total. (First he told me that my card didn't go thru, second he charged me card again it went thru). Let me feeling not to ever come to this place again. Very disappointed it turned my birthday... my day BAD.
(1)Erica Y.
While on Oahu, we went to several buffets...the Oceanarium was hands down the best. We went on a Tuesday night with family for the all you can eat crab night and we were impressed. We LOVED the crab - king, dungeoness, snow! The crab was the best we had during our trip to Hawaii, it was fresh, moisture, not- salty, and they kept bringing out fresh buckets of crab. The best part was my husband's cousin's getting to see the diver feed the fish. It was a really fun and entertaining evening. You can park at the hotel and get it validated by the Oceanarium - parking free for three hours.
(5)Kirk P.
The quality of this place has really gone down in recent months. They now serve their crab legs colds, chilled on ice which is very disappointing. This place used to be top-quality but we don't like it here anymore.
(2)Lily B.
My sister and her family were visiting last month... so after a long day at the beach we all went to dinner at the Oceanarium for the all you can eat seafood buffet. We had 10 people in our party and making a reservation was pretty easy. BIG fish! yelp.com/user_local_phot… We were seated promptly near the huge tank. The kids enjoyed seeing all of the fish and the 'mermaid' swim by. While we were dining, a guy (re)proposed to his wife and the sign said "will you marry me again and grow old with me"... how sweet!!! Everyone started clapping. :) We dined on a Thursday evening. They had king crab, snow crab, and dungeness crab. They also had a variety of sushi/sashimi/poke, salads (greens and mac salad), breads and cheese, soup, and hot items such as teriyaki chicken, roast pork, baked salmon, roasted potatoes, prime rib, and a few other items I can't recall. There was also a seafood pasta station. There was a decent selection of food available. King crab is by far my favorite, BUT, I must admit, the SNOW crab outshined the king crab tonight! The snow crab legs were LARGE, and the meat was pulled out EASILY. The meat itself was JUICY and SWEET (no butter needed believe it or not!) yelp.com/user_local_phot… yelp.com/user_local_phot… Ohhhhh yum! yelp.com/user_local_phot… We had 2 servers and they were ON IT. Our plates were cleared away in a timely manner and our drinks were refilled promptly. My 13 year old nephew sipped the last of his Sprite and was about to set it down when the waiter asked him if he wanted a refill. Shoulda seen my nephews face... lol he was like "they're fast!" The prompt service was greatly appreciated... sometimes wait staff will 'slack off' because they know they're getting an automatic gratuity (due to the party size) but this was definitely not the case when we dined. We had exceptional sevice! We received a kama'aina discount for us which is 25% off the regular price, so that's a deal! My sister and brother in law enjoyed it so much, we returned the following week (just us adults, heehee) and enjoyed more snow crab legs. They had garlic mashed potatoes (yum) as well as new york steak with mushrooms (which was delicious!) and a teppanyaki station with garlic shrimp (yum)... and this was on a Wednesday night, so the menu changes daily. Desserts are not bad. I like the almond float (boring I know!), and they also have soft serve vanilla ice cream (with a variety of toppings) as well as various cakes/pies/cheesecakes/cookies/etc. OOH! They also have a chocolate fountain where you can dip strawberries, bananas, or marshmellows. Parking is $3 after validation. Each additional hour is $2. Clean restrooms and very nice staff! Food is replenished quickly. For $33 after kama'aina discount, you can't beat it! (FYI, you must be seated BEFORE 5:30PM or after 8:30PM for the discount.)
(5)Carol Y.
Very tourist attraction since you just go there for the aquarium BUT awesome FOOD and SERVICE best snow crabs i ever had very good quality also the prime rib was really good and tender too. the meat practically melted in my mouth but the snow crabs was the best. omg i want more!!
(4)Trisha G.
One of my favorite buffets in Oahu. There are some places that are better, but for the price this is one of the best. Located in the Pacific Beach Hotel, there's plenty of parking. There are some cute things that they do for special occasions in the aquarium, including having someone dive in next to your table to deliver a happy birthday sign. Best to note that it's not worth it unless there's crab legs on that day. Make sure it's being served when you make reservations (which is highly suggested, since every time that I've gone, it's been busy) I've gone to this buffet with a bunch of young kids. Not sure on the pricing, but it's kid friendly enough, with enough space for high chairs. With the aquarium, it makes the kiddos happy and occupied during the meal.
(4)Henry C.
The first reservation operator was extremely rude and has problem hearing!The second one was courteous, clear and precise. Memo, the waiter's service was great! Good selection on food!
(4)Edie S.
Here on vacation and my son found this restaurant online, and wanted to "take" me here for my birthday (he's 12, so I'm still paying). The aquarium was cool. The restaurant itself looked like it's seen better days. It needs paint, some repairs, new furniture - it was just dingy. The service wasn't great, either. We had to pile our used plates at an empty seat, even though half the tables weren't occupied, and I had to hunt down the waiter for the check! The seafood was good, but the non-seafood items were ... not. I expected the buffet to be bigger for the price. Especially disappointing was the dessert buffet; the desserts looked tasty, but they weren't anything special. Definitely didn't feel like I got my money's worth. The only reason this got 3 stars is that my son was very proud of his choice for my birthday. Won't recommend this to friends who will be visit ion Oahu in August.
(3)Heather K.
I'm not really a fan of buffets, but this place is one that I have come to for years and for good reason! This is another buffet that my grandmother, used to love coming too (she didn't get out of Kailua much the older she got - so when we would visit it was a food/buffet frenzy! Holy okole!!!!). They have a plethora of delicious choices, but I always go for the steamed crab legs, tempura shrimp and all the ahi poke and shashimi my belly can handle. For the amount of fresh fish that they offer, I think this one of the most reasonably priced buffets on Waikiki at $29.99 per person.
(5)Mich S.
Me and my girlfriends had a Christmas party here. The food is awesome, our server Tony totally catered to all our needs. The crab never ran out and it was steaming hot! It was a busy, Saturday night and all the food never ran out. We all were surprise. The mermaids came out they were stunning swimming around waving to everyone the bonus.. We mention to our server Tony. Our occasion and Wow! Boom! there one of the mermaids came by our side. Put on a sign said: Merry Christmas to all of you! That just melted all our hearts ^-^. definitely coming back, this time with my ohanas.
(5)Bryan W.
Can't say anything good so far. The service was horrible and the staff was extremely rude. The scenery was the only thing good. On my 2 week trip this was the worst dinner we had.
(1)Boosted C.
I don't know what happened to the food here. It was better before. Tastier. The last 3 times we went here, it has gotten worse and the price almost doubled. It's not worth the price you pay. The Prince Court has better food, nice atmosphere and service. Price isn't much different now that Oceanarium raised their price again.
(2)Joanna Y.
Crab leg lovers!!! This is the best spot and best deal for crab legs in Hawaii!!! No joke! They have fresh snow crab legs everyday, which are huge meaty legs that are easy to eat/crack... At $40/person or kamaaina discount $35/person this is a really great deal. I've never seen so many crab legs this size and at this price anywhere else in Hawaii. Other honorable mentions are the clam chowder (so rich and tasty), the seafood pasta station serving up marinara or white clam sauce spagetti, the soft serve ice cream (McDonald's quality with toppings such as mochi, marshmallows, crushed Oreos/nuts/sprinkles/etc), and the chocolate fountain. That's all I eat at the Oceanarium, literally. I would give 5 stars but I had to dock a star because the rest of the food is pretty mediocre. The sashimi is ok, salads ok, other main entrees ok, desserts ok. Nothing to woot about. But if you are a crab lover like me, then you will definitely enjoy this place!
(4)Jared O.
We went in at 8am for breakfast and were greeted by line of happy hosts and seated at our table. It took about 5-10 mins for a server to come give us water or offer us coffee. He pushed the "kona coffee special" on us so hard we would have felt rude to say no. It was not the greatest restaurant experience and ended in food poisoning. So for the first 3 days of my honeymoon I was drained, tired and angry. The food was overpriced, we ordered 2 omelettes and ended up paying $60 ($7 tip included). The next morning we walked 3 blocks to another place and spent $6 for two sandwiches and 2 beverages and this food was better than the oceanarium. The drawing factor of this place is the 3 story aquarium that they fill with a plethora of fish and 2 sting rays. You can also pay a scuba diver to dive down and hold a sign to wish someone a happy b-day/ anniversary or proposal. It's a fun experience for a one time thing, but hardly worth the money.
(3)Jennifer A.
I would not recommend this restaurant. Desert suck! They need to fire whoever makes those desert. Have to stand in line to get my waffles. Food was cold....the only good this is their crab legs. Not worth it....
(1)Jennifer K.
I have been coming here for every birthday for 4 years. Being a college student on a budget, a $50 dinner is a rarity, but when I splurged, it was at the Oceanarium. They would sing Happy Birthday and give me a buy one get one free coupon for next time, so I could always count on going back soon after with friends who couldn't make the actual birthday party. This has been the ritual for 4 years. But they changed all that. There's some new hotshot from New York running the place. Even the servers and manager talk shit about the new owners. The server asked me to talk to the manager about my dissatisfaction. The mgr said the owners just don't care about the locals. They are there for the tourists, so business isn't suffering just because they disappoint some of us that live on Oahu. I like the aquarium, but it's not that cool. The mermaid is ok, but I have mermaid friends and don't need to pay exorbitant prices to see one swim uncomfortably in a nasty tank while feeding lettuce to the fish. If you want mermaids, check out Mermaids of Hawaii. If you want fish, go snorkeling at Electric Beach. Changes for the worse: They got rid of some of the food, notably the bread setup and many entrees, and they no longer give a coupon on your birthday. I sure wish I had known that before I went! I would have gone somewhere else. At least I was able to enjoy the meal before being let down, but it made the already crappy desserts taste worse. They also raised the price $5 and lowered the Kama'aina rate from 25% to 15%. It's nice that they have the discount, but it's only from 8:30 pm to close, so you get the shit food leftover from the rush! I will no longer return for my birthday to the Oceanarium, and neither should you. Only come here knowing you are spending $50 to eat as much crab & prime rib as you can.
(2)Humble B.
Recommend making reservations. The restaurant was packed. Tables crammed. Not a "romantic" atmosphere! Food was delish... the macadamia Mahi & King crab legs were very good! The waiter was very attentive. After being seated you are told you have only an hour an a half to eat. So, there ain't much time for socializing! It's in and out! A photographer is available to capture your special occasion but it will cost you... $20 a picture!
(4)Nate S.
This is a generous 3... It had been 8 years since I last visited this mouth watering sounding buffet. I will pay $50 any day of the week for all you can eat king crab. The problem is, this King Crab is salty, less tasteful and much more scrawny than the King Crab I'm use to getting. I still managed to eat a family of crabs, but It was more work than enjoyment. The prime rib was surprisingly tasty, although a "medium" done prime rib was a little overcooked for my liking. If you are starving and want to stuff yourself for $50, this is the place. If you want to say you enjoyed the meal then you may want to head elsewhere.
(3)Lucky B.
Love their food. The best nights to come here is on Monday and Thursday nights because they have Alaskan King Crab on those nights. My Fiancée loves crab and that's why we go on Mondays or Thursdays. My daughter is 4 and she loves place because of the Mermaids. :) The Oceanarium always has an amazing variety of food for you to choose from, we normally go here for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries and always leave happy and full. If you're in the area and looking for good food you definitely need to try the Oceanarium.
(5)Mark A.
Not bad, somethings i didnt like some of the sushi, probably because the sushi had too much vinegar. i probably only liked the omelette station.
(2)Brandon Y.
As a young one, I loved coming to the Oceanarium for breakfast buffet - dining next to the large aquarium/oceanarium, being able to choose between an American and Japanese breakfast, and having my family pay for it all (lol). During my recent visit, I realized that although I still hold the first two near and dear to me, finding out that it costs $26/person came as a bit of a shock to me. For a breakfast buffet, their American food selection is average (eggs, bacon, potatoes, fruit, muffins, breads, cereals, etc) and the only thing that really stood out was the portuguese sausage. Japanese food included miso soup, yudofu, curry, saba (mackerel), and nasu (eggplant). Service was nice, though. It felt like the waiters were coming by quite frequently to make sure everything was okay, and to refill drinks/take plates away. Their juices are excellent - pineapple is refereshing, and I even had the waiter mix pineapple and guava juice together - ultimatejuiceWIN. Overall, I'd go for the experience and if you're really a fan of both American and Japanese foods for breakfast. Otherwise, the cost is a bit high for a breakfast buffet for me...but it really made me grateful of when I was being covered for meals by my family back in the day ;)
(3)Robert W.
Thought it would be better than the average place. Food was OK, service was excellent.
(3)Anna K.
I refer to my mother & her sisters as the golden girls, I include the sister in law too because she's a bit of a whore like Blanche was, just sayin. This is the golden girls favorite buffet ever since Shogun closed :( So for family functions we usually end up here 3-4 times a year. It's not the best but it's pretty decent. I dont get excited for it like yay were going to Ocenarium! It's more of a well atleast they have prime rib type of yayness. Shogun was also located in this hotel so it always brings back memories whenever we are here .I loooooooved Shogun, the food was excellent plus it was primarily Japanese & i love Japanese food. Ocenarium is not even close to the awesomeness of what Shogun was, but it's still good. I think I'm just extremely bias in my opinion of the place.The atmosphere to the restaurant is nice, the golden girls & kids love it. Partially due to the huge three story aquarium the restaurant is half surrounded by. It's cool to look at but in all reality after a few mins of seeing it , i could care less.Perhaps it would be more thrilling for first timers and tourists but I've seen it a thousand times so it's not a big enjoyment. Plus its hard for me to eat sushi while watching fish swim by, it's like watching baby chicks play in front of you while your snacking on chicken nuggets.It just doesnt work for me. I only eat a select few things here because I dont care for most of the items they serve. *Prime Rib- Most times it's good sometimes its really dry. Do not expect 5 star quality on a 3 star budget, it's decent but nothing spectacular. The line can be a nuance because when they are busy the same guy that's running the pasta station is also carving the prime rib. *Pasta station- They cook pasta to order, you pick the type of pasta/sauce & ingredients and they prepare to your liking.I rarely get the pasta because the lines are usually long and move slow. But on the occasions that I have gotten it, it was really good. *Tempura- This is a no fail always good thing about this place. The Tempura is great, no complaints what so ever. *Salad bar- The basic tossed salad & broccoli slaw is the only things I like off the salad bar. The fruits are ok but most times they are sour. *Sushi- The sushi is not the greatest, i can go to kozo and get better sushi.It's edible but pre pared in advance & it tastes that way. *Crab legs- The crab legs are one of the main reasons the golden's pick this place, idk why they all eat like birds so 3 crab legs tops and the golden's are done.The crab is good but i need to be motivated to eat them. Usually we Jedi mind trick my cousin's husband in to shelling them for us. You gotta say things like oh i suck at this and your such a champ, I wish i could be like you. Next thing you know the guy is your personal crab sheller lol. He is catching on so now he doesnt sit anywhere near us at the table. I could shell them myself and if im in the mood to eat crab then i will but it's really messy. *Desserts- I eat the soft serve because everything else sucks. I dont care for much of the desserts they put out. Visually they look appealing but taste wise, the quality is lacking. Rather than disappoint myself i avoid the desserts and just eat the ice cream. It never fails The service here is great. The waiters are always on point and never let plates pile up or glasses go empty. The crowd that frequents is touristy with a blend of ghetto'ish ppl. Three plates every time they hit the buffet line like the food is gonna run away. Like get a grip people, the food aint that great to be hoarding over. It's not the best but better than eating at Todai or Makino Chaya. Two places that i wouldnt recommend to anyone not even my worst enemy. pacificbeachhotel.com/di… They offer weekly dinner buffets and weekend brunch buffets. Sunday brunch buffet was pretty good, i liked it better than the dinner buffet. Also the bartenders here are fabulous, they make a signature drink called the Haleakula and it's super yummmm :) If you have golden girls in your family these drinks come in handy lol . yelp.com/biz_photos/PsqA…
(4)Trish I.
We came here last night for Mother's Day. Since we came here with our friends who are "regulars" they requested to have their favorite server serve us. His name is Anson(?). Our friends introduced my husband and I to him. He is why I give this place 5 stars. His service was on point all night. He was kind and very attentive. Although it was Mother's Day and obviously busy, he still managed to clear our tables of the mounting crab leg shells, replacing the plates each time, and at the end of the night he thanked us for coming in BY NAME. I didn't think he would remember our names cause as I watched him, he served tables front one side of the restaurant all the way to the other (we sat in the middle, next to the tank). So this gave him major points. He also let us know when it was last call for food, so that I can stop eating those yummy crab legs and get some dessert before they took it away.
(5)Fredeelyn F.
Went for brunch buffet. .. everything about this place is mediocre. My friend really wanted crab legs. It was so bland, and dry. You had to slather them in the clarified butter. The desserts looked so yummy but were bland as well. Only thing I went back for was tempura shrimp. The service was ok. They were more concerned about the two big parties in the back, then us. My friend was perfectly happy with the experience. She seems to enjoy bland food. I just wasn't impressed with food and don't care for having to ask, let alone wave down, the waiter to get a drink refill. You keep passing your tables, how hard is it to glance over and check? Afterward I was nauseous from my buttery meal. So disappointed.
(2)Valerie M.
I love buffets especially when they have seafood! I stuffed myself with crab legs, shrimp, and sushi! But I did try a little of everything. They had some Hawaiian BBQ short ribs that are just amazing! Eating here just put the cherry on top of an amazing trip to Hawaii! They have lots to choose from and they're desert bar was just as amazing! They also have fresh fruit and I just couldn't get enough of he pineapples from Hawaii so going here was great to cure my craving for more! While dining you get to see all the fish they have in the aquarium and if your lucky like we were u get to catch the mermaid show! Awesome dining experience!
(5)Michael C.
Food Comments Grade B Let me start out with what was ok. The food was ok. Reasonable selection. But very expensive for what it was. The pasta was excellent, cooked to order. The sashimi was excellent. The turkey was also cooked well. Now lets talk about what is wrong Service Comments Grade F The service was terrible. Very very slow. The restaurant was not very busy. The waiter was just plain bad. Except for the check-in process it was an F. No excuse. It was a Buffet. Lets face it, they should have been able to get a better score. Restaurant Management Grade F They took our 9:00 pm reservation. By 9:40 they were taking everything down. No one came and told us it was going to happen. Given the Restaurant was open till 10:00. give it a break. Does the owner know you are packing up 15-20 minutes early. Did not give us enough time to enjoy the meal. For $45.00 dollars a person. This is not right. I guess the owner was out of town and did not know you decided to pack it up early and and make sure the customer never comes back. Mermaid Show Grade F. She comes out. She swims by twice slowly and leaves. Given the advertisement, that is just plain wrong. What makes it a show ? Its really miss-leading advertisement. My recommendation. Don't eat here. Go to the Hula Grill down the street. You will spend less money and have an awesome meal there.
(1)Harley M.
My bf and I came here the first day we arrive we showed up around 5:30pm for the buffet on a Monday we were tired we didn't feel good we just wanted to get a quick bite and go to bed. Well as soon as we get down the steps we tell the woman table for two and she goes do you have a reservation and I say no as I look around with a puzzled look because one entire seating side and yes I said side not a little tiny area with like a group of 3 tables I'm talking an entire side stretching from the host stand all the way to the back completely empty and she goes well you should make a reservation so I look at my bf with this tf face and now he looks puzzled like does this woman want us to go upstairs to our room and make a reservation to make her happy and I look at this older couple who walked down around the same time we did and she must have heard everything and because she had a puzzled look as well because she didn't have a reservation either luckily a person came around the corner and sat us right away or we would have turned around and left with this whole reservation nonsense. The server we had was awesome! The food was ok I'm not quite sure to be honest since my bf and I only had a plate each because like I said earlier we were tired. The selection was poor very tiny for $48 per person that's the price of a good giant buffet in Las Vegas. The reservation nut job was very unpleasant she made us feel very un welcomed.
(2)Jacob N.
It may not be the best quality buffet in Waikiki, but they do have a pretty decent spread, and they also have a feature that's pretty unique to this buffet here. They've got a large aquarium in the restaurant. Not just a big glass tank, but a three story 280,000 gallon aquarium housing almost 400 fish! PROS: + It's all about the Brunch, baby! + Kamaaina rates + Can accommodate large parties + The Aquarium + They have a soft serve machine CONS: - Not gourmet quality - Can get pretty crowded Ok, so the food nothing fancy. It isn't at the same level as Kai Market, or Five Star International, but it's sure a whole lot better than Todai and Makinochaya. It's a solid buffet choice. I like to think of if as a good working mans buffet. In fact, when I was there most recently there was a table full of bouncers from Mai Tai's enjoying the brunch spread! Not enough buffets have a brunch option. Most have breakfast, and lunch, but no brunch! Sad Hobbit! We went there for the weekend brunch which consisted of assorted salads and fresh fruits, cheese and crackers, sushi, eggs, breakfast meats (yes, including bacon), starch dishes, waffles, eggs benedict, a prime rib carving/omelet station, Alaskan King Crab legs, desserts, and other items I passed over this time around. I was mostly focused on the omelet, bacon, prime rib and crab legs, and I sampled the eggs benedict. The quality of the food and service are alright. From my experiences they're both a little above average. Nothing stellar, but also nothing bad. With the kamaaina discount we each paid $36 for brunch. That includes tax and tip. The great thing about buffets. It's all the same price for everyone, so the bill is a lot easier to take care of at the end. Just divide the total by the amount of people! You may be thinking that $36 is kind of steep for a daytime meal, and I would normally agree, but a brunch buffet covers two meals, and chances are that you'll probably eat so much that you'll opt for a very light dinner. Also, you're getting a breakfast spread along with prime rib and crab legs. Did I also mention that they have a bar too? It's definitely not a dining option that you'd want to do every weekend, but it's a nice great place for family occasions, or gatherings with friends or co-workers.
(4)Bernard S.
It was alright they just gotta control the flys flying around the food other then that food was good
(4)Andrew P.
A good seafood buffet with lots of variety. Went here for family reunion lunch. They have a giant fish tank with live fish and even a diver in it. the quality of the food is decent.
(3)Louis B. M.
The rudest hostesses ever, if you're not Asian you can forget getting treated right. I had a voucher for one free buffet so I go to this place with my wife and 2 kids the place was so empty you could swing a dead cat in here and hit no one, the hostess who spoke little to no English was ready to sit us down until she saw my coupon and then she said "No reservation, you come back 9:30" how in the hell are 2 small kids going to eat at 9:30 when it was 5pm. As I stood there like the tool I am, an Asian family comes in and is immediately given a table. I only came her for the large aqarium for the kids to look at the fish. The place stinks like bad fish when you walk in there and the sushi has been sitting under the lights. They charge you 47.95 per person when you weigh it all out you could go somewhere really nice and spend 100.00 bucks on quality food with great service. I would not recommend this place at all
(1)Mikey H.
Me: Where should we eat? Mom: Where ever you want Sis: We can walk back toward the beachwalk? Me: We can also go outside, since we're right here at my hotel and I can go get the car. Mom: okay Since I was staying at the Pacific Beach hotel, we were walking back from the Korean Festival, and I went up to get my car remote (no, it's not the Batmobile but one of those new keyless cars that I grew to hate...lol). But as I was coming down the elevator, my sister called and said we were going to eat in the hotel. During the weekend, the Oceanarium has a brunch buffet...and I just loves my buffet! They have a variety of fruit and salads but who really eats any of that at a buffet? I mean, my mom will ask me, "No vegetables?" o_0??? If I wanted to be healthy, or if you wanted me to be healthy, don't bring me to a buffet! I just dove in and ate the chicken and beef entrees (they were some fancy names), with noodles and sushi. There was also eggs florentine and prime rib! They also offered sushi selections, which were pretty good for a buffet. Mom: You're not eating crab legs? Me: Too much work They also had an assortment of desserts: creme brulee, key lime pie, cakes, more pie, and white chocolate bread pudding with creme anglaise. Sis: Those look good! Me: Yeah, there's a lot to choose from. Mom always says I need to lose weight, but here we are at a buffet. Oh, and she always sends me mac candies and cookies! One of the attractions is the large aquarium in the center of the dining room. We were able to see one of the girls feed the fish during our meal. We joked about one of the stingrays attacking her. Wouldn't that be a sight to see during brunch...LOL! All kidding aside, this is a very enjoyable place for a buffet meal. I don't know how much it was because...well...you know how mom's can be. I would definitely come back...maybe for dinner later....hhhhhmmmmmmm Dang, talk about a fat ass!
(4)Norm G.
We just had the dinner buffet tonight at The Oceanarium. In general, buffets are dangerous for me, because I tend to overeat, and tonight was no exception. We were seated next to the giant aquarium, so that was nice for the kids. We got to see the diver feed the fish at 7:00, so that was a treat to watch. Now to the food. The salad bar was interesting. They had the typical big bowl of fresh greens. They also had a kim chee and tofu salad, eggplant salad, a chicken salad with bits of seaweed in it, and some watermelon, honeydew melon, and cantaloupe. Oh, and a platter of cheeses. The entrees consisted of steamed fish, shrimp, crab legs, shrimp tempura and some assorted sushi. After I ate my fill of that, I looked over and saw the prime rib. I wish I had seen it sooner! Desert consisted of these mini "cakey" things, like a key lime cheese cake and I forget what else. You know, those little one inch square things. Ah heck, I'm just going to call them "cakeys!" They also had soft serve ice cream with sprinkles, which is always a hit with the kids. The kamaaina rate for the first seating (4:30-5:30) ran about $32 per person. The second seating for kamaaina isn't until 8 pm. The food was decent, but not exceptional. Still, probably good value for the money. We saw some people loading up their plates with crab legs, so they really got their money's worth, I am sure. I don't like to mess with crab legs, because they are, well, messy! Rating: 3-1/2 stars for salad and entrees; 3 stars for desert; 4 stars for friendly service. I would give it 3-1/2 stars total, but since Yelp's algorithm only allows for whole and not half stars, we'll round it up to an overall rating of four (4). I am so full, I am going to have to run a full marathon tomorrow to run off the excess weight (about 10 pounds) I picked up in one night!
(4)Michael M.
During the last night of our stay-cation, my wife wanted to try an easy dinner after a tough service experience the night before. We walked to the Pac-Beach hotel and wound up here. "Do you have a kama aina rate?" "Yes it's 25 percent off." She never told me what the real cost. My wife and I don't normally go to buffets as you get this strange urge to eat more than you possibly digest to get your money's worth. There is also this competitive vibe like its the apocalypse and the patrons are survivors clawing their way for the last food they'll see in years. With that said, I went straight for the prime-rib guy while wife went for crab legs. You have to work as a team in this kind of environment. I also picked up a few sides, like the ahi tataki and some olives. Buffets yield the randomest of plate contents. When we get back to the table, I noticed a discoloration on the ahi that looked like an oil spill. I opted not to eat it. Prime rib and crab legs were excellent. This lady was walking around taking pictures of people. I think that's so they can identify you if you decide to dine and dash. Maybe that is the other use of the shark tank during off hours. Wife and I went back for round to and got desserts that all tasted exactly the same. Flavorless. We even got exited when we saw a creme brulee type dessert that tasted like day old cold scrambled eggs. How much is 25% off? 70 bucks for 2 people. I should have jogged around the aquarium for a few hours and then went back to get my money's worth.
(3)Siliala C.
Celebrated our son's high school graduation with a Monday Night Buffet Dinner on May 21. Everything was awesome - the seating area was great; the food was onolisious; parking was ez; atmosphere kept the adults and children amazed. Food: the prime rib, the sushi, three different kinds of crab legs, and the soft serve ice cream was a huge hit. We left happy... HapPeee!!!
(5)Steven U.
We went for Mom's birthday brunch yesterday. The place was packed! That is really what you want when you go to a buffet.....a packed house means the food is going to turn over and that also means fresh food keeps coming out. The service was just ok....the servers seemed flustered (maybe it was all the large parties) but I have had better service at other buffets before. The space is nice.....the aquarium is huge....and their was a girl in scuba gear that went in the aquarium twice while we ate to feed the fish. That was kind of fun to watch...plus it's fun to eat sashimi while you watch fish swim around... I was able to try quite a few different items..... Loves: Crab (sweet and yummy) Shrimp tempura (crunchy and yummy) Kim chee mussels (good flavor) LIkes Poke Bacon Desserts (the desserts were all pretty good!) sashimi sushi lox and bagels pan cet eggplant tempura kabocha tempura Dislikes provencal soup (had to salt and pepper the heck out of it) prime rib (too salty) potatoes au gratin (bland) I would go back again, not the largest buffet and not the fanciest, but it was good...if you like crab....this is your buffet! 3.5 stars
(3)Charisse K.
I love taking my family here and meeting up with friends for brunch and just eat up. My son loves the mermaid in the tank swimming with the fish and I just love the variety of food offered. Because it's a buffet you would expect the lines to be long but the way they space out the food allows you to choose where you want to grab from first. My son loves the sushi variety, my husband everything, and I love the fresh fruit and eggs benedict/Florentine. So so good!
(5)Tiffaney P.
Absolutely terrific! My family and I love the Oceanarium. The crab legs are to die for! I have been to many buffets where the crab legs are the size of chopsticks and not worth the hastle, but not here! There is something for everyone. My fave is the tempura. Nice and lightly battered. Real Japanese style. So ono!! My twin daughters love the humongous fish tank and of course the chocolate fondue fountain. We celebrated my uncles 83rd birthday here. The look on his face when the mermaid came down with a HB sign personalized for him was the icing on the cake after a wonderful meal. The location is also terrific, parking with ease in Waikiki. Can't get any better!!
(5)Teri K.
Food was good but FLIES were sitting all over the food even worst by the raw seafood!!!! Gross and not worth the $45.99 a person!!!!!
(2)Anthony C.
My wife and I love this place. We visit The Oceanarium a lot everything anyone could really want sashimi, poke, prime rib, crab just to name a few not to mention a beautiful aquarium friendly staff what more could you ask for? Check it out you won't be disappointed.
(5)Lamont W.
The Oceanarium located inside the Pacific Beach Hotel has the best snow crab legs seafood buffet that I ever had. Just the vibe of the whole place is dynamic. For starters, there is a huge aquarium with various sea creatures lurking about. Such as, sharks, stingrays, and other fish. A diver will go in the aquarium occasionally to feed the fish. If you go try the pineapple drink and bring your camera. You won't be disappointed. I look forward to my next visit back to the Oceanarium. Note: This restaurant can be a bit pricy. Mahalo
(5)Brian K.
Payed a lot for this seafood buffet, only to find it very crowded and loud- more like a cafeteria feel to it. The food was quite bland , really just barely average. I went away from this place feeling really ripped off - don't waste your money here!!
(1)Clay A.
I used to love bringing family and friends here for the buffet but especially the crab legs. They had the best crab legs on the island. They were hot, fresh, huge and tasty. My bill was always about $250-$300 and I never once blinked an eye because it was worth every penny I sent. Now that they are under new management they seem to think if they serve crappy food then people will eat less. I mean they literally cook the crab legs then quick chill it in ice to serve it cold. What kind of sense does that make? I guess people will eat less because they will just stop going there. I won't be going back anytime soon and I suggest any locals to not waste your time on this place. You will be very disappointed.
(1)Kevin H.
I was fortunate to have received a complimentary dinner buffet for two here, so I ended up taking my girlfriend here on a Wednesday evening. Thank goodness, since for nearly $50 a person, it definitely would not have been worth it. This buffet offers a decent variety of food. A fresh array of pasta salads, sushi and sashimi, several entrees include dungeness and snow crab (including king crab on select days), a seafood pasta bar and prime rib, and a plethora of desserts including a chocolate fountain and self-serve ice cream. Everything was good, but there was nothing special in my opinion; it was all rather pedestrian for such a price. Even the crabs you can get the same caliber elsewhere. I personally enjoyed the swai fish with dill sauce and these semi-sweet pieces of steak. A full bar with ~$11 cocktails makes a nice complement to everything. My girlfriend and I shared and enjoyed a nice Blue Hawaii. Of course this wasn't included with our complimentary dinner, but if only! Do remember that when you're going to a dine-in restaurant, nevertheless a buffet in Waikiki, you're going for not just the food but also the experience. The surrounding environment is unique to this restaurant, with a full aquarium occupied by underwater species including groupers and sting rays. Divers also come in occasionally, feeding the fish and placing up signs on the wall saying messages such as "Happy birthday [your name here]!" or "Congrats [your name here] Class of 2013!" We also had a photographer randomly but graciously take a couples picture for us, giving us an option of purchasing a nice quality photo with a frame for $15 each. Service was quite excellent, given everything that is happening there. Someone was always checking in on us at least every ten minutes. In all, the only area of controversy here is the price. Maybe $25 or so for the variety of food, and an extra $10 for everything else so $35 total. But for $50 excluding bar drinks, it is a bit iffy. If money is not an issue, such as for a grad party (or in our case a complimentary dinner for two!), then this place is definitely a nice experience; otherwise, it really is just A-OK.
(3)A L.
My experience here was just okay. The other reviewer mentioned that the hostess was a bit rude and I agree! We didn't request to sit near the fish but we did try to ask her a question in regards to the kamaaina rate and she blatantly ignored us. Even when we were waving her down and asking her loudly to her face. She was very very rude and just pretended like she didn't hear us and walked away. I hope the manager reads this so that the hostess can get better training or something. Now onto the food selection; it was okay. There were some sushi, like oshinko, futomaki, ahi tuna. I liked the make your own sailing and the chocolate fondue. They also had a make to order pasta station with choice of seafood or white/red sauce. And a person cutting up meat too. The crab legs were cold but we saw people asking their waiters to warm it up at the back for them. And our waiter Tony was super attentive and was checking in on us at appropriate times and also refilling our drinks etc. If I were to come back, I would come back for the aquarium experience bc that was pretty neat. There were a few birthdays that night and the diver would swim in the tank holding up a happy birthday sign for all to see and place it to near where they sat. Also there was a person dressed like a mermaid swimming in there too.
(3)Mai F.
This is a late review, but earlier in 2013 (around February-ish) was our second and last time at the Oceanarium, reason being: it was an 'ehh' dining experience. The food was good but.... My only problem with the place was that we made reservations for a party of 13--and put a $50 deposit down, but when we got there, they put us at 2 different tables next to each other!! I asked if we could combine the tables and the hostess said "oh no no, we can't do that."...They couldn't put the two tables together because there wasn't "enough room in that area"...So why allow us to make a reservation for a large party?! But once we all sat down at our separate tables, I was still irritated so I asked a waiter if we could combine the tables and he said "Sure!" right away. He and 2 other waiters immediately started moving chairs and tables to allow all of us to sit together. I don't understand why the hostess wouldn't allow us to do that, there was PLENTY of room. Other than that, the food was pretty good...but since then, I haven't gone back. It was just really weird that the hostess said that and I'm always reminded of it when I think about going there, so I've never gone back. Also! I heard that they changed management awhile ago so now the kamaaina rate policy is different. Something about only a certain number of people in your party can get the kamaaina rate (which is higher than before), and everyone else has to pay the usual rate.... :/
(2)Bonnie O.
We've been on a hunt for a place to celebrate Mom's big 8-OH. Mom loves food and buffets really make her smile. We have our standard faves but this will be a really special day and we want the experience to align with the occasion. I had heard a LOT about the Oceanarium. A few people I spoke with had tagged it as THE best buffet in Honolulu. Previous to our dining experience I had only ogled its ginormous salt water aquarium from a distance. I was excited! The staff was friendly and accommodating. My parents aren't sure-footed and the hostess quickly opened the handicap ramp for them to enter the main dining area. Our server was also attentive and pleasant but we had to ask for certain items like the crab sheller. As we walked around the stations I was amazed that they had king, snow AND dungeness crab. Wowow and a yipee! Other offerings included chicken, fish, pork, a pasta action station, prime rib carving station, sushi and lots more. I'm a dungeness fan so I loaded my plate with crustaceans, sushi and beef and plopped happily into my seat. The crab was okay. Taste was definitely there but it was so dry! The prime rib was again okay. In fact nothing was bad. But nothing was super yum either. As I tried to hold back my disappointment the waitstaff broke into a bright happy birthday song for a neighboring table. The singers' faces were glowing almost as much as the birthday girl. These people really got into the celebration! Then almost on cue, the mermaid appeared in the aquarium. She too, seemed to enjoy herself as she swam and waved and held up a "Happy Birthday Sunny" sign. My parents loved the food and their evening so maybe my taste buds were just off that night. Based on the experience I'd be willing to give the restaurant another shot. Service: 4 Stars Aquarium: 4 stars Food: 3 stars OVERALL: 4 stars
(4)Linda P.
My sister and aunt were visiting from Florida and we went to the Oceanarium to celebrate my sisters birthday. We had the first seating for dinner and were delighted to be seating right next to the oceanarium. The buffet was extensive and very good. We all enjoyed all of the food, the shrimp, crab veggies, etc. were all delicious. The desserts were all good, I just wish I had saved more room for desserts because the chocolate fountain looked fun to try. At the end of the meal they brought out a special piece of cake for my sister. And 3 waiters sang happy birthday to her, which ended our evening there very nicely. I holy recommend The Oceanarium and we can't wait to go back.
(5)Nat N.
There were bugs hovering over the salad bar, and the ambiance is just meh. After dining at the buffet at the Sheraton (Kai Market), every other buffet is just mediocre. The highlights at this buffet is the sushi, prime rib, and crab legs. The tempura was not bad too. But don't waste the space in your stomach on anything else if you're aiming to eat your money's worth, and don't feel inclined to save room for dessert, because the desserts are nothing to write home about (the creme brulee is the best item). One of my pet peeves at any buffet is when you go up for more food and your old plate is has yet to be picked up by the staff before you return to your seat. That happened to my dad when he returned from the buffet line with two plates of food. I think they jacked up the price when we went for dinner on Easter Sunday, even though they served the same food as any other day. Boo.
(2)Kesha W.
Someone recommended this restaurant to me and I was very pleased. Since it was my anniversary I purchase to have the mermaid to display a sign that said Happy Anniversary to my husband. The price is about 40.00 per person
(4)Raych D.
Me and a gf was craving for prime rib and crab legs one night and decided to come here. When we got there the host told us it'd be a hour wait and being that we where already there decided to wait. As soon as we sat down super far from the buffet I was not happy so asked if we could sit closer to the buffet which thankfully they had open tables. I tried several dishes and my fave has to be the PRIME RIB! the chef gave me huge ass slices and it was juicy and delicious for a $40 buffet dinner. The sashimi wasn't to bad either. Since, I normally don't eat crab legs or care for it I decided to give it a go and Mann was it yummy in my tummy especially with the melted butter dipping sauce! The atmosphere wasn't all to great, I felt like i was at a cheap motel with their cheap looking carpet and furniture. It was a bit to dark to see what you where eating. Only thing pleasant to see other than you're food was the huge fish tank in the middle of the room. As we we're eating a girl in a mermaid suit was swimming in the tank with some guy diver, guess that was their entertainment of the night.
(4)Jane L.
Location: In Pacific Beach Hotel I LOVE this place. The buffet is wonderful because there is a lot of seafood yummers!!!! There is so much food I can't even eat it all hahahaha. Writing this review is making me want to eat here again. Hmmm... I guess I need to find a friend to go and eat with here. I've come here a few times and seen a few proposals too it was really cute. Parking: Easy in the same building.
(5)Christina K.
No bueno and let me tell you why. Sure they have crab legs and prime rib which was not horrible, but the horrible was pretty horrible. I told my friend I'm now a "food brat," but if you have been to a really good seafood buffet or any good buffet for that matter you'll want to avoid this place like the plague. I tend to expect most items on the buffet to taste fresh and delicious. They had thee worst mashed potatoes. I could tell just by grabbing the spoon they were completely gummy and over-whipped. Wow. What chef let that out of the kitchen? The cauliflower sauce was not good. Just throw them in a pan with butter, salt and pepper and they would've tasted better. The side salads were interesting, but interesting doesn't always turn out to be a success now, does it? The potato/macaroni salad was drenched with mayo, which is typical in Hawaii, but even I couldn't eat this one. I kept looking at the lady's face sitting across from me as she took her first bites to see if I caught a glimmer of what I was feeling...she just looked tired so I couldn't tell. Sometimes I don't think people care what the hell they put in their bodies. The hotel has open doorways facing the beach so little bugs were flying under the glass hoods of the buffet tables. There was a lot of shellfish and sushi laying out so this sort of disgusted me. I know it's not their fault, but still looked pretty unappetizing. They boast a fish feeding and mermaid show in the humongous fish tank. It was neat that the diver was playing with the sting ray and holding onto him, but when the "mermaids" came out it was just creepy. They'd swim slowly by and stare creepily. I didn't like it. Lol I didn't even like the desserts. Ugh. It was expensive for the quality. I felt totally ripped the F&%$ off. Stick with local food for a lot smaller fraction of the price and you will be just fine. Parking: pay hotel lot, but who cares because you won't be coming here. =)
(2)Mai N Roman C.
loved the food and our whole experience in general! it's the coolest restaurant and the food is AMAZING!!!! I keep looking for reasons to go back! Mondays/Thursdays are the nights to go.....CRAB!!! haven't been to the breakfast buffet yet but I am DYING to check it out! oh, and I out ate my husband!!!!!! favorite buffet by far!!!!
(5)Leslie S.
Just finished my first and last time at The Oceanarium. If you prefer quantity over quality and a sad aquarium, then this is your place. If you prefer quality, attentive wait staff, and a great aquarium then DO NOT EAT HERE. It was almost $50 per person and NOT worth the money for mediocre food, including the cold crab legs. Also, the drinks were way over priced. Yes I realize this is Waikiki, but come on! Luckily I had my boyfriend with me and we have fun together wherever we go, even if it happens to be The Oceanarium...
(1)Mark H.
Overpriced, overcrowded, and underwhelming. On paper this place sounds great, a huge seafood buffet with a 3 story aquarium. The reality was an overpriced buffet with a limited selection of mediocre food in a packed and noisy dining room. The aquarium was neat but is really more of a gimmick than anything else. There are better (and cheaper) buffet options available within a couple of blocks so I'd highly recommend exploring other options.
(2)Margaret L.
I don't even want to give this restaurant a star, but the waiter was very nice. My husband and I dined here tonight expecting an awesome buffet. Save yourself from a high bill for HORRIBLE food. It was a very small buffet, and we tried mostly everything. The hot foods were not even luke warm, and they lacked flavor. The desserts were a joke! See a pattern forming? I agree with the comment below that stated McDonald's would have been a better choice. I wish I listened!!! We actually called the manager over and he did not offer to comp our meal- he gave us 15% off ( I imagine he thought we were scamming him, even though our plates were full!!). So we still paid $90!
(1)Jennee G.
I'm not sure what was better, the aquarium entertainment or the all you can eat buffet! The buffet is $48.00 but if your Kama'aina on Monday and Thursday from 8:30 to closing you get a discount. It come out to be just a few cents over $40.00 per person. What a deal! Buffet offers snow crab, king crab, a variety of sushi, a Saimin station, oysters, fresh sashimi, shrimp cocktail, a salad station, a variety of veggie and pasta salads, hot dishes, a seafood pasta station, prime rib and of course dessert! The entire middle of the restaurant is a huge fish tank from floor to ceiling. I'd say it's about 60-80 feet deep. Lots of sea life occupied the tank. It was a mans birthday sitting at a table next to us. A diver got in the tank and swam up next to their table with a sign wishing him a happy birthday by name. ( this may be arranged in ADVANCE for $25) Shortly after her birthday wish a woman dresses as a mermaid entered the tank and swam around in their for a good 20-30 minutes. What a nice treat this was while enjoying all you can eat for a great price!
(4)Martha L.
We had a great time. Deserts were very good and there were lots of them. Great seafood and catch of the day was excellent. We had several types of shrimp. Sweet and sour shrimp was delicious. Nice salads and soups. Chicken and pork was a bit tough and tasteless, so if you are going for the meat forget it. Server was excellent! We got in on a senior discount, so it was only $37 each. (Also, they do a special birthday or anniversary thing (but you need to make a reservation and tell them beforehand)
(4)Teresa L.
It's hard to like a buffet in Hawaii after eating in Vegas but this spot isn't so bad. My family comes here often because it's one of the few decent buffets on the island. We love eating the Alaskan Crab and this place definitely has the best. It's not as salty as other buffets and they don't control the portions you get (like at Todai). We grab plate-full of crab and sit at our table very satisfied. The great thing about this place is that the buffet price includes complimentary iced tea, fruit punch, or coffee with the meal. They also have a really neat pasta bar! However, it tends to be on the bland side =/ Another neat thing is their chocolate fountain! Who doesn't like that?! Ask them about their kamaaina discounts when you call to make a reservation. The only downside is the 2 hour seating. It's hard to eat within that time limit if people arrive late or if you eat slow. I guess it's the only way they can make sure they make enough money since the restaurant is not very large. Parking: Entrance on Kuhio Ave. It's about $3 validated parking. Valet entrance is on Liliuokalani Ave and is a little bit more expensive. Don't forget to ask your server to get your parking ticket validated before you leave the restaurant.
(4)Shannon B.
I wish I could give negative stars. Aside from the food being blah at best, I am writing this from my toilet due to the food poisoning. On the bright side the manager, Calvin, did say he would remove the items I ate (that the rest of my non-sick companions did not eat) from the buffet when I called. In fact, we spoke to the manager when we were there about the subpar buffet: overcooked somen, watery disgusting pasta and it's overall low quality. Let's just say customer service is also lacking. Bottom line-- take the near $50 per person and go to Roy's, Hiroshi, or even The Yard. You will enjoy youself much more.
(1)Aki S.
The concept of this restaurant was cool. Really enjoyed the fish tank. Paid about $49/person for a very small buffet. The crab and oysters were what I came for, but be careful, they only have oysters on Saturday. Our server was so friendly that I almost forgot about how bad the food was, lol.
(3)Abi S.
The food was pretty decent, we really enjoyed the skeleton mermaid & scuba diver who fed the fish!! I was hoping for more typed of poke and more sashimi but we arrived near the closing of the restaurant.
(4)Moala P.
I'm not gonna complain when it comes to Buffet but i enjoyed eating next to a big tank full of fishes.The food is good.That made my eating experience more tasty Lol.
(4)Jerry E.
The only compliment that I can give is for the waiters; they do tried hard.That was the only reason that I didn't rated it one star. No question, this place is a tourist trap with overpriced meal, rude receptionists, and terrible setting. The 15% discount for the locals was a joke. The snow crab legs were good, but not sure what was wrong with the prime ribs. They look fine, but tasted lousy. As for the parking, even with validation, it was still $5.00. Not sure when the aquarium water was changed, it sure looked filthy. And, the table for two was so small that it was virtually impossible to place more than a couple of plates with drinks. In sum, this is not a place to relax and enjoy a good dinner for a reasonable price.
(2)Jeana A.
This place is nice for its scenery for their aquariums and professional waitstaff. As far as the food goes.... it's honestly not worth it. Find another place with better food because at least you'll get your money's worth for dinner and not some sight seeing... It's Hawaii... there are PLENTY of places to be romantic and sight see....
(2)Marfel L.
During our 10-day stay, we ate here twice. It's about $50/person but it's worth the buffet price. They serve three types of boiled crab: dungeness, snow and alaskan - all very tasty if you like your crab salty. They also serve prime rib which was a huge plus. Another popular dish is the seafood pasta that you order and is prepared while you wait (included in the buffet price). You may not enjoy the buffet if you prefer variety, but we specifically went here for the crab and the prime rib. Every hour they have this "mermaid" show - definitely not worth seeing. Kids under 5 eat free (we don't have any kids but thought that information is worth sharing).
(5)Val D.
For a great ambiance, go to Oceanarium. The kids love to look at the fish and manta ray in awe, as we sat next to the huge aquarium as you eat an all you can eat seafood buffet. Good for special occasions, however, the food is mediocre - $36/adult $16/kids ages 5-10 for dinner. The best deal is the Saturday brunch buffet, havnig the same food as sunday, but cheaper and an assortment of breakfast and lunch dishes. However, tonight, we went to the Oceanarium for a birthday dinner. Because we went early, there was no line, and we got first pick of the food. It later became crowded as the usual dinner time approached: Crab Legs 5 star - so huge, juicy and warm, and all you can eat with melted butter. You can't ask for anything better. Pasta - 4 star - fresh since there is a chef station that will cook it in front of you. You can select a variety of seafood to mix with your pasta. Prime rib - 3 star - a bit chewy. I like mine medium rare, but they cook it at medium. Hot foods - 3 star - potatoes were good, fish were dry, and a bit fishy tasting, The spring rolls were good. Too bad they didn't have the tempura this time. I was too full from the crab legs to eat any of the other hot dishes. The clam chowder was really good. Assortment of sushi -3 star - ok, same as any sushi, at Genki or kurukuru, nothing fancy. Salad bar -2 1/2 star - there's an assortment of sashimi, blackened ahi, korean vegetables, raw oysters and shellfish. However, there were still little gnats flying around the area. They haven't gotten rid of the gnats since the last time I went about half a year ago. The sashimi and poke tasted really fishy, so only ate one piece of each. Dessert bar - 4 star - arrangement of little tarts, cakes, custard pie, fruits with a bowl of chocolate to dip in, and frozen icemilk bar with coconut, oreo, candy sprinkles, hot fudge and caramel as toppings. No nuts for topping though. The guava cake was light, as well as the coconut cake, but I've tasted better. I think the best desserts they had were the icecmilk and almond float. Service - 5 star - They sang happy birthday to those who were celebrating, and the service was excellent. You can also order for $25 for the scubadiver to swim in the aquarium and show a happy birthday sign with their name on it to the celebrant. The waiter would take our plates away when we left our seats, there's a middle dish to put our crab shells, which were replaced with a new empty dish when filled, and our waters were filled. The only bad thing is the little gnats that they need to get rid of.
(4)Grace L.
Quantity over quality for sure. If you want to eat until your food is backed up into your lungs, this is a good place to go. We came on a monday for the king crab. It was too salty.. The prime rib was the best thing I had all night. The dessert selection is GRAND, lots of choices. But everything was just "alright". It's pretty sad when your favorite desert was the soft serve with sprinkles...just food for thought. No oysters tonight, and I love oysters. Everything else was simply just alright, I would have been happy eating a $5 meal at Wendy's or something to be honest. I really feel as though buffets make their food really salty so people can't eat like there's no tomorrow... Parking was $3 with validation...what? why... Service was great, 5 stars! 2 stars simply to reflect how I felt about the food... We got the 25% off kama'aina though, so the total came out okay. My parents really just wanted to stuff themselves with crab so they were happy since that was basically all they ate. Me...not so much. I think I'll go eat a PB&J sandwich now...
(2)Kekela S.
Had brunch today and its not the same. We were expecting steamed crab legs and got cold crab legs instead. The rest of the buffet was not as good as it was before. Very disappointing. The only good thing was the wait staff. They did offer to heat up some crab for us but it wasn't the same. Not worth the money any longer. Very sad it was our go to place.
(3)Karen T.
I think it's all been said. Love the Crab Legs!
(5)Kristin F.
Disclaimer-I didn't go here for the seafood dinner buffet but only for the breakfast buffet. I was staying in the hotel which this is located so it was extremely convenient. I only ate here one morning because it was pretty expensive and there were cheaper options outside the hotel, but it had a good selection of breakfast foods including a wide variety of fruits that you don't often see if you're not in Hawaii. It's a great way to start off your morning while you're on vacation sitting by a huge aquarium with a good breakfast and you haven't even left your hotel yet! I would have eaten here more often, but like I said, it was pretty costly and I don't really eat enough to need a buffet breakfast every morning! If you're staying in the hotel though, I would definitely recommend going at least once.
(4)Jennifer M.
Recently took my husband and some friends here for dinner. I called ahead, made a reservation. We arrived 30 mins early and 2 of our friends had come down very sick and not come to dinner, so the reservation I made for 6 was changed to 4 at 8pm. (reservation was at 830pm) We were told our table was ready and we were sat directly behind a pillar. We asked for a different table because nobody would even be able to see the tank from that table and we were sat even further away. There were MANY open tables in the front, and we requested a closer table. The manager told us because our reservation was made under a 425 area code and not 808 (local area code) we could not move to a closer table or receive the Kama'aina Discount (even though 3 out of the 4 of us had Hawaii State ID, and 2 are Active Duty Navy). I have been taking my family, friends and guest here at least 4 times a year for the past 8 years and after this last experience I will never come back. I really feel like for the first time in Hawaii we were discriminated against.
(1)Maddie H.
My first time here and it wasn't all that! I will not be returning here to eat. I thought the food was great but it's nothing special at all. For the price you pay for so not worth it and just to let you know Pagoda buffet is a lot better than here. Thank you but no thanks to oceanarium restaurant. The only good thing about this place is the fish tank with all the fishes and the girl comes out only twice to swim with n feed the fishes. What's so great about that?
(2)D. C. Y.
We were a group of 40 on a busy Sunday evening. Even tho' there was a slight glitch in the reservation time, manager Brian S worked a miracle to seat us quickly and avert a disaster of 40 hungry people. The buffet was as good as we all remember and the chocolate fountain was a hit. Even better was a kama'aina discount. This was the only restaurant that welcomed our business when I called around for possible banquet sites - returned phone calls every time, thanked me for considering them, offered to take a no-obligation preliminary reservation. We will definitely give them our future business.
(5)Chad A.
2.7 stars Went here for our 6th Wedding Anniversary. Made reservations and we sat for about 20 minutes before any water was served to us and ITS a BUFFET! I tactfully complained and my wife's smoking pineapple was comped, but I was thouroughly disappointed. The atmosphere is kinda dated, and it must have been the hip spot in 1991, but it really shows its age. The food was about the same....very overcatered to Asians and rather bland for most of it. I was expecting a whole lot more and was substantially let down.
(2)Valerie I.
This place is horrible. Spent 600$ for 9 people and everyone HATED it. Went to the 5star Italian restaurant down the street way classier and spent 450$ way over priced. There are flies everywhere. rude people inside. the mermaid show is horrible. lame. all around horrible. too expensive. cheap buffet.
(1)Sam H.
I think this place is pretty great as long as you're ready to pay a good price for your meal. Parking is free or cheap so its not a big problem. First off, if you you're local and want a cheaper meal you HAVE to be there between 4:00pm to 5:30pm or after 8:30pm. This also applies to those staying at the hotel and have a coupon. The food here is not bad. It can sometimes be inconsistent with other days but for the most part its pretty good. The main things i come for are the Crab Legs, Oysters, and Prime Rib. Those 3 things are ALWAYS there and are usually very good. They have a salad bar, lots of fresh fish, fruit, sushi line, a great hot food line (that changes every day), a pasta ordering station, prime rib station, and a pretty good dessert line with various treats. The food isn't always the greatest quality and the price is kind of hefty but if you have visitors or just want a different experience id say to try it at least once.
(3)Darlene P.
We were able to get a seat next to the tank, our waiter was very nice, friendly and helpful. The food was great! Lot's and lot's of food, our stomachs weren't big enough to try everything, but everything we tried we loved. The prime rib was really, really good, the king crab legs were great, excellent food! Ah, we also got to see the Mermaid come swim around and wave hello, too kewl! Thank you for a wonderful evening out w/my daughter. Aloha, darlene
(4)Igor M.
Save your self $100 and the embarassment and take your wife elsewhere. Very disappointed with this "joint". The selection is less then a cheap Chinese buffet, on top of it all it doesnt even taste good :( The crab legs taste like eating salt. Where is the negative stars option?
(1)Michael S.
Family was in town and wanted to go back to the Oceanarium Parking: Validated parking available for $3. Can park for cheaper a couple of blocks away at Honolulu Zoo Atmosphere: The main reason why you come to the Oceanarium is the huge tank. It's a huge fish tank with a pretty decent assortment of fish life. They typically have their "dive times" at 5, 7 and 9pm. Other then the fish tank the restaurant is pretty plain. Service: First of all you want to make a reservation using Opentable.com . Hopefully you get some points out of it. If you have a reservation then everything should be fine mainly due to it being a buffet. Prices: Prices have definitely gone up in the recent years. Your looking at dropping $42+ per person. Be sure to try and get the early bird special(I believe sit down by 5:30 or 6pm) for 25$ off for Kamaaina(they only checked my ID). In my opinion probably $10 more then what you should be paying. Also don't expect any cheap drinks. All the lava flows will add up. Food: So we went on a Tuesday night which was seafood night. Tons of crab (snow, Dungeness) and shrimp scampi station, Sushi and lots of other dishes. Nothing was spectacular but my gf and family members at as much crab as they could handle. Conclusion: If you really want to go see a huge aquarium then go check out the Oceanarium. Just go during breakfast or at least make sure you have a discount or other special. The buffet while decent just isn't worth the extra money.
(2)Stefan G.
I feel ripped off after going here. First off, its 48$ per person. This might be acceptable if they were serving Filet Mignon and the like, but they're not. The crab legs were mostly overcooked, the meat was dry and way too salty, half the dessert table wasn't refilled, and the other smaller dishes were mediocre at best. While the service was friendly, it was lacking. (Missing a water, missing silverware, etc...). The aquarium in the middle was ok I guess. They eventually had a scuba diver doing a feeding, and someone dressed as a mermaid swimming around. For a few moments, it took my thoughts away from how shafted I felt. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else. If you're paying that much per person for food, it should be better then it was.
(1)Katy R.
My family visited here to celebrate my son's 5th birthday, and he was mesmerized by the aquarium...as was my 3-year-old daughter (who was free!). The prices seemed a little high for what we received but the experience was worth it. The food was decent; the service was great; and the atmosphere was fun. I enjoyed the sushi and desserts, and my family enjoyed the seafood options. Would I come back? If it was a special occasion.
(4)Michelle E.
Everything is great about this buffet.. EXCEPT the hostess ladies!!! They are sooooo RUDE!
(4)Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge #60/365 It is a waste of money for me when it comes to buffets because I never go back for thirds. It is rare that I'll even go back for seconds. For the past four years, this has been the women's pick for our last night of our annual retreat since it is a walk away from our hotel. This year, I limped to Pacific Beach Hotel where Oceanarium is located (I injured myself earlier that day from running a hill at Kakaako) and the one thing that hasn't changed is the smell...the fishy smell. But, then again, there is a huge aquarium looming over everyone as they eat. The food is pretty much the same. Nothing wowing but it was good. I didn't care for the desserts because it seemed like it was previously frozen but I could be wrong. The fruit punch was extra sweet to where I had to dilute it with water. Nevertheless, overall for the food--it was pretty good. The service was great especially because we had about two to three servers waiting on us to refill our drinks and take away the plates that the women were using to discard their crab leg shells. The only thing that I am waiting for each year is for the fish to gang up on the diver as he or she feeds the fish. Now THAT will be MY entertainment for the night!
(4)Erin S.
The divers only enter the tank every two hours. We were told we could only book a 5:30 reservation which required we wait 1.5hrs to see the Happy Birthday message we requested! Big Bust!! Wouldn't go again!
(2)Stewart C.
You might expect for $50 that you would get better quality: home made broth vs generic broth, home made vinigrette vs store bought salad dressing, something better than bagged bacon bits, canned black olives, canned horseradish, canned apple filling in the pie, extruded soft serve, rehydrated pasta, crap-pre-shredded cheddar. But you won't get it here. Poor quality is pretty standard in Waikiki, so when people get all starry eyed from sea food, they seem to be easily deceived. God, I'm so disillusioned with this city.
(2)Lulu C.
Great venue to plan your next event! Attended and assisted with my friend's son 1st birthday party. Everything went smoothly as we had planned with the management. Moreover, both our waiters were on top of it without a complaint for a party of 63 guests!
(4)Joyce C.
Went here a few weeks ago and it's not the same. I hate the cold crab legs. And the butter tasted gross. Not the same quality as before. I use to come here for the crab legs but I think I will just go to ragging crab or one of those other type of places. Now they are only good for their huge fish tank
(2)David Z.
also have to have the Sr buffet when we arrive-great selection of seafood and beef, sushi,desserts,atmosphere
(4)Ross A.
Located at the Pacific Beach Hotel, this restaurant boasts one of the better seafood buffets around. Honestly, I am divided on how I feel about this place. Although the seating and decor is pleasant, the food/buffet is not worth the $40+ /per person. I feel you could receive the same kind of buffet for almost half the price. The menu selection is very small, forcing customers to choose the buffet instantly. There are plenty of other seafood restaurants around this area of Waikiki to choose from, and even if you're staying at the Pacific Beach Hotel, you can find better places (I would imagine).
(3)Lora H.
Talk about nostalgia... my friends invited me to dinner tonight at the Oceanarium - she said all you can eat crab and I was in!! I haven't been here since I was in high school! Took me back to the good old days! The giant aquarium is still amazing and there's still a person who comes into the aquarium every two hours to feed the fish and wave at you! You have to love that! The ambiance.... well, maybe back when I used to come, the restaurant seemed bigger, but it seemed waaaaaay crowded, like they packed people in. I couldn't push my chair out without hitting someone behind me. And it was so loud... Now, for the food! I have to say you get a quite a bit of good seafood... great value! And seriously, how can you go wrong with all you can eat crab!!!!! Awesome! And the sashimi was good quality too!! And for you oyster lovers... lots of those too! Food definitely worth it. The reason I'm giving the 3 stars is because of the ambiance and service. First of all, the waiters were somewhat clueless. One spilled a bunch of butter crab right next to me it splattered all over my jacket, pants, shoes! Seriously! And then, another was serving my friend coffee and poured it right in front of her that as he pulled away, the hot coffee dripped right onto her dress! UGH! That in and of itself just kind of killed it for me! I mean, it's a restaurant! Don't spill things on people! But in terms of the food, definitely worth it! And I have to give this place kudos because they were constantly refilling the buffet with fresh new food! I'll go back for sure, but next time, I am not wearing nice clothes!
(3)Trista S.
This buffet was okay. Just okay. The crab legs weren't fresh, the prime rib was overcooked, and the seafood pasta was not very flavorful. The sushi and dessert fruit were pretty good. This place is definitely not worth $50 a head.
(2)Merlene A.
Best Mothers' Day Weekend Brunch!! Delicious crab, prime rib, shrimp and much much more! The service was fantastic and the view was amazing!
(5)John K.
This lunch buffet is awesome. There is an aquarium next to the dining area. Has a lot of my favorite foods: crab, prime rib, omelettes, bacon, pasta, tempura, waffles, bread pudding to name a few. They also refill the oj and coffee. Left feeling very satisfied. Got fifteen percent off from the coupon on yelp. Definitely will come back.
(4)Grace C.
To be honest, not the best buffet...BUT the view is AMAZING! I love marine life and the ocean and this is definitely one of the coolest experiences ever! They bring out scuba people who feed the fish, and if you're lucky, you'll even catch a mermaid (no, not real) swimming around! (Poor girl, she has to swim around holding her breath...but no worries she breathes from an oxygen tank strategically placed near one of the walls!) They also have the option of the scuba person holding up birthday signs and "will you marry me?" signs! Super cool! Now, the buffet -- was alright...The sushi was a bit bland and didn't taste fresh. The crab legs were quite delicious (basically everyone comes for that -- I mean come on all you can eat king crab legs -- yes please!!!) The other foods included pastas and other seafood -- not very tasty and it was a bit on the lukewarm side...I generally like my pastas warm! The dessert bar is a bit sad...Not much selection...Little cakes here and there, but there is a chocolate fountain! Toppings included strawberries, marshmallows, and even mini rice krispies treats (stale). I'm not the biggest fan of dark chocolate, so it wasn't a win for me. The service is like any other buffet. They clear your dishes when you're done with them, and don't really bother you during your meal. For the price, you can't beat especially if you're there for the all you can eat crab legs and if you're kama'aina! You get the special rate of getting 25% off, but remember to bring a state ID!
(3)Courtney C.
We took my son to dinner here for his birthday. Good food...crab legs are perfect and the pasta station was delicious! The desserts aren't so great, but we just stuck with the ice cream. Fabulous views whilst you eat...I recommend going for early seating (before 5:30pm) as the cost is $30! If you make a reservation & it's a special occasion, they will have the "diver" bring a sign to your table! Very cool!
(4)Brandon C.
My wife and I decided to go here on a Monday night which the buffet featured Crab Legs and they were very good. It is all you can eat and the food is decent. They have a sushi bar area, and a kind of sashimi area with ahi poke and mussels poke then there are some hot dishes may 10-15 different varities. They have a desert bar that has some selection, but not a lot maybve 7-12 different types, we grabbed a couple different on each of our plates and we actually only like 1-2 of our selections that we grabbed. The rating would be lower if there was not sure an expensive item, crab legs, which we both ate our share of, to make help coverage the $45 per person charge. For ambiance it has a great aquarium as the center piece of a dimly lit dining room. There was a couple birthdays at the time an they had a diver in the tank with happy birthday signs with the person name on it and they will pose for pictures.
(3)Oinkarella O.
Warning: Wear an elastic waistband to prevent splitting your pants. It's that good. And just when you think it can't get any better, a mermaid will appear. Do not be ashamed to stuff your face in front of her. She knows it's that good. It's her job to make sure the seafood pasta station will knock your fins off. The snow and dungeness crab is always succulent and fresh (Alaskan King Crab is served on Mondays and Thursdays). She won't judge you as the drawn butter dribbles down your chin and fingers. The prime rib is so tender and juicy that it will leave drip stains on your shirt anyway. As long as you wear those stretchy pants, you'll have room to devour a slice of heavenly cheesecake, and sinfully dip your own strawberries and bananas in chocolate. Elastic never felt so good!
(5)Aloha G.
Rudest customer service wanted to make reservations and she asked for a credit card number for party's over 10 cause if I didnt show up ill have to pay $50. Then she tells me that if I dont im just taking up tables. Sorry u aint getting no business from my party of over 9 people.
(1)Sean C.
Since I've been on island, Oceanarium keeps coming up as a place to go for nicer (yet kid safe) dinners. While I had never been before today, it had always been on my list. As Orchid had no tables available for brunch, we decided to give Oceanarium a try. I regret this decision. As soon as we entered, my first thought was that it looks nothing like any picture of it that I'd seen before. My second thought was that it was loud: like Chuck-E-Cheese loud. While we were seated immediately, it was at a table that was less than two feet away from the next table. The aquarium, which the slow wait staff gave me plenty of time to look at, was pretty unimpressive: even my four year-old moved on quickly. The buffet was average at best. The crab legs were indeed good, but the prime rib was grey and the eggs benedict was sub-par (the poached eggs were cold and a little under-done). There was little in the way of traditional breakfast foods, but was a decently large selection of fresh fruit. For my money, I would go elsewhere as neither the food, ambiance, or service is very good. Basically, everything you want in a restaurant isn't here.
(1)Erin K.
OMG amazing! We go on a crab and prime rib night (after 8:30 to get the Kama'aina/military discount of 15%) and it has always been SUPER tasty. They have 3 different kinds of crab, and tons of it, so you're never stuck waiting. I personally love their chocolate fountain and array of delicious desserts, not to mention they have a sushi/sashimi section as well. This place is a seafood lover's dream, and meets all of our expectations. For my husband and I to eat there, with the discount, it costs us about $95. Definitely a special occassion place for us, but well worth it :)
(5)Stephen W.
It's our Family Tradition to give the household cooks (mom/dad) a holiday break and so for CHRISTMAS Day and NEW YEARS Day we reserve a table at the OCEANARIUM for a spectacular FEAST. This year was the BEST and YES we will be back at the end of this year (2014) also ! I have to compliment the staff (receptionists, waiters, carving station chefs and of course the back of the house - the talented cooks who must've started to prepare this feast the night before in the weeee hours, thus sacrificing their family time to serve our families for that morning. Much MAHALO for their dedication and consistency each year ! Our waiter made all the difference always - friendly, smiling and so so accommodating. He anticipated all our concerns and satisfied all our needs - water glass filled constantly, refills for juice & delicious coffee, to clearing all our used plates every-time we left to replenish new ones. He even pre-validated our parking tickets ("BIG-NOTE" the only real "DETRACTOR" to our entire experience at this brunch - Even w/validation from the restaurant it still cost us $5.00 to get our vehicle out of their parking structure and the "NEW AUTOMATED MACHINE SYSTEM" is slow and with traffic backing up during peak periods it can all add up to "road-rage" for some customers. BIG suggestion - employ a "live-attendant" during peak busy periods and leave the machine on for "LESS-TRAFFIC" after hour business.) PRIME RIB & SHRIMP TEMPURA were excellent - as a local and oriental this did not disappoint at all. CRAB LEGS (Steamed) were plentiful and the size portion of the crustacean legs were good. When I got to the warming pan it was down to scraps, but before I could start to frown two attendants promptly appeared behind me with a fresh full tray more crab legs - how awesome is that. DESSERT was varied and each was specially tasty. My daughter was pleasantly surprised when she sampled a small cocktail filled cup of Chocolate Pudding finished off with a very tasteful berry filling at the end. She gave a "big smile" of surprise and pleasure after her very first spoonful and finished the entire glass. SUCKLING PIG and ROASTED DUCK BREASTS were great, especially that little baby pig - so moist and tender. AND the crackling skin was spot on what makes it even more special. In the oriental culture a suckling pig was the over the top accompaniment to a celebration that offered everyone at this feast a wish for a very profitable and rich new year since pork was so highly prized ! SASHIMI was a very simple preparation and with the wasabi just completed a totally pleasant appetizer to this brunch. AQUARIUM, that huge towering salt water and live fish show always amazes young and old. The feeding show is always a crowd pleaser and we got to see that also. The two young twin boys at the adjoining table brought back precious memories of when my children when they were their age and experienced the similar awesomeness of the food and live fish show. THANK YOU OCEANARIUM for a great start to this NEW YEAR (2014)! One BIG EXCEPTION - - - The RAISE in the brunch price was a little surprising (approximately $58.00 per person) but not surprising since we all know nothing ever goes down. It was like paying for a Prime Rib-Eye Steak at WOLFGANG's or at MORTON's. BUT that "parking charge" EVEN AFTER VALIDATION of $5.00 - ouch and ahway - we are KAMAIANAs (locals) doesn't PACIFIC BEACH HOTEL make more than enough off the Japanese and Mainland Tourists year round already ?!!!! How about some consideration for the local residents who during slow periods of occupancy are always urged to purchase a weekend package stay at these over priced hotels but at kamaiana prices !
(5)Gina L.
Don't stress about not getting your money's worth. If you love crab legs, this place is a real treat. I think it may have been about $40 per guest, but as I said, it's worth it. Plus, I believe it's $30 if you are seated before 5:30pm (if you want to eat that early). The place is pretty booked, but we were told you can dine at the bar, so we did instead of drooling for a 45 minute wait. I mean, it was located right next to the buffet area, so why not?! We also got a prime view of the giant fish tank, and prime seating next to the alcohol! I suggest you come here on a Thursday night. Although they have Dungeness crab legs and Snow crab legs every night of the week, Thursday nights offer King crab legs. However, I learned that I much prefer the Dungeness and Snow crab legs because they don't slice up my fingers. The crab legs were cooked to perfection! Usually when I go to buffets, the seafood is way overcooked. I didn't try much of their other food, because I wanted to save all the room for crab. I did try a few of the oysters, but they weren't as fresh. Anyways, if you're a crab lover, feast here! I recommend sitting at the bar to avoid any long walks to the buffet area, and to avoid a possible long wait for a table that could end up by the restrooms.
(4)Lilian N.
Visited again for the Sunday brunch buffet and it was fairly good. Most of the items were as tasty as I remembered, but the prime rib and pork loin were both dry and forgettable. Service is always awesome here, and they replenish the food line frequently. My favorites are the tempura, king crab legs, sashimi, cold salads, eggs benedict, and desserts. Definitely worth the $29.99 price tag for the enormous variety of brunch & seafood items in Waikiki. Oh, and only $19.99 for senior citizens! $3 hotel parking with validation, good for 2.5 hours; now that I think about it...would've been a good idea to walk-off the food with the 45 minutes or so we had remaining! ;) Will be back soon!
(4)Erwin R.
I have eaten here for breakfast and dinner. The buffet for breakfast is not bad at all. If you are in Hawaii you need to try the staple breakfast, fried egg, spam and rice with your traditional american style breakfast. Dinner was excellent! Lobster and Filet. We reserved the table next to the aquarium, I even requested that a diver come down and write a note on a whiteboard which the diver can stick next to the window where we were eating. It was a surprise for the entire table and it added a great touch. Everyone in the restaurant was wondering who what the occasion was and everyone started taking pictures of us like we were movie stars. It was funny. I recommend calling them ahead for any type of reservation. Its a nice place to eat for a 4 star place.
(4)Jamila J.
It's a seafood buffet. But doesn't leave out the prime rib. I enjoy a good buffet and this is a good buffet. Loads of fresh seafood, prime rib and a ton of desserts. Pasta on demand! There's something for everyone. Great place for families. The huge fish tank is awesome. I like that you can put special messages in the water. I just want to know if you can pay to go in the tank, but that's a bit off topic. It creates a conversation piece and who doesn't like to see big fish in a fish tank, it's like Seaworld! Parking in Waikiki is always a pain, but you can park at the Pacific Beach Self-Parking or valet. They validate, so it's not so expensive to park. Enjoyed my time there and it's a nice place to go every so often.
(3)Ka'ili H.
Buffet eating is a rare occurrence for me. So to treat ourselves, my best friend's birthday and my going away buffet brunch, we headed down to the Oceanarium Restaurant. I made reservations right when it starts, at 11am and it was THE best time to have reservations at. We were lucky enough to have the first pick of the food because people started showing up mostly around 1130am or later. It was nice to see a bunch of locals partaking in this buffet as well. Our table was seated just in front of the tank, there was enough room to enjoy a huge view of it but not too close that my neck would get sore from looking up the whole time. As we started eating we were fortunate to watch one of the divers, dressed in holiday splendor, Santa!, feed the fishes. This was really fun cuz he swam around with them and stuck some lettuce against the window for the fish and watched him play with the manta rays. It was such a delight and it really made me have a soft spot for this place. The buffet had such a large variety of food, I wanted to eat everything, but I had to discriminate. So I got a few seafood items: mussels, sashimi, an oyster. These I enjoyed a lot. I also had an Omelet made and picked up an eggs Benedict to try. My best got a slice of prime rib and an assortment of seafood as well. We both enjoyed the seafood, we liked that the eggs Benedict had onions in it, it was different for us and it tasted pretty great!. We went back for a piece of waffle with the assortment of toppings. I tried the guava sauce and though it was yummy it was a bit to sweet for me. He also got a few shrimp tempuras as well, which he finished up pretty quickly. I'm guessing they were delicious! I grabbed a few crab legs after eating my waffle and started digging for that meat. A few of the crab legs were kind of soft, not sure if it was because it was sitting on the bottom or the pan or...something else. The crab, dipped in the butter sauce, tasted rich and good. I couldn't finish the rest of my meat. We finished off our buffet brunch with some soft serve ice cream. It was the perfect end to our Buffet Brunch at the Oceanarium Restaurant.
(4)Andy S.
Read this for the truth. It will save you $$$ and probably some type of stomach problem. We ( girlfriend ) have been to a lot of buffets... Unfortunately ... And this place is in the lower tier. Atmosphere : ok so there is a big fish tank.. Which is cool I guess. But eating seafood next to little fishies feels wrong. 1980s pretty much sums up the decor and environment.. Which consists of mirrors.. Old tables and chairs and not much else. Watching a girl mermaid swim next to you while shoving your face is also strange. Price: 40$ regular.. But 45$ for Easter dinner at 9 pm... Come on. Half the price still would not be fitting. Service: Server was actually very efficient. As you finish your plate you never want to see it again.. This guy removed the plates quickly. Food: So crab legs are good, and expensive which would be the only reason to come here .. Not that 45$ is worth all you can eat crab... Depending on where you are. For Waikiki I guess it's not possible to be less. Sashimi was warm... Warm raw fish.. Not so good. Other "catch of the day" was way over cooked. Chicken was over cooked... Prime rib was extremely over cooked. Desert was terrible.. Some things just had that funny taste, luckily there was pineapple.. Which is hard to fk up. Cheesecake was the worst possible and other things you would have no idea what it was without a sign telling you. Nothing more to say really... 90$ for two people without alcohol could get you an insane meal at a real restaurant.
(2)Jessica d.
We went for an early Mother's Day brunch today. We were so late (which is awful, I feel like a jerk) and they were SUPER nice about holding our table for us. They also made a big point of putting us as close to the fish tanks as they could because we had requested so on our open table reservation. The diver went out of his way to put on a show, dancing with the sting rays and herding fish. Any time he saw kids at a table he lingered and really hammed it up. I can't really speak to the food, I have a head cold and everything tastes the same right now. My husband said it was kind of bland. But it was pretty, lots of fun choices, great location and I would for sure return.
(3)Kris T.
Came here with the whole family (9 people) for my mom's birthday. The kids loved and enjoyed watching the fishes and mermaids. Mom was in awe when the mermaid held a sign that said "Happy Birthday!" with her name on it! Super Special! Awesome service and Great Buffet!
(5)Jeffrey D.
We came here with family visiting from out of country. This is definitely a place to go for the ambiance. The whole restaurant centers around a gigantic aquarium. My daughter was a newborn and slept for half the time and watched fish for the rest. There was a very large selection of food too. My folks were a little more interested in Asian dishes but there were American favorites too. I am not a huge buffet fan, but we left very satisfied. The food quality was decent and the price, though a little spendy, was not as high as other buffets around the Waikiki area. It seems to be very popular with groups so I would either make reservations or go early. A diver held a proposal sign next to a table which I thought was different. Overall, a good experience here with a middle priced buffet. It is certainly worth the money if not for the food just to see that aquarium.
(3)Deja M.
great food! service was great! huge aquarium worth the $50. When my in-laws visit I plan on taking them here.
(5)Brent S.
We came here for a Christmas brunch party. Honestly I was expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised. The king crab was plentiful and of good quality. The poke and sushi was pretty fresh. The prime rib was on the better end of the buffet range. The other entrees were good. Not great, but good. But they had a great selection for the price. If you have young kids. they're going to mesmerized by the fish with the frequent feedings from the scuba divers. Great place for a family outing.
(4)Keoni U.
I'm not really a fan of buffet's but I can't complain when someone else is paying. You get a nice view of a 2 story salt water aquarium complete with a manta ray and a scuba diver holding up signs and feeding the fish. The food is very good (dinner). They have king crab legs and the sushi taste fresh and good. I enjoyed the prime rib. They don't have a large variety of food but what they do have is very good. The desserts are also on hit too.
(4)Annie W.
Crab legs, crab legs, crab legs is all you have to say and it's worth every penny of my $34.56 that we spent here for each person for 5p.m. dinner on Saturday night. I organized a small company party for 35 and that was a small challenge in itself. Oceanarium made it simple enough for me to make reservations, put a small down payment and we were ready for the holiday celebration. I appreciated that this place has a slight dress code, so people are apt to dress up a bit more. This fit right into our company's party very nicely. The choices were in abundance, the food quality was great, the service was friendly and so the buffet is worth visiting again. We got seated in the back section closest to the aquarium and during our meal we had two divers show off a feeding frenzy. Get your cameras ready! Do ask for kama'aina (because that price I listed is tax and tips already included), and if you roll in a large party 2 hours is the limit. Specialty drinks do cost, but not your average tea or water. Check out their website, you'll drool over their selection.
(4)Elizabeth N.
Although not the best buffet I've been to in my life, its a decent one, I'd really give it a 3 star for food etc, but the aquarium and the service we get there is the consistent 4th star. They have the same food over at Pagoda Hotel, but not the nice ambiance. Food quality is good, I've never gotten sick eating here but I'm always cautious about the seafood at places like this so seafood always gets a second sniff from me. Pros: -Huge aquarium, nice and clean ambiance -Good selection of food and for the price, it includes seafood, a pretty good value -Family friendly -Have discounts & validated parking -Very attentive and friendly wait staff Cons: -Considering the simple preperation of the food, it should be priced a little lower but its not cheap keeping a 2 story aquarium running... -Inconsistency of the seafood:one time crab legs were good, another time dry and salty. Tips:Call for reservations, and if you want prime seating next the the tank, best to call a week out.
(4)Jerry F.
The breakfast buffet was so onolicious! Lots of seating during the weekdays. It gets quite crowded on Fridays and the weekends.
(4)Juv C.
Good but not great. I was expecting the spread to be bigger, but i suppose it was still plentiful. The crab, I feel, is the main attraction and the star. 3 different kinds: snow, king and dungeness. I had a little slice of the prime rib and that was good. They also had a seafood pasta that looked good but I was too stuffed to try it. The oysters were a big disappointment. They weren't fresh at all. If you want crab and you love crab, come here. That's all I wanted and that's all I ate, I was happy. They also have a nice dessert spread, complete with a chocolate fountain. Heaven if you have a sweet tooth. At $40 a person, I guess it's worth it because of how much crab they offer, you definitely get your money's worth in that, but if you don't eat that much crab this may not be the buffet for you. On the plus side they had a pretty cool, and pretty large aquarium in the dining room. We sat down just as someone swam in the aquarium feeding the fish and sting rays. The tourists and kids were eating it up with big wide amazed eyes. And yet all I could think was, "isn't that how Steve Irwin died?"
(3)Faye M.
I've been here many a time for family gatherings, a baby's 1st birthday party, a bridal shower, even a work Christmas party. It's really great for people who love to eat a lot and get MORE than their money's worth! I usually go for the sushi, shrimp tempura, sashimi, chicken, fish, beef or pork - whatever meat looks good at the time of my visit. I really don't care for prime rib and never understood why almost everyone gets excited at wedding receptions with prime rib in the buffet line! Anyway, I do like crab legs, but if it isn't ALASKAN KING CRAB LEGS, it just isn't worth the fight to crack them all open! Luckily my BF cracked some open for me and I got to eat some crab legs the other night :) There was also some kind of ginger soy spare rib thing that was soo good!! Dessert was pretty good...nothing really stood out to me though. It's hard for me to get my money's worth at a buffet; don't get me wrong - I love food, but I don't love the after effects of too much food: short and long term!
(4)Wendy C.
I am a buffet snob, so the buffet here didn't make a big impression on me. It's probably not fair to compare this place to all the buffets I've had in Vegas. We came here to celebrate my aunt's birthday. My aunt lives in Waikiki and we happened to be on vacation on her birthday. The restaurant was insanely busy. So I think it must be popular among tourists and locals alike. However, I think what attracts the dinners was not the food but the 2-story aquarium it houses. OMG! I've never seen anything like that. I guess the price of the buffet includes 'admission' to the aquarium, so it's not too bad. We saw divers feeding the fish and guiding a stingray by its mouth, and a mermaid swam by. It's a pretty cool sight. The food? It's forgettable.
(3)Chase A.
Alright I think I'm going to do it. Yep, my first five star review! The entire experience of this reatraunt was great. The food was excellent, especially for a buffet. The crab legs, clams, and chowder were delicious. They even had a cheese section!!! The huge fish tank, the fish feeding, and mermaid are fun to watch. The staff was all very friendly and attentive. Overall an excellent experience I will be back again soon!
(5)Samoa Surf Gu Y.
This is my favorite restaurant in all of Waikiki. The menu tends to lean more on the seafood side hence the name. If you like poke, sushi, oysters, shrimp, crab and fish then its the place to go. They have a huge variety of seafood and also a decent carvery churning out prime rib and pork. If you don't find something in there that you like then you're the problem. The fish are awesome to watch if you're a nature lover like me. Also the floral arrangements throughout the hotel are second to none.
(4)Mindy T.
Went here with my family for dinner. The crab legs were awesome. Shrimp pasta was okay, a little bland though. Must not forget the chocolate fountain! :) Service is okay. The dives aren't that exciting, mermaid looks totally fake. I guess it'd be sweet/cool if you request them to dive down with a message for someone. This place is overall good, a little bit pricy though... expect to pay $90 for dinner for 2.
(4)Kim M.
The HUGE fish tank in the middle of the Oceanarium Restaurant dining area is really cool. And the buffet menu features a pretty hefty seafood selection...with awesome seafoody daily specials. The last time I ate here, I was kind of weirded out at the fact that all those fish and sea creatures in there were watching me eat their friends and family. But they were tasty. And it's not like I actually killed them. Anyway, the buffet has an assortment of other types of food as well: salad, baked potatoes, build-your-own-fajitas, pig with bun and plum sauce, a prime rib carving station, and a bunch of other tasty dishes. And there is a chocolate fondue fountain thing if you're into that kind of stuff. The desserts are sinful. Trust me. Mondays and Thursdays are the days to go! Freakin' King Crab! w00t. Interestingly enough, the price for this seafood buffet is pretty decent. I think it's roughly $37 per person. However, if you're seated before 5:30pm your meal is discounted. I'm not sure if it's a Kama'aina thing or happy hour-esque deal.. Whatever the reason for the discount, I'll take it! I think the discounted price was somewhere around $28...so around a 25% discount. Any buffet with this kind of selection of food at this price is a steal! :) I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Gary N.
I'm known for my appetite and I did not disappoint! Last night I dined here with some friends and I had a plate of King Crab legs with even more Snow crab legs from a friend who took too many. I had three slices of prime rib, two plates of seafood pasta (one with marinara sauce, and one with creamy sauce), rib eye steak, three kinds of toast with three kinds of spread, nigiri, potatoes, and steamed brocolli. For dessert I had a lot of fun. I put some strawberries into the chocolate fountain, took a white mousse with blueberries and strawberries, a slice of carrot cake, and I dipped an ice cream cone in the chocolate fountain. Funny thing was that I didn't know that you're not supposed to put ice cream into the chocolate fountain until after I ate half of my cone. No wonder the people were looking at me so weird! This place has a huge aquarium and many people were celebrating birthdays. I was surprised that so many people had their birthdays at the same day here. A diver swam by and held up a sign that said " "Happy Birthday!" The food was so delicious and the waiter was very attentive to refilling our drinks. Everything was perfect except for one small thing. The men's restroom has super-slow hand-drying air-blowing machines. It takes about five minutes to dry your hands with them =/. Come early for the early bird special! If you come before 530 pm, you save $15.
(4)Vinny T.
I thought this would be a great place to take my daughter since it is the restaurant with the 3 story aquarium. Boy was i wrong. First off, there weren't any fishes to go ooh & ahh over. Just your typical fish you can see anywhere. Dinner was way overpriced, $30 !! I don't mind paying for it if the food was good, but this was not worth it at all
(1)Fat M.
(-) Bad service. 2 hour limit. Had an elderly person in our party and asked to be seated closer to the buffet and they would only accomodate if we agreed to leave after eating for one hour- we needed longer so had to sit farther away. (+) Good crab and all you can eat. Other meats not as tasty/ fresh. Saw the fish being fed.
(3)Phillip S.
So I look at yelp reviews from time to time and wonder how people got such bad experiences at places wish they would stop crying. BUT I now have to complain. Reading the positive reviews I saw nothing close to that. Seating: CRAP. I even reserved a spot right next to the tank. You were closer to the people all around you than the tank and it was 2 feet away. Food: Crap. Everything had a really old and generic feeling to it. Even the cooked in front of you seafood pasta tasted bad. The shrimp was simply cocktail shrimps that werent even de-vained. Sushi. Old and cruddy. Crab legs could barely hold my attention but were ok for a cheap place but not here. Service: Seemed really shy and didnt get much attention BUT they were on the ball keeping my table clean and getting my bill to me promptly. I cant even bare to keep writing this. So all in all. If you looking to waste your money for bad food and a crappy Mermaid show then go here. If you wanna save your money for some good food for a great price go to Lu Lu's.
(1)Valentina L.
This was a Thanksgiving buffet with a group of people. There were a lot of Buffett stations and for $40 something dollars, you really want to fast two days prior! As a Vegetarian, there wasn't as much, but the PUMPKIN SOUP was incredible! And the DESSERT station would put Willy Wonka to shame! TRULY! And yes, V had 8 different desserts that night! Aside from the food, the highlight was the divers swimming in the wraparound tank that hand fed the rays, being a diver myself, I was more interested in that than the food! But overall, if you eat meat and seafood, I saw people piling up on crab legs and smiling a lot, so I guess that is good! Ahahaha
(4)Ruth T.
Haven't been here in years. The king crab legs were sooo good -moist and tasty! Really enjoyed the prime rib and fresh Moloka'i catch too. My fav of the meal? The sashimi!! There was a really nice spread of desserts, especially the chocolate fountain and ice cream machine. Was too stuffed to appreciate the sweets. Will have to return to sample the rest of the dishes :)
(4)R R.
Okay...My boss and I decided to venture to the Seafood Buffet...OMG! Talk about "waddle out" when we were done. There are good things and bad things about a buffet, but I'm a sucker when it comes to CRAB!!! And they didn't disappoint in anyways possible. We got the table right there next to the buffet so I didn't have to walk far. They had King Crab legs, Snow Crab legs and Dungeness! And I have to admit I really didn't eat much more then the Shrimp w/ cocktail sauce, some Mahi Mahi w/ lobster sauce and I think I even had the steamed uhu-chinese style. No carbs or anything else but MOUNDS AND MOUNDS of CRAB LEGS!!! The bad thing is that I made a total "hog" of myself and by the end of the night felt as if I had just swallowed all the water in the fish tank. Then not to mention that they had the all you can eat soft serve ice cream machine too! I used to work at McDonald's and loved to make those cones as high as I could and I did a little show off and made the cone super huge-only to regret it at the end and felt like my stomach was going to EXPLODE!!! Go there with an appetite and enjoy!!!
(4)JimBob L.
Came here on Thursday for their Crabs buffet. All I can say is what a waste of money. The food was really bad. Nothing was fresh. Service was okay but the hostess was rather rude. Will never come back here again!
(2)Jennifer U.
This restaurant is alright...After hearing about it being an oceanarium & everything, I thought it would be a little bit more fancy but I was totally off. I also thought there would be more of a selection with the food but there wasn't. Maybe it was because it was already 8:45pm by the time I got there? Still, that shouldn't be an exucse. ESPECIALLY for a buffet. I feel like I could've went to Makino Chiya or Todais & got a better deal ONLY because the price ranges are the same but Makino Chiya & Todais have a way bigger selection of food. I mean I'm not complaing about how "expensive" it is because its really not but with the prices being the way it is, I feel like there should've been more of a selection. The major thing that had turned me off were the CRAB LEGS. They did not look appetizing at all! They were all brown looking & gross. Seemed like the cooks didn't even clean the algae off the crab before they cooked it. The only thing I really enjoyed was the prime rib, dessert, & the virgin lava flow my friend had given me, lol. Another thing...the fishes in the tank weren't even that nice! I thought the tank was going to be filled with nice colorful fishes but no I was wrong...again. Hopefully by the time I do go back, things will be a bit different :)
(3)Monica S.
With the amount of food they served, the price is actually not that bad. But the seafood was just alrite. I can see that they are known for the Oceanarium show. But the service was very cordial. Three stars.
(3)Tara A.
Prime rib and fresh sashimi- and we're talking a mountain pile! You dine and are surround by the aquarium. My sister recommended this restaurant and can't wait to go back. It is inside a hotel. Top notch food for this all you can eat buffet. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Amy F.
eh, it was ok. I don't like seafood at all but my husband LOVES it, especially poke, which he thought was very good here. We came on a Monday night and were seated right next to the tank, which was way cool. I could have stayed and watched the fish all night. I wish we would have known about the mermaid show times, 5 and 9, we came at 7 and were done eating at 8:15 and didn't want to sit and The food was just ok, I know it was a seafood buffet but wish more of the sides had less seafood in them, most of the salads had fish in them. My husband visited the sushi bar twice and enjoyed the crab legs. He wasn't too pleased with the spaghetti bar though, Only one type of pasta, two sauces (which were bland) and 3 seafood to choose from. Parking was in the hotel deck, but was still $5 with validation, wish we would have paid the extra $4 for valet because once I pulled up to the gate found out that it wasn't taking credit cards and we had no cash. With a line a cars behind me a valet parker had to move traffic around so I could back out and my husband could find an atm. They should have had sign saying it when coming in so we would have known before we were leaving.
(3)Zoe B.
We got FOUL and BITTER tasting dungeness crab there last night! You wanna know more? please read on... My husband and I went there for dinner buffet. We were craving for crab legs in particular. I first got a first plate of snow crab legs, and my husband first got a plate of prime rib. Then we got a second plate of dungeness crab legs. And that's where the wrongs started. We took a first bite and it had a foul bitter taste. The color of the flesh looked a bit funny too. And I was stupid enough to swallow that bite while I should have spitted it out instead of swallowing it. Then I cracked couple other dungeness legs and they all tasted bitter and smelled foul too. So we were really grossed out by that, and asked for a manager to report the issue. The manager took away our plate of dungeness crab and told the chef to change out the batch that was at the buffet table as well, as I told the manager that I suspected the whole batch would have the same problem. Before having the dungeness crab legs, we weren't full yet. We were actually hungry before the dungeness crab. But after those couple bites of dungeness crab, I really felt that I wanna vomit, and my husband developed abdominal pain afterwards. I didn't want to get any more food after swallowing that foul bitter tasting dungeness crab, and my husband still tried to see if he could eat some more prime rib to make the meal worth. (we weren't offered any compensation yet at that point). And I resorted to eating dessert because I just couldn't get rid of that foul bitter taste and nausea in my system, so hoped that the sweet taste would help me out. However, after eating the dessert, I didn't feel better, only felt more worse, and my husband also couldn't eat any further because of the escalated abdominal pain. So we decided to talk to the manager again. Because we basically didn't really eat much before hitting those foul bitter tasting dungeness crab. And we couldn't eat further after eating the foul bitter tasting dungeness crab, and also had a worry of having food borne illness. We spoke with that lady manager we spoke with earlier. She said we could file a report at the front after paying the bill. We were like, "what the heck?" Why would you still ask us to pay for something that made us ill? She even wanted to rule out food poisoning by saying that it would have to take 3-6 hours for the symptoms to appear if it's food poisoning. So I asked her back, "would you want us to come back if we really got worse after 3-6 hours? You really have to talk to someone else as we don't think it's right to pay for something that we got sick from!" (and we didn't even eat much because of the foul bitter tasting dungeness crab). So she went to talk to someone and another male manager came and let us file the report. He asked if we needed an ambulance. We denied the offer because we would rather drive ourselves to ER if we really needed it later on; never knew who would be responsible for the cost of an ambulance. So we denied that offer. And then the male manager let us file a report and find out if another manager would compensate our meals. So we wrote our report while he talked to another manager. My husband was too sick to write much on that paper at that point. And I, though felt sick, was actually very upset at the female manager we met earlier, and also I was extremely grossed out by that foul bitter dungeness crab. So I put an effort to write down all the dissatisfaction and concern. I wrote that it's really not acceptable to have such foul bitter dungeness crab serving at the buffet table, as it's totally inedible. To my knowledge, any seafood that has a foul bitter taste is not consumable. And I also added a note to tell them how unhappy we were with that female manager. After the male manager checked with the other higher manager, he said the higher manager offered 30% discount on our tab. My husband and I felt that it's not right. You can't ask someone to pay for something that is not edible and makes him sick; and we couldn't eat much because of that inedible item! So we weren't fed, and got sick from the inedible thing.......and still needed to pay a penny? So my husband told the male manager about how we felt about it, then the male manager went back to the higher manager, and then the male manager came back and said that they would take care of our whole tab. At the end, I emphasized to the male manager that we were so not happy with the inedible dungeness crab, and also even more unhappy with that female manager who spoke with us earlier. I really hope that they would check their seafood with more caution from now on. Foul bitter tasting crab can be an indication of rotten flesh. Ewwww.............. I developed abdominal pain later on, and I still have nausea right now. And my husband started feeling better after a long overnight sleep. I hope I get to feel better soon. Totally lost confidence in dining there from now on.
(1)Anj D.
A perfect place to take your family and just someone to spend a nice day with! :) Memorable
(5)Vi Y.
Once upon a time, this was my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. 3 story aquarium paired with all you can eat seafood, what more can one ask for? However, either my tastes have just grown, or they're just not trying as hard anymore. Plus it's weird to eat sushi, as you're watching it swim all around you. I almost asked the waiter to cook the sting ray swimming around, like we were at a Chinese restaurant, picking out our own fish. We came at 8:30pm on a Thursday, and got to sit at a window table, We almost lost it to another group, but I gave the host boy a little cleavage, so we were quickly seated. :) Imagine what else I could get if I had fakies! I would totally use my boobie powers for evil and not good... The seafood was great. I never got down on so much king crab leg and snow crabs. They also had sushi, sashimi, mussels, oysters, scallops, poke, octopus, and the list goes on. Everything was fresh and great. They also had a meat carving station for prime rib and I think turkey. The prime rib was over cooked, and not that great. :( Sodas were not included in the buffet price of $35/person. For 1 bottle of wine, 3 sodas, and 4 people, the bill came out to $200. After all these years, the restaurant is starting to age, and doesn't look as good as it used to. The quality of the food has gone down greatly as well. They used to have all you can eat fresh lobster, prepeeled. Yummy! It used to be free to have the diver hold a sign at your table saying "Happy Birthday" or whatever, as he was feeding the fish in front of you, but now they charge $20 for it. So sad for me to say this, but I wouldn't come back, and I wouldn't recommend it to my friends anymore. :( Hubby said the bathroom here was the ONLY place in Hawaii that he saw a COCKROACH. OMFG. Gross.
(2)n p.
I'm already biased considering buffets are not my cup of tea unless they're brunch buffets - those I can't resist. However the Oceanarium didn't fall into that category - my family decided to go here for a belated Mother's Day dinner. The buffet itself seemed a bit small, but that may have just been my impression and my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to shellfish. It had a seafood pasta station, sushi area, salads, starchier foods in the middle and a few other things along with a dessert table. I didn't try a ton of food but from the things I did eat, I didn't feel satisfied. Most disappointing was the sushi, that wasn't even cold but more room temp, didn't feel fresh at all. I found a lot of the food to be not even warm but more lukewarm, which wasn't pleasant at all. I mean not only is the food sitting out there for people to touch but it's not even sitting there at a decent edible temperature. I didn't see the need to eat more than one plate for the actual dinner part. As for the dessert - I was even more bummed out. I usually relish in the thought that I can have an endless amount of choices for dessert but this was definitely not the case. I tried a few of there "mini cakes" - the carrot cake, an almond concoction, a chocolate-cream layer cake, a raspberry mouse, a lemon meringue tartelette and an eclair. All failed to impress. A bite of each was enough to deem all of them lackluster. The almond float on the other hand was delicious and was the sole high point of the evening. That deserved a round of seconds. Overall, if an endless mountain of crab is your heaven than this might be a place to eat, but if a shellfish overload isn't something that makes your mouth water I'd say find somewhere else to dine.
(2)Sal K.
I went on Monday for their trio of crabs aka crab, crab and more crab. There was dungeness, snow and king. I also got the pineapple drink that amuses you for the first 4 seconds until you ditch it to grab some food. I feel like if you are not going for the main attraction (i.e. crab, prime rib, etc), you will be disappointed, hence the mixed reviews! It's not one of those vegas buffets that have much "fillers." As far as those selections, it's heavily disappointing. But back to the crabs, I definitely had my fill of crabs that I was craving. I accidentally poke myself with the sharp claw of the crab and few seconds later, a waiter came and asked if I wanted a bandage. They were also quick to take away the plates and refill my water. The mermaid show was slightly amusing. I guess I can say it's just as amusing as the pineapple drink with dry ice on the bottom. It's about $40-ish per person and I think highly worth it if you go for the right reasons.
(4)Gina E.
All I can say is that their breakfast buffet is to die for, and it's well worth your money. The varieties of food seemed endless to me, compared to other breakfast places that I've been to. They had a full salad and fruit bar, with yogurt to go with your fruits yum, or you could just eat it on the side. They had a corner where you could make miso soup, and toast bread or bagels. But, if you prefer a hardy meal, they serve bacon, rice, two types of scrambled eggs, corn beef hash, just to name a few. Oh, and but of course they also had a dessert table. A must try is their bread pudding and guava crepes :P
(5)Sharina N.
If you love sea food in variety this is the place to go! The aquarium is massive with gigantic sting rays! If you inform the staff before 11am a diver will dive into the gigantic aquarium and hold up a sign for your occasion (i.e. Happy Birthday). The wait staff were welcoming. Great location but wasn't too impressed with the taste of some of the food choices.
(3)Hasmik A.
Wow I never write reviews on yelp but the service was soo bad that I just still in shock. We were forced to leave after an hour. The manager named Brian shimokawa came up to my husband when I went to restroom and said that he has to live. My husband has been in US for couple months and we were visiting Hawaii. When he told the manager he doesn't speak English he didn't believe him saying that he is acting. After I came back my husband said the manager came up to him so I asked the waiter to call the manager so he did come up and he said that he is nice enough to ask us to leave because someobody else reserve the table so they we have to leave so they have the table to that party for reservation There was no time limit mentioned by staff or written anywhere whatsoever when I told him about the time limit not being mentioned the manager said if you don't leave now I will call the security on you... It was horrible being in that situation he ruined our night. When my husband was telling me things so I can translate the manager was like your husband can speak English why is he acting He also was like I am nice enough to ask you to leave and he is like ill give you 5 minutes to leave Wow he ruined our night if anyone knows where else I can complain about this please help me
(1)Frank S.
Enjoyable buffet with a 2 story salt water aquarium, mermaid. Prime rib and extensive seafood choices including king crab and sushi.
(4)Lina P.
Sunday brunch buffet is $28. Validation is $1 for 4 hours. The aquarium is a neat idea and nothing beats seeing a lady with an orange one-zy scribble 'happy anniversary" on a dry erase board inside the tank. There was mostly locals and the item of choice to eat was the snow crab and eggs benedict. Unfortunately Im not the biggest fan of either but I tried. Of the fruit the crunchy purple grapes where the best. The pies were good, and ahi poke not bad. They have an omelet station and soft serve ice cream corner. One thing I enjoyed, they had a small cheese and cracker selection which I dabbled in. Would I come here again? probably not. Would I recommend it? Only if your a snow crab lover. Today I came to terms with my fantasy of having one of those Willy Wonka experiences. Its never gonna happen and it will never be like in your dreams. If your gonna do a buffet, ShoreBirds is the best bang for your buck!
(2)Sovannary S.
This is by far my favorite restaurant on Oahu. It is a bit pricey but SOO worth it. It's a buffet, so I usually just eat until I can't anymore! The seafood is very fresh, I LOVE they're crab legs. and for some reason, the butter tastes so different..so much sweeter! I dont know? Maybe hawaiin butter is better? Yeah, sounds stupid but you'll see what I mean! The employees weren't ver accomodating, but it's a buffet... and the food is amazing so I didnt care!
(5)Anne W.
I really liked this place. I came here for dinner twice while I was in Hawaii. They have a wide selection and very good service.. plus you can watch the diver feed the fish in their gigantic fish tank.. while you eat. I would steer clear of the raw oysters.. not so great. I thought the night where king crab and lobster was the special was terrific! Also.. the roasted pig was terrific. I would try going in the middle of week instead of the weekend. You can also pick up a coupon in the day trip travel desk... but you must sit down before 6 I think. It's well worth it though.
(4)Mojojojo Y.
even though i don't really care for buffets in hawaii, this one is a good one since it has quite a variety of food and they replenish consistently. the aquarium provides a nice atmosphere and i've had nothing but stellar service from the staff here. parking structure is located next door (on the left side of the hotel) with entrances on both kuhio and liliuokalani street. i think they still provide kamaaina discount (they definitely provide seniors discount) so ask about it when you make your reservation (sorry i can't be definitive but i just went here for a party so someone else footed the bill). and they can accommodate large parties (ours was 20-something) as well.
(4)Carl G.
... Excellent!!!! Long Island Iced Teas .... a little pricy, but well, well worth it ...... indoor aquarium (hence the name) ..... diver periodically appears in the tank ...... good to great service ...... don't settle for a table bordering the aisle to the buffet ...... nice for 2-3 .... great for 5-6 people ...... if you don't leave here stuffed, it's your own fault ...... no need for reservations ..... do the buffet or nothing ......
(4)KT L.
Looked kinda weird when we entered the restaurant..but once we sat down and saw the array of food we were pleased. They had an amazing array of seafood...the dungeons crab was amazing. I had plates and plates of them. They were very meaty and tasty. Got 25% off for going early. Great price and food, especially in Hawaii.
(4)Nathan W.
Yum! Good Seafood Buffet. Lunch. Saturday, December 3, 2011. Busy, but we were seated and service was very good - nee- excellent. And friendly! The food was pretty good. Snow Crab, Boiled Shrimp, Poke, Sashimi. Good Hot Dishes. Nice Desserts. Fair selection of sushi. The only downside was the undercooked Prime Rib..verging on bloody and no discernable crust! But the mermaids and divers added a lot to the ambience!
(4)Francisco C.
A family favorite of ours! The view is amazing, the food is fresh and with lots of diversity. The staff is very friendly as well! This is our "go to" place when friends and family come from out of town.
(5)Aggie A.
One of the better buffets I've been to. Decent raw bar, with Lomi-Lomi, poke, the usual assortment of peeled shrimp, steamed mussels, and crab artichoke salad. Also have tempura shrimp and vegetables (a bit greasy), an omlette bar, king crab legs, hot entrees like pork, chicken, macadamia-crusted mahi-mahi, white and brown rice, soft-serve ice cream with lots of topping choices, two tables of desserts, including a mousse cake made of a Hawaiian fruit I cannot remember. Saturday brunch came to $100 for 2 adults and 2 seniors--they ask if there are any seniors in the party. Much better food than HS Lordship, at a comparable price...Not as good as the Sunday brunch at the La Valencia. The waiters are attentive, although the hostess was snooty and gave us a tiny table that was surely made for 2, but when we asked the waiter asked if we can change tables and it wasn't a problem. Our reservation was for 11 a.m., when it first opens, but 30 min. later it was packed. Also, while we were there, a party was celebrating someone's birthday, and a scuba diver (mermaid) got into the large fish tank in the middle and flashed the Happy Birthday sign. This caused a considerable excitement. I would definitely go there if I were in Honolulu again!
(4)Saane M.
One of the benefits of living so close to Waikiki is that when I feel like eating at a food spot, I don't hesitate to just pick up and GO. One of those food spots is my favorite buffet in Hawaii so far, the Oceanarium. The best part, as just about everyone here mentions, CRAB LEGS! No other buffet is better at this. There is a nice array of diverse selections that are pretty tasty and nothing really to gag at. However, I might not be the one to judge on everything since I don't eat prime rib or oysters. Another PLUS for me here is the unique setting. I make sure I have time before going to this place because I like to take my time and enjoy the atmosphere here. Although it is kind of ironic that I enjoy watching the sea creatures in the huge aquarium while eating a couple plates full of the same creatures. Oh well, whoever came up with the idea is a genius in my book=) Next time I go, I will make sure it will be a time when I can take in a few drinks with some booze. The drinks look great. I just haven't had a chance to try them.
(4)Bat F.
We went for lunch. $56.00 (before tip) for two adults and a five year old with non-alcoholic drinks. Ouch, but it is something of a tourist attraction with the giant aquarium in the middle of the restaurant. Some of the food selections were pretty good but oddly they were not the seafood items. The spicy garlic chicken (not spicy), tempura and braised pork were pretty good for a buffet. As far as sushi goes there were California and futomaki rolls. Not really worthy of being able to say sushi is part of the buffet. There was some sashimi (albacore, I think), in-the-shell shrimp and imitation crab seafood salad but I remember there being more seafood dishes before. I guess the lunch selection is a lot different from the dinner menu. Definitely would not recommend going here for lunch. I did give the place an extra star for having an excellent aquarium with sting rays that have learned to interact with the divers.
(3)Nikki N.
If you are Kamaaina I would go at 5:30p to get the Kamaaina discount. Plus at 6pm is when they start feeding the mantas and fish. So you get a great show and great food. I would also call to see which night you want to go because they have different things on different nights. Like some nights they have 3 different types of crabs - Dungeons, Snow, and King. The food is great, the service is great, the only thing is we were seated pretty far from the buffet area.
(4)Gil A.
I always have to stop by this buffet at least once while I'm in Honolulu. Super fresh crab legs, sashimi as good as it gets, oysters, and made to order pasta's is what brings me back. Their desserts kick ass too: red velvet cheesecake, what?! Last time we were there we just occupied the entire bar with no wait and David, our bartender, provided great service... refreshing drinks quickly, constantly replacing used plates, witty insight to different beers, and even split our bill no problem. And the place has a great view of underwater life when you're not chowing down on gigantic crab legs with drawn butter! hhmmm
(4)Brianna F.
I do not think this place was worth the money. Number one, I had a 7 pm reservation and we showed up at 6:50. The hostess told us rather rudely "we can't seat you until 7pm" I said "ok, we just wanted to check in" and she told us to basically get lost and we couldn't just wait there. Excuse me for trying to be on time. I was already annoyed. They told us we could come in and go to the bar. My husband got this pineapple drink and there were bugs flying all around it... Disgusting. After being seated at 7:20 (what on earth was the point of making a reservation?) we waited for ten minutes for someone to take our drink orders. Nothing. So we got up and got food. Half way through my first plate was the first time I was asked if I wanted a drink. The aquarium is totally depressing. All the fish are like grey lake fish and the water is lackluster. I m ean there are two sting rays but they look like they hate their lives. The only redeeming quality of this restaurant is that the food was pretty fabulous. They need to just make it a regular buffet for a cheaper price and not think they are some impressively fancy restaurant ...because its not.
(3)Hannah K.
I hate buffets because the quality of food you usually get is pretty mediocre. HOWEVER, I LOVED the Oceanarium! The all-you-can-eat steaming hot crab legs were fresh and delicious. Although the selection is not very large, what they do offer is quality and the tastiest buffet food I've ever had. Their pasta station was good, the sushi was ok, and their dessert section was pretty good. They have a frozen yogurt machine, a chocolate fountain you can dip fruit in, and all kinds of pie. Their chocolate macadamia nut pie was the best. The cherry on top is the entertainment factor. That aquarium is pretty amazing and I couldn't stop staring. Would highly recommend it!
(4)Greg R.
Excellent seafood buffet. Parking difficult. Hotel doesn't allow restaurant parking apparently.
(4)Chris R.
I love anything buffet, but this place has that extra kick and that is the aquarium situated right inside the restaurant. My 5 year old daughter loves this place. She gets to eat good food and watch the tropical fishes all at the same time. They also have a diver feeding the fish at certain time of the day. This place is pricy, but it's expected. Someone has to pay to feed the fish somehow!
(4)Shannon C.
I was there for a baby's 1st birthday yesterday afternoon. it was a first for my husband and me. We thought that the food was pretty good. There was all sorts of brunch items like an omelette station, bacon, eggs benedict, pastries, waffles and etc. They also had king crab legs, prime rib and pastas. Oh and all sorts of fruits and salads. They even had an ice cream machine for the kiddies. All the kids had a great time looking at the fishes and also the scuba diver who was feeding the fishes and he also wished the birthday boy a happy birthday with a sign. The waitstaff was also very nice and efficent.
(4)Shannon T.
I've been going here for years - the food has consistently been delicious and the staff are really friendly! The Oceanarium has a nice balance of different kinds of food that appeals to kama'aina folks. I love that the crab legs are always moist and juicy. My bf took me to Pagoda's one night and their crab legs were all dried out and hard. Totally disappointing. Anywho, the Oceanarium is my go-to place for celebrating birthdays and other special occasions. The only bummer is that it's become so popular that we have to call super early to make holiday reservations! I also think that they changed the way they do their seating, so you'd have to come in at a certain time - either time A or time B, and that's it. Other than that, I and my family love this place!
(4)T Lin L.
I should have known the food would be just as gross as the smell of the restaurant. Over priced for the nasty food served at the buffet. I was sick to my stomach after eating at this restaurant.
(1)Wade H.
I haven't been to the Pacific Beach Hotel since Shogun closed. This time, I went to the Iceanarium buffet for my work holiday party. I was pleasantly surprised with the food. We went on a Thursday so it was mostly Jpnse food. They had lots of salads - the usual - greens, cold tofu, namasu. They also had sashimi. The starch included regular rice, yakisoba noodles, california sushi and futomaki. The main dishes included shrimp and vegetable tempura, shrimp dynamite (spicy fried shrimp), butterfish, chicken katsu, roast beef, and pork. There was also fresh fruits. For dessert, there was zenzai, different cakes and pies, and almond float and soft serve ice cream. The price was reasonable at $18 and change including tax and tip. Parking was $3 with validation. The price also included, coffee, tea, fruit punch or iced tea. The hotel is rather dated and you can see it and smell it in the carpets. The Oceanarium is on the ground floor of the Pacific Beach Hotel and there is a large oceanrium with fishes and other creatures from the ocean. it's not that impressive but nonetheless is something kids can watch while eating. They have a diver go into feed the fish and stingrays. It was pretty crowded the day we went with locals as well as tourists but the lines for the buffet were short. The wait staff was busy so they didn't come around too often to take away our plates of food or maybe we were eating too fast for them since we were hungry! All in all, it was a good experience. If you are in Waikiki, check it out.
(4)Sunny D.
Over the years I come here maybe 6-7 times and always enjoy the ambiance. Watching the fish and rays is mesmerizing. The hubby and I were there for a Christmas party recently. The place was very crowded and we were seated at the far end of the restaurant so the walk was a far as you could get. The cool thing is watching the "Mermaid" who swims at 8:45 p.m. and the gal who feeds the fish! The only thing I really eat here is the crab-legs! King, Dungeness and Snow crabs! Don't know if they have all three year round but they did that night and I loved it! I hate when the crab legs are all dried out and these were pretty tender, I really didn't use the drawn butter much. Tried the spicy tuna mini sushi, yeah it was spicy but good. I took one mussel since they tend to over cook it occasionally, this time it was perfectly moist and juicy. I pretty much ignored everything else except the dessert. They had a nice array of cakes cut in bite sized pieces, even Red Velvet, though I didn't try it. I was pretty full on the crab legs so I only had a small dish of the soft serve with chocolate. All in all to food (crab legs) was delish. Just sorry that I choose not to really try much else!
(4)A J.
Ate at the Oceanarium tonight, April 28, 2010. Food was plentiful, but just average. Definitely not worth $40 per person. Pasta was good, but who can eat $40 worth of pasta? Soft drinks don't even come with your meal!! Tourist trap. Would not recommend to anyone. We had better food at the North Shore for $3 a serving from one of those trailers on the side of the road. Rent a car and go see the locals. They do it better and way cheaper.
(2)Ashley K.
Love this place.. great for families and kids- feeding the fish is pretty neat. Don't come here if you don't like seafood. No buffet is amazing, but this is the best I've found, and totally worth the $$. Check out the menu online (as it changes by day of the week) and go on a day where it's stuff you like.. ie crab legs!
(4)Ed K.
located @ the pacific beach hotel, formerly known as neptune, is Oceanarium. is a highclass hotel seafood buffet & been ma's top choice since i was baby, is the main reason why we go lol. parking is in the hotel. then u catch the elevator to the 2nd floor. call in advance to make reservations. perfect place for party such as birthday, baby shower, or if u slacking off from work (go on a weekday lunch to catch them & bring a resume lol). variety might be less than franchise buffet, but quality is tadbit better, and organized in categories: sushis, cold dishes, baked or hot dishes, deserts, crab, oyesters, primerib, larger selection of island recipes makes them unique to most buffets. would be better if there was more room in the food area for both food and people to access the food tho. area is cramped because there is so many tables and guests. space it out a littlebit. theres aquarium within the dining area which is impressive. u might not notice, the lighting is dim, exactly the same lighting as when the bar turns on the lights @145am.. are u open? are u closed? aarghh my eyees! other than those 2 criticisms, the buffet is onolicious and the hotel is located in the perfect location if u want to walk it off @ waikiki beach and international marketplace is nearby. happy birthday mama.. MAAMAA MAAMAA..=x lol SHOOTS!
(5)Brandon M.
First, the spectacle of a scuba diver in a large fish tank full of fish earns it a nice rating. Second, I always loose in a buffet because I don't eat much in one sitting, especially an expensive one, but I didn't have to pay. I met one of the locals I'm shooting a personal project for and she treated me to this cool place. The food was above average, all the customers seemed to have a wonderful time because you're eating in Waikiki next to a big fish tank and a scuba girl swims by. I recommend this place but come very hungry or you're going to loose.
(4)Diane L.
Oceanarium is famous for the acquarium wall they have so that you can watch all the fishes, stingrays, and other beautiful sea life as you dine.. (it was made famous through an episode in Full House). If you are to go, make sure you call in advance and ask about when the feeding times are and try to go during that time. During my last stay in Oahu, I came here for dinner where they only have a seafood buffet.. it was good food.. they had prime rib and crab legs.. a seafood pasta.. and lots of different desserts.. It was $35 a person, which I didn't think was overally expensive, albeit I don't think I ate enough food to hit that cost. Still - I think its an experience worth checking out at least once!
(4)Sita L.
I have been taking people here for over 20 years for the brunch. It was always good. I know they have had some money issues and I don't know if that has affected the food? I always found it to be really good. The seafood was always fresh, the prime rib was really good, salads, pies. I have to admit, I haven't been there since last year. But, again. Sunday brunch was always good.
(4)Larry L.
Fine for a seafood buffet. But they could at least try to do something different than Las Vegas Cheese.
(3)Gary P.
The last time I went to this place was back in the 70's when the top floor was called the Neptune. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that its still around and that the food and service is terrific. If you have a desire to have a "crab comma", this is THE place to go. One great benefit is that if you go on your birthday, they will give you a buy one get one free certificate and you do not have to wait until the following year to use it (unlike some of the other buffets in town). There are also early bird specials like the seating before 5:30. They do tell you that you are limited to two hours which is in extreme poor taste. I mean who really spends more than two hours at a crab buffet? Everything else including salads, entrees and deserts are good as well but understand that this is the classic buffet hook. We only had one disappointment and that was with the quality of raw fish in the sushi - it was similar to Genki s opposed to Yanagi....
(4)sky i.
My review is for their dinner service only. I came here once because I wanted to try Ostrich meat which was advertised as their special. I was a bit disappointed as the Ostrich looked and tasted EXACTLY like beef, except it was much tougher than its bovine counterpart. My jaw ached halfway through my meal and could not finish it. See, that's what happens when you try to eat meat that's 98% fat free. Meanwhile my date enjoyed her standard surf and turf, which was very good. The best part about this restaurant is their 3 story aquarium which featured several stingrays and small sharks. Furthermore, for special occasions, a diver will display messages in the tank for any table willing to pay a little extra.
(4)Joel C.
On vacation to Hawaii and I'm thinking "boy I bet they have some good buffets out here!" Unfortunately I wouldn't know because I happened to go to this here buffet for dinner. Most reviews here say its absolutely great--------untrue. I literally just left there less than 30 minutes ago and I still can't believe I paid 90 bucks for a dinner of two. Well let's get to the nitty, gritty. The dining room is quite nice, good atmosphere, typical buffet style set-up. I happened to get some roasted potatoes, prime rib, and some other sides that I can't remember. All were tasteless and pretty overdone. The desserts were terrible. Cheap mousses, frozen yogurt and some really bad peach cobbler. The only plus to this buffet is the plentiful salad bar, the ton of crab legs, and the service which is exceptional. The waiters work their behinds off making sure that you are taken care of. Unfortunately you can see that they're all overworked, their slacken faces depicting fake smiles give you the feeling that they just wanna go home. This place reminded me of home town buffet in the California, minus the crab legs but four times the price. I would not recommend going here.
(2)Danielle Y.
Three words: Crappy Breakfast Buffet. Ugh. I was So Excited! to see some fish swimming around while I ate breakfast, and the fish did not disappoint. I personally am a bit in love with the biggest sting ray. He's a cutie. The service was great, but the food! I was soooo sad. They even had turkey bacon, which should have made it an Anumber1 experience, but...meh. And 17.95 of meh. Everything was just a little bit cold, and though the fruit selection was nice, everything else felt super lacking. I could have spent way less, had better food, but missed out on the fish.
(2)Rachel L.
Popped in for dinner on a Saturday night because we heard about the "Restaurant with the aquarium view". After keeping my body fit and toned for Waikiki Beach I figured it'd be safe to indulge my last night in Honolulu since I'd be flying back to California in Jeans at a T-shirt the next morning. So can you believe that I called in at 11am Saturday morning and the first available dinner reservation was for 8:30pm? I thought to myself, "Wow.. they seem busy, maybe the food really IS that good". It was our last night in Waikiki so we figured we'd spend the afternoon at the beach, work up our appetite and then get ready for dinner. Not to sound picky but the aquarium itself wasn't at all impressive. Only interesting sea creatures worth "oohing" and "aahing" at were the various sting and batrays. Other than that the fish were "so-so". The buffet selection wasn't impressive either. Complete let down! Their wannabe sushi was bland and nothing more than shrimp surrounded by rice. Fail!!! Their selection of food was limited to a pasta station where a chef would customize your plate of pasta, various salads that looked like they had sat out too long and a few other meet trays that were either dried out from sitting out too long or a sloppy mess because people picked all of the decent pieces out. Their prime rib station I didn't bother trying because all of the pieces they were carving out were Flinstone size. Remember that scene at the beginning credits where the car tips over once the food is brought to them? yeah.. it's that big at the buffet. Our waiter was no where to be seen after we ordered our drinks. Thank goodness for our bus-boy who continued to clear our plates. We went through the crab but that was about it. After our 3rd plate I was sick of the seafood smell surrounding me. Not to mention I was watching Nemo and Dori swim by ever other minute which made me feel bad for eating the steamed fish. Only highlight was that my daughter had a blast and was entertained while we sat and tried to have a decent dinner. Didn't realize we got 25% of our check because it was Saturday night. Apparently there are other discounts given depending on the night. Check the website and book ahead! Oh.. one last thing.. so what really pissed me off was I ordered a diet soda which they served me in a tall fancy glass filled with ice. After I finished my first glass I asked our waiter for a refill. He charged me another +$2 for my refill. He said, "yeah.. we have to charge you!" WTF? I pay for a buffet so I can eat everything in sight but I'm charged every time I want a soda? Well dangit maybe I wouldn't need to ask for a refill if my first soda wasn't packed with ice!
(2)Sean V.
The food was okay, nothing to write home (or on Yelp) about. The setting though was great. We took our five-year-old there for lunch and she was mesmerized by the giant fish tank. It was a pleasant, quiet place when we were there and a nice break from the noise and bustle outside. The prices, like anyplace else in Waikiki, were a little high for what we got.
(3)Brandon Z.
ALL YOU CAN EAT!!! Very good for the hungry person. No need to wait for your food to arrive - You arrive to your food! Food varies from day-to-day menu, but some are always on menu: Sushi Prime rib Snow crab legs various dessert One of the best things is the aquarium. You could enjoy your food while watching fish swimming around and eating too! Great for family occasions and outings.
(4)Javier D.
Do my eyes deceive me? Is that a 3-story fish tank in my restaurant? No, and yes. I love fish, they are beautiful creatures. I love the way they swim out of the water and onto my plate. They offer themselves with a wink and a smile saying, "Eat me, I will now descale and lie quietly on this bed of lettuce with my friends rice and crab leg. We love you Javier." As I sloppily make my way through plate after plate of the freshest seafood I have experienced in my life, I am not distracted by the diver in the fishtank who is feeding the 10' long Spotted Eagle Ray. No I'm not. I can only think that just yesterday the fish I'm eating now was saying goodbye to its family and felt complete in knowing that he would serve the purpose of filling my already swollen tourist belly. This is what heaven tastes like little fishy. Heaven. Buffet at the Oceanarium -----$35. 3 Courvoisier served in a warm snifter--- $30. Having the airline pay for it all because they can't be bothered to tell you they canceled your flight -------Priceless
(5)Kelly A.
My kids are 2.5 and 4 and loved the surrounding and were quiet in their seats for most of the time. The sting ray was so beautiful and the cashier, waiter, photographer were all very polite and professional. The diver show was just *okay*. We went on a Monday at 8:30pm and it was busy but not too busy. The mermaid show was a bit strange. She didn't do very much throughout the show except go back up to get a breaths of air. She looked great but the moment we could take a picture was when she needed to swim back up. We stayed focus on the diver instead. It would have almost been a better show if the mermaid were in a diver's suit, I think. Still, this was a good change in venue for us in Hawaii. Very cute place. Loved the buffet! :)
(5)Vanessa N.
Place is clean and the food is fresh. I also like how they are so attentive to the customers there. Water is refilled, plates taken, food is hot and new food is constantly coming out. My daughter loved the diver who while we were eating was feeding the fish in the big tank.
(5)Sheri M.
Food: It was okay...nothing special. Service: Bad, bad, bad. The reception area don't receive you properly, no smile...nothing. They didn't even have us on their reservation list, luckily I took down the name of the guy I made reservations with. The waiter we had should not be working there, he disappeared and came back 45 minutes later with the bill. I wouldn't recommend anyone to come here unless they have a free meal. I'll stick with Shogun...that's another review.
(1)Mary M.
Went here at 4:30 to fill our tummys before the 6 hour plane ride home. The food was awesome and table service was great. Minus 1 star for the staff not doing anything when this french lady was bitching me out for not taking care of these 3 kids that I didn't even know. (The kids were running around everywhere and they were asian so the lady assumed they belonged to me even though I'm 21 but look 16 and the kids were like 8 years old!!!)
(4)Kristen C.
Came here for sunday brunch around 1130 and the place was packed, we had a group of 8 and they told us we would have to wait an hr OR we could get the last 2 tables but we would be split because we were already hungry. Buffet selection is typical, you have your prime rib waffles, eggs benedict, bacon, eggs, omelet station, and yes...crab legs! They had only 2 selections of sushi, california or futo maki. The eggs benedict was good but there was no canadian bacon underneath! only mushrooms, which I dont mind at all, but come on...im paying for this? lol. They also had a chicken sausage which was good and a shrimp, baby scallop and mussel thing in a tomato broth/sauce. They have your usual fruit bar and the dessert bar was nothing special. There was guava mousse cake, a cheesecake with a carrot cake "crust", some mini petit fours, a weird looking pumpkin pie, some haupia cake. The best thing was the bread pudding. I was really looking forward to the soft serve ice cream station too but nope, when I went for my dessert it wasnt working, some kid in front got the last swirl =(...i knew I should have had my dessert first lol. Overall, it was just a-ok. i have yet to find a buffet that WOWs me.
(3)Rei H.
Mediocre food. The worst was spoiled Dungeness crabs smelled like ammonia. I notified a waiter but he only said "oh really..." and left. He didn't seem to talk to manager. Nothing was done, I saw the tray still there at a serving table when I went for another plate. Looks like everyone gets 25% off for dinner. Only cool thing about this place is the aquarium by the tables.
(1)Elle B.
Had the lunch buffet to celebrate a relative's visit to Hawaii. If you couldn't tell already by the giant floor to ceiling aquarium that makes you look like you're dining at SeaWorld this place is a real tourist trap. The lunch buffet is pretty cheap. At $17++ that's a bargain these days given that it's Waikiki and that a so-so plate lunch is gonna run you about $10. However the quality of the food is definitely correlated to the buffet price. Decent salad bar and lots of fresh seasonal fruits. Tiny shrimp cocktail. Marlin (not Ahi) sashimi, somewhat ricey maki sushi, boring hot entrees, and unexciting desserts. Best thing was the lau lau (which I have a feeling was outsourced). A few things not related to the food really bugged me and degraded my perception of the buffet. First the bartender was cutting pineapple straight out of the case and left the empty boxes on a wagon in front of the bar (prep station anyone?). Second, buffet runners were servicing the buffet on nasty looking plastic carts which almost are an insult to whatever effort was made to set up an attractive spread. Made me feel like I was at a turn and burn chinese buffet. Lastly service broke the experience for me. Our server had no aloha whatsoever. Looking around I could sense the same lack of care and attention to detail by other servers. It is NEVER okay for a server to count tips at the table which made me want to tip down drastically from 20%... Don't know whether its the terrible economy or the ongoing labor struggle with management, its regrettable that they forget who actually pays their paycheck!
(2)Niesha M.
The food is nothing special here, but three stars goes to the huge aquarium and all the interesting fish!
(3)Jennifer H.
Oh hell-yea! This place is def worth it... Go for your Birthday and get a buy one get one free gift certificate. They have roast duck, prime rib, crab legs, salmon, laulau, chirashi,poke, shirimp tempura and the best dang chocholate sauce to go with your strawberries. i like how they get beautiful girls to swim in the tank to feed the fish in the giant fish tank . Always a hit at this buffet. Just save room for that Chocholate sauce I'm telling you it's the best i ever had.
(5)Tara F.
I don't understand the terrible reviews. Yesterday for my birthday we were thinking of places to celebrate. My friend told us to try Oceanarium. I wasn't going to go because of the bad reviews on yelp that said the food was terrible, pricey and the aquarium is boring. First of all, if you go from 4-5:30 its only about $25! I really wanted crab and sushi so this was the right choice! Awesome, huge snow crab and very fresh sushi, all you can eat for $25. That in itself made it worth going here. Anywhere else we looked it was about $24 for a few crab legs and fries. We must have eaten like $50 worth of crab not to mention the sushi. Also, I love my poke so this made it well worth it. They have a pretty good fish selection, shell fish, a pasta station, huge roasted pig, sashimi, prime rib and a bunch of other things. The aqurium was a really great part of it and fun to look at. Don't listen to other reviews and try this place- at least during happy hour. $25 was very much worth it if you like to eat crab and sushi!
(4)CJ C.
I won a gift certificate at a silent auction for a buffet dinner for 2 to Oceanarium. My memory of this restaurant is that it had a bountiful selection with many tasty items. Came here Friday and all my dining companion and I could think was how far this had gone downhill. It was SO disappointing. The prime rib was, in a word, tough. The crab selection that night was Jonah crab claws, snow crab and Dungeness crab. Only the Dungeness crab had some flavor, and, of course, you had to dig for the morsels. Sushi offering was meh. The cooked to order pasta with seafood looked promising, but the shrimp and scallops in my dish had NO FLAVOR and mushy texture. Bland stuff--no flavor, no texture. It was a sad night for me when the best items were the ciabatta which you toasted yourself (nice touch) and mashed potatoes. It's a good thing that I donated the money to charity when I picked up this certificate. If I had to pay $38.95 each for that dinner, I would have been ticked! The servers, at least, were good about clearing our plates and keeping our beverages filled. They worked hard and were pleasant. Hate to see a local restaurant like this fall so far off the mark. Two stars because the servers were nice and the fish in the tank were pretty.
(2)J K.
Not a fan of the buffet. Lots of seafood, but nothing great. Not worth the price. Service was okay. I don't like buffets that give you a time limit. Seems like it defeats the purpose of a buffet.
(2)Wendy C.
Dont go there. This place has edible food, but nothing spectacular or special. The big tank is dirty, and no mermaid swims arround during designated times. The service is slow. We arrived a few minutes early to our reservation, and even though there was an available table, they didnt let us in and insisted that we wait. When time comes, they gave us a crappy little table by the entrance. During reservation, we already explained that we want a table close to the tank. The food is mediocre. The price to food ratio is very high. Overall, it is not worth spending $37/person to eat a whole bunch of really just mediocre food and deal with horrible service. Dont trust those pictures. The place is really run down and and needs serious remodeling.
(1)Jamie Q.
My aunt took my family and I here for the dinner buffet. At first glance, this buffet blew my mind. I can't remember the last time I went to a buffet and saw king crab legs, prime rib, ahi poke, and other seafood dishes offered at the same place. Yet after literally trying all the food, there is no one dish that can be called memorable. Don't get me wrong, it's good. Just not great. The restaurant is a nice place. Its in a hotel located in Downtown Waikkiki and it has a circular aquarium in the middle complete with tropical fish and rays. Nice touch, I say.
(3)Leigh N.
My friend and I were staying the weekend in Waikiki and as a last minute idea decided on going to brunch. We tried to get reservations at the Halekulani but they were booked so we ended up here. The food while not outstanding, was not horrible either. The servers were attentive and helpful. There's lots to choose from, an omelet station, prime rib, crab legs, salads, fruit, waffles with all the toppings, some other entrees and desserts too. The cost of brunch for 2 people here is probably the same as what you'd pay for one person at the Halekulani. Bonus here is the giant fish tank. It's very relaxing to watch those fish. Like being at the Waikiki Aquarium only better since you get to eat while you watch the fishes!
(4)Emiko T.
Oceanarium was crowded on New Years Eve, and though I made a reservation, we still waited over 20 minutes to get a table next to the aquarium, which, trust me people, is only worth waiting for if you have kids who'd love nothing more than to sit next to the fishies. Only THEN you may wait for a seat next to the tank. I almost thought they forgot about us. The REAL reason you're there is for the food, right?? So, let's get down to it. My two favorite dishes were the Portuguese seafood stew with yummy sausage, scallops and shrimp and the infamous crab legs. All you can eat crab legs, and if you went there to eat nothing else but that and dessert, I'd say you're set. Price definitely matches Waikiki wallet-zapping establishments, but for a fun treat to indulge and bust your diet, this is a pretty good place. Not to mention, there are a ton of dessert options, making a sweet-tooth like me hard to stay away from that side of the buffet. The strawberries for the fondue were HUGE and they had lots of little cakes to choose from. Though I have fond things to say about Oceanarium, I probably wouldn't go back right away just in case I ever find another buffet with even more seafood and a lower price.
(4)Jeff H.
We stumbled upon this restaurant after a long relaxing day at the beach. The stingrays in the huge 3-story tank caught our attention, so we decided to check it out. We then realized it's actually a seafood buffet restaurant. So we're starving and tired anyway, so we gave it a whirl. I tried every thing there, but nothing really stuck out. The food was fulfilling. Afterward, we ordered drinks and just chilled out in front of the huge aquarium. It's a quaint place if you're just looking for something quiet with live fishies.
(4)Tiffany M.
Went there for lunch around 12 and there only a few other groups there so we got to sit right next to the tank. They have one huge sting ray, two small ones and fish. The prices are very decent for Hawaii and the Mahi Mahi was the best I have had so far. My husband also loved his burger. Great place to bring our of town guests.
(5)Su Y.
this place is actually good. they have happy hour from 4:30-5:30, 20% off. and for cinco de mayo 25% off. so normally it's $35/person. they usually have steaks, fish, warm crab legs, sashimi, sushi, salads, made to order seafood pastas, and a large array of deserts. plus the aquarium is a plus. something to look at while eating. the service is great too. so definitely check it out during happy hour. bc $35 seems a little to high during regular hours.
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