Kona Grill is known for its award-winning sushi and cocktails, but neither of those won my heart the way that their appetizers and entrees did. I know, I'm shocked too. If you've never tried Kona Grill before, make sure you order the following when you finally make the trip:
Best Appetizer: Seared Sea Bass Sliders
The last time I had a fish slider it was from White Castle and it was... not... my favorite. Kona Grill does the fish slider right by taking miso sea bass and slathering it with miso aioli, topping it with furikake, and putting it on toasted Hawaiian rolls. It's light, delicate, and makes me never want to go back to a beef slider.
Best Cocktail: Saké Sangria
If you love lychee, this cocktail is for you. It reminded me of lychee jelly cups from my childhood—sweet with a mix of grape and pear flavor. The awa yuki sparkling sake is similar to a prosecco but a bit creamier. If the flavor doesn't intrigue you, the color will. It's gorgeous!
Best Salad: Sweet & Bleu Salad
This is a first for me: A salad beat all of the sandwiches in the second round of our taste test. Topped with grilled honey crispy apples, applewood bacon, and large hunks of bleu cheese, it has that crispy, fruity, and savory trifecta you need in a salad. The buttermilk dressing is put on heavy handed, so ask for it on the side if you like to choose your own adventure.
Best Entree: Macadamia Nut Chicken
I would come back just for this entree. The shoyu cream is the perfect blend of salty and creamy and the chicken is thin and crispy. It's the Hawaiian version of the Italian chicken parmesan and I can't get enough of it.
Best Sushi Roll: Picasso Roll
There are SO many rolls to choose from at Kona Grill (fun fact: they have over 30 types of sushi!) that it almost feels unfair choosing one. But if you can only get one, choose the Picasso roll. It's beautiful on the outside and tastes incredible on the inside. The spicy yellowtail mix, avocado, jalapeño, and cilantro make this a bright and light roll. It has a bit of heat thanks to the togarashi and sriracha but that's what the sakes for, right? P.S. Skip the soy sauce and stick with the yuzu ponzo.
Best Dessert: Carrot Cake
Another unheard of for me is giving a carrot cake the crown. Between the three layers of carrot cake and three layers of cream cheese frosting, I found love in a hopeless place. The pineapple, toasted walnuts, and caramel make you (almost) forget there's carrots in there.
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Julia is the director of video at Delish. Previously, she worked on Food Network's Snapchat team as their "try" girl: trying new products and bizarre diets on the market. Currently she oversees the video team where content lives on YouTube, TikTok, onsite, Snapchat, and Facebook. She's also previously a host of the hit series "Julia Tries Everything" where she goes to top chain restaurants in America and finds her favorite menu items.
