Islands is the restaurant where you go with someone who isn't adventurous. Decent food and prices. My favorite burger is the Veggie Maui on wheat with fries. The service is pretty consistent and there hasn't been much of a wait, the times I have been there.
(3)
J.P. B.
I've been a fan of Islands and their burgers for some time now. As the years have gone, they've added more variety of burgers... but I still go for my old favorites, the Hawaiian or the Maui. The cheddar fries are great for sharing. I also like the fact that you can substitute the burger patties and have a Turkey burger instead. This particular location is right inside the Pasadena Paseo, right across of the Arclight Theater. For the most part its clean and getting seats hasn't been a problem. Service is a hit or miss. Had come here and had great service on one visit. On another visit, they person just looked lost/nervous and had often forgotten to refill our drinks. So while the service is up in the air, I'm only really concerned with the quality of the burgers, which hasn't disappointed me in the years I've been coming here.
(4)
Christina C.
The bad: - Don't get the soup. Came lukewarm. Cheese not even melted. Tastedlike canned soup. - bottom bun came super soggy--lettuce must not have been dried enough. - slow@$$ service. Husband ordered a second beer--didn't come for almost 20 minutes before the server realized he never received it. Also we asked for a refill on the fries. Again, didn't arrive until way later. Never asked me for refill on the endless soup (which I would've loved to let them know just how disgusting that soup was, so no thank you, I do not want a refill). - burger meat wasn't medium rare like requested. I didn't see a tinge of pink at ALL. The good: - chicken burger was super juicy. - top hamburger bun was a nice buttery crisp - fries were crispy, love the skin - nice selection of tea that they provide you with So while it is a 2-star review, we'd probably be back still for the fries and probably the generously-sized burger. Service just wasn't top-notch.
(2)
Kathy A.
I was just here Wednesday night yesterday for my first time with out double dates and I am completely satisfied the Christmas looking light made the atmosphere a little different but I loved the tables that look like surfboards, I almost took them home, it's very surf like, beach crest like, and perfect lighting, since I don't like office bright lights. The wait was a little long, but our conversations were so great we were. Carried away, definately worth a wait like this, I had the Hawaiian burger, BLEW MY MIND!. I also liked the fact that the fries were unlimited and that was all the boys kept talking about on the way there x) parking is tough to find so land on a weekday. Great customer service making sure no one had allergies as well!
(5)
Grace C.
I wish I could have given this a 5, but my experience didnt feel like a 5. Starting from the beginning, the guy at the front desk forgot to put down my name (which I was fine with, since he remembered us and he seemed new); however, the girl replaced him, while we were waiting, assumed we were with another group of people - she was going to seat another couple when we came in first until the guy from before mentioned my friend and I were a separate party. Maybe it's just me, but I really dont like it when people make assumptions. Anyways, the waiters were super friendly and nice - the one who took our order joked around with us, which was a nice change from just "what would you like? That's all? We'll be right back", and I asked them to lower the blinds since the sun was all up in my face (I believe we ate around 4pm, hence the sun) and they didn't stall or anything, they immediately went to close the blinds. Onto the food! It wasn't my first time at islands, so I already knew what I wanted. However, I was somewhat disappointed with their endless fries and burger. The bottome bun of my burger was sort of too hard to bite into (but it might also be because I had recently changed the wire for my braces), and my endless fries contained some really burnt pieces of fries and the portion seemed to have decreased from the last time I swung by here. Overall, I still like to come here for their mushroom burger (I totally forgot the name of it, lols).
(4)
Melody J.
I think the staff could have been a little friendlier than they were, but the food was great. The waiter & greeter were a little standoffish but brought us what we needed in a timely manner.
(3)
Lauren R.
I really like this place, and this location in particular. Yes it's a chain, which I normally like to avoid, but I've always found their food to be very good and I've always experienced excellent service. I've been here twice. The first time I got just their basic cheeseburger and endless fries, and the second time I got the fish tacos. The burger was solid. Not "Holy Amazeballs this is the best burger EVER" solid, but "Great job for producing a totally decent burger for a chain restaurant" solid :) And the fries are yummy. The fish tacos, however, were deliiiicious. I particularly loved whatever sauce came on the tacos. I squeezed the provided lime over the tacos and it made it so well balanced. Definitely getting those again the next time I'm there. I always come during my lunch hour on weekdays, and I always managed to get there just after 12:00pm, well before the really heavy lunch rush. So I'm not sure how having an extremely full restaurant affects the service, but my service has always been great. I've always been seated immediately and greeted by my server within seconds and attentively checks on me throughout the meal. The food comes out in good time and I can always get my check quickly as well. One major downside though. Ladies in heels: BEWARE. Since I always come in here during the workday, I pretty much always have heels on. Which don't exactly provide the best traction if you're walking on anything more slick than a sidewalk. The floors in this restaurant are SLIP-PER-YYY. I don't think I've made it more than a dozen steps into the restaurant without feeling one of my feet slip out from under me, and then I have to tippie toe on the balls on my feet while walking so I can keep my weight forward and not slip again LOL. But I'm definitely coming back! And perhaps packing a pair of flats for the occasion...
(4)
Amy T.
Good food and service. Noting extraordinary. But predictably good. Their endless fries is a pretty good deal and service is decent.
(3)
Leo C.
"Cowabunga!" Where else can you enjoy tasty burgers and watch surfing videos. I've been coming to Islands restaurants for years. The burgers are tasty, prices are affordable and you get friendly service. It's a laid back casual environment with cool Hawaiian beach decor. Fun place to enjoy fresh, delicious food with friends and family. I like coming to the Pasadena location for lunch cause it's close to work. Lunch time is usually crowded so instead of waiting for a table I sometimes eat at the bar. Great attentive service and you get to sit in front of two 46in flat screen TVs. Surfing videos on one side and NFL football on the other. How cool is that! Islands is known for great tasty burgers, my favorites are Point Break and Mavericks burgers. I ordered mine on a wheat bun with apple-wood smoked bacon or Island Reds(crispy fried red onion). Both so juicy and amazing served with their endless island fries. Island fish tacos are also good. The crispy fish with chipotle-white sauce and pico de gallo is so flavorful and excellent. Make sure to accompany that with their island brown ale for a perfect island meal. Happy Hour is also awesome and a great deal. Tues,Wed,Fri 4pm-7pm and Mon-Thurs 4pm-closing. Beer - $2.95, Tropical Drinks - $4.25 and Wine $3.95 I definitely be back, especially for happy hour. Parking at Paseo /with 90 minute validation
(4)
Ana B.
Quicker service @ the bar when in a Rush, great drinks, awesome fries. For lowcarbers ask for the protein platter.
(5)
W.D. M.
Came here with the lady. All of the staff members were friendly and very helpful. Our waiter was nice and efficient. We ordered dessert to go. I've had it before so I know it's going be good when we get home.
(4)
Rebecca T.
ONLY FOR DRINKS The Tropical Breeze is a refreshing drink for hot summer days. My drink was quite strong, fruity and not too sweet. I enjoyed it. However, my friend's pina colada was pretty disgusting as they put very little alcohol and excessive coconut cream in the drink making it like a thick dessert than a drink! I guess it really depends on whether you have a good or bad bartender that day. But this is probably a good place in Pasadena if you want a tropical drink in the summer! They have a few tables outside the restaurant, which is tucked into the corner, and you could only see people walking up and down the stairs and coming in and out of the elevator, which makes it not too interesting to people-watch while sipping your drinks. So, just keep talking to your friends!
(2)
Jeannette G.
The Maverick burger with bottomless fries is great! Their happy hour is one of the better ones out there too. $2.95 for a beer is not bad at all. The staff is always nice and accommodating to requests such as additional salsa, etc. Having chatted with the manager about the Islands specialty brews, I learned that Firestone brews their IPA - pretty cool.
(4)
M M.
Stopped here after shopping... expected a quick bite to eat on the way home. Well.. staff was a bit non chalant for my taste. Took quite a bit for a server to take acknowledge or take my order. The food was ok. I ordered the "classic" no cheese and an iced tea. The rave is the all you can eat french fries.. they only put a few on your plate so I guess you have to keep asking.. (Not!!) No repeat, here.
(3)
Peter C.
It had been a really long time since I visited Islands, so Mrs. C and I decide to take a break from cooking and go out for dinner. The menu has definitely been updated and expanded. The prices are a little bit higher, but fries are included so I think it averages out to be the same. I got the Malibu burger, and was VERY happy. Bacon so large it's hanging off the sides, American cheese is nicely melted, tomatoes and lettuce are cool (not room temperature), but the bun is warm. While the Counter offers a bazillion combinations, I actually prefer this style of choosing from 8 or 10 menu burgers. The only downer was that the fries on my tray seemed to have a lot of the ends, which had about zero taste and of course get overcooked as the normal french fries get cooked properly. Our server, tho, happily got us some new ones, and the service was the star of tonite's dining out. Heather got our drinks and THEN got me refill on my iced tea without me having to wave her down. I was staring at an empty mug and about to test my mind-control ability to melt ice, when she sets a refill right in front of me. Thanks! Our runner dropped off the food and about a minute later, Heather checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking. I love it when servers check on you right away, rather than you finding out there is something wrong with your order and then having to wait 10 minutes to explain it. I also saw what looked like manager walking the floor, chatting up customers and making sure people were happy. It was nice to see them do that, rather than hide somewhere in the back. We landed on $30 for 2 people, with tip included. Gordon Biersch might be my current favorite burger and fries place, but it's kind of not even a fair fight with those weapons-of-mass-destruction garlic french fries they serve. But Islands is a not-too-shabby second place and it's closer to my part of town, so it's nice to have a choice.
(3)
Laura S.
Busy place. Good lunch deal. $7.99 deal KP gets discount on regular meals. SERVICE: I've gotten attitude from a waiter before. So I'm not cool with someone being sarcastic with me. Not cool. This place is busy very often. Not worth waiting tho... I'd rather wait at Pie N Burger. At least the ladies are really nice there (but they only take CASH ONLY there). FOOD: The lunch specials are ok but good deal. Bottomless fries are good. LOCATION: Found in Paseo Parking free for two hours validation underground Lots of shopping nearby Near Arclight Overall... not worth the attitude I got.
(1)
Sima P.
We came in at 7:45. It's not 8:23 still haven't received our order. I've been here multiple times, but today they are exceptionally slow.
(2)
Joelle G.
Ok, so as a last minute meal before heading to the airport to come back home, ended up at this cute, applebee-esque restaurant in Pasadena. I like my non-chain places like whoa, but applebee's does have good drinks, and this place did as well, yeah! The appetizers and some entrees during their happy hour were under $5 and they usually go for $8-11, so we had a great meal deal going. Buzzed and happy, is there any other way to be?
(4)
Neil G.
First time at Islands and I have to say it did not disappoint. I came here with a few friends after finding out that the restaurant next door has an hour and a half wait time! NO WAY! so, since we really wanted to get some grub before watching a movie, we decided to go to Islands. A hawaiian tropical theme will greet you as you enter this place, friendly receptionist awaits and will seat you so that you can get comfy while waiting for your assigned server. A very nice gentleman with a very interesting name (so interesting and unique that it did not register in my brain *grin) helped us get our order going. I will review the food based on what I had and service experience. I have to say, Their Kilauea burger almost made me dance the hula! It was wonderfully done, cooked as requested. The juicy medium rare patty was nicely seasoned together with some jalapeno slices that really gives it an extra pow! It really satisfied my burger cravings. The never ending fries was a really cool touch too but seriously? Can you really eat more than a whole platter of fries with a giant burger and an ice cold bottle of New Castle? ( that's really asking for indigestion my dear lol) It was a good simple dinner, nothing fancy, laid-back and relaxed. A few big screen to your left and right with entertaining scenes of surfing and beach life around the globe. This joint successfully delivered what they are trying to sell, a relaxed fun under the sun burger joint with delicious food and friendly service. Surf's up dude!
(4)
Ross V.
You know... back in the day I would go to islands and the hamburger patties were thick and juicy. That was over 2 years ago... Now they're thin?? Wow Minus two stars for that !!
(3)
Blair F.
Sometimes the service sucks but the foods pretty good.
(3)
Jason R.
I like the burgers here....ice tea is delicious too...never much of a wait friendly staff and great place...salads are good and deserts great...
(5)
Peggy Y.
Today's review's based on my 2 times experience. Food is very average. I think I enjoyed my bf's friend's side of fries more than any entrees. Everything looks better than it taste. I ordered the Nachos and the chips were way too crispy (it tastes like they have been deep fried for too long? Don't know if that make any sense). My bf ordered the Chicken wrap which was ok but a little on the dry side to me. Didn't try my brother's sliders but they looked mediocre. I am a picky eater, and not a big fan of chain restaurants including fast food (McD is an exception but I rarely eat there either). With that said, I must say the service was friendly, our waiters and manager were attentive. We were only impatient because we had to catch a movie but for the most part she came to check up on us 3 times. To me it's a little overboard because I like to be left alone unless I need my water refilled. But I think for others they would appreciate it. Wait was only 15-20 mins on a Saturday night. A lot of people ordered tacos and the endless fries. I know I probably should go with the burger but with my recent attempted diet I decided to skip on that. The salad looked pretty good though from the other table and a huge portion too. Tab came out to be $40 including tax a trip, no alcohol, 1 smoothie. I wish there were more options around but I strictly came here because of convenience. Will to eat elsewhere before coming to the movies next time.
Islands food is usually good, just not at this Island in Paseo Colorado. I ordered fish tacos. The fish was not seasoned well and the sauce was tasteless. My tortillas were uncooked and cold. The waitress delayed following up to service (refills, etc)
(1)
Raymond F.
Beer is cold. Menu is okay Service was a wave (some highs, some lows), overall okay
(3)
Benjamin C.
Way back in the day I used to really not like islands because you had to buy the fries separately. Now you get them with your burger. The fries are my favorite part of islands. I usually order the teriyaki burger with pineapple which is tasty, but I try to fill myself up with the fries.
(3)
Dave H.
Tasty onion rings. Booze. Decent burger patties. Met at Islands in Old Town Pasadena for dinner. For those who don't know, there are many Islands (!) on the West coast. It wasn't crowded for a Saturday, and we only had to wait ten minutes to sit. Their bar wasn't too full, just the booths. Speaking of the bar, draft and bottled beer are available, and light, fruity froufrou drinks, too. Islands is apparently known for their hamburgers, so I tried one. A friend recommended their Hawaiian burger ($9.49). The patty (cooked medium) was topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, Swiss, and mayo, along with a slice of pineapple and teriyaki sauce. I asked for white bread, and got a scary, flaky McDonald's-esque bun. Thankfully, the patty was nice and moist. The teriyaki was strong and surprisingly sweet. Server Thomas checked on us frequently, and was good at up-selling (thanks for my fellow diner for uttering the word) - we even gave our compliments to his manager. I love Islands's gimmick of endless fries - how many can you really eat? - but try replacing fries with onion rings: endless crunchy, tasty rings? I'll be doing that next time!
(4)
Vanessa P.
I've always heard about islands and how good it was so today I tried it for the very first time and all the hype was true! The Maui Burger is amazing, especially if you're a guacamole lover. The spinach and artichoke dip was just as good too. And to top it off the service was excellent. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Charlie C.
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(1)
Martino B.
good service; food is awesome. cool servers . inexpensive and filling. however the food does take a while, and there are no wall plug ins which seems kinda ridiculous for a restaurant. however other than that everything is pretty cool
(4)
Trinh L.
Good service, good price for burgers. They were so good ! & endless fries what a deal ! The drinks are so good ! There strawberry lemonade are soo good & to die for. Would love to come back again
(5)
David C.
Decent burgers at decent prices. The portions are well-rounded, and you can pretty much get as custom as you want when it comes to toppings. There is always a wait on weekends, and the service is often subpar because they seem to be short on hands. PROTIP: Try the guac in your burger, you won't regret it.
(3)
Oliver K.
How fucking hard is it to NOT put a fucking lime in my drink? God damn simpletons! A gin and tonic, no lime. Is that so fucking hard? Apparently the crew here can't handle such a complicated request. Idiots!
(1)
Samuel B.
Just want to point out for the record that in addition to their delicious burgers, Islands' serves some tasty tacos too. This revelation struck me over the weekend when I came to this location with a friend. Highly recommend the Yaki tacos (diced chicken in a soft taco with lettuce, teriyaki sauce, pineapples, and other ingredients too - very good) or the Island Fish tacos (fried fish in a soft taco too with lettuce, spicy sauce, lemon, and other ingredients - yum). Island's also has other taco selections. Any order of three tacos should fill you up easily. Also recommend their cheddar fries with bacon and sour cream as a starter too. Having these tacos with an ice cold IPA while watching some NCAA basketball games on one of their many plasma tvs, truly felt like being on a paradise island. Service was great too. Enjoy!
(4)
Chauntel B.
Love it here for drink and fries.. Burgers are decent and its a great place fro kids. I love ordering the fish bowl drink! :)
(3)
Preston W.
Food is pretty good. The bad part about Islands is the service. It is either pretty good or it is bad. I always enjoy going to this restaurant. I love their shakes here. The burgers here are pretty good. I also like their Tiki Tenders. I chose 3/5 stars because this place isn't my favorite but it's not that bad besides the service
(3)
Kat K.
I really like Islands. I really want to like this Islands, but something always happens to keep me from 4-star liking it. Most often it's slow service or just lackadaisical attitude, but last weekend the boyfriend got splashed with unfinished cheese sauce from another table after a busser dropped one of his dishes right by our table. Poor server was probably flustered but really, ew. In any case, here are some food recommendations despite their inconsistent service: Cabo Loco Tacos if you're not in the mood for burger Hawaiian Burger just because I like sweet and pineapples in my food Kilauea if you're in the mood for SPICEH Cheese Fries, and ask for bacon Also, this restaurant gets busy in random waves but I never had to wait more than 15-20 min for a table.
(3)
James d.
Everyone knows what this place is about. If you feel like having a burger this place will do the trick. The 5 stars aren't about the food though, it's about the great service me and my lady just received here. Kai (I think that's how it's spelled) was on point. He was entertaining, quick, friendly, and accurate with the orders. Everything you could ask for in a server. Thanks again Kai.
(5)
Angela M.
If you're craving a fat, juicy burger, then Islands is the place! My husband and I wanted something a bit fancier than In-N-Out so we came here. I love to order their cheddar fries. They were so good that I was surprised at how much we devoured. As for burgers, I usually order the Hawaiian burger which comes with pineapple. It's a sweet-tasting burger. However the teriyaki sauce dribbles off the side and creates a huge mess. This time I ordered a Maverick because of the zesty BBQ flavor. My burger was neatly stacked and tasted so delicious! My husband ordered the Maui burger because of the guacamole and he loved it! I also like how you can custom order your beef patty from rare to well done. I requested medium rare. My patty was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. You can also request a turkey or veggie patty for free of charge. Islands has great customer service! They always come back and ask if you need anything such as refilling drinks, etc. I've been going to Islands for years and it's definitely one of my go-to places for "fine" or fancy burgers.
(5)
Julia H.
Been to this restaurant a couple times and the best thing about this restaurant is the location. It is on Colorado inside the Paseo Colorado mall with free parking (1.5 hour free parking). For the most part, the food is over-priced standard american burgers. They used to have a really good happy-hour special of 1/2 appetizers and cheap well drinks which is now gone. However, if you have kids or a large party this place is good. They are usually very accomodating.
(3)
Kathy C.
I ordered a turkey burger with onion rings. The patty was completely burnt. I don't understand how the cook in the kitchen would feel comfortable sending out a meal that is completely singed. The waiter was apologetic and sent the burger back, but didn't attempt to comp the entree or anything of the sort. The second time my burger was brought out, the patty was slightly less burnt but still burnt nonetheless. High five on sending out inedible food, Islands.
(1)
Becca L.
Really great, friendly service considering my group only ordered two burgers, a milkshake, and a plate of fries between the seven of us.
(4)
Akemi I.
I went to this Islands more frequently back during high school and never had a problem with their food before but for some reason, the last time I went about 2 weeks ago, it was no bueno. On my most recent trip, the whole place had a strong BO smell. Mix that up with the general smell of grilled and fried foods...yuck! I ordered the tiki tenders while my friends ordered burgers. The chicken tasted fine, but that night I felt sick and threw up the entire meal. So yeah, it was a bad time :( I think it was just the chicken that was bad since the rest of my friends were fine. I'm not sure if this is a consistent issue, but I'm not willing to give it another shot. Not for a long time...
(1)
Jackie W.
Screw you Yardhouse for your happy hour for lasting only until 6PM. Who the heck can go to happy hour at 3PM? Ridiculous. Thank you Islands for saving my Thursday night. 1/2 off appetizers Monday-Thursday, 4-7PM. And on the night I went, it was a comped meal!! I love Islands!!!!
(5)
Mary L.
Just tried the Chinese Chop Salad, I think I just found my new obsession! The service is just average
(4)
Valentina L.
always a fun time, great food
(4)
Carissa U.
What the heck happened? I used to LOVE going to Island's and getting the same thing I always get: Hula burger (veggie patty) on wheat. This time with onion rings. The only thing that saved this place was the onion rings. I went with a couple of friends and had a sampling of their fries and spinach dip. Fries were not good at all and the dip was so bland. I was just glad the onion rings were bottomless as well. Maybe it's been awhile but I could of sworn that the mushrooms in my burger were from a can. YUCK. Ugh... safe to say I won't be coming back here anymore...
(2)
Cindy L.
This review is strictly for their happy hour: 3.5 stars, rounded up due to impeccable timing in saving my Happy hour date. Popped into Yard House at 5:30pm on a Friday hoping to catch the tail end of their amazing happy hour, but total fail: there were SO many people there that the wait would've been over 30+ minutes, hence, not in the happy hour bracket. Luckily, Islands to the rescue. Happy hour, Monday through Friday, from 4-7pm (1 hr longer than Yard House) at the bar area + I believe the patio too. Half price appetizers, $1 off alcoholic beverages & free unlimited chips + salsa! We got lucky and snagged a table in the bar area. The order: Buffalo Wings: About 10 wings with ranch dressing & carrot/celery sticks, pretty delicious. Probably from a box, but I inhaled them nevertheless. Beachside sliders: 4 sliders, cooked to Islands standards. Very greasy buns. & unlimited refills on their Strawberry Lemonade! Total price for everything above: $13! Cheap! Their happy hour food selection is not as extensive as Yard House, but it's really really cheap for a meal & the service was really excellent. Don't forget to validate for free parking before you go!
(4)
Anthony D.
The best service, thank you Elliot. Excellent turkey longboarder.
(5)
A N.
loved it!!!
(5)
Mark G.
After I bought my new iphone at the Apple store I decided to have my favorite soup. Islands all you can eat tortilla soup. Being that it was a cold and rainy day today this was the perfect thing to have. The soup is very tasty, not salty and it also has small bits of avocado, chicken, cheese and it's toped with thin crispy corn tortilla slices. The first bowl you get is a large one and each additional one is a small bowl. After having 3 bowls I was ready to bear the elements outside. Their hamburgers are good but here I'm always a creature of habit and I love their tortilla soup. It has healing powers on a cold and rainy day.
(4)
Robert G.
Came in to visit my little brother. He works as a server here. I got the Big Wave lunch special and as always the food was amazing. I made sure and got a refill on my fries, soooo good. In and out within 40 mins, well fed and got to visit with my bro for a bit too. :)
(5)
Jeremy S.
went to this islands with my cousins. We had burgeres, tortilla chips, and fries. It was really good and the server was really nice. I love that the burgers come with unlimited fries as well.
(4)
R T.
Went here before the movies at Arclight. Hula burger is a must! It had been a while since I had been to an island and it was as good as I remembered. The endless fries are addict ing. Fish tacos are light and perfect. But really everything you order will be good!
(4)
Margaret H.
My family likes to eat at this location after enjoying the movies. It was empty on a late Sunday evening but our water was never refilled and the waiter took away our appetizer when it was half-eaten. Sliders were slimy with overcooked onions. Cheddar fries were dry with hard cheese. The drinks - from smoothies to premade sugary concoctions - were all horrible and the new redesign with a TV screen in every view was distracting. We will not be going back next time. There are other establishments next to Arclight Theater to enjoy.
(1)
Patrick P.
I don't generally head out here, mainly because there's another Islands ( yelp.com/biz/islands-pas… ) closer to where I live that doesn't have to worry about parking fees. But here's the impression I got from my last visit to this particular location. Our party of 5 adults and 2 kids came here for dinner yesterday. There was a bit of a wait to get seated, but managed to finish dinner and get back to the parking lot in just under 2 hours (the amount of free parking you get if you get validation at the Macy's here in Paseo Colorado). Woohoo! Service here was amazing. Friendly and efficient. Never had to ask for refills once. Generous portions for their endless fries. Here's a generous tip to you, waiter guy!!! Ordered the Kilauea Burger. Large size. You can definitely taste the strong seasoning of black pepper. I'm not really a fan of onions but the Island Reds in my burger is one of the rare exceptions where I enjoy how it's prepared. If it weren't for the parking situation, I'd give this restaurant 5 stars.
(4)
Maria A.
Oh Islands, how I dream of you. A maui chicken burger on a whole wheat bun and some fries- HEAVEN! But... WHY did you have to include calories on your menu? Now i don't know if I could return knowing that my meal of choice surpasses my daily caloric amount. I'm not obsessed with calories, but 1500+ calories on one sandwich is definitely something to make note of- it will haunt me forever :(
(5)
Jim T.
Island's tries to be like Tommy Bahama, but not nearly as good. But the lunch was decent and the location is good off Colorado Blvd.
(3)
Michelle L.
Parking isn't all that hard to find in the structure underground. I believe it's $3 a hour. You can also get 2 free hours if you get it validated by shopping at Macys or watching a movie at Paseo Stadium. Spent 4 hours here & parking was $6. All Islands are decorated nicely, they look just the same because it's the same exact theme. My boyfriend & I ordered the Tiki Tenders $6.89 & Sunset burger $7.29 along with 2 Strawberry Lemonades. At first I ordered their Passion Fruit Iced Tea but I didn't like it at all, I asked the waitress if I could exchange it for a Strawberry Lemonade & she had no problem doing so! I love the service here. Food finally came, time to chow down! Tiki Tenders came with a dipping sauce & we chose ranch. The chicken itself was beyond plain, it wasn't flavored enough but it was perfectly crispy. Ranch made it taste good, I don't think I would've survived eating it without some ranch! Sunset Burger, my FAVORITE burger to order here. I've been meaning to try the other burgers but in the end I always settle for this one. The fries it comes with are so delicious! It taste just about the same as In-N-Out fries except these are bigger & thicker. Total came out to be around $24.
(5)
Diana Jeanne N.
I come here once i a while so everything here is very good to me. I ordered the cheese fries and bbq salad for my cousin and I to share. There were leftovers, too!!!! It's delicious here if you're craving some regular American food!
(5)
Kenny H.
I came to this location for the first time tonight because I had a gift card. I got the Pesto Paradiso, which was a chicken burger with pesto. It was very messy, but the size was hearty. The fries it came with were dependable and acceptable. The service was fine. Like most chain burger places, it's OK.. nothing amazing, but it's steps above a fast food place (well, it should be for what you're paying! ~$9-11) The Paseo location is nice. It's next to the Arclight theater and would make for a fun place to eat while shopping or before/after a movie. You get 90 minutes free parking with validation. If you go into Macy's, you can get 2 hours free validation there. Anything over that, you have to pay.
(3)
Juliana Y.
havent been here in soooooooooo long forgot how amazing they were.. i had to go out with a bang! b/c im trying to cut down on fries.. and they have their endless fries.. chips n salsa.. so had to come here before i have to hold back.. everythin was delicious.. hope i can come back here soon
(4)
Paul H.
Bad ventilation. Could it be an island among smokestacks? But not as bad as most Chinese restaurants. Food is marginal. Meat is dry as jerky/not even rubber chicken. Endless fries? Forget it. It stops you within a bite or two. My son was pounding it into a table like a nail and the fry wouldn't budge or break. Service is decent.
(2)
Bugal K.
eh... its islands.... Hula burger with extra shrooms...... HMMMMMMM!!
(3)
Steve G.
Great service, great food, love it.
(5)
Elaine Y.
Typical food, but service makes this place a go to when we're at Arclight. Cheapest eats around there that's not food court.
(4)
Linda C.
my husband and i were grabbing a quick bite before our movie at the arc light. we had other options but wanted something quick. we were reminiscing about going to islands in the past, how it was one of my first restaurants with my friends without parental supervision in HS in the hasting's ranch location. i thought to myself, wow, my tastes has matured quite a bit since then. but my husband brought to light what really has happened: island has kept the same menu and same standards for the past 15 years. and unfortunately for them, the gourmet burger industry has been raising the bar over the past 10 years, esp the past 5 years. but the service is still nice and friendly, sadly the food/menu needs a make over.
(2)
Tatiana T.
The hostess Brittini was super sweet and the servers are always friendly! Food is so good! Burger, fries and iced tea are always a great combination. You can never go wrong with coming to Islands!
(5)
Carpus T.
Excellent service. I ordered a Big Wave with cheese off the lunch special menu and it was everything that I expected. The patty was tender, the fries were crisp, very well worth my money.
(5)
Cindy L.
My friend was craving a burger, so we went here. We got artichoke and spinach dip and a kilauea burger. The dip was so bad. It was very strongly cheese. I love cheese, but I felt like there wasn't enough artichokes and spinach. Somehow, the taste and smell of it made me feel a little queasy. For the burger, we substituted it for a veggie bun. It was alright. This is definitely one of the less tasty Islands I've been to.
(2)
Mark R.
I had one terrific burger (Big Wave) and the wife really enjoyed her mahi mahi sandwich. Jennifer T. was our waitress and provided the best service we've had in ages (thank you, thank you).
(5)
Brian Y.
I was really craving a burger and fries. The fiance suggested we go to Islands to satisfy the craving. Got the guacamole burger (forget the name) with endless fries. The endless fries are AMAZING. Before you had to order them a la carte, but now the burger comes with them, and they're endless. Can't beat that! Make sure to give yourself high blood pressure and top it with some extra salt for that great taste!
(4)
Kayte H.
Islands is perfectly fine. It's a chain restaurant with chain food and chain prices. You know what you're getting, you know the staff will be friendly, you know there will be surfing videos or whatever popular sports game is happening at the moment on the TVs. If you have ever been to Islands but *haven't* ordered a Cola Lime Ice for your drink--listen to me: you're wasting your life, and you need to get your ass in gear RIGHT NOW. It's ice blended with lime syrup and Coca-Cola syrup. (Drink it before it melts too much.)
(4)
Wilson T.
Islands has always been the "go to" place to catch up with my old high school group of friends. We came here right before graduation, the remaining days before we all went our separate ways, and now we come here every so often when we get the chance. This Islands will always hold a special place in my heart with fond memories. The wait for a table was pretty consistent for a Friday night; not too long, enough time for everyone else to arrive on time. We were served with haste and I must say the fries and onion rings were just delicious. The burgers were alright, better than your usual fast food joint. What I kind of don't like about Islands burgers is that they seem to be like those overly stuffed burritos where once you take a bite pieces of it start dropping or coming off. The only problems we encountered throughout the whole night was that they forgot to add a slice of cheese on one of our burgers. I also didn't like how the waiters were kind of stingy on refilling our fries or onion rings. It says "unlimited" on the menu and I do expect that we get unlimited rings or fries until we are satisfied. Perhaps we should try this when they aren't too busy? The food and memories makes me come, however the service makes me rethink about my decision to come.
(4)
Joanna L.
Very yummy! Burgers are a bit pricey, but I guess they're "gourmet" so :l It has a nice atmosphere if you sit next to a window, otherwise, it's kind of dark (since they serve alcohol and it goes for the "bar" style) Service is pretty good. Refills water and such consistently. Very nice place. I went before ice skating - 'twas a good meal before a crazy exercise.
(4)
Mary C.
I don't know what to make of Islands. It's a subpar burger joint with tropical decor. There was nothing spectacular about my experience here. Apparently, they have a good happy hour deal, but we were too late for it. I had a burger with swiss cheese and mushrooms. I can't remember the name of it because all their burgers sound the same. They are named after something Hawaiian. It was just alright. Nothing awful, but I won't go out of my way for it. It's like a marriage between TGI Friday's and Margaritaville. Just not my cup of tea. Very corporate. Very unhealthy menu. Service was pretty good. Got out of there fast and onto my movie next door. The server refilled our drinks a bunch of times, so that was nice. Other than that, the experience was totally unremarkable.
(3)
L. T.
The burgers and endless fries are great but it is pricy for that type of food, I rather have in n. out. But the tortillas soup is pretty good too.
(3)
Mark S.
It was okay food; I really don't have much to review as it was mediocre chain food.
(2)
Allison W.
YUMM everyone is soooo delicious! If you like soup try their tortilla soup!! If you finish your soup, they give you a refill on it! WHAT! YEAH, that's what I said when my boyfriend told our server that I wanted another bowl!
(4)
Joanna W.
burger is okay. love their Cesar salad!
(3)
Marina S.
You know what? A 3-star rating for "A-OK" is really a great way to describe Islands for me! It's solid... Hubby and I were waiting in anticipation to see Harry Potter 7 part 2 and were feeling a lil peckish. The wait was extremely long. It was Friday around lunchtime so I guess Islands is the place to be for nearby offices, etc! I got the Hula Burger and Hubby got the Regular Cheeseburger. The fries are 5 stars - so yummy and delicious! The burger was ginormous... I think hubby and I should have shared. He inhaled his of course, but I ate half comfortably, and then ate another quarter just because it was yummy, but I was already stuffed. ... They include a jaggedy knife for the purpose of cutting the burger into edible parts, if that helps to understand the size. We had to wait a long time, and even though the burgers were good, I think the portions are unnecessarily big, and the price didn't quite fit. But... convenient!
(3)
Derek W.
As with all other Islands locations, this one offers good food and service. Only difference is that this location is walking distance and the gf gets a discount for working in the area! Endless fries/onion rings when ordering any of the burgers or sandwiches. Only annoying thing is that they only bring out 5-6 onion rings at a time so I have to constantly ask for another order.
(3)
Deb T.
I love Island's Big Wave and fries. I always come here when I am craving a super huge burger that tastes absolutely wonderful. I have always had a pleasant experience coming here since it within walking distance to my apartment so parking is never an issue. Unlike some of these reviews, I have yet to meet the business of this place so I guess I need to come on a weekend during peak hours. The only problem I have experienced at Island's are the nonalcoholic drinks. My boyfriend seems to have a knack for getting glasses of terrible ice tea that four packs of sugar can't fix. Sometimes, the soft drinks would be flat so I don't know if it's poor drink dispensers or a sign that I should stick to just plain water. Other than that the food has always been excellent.
(4)
Arturo F.
I like the environment
(3)
Tim E.
I think I always order the Yaki if I am not mistaken. Pretty much always I am happy with it. The prices have increased since the last time I have come I think. Now I know how many calories I'm taking in and I feel fat alright. I ordered the Strawberry Lemonade but I could swear they used to put real strawberries in with the lemonade. Anyways I dig it that I don't have to ask for a refill it just keeps coming but after seeing how many calories I take in from that I feel pretty bad about the whole eating out bit. No wonder I can't lose an ounce of fat, but I must enjoy life right.
(4)
Elton W.
$11 cheeseburgers, but I keep coming back. They're so good. And the cheese fries
(4)
Tawny A.
Islands is a good go-to place when you are with a group or on a date...but with the other choices around, especially in Pasadena, I find it odd when someone chooses this place over all others....this was the case last night.... ok, so the good part was that it was a free meal....but they are just meh. The burgers are juicy and good, but you can get the same thing at about a million other burger joints. The endless fries are good, I like the crispiness, but every time I ask for dipping sauce I have to ask twice because for some reason the servers here can't remember to get me my honey-frickin'-mustard! oh well....no biggie. i really like their banana, coconut, chocolate smoothie, and they have really good Tacos.... This location is busy and really one of the worst. They are small, and I really think waiting more than 10 min. is not worth it. Go to P.F. Changs!
(3)
David W.
Had the lunch special burger with a drink. Everything is consistently good, free refills on drinks and fries, what can be better? The manager still had time to be very courteous and helpful during the lunch hour rush.
(4)
Lindsay R.
I don't really expect much when it comes to chain restaurants such as these, but common! Boyfriend and I split the cheddar fries and they were burned and rock hard. These are usually yummy and oooey gooey at the Chino Hills location. Also ordered the Maui (guacamole) burger with the onion ring side. The rings were also burned, no life left in those poor little onions what so ever. The burger was ok. We both felt sick after our meal :( I am not too keen on sending food back at establishments such as this because you never know what the cooks will do if you piss them off. I will not be returning!
(1)
Mildred R.
If you are in the area this place is a must. They have some of the best burgers I have ever had. The meat is cooked to perfection and stays juicy. They have the BEST EVER onion rings. I wish there was an Islands near me because their onion rings are just that good
(4)
Alison W.
I love me some Islands. A good burger and cheddar fries...mmm. I try to try a different burger each time and it's a good thing they have such a variety. I don't think I've ever not gotten a burger but they also have like salads and tacos and a bunch of other stuff. Anyways I think they only started serving fries with their burgers in the last few years. So that's good - it's unlimited and they can compete with places like red robin. I opted to get cheddar added to my fries - it's an extra dollar something. I just wished that my refill on fries also came with cheese also. (Or maybe it does and the waitress didn't notice). And I also had the Maui burger which came with guacamole, cheese and bacon. It was good. It's nice they give you a choice of white or wheat bun. And they cook it to medium unless otherwise stated. Service was so-so but it was pretty busy. About $10 for a burger and they validate here if you parked in their garage. Also they were showing some live sports on their flat screens but switched to videos about surf or water sports later on.
(3)
Robert T.
Islands is a great place to eat. The food is served in reasonably quick time, and all the servers are very friendly and on top of their jobs. Rare is the time when I have to ask for a refill-mostly they do it without being asked.
(4)
Sean H.
I went here recently for dinner. I had never heard of it before, but I was told it was pretty good. I stepped inside and was greeted by a cool, surfer/island theme inside. I can dig it. Once we got to our table, we ordered our drinks and ordered our food. I got a regular burger (the one with swiss and guacamole) and my girlfriend got one of their chicken sandwiches, both of which were really good. Our server brought us refills on our drinks (delicious strawberry lemonade and coke) without even asking when our cups got low, which was nice. On top of that, the place offers bottomless fries. Who doesn't like infinite fries? I would definitely go back to try their other menu items.
(4)
Bernie L.
Burger was good. Endless fries were delicious. However, I took off four stars all because of the extremely poor service. It first started with the waitress forgetting to give me a napkin. It's no big deal, just a napkin.So, I ask for a new napkin and it takes her 15 minutes to bring one back! Then when I got my burger, they forget to give me a knife and fork and I had to borrow my friend's utensils. Also, she never came by to check up on us. Little instances like these are small but they made a difference in my night. The bill also took forever. We only had 90 minute validation and because of the waitress taking her sweet time, we went 9 minutes over. We kept reminding her that we needed to go and she would just ignore us. The whole atmosphere of the place was just bad. All the employees there looked so unhappy to be there. If service is a big thing for you, then I would highly suggest you to NOT come here.
(1)
Shayna W.
I like this place! It is just a casual, chain, burger restaurant - but I always have a good time. Specifically one of my girlfriend's and I love this place to sit and catch-up and have a meal. I usually get a burger or the tuna wrap, and you can't beat the endless fries! The price is very reasonable, and the service is always pretty good. It's usually not too loud or crowded, and whenever there is a wait we can always find a table right away at the bar. Don't come with super-high expectations for the best food you have ever eaten, but for a yummy and easy meal I would recommend this place!
(4)
Lisa C.
Great service. Food is fine. Can't ever complaint about the burgers. We chatted with the manager Gordon) yesterday. Friendly staff. Love free refills. Great hang out place
(4)
Jensen S.
Good burger, but in the gourmet burger realm, it really is just average. I always go with the rincon burger - guac and bacon - can't go wrong with that. but again, nothing special. what IS special though is their Islands Golden Ale, love it.
(3)
Dave S.
It's Islands.. what more is there really to say? Came here with a friend, service was good, food was decent, we shared an order of chili fries that deserve no more than the three stars I'm giving. Islands, Bleh.
(3)
Edgar T.
Love it here! Come often, just for the hot wings. I've tried hot wings at many other places, and the sauce this place uses just keeps on bringing me back. I haven't found a spot yet that matches the sauce....it's hot, but doesn't over do it! Anyways....burgers are great, margaritas rock, and the vibe is cool. I enjoy hitting the spot up when games are on...but they really should pay attention sometimes to what is on TV. I know it's not really a sports bar, but the surfing channel really gets old.
(5)
Jen V.
In Colorado I ate at Red Robin all the time, and Islands reminds me a lot of Red Robin -except Red Robin had better fries, and Islands have gourmet tacos! Their Cabo Loco tacos are so incredible!! Seasoned pork grilled w/caramelized onions, stuffed into flour tortillas w/cilantro-chili sauce, onions, cilantro w/ sides of pico de gallo & ranchero beans! I also like the Kilauea burger (Jalapeno & black pepper crusted burger w/pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli, lettuce, tomato & Island Reds) and the Bleunami burger (Bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomato, red onion & crumbled bleu cheese)! This place is great for large groups and kids -the beach/tiki paradise theme makes it a really interesting place to hangout, eat and have fun!
(4)
Tiffany H.
I've only been here once but it was a good experience. Food was good and the service was good too. Parking is no problem since theres underground parking. When I arrived, it wasn't packed. So that was an extra plus! Decent prices.
(3)
Esteve M.
Service was GREAT! Food was OK, burger dry. Sweet potatoe frys were great. I am only giving 2 stars becuase shortly after I ate, my mouth tasted like old oil. YUK! I had to rinse with listerine to get the taste out of my mouth but now I taste the old oil while burping. YUK YUK!
(2)
Gina Q.
Came here for lunch one day during my conferencing. The service was quick and friendly and the waiter did a good job in taking care of all our food ordering requests. There were 5 in our group and some of us had special orders we made. The waiter was good in repeating back our order to us to make sure he wrote it down correctly. He was prompt in refilling our drinks for us too. This is upstairs at the Paseo Colorado and adjacent to the Pacific Theaters.
(3)
Ryan H.
Never been a big fan of this place. I usually only go to islands when I go to a movie next door. After a while, the place really grew on me. I really like the endless fries and the onion rings are amazing. The beer is well prices and they are quick with the food and beverages. The burgers are HUGE. I couldn't help but really start to like this place. The one by my house has a lot of rude employees. But this one has a really nice environment. I'm a little upset they are not open too late.
(3)
Kelly L.
I love their burgers, I got a Hawaiian burger and my bf ordered a hula burger, both medium rare topped with whole wheat bread. I also ordered buffalo wings for appetizers. It took them a while to get the buffalo wing to my table but it tasted great, it was spicy enough, so kind of worth of wait. Service, their service was bad, my bf had to wave at least 3 times to get their attention, or even when the waiters came to help us, it took him a while to bring the things we needed. I guess I can't blame them cuz they have too many tables to serve but overall it was nice(:
(2)
Anh-Dao T.
I used to love Island's back in the day. Yaki tacos, Hawaiian burgers, UNLIMITED fries! And I guess I ate it one too many times because even though I work by one now, I rarely find myself here. When I do eat here, I always get the grilled veggie tacos. It's on their new "light" menu and also has roasted corn, black beans, avocado and salsa (hold the cheddar.) YUM. Two of these are enough to fill me up so I no longer partake in the endless fries extravaganza...unless we're here for HH. In that case, I'll take a mai tai and a basket of fried goodness please.
(3)
Maureen W.
I use to love going to Islands because I really loved their Asian Chicken Salad. Then I realized that all their food is very high in calories and sodium so I stopped going. But after seeing Frozen with the rug rats, I needed a place to take them for dinner and I figured they could find something here. They have a good kids menu. Of course, it's the usual fare--kids got the tenders and the grilled cheese. They should make a non-spicy chicken taco option because the munchkins love them some chicken tacos! I got the North Shore TAcos limited which is a lighter version and it was very tasty. I didn't even eat the tortillas. I like the spice on the chicken tacos and the salsa is good. I also enjoyed the beans and pretty much just mixed it all together and shoveled it in. I also downed it with a Shock Top. Very good combo! It was my son's bday so the waitress brought the little buggers some mini sundaes which was very sweet of her. She was very friendly and sweet to the little ones. You can't ask for more. I would definitely come back when it's not too crowded, but look out--this place gets jammed on the weekend evenings.
(3)
David C.
Hula burger: Hamburger with mushrooms! Yum! Islands' quality is a step above the typical fast food burger and they also serve other things like soup, salad, fish...etc. $7.55 lunch specials are a great bargain.
(5)
Jake S.
So two days my fiend and I got the pipeline and mavericks burgers, service was up good, so was burgers...at the time. But later that night, we both had caught the symptoms of food poisoning. ...it's making me feel sick as I'm typing this review out. Service like I said was good, but place deserves a 1 star just for that dose of food poisoning.
(1)
Ashken K.
I LOVE ISLANDS BURGERS. It was my first time at this Pasadena branch and I liked my experience here. My Maui burger was awesome and well done as I requested! Yummy! For sure will be back! SOON :)
(5)
Perviz S.
Extremely poor service during busy times. Girl with a scoul barely greeted us, gave us a table that stank of fish. Another wsiter was nice enough to changevtables for us. Food arrived, but no napkins until i signalled someone. No refill of drink was offered for 20 minutes. Still waiting for someone to collect the check. Finally arrived 15 minutes later.
(1)
Steve S.
I'm normally a dedicated fan of Islands. The Big Wave is a basic burger...just like I like it. Yesterday, I went over for lunch and had a burger in the bar area. As usual the burger was very good (fries were cold) and service was solid. But while enjoying my lunch, I watched Islands turn out some great service. When I first arrived there were 3 or 4 people sitting at the bar and 3 of tables were occupied. There was one waitress/bar tender. After few minutes, a group of 12-15 Japanese tourists arrived. They took up several seats at the bar and two tables. Then a few more customers arrived. The bar was now almost completely full. The 1 waitress did a great job. She handled the tourists (with their limited English) with patience and a smile. Almost single handedly she serviced the entire bar area, while still filling the bar orders from the restaurant and checking up on her existing customers several times. The manager stepped in and helped for a bit which was nice to see. Overall, I had another enjoyable lunch and an entertaining floor show.
(5)
Brandon G.
Cheap drinks and food isn't too pricey either. Recommend the poke, so delish! Service at the bar is pretty regular, what you'd expect.
(4)
Raymond G.
Service was pretty fast especially for how busy it was on a Friday night. This place is clean and def has a Hawaiian atmosphere. The foo was ok. Endless fries here but the fries taste like cooking oil...not that great. My blue cheese burger had almost no blue chess on it....what's that all about?
(3)
Allie P.
I remember this place (though not the exact location) back in my early years of college. Being a new SoCal resident, I thought this place was really cool and I remember loving their fries. Its been years since coming back to an Islands. I would say nothing has really changed decor wise... besides seeing sports stations on the TVs instead of surfing. The fries weren't as amazing as I had remembered them to be... the tiki tenders is what I normally ordered in the past and they still tasted good -- just random sized pieces here and there. Seated outside on the patio at night (they turned on the heat lamps that were hung above, which heated up fairly quick). Service was okay. Sometimes I felt like they had forgotten about us because we were seated outside.
(3)
Alex A.
This place is a great relaxing place to hang. a lot quieter then surrounding businesses! Great staff who is very attentive. I had a beautiful Asian server named Ana who took great care of us. Was very warm and welcoming! Another time came and sat at the bar and had a great experience as well! So much fun. The bartender Gabe who was leaving for the night was awesome. But he left us with a bartender named Miranda and Vicky? They were amazing... Anyway the mai tai's were awesome and the buffalo wings were to die for! Yum! Coming back for sure and so should you!
(5)
Isabel W.
Fantastic! Holy moly.... I went here a few days ago for the first time with a friend ( he took me here) and experienced a new edition of a worlds best Burger. I had one with blue cheese (I loooove cheese) and it was such a huge portion, that I happily took the other half of my burger with me home and had so another beautiful half Island Burger. As appetizer chicken with ranch dip. Awesome. Go and try! I will be coming back for sure.
(5)
Sarah K.
Burgers and fries done well if you can ignore that food has calories. The Point Break burger (bleu cheese, guyere and candied bacon) was rich but not overwhelming heavy. You can specify how you like your burger prepared. We ordered medium-well. It came well-done but still a very tender piece of meat. The patty was thin which I liked. It made the burger experience completely manageable although the shredded lettuce did fall out. There's a section for calorie conscious eaters from which I ordered the Sleek Greek Salad (grilled chicken breast, romaine, kalamata olives and feta with a light dressing). The chicken pieces on it tasted great but the balsamic vinegar dressing could've used more work. The star of the meal was the fries. Fresh-cut, substantial, twice-fried skin-on potatoes. Non-greasy with a nice crunch. I love you Island fries. For an American restaurant in the middle of a tourist area the service was terrible. We saw our waiter once and never again. I had to flag the wait staff several times but once someone showed up they were very nice.
(3)
Brandi L.
The food was damn good, but I feel we were rushed out for no apparent reason! All booths and tables surrounding us were empty! REALLY CLEARING PLATES WHEN PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL EATING IS RUDE! Especially when you just served the entrees! The 3 stars was for the food, the two missing were for being rushed!!!!
(3)
RJ D.
I'm not the biggest fan of Islands, but a friend of mine drags me here. I think I prefer Red Robin, but it's farther east in Arcadia. Anyway, the burgers are okay in my mind. I don't like the fake Hawaiian/Tiki theme. The service by the bar person was the best thing at this location, and it's why I give it 4 stars. French fries are okay. Burgers are okay. I don't like the plastic trays that the burgers are served on.
(4)
Jason O.
Third stop of the pub-crawl. The crawl was just getting started but making it to the paseo felt like we were making some progress. Islands has great burgers but today I was only looking for a drink. The bar tender was quick to take our order and we all had a good time sitting at the bar watching surfing and snowboarding videos. This was my first time in this location so I cant say much about it other than I would have no problem coming back for a burger some time. The location makes it a good spot to grab a burger before or after a great movie at the Arclight.
(3)
diva l.
Oh islands how I love thee! it's like going on a little vacation for lunch my daughter who is three years old asks to eat here all the time and the food is perfect for her and I get to enjoy a healthy salad as her mommy it's one of our favorite places and it's so fun every time we go there Chinese chicken salad is my favorite and the chicken tenders are always fresh and I am so thankful for the healthy options they give as a sides with the kids meals like apples with yogurt and carrots that is so unusual for fast food type restaurants such as these way to go islands we are a fan see you again soon!
(5)
Larry T.
I heard this place really good but we wait you way more than 40 minutes! The stupid host..... She lie to us! We heat her ! Before I try to food I almost pass out ! We were so hungry! I never will come back again!
(1)
Suzy B.
Yep, Islands today was as good as it gets! My husband and I went for din with baby in tow. We arrived around 6pm. I was expecting it to be packed and to wait for a table. Surprisingly, not packed and no wait! We were immediately seated. Our server took us to the very back of the restaurant, near the restrooms. At first, I thought we were seated in the back because we had the baby in the stroller, which would cause a traffic jam in their narrow walkways. But he seated other folks around us (without a baby) so I think he just sat us in his area. Anyways, it did not matter to me and sitting in the back, away from the crowd, ended up to be a good thing. It was quiet and we had a great view of Colorado. My husband took a nice photo of our view from our table. I ordered my usual: Moa Kai, their tuna sandwich...or burger? Comes with cheese, mayo, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. Calories on this sucker is high so I asked for no mayo but then I asked that they put avocado slices on it. Ha! So much for trying to bring down the fat/calorie count. Per the usual, I was not disappointed with my meal. The french fries were hot, just the right salty, and crispy. The perfect side to the Moa Kai. The meal would have been epic if I had ordered a Roy Rogers AND cheddar cheese fries. One thing I made a note of to myself: next time, ask that they go easy on the tuna. It was a lot. I love tuna but will get grossed out if there is too much. This one had too much. I had to scrape the excess off with my fork. My husband, the healthy guy, ordered a turkey burger. I didn't taste his or even ask how he liked his burger (oops, I forgot my manners here!). But I didn't hear any complaints from him. He ordered an alcoholic Irish shake that didn't taste good. I took a sip and gagged...bad! It was so strong of alcohol. He didn't like it, either. Definitely, not something he would order again. Waste of money and calories! We had a pleasant experience today. I wish I got the name of our server. Really nice guy. Attentive but not overly intrusive. Checked in on us about 3-4 times during our whole meal. Never felt like we were ignored or kept waiting. Thank you, Islands, for a lovely meal!
(5)
Michelle W.
i don't usually come here that often since it's away from my area, but i do like to stop by once in a while when i'm in the mood for burgers and endless fries! so the food here is pretty good i guess. i mean, c'mon, endless fries? the lowest they cook their meat is "medium", which i don't mind. the service is pretty good as well, but when it starts hustling and bustling, servers can get a bit on the grouchy side. for instance, this place was pretty packed when my friends and i came here. we had 6 people in total. so because of all the people, our server was already grouchy to begin with. she would roll her eyes every time we asked for more fries. if you're seated near a window, it can be difficult on a hot and sunny day. it's a little blinding, and the heat is just emphasized. however, if you need to ask them to close it, they'll lower the blinds for you. the area is alright. the seats can get a little uncomfortable but it's all good. there is also outside dining and i noticed a little patio outside. i haven't sat out there yet, but i'm hoping i can soon. all in all, alright place. it does have their bad days but it's decent! stop by! :]
(4)
Brian V.
I eat lunch here weekly and frequent the bar for Happy hour when they have good specials and the game is on. I typically order the Shorebird (with no mayo on a wheat bun and a side of pickles) and it is a good value for the $8. But it is the endless fries that really seals the deal. The fries are great! Just keep asking for more. More important than the food though is the staff. They are friendly, courteous, and service-oriented. (Shout out to Frankie, my favorite server.) Don't forget to validate your parking before you leave!
(4)
Jennifer M.
The burgers are very juicy and moist. I had the Hawaiian Burger with Caesar Salad. I chose my meat to be well done and with cooked onion slices because I do not like raw onions. They gave me caramelized onions and when I ate my burger everything was wet and soggy because of the teriyaki sauce and caramelized onions. Everything started to fall out of my burger and my fingers were dripping wet. My friend had the Mavericks burger with Onion Rings and she liked it because her burger was not dripping everywhere. I am usually not a messy eater but this time it was bad. I was worried that my clothes were going to get dirty. We also ordered Island Fries but we were to full with everything on our plate. I liked the burger but I felt like my stomach was going to explode. For desert, we ordered Chocolate Lava and it was so yummy because it had fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, roasted almonds and a cherry. It was huge and if you're a chocolate lover this is perfect for you!
(3)
Barbie B.
Suck suck suck...... we wait almost 40mins for the food, in which the other came behind they had before us.. and when the food came out, a piece of paper in my Burger.....who knows what else were in there too... let me tell u, all the food were cold and taste like shit... they need to think abt it... kill me if I come back again.. I js can use the world bullshit for this place
(1)
Shel W.
The quintessential generic fast fooder is about one step up from Denny's. The place was jammed at shopping center lunch hour. Seated fairly fast. Service was pleasant and efficient. Burger with blue cheese and gruyere was large and of good quality, cooked as ordered. Not bad. Not great. Super market bun was anonymous. Fries were good. Rasberry ice tea excellent. Nothing to really complain about, but just ordinary in all ways. Prices were okay. All in all if you have to settle, at least you don't feel you were ripped off, so in that sense it's better than Denny's.
(2)
Stef H.
We took my girlfriend out a couple of Fridays ago. Regretfully, they were taking numbers and we ended up sitting outside under a surf umbrella outside in the heat. Oh well, 20 minutes later we were sitting in a booth at the back of the restaurant next to the kitchen. Please note the place is incredibly noisy so if you want it INTENSE, just wallow in the back booth where the plates are clapping. My main complaint is when you get the Hula burgers, you have to order fries separate. Why? For the price you pay they should thrown them in. The service was good though and the server polite and quick.
(3)
Letty A.
brought my mom here because she was craving a burger and she had really liked the burger at the islands across the street from the glendale galleria awhile back. i'm giving this island's 1 start because her coffee cup had LIPSTICK ON BOTH SIDES - ewwwwwww!!!!!! it had a big crack too, big enough that it should've been chucked long ago. the poor (dumb?) waiter though - i was trying to be discreet and not be loud so my mom wouldn't hear my full complaint with the cup and he kept asking me "what? what?" (smh) in the end, he said he thought the bright pink lipstick was my mom's .......um, she didn't have ANY other make-up on, and you thought that? grrr...... anyway, the new cup was very clean :) the waiter was very attentive after that, and would look me straight in the eye when he asked if we needed anything else, so appreciated that, since oftentimes when something awkward like this happens, wait staff don't know how to handle their embarrassment, and can come off as being snotty. he got an 18% tip that day, since i know it wasn't his fault the cup was dirty. still, one start because a FULL CRESCENT LIPSTICK MOUTH on one side, and more pinkness on the other side deserves no better! in the end, my mom didn't like this island's burger (big wave with cheese) as much as the one by glendale galleria; my malibu cheeseburger with 1000 island instead of mustard was a mistake - the 1000 island dressing was incredibly sweet, mustard would have gone much better. but live and learn; this review is for the LIPSTICK ON THE COFFEE CUP! oh, but the fries were good. and props to the hostess for seating us in a booth overlooking colorado blvd. i'll need to try europane one day - i saw a lady and young man park in the red, and a couple of europane employees come out and unload fresh produce from their car. it looked like this lady had just been to farmer's market!
(1)
Jack W.
My, this place sucks. I've lost all respect for my sissy's restaurant picks after coming here for her birthday dinner. With the exception of our second server (shift change during our meal), the staff really seems lackadaisical and lacking some common sense. We ordered onion rings and nachos for our party of six to share. Our first server brought over small serving plates, several of which were dirty-- there was cheese stuck on them. After she brought new plates, we asked for silverware, to which she said would come out later with our burgers. Why the hell wouldn't they just give you utensils like any other restaurant when you're seated? I've never seen onion rings and nachos as greasy as this --ever! The cook clearly didn't bother shaking the deep fryer basket at all before putting the onion rings and nachos on the serving plate. This was evident as such that within seconds you could see the tissue paper in the serving basket turn fully transparent right before your very eyes. When our burgers arrived, I asked for another extra plate so we could share, and you guessed it-- more cheese stuck on more plates!
(1)
Rhonald N.
I love their China Coast salad. Great dressing over a healthy portion of greens with mandarin oranges and crispy noodles. Their located on the 2nd floor of the Pacific Paseo in Pasadena, right next to the Arclight so you can see a movie afterwards or before.
(5)
JR C.
Islands is one of the many franchise burger places found everywhere. If you haven't heard of it then drop by for a burger itch, but don't expect anything too creative or profound. Everything is average, but to top it off all your burger combos come with bottomless fries. In the end, you'll get a full meal for about 15 bucks whether it be lunch or dinner. I've frequented this place often when they had an awesome lunch deal which INCLUDED a beverage. You could get your entire lunch for less than 10 bucks but that has since changed. What brought me hear today was a promotion for a free Maverick burger meal. Pretty freaking awesome of these guys to do that, and it brought a non-fan to eat here to give this place another chance. Chris was our lunch server and was pretty responsive, friendly, and awesome. We made sure to tip him real well, above and beyond even the normal prices of the maverick combos that we got for free. Maverick Burger =-= This burger was eerily similar to the lunch special I always used to get here the California Flyer Chicken Sandwich. It's BBQ based and has these thin fried onion straws inside. The fried onion straws could get a bit oily, but what else would you expect. Nothing else worth mentioning here, other than I'm always happy to indulge in my french fries with ranch addiction here.
(3)
Rachel M.
Terrible management, uncaring & unprofessional. Can't even get their own burger right! First & last time!
(1)
Brandon S.
Islands is one of the few chains I actually enjoy. We got nachos to snack on before a going to a movie. The nachos were just OK. I expect more flavor and toppings. They were rather bland. Our server was friendly, but not that good at her job. I will still go back though, but in the future I will stick to the burgers and fries.
(2)
Kathy J.
Horrible service the waiter was a guy, only came to our table to take our order and give us our drinks. Never once came by to see if we needed anything but he did go to every other table around us. He passed us about 5 times, even when we were finished we waited to see if he would come to see if we needed our check but of course not, as he was passing by once again my gf got his attention and asked for the check. No tip for him, All in all the food was good but the service was horrible. Definitely won't be going to this islands.
(1)
Kole C.
went to islands last night for some take out. OK, not real dinner just appetizers. i used to work at this place back in college so i know the realm of how it operates. i hated working there and eating the food, but now that i go back it makes me miss their food. the take out fella was nice and so was the manager. they were quick w/ my order and the restaurant was clean and up to par.
(4)
Jowel G.
This review is for this particular location only. We were starving and wanted to have burgers for dinner (not exactly BK or McD's), so we decided to stop in at Islands at Paseo since we were right down the street. There was no wait for a Thursday night and it was pretty busy with the movies letting out and all. I appreciate the long roomy booths and having large windows to look out (even if it's the Yard House and the theatre view). I had the usual passion fruit iced tea and the Maui burger, but instead switched it with the new turkey burger patty instead. I'm not sure what happened, but my turkey was extremely salty and peppery and had mayo oozing out. It was so salty and peppery that the tip of my tongue was stinging. I had 3 mugs of iced tea - I think it got me extremely thirsty. G's burger was good. He didn't replace his with the turkey patty, so I'm not sure if that's how they prepared it because the beef version was fine. The ground turkey was not heavy like the beef, but I thought it needed something (and no not salt)...I think just to be thicker? The turkey would like turn into mush in your mouth. Well, there's a first for everything. I may just stick to the beef, so I can give them more than the 3 stars next time. Our server was OK, my iced tea was empty for a few minutes at one point. I think I'm so used to them having the next drink on standby at our table - not here. Fries are always good and I can't complain about the seasoning - just the right amount of that Islands seasoning (the same as what's in the tall shaker on the table). Parking is easy -underground and free for the first 90 min. with validation.
(3)
Albert V.
I have been to this chain restaurant before, but it was my first time coming to this particular establishment. So the burgers are pretty good here. They are mildly pricey, but you definitely pay for what you get; and then some. The waitress was extremely professional, and the service was just awesome. The burgers tasted good and came out pretty fast. The restrooms were clean as well; what more can you ask for? If you're contemplating to come here, but are hesitant due to the price of the burgers, there is a burger (with fries) you can get for around 9 bucks. Also, when ordering the burgers, they ask if you would like the burger in wheat or white bread, and their wheat bread doesn't take like cart board. I recommend this place.
(5)
p m.
I enjoyed my turkey burger made with bleu cheese. The fries were also very good. It is worth the extra bucks over the typical burger joint.
(4)
Christy M.
Good salads, yummy cocktails, and fairly reasonably priced. This location is in a mall directly across the way from a Yardhouse and a movie theater. This means crowds of couples and teenie boppers dropped off by their soccer mommies. Oh well.
(3)
Max P.
Here's what you get at Islands (generally, and especially at the one in Paseo): --Damn fine burgers. I know, I know, the thing is to find some weird specialty place selling gruyere and apple burgers on foccacia, but I like me a burger and am hard-pressed to think of one that's much better than Islands. The meat is tasty and cooked to order (they always ask to make sure you're on the same page with them about what "medium" means), the (wheat) bun is toasty yet soft, the toppings are fresh, and the cheese is ample. Dayum, I just made myself hungry again. --Damn good fries. Sometimes you get some fries that are clearly not at their peak of freshness, but if this happens you can simply ask for more--such is the beauty of unlimited side orders! --Decent prices. The lunch specials get you an onslaught of food and drink for about $10, and that's _including_ tax and tip. --The company of countless tweens, both as patrons and servers. I do not mean this as a negative, though it's not really a date place for grownups, be warned. Plastic menus don't make for a very romantic atmosphere. --Cheap parking. Self-validate and you get like 90min or so in the spacious downtown structure. Here's what you will not get: --Hipster cred (likely major hipster demerits, if you give a crap as I do not). --Seated quickly if you come at peak times (e.g., lunch rush). --Skinny. Islands food is tasty as hell, but like much such food it ain't good for ye--but they will disclose the calorie counts on each meal, if you dare to look. Bottom line: when I want an artery-clogging, cheap, no-frills, easygoing meal with friends, this place can't be beat.
(4)
Jongyup P.
NOMNOMNOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMNOMONÂONMOMOMOMOMOMOMONOMONMONMONMONMNOMNOMONOOMOMONOMNOÂMOOM Enough said. jk. This place has some bomb burgers. Big burgers AND unlimited fries. I got Hula, which was cheesy, juicy and delicious. But because mine was more on the plain burger side (still good), I prefer burgers my friends got, which were Hawaiian and Kilauea. Hawaiian was sweeeeet and juicy while Kilauea had perfect amount and blend of spiciness (I despise stupidly spicy food). Parking is easy to find. There are two large parking structures and street parking Oh, did I mention unlimited fries??? yes I did. but I wanted to remind you again :D the only downside is that you will consume a lotttt of fat and calories by the time you walk outt. But I had a very good time eating those burgers. So five stars.
(5)
Jonny R.
always great service at this Islands ... food always spot on and now they have some healthier choices as well as craft beer!!
(5)
David W.
This is the restaurant from the movie Office Space. If you like being served by juniors in high school, this place is for you. I went here thinking, how can you fuck up a cheeseburger. Heartburn-10 Nutrition-0 Greasy-greasy. I think pedophiles might dig this place.
(1)
Pilar B.
WTH....is up with this Islands? I wanted to get my passport and bounce...this place was horrible!!! Just horrible! I've been to a few Islands Restaurants and must say the experience at this location was baaad! Dude forget about the decor...tropical this and that...blah blah, yeah that's cool. You've seen one spot, you've seen them all. But my complaint is the FDW = Food, Drink and Waiter! Every time I've eaten at an Islands Restaurant, I always get the HAWAIIAN burger (Pineapple, teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss & mayo). But this time, it was very sloppily made in which I hate my burgers looking like the cook just tossed it all together and didn't give a care about presentation and the meat was red. Yuck! Drink was lame! One waitress told us that they made the best Margaritas...are u fn kidding me? It was so nasty, the Tequila tasted spoiled or that they went ghetto and really made the drink from scratch! Waiter: One word MORON! What an idiot...asking me if I wanted to add extra toppings onto my burger. If I chosen to do that, then it wouldn't be a freaking "Hawaiian Burger!" Duh! He had the personality of a dumb ass! My date and I only dined here because it was close to the movie theater. It just wasn't our night. Just so you know, I am really a sweet girl...your food just pissed off my taste buds. I am not trying to offend...I get grouchy when the food is horrible and service is equally bad.
(1)
Amy L.
burgers are good here. also, i remember free refill for fries! i dont know if they still do this. the servers are nice here. :)
(5)
Euree P.
I've always liked Islands, and the same goes for this location. Went for a quick happy hour stop (bar area only) and got a lava flow. Islands actually happens to make my favorite lava flows out of all the chain restaurants/bars. My boyfriend got a Mai Tai, which he also enjoyed. We split an order of buffalo wings (all appetizers 50% off), which are always delicious here. Perfect amount of spice. Happy hour here is cool because you also get free, unlimited chips and salsa. Guy working at the bar (manager, I believe) was really personable too. Not the greatest happy hour deals I've come across, but it's worth checking out if you have some time to kill.
(4)
Faye F.
My first time to Islands anywhere... is this a chain restaurant? Anyway, it was rainy in Paseo Colorado and a friend and I were in need of some shelter and food. We weren't in the mood for other foods so we decided to try this. HUUUGE BURGERS! I wasn't sure how endless fries worked because neither one of us got through our huge pile of fries. The only downside would have to be the prices. It reminds me of TGIFridays and Applebees and other chain restaurants (which is why I asked if it was a chain restaurant). Overall, great service, nice people, huge portions, and lots of flavor.
(4)
Leslie T.
Every time I go ice skating, I can't help but come to Islands afterwards. It's been a while since the last time I've been here but from what I remember, everything was pretty much freaking delicious! Words cannot describe how much I love bottomless french fries. The burgers are good but they're pretty pricey and sometimes I don't really feel like they're worth it. The fries make up for that though.
(4)
Gerald S.
Islands has gotten better over the years actually. I used to come to Islands during my college days since they offered free fries for students. Nowadays, they have good lunch specials, like getting a Big Wave with Cheese for $8.95 WITH FRIES, ENDLESS FRIES AND A DRINK. Try the green tea iced tea. It's a little sugary but not over the top. The Big Wave itself is good, as it's usually very juicy and tasty! If you hated Islands before because they never included fries with their burgers, now is your chance to get all the fries you missed out all those years. The first time I found out about it, I ordered 3 extra baskets of fries and ate them all. Maybe they didn't serve the fries with the burgers before because of people like me. Oh... I deducted 1 star because of the service. Kinda slow.
(4)
Razmig M.
Food: Medium-High quality burgers for about $8. Giant basket of fries for about $3. Their nachos is good too but greasy. I also highly recommend the Tortilla Soup (of all things right?!) because they make it hear from scratch and load it up with avocado and chicken... so good. Drink: They have a variety of fruity tropical drinks at very reasonable prices. They also have a decent selection of beers too. Price: I think this place is priced very well for what you get. The ambiance is charming and the staff is usually very professional. As I said the food quality is definitely above average. So when someone here complains that "I spent $9 on a burger?!" I think they're really not factoring in the total package you get from Islands. Go Islands!!!!!!
(5)
Tommy H.
The food is really really good. I recommend the Big Wave with cheese or the Hawaiian burger. The managers, waiters, bar tenders are very nice it's a really fun place.
(5)
Ed A.
Happy hour is great. I had the buffalo wings. Flavor and texture were great. However, there isn't that much meat on the wings. Those were some anemic chickens. You can never go wrong with the endless basket of fries. During happy hour you get free chips and salsa.. which are just that, chips and salsa. Nothing wrong with them, but then again nothing special.
(3)
Denise K.
Islands is a pretty decent place. Good chicken sandwich, decent nachos, great service at the bar, beer, drinks, etc, and TVs to watch "the" game. The pricing is pretty decent, as well. Anecdotally, I was sitting there trying to have a nice conversation yesterday, when I foolishly said to my friend, a bit too loudly, apparently, "Are all the seats wobbly?" This prompted a man, who was sitting there with very little else to do, to start non consensual verbal communication to begin a ten minute long diatribe about food, life, and the lightness of being. My nachos got cold and soggy, my sandwich got pale. Lucky for me, he came to the quick and unbiased conclusion that I had to try to be more like him. In his *humble* opinion, I guess I didn't look like I was like-him enough. He blabbed on about enjoying the day because one day we will be dead. Yeah, very original thought. He went on to describe that at every chance he gets, he comes to islands, because you know why? (I don't care, join the chorus) WHY? Because of Island's consistency. Consistency, in this man's opinion, was the key to a happy life, and to loving Islands, the restaurant. I interjected that yes, in fact, chains tended to be chains because they strive to be consistent. I thought he'd be able to recognize facial expressions or social cues such as tapping of the fork, or turning of the back, but he obliviously continued on and on until he decided it was time to go. After this twenty minute pseudo philosophical rant in which I was given tips to succeed in life, and islands, he left. At that precise moment, Islands gained its four stars back. Islands, although you have no way of knowing, your biggest fan is a douche-bag.
(4)
Lalala B.
If you're cravings good burgers and fries in a chill atmosphere, come here! The burgers comes in a big portions and its worth the money! The fries were also good too! This place is great for family and friends and service is very friendly! Burgers comes around 6-10 bucks, depending on what you get. This place is located in a plaza with a theatre and a shopping center which can be pretty crowded on weekends. Just come here to try it out, you probably won't be disappointed!
(5)
Gerard I.
Ouch, Islands is way overpriced for a burger and a drink. This location is at the Paseo Colorado, right next to the movie theater on the second floor. It's just a bland, expensive, "average" eatery. It's cool that they serve alcohol, but at those prices? It's like they're weeding out the peoples who come in to drink from the peoples that are coming in to eat. I'm better off going to the Yard House, which is also across the way. I don't know, I was never a fan of Islands, it's too blah for what it is.
(2)
thistle c.
WHERE'S THE BEEF? Yes, I'm old enough to remember that commercial... We came here after a movie because it was convenient and I remembered that I had a killer Hawaiian burger at Islands in Irvine some 25 years ago. Ahh, the memory of that meaty, delicious and juicy sweet burger changed my vote here instead of to our original destination of Real Food Daily. Er, I'm no vegetarian, I loves me meats, so Islands it was. I'm sorry I didn't go for the vegan. At least it would have been F-O-O-D we were paying for; not light and fluffy. Super noisy restaurant. Neither here nor there, just a fact. It was after all, Saturday night after the movies. Hmm. The food was pretty awful. Maybe it was just an off night for the cook. I would rather have eaten at Carl's Jr., Jack-in-the-Box, Del Taco or Taco Bell. At least at those places, you get your money's worth and yer not payin' for eating air.. Our party's bill was completely out of line, and from my other reviews you can see I'm not afraid to pay $17 for a decent burger or $30 for great pizza. The staff is excellent (except the the so-called cook who did NOT cook my burger even to medium and gave me potato butts and crumbs instead of fries) How do you cook a burger Medium WELL and it's pink and red inside? The stick even said Medium Well. *shuddering* It didn't kill me, so I ate half of it and only around the cooked edges. If my eyes were closed, I wouldn't have known there was supposed to be a beef patty in there. I do know it wasn't a vege patty and I'm deathly allergic to turkey, so I'd be in the hospital instead of writing this review if it was turkey. Sadly for Islands, awesome staff is not enough to take us back to a restaurant that served bad food. The burger buns are airy, spongy wonder wonder bread. Seriously crap. The wheat buns are just white buns with brown coloring I suspect. j/k. Sort of. ------------------UPDATE: the whole wheat buns are indeed made from whole wheat. Supposed to be mustard on there, but didn't see or taste it. I always order a side of Thousand Island dressing "just in case" an unknown burger needs a hit of flavor or moistness boost. THIS BURGER COULD NOT BE SAVED. Greenish tomato slice. Wimpy lettuce. Not even a full slice of onion. Two little pickle chips. It was like eating air. The french fries that came on my plate were the bottom of the dumper. Get your mind out of the bathroom. It's the pan where the baskets of fries get dumped after cooking. Not one whole french fry in there. Mostly potato-butts, hard crispy black bits and crumbs of something - literally. Not even a full serving of crumbs. For that to come with a burger, it had better be an "endless" offering...we did get a full serving later in the meal. The "Kobb" salad (their spelling, not mine) was skimpy, and unsatisfying. Cobb Salads are meant as a meal, even the "half" salads. If there's not enough protein in it, you could eat a gallon of it and not be satisfied before splitting a gut. To use this word again: airy. The salad was airy. The Maui burger was as airy as the Big Wave, but it had guacamole, etc. on it. However, not enough added items in the world could give those burgers any meaty substance. It came with four onion rings. Not big, fat juicy onion rings, four skinny, dry onion rings. We all took a bite and left them. Unheard of for our bunch. The vege tacos were passable and DH said he'd order again, but the avocado was only a "looker" not a serving to be considered edible - sort of like parsley on some diners' plates. Not taco platter was not filling by itself; there was a lot of fluff on the plate to make it look good, but you still needed more food. The salsa was tasty. We had the Cool Breeze drink: coconut, banana and strawberry chemicals for $5.95. NOT a smoothie no matter what they try to tell you. Nothing high fructose corn syrup mixed with non-dairy white stuff is a smoothie. I don't even think it should be offered for human consumption and certainly not to children. It was really, really odd tasting. It was fake, nothing real fruit about it, in fact, it tasted like bar mixer drink flavoring that you add to make cheap booze more palatable. Those are not meant to be drunk without the alcohol. Heh, the cheap booze and fruity chemical taste just might cancel themselves out! Priced completely out of line for HFCS. That price would be cheap if it had any real fruit in it. Also, who adds whipped cream and a cherry to a SMOOTHIE? Yeeeeks! Oh, snap! The maraschino cherry WAS the real fruit! -----------------------------------UPDATE: I've been told by management that the smoothie really is made from 100% real fruit. I honestly don't think so, but that's just my observation. Our server, Frankie, was the best part of the meal. She's a hoot. Funny, efficient and gave superior service. Treat her right, she's a keeper!
(2)
Natalie B.
I've been to this Islands before and other chains around my area and usually the food and service is average. However I went their this past Wednesday night around 9 and the service was horrible. Our waiter was rude and never came around to the table to ask for refills or if we needed anything. In addition when we asked for the check he gave judgemental remarks to members of our party. The food is your regular chain food crap and the service was worse. If you are looking for a place for a meal with friends or family, skip Islands, you are better taking your money to a better establishment.
(2)
Andrew W.
First time here. Nice place. Our service was excellent. We were waiting for a party but they never came so we had a large booth to ourselves. I had the Chicken Wrap with barbecue sauce and fries. I wanted something other than fries like fruit or cottage cheese but there were few alternatives. Saved half for next day lunch.
(4)
Shelley G.
Happy Hour is only at the bar or outside! I wanted the happy hour specials, but the bar was too full and outside was too cold. So I sucked it up and decided not to drink that night. I came on a Monday night around 5ish-6. The restaurant was only packed at the bar area. Since I didn't wanna sit at the bar, we got seated right away. Order the Maui Burger (no cheese) and instead of guacamole, I substitute that for fresh avocados slices instead, plus added some Island Reds. Our server was really nice and attentive, but he forgot our order of fries while we were waiting for our burgers. It was fine since the burgers came out fast. **Free parking for 90mins w/validation** Parking is underground
(3)
Joseph C.
Have to say worst service ever! Order was wrong. Never got my second order of fries. Took over ten minutes to get my second beer. The manager still tried to charge me for it. Had to get up and ask for my bill so I could leave.... Never again! Thanks for ruining my child hood memories!
(2)
Niche U.
They service was great. Friendly and attentive. The bottomless glasses of soda are bottomless. I was unable to ever finish one before the next arrived. The burgers were tasty and cooked as requested. Although the burger names seem to be pretty random. Really had to take our time & checkout what each one was. Islands has become a regular for meal before movie at ArcLight cinema. The service is great, the food is good and they're fast. It's a family place too.
(4)
Sabina R.
Typical franchise... Nothing to rave about and nothing to complain about... My son & I tried the MahiMahi Burger and it was very flavorful.... For the typical franchise restaurant, I'm not mad at it. Just was a bit of maze finding the place in the plaza....
(4)
Abel H.
Everything was average. Food was average. Service was.....average. I had the turkey burger and it was ok. Fries were eh. Maybe because it's a chain? Idk I prefer fusion burgers or umami
(3)
SV L.
Just had my daughters birthday party here. We Ordered the: Tiki Tenders $9.45 too much breading. Just So so cheddar fries with chili, $11.08 Just So So Chips with guacamole, $5.74 Good but needs more Guacamole. onion rings, $7.89 Very good! Basket of fries $4.19 Very good! Sandpiper $11.49 Island fish soft tacos $10.05 Grilled chicken sandwich kids $6.00 All serviced with fries or beans. The tacos were good but not as good as Tops Burgers or what I make at home, for a lot less money! The Sandpiper chicken sandwich that comes with mushrooms and Swiss cheese lettuce and tomato. This was not a good choice! The chicken breast was tuff, like rubber, the mushrooms were greasy and had poor flavor. I should have sent it back, and gotten a burger. That's what this place is known for. But I thought, when you have four chicken sandwiches on the menu, they must be good. Wrong!!! The server was nice but the service was so so. She didn't keep our drinks filled and we would need to keep asking her to fill them.
(3)
Matthew T.
I used to go to Islands all the time in high school and for a high school kid, these burgers were the best ever. Plus, we could go to town on the endless fries. After all these years, things haven't changed but I guess my tastes have. I'm not against chain restaurants, I just prefer to spend the same amount of money you'd spend at a chain restaurant at somewhere new and different rather than something that you pretty much are guaranteed 3 stars or less. But not everyone is a Yelper, willing to scour the web for places to eat. My friend wanted convenience and knows not of the virtues of Yelp so we plunked down at Islands. So that said, if it were up to me, I would take the $12+ bucks you spend on burgers and maybe walk a little down the street to try Pasadena's plethora of great restaurants. Nevertheless, my Big Wave burger was pretty rare but I guess I prefer them to go that end than to not go rare at all. Most chain restaurants won't even bother honoring your request. It's not nearly as nice as the Islands on Pico or the Islands in the Howard Hughes center. Yeah, it was nostalgic to be back at an Islands after literally going once or twice weekly when I was a kid. But I guess this feels like a break-up because Islands hasn't changed but I have. It's me not you.
(3)
Jenn T.
Typical chain restaurant with the usual menu. This location wasn't too crowded when I came around 6pm for dinner. They don't have happy hour on Fridays which was disappointing. We got seated pretty quickly. We got chips and salsa with guacamole which was pretty yummy. I got the hula burger which was a burger with mushrooms. Very good and the mushrooms brought flavor to the burger. Got a few drinks as well, they're somewhat expensive here though. The service was great. Our server was very helpful, patient and polite. Though he was busy, a few other staff members came to help him out. Parking is in the lot underneath with validation, you get 90mins free with validation.
(3)
Maria B.
Good food and reasonable prices. Service is ok - primarily a bunch of young kids so you can't expect too much.
(3)
Carrie D.
I love this Islands! My partner-in-crime Brian V. and I have lunch here weekly and often find ourselves here for happy hour and the Sunday football bar specials. The food is standard Islands fare, but what really stands out at this location is the customer service. The staff here is extraordinary!!! Sean, Anna, Shannon, Stephanie (our favorite bartender) and everyone else treat us very well. We really don't even order anymore...our food just shows up at our table. We are creatures of habit and always order the exact same items...but our order is very specific (i.e. we add and subtract things) and it is perfect every time. Our drinks are never empty, the service is attentive and speedy, and everyone is cheerful and friendly! They have really reasonable lunch specials and good happy hour and Sunday football bar specials. They also validate parking so bring your ticket in with you! These guys are awesome and really take good care of us! Thanks Sean, Anna, Shannon, Stephanie and the rest of the crew for making us feel special and always brightening our day! You guys rock!
I'm a firm believer in hiring a great hostess because they are the first to encounter customers. We got just that on a Monday night. The hostess smiled, made conversation and at the end wished my sister a happy birthday again while opening the door for us. A+ for her. I hope she earns a server spot soon! As for our waiter, nice .. but he was also slow and inefficient. It was a pretty quiet and empty Monday evening. From what I saw, he had us and 2 other tables (all right by each other) but he could barely keep up with just that. Maybe he was new? He came by to let us know he would be with us shortly but didn't get to us until waved him down. Our drinks took too long to come out. When our food came, I asked for an extra plate. 2 minutes later, I saw him go drop off only a check at the other table when he also could have held a plate. Instead, he went to drop off the check, go grab a plate, then come drop it off. Hmm... Kiluea burger is always a good choice! It's probably the most fattening burger on the menu. My brother even went to say he enjoyed specifically the Kiluea burger more than he did any Slaters 50/50 burger. Endless fries. We also got an order of onion rings with a burger and our server told us it wasn't endless anymore. Yet they only give you 3-4 pieces! I have gotten them endless at this location as well as other Islands (Long Beach location). Not sure whats happening here?? For a weekday, this location will do justice since it's a little closer. Parking is 90 minutes free in the underground structure with validation. On a weekend, I would suggest the Foothill location for free, no hassle parking.
(3)
Maribel M.
great food. staff is friendly and facility is very clean
Located in the Paseo on the second floor next to Arc Light and Yardhouse. You definitely get that corporate feel when you walk in. The service is okay, and the food portion is enormous. I felt like the food I ordered was a family meal. Mind you, I am 6 feet tall, almost 200 lbs, so I can eat. Big Wave ($9.29) Huge burger. It wasn't necessarily BAD. It was okay, but it absolutely was not great by any means. Just... BIG Pipeline ($10.95) This is pretty much a chili burger. Huge amounts of chili just put in the burger. The bread gets soggy, so you gotta eat it like you're in an eating contest. Cheddar Fries ($7.69) Probably the best part of the entire meal. Ordered it as an appetizer. I wondered how cheese fries could be nearly $8. When you get it, you'll know. It is HUGE (like everything else here). Islands is a place that is more focused on portion size than taste, so if you're hungry and don't really care about taste, Islands might be the place for you. I probably won't be coming back; I like good tasting food.
(2)
Mable S.
The lunch menu tacos are the most disappointing tacos I've ever had. They're beyond Americanized. My review is for the food only, the service was wonderful.
(1)
Elise V.
I had ordered a burger there three days ago. It started off terribly because they had given me the wrong order (I had ordered a burger with blue cheese, ended up with one with chili). It was a to go order and I couldn't go back and change it, so I ate what I was given. I only realized much later in the meal that some of the burger was still not cooked, so I stopped eating the tasteless burger immediately. In the middle of the next night, I started to throw up and it didn't stop until the following night. I needed to call out of work. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Abigail E.
This is a really great burger place! My friend and I were recommended this place by another friend who lives in Pasadena. She told us to try the burgers since this place is known for their burgers, so when we got that bit of information I was pretty excited to try this place out. We got the restaurant 30 minutes after it opened, and as soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a host and given a table. The atmosphere is really nice and relaxing. Very Hawaiian-y feel, obviously. There are TV's, ceiling fans, tons of seating, and friendly staff. Once we were seated, we were greeted by a server who asked us what we wanted to drink. While we waited, we looked over the menu and I swear, our mouths started watering. There are no burger places like this where I'm from, so I was just so ready to dive in to anything on the menu, to be honest. My friend ordered the Shorebird (Grilled chicken breast, swiss, lettuce, tomato, pickles & mayo) and I ordered the Big Wave (Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles & mustard). It took about 10-ish minutes for our food to arrive. The wait wasn't too long, since my friend and kept talking about how nice the place was. But once our food was placed right in front of us, we couldn't wait to eat. The burger was great! So so so good. My friend and I had cut both of ours in half and shared with one another. The Shorebird was also really amazing! Oh, and I can't forget about the fries. They were so good! I don't remember exactly what we paid, but it was definitely reasonable for a lunch special.
(5)
Kandy V.
I love islands! Every staff here is so welcoming and attentive. I Been coming here for years and they never let me down. Definitely my go to place
(5)
Anthony V.
Been coming here on and off. Good place to come and relax the food and good and the drinks are good.. even tho I always order the Mai Tai which is really good. The ppl here are very friendly and always coming by to check on you which is hard to find now days.. This is my hideaway from my regular spot..
(5)
Catherine H.
Juicy burgers, good vibe, and fruity drinks. Offers validation! Came in on a weekday noon and was seated immediately. I ordered the Hula Burger, and I would again. The mushrooms taste great. The side of onion rings, costs extra, was okay....I prefer Johnny Rockets onion rings more. Also, they are not endless. The fries are endless! I asked for a recommendation of a sweet beverage and the server said the Mangorita was at a special price so we both tried it but agreed that it was not sweet..... I would eat the Hula Burger again and have the regular side of fries. Not order the Mangorita unless you want a strong kick of alcohol. Good service and food! Endless Fries and Validation is a nice bonus!
(4)
Christine H.
The fries are super heavy now. The wave burger is smaller now. Tastes a little different. Almost everything tastes a little different here, even the punch. Loved the punch. That's too bad. Bring back the old Islands where I actually could eat almost half of the cheesy fries.. now I can only eat about 1/5th of it because it's so dense.
(2)
Kent M.
My buddy and I sat at the bar because this is the location of the restaurant reserved for degenerates. Only wholesome families should sit in the general seating area. Anyway, there's not much to say about Islands. The burgers are rich and tasty and sure to add some extra calories to your day. The fries are good, and I THINK they're never ending. At least they used to be. I was too chicken to ask this time. So there's a life lesson for you: He who lacks guts to ask for more fries shall end up with NOTHING. Or at least no fries. Also, there was this guy at the bar hitting on a girl. This is one danger of sitting at the bar. Having to listen to guys hit on girls. Ugh, no one cares that you're a struggling artist trying to make it in the big bad world. Just ask her for number already so she can put you out of your misery, and the rest of us can go back to eating burgers in peace.
(4)
Sandra L.
My son and I have had a fixation on Islands for a whole decade (if the restaurant chain has been around that long). He grew up on the Hawaiian burgers and I never got tired of the Cobb salad. We love watching surfing / skating videos while enjoying the food. This is THE place for our mother-son quality time. We don't mind the occasional shouting of enthusiasm sport crowd neither...this is what Islands is all about. Thank you Islands!
(4)
Chuck D.
It had been a few years since I've been to an Islands and never to this location inside Paseo Colorado. We watched a film at the ArcLight and were both craving a burger and fries. Islands was the call. We waited about 5 mins before we were seated. I ordered a strawberry lemonade. Good flavor. I went with a burger I havent had in several years. I ordered the makaha. It's not on the menu. It's essentially a chili cheeseburger. So it's your regular Islands burger patty. It comes with chili, american cheese and onions. That's it.. No other vegetables. Just the way I want it. I went with white bread and ordered my burger medium well. It was good. But it wasnt as good as I remember it. I usually order a big wave with bacon & cheese. I think that's what the malibu is now and maybe I should've ordered that. But it was still good and I enjoyed it and the fries. Service was good. Friendly and attentive but not overly. We appreciate that. This is a good Islands location. Nice place to grab a bite after seeing a film.
(3)
Nijole T.
Even more than I hate fast food restaurants, I hate chain restaurants, TJIF, Chilis, Applebees, they all suck and are crowded at all times for reasons I do not understand. Islands reminded me of Cheeseburger in Paradise and Red Robin. All you can eat fries with your meal and $12 burgers=Red Robin Honestly we almost walked out since the Veggie Burger option was a Garden Burger, the salads also $12, so i decided on the pesto chicken sandwich with onion rings. The man got a burger, medium. Service was good and attentive, it was clean but still just not my kind of place. The rings were cold so he brought another basket which was a plus. Just like at other all you can eat fries places, you have to wait forever for your refill, so that by then you are done eating your burger and there is no way you'll wait another 15 minutes for a third tiny plate. Pathetic when you already know how they like to play it. In all, the food was fine, but $25 for two burgers i crazy, I'd rather go to any nice burger place in LA and get a organic, grass fed beef burger for that money!
(2)
Jim E.
So we are in Pasadena for the Flea Market at PCC and the wife has wanted to see a movie, Arclight is close but we have an hour before our movie starts and it is lunch time, Islands is right across the way from the theater so we go in and grab a couple of bowls of the Chicken Tortilla soup and a Chicken Quesadilla, it was right at opening time so there was no wait, our first Quesadilla came with no chicken so we sent it back and we were done with our first bowls of soup before the replacement came. As usual everything was good and tasty. It was a Sunday afternoon and for some reason they felt the need to put the same basketball game on every TV in the restaurant, some people like to watch the surf channel so maybe they could have a rule that any given game is only on a couple of the TV's, we were getting ready to leave anyway so it was not a major problem but some people just don't like basketball and being that it's called islands, the Surf channel should be required on at least a quarter of the TV's all the time...... Food was good, service was good, with the exception of our missing chicken in the first Quesadilla, 3 stars across the board.
(3)
Byron N.
If I were trapped in a deserted island, and Islands so happened to decide to franchise in this deserted island, I may never leave. Who would have thunk it that Islands, known for its burgers, has an exquisite happy hour! My biggest surprise on this Island was the wings. Who would have thought that an Island has wings? Buffalo only, yes, but it comes with juicy, soft meat. I was a little bitter that this Island takes money, and ~$8 at that, but I might give it a slide. Furthermore, there were DRINKS! I love drinks. I love more that drinks like margaritas, wells, among others, come at a reasonable less than $5 price. This is all I need for an island to win my heart, really. So if you, like me, are simple, then you would not be disappointed. Wilson, I think we might have to stop at this Island again.
(4)
Monica C.
I feel like I have to drop a star from the rating from the last time I was here. Why you ask? The service was terrible. Sat in the bar and could not get either one of the bar tenders attention. Even when I walked up and waved. They were more interested in gossiping with the other staff. Food was terrible. Sincerely disgusting. All we wanted were some burgers and tacos. There was a rotted piece of lettuce in my boyfriend's beer. That's just nasty. The server didn't even acknowledge it when we pointed it out. Fail. Go get burgers somewhere where the staff actually cares.
(1)
T H.
Delicious and very nice location. They provide 90min free parking validation in the shopping center. The kona pie is delicious. The Fries are bottomless but the onion rings and sweet potato fries are not. You can switch out any patty for vegetarian patty and bun for juicy lettuce "buns"
(4)
Lizbeth R.
Came with my boyfriend for a quick lunch last Sunday and man oh man where to start??! This was my second time trying islands just because I don't think their food is that good as people make it seem. I really wanted to like it but I didn't. We ordered 2 Big wave burgers without onions and cheddar cheddar fries. Waited for about 15 minutes for the food to come out and when it came I was disappointed. The cheddar Fries were cold as if they had been sitting on the counter for a while( the cheese wasn't even stringy) we ordered our burgers w/out onion && they had so much onion but that didn't really bother me. What bothered me was that out meat patty was burned!!! I thought I was going to have a juicy soft burger, but we didn't. Should've just gone to in n out. Anyways! Service was ok.... Probably won't come back unless someone gives me a gift card or something
(1)
Cal T.
Came here during a lunch break and honestly I think island just gets worse and worse every year. Food takes freaking forever and burgers are never cooked the way you want it. The fries are so oily and it was actually cold in some parts. Cups that your drinks are served in look like they been used for years and haven't been replaced. The table was sticky and trash was on the seats. I would think they would clean it or check for stuff before they seated us. Definitely will not come back and will not recommend
(1)
joanna g.
If you are looking for a restaurant where you are treated as customers should be... This is not the location you want to visit! We went here yesterday, Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy, which is surprising for Islands Restaurant. We were not greeted for at least 5 minutes. Once seated the server was quick to get over to get our drink order and then take our food order. The food came out fairly quickly, which was appreciated because we have a hungry 2 year old. While cutting her food I could see my husbands burger was oozing red; so I cut into it with a knife and it was raw on the inside. We alerted our server and she took the burger back to the kitchen and apologized. She was off at that point and we got a new server. When the new burger came there was a stick in it that said - Med-Well (as if maybe we had not ordered correctly in the first place???). If the original burger had come out medium as ordered it would not have been sent back. At the end of the meal the manager did take the burger off the bill without us asking her to do so. Our drinks were not refilled in a timely manner and on our way out we understood why... 4 of the employees were sitting up in the entrance having social time. Actually the girl who was serving us at the end got up and came to open the door for us. I'm glad there is another location close because we will just go there in the future.
(2)
Bryan M.
Stopped by for a few drinks before watching a movie across the way. Islands has a great drink menu. We didn't stay for long so I'm my next visit I'll be sure to update my review ;)
(4)
Jose J.
This is the second time we try this particular Islands just before catching a movie next door and the food has just been awful. Last night I had the black pepper and jalapeño crusted burger and it was so bad I left half of it uneaten. The flavor was just of burnt black pepper and so unpleasant I couldn't taste anything else. My wife had the mushroom and Swiss burger and it had no flavor. Meat must be seasoned with Salt as it cooks or it will not be flavorful at all. Service was slow, maybe because we sat at the patio, or maybe because there is no management watching over the place around 8:30pm. This is the second time service has been lacking. The only good thing about my meal was the tropical iced tea! Very disappointing for $12 dollars burgers!
(2)
Candace L.
I've been to this Islands location a time or two, maybe even three. It's located upstairs in the Paseo Colorado shopping area near the Arclight theatre, which also makes it a great option to grab lunch or dinner before or after a movie. There can be a wait sometimes but the service is always great. I'm a creature of habit and stick to the pipeline burger with a turkey patty on a wheat bun - always! I also love the applesauce. I only know about this one, because it comes with the kids meals but I now ask for it on the side sometimes. I love their endless fries, the second batch always taste better than the first.
(4)
April W.
In town for a convention with thousands of woman. Knew there would be a line. But we asked to sit at the bar. (Which was full) a waitress grabs us and says she has room in her section. She was super nice friendly & we had a wonderful quick meal. Then back to convention.
(4)
Alyss H.
Our server was super cool. We came during lunch and he helped me get my burger at the lunch specials price, nice! He also let us try a sample of a beer before committing to an entire pint. The food was good! We ordered the Malibu and waihea burger (limited time) and the 805. Pretty quiet on a Thursday afternoon. A little awkward when we stepped in and no one greeted us or seated us so we walked in a little and waited a couple minutes. Restaurant was clean, so were the restrooms. I really like watching the videos of the extreme sports. Soo cool!
(4)
Angelina L.
Food=Shwayze and omg sooo delish. I had the Kilauea, which is spicy. I don't like burgers too much but that was so much better than an In N Out burger cuz of the spiciness. I loved it. The red onion strings help a lot too. Yum. The only thing bad about this place was the service, it took ages to get our drinks, order, wait for ranch..at least it was my lil brother's birthday so his entree was free and the brownie was to die for~ Delicious crispy top. Best meal I've had in awhile. The wait was 20 minutes or so, not bad for a Friday night. Outdoor seating would've been no wait but I didn't want to freeze.
(4)
Austin S.
I more or less grew up on Islands. Throughout junior high and high school, me and my friends came here at least twice a month. Food and service is just really consistent. Yes this isn't the best burger I've had, but it's just good eating. It does suck that the fries are a la carte, but if you're with a couple of other people, it doesn't make that much a difference. I'm a sucker for avocados and guacamole. So I always get the Maui, which is the guacamole burger. I've gotten it for years and years and I would say 99 out of 100 times, that's what I get. Whenever you order the burgers, this is usually how it goes down... server: "what can I get for you?" customer: "I'll have the *insert name of burger*" server: "did you want a white or wheat bun?" customer: "white (or wheat)" server: the burger is cooked medium, is that ok?" customer: "yes that's fine" but when I order, this is how it goes down... server: "what can I get for you?" me: "I'll have the Maui on white (sometimes wheat), medium, with American cheese" server: *kindly jots down order* "alright..." see how much time I save everybody? Cut the order time in HALF!!! Oh, and the Maui usually comes with swiss, but for some reason I always get American. It's been so many years and I've ordered it the EXACT same way all this time, I've forgotten why that is. Oh, I think it's because back in junior high or whenever it was I didn't like swiss, so I always got American. So now my order is like a reflex. I also apparently inhale my burger. You know how most people here cut their burgers in half? They give you a "steak" knife so I guess subconsciously we just do it. Anyway, usually by the time my friends get to the 2nd half of their burger, I'm typically done. Good place to eat with good friends.
(4)
Thia G.
Our typical pre-movie dinner because it's next to the theater, it's not too expensive (i.e. Yardhouse) and it's tasty. I don't think I've ever had a burger here I didn't like. I've had all of them, and none of them have disappointed. I love the greasy fatty messiness of each one, and how you have to eat it really fast or else it'll fall apart on you. It's THAT kind of burger. My favorite burger is the spicy one (with pepper jack etc.). I'm also a big fan of the chicken tenders (with lots of ranch) and I LOVE the chili cheese fries here. I think I'm addicted... but I try to hold off on those b/c of caloric content, haha... Okay so the burgers are pretty expensive, like $8-9 for a single burger. I can deal though... they're all really tasty. Drinks here are meh.
(4)
marisa o.
I am seriously surprised that Islands only has an average of 3 stars. I honestly believe their burgers are the biiizzomb! They're juicy, full of flavor, and huge. Absolutely can't go wrong with the Kilauea and cheddar fries. I'd personally sub the unlimited fries that comes with your burger for a side salad, but the bf seems to have the "go big or go home" mentality, so we get the onion rings (also bottomless, I believe) instead. The helpings are big, so the bf and I only share those two items and are STUFFED.
(4)
Rene A.
I checked in just to check in. Not because its anything special..but it's certainly not the worst place for a burger either. Had not been here in a while. I see things have changed. Unlimited fries eh... I wasn't asked how well I wanted my burger cooked so I'm not sure if theyr'e overecooking all their burgers now or if it was just an oversight. My bad for not specifying too.
(1)
Elle T.
edit* This time (Nov 08), I actually ate inside! :) We had the hot wings, cheddar fries and I had the RIncon Burger. One of the best i've ever had! The Bleu Cheeseburger wasn't bad, either :) My waiter gave me one of the best eating experiences i've EVER had. He always noticed that I ran out of Coke, brought me napkins, extra wing sauce, blue cheese and ranch, and smiled every time :) Which one? The Asian guy; I forget his name :( but I recommend him! Frankly, my experience at Islands would not have been as fantastic (despite the fact that the food was great!) if it weren't for such a warm and friendly and dependable server! Thanks guy; you upgraded my review by a star! :) P.S. - everything is NOT a la carte; if you order a burger, you get bottomless fries with it. Can be sub'd with onion rings, etc. __________________________________________________Â______ We ordered buffalo wings to go during our lunch break. Note: Wings are more spicy, less tangy here. Different than what I'm used to, but still delish! They had them ready, but service took a while to close our check. Wings were good, but not the best I've had. Wingstop does it better, I say! Kinda Pricey... ~$10 for 10 wings + celery/carrot sticks. Since it's in the Paseo mall, you have to pay for parking; we just parked on the street and paid the "Pay Here" meter a quarter to pick up. Don't know that I'd come back here for wings, but maybe to try a burger next time.
(4)
Karen T.
I know, Islands? I only get one thing here, which is the mushroom and swiss burger on a wheat bun. I like that the burgers are fairly rare, even though they're supposed to be medium. I like the wheat bun option as well, something In-N-Out might want to incorporate. Generous with the mushrooms, which is highly important to me. So yeah, not bad. Other than that, the tortilla soup is decent, plus it's an endless bowl, so who can hate on that? I don't think outside of those two items and the fries have I tried anything else. Why bother? One star goes to the fact that they now serve fries with your burgers/sandwiches! No more of that a la carte b.s.! Basically, this is where I go if I'm up for that specific burger, otherwise I wouldn't bother. The music is sketchy (Matchbox 20 anyone?) and the knee length, khaki shorts with pleats are a grossly huge fashion faux pas.
(4)
Aaron C.
Islands is conveniently located in Paseo Colorado to offer all of us shoppers and walkers a good place to sit and grab a bite. The setting of Islands is very much like a Hawaiian surf turf, and I like that. There's usually a wait on weekend nights, but during the week its just fine. The burger quality here can be compared to Johnny Rockets, but with more creativity and unique. If I were to name one burger off the top of my head that would be the Maui Burger, If I remember correctly it was sweet, with teriyaki sauce and pineapples. It was pretty good. The fries here are above par as well. Definitely recommended for parties and get togethers.
(4)
Jaylee M.
My friends took me to Islands after we saw a movie. I had never been so I figured I'd give it a try. The staff was friendly and the place was tropical themed. The menu had an array of things, but mostly burgers, salads, fish, and chicken sandwiches. I had a burger. It was the Kaluaha burger I believe, spicy but good. Wasn't the best burger I've had but wasn't the worst either. The fries were good, they're all you can eat which my friends liked. Overall I liked the place, might go back, but wouldn't kill me not to.
(3)
Ron B.
I am kicking myself for going here. We were at Paseo to see a movie and Islands was just sitting there. There's usually a line so I figured it must be a decent burger. Just kept thinking of that "Ha-wai-in" burger from Pulp Fiction. So we went and I rue the day. The drinks aren't bad but nothing special. The chips were totally stale. The fries were dripping with salt. We had the aforementioned Hawaiian burger and it was dripping with grease and salty Teriyaki sauce. The burger itself was terrible and a little undercooked. And it was nine bucks. Who goes back to these places? Can we stop frequenting mediocre restaurants, especially with logical alternatives nearby? If no one would settle for crappy food, these places would shut down and other places would raise the bar. Then this place wouldn't exist and I wouldn't have been tricked into going here. Such chicanery. Also, I think I enjoyed the movie less because of this. At least it's healthy OH WAIT it's the worst thing you could put in your stomach that isn't sharp. They have outdoor seating. Why would you want to be seen eating Islands burgers? Please don't go. Can't give zero stars? Fine. One star for validating my parking.
(1)
Kevin T.
Islands is like the tropical cousin of all those other bar and grill restaurants like TGIFridays, Applebee's, and Chili's. Not a bad place to hang out with friends before a movie or after ice skating. But when I see the name Islands fine BURGERS and drinks, I guess I'm expecting a pretty damn good burger! Gotta say... not the case. I ordered the Rincon, which has guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss cheese, and bacon. The bun was a pretty plain white bread bun, and looked like the generic burger buns you get in your middle school lunchroom. There was not nearly enough guacamole on the burger... they'd dolloped a little half-dollar sized drop on it. Also, the burger was not HUGE. If I can fit a burger comfortably into my mouth without feeling like i have to unhinge my jaw, that burger either came from a fast food joint or is severely lacking in innards. Additionally, the fries were soft and bland too. Granted, I was pretty hungry, so I scared down that sucker in record time, along with 3 cups of super sweet strawberry lemonade. So refreshing. But not really worth the 15 bucks I spent there.
(3)
Maria L.
This Islands is located upstairs in the Paseo Colorado shopping Center.
(3)
A L.
I've been coming here almost on a weekly basis with my fiance, since we have a regularly scheduled meeting in the area every week. For the most part, walking in around 8pm, there's never too long of a wait, if there is one. Strangely enough, this past week, even with the huge downpour, the place was packed. Islands is of course, known mostly for their burgers. And their tortilla soup. MMM soo good! Totally not worth it to get the cup, definetly get the bowl! Even tho I never actually have to ask for a refill (the bowl is endless refills) I love that I get to decide when that party stops =) Things to note: 1) Kaanapali Kobb Salad - Wasn't feeling particularly hungry one night, so I opted to try one of their salads. I figured you couldnt go wrong with a cobb (or Kobb for them) salad...but it was just meh. The lettuce is your standard shredded lettuce and I couldnt even tell if they put avocado in there at all. Also, I would definetly recommend you ask for ranch dressing instead of their cobb dressing - their cobb dressing is very vinegar-y and i was really glad I asked for it on the side so I was even able to switch to ranch midway through when I couldnt take it anymore 2) Definetly try their toucan burger...it's basically their hawaiian burger but with chicken. Makes you feel a bit healthier...until you read all the calorie information they have printed on their menus, next to each item 3) They have a special 20% discount for Kaiser employees. Just show them your badge and you're good to go. Sometimes you have to remind them again when the check shows up but they're always quick to fix it 4) Endless Fries. 'Nuff Said
(4)
Mary B.
Very good burgers. Everything else average. The service is friendly, but slow and inefficent. We were offered a refill on "endless" fries after we had finished eating. The atmosphere is theme chain, with many tv screens everywhere.
(3)
Sam L.
Great service and all I can say is that they have the best BLT sandwiches!!!
(5)
Valerie J.
This is probably my favorite place to sit down and have a burger and fries. The burgers rock and you can get a wheat bun. I am a fan of any place you can get good guac on a burger. Plus, the fries are endless! The mangorita is awesome too. Tip: Try their AMAZING BBQ sauce on the side for dipping fries. Trust me, you will never go back to ketchup at this place.
(4)
Howard T.
Islands was a cool restaurant maybe 10-15 years ago, but they seem to be getting worse every year. PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU'RE ALL ANNOYED AT THE STUPID SURFING VIDEO THAT PLAYS IN A CONTINUOUS LOOP! My fav has always been the pipeline. Unfortunately all the Islands went with a different quality beef and cheap buns. Its just plain sad. The endless tortilla soup is not too bad. Everything is overpriced and the service has been horrible. (Especially in Irvine) This place has to be at the bottom of your list.
(2)
Mario P.
Rating it a 3 just because I thought the tacos where better than the burger... The marinade pork tacos where some of the best I ever had and the burgers where ok but then again I had the left overs from my kids.... I'll order one next time maybe it's cause I had the juicy pork flavor still in my mouth from the tacos... Just a burger next time and maybe ill change my rating...
(3)
Joyce Y.
3.5 stars Burgers seem to taste even better when you're famished! =) Islands Burgers are huge! And, yes, I conquered the entire burger. The meat is cooked medium (which makes it nice and juicy). You choose white or wheat buns (I chose wheat), comes with lettuce, mayo, tomato. Hawaiian burger includes pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and onions. It also comes with fries. Last time I went to Islands for burgers, I thought it didn't come with fries. Of course, that was a long time ago. =) Hawaiian burger is $10. Avocados or crispy onions is extra. (avocado - $1.20 for a slice). If you're in the mood for a good burger, Islands is a good choice! Not as good as Umami but actually pretty good for a chain!
(3)
Jessica W.
I say best burgers i have ever had, even though all the foods on the menu are quite pricey. It even tells you the calories which is pretty helpful. The fries are really fresh and i always order strawberry lemonade. The service is amazing here they really make sure you get whatever you need. I'm not quite sure why everyone else here says the service is bad. But maybe it's just me. Just heads up, they don't tell you you need to pay for the sour creme/ guacamole until later on. One of the bad thing is that the food takes forever to come out of the kitchen. But hey, that just means the cooks actually put effort into the foods to make them tasty right?
(4)
Peter M.
Great place to stop in before a movie at the Arclight. Delicious burgers, and love the tortilla soup. It's a classic spot in Southern California to dig in on some fries and burgers.
(4)
Roni R.
My colleague kept making me come here b/c she's a big fan of their nachos. However, recently I discovered their guilt free menu. Have you guys tried this? Veggies tacos for 400 calories! A turkey burger for about 600 calories plus a side. I'm just saying ... it's nice to have options and be guilt free. Usually I was not always so desirous of coming to this joint but recently ... I'm all about it!
(4)
Zachary K.
I had a long island iced tea. the drink was mixed perfectly. Too bad I can't say the same about the burger. I ordered the hawaiian burger and the pineapple looked almost black. There was this unexplainable taste that didn't sit well with me.
(4)
Jay H.
Burgers. Woo hoo. Whatever. $2.39 "endless mug of soda"...what a joke.
(2)
blahbla h.
Go to the Islands on Foothill, this Islands sucks. I use to go to Islands a lot and I felt the service at the Islands on Foothill is superior. My friends and I stopped going to the Paseo after going several times with repeated crappy service. I feel the food at the Foothill location is better, but the different is negligible.
(1)
L Y.
I've been to this Islands many times. I've seen them evolved from burger Ala carte to including the fries, endless fries, onion rings, and endless onion rings. I always get the Hula (mushroom & swiss) on a wheat bun. The taste is fairly consistent. There were times when it was a little on the bland side. I also noticed recently that they now add lettuce and tomato with your burger. All in all, it's a good place to go for a nice burger.
(3)
Sarah F.
I can't really understand why anyone would come here unless it were on a dare, or for an office lunch so that everyone could release the stress of the work day in a "tropical" environment over corny themed drinks and a corny themed menu. With tiki food that tastes like fat and salt. Anyway, I ended up here sort of by force (I was with a finicky lunch buddy who, inexplicably, chose Islands). In a state of duress (and over a mug of tropical iced tea) we ordered: 1. The Endless Chips and Salsa - Big yellow chips. Stale, stale, STALE!! The salsa was okay. 2. The BLT (I'm adding a G for grease) - this was the grossest BLT ever. How do you ruin a BLT? I'll tell you. Layer a mound of sopping bacon on a grilled-in-fat hamburger bun and then smear more grease on the top of the bun. *shudder* I only slogged through half before one of my aortic valves seized up. 3. The Chinese Chicken Salad - My friend ordered this, and ordered wisely I might add. This was the most edible thing on the menu. I ate a good portion of it, having only narrowly escaped my BLTG. So, if you want a reminder of why America is obese, park yourself into one of the booths at Islands. I will never, ever, ever come back here. Unless I hear the words "triple dog dare."
(1)
Stephanie T.
Came here for the 5-7pm happy hour for 1/2 price appetizers with a friend. Nothing to complain about. It's a chain restaurant, what could one expect? The burger with guacamole and the one with a slice of pineapple are good (forgot their names). Used to like a drink mixed with banana and chocolate, just like a banana split as I remembered it, but when I asked the bartender do they have it since I didn't find it on the menu she looked at me like I was crazy. But I DID remember they had a drink like that before....oh wells.
(3)
Elaine T.
Why is this place still so popular?? Who are these people who keep this place open?? Must be the teeny-boppers who have yet to discover what a REAL burger is supposed to taste like. Oh don't be offended tweenies- you've got it good: carefree days that end at 2:45pm. Lucky bastards. Anywaaaay...the boyfriend and I thought it would be kinda neat to revisit Islands for an afternoon lunch at the Paseo on Colorado. We both hadn't been back here since our high school days, so what the heck?! Should be as laid back as summer vacation just as we remembered right? No. Not when you're in your twenties. And not when you've tried burger joints like The Counter or Barney's (his fav in SF). Unless you're 13 years old, don't eat here. Try to preserve the image you had of Islands in your memory banks. It will NEVER again seem like the best local burgers. Never.
(2)
Aimee S.
I met my college roomate for the first time here. We had met online through the university's housing website and chatted a few times on the phone. We hit it off right away and we were both looking forward to transferring to UCSD and having some fun. For 2 years she was my partner in crime, shopping, drinking, dancing, laughing, studying, working buddy. It was also the first time I had Islands in my life. So this Islands has some sentimental value to me. I've been back a few times, most recently this past Sunday to send off one of my best dear girlfriends who was getting ready to pack up and move to Reno. 20 minute wait on a gorgeous late Sunday afternoon. The kind of afternoon you want to be outside to enjoy. Unfortunately, they weren't seating outside when we arrived. =( I always get the Maui burger with guacamole, lettuce, tomato on a wheat bun and well done. I want to know that cow is DEAD. It was as always, delicious. I've had the Hawaiian burger also, the one with pineapple and teriyaki sauce, and it's also good. But to me, guacamole beats pineapple ANY day. I used to live close to an Islands in San Diego and for awhile I lived off their cheese fries. Half off during happy hour! SA-WEEEEET! Enough cheese to upset the most tolerant of the Lactose Intolerant folk. Especially good with ranch dressing. Service was good, I didn't even have to ask for a refill of my Passion Fruit Iced Tea which was refreshing and tasty. We got our food pretty quickly and all went smoothly. I love their Lava Flow although not for the alcohol content. Its hard to not enjoy good burgers, fries and friends in a tropically decorated restaurant.
(4)
Jonathan D.
Went here last night with some friends to get some quick grub. I had a better experience here than I do at most Islands restaurants. I arraive late to my party, the wait staff took my food and drink order, and were able to bring all the food out on time and pretty quickly. food was okay, worth the price that you pay for it. Islands has some strange pricing in the burgers, down to the nickel. I'm sure there was a business decision long ago that makes it that way. We were also in a rush to they took care of the check in good time also.
(3)
Regina L.
My first introduction to Islands was at this location in my high school years and back then, my friends and I went here a great number of times. Now, for the most part, I do like the food at Islands but whenever I go to this location, I'm reminded with an unpleasant memory ingrained from my high school years: My two friends and I went there one night to eat dinner. One of my friends ordered the bottomless tortilla soup, which they refilled indefinitely every time it's empty. My friend and I took several tastes of his soup while we were waiting for our orders and the wait staff noticed that we were eating off of his soup. One of the wait staff said, " You can't share that soup. You can only taste and you need to order another bowl of it if you want to eat it." They made such a unnecessary scene out of it that three of the wait staff were paying attention to our table, seeing that we don't share the bottomless tortilla soup. It didn't say at all on the menu that we couldn't share and that's not the only thing we ordered. In contrast, as a college student, I went to the West LA Islands and I've shared a bottomless tortilla soup with another person. The wait staff there didn't seem to make a fuss about it. What gives?! Ageism at the Pasadena location or did the wait staff have something up their asses that day? Yea...That memory of mine is why I'm hesitant in going back here, unless if my friends really want to go here.
(2)
LISA B.
OK...WOW this experience was ooo that i had to review for others. Ok i love burgers don't exactly have time to eat around and know where the best ones are at. But when i think of ISLANDS I THINK MMMMM burgers! well that MMM BONER DIED!!! So much so because ..... I was with a group of four people we about to go see a movie 1) 2 orders of spinach art dip - Bleh this almost tsted worse than if it came out of a can. Not to mention some kind of weird spicyness to it that im sorry spicy who has ever tried spicy spin and art dip... (skip this item) 2) I ordered whatever the plain burger was and well wanted to add some guacmole (so wrong in doing that) adn wheat bread. ok so the burger was pretty much wheat bread and guac. barely could taste the meat i think it was in there. 3) bottOmless fries OK but they were all overcooked and crunchy ( i so did not like them) 4) the one estra star was for the onion rings ( they are NOT bottomless) but they are pretty good im very finicky on how i like my rings. They passed 5 people+ 4 reg burgers(1 person split)+ 2 art&spin dip+ only 3 lemonades 2 waters= $ 70 + tip wow \ not worth it at all. oh and the two toppers was 1) NO KETCHUP ON THE TABLE the waitress totally missed that 2) we were late to the movie so ya next time eat before the movie and not at ISLANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *******************ALOHA**************************
(2)
Paulo D.
I have always liked the Islands and this one is no exception. Shorebird chicken sandy is my favorite. As are the fresh cut extra crispy fries. Yummy...
(4)
Christina N.
I just want to say that this place is pretty good. I like how it's conveniently located in Paseo so I could just drop by after a movie or a shopping trip. I actually just went today, and the service was great as always. Our waiter kept on dropping by to make sure that our water glasses were filled and that our food satisfied us. Yes, the food was tasty, but the price was the catch. We ordered the chicken wrap which was about 8 something and that was decent but we also got chedder fries. Those were like 7 bucks and all they come with are fries with melted cheese on it. I understand that the name is "Chedder Fries" so that's what's included but 7 bucks is ridiculous! Overall, it was a great dinner. I would come again for the burgers because that's what they're famous for, but if I want fries, I'll just drop by in n out or something.
(4)
Kim B.
The burgers are good but the fries are great. I've been to this Islands location twice and have left full and happy both times. It's located on the 2nd floor of Paseo Colorado near the movie theatres so sometimes on weekend nights there are large crowds of rowdy teenagers hanging around, but thankfully they're not INSIDE the restaurant. A burger is easily big enough for 2 people to split and an order of fries could feed an entire family of 4. Service is good. Food arrives quick and piping hot. Make sure and get your parking validated too.
(4)
Coni F.
ok..We went to the trade show at the concentions center..At lunch time everywhere was crowded, so we decided to go Islands...There was a wait ,but we went to the bar and stood there until a table or barstool came available. ALong comes Dave the manager at that time. He bent over backwards to make sure we got a seating right away! He was so great with whatever we needed and was very nice and helpful and checked on us and made sure we got our food and drinks and he just could not do enought to make sure we were having a great experience! The food was fantastic as well.But Dave made our sore feet even feel better!! We are from OC but if we are ever back in the area, I will make sure we come to see Dave!
(5)
Lillian H.
I know this is a burger place, but I wouldn't not highly recommend any of the burgers here. There soooo greasy. I couldn't even finish mine, not because it was big, but because I was about to puke. I ended up asking for a bowl of lemon to make my stomach feel better. Or I would of hurled all over the place. On top of that, the service, it's OK. 1) because the booth walls are soooo high, the waiter may not even see you waving at them and 2) the waiters sometimes tend to either not, or pretend not to see you.
(1)
Irma E.
I'm a big islands fan!! I love Islands very much... their burgers are the bomb...their cheese fries...man oh man... The waiters/waitresses can use a little work but who cares I go there for the food and as long as they keep refilling my drinks I'm good!
(5)
Ami T.
Smaller and not as ambient. And they dont grill the garden burger, tastes microwaved. Parking is more difficult, but a fun date place to go if you are going around Paseo Colorado. =)
(3)
Tara B.
We only ate here because the person I was with didn't want to try new foods and this place was in their comfort zone. I had the burger with mushrooms and swiss (The Hula?) while my friend had a burger with guacamole and some other stuff. We both shared the chips and salsa, but I wished I ordered onion rings or fries instead. Overall this place is pretty good and I'd probably go back again if I was in the area.
(3)
Dylan B.
A crappy overpriced chain. Everything is a-la-carte including french fries. I felt like I was eating at Disneyworld.
(1)
Victor F.
Islands burgers is and always has been exceptional for it's burger, and because of the fries that now come with the burgers, that's an even better of a deal! The Hula burger is exceptional. If you're a mushroom lover, it's the one for you. The service is quick and the waiters are efficient. Keep in mind that these are burgers, and with burgers come the calories and the trans. fats and all the goodies that cause you to get the muffin top. These aren't for the faint of heart (literally).It's the sole reason why I've stopped eating breakfast; to enjoy an Island burger for dinner.
(4)
nar b.
I love the fact that they finally added fries to the burgers about 2 years ago maybe?? And now it's endless fries so it's perfect to share. I usually have a good experience while I'm at Islands but the last time I went, I was in a rush [went to watch a movie at the Arclight so I only had 1 hr to eat] and they took foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I finally got seated after waiting like 10 minutes when the woman said it would take 5 to be seated. We waited another 10 minutes and no waiter/waitress showed up. -_- We decided to leave and get something else. I was disappointed! I was looking forward to eating a burger, especially since I did not eat at all that day. Sooo as you can see I was quite grumpy and sad haha. But other than that, I would have to say... their food is good!!
(4)
Bo K.
One of the better Islands I've been to. Their burgers are great! Paseo Colorado has been getting better recently. Camille's Sidewalk Cafe opened downstairs, next to Gelsons, across Civic Center. After a meal in Paseo, I go to Camille's Sidewalk Cafe,order a coffee, and get some work done since they are the only store with free wireless connection.
(4)
Hobart L.
Big juicy burger. Love the burger and the atmosphere is friendly! Love my burger with swiss cheese and mushroom.
(4)
melissa m.
HUGE fans of the Turkey burger! Full of flavor and so many choices! It's a great place to dine but the take out is just as good. And you can order on line! The amount of food is ridiculous for the price! Great place for burgers!!! Turkey anyway:)
(5)
Tiana T.
Service was S-L-O-W! We were in there around 4pm and there was MAYBE a few other couples in there. Plenty of waiters but our Hawaiian burger and Cheddar fries and Tiki Tenders took about 45 minutes to come out. The food is nothing to get excited about but if you are hungry....you're hungry.
(2)
Astolfo C.
not happy with islands aside that my daughter loves there hamburgers she whent with her friend and they took her order wrong and replaced her hamburger and charged her for the extra hamburger and they made her pay for it and they are the ones that made the mistake. she came home upset. they took advantage of her and she still left a tip she was so worried. that was very unprofessional of the restaurant and will not let my daughter go again alone. i though my daughter would have bin treated a whole lot better then that i guess i was wrong.
(1)
Midori G.
I want to give them more stars because the service was pretty impeccable, even with a shift change over. I cannot however, because frankly I wish I hadn't ate there. They certainly give you a lot of food to make up for the flavor, so at least I didn't feel cheated for a $10 "crazy-named" tuna sandwich and soda (with refills).
(2)
J S.
At the Paseo mall. Basically trying to be an upscale American food restaurant (burgers and some tex-mex) We all had the soup. It was cold outside. Soup was just okay. Prices are typical ($9/person) Feels crowded and stuffy.
(3)
Lee H.
One of the better Island's locations out there! Right in Old Paseo across the way from Yardhouse AND the Movie theatre! Not to mention you can do all the shopping you need to downstairs! Oh and if you feel like going to a lounge/bar, just right up the street! Well back to the restaurant! Just like your typical Islands with the Island's theme decor inside! Nice coulple of tv's in the waiting area (although it is quite small) - bad on Friday's, Saturday's on the waiting! Cramped and full of people! Anyhow the food makes up for it! Whenever I go I either have the Sandpiper (Chicken Breast Burger with Cheese) or the Maui (Cheeseburger with Avacado)! REALLY good burgers! The fries are also very crispy and tasty - sometimes they can hold out on that seasoning they put on it! And the Tropical/Passion tea is the BEST! The service is always friendly and kind! The bar's not bad either if you and the friend's just wanna lounge! Don't forget to validate your parking ticket - and right next door is the movie theatre! Great easy-going date spot!
(5)
Thomas L.
Well I gotta give this place props for hiring my little sister. I guess I'll have to give this place a good review.... I love their bacon avocado burger. I think its called the Cali burger? Make sure you reserve a table because theres almost always a line during the wkend and holidays. They also serve some great liquer... I dont recall what I had exactly.. but they were tasty and did the job. Service was attentive and quick. I like the I Land decor, which definitely sets the mood for a Corona and a slice of lime on top... Remember to get a validation for garage parking.
(4)
Crystal C.
I forgot why I stop coming to this location and now I remembered. I had lunch here today with a few of my classmates. She really wanted a chili burger and then decided we needed to go to Islands (we were sitting in another restaurant originally). We were seated at a booth table next to the window. It's still the same setup and menus at the end of the table. They actually have this lunch menu now for $6.95 which you can choose from their Big Wave with cheese (the typical cheese burger), North shore tacos (2 chicken tacos), a Greek salad or salad and soup. My friends ended up choosing the pipeline, bigwave, north shore, and I got the hawaiian. My burger was super greasy and so was the others. I remember the food being alot better back in the days. But I guess they're having this promotion or something cause you get fries with your burger now. I guess it's something to help draw in more of a crowd? So, our waitress was nice but service was slow and not very attentive, it's still the same as it was before. I always end up going to the Foothills location but if the food is the same in all islands... ehh I'll pass.
(2)
Danny G.
My expectations of this place were in regards of the amount of clientele. I dint see why there was so many people. I could of gotten a better burger at In n Out. The fries were crispy and delicious though.
(2)
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Address :300 E Colorado Blvd,Ste 240
Pasadena, CA, 91101
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
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Felicia G.
Islands is the restaurant where you go with someone who isn't adventurous. Decent food and prices. My favorite burger is the Veggie Maui on wheat with fries. The service is pretty consistent and there hasn't been much of a wait, the times I have been there.
(3)J.P. B.
I've been a fan of Islands and their burgers for some time now. As the years have gone, they've added more variety of burgers... but I still go for my old favorites, the Hawaiian or the Maui. The cheddar fries are great for sharing. I also like the fact that you can substitute the burger patties and have a Turkey burger instead. This particular location is right inside the Pasadena Paseo, right across of the Arclight Theater. For the most part its clean and getting seats hasn't been a problem. Service is a hit or miss. Had come here and had great service on one visit. On another visit, they person just looked lost/nervous and had often forgotten to refill our drinks. So while the service is up in the air, I'm only really concerned with the quality of the burgers, which hasn't disappointed me in the years I've been coming here.
(4)Christina C.
The bad: - Don't get the soup. Came lukewarm. Cheese not even melted. Tastedlike canned soup. - bottom bun came super soggy--lettuce must not have been dried enough. - slow@$$ service. Husband ordered a second beer--didn't come for almost 20 minutes before the server realized he never received it. Also we asked for a refill on the fries. Again, didn't arrive until way later. Never asked me for refill on the endless soup (which I would've loved to let them know just how disgusting that soup was, so no thank you, I do not want a refill). - burger meat wasn't medium rare like requested. I didn't see a tinge of pink at ALL. The good: - chicken burger was super juicy. - top hamburger bun was a nice buttery crisp - fries were crispy, love the skin - nice selection of tea that they provide you with So while it is a 2-star review, we'd probably be back still for the fries and probably the generously-sized burger. Service just wasn't top-notch.
(2)Kathy A.
I was just here Wednesday night yesterday for my first time with out double dates and I am completely satisfied the Christmas looking light made the atmosphere a little different but I loved the tables that look like surfboards, I almost took them home, it's very surf like, beach crest like, and perfect lighting, since I don't like office bright lights. The wait was a little long, but our conversations were so great we were. Carried away, definately worth a wait like this, I had the Hawaiian burger, BLEW MY MIND!. I also liked the fact that the fries were unlimited and that was all the boys kept talking about on the way there x) parking is tough to find so land on a weekday. Great customer service making sure no one had allergies as well!
(5)Grace C.
I wish I could have given this a 5, but my experience didnt feel like a 5. Starting from the beginning, the guy at the front desk forgot to put down my name (which I was fine with, since he remembered us and he seemed new); however, the girl replaced him, while we were waiting, assumed we were with another group of people - she was going to seat another couple when we came in first until the guy from before mentioned my friend and I were a separate party. Maybe it's just me, but I really dont like it when people make assumptions. Anyways, the waiters were super friendly and nice - the one who took our order joked around with us, which was a nice change from just "what would you like? That's all? We'll be right back", and I asked them to lower the blinds since the sun was all up in my face (I believe we ate around 4pm, hence the sun) and they didn't stall or anything, they immediately went to close the blinds. Onto the food! It wasn't my first time at islands, so I already knew what I wanted. However, I was somewhat disappointed with their endless fries and burger. The bottome bun of my burger was sort of too hard to bite into (but it might also be because I had recently changed the wire for my braces), and my endless fries contained some really burnt pieces of fries and the portion seemed to have decreased from the last time I swung by here. Overall, I still like to come here for their mushroom burger (I totally forgot the name of it, lols).
(4)Melody J.
I think the staff could have been a little friendlier than they were, but the food was great. The waiter & greeter were a little standoffish but brought us what we needed in a timely manner.
(3)Lauren R.
I really like this place, and this location in particular. Yes it's a chain, which I normally like to avoid, but I've always found their food to be very good and I've always experienced excellent service. I've been here twice. The first time I got just their basic cheeseburger and endless fries, and the second time I got the fish tacos. The burger was solid. Not "Holy Amazeballs this is the best burger EVER" solid, but "Great job for producing a totally decent burger for a chain restaurant" solid :) And the fries are yummy. The fish tacos, however, were deliiiicious. I particularly loved whatever sauce came on the tacos. I squeezed the provided lime over the tacos and it made it so well balanced. Definitely getting those again the next time I'm there. I always come during my lunch hour on weekdays, and I always managed to get there just after 12:00pm, well before the really heavy lunch rush. So I'm not sure how having an extremely full restaurant affects the service, but my service has always been great. I've always been seated immediately and greeted by my server within seconds and attentively checks on me throughout the meal. The food comes out in good time and I can always get my check quickly as well. One major downside though. Ladies in heels: BEWARE. Since I always come in here during the workday, I pretty much always have heels on. Which don't exactly provide the best traction if you're walking on anything more slick than a sidewalk. The floors in this restaurant are SLIP-PER-YYY. I don't think I've made it more than a dozen steps into the restaurant without feeling one of my feet slip out from under me, and then I have to tippie toe on the balls on my feet while walking so I can keep my weight forward and not slip again LOL. But I'm definitely coming back! And perhaps packing a pair of flats for the occasion...
(4)Amy T.
Good food and service. Noting extraordinary. But predictably good. Their endless fries is a pretty good deal and service is decent.
(3)Leo C.
"Cowabunga!" Where else can you enjoy tasty burgers and watch surfing videos. I've been coming to Islands restaurants for years. The burgers are tasty, prices are affordable and you get friendly service. It's a laid back casual environment with cool Hawaiian beach decor. Fun place to enjoy fresh, delicious food with friends and family. I like coming to the Pasadena location for lunch cause it's close to work. Lunch time is usually crowded so instead of waiting for a table I sometimes eat at the bar. Great attentive service and you get to sit in front of two 46in flat screen TVs. Surfing videos on one side and NFL football on the other. How cool is that! Islands is known for great tasty burgers, my favorites are Point Break and Mavericks burgers. I ordered mine on a wheat bun with apple-wood smoked bacon or Island Reds(crispy fried red onion). Both so juicy and amazing served with their endless island fries. Island fish tacos are also good. The crispy fish with chipotle-white sauce and pico de gallo is so flavorful and excellent. Make sure to accompany that with their island brown ale for a perfect island meal. Happy Hour is also awesome and a great deal. Tues,Wed,Fri 4pm-7pm and Mon-Thurs 4pm-closing. Beer - $2.95, Tropical Drinks - $4.25 and Wine $3.95 I definitely be back, especially for happy hour. Parking at Paseo /with 90 minute validation
(4)Ana B.
Quicker service @ the bar when in a Rush, great drinks, awesome fries. For lowcarbers ask for the protein platter.
(5)W.D. M.
Came here with the lady. All of the staff members were friendly and very helpful. Our waiter was nice and efficient. We ordered dessert to go. I've had it before so I know it's going be good when we get home.
(4)Rebecca T.
ONLY FOR DRINKS The Tropical Breeze is a refreshing drink for hot summer days. My drink was quite strong, fruity and not too sweet. I enjoyed it. However, my friend's pina colada was pretty disgusting as they put very little alcohol and excessive coconut cream in the drink making it like a thick dessert than a drink! I guess it really depends on whether you have a good or bad bartender that day. But this is probably a good place in Pasadena if you want a tropical drink in the summer! They have a few tables outside the restaurant, which is tucked into the corner, and you could only see people walking up and down the stairs and coming in and out of the elevator, which makes it not too interesting to people-watch while sipping your drinks. So, just keep talking to your friends!
(2)Jeannette G.
The Maverick burger with bottomless fries is great! Their happy hour is one of the better ones out there too. $2.95 for a beer is not bad at all. The staff is always nice and accommodating to requests such as additional salsa, etc. Having chatted with the manager about the Islands specialty brews, I learned that Firestone brews their IPA - pretty cool.
(4)M M.
Stopped here after shopping... expected a quick bite to eat on the way home. Well.. staff was a bit non chalant for my taste. Took quite a bit for a server to take acknowledge or take my order. The food was ok. I ordered the "classic" no cheese and an iced tea. The rave is the all you can eat french fries.. they only put a few on your plate so I guess you have to keep asking.. (Not!!) No repeat, here.
(3)Peter C.
It had been a really long time since I visited Islands, so Mrs. C and I decide to take a break from cooking and go out for dinner. The menu has definitely been updated and expanded. The prices are a little bit higher, but fries are included so I think it averages out to be the same. I got the Malibu burger, and was VERY happy. Bacon so large it's hanging off the sides, American cheese is nicely melted, tomatoes and lettuce are cool (not room temperature), but the bun is warm. While the Counter offers a bazillion combinations, I actually prefer this style of choosing from 8 or 10 menu burgers. The only downer was that the fries on my tray seemed to have a lot of the ends, which had about zero taste and of course get overcooked as the normal french fries get cooked properly. Our server, tho, happily got us some new ones, and the service was the star of tonite's dining out. Heather got our drinks and THEN got me refill on my iced tea without me having to wave her down. I was staring at an empty mug and about to test my mind-control ability to melt ice, when she sets a refill right in front of me. Thanks! Our runner dropped off the food and about a minute later, Heather checked on us to make sure everything was to our liking. I love it when servers check on you right away, rather than you finding out there is something wrong with your order and then having to wait 10 minutes to explain it. I also saw what looked like manager walking the floor, chatting up customers and making sure people were happy. It was nice to see them do that, rather than hide somewhere in the back. We landed on $30 for 2 people, with tip included. Gordon Biersch might be my current favorite burger and fries place, but it's kind of not even a fair fight with those weapons-of-mass-destruction garlic french fries they serve. But Islands is a not-too-shabby second place and it's closer to my part of town, so it's nice to have a choice.
(3)Laura S.
Busy place. Good lunch deal. $7.99 deal KP gets discount on regular meals. SERVICE: I've gotten attitude from a waiter before. So I'm not cool with someone being sarcastic with me. Not cool. This place is busy very often. Not worth waiting tho... I'd rather wait at Pie N Burger. At least the ladies are really nice there (but they only take CASH ONLY there). FOOD: The lunch specials are ok but good deal. Bottomless fries are good. LOCATION: Found in Paseo Parking free for two hours validation underground Lots of shopping nearby Near Arclight Overall... not worth the attitude I got.
(1)Sima P.
We came in at 7:45. It's not 8:23 still haven't received our order. I've been here multiple times, but today they are exceptionally slow.
(2)Joelle G.
Ok, so as a last minute meal before heading to the airport to come back home, ended up at this cute, applebee-esque restaurant in Pasadena. I like my non-chain places like whoa, but applebee's does have good drinks, and this place did as well, yeah! The appetizers and some entrees during their happy hour were under $5 and they usually go for $8-11, so we had a great meal deal going. Buzzed and happy, is there any other way to be?
(4)Neil G.
First time at Islands and I have to say it did not disappoint. I came here with a few friends after finding out that the restaurant next door has an hour and a half wait time! NO WAY! so, since we really wanted to get some grub before watching a movie, we decided to go to Islands. A hawaiian tropical theme will greet you as you enter this place, friendly receptionist awaits and will seat you so that you can get comfy while waiting for your assigned server. A very nice gentleman with a very interesting name (so interesting and unique that it did not register in my brain *grin) helped us get our order going. I will review the food based on what I had and service experience. I have to say, Their Kilauea burger almost made me dance the hula! It was wonderfully done, cooked as requested. The juicy medium rare patty was nicely seasoned together with some jalapeno slices that really gives it an extra pow! It really satisfied my burger cravings. The never ending fries was a really cool touch too but seriously? Can you really eat more than a whole platter of fries with a giant burger and an ice cold bottle of New Castle? ( that's really asking for indigestion my dear lol) It was a good simple dinner, nothing fancy, laid-back and relaxed. A few big screen to your left and right with entertaining scenes of surfing and beach life around the globe. This joint successfully delivered what they are trying to sell, a relaxed fun under the sun burger joint with delicious food and friendly service. Surf's up dude!
(4)Ross V.
You know... back in the day I would go to islands and the hamburger patties were thick and juicy. That was over 2 years ago... Now they're thin?? Wow Minus two stars for that !!
(3)Blair F.
Sometimes the service sucks but the foods pretty good.
(3)Jason R.
I like the burgers here....ice tea is delicious too...never much of a wait friendly staff and great place...salads are good and deserts great...
(5)Peggy Y.
Today's review's based on my 2 times experience. Food is very average. I think I enjoyed my bf's friend's side of fries more than any entrees. Everything looks better than it taste. I ordered the Nachos and the chips were way too crispy (it tastes like they have been deep fried for too long? Don't know if that make any sense). My bf ordered the Chicken wrap which was ok but a little on the dry side to me. Didn't try my brother's sliders but they looked mediocre. I am a picky eater, and not a big fan of chain restaurants including fast food (McD is an exception but I rarely eat there either). With that said, I must say the service was friendly, our waiters and manager were attentive. We were only impatient because we had to catch a movie but for the most part she came to check up on us 3 times. To me it's a little overboard because I like to be left alone unless I need my water refilled. But I think for others they would appreciate it. Wait was only 15-20 mins on a Saturday night. A lot of people ordered tacos and the endless fries. I know I probably should go with the burger but with my recent attempted diet I decided to skip on that. The salad looked pretty good though from the other table and a huge portion too. Tab came out to be $40 including tax a trip, no alcohol, 1 smoothie. I wish there were more options around but I strictly came here because of convenience. Will to eat elsewhere before coming to the movies next time.
(3)Ellen C.
I've been here countless number of times in the past. I made it back here recently when some friends were in town. We wanted a place that was nearby, had alcohol, and food. I ordered the Bleunami (Bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomato, red onion & crumbled bleu cheeseburger) and T ordered the Kilauea (Jalapeno & black pepper crusted burger w/ pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli, lettuce, and tomato). The burgers were tasty. Don't you just love the names (play on words) of the burgers?? I liked T's burger more because of the kick from the jalapeno. Our one friend ordered the Hula (sautéed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, swiss & mayo). He complained that the mushroom sauce was making his buns soggy..it was really soggy!! Quality is alright. I prefer the Counter in Pasadena. It costs about the same. The boys were enjoying watching sports and I liked my Longboard on draft. It's a chill place to have a beer and some casual food. It's even better during happy hour.
(3)Anne C.
Islands food is usually good, just not at this Island in Paseo Colorado. I ordered fish tacos. The fish was not seasoned well and the sauce was tasteless. My tortillas were uncooked and cold. The waitress delayed following up to service (refills, etc)
(1)Raymond F.
Beer is cold. Menu is okay Service was a wave (some highs, some lows), overall okay
(3)Benjamin C.
Way back in the day I used to really not like islands because you had to buy the fries separately. Now you get them with your burger. The fries are my favorite part of islands. I usually order the teriyaki burger with pineapple which is tasty, but I try to fill myself up with the fries.
(3)Dave H.
Tasty onion rings. Booze. Decent burger patties. Met at Islands in Old Town Pasadena for dinner. For those who don't know, there are many Islands (!) on the West coast. It wasn't crowded for a Saturday, and we only had to wait ten minutes to sit. Their bar wasn't too full, just the booths. Speaking of the bar, draft and bottled beer are available, and light, fruity froufrou drinks, too. Islands is apparently known for their hamburgers, so I tried one. A friend recommended their Hawaiian burger ($9.49). The patty (cooked medium) was topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, Swiss, and mayo, along with a slice of pineapple and teriyaki sauce. I asked for white bread, and got a scary, flaky McDonald's-esque bun. Thankfully, the patty was nice and moist. The teriyaki was strong and surprisingly sweet. Server Thomas checked on us frequently, and was good at up-selling (thanks for my fellow diner for uttering the word) - we even gave our compliments to his manager. I love Islands's gimmick of endless fries - how many can you really eat? - but try replacing fries with onion rings: endless crunchy, tasty rings? I'll be doing that next time!
(4)Vanessa P.
I've always heard about islands and how good it was so today I tried it for the very first time and all the hype was true! The Maui Burger is amazing, especially if you're a guacamole lover. The spinach and artichoke dip was just as good too. And to top it off the service was excellent. Definitely coming back!
(5)Charlie C.
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(1)Martino B.
good service; food is awesome. cool servers . inexpensive and filling. however the food does take a while, and there are no wall plug ins which seems kinda ridiculous for a restaurant. however other than that everything is pretty cool
(4)Trinh L.
Good service, good price for burgers. They were so good ! & endless fries what a deal ! The drinks are so good ! There strawberry lemonade are soo good & to die for. Would love to come back again
(5)David C.
Decent burgers at decent prices. The portions are well-rounded, and you can pretty much get as custom as you want when it comes to toppings. There is always a wait on weekends, and the service is often subpar because they seem to be short on hands. PROTIP: Try the guac in your burger, you won't regret it.
(3)Oliver K.
How fucking hard is it to NOT put a fucking lime in my drink? God damn simpletons! A gin and tonic, no lime. Is that so fucking hard? Apparently the crew here can't handle such a complicated request. Idiots!
(1)Samuel B.
Just want to point out for the record that in addition to their delicious burgers, Islands' serves some tasty tacos too. This revelation struck me over the weekend when I came to this location with a friend. Highly recommend the Yaki tacos (diced chicken in a soft taco with lettuce, teriyaki sauce, pineapples, and other ingredients too - very good) or the Island Fish tacos (fried fish in a soft taco too with lettuce, spicy sauce, lemon, and other ingredients - yum). Island's also has other taco selections. Any order of three tacos should fill you up easily. Also recommend their cheddar fries with bacon and sour cream as a starter too. Having these tacos with an ice cold IPA while watching some NCAA basketball games on one of their many plasma tvs, truly felt like being on a paradise island. Service was great too. Enjoy!
(4)Chauntel B.
Love it here for drink and fries.. Burgers are decent and its a great place fro kids. I love ordering the fish bowl drink! :)
(3)Preston W.
Food is pretty good. The bad part about Islands is the service. It is either pretty good or it is bad. I always enjoy going to this restaurant. I love their shakes here. The burgers here are pretty good. I also like their Tiki Tenders. I chose 3/5 stars because this place isn't my favorite but it's not that bad besides the service
(3)Kat K.
I really like Islands. I really want to like this Islands, but something always happens to keep me from 4-star liking it. Most often it's slow service or just lackadaisical attitude, but last weekend the boyfriend got splashed with unfinished cheese sauce from another table after a busser dropped one of his dishes right by our table. Poor server was probably flustered but really, ew. In any case, here are some food recommendations despite their inconsistent service: Cabo Loco Tacos if you're not in the mood for burger Hawaiian Burger just because I like sweet and pineapples in my food Kilauea if you're in the mood for SPICEH Cheese Fries, and ask for bacon Also, this restaurant gets busy in random waves but I never had to wait more than 15-20 min for a table.
(3)James d.
Everyone knows what this place is about. If you feel like having a burger this place will do the trick. The 5 stars aren't about the food though, it's about the great service me and my lady just received here. Kai (I think that's how it's spelled) was on point. He was entertaining, quick, friendly, and accurate with the orders. Everything you could ask for in a server. Thanks again Kai.
(5)Angela M.
If you're craving a fat, juicy burger, then Islands is the place! My husband and I wanted something a bit fancier than In-N-Out so we came here. I love to order their cheddar fries. They were so good that I was surprised at how much we devoured. As for burgers, I usually order the Hawaiian burger which comes with pineapple. It's a sweet-tasting burger. However the teriyaki sauce dribbles off the side and creates a huge mess. This time I ordered a Maverick because of the zesty BBQ flavor. My burger was neatly stacked and tasted so delicious! My husband ordered the Maui burger because of the guacamole and he loved it! I also like how you can custom order your beef patty from rare to well done. I requested medium rare. My patty was crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. You can also request a turkey or veggie patty for free of charge. Islands has great customer service! They always come back and ask if you need anything such as refilling drinks, etc. I've been going to Islands for years and it's definitely one of my go-to places for "fine" or fancy burgers.
(5)Julia H.
Been to this restaurant a couple times and the best thing about this restaurant is the location. It is on Colorado inside the Paseo Colorado mall with free parking (1.5 hour free parking). For the most part, the food is over-priced standard american burgers. They used to have a really good happy-hour special of 1/2 appetizers and cheap well drinks which is now gone. However, if you have kids or a large party this place is good. They are usually very accomodating.
(3)Kathy C.
I ordered a turkey burger with onion rings. The patty was completely burnt. I don't understand how the cook in the kitchen would feel comfortable sending out a meal that is completely singed. The waiter was apologetic and sent the burger back, but didn't attempt to comp the entree or anything of the sort. The second time my burger was brought out, the patty was slightly less burnt but still burnt nonetheless. High five on sending out inedible food, Islands.
(1)Becca L.
Really great, friendly service considering my group only ordered two burgers, a milkshake, and a plate of fries between the seven of us.
(4)Akemi I.
I went to this Islands more frequently back during high school and never had a problem with their food before but for some reason, the last time I went about 2 weeks ago, it was no bueno. On my most recent trip, the whole place had a strong BO smell. Mix that up with the general smell of grilled and fried foods...yuck! I ordered the tiki tenders while my friends ordered burgers. The chicken tasted fine, but that night I felt sick and threw up the entire meal. So yeah, it was a bad time :( I think it was just the chicken that was bad since the rest of my friends were fine. I'm not sure if this is a consistent issue, but I'm not willing to give it another shot. Not for a long time...
(1)Jackie W.
Screw you Yardhouse for your happy hour for lasting only until 6PM. Who the heck can go to happy hour at 3PM? Ridiculous. Thank you Islands for saving my Thursday night. 1/2 off appetizers Monday-Thursday, 4-7PM. And on the night I went, it was a comped meal!! I love Islands!!!!
(5)Mary L.
Just tried the Chinese Chop Salad, I think I just found my new obsession! The service is just average
(4)Valentina L.
always a fun time, great food
(4)Carissa U.
What the heck happened? I used to LOVE going to Island's and getting the same thing I always get: Hula burger (veggie patty) on wheat. This time with onion rings. The only thing that saved this place was the onion rings. I went with a couple of friends and had a sampling of their fries and spinach dip. Fries were not good at all and the dip was so bland. I was just glad the onion rings were bottomless as well. Maybe it's been awhile but I could of sworn that the mushrooms in my burger were from a can. YUCK. Ugh... safe to say I won't be coming back here anymore...
(2)Cindy L.
This review is strictly for their happy hour: 3.5 stars, rounded up due to impeccable timing in saving my Happy hour date. Popped into Yard House at 5:30pm on a Friday hoping to catch the tail end of their amazing happy hour, but total fail: there were SO many people there that the wait would've been over 30+ minutes, hence, not in the happy hour bracket. Luckily, Islands to the rescue. Happy hour, Monday through Friday, from 4-7pm (1 hr longer than Yard House) at the bar area + I believe the patio too. Half price appetizers, $1 off alcoholic beverages & free unlimited chips + salsa! We got lucky and snagged a table in the bar area. The order: Buffalo Wings: About 10 wings with ranch dressing & carrot/celery sticks, pretty delicious. Probably from a box, but I inhaled them nevertheless. Beachside sliders: 4 sliders, cooked to Islands standards. Very greasy buns. & unlimited refills on their Strawberry Lemonade! Total price for everything above: $13! Cheap! Their happy hour food selection is not as extensive as Yard House, but it's really really cheap for a meal & the service was really excellent. Don't forget to validate for free parking before you go!
(4)Anthony D.
The best service, thank you Elliot. Excellent turkey longboarder.
(5)A N.
loved it!!!
(5)Mark G.
After I bought my new iphone at the Apple store I decided to have my favorite soup. Islands all you can eat tortilla soup. Being that it was a cold and rainy day today this was the perfect thing to have. The soup is very tasty, not salty and it also has small bits of avocado, chicken, cheese and it's toped with thin crispy corn tortilla slices. The first bowl you get is a large one and each additional one is a small bowl. After having 3 bowls I was ready to bear the elements outside. Their hamburgers are good but here I'm always a creature of habit and I love their tortilla soup. It has healing powers on a cold and rainy day.
(4)Robert G.
Came in to visit my little brother. He works as a server here. I got the Big Wave lunch special and as always the food was amazing. I made sure and got a refill on my fries, soooo good. In and out within 40 mins, well fed and got to visit with my bro for a bit too. :)
(5)Jeremy S.
went to this islands with my cousins. We had burgeres, tortilla chips, and fries. It was really good and the server was really nice. I love that the burgers come with unlimited fries as well.
(4)R T.
Went here before the movies at Arclight. Hula burger is a must! It had been a while since I had been to an island and it was as good as I remembered. The endless fries are addict ing. Fish tacos are light and perfect. But really everything you order will be good!
(4)Margaret H.
My family likes to eat at this location after enjoying the movies. It was empty on a late Sunday evening but our water was never refilled and the waiter took away our appetizer when it was half-eaten. Sliders were slimy with overcooked onions. Cheddar fries were dry with hard cheese. The drinks - from smoothies to premade sugary concoctions - were all horrible and the new redesign with a TV screen in every view was distracting. We will not be going back next time. There are other establishments next to Arclight Theater to enjoy.
(1)Patrick P.
I don't generally head out here, mainly because there's another Islands ( yelp.com/biz/islands-pas… ) closer to where I live that doesn't have to worry about parking fees. But here's the impression I got from my last visit to this particular location. Our party of 5 adults and 2 kids came here for dinner yesterday. There was a bit of a wait to get seated, but managed to finish dinner and get back to the parking lot in just under 2 hours (the amount of free parking you get if you get validation at the Macy's here in Paseo Colorado). Woohoo! Service here was amazing. Friendly and efficient. Never had to ask for refills once. Generous portions for their endless fries. Here's a generous tip to you, waiter guy!!! Ordered the Kilauea Burger. Large size. You can definitely taste the strong seasoning of black pepper. I'm not really a fan of onions but the Island Reds in my burger is one of the rare exceptions where I enjoy how it's prepared. If it weren't for the parking situation, I'd give this restaurant 5 stars.
(4)Maria A.
Oh Islands, how I dream of you. A maui chicken burger on a whole wheat bun and some fries- HEAVEN! But... WHY did you have to include calories on your menu? Now i don't know if I could return knowing that my meal of choice surpasses my daily caloric amount. I'm not obsessed with calories, but 1500+ calories on one sandwich is definitely something to make note of- it will haunt me forever :(
(5)Jim T.
Island's tries to be like Tommy Bahama, but not nearly as good. But the lunch was decent and the location is good off Colorado Blvd.
(3)Michelle L.
Parking isn't all that hard to find in the structure underground. I believe it's $3 a hour. You can also get 2 free hours if you get it validated by shopping at Macys or watching a movie at Paseo Stadium. Spent 4 hours here & parking was $6. All Islands are decorated nicely, they look just the same because it's the same exact theme. My boyfriend & I ordered the Tiki Tenders $6.89 & Sunset burger $7.29 along with 2 Strawberry Lemonades. At first I ordered their Passion Fruit Iced Tea but I didn't like it at all, I asked the waitress if I could exchange it for a Strawberry Lemonade & she had no problem doing so! I love the service here. Food finally came, time to chow down! Tiki Tenders came with a dipping sauce & we chose ranch. The chicken itself was beyond plain, it wasn't flavored enough but it was perfectly crispy. Ranch made it taste good, I don't think I would've survived eating it without some ranch! Sunset Burger, my FAVORITE burger to order here. I've been meaning to try the other burgers but in the end I always settle for this one. The fries it comes with are so delicious! It taste just about the same as In-N-Out fries except these are bigger & thicker. Total came out to be around $24.
(5)Diana Jeanne N.
I come here once i a while so everything here is very good to me. I ordered the cheese fries and bbq salad for my cousin and I to share. There were leftovers, too!!!! It's delicious here if you're craving some regular American food!
(5)Kenny H.
I came to this location for the first time tonight because I had a gift card. I got the Pesto Paradiso, which was a chicken burger with pesto. It was very messy, but the size was hearty. The fries it came with were dependable and acceptable. The service was fine. Like most chain burger places, it's OK.. nothing amazing, but it's steps above a fast food place (well, it should be for what you're paying! ~$9-11) The Paseo location is nice. It's next to the Arclight theater and would make for a fun place to eat while shopping or before/after a movie. You get 90 minutes free parking with validation. If you go into Macy's, you can get 2 hours free validation there. Anything over that, you have to pay.
(3)Juliana Y.
havent been here in soooooooooo long forgot how amazing they were.. i had to go out with a bang! b/c im trying to cut down on fries.. and they have their endless fries.. chips n salsa.. so had to come here before i have to hold back.. everythin was delicious.. hope i can come back here soon
(4)Paul H.
Bad ventilation. Could it be an island among smokestacks? But not as bad as most Chinese restaurants. Food is marginal. Meat is dry as jerky/not even rubber chicken. Endless fries? Forget it. It stops you within a bite or two. My son was pounding it into a table like a nail and the fry wouldn't budge or break. Service is decent.
(2)Bugal K.
eh... its islands.... Hula burger with extra shrooms...... HMMMMMMM!!
(3)Steve G.
Great service, great food, love it.
(5)Elaine Y.
Typical food, but service makes this place a go to when we're at Arclight. Cheapest eats around there that's not food court.
(4)Linda C.
my husband and i were grabbing a quick bite before our movie at the arc light. we had other options but wanted something quick. we were reminiscing about going to islands in the past, how it was one of my first restaurants with my friends without parental supervision in HS in the hasting's ranch location. i thought to myself, wow, my tastes has matured quite a bit since then. but my husband brought to light what really has happened: island has kept the same menu and same standards for the past 15 years. and unfortunately for them, the gourmet burger industry has been raising the bar over the past 10 years, esp the past 5 years. but the service is still nice and friendly, sadly the food/menu needs a make over.
(2)Tatiana T.
The hostess Brittini was super sweet and the servers are always friendly! Food is so good! Burger, fries and iced tea are always a great combination. You can never go wrong with coming to Islands!
(5)Carpus T.
Excellent service. I ordered a Big Wave with cheese off the lunch special menu and it was everything that I expected. The patty was tender, the fries were crisp, very well worth my money.
(5)Cindy L.
My friend was craving a burger, so we went here. We got artichoke and spinach dip and a kilauea burger. The dip was so bad. It was very strongly cheese. I love cheese, but I felt like there wasn't enough artichokes and spinach. Somehow, the taste and smell of it made me feel a little queasy. For the burger, we substituted it for a veggie bun. It was alright. This is definitely one of the less tasty Islands I've been to.
(2)Mark R.
I had one terrific burger (Big Wave) and the wife really enjoyed her mahi mahi sandwich. Jennifer T. was our waitress and provided the best service we've had in ages (thank you, thank you).
(5)Brian Y.
I was really craving a burger and fries. The fiance suggested we go to Islands to satisfy the craving. Got the guacamole burger (forget the name) with endless fries. The endless fries are AMAZING. Before you had to order them a la carte, but now the burger comes with them, and they're endless. Can't beat that! Make sure to give yourself high blood pressure and top it with some extra salt for that great taste!
(4)Kayte H.
Islands is perfectly fine. It's a chain restaurant with chain food and chain prices. You know what you're getting, you know the staff will be friendly, you know there will be surfing videos or whatever popular sports game is happening at the moment on the TVs. If you have ever been to Islands but *haven't* ordered a Cola Lime Ice for your drink--listen to me: you're wasting your life, and you need to get your ass in gear RIGHT NOW. It's ice blended with lime syrup and Coca-Cola syrup. (Drink it before it melts too much.)
(4)Wilson T.
Islands has always been the "go to" place to catch up with my old high school group of friends. We came here right before graduation, the remaining days before we all went our separate ways, and now we come here every so often when we get the chance. This Islands will always hold a special place in my heart with fond memories. The wait for a table was pretty consistent for a Friday night; not too long, enough time for everyone else to arrive on time. We were served with haste and I must say the fries and onion rings were just delicious. The burgers were alright, better than your usual fast food joint. What I kind of don't like about Islands burgers is that they seem to be like those overly stuffed burritos where once you take a bite pieces of it start dropping or coming off. The only problems we encountered throughout the whole night was that they forgot to add a slice of cheese on one of our burgers. I also didn't like how the waiters were kind of stingy on refilling our fries or onion rings. It says "unlimited" on the menu and I do expect that we get unlimited rings or fries until we are satisfied. Perhaps we should try this when they aren't too busy? The food and memories makes me come, however the service makes me rethink about my decision to come.
(4)Joanna L.
Very yummy! Burgers are a bit pricey, but I guess they're "gourmet" so :l It has a nice atmosphere if you sit next to a window, otherwise, it's kind of dark (since they serve alcohol and it goes for the "bar" style) Service is pretty good. Refills water and such consistently. Very nice place. I went before ice skating - 'twas a good meal before a crazy exercise.
(4)Mary C.
I don't know what to make of Islands. It's a subpar burger joint with tropical decor. There was nothing spectacular about my experience here. Apparently, they have a good happy hour deal, but we were too late for it. I had a burger with swiss cheese and mushrooms. I can't remember the name of it because all their burgers sound the same. They are named after something Hawaiian. It was just alright. Nothing awful, but I won't go out of my way for it. It's like a marriage between TGI Friday's and Margaritaville. Just not my cup of tea. Very corporate. Very unhealthy menu. Service was pretty good. Got out of there fast and onto my movie next door. The server refilled our drinks a bunch of times, so that was nice. Other than that, the experience was totally unremarkable.
(3)L. T.
The burgers and endless fries are great but it is pricy for that type of food, I rather have in n. out. But the tortillas soup is pretty good too.
(3)Mark S.
It was okay food; I really don't have much to review as it was mediocre chain food.
(2)Allison W.
YUMM everyone is soooo delicious! If you like soup try their tortilla soup!! If you finish your soup, they give you a refill on it! WHAT! YEAH, that's what I said when my boyfriend told our server that I wanted another bowl!
(4)Joanna W.
burger is okay. love their Cesar salad!
(3)Marina S.
You know what? A 3-star rating for "A-OK" is really a great way to describe Islands for me! It's solid... Hubby and I were waiting in anticipation to see Harry Potter 7 part 2 and were feeling a lil peckish. The wait was extremely long. It was Friday around lunchtime so I guess Islands is the place to be for nearby offices, etc! I got the Hula Burger and Hubby got the Regular Cheeseburger. The fries are 5 stars - so yummy and delicious! The burger was ginormous... I think hubby and I should have shared. He inhaled his of course, but I ate half comfortably, and then ate another quarter just because it was yummy, but I was already stuffed. ... They include a jaggedy knife for the purpose of cutting the burger into edible parts, if that helps to understand the size. We had to wait a long time, and even though the burgers were good, I think the portions are unnecessarily big, and the price didn't quite fit. But... convenient!
(3)Derek W.
As with all other Islands locations, this one offers good food and service. Only difference is that this location is walking distance and the gf gets a discount for working in the area! Endless fries/onion rings when ordering any of the burgers or sandwiches. Only annoying thing is that they only bring out 5-6 onion rings at a time so I have to constantly ask for another order.
(3)Deb T.
I love Island's Big Wave and fries. I always come here when I am craving a super huge burger that tastes absolutely wonderful. I have always had a pleasant experience coming here since it within walking distance to my apartment so parking is never an issue. Unlike some of these reviews, I have yet to meet the business of this place so I guess I need to come on a weekend during peak hours. The only problem I have experienced at Island's are the nonalcoholic drinks. My boyfriend seems to have a knack for getting glasses of terrible ice tea that four packs of sugar can't fix. Sometimes, the soft drinks would be flat so I don't know if it's poor drink dispensers or a sign that I should stick to just plain water. Other than that the food has always been excellent.
(4)Arturo F.
I like the environment
(3)Tim E.
I think I always order the Yaki if I am not mistaken. Pretty much always I am happy with it. The prices have increased since the last time I have come I think. Now I know how many calories I'm taking in and I feel fat alright. I ordered the Strawberry Lemonade but I could swear they used to put real strawberries in with the lemonade. Anyways I dig it that I don't have to ask for a refill it just keeps coming but after seeing how many calories I take in from that I feel pretty bad about the whole eating out bit. No wonder I can't lose an ounce of fat, but I must enjoy life right.
(4)Elton W.
$11 cheeseburgers, but I keep coming back. They're so good. And the cheese fries
(4)Tawny A.
Islands is a good go-to place when you are with a group or on a date...but with the other choices around, especially in Pasadena, I find it odd when someone chooses this place over all others....this was the case last night.... ok, so the good part was that it was a free meal....but they are just meh. The burgers are juicy and good, but you can get the same thing at about a million other burger joints. The endless fries are good, I like the crispiness, but every time I ask for dipping sauce I have to ask twice because for some reason the servers here can't remember to get me my honey-frickin'-mustard! oh well....no biggie. i really like their banana, coconut, chocolate smoothie, and they have really good Tacos.... This location is busy and really one of the worst. They are small, and I really think waiting more than 10 min. is not worth it. Go to P.F. Changs!
(3)David W.
Had the lunch special burger with a drink. Everything is consistently good, free refills on drinks and fries, what can be better? The manager still had time to be very courteous and helpful during the lunch hour rush.
(4)Lindsay R.
I don't really expect much when it comes to chain restaurants such as these, but common! Boyfriend and I split the cheddar fries and they were burned and rock hard. These are usually yummy and oooey gooey at the Chino Hills location. Also ordered the Maui (guacamole) burger with the onion ring side. The rings were also burned, no life left in those poor little onions what so ever. The burger was ok. We both felt sick after our meal :( I am not too keen on sending food back at establishments such as this because you never know what the cooks will do if you piss them off. I will not be returning!
(1)Mildred R.
If you are in the area this place is a must. They have some of the best burgers I have ever had. The meat is cooked to perfection and stays juicy. They have the BEST EVER onion rings. I wish there was an Islands near me because their onion rings are just that good
(4)Alison W.
I love me some Islands. A good burger and cheddar fries...mmm. I try to try a different burger each time and it's a good thing they have such a variety. I don't think I've ever not gotten a burger but they also have like salads and tacos and a bunch of other stuff. Anyways I think they only started serving fries with their burgers in the last few years. So that's good - it's unlimited and they can compete with places like red robin. I opted to get cheddar added to my fries - it's an extra dollar something. I just wished that my refill on fries also came with cheese also. (Or maybe it does and the waitress didn't notice). And I also had the Maui burger which came with guacamole, cheese and bacon. It was good. It's nice they give you a choice of white or wheat bun. And they cook it to medium unless otherwise stated. Service was so-so but it was pretty busy. About $10 for a burger and they validate here if you parked in their garage. Also they were showing some live sports on their flat screens but switched to videos about surf or water sports later on.
(3)Robert T.
Islands is a great place to eat. The food is served in reasonably quick time, and all the servers are very friendly and on top of their jobs. Rare is the time when I have to ask for a refill-mostly they do it without being asked.
(4)Sean H.
I went here recently for dinner. I had never heard of it before, but I was told it was pretty good. I stepped inside and was greeted by a cool, surfer/island theme inside. I can dig it. Once we got to our table, we ordered our drinks and ordered our food. I got a regular burger (the one with swiss and guacamole) and my girlfriend got one of their chicken sandwiches, both of which were really good. Our server brought us refills on our drinks (delicious strawberry lemonade and coke) without even asking when our cups got low, which was nice. On top of that, the place offers bottomless fries. Who doesn't like infinite fries? I would definitely go back to try their other menu items.
(4)Bernie L.
Burger was good. Endless fries were delicious. However, I took off four stars all because of the extremely poor service. It first started with the waitress forgetting to give me a napkin. It's no big deal, just a napkin.So, I ask for a new napkin and it takes her 15 minutes to bring one back! Then when I got my burger, they forget to give me a knife and fork and I had to borrow my friend's utensils. Also, she never came by to check up on us. Little instances like these are small but they made a difference in my night. The bill also took forever. We only had 90 minute validation and because of the waitress taking her sweet time, we went 9 minutes over. We kept reminding her that we needed to go and she would just ignore us. The whole atmosphere of the place was just bad. All the employees there looked so unhappy to be there. If service is a big thing for you, then I would highly suggest you to NOT come here.
(1)Shayna W.
I like this place! It is just a casual, chain, burger restaurant - but I always have a good time. Specifically one of my girlfriend's and I love this place to sit and catch-up and have a meal. I usually get a burger or the tuna wrap, and you can't beat the endless fries! The price is very reasonable, and the service is always pretty good. It's usually not too loud or crowded, and whenever there is a wait we can always find a table right away at the bar. Don't come with super-high expectations for the best food you have ever eaten, but for a yummy and easy meal I would recommend this place!
(4)Lisa C.
Great service. Food is fine. Can't ever complaint about the burgers. We chatted with the manager Gordon) yesterday. Friendly staff. Love free refills. Great hang out place
(4)Jensen S.
Good burger, but in the gourmet burger realm, it really is just average. I always go with the rincon burger - guac and bacon - can't go wrong with that. but again, nothing special. what IS special though is their Islands Golden Ale, love it.
(3)Dave S.
It's Islands.. what more is there really to say? Came here with a friend, service was good, food was decent, we shared an order of chili fries that deserve no more than the three stars I'm giving. Islands, Bleh.
(3)Edgar T.
Love it here! Come often, just for the hot wings. I've tried hot wings at many other places, and the sauce this place uses just keeps on bringing me back. I haven't found a spot yet that matches the sauce....it's hot, but doesn't over do it! Anyways....burgers are great, margaritas rock, and the vibe is cool. I enjoy hitting the spot up when games are on...but they really should pay attention sometimes to what is on TV. I know it's not really a sports bar, but the surfing channel really gets old.
(5)Jen V.
In Colorado I ate at Red Robin all the time, and Islands reminds me a lot of Red Robin -except Red Robin had better fries, and Islands have gourmet tacos! Their Cabo Loco tacos are so incredible!! Seasoned pork grilled w/caramelized onions, stuffed into flour tortillas w/cilantro-chili sauce, onions, cilantro w/ sides of pico de gallo & ranchero beans! I also like the Kilauea burger (Jalapeno & black pepper crusted burger w/pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli, lettuce, tomato & Island Reds) and the Bleunami burger (Bleu cheese dressing, lettuce, tomato, red onion & crumbled bleu cheese)! This place is great for large groups and kids -the beach/tiki paradise theme makes it a really interesting place to hangout, eat and have fun!
(4)Tiffany H.
I've only been here once but it was a good experience. Food was good and the service was good too. Parking is no problem since theres underground parking. When I arrived, it wasn't packed. So that was an extra plus! Decent prices.
(3)Esteve M.
Service was GREAT! Food was OK, burger dry. Sweet potatoe frys were great. I am only giving 2 stars becuase shortly after I ate, my mouth tasted like old oil. YUK! I had to rinse with listerine to get the taste out of my mouth but now I taste the old oil while burping. YUK YUK!
(2)Gina Q.
Came here for lunch one day during my conferencing. The service was quick and friendly and the waiter did a good job in taking care of all our food ordering requests. There were 5 in our group and some of us had special orders we made. The waiter was good in repeating back our order to us to make sure he wrote it down correctly. He was prompt in refilling our drinks for us too. This is upstairs at the Paseo Colorado and adjacent to the Pacific Theaters.
(3)Ryan H.
Never been a big fan of this place. I usually only go to islands when I go to a movie next door. After a while, the place really grew on me. I really like the endless fries and the onion rings are amazing. The beer is well prices and they are quick with the food and beverages. The burgers are HUGE. I couldn't help but really start to like this place. The one by my house has a lot of rude employees. But this one has a really nice environment. I'm a little upset they are not open too late.
(3)Kelly L.
I love their burgers, I got a Hawaiian burger and my bf ordered a hula burger, both medium rare topped with whole wheat bread. I also ordered buffalo wings for appetizers. It took them a while to get the buffalo wing to my table but it tasted great, it was spicy enough, so kind of worth of wait. Service, their service was bad, my bf had to wave at least 3 times to get their attention, or even when the waiters came to help us, it took him a while to bring the things we needed. I guess I can't blame them cuz they have too many tables to serve but overall it was nice(:
(2)Anh-Dao T.
I used to love Island's back in the day. Yaki tacos, Hawaiian burgers, UNLIMITED fries! And I guess I ate it one too many times because even though I work by one now, I rarely find myself here. When I do eat here, I always get the grilled veggie tacos. It's on their new "light" menu and also has roasted corn, black beans, avocado and salsa (hold the cheddar.) YUM. Two of these are enough to fill me up so I no longer partake in the endless fries extravaganza...unless we're here for HH. In that case, I'll take a mai tai and a basket of fried goodness please.
(3)Maureen W.
I use to love going to Islands because I really loved their Asian Chicken Salad. Then I realized that all their food is very high in calories and sodium so I stopped going. But after seeing Frozen with the rug rats, I needed a place to take them for dinner and I figured they could find something here. They have a good kids menu. Of course, it's the usual fare--kids got the tenders and the grilled cheese. They should make a non-spicy chicken taco option because the munchkins love them some chicken tacos! I got the North Shore TAcos limited which is a lighter version and it was very tasty. I didn't even eat the tortillas. I like the spice on the chicken tacos and the salsa is good. I also enjoyed the beans and pretty much just mixed it all together and shoveled it in. I also downed it with a Shock Top. Very good combo! It was my son's bday so the waitress brought the little buggers some mini sundaes which was very sweet of her. She was very friendly and sweet to the little ones. You can't ask for more. I would definitely come back when it's not too crowded, but look out--this place gets jammed on the weekend evenings.
(3)David C.
Hula burger: Hamburger with mushrooms! Yum! Islands' quality is a step above the typical fast food burger and they also serve other things like soup, salad, fish...etc. $7.55 lunch specials are a great bargain.
(5)Jake S.
So two days my fiend and I got the pipeline and mavericks burgers, service was up good, so was burgers...at the time. But later that night, we both had caught the symptoms of food poisoning. ...it's making me feel sick as I'm typing this review out. Service like I said was good, but place deserves a 1 star just for that dose of food poisoning.
(1)Ashken K.
I LOVE ISLANDS BURGERS. It was my first time at this Pasadena branch and I liked my experience here. My Maui burger was awesome and well done as I requested! Yummy! For sure will be back! SOON :)
(5)Perviz S.
Extremely poor service during busy times. Girl with a scoul barely greeted us, gave us a table that stank of fish. Another wsiter was nice enough to changevtables for us. Food arrived, but no napkins until i signalled someone. No refill of drink was offered for 20 minutes. Still waiting for someone to collect the check. Finally arrived 15 minutes later.
(1)Steve S.
I'm normally a dedicated fan of Islands. The Big Wave is a basic burger...just like I like it. Yesterday, I went over for lunch and had a burger in the bar area. As usual the burger was very good (fries were cold) and service was solid. But while enjoying my lunch, I watched Islands turn out some great service. When I first arrived there were 3 or 4 people sitting at the bar and 3 of tables were occupied. There was one waitress/bar tender. After few minutes, a group of 12-15 Japanese tourists arrived. They took up several seats at the bar and two tables. Then a few more customers arrived. The bar was now almost completely full. The 1 waitress did a great job. She handled the tourists (with their limited English) with patience and a smile. Almost single handedly she serviced the entire bar area, while still filling the bar orders from the restaurant and checking up on her existing customers several times. The manager stepped in and helped for a bit which was nice to see. Overall, I had another enjoyable lunch and an entertaining floor show.
(5)Brandon G.
Cheap drinks and food isn't too pricey either. Recommend the poke, so delish! Service at the bar is pretty regular, what you'd expect.
(4)Raymond G.
Service was pretty fast especially for how busy it was on a Friday night. This place is clean and def has a Hawaiian atmosphere. The foo was ok. Endless fries here but the fries taste like cooking oil...not that great. My blue cheese burger had almost no blue chess on it....what's that all about?
(3)Allie P.
I remember this place (though not the exact location) back in my early years of college. Being a new SoCal resident, I thought this place was really cool and I remember loving their fries. Its been years since coming back to an Islands. I would say nothing has really changed decor wise... besides seeing sports stations on the TVs instead of surfing. The fries weren't as amazing as I had remembered them to be... the tiki tenders is what I normally ordered in the past and they still tasted good -- just random sized pieces here and there. Seated outside on the patio at night (they turned on the heat lamps that were hung above, which heated up fairly quick). Service was okay. Sometimes I felt like they had forgotten about us because we were seated outside.
(3)Alex A.
This place is a great relaxing place to hang. a lot quieter then surrounding businesses! Great staff who is very attentive. I had a beautiful Asian server named Ana who took great care of us. Was very warm and welcoming! Another time came and sat at the bar and had a great experience as well! So much fun. The bartender Gabe who was leaving for the night was awesome. But he left us with a bartender named Miranda and Vicky? They were amazing... Anyway the mai tai's were awesome and the buffalo wings were to die for! Yum! Coming back for sure and so should you!
(5)Isabel W.
Fantastic! Holy moly.... I went here a few days ago for the first time with a friend ( he took me here) and experienced a new edition of a worlds best Burger. I had one with blue cheese (I loooove cheese) and it was such a huge portion, that I happily took the other half of my burger with me home and had so another beautiful half Island Burger. As appetizer chicken with ranch dip. Awesome. Go and try! I will be coming back for sure.
(5)Sarah K.
Burgers and fries done well if you can ignore that food has calories. The Point Break burger (bleu cheese, guyere and candied bacon) was rich but not overwhelming heavy. You can specify how you like your burger prepared. We ordered medium-well. It came well-done but still a very tender piece of meat. The patty was thin which I liked. It made the burger experience completely manageable although the shredded lettuce did fall out. There's a section for calorie conscious eaters from which I ordered the Sleek Greek Salad (grilled chicken breast, romaine, kalamata olives and feta with a light dressing). The chicken pieces on it tasted great but the balsamic vinegar dressing could've used more work. The star of the meal was the fries. Fresh-cut, substantial, twice-fried skin-on potatoes. Non-greasy with a nice crunch. I love you Island fries. For an American restaurant in the middle of a tourist area the service was terrible. We saw our waiter once and never again. I had to flag the wait staff several times but once someone showed up they were very nice.
(3)Brandi L.
The food was damn good, but I feel we were rushed out for no apparent reason! All booths and tables surrounding us were empty! REALLY CLEARING PLATES WHEN PEOPLE ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL EATING IS RUDE! Especially when you just served the entrees! The 3 stars was for the food, the two missing were for being rushed!!!!
(3)RJ D.
I'm not the biggest fan of Islands, but a friend of mine drags me here. I think I prefer Red Robin, but it's farther east in Arcadia. Anyway, the burgers are okay in my mind. I don't like the fake Hawaiian/Tiki theme. The service by the bar person was the best thing at this location, and it's why I give it 4 stars. French fries are okay. Burgers are okay. I don't like the plastic trays that the burgers are served on.
(4)Jason O.
Third stop of the pub-crawl. The crawl was just getting started but making it to the paseo felt like we were making some progress. Islands has great burgers but today I was only looking for a drink. The bar tender was quick to take our order and we all had a good time sitting at the bar watching surfing and snowboarding videos. This was my first time in this location so I cant say much about it other than I would have no problem coming back for a burger some time. The location makes it a good spot to grab a burger before or after a great movie at the Arclight.
(3)diva l.
Oh islands how I love thee! it's like going on a little vacation for lunch my daughter who is three years old asks to eat here all the time and the food is perfect for her and I get to enjoy a healthy salad as her mommy it's one of our favorite places and it's so fun every time we go there Chinese chicken salad is my favorite and the chicken tenders are always fresh and I am so thankful for the healthy options they give as a sides with the kids meals like apples with yogurt and carrots that is so unusual for fast food type restaurants such as these way to go islands we are a fan see you again soon!
(5)Larry T.
I heard this place really good but we wait you way more than 40 minutes! The stupid host..... She lie to us! We heat her ! Before I try to food I almost pass out ! We were so hungry! I never will come back again!
(1)Suzy B.
Yep, Islands today was as good as it gets! My husband and I went for din with baby in tow. We arrived around 6pm. I was expecting it to be packed and to wait for a table. Surprisingly, not packed and no wait! We were immediately seated. Our server took us to the very back of the restaurant, near the restrooms. At first, I thought we were seated in the back because we had the baby in the stroller, which would cause a traffic jam in their narrow walkways. But he seated other folks around us (without a baby) so I think he just sat us in his area. Anyways, it did not matter to me and sitting in the back, away from the crowd, ended up to be a good thing. It was quiet and we had a great view of Colorado. My husband took a nice photo of our view from our table. I ordered my usual: Moa Kai, their tuna sandwich...or burger? Comes with cheese, mayo, pickles, lettuce, and tomato. Calories on this sucker is high so I asked for no mayo but then I asked that they put avocado slices on it. Ha! So much for trying to bring down the fat/calorie count. Per the usual, I was not disappointed with my meal. The french fries were hot, just the right salty, and crispy. The perfect side to the Moa Kai. The meal would have been epic if I had ordered a Roy Rogers AND cheddar cheese fries. One thing I made a note of to myself: next time, ask that they go easy on the tuna. It was a lot. I love tuna but will get grossed out if there is too much. This one had too much. I had to scrape the excess off with my fork. My husband, the healthy guy, ordered a turkey burger. I didn't taste his or even ask how he liked his burger (oops, I forgot my manners here!). But I didn't hear any complaints from him. He ordered an alcoholic Irish shake that didn't taste good. I took a sip and gagged...bad! It was so strong of alcohol. He didn't like it, either. Definitely, not something he would order again. Waste of money and calories! We had a pleasant experience today. I wish I got the name of our server. Really nice guy. Attentive but not overly intrusive. Checked in on us about 3-4 times during our whole meal. Never felt like we were ignored or kept waiting. Thank you, Islands, for a lovely meal!
(5)Michelle W.
i don't usually come here that often since it's away from my area, but i do like to stop by once in a while when i'm in the mood for burgers and endless fries! so the food here is pretty good i guess. i mean, c'mon, endless fries? the lowest they cook their meat is "medium", which i don't mind. the service is pretty good as well, but when it starts hustling and bustling, servers can get a bit on the grouchy side. for instance, this place was pretty packed when my friends and i came here. we had 6 people in total. so because of all the people, our server was already grouchy to begin with. she would roll her eyes every time we asked for more fries. if you're seated near a window, it can be difficult on a hot and sunny day. it's a little blinding, and the heat is just emphasized. however, if you need to ask them to close it, they'll lower the blinds for you. the area is alright. the seats can get a little uncomfortable but it's all good. there is also outside dining and i noticed a little patio outside. i haven't sat out there yet, but i'm hoping i can soon. all in all, alright place. it does have their bad days but it's decent! stop by! :]
(4)Brian V.
I eat lunch here weekly and frequent the bar for Happy hour when they have good specials and the game is on. I typically order the Shorebird (with no mayo on a wheat bun and a side of pickles) and it is a good value for the $8. But it is the endless fries that really seals the deal. The fries are great! Just keep asking for more. More important than the food though is the staff. They are friendly, courteous, and service-oriented. (Shout out to Frankie, my favorite server.) Don't forget to validate your parking before you leave!
(4)Jennifer M.
The burgers are very juicy and moist. I had the Hawaiian Burger with Caesar Salad. I chose my meat to be well done and with cooked onion slices because I do not like raw onions. They gave me caramelized onions and when I ate my burger everything was wet and soggy because of the teriyaki sauce and caramelized onions. Everything started to fall out of my burger and my fingers were dripping wet. My friend had the Mavericks burger with Onion Rings and she liked it because her burger was not dripping everywhere. I am usually not a messy eater but this time it was bad. I was worried that my clothes were going to get dirty. We also ordered Island Fries but we were to full with everything on our plate. I liked the burger but I felt like my stomach was going to explode. For desert, we ordered Chocolate Lava and it was so yummy because it had fudge brownie with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, roasted almonds and a cherry. It was huge and if you're a chocolate lover this is perfect for you!
(3)Barbie B.
Suck suck suck...... we wait almost 40mins for the food, in which the other came behind they had before us.. and when the food came out, a piece of paper in my Burger.....who knows what else were in there too... let me tell u, all the food were cold and taste like shit... they need to think abt it... kill me if I come back again.. I js can use the world bullshit for this place
(1)Shel W.
The quintessential generic fast fooder is about one step up from Denny's. The place was jammed at shopping center lunch hour. Seated fairly fast. Service was pleasant and efficient. Burger with blue cheese and gruyere was large and of good quality, cooked as ordered. Not bad. Not great. Super market bun was anonymous. Fries were good. Rasberry ice tea excellent. Nothing to really complain about, but just ordinary in all ways. Prices were okay. All in all if you have to settle, at least you don't feel you were ripped off, so in that sense it's better than Denny's.
(2)Stef H.
We took my girlfriend out a couple of Fridays ago. Regretfully, they were taking numbers and we ended up sitting outside under a surf umbrella outside in the heat. Oh well, 20 minutes later we were sitting in a booth at the back of the restaurant next to the kitchen. Please note the place is incredibly noisy so if you want it INTENSE, just wallow in the back booth where the plates are clapping. My main complaint is when you get the Hula burgers, you have to order fries separate. Why? For the price you pay they should thrown them in. The service was good though and the server polite and quick.
(3)Letty A.
brought my mom here because she was craving a burger and she had really liked the burger at the islands across the street from the glendale galleria awhile back. i'm giving this island's 1 start because her coffee cup had LIPSTICK ON BOTH SIDES - ewwwwwww!!!!!! it had a big crack too, big enough that it should've been chucked long ago. the poor (dumb?) waiter though - i was trying to be discreet and not be loud so my mom wouldn't hear my full complaint with the cup and he kept asking me "what? what?" (smh) in the end, he said he thought the bright pink lipstick was my mom's .......um, she didn't have ANY other make-up on, and you thought that? grrr...... anyway, the new cup was very clean :) the waiter was very attentive after that, and would look me straight in the eye when he asked if we needed anything else, so appreciated that, since oftentimes when something awkward like this happens, wait staff don't know how to handle their embarrassment, and can come off as being snotty. he got an 18% tip that day, since i know it wasn't his fault the cup was dirty. still, one start because a FULL CRESCENT LIPSTICK MOUTH on one side, and more pinkness on the other side deserves no better! in the end, my mom didn't like this island's burger (big wave with cheese) as much as the one by glendale galleria; my malibu cheeseburger with 1000 island instead of mustard was a mistake - the 1000 island dressing was incredibly sweet, mustard would have gone much better. but live and learn; this review is for the LIPSTICK ON THE COFFEE CUP! oh, but the fries were good. and props to the hostess for seating us in a booth overlooking colorado blvd. i'll need to try europane one day - i saw a lady and young man park in the red, and a couple of europane employees come out and unload fresh produce from their car. it looked like this lady had just been to farmer's market!
(1)Jack W.
My, this place sucks. I've lost all respect for my sissy's restaurant picks after coming here for her birthday dinner. With the exception of our second server (shift change during our meal), the staff really seems lackadaisical and lacking some common sense. We ordered onion rings and nachos for our party of six to share. Our first server brought over small serving plates, several of which were dirty-- there was cheese stuck on them. After she brought new plates, we asked for silverware, to which she said would come out later with our burgers. Why the hell wouldn't they just give you utensils like any other restaurant when you're seated? I've never seen onion rings and nachos as greasy as this --ever! The cook clearly didn't bother shaking the deep fryer basket at all before putting the onion rings and nachos on the serving plate. This was evident as such that within seconds you could see the tissue paper in the serving basket turn fully transparent right before your very eyes. When our burgers arrived, I asked for another extra plate so we could share, and you guessed it-- more cheese stuck on more plates!
(1)Rhonald N.
I love their China Coast salad. Great dressing over a healthy portion of greens with mandarin oranges and crispy noodles. Their located on the 2nd floor of the Pacific Paseo in Pasadena, right next to the Arclight so you can see a movie afterwards or before.
(5)JR C.
Islands is one of the many franchise burger places found everywhere. If you haven't heard of it then drop by for a burger itch, but don't expect anything too creative or profound. Everything is average, but to top it off all your burger combos come with bottomless fries. In the end, you'll get a full meal for about 15 bucks whether it be lunch or dinner. I've frequented this place often when they had an awesome lunch deal which INCLUDED a beverage. You could get your entire lunch for less than 10 bucks but that has since changed. What brought me hear today was a promotion for a free Maverick burger meal. Pretty freaking awesome of these guys to do that, and it brought a non-fan to eat here to give this place another chance. Chris was our lunch server and was pretty responsive, friendly, and awesome. We made sure to tip him real well, above and beyond even the normal prices of the maverick combos that we got for free. Maverick Burger =-= This burger was eerily similar to the lunch special I always used to get here the California Flyer Chicken Sandwich. It's BBQ based and has these thin fried onion straws inside. The fried onion straws could get a bit oily, but what else would you expect. Nothing else worth mentioning here, other than I'm always happy to indulge in my french fries with ranch addiction here.
(3)Rachel M.
Terrible management, uncaring & unprofessional. Can't even get their own burger right! First & last time!
(1)Brandon S.
Islands is one of the few chains I actually enjoy. We got nachos to snack on before a going to a movie. The nachos were just OK. I expect more flavor and toppings. They were rather bland. Our server was friendly, but not that good at her job. I will still go back though, but in the future I will stick to the burgers and fries.
(2)Kathy J.
Horrible service the waiter was a guy, only came to our table to take our order and give us our drinks. Never once came by to see if we needed anything but he did go to every other table around us. He passed us about 5 times, even when we were finished we waited to see if he would come to see if we needed our check but of course not, as he was passing by once again my gf got his attention and asked for the check. No tip for him, All in all the food was good but the service was horrible. Definitely won't be going to this islands.
(1)Kole C.
went to islands last night for some take out. OK, not real dinner just appetizers. i used to work at this place back in college so i know the realm of how it operates. i hated working there and eating the food, but now that i go back it makes me miss their food. the take out fella was nice and so was the manager. they were quick w/ my order and the restaurant was clean and up to par.
(4)Jowel G.
This review is for this particular location only. We were starving and wanted to have burgers for dinner (not exactly BK or McD's), so we decided to stop in at Islands at Paseo since we were right down the street. There was no wait for a Thursday night and it was pretty busy with the movies letting out and all. I appreciate the long roomy booths and having large windows to look out (even if it's the Yard House and the theatre view). I had the usual passion fruit iced tea and the Maui burger, but instead switched it with the new turkey burger patty instead. I'm not sure what happened, but my turkey was extremely salty and peppery and had mayo oozing out. It was so salty and peppery that the tip of my tongue was stinging. I had 3 mugs of iced tea - I think it got me extremely thirsty. G's burger was good. He didn't replace his with the turkey patty, so I'm not sure if that's how they prepared it because the beef version was fine. The ground turkey was not heavy like the beef, but I thought it needed something (and no not salt)...I think just to be thicker? The turkey would like turn into mush in your mouth. Well, there's a first for everything. I may just stick to the beef, so I can give them more than the 3 stars next time. Our server was OK, my iced tea was empty for a few minutes at one point. I think I'm so used to them having the next drink on standby at our table - not here. Fries are always good and I can't complain about the seasoning - just the right amount of that Islands seasoning (the same as what's in the tall shaker on the table). Parking is easy -underground and free for the first 90 min. with validation.
(3)Albert V.
I have been to this chain restaurant before, but it was my first time coming to this particular establishment. So the burgers are pretty good here. They are mildly pricey, but you definitely pay for what you get; and then some. The waitress was extremely professional, and the service was just awesome. The burgers tasted good and came out pretty fast. The restrooms were clean as well; what more can you ask for? If you're contemplating to come here, but are hesitant due to the price of the burgers, there is a burger (with fries) you can get for around 9 bucks. Also, when ordering the burgers, they ask if you would like the burger in wheat or white bread, and their wheat bread doesn't take like cart board. I recommend this place.
(5)p m.
I enjoyed my turkey burger made with bleu cheese. The fries were also very good. It is worth the extra bucks over the typical burger joint.
(4)Christy M.
Good salads, yummy cocktails, and fairly reasonably priced. This location is in a mall directly across the way from a Yardhouse and a movie theater. This means crowds of couples and teenie boppers dropped off by their soccer mommies. Oh well.
(3)Max P.
Here's what you get at Islands (generally, and especially at the one in Paseo): --Damn fine burgers. I know, I know, the thing is to find some weird specialty place selling gruyere and apple burgers on foccacia, but I like me a burger and am hard-pressed to think of one that's much better than Islands. The meat is tasty and cooked to order (they always ask to make sure you're on the same page with them about what "medium" means), the (wheat) bun is toasty yet soft, the toppings are fresh, and the cheese is ample. Dayum, I just made myself hungry again. --Damn good fries. Sometimes you get some fries that are clearly not at their peak of freshness, but if this happens you can simply ask for more--such is the beauty of unlimited side orders! --Decent prices. The lunch specials get you an onslaught of food and drink for about $10, and that's _including_ tax and tip. --The company of countless tweens, both as patrons and servers. I do not mean this as a negative, though it's not really a date place for grownups, be warned. Plastic menus don't make for a very romantic atmosphere. --Cheap parking. Self-validate and you get like 90min or so in the spacious downtown structure. Here's what you will not get: --Hipster cred (likely major hipster demerits, if you give a crap as I do not). --Seated quickly if you come at peak times (e.g., lunch rush). --Skinny. Islands food is tasty as hell, but like much such food it ain't good for ye--but they will disclose the calorie counts on each meal, if you dare to look. Bottom line: when I want an artery-clogging, cheap, no-frills, easygoing meal with friends, this place can't be beat.
(4)Jongyup P.
NOMNOMNOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMOMNOMONÂONMOMOMOMOMOMOMONOMONMONMONMONMNOMNOMONOOMOMONOMNOÂMOOM Enough said. jk. This place has some bomb burgers. Big burgers AND unlimited fries. I got Hula, which was cheesy, juicy and delicious. But because mine was more on the plain burger side (still good), I prefer burgers my friends got, which were Hawaiian and Kilauea. Hawaiian was sweeeeet and juicy while Kilauea had perfect amount and blend of spiciness (I despise stupidly spicy food). Parking is easy to find. There are two large parking structures and street parking Oh, did I mention unlimited fries??? yes I did. but I wanted to remind you again :D the only downside is that you will consume a lotttt of fat and calories by the time you walk outt. But I had a very good time eating those burgers. So five stars.
(5)Jonny R.
always great service at this Islands ... food always spot on and now they have some healthier choices as well as craft beer!!
(5)David W.
This is the restaurant from the movie Office Space. If you like being served by juniors in high school, this place is for you. I went here thinking, how can you fuck up a cheeseburger. Heartburn-10 Nutrition-0 Greasy-greasy. I think pedophiles might dig this place.
(1)Pilar B.
WTH....is up with this Islands? I wanted to get my passport and bounce...this place was horrible!!! Just horrible! I've been to a few Islands Restaurants and must say the experience at this location was baaad! Dude forget about the decor...tropical this and that...blah blah, yeah that's cool. You've seen one spot, you've seen them all. But my complaint is the FDW = Food, Drink and Waiter! Every time I've eaten at an Islands Restaurant, I always get the HAWAIIAN burger (Pineapple, teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss & mayo). But this time, it was very sloppily made in which I hate my burgers looking like the cook just tossed it all together and didn't give a care about presentation and the meat was red. Yuck! Drink was lame! One waitress told us that they made the best Margaritas...are u fn kidding me? It was so nasty, the Tequila tasted spoiled or that they went ghetto and really made the drink from scratch! Waiter: One word MORON! What an idiot...asking me if I wanted to add extra toppings onto my burger. If I chosen to do that, then it wouldn't be a freaking "Hawaiian Burger!" Duh! He had the personality of a dumb ass! My date and I only dined here because it was close to the movie theater. It just wasn't our night. Just so you know, I am really a sweet girl...your food just pissed off my taste buds. I am not trying to offend...I get grouchy when the food is horrible and service is equally bad.
(1)Amy L.
burgers are good here. also, i remember free refill for fries! i dont know if they still do this. the servers are nice here. :)
(5)Euree P.
I've always liked Islands, and the same goes for this location. Went for a quick happy hour stop (bar area only) and got a lava flow. Islands actually happens to make my favorite lava flows out of all the chain restaurants/bars. My boyfriend got a Mai Tai, which he also enjoyed. We split an order of buffalo wings (all appetizers 50% off), which are always delicious here. Perfect amount of spice. Happy hour here is cool because you also get free, unlimited chips and salsa. Guy working at the bar (manager, I believe) was really personable too. Not the greatest happy hour deals I've come across, but it's worth checking out if you have some time to kill.
(4)Faye F.
My first time to Islands anywhere... is this a chain restaurant? Anyway, it was rainy in Paseo Colorado and a friend and I were in need of some shelter and food. We weren't in the mood for other foods so we decided to try this. HUUUGE BURGERS! I wasn't sure how endless fries worked because neither one of us got through our huge pile of fries. The only downside would have to be the prices. It reminds me of TGIFridays and Applebees and other chain restaurants (which is why I asked if it was a chain restaurant). Overall, great service, nice people, huge portions, and lots of flavor.
(4)Leslie T.
Every time I go ice skating, I can't help but come to Islands afterwards. It's been a while since the last time I've been here but from what I remember, everything was pretty much freaking delicious! Words cannot describe how much I love bottomless french fries. The burgers are good but they're pretty pricey and sometimes I don't really feel like they're worth it. The fries make up for that though.
(4)Gerald S.
Islands has gotten better over the years actually. I used to come to Islands during my college days since they offered free fries for students. Nowadays, they have good lunch specials, like getting a Big Wave with Cheese for $8.95 WITH FRIES, ENDLESS FRIES AND A DRINK. Try the green tea iced tea. It's a little sugary but not over the top. The Big Wave itself is good, as it's usually very juicy and tasty! If you hated Islands before because they never included fries with their burgers, now is your chance to get all the fries you missed out all those years. The first time I found out about it, I ordered 3 extra baskets of fries and ate them all. Maybe they didn't serve the fries with the burgers before because of people like me. Oh... I deducted 1 star because of the service. Kinda slow.
(4)Razmig M.
Food: Medium-High quality burgers for about $8. Giant basket of fries for about $3. Their nachos is good too but greasy. I also highly recommend the Tortilla Soup (of all things right?!) because they make it hear from scratch and load it up with avocado and chicken... so good. Drink: They have a variety of fruity tropical drinks at very reasonable prices. They also have a decent selection of beers too. Price: I think this place is priced very well for what you get. The ambiance is charming and the staff is usually very professional. As I said the food quality is definitely above average. So when someone here complains that "I spent $9 on a burger?!" I think they're really not factoring in the total package you get from Islands. Go Islands!!!!!!
(5)Tommy H.
The food is really really good. I recommend the Big Wave with cheese or the Hawaiian burger. The managers, waiters, bar tenders are very nice it's a really fun place.
(5)Ed A.
Happy hour is great. I had the buffalo wings. Flavor and texture were great. However, there isn't that much meat on the wings. Those were some anemic chickens. You can never go wrong with the endless basket of fries. During happy hour you get free chips and salsa.. which are just that, chips and salsa. Nothing wrong with them, but then again nothing special.
(3)Denise K.
Islands is a pretty decent place. Good chicken sandwich, decent nachos, great service at the bar, beer, drinks, etc, and TVs to watch "the" game. The pricing is pretty decent, as well. Anecdotally, I was sitting there trying to have a nice conversation yesterday, when I foolishly said to my friend, a bit too loudly, apparently, "Are all the seats wobbly?" This prompted a man, who was sitting there with very little else to do, to start non consensual verbal communication to begin a ten minute long diatribe about food, life, and the lightness of being. My nachos got cold and soggy, my sandwich got pale. Lucky for me, he came to the quick and unbiased conclusion that I had to try to be more like him. In his *humble* opinion, I guess I didn't look like I was like-him enough. He blabbed on about enjoying the day because one day we will be dead. Yeah, very original thought. He went on to describe that at every chance he gets, he comes to islands, because you know why? (I don't care, join the chorus) WHY? Because of Island's consistency. Consistency, in this man's opinion, was the key to a happy life, and to loving Islands, the restaurant. I interjected that yes, in fact, chains tended to be chains because they strive to be consistent. I thought he'd be able to recognize facial expressions or social cues such as tapping of the fork, or turning of the back, but he obliviously continued on and on until he decided it was time to go. After this twenty minute pseudo philosophical rant in which I was given tips to succeed in life, and islands, he left. At that precise moment, Islands gained its four stars back. Islands, although you have no way of knowing, your biggest fan is a douche-bag.
(4)Lalala B.
If you're cravings good burgers and fries in a chill atmosphere, come here! The burgers comes in a big portions and its worth the money! The fries were also good too! This place is great for family and friends and service is very friendly! Burgers comes around 6-10 bucks, depending on what you get. This place is located in a plaza with a theatre and a shopping center which can be pretty crowded on weekends. Just come here to try it out, you probably won't be disappointed!
(5)Gerard I.
Ouch, Islands is way overpriced for a burger and a drink. This location is at the Paseo Colorado, right next to the movie theater on the second floor. It's just a bland, expensive, "average" eatery. It's cool that they serve alcohol, but at those prices? It's like they're weeding out the peoples who come in to drink from the peoples that are coming in to eat. I'm better off going to the Yard House, which is also across the way. I don't know, I was never a fan of Islands, it's too blah for what it is.
(2)thistle c.
WHERE'S THE BEEF? Yes, I'm old enough to remember that commercial... We came here after a movie because it was convenient and I remembered that I had a killer Hawaiian burger at Islands in Irvine some 25 years ago. Ahh, the memory of that meaty, delicious and juicy sweet burger changed my vote here instead of to our original destination of Real Food Daily. Er, I'm no vegetarian, I loves me meats, so Islands it was. I'm sorry I didn't go for the vegan. At least it would have been F-O-O-D we were paying for; not light and fluffy. Super noisy restaurant. Neither here nor there, just a fact. It was after all, Saturday night after the movies. Hmm. The food was pretty awful. Maybe it was just an off night for the cook. I would rather have eaten at Carl's Jr., Jack-in-the-Box, Del Taco or Taco Bell. At least at those places, you get your money's worth and yer not payin' for eating air.. Our party's bill was completely out of line, and from my other reviews you can see I'm not afraid to pay $17 for a decent burger or $30 for great pizza. The staff is excellent (except the the so-called cook who did NOT cook my burger even to medium and gave me potato butts and crumbs instead of fries) How do you cook a burger Medium WELL and it's pink and red inside? The stick even said Medium Well. *shuddering* It didn't kill me, so I ate half of it and only around the cooked edges. If my eyes were closed, I wouldn't have known there was supposed to be a beef patty in there. I do know it wasn't a vege patty and I'm deathly allergic to turkey, so I'd be in the hospital instead of writing this review if it was turkey. Sadly for Islands, awesome staff is not enough to take us back to a restaurant that served bad food. The burger buns are airy, spongy wonder wonder bread. Seriously crap. The wheat buns are just white buns with brown coloring I suspect. j/k. Sort of. ------------------UPDATE: the whole wheat buns are indeed made from whole wheat. Supposed to be mustard on there, but didn't see or taste it. I always order a side of Thousand Island dressing "just in case" an unknown burger needs a hit of flavor or moistness boost. THIS BURGER COULD NOT BE SAVED. Greenish tomato slice. Wimpy lettuce. Not even a full slice of onion. Two little pickle chips. It was like eating air. The french fries that came on my plate were the bottom of the dumper. Get your mind out of the bathroom. It's the pan where the baskets of fries get dumped after cooking. Not one whole french fry in there. Mostly potato-butts, hard crispy black bits and crumbs of something - literally. Not even a full serving of crumbs. For that to come with a burger, it had better be an "endless" offering...we did get a full serving later in the meal. The "Kobb" salad (their spelling, not mine) was skimpy, and unsatisfying. Cobb Salads are meant as a meal, even the "half" salads. If there's not enough protein in it, you could eat a gallon of it and not be satisfied before splitting a gut. To use this word again: airy. The salad was airy. The Maui burger was as airy as the Big Wave, but it had guacamole, etc. on it. However, not enough added items in the world could give those burgers any meaty substance. It came with four onion rings. Not big, fat juicy onion rings, four skinny, dry onion rings. We all took a bite and left them. Unheard of for our bunch. The vege tacos were passable and DH said he'd order again, but the avocado was only a "looker" not a serving to be considered edible - sort of like parsley on some diners' plates. Not taco platter was not filling by itself; there was a lot of fluff on the plate to make it look good, but you still needed more food. The salsa was tasty. We had the Cool Breeze drink: coconut, banana and strawberry chemicals for $5.95. NOT a smoothie no matter what they try to tell you. Nothing high fructose corn syrup mixed with non-dairy white stuff is a smoothie. I don't even think it should be offered for human consumption and certainly not to children. It was really, really odd tasting. It was fake, nothing real fruit about it, in fact, it tasted like bar mixer drink flavoring that you add to make cheap booze more palatable. Those are not meant to be drunk without the alcohol. Heh, the cheap booze and fruity chemical taste just might cancel themselves out! Priced completely out of line for HFCS. That price would be cheap if it had any real fruit in it. Also, who adds whipped cream and a cherry to a SMOOTHIE? Yeeeeks! Oh, snap! The maraschino cherry WAS the real fruit! -----------------------------------UPDATE: I've been told by management that the smoothie really is made from 100% real fruit. I honestly don't think so, but that's just my observation. Our server, Frankie, was the best part of the meal. She's a hoot. Funny, efficient and gave superior service. Treat her right, she's a keeper!
(2)Natalie B.
I've been to this Islands before and other chains around my area and usually the food and service is average. However I went their this past Wednesday night around 9 and the service was horrible. Our waiter was rude and never came around to the table to ask for refills or if we needed anything. In addition when we asked for the check he gave judgemental remarks to members of our party. The food is your regular chain food crap and the service was worse. If you are looking for a place for a meal with friends or family, skip Islands, you are better taking your money to a better establishment.
(2)Andrew W.
First time here. Nice place. Our service was excellent. We were waiting for a party but they never came so we had a large booth to ourselves. I had the Chicken Wrap with barbecue sauce and fries. I wanted something other than fries like fruit or cottage cheese but there were few alternatives. Saved half for next day lunch.
(4)Shelley G.
Happy Hour is only at the bar or outside! I wanted the happy hour specials, but the bar was too full and outside was too cold. So I sucked it up and decided not to drink that night. I came on a Monday night around 5ish-6. The restaurant was only packed at the bar area. Since I didn't wanna sit at the bar, we got seated right away. Order the Maui Burger (no cheese) and instead of guacamole, I substitute that for fresh avocados slices instead, plus added some Island Reds. Our server was really nice and attentive, but he forgot our order of fries while we were waiting for our burgers. It was fine since the burgers came out fast. **Free parking for 90mins w/validation** Parking is underground
(3)Joseph C.
Have to say worst service ever! Order was wrong. Never got my second order of fries. Took over ten minutes to get my second beer. The manager still tried to charge me for it. Had to get up and ask for my bill so I could leave.... Never again! Thanks for ruining my child hood memories!
(2)Niche U.
They service was great. Friendly and attentive. The bottomless glasses of soda are bottomless. I was unable to ever finish one before the next arrived. The burgers were tasty and cooked as requested. Although the burger names seem to be pretty random. Really had to take our time & checkout what each one was. Islands has become a regular for meal before movie at ArcLight cinema. The service is great, the food is good and they're fast. It's a family place too.
(4)Sabina R.
Typical franchise... Nothing to rave about and nothing to complain about... My son & I tried the MahiMahi Burger and it was very flavorful.... For the typical franchise restaurant, I'm not mad at it. Just was a bit of maze finding the place in the plaza....
(4)Abel H.
Everything was average. Food was average. Service was.....average. I had the turkey burger and it was ok. Fries were eh. Maybe because it's a chain? Idk I prefer fusion burgers or umami
(3)SV L.
Just had my daughters birthday party here. We Ordered the: Tiki Tenders $9.45 too much breading. Just So so cheddar fries with chili, $11.08 Just So So Chips with guacamole, $5.74 Good but needs more Guacamole. onion rings, $7.89 Very good! Basket of fries $4.19 Very good! Sandpiper $11.49 Island fish soft tacos $10.05 Grilled chicken sandwich kids $6.00 All serviced with fries or beans. The tacos were good but not as good as Tops Burgers or what I make at home, for a lot less money! The Sandpiper chicken sandwich that comes with mushrooms and Swiss cheese lettuce and tomato. This was not a good choice! The chicken breast was tuff, like rubber, the mushrooms were greasy and had poor flavor. I should have sent it back, and gotten a burger. That's what this place is known for. But I thought, when you have four chicken sandwiches on the menu, they must be good. Wrong!!! The server was nice but the service was so so. She didn't keep our drinks filled and we would need to keep asking her to fill them.
(3)Matthew T.
I used to go to Islands all the time in high school and for a high school kid, these burgers were the best ever. Plus, we could go to town on the endless fries. After all these years, things haven't changed but I guess my tastes have. I'm not against chain restaurants, I just prefer to spend the same amount of money you'd spend at a chain restaurant at somewhere new and different rather than something that you pretty much are guaranteed 3 stars or less. But not everyone is a Yelper, willing to scour the web for places to eat. My friend wanted convenience and knows not of the virtues of Yelp so we plunked down at Islands. So that said, if it were up to me, I would take the $12+ bucks you spend on burgers and maybe walk a little down the street to try Pasadena's plethora of great restaurants. Nevertheless, my Big Wave burger was pretty rare but I guess I prefer them to go that end than to not go rare at all. Most chain restaurants won't even bother honoring your request. It's not nearly as nice as the Islands on Pico or the Islands in the Howard Hughes center. Yeah, it was nostalgic to be back at an Islands after literally going once or twice weekly when I was a kid. But I guess this feels like a break-up because Islands hasn't changed but I have. It's me not you.
(3)Jenn T.
Typical chain restaurant with the usual menu. This location wasn't too crowded when I came around 6pm for dinner. They don't have happy hour on Fridays which was disappointing. We got seated pretty quickly. We got chips and salsa with guacamole which was pretty yummy. I got the hula burger which was a burger with mushrooms. Very good and the mushrooms brought flavor to the burger. Got a few drinks as well, they're somewhat expensive here though. The service was great. Our server was very helpful, patient and polite. Though he was busy, a few other staff members came to help him out. Parking is in the lot underneath with validation, you get 90mins free with validation.
(3)Maria B.
Good food and reasonable prices. Service is ok - primarily a bunch of young kids so you can't expect too much.
(3)Carrie D.
I love this Islands! My partner-in-crime Brian V. and I have lunch here weekly and often find ourselves here for happy hour and the Sunday football bar specials. The food is standard Islands fare, but what really stands out at this location is the customer service. The staff here is extraordinary!!! Sean, Anna, Shannon, Stephanie (our favorite bartender) and everyone else treat us very well. We really don't even order anymore...our food just shows up at our table. We are creatures of habit and always order the exact same items...but our order is very specific (i.e. we add and subtract things) and it is perfect every time. Our drinks are never empty, the service is attentive and speedy, and everyone is cheerful and friendly! They have really reasonable lunch specials and good happy hour and Sunday football bar specials. They also validate parking so bring your ticket in with you! These guys are awesome and really take good care of us! Thanks Sean, Anna, Shannon, Stephanie and the rest of the crew for making us feel special and always brightening our day! You guys rock!
(5)Amanda D.
Had a bad trip to Pasadena and decided to fly home early today. I needed to get some pre-flight comfort food and drinks into me and decided to try this spot I noticed the last time I was in town. The exterior is very well kept and in a nice plaza. As I entered the restaurant I was greeted by a pleasant lady who seated me right away. My waitress came over in minutes, her name is Heather. She had a smile and a very pleasant happy sounding voice. I tend to order a margarita just about everywhere I go so I did the same here. I ordered my frozen Strawberry Margarita and asked for some time to review the menu; it was to my pleasant surprise that my waitress asked me if I wanted a glass of water as I ordered my drink. That may not sound like much but it is the little things that make all the difference. My drink was brought to me fairly quickly and tasted great. I was now ready to order my lunch - so I decided to go with the Chicken Caesar salad lunch special - yes they have lunch specials. Service for my salad was very fast. My salad tasted great and was not as small as would be expected from a lunch special. Also worth a mention is that the croutons had flavor =) Heather proceeded to check on me a few times while I was eating; always with a smile and a friendly voice. Needless to say I was very happy with the service, décor, and food here. After my most recent trip to Pasadena I do not have any plans on coming back to California ever - but if I do I will try to come here again. Sadly it is hard to find places that are friendly - but this place is. Something must be wrong with me - I feel like I have given too many 5 star reviews lately =D
(5)Amy P.
I'm a firm believer in hiring a great hostess because they are the first to encounter customers. We got just that on a Monday night. The hostess smiled, made conversation and at the end wished my sister a happy birthday again while opening the door for us. A+ for her. I hope she earns a server spot soon! As for our waiter, nice .. but he was also slow and inefficient. It was a pretty quiet and empty Monday evening. From what I saw, he had us and 2 other tables (all right by each other) but he could barely keep up with just that. Maybe he was new? He came by to let us know he would be with us shortly but didn't get to us until waved him down. Our drinks took too long to come out. When our food came, I asked for an extra plate. 2 minutes later, I saw him go drop off only a check at the other table when he also could have held a plate. Instead, he went to drop off the check, go grab a plate, then come drop it off. Hmm... Kiluea burger is always a good choice! It's probably the most fattening burger on the menu. My brother even went to say he enjoyed specifically the Kiluea burger more than he did any Slaters 50/50 burger. Endless fries. We also got an order of onion rings with a burger and our server told us it wasn't endless anymore. Yet they only give you 3-4 pieces! I have gotten them endless at this location as well as other Islands (Long Beach location). Not sure whats happening here?? For a weekday, this location will do justice since it's a little closer. Parking is 90 minutes free in the underground structure with validation. On a weekend, I would suggest the Foothill location for free, no hassle parking.
(3)Maribel M.
great food. staff is friendly and facility is very clean
(4)Ada F.
It's been awhile since I dined at Island's. We decided to come by for dinner. Happy Hour is from 4-7pm so we decided to sit at the bar. My husband ordered their nachos and sliders. I got my favorite Hula burger with a wheat bun but with a veggie patty. I use to always order the Hula but with a beef patty. The Hula burger comes with sautéed mushrooms with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. I was very surprised at how tasty their veggie patty is. The burger was as good as I remembered it to be. The nachos were a little disappointing. I imagined melted cheese and while this cheese was melted it was cold and had harden. I think they need to come up with a different recipe. Maybe a cheese sauce as oppose to melting some cheese and added tomatoes and jalapeños and calling it nachos. My husband said his sliders were just okay. Service at the bar was awesome!! We had a really nice waitress who was on top of her game. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the level of service has improved. The last time I came I had given them 2 stars due to slowness. They have made significant changes!!! Great job! Now that service has improved I will be back more often.
(4)Calvin L.
Located in the Paseo on the second floor next to Arc Light and Yardhouse. You definitely get that corporate feel when you walk in. The service is okay, and the food portion is enormous. I felt like the food I ordered was a family meal. Mind you, I am 6 feet tall, almost 200 lbs, so I can eat. Big Wave ($9.29) Huge burger. It wasn't necessarily BAD. It was okay, but it absolutely was not great by any means. Just... BIG Pipeline ($10.95) This is pretty much a chili burger. Huge amounts of chili just put in the burger. The bread gets soggy, so you gotta eat it like you're in an eating contest. Cheddar Fries ($7.69) Probably the best part of the entire meal. Ordered it as an appetizer. I wondered how cheese fries could be nearly $8. When you get it, you'll know. It is HUGE (like everything else here). Islands is a place that is more focused on portion size than taste, so if you're hungry and don't really care about taste, Islands might be the place for you. I probably won't be coming back; I like good tasting food.
(2)Mable S.
The lunch menu tacos are the most disappointing tacos I've ever had. They're beyond Americanized. My review is for the food only, the service was wonderful.
(1)Elise V.
I had ordered a burger there three days ago. It started off terribly because they had given me the wrong order (I had ordered a burger with blue cheese, ended up with one with chili). It was a to go order and I couldn't go back and change it, so I ate what I was given. I only realized much later in the meal that some of the burger was still not cooked, so I stopped eating the tasteless burger immediately. In the middle of the next night, I started to throw up and it didn't stop until the following night. I needed to call out of work. I will never eat here again.
(1)Abigail E.
This is a really great burger place! My friend and I were recommended this place by another friend who lives in Pasadena. She told us to try the burgers since this place is known for their burgers, so when we got that bit of information I was pretty excited to try this place out. We got the restaurant 30 minutes after it opened, and as soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a host and given a table. The atmosphere is really nice and relaxing. Very Hawaiian-y feel, obviously. There are TV's, ceiling fans, tons of seating, and friendly staff. Once we were seated, we were greeted by a server who asked us what we wanted to drink. While we waited, we looked over the menu and I swear, our mouths started watering. There are no burger places like this where I'm from, so I was just so ready to dive in to anything on the menu, to be honest. My friend ordered the Shorebird (Grilled chicken breast, swiss, lettuce, tomato, pickles & mayo) and I ordered the Big Wave (Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles & mustard). It took about 10-ish minutes for our food to arrive. The wait wasn't too long, since my friend and kept talking about how nice the place was. But once our food was placed right in front of us, we couldn't wait to eat. The burger was great! So so so good. My friend and I had cut both of ours in half and shared with one another. The Shorebird was also really amazing! Oh, and I can't forget about the fries. They were so good! I don't remember exactly what we paid, but it was definitely reasonable for a lunch special.
(5)Kandy V.
I love islands! Every staff here is so welcoming and attentive. I Been coming here for years and they never let me down. Definitely my go to place
(5)Anthony V.
Been coming here on and off. Good place to come and relax the food and good and the drinks are good.. even tho I always order the Mai Tai which is really good. The ppl here are very friendly and always coming by to check on you which is hard to find now days.. This is my hideaway from my regular spot..
(5)Catherine H.
Juicy burgers, good vibe, and fruity drinks. Offers validation! Came in on a weekday noon and was seated immediately. I ordered the Hula Burger, and I would again. The mushrooms taste great. The side of onion rings, costs extra, was okay....I prefer Johnny Rockets onion rings more. Also, they are not endless. The fries are endless! I asked for a recommendation of a sweet beverage and the server said the Mangorita was at a special price so we both tried it but agreed that it was not sweet..... I would eat the Hula Burger again and have the regular side of fries. Not order the Mangorita unless you want a strong kick of alcohol. Good service and food! Endless Fries and Validation is a nice bonus!
(4)Christine H.
The fries are super heavy now. The wave burger is smaller now. Tastes a little different. Almost everything tastes a little different here, even the punch. Loved the punch. That's too bad. Bring back the old Islands where I actually could eat almost half of the cheesy fries.. now I can only eat about 1/5th of it because it's so dense.
(2)Kent M.
My buddy and I sat at the bar because this is the location of the restaurant reserved for degenerates. Only wholesome families should sit in the general seating area. Anyway, there's not much to say about Islands. The burgers are rich and tasty and sure to add some extra calories to your day. The fries are good, and I THINK they're never ending. At least they used to be. I was too chicken to ask this time. So there's a life lesson for you: He who lacks guts to ask for more fries shall end up with NOTHING. Or at least no fries. Also, there was this guy at the bar hitting on a girl. This is one danger of sitting at the bar. Having to listen to guys hit on girls. Ugh, no one cares that you're a struggling artist trying to make it in the big bad world. Just ask her for number already so she can put you out of your misery, and the rest of us can go back to eating burgers in peace.
(4)Sandra L.
My son and I have had a fixation on Islands for a whole decade (if the restaurant chain has been around that long). He grew up on the Hawaiian burgers and I never got tired of the Cobb salad. We love watching surfing / skating videos while enjoying the food. This is THE place for our mother-son quality time. We don't mind the occasional shouting of enthusiasm sport crowd neither...this is what Islands is all about. Thank you Islands!
(4)Chuck D.
It had been a few years since I've been to an Islands and never to this location inside Paseo Colorado. We watched a film at the ArcLight and were both craving a burger and fries. Islands was the call. We waited about 5 mins before we were seated. I ordered a strawberry lemonade. Good flavor. I went with a burger I havent had in several years. I ordered the makaha. It's not on the menu. It's essentially a chili cheeseburger. So it's your regular Islands burger patty. It comes with chili, american cheese and onions. That's it.. No other vegetables. Just the way I want it. I went with white bread and ordered my burger medium well. It was good. But it wasnt as good as I remember it. I usually order a big wave with bacon & cheese. I think that's what the malibu is now and maybe I should've ordered that. But it was still good and I enjoyed it and the fries. Service was good. Friendly and attentive but not overly. We appreciate that. This is a good Islands location. Nice place to grab a bite after seeing a film.
(3)Nijole T.
Even more than I hate fast food restaurants, I hate chain restaurants, TJIF, Chilis, Applebees, they all suck and are crowded at all times for reasons I do not understand. Islands reminded me of Cheeseburger in Paradise and Red Robin. All you can eat fries with your meal and $12 burgers=Red Robin Honestly we almost walked out since the Veggie Burger option was a Garden Burger, the salads also $12, so i decided on the pesto chicken sandwich with onion rings. The man got a burger, medium. Service was good and attentive, it was clean but still just not my kind of place. The rings were cold so he brought another basket which was a plus. Just like at other all you can eat fries places, you have to wait forever for your refill, so that by then you are done eating your burger and there is no way you'll wait another 15 minutes for a third tiny plate. Pathetic when you already know how they like to play it. In all, the food was fine, but $25 for two burgers i crazy, I'd rather go to any nice burger place in LA and get a organic, grass fed beef burger for that money!
(2)Jim E.
So we are in Pasadena for the Flea Market at PCC and the wife has wanted to see a movie, Arclight is close but we have an hour before our movie starts and it is lunch time, Islands is right across the way from the theater so we go in and grab a couple of bowls of the Chicken Tortilla soup and a Chicken Quesadilla, it was right at opening time so there was no wait, our first Quesadilla came with no chicken so we sent it back and we were done with our first bowls of soup before the replacement came. As usual everything was good and tasty. It was a Sunday afternoon and for some reason they felt the need to put the same basketball game on every TV in the restaurant, some people like to watch the surf channel so maybe they could have a rule that any given game is only on a couple of the TV's, we were getting ready to leave anyway so it was not a major problem but some people just don't like basketball and being that it's called islands, the Surf channel should be required on at least a quarter of the TV's all the time...... Food was good, service was good, with the exception of our missing chicken in the first Quesadilla, 3 stars across the board.
(3)Byron N.
If I were trapped in a deserted island, and Islands so happened to decide to franchise in this deserted island, I may never leave. Who would have thunk it that Islands, known for its burgers, has an exquisite happy hour! My biggest surprise on this Island was the wings. Who would have thought that an Island has wings? Buffalo only, yes, but it comes with juicy, soft meat. I was a little bitter that this Island takes money, and ~$8 at that, but I might give it a slide. Furthermore, there were DRINKS! I love drinks. I love more that drinks like margaritas, wells, among others, come at a reasonable less than $5 price. This is all I need for an island to win my heart, really. So if you, like me, are simple, then you would not be disappointed. Wilson, I think we might have to stop at this Island again.
(4)Monica C.
I feel like I have to drop a star from the rating from the last time I was here. Why you ask? The service was terrible. Sat in the bar and could not get either one of the bar tenders attention. Even when I walked up and waved. They were more interested in gossiping with the other staff. Food was terrible. Sincerely disgusting. All we wanted were some burgers and tacos. There was a rotted piece of lettuce in my boyfriend's beer. That's just nasty. The server didn't even acknowledge it when we pointed it out. Fail. Go get burgers somewhere where the staff actually cares.
(1)T H.
Delicious and very nice location. They provide 90min free parking validation in the shopping center. The kona pie is delicious. The Fries are bottomless but the onion rings and sweet potato fries are not. You can switch out any patty for vegetarian patty and bun for juicy lettuce "buns"
(4)Lizbeth R.
Came with my boyfriend for a quick lunch last Sunday and man oh man where to start??! This was my second time trying islands just because I don't think their food is that good as people make it seem. I really wanted to like it but I didn't. We ordered 2 Big wave burgers without onions and cheddar cheddar fries. Waited for about 15 minutes for the food to come out and when it came I was disappointed. The cheddar Fries were cold as if they had been sitting on the counter for a while( the cheese wasn't even stringy) we ordered our burgers w/out onion && they had so much onion but that didn't really bother me. What bothered me was that out meat patty was burned!!! I thought I was going to have a juicy soft burger, but we didn't. Should've just gone to in n out. Anyways! Service was ok.... Probably won't come back unless someone gives me a gift card or something
(1)Cal T.
Came here during a lunch break and honestly I think island just gets worse and worse every year. Food takes freaking forever and burgers are never cooked the way you want it. The fries are so oily and it was actually cold in some parts. Cups that your drinks are served in look like they been used for years and haven't been replaced. The table was sticky and trash was on the seats. I would think they would clean it or check for stuff before they seated us. Definitely will not come back and will not recommend
(1)joanna g.
If you are looking for a restaurant where you are treated as customers should be... This is not the location you want to visit! We went here yesterday, Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy, which is surprising for Islands Restaurant. We were not greeted for at least 5 minutes. Once seated the server was quick to get over to get our drink order and then take our food order. The food came out fairly quickly, which was appreciated because we have a hungry 2 year old. While cutting her food I could see my husbands burger was oozing red; so I cut into it with a knife and it was raw on the inside. We alerted our server and she took the burger back to the kitchen and apologized. She was off at that point and we got a new server. When the new burger came there was a stick in it that said - Med-Well (as if maybe we had not ordered correctly in the first place???). If the original burger had come out medium as ordered it would not have been sent back. At the end of the meal the manager did take the burger off the bill without us asking her to do so. Our drinks were not refilled in a timely manner and on our way out we understood why... 4 of the employees were sitting up in the entrance having social time. Actually the girl who was serving us at the end got up and came to open the door for us. I'm glad there is another location close because we will just go there in the future.
(2)Bryan M.
Stopped by for a few drinks before watching a movie across the way. Islands has a great drink menu. We didn't stay for long so I'm my next visit I'll be sure to update my review ;)
(4)Jose J.
This is the second time we try this particular Islands just before catching a movie next door and the food has just been awful. Last night I had the black pepper and jalapeño crusted burger and it was so bad I left half of it uneaten. The flavor was just of burnt black pepper and so unpleasant I couldn't taste anything else. My wife had the mushroom and Swiss burger and it had no flavor. Meat must be seasoned with Salt as it cooks or it will not be flavorful at all. Service was slow, maybe because we sat at the patio, or maybe because there is no management watching over the place around 8:30pm. This is the second time service has been lacking. The only good thing about my meal was the tropical iced tea! Very disappointing for $12 dollars burgers!
(2)Candace L.
I've been to this Islands location a time or two, maybe even three. It's located upstairs in the Paseo Colorado shopping area near the Arclight theatre, which also makes it a great option to grab lunch or dinner before or after a movie. There can be a wait sometimes but the service is always great. I'm a creature of habit and stick to the pipeline burger with a turkey patty on a wheat bun - always! I also love the applesauce. I only know about this one, because it comes with the kids meals but I now ask for it on the side sometimes. I love their endless fries, the second batch always taste better than the first.
(4)April W.
In town for a convention with thousands of woman. Knew there would be a line. But we asked to sit at the bar. (Which was full) a waitress grabs us and says she has room in her section. She was super nice friendly & we had a wonderful quick meal. Then back to convention.
(4)Alyss H.
Our server was super cool. We came during lunch and he helped me get my burger at the lunch specials price, nice! He also let us try a sample of a beer before committing to an entire pint. The food was good! We ordered the Malibu and waihea burger (limited time) and the 805. Pretty quiet on a Thursday afternoon. A little awkward when we stepped in and no one greeted us or seated us so we walked in a little and waited a couple minutes. Restaurant was clean, so were the restrooms. I really like watching the videos of the extreme sports. Soo cool!
(4)Angelina L.
Food=Shwayze and omg sooo delish. I had the Kilauea, which is spicy. I don't like burgers too much but that was so much better than an In N Out burger cuz of the spiciness. I loved it. The red onion strings help a lot too. Yum. The only thing bad about this place was the service, it took ages to get our drinks, order, wait for ranch..at least it was my lil brother's birthday so his entree was free and the brownie was to die for~ Delicious crispy top. Best meal I've had in awhile. The wait was 20 minutes or so, not bad for a Friday night. Outdoor seating would've been no wait but I didn't want to freeze.
(4)Austin S.
I more or less grew up on Islands. Throughout junior high and high school, me and my friends came here at least twice a month. Food and service is just really consistent. Yes this isn't the best burger I've had, but it's just good eating. It does suck that the fries are a la carte, but if you're with a couple of other people, it doesn't make that much a difference. I'm a sucker for avocados and guacamole. So I always get the Maui, which is the guacamole burger. I've gotten it for years and years and I would say 99 out of 100 times, that's what I get. Whenever you order the burgers, this is usually how it goes down... server: "what can I get for you?" customer: "I'll have the *insert name of burger*" server: "did you want a white or wheat bun?" customer: "white (or wheat)" server: the burger is cooked medium, is that ok?" customer: "yes that's fine" but when I order, this is how it goes down... server: "what can I get for you?" me: "I'll have the Maui on white (sometimes wheat), medium, with American cheese" server: *kindly jots down order* "alright..." see how much time I save everybody? Cut the order time in HALF!!! Oh, and the Maui usually comes with swiss, but for some reason I always get American. It's been so many years and I've ordered it the EXACT same way all this time, I've forgotten why that is. Oh, I think it's because back in junior high or whenever it was I didn't like swiss, so I always got American. So now my order is like a reflex. I also apparently inhale my burger. You know how most people here cut their burgers in half? They give you a "steak" knife so I guess subconsciously we just do it. Anyway, usually by the time my friends get to the 2nd half of their burger, I'm typically done. Good place to eat with good friends.
(4)Thia G.
Our typical pre-movie dinner because it's next to the theater, it's not too expensive (i.e. Yardhouse) and it's tasty. I don't think I've ever had a burger here I didn't like. I've had all of them, and none of them have disappointed. I love the greasy fatty messiness of each one, and how you have to eat it really fast or else it'll fall apart on you. It's THAT kind of burger. My favorite burger is the spicy one (with pepper jack etc.). I'm also a big fan of the chicken tenders (with lots of ranch) and I LOVE the chili cheese fries here. I think I'm addicted... but I try to hold off on those b/c of caloric content, haha... Okay so the burgers are pretty expensive, like $8-9 for a single burger. I can deal though... they're all really tasty. Drinks here are meh.
(4)marisa o.
I am seriously surprised that Islands only has an average of 3 stars. I honestly believe their burgers are the biiizzomb! They're juicy, full of flavor, and huge. Absolutely can't go wrong with the Kilauea and cheddar fries. I'd personally sub the unlimited fries that comes with your burger for a side salad, but the bf seems to have the "go big or go home" mentality, so we get the onion rings (also bottomless, I believe) instead. The helpings are big, so the bf and I only share those two items and are STUFFED.
(4)Rene A.
I checked in just to check in. Not because its anything special..but it's certainly not the worst place for a burger either. Had not been here in a while. I see things have changed. Unlimited fries eh... I wasn't asked how well I wanted my burger cooked so I'm not sure if theyr'e overecooking all their burgers now or if it was just an oversight. My bad for not specifying too.
(1)Elle T.
edit* This time (Nov 08), I actually ate inside! :) We had the hot wings, cheddar fries and I had the RIncon Burger. One of the best i've ever had! The Bleu Cheeseburger wasn't bad, either :) My waiter gave me one of the best eating experiences i've EVER had. He always noticed that I ran out of Coke, brought me napkins, extra wing sauce, blue cheese and ranch, and smiled every time :) Which one? The Asian guy; I forget his name :( but I recommend him! Frankly, my experience at Islands would not have been as fantastic (despite the fact that the food was great!) if it weren't for such a warm and friendly and dependable server! Thanks guy; you upgraded my review by a star! :) P.S. - everything is NOT a la carte; if you order a burger, you get bottomless fries with it. Can be sub'd with onion rings, etc. __________________________________________________Â______ We ordered buffalo wings to go during our lunch break. Note: Wings are more spicy, less tangy here. Different than what I'm used to, but still delish! They had them ready, but service took a while to close our check. Wings were good, but not the best I've had. Wingstop does it better, I say! Kinda Pricey... ~$10 for 10 wings + celery/carrot sticks. Since it's in the Paseo mall, you have to pay for parking; we just parked on the street and paid the "Pay Here" meter a quarter to pick up. Don't know that I'd come back here for wings, but maybe to try a burger next time.
(4)Karen T.
I know, Islands? I only get one thing here, which is the mushroom and swiss burger on a wheat bun. I like that the burgers are fairly rare, even though they're supposed to be medium. I like the wheat bun option as well, something In-N-Out might want to incorporate. Generous with the mushrooms, which is highly important to me. So yeah, not bad. Other than that, the tortilla soup is decent, plus it's an endless bowl, so who can hate on that? I don't think outside of those two items and the fries have I tried anything else. Why bother? One star goes to the fact that they now serve fries with your burgers/sandwiches! No more of that a la carte b.s.! Basically, this is where I go if I'm up for that specific burger, otherwise I wouldn't bother. The music is sketchy (Matchbox 20 anyone?) and the knee length, khaki shorts with pleats are a grossly huge fashion faux pas.
(4)Aaron C.
Islands is conveniently located in Paseo Colorado to offer all of us shoppers and walkers a good place to sit and grab a bite. The setting of Islands is very much like a Hawaiian surf turf, and I like that. There's usually a wait on weekend nights, but during the week its just fine. The burger quality here can be compared to Johnny Rockets, but with more creativity and unique. If I were to name one burger off the top of my head that would be the Maui Burger, If I remember correctly it was sweet, with teriyaki sauce and pineapples. It was pretty good. The fries here are above par as well. Definitely recommended for parties and get togethers.
(4)Jaylee M.
My friends took me to Islands after we saw a movie. I had never been so I figured I'd give it a try. The staff was friendly and the place was tropical themed. The menu had an array of things, but mostly burgers, salads, fish, and chicken sandwiches. I had a burger. It was the Kaluaha burger I believe, spicy but good. Wasn't the best burger I've had but wasn't the worst either. The fries were good, they're all you can eat which my friends liked. Overall I liked the place, might go back, but wouldn't kill me not to.
(3)Ron B.
I am kicking myself for going here. We were at Paseo to see a movie and Islands was just sitting there. There's usually a line so I figured it must be a decent burger. Just kept thinking of that "Ha-wai-in" burger from Pulp Fiction. So we went and I rue the day. The drinks aren't bad but nothing special. The chips were totally stale. The fries were dripping with salt. We had the aforementioned Hawaiian burger and it was dripping with grease and salty Teriyaki sauce. The burger itself was terrible and a little undercooked. And it was nine bucks. Who goes back to these places? Can we stop frequenting mediocre restaurants, especially with logical alternatives nearby? If no one would settle for crappy food, these places would shut down and other places would raise the bar. Then this place wouldn't exist and I wouldn't have been tricked into going here. Such chicanery. Also, I think I enjoyed the movie less because of this. At least it's healthy OH WAIT it's the worst thing you could put in your stomach that isn't sharp. They have outdoor seating. Why would you want to be seen eating Islands burgers? Please don't go. Can't give zero stars? Fine. One star for validating my parking.
(1)Kevin T.
Islands is like the tropical cousin of all those other bar and grill restaurants like TGIFridays, Applebee's, and Chili's. Not a bad place to hang out with friends before a movie or after ice skating. But when I see the name Islands fine BURGERS and drinks, I guess I'm expecting a pretty damn good burger! Gotta say... not the case. I ordered the Rincon, which has guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss cheese, and bacon. The bun was a pretty plain white bread bun, and looked like the generic burger buns you get in your middle school lunchroom. There was not nearly enough guacamole on the burger... they'd dolloped a little half-dollar sized drop on it. Also, the burger was not HUGE. If I can fit a burger comfortably into my mouth without feeling like i have to unhinge my jaw, that burger either came from a fast food joint or is severely lacking in innards. Additionally, the fries were soft and bland too. Granted, I was pretty hungry, so I scared down that sucker in record time, along with 3 cups of super sweet strawberry lemonade. So refreshing. But not really worth the 15 bucks I spent there.
(3)Maria L.
This Islands is located upstairs in the Paseo Colorado shopping Center.
(3)A L.
I've been coming here almost on a weekly basis with my fiance, since we have a regularly scheduled meeting in the area every week. For the most part, walking in around 8pm, there's never too long of a wait, if there is one. Strangely enough, this past week, even with the huge downpour, the place was packed. Islands is of course, known mostly for their burgers. And their tortilla soup. MMM soo good! Totally not worth it to get the cup, definetly get the bowl! Even tho I never actually have to ask for a refill (the bowl is endless refills) I love that I get to decide when that party stops =) Things to note: 1) Kaanapali Kobb Salad - Wasn't feeling particularly hungry one night, so I opted to try one of their salads. I figured you couldnt go wrong with a cobb (or Kobb for them) salad...but it was just meh. The lettuce is your standard shredded lettuce and I couldnt even tell if they put avocado in there at all. Also, I would definetly recommend you ask for ranch dressing instead of their cobb dressing - their cobb dressing is very vinegar-y and i was really glad I asked for it on the side so I was even able to switch to ranch midway through when I couldnt take it anymore 2) Definetly try their toucan burger...it's basically their hawaiian burger but with chicken. Makes you feel a bit healthier...until you read all the calorie information they have printed on their menus, next to each item 3) They have a special 20% discount for Kaiser employees. Just show them your badge and you're good to go. Sometimes you have to remind them again when the check shows up but they're always quick to fix it 4) Endless Fries. 'Nuff Said
(4)Mary B.
Very good burgers. Everything else average. The service is friendly, but slow and inefficent. We were offered a refill on "endless" fries after we had finished eating. The atmosphere is theme chain, with many tv screens everywhere.
(3)Sam L.
Great service and all I can say is that they have the best BLT sandwiches!!!
(5)Valerie J.
This is probably my favorite place to sit down and have a burger and fries. The burgers rock and you can get a wheat bun. I am a fan of any place you can get good guac on a burger. Plus, the fries are endless! The mangorita is awesome too. Tip: Try their AMAZING BBQ sauce on the side for dipping fries. Trust me, you will never go back to ketchup at this place.
(4)Howard T.
Islands was a cool restaurant maybe 10-15 years ago, but they seem to be getting worse every year. PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU'RE ALL ANNOYED AT THE STUPID SURFING VIDEO THAT PLAYS IN A CONTINUOUS LOOP! My fav has always been the pipeline. Unfortunately all the Islands went with a different quality beef and cheap buns. Its just plain sad. The endless tortilla soup is not too bad. Everything is overpriced and the service has been horrible. (Especially in Irvine) This place has to be at the bottom of your list.
(2)Mario P.
Rating it a 3 just because I thought the tacos where better than the burger... The marinade pork tacos where some of the best I ever had and the burgers where ok but then again I had the left overs from my kids.... I'll order one next time maybe it's cause I had the juicy pork flavor still in my mouth from the tacos... Just a burger next time and maybe ill change my rating...
(3)Joyce Y.
3.5 stars Burgers seem to taste even better when you're famished! =) Islands Burgers are huge! And, yes, I conquered the entire burger. The meat is cooked medium (which makes it nice and juicy). You choose white or wheat buns (I chose wheat), comes with lettuce, mayo, tomato. Hawaiian burger includes pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and onions. It also comes with fries. Last time I went to Islands for burgers, I thought it didn't come with fries. Of course, that was a long time ago. =) Hawaiian burger is $10. Avocados or crispy onions is extra. (avocado - $1.20 for a slice). If you're in the mood for a good burger, Islands is a good choice! Not as good as Umami but actually pretty good for a chain!
(3)Jessica W.
I say best burgers i have ever had, even though all the foods on the menu are quite pricey. It even tells you the calories which is pretty helpful. The fries are really fresh and i always order strawberry lemonade. The service is amazing here they really make sure you get whatever you need. I'm not quite sure why everyone else here says the service is bad. But maybe it's just me. Just heads up, they don't tell you you need to pay for the sour creme/ guacamole until later on. One of the bad thing is that the food takes forever to come out of the kitchen. But hey, that just means the cooks actually put effort into the foods to make them tasty right?
(4)Peter M.
Great place to stop in before a movie at the Arclight. Delicious burgers, and love the tortilla soup. It's a classic spot in Southern California to dig in on some fries and burgers.
(4)Roni R.
My colleague kept making me come here b/c she's a big fan of their nachos. However, recently I discovered their guilt free menu. Have you guys tried this? Veggies tacos for 400 calories! A turkey burger for about 600 calories plus a side. I'm just saying ... it's nice to have options and be guilt free. Usually I was not always so desirous of coming to this joint but recently ... I'm all about it!
(4)Zachary K.
I had a long island iced tea. the drink was mixed perfectly. Too bad I can't say the same about the burger. I ordered the hawaiian burger and the pineapple looked almost black. There was this unexplainable taste that didn't sit well with me.
(4)Jay H.
Burgers. Woo hoo. Whatever. $2.39 "endless mug of soda"...what a joke.
(2)blahbla h.
Go to the Islands on Foothill, this Islands sucks. I use to go to Islands a lot and I felt the service at the Islands on Foothill is superior. My friends and I stopped going to the Paseo after going several times with repeated crappy service. I feel the food at the Foothill location is better, but the different is negligible.
(1)L Y.
I've been to this Islands many times. I've seen them evolved from burger Ala carte to including the fries, endless fries, onion rings, and endless onion rings. I always get the Hula (mushroom & swiss) on a wheat bun. The taste is fairly consistent. There were times when it was a little on the bland side. I also noticed recently that they now add lettuce and tomato with your burger. All in all, it's a good place to go for a nice burger.
(3)Sarah F.
I can't really understand why anyone would come here unless it were on a dare, or for an office lunch so that everyone could release the stress of the work day in a "tropical" environment over corny themed drinks and a corny themed menu. With tiki food that tastes like fat and salt. Anyway, I ended up here sort of by force (I was with a finicky lunch buddy who, inexplicably, chose Islands). In a state of duress (and over a mug of tropical iced tea) we ordered: 1. The Endless Chips and Salsa - Big yellow chips. Stale, stale, STALE!! The salsa was okay. 2. The BLT (I'm adding a G for grease) - this was the grossest BLT ever. How do you ruin a BLT? I'll tell you. Layer a mound of sopping bacon on a grilled-in-fat hamburger bun and then smear more grease on the top of the bun. *shudder* I only slogged through half before one of my aortic valves seized up. 3. The Chinese Chicken Salad - My friend ordered this, and ordered wisely I might add. This was the most edible thing on the menu. I ate a good portion of it, having only narrowly escaped my BLTG. So, if you want a reminder of why America is obese, park yourself into one of the booths at Islands. I will never, ever, ever come back here. Unless I hear the words "triple dog dare."
(1)Stephanie T.
Came here for the 5-7pm happy hour for 1/2 price appetizers with a friend. Nothing to complain about. It's a chain restaurant, what could one expect? The burger with guacamole and the one with a slice of pineapple are good (forgot their names). Used to like a drink mixed with banana and chocolate, just like a banana split as I remembered it, but when I asked the bartender do they have it since I didn't find it on the menu she looked at me like I was crazy. But I DID remember they had a drink like that before....oh wells.
(3)Elaine T.
Why is this place still so popular?? Who are these people who keep this place open?? Must be the teeny-boppers who have yet to discover what a REAL burger is supposed to taste like. Oh don't be offended tweenies- you've got it good: carefree days that end at 2:45pm. Lucky bastards. Anywaaaay...the boyfriend and I thought it would be kinda neat to revisit Islands for an afternoon lunch at the Paseo on Colorado. We both hadn't been back here since our high school days, so what the heck?! Should be as laid back as summer vacation just as we remembered right? No. Not when you're in your twenties. And not when you've tried burger joints like The Counter or Barney's (his fav in SF). Unless you're 13 years old, don't eat here. Try to preserve the image you had of Islands in your memory banks. It will NEVER again seem like the best local burgers. Never.
(2)Aimee S.
I met my college roomate for the first time here. We had met online through the university's housing website and chatted a few times on the phone. We hit it off right away and we were both looking forward to transferring to UCSD and having some fun. For 2 years she was my partner in crime, shopping, drinking, dancing, laughing, studying, working buddy. It was also the first time I had Islands in my life. So this Islands has some sentimental value to me. I've been back a few times, most recently this past Sunday to send off one of my best dear girlfriends who was getting ready to pack up and move to Reno. 20 minute wait on a gorgeous late Sunday afternoon. The kind of afternoon you want to be outside to enjoy. Unfortunately, they weren't seating outside when we arrived. =( I always get the Maui burger with guacamole, lettuce, tomato on a wheat bun and well done. I want to know that cow is DEAD. It was as always, delicious. I've had the Hawaiian burger also, the one with pineapple and teriyaki sauce, and it's also good. But to me, guacamole beats pineapple ANY day. I used to live close to an Islands in San Diego and for awhile I lived off their cheese fries. Half off during happy hour! SA-WEEEEET! Enough cheese to upset the most tolerant of the Lactose Intolerant folk. Especially good with ranch dressing. Service was good, I didn't even have to ask for a refill of my Passion Fruit Iced Tea which was refreshing and tasty. We got our food pretty quickly and all went smoothly. I love their Lava Flow although not for the alcohol content. Its hard to not enjoy good burgers, fries and friends in a tropically decorated restaurant.
(4)Jonathan D.
Went here last night with some friends to get some quick grub. I had a better experience here than I do at most Islands restaurants. I arraive late to my party, the wait staff took my food and drink order, and were able to bring all the food out on time and pretty quickly. food was okay, worth the price that you pay for it. Islands has some strange pricing in the burgers, down to the nickel. I'm sure there was a business decision long ago that makes it that way. We were also in a rush to they took care of the check in good time also.
(3)Regina L.
My first introduction to Islands was at this location in my high school years and back then, my friends and I went here a great number of times. Now, for the most part, I do like the food at Islands but whenever I go to this location, I'm reminded with an unpleasant memory ingrained from my high school years: My two friends and I went there one night to eat dinner. One of my friends ordered the bottomless tortilla soup, which they refilled indefinitely every time it's empty. My friend and I took several tastes of his soup while we were waiting for our orders and the wait staff noticed that we were eating off of his soup. One of the wait staff said, " You can't share that soup. You can only taste and you need to order another bowl of it if you want to eat it." They made such a unnecessary scene out of it that three of the wait staff were paying attention to our table, seeing that we don't share the bottomless tortilla soup. It didn't say at all on the menu that we couldn't share and that's not the only thing we ordered. In contrast, as a college student, I went to the West LA Islands and I've shared a bottomless tortilla soup with another person. The wait staff there didn't seem to make a fuss about it. What gives?! Ageism at the Pasadena location or did the wait staff have something up their asses that day? Yea...That memory of mine is why I'm hesitant in going back here, unless if my friends really want to go here.
(2)LISA B.
OK...WOW this experience was ooo that i had to review for others. Ok i love burgers don't exactly have time to eat around and know where the best ones are at. But when i think of ISLANDS I THINK MMMMM burgers! well that MMM BONER DIED!!! So much so because ..... I was with a group of four people we about to go see a movie 1) 2 orders of spinach art dip - Bleh this almost tsted worse than if it came out of a can. Not to mention some kind of weird spicyness to it that im sorry spicy who has ever tried spicy spin and art dip... (skip this item) 2) I ordered whatever the plain burger was and well wanted to add some guacmole (so wrong in doing that) adn wheat bread. ok so the burger was pretty much wheat bread and guac. barely could taste the meat i think it was in there. 3) bottOmless fries OK but they were all overcooked and crunchy ( i so did not like them) 4) the one estra star was for the onion rings ( they are NOT bottomless) but they are pretty good im very finicky on how i like my rings. They passed 5 people+ 4 reg burgers(1 person split)+ 2 art&spin dip+ only 3 lemonades 2 waters= $ 70 + tip wow \ not worth it at all. oh and the two toppers was 1) NO KETCHUP ON THE TABLE the waitress totally missed that 2) we were late to the movie so ya next time eat before the movie and not at ISLANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *******************ALOHA**************************
(2)Paulo D.
I have always liked the Islands and this one is no exception. Shorebird chicken sandy is my favorite. As are the fresh cut extra crispy fries. Yummy...
(4)Christina N.
I just want to say that this place is pretty good. I like how it's conveniently located in Paseo so I could just drop by after a movie or a shopping trip. I actually just went today, and the service was great as always. Our waiter kept on dropping by to make sure that our water glasses were filled and that our food satisfied us. Yes, the food was tasty, but the price was the catch. We ordered the chicken wrap which was about 8 something and that was decent but we also got chedder fries. Those were like 7 bucks and all they come with are fries with melted cheese on it. I understand that the name is "Chedder Fries" so that's what's included but 7 bucks is ridiculous! Overall, it was a great dinner. I would come again for the burgers because that's what they're famous for, but if I want fries, I'll just drop by in n out or something.
(4)Kim B.
The burgers are good but the fries are great. I've been to this Islands location twice and have left full and happy both times. It's located on the 2nd floor of Paseo Colorado near the movie theatres so sometimes on weekend nights there are large crowds of rowdy teenagers hanging around, but thankfully they're not INSIDE the restaurant. A burger is easily big enough for 2 people to split and an order of fries could feed an entire family of 4. Service is good. Food arrives quick and piping hot. Make sure and get your parking validated too.
(4)Coni F.
ok..We went to the trade show at the concentions center..At lunch time everywhere was crowded, so we decided to go Islands...There was a wait ,but we went to the bar and stood there until a table or barstool came available. ALong comes Dave the manager at that time. He bent over backwards to make sure we got a seating right away! He was so great with whatever we needed and was very nice and helpful and checked on us and made sure we got our food and drinks and he just could not do enought to make sure we were having a great experience! The food was fantastic as well.But Dave made our sore feet even feel better!! We are from OC but if we are ever back in the area, I will make sure we come to see Dave!
(5)Lillian H.
I know this is a burger place, but I wouldn't not highly recommend any of the burgers here. There soooo greasy. I couldn't even finish mine, not because it was big, but because I was about to puke. I ended up asking for a bowl of lemon to make my stomach feel better. Or I would of hurled all over the place. On top of that, the service, it's OK. 1) because the booth walls are soooo high, the waiter may not even see you waving at them and 2) the waiters sometimes tend to either not, or pretend not to see you.
(1)Irma E.
I'm a big islands fan!! I love Islands very much... their burgers are the bomb...their cheese fries...man oh man... The waiters/waitresses can use a little work but who cares I go there for the food and as long as they keep refilling my drinks I'm good!
(5)Ami T.
Smaller and not as ambient. And they dont grill the garden burger, tastes microwaved. Parking is more difficult, but a fun date place to go if you are going around Paseo Colorado. =)
(3)Tara B.
We only ate here because the person I was with didn't want to try new foods and this place was in their comfort zone. I had the burger with mushrooms and swiss (The Hula?) while my friend had a burger with guacamole and some other stuff. We both shared the chips and salsa, but I wished I ordered onion rings or fries instead. Overall this place is pretty good and I'd probably go back again if I was in the area.
(3)Dylan B.
A crappy overpriced chain. Everything is a-la-carte including french fries. I felt like I was eating at Disneyworld.
(1)Victor F.
Islands burgers is and always has been exceptional for it's burger, and because of the fries that now come with the burgers, that's an even better of a deal! The Hula burger is exceptional. If you're a mushroom lover, it's the one for you. The service is quick and the waiters are efficient. Keep in mind that these are burgers, and with burgers come the calories and the trans. fats and all the goodies that cause you to get the muffin top. These aren't for the faint of heart (literally).It's the sole reason why I've stopped eating breakfast; to enjoy an Island burger for dinner.
(4)nar b.
I love the fact that they finally added fries to the burgers about 2 years ago maybe?? And now it's endless fries so it's perfect to share. I usually have a good experience while I'm at Islands but the last time I went, I was in a rush [went to watch a movie at the Arclight so I only had 1 hr to eat] and they took foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I finally got seated after waiting like 10 minutes when the woman said it would take 5 to be seated. We waited another 10 minutes and no waiter/waitress showed up. -_- We decided to leave and get something else. I was disappointed! I was looking forward to eating a burger, especially since I did not eat at all that day. Sooo as you can see I was quite grumpy and sad haha. But other than that, I would have to say... their food is good!!
(4)Bo K.
One of the better Islands I've been to. Their burgers are great! Paseo Colorado has been getting better recently. Camille's Sidewalk Cafe opened downstairs, next to Gelsons, across Civic Center. After a meal in Paseo, I go to Camille's Sidewalk Cafe,order a coffee, and get some work done since they are the only store with free wireless connection.
(4)Hobart L.
Big juicy burger. Love the burger and the atmosphere is friendly! Love my burger with swiss cheese and mushroom.
(4)melissa m.
HUGE fans of the Turkey burger! Full of flavor and so many choices! It's a great place to dine but the take out is just as good. And you can order on line! The amount of food is ridiculous for the price! Great place for burgers!!! Turkey anyway:)
(5)Tiana T.
Service was S-L-O-W! We were in there around 4pm and there was MAYBE a few other couples in there. Plenty of waiters but our Hawaiian burger and Cheddar fries and Tiki Tenders took about 45 minutes to come out. The food is nothing to get excited about but if you are hungry....you're hungry.
(2)Astolfo C.
not happy with islands aside that my daughter loves there hamburgers she whent with her friend and they took her order wrong and replaced her hamburger and charged her for the extra hamburger and they made her pay for it and they are the ones that made the mistake. she came home upset. they took advantage of her and she still left a tip she was so worried. that was very unprofessional of the restaurant and will not let my daughter go again alone. i though my daughter would have bin treated a whole lot better then that i guess i was wrong.
(1)Midori G.
I want to give them more stars because the service was pretty impeccable, even with a shift change over. I cannot however, because frankly I wish I hadn't ate there. They certainly give you a lot of food to make up for the flavor, so at least I didn't feel cheated for a $10 "crazy-named" tuna sandwich and soda (with refills).
(2)J S.
At the Paseo mall. Basically trying to be an upscale American food restaurant (burgers and some tex-mex) We all had the soup. It was cold outside. Soup was just okay. Prices are typical ($9/person) Feels crowded and stuffy.
(3)Lee H.
One of the better Island's locations out there! Right in Old Paseo across the way from Yardhouse AND the Movie theatre! Not to mention you can do all the shopping you need to downstairs! Oh and if you feel like going to a lounge/bar, just right up the street! Well back to the restaurant! Just like your typical Islands with the Island's theme decor inside! Nice coulple of tv's in the waiting area (although it is quite small) - bad on Friday's, Saturday's on the waiting! Cramped and full of people! Anyhow the food makes up for it! Whenever I go I either have the Sandpiper (Chicken Breast Burger with Cheese) or the Maui (Cheeseburger with Avacado)! REALLY good burgers! The fries are also very crispy and tasty - sometimes they can hold out on that seasoning they put on it! And the Tropical/Passion tea is the BEST! The service is always friendly and kind! The bar's not bad either if you and the friend's just wanna lounge! Don't forget to validate your parking ticket - and right next door is the movie theatre! Great easy-going date spot!
(5)Thomas L.
Well I gotta give this place props for hiring my little sister. I guess I'll have to give this place a good review.... I love their bacon avocado burger. I think its called the Cali burger? Make sure you reserve a table because theres almost always a line during the wkend and holidays. They also serve some great liquer... I dont recall what I had exactly.. but they were tasty and did the job. Service was attentive and quick. I like the I Land decor, which definitely sets the mood for a Corona and a slice of lime on top... Remember to get a validation for garage parking.
(4)Crystal C.
I forgot why I stop coming to this location and now I remembered. I had lunch here today with a few of my classmates. She really wanted a chili burger and then decided we needed to go to Islands (we were sitting in another restaurant originally). We were seated at a booth table next to the window. It's still the same setup and menus at the end of the table. They actually have this lunch menu now for $6.95 which you can choose from their Big Wave with cheese (the typical cheese burger), North shore tacos (2 chicken tacos), a Greek salad or salad and soup. My friends ended up choosing the pipeline, bigwave, north shore, and I got the hawaiian. My burger was super greasy and so was the others. I remember the food being alot better back in the days. But I guess they're having this promotion or something cause you get fries with your burger now. I guess it's something to help draw in more of a crowd? So, our waitress was nice but service was slow and not very attentive, it's still the same as it was before. I always end up going to the Foothills location but if the food is the same in all islands... ehh I'll pass.
(2)Danny G.
My expectations of this place were in regards of the amount of clientele. I dint see why there was so many people. I could of gotten a better burger at In n Out. The fries were crispy and delicious though.
(2)