All I can say is that I liked the decor and atmosphere a lot more than the food.
(3)
Samantha Y.
Margaritas are always awesome here! Very balanced, I like mine with sugar rim instead of salt. I love the happy hour at kona, who doesn't? Cheap drinks and great food. Not really a fan of the sushi here.. I get that it's a fusion restaurant and I've worked in sushi restaurants before, so maybe that's why it seems "off" to me. It still is great though! Visited this one from Fort Worth :)
(4)
Lindsey P.
I've been a couple times in the past couple years and I'd say Kona Grill is always just ok. I go mostly for convenience - I don't know Cherry Creek very well so I go because it's decent food at a good price (especially if it's Happy Hour) and it's the first place that comes to mind. This last time our waiter took forever to greet us. In fact, the whole visit seemed to take a reallllllly long time. He was friendly enough, but slow considering that it wasn't busy AT ALL. The food was pretty good and it has been previously too. The sushi is ok, their salads are good. This time I got the Chicken Avocado Club with taro chips; I asked for the chipotle mayo on the side and it came on the sandwich. Normally I would have asked for them to fix it but considering how long it took to get our food in the first place, I let it go. It was very tasty and my grandma seemed to like what she got too, the Chicken Caprese sandwich I think. Her sweet potato fries were warm enough, but also soggy and limp. Like I said...if you're around for Happy Hour and you have some time, do that. The prices are great and the items available on special are plenty. The drinks are cheap (also tasty). That's probably what I'll stick to from now on.
(3)
Michelle S.
Kona is always a good bet for happy hour. Last night was the first time I dined in the dining room. Not my first choice but nonetheless I was meeting people and it was the birthday girls choice. This review is really about the service because it was hands down, truly one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. Drew was incredible. The 7 year old that I was with was cracking jokes and he managed to return to the table time and time again with new jokes for her. There were even a few other servers who joined in the silly telling of jokes. You could tell that they were enjoying themselves, that this wasn't something that they had to do. I haven't experienced a server who has gone above and beyond like that in a long time. Our food was good, we had a few sushi rolls while the birthday girl had a bento box. The bento box was a good looking meal, she definitely made out with the most delicious dinner I think. The orange shaped like a panda was the icing on the cake. I think typically I'd give Kona a 3 star rating but Drew's service last night prompted me to go with 4 stars. So way to go Drew! When we come back we know who we'll be asking for.
(4)
Erin M.
Good, not excellent. Had the edamame and the chicken stir fry. The stir fry was spicy in a good way, the chicken was moist, and the edamame was made well. The atmosphere was also average, which leads to an overall rating of 3. Great place to stop while in the mall, but I wouldn't seek it out in particular.
(3)
Lauren D.
I find myself constantly (and pleasantly!) surprised by 3.5 star Yelp-rated restaurants and Kona was no exception. I met a girlfriend here last night for Happy Hour and was really impressed. Downgrade from 5 stars because the music in the bar was WAY TOO LOUD (hi, I like to be able to have a conversation with the person I'm out with) and because I had to walk through the mall to get to the entrance but otherwise the drinks were delish (sake sangria!), the food was tasty and everything was reasonably priced. Oh and HH goes until 7 PM, something that's much appreciated by those of us who hold down a 8-5 PM work schedule. Recommended: the veggie sushi, avocado rolls and apple/brie flatbread Tip: the bar gets pretty packed so expect to wait for a spot, even on a weekday
(4)
Tiffany N.
AMAZING happy hour specials on food, drinks not so much. I stopped here to grab something to eat while waiting at Cherry Creek and I hope to go again because for sushi and other yummies you really can't beat it! Happy hour is in the bar area and patio and you can get basic rolls for $3.75 (I got the crab crunch roll, delicious with eight pieces so if you're a sushi fiend like me, you may want to order two) along with other dishes like avocado eggrolls, sliders, pizza and more. The more advanced rolls go for $6 which is also a steal--why haven't I been coming here all along?? I would pass on drinks though since they're really not too big of a steal--draft beers were $4 and I believe that was only Sam Adams and the other drinks were pricier than I expected for happy hour prices. But that wouldn't keep me away from the happy hour food prices here!
(4)
Alex W.
I came here for lunch and was disappointed. After asking about lunch specials I was told that's their "Pairings" option where you pick two items for $10.50. I got miso soup and the "sushi sampler". The miso soup arrived in a bowl smaller than their tea cups, then the "sampler" was three pieces of sushi. That's it. That is ridiculous by the standards of the most peckish eater. You can go to Osaka and get those two things with two small salads and a full entree (salmon/chicken/tempura) for a dollar less in their lunch bento. So, with tea and tip I paid over $16 to leave and go somewhere else to actually eat lunch. The soup was good, the sushi was on par with what you'd get at Whole Foods. Very unimpressive.
(2)
Mike M.
Went there for happy hour with some friends to celebrate a birthday Blake was our server he was the best Smart funny and he knew the menu and made great recommendations Thank you Blake for the great service Will definitely go back
(5)
Andy M.
Poor service! We sat at the sushi bar for happy hour on Sunday and we stood waiting for someone to clear the table for nearly 10 minutes. We had to ask the sushi chef to find someone to serve us. I would have understood more if we had merely walked in and waited at the bar, but we were escorted by a host to the bar. The sushi nearly all tasted the same and the rice was overly sweet. I was seriously disappointed, but perhaps having had sushi in California and in Japan has ruined my appetite for the lesser. It may not have been such a big deal if we actually had good service.
(2)
Michael C.
I really like this place but the service today was exceptionally poor. The plates were dirty with dried particulate food on them. In addition it took ten minutes for a server to come to the table. Then to add insult to injury, it took over twenty five minutes to get our appetizer and drinks from the bar. When I literally wave my arms, like on MASH, the server finally came over and lied about the apart user and drinks. He could have said he for for bit he did not. It's an integrity and experience issue. I don't know if I hit the lottery with an aloof server or if Kona has dropped off the map with service.
(2)
Rick B.
Good Service, good happy hour, fun atmosphere. I like their appetizers and drink specials. I dislike their sushi and the war zone of construction around the patio. The should probably lose another star for the construction but it's really not their fault. There's no noise or anything, it just looks pretty fugly and kinda ruins the patio experience. I don't really go there for dinner, mainly drinks and appetizers. Is what you make of it. If you're looking for fine dining, or traditional sushi you will be disappointed. The menu is pretty big and has something for everyone.
(4)
Brett S.
I came very, very close to breaking my 3-star cherry on Kona Grill, but at the end of the day, I just couldn't do it. Here's the deal: Kona has a pretty damn excellent Happy Hour: mon - fri 3p-7p mon - thur 9p-11p fri - sat 10p-12a sun ALL DAY Check the website to make sure that hasn't changed since this review was written, but as you can see, you have a lot of options. Sit in the bar area at any of those times and you're more or less good to go. As is usual for most bar-only happy hours, the items you can grab are a bit appetizery, but this also includes a decent selection of sushi rolls. Factor in the cheaper brews and you're looking at a good place to fill up on food and drink. Provided your timing's right, of course. That said, the food really is just north of average. It's definitely not bad, but if you were buying any of it at full prices, you would be feeling a little robbed. The takeaway: ONLY come to Kona for the happy hour. The service is brisk, the food is decent, and the price is excellent then. Miss that window, however, and it's just too much for the food you get.
(4)
Carolyn I.
Kona holds a place dear in my heart. It makes me think of the summer days on the patio with the fire pit burning in the background while you're sipping away on a glass of wine. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can catch up with friends in the Denver area without struggling too much for parking. Kona has pretty decent happy hours in terms of food and drinks, although be careful as the weekend times are off by an hour. Service is definitely a hit or miss. There are some servers that will do bare minimum but there are others that are very attentive and want you to have a good time. I was in on Friday and had an absolute blast with our server LaLa.
(4)
Joseph H.
This restaurants hostesses are rude and unknowledgeable, the manager knows nothing about business and should never have that job. If I owned this restaurant I would fire all three hostesses as well as the manager to save my business and even if you see 8 tables open they will not sit you down but don't worry they will let you sit at the bar or outside except not a single person will give you a menu or ask if you need anything or let alone acknowledge your existence. Horrible restaurant and with all the options in the area this would be the last anyone should attend.
I sit in the bar area on Sundays. Always a great service staff, waiters & bartenders are so friendly! Food always comes out quick. & they have great happy hours!!! The sushi is pretty good as well as some of the appetizers. I always leave with a full tummy & a smile!
(4)
Cindy B.
Delicious! Really enjoy Kona Grill every time I eat here and the friendly waiters, thanks!
(4)
Kris R.
Scott was our server today on the patio, and he gave us phenomenal service!! Incredibly attentive, funny, just all around a great experience. The rainbow roll was delicious, and 1/2 price bottles of wine can't be beat!! Will definitely be back again
(5)
Jimmy H.
Drive 15 miles to get here only to find it closed. Good job on relaying that info, Google. To say I'm upset is an understatement, not to mention - the parking stinks.
(1)
jay g.
We found a lot of tasty options the the menu, from calamari to chop salad. The show stopper was the chocolate fandu!
(4)
Jane S.
Their happy hour space is a joke. Such little space for that time. Drink specials are ok. Food selection is better. I liked the lettuce wraps.
(2)
Kelly G.
This was our first visit to this chain. The restaurant was located next to the California Pizza Kitchen in the Cherry Creek Mall. We parked in the mall garage and walked through the mall to get to the restaurant, unless you use the Valet. I had signed up for their Konavore Program and received an e-mail for $15 off the bill for my birthday good for 2 weeks. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She seated us in a comfortable booth in the dining room. A giant fish tank separated the bar area from the sushi bar/dining room. The restaurant was dim, but there were pot lights shinning directly in the center of each table so you could see the menu and food. My husband ordered the Chicken Caprese Sandwich ($12). It was a chicken breast with tomato, mozzarella, baby arugula, basil pesto aioli on ciabatta bread served with garlic parmesan fries. The sandwich ingredients were light and fresh. The fries were shoestring potatoes with the skin, perfectly seasoned with garlic and parmesan. I ordered the Grilled Ribeye Sandwich ($15.25). The ribeye was tender and juicy. It came with garlic ailoi, baby arugula, danish bleu, onion strings on ciabatta bread served with fries. It was to die for and just melted in my mouth. Besides having $15 off the bill, the server brought me a complimentary Red Velvet Cupcake ($4 value) for my birthday. It was huge, enough for 2 people, served on a plate with sliced kiwi and strawberries. The cream cheese frosting wasn't too sweet. The manager came by to see how everything was. He stopped to talk to us about the temperature in the restaurant. He was aware that it was a little chilly in the restaurant and he was working on it. It really means a lot when the management is out on the floor, rather than hiding in the back office. The Happy Hour menu and prices look real attractive. We will definitely be back when the weather warms up so we can dine on the patio.
(4)
Christine A.
I have to say I was really surprised at how much I liked Kona Grill. I didn't plan on going there. I was shopping at the mall when the alarm went off. After 15 minutes, I just couldn't take it any more, so I had to drink the annoyance away and Kona Grill was there. Their bar area is cool - one side of the bar is inside and the other side is outside on the patio. I sat at the bar outside. They had a fire going, so it wouldn't get too chilly, so it was very nice. Within 30 seconds of sitting down, all three of the bartenders greeted me. They were friendly and a HAPPY group of people. It was also all day happy hour and it is an impressive happy hour. I don't like it when restaurants serve lower-quality food for happy hour. Kona discounts their existing menu and doesn't downsize portions. This is an excellent happy hour. I had 2 cosmos - delicious. Nothing I like more than a strong drink that doesn't taste like alcohol too much. The drinks were strong - I could feel it after finishing half of my first cocktail. I also had 2 sushi rolls. They were good - not the same standard of sushi that you would get in some other places, but, overall, they were satisfying. I received excellent service throughout my visit - refills on my water, friendliness and checking back to see if I needed anything. When I received my bill, it was less than $20. Seriously - I was really shocked about that - like I said, excellent happy hour. At this point, I saw the manager, so I let him know how impressed I was with the staff, which made him very happy. I usually shop at Park Meadows b/c it's 5 minutes from where I live, but, if I'm up in Cherry Creek, I would definitely chose to come back to Kona Grill.
(4)
Chuck S.
Sitting on the patio here on a warm summer and watching the "beautiful people" walk by is one of my favorite things to do at Cherry Creek. It helps that they have a good happy hour. The sushi is not the best I've had, but it was fine. The drinks are not the strongest here, but they were fine. The eye candy is some of the best here with the gals getting dressed up just to go shopping at the mall. The waiter took very good care of us checking in often and making sure we had what we needed.
(4)
Cindy R.
Great place to get together for a quick happy hour. Love their potstickers and happy hour rolls.
(4)
Michael P.
Polynesian cuisine set in Denver....this place does a good job of creating nice Hawaiian/Polynesian dishes. The salmon and mahi mahi are very tasty and outside of Hawaiii, great seafood. My one suggestion for this restaurant are more drink specials as they are little pricey. Overall, I do like place for special occasions.
Kona Grill has it all. Good food and great service. The staff is attentive and friendly. The sushi was very tasty and came out pretty quickly despite being busy. This is a must try restaurant. Kind of hard to see due to the construction around the mall's new addition, but worth the search.
(5)
A D.
Loved it! What great unique takes on sushi! So good, I could've eaten my weight in sushi. And the raspberry-hibiscus tea was fantastic.
(5)
Jason K.
My girlfriend and I go here every time we have to visit the mall if it's after 3pm for their Happy Hour. The appetizers are probably the best in all of Denver that I can think of! They have a 1,000 gallon saltwater fish aquarium that is understocked, and lacking the beautiful colors that one would expect for a saltwater tank, and half the time it is dirty. The patio is a great place to sit during a nice day, but sometimes you can not get a table (inside or out) in the bar area, and they do not offer happy hour in the large dinning area. If you do get a table, you may not be getting a drink anytime soon. We have learned if it is to busy just to walk away and try again another day :) Although the sushi we had was delicious, we have never been dinner
(4)
Steve S.
Ahhh, the Cherry Creek mall. Always a battle between image and substance. Usually image wins. The same holds true for the Kona Grill located on the north side of the mall. Now, they do have a great patio for people and car watching. On colder nights, the fireplace and heaters are well worth the price of admission. However, the food is lacking substance and so are it's waitstaff. Kona offers sushi, Asian inspired dishes and traditional American fare. For the most part its decent food that is priced well. However, Kona presents itself as a four star restaurant which is definitely is not. Just don't be confused. Always entertaining are the dudes wearing small child t-shirts and the women with more construction on their faces and chests than the summer roads in Denver. So go for people watching. Go for decent food. For for the inevitable oversell of the special by the waitstaff. It'll be worth it.
(3)
Travis S.
Terrible happy hour they let people hold seats for over 15 min why people are there ready to eat and refuse to serve happy hour in main area will not be going back
(1)
Kelly S.
Wonderful happy hour!! Not only are they good prices but there are lots of choices! Plenty of sushi rolls as well as other appetizers! I enjoy coming more in summer because the patio is great, but the bar is still nice if too cold for the patio. The only downfall can be finding a seat!
(4)
Tumi M.
Great ambiance next to Cherry Creek Mall valet. There is a fire pit outside that adds a nice touch. Across from the bar inside is a 100+ gallon fish tank that adds some life inside. I sat at the bar with my business associate as we hashed out the details of a financial agreement. The bartender was cool, didn't interrupt us at all, but got our food out fast and refilled our glasses multiple times. He helped figure out the special order sandwich my associate placed and was a pleasant server. The happy hour menu looked good. I will be back for a after work hangout with my boys or a semi casual date with good ambiance.
(4)
Meri O.
Amazing atmosphere on any day/time. Their appetizers are delicious plus they are half off Mon-Fri. They have two happy hours 3-7 & 9-12. Definitely worth checking it out. Enjoy.
(4)
Kate O.
LOVE their patio. Super cute. They have a fire pit too. They have this angry edamame that is to die for but note this is crazy hot stuff. Their food is really good as well as their sushi. I also love the kids meals. They are $5 and my son had the housemade mac and cheese and LOVED it. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Andre R.
I really disapprove the service of this restaurant. They charged my credit card with more gratuity amount than I give and even after I write on the bill that the service was not good. The restaurant was not busy and they took a long time to provide us service.We had to ask for a waiter and wait a long time to have our order.The waiter was looking at TV instead of bring us the bill.However the table on our side had two waiter to attend them at the same time and we were just three person in a table against a couple on the table on our side.The food was good but they really disappointed and showed to be not trustable and respectful.
(1)
Jinny K.
Definitely a great spot for happy hour. Their sake sangria is pretty good though I can't really feel any alcohol in it. Their appetizers are also light and delicious. Can't beat the happy hour deal.
(4)
Kate C.
Love their mojitos! Sushi is good and if you can find a seat during happy hour, definitely take advantage of it. It is part of the mall so can get a little busy but never had a bad meal. Service seems to be a little slow sometimes. Love the patio in the summer!
(3)
Erica A.
I was pleasantly suprised by Kona Grill. I thought that the food would be subpar being in the mall. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Specifically, the avocado egg rolls are to die for! Sushi is fresh and average price for the area. They have a huge menu and even though they specialize in Asian food, they have a lot of other options if people dont like that. It is a great place to have dinner before a movie.
(4)
Annie F.
We went to Kona Grill today around 6 Pm and sat at sushi bar. And we were order sashimi and sweet shrimp nigiri and open 1 bottle of fuji sake . The server was nice and funny . But the bad thing is after get out from Kona for 15 minutes and i got alergic from NOT fresh Sweet Shrimp nigiri and fishy . And now my lip are horrible . Note : check your sushi bar cooler's temperature and make sure peoples dont get sick.
(2)
Anya M.
Years ago when I was poorer, more tolerant, and ate all the gluten I wanted, I used to love this place for happy hour. I was unemployed so I could get there early before happy hour to actually get a table, and I liked the cheap sake bombs and cheap appetizers (still miss those guac rolls). On the patio people watching is totally entertaining (always people trying to show off their cars in valet, show off the stuff they're wearing, show of their girl's new boob job etc). There is always a good chance you'll see some Nuggets/Bronco player roll up with his baby momma (I've had it happen multiple times). There isn't really a people-watching equivalent in Denver so that was fun, minus trying to get a table. Now that I'm older, have $, less patience, AND am gluten free, this place doesn't do it for me anymore. I'd rather pay full price for a beverage than stand around asking people if they are leaving soon, so I can steal the table before anyone else gets it. Or worse, drink standing up smashed next to the bar. Annoying and a time waster. Plus now that I am gluten free [they have a gluten free menu online] I pretty much can't order 90% of the menu. Obviously you can get meat/fish, white rice + steamed veggies, but I can make that at home. All the good stuff has gluten in it. I got the Kona Chopped Salad with PLAIN grilled chicken (you can't get the macadamia chicken because it is coated in breadcrumbs) and it was great. But it was $13. If you're stuck in the mall and starving this place is ok if you know what you're getting into. At least the decor/vibe/service are all great.
(2)
Ashley F.
Avocado egg rolls are phenomenal!
(4)
Whitney W.
I love Kona grill! I love sushi! No compliants here! They have a great Happy Hour Menu in the Bar til 7pm. Spicy Tuna Roll for $3.50. What a great value! Will always come back!
(4)
Susan H.
While shopping at Cherry Creek we stopped in for lunch. Great decision The host was pleasant. We had booked ahead on Open Table and we were seated right away. The waiter was prompt, attentive, and helpful. He was well versed on the large variety of menu choices. Gave us enough time to unwind & relax a little bit before ordering, and was attentive and timely. Our food was great. I had the flatbread pizza with a glass of wine. The blend of flavors in the pizza was very good and the crust perfectly done. My husband had a sandwich with roast beef & gruyere cheese on a toasted baguette. He loved it. While the restaurant was very busy with weekend shoppers, the service and the food were very good and somehow the atmosphere still seemed relaxed. Will definitely eat here again when we are in Cherry Creek.
(4)
Brady K.
I am allergic to fish so obviously I do not eat sushi. However, I have always wanted to eat at the Kona grill, since I generally love Asian food apart from fish. Usually, when we are at the mall, California Pizza Kitchen is our standard choice. But we decided to try something new and Kona Grill is right there. Great patio for a great afternoon and of course Kona has lots of non fish items to choose from. Today they were running a special on bul-go-gi tacos with a side of kim chi, so I decided to partake in my heritage and try some. I have to say the bul-go-gi was a little sweet and it was on some kind of filo dough taco. I think there was some sweetness in the bread and the meat, so I'm not sure it worked. Oh, also had some calimari appetizers and that was really good. So to clarify, I am only allergic to fishy fish, not shell fish or cephalopods if we want to get technical. Service was very good. It is amazing how the little things can be the most important. For example, the server offered us some chop sticks and I said yes. So she peeled off part of the wrapper, handed me the exposed side, while maintaining hold on the wrapper side. As I pulled my chop sticks from her, she maintained hold of the wrapper and I received the benefit of having chop sticks without dealing with the nuisance of trash on my table. Okay, I'm a compulsive weirdo, but that still can be classified as good service and I will be back to try more non fish items.
(4)
Alex L.
Service on the patio (during happy hour) is definitely the best time to go. I went there once when it was their slow time, about 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and service was dismal. However, deciding to go to the patio was the best decision ever. Service was prompt and the food came out great! We ordered sliders, sushi and pizza. Bill came out to right around $17! Can't beat that for two people! The dining room just isn't a place to dine anymore and this holds true at many restaurants, not just Kona Grill!
(4)
Jeff T.
Love the happy hour. I only go for the happy hour. . Keep in mind that the food isn't top notch but its reliable and fairly priced. Love the avocado egg rolls and flat-breads..perfect place to go to for a weekday or weekend night.
(4)
David R.
What a great happy hour menu! The potstickers were excellent and the avocado rolls were interesting. The waiter did a great job and the food was better than expected. What a great value!! We'll be back.
(4)
Simon J.
Been here a number of times, and went for happy hour last night which reminded me I really ought to Yelp this place as I have now had several really solid experiences here. Food has always been tasty and fresh, service has actually also been great-friendly helpful servers, even with our baby which I know can mean a little more work for them. The happy hour is a genuine bargain too with some really excellent deals, plus the decor is comfortable and has a higher end feel. So far, a great "never fail" spot.
(4)
Steven S.
This place is packed and trendy so be prepared. Translation = Crowded. But the service and food are excellent. I've visited here three times over the past two years and each experience was very positive. This last visit, I ordered the Macadamia Nut Chicken with House Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Veggies, Shoyu Cream, and Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade. I had no idea how any of the above would turn out. And to be honest, I had no idea what the seasonal veggie would be, how the "Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade" would taste, and I'd never even heard of Shoyu Cream. So let's just say I was not entirely invested in the meal. And I almost walked. Why? I sat for over 45 minutes waiting. Even the server seemed a bit surprised and apologized, assured me he'd checked on the status, and the kitchen said it would be right out. I wasn't mad or anything. But I was hungry. So at this point I contemplated simply but silently walking out and grabbing something at the California Pizza Kitchen right across the mall. That would have been a mistake. No sooner had I decided to move on that the most masterfully-decorated plate arrived. Generous portions of succulent chicken covered in some amazing sauce. It was literally bursting with flavor. The seasonal veggie turned out to be bok choy. Now mind you, I've had bok choy before but nothing like this. I have no idea what they did to it, but I sincerely hope it was legal. It was not only the best bok choy I've ever encountered, but quite possibly the best vegetable I've tasted. That's how well it was seasoned. So I definitely recommend the Kona Grill. It can be crowded and service a bit slow, but there's a reason it's crowded. It's that good. Come check it out.
(4)
Jim H.
Great sushi and amazing drinks!!! Go here for happy hour and leave happy!
(5)
Dan P.
Kona Grill is one of those few restaurants that is always consistent in quality and service. We've had the opportunity to meet several of the staff and management. We must say Chance is the best wait person there-always friendly and always helpful. Their patio is closed for a few days due to the Cherry Creek Mall entrance overhaul. I am sure the new patio will be worth a visit.
(5)
Hailey Z.
Every time I dine here the service gets worse and worse. Our last attempt was met with a server that just didn't care whether he made money off of us or not. I'm not sure what the draw is other than having a prime location. Go to Elways instead.
(2)
Scott M.
I would crawl through the mud for their soft shelled crab and andouille sliders... they are out of this world. We've only been a couple times when there was a wait. Great sushi menu too!
(4)
Richard N.
This Kona Grill is awesome! Great customer service and unlike other restaurants in Denver the manager is always present making sure everything is going great!
(5)
Jihee Y.
If it wasn't for Kona's happy hour, I don't know if people would just go there for the food. The happy hour is the only thing that makes it worth it. The food is decent, not great. They have a good selection of rolls for happy hour and it's seriously a hit or miss. The same roll you get once that was delicious could be a total disaster another time you go. Flat bread, avocado eggrolls, and the calamari are consistent winners. Don't get the mini burgers, probably one of the worst burgers I've had. I don't know how they've lasted this long with service like they have. Maybe because it's happy hour but every time I go, the service has been completely horrible. You feel rushed and they make you feel bad for "bothering" them. I've only had one good experience there with the service and I let her know myself how great she was compared to others we've had. Bottom line, go for happy hour. One of the best happy hours in Denver.
(3)
Nicole D.
Great happy hour but their sushi is just ok. Go Fish is my first choice for sushi. I used to really enjoy Kona Grill but now I'm like meh.
(3)
Melanie L.
This was a fun lunch spot. I'd never been to Denver and didn't realize how many chain restaurants they had (and that I'd never visited). I am a hug believer in eating local when you can but this was a mall stop and shopping can really help work up an appetite. They had a cool fish tank by the sushi bar that I was transfixed by while we we were eating. Their menu was pretty extensive and offered everything from burgers to Pad Thai. I had the Avocado Chicken Club with chipotle mayo on ciabatta and traded the taro chips for their fries. Loved their fries. The sandwich definitely left something to be desired . We had calamari for an appetizer and that was pretty good. Overall, I would give this place a thumbs and say the food is decent at best. It's at the very least a nice place to rest your feet after shopping.
(3)
Christian S.
My husband and I came here for our one year wedding anniversary and it was wonderful. The service was great and the food was even better! We were very happy with every aspect of our evening here and plan on making it an anniversary tradition:)
(5)
Alicia H.
Ran in for a quick snack with my cousin... but anytime you get us together it takes a bit for us to stop talking and order... so I thank our waiter for his patience with us! He got a turkey burger that he inhaled and I ordered 3 rolls (philly, a tempera shrimp, and avocado crab I believe).... and it was quite delicious! I'm picky about my sushi but they were tightly wrapped rolls with lots of flavor. Prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly; can't wait to be in the area again and grab something else to eat!
(4)
John H.
During happy hour this place is a hit or miss on service but its a great place to drink after work. I recommend everyone to show up early for happy hour because the patio area is the spot to be. It has an awesome fire pit and its right next to valet. The food isn't authentic. I only go here for the drinks. sake bombs! This is what everyone goes for. It's beer and a shot of sake. Cheers!
(3)
Lynn W.
The food was not good here. We heard great things about their happy hour but were not impressed when we got there. The sake was hot and good, but the food was not very good or very fresh. We ordered calamari and it was a pretty sad excuse for calamari. Really tiny and not tasty - which is surprising since they were deep fried. We could barely eat the sushi. The place looked nice enough but the service was very slow. There are much better places for happy hour in Cherry Creek.
(2)
Tara L.
By the time I added salmon to the asparagus salad it was a pretty steep salad. $18 is up there for veggies and a small salmon filet. Service was good though and easy to get to in Cherry Creek Mall.
(3)
Stefanie Z.
My boyfriend and I do enjoy coming here for the sushi because the meals are pricey. The avocado egg rolls are aaaaamazing! We usually get the California roll and spicy tuna. I think their mojitos are so yummy and tasty ! The service sometimes is slow and we have had to wait for our waiter to pass by and for our food which was only sushi to come out. I do enjoy coming here and happy hour is so worth it!!!!!
(4)
Tiffany N.
This mall bar/restaurant, for some inexplicable reason, is crazy packed for happy hour. When did hanging out in the mall become cool for people who can drink? At best it just seems dangerous for your checking account. So, Nick and I are here for a sort of wedding congratulatory party, which they've divided into two tables. Because, you know, it's too hard to put 10 people at one table. Whatever. I'm starving. They have a sushi bar. I'm a sushi fan. Let's order sushi. But, before that we had the only good thing that I tried - tuna wontons. This is rarely seared tuna on a crispy wonton with wasabi sauce on it. I should have eaten another order of those. But, we went with the sushi rolls. It was just crap. They were all falling apart and while fresh, the fish just seemed not to mesh with the flavors they were mixing in there. Nick and I order 3 rolls and ate about half of each. And we are not sushi wasters. Generally, I'd rather eat sushi until my stomach hurts than let it go to waste. The one highlight of our time there was the drink menu. They make a lot of very interesting cocktails, which I sampled quite a few of. And they have sparkling sake. So, if you're going, my suggestion is go for the beverages.
(2)
Jessica G.
I've always wanted to go to Kona grill but it just wasn't the right price for my budget. Luckily my boyfriend got some gift cards from one of the Managers. My boyfriend works at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cherry Creek, and they stoped by asking if he ever sends people over to Kona Grill, he had never tried it so he said no he doesn't. They gave him some gift cards to get him to change his mind. Well lets just say it worked! We took his parents to dinner when they came to visit from Texas. The service was great, the drinks were amazing and the food was so delicious. I got the pan seared ahi, which was cooked great, as was everyone elses meal. The sweet chili sauce that went with the rice was so tasty, it wa just the right amount of spice. I would highly recommend Kona Grill to anyone that can afford it or for a special occasion. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Heather M.
Came here with a friend for a work lunch and wasn't terribly impressed. The restaurant was not very busy, yet it took over 30 minutes for us to receive our food. During this time, the waiter refilled our waters once but didn't offer an explanation for the long wait. As it was a work lunch, we were hoping for somewhat faster service. When the food did arrive, I received a dish I did not order. Though the dish I did order came out soon behind it, I had to make the effort to explain that I had not ordered the first. I had the pan-seared ahi, which was good enough, but left me wanting for more. I had been excited when I first looked at the menu because it looked like there were some great items. The fact that this place is in a mall doesn't really help it. If it weren't for the coupon I just received in the mail, I probably wouldn't return.
(2)
Sal R.
I'm torn between starting with the phenomenal service or the amazing flat bread! The menu was tough for vegetarians. The pad Thai uses fish oil and the tomato basil soup has cheese cooked into it. My server, Madison, checked on the soup ingredients -- without prompting -- and came back to ask if the cheese was OK. When I said no, she happily agreed to swap my order for a custom vegan flatbread instead. I never complained. But the manager asked the kitchen to rush my revised order, brought it over himself and then didn't bill me for it. It was all totally unnecessary (but appreciated). I would have paid full price for that vegan veggie flatbread! My dining mate loved the pulled pork sliders and sweet potato fries (especially the sauce).
(5)
Kristin K.
Awesome happy hour. Great food. Great atmosphere. Wave and Bama rolls were awesome. White Sangria on HH was also delightful.
(4)
Alex R.
Not impressed. Thankfully I wasn't footing the bill for the less than stellar apps and entrees.
(3)
Diana W.
I went here for lunch and was excited about the new less than 500 calorie menu option. Service was good at first but as the lunch rush came in the service and food slowed down but our waiter still helped us with a smile. Got the low calorie cucumber wrapped salmon roll which was tasty but I wish the sauce they drizzled on wasn't as citric. Also got the scallop sashimi dish that is on the low calorie menu too...it was delicious. Tasted fresh...I wanted 4 more! Will I come here again? Well, the sushi options aren't mind blowing. Run of the mill "generic" sushi chain for the masses but it has a great selection so if you want to meet people here that don't enjoy sushi, you can get your fix while they order a sandwich.
(3)
Braden S.
Went here today before shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall as should be expected. The server was very nice, but not very attentive. He didn't come by many times even when I needed water and had to steal water from someone else in my party. People at my table tended to like their meals well enough, but I didn't love the sushi. I would have much rather gone to a reputable sushi place in the area instead of ordering the sushi at Kona. I tasted the ahi tuna salad and was underwhelmed, but it was still OK. Overall, food and service were OK. I think this is a place to go if and ONLY if you are shopping in the Cherry Creek Mall, but don't come here just for a place to go out.
(3)
Crys A.
This is a chain and we all know it. Still, I'm not going to lie, the food, drinks and service are pretty darn solid. Because I'm into monetary self-flagellation I often find myself wandering blurry-eyed around Cherry Creek Mall for hours at a time, only to land, quite thankfully, in a seat at the bar at Kona Grill. They have this sushi sampler thing which is brilliant. I mean, being from Hawaii I know good sushi, and I'm not saying this is the omgbest sushi in town, but for the price and the amount served I'm not balking. The sweet Maui onion rings are also good, as are the potstickers. Again, nothing amazing to write your mom about, but for what it is and where it is and how it is --- I like. Entrees? The ribs are good but I find the macadamia nut chicken to be ... odd tasting. Can't put my finger on it, but I ordered it only once and that was good enough for me. The pad thai was standard, not especially special, but it's not like I didn't eat most of it.
(4)
Lo B.
I have never seen such tiny shrimp. $17 for thumb nail sized shrimp was an insult. The pasta was over cooked and gummy, the lemon cream sauce wasn't remotely lemony. The service was inattentive and way below average. We would have loved to order a drink or a dessert but the server never returned.
(1)
Katie B.
Kona Grill, you did a much better job of pleasing me on the second go - kudos! After my initial bad experience at Kona Grill, the district manager contacted me to apologize for my lackluster meal. He offered to send me a complimentary gift card as consolation, and naturally I eagerly accepted - but that's not why Kona earned a better star rating. The sushi saved this joint. I returned to Kona while my boyfriend was visiting from Florida. It was his last night in town, so I wanted to take him out for something nicer than the Mexican grub and leftover Thanksgiving chow that we had been noshing on all week. We started our dinner with ahi wonton crisps and edamame. Both were satisfying, but I've had better ahi tuna (can I get a holler for Cuba Cuba's ahi with watermelon, oh my). The wasabi sauce on the tuna was fantastic, and I sopped up all the remnants on the plate with my edamame. Having learned my lesson sampling the mediocre burgers during my first visit, my beau and I stuck to the sushi menu this time - and it was an excellent decision. We ordered about four different rolls, including the spicy salmon and a savory soft shell crab roll. However, the crowned jewels of this meal were clear: GET THE ATLANTIC ROLL AND YAMADA ROLL. Seriously, you must. The atlantic is a hearty, smoky baked salmon concotion with eel sauce, cucumber, and crunchy tempura flakes. Probably my new favorite roll. The yamada roll was the center piece of the dinner, and overwhelmed our tastebuds with tempura sea bass with crab, avocado, cucumber, and wonton slivers wrapped up in delicate yellow soy paper. Yes, yes, yes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We topped off our gluttony with a seasonal pumpkin-infused creme brulee - pretty good, but given how disgustingly full I was, it was hard to really enjoy it. Niko devoured it though, and I liked the fat little pumpkin seed topping. Overall, I would come back here for some sushi - especially those two amazing rolls.
(3)
Tyler S.
Great American/Seafood/Sushi restaurant in the heart of Cherry Creek. I made the executive decision today with a good friend of mine to head over to Kona Grill today for lunch. Having eaten here numerous times previous, Kona just seemed to be calling out to me as we narrowed down our luncheon choices in the area. I ordered my absolute favorite from here, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken! Not only does it come with freshly steamed and deliciously seasoned green beans, served underneath the chicken cutlets, is a crazy tasty pile of cheddar mashed red potatoes that are the bomb.com ! My lunch partner ordered the grilled Mahi-Mahi, which I must say was also pretty tasty when offered a sample. Not too "fishy" (which I can't stand when ordered fish in Colorado) and grilled until it was perfectly cooked. It came with a side of mango salsa and some crazy vegetable called Broccollatini that was a weird hybrid between broccoli and asparagus. We also decided to split some sushi before our meals came out. At the recommendation from our server, we ordered this shrimp tempura, crab, spicy tuna roll that was all wrapped up in cucumber slices. On top of the sushi was this wasabi aioli sauce which made the entire dish outstanding! I would definitely order this sushi again! I've heard they have a great happy hour, although I haven't personally been during that time. They did have a sign posted advertising all day happy hour on their patio if that day's high temperature is below 40 degrees. The only downfall it seemed from this was that you had to sit out on their patio. All in all, Kona Grill is a great, kickback place to grab some drinks and American/Seafood and sushi with friends or family. Nothing special - I probably wouldn't come here for an anniversary or special occasion meal, but it serves it's purposes when the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken calls out to your stomach!
(4)
Amir R.
I found nothing appealing about Kona Grill. The food was dull and uninspired. It seems the most important objective of the restaurant is to rush people through the place. The only reason I went to this place was because I was hungry and in the mall. A better bet would have been to walk out the door and head two blocks over to Hapa Sushi. Denver is full of good Sushi places, Really! This ain't one of them.
(1)
Scrotie M.
I like this place and there food is pretty good. They have a nice atmosphere and good service. The food is a little over priced but is cooked well, their happy hour is good for food but the drinks are weak. I would give 4 stars but more than one time I have seen managment belittle staffers, and it is embarasing.
(3)
Carlin L.
I ate at Kona this weekend. Sushi and salad were actually quite good with a fantastic patio. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is and the non-stop 70s music was rather peculiar...
(3)
Kyle M.
went to kona because of raving fans and was not impressed. the food was ok and overpriced we had the hawaiian steak and some general sushi rolls. the steak lacked flavor and was no where near the $30 quality. the service at kona is a+ however. our server was on it all night.
(3)
Kenneth P.
I'm reviewing in regards to the reverse happy hour (around 10pm-12). Kona's really good for some cheap drinks and cheap appetizers during their happy hour. But it's incredibly annoying on a busy night or a cold night. Their happy hour "requires" that you sit at the bar section or out on the patio? Yeah... I don't really understand it much, but it gets pretty annoying if there's weather or if you're in a big group and looking for a table. I don't really understand why, but I think Asians tend to flood towards Kona and have trouble reaching out to other places. But to be honest, I always dread being dragged there by friends mainly because of the seating. Besides that, the calamari and the barbecue chicken pizza are always good items to order. Some sushi is decent, but honestly, if you're a real sushi eater, you're not going to Kona's happy hour for sushi.
(2)
Pilar D.
This review is for happy hour only. My expectation was not very high because, albeit, Cherry Creek, it was still in a mall. Kona Grill is located on the north side of the mall, near Neiman Marcus. Kona is also accessible from the outside. The restaurant space is indoors. The bar area inside is small, but more extensive outside. There is a fireplace and some heat lamps for cooler weather. The drink special was ok. There were a few cocktails (margaritas), beer, and wine. The list wasn't very extensive but was pretty inexpensive, around $5 - $7. For happy hour, I believe the appetizers were half off. There were also pizza around $7 and they were HUGE. It's really the size of a medium pizza. We had a couple of other appetizers (I think something with ahi tuna) but nothing memorable. The place is great for beer and pizza.
(3)
Kim H.
The food is pretty good here, and service is nice too! The chicken club sandwitch was delicious! And the taro chips that came with it were yummy! The pad thai was very good as well-generous portion!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
Having lived in Denver for 15 years, it is surprising that I never dined at this restaurant until just this month. For some reason, I thought this restaurant served different fare than it does, and I wound up being nicely surprised. I have now dined there twice and been for happy hour. I recommend either. The mixed drinks are great - have had both a cosmo and traditional martini, both of which tasted great. My friend had the cold sake, which she allowed me to taste, and it was also quite good. I generally order appetizers and sushi, both of which are very good. My favorites are the avocado egg roles and the wave sushi roll. My daughter loved the potstickers and sushi; her friend devoured a couple of the hand rolls. Service has been fairly prompt and efficient. They've been pretty flexible with us too, allowing us to change tables and have staggered arrival times. They seem to have very generously-sized dining rooms with more than enough seating. Kona Grill has become a new favorite for us, and we will definitely be going back.
(4)
Jeanette D.
I've only been here for the reverse happy hour from 10pm to midnight but I'm a big fan. The food specials are $4-5.50 and include calamari, crab rolls, chicken and shrimp romaine wraps, etc. There are comso, beer and the famous sake bomb ($7) specials. They get crowded so plan to get there right when the happy hour begins to ensure that you get a table. The outdoor area includes large flat panel tv's and a fire pit so the ambience makes it a good place to hang out. Definitely a nice place to start or end your evening.
(4)
Katianna C.
I am a huge konavore, I have been to almost all of them across the USA and i can't complain, i love their sushi and mojitos, I love the atmosphere and service there, if you sit outside or at the bar you can get great happy hour deals on drinks,apps, and sushi!! Can't complain!:-)
(5)
Katharine A.
We showed up here minutes after Happy Hour ended and stayed for a couple of drinks. This place gets crowded and people were very packed in the bar. We had a good drink, but didn't stay to eat because of the sea of people.
(3)
Perry C.
I thought of Kona Grill because the parking is easy there and because we'll e in Kona, HI next month. What an enjoyable meal! The four entrees, not all mine, included my Snapper with mushrooms broccoli and rice, Louisa & Mary each had the crab meat po' boy & Charles' tenderloin. The desserts were over the top! Terrific & HUGE! Key Lime Pie, Very Large Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream and my apple dumplings bread w/ vanilla ice cream... photos to follow. Our server Zane delivered excellent service too. It was our first visit to Kona Grill and it won't be our last.
(5)
Asko B.
Delicious happy hour appetizers. Great staff and atmosphere is amazing as well. Check it out and enjoy.
(4)
Stephanie S.
We sat outside - nice place with a good atmosphere. Service was speedy and friendly. I had 2 different martinis that were both yummy, though I cannot remember what they were called :( For my meal I got the Hawaiin Chicken sandwhich (grilled chicken with pineapple)... it was VERY good! A +
(4)
Brittany B.
If you want a decent happy hour and you want to get a margarita for $1 cheaper just because you don't have a Y-chromosome during said hh, this place is for you! There are two margs on the menu, one a "ladies Margarita" which, when clarified with our server, is what females get, even though both beverages are the same. Sweet! The patio is great on nice days, though on cold days it's not so bad and supposedly they're putting together an all season patio soon? I'm anxious to check that out. I've enjoyed the "regular" food here, but happy hour is the reason this place thrives. Get there early... or don't and that will leave more room for me ;) j/k but really, this place fills up and the vultures looking for an open table can be vicious if you aren't careful
(4)
Saydee X.
Kona grill is definitely one of my faves! The cherry creek location just remodeled and it looks amazing. There is so much more room and looks a lot nicer! The design is also really great! Anyways it is definitely a nice place for a date night or just come in to get drinks! Happy hour prices are my favorite! There's great picks on there. We got the pad Thai, coconut roll, angry edamame, and this other roll with white tuna. The angry edamame is my all time favorite but today they made it super salty. Our server was great and brought us a new one and we loved it. The coconut roll is super good! If you don't like raw fish I definitely recommend it. It was pretty much deep fried shrimp with coconut flakes and rolled with avocado and mango! It was a great combination. This was the first time we tried the combo pad Thai and it was good but I've had better. It wasn't a authentic type of pad Thai, I feel like it's definitely an Americanized pad Thai, still good tho but not the best! We topped it off with the chocolate fudge brownie and it was amazingggg!! It's a huge brownie probably feeds like 4 people!
(4)
David N.
Normally restaurants that are housed inside of malls are mediocre at best, but I am willing to say that Kona is an exception. The service was very par, however the quality and taste of their menu was rather high quality. I came here for a family outing and so I got a rather comprehensive taste of many of their menu items. Below I have rated the various foods on a scale on ten. Sushi: Volcano- 8 Eel-6 Checkerboard- 9 King Crab-8 Picasso- 9 Bama- 9 Shrimp and lobster- 6 Appetizers: Fondue- 8 Calimari- 6 Lettuce wraps- 7 Shrimp Diablo- 5 Drinks: Sangria- 9
(4)
Ryan N.
Recently renovated this restaurant offers an exquisite atmosphere with a very diverse menu that will fill any cravings. -The sushi is average at best, while there is nothing exceptionally unique about the rolls, the jalapeño sashimi will leave your mouth watering and asking for more -The pepperoni flat bread is also very basic however the margherita flat bread is a light healthy alternative that is incredibly satisfying -If you're looking for something a bit more filling, the macadamia nut chicken will melt in your mouth -If you enjoy tea the blackberry jasmine tea is refreshing and gives a unique natural sweetener to a classic drink -Desert, if you have a sweet tooth the brownie, snickers ice cream cake and passion fruit creme brulee are exceptional. The creme brulee is something in its own world Overall I highly recommend this restaurant for dates, families, business, lunch, casual dinner
(4)
Charlene K.
I think Kyle did a great job, he was really busy at lunch on Labor Day. Asked for lime got lemon. Houston roll was fun-- cream cheese and jalapeño. And where else can I get sushi and tomato soup on the same plate? The hot tea is BAGGED and pretentious. Virtually no flavor. When I ask for tea at a Japanese place, I expect loose leaf green tea. The food is solid for a mall restaurant, I would eat here again.
(3)
Kristen B.
Been here about 3 times already and I love the ambience. Great happy hour and wait staff is friendly beyond belief! I work in the mall and I've been here 3 times the last week. That should speak volumes!! Love this place.
(4)
Sharod D.
I am quite the Happy Hour guy and this is by far one of my favorite late night happy hour joints! I have dined at Kona many times but after today, I needed to compliment on the food and service! Each time I come the service is great, with an extremely accommodating waitstaff. Now to the most important part, the food. Great half price sushi rolls, my favorites include: the wave roll and the avocado egg! They have closed down recently due to construction but as soon as they open back up, I'll be right there ready to throw back some saki bombs and delicious half price appetizers and rolls!
(5)
Tanya V.
I love Kona!! Been going here for a very long time, recently it was temporarily closed for remodeling and I was super excited to find out they reopened, It looks absolutely amazing..very modern and LA like. The menu is the same, which is great because its absolutely delicious. Calamari and the sushi are the best!!!
(5)
Sasha L.
I came here with friends after a hard day of shopping on Saturday. First we sat outside. I wish I could remember our servers name, he had light eyes and I think a beard, he was great. He was super friendly and funny. After we ordered drinks, we received our appetizer and ordered our entrees. We were in mid bite with our buffalo chicken flatbread (bomb) when the construction next to us become highly disruptive. A guy was welding above us, and hot metal flakes were literally falling on the entire patio, It looked like snow. It got in our hair, everyone was putting napkins over their food and drinks so metal wouldn't get in it. This weird issue sent us inside to ask the host to please reseat us. We also found our server and told him. Again, he was super cool. We told him we still wanted him to serve us (especially since we ordered our food and he was so awesome). He brought out our food at our new table right when we sat down and then told us he could not serve us because the long haired brunette girl who was in that section had worked there a long time or something. Total BS. I assume she was just a greedy unreasonable girl. And she sure seemed like one. She kept pushing us to order more drinks and tried to be charming but her attitude seemed really fake. We were all disappointed she wouldn't let our first server continue to take care of us. I really hope she gave part of the tip to our first server, who obviously deserved it. But I assume she didn't. The food here is good overall. We got the rainbow roll, phill rolls, and the spider roll. Everything was delicious. I wanted to get nigiri but it did not seem like a good value, I bet it is cheaper during happy hour. They had a Sam Adams seasonal on draft which was the best option, all other beers were macrobrew crapliquid. The value isn't bad for the area, it is pretty much what you would expect. I will totally come back when we are shopping but would not go out of my way to come here. If you come here do not sit on the patio unless they are finished with the new construction next door. It is very disruptive.
(3)
George D.
Love this place, never had a bad experience here. Best calamari in town !!!! Will be back again soon
(5)
Brielle G.
Awesome happy hour which includes all day happy hour on Sunday! Only downfall is very busy during happy hour and you have to sit at the bar or outside to experience happy hour prices so might have to wait a while. This is located in the cherry creek mall right across from California pizza kitchen and near john atencio jewelry store on the first floor. I always get the sushi here and it's always awesome. I get the rainbow roll which has huge pieces and is always fresh. I've also had a crab roll that is fried but was not as fresh as other places I've had. The sangria is delicious- by far the best sangria I've had in a while. I love the white and red sangria both are so refreshing and I could drink those day after day! They have a bubbly now it must have champagne or something because it's a bit more bubbly than the white sangria which consists of white wine. The margherita flatbread is huge and can definitely be split among the table. I wasn't a fan of the buffalo chicken flatbread but would order the margherita each time and it's great! The spinach dip is also addicting and uhhhhhmazing- simple but super duper must when coming here! Also the edamame is a nice size to be shared among two people.
(4)
Jessica R.
A wonderful little sushi intermission while shopping! The hosts were kind and accommodating, since I had my infant son with me I wanted a table away from others. In case he started babbling loud. My server, Layne knew the menu perfectly. He was quick, kind and to the point! The sushi tower was sooo good and filling! I also like how one person can order sushi while another person can have a burger and fries, very accommodating. The bama roll wasn't that good, but everything else was and ill go back
(4)
Julian T.
Great food and service. The sushi wasn't bad for Denver the timing was great and our server was on key and knew his menu would come back again. Stopped in for a quick bite and was in and out in great time. They have a sushi bar with s huge fish tank as well!
(4)
Nicole S.
Always a great dinner spot! Best happy hour in town!
(5)
Alex T.
I've came here multiple times, normally for happy hour. During those times we usually get the happy hour sakes, rolls and pizza which tastes alright, but extremely cheap. I came for the first time during non happy hour times and here's what we got: We had their avocado eggrolls because of other yelpers suggestions and wow it was good. We also ordered an eel cucumber roll which had a lot of rice and the rice was stickier than normal sushi places, it was different in a good way. 3rd and last item we had was the checkboard roll which was also outstanding. Service was great our server was constantly expalinig things and is always here, but it's a Monday and slightly slow.
(4)
Christina P.
I was shopping at Cherry Creek on a Sunday and realized that Kona does Happy Hour all day on Sundays (SCORE!). I went in during the late afternoon and was easily able to find an open table. This is a rarity on the weeknights, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Why not a full five stars you ask? After I sat down and was given some water, I asked for a menu and never received one. I had to get up from my table and take some menus from another table in the patio. Once I got my own menu, I waited around for someone to take my order. This didn't happen until about 25 minutes after sitting down at the table. I had to call the restaurant from my table to ask for a server because no one ever walked by. Over 5 minutes later, still no service. My sister then got up and walked to the bar and asked a bar tender if we were expected to serve ourselves. It was then that a manager came out to apologize and take our order. This was their saving grace. The manager was incredibly apologetic. He explained to us an incident with some difficult patrons before us caused our slow service. While it was not an excuse, I could understand. Not only did he comp a couple of items that we ordered, he offered us a free dessert at the end of our meal. I will continue to come here for their great happy hours and advocate for the excellent customer service that is provided by the staff. NOTE: prices have gone up since my first review (sad). For comparison sake, the margaritas are now $4.75 (pre-tax), rather than the $3.50 they used to be.
(4)
Jessica B.
This place was terrible! My husband ordered a salad and they brought him a sandwich. After we sent it back with the expeditor our server came over and instead of apologizing for clearly ordering the wrong item, she said "Oh, would you like a salad?" Then my daughter found the longest hair INSIDE of her burger. We couldn't even eat after that so we paid the bill (all of it) and left. As we were leaving I told the hostess about the hair so that maybe they could address it she just looked at me with this snarky face and said "yeeeeaahh, maybe next time send it back." Thanks Kona! That was the best $74 we've ever spent!
(1)
Chelsea K.
Went here for the weekday happy hour with a friend, the rolls were half off and we got a plate of calamari for $6. The only bummer was that we had to sit outside, in Colorado, in January. It was a warmer night for us, but even sitting next to the fire place we got pretty cold and so did our food. We had four rolls and we liked all of them. The Atlantic being our favorite. The calamari was a much bigger plate than I would have expected for the price so we were pleasantly surprised. Service was really friendly and attentive.
(4)
Sara B.
Love me some Kona Grill sushi! KG as been one of my go tos for sushi for years now. It is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. You actually get a lot in the rolls, so that makes it worth the price. My favorite you ask? Hands down, the spider roll! Hello soft shell crab heaven! Not sure what to get? Just ask. All of the servers I have had were awesome and super knowledgable of the menu.
(4)
Brooke B.
LOVE Kona grill!! Great staff, great management. Happy hour is off the chain! They even do a mall employee private menu HELLO!! Great, never had any complaints! I will take all my outta town family and friends here. Atmosphere and vibes are great! I am defiantly becoming a regular! The shrimp garlic penne pasta is amazing! Thank you!!
(5)
Vilma S.
Came with my sister and daughter for sushi and to use my $15 B-Day coupon. I got the Pan-Asian Noodles and it was very tasty. The sushi and avocado rolls were equally delicious. We sat at the bar in front of the Sushi Preparation Section and it was nice to be able to talk to the preparer and ask for advice on all the sushi specials. I also had a receipt from a previous visit and it was good for a complimentary dessert (after filling out the survey). We decided on the brownie and we definitely didn't go wrong. It was huge and tasty with ice cream and caramel sauce all over it. They even lit a candle on it for my birthday. Very good dining experience.
(4)
Alice G.
Thanks Yelp, Exactly! Meh, I've experienced better. Big Happy Hour for a certain crowd that likes sake bombs, and sweet teriyaki sauce appetizers. Food is "pub fare asian" with really mayonaissy sushi rolls. Has the mass produced in a factory somewhere feel.....Sushi is always luke warm. Not a fan, sorry to say. Still, one of the "sit-down" options at our upscale Cherry Creek Mall, so if CPK or the Nordstrom cafe don't do it for you, you can get a hot lunch. Or a lukewarm one.
(2)
Shreyas G.
Good, not great. Came here for the first time tonight and honestly, I was expecting more both in service and food. Every time we asked the waiter a question about the dish he repeated the description word for word. He didn't seem too interested in what he was offering, but anyways, on to the food. I ordered the calamari and avocado egg rolls. The egg rolls were interesting, I enjoyed those and the sauce that came with it. However, the calamari was soggy but at least the sweet sauce that came along with it was nice. During the main course, we had sushi. We ordered the special roll of today and two others, which apparently were the top sellers. One of which was the Picasso Roll that says "spicy" in the description. Now it was spicy but only because they put a blob of habanero on the top . The second roll was the Las Vegas Roll. I was extremely underwhelmed, it was simply crab mix wrapped in rice with a little square of cream cheese in the middle. Now on to the desert, we ordered the brownie. You can't really go wrong with the brownie, it was nice, warm and very large (great to share for 3-5 people). There was a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top as well, which was enjoyable. Oh and lastly, the entire meal was very expensive. It was over $80 without even ordering any drinks. Overall, the food, the service, the ambiance was decent but nothing special.
(3)
Lina C.
Happy hour is what makes Kona Grill worthwhile. Many of their dishes are half off and the drinks are reasonably priced (even though I didn't get anything). i have to admit, if it weren't for happy hour, I'm not sure if I would have come since it's pretty expensive for the amount of food you get, period. For three girls, we were able to order two rolls, the lettuce wraps, and my favorite, the BBQ chicken flat bread (which is amazing! A MUST for those who haven't been there) for about $21! What a steal!!! The rolls were okay and the lettuce wraps weren't as bad as I thought it would be. The chicken and the veggies used in the lettuce wraps are a tad bit on the hard side. We ended up sitting outside. it was nice and warm, given that there was a fire pit in the center of the patio. Perfect on a warm summers night. Overall, take advantage of Kona Grill's happy hour. Lina Chen
Stopped in fo a quick bite after a day of running around and was in the area. My friend recommended it and to my delight it was HALFOFF wine...seriously how can you beat that. And with cork & carry, I don't have be a lush and finish the bottle at the restaurant. Though the bartender seemed confident that I could. At the recommendation of the bartender I had the bama roll and it was delicious and fresh and great deal for happy hour. I also had the chicken satay as well. Great flavor. Service overall was great and food was delivered rather quickly considering how busy it was.
(4)
Amanda H.
This is by far my favorite happy hour in Denver. It's in beautiful Cherry Creek, has an amazing patio (especially gorgeous --and busy-- during the summer months), and delicious food/drinks. We always start out by ordering a "Sake bomber" that includes Sake and a tall Sapporo beer for about $7 which is an amazing deal-- we can get a solid three sake bombs out of this baby. They also have margaritas, sangria, wine, beer-- the usual-- on happy hour. Word of caution, the margaritas are a tad small for what you get so I'd skip those. In terms of food, it's hard to choose what I love the most on the happy hour menu. The Margarita Flatbread is amazing and includes a very large portion (if I ate it alone, I would be stuffed). Calamari is great, but the sauce that it's served with knocks it out of the park-- I like to dip the Avocado Egg Rolls in it. It's a spicy-mayo mixture sauce-- reminds me a lot of the "volcano sauce" that is frequently drizzled upon sushi. The Lettuce Wraps are delicious too, and once again, the sauce served with it is AMAZING. It's a sweet-herb concoction that is out of this world. If you're a fan of won-tons, I would highly recommend these. As you can tell-- I love all of the above, and would highly recommend just getting a group of friends together and ordering many dishes and just splitting it all. The sushi is also great, but nothing I haven't experienced elsewhere. We have always had amazing service. The only flaw of this place is how popular it gets during happy hour. If it's during the summer months, I would highly recommend arriving around 3:30 to ensure you get a patio seat (or a seat in general) because it's only available in the bar areas and patio. There aren't reservations or hostess seating in these areas, so you'll just have to "stalk tables" to wait for people to leave and snag up a seat. Hope you guys love this place as much as I do! Happy Kona'ing!
(5)
Jake L.
Big fan of the Happy Hour here at Kona! Can't beat a Sunday afternoon on the patio enjoying happy hour margaritas, sushi rolls, & appetizers! Plus yes I have to have a Sake Bomb, agree or disagree, that's on you. The staff is amazingly friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you have in regards to food/drink items, major plus on that! Favorite appetizer? Pot Stickers!! Favorite Roll? Crunchy Crab Roll with eel sauce Went with a friend a couple weeks ago on a Sunday and after drinks (Margarita & Sake Bomb), appetizers (Lettuce wraps & Pot Stickers), & rolls (Crunchy Crab & Spicy Tuna), total was just a shade over $25! Great thing about the patio area is TV's around the bar, and nice air flow now that it is warm out & when it cools off this Fall/Winter they have an outdoor firepit!
(4)
Sean S.
Bartender kinda sucks, I think he may have been mildly retarded. He was red-faced, dripping sweat, inattentive and frustrated. Drinks tasted awful. A martini should not taste like sunscreen. Having said that, Sushi prices are awesome and tasted decent for $3. The ceviche was impressive and again, good price. The environment is....well it's Cherry Creek. The bar is right by the valet parking so if you are feeling a little high fallutin', go for it. Overall I give it three stars because the service was terrible and I can only look at so many Abercrombie and Fitch hats.
(3)
Krissy R.
I went here on a work trip with a friend and was dying of hunger. I decided on the burger (I love burgers) and was NOT disappointed. It was brought to the table exactly as I ordered it, was piping hot, the cheese was slightly melted, and the flavor was intense. My friend also ordered the burger and as we were eating we swore it was the best burger of our lives. The staff was also really friendly and our waiter went out of his way to walk outside of the restaurant before we left to have a taxi waiting for us. I am sad that there is no Kona Grill in my hometown, but if I ever go to a state that has a Kona Grill I will go out of my way to eat there.
(5)
Logan L.
Two stars because I loved the low calorie drink options, and they were fantastic, albeit low in alcohol, but that is to be expected with low calorie options. Great sushi options, although my boyfriend and I stuck with the edamame. I really was tickled pink that I could enjoy a martini, cosmo, even a mojito for under 125 calories. The one martini (can't remember the name) I truly enjoyed was only 76 calories and tasted like candy...truly amazing. The lack of 5 stars because the service was absolutely horrible. The restaurant was not packed, not busy, and the bartenders completely ignored us. It took 10 minutes to get our first round. We had to wait well over 20 minutes, and get the attention of a manager (more about him later) before we could order a second round. During that 20 minute time we were trying to get the attention of the bartenders, but they were more focused on the glasses than the patrons surrounding the bar. Now for the manager...in all my years (7) of being in the restaurant industry, I have dealt with managers who are true dicks. This manager, probably because I was wearing a simple tank top, shorts, flip flops, and had my hair up (it was 90+ degrees and I had been walking outside for a few hours, sorry my boyfriend and I weren't dressed to the nines), treated us like we were dirt under his feet and then gave us the lamest excuse as to why the bartenders were so inattentive. "They are stretched pretty thin." Maybe it's because I'm used to a busier restaurant during my bartending days, but if two bartenders can't handle a 50% full bar area and a 50-65% full restaurant area (with not a lot of drink orders from my observation), than I shudder to think how they would handle things when it was busy. I have been a bartender, a server, yes even a manager in the restaurant industry and I was appalled at the way we were treated and the utter laziness and lackadasical attitude shown by the bartenders and the manager. Due to the yummy low calorie martini options, I will probably return, but the service and attitude of the bartenders and especially the manager, better be better on my second time, or that will be the last time I set foot in Kona Grill (at least in Denver, heard great things about the Chandler and Scottsdale ones).
Good prices on good enough sushi rolls during happy hour. Nice and dark inside--great feeling on a hot afternoon (like it was on Labor Day). We sat at the sushi bar to watch the magic happen. Our waiter was split between the bar (somewhat crowded) the patio (very crowded) and the sushi bar (pretty much empty). Thus service was a bit slow. The sushi chef himself went to the kitchen line to bring out one of our orders. Also, the restroom was "out of order" so we were sent across to California Pizza Kitchen to use theirs. If you're in Cherry Creek Mall and don't want to walk outside or re-park, this and CPK are about your only options for sit-down places that serve wine or beer.
(3)
Lily P.
So I wish I could give this place a good review... I went in thinking oh this will be great hawaiian/polynesian with sushi, I WAS IN! But sadly I hope that I am the only person that has had this experience here. Me and my boyfriend went to dinner there at 6:10 and promptly sat, I was quite happy about this (HOSTESSES WERE AMAZING) at 6:20 still no server but the hostess when they were doing their rounds saw we had no drinks and asked if she could get us anything, and we ordered water because we wanted to hear what beers were on tap. She came back promptly with the waters and told us what beers there were (she even went out of her way to find out because she had no idea). About 5 minutes later we had a server (YAY!) Apparently the server that was supposed to have us didn't so another server had to pick us up even though she was in a different section. So we promptly ordered our drinks and a quick appetizer as we had some questions and she was hurrying off to another table and she knew we were ordering entrees because we still had our menus. Around 7 we got our drinks... really had to wait 35 minutes for a mojito and a bottled beer. It wasn't THAT busy.,, after that we didn't see our server again AT ALL. Around 715 we got our one sushi roll that we ordered for an appetizer. Finally around 730 we got quite annoyed that we hadn't even ordered our entrees and we had been there for well over an hour. We asked to see the manager (by the way we had to go up to the hostess stand to do this because again our server had disappeared) who came over confused asking if we were the table that ordered 3 bottles of wine that they were out of... Uhhh there were 2 of us so no obviously not. And he said he was "confused and that there must be another table" and then he asked if everything was alright with our table.... So we complained obviously because I had to be at work in an hour and a half and there was no way that we were staying now. He graciously comped our mojito and beer and 9 dollar that isn't worth the price sushi (wave roll: avoid it). We left her a 5 dollar tip even though we saw her for literally a half a minute (way too kind on our part honestly i would have just walked out!). It's not her fault that we were out of her section but she should have remembered us... especially since she delivered plenty of food to the tables right next to us. If I ever go back to this place again (which I doubt after this experience) I will gladly be sitting at the bar instead because everybody seems to be much more on their game! As I said... I really hope we are the only people that have been treated like this!
(1)
Jason R.
5-stars, let's keep in mind this is strictly for the happy-hour menu and vibe. I'd probably give it 3 to 4 stars for the regular menu as it's somewhat pricey, and makes me feel like i'm getting shortchanged if I ever come here outside of happy hour. :-) Anyway, the Sake bombs are great, the avocado eggrolls are amazing. This is def one of the best happy hours in denver, if you like something other than typical, greasy bar food. Come check it out, outdoor patio is wonderful in good weather too.
(5)
Clint H.
Another awesome place I traversed on my trip to Denver this past week. I want to give this place 4.5 stars, but I guess I can give in 5. It would be a definite 5 but the men's bathroom has a really weird smell! it was like, really weird, maybe it doesn't smell like that all the time, but it did yesterday! Me and my boy came in here (twice actually!) yesterday to have a few beers before I sadly had to fly back to NYC. He was like, let's go to Cherry Creek and have a few brews. I was like, done. We came in here and had some beers, all of which were $3 (Sunday special). The decor is awesome, and it's a very good size restaurant, but we sat at the outdoor/indoor bar area, that is, before we left and came back and finally got a seat outside. There's a huge salt water fish tank inside too, and i love fishees! There was a real diverse group there, enjoying the sushi and the brewskees and the beautiful day that was this past Sunday. I suppose it would be nice if the bar was bigger, but I didn't really have a problem getting a seat there on Sunday afternoon, it was the outdoor area that was very sought after. My boy even got something to eat, these dumpling things that were nice and delicious and a tad spicy, which was great. If you don't mind valet parking your vehicle, this is an awesome during the day spot to chill, have some brews, see and be seen...
(5)
Kelly R.
Really? I was there a few weeks ago and my jacket was stolen by the drunk 20- something next to me. Honesty, you expect theft in some parts of town, but Cherry Creek?! Come on. I guess my ignorance shows... Anyways, while I don't obviously blame this on Kona, I do sadly conclude that the crowd here is somewhat uninteresting. The bartenders are okay, they do a good job at slinging booze. No real personality though, that I saw. Food seems uninterestingly prepared, and sadly, the bar area is very small and somewhat uncomfortable. Typical commercialized hot-spot. Nothing to rave about, but on the flip, nothing really to complain about either. (Except for the girl who is now wearing my jacket.) Top on my list? Not quite. But it does well, and for those who do enjoy it.. Cheers!
(3)
Lindsay A.
My girlfriend and I came here for happy hour one Wednesday afternoon. I was a little skeptical about happy hour at the mall but once we were in the restaurant you really couldnt tell you were at the mall. We went to the heated patio because it was such a beautiful day and it seemed to be where all the fun was at. Our waiter came right over and was got our drink orders right away. I ordered the Rock Coconut mojito, which definitely was not on the happy hour menu but we were splurging so I didnt mind one bit. The cocktail was amazing and came with a little piece of rock candy on top. My friend got the margarita and was satisfied. After drinking and chatting for a bit we decided that we were STARVING. We ordered 3 different types of rolls that were on the happy hour menu and a couple of the other happy hour apps. They came out very quickly and were very satisfying and delicious. Our waiter came over and checked on us frequently and joked around with us a lot. I am in the food serving business so I appreciate friendly, personal service. A few cocktails in and we decided we better call it a night if we were going to head to rock and roll bingo. All in all a fun experience.
(4)
julie n.
we had reservations for 4 but changed it to 7 last minute and the hostess was very accommodating. the service was ok, a bit on the slow side. granted it was restaurant week but not super busy. (none of us ordered off the 5280 menu). seaweed salad...good angry edamame ( edamame with sriracha)...kinda sour, not a fan octopus...pretty good, as expected seven spice ahi...good but on the small side crab crunch roll...really good jalapeño yellowtail sashimi...sauce was bland but overall ok boyfriend had the kona filet and his friend had the ribeye. they both ate every last bite so must have been pretty good. they have bubblegum saki on their menu but no longer carry it. waitress said they haven't for over 6 months but menu hasn't been changed. we were looked forward to that for dessert. side note...the management at Kona is great!
(3)
Ivy M.
Happy Hour Prices are the best.... in fact don't go any other time you'll feel a bit 'jipped'.. I would have to say that the calamari, is very, very delicious. And you must try the Shrimp Tempura Naruto roll, very tasty. Also the saki bomber, always hits the spot .. for the right price!
(4)
Honey R.
The place is neat and clean. I love the ambiance of the place . Our waitress was very nice and friendly. She forgot some stuff but it okay we had a big group. Prize is in the high side. Fried calamari was pretty good. I ordered their burger(i forgot what it was called), that was pretty good too. I would definitely go back to this place:)
(4)
J L.
Great service, great food, and great people in a great location! Their calamari is a must. I had their shrimp penne also and it was very good and filling.
(5)
justin d.
I really wish they would open a location downtown but until then I will continue to make the trip to cherry creek for the excellent customer service and the great happy hour specials! saki bomb $7.50 and for that you get a 32oz beer I believe and 4 or 5 shots of saki. FMLiver with that special! The servers keep there patients and orders in line considering how hectic the late night happy hour can be! My only gripe is they need a bigger bar area to accommodate the demands of there specials
(4)
Gary W.
I went to Kona Grill on Valentines Day and found the experience very average. The service was good but the food was very average or less and the price was high relative to the quality of the steak & lobster tail served. The steak advertised as a filet mignon was not, and it was overly tenderized, as well as over cooked and the lobster tail was quite small and "poached" vs. broiled which I had been told it would be. Very unappealing, tasteless and undercooked. The atmosphere was nice. In summary, I would not recommend this restaurant as a great place for a special dinner.
(2)
Cory D.
I went here persuaded by the many things I had heard about their happy hour. I would say this place is a slight step up from grocery store bought sushi, like the crap in the plastic containers. Not sure what I was expecting from mall sushi though. Fish did not taste fresh, texture was off, calamari was way over breaded and over cooked. Great deal on drinks, service was okay. No desire to return, like ever... never... ever.
(1)
Joey T.
Good drinks and service, food was fair but tasty. After seeing my mother in Neiman's at the Cherry Creek Mall, we all decided to get a bite to eat. We were immediately seated at a large table to fit all of us comfortably (3 adults, 2 kids, and our baby daughter). The menu definitely an Asian-Hawaiian fusion joint with a sleek and modern feel to the place. The waitress was very helpful with the kids and baby's needs as they arise. We started with the Avocado Egg rolls, which were a bit bland and could have used some more citrus to it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine that the waitress had recommended, but I found it to be sub par and nothing to write home about. This place is a good place for lunch if you are not expecting too much; but the service is very good, just wish the food was too.
(3)
Melissa M.
Hidee Ho. Went here last Saturday around lunchtime. Outside was full (bummer, nice patio they have) but we had the best waiter in the WORLD! His name is Zack, and get this, I remember him from 2 years ago at Black-Eyed Pea. Needless to say, he got like a 40% tip. We even told the manager how great he was and the manager acted like a total asshole. Oh well! Anyway, oh, yes, the food! I've never had a horrible experience here. We had the ahi-tuna appetizer and the shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, which were REALLY good. I wouldn't do sushi here, there are way too many other places that are sooo much better for sushi. Last time I was at Kona we sat in the bar with Champ Bailey and Dominque Foxsworth? Fox (?) (sorry, I'm a Bears fan so I didn't really care). We were in the bar for happy hour, which is great, until happy hour is over. There are a bunch of drunk skanks that usually hang out there so if you're lookin' for a good time... Over all, decent experience, but nothing overthe top wonderful except for Zack.
(3)
Anna N.
Love the happy hour! The Chicken Macadamia entree is always one of my favorites from here (not on happy hour menu)
(5)
Patricia K.
Hoss took me here, not sure why because I don't like restaurants that cater to pretentious people, but he told me his daughter likes it so I gave in. The food is good, not worth the price charged however (see pretentious), I liked the patio and smokers don't bother me one bit, other than that I wasn't impressed.
(1)
Michael I.
My wife and I stopped here for brunch on a Sunday when we happened to be shopping in the mall. We weren't expecting much, but the menu looked interesting. The place was pretty empty when we were there, so we definitely didn't have anything like the happy hour crowd experience that other Yelpers have talked about. Our server was friendly and helpful, and when we said we'd never been there before, she gave us a bunch of suggestions from the menu. Since we were already leaning toward two of those suggestions, we went with them and added a third. We ended up having the avocado egg rolls, the macadamia nut chicken and the strawberry kiwi sushi rolls from the brunch menu. All three were fantastic! We love the avocado egg rolls at the Cheesecake Factory, and these were very similar (not quite as good, but really close). The chicken and the sushi were both great, and we loved the fruit salad that came with the sushi. I wasn't too sure about the sushi at first - basically California rolls topped with strawberry and kiwi - but it totally worked for us.
(5)
Crystal C.
A solid 4 stars for a restaurant in the category good decent food for $$ price tag. Short version: Go there for Happy Hour and fight for a table with tooth and nail, it's worth it! Appetizers are halved off but the size does not diminished!! Awesome! - Happy Hour food: -- Avocado Eggrolls: yum. One of my fav appetizers during Happy Hour. Great value during Happy Hour since it is still standard size not miniature Happy Hour size. -- Lettuce Wrap: Again, yum! Great flavors. All of my coworkers love this dish. -- Pizza: My coworkers think it is better than CPK... me? I am not a big pizza person and there are just so many great appetizers that the pizza does not interest me one bit. -- Sweet Spicy Shrimps: Crunchy, sweet, and spicy. I love all those adjectives. Also a favorite among my coworkers. -- Spicy Tuna Roll: Meh, again, there are better food. -- Fiery Shrimp Roll: Meh... so I guess their sushi is not that forte. If you don't make it for Happy Hour, order the ahi steak sandwich. I don't really care to try anything else because the sandwich is so good. -- Ahi Steak Sandwich: I order it raw and it comes up just barely seared -- PERFECT. Most restaurants in Denver would cook the fish too much. Taro chips are great. Everything is great with this sandwich.
(4)
Leah G.
I love this place. Happy hour is one of the best deals in town. The bartenders are always friendly. Make sure you go early for happy hour. It fills up quick and you may have to fight your way through a crowd to snag a seat. Also, try the angry edamame. It's amazing!
(5)
Savanna F.
This place likes to be pretencious but I don't let that bother me. I love the happy hour, love the food. Always a happy camper when I get to go to Kona.
(4)
Daniel G.
I would like to thank Kona Grill for showing me exactly what well prepared Sushi can taste like. I first experienced sushi here 4 - 5 years ago and have since tried hundreds of rolls all over the united states and have yet to find a crew that prepares it and presents it as well as the team at Kona. Thanks guys
(4)
Elizabeth L.
I'm not updating to review the restaurant itself or the dessert again, but more for the overall quality and taste of the food I got earlier today. We got a tuna, tempora shrimp soy paper wrapped roll (I don't remember what it was called) for $8.50 and the lobster ahi-tuna flatbread for $15. The tasted good but it was generally a disappointing roll. Sushi should not be warm. The rice wasn't the proper sushi roll rice (where it's mixed with a bit of vinegar/flavoring) and you could tell the rice was still cooling down-- it was warm. Other than that, the soy paper wrap was a pretty cool addition to the roll. The flatbread, on the other hand, was really good. It had red onions, lobster and seared tuna, baby tomatoes, avocados, and a creamy sauce drizzled on top. I just wish the flatbread wasn't so crispy or the pizza as a whole was more dough-y. Kinda tasted like a lobster/cracker dip. I would get this dish again....though it's a little out of my price range.
(3)
Nicole W.
I've been here before and without walking outside, it is by far the best choice in Cherry Creek Mall! This time I did lunch with a friend. We got there right round noon, CPK was packed, but we were seated right swiftly at Kona! Yeah! We weren't in the mood for sushi, so we skipped those lovely items. - looked yummy though! I did the blackended cat fish tacos - over stir fried vveggies as opposed to the rice. Veggies were icky, but the tacos were amazing! They wrap them up, so it's kinda like a mini burrito, but very yummy! Loved them! The sauce inside... mmmmm! Yummies! The wait staff is very friendly, kept my water glass filled- so full i almost had to use the rest room mid meal! :) There were a number of options that looked really tasty, and next time i'm shopping I'll pop in!
(4)
Victoria N.
The only reason I eat at "Kona Grill" is for their reverse happy hour. Their appetizers are much cheaper, select sushi rolls are decent and wonderfully cheap, and they make a mean, yummy, frozen strawberry margarita, for the happy hour price! So, if you're looking for a late meal with affordable sake bombs, get your bum to "Kona Grill." Beware though, reverse happy hour gets busy and it's often difficult to find a table in the patio/bar area if you arrive during "prime time" (usually an hour or so after happy hour has begun). So either get there early or arrive late. Don't hope for on-the-dot wait service, because the servers are already running around with their heads chopped off and I'm sure they're doing the best they can. I recommend: All the happy hour sushi rolls Avocado Eggrolls Frozen Strawberry Margarita Calamari Reverse Happy hour: 9-11 Mon-Thurs .. 10-Close Fri and Sat... I think.
(3)
A A.
We went here because California Pizza Kitchen had a 20 min wait. We should have waited. For some strange reason we decided to get a pizza. Never in my whole life have I seen or tasted a greaser pizza. Everything from the cheese to the crust was saturated in grease. It wasn't very good, either. We also ended up getting the chicken fingers from the kids menu for a little one in our party. The chicken was similarly greasy and, while the macadamia nut crust was definitely crunchy, (and they get props for using real chicken), it was close to tasteless. If I was forced to return I would get the fake sushi, but I would set my expectations very low. They get a second star for the professional staff and nice decor.
(2)
Katherine B.
I do not get the hype about this place. AT ALL. Eating there last night left me with only one question: why is this place considered hip and trendy? The interior decor reminded me of something you would see at your local IHOP. The bar/lounge area is far too small and crowded. There is no parking other than the valet ($8 I think), so you typically have to park elsewhere at the mall. While we didn't try everything on the menu, several sushi rolls were a mere slight step-up from the prepackaged kind you get at your local grocery store. Now I have repeatedly heard that this is the place to "see and be seen at" in Cherry Creek... Maybe if you're in your very early 20's and late teens. The bar area was packed with people who barely looked old enough to drink, while the dining room looked like a typical Sunday night at Chili's (families with kids!) The only reason this place is getting ANY stars from me is because the service was spectacular. Steer clear people and don't always believe the hype.
(2)
Andrew W.
A nice restaurant connected to the Cherry Creek Mall. I down rated Kona for my personal respect for true and traditional sushi restaurants. Just because Kona is attached to a high class mall, does not automatically rate high in my standards for sushi, even thought it was pretty good. I give it a "pretty good" rating. The atmosphere is dimly lit and a great dinner atmosphere. They offer a wide range of dishes from Sushi to pizza. I found the menu quite spread out, which makes it good for families or groups. Our server was excellent! He did his typical run down of specials, but did have a personal connection with us. I'm sure these servers rattle off their individualized speeches a couple dozen times a night, rather daunting. Our food was wonderful and his recommendations were spot on. We started with the avocado rolls which melted in your mouth, a great starter. My girlfriend ordered the "Standard Pizza" with Canadian Bacon and pineapple. Nice crust, great flavor and plenty of leftovers to take home. As my girlfriend enjoyed her pizza, I did the sushi route. I ordered a seaweed salad and 3 rolls. My seaweed salad was very fresh, crunchy and cold. I love a really cold seaweed salad, that just makes it that much better for me when it is extra cold. My sushi rolls were very tasty. Also, they serve larger sized rolls in comparison to many Denver sushi restaurants. Larger, I mean, more rice and quite a bit more substance inside. I was very happy. For myself, I usually order 4 rolls. At Kona Grill, I could barely finish 3 rolls. My sushi dollar was definitely stretched further here. I am not a "mall" type guy, but I did go to help return a few items the girlfriend wanted to return. I think her comment got me, "I will buy you dinner." Sold! I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and have a drink or two outside near their fireplace patio.
(3)
Rachel K.
This place is alright. They have a very nice atmosphere, I was a fan of their patio & the fish tank inside. I like the set-up of the bar. The menu is fairly large with good options. The tuna appetizer was tasty, as were the avocado egg rolls. The sushi was not so good; it did not taste fresh. Maybe this is because I am from Boston and the seafood is more local? I don't know. The spider roll (which I get everywhere) was not good-agreed among the whole group. The other sushi was just OK. The drink menu was also just OK. Nothing trendy or exceptional. All in all this place is decent, but nothing that will blow your breath away.
(3)
Ilya K.
I have Ben here many times with my wife and other business meetings, I think that food is mediocre and I never understand the combination of the steak/sushi, neither is great
(3)
Lendy L.
Went for happy hour on a Wednesday night starting at 9pm. I absolutely love sushi and tasty drinks. I had ordered the spicy tuna, the spicy shrimp roll, and a BBQ chicken pizza. The shrimp roll had to be returned because it tasted bad, that is, very fishy. As for drinks I ordered the Lady margarita for only $3.50 and it was pretty good. Personally the happy hour sushi rolls are nothing to rave about but I would definitely come back for the happy hour drink specials. The outside seating area was supplied with plenty of heat lamps so the night out was cozy and warm.
(3)
Kristol T.
So I finally decided to try something different other than the sushi and I was impressed. My friend talked me into having the Chicken Chili soup which includes white cheddar cheese, jalapeno cornbread muffins, onions, chicken and chili of course. It was simply delicious! My drink of choice for the evening was the strawberry basil lemonade. This was also great but they need to go lighter on the basil as its hard to even sip the drink with so much basil in it. And it gets watered down really quickly. Now besides the food, the atmosphere is great! If you don't like dimly lit places, this is not your place. The servers are very nice and accommodated us staying at the table even after we finished our food and drinks. Expect a wait on Friday and Saturday night but you can always sit at the bar which seems to be the happening spot these days!
(4)
Daniel R.
I begin my humble review by laughing haha because this is exactly how I feel about this restaurant. My laughing gesture, in a way seems rude, but at the same time I believe that it reveals truth. At Kona Grill, my eating experiences have been rather unfavorable unfortunately. Each time that I visit Kona Grill I go for the environment, and not the food. I see a lot of trendy people who have just finished shopping around the cherry creek mall. If you look around you'll see a handful of dates, older couples, younger couples, and good looking adults within all of these groups. It's a very nice place to relax in. The lighting is dim, the waiters are nice, so you can't complain about a bad experience. The one thing I'll bring into discussion is the food. Several times, I have ordered a meal and asked if I can get my money back. One time I ordered an almond-honey grilled chicken meal. I absolutely love grilled chicken, but this one had a certain spice that I disliked. It seemed inappropriately spicy and totally went against the honey. I know that contrast effects sometimes make a meal better, but the honey and sweet flavor versus spicy was a failure. So the next time that I go in, I ordered the fish tacos. What I got was a set of tortilla wraps filled with rice, the fish of course, and a disturbing tasting sauce. Within two bites, I asked the waitress to change my meal. My little brother, a seven year old, was eating chicken fingers with fries. I tried some of his food and decided that I would order the same thing. In five minutes, I was also enjoying a simple, yet satisfying meal. After a few attempts at ordering, I found a successful algorithm for making safe decisions at Kona Grill. The secret, is to order conservatively. Order pizzas, hamburgers, chicken fingers, anything that you can find at any other restaurant. I like the experience way too much in here. The food isn't going to chase me away.
(3)
Dana R.
Two words - SAKE BOMBS!!!!! How I love thee... The fact that this place is in the fanciest mall in the area cracks me up. Both of their HH's are fun & crowded - nabbing a seat at the early HH means arriving early or waiting by the door and glaring at all the lucky ones who have a table. I've had better luck getting an outdoor seat at the late night HH. As for food - it is ok, although does get better as the night moves on. Chicken satay & onion rings (HUGE) are some of my fav noshes there.
(4)
rebecca b.
I have a problem with bars in malls. So let's get that out of the way first. But then again, Cherry Creek Mall is no average mall..... people are wearing $800 torn jeans here. I'm so far out of my element, its hard to keep from laughing at every contrived outfit I see. Lots of cosmetic surgery on cougars and everyone is wearing "the latest" overpriced ugly trend. I'm practically breaking out in hives from the conspicuous consumption here. BUT Back to Kona Grill. Happy hour includes a "ladies margarita" for cheap. Its premixed sweet green grossness. Impossible to drink . And I wonder if all those designed label wearing chiquitas who were sucking them down realize that it about 600 calories a pop? Your Wine options: Chardonnay and Merlot. I'm dead serious. The food we ordered at the bar was very good - the yellowtail sashimi was fantastic and the sauce on the side of the avocado egg rolls was out of this world. However, not likely good enough for me to return to this cheesy mall bar.
(2)
Adrian H.
The good: The tuna tartare The bad: Oyster Crackers destroyed the clam chowder The annoying: Parking a fair walk away (even if it is through the mall) My wife and I went to the Kona Grill for lunch. It's a reasonable spot just inside the Cherry Creek Grill. They have a good lunch selection, including Good pick-a-pair lunch items. I had half a portabella mushroom sandwich, and a cup of the tomato basil soup. The latter was obviously made with yellow tomatoes. My wife had the clam chowder and tuna tartare appetizer. Her chowder didn't taste of clams, instead being overpowered by the oyster crackers on top. If you get the clam chowder, ask for real croutons instead of oyster crackers - you will be happier. The tuna tartare comes with a nice avocado based mix and served on fried wonton wrappers. It's delicious. Overall, enjoyable. We like the Kona Grill - it's one of our favorites in the Cherry Creek area.
(4)
Shawn N.
Made a trip back as I had a gift card in hand. The food on the inside was much better, the seating cozy, unfortunately while the waitress was sweet she was covering FAR too many tables and what should have been a 30 minutes sitting took closer to an hour and a half to get drinks and entrees. The staff also didn't know the drink menu confusing the non-alcoholic "Blackberry Tea" with the alcoholic beverage of the same name (of the two people asked neither knew they had two drinks of the same name). So while this trip was better than the foray into happy hour, I feel like Kona is still missing their potential.
(3)
Becca W.
Kona, I gotta say has the best Happy hour! :) Great drink prices, and of course; Sake bombs! The food happy hour is pretty good too, good deals. But the food overall, isn't that great. So Kona is only good for Happy hour drinks!
(4)
T.S. S.
Great food and even better service! Thanks Zack. My wife and I really enjoyed it
(5)
Daron S.
Oh Kona happy hours, you used to be so amazing, but now I can hardly stand them. They have really good prices on wine, and happy hour food, especially their $5 pizzas (they are all good). I've never acually sat in the dining room or had much from their menu, but a lot of their stuff looks tasty. This place deserves 4 stars but I must give it 3. TOO MANY (RUDE) PEOPLE! It's impossible to get a table or a seat. So impossible that you have to stake out someone who is about to leave and ask if you can have their table. Most are nice about it, but some people have said I should get there earlier (Well I have a job that prevents me from drinking all day and shopping at Cherry Chreek). Even if you have been patiently waiting for a table, there is no guarantee some person won't swoop in and steal your table. It's funny because during happy hour, the dining room is completely empty. I think they could open up a few more table (It's like they don't want to make more of a profit) and enable some sort of list for people waiting. After that rant, they are lucky they are still at 3 stars.
(3)
Mailou V.
Friends and I get together once in awhile on Thursday evenings for happy hour 4-7. The good: *Decent menu for happy hour, I ordered some sushi that I've never really tried before and it turned out pretty good. Not too impressed, kindda expected the vinegary taste- ya know, like real sushi. *Sat at the bar and the bartender was a little slow, but really nice and cool *decent drink menu, although super small glasses. The Bad: -Snobby crowd, I should probably expect this as it is cherry creek. -Small patio/ bar as I had to just make up a seat at the bar. I feel like I have to get here super early just to find a decent seat. Overall, seems it's always full during happy hour, which can be a good thing, but for the food I'd have to come back and try more of it other than the sushi to enjoy it more.
(3)
RoseAnn V.
We tried the Kona grill last night for dinner. We had been there before for happy hour and decided to try it for dinner. Overall the experience was decent, although the food was a bit bland. The bill came to $70 and frankly, it was not worth that. The calamari was good, the special goat cheese flatbread was okay and the basil pesto linguine was overwhelmingly pesto. Bottom line, great for happy hour not so great for dinner.
(3)
Sulema M.
5 stars for happy hour! The have happy hour and reverse happy hour. Did I mention their sake bombs are the bomb! Yup, yup! I love how you can sit outdoors, even in winter, under the heater, and have a jolly good time during happy hour. There can be a wait sometimes and you can choose to sit in the main dining room if you'd like, but the bar and patio area are the best! I do not know how you can get soo much food and booze for so little. Pizza and sushi would not fit in my book otherwise together, but during happy hour they seem to mesh well for the price. I've also eaten here during the lunch hour and felt the meals were a little overpriced, go figure, you're at Cherry Creek mall, but overall good.
(5)
Angelina N.
My friends have been telling me about Kona grill for awhile but I never got around to try it until last week. I went here with my boyfriend who has eaten here before and he said they had good sushi, but he always went around happy hour. We went around 1 p.m. and sat outside. Our server was nice in the beginning and took our order without writing a single thing down which at the time I was impressed. We ordered 5 dishes if i remember it was calamari, coconut shrimp roll, wave roll, volcano roll, and i forgot the last roll but i believe it had baked crab in it. The calamari came out first and it was NOT good at all. All we tasted was their batter and a strip of squid, my boyfriend remembered that their calamari was really good but what came out was not good calamari. Then our server came out with 4 dishes, we were still waiting on our last dish which was the wave roll. I wasn't very pleased with the taste of the rolls they were on the bland side and after two bites of each roll you get sick of them. We still hadn't gotten our last roll then a manager came by and asked if everything was ok, we said we were waiting on one more roll which was the wave roll, the manager said he'd have that out right away. When we were done we checked the bill and it said we were charged 2 wave rolls, which we were ok with as long as it was fixed because it must have been a mess up. We told our server that we only ordered one wave roll and he objected and pointed to our coconut roll (which tasted very coconutty) said that was our second wave roll, so we asked "Then where is our coconut roll?" He snatched our bill up and left and came back with no apology and said "we knocked one off for you guys". I was a little upset because of how rude that was and the fact that we were almost charged for another roll and if that wasn't a coconut roll we were charged for it. Maybe happy hour has better food and friendly servers, but for MY first time experience I probably won't be coming here again.
(2)
Erin J.
for the love of god, i'm not sure what i was thinking going here for dinner. the place is TIRED. and the food was mediocre at best. i know, i know... it's in a mall. what did i want? well, lesson learned. waitress was rude. we ordered something specifically because if came with taro chips... when it was delviered, no chips. then we sent it back and the manager came to say they were out of taro chips, so he'd adjust the item on our check. ya, he adjusted it... for half price. i'm not even going to waste anymore time here. i'm just underwhelmed. if you're going to eat in the mall, just head to johnny rockets then.
(1)
Kristyne M.
Cool ambiance! Stopped here for HH on the way to a movie. My g/f had sushi and it looked pretty tasty, but I'm not into fishy business. I noticed other people ordered the flatbread combos which also looked good. I'll have to go back when I have more time.
(4)
Gracie L.
Warning: My only experience was during happy hour.... The sushi was dry, the drink specials were disappointing, the service was SLOW, and the dining room looks like every other mall chain restaurant. BUT I will say, I had these ahi tuna nacho things and I have been dreaming about them since. They were delicious! My advice: Get a regular beer or mixed drink, skip the fru-fru happy hour drinks and order those tuna nacho things and the avo egg role. And come with plenty of time and a good friend you haven't caught up with in a while because you certainly are going to have the time to chat.
(2)
Jason J.
I'll be honest, Kona is not THAT great, but it is a lot of fun. The menu is wide and varied, wish a bunch of sushi choices, as well as pizza pasta chicken and steak choices. So if you dig sushi, but your date does not -- don't fret, you'll find something you'll each like. The drink menu is decent, with a couple of abnormally and unexpectedly tasty cocktails (I prefer the Kona-Tini, and no I did not bring my purse to dinner.) It's great to sit at the back sushi bar to talk with the always friendly chefs, and watch the fish in their gorgeous fishtank. If you can get there early you MUST try the outdoor patio or the bar near the fishtank in front so you can experience the Sake Bombers at Happy Hour. Cheap and high in alcohol content, you'll love it. Things you must try: Hana Salad, Crab Crunch Roll, Giant Onion Rings, Kona Tini. Fun place with always decent service, a fun decor, and close to overpriced cherry creek shopping (at a price that won't kill your wallet like the nearby stores and shops.) Get your Kona on!
(4)
Jafey A.
This is a great place to go to on a nice summer afternoon. The patio area is great and their happy hour deals make it worth the trip. Their sushi selection looks great but every time we go we have gotten the onion rings are burger because their spicy ketchup is incredible. The taste is unique and works perfectly with the onion rings. If you get a chance, give it a try.
(4)
Mrs J.
Very good sushi. I had the checkerboard roll. Yum! Fresh fish, nicely rolled, big portion, good fresh wasabi. My friend had a sandwich which was huge and looked really good. She said it tasted great. Will go back again if I'm on that side of town. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to your neighborhood sushi spot but you pay for the experience right? All in all very good.
(5)
Misha R.
The good: *The fish tank is gorgeous! *The decor is beautiful! *The servers are the very best, wonderfully trained! *The menu has incredible choices! *One beautiful outdoor patio, with fireplace. The bad: *The menu is way over priced. *The sushi is not that good, unfortunately. *It's in a mall, which you must walk through to park. *There are like 6 TVs in this beautiful place, really, why? *The portions are WAY too big, WaaaaaY too big! *The food is very mediocre.
(3)
Karly K.
I'm a huge fan of interesting, nontraditional sushi rolls, and Kona Grill has great ones. The happy hour is fantastic, delicious drinks for a great price, along with the selected appetizers. I've been here twice and suggest it to my friends on a regular basis. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Kyla A.
Man this place gets crowded, but they offer awesome happy hour deals, so what can you expect. The drink specials are definitely worthwhile. $4 Cosmos from 3pm-7pm on a Friday... does it get better? The food is not the best. In terms of bar food however, it is satisfying. I could not imagine coming here for dinner though and paying full price. It would not be worth it. Happy hour on the other hand, is another story. Nice patio, that people use even in winter because of the fire pit and heating lamps, and great deals on food and drinks, makes for a fun place to enjoy some drinks with friends.
(3)
Kristina J.
I met a friend there on Monday for happy hour. This wasn't my first time there so I knew it was going to be crowded, which it was. We ended up ordering from the happy hour menu because we just wanted a quick bite before a movie. 40 minutes later the crab crunch roll and caprese flat bread arrive. I could understand if both the dining room AND the bar we full of people, but the dining room had barely any tables. And when we asked about our food the waiter just shrugged us off and told us the kitchen was backed up...like it happens all the time. It would be nice to have a good happy hour with timely service. Will I go back? Yah, I like the happy hour. I will make sure that when I go I don't have a time constraint
(3)
Julie L.
One of THE BEST happy hours in Denver! No greasy happy hour bar food but fresh sushi rolls, shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, delectable pot stickers, mini cheeseburgers made fresh, delicious margherita pizzas and avocado egg rolls. I'm sure I'm missing something but believe me it's all good! Drinks are the bomb with cosmos, beer and wine at killer prices. Great patio seating and an upbeat bar flanked by a full size salt water tank.
(5)
Katie R.
good friends. sushi. better yet, CHEAP sushi. mad drink specials. heated patio. What could be any better? oh yeah, being in the middle of a Russian discussion, seeing wannabe Jersey Shore Guidos fist pump, and random drunk girls playing in the fountain. ha :)
(5)
Veronica G.
Great food!! Wide variety menu, service was great, food was amazing!! The only thing I'd change is the drink menu. I wish they had more standard liquor drink options available but the two I did have were ok. Definitely will be returning hopefully some time soon.
(4)
Antonio S.
Nice atmosphere but terrible sushi, way over priced! The waitress at this "sushi bar" apparently had never heard of unagi before. I thought unagi was something normally found at a sushi bar. Big disappointment for an expensive meal! Stay away from here if you like real sushi.
(1)
Mark S.
What You Must Know About Kona Grill's HAPPY HOUR: 1. Price ranged from $3.50-$5.50. 2. $3.50 for all sushi. There are 5 differenct options you can choose from. And each roll is cut into 8 pieces. All portions are large for price. 3. Calamari is great with large portion. I always get this. 4. Parking is a pain although you can just park at safeway and walk over. 5. Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 everyday. 6. You can only eat at the bar area or outside to get Happy hour. 7. Get their early or do not bring more then 4 people or be prepared to wait. 8. Happy hour also includes tacos, calmari, great drink specials, pizza, and more. Quite a few items for cheap. 9. One of the best happy hours in Denver. Especially for sushi rolls that are affordable and upper average in quality (for the price).
(5)
Sherri K.
I hadn't been to Kona Grill since summer, and the experience was mediocre at best, but this time, it was an above average experience. I took my daughter after shopping, to have a little tete a tete before school started after holiday break. The hostesses were not too friendly, but the server made up for their stank attitudes by far. He was on his game and made a truly enjoyable dining experience for myself and mini-me. We had pot-stickers and green mussels which were cooked perfectly and came out quickly even though there was a wait and it was mid-dinner rush. My daughter ordered the California roll, and really, how can you screw that up? I had the Ahi salad which was fresh and very good and a crab tempura roll which was extremely tasty. Overall the meal was great and the service was even better. With free valet at dinner...another bonus. It won't take me so long to go back this time.
(4)
Jessica H.
Extremely slow service! The last 2 times my friend and I have gone (not during busy times mind you) we ended up getting our own menus and had to request a drink ourselves. We were sitting for almost 15 minutes before our waiter even came up to us. The food is average and overpriced.
(2)
Morgan N.
Happy hour here is only happy because your drink will *eventually* show up. The service is so bad it hurts. Of the two times I've been, our orders took forever, came out wrong, and we were overcharged by accident. The menu /looks/ good and there are some pretty faces on the patio etc, but the music is stupid loud because "it's supposed to feel like a party." Moreover the food is vomit-inducing. Literally. I got sick after the happy hour sushi, an event that's only happened to me after grocery store grade sushi in the past. Also the seating arrangement is first come first serve and you're required to jam into small, loud areas versus the empty dining room. It's pretty formulaic really, apparently you're required to have a good time. Meaning of course, that you will be required to experience loud music, snobby singles, and long waits...which means the place is obviously posh.
(2)
Elizabeth h.
Second time I went here and got food poisoning. First time I went, I ordered the checkerboard roll and a margarita, got violently ill after. I thought it was a mixture between tequila and sushi. Second time I went, I got the checkerboard roll and a spider roll. I was up for 5 hours vomiting profusely until I was finally able to keep down water. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS FACILITY unless you like to picture yourself eating off of someone's hands who just wiped their genitals and are preparing your raw fish YUM!
(1)
Kyle M.
I write about this place for a somewhat unique (if not unfamiliar) reason. Don't lie, you know you can relate. They have Kirin Ichiban sake bombs for happy hour. This is wonderful, because if you have 2-3, it will lessen the blow of spending too much money at Cherry Creek Mall after your happy hour experience. I have made many incredible purchases after spending an hour or two here. Nordstrom, Saks, and Nieman should be thankful that an establishment like Kona shares mall space with them. A dream-come-true for any shopper with pre-buyer's remorse.
(5)
Eric T.
Ah , a late night happy hour in a Cherry Creek bar. There is almost nothing more annoying to me, and Kona does nothing to buck this trend. I enjoy their Sake Bomb drink special. $5 for a 22oz. beer and a small bottle of sake is a good deal no matter where you are. The happy hour appetizers are so-so. I liked the chicken satay, but the sushi is mediocre. The rolls have fake crab and the fish is basically flavorless. I've also had yellow mustard that is stronger than their wasabi. Especially around happy hour seating in the bar/patio can be a nightmare. Finding a place outside is difficult at best and I have seen many people just standing because of a lack of seating. The crowd is wanna-be upscale Cherry Creek so pretension and a flipped up collar is a must. Overall, not my favorite place and now that I have no friends working there or in the area I probably won't go back.
(2)
Heather S.
The food here is average at best. I should preface this review by saying that we ate here for dinner, not happy hour, so my point of view might be different than those who are raving about the happy hour. The menu seemed totally incohesive, with some sushi items, random asian fusian type dishes, pizza, american appetizers. So strange. We had no idea what to order, and there was an unpleasant fishy odor near our table. Totally unappetizing. The service was very good though...but not good enough to bring me back.
(2)
Adam B.
The sushi here is very American-ized, but hits a sweet spot in my tummy nonetheless. Service is always friendly and fast, but it can get annoyingly packed at times. Happy hour is awesome for the discounted all-anyone-should-drink-in-a-sitting sake bombs. I didn't see the asparagus pizza on the happy hour menu last week though...so what's up with that Kona? Huh?!!? I should dock you a star, but I was too blitzed to care.
(5)
James D.
This place is all about the Happy Hour -- excellent prices on mostly-good food. There are a couple stand-out dishes, but most of it is just OK. But the price is absolutely right and so we keep going back. The sushi we've tried has all been excellent! Very fresh and flavorful, with some creative rolls thrown into the traditional stuff. The pizzas are thin, but very large, so a very good deal. Biggest disappointment would probably be the cocktails. They are really hit-and-miss. Sometimes the Cosmos are great, other times they are short on everything but cranberry and they are just an expensive glass of juice. They would be a 4-star rating, except I find it annoying that they don't manage the Happy Hour seating and it has to be a free-for-all to get a table. I know this isn't uncommon for Happy Hour, but most places aren't this packed. A number of times we've come and waited for a table, only to have someone else swoop in and grab the table before the previous group has even walked away. It gets very aggressive and we just don't have the patience for the fight. It seems like the hostess could easily do the seating there too, the regular restaurant never seems that full or busy, but they just take the easy route and let folks fight it out. We would go much more often if we didn't have to rumble to find a seat.
(3)
Tim C.
Pretty decent food. Went there on a lark for lunch and ended up spending $36 (not including tip) for 2 beers, three sushi rolls and some edamame. The happy hour menu looks promising...will probably try that before slamming the place for the overpriced lunch. Stay tuned... Update: went in there for happy hour...the server was great, the food was alright and the overall tab was so-so...and the house music seemed to be handpicked by a teenage girl...
(3)
Kimberly I.
If Kona Grill and I could get married I wouldn't be a newly wed. I probably go here 3 times a month at least and it is by far my favorite. It can be a little pricey for dinner so I usually just stick to happy hour, which you really can't beat! I have tried almost everything on the happy hour menu! From the crunchy calamari (best served with a side of sweet chili glaze), to the crab crunch roll! It is all super tasty. When I go with friends we always send one person ahead to grab a table because there can be quite a wait for the patio. (Happy Hour only served on patio and in bar area). The one downfall is people can get quite aggressive for tables here so stick your ground, and scout one out lil mama! Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 only to start again at 9 until close for upside-down happy hour. They also have great drink specials for wine, margaritas ($1 off for ladies), and sake bombs (large Kirin with full sake= $6) Truly, this is probably my favorite place ever! I even had my birthday here. I would recommend it to anyone. The pricing is great, the staff is super friendly, I have never had bad service here in my life, and it is delicious! Go to Kona and enjoy! Sushi Sushi Sushi!
(5)
Laura M.
I have given this place chance after chance and have been disappointed every time. I am not quite sure why I keep trying to make this place better than it is. Fish, not fresh, tough, flavorless. The potstickers are greasy and just completely boring. Overpriced and I own a business, so I know that you have to bum up your price for your location, but over $10 for lettuce and some asparagus. Really?? Once the GM left this place last year, it went downhill even more. Service that we have had each time has been horrible. I have given Kona Grill chances over and over, but this past time will be my last. Sorry, Kona Grill, buy fresh ingredients and put your heart into it and you won't have so many people complaining.
(2)
Sarah Z.
This place is great but really worth it during Happy Hour. Great drink and food specials. Also a great patio for those nice days.
(4)
Monica K.
I love Kona Grill's Happy Hour! The food is awesome and the prices are fantastic. I also really like the atmosphere and the seating arrangement outside. I am surprised that the sushi is actually really good for an American-Japanese restaurant. I would reccommend this place to people who enjoy happy hour. They also have a reversed happy hour, which starts at 9pm.
(4)
Joyce L.
Food should be personal. Every meal should be special and prepared with love. A publicly traded restaurant does not impress me. I guess their board has a lot of people to impress and have to be politically correct. Is that why each item on the menu seems like they had to apply affirmative action? Sezhuan beans with mashed potatoes and Kona steak? I'm confused. I want gravy with my mashed potatoes. I want rice with anything with the word Sezhuan in front of it. Call me close-minded, I don't care. Not fresh, long ass wait, see ya later alligator!
(1)
Nancy M.
I never had fish cooked so perfectly for a non-sushi gal that I am. The bass has always been great and so are the salads and the pork tenderloin my friend ordered. It is usually a nice place to dine with not a lot of children if you like to relax like me after work. I enjoy the atmosphere and staff who always seem very attentive but not hovering. Over sized booths and tables for groups so it has room for all kinds of parties. We went this time the week before Christmas and everything was hopping. We sat outside with the heaters and fire pit and after about 5 minutes our table was ready. Seems pretty quiet on the weekdays but I don't know about the weekends or Happy Hour which seems worth trying out in the spring on the patio.
(4)
Arash G.
One of if not the best happy hours in Denver. The quality of food you get for what you pay is ridiculous. The calamri is bomb and so are the pizzas and sushi. I haven't eaten anything on their happy hour menu that I didn't like. The drink specials are excellent too! You can get a nice buzz off of a sake bomber for $7! The only downside is that you have to fight over tables. People hover over them and then everyone bum rushes. I've seen people get into arguments and mean mug as well. One family got really feisty and was told they had to leave. Competition makes the food taste better!
(5)
Neenrn C.
Had the spider roll today for lunch, it was way too blah. The price was way to much for the dish. lack luster service. I would not recommend it to friends, maybe to people I don't like. Next time I'll drive to Sushi Katsu
(1)
Darika S.
The oriental salads are great! I had mine with the grilled salmon and my man had it with their specialty, macadamia nut crusted chicken. The dressing was light and the veggies include napa cabbage, green onions, and romaine lettuce and had some slivers of almonds. The price was high but would go back. Skip the flavored teas they are $4 and as priced as a beer.
(4)
Rick G.
I have been here a handful of times both for happy hour and the main dinning room. The happy hour special are awesome and the food is consistently delicious. The main dining room is a little more money but well worth it, no waiting for an open table and more excellent food on the menu. At our last dinner we were celebrating a graduation and the staff was super nice and responsive to are needs. The manager even stopped by to see how everything was going. I have worked in the service industry before and I am not easily impressed, but the Kona Grill staff has amazed me every time. If your near Cheery Creek and want some great food for a decent price visit the Kona Grill.
(5)
lauren b.
A good, reliable happy hour spot. I have been here numerous times with friends and they have awesome drink and food specials. There is no parking right out front which kinda blows (I usually park by Macys and walk through the mall, which has proven to be DANGEROUS as I have stopped to shop in different stores after a few cocktails during happy hour). The wait to find a table/bar spot in the bar area during happy hour can also suck. I think I've had to wait each time I've come here for a table to open up, but usually only around 5-10 minutes. A couple of times I waited probably a half hour (or longer) though, ugh. The happy hour includes good drink specials, and the food is super yummy. Yes the sushi is pretty American-ized but very good nonetheless (especially the Atlantic roll). Other good items? Ahi tuna wonton strips (delish) and the margherita pizza. The happy hour has awesome items, but I don't think I would ever come here for an actual dinner and pay full price.
(3)
Candace W.
I have only eaten here once and I keep forgetting about this place. I think because it is in the mall, it seems weird to me. The sushi appetizer I ordered and my entree (which was some fish I forget now, I'd have to see the menu again to recall) were both good and I liked the ambiance. The menu had a lot of things that sounded fun to try, a nice selection of choices like a sushi sampler meal and everyone else's food around me that I spied on looked delicious. I totally want to check out their happy hour if I ever remember to. I'm always into eating well for less and this place has two happy hours which I think is totally cool. One is like normal happy hour time around 5-7 or something similar and the other one is after 9 or 10pm or such for late night deals on food and drink. I don't know for sure the times, so if you want to go to happy hour check and see what the exact times are by callling, I am just throwing out example time guesses because I forget the exact happy hour times, but they do have two a day.
(4)
Kate R.
Been here a couple of times for happy hour. We have always found a seat on the patio, but it takes a little effort. Plus we usually have to sit there for 10-15 minutes before the server acknowledges our existence. Look, I've been a cocktail waitress before, and I know that sometimes you need to spend most of your time and energy on the one big "table of douchbags" (of which there are plenty at Kona) who look like they will provide the biggest tip. But you shouldn't make it obvious and let your other customers suffer because of it! I have never had a complaint about the food...in fact, their salmon sushi was some of the best I've had in awhile....very fatty, sweet and fresh. The happy hour prices are decent (especially for sushi rolls) and the cocktails are usually tasty. I wish they had a couple more tables and one more server to take care of customers. As a smoker I do kind of appreciate being able to smoke in their outdoor patio....that's a luxury I don't often encounter. So, 4 stars for the food-2 stars for service...we'll average it out to a 3
(3)
Maha K.
Two of my exes love this place. They eat here weekly. I have had a bad taste in men, until recently. Which means unless you're griping about how badly your job sucks with like-minded coworkers for happy hour, this is not the prime time place to be for Match.com meet-ups or the like. The food is ok. I've cooked better, which is a shocker. And the first time I went there, the insects that were crawling and flying around inside the bar area ate more of my appetizers than I did.
(2)
Kendra L.
It was quite an unexpected but pleasant occurence that had me sitting in a corner booth on a busy Cherry Creek Thursday evening. We were greeted by an easy-going cheerful waiter who took our drink order and made small talk as he introduced the menu layout(s). His service gets a star on all its own to be included with another star that counts toward the overall service, which included a couple visits from a professional yet friendly manager. We were not hounded by the service, but checked in on and kept in the loop regarding the time it would take for our food to reach us (even though it was a completely reasonable amount of time). I would say the service was my favorite aspect of my experience with Kona Grill, but then my salmon entree salad arrived and became the driver of my endorphins. I asked for rare-cooked salmon, which could not have been cooked a degree more or less - creating perfection beneath its sweet chili glaze. Speaking of heaven... I mean sweet... but it was also heaven if I were to know such a thing... dessert! Ohhh the dessert! My dining companion knew what he was talking about when he requested a "slice" of the Red Velvet cake. Slice is in quotations because I feel like I've made entire cakes smaller than the moist, creamy, chill-delivering piece that landed in the center of our table. Need I say more? Because I could. The atmosphere was lively and chipper. The lighting was perfectly dim (but not so dim that it becomes awkward to squint so that you can see clearly your good looking company). The walls were donned with warm colors from what I can remember (decor didn't seem to be important at the time); the seats were comfortable - although it was one of those booths that made me feel like a little kid (my height may also have bearing on this factor). Overall, Kona has left me with all positive thoughts. I plan on returning to try out the sushi lunch specials on some distant day off (the day off is distant, though not my desire to return). I may even have to tack on another star at that point. Stay tuned, Friends.
(4)
Becky S.
Here's the kicker: They have the BEST onion soup I've EVER had. And seriously, I crave onion soup constantly and therefore order it pretty much everywhere I go. Kona has the best. Hands down. Okay, now to go with their great onion soup, they have great brunch. And let me tell you about our server, who has the unique name of MYSTERY. No, I'm not joking, that's her real name. She was great. Only complaint was that my bloody mary refill came after a slight delay, but I also realize that she had a party of eight sit in her section and had to take care of them too. The manager even stopped by to make sure we were happy. And then there's the food. I got an omelet for Sunday Brunch, which they serve until 4pm. It was the perfect size, with yummy mushrooms and cheddar cheese. The potatoes I could take or leave, not my favorite, but I was full after the omelet anyway. Seriously, to everyone who did nothing but complain in their reviews, go back with an open mind. Or next time you're "dragged" there, request Mystery as your server. She made our experience cool and definitely enjoyable.
(5)
Jennifer W.
I do not understand why people rave about this place. The food is only "OK" the service is bad and the attitude is ridiciulous! I mean seriously----it's a chain restaurant in a mall! I know that people find it trendy but after going 3-4 times (the 2nd and 3rd dragged back by friends) I think I'm done. If I'm paying for food & drinks I prefer to be in an atmosphere that is enjoyable, where the staff actually WANTs to get a good tip and where I really enjoy the food.
(1)
Cyl B.
The happy hour food is good and the pricing is amazing. The one dish that I stay away from is the lettuce wraps because they are usually too salty. However I do love the calamari and the steak tacos, the sauces are just heavenly. I do find the happy hour drink selection to be lacking. The drinks are too sweet ... sugar on top of sugar!!! But I go there all the time. If you haven't been there in a while the patio has changed their tables to square ones from rounds so when additional people from your group arrives you can join the tables and the staff is always very helpful in aiding with this.
(4)
Dan W.
This place is in a mall, a pretentious mall. It's got these weird pillow/sprinkler/lamp things on the ceiling. The beers they have on tap are kind of crappy. My wife loves the Kona-tini which is some sort of martini with pineapple juice. Other than that, it's a great place. Nice bathrooms and 2 happy hours. They have nice patio too, it's heated in the winter and there's a fire pit. I can't explain it but for whatever reason I keep going back here fairly frequently. If it sucked, I certainly would not do that. They also have one of the only raw Sushi bars in town that I order from, and I've yet to be disappointed. They also make a great BBQ chicken pizze which you might not expect.
(4)
Mark S.
Didn't get in the door. We were trying to find a table in the bar area with the two kids. They sat at the bar not taking space from anyone else waiting. Bartender ignored us for 5 minutes then sauntered over and told us the kids couldn't sit at the bar. God I love enthusiastic people working in the service industry (note sarcastic tone). Put this one on the "not kid friendly" list. Won't be back. Nice fish tank though.
(1)
Kate C.
I know people who enjoy going here, but I have to say I have never had a good experience. The first time we tried to eat there was mid afternoon during the week. The hosts were too busy chatting with each other to notice us. We sat & waited & waited until finally someone asked if we were being taken care of (five minutes). There were other diners in the area, but it was not busy which is typical for that time of day. So we order cocktails and don't see them for five more minutes until a new server informs us she will be taking over. We order a starter & change waiters two more times. I said no more, went to the front asked for a manager & let them know we were displeased with the service. He couldn't care less! SO, I think, maybe it was just one of those days. I have returned twice more, neither experience quite as bad, but certainly not good either. Typical of mall & chain restaurants. Probably why I don't care for them. The food is fun, but the service & air of "couldn't care less" is so undesirable. I loathe these experiences.
(1)
Arlyn C.
I've come here for lunch and happy hour, been satisfied both times. Tried the ahi tuna sandwich on ciabitta and freshly fried taro root chips.. MmmmMm. The aioli with the warm, toasty bread and flavorful ahi was very yummy. Friend ordered some kind of chicken salad and was also pleased. Good portion and tasty enough. Happy hour has good sushi and since I'm a beer snob, didn't take advantage of the prices.. lol.. what can I say? Service was excellent and I like the casual environment. You can sit oustide and enjoy the fresh air, or sit at the bar and watch sports. There's a huge dining area as well, great for tired shoppers or large families. Pretty decent place for being in the mall. Definitely like this place.
(4)
Sheryl K.
Happy hour at 10pm? On my recent trip to Denver, I found myself at Kona Grill for their 3-5 sushi/appetizers, and I left happy. On a Friday night of course it's going to be busy as the outside patio is jammed packed with 20 something year olds. I suggest try scoring a high top inside and order as much sake bombs and finger lickin' good fried calamari or even pizza (yes pizza). Our server was attentive and humorous... mix that would good company, and it'll turn out to be a decent night. No dress code, but I suppose you can fancy yourself up - depending who you're trying to impress.
(4)
Andrea S.
If you eat in the dining room, the food is delicious and the service is average. If you happen to make it for their fantastic happy hour, their food is even better (because it's cheaper) and the drinks are great! Plus, I have had better experience with the service at the happy hour, than I have with the service in the dining room. Important recommendation...GET THERE EARLY. The bar fills up super fast!
(4)
Natalie D.
In all honesty, I like Kona because of the great happy hour they have! IF you can get a seat on the outside patio! I do enjoy coming with friends as they have 1/2 off app's and cheap drinks and as stated, if you can get a seat outside by the fire pit, it is even better - they do NOT do happy hour in the restaurant... the service could use quite a bit of improvment, but who really notices as long as you are enjoying time with friends! :) I am not sure I would come here for a "regular" dinner... But it is definitely a great time for happy hour.
(3)
Jeff V.
I really hate how crowded this place gets at happy hour and if you're planning to go do note that it's open seating and I strongly recommend that you arrive early, whether your group have 2 people or 10, tables fly just as fast. The happy hour here is good, the food is alright but the drink specials and location neutrality along with the abundance of parking (though you may have to walk a little) make it an A-OK place to start your night or end your day.
(3)
Jeff J.
Like kona grill.....sushi is good....had most things on menu.....great happy hour as well...
(4)
Viviene W.
This place is great for their happy hour. My friends and I almost always go here before heading downtown. We especially enjoy the avocado rolls, cosmos, wine, and sushi rolls. I would highly recommend this place. The inside/bar area is usually pretty packed but if your get there early, you'll be able to grab a spot inside. Otherwise, there are spots and tables outside underneath heaters. There's a fire pit too which is really cool. Nice place to chill and eat before the club/bar or just meet up with a few friends and catch up.
(4)
Brooke F.
My husband and I went here tonight for dinner, after trying to find a new place that sounded good. This place was hoppin for a Saturday night, and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table, pretty standard. Once seated, our server came and took our drink order right away and shortly after took the rest of our order. Everything was fairly timely. The only thing I think could improve is the pacing. We ordered an appetizer and soups before our entrees and the soups came out first, and the appetizer 30 seconds later, and before we could even get to the appetizer, our meals came. Other than that, service was prompt and prices were decent. The atmosphere is fun, with a neat fish tank behind the sushi bar and some hip music filling the air. I will definitely come back!
(4)
James S.
Been here three times. Saw the review about the noise etc. Odd... never had that experience. Hopefully they don't do anything stupid like that anymore. I usually get there at about 6PM - 7PM so maybe the happy hour thing is done by then. The food is amazing! Some of the better food I've had anywhere in Denver. I have to suggest thier avacodo egg rolls. I've had these at Cheese Cake Factory, but they aren't half as good as Kona Grill makes them. Other than that, I've had thier sirloin steak and multiple sushi dishes. The sushi is fresh and the steak is thick and cooked exactly the way I like it. My wife usually gets the macadamia nut chicken which I have to say is pretty amazing tasting. Service is A+++. You won't be disapointed with that. The atmosphere is classy, romantic, semi-casual but not too casual and not to formal either. Wear something nice, jeans are probably ok. It is a bit spendy, but the kind of place that you feel like you got what you paid for.
(4)
Karli F.
I met a friend for happy hour here last night. We arrived at 5:45 and there was no seating in the bar area inside and of course they won't serve you the happy hour deals if you sit in the dining area. So we sat outside, granted it was under heaters, but it was still quite chilly. They have a whole list of appetizers that are 1/2 off. They also have certain drinks and beers on special. I had a Cosmo which was mostly cranberry juice. My friend had beer. We ordered the spicy tuna roll, the tuna wasabi things (for lack of a better descriptor), a margarita pizza, and calamari. (We were being little piglets--don't judge). The spicy tuna roll was fine for a restaurant that shouldn't really serve sushi. The tuna wasabi things were weird. They were tuna wrapped in a tortilla and flash fried. The calamari was rather bland and of course it got cold really fast seeing as how we were outside. The margarita pizza was my favorite thing out of the bunch. Ultimately I'll probably go back because of location, the specials, and the price ($30 for all that). But I wasn't that impressed.
(3)
meredith h.
Didn't have the best experience, and def. not good enough to go back. From our entrace, no one told us of the valet parking deal, the hostess said "free for all" seating on the patio for happy hour - not in the most sincere way - and that was an awkward 5 minutes of perusing the patio, waiting to see if the one guy with a water at a table for 4 was going to get the hell out and stop staring everyone down. Server was nice (remember the name because its rare : Chance) The knowledge of sushi wasn't there, and the one time the manager walked by, he literally stood in front of the table, said HI, then turned and moved on...no unused dishes were taken, no "hows the food/having a good night?" The app was a blackened catfish taco, which as generous, but lots of intense flavors, especially the sauce, but I thought that was the best part. Sushi...eh...overall overpriced. They should spend money to redecorate!
(2)
Tina Marie E.
The Pad Thai here is the best! It never disappoints. Their Maui Onion Soup is also good. I would highly recommend it! My advice is to come before the dinner crowd because the prices are cheaper during lunch time. If you happen to come in on a weekend day/evening and it's crowded during lunch or dinner, you'll more than likely end up starving while waiting for your entree so ordering an appetizer would be ideal in this situation. Did I forget to mention that they have Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour? The staff is very friendly and helpful for those who are newbies to the establishment. Don't forget to order sushi! Save room for dessert, the Passion Fruit Creme Brulee is the sweet ending to a great meal at Kona Grill!
(5)
michelle b.
Been here once and had absolutely the MOST delicious Ahi Tuna Sandwich EVER! The others in our party had a variety of rolls and all were pleased with their choices. The service was good, as we went for lunch and it wasn't horribly busy. Will definately be trying it again.
(4)
Brian F.
The PF Changs of Japanese food. Awesome for Mexican-made sushi. The service is ok, the food is ok, the booze and bar rock.
(3)
Joe B.
The best thing about this location is there outdoor patio. I would give that portion of the restaurant four stars. A good drink menu and nice atmosphere. The rest of the experience is two stars. They food quality is average. You can get equal grade sushi at the airport or supermarket. The service, my two experiences there, was very slow. It's a mall sushi/asian place, just take it for what it is. You're not there for fine dining, you're there for the atmosphere.
(2)
Aaron W.
For a mall restaurant this was not too shabby. The decor is decent - sort of dark and kind of contemporary slightly tropical feel. My waiter was a little odd and forgot a few items, but he came back enough to check on us. The menu here is a bit eclectic with a sushi list, steaks, and meatloaf. My ribeye was done well and the white chedder potatoes were pretty good. I think my girlfriend's fish was a bit dry, but my brother's meatloaf was really good. I also really enjoyed their sparkling sake. I would say this is an okay place to grab food if you want something better than mall food and your feet are tired - but maybe for something just as satisfying at a lower price I'll just go to CPK or Macaroni Grill nearby.
(3)
Trevor F.
Great menu, not you average or regular chain restaurant menu. We got some pot stickers for a starter and they were pretty tasted, different but in a good way! My sister got the turkey burger and she said that it was damn good! The sushi was pretty good coming from Ness and my sister, Ness said here entree was good as well, as for mine I got the big island meatloaf! And it was pretty incredible to say the least! The sauce and mushrooms I got on the side because I'm picky like that and once I tasted the sauce I dumped it all over my love big piece of meat! It was all tide in well with mashed potatoes and veggies! I would go back and would like a Kona Grill closer to my stomping grounds!
(4)
Tali M.
I really like their happy hour for the food specials, the drink specials are not that great unless you like sake bombs. I think the margaritas are gross, way too sweet, I sent my drink back when I ordered it because I know if I drank the whole thing I would have a stomach ache. The only issue with the happy hour is that it is only offered in the bar area and the patio, so if you get there in the middle of happy hour you may be waiting a little while to get a seat, I really wish they offered the happy hour specials in the main restaurant. I really enjoy sitting outside when it's nice out, if it's a little chilly out they have a huge fire going, which helps.
(3)
Justin W.
The service at a restaurant has to be astonishingly bad for it to detract from my overall dining experience--and that was definitely the case here at Kona Grill. Our server was, well, for lack of a better description, incompetent. The drinks our party ordered were wrong, we received a different sushi roll than what we ordered, and she gave us our bill before we were even done eating, without entertaining the thought that we might want to order dessert. That would have all been fine had she been pleasant, but her service was noticeably curt and left us basically feeling like we were unwanted. As for the food, is this really supposed to be Hawaiian cuisine? The Macadamia Nut Chicken, proclaimed as their signature dish, was bland and diner-quality. The baked sea bass was decent, but overall, way overpriced. The only thing that saved Kona Grill from getting just one star is their dessert, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. We had the Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Passion Fruit Creme Brulee which were delicious and both come in generous portions. If you're at the mall, skip dinner and go straight for dessert. Oh, and don't expect real Hawaiian food.
(2)
Carrie R.
I made the mistake of ordering off the sushi menu. Flavorless and smelly. It even seemed like the rice had been processed to remove its natural flavor. Quite possibly the worst sushi I've had in Denver. The blase service took it from 3 star mediocrity to 2 star overall experience. I've heard the other food is better, but I would only try chicken at my next visit, I don't think I'd even dare get the seared ahi tuna salad. And yes, my "next visit" will only happen if I'm dragged there because it's a convenient place to eat in the mall. P.S. I won't be ordering the avocado egg roll again, either.
(2)
Brian B.
I usually just come here for happy hour. It gets really busy. The best time to come here is during happy hour for cheaper food and sake bombs.
(4)
Michele R.
I've always loved Kona, both in Denver and other locations. The menu is varied, the dishes are tasty, and you can't beat the happy hour (especially on the beautiful patio in the summertime). I'm also a big fan of the new skinny menu. This is my "go-to" happy hour spot. I've only had one bad experience and that was with a waiter who requested a tip. That rubbed me the wrong way. I wish the bar area were larger too---it's always so crowded because of the awesome specials.
(4)
Maple L.
One of my regulars. I don't like eating the regular dinner menu, but the happy hour is great. PROS: Super great happy hour. Sushi tastes good for the price. Nice outdoor patio area with a heading elements on the ceiling, fire pit... CONS: The Regular dinner menu doesn't have anything yet that I liked. The creme brulee is a tragedy! Bitter... parking sucks. They are free valet, but I'm not a valet type of girl. Usually I park in the mall and walk through it. OVERALL: I like it I usually get the spicy tuna and the phili rolls. However, during their busy time, I think they don't clean the tuna as well and there are those white fatty tendon things... But its still good. I also like the calimari, but I don't order it when they are busy, because i noticed that's when it comes out overcooked. All of the sushi rolls are pretty good, and a few are cooked and don't have raw food, which is good for when you bring a friend who doesn't want to eat raw fish. I really disliked the avocado eggrolls. To me, avocado isn't supposed to be warmed and deep fried! The chicken satay isn't very tasty. It is arranged in a very silly, unappealing way, and the sauce is really unappealing to me. Of course, everyone has different taste buds.
(4)
Jeff W.
My wife and I ate here on a Sunday night, didn't have reservations, called to see how they were busy about 7:30 and walked right in. For the FIRST TIME EVER in Colorado, we got fish cooked the way it is supposed to be. slightly rare with translucent in the middle. Sushi was good, service was excellent. Highly recommend getting any fish on the menu. Casual and nice without being a "meet market". Thanks for a great dinner.
(5)
John W.
I went here for lunch, and I really liked the $8 menu. You can choose two things from a menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other things for only eight bucks. Considering this place is Cherry Creek, I would otherwise think this place is pricey. I ended up ordering a salmon dish which was really tasty, and my sister ordered a salmon salad which she won't stop talking about. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch!
(4)
Stephanie L.
I actually had to walk out of Kona Grill last night . . . and it wasn't even busy. We got a table immediately, what we didn't get was service. After sitting there for about 10 minutes, a waitress finally came over to us and said she was looking for a menu and would be right back. She never offered to take a drink order. We saw her doing several other things, none of which was getting us a menu. After waiting another 10 minutes, we finally decided to leave. It was sad!
(3)
Joseph C.
I came to Kona for my birthday and the food, drinks and service were all excellent! I highly recommend trying the Avacado Egg Rolls as your appetizer! They're an awesome mixture of sweet and sour when dipped in the honey cilantro dipping sauce that comes with it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine, which is spicy and very tasty! I cant say when I last enjoyed a plate of pasta as much as I did this one. I like the decor and the lighting of Kona, not too dark and interesting light fixtures. This place seems to attract all types of people. Lots of friends, couples and a couple of families with children as well. They do have a gluten free menu as well. Having never been to Kona before I give the wait staff extra points for the great suggestions from the menu and for the free creme brulee because it was my birthday.
(5)
Ramon G.
Good menu, lot of selection. I was actually surprised with how good the sushi was. We went there wanting a normal dinner entree but ended up going crazy on the sushi. The service is usually good and the layout of the restaurant is pretty unique...I love the fish tank...
(4)
Jenny S.
Ok, I've been craving the Ahi Steak Sandwich here. Cherry Creek is in between my apartment and work so I take 1st Ave almost everyday. That sandwich is calling me. I hate parking in that stupid garage and don't want to hoof it past a bunch of pricey stores (the valet is parking always full and I don't want to pay for it since I lack a Mercedes) BUT I do it anyways. This sandwich is juicy and messy and I look like a slob eating it but it is soooo good. It's on a nice big piece of bread full of carbs and slices of avocado, tomatoes, and a tasty green sauce. It is served with taro chips that are super greasy and salty but you can always substitute those for a field green salad (but it's $2 extra)
(4)
K. S.
I love Kona Grill. My only complaint is that the happy hour is so bananas, you have to get there early....but now that its spring, sitting outside is an option. The atmosphere is pretty relaxing. Its an attractive space, with a laid back vibe. Its rather dark, even up front. They make a pretty good calamari, which is my favorite all-time appetizer, so that automatically scored buku points with me. The avocado eggrolls Ive never seen anywhere else, and theyre pretty scrumpious. Pot stickers are A-plus. The spicy sweet shrimp are just okay, I expected something a little different than what I got. The sushi is pretty damn good. Ive had the salmon skin roll (yum), the cali roll was just okay because I like regular crab as opposed to that crab salad-ish mix they use. Ive had various other sushi items that were of the best quality, including presentation. But overall, you will be very happy with your sushi.... I have not tried burgers or pizza there, its impossible to order that knowing how tantalizing their main fare is. They have one of those menus that is all over the place (american, italian, japanase, chinese, etc) and Im usually weary of places like that. But they pull it off, and if I want good food, good drinks, and I love sports, so its an upscale place to catch a game....and if I just got paid (because this isnt for the budget eater), is when I goto Kona. Great for a date, but not one with a squeamish wallet.
(4)
Dmitri P.
Great place for a happy hour if you can get there early enough. Get there late and good luck, seating is scarce! Bartenders are great and the happy hour food is quite tasty. Can't speak of the dinners as all I've had is the happy hour menu. Great people watching
(4)
Craig W.
Best frozen Margarita around !!! And they pack a punch...
(4)
Kendra R.
the patio is a nice place to cop a squat during the summer. I'd say spring, but this is Denver and they like to predict snow in mid April. Their cocktails taste more of alcohol than filler so you get the bang for your buck here. The Sashimi was a perfect fit to my rumbling tummy during the cherry creek festival. a great spot to people watch. One major pet peeve that is going to turn this 4 star review into a 2. There was a smoker on the patio, who's obnoxious habit made our throats itch and our noses curl. We asked the waiter if he could ask her to stop (other patrons around us had the same annoyed expressions on their faces) He told us that since the exit to the mall right here that it met the requirement of 20ft or whatnot. So once again grab a inside seat. I do like the decor so that's a plus, and they have sports at the bar like any bar should be required to.
(2)
Gregory A.
Decent sushi and advanced menu of Pacific fare. I don't feel I get my bang for the buck. I am thinking 3.5 stars (I round up). The food is good but it seems more a "to do" than it should be or priced for. Something just seems a little artificial or contrived or something here. Maybe I am too critical. I feel a little intimidated when I walk in but not when I walk out. Ease up Greg...Nice food. 4 stars. I'll go back when I am in the area and in the mood - but not sooner :). They staff is also nice.
(4)
Toni-Ann A.
Love this place!!! The food is good and priced right. Good service and great happy hour!! The heated patio is also a major bonus (just wish it wasn't located in the parking lot)
(4)
Allison L.
Have been there couple times! It was great! Friendly staffs. Appetizers, salad, sushi, noddles... everything we have tried was very good. The best of all.... the waiter admitted his mistake and forgot to put in our appetizer.... so it was on the house! It is ok to make mistake, but you hardly see people admitted it these days... they usually blame on the kitchen!
(4)
Sandi D.
Say what you will about Kona Grill, but their burger ROCKS !!! Kona Beef is from Cows who are massaged, which is suppose to yield a happy cow. Happy Cows = Tender Beef . All I know, is that Kona's Burgers are both huge and yummy. Not a piece of grizzle to be found. Their crispy shoestrings are good enough for me to go off Atkins. We stopped in here really late Saturday Night due to the BF's sucky Holiday hours, and this place was hopping !!! We had the option to eat with the masses at the bar or patio and get Happy Hour pricing, but after a long day at work, the empty restaurant looked like a sanctuary-- So we cozied up to a booth, order rare burgers, and were happy campers !!!
(5)
Dennis S.
I brought my sister here after Xmas shopping and the experience was very forgettable. I had the chicken wrap and a decent gin and tonic. My sister had their cheeseburger, which was BIG and tasty, but the sprite they brought her was carbonated water... she then ordered a hot tea, which was delivered with no lemon, sugar/sweetner or spoon.
(2)
Mariela S.
Welcome to Denver, where to eat after shopping in Cherry Creek? My bf and I were both pretty hungry the chocolate covered strawberry we had as a snack was not going to hold our appetite for very long. We decided on Kona grill. We were in for a special surprise! We loved everything we ate (which is usually not a surprise if you know us). We spiced up the night ordering almost everything that had the word spicy in front of it. Our favorite, was the spicy tuna salad, soo good and filling. They also had a really good wakame salad. Our waitress was great, although she was very speedy and was gone twice before we could order sake bombs. She was honest and personable, suggesting good sake. Will definitely try to eat there again, budget and waistline friendly!
(4)
Nikki R.
Great Happy Hour!! Good food and drink specials.
(3)
jane d.
my first time here was in phoenix, arizona. the happy hour menu is awesome! the sushi cheap but plentiful :9 yum however, because i had my out of state license punched out, they wouldn't let me sit in the patio area even though i'm FREAKIN 25 WTF i even had a temporary license with my name on it but since there's no PICTURE... they can't take it....... so whatever. we finished our food, and left. we threatened to not pay the bill if he wanted me out of the premises. so he relented of course, cuz we were a party of 9 so yeah.. came here to cherry creek cuz their happy hour is awesome. made reservations for happy hour then i get there with my group and find out.. WE'RE INSIDE WITH NO HAPPY HOUR! second time kona grill has messed up. so... WTF SQAURED... but yeah, the food is good- it was just shitty situations.. until i get one happy experience, these guys stay at ONE
(1)
Terry W.
My husband and I were in town from the Springs for the last Saturday night of the King Tut show. We aren't familiar with the area, so we just decided to wing it and lucked out. The fish was cooked perfectly! It was moist and still a little rare in the middle. Just like fish should be.(I'm from Fla). I had the fish of the day which was sea bass and my husband had the glazed salmon. We also had the calamari which was hot and tender with a great sauce.We've been to a lot of places all over the globe and this one is one of the best as far as their fish goes. The staff could not have been nicer and the service was very good. We showed up about 8:30 pm and they were still fairly busy. We parked across the main street at a parking garage for $4.00. Not sure if we were supposed to, but it was empty and we didn't see any signs saying not to. Short walk to the restaurant. Drinks were ok. Bathrooms were clean. Very nice dinner. When in town we will definitely return.
(4)
Raquel C.
LOVE Kona Grill- the kona grill is my favorite place to go to happy hour. All are equally good but u gotta love the creek.
(5)
Jessica G.
I love this place! you have to go for happy hour sometime. I think they have a reverse happy hour still from 9-11?? They have half off appetizers and good drinks.
(4)
Shiho F.
Pretty good Happy Hour: Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Reverse Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Thursday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday - Saturday 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. I tired their Spicy Tuna Roll, CA Roll and thier Hawaiian Pizza along with my Margaritas. Not too shabby.
(4)
Mark B.
4 stars for happy hour. Kona's happy hour is tops for the Cherry Creek area. If you want to eat good cheap happy hour food while looking at beautiful people go to Kona. I have also eaten here non-happy hour and was quite pleased with the food and service. The non-happy hour prices are well non-happy hour so expect to pay $$$ for good food. Have a good day!
(4)
Tammie W.
I've eaten here twice and I'm always shocked at how delicious the sushi is....coming from a girl who is Japanese and has eaten some of the freshest sushi around! Kona Grill is an extremely classy place that has superb service and excellent food! Their Happy Hour specials are dynamite (half priced apps, some drinks and sushi rolls). There's a fire pit on the patio, which is delightful and allows you to cozy up to your loved one. Their booths are quite comfortable and private. I would recommend this place for a date or just a nice night out for dinner, lunch and now Sunday brunch!
(4)
Rachael L.
This is my FAVORITE place, and has been for the past 2.5 years! They have a wonderful variety of food, from sushi to pizza to burgers to steak to meatloaf and beyond! Especially love their dragon rolls, calamari, macadamia nut chicken. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, very affordable, great happy hour...what more can you ask for!
(5)
Ari T.
Great food and drinks during happy hour! It gets extremely crowded and the chances of landing a table are slim, but that adds to the atmosphere. Be prepared to saki bomb standing up, but at the same time you cannot beat the prices and fun and outgoing happy hour crowd.
(4)
Hans O.
Food is great here, but on the other hand service is mediocre.
(2)
Catherine B.
Kona is just okay. It's got a decent happy hour and I like their patio, but I have gone for dinner too and I would not put it at the top of Denver sushi spots. It's very chic and hip, but the food quality is average, and the prices are high.
(3)
Ben S.
excellent! one of my favorite places in denver! they have a real nice menu of sushi and non-sushi dishes and all the food is good. for some reason, my family just loves eating there! the eda mame and soup are great. the main dishes are excellent, the cooked and sushi and salads! they have a great sushi & salad sampler, a great idea for a lunch. the rolls are good, nothing too exotic, but solid. the service is good and eating outside is real nice. the fish tank is awesome and lastly, the bathrooms are decorated real nice! :-0
(4)
Winsome D.
Full credit for their happy hour on a bang-for-buck basis. You can't go wrong with decent sushi (8pc order), garlic shrimp pizza, calamari, avacado egg rolls, and much more at a measly 3.50$ a pop. Just make sure you try and get a seat inside the bar or near the fireplace outside, otherwise your ass might get frost bitten from the coldness of the metal barred chairs. *brrrrrrrr*
(4)
Veronica W.
I've had friends tell me that the Happy Hour is phenomenal, but after the poor service and lackluster lunches I've had there I've passed it up for places I know have good food. Hey, I'll give anywhere a couple tries and the Kona Grill has had more than a couple. Great if the food is cheap, but if it's less than tasty and the service is marginal then who cares? I'll stick with somewhere less flashy with better food and be glad I spent a little more.
Here now, been waiting for an hour. Haven't even received our food, let alone our drinks. I would rate zero if it were an option. They aren't even that busy.
(1)
Will D.
I have tried to like the Kona Grill since its inception. Hadn't been there for at least two years and probably won't go back. If it is not the food, it is the service. Tonight it was both. Too many really good restaurants in Denver to spend any of myself there.
(2)
Amy O.
I would go here every day if I could for the Oriental salad. If you have to stay inside the mall, I'd recommend going here. They have some nice outdoor seating too with a fire pit. I sat at the bar and had a great lunch.
(5)
Phung L.
This place has one of the best happy hour! Where else can you get a 22oz of iced cold Kirin Ichiban and a large hot sake for $7? Happy hour is only located at the bar area so this place fills up quick! You're definitely going to have to arrive early just to grab a table especially if you're planning on going with a large party. The outside patio is nice, but as the weather gets cooler everyone prefers to be jam packed indoors. Half off appetizers are good. Try the mini burgers. My only gripe is that they took out the seared ahi wonton crisp from the menu. Those were so good!
(4)
Jennifer B.
We were looking for a great place to eat after enjoying the Zoo on Sunday. Don't know exactly how we came up with this but we had heard good things and decided to take a shot. We were seated immediately. The menu is fantastic, and it took us a good amount of time to review the entire thing and decide on a meal. I decided on the recommendation of our waitress and got the Kona Chopped Salad, my friend had the Spicy Pesto Chicken Linguini. Our food was delivered timely and was absolutely gorgeous. See my pic of my salad. The Spicy Linguini was out of this world and I will confess I had more than one bite. The Salad had avocado, almond crusted chicken (the best I ever had) with a light honey mustard dressing. If the yummy deliciousness from the entrees wasn't enough we decided on their special dessert, the Banana Cream Pie. Wowza! Now that was a delight to feast my eyes upon. A big satisfying slice of Banana Cream Pie with whipped cream, some king king of sweet drizzle and shaved coconut. It was to die for to every last lick of the plate - I highly recommend the dessert. The next time I am shopping in Cherry Creek I will definitely make a point to stop in again.
(4)
Kay T.
Only come here for the Happy Hour because the food is otherwise some what expensive. Happy Hour menu has a good selection at a reasonable price and the food is good. Not the best sushi I've had in the city but decent.
(3)
Cat S.
I enjoy Kona Grill, but I realized it's the happy hour that makes it worth it. After multiple times going during happy hour, I went once with the boyfriend and we decided we didn't feel like waiting for a table by the bar to open up. So we opted for a normal dinner. The food is decent, but I feel it is overpriced for what you get. I got the miso-sake salmon club. The ciabatta was perfect - soft on the inside, crunchy near the edges (so not like the tough to eat ciabatta I've gotten in many other places). The boyfriend got the basil pesto linguine. And again, the food was a-ok, but nothing to boast about. I do love the avocado eggrolls though, but I like them even better half price during happy hour :) One plus: Even on cold nights, sitting outside isn't terrible as they have the fire grates and heaters on the ceilings.
(3)
Kelsey W.
Every time I have ever been to a Kona during happy hour the dining room is completely empty. This is because Kona has only special sections for their happy hour (which I have always found ridiculous). Obviously during the hours of happy hour people would like to have the option of ordering happy hour (duh). What goes beyond just annoying and stupid is the fact that in the middle of January they will have you to sit outside if the other 15 seats inside are full and you wish to enjoy happy hour. Asking a guest to dine outside in the middle of winter in order to get happy hour when you have a completely vacant dining room? You have got to be kidding me. No thank you. We definitely went elsewhere and most likely won't be back. That is some awful customer service.
(1)
Martha W.
Kona Grill is aweeeeeesome. Check it out during happy hour. The avocado egg rolls were bomb. :D
(5)
David N.
Normally restaurants that are housed inside of malls are mediocre at best, but I am willing to say that Kona is an exception. The service was very par, however the quality and taste of their menu was rather high quality. I came here for a family outing and so I got a rather comprehensive taste of many of their menu items. Below I have rated the various foods on a scale on ten. Sushi: Volcano- 8 Eel-6 Checkerboard- 9 King Crab-8 Picasso- 9 Bama- 9 Shrimp and lobster- 6 Appetizers: Fondue- 8 Calimari- 6 Lettuce wraps- 7 Shrimp Diablo- 5 Drinks: Sangria- 9
(4)
Saydee X.
Kona grill is definitely one of my faves! The cherry creek location just remodeled and it looks amazing. There is so much more room and looks a lot nicer! The design is also really great! Anyways it is definitely a nice place for a date night or just come in to get drinks! Happy hour prices are my favorite! There's great picks on there. We got the pad Thai, coconut roll, angry edamame, and this other roll with white tuna. The angry edamame is my all time favorite but today they made it super salty. Our server was great and brought us a new one and we loved it. The coconut roll is super good! If you don't like raw fish I definitely recommend it. It was pretty much deep fried shrimp with coconut flakes and rolled with avocado and mango! It was a great combination. This was the first time we tried the combo pad Thai and it was good but I've had better. It wasn't a authentic type of pad Thai, I feel like it's definitely an Americanized pad Thai, still good tho but not the best! We topped it off with the chocolate fudge brownie and it was amazingggg!! It's a huge brownie probably feeds like 4 people!
(4)
Ryan N.
Recently renovated this restaurant offers an exquisite atmosphere with a very diverse menu that will fill any cravings. -The sushi is average at best, while there is nothing exceptionally unique about the rolls, the jalapeño sashimi will leave your mouth watering and asking for more -The pepperoni flat bread is also very basic however the margherita flat bread is a light healthy alternative that is incredibly satisfying -If you're looking for something a bit more filling, the macadamia nut chicken will melt in your mouth -If you enjoy tea the blackberry jasmine tea is refreshing and gives a unique natural sweetener to a classic drink -Desert, if you have a sweet tooth the brownie, snickers ice cream cake and passion fruit creme brulee are exceptional. The creme brulee is something in its own world Overall I highly recommend this restaurant for dates, families, business, lunch, casual dinner
(4)
Charlene K.
I think Kyle did a great job, he was really busy at lunch on Labor Day. Asked for lime got lemon. Houston roll was fun-- cream cheese and jalapeño. And where else can I get sushi and tomato soup on the same plate? The hot tea is BAGGED and pretentious. Virtually no flavor. When I ask for tea at a Japanese place, I expect loose leaf green tea. The food is solid for a mall restaurant, I would eat here again.
(3)
Kristen B.
Been here about 3 times already and I love the ambience. Great happy hour and wait staff is friendly beyond belief! I work in the mall and I've been here 3 times the last week. That should speak volumes!! Love this place.
(4)
Sharod D.
I am quite the Happy Hour guy and this is by far one of my favorite late night happy hour joints! I have dined at Kona many times but after today, I needed to compliment on the food and service! Each time I come the service is great, with an extremely accommodating waitstaff. Now to the most important part, the food. Great half price sushi rolls, my favorites include: the wave roll and the avocado egg! They have closed down recently due to construction but as soon as they open back up, I'll be right there ready to throw back some saki bombs and delicious half price appetizers and rolls!
(5)
Tanya V.
I love Kona!! Been going here for a very long time, recently it was temporarily closed for remodeling and I was super excited to find out they reopened, It looks absolutely amazing..very modern and LA like. The menu is the same, which is great because its absolutely delicious. Calamari and the sushi are the best!!!
(5)
Jessica R.
A wonderful little sushi intermission while shopping! The hosts were kind and accommodating, since I had my infant son with me I wanted a table away from others. In case he started babbling loud. My server, Layne knew the menu perfectly. He was quick, kind and to the point! The sushi tower was sooo good and filling! I also like how one person can order sushi while another person can have a burger and fries, very accommodating. The bama roll wasn't that good, but everything else was and ill go back
(4)
Sasha L.
I came here with friends after a hard day of shopping on Saturday. First we sat outside. I wish I could remember our servers name, he had light eyes and I think a beard, he was great. He was super friendly and funny. After we ordered drinks, we received our appetizer and ordered our entrees. We were in mid bite with our buffalo chicken flatbread (bomb) when the construction next to us become highly disruptive. A guy was welding above us, and hot metal flakes were literally falling on the entire patio, It looked like snow. It got in our hair, everyone was putting napkins over their food and drinks so metal wouldn't get in it. This weird issue sent us inside to ask the host to please reseat us. We also found our server and told him. Again, he was super cool. We told him we still wanted him to serve us (especially since we ordered our food and he was so awesome). He brought out our food at our new table right when we sat down and then told us he could not serve us because the long haired brunette girl who was in that section had worked there a long time or something. Total BS. I assume she was just a greedy unreasonable girl. And she sure seemed like one. She kept pushing us to order more drinks and tried to be charming but her attitude seemed really fake. We were all disappointed she wouldn't let our first server continue to take care of us. I really hope she gave part of the tip to our first server, who obviously deserved it. But I assume she didn't. The food here is good overall. We got the rainbow roll, phill rolls, and the spider roll. Everything was delicious. I wanted to get nigiri but it did not seem like a good value, I bet it is cheaper during happy hour. They had a Sam Adams seasonal on draft which was the best option, all other beers were macrobrew crapliquid. The value isn't bad for the area, it is pretty much what you would expect. I will totally come back when we are shopping but would not go out of my way to come here. If you come here do not sit on the patio unless they are finished with the new construction next door. It is very disruptive.
(3)
George D.
Love this place, never had a bad experience here. Best calamari in town !!!! Will be back again soon
(5)
Brielle G.
Awesome happy hour which includes all day happy hour on Sunday! Only downfall is very busy during happy hour and you have to sit at the bar or outside to experience happy hour prices so might have to wait a while. This is located in the cherry creek mall right across from California pizza kitchen and near john atencio jewelry store on the first floor. I always get the sushi here and it's always awesome. I get the rainbow roll which has huge pieces and is always fresh. I've also had a crab roll that is fried but was not as fresh as other places I've had. The sangria is delicious- by far the best sangria I've had in a while. I love the white and red sangria both are so refreshing and I could drink those day after day! They have a bubbly now it must have champagne or something because it's a bit more bubbly than the white sangria which consists of white wine. The margherita flatbread is huge and can definitely be split among the table. I wasn't a fan of the buffalo chicken flatbread but would order the margherita each time and it's great! The spinach dip is also addicting and uhhhhhmazing- simple but super duper must when coming here! Also the edamame is a nice size to be shared among two people.
(4)
Julian T.
Great food and service. The sushi wasn't bad for Denver the timing was great and our server was on key and knew his menu would come back again. Stopped in for a quick bite and was in and out in great time. They have a sushi bar with s huge fish tank as well!
(4)
Nicole S.
Always a great dinner spot! Best happy hour in town!
(5)
Alex T.
I've came here multiple times, normally for happy hour. During those times we usually get the happy hour sakes, rolls and pizza which tastes alright, but extremely cheap. I came for the first time during non happy hour times and here's what we got: We had their avocado eggrolls because of other yelpers suggestions and wow it was good. We also ordered an eel cucumber roll which had a lot of rice and the rice was stickier than normal sushi places, it was different in a good way. 3rd and last item we had was the checkboard roll which was also outstanding. Service was great our server was constantly expalinig things and is always here, but it's a Monday and slightly slow.
(4)
Christina P.
I was shopping at Cherry Creek on a Sunday and realized that Kona does Happy Hour all day on Sundays (SCORE!). I went in during the late afternoon and was easily able to find an open table. This is a rarity on the weeknights, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Why not a full five stars you ask? After I sat down and was given some water, I asked for a menu and never received one. I had to get up from my table and take some menus from another table in the patio. Once I got my own menu, I waited around for someone to take my order. This didn't happen until about 25 minutes after sitting down at the table. I had to call the restaurant from my table to ask for a server because no one ever walked by. Over 5 minutes later, still no service. My sister then got up and walked to the bar and asked a bar tender if we were expected to serve ourselves. It was then that a manager came out to apologize and take our order. This was their saving grace. The manager was incredibly apologetic. He explained to us an incident with some difficult patrons before us caused our slow service. While it was not an excuse, I could understand. Not only did he comp a couple of items that we ordered, he offered us a free dessert at the end of our meal. I will continue to come here for their great happy hours and advocate for the excellent customer service that is provided by the staff. NOTE: prices have gone up since my first review (sad). For comparison sake, the margaritas are now $4.75 (pre-tax), rather than the $3.50 they used to be.
(4)
Jessica B.
This place was terrible! My husband ordered a salad and they brought him a sandwich. After we sent it back with the expeditor our server came over and instead of apologizing for clearly ordering the wrong item, she said "Oh, would you like a salad?" Then my daughter found the longest hair INSIDE of her burger. We couldn't even eat after that so we paid the bill (all of it) and left. As we were leaving I told the hostess about the hair so that maybe they could address it she just looked at me with this snarky face and said "yeeeeaahh, maybe next time send it back." Thanks Kona! That was the best $74 we've ever spent!
(1)
Chelsea K.
Went here for the weekday happy hour with a friend, the rolls were half off and we got a plate of calamari for $6. The only bummer was that we had to sit outside, in Colorado, in January. It was a warmer night for us, but even sitting next to the fire place we got pretty cold and so did our food. We had four rolls and we liked all of them. The Atlantic being our favorite. The calamari was a much bigger plate than I would have expected for the price so we were pleasantly surprised. Service was really friendly and attentive.
(4)
Sara B.
Love me some Kona Grill sushi! KG as been one of my go tos for sushi for years now. It is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. You actually get a lot in the rolls, so that makes it worth the price. My favorite you ask? Hands down, the spider roll! Hello soft shell crab heaven! Not sure what to get? Just ask. All of the servers I have had were awesome and super knowledgable of the menu.
(4)
Brooke B.
LOVE Kona grill!! Great staff, great management. Happy hour is off the chain! They even do a mall employee private menu HELLO!! Great, never had any complaints! I will take all my outta town family and friends here. Atmosphere and vibes are great! I am defiantly becoming a regular! The shrimp garlic penne pasta is amazing! Thank you!!
(5)
Vilma S.
Came with my sister and daughter for sushi and to use my $15 B-Day coupon. I got the Pan-Asian Noodles and it was very tasty. The sushi and avocado rolls were equally delicious. We sat at the bar in front of the Sushi Preparation Section and it was nice to be able to talk to the preparer and ask for advice on all the sushi specials. I also had a receipt from a previous visit and it was good for a complimentary dessert (after filling out the survey). We decided on the brownie and we definitely didn't go wrong. It was huge and tasty with ice cream and caramel sauce all over it. They even lit a candle on it for my birthday. Very good dining experience.
(4)
Alice G.
Thanks Yelp, Exactly! Meh, I've experienced better. Big Happy Hour for a certain crowd that likes sake bombs, and sweet teriyaki sauce appetizers. Food is "pub fare asian" with really mayonaissy sushi rolls. Has the mass produced in a factory somewhere feel.....Sushi is always luke warm. Not a fan, sorry to say. Still, one of the "sit-down" options at our upscale Cherry Creek Mall, so if CPK or the Nordstrom cafe don't do it for you, you can get a hot lunch. Or a lukewarm one.
(2)
ElizabethAnn B.
Stopped in fo a quick bite after a day of running around and was in the area. My friend recommended it and to my delight it was HALFOFF wine...seriously how can you beat that. And with cork & carry, I don't have be a lush and finish the bottle at the restaurant. Though the bartender seemed confident that I could. At the recommendation of the bartender I had the bama roll and it was delicious and fresh and great deal for happy hour. I also had the chicken satay as well. Great flavor. Service overall was great and food was delivered rather quickly considering how busy it was.
(4)
Shreyas G.
Good, not great. Came here for the first time tonight and honestly, I was expecting more both in service and food. Every time we asked the waiter a question about the dish he repeated the description word for word. He didn't seem too interested in what he was offering, but anyways, on to the food. I ordered the calamari and avocado egg rolls. The egg rolls were interesting, I enjoyed those and the sauce that came with it. However, the calamari was soggy but at least the sweet sauce that came along with it was nice. During the main course, we had sushi. We ordered the special roll of today and two others, which apparently were the top sellers. One of which was the Picasso Roll that says "spicy" in the description. Now it was spicy but only because they put a blob of habanero on the top . The second roll was the Las Vegas Roll. I was extremely underwhelmed, it was simply crab mix wrapped in rice with a little square of cream cheese in the middle. Now on to the desert, we ordered the brownie. You can't really go wrong with the brownie, it was nice, warm and very large (great to share for 3-5 people). There was a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top as well, which was enjoyable. Oh and lastly, the entire meal was very expensive. It was over $80 without even ordering any drinks. Overall, the food, the service, the ambiance was decent but nothing special.
(3)
Lina C.
Happy hour is what makes Kona Grill worthwhile. Many of their dishes are half off and the drinks are reasonably priced (even though I didn't get anything). i have to admit, if it weren't for happy hour, I'm not sure if I would have come since it's pretty expensive for the amount of food you get, period. For three girls, we were able to order two rolls, the lettuce wraps, and my favorite, the BBQ chicken flat bread (which is amazing! A MUST for those who haven't been there) for about $21! What a steal!!! The rolls were okay and the lettuce wraps weren't as bad as I thought it would be. The chicken and the veggies used in the lettuce wraps are a tad bit on the hard side. We ended up sitting outside. it was nice and warm, given that there was a fire pit in the center of the patio. Perfect on a warm summers night. Overall, take advantage of Kona Grill's happy hour. Lina Chen
This is by far my favorite happy hour in Denver. It's in beautiful Cherry Creek, has an amazing patio (especially gorgeous --and busy-- during the summer months), and delicious food/drinks. We always start out by ordering a "Sake bomber" that includes Sake and a tall Sapporo beer for about $7 which is an amazing deal-- we can get a solid three sake bombs out of this baby. They also have margaritas, sangria, wine, beer-- the usual-- on happy hour. Word of caution, the margaritas are a tad small for what you get so I'd skip those. In terms of food, it's hard to choose what I love the most on the happy hour menu. The Margarita Flatbread is amazing and includes a very large portion (if I ate it alone, I would be stuffed). Calamari is great, but the sauce that it's served with knocks it out of the park-- I like to dip the Avocado Egg Rolls in it. It's a spicy-mayo mixture sauce-- reminds me a lot of the "volcano sauce" that is frequently drizzled upon sushi. The Lettuce Wraps are delicious too, and once again, the sauce served with it is AMAZING. It's a sweet-herb concoction that is out of this world. If you're a fan of won-tons, I would highly recommend these. As you can tell-- I love all of the above, and would highly recommend just getting a group of friends together and ordering many dishes and just splitting it all. The sushi is also great, but nothing I haven't experienced elsewhere. We have always had amazing service. The only flaw of this place is how popular it gets during happy hour. If it's during the summer months, I would highly recommend arriving around 3:30 to ensure you get a patio seat (or a seat in general) because it's only available in the bar areas and patio. There aren't reservations or hostess seating in these areas, so you'll just have to "stalk tables" to wait for people to leave and snag up a seat. Hope you guys love this place as much as I do! Happy Kona'ing!
(5)
Jake L.
Big fan of the Happy Hour here at Kona! Can't beat a Sunday afternoon on the patio enjoying happy hour margaritas, sushi rolls, & appetizers! Plus yes I have to have a Sake Bomb, agree or disagree, that's on you. The staff is amazingly friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you have in regards to food/drink items, major plus on that! Favorite appetizer? Pot Stickers!! Favorite Roll? Crunchy Crab Roll with eel sauce Went with a friend a couple weeks ago on a Sunday and after drinks (Margarita & Sake Bomb), appetizers (Lettuce wraps & Pot Stickers), & rolls (Crunchy Crab & Spicy Tuna), total was just a shade over $25! Great thing about the patio area is TV's around the bar, and nice air flow now that it is warm out & when it cools off this Fall/Winter they have an outdoor firepit!
(4)
Samantha Y.
Margaritas are always awesome here! Very balanced, I like mine with sugar rim instead of salt. I love the happy hour at kona, who doesn't? Cheap drinks and great food. Not really a fan of the sushi here.. I get that it's a fusion restaurant and I've worked in sushi restaurants before, so maybe that's why it seems "off" to me. It still is great though! Visited this one from Fort Worth :)
(4)
Lindsey P.
I've been a couple times in the past couple years and I'd say Kona Grill is always just ok. I go mostly for convenience - I don't know Cherry Creek very well so I go because it's decent food at a good price (especially if it's Happy Hour) and it's the first place that comes to mind. This last time our waiter took forever to greet us. In fact, the whole visit seemed to take a reallllllly long time. He was friendly enough, but slow considering that it wasn't busy AT ALL. The food was pretty good and it has been previously too. The sushi is ok, their salads are good. This time I got the Chicken Avocado Club with taro chips; I asked for the chipotle mayo on the side and it came on the sandwich. Normally I would have asked for them to fix it but considering how long it took to get our food in the first place, I let it go. It was very tasty and my grandma seemed to like what she got too, the Chicken Caprese sandwich I think. Her sweet potato fries were warm enough, but also soggy and limp. Like I said...if you're around for Happy Hour and you have some time, do that. The prices are great and the items available on special are plenty. The drinks are cheap (also tasty). That's probably what I'll stick to from now on.
(3)
Michelle S.
Kona is always a good bet for happy hour. Last night was the first time I dined in the dining room. Not my first choice but nonetheless I was meeting people and it was the birthday girls choice. This review is really about the service because it was hands down, truly one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. Drew was incredible. The 7 year old that I was with was cracking jokes and he managed to return to the table time and time again with new jokes for her. There were even a few other servers who joined in the silly telling of jokes. You could tell that they were enjoying themselves, that this wasn't something that they had to do. I haven't experienced a server who has gone above and beyond like that in a long time. Our food was good, we had a few sushi rolls while the birthday girl had a bento box. The bento box was a good looking meal, she definitely made out with the most delicious dinner I think. The orange shaped like a panda was the icing on the cake. I think typically I'd give Kona a 3 star rating but Drew's service last night prompted me to go with 4 stars. So way to go Drew! When we come back we know who we'll be asking for.
(4)
Erin M.
Good, not excellent. Had the edamame and the chicken stir fry. The stir fry was spicy in a good way, the chicken was moist, and the edamame was made well. The atmosphere was also average, which leads to an overall rating of 3. Great place to stop while in the mall, but I wouldn't seek it out in particular.
(3)
Lauren D.
I find myself constantly (and pleasantly!) surprised by 3.5 star Yelp-rated restaurants and Kona was no exception. I met a girlfriend here last night for Happy Hour and was really impressed. Downgrade from 5 stars because the music in the bar was WAY TOO LOUD (hi, I like to be able to have a conversation with the person I'm out with) and because I had to walk through the mall to get to the entrance but otherwise the drinks were delish (sake sangria!), the food was tasty and everything was reasonably priced. Oh and HH goes until 7 PM, something that's much appreciated by those of us who hold down a 8-5 PM work schedule. Recommended: the veggie sushi, avocado rolls and apple/brie flatbread Tip: the bar gets pretty packed so expect to wait for a spot, even on a weekday
(4)
Tiffany N.
AMAZING happy hour specials on food, drinks not so much. I stopped here to grab something to eat while waiting at Cherry Creek and I hope to go again because for sushi and other yummies you really can't beat it! Happy hour is in the bar area and patio and you can get basic rolls for $3.75 (I got the crab crunch roll, delicious with eight pieces so if you're a sushi fiend like me, you may want to order two) along with other dishes like avocado eggrolls, sliders, pizza and more. The more advanced rolls go for $6 which is also a steal--why haven't I been coming here all along?? I would pass on drinks though since they're really not too big of a steal--draft beers were $4 and I believe that was only Sam Adams and the other drinks were pricier than I expected for happy hour prices. But that wouldn't keep me away from the happy hour food prices here!
(4)
Alex W.
I came here for lunch and was disappointed. After asking about lunch specials I was told that's their "Pairings" option where you pick two items for $10.50. I got miso soup and the "sushi sampler". The miso soup arrived in a bowl smaller than their tea cups, then the "sampler" was three pieces of sushi. That's it. That is ridiculous by the standards of the most peckish eater. You can go to Osaka and get those two things with two small salads and a full entree (salmon/chicken/tempura) for a dollar less in their lunch bento. So, with tea and tip I paid over $16 to leave and go somewhere else to actually eat lunch. The soup was good, the sushi was on par with what you'd get at Whole Foods. Very unimpressive.
(2)
Mike M.
Went there for happy hour with some friends to celebrate a birthday Blake was our server he was the best Smart funny and he knew the menu and made great recommendations Thank you Blake for the great service Will definitely go back
(5)
Andy M.
Poor service! We sat at the sushi bar for happy hour on Sunday and we stood waiting for someone to clear the table for nearly 10 minutes. We had to ask the sushi chef to find someone to serve us. I would have understood more if we had merely walked in and waited at the bar, but we were escorted by a host to the bar. The sushi nearly all tasted the same and the rice was overly sweet. I was seriously disappointed, but perhaps having had sushi in California and in Japan has ruined my appetite for the lesser. It may not have been such a big deal if we actually had good service.
(2)
Michael C.
I really like this place but the service today was exceptionally poor. The plates were dirty with dried particulate food on them. In addition it took ten minutes for a server to come to the table. Then to add insult to injury, it took over twenty five minutes to get our appetizer and drinks from the bar. When I literally wave my arms, like on MASH, the server finally came over and lied about the apart user and drinks. He could have said he for for bit he did not. It's an integrity and experience issue. I don't know if I hit the lottery with an aloof server or if Kona has dropped off the map with service.
(2)
Rick B.
Good Service, good happy hour, fun atmosphere. I like their appetizers and drink specials. I dislike their sushi and the war zone of construction around the patio. The should probably lose another star for the construction but it's really not their fault. There's no noise or anything, it just looks pretty fugly and kinda ruins the patio experience. I don't really go there for dinner, mainly drinks and appetizers. Is what you make of it. If you're looking for fine dining, or traditional sushi you will be disappointed. The menu is pretty big and has something for everyone.
(4)
Brett S.
I came very, very close to breaking my 3-star cherry on Kona Grill, but at the end of the day, I just couldn't do it. Here's the deal: Kona has a pretty damn excellent Happy Hour: mon - fri 3p-7p mon - thur 9p-11p fri - sat 10p-12a sun ALL DAY Check the website to make sure that hasn't changed since this review was written, but as you can see, you have a lot of options. Sit in the bar area at any of those times and you're more or less good to go. As is usual for most bar-only happy hours, the items you can grab are a bit appetizery, but this also includes a decent selection of sushi rolls. Factor in the cheaper brews and you're looking at a good place to fill up on food and drink. Provided your timing's right, of course. That said, the food really is just north of average. It's definitely not bad, but if you were buying any of it at full prices, you would be feeling a little robbed. The takeaway: ONLY come to Kona for the happy hour. The service is brisk, the food is decent, and the price is excellent then. Miss that window, however, and it's just too much for the food you get.
(4)
Carolyn I.
Kona holds a place dear in my heart. It makes me think of the summer days on the patio with the fire pit burning in the background while you're sipping away on a glass of wine. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can catch up with friends in the Denver area without struggling too much for parking. Kona has pretty decent happy hours in terms of food and drinks, although be careful as the weekend times are off by an hour. Service is definitely a hit or miss. There are some servers that will do bare minimum but there are others that are very attentive and want you to have a good time. I was in on Friday and had an absolute blast with our server LaLa.
(4)
Joseph H.
This restaurants hostesses are rude and unknowledgeable, the manager knows nothing about business and should never have that job. If I owned this restaurant I would fire all three hostesses as well as the manager to save my business and even if you see 8 tables open they will not sit you down but don't worry they will let you sit at the bar or outside except not a single person will give you a menu or ask if you need anything or let alone acknowledge your existence. Horrible restaurant and with all the options in the area this would be the last anyone should attend.
I sit in the bar area on Sundays. Always a great service staff, waiters & bartenders are so friendly! Food always comes out quick. & they have great happy hours!!! The sushi is pretty good as well as some of the appetizers. I always leave with a full tummy & a smile!
(4)
Cindy B.
Delicious! Really enjoy Kona Grill every time I eat here and the friendly waiters, thanks!
(4)
Kelly G.
This was our first visit to this chain. The restaurant was located next to the California Pizza Kitchen in the Cherry Creek Mall. We parked in the mall garage and walked through the mall to get to the restaurant, unless you use the Valet. I had signed up for their Konavore Program and received an e-mail for $15 off the bill for my birthday good for 2 weeks. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She seated us in a comfortable booth in the dining room. A giant fish tank separated the bar area from the sushi bar/dining room. The restaurant was dim, but there were pot lights shinning directly in the center of each table so you could see the menu and food. My husband ordered the Chicken Caprese Sandwich ($12). It was a chicken breast with tomato, mozzarella, baby arugula, basil pesto aioli on ciabatta bread served with garlic parmesan fries. The sandwich ingredients were light and fresh. The fries were shoestring potatoes with the skin, perfectly seasoned with garlic and parmesan. I ordered the Grilled Ribeye Sandwich ($15.25). The ribeye was tender and juicy. It came with garlic ailoi, baby arugula, danish bleu, onion strings on ciabatta bread served with fries. It was to die for and just melted in my mouth. Besides having $15 off the bill, the server brought me a complimentary Red Velvet Cupcake ($4 value) for my birthday. It was huge, enough for 2 people, served on a plate with sliced kiwi and strawberries. The cream cheese frosting wasn't too sweet. The manager came by to see how everything was. He stopped to talk to us about the temperature in the restaurant. He was aware that it was a little chilly in the restaurant and he was working on it. It really means a lot when the management is out on the floor, rather than hiding in the back office. The Happy Hour menu and prices look real attractive. We will definitely be back when the weather warms up so we can dine on the patio.
(4)
Christine A.
I have to say I was really surprised at how much I liked Kona Grill. I didn't plan on going there. I was shopping at the mall when the alarm went off. After 15 minutes, I just couldn't take it any more, so I had to drink the annoyance away and Kona Grill was there. Their bar area is cool - one side of the bar is inside and the other side is outside on the patio. I sat at the bar outside. They had a fire going, so it wouldn't get too chilly, so it was very nice. Within 30 seconds of sitting down, all three of the bartenders greeted me. They were friendly and a HAPPY group of people. It was also all day happy hour and it is an impressive happy hour. I don't like it when restaurants serve lower-quality food for happy hour. Kona discounts their existing menu and doesn't downsize portions. This is an excellent happy hour. I had 2 cosmos - delicious. Nothing I like more than a strong drink that doesn't taste like alcohol too much. The drinks were strong - I could feel it after finishing half of my first cocktail. I also had 2 sushi rolls. They were good - not the same standard of sushi that you would get in some other places, but, overall, they were satisfying. I received excellent service throughout my visit - refills on my water, friendliness and checking back to see if I needed anything. When I received my bill, it was less than $20. Seriously - I was really shocked about that - like I said, excellent happy hour. At this point, I saw the manager, so I let him know how impressed I was with the staff, which made him very happy. I usually shop at Park Meadows b/c it's 5 minutes from where I live, but, if I'm up in Cherry Creek, I would definitely chose to come back to Kona Grill.
(4)
Kris R.
Scott was our server today on the patio, and he gave us phenomenal service!! Incredibly attentive, funny, just all around a great experience. The rainbow roll was delicious, and 1/2 price bottles of wine can't be beat!! Will definitely be back again
(5)
Jimmy H.
Drive 15 miles to get here only to find it closed. Good job on relaying that info, Google. To say I'm upset is an understatement, not to mention - the parking stinks.
(1)
jay g.
We found a lot of tasty options the the menu, from calamari to chop salad. The show stopper was the chocolate fandu!
(4)
Jane S.
Their happy hour space is a joke. Such little space for that time. Drink specials are ok. Food selection is better. I liked the lettuce wraps.
(2)
Chuck S.
Sitting on the patio here on a warm summer and watching the "beautiful people" walk by is one of my favorite things to do at Cherry Creek. It helps that they have a good happy hour. The sushi is not the best I've had, but it was fine. The drinks are not the strongest here, but they were fine. The eye candy is some of the best here with the gals getting dressed up just to go shopping at the mall. The waiter took very good care of us checking in often and making sure we had what we needed.
(4)
Cindy R.
Great place to get together for a quick happy hour. Love their potstickers and happy hour rolls.
(4)
Michael P.
Polynesian cuisine set in Denver....this place does a good job of creating nice Hawaiian/Polynesian dishes. The salmon and mahi mahi are very tasty and outside of Hawaiii, great seafood. My one suggestion for this restaurant are more drink specials as they are little pricey. Overall, I do like place for special occasions.
Kona Grill has it all. Good food and great service. The staff is attentive and friendly. The sushi was very tasty and came out pretty quickly despite being busy. This is a must try restaurant. Kind of hard to see due to the construction around the mall's new addition, but worth the search.
(5)
A D.
Loved it! What great unique takes on sushi! So good, I could've eaten my weight in sushi. And the raspberry-hibiscus tea was fantastic.
(5)
Jason K.
My girlfriend and I go here every time we have to visit the mall if it's after 3pm for their Happy Hour. The appetizers are probably the best in all of Denver that I can think of! They have a 1,000 gallon saltwater fish aquarium that is understocked, and lacking the beautiful colors that one would expect for a saltwater tank, and half the time it is dirty. The patio is a great place to sit during a nice day, but sometimes you can not get a table (inside or out) in the bar area, and they do not offer happy hour in the large dinning area. If you do get a table, you may not be getting a drink anytime soon. We have learned if it is to busy just to walk away and try again another day :) Although the sushi we had was delicious, we have never been dinner
(4)
Steve S.
Ahhh, the Cherry Creek mall. Always a battle between image and substance. Usually image wins. The same holds true for the Kona Grill located on the north side of the mall. Now, they do have a great patio for people and car watching. On colder nights, the fireplace and heaters are well worth the price of admission. However, the food is lacking substance and so are it's waitstaff. Kona offers sushi, Asian inspired dishes and traditional American fare. For the most part its decent food that is priced well. However, Kona presents itself as a four star restaurant which is definitely is not. Just don't be confused. Always entertaining are the dudes wearing small child t-shirts and the women with more construction on their faces and chests than the summer roads in Denver. So go for people watching. Go for decent food. For for the inevitable oversell of the special by the waitstaff. It'll be worth it.
(3)
Travis S.
Terrible happy hour they let people hold seats for over 15 min why people are there ready to eat and refuse to serve happy hour in main area will not be going back
(1)
Kelly S.
Wonderful happy hour!! Not only are they good prices but there are lots of choices! Plenty of sushi rolls as well as other appetizers! I enjoy coming more in summer because the patio is great, but the bar is still nice if too cold for the patio. The only downfall can be finding a seat!
(4)
Tumi M.
Great ambiance next to Cherry Creek Mall valet. There is a fire pit outside that adds a nice touch. Across from the bar inside is a 100+ gallon fish tank that adds some life inside. I sat at the bar with my business associate as we hashed out the details of a financial agreement. The bartender was cool, didn't interrupt us at all, but got our food out fast and refilled our glasses multiple times. He helped figure out the special order sandwich my associate placed and was a pleasant server. The happy hour menu looked good. I will be back for a after work hangout with my boys or a semi casual date with good ambiance.
(4)
Meri O.
Amazing atmosphere on any day/time. Their appetizers are delicious plus they are half off Mon-Fri. They have two happy hours 3-7 & 9-12. Definitely worth checking it out. Enjoy.
(4)
Kate O.
LOVE their patio. Super cute. They have a fire pit too. They have this angry edamame that is to die for but note this is crazy hot stuff. Their food is really good as well as their sushi. I also love the kids meals. They are $5 and my son had the housemade mac and cheese and LOVED it. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Andre R.
I really disapprove the service of this restaurant. They charged my credit card with more gratuity amount than I give and even after I write on the bill that the service was not good. The restaurant was not busy and they took a long time to provide us service.We had to ask for a waiter and wait a long time to have our order.The waiter was looking at TV instead of bring us the bill.However the table on our side had two waiter to attend them at the same time and we were just three person in a table against a couple on the table on our side.The food was good but they really disappointed and showed to be not trustable and respectful.
(1)
Jinny K.
Definitely a great spot for happy hour. Their sake sangria is pretty good though I can't really feel any alcohol in it. Their appetizers are also light and delicious. Can't beat the happy hour deal.
(4)
Kate C.
Love their mojitos! Sushi is good and if you can find a seat during happy hour, definitely take advantage of it. It is part of the mall so can get a little busy but never had a bad meal. Service seems to be a little slow sometimes. Love the patio in the summer!
(3)
Erica A.
I was pleasantly suprised by Kona Grill. I thought that the food would be subpar being in the mall. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Specifically, the avocado egg rolls are to die for! Sushi is fresh and average price for the area. They have a huge menu and even though they specialize in Asian food, they have a lot of other options if people dont like that. It is a great place to have dinner before a movie.
(4)
Annie F.
We went to Kona Grill today around 6 Pm and sat at sushi bar. And we were order sashimi and sweet shrimp nigiri and open 1 bottle of fuji sake . The server was nice and funny . But the bad thing is after get out from Kona for 15 minutes and i got alergic from NOT fresh Sweet Shrimp nigiri and fishy . And now my lip are horrible . Note : check your sushi bar cooler's temperature and make sure peoples dont get sick.
(2)
Anya M.
Years ago when I was poorer, more tolerant, and ate all the gluten I wanted, I used to love this place for happy hour. I was unemployed so I could get there early before happy hour to actually get a table, and I liked the cheap sake bombs and cheap appetizers (still miss those guac rolls). On the patio people watching is totally entertaining (always people trying to show off their cars in valet, show off the stuff they're wearing, show of their girl's new boob job etc). There is always a good chance you'll see some Nuggets/Bronco player roll up with his baby momma (I've had it happen multiple times). There isn't really a people-watching equivalent in Denver so that was fun, minus trying to get a table. Now that I'm older, have $, less patience, AND am gluten free, this place doesn't do it for me anymore. I'd rather pay full price for a beverage than stand around asking people if they are leaving soon, so I can steal the table before anyone else gets it. Or worse, drink standing up smashed next to the bar. Annoying and a time waster. Plus now that I am gluten free [they have a gluten free menu online] I pretty much can't order 90% of the menu. Obviously you can get meat/fish, white rice + steamed veggies, but I can make that at home. All the good stuff has gluten in it. I got the Kona Chopped Salad with PLAIN grilled chicken (you can't get the macadamia chicken because it is coated in breadcrumbs) and it was great. But it was $13. If you're stuck in the mall and starving this place is ok if you know what you're getting into. At least the decor/vibe/service are all great.
(2)
Ashley F.
Avocado egg rolls are phenomenal!
(4)
Whitney W.
I love Kona grill! I love sushi! No compliants here! They have a great Happy Hour Menu in the Bar til 7pm. Spicy Tuna Roll for $3.50. What a great value! Will always come back!
Here now, been waiting for an hour. Haven't even received our food, let alone our drinks. I would rate zero if it were an option. They aren't even that busy.
(1)
Will D.
I have tried to like the Kona Grill since its inception. Hadn't been there for at least two years and probably won't go back. If it is not the food, it is the service. Tonight it was both. Too many really good restaurants in Denver to spend any of myself there.
(2)
Amy O.
I would go here every day if I could for the Oriental salad. If you have to stay inside the mall, I'd recommend going here. They have some nice outdoor seating too with a fire pit. I sat at the bar and had a great lunch.
(5)
Phung L.
This place has one of the best happy hour! Where else can you get a 22oz of iced cold Kirin Ichiban and a large hot sake for $7? Happy hour is only located at the bar area so this place fills up quick! You're definitely going to have to arrive early just to grab a table especially if you're planning on going with a large party. The outside patio is nice, but as the weather gets cooler everyone prefers to be jam packed indoors. Half off appetizers are good. Try the mini burgers. My only gripe is that they took out the seared ahi wonton crisp from the menu. Those were so good!
(4)
Jennifer B.
We were looking for a great place to eat after enjoying the Zoo on Sunday. Don't know exactly how we came up with this but we had heard good things and decided to take a shot. We were seated immediately. The menu is fantastic, and it took us a good amount of time to review the entire thing and decide on a meal. I decided on the recommendation of our waitress and got the Kona Chopped Salad, my friend had the Spicy Pesto Chicken Linguini. Our food was delivered timely and was absolutely gorgeous. See my pic of my salad. The Spicy Linguini was out of this world and I will confess I had more than one bite. The Salad had avocado, almond crusted chicken (the best I ever had) with a light honey mustard dressing. If the yummy deliciousness from the entrees wasn't enough we decided on their special dessert, the Banana Cream Pie. Wowza! Now that was a delight to feast my eyes upon. A big satisfying slice of Banana Cream Pie with whipped cream, some king king of sweet drizzle and shaved coconut. It was to die for to every last lick of the plate - I highly recommend the dessert. The next time I am shopping in Cherry Creek I will definitely make a point to stop in again.
(4)
Kay T.
Only come here for the Happy Hour because the food is otherwise some what expensive. Happy Hour menu has a good selection at a reasonable price and the food is good. Not the best sushi I've had in the city but decent.
(3)
Cat S.
I enjoy Kona Grill, but I realized it's the happy hour that makes it worth it. After multiple times going during happy hour, I went once with the boyfriend and we decided we didn't feel like waiting for a table by the bar to open up. So we opted for a normal dinner. The food is decent, but I feel it is overpriced for what you get. I got the miso-sake salmon club. The ciabatta was perfect - soft on the inside, crunchy near the edges (so not like the tough to eat ciabatta I've gotten in many other places). The boyfriend got the basil pesto linguine. And again, the food was a-ok, but nothing to boast about. I do love the avocado eggrolls though, but I like them even better half price during happy hour :) One plus: Even on cold nights, sitting outside isn't terrible as they have the fire grates and heaters on the ceilings.
(3)
Kelsey W.
Every time I have ever been to a Kona during happy hour the dining room is completely empty. This is because Kona has only special sections for their happy hour (which I have always found ridiculous). Obviously during the hours of happy hour people would like to have the option of ordering happy hour (duh). What goes beyond just annoying and stupid is the fact that in the middle of January they will have you to sit outside if the other 15 seats inside are full and you wish to enjoy happy hour. Asking a guest to dine outside in the middle of winter in order to get happy hour when you have a completely vacant dining room? You have got to be kidding me. No thank you. We definitely went elsewhere and most likely won't be back. That is some awful customer service.
(1)
Martha W.
Kona Grill is aweeeeeesome. Check it out during happy hour. The avocado egg rolls were bomb. :D
(5)
Susan H.
While shopping at Cherry Creek we stopped in for lunch. Great decision The host was pleasant. We had booked ahead on Open Table and we were seated right away. The waiter was prompt, attentive, and helpful. He was well versed on the large variety of menu choices. Gave us enough time to unwind & relax a little bit before ordering, and was attentive and timely. Our food was great. I had the flatbread pizza with a glass of wine. The blend of flavors in the pizza was very good and the crust perfectly done. My husband had a sandwich with roast beef & gruyere cheese on a toasted baguette. He loved it. While the restaurant was very busy with weekend shoppers, the service and the food were very good and somehow the atmosphere still seemed relaxed. Will definitely eat here again when we are in Cherry Creek.
(4)
Brady K.
I am allergic to fish so obviously I do not eat sushi. However, I have always wanted to eat at the Kona grill, since I generally love Asian food apart from fish. Usually, when we are at the mall, California Pizza Kitchen is our standard choice. But we decided to try something new and Kona Grill is right there. Great patio for a great afternoon and of course Kona has lots of non fish items to choose from. Today they were running a special on bul-go-gi tacos with a side of kim chi, so I decided to partake in my heritage and try some. I have to say the bul-go-gi was a little sweet and it was on some kind of filo dough taco. I think there was some sweetness in the bread and the meat, so I'm not sure it worked. Oh, also had some calimari appetizers and that was really good. So to clarify, I am only allergic to fishy fish, not shell fish or cephalopods if we want to get technical. Service was very good. It is amazing how the little things can be the most important. For example, the server offered us some chop sticks and I said yes. So she peeled off part of the wrapper, handed me the exposed side, while maintaining hold on the wrapper side. As I pulled my chop sticks from her, she maintained hold of the wrapper and I received the benefit of having chop sticks without dealing with the nuisance of trash on my table. Okay, I'm a compulsive weirdo, but that still can be classified as good service and I will be back to try more non fish items.
(4)
Alex L.
Service on the patio (during happy hour) is definitely the best time to go. I went there once when it was their slow time, about 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and service was dismal. However, deciding to go to the patio was the best decision ever. Service was prompt and the food came out great! We ordered sliders, sushi and pizza. Bill came out to right around $17! Can't beat that for two people! The dining room just isn't a place to dine anymore and this holds true at many restaurants, not just Kona Grill!
(4)
Jeff T.
Love the happy hour. I only go for the happy hour. . Keep in mind that the food isn't top notch but its reliable and fairly priced. Love the avocado egg rolls and flat-breads..perfect place to go to for a weekday or weekend night.
(4)
David R.
What a great happy hour menu! The potstickers were excellent and the avocado rolls were interesting. The waiter did a great job and the food was better than expected. What a great value!! We'll be back.
(4)
Simon J.
Been here a number of times, and went for happy hour last night which reminded me I really ought to Yelp this place as I have now had several really solid experiences here. Food has always been tasty and fresh, service has actually also been great-friendly helpful servers, even with our baby which I know can mean a little more work for them. The happy hour is a genuine bargain too with some really excellent deals, plus the decor is comfortable and has a higher end feel. So far, a great "never fail" spot.
(4)
Steven S.
This place is packed and trendy so be prepared. Translation = Crowded. But the service and food are excellent. I've visited here three times over the past two years and each experience was very positive. This last visit, I ordered the Macadamia Nut Chicken with House Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Veggies, Shoyu Cream, and Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade. I had no idea how any of the above would turn out. And to be honest, I had no idea what the seasonal veggie would be, how the "Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade" would taste, and I'd never even heard of Shoyu Cream. So let's just say I was not entirely invested in the meal. And I almost walked. Why? I sat for over 45 minutes waiting. Even the server seemed a bit surprised and apologized, assured me he'd checked on the status, and the kitchen said it would be right out. I wasn't mad or anything. But I was hungry. So at this point I contemplated simply but silently walking out and grabbing something at the California Pizza Kitchen right across the mall. That would have been a mistake. No sooner had I decided to move on that the most masterfully-decorated plate arrived. Generous portions of succulent chicken covered in some amazing sauce. It was literally bursting with flavor. The seasonal veggie turned out to be bok choy. Now mind you, I've had bok choy before but nothing like this. I have no idea what they did to it, but I sincerely hope it was legal. It was not only the best bok choy I've ever encountered, but quite possibly the best vegetable I've tasted. That's how well it was seasoned. So I definitely recommend the Kona Grill. It can be crowded and service a bit slow, but there's a reason it's crowded. It's that good. Come check it out.
(4)
Jim H.
Great sushi and amazing drinks!!! Go here for happy hour and leave happy!
(5)
Dan P.
Kona Grill is one of those few restaurants that is always consistent in quality and service. We've had the opportunity to meet several of the staff and management. We must say Chance is the best wait person there-always friendly and always helpful. Their patio is closed for a few days due to the Cherry Creek Mall entrance overhaul. I am sure the new patio will be worth a visit.
(5)
Hailey Z.
Every time I dine here the service gets worse and worse. Our last attempt was met with a server that just didn't care whether he made money off of us or not. I'm not sure what the draw is other than having a prime location. Go to Elways instead.
(2)
Scott M.
I would crawl through the mud for their soft shelled crab and andouille sliders... they are out of this world. We've only been a couple times when there was a wait. Great sushi menu too!
(4)
Richard N.
This Kona Grill is awesome! Great customer service and unlike other restaurants in Denver the manager is always present making sure everything is going great!
(5)
Jihee Y.
If it wasn't for Kona's happy hour, I don't know if people would just go there for the food. The happy hour is the only thing that makes it worth it. The food is decent, not great. They have a good selection of rolls for happy hour and it's seriously a hit or miss. The same roll you get once that was delicious could be a total disaster another time you go. Flat bread, avocado eggrolls, and the calamari are consistent winners. Don't get the mini burgers, probably one of the worst burgers I've had. I don't know how they've lasted this long with service like they have. Maybe because it's happy hour but every time I go, the service has been completely horrible. You feel rushed and they make you feel bad for "bothering" them. I've only had one good experience there with the service and I let her know myself how great she was compared to others we've had. Bottom line, go for happy hour. One of the best happy hours in Denver.
(3)
Nicole D.
Great happy hour but their sushi is just ok. Go Fish is my first choice for sushi. I used to really enjoy Kona Grill but now I'm like meh.
(3)
Melanie L.
This was a fun lunch spot. I'd never been to Denver and didn't realize how many chain restaurants they had (and that I'd never visited). I am a hug believer in eating local when you can but this was a mall stop and shopping can really help work up an appetite. They had a cool fish tank by the sushi bar that I was transfixed by while we we were eating. Their menu was pretty extensive and offered everything from burgers to Pad Thai. I had the Avocado Chicken Club with chipotle mayo on ciabatta and traded the taro chips for their fries. Loved their fries. The sandwich definitely left something to be desired . We had calamari for an appetizer and that was pretty good. Overall, I would give this place a thumbs and say the food is decent at best. It's at the very least a nice place to rest your feet after shopping.
(3)
Christian S.
My husband and I came here for our one year wedding anniversary and it was wonderful. The service was great and the food was even better! We were very happy with every aspect of our evening here and plan on making it an anniversary tradition:)
(5)
Alicia H.
Ran in for a quick snack with my cousin... but anytime you get us together it takes a bit for us to stop talking and order... so I thank our waiter for his patience with us! He got a turkey burger that he inhaled and I ordered 3 rolls (philly, a tempera shrimp, and avocado crab I believe).... and it was quite delicious! I'm picky about my sushi but they were tightly wrapped rolls with lots of flavor. Prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly; can't wait to be in the area again and grab something else to eat!
(4)
John H.
During happy hour this place is a hit or miss on service but its a great place to drink after work. I recommend everyone to show up early for happy hour because the patio area is the spot to be. It has an awesome fire pit and its right next to valet. The food isn't authentic. I only go here for the drinks. sake bombs! This is what everyone goes for. It's beer and a shot of sake. Cheers!
(3)
Lynn W.
The food was not good here. We heard great things about their happy hour but were not impressed when we got there. The sake was hot and good, but the food was not very good or very fresh. We ordered calamari and it was a pretty sad excuse for calamari. Really tiny and not tasty - which is surprising since they were deep fried. We could barely eat the sushi. The place looked nice enough but the service was very slow. There are much better places for happy hour in Cherry Creek.
(2)
Tara L.
By the time I added salmon to the asparagus salad it was a pretty steep salad. $18 is up there for veggies and a small salmon filet. Service was good though and easy to get to in Cherry Creek Mall.
(3)
Stefanie Z.
My boyfriend and I do enjoy coming here for the sushi because the meals are pricey. The avocado egg rolls are aaaaamazing! We usually get the California roll and spicy tuna. I think their mojitos are so yummy and tasty ! The service sometimes is slow and we have had to wait for our waiter to pass by and for our food which was only sushi to come out. I do enjoy coming here and happy hour is so worth it!!!!!
(4)
Tiffany N.
This mall bar/restaurant, for some inexplicable reason, is crazy packed for happy hour. When did hanging out in the mall become cool for people who can drink? At best it just seems dangerous for your checking account. So, Nick and I are here for a sort of wedding congratulatory party, which they've divided into two tables. Because, you know, it's too hard to put 10 people at one table. Whatever. I'm starving. They have a sushi bar. I'm a sushi fan. Let's order sushi. But, before that we had the only good thing that I tried - tuna wontons. This is rarely seared tuna on a crispy wonton with wasabi sauce on it. I should have eaten another order of those. But, we went with the sushi rolls. It was just crap. They were all falling apart and while fresh, the fish just seemed not to mesh with the flavors they were mixing in there. Nick and I order 3 rolls and ate about half of each. And we are not sushi wasters. Generally, I'd rather eat sushi until my stomach hurts than let it go to waste. The one highlight of our time there was the drink menu. They make a lot of very interesting cocktails, which I sampled quite a few of. And they have sparkling sake. So, if you're going, my suggestion is go for the beverages.
(2)
Jessica G.
I've always wanted to go to Kona grill but it just wasn't the right price for my budget. Luckily my boyfriend got some gift cards from one of the Managers. My boyfriend works at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cherry Creek, and they stoped by asking if he ever sends people over to Kona Grill, he had never tried it so he said no he doesn't. They gave him some gift cards to get him to change his mind. Well lets just say it worked! We took his parents to dinner when they came to visit from Texas. The service was great, the drinks were amazing and the food was so delicious. I got the pan seared ahi, which was cooked great, as was everyone elses meal. The sweet chili sauce that went with the rice was so tasty, it wa just the right amount of spice. I would highly recommend Kona Grill to anyone that can afford it or for a special occasion. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Heather M.
Came here with a friend for a work lunch and wasn't terribly impressed. The restaurant was not very busy, yet it took over 30 minutes for us to receive our food. During this time, the waiter refilled our waters once but didn't offer an explanation for the long wait. As it was a work lunch, we were hoping for somewhat faster service. When the food did arrive, I received a dish I did not order. Though the dish I did order came out soon behind it, I had to make the effort to explain that I had not ordered the first. I had the pan-seared ahi, which was good enough, but left me wanting for more. I had been excited when I first looked at the menu because it looked like there were some great items. The fact that this place is in a mall doesn't really help it. If it weren't for the coupon I just received in the mail, I probably wouldn't return.
(2)
Sal R.
I'm torn between starting with the phenomenal service or the amazing flat bread! The menu was tough for vegetarians. The pad Thai uses fish oil and the tomato basil soup has cheese cooked into it. My server, Madison, checked on the soup ingredients -- without prompting -- and came back to ask if the cheese was OK. When I said no, she happily agreed to swap my order for a custom vegan flatbread instead. I never complained. But the manager asked the kitchen to rush my revised order, brought it over himself and then didn't bill me for it. It was all totally unnecessary (but appreciated). I would have paid full price for that vegan veggie flatbread! My dining mate loved the pulled pork sliders and sweet potato fries (especially the sauce).
(5)
Kristin K.
Awesome happy hour. Great food. Great atmosphere. Wave and Bama rolls were awesome. White Sangria on HH was also delightful.
(4)
Alex R.
Not impressed. Thankfully I wasn't footing the bill for the less than stellar apps and entrees.
(3)
Diana W.
I went here for lunch and was excited about the new less than 500 calorie menu option. Service was good at first but as the lunch rush came in the service and food slowed down but our waiter still helped us with a smile. Got the low calorie cucumber wrapped salmon roll which was tasty but I wish the sauce they drizzled on wasn't as citric. Also got the scallop sashimi dish that is on the low calorie menu too...it was delicious. Tasted fresh...I wanted 4 more! Will I come here again? Well, the sushi options aren't mind blowing. Run of the mill "generic" sushi chain for the masses but it has a great selection so if you want to meet people here that don't enjoy sushi, you can get your fix while they order a sandwich.
(3)
Braden S.
Went here today before shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall as should be expected. The server was very nice, but not very attentive. He didn't come by many times even when I needed water and had to steal water from someone else in my party. People at my table tended to like their meals well enough, but I didn't love the sushi. I would have much rather gone to a reputable sushi place in the area instead of ordering the sushi at Kona. I tasted the ahi tuna salad and was underwhelmed, but it was still OK. Overall, food and service were OK. I think this is a place to go if and ONLY if you are shopping in the Cherry Creek Mall, but don't come here just for a place to go out.
(3)
Crys A.
This is a chain and we all know it. Still, I'm not going to lie, the food, drinks and service are pretty darn solid. Because I'm into monetary self-flagellation I often find myself wandering blurry-eyed around Cherry Creek Mall for hours at a time, only to land, quite thankfully, in a seat at the bar at Kona Grill. They have this sushi sampler thing which is brilliant. I mean, being from Hawaii I know good sushi, and I'm not saying this is the omgbest sushi in town, but for the price and the amount served I'm not balking. The sweet Maui onion rings are also good, as are the potstickers. Again, nothing amazing to write your mom about, but for what it is and where it is and how it is --- I like. Entrees? The ribs are good but I find the macadamia nut chicken to be ... odd tasting. Can't put my finger on it, but I ordered it only once and that was good enough for me. The pad thai was standard, not especially special, but it's not like I didn't eat most of it.
(4)
Lo B.
I have never seen such tiny shrimp. $17 for thumb nail sized shrimp was an insult. The pasta was over cooked and gummy, the lemon cream sauce wasn't remotely lemony. The service was inattentive and way below average. We would have loved to order a drink or a dessert but the server never returned.
(1)
Katie B.
Kona Grill, you did a much better job of pleasing me on the second go - kudos! After my initial bad experience at Kona Grill, the district manager contacted me to apologize for my lackluster meal. He offered to send me a complimentary gift card as consolation, and naturally I eagerly accepted - but that's not why Kona earned a better star rating. The sushi saved this joint. I returned to Kona while my boyfriend was visiting from Florida. It was his last night in town, so I wanted to take him out for something nicer than the Mexican grub and leftover Thanksgiving chow that we had been noshing on all week. We started our dinner with ahi wonton crisps and edamame. Both were satisfying, but I've had better ahi tuna (can I get a holler for Cuba Cuba's ahi with watermelon, oh my). The wasabi sauce on the tuna was fantastic, and I sopped up all the remnants on the plate with my edamame. Having learned my lesson sampling the mediocre burgers during my first visit, my beau and I stuck to the sushi menu this time - and it was an excellent decision. We ordered about four different rolls, including the spicy salmon and a savory soft shell crab roll. However, the crowned jewels of this meal were clear: GET THE ATLANTIC ROLL AND YAMADA ROLL. Seriously, you must. The atlantic is a hearty, smoky baked salmon concotion with eel sauce, cucumber, and crunchy tempura flakes. Probably my new favorite roll. The yamada roll was the center piece of the dinner, and overwhelmed our tastebuds with tempura sea bass with crab, avocado, cucumber, and wonton slivers wrapped up in delicate yellow soy paper. Yes, yes, yes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We topped off our gluttony with a seasonal pumpkin-infused creme brulee - pretty good, but given how disgustingly full I was, it was hard to really enjoy it. Niko devoured it though, and I liked the fat little pumpkin seed topping. Overall, I would come back here for some sushi - especially those two amazing rolls.
(3)
Tyler S.
Great American/Seafood/Sushi restaurant in the heart of Cherry Creek. I made the executive decision today with a good friend of mine to head over to Kona Grill today for lunch. Having eaten here numerous times previous, Kona just seemed to be calling out to me as we narrowed down our luncheon choices in the area. I ordered my absolute favorite from here, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken! Not only does it come with freshly steamed and deliciously seasoned green beans, served underneath the chicken cutlets, is a crazy tasty pile of cheddar mashed red potatoes that are the bomb.com ! My lunch partner ordered the grilled Mahi-Mahi, which I must say was also pretty tasty when offered a sample. Not too "fishy" (which I can't stand when ordered fish in Colorado) and grilled until it was perfectly cooked. It came with a side of mango salsa and some crazy vegetable called Broccollatini that was a weird hybrid between broccoli and asparagus. We also decided to split some sushi before our meals came out. At the recommendation from our server, we ordered this shrimp tempura, crab, spicy tuna roll that was all wrapped up in cucumber slices. On top of the sushi was this wasabi aioli sauce which made the entire dish outstanding! I would definitely order this sushi again! I've heard they have a great happy hour, although I haven't personally been during that time. They did have a sign posted advertising all day happy hour on their patio if that day's high temperature is below 40 degrees. The only downfall it seemed from this was that you had to sit out on their patio. All in all, Kona Grill is a great, kickback place to grab some drinks and American/Seafood and sushi with friends or family. Nothing special - I probably wouldn't come here for an anniversary or special occasion meal, but it serves it's purposes when the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken calls out to your stomach!
(4)
Amir R.
I found nothing appealing about Kona Grill. The food was dull and uninspired. It seems the most important objective of the restaurant is to rush people through the place. The only reason I went to this place was because I was hungry and in the mall. A better bet would have been to walk out the door and head two blocks over to Hapa Sushi. Denver is full of good Sushi places, Really! This ain't one of them.
(1)
Scrotie M.
I like this place and there food is pretty good. They have a nice atmosphere and good service. The food is a little over priced but is cooked well, their happy hour is good for food but the drinks are weak. I would give 4 stars but more than one time I have seen managment belittle staffers, and it is embarasing.
(3)
Carlin L.
I ate at Kona this weekend. Sushi and salad were actually quite good with a fantastic patio. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is and the non-stop 70s music was rather peculiar...
(3)
Kyle M.
went to kona because of raving fans and was not impressed. the food was ok and overpriced we had the hawaiian steak and some general sushi rolls. the steak lacked flavor and was no where near the $30 quality. the service at kona is a+ however. our server was on it all night.
(3)
Kenneth P.
I'm reviewing in regards to the reverse happy hour (around 10pm-12). Kona's really good for some cheap drinks and cheap appetizers during their happy hour. But it's incredibly annoying on a busy night or a cold night. Their happy hour "requires" that you sit at the bar section or out on the patio? Yeah... I don't really understand it much, but it gets pretty annoying if there's weather or if you're in a big group and looking for a table. I don't really understand why, but I think Asians tend to flood towards Kona and have trouble reaching out to other places. But to be honest, I always dread being dragged there by friends mainly because of the seating. Besides that, the calamari and the barbecue chicken pizza are always good items to order. Some sushi is decent, but honestly, if you're a real sushi eater, you're not going to Kona's happy hour for sushi.
(2)
Pilar D.
This review is for happy hour only. My expectation was not very high because, albeit, Cherry Creek, it was still in a mall. Kona Grill is located on the north side of the mall, near Neiman Marcus. Kona is also accessible from the outside. The restaurant space is indoors. The bar area inside is small, but more extensive outside. There is a fireplace and some heat lamps for cooler weather. The drink special was ok. There were a few cocktails (margaritas), beer, and wine. The list wasn't very extensive but was pretty inexpensive, around $5 - $7. For happy hour, I believe the appetizers were half off. There were also pizza around $7 and they were HUGE. It's really the size of a medium pizza. We had a couple of other appetizers (I think something with ahi tuna) but nothing memorable. The place is great for beer and pizza.
(3)
Kim H.
The food is pretty good here, and service is nice too! The chicken club sandwitch was delicious! And the taro chips that came with it were yummy! The pad thai was very good as well-generous portion!
(4)
Elizabeth M.
Having lived in Denver for 15 years, it is surprising that I never dined at this restaurant until just this month. For some reason, I thought this restaurant served different fare than it does, and I wound up being nicely surprised. I have now dined there twice and been for happy hour. I recommend either. The mixed drinks are great - have had both a cosmo and traditional martini, both of which tasted great. My friend had the cold sake, which she allowed me to taste, and it was also quite good. I generally order appetizers and sushi, both of which are very good. My favorites are the avocado egg roles and the wave sushi roll. My daughter loved the potstickers and sushi; her friend devoured a couple of the hand rolls. Service has been fairly prompt and efficient. They've been pretty flexible with us too, allowing us to change tables and have staggered arrival times. They seem to have very generously-sized dining rooms with more than enough seating. Kona Grill has become a new favorite for us, and we will definitely be going back.
(4)
Jeanette D.
I've only been here for the reverse happy hour from 10pm to midnight but I'm a big fan. The food specials are $4-5.50 and include calamari, crab rolls, chicken and shrimp romaine wraps, etc. There are comso, beer and the famous sake bomb ($7) specials. They get crowded so plan to get there right when the happy hour begins to ensure that you get a table. The outdoor area includes large flat panel tv's and a fire pit so the ambience makes it a good place to hang out. Definitely a nice place to start or end your evening.
(4)
Katianna C.
I am a huge konavore, I have been to almost all of them across the USA and i can't complain, i love their sushi and mojitos, I love the atmosphere and service there, if you sit outside or at the bar you can get great happy hour deals on drinks,apps, and sushi!! Can't complain!:-)
(5)
Katharine A.
We showed up here minutes after Happy Hour ended and stayed for a couple of drinks. This place gets crowded and people were very packed in the bar. We had a good drink, but didn't stay to eat because of the sea of people.
(3)
Perry C.
I thought of Kona Grill because the parking is easy there and because we'll e in Kona, HI next month. What an enjoyable meal! The four entrees, not all mine, included my Snapper with mushrooms broccoli and rice, Louisa & Mary each had the crab meat po' boy & Charles' tenderloin. The desserts were over the top! Terrific & HUGE! Key Lime Pie, Very Large Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream and my apple dumplings bread w/ vanilla ice cream... photos to follow. Our server Zane delivered excellent service too. It was our first visit to Kona Grill and it won't be our last.
(5)
Asko B.
Delicious happy hour appetizers. Great staff and atmosphere is amazing as well. Check it out and enjoy.
(4)
Stephanie S.
We sat outside - nice place with a good atmosphere. Service was speedy and friendly. I had 2 different martinis that were both yummy, though I cannot remember what they were called :( For my meal I got the Hawaiin Chicken sandwhich (grilled chicken with pineapple)... it was VERY good! A +
(4)
Brittany B.
If you want a decent happy hour and you want to get a margarita for $1 cheaper just because you don't have a Y-chromosome during said hh, this place is for you! There are two margs on the menu, one a "ladies Margarita" which, when clarified with our server, is what females get, even though both beverages are the same. Sweet! The patio is great on nice days, though on cold days it's not so bad and supposedly they're putting together an all season patio soon? I'm anxious to check that out. I've enjoyed the "regular" food here, but happy hour is the reason this place thrives. Get there early... or don't and that will leave more room for me ;) j/k but really, this place fills up and the vultures looking for an open table can be vicious if you aren't careful
(4)
Logan L.
Two stars because I loved the low calorie drink options, and they were fantastic, albeit low in alcohol, but that is to be expected with low calorie options. Great sushi options, although my boyfriend and I stuck with the edamame. I really was tickled pink that I could enjoy a martini, cosmo, even a mojito for under 125 calories. The one martini (can't remember the name) I truly enjoyed was only 76 calories and tasted like candy...truly amazing. The lack of 5 stars because the service was absolutely horrible. The restaurant was not packed, not busy, and the bartenders completely ignored us. It took 10 minutes to get our first round. We had to wait well over 20 minutes, and get the attention of a manager (more about him later) before we could order a second round. During that 20 minute time we were trying to get the attention of the bartenders, but they were more focused on the glasses than the patrons surrounding the bar. Now for the manager...in all my years (7) of being in the restaurant industry, I have dealt with managers who are true dicks. This manager, probably because I was wearing a simple tank top, shorts, flip flops, and had my hair up (it was 90+ degrees and I had been walking outside for a few hours, sorry my boyfriend and I weren't dressed to the nines), treated us like we were dirt under his feet and then gave us the lamest excuse as to why the bartenders were so inattentive. "They are stretched pretty thin." Maybe it's because I'm used to a busier restaurant during my bartending days, but if two bartenders can't handle a 50% full bar area and a 50-65% full restaurant area (with not a lot of drink orders from my observation), than I shudder to think how they would handle things when it was busy. I have been a bartender, a server, yes even a manager in the restaurant industry and I was appalled at the way we were treated and the utter laziness and lackadasical attitude shown by the bartenders and the manager. Due to the yummy low calorie martini options, I will probably return, but the service and attitude of the bartenders and especially the manager, better be better on my second time, or that will be the last time I set foot in Kona Grill (at least in Denver, heard great things about the Chandler and Scottsdale ones).
Good prices on good enough sushi rolls during happy hour. Nice and dark inside--great feeling on a hot afternoon (like it was on Labor Day). We sat at the sushi bar to watch the magic happen. Our waiter was split between the bar (somewhat crowded) the patio (very crowded) and the sushi bar (pretty much empty). Thus service was a bit slow. The sushi chef himself went to the kitchen line to bring out one of our orders. Also, the restroom was "out of order" so we were sent across to California Pizza Kitchen to use theirs. If you're in Cherry Creek Mall and don't want to walk outside or re-park, this and CPK are about your only options for sit-down places that serve wine or beer.
(3)
Lily P.
So I wish I could give this place a good review... I went in thinking oh this will be great hawaiian/polynesian with sushi, I WAS IN! But sadly I hope that I am the only person that has had this experience here. Me and my boyfriend went to dinner there at 6:10 and promptly sat, I was quite happy about this (HOSTESSES WERE AMAZING) at 6:20 still no server but the hostess when they were doing their rounds saw we had no drinks and asked if she could get us anything, and we ordered water because we wanted to hear what beers were on tap. She came back promptly with the waters and told us what beers there were (she even went out of her way to find out because she had no idea). About 5 minutes later we had a server (YAY!) Apparently the server that was supposed to have us didn't so another server had to pick us up even though she was in a different section. So we promptly ordered our drinks and a quick appetizer as we had some questions and she was hurrying off to another table and she knew we were ordering entrees because we still had our menus. Around 7 we got our drinks... really had to wait 35 minutes for a mojito and a bottled beer. It wasn't THAT busy.,, after that we didn't see our server again AT ALL. Around 715 we got our one sushi roll that we ordered for an appetizer. Finally around 730 we got quite annoyed that we hadn't even ordered our entrees and we had been there for well over an hour. We asked to see the manager (by the way we had to go up to the hostess stand to do this because again our server had disappeared) who came over confused asking if we were the table that ordered 3 bottles of wine that they were out of... Uhhh there were 2 of us so no obviously not. And he said he was "confused and that there must be another table" and then he asked if everything was alright with our table.... So we complained obviously because I had to be at work in an hour and a half and there was no way that we were staying now. He graciously comped our mojito and beer and 9 dollar that isn't worth the price sushi (wave roll: avoid it). We left her a 5 dollar tip even though we saw her for literally a half a minute (way too kind on our part honestly i would have just walked out!). It's not her fault that we were out of her section but she should have remembered us... especially since she delivered plenty of food to the tables right next to us. If I ever go back to this place again (which I doubt after this experience) I will gladly be sitting at the bar instead because everybody seems to be much more on their game! As I said... I really hope we are the only people that have been treated like this!
(1)
Jason R.
5-stars, let's keep in mind this is strictly for the happy-hour menu and vibe. I'd probably give it 3 to 4 stars for the regular menu as it's somewhat pricey, and makes me feel like i'm getting shortchanged if I ever come here outside of happy hour. :-) Anyway, the Sake bombs are great, the avocado eggrolls are amazing. This is def one of the best happy hours in denver, if you like something other than typical, greasy bar food. Come check it out, outdoor patio is wonderful in good weather too.
(5)
Clint H.
Another awesome place I traversed on my trip to Denver this past week. I want to give this place 4.5 stars, but I guess I can give in 5. It would be a definite 5 but the men's bathroom has a really weird smell! it was like, really weird, maybe it doesn't smell like that all the time, but it did yesterday! Me and my boy came in here (twice actually!) yesterday to have a few beers before I sadly had to fly back to NYC. He was like, let's go to Cherry Creek and have a few brews. I was like, done. We came in here and had some beers, all of which were $3 (Sunday special). The decor is awesome, and it's a very good size restaurant, but we sat at the outdoor/indoor bar area, that is, before we left and came back and finally got a seat outside. There's a huge salt water fish tank inside too, and i love fishees! There was a real diverse group there, enjoying the sushi and the brewskees and the beautiful day that was this past Sunday. I suppose it would be nice if the bar was bigger, but I didn't really have a problem getting a seat there on Sunday afternoon, it was the outdoor area that was very sought after. My boy even got something to eat, these dumpling things that were nice and delicious and a tad spicy, which was great. If you don't mind valet parking your vehicle, this is an awesome during the day spot to chill, have some brews, see and be seen...
(5)
Kelly R.
Really? I was there a few weeks ago and my jacket was stolen by the drunk 20- something next to me. Honesty, you expect theft in some parts of town, but Cherry Creek?! Come on. I guess my ignorance shows... Anyways, while I don't obviously blame this on Kona, I do sadly conclude that the crowd here is somewhat uninteresting. The bartenders are okay, they do a good job at slinging booze. No real personality though, that I saw. Food seems uninterestingly prepared, and sadly, the bar area is very small and somewhat uncomfortable. Typical commercialized hot-spot. Nothing to rave about, but on the flip, nothing really to complain about either. (Except for the girl who is now wearing my jacket.) Top on my list? Not quite. But it does well, and for those who do enjoy it.. Cheers!
(3)
Lindsay A.
My girlfriend and I came here for happy hour one Wednesday afternoon. I was a little skeptical about happy hour at the mall but once we were in the restaurant you really couldnt tell you were at the mall. We went to the heated patio because it was such a beautiful day and it seemed to be where all the fun was at. Our waiter came right over and was got our drink orders right away. I ordered the Rock Coconut mojito, which definitely was not on the happy hour menu but we were splurging so I didnt mind one bit. The cocktail was amazing and came with a little piece of rock candy on top. My friend got the margarita and was satisfied. After drinking and chatting for a bit we decided that we were STARVING. We ordered 3 different types of rolls that were on the happy hour menu and a couple of the other happy hour apps. They came out very quickly and were very satisfying and delicious. Our waiter came over and checked on us frequently and joked around with us a lot. I am in the food serving business so I appreciate friendly, personal service. A few cocktails in and we decided we better call it a night if we were going to head to rock and roll bingo. All in all a fun experience.
(4)
julie n.
we had reservations for 4 but changed it to 7 last minute and the hostess was very accommodating. the service was ok, a bit on the slow side. granted it was restaurant week but not super busy. (none of us ordered off the 5280 menu). seaweed salad...good angry edamame ( edamame with sriracha)...kinda sour, not a fan octopus...pretty good, as expected seven spice ahi...good but on the small side crab crunch roll...really good jalapeño yellowtail sashimi...sauce was bland but overall ok boyfriend had the kona filet and his friend had the ribeye. they both ate every last bite so must have been pretty good. they have bubblegum saki on their menu but no longer carry it. waitress said they haven't for over 6 months but menu hasn't been changed. we were looked forward to that for dessert. side note...the management at Kona is great!
(3)
Ivy M.
Happy Hour Prices are the best.... in fact don't go any other time you'll feel a bit 'jipped'.. I would have to say that the calamari, is very, very delicious. And you must try the Shrimp Tempura Naruto roll, very tasty. Also the saki bomber, always hits the spot .. for the right price!
(4)
Honey R.
The place is neat and clean. I love the ambiance of the place . Our waitress was very nice and friendly. She forgot some stuff but it okay we had a big group. Prize is in the high side. Fried calamari was pretty good. I ordered their burger(i forgot what it was called), that was pretty good too. I would definitely go back to this place:)
(4)
J L.
Great service, great food, and great people in a great location! Their calamari is a must. I had their shrimp penne also and it was very good and filling.
(5)
justin d.
I really wish they would open a location downtown but until then I will continue to make the trip to cherry creek for the excellent customer service and the great happy hour specials! saki bomb $7.50 and for that you get a 32oz beer I believe and 4 or 5 shots of saki. FMLiver with that special! The servers keep there patients and orders in line considering how hectic the late night happy hour can be! My only gripe is they need a bigger bar area to accommodate the demands of there specials
(4)
Gary W.
I went to Kona Grill on Valentines Day and found the experience very average. The service was good but the food was very average or less and the price was high relative to the quality of the steak & lobster tail served. The steak advertised as a filet mignon was not, and it was overly tenderized, as well as over cooked and the lobster tail was quite small and "poached" vs. broiled which I had been told it would be. Very unappealing, tasteless and undercooked. The atmosphere was nice. In summary, I would not recommend this restaurant as a great place for a special dinner.
(2)
Cory D.
I went here persuaded by the many things I had heard about their happy hour. I would say this place is a slight step up from grocery store bought sushi, like the crap in the plastic containers. Not sure what I was expecting from mall sushi though. Fish did not taste fresh, texture was off, calamari was way over breaded and over cooked. Great deal on drinks, service was okay. No desire to return, like ever... never... ever.
(1)
Joey T.
Good drinks and service, food was fair but tasty. After seeing my mother in Neiman's at the Cherry Creek Mall, we all decided to get a bite to eat. We were immediately seated at a large table to fit all of us comfortably (3 adults, 2 kids, and our baby daughter). The menu definitely an Asian-Hawaiian fusion joint with a sleek and modern feel to the place. The waitress was very helpful with the kids and baby's needs as they arise. We started with the Avocado Egg rolls, which were a bit bland and could have used some more citrus to it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine that the waitress had recommended, but I found it to be sub par and nothing to write home about. This place is a good place for lunch if you are not expecting too much; but the service is very good, just wish the food was too.
(3)
Melissa M.
Hidee Ho. Went here last Saturday around lunchtime. Outside was full (bummer, nice patio they have) but we had the best waiter in the WORLD! His name is Zack, and get this, I remember him from 2 years ago at Black-Eyed Pea. Needless to say, he got like a 40% tip. We even told the manager how great he was and the manager acted like a total asshole. Oh well! Anyway, oh, yes, the food! I've never had a horrible experience here. We had the ahi-tuna appetizer and the shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, which were REALLY good. I wouldn't do sushi here, there are way too many other places that are sooo much better for sushi. Last time I was at Kona we sat in the bar with Champ Bailey and Dominque Foxsworth? Fox (?) (sorry, I'm a Bears fan so I didn't really care). We were in the bar for happy hour, which is great, until happy hour is over. There are a bunch of drunk skanks that usually hang out there so if you're lookin' for a good time... Over all, decent experience, but nothing overthe top wonderful except for Zack.
(3)
Anna N.
Love the happy hour! The Chicken Macadamia entree is always one of my favorites from here (not on happy hour menu)
(5)
Patricia K.
Hoss took me here, not sure why because I don't like restaurants that cater to pretentious people, but he told me his daughter likes it so I gave in. The food is good, not worth the price charged however (see pretentious), I liked the patio and smokers don't bother me one bit, other than that I wasn't impressed.
(1)
Michael I.
My wife and I stopped here for brunch on a Sunday when we happened to be shopping in the mall. We weren't expecting much, but the menu looked interesting. The place was pretty empty when we were there, so we definitely didn't have anything like the happy hour crowd experience that other Yelpers have talked about. Our server was friendly and helpful, and when we said we'd never been there before, she gave us a bunch of suggestions from the menu. Since we were already leaning toward two of those suggestions, we went with them and added a third. We ended up having the avocado egg rolls, the macadamia nut chicken and the strawberry kiwi sushi rolls from the brunch menu. All three were fantastic! We love the avocado egg rolls at the Cheesecake Factory, and these were very similar (not quite as good, but really close). The chicken and the sushi were both great, and we loved the fruit salad that came with the sushi. I wasn't too sure about the sushi at first - basically California rolls topped with strawberry and kiwi - but it totally worked for us.
(5)
Crystal C.
A solid 4 stars for a restaurant in the category good decent food for $$ price tag. Short version: Go there for Happy Hour and fight for a table with tooth and nail, it's worth it! Appetizers are halved off but the size does not diminished!! Awesome! - Happy Hour food: -- Avocado Eggrolls: yum. One of my fav appetizers during Happy Hour. Great value during Happy Hour since it is still standard size not miniature Happy Hour size. -- Lettuce Wrap: Again, yum! Great flavors. All of my coworkers love this dish. -- Pizza: My coworkers think it is better than CPK... me? I am not a big pizza person and there are just so many great appetizers that the pizza does not interest me one bit. -- Sweet Spicy Shrimps: Crunchy, sweet, and spicy. I love all those adjectives. Also a favorite among my coworkers. -- Spicy Tuna Roll: Meh, again, there are better food. -- Fiery Shrimp Roll: Meh... so I guess their sushi is not that forte. If you don't make it for Happy Hour, order the ahi steak sandwich. I don't really care to try anything else because the sandwich is so good. -- Ahi Steak Sandwich: I order it raw and it comes up just barely seared -- PERFECT. Most restaurants in Denver would cook the fish too much. Taro chips are great. Everything is great with this sandwich.
(4)
Leah G.
I love this place. Happy hour is one of the best deals in town. The bartenders are always friendly. Make sure you go early for happy hour. It fills up quick and you may have to fight your way through a crowd to snag a seat. Also, try the angry edamame. It's amazing!
(5)
Savanna F.
This place likes to be pretencious but I don't let that bother me. I love the happy hour, love the food. Always a happy camper when I get to go to Kona.
(4)
Daniel G.
I would like to thank Kona Grill for showing me exactly what well prepared Sushi can taste like. I first experienced sushi here 4 - 5 years ago and have since tried hundreds of rolls all over the united states and have yet to find a crew that prepares it and presents it as well as the team at Kona. Thanks guys
(4)
Elizabeth L.
I'm not updating to review the restaurant itself or the dessert again, but more for the overall quality and taste of the food I got earlier today. We got a tuna, tempora shrimp soy paper wrapped roll (I don't remember what it was called) for $8.50 and the lobster ahi-tuna flatbread for $15. The tasted good but it was generally a disappointing roll. Sushi should not be warm. The rice wasn't the proper sushi roll rice (where it's mixed with a bit of vinegar/flavoring) and you could tell the rice was still cooling down-- it was warm. Other than that, the soy paper wrap was a pretty cool addition to the roll. The flatbread, on the other hand, was really good. It had red onions, lobster and seared tuna, baby tomatoes, avocados, and a creamy sauce drizzled on top. I just wish the flatbread wasn't so crispy or the pizza as a whole was more dough-y. Kinda tasted like a lobster/cracker dip. I would get this dish again....though it's a little out of my price range.
(3)
Nicole W.
I've been here before and without walking outside, it is by far the best choice in Cherry Creek Mall! This time I did lunch with a friend. We got there right round noon, CPK was packed, but we were seated right swiftly at Kona! Yeah! We weren't in the mood for sushi, so we skipped those lovely items. - looked yummy though! I did the blackended cat fish tacos - over stir fried vveggies as opposed to the rice. Veggies were icky, but the tacos were amazing! They wrap them up, so it's kinda like a mini burrito, but very yummy! Loved them! The sauce inside... mmmmm! Yummies! The wait staff is very friendly, kept my water glass filled- so full i almost had to use the rest room mid meal! :) There were a number of options that looked really tasty, and next time i'm shopping I'll pop in!
(4)
Victoria N.
The only reason I eat at "Kona Grill" is for their reverse happy hour. Their appetizers are much cheaper, select sushi rolls are decent and wonderfully cheap, and they make a mean, yummy, frozen strawberry margarita, for the happy hour price! So, if you're looking for a late meal with affordable sake bombs, get your bum to "Kona Grill." Beware though, reverse happy hour gets busy and it's often difficult to find a table in the patio/bar area if you arrive during "prime time" (usually an hour or so after happy hour has begun). So either get there early or arrive late. Don't hope for on-the-dot wait service, because the servers are already running around with their heads chopped off and I'm sure they're doing the best they can. I recommend: All the happy hour sushi rolls Avocado Eggrolls Frozen Strawberry Margarita Calamari Reverse Happy hour: 9-11 Mon-Thurs .. 10-Close Fri and Sat... I think.
(3)
A A.
We went here because California Pizza Kitchen had a 20 min wait. We should have waited. For some strange reason we decided to get a pizza. Never in my whole life have I seen or tasted a greaser pizza. Everything from the cheese to the crust was saturated in grease. It wasn't very good, either. We also ended up getting the chicken fingers from the kids menu for a little one in our party. The chicken was similarly greasy and, while the macadamia nut crust was definitely crunchy, (and they get props for using real chicken), it was close to tasteless. If I was forced to return I would get the fake sushi, but I would set my expectations very low. They get a second star for the professional staff and nice decor.
(2)
Katherine B.
I do not get the hype about this place. AT ALL. Eating there last night left me with only one question: why is this place considered hip and trendy? The interior decor reminded me of something you would see at your local IHOP. The bar/lounge area is far too small and crowded. There is no parking other than the valet ($8 I think), so you typically have to park elsewhere at the mall. While we didn't try everything on the menu, several sushi rolls were a mere slight step-up from the prepackaged kind you get at your local grocery store. Now I have repeatedly heard that this is the place to "see and be seen at" in Cherry Creek... Maybe if you're in your very early 20's and late teens. The bar area was packed with people who barely looked old enough to drink, while the dining room looked like a typical Sunday night at Chili's (families with kids!) The only reason this place is getting ANY stars from me is because the service was spectacular. Steer clear people and don't always believe the hype.
(2)
Andrew W.
A nice restaurant connected to the Cherry Creek Mall. I down rated Kona for my personal respect for true and traditional sushi restaurants. Just because Kona is attached to a high class mall, does not automatically rate high in my standards for sushi, even thought it was pretty good. I give it a "pretty good" rating. The atmosphere is dimly lit and a great dinner atmosphere. They offer a wide range of dishes from Sushi to pizza. I found the menu quite spread out, which makes it good for families or groups. Our server was excellent! He did his typical run down of specials, but did have a personal connection with us. I'm sure these servers rattle off their individualized speeches a couple dozen times a night, rather daunting. Our food was wonderful and his recommendations were spot on. We started with the avocado rolls which melted in your mouth, a great starter. My girlfriend ordered the "Standard Pizza" with Canadian Bacon and pineapple. Nice crust, great flavor and plenty of leftovers to take home. As my girlfriend enjoyed her pizza, I did the sushi route. I ordered a seaweed salad and 3 rolls. My seaweed salad was very fresh, crunchy and cold. I love a really cold seaweed salad, that just makes it that much better for me when it is extra cold. My sushi rolls were very tasty. Also, they serve larger sized rolls in comparison to many Denver sushi restaurants. Larger, I mean, more rice and quite a bit more substance inside. I was very happy. For myself, I usually order 4 rolls. At Kona Grill, I could barely finish 3 rolls. My sushi dollar was definitely stretched further here. I am not a "mall" type guy, but I did go to help return a few items the girlfriend wanted to return. I think her comment got me, "I will buy you dinner." Sold! I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and have a drink or two outside near their fireplace patio.
(3)
Rachel K.
This place is alright. They have a very nice atmosphere, I was a fan of their patio & the fish tank inside. I like the set-up of the bar. The menu is fairly large with good options. The tuna appetizer was tasty, as were the avocado egg rolls. The sushi was not so good; it did not taste fresh. Maybe this is because I am from Boston and the seafood is more local? I don't know. The spider roll (which I get everywhere) was not good-agreed among the whole group. The other sushi was just OK. The drink menu was also just OK. Nothing trendy or exceptional. All in all this place is decent, but nothing that will blow your breath away.
(3)
Ilya K.
I have Ben here many times with my wife and other business meetings, I think that food is mediocre and I never understand the combination of the steak/sushi, neither is great
(3)
Lendy L.
Went for happy hour on a Wednesday night starting at 9pm. I absolutely love sushi and tasty drinks. I had ordered the spicy tuna, the spicy shrimp roll, and a BBQ chicken pizza. The shrimp roll had to be returned because it tasted bad, that is, very fishy. As for drinks I ordered the Lady margarita for only $3.50 and it was pretty good. Personally the happy hour sushi rolls are nothing to rave about but I would definitely come back for the happy hour drink specials. The outside seating area was supplied with plenty of heat lamps so the night out was cozy and warm.
(3)
Kristol T.
So I finally decided to try something different other than the sushi and I was impressed. My friend talked me into having the Chicken Chili soup which includes white cheddar cheese, jalapeno cornbread muffins, onions, chicken and chili of course. It was simply delicious! My drink of choice for the evening was the strawberry basil lemonade. This was also great but they need to go lighter on the basil as its hard to even sip the drink with so much basil in it. And it gets watered down really quickly. Now besides the food, the atmosphere is great! If you don't like dimly lit places, this is not your place. The servers are very nice and accommodated us staying at the table even after we finished our food and drinks. Expect a wait on Friday and Saturday night but you can always sit at the bar which seems to be the happening spot these days!
(4)
Daniel R.
I begin my humble review by laughing haha because this is exactly how I feel about this restaurant. My laughing gesture, in a way seems rude, but at the same time I believe that it reveals truth. At Kona Grill, my eating experiences have been rather unfavorable unfortunately. Each time that I visit Kona Grill I go for the environment, and not the food. I see a lot of trendy people who have just finished shopping around the cherry creek mall. If you look around you'll see a handful of dates, older couples, younger couples, and good looking adults within all of these groups. It's a very nice place to relax in. The lighting is dim, the waiters are nice, so you can't complain about a bad experience. The one thing I'll bring into discussion is the food. Several times, I have ordered a meal and asked if I can get my money back. One time I ordered an almond-honey grilled chicken meal. I absolutely love grilled chicken, but this one had a certain spice that I disliked. It seemed inappropriately spicy and totally went against the honey. I know that contrast effects sometimes make a meal better, but the honey and sweet flavor versus spicy was a failure. So the next time that I go in, I ordered the fish tacos. What I got was a set of tortilla wraps filled with rice, the fish of course, and a disturbing tasting sauce. Within two bites, I asked the waitress to change my meal. My little brother, a seven year old, was eating chicken fingers with fries. I tried some of his food and decided that I would order the same thing. In five minutes, I was also enjoying a simple, yet satisfying meal. After a few attempts at ordering, I found a successful algorithm for making safe decisions at Kona Grill. The secret, is to order conservatively. Order pizzas, hamburgers, chicken fingers, anything that you can find at any other restaurant. I like the experience way too much in here. The food isn't going to chase me away.
(3)
Dana R.
Two words - SAKE BOMBS!!!!! How I love thee... The fact that this place is in the fanciest mall in the area cracks me up. Both of their HH's are fun & crowded - nabbing a seat at the early HH means arriving early or waiting by the door and glaring at all the lucky ones who have a table. I've had better luck getting an outdoor seat at the late night HH. As for food - it is ok, although does get better as the night moves on. Chicken satay & onion rings (HUGE) are some of my fav noshes there.
(4)
rebecca b.
I have a problem with bars in malls. So let's get that out of the way first. But then again, Cherry Creek Mall is no average mall..... people are wearing $800 torn jeans here. I'm so far out of my element, its hard to keep from laughing at every contrived outfit I see. Lots of cosmetic surgery on cougars and everyone is wearing "the latest" overpriced ugly trend. I'm practically breaking out in hives from the conspicuous consumption here. BUT Back to Kona Grill. Happy hour includes a "ladies margarita" for cheap. Its premixed sweet green grossness. Impossible to drink . And I wonder if all those designed label wearing chiquitas who were sucking them down realize that it about 600 calories a pop? Your Wine options: Chardonnay and Merlot. I'm dead serious. The food we ordered at the bar was very good - the yellowtail sashimi was fantastic and the sauce on the side of the avocado egg rolls was out of this world. However, not likely good enough for me to return to this cheesy mall bar.
(2)
Adrian H.
The good: The tuna tartare The bad: Oyster Crackers destroyed the clam chowder The annoying: Parking a fair walk away (even if it is through the mall) My wife and I went to the Kona Grill for lunch. It's a reasonable spot just inside the Cherry Creek Grill. They have a good lunch selection, including Good pick-a-pair lunch items. I had half a portabella mushroom sandwich, and a cup of the tomato basil soup. The latter was obviously made with yellow tomatoes. My wife had the clam chowder and tuna tartare appetizer. Her chowder didn't taste of clams, instead being overpowered by the oyster crackers on top. If you get the clam chowder, ask for real croutons instead of oyster crackers - you will be happier. The tuna tartare comes with a nice avocado based mix and served on fried wonton wrappers. It's delicious. Overall, enjoyable. We like the Kona Grill - it's one of our favorites in the Cherry Creek area.
(4)
Shawn N.
Made a trip back as I had a gift card in hand. The food on the inside was much better, the seating cozy, unfortunately while the waitress was sweet she was covering FAR too many tables and what should have been a 30 minutes sitting took closer to an hour and a half to get drinks and entrees. The staff also didn't know the drink menu confusing the non-alcoholic "Blackberry Tea" with the alcoholic beverage of the same name (of the two people asked neither knew they had two drinks of the same name). So while this trip was better than the foray into happy hour, I feel like Kona is still missing their potential.
(3)
Becca W.
Kona, I gotta say has the best Happy hour! :) Great drink prices, and of course; Sake bombs! The food happy hour is pretty good too, good deals. But the food overall, isn't that great. So Kona is only good for Happy hour drinks!
(4)
T.S. S.
Great food and even better service! Thanks Zack. My wife and I really enjoyed it
(5)
Daron S.
Oh Kona happy hours, you used to be so amazing, but now I can hardly stand them. They have really good prices on wine, and happy hour food, especially their $5 pizzas (they are all good). I've never acually sat in the dining room or had much from their menu, but a lot of their stuff looks tasty. This place deserves 4 stars but I must give it 3. TOO MANY (RUDE) PEOPLE! It's impossible to get a table or a seat. So impossible that you have to stake out someone who is about to leave and ask if you can have their table. Most are nice about it, but some people have said I should get there earlier (Well I have a job that prevents me from drinking all day and shopping at Cherry Chreek). Even if you have been patiently waiting for a table, there is no guarantee some person won't swoop in and steal your table. It's funny because during happy hour, the dining room is completely empty. I think they could open up a few more table (It's like they don't want to make more of a profit) and enable some sort of list for people waiting. After that rant, they are lucky they are still at 3 stars.
(3)
Mailou V.
Friends and I get together once in awhile on Thursday evenings for happy hour 4-7. The good: *Decent menu for happy hour, I ordered some sushi that I've never really tried before and it turned out pretty good. Not too impressed, kindda expected the vinegary taste- ya know, like real sushi. *Sat at the bar and the bartender was a little slow, but really nice and cool *decent drink menu, although super small glasses. The Bad: -Snobby crowd, I should probably expect this as it is cherry creek. -Small patio/ bar as I had to just make up a seat at the bar. I feel like I have to get here super early just to find a decent seat. Overall, seems it's always full during happy hour, which can be a good thing, but for the food I'd have to come back and try more of it other than the sushi to enjoy it more.
(3)
RoseAnn V.
We tried the Kona grill last night for dinner. We had been there before for happy hour and decided to try it for dinner. Overall the experience was decent, although the food was a bit bland. The bill came to $70 and frankly, it was not worth that. The calamari was good, the special goat cheese flatbread was okay and the basil pesto linguine was overwhelmingly pesto. Bottom line, great for happy hour not so great for dinner.
(3)
Sulema M.
5 stars for happy hour! The have happy hour and reverse happy hour. Did I mention their sake bombs are the bomb! Yup, yup! I love how you can sit outdoors, even in winter, under the heater, and have a jolly good time during happy hour. There can be a wait sometimes and you can choose to sit in the main dining room if you'd like, but the bar and patio area are the best! I do not know how you can get soo much food and booze for so little. Pizza and sushi would not fit in my book otherwise together, but during happy hour they seem to mesh well for the price. I've also eaten here during the lunch hour and felt the meals were a little overpriced, go figure, you're at Cherry Creek mall, but overall good.
(5)
Angelina N.
My friends have been telling me about Kona grill for awhile but I never got around to try it until last week. I went here with my boyfriend who has eaten here before and he said they had good sushi, but he always went around happy hour. We went around 1 p.m. and sat outside. Our server was nice in the beginning and took our order without writing a single thing down which at the time I was impressed. We ordered 5 dishes if i remember it was calamari, coconut shrimp roll, wave roll, volcano roll, and i forgot the last roll but i believe it had baked crab in it. The calamari came out first and it was NOT good at all. All we tasted was their batter and a strip of squid, my boyfriend remembered that their calamari was really good but what came out was not good calamari. Then our server came out with 4 dishes, we were still waiting on our last dish which was the wave roll. I wasn't very pleased with the taste of the rolls they were on the bland side and after two bites of each roll you get sick of them. We still hadn't gotten our last roll then a manager came by and asked if everything was ok, we said we were waiting on one more roll which was the wave roll, the manager said he'd have that out right away. When we were done we checked the bill and it said we were charged 2 wave rolls, which we were ok with as long as it was fixed because it must have been a mess up. We told our server that we only ordered one wave roll and he objected and pointed to our coconut roll (which tasted very coconutty) said that was our second wave roll, so we asked "Then where is our coconut roll?" He snatched our bill up and left and came back with no apology and said "we knocked one off for you guys". I was a little upset because of how rude that was and the fact that we were almost charged for another roll and if that wasn't a coconut roll we were charged for it. Maybe happy hour has better food and friendly servers, but for MY first time experience I probably won't be coming here again.
(2)
Erin J.
for the love of god, i'm not sure what i was thinking going here for dinner. the place is TIRED. and the food was mediocre at best. i know, i know... it's in a mall. what did i want? well, lesson learned. waitress was rude. we ordered something specifically because if came with taro chips... when it was delviered, no chips. then we sent it back and the manager came to say they were out of taro chips, so he'd adjust the item on our check. ya, he adjusted it... for half price. i'm not even going to waste anymore time here. i'm just underwhelmed. if you're going to eat in the mall, just head to johnny rockets then.
(1)
Kristyne M.
Cool ambiance! Stopped here for HH on the way to a movie. My g/f had sushi and it looked pretty tasty, but I'm not into fishy business. I noticed other people ordered the flatbread combos which also looked good. I'll have to go back when I have more time.
(4)
Gracie L.
Warning: My only experience was during happy hour.... The sushi was dry, the drink specials were disappointing, the service was SLOW, and the dining room looks like every other mall chain restaurant. BUT I will say, I had these ahi tuna nacho things and I have been dreaming about them since. They were delicious! My advice: Get a regular beer or mixed drink, skip the fru-fru happy hour drinks and order those tuna nacho things and the avo egg role. And come with plenty of time and a good friend you haven't caught up with in a while because you certainly are going to have the time to chat.
(2)
Jason J.
I'll be honest, Kona is not THAT great, but it is a lot of fun. The menu is wide and varied, wish a bunch of sushi choices, as well as pizza pasta chicken and steak choices. So if you dig sushi, but your date does not -- don't fret, you'll find something you'll each like. The drink menu is decent, with a couple of abnormally and unexpectedly tasty cocktails (I prefer the Kona-Tini, and no I did not bring my purse to dinner.) It's great to sit at the back sushi bar to talk with the always friendly chefs, and watch the fish in their gorgeous fishtank. If you can get there early you MUST try the outdoor patio or the bar near the fishtank in front so you can experience the Sake Bombers at Happy Hour. Cheap and high in alcohol content, you'll love it. Things you must try: Hana Salad, Crab Crunch Roll, Giant Onion Rings, Kona Tini. Fun place with always decent service, a fun decor, and close to overpriced cherry creek shopping (at a price that won't kill your wallet like the nearby stores and shops.) Get your Kona on!
(4)
Jafey A.
This is a great place to go to on a nice summer afternoon. The patio area is great and their happy hour deals make it worth the trip. Their sushi selection looks great but every time we go we have gotten the onion rings are burger because their spicy ketchup is incredible. The taste is unique and works perfectly with the onion rings. If you get a chance, give it a try.
(4)
Mrs J.
Very good sushi. I had the checkerboard roll. Yum! Fresh fish, nicely rolled, big portion, good fresh wasabi. My friend had a sandwich which was huge and looked really good. She said it tasted great. Will go back again if I'm on that side of town. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to your neighborhood sushi spot but you pay for the experience right? All in all very good.
(5)
Misha R.
The good: *The fish tank is gorgeous! *The decor is beautiful! *The servers are the very best, wonderfully trained! *The menu has incredible choices! *One beautiful outdoor patio, with fireplace. The bad: *The menu is way over priced. *The sushi is not that good, unfortunately. *It's in a mall, which you must walk through to park. *There are like 6 TVs in this beautiful place, really, why? *The portions are WAY too big, WaaaaaY too big! *The food is very mediocre.
(3)
Karly K.
I'm a huge fan of interesting, nontraditional sushi rolls, and Kona Grill has great ones. The happy hour is fantastic, delicious drinks for a great price, along with the selected appetizers. I've been here twice and suggest it to my friends on a regular basis. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Kyla A.
Man this place gets crowded, but they offer awesome happy hour deals, so what can you expect. The drink specials are definitely worthwhile. $4 Cosmos from 3pm-7pm on a Friday... does it get better? The food is not the best. In terms of bar food however, it is satisfying. I could not imagine coming here for dinner though and paying full price. It would not be worth it. Happy hour on the other hand, is another story. Nice patio, that people use even in winter because of the fire pit and heating lamps, and great deals on food and drinks, makes for a fun place to enjoy some drinks with friends.
(3)
Sean S.
Bartender kinda sucks, I think he may have been mildly retarded. He was red-faced, dripping sweat, inattentive and frustrated. Drinks tasted awful. A martini should not taste like sunscreen. Having said that, Sushi prices are awesome and tasted decent for $3. The ceviche was impressive and again, good price. The environment is....well it's Cherry Creek. The bar is right by the valet parking so if you are feeling a little high fallutin', go for it. Overall I give it three stars because the service was terrible and I can only look at so many Abercrombie and Fitch hats.
(3)
Kristina J.
I met a friend there on Monday for happy hour. This wasn't my first time there so I knew it was going to be crowded, which it was. We ended up ordering from the happy hour menu because we just wanted a quick bite before a movie. 40 minutes later the crab crunch roll and caprese flat bread arrive. I could understand if both the dining room AND the bar we full of people, but the dining room had barely any tables. And when we asked about our food the waiter just shrugged us off and told us the kitchen was backed up...like it happens all the time. It would be nice to have a good happy hour with timely service. Will I go back? Yah, I like the happy hour. I will make sure that when I go I don't have a time constraint
(3)
Julie L.
One of THE BEST happy hours in Denver! No greasy happy hour bar food but fresh sushi rolls, shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, delectable pot stickers, mini cheeseburgers made fresh, delicious margherita pizzas and avocado egg rolls. I'm sure I'm missing something but believe me it's all good! Drinks are the bomb with cosmos, beer and wine at killer prices. Great patio seating and an upbeat bar flanked by a full size salt water tank.
(5)
Katie R.
good friends. sushi. better yet, CHEAP sushi. mad drink specials. heated patio. What could be any better? oh yeah, being in the middle of a Russian discussion, seeing wannabe Jersey Shore Guidos fist pump, and random drunk girls playing in the fountain. ha :)
(5)
Veronica G.
Great food!! Wide variety menu, service was great, food was amazing!! The only thing I'd change is the drink menu. I wish they had more standard liquor drink options available but the two I did have were ok. Definitely will be returning hopefully some time soon.
(4)
Antonio S.
Nice atmosphere but terrible sushi, way over priced! The waitress at this "sushi bar" apparently had never heard of unagi before. I thought unagi was something normally found at a sushi bar. Big disappointment for an expensive meal! Stay away from here if you like real sushi.
(1)
Mark S.
What You Must Know About Kona Grill's HAPPY HOUR: 1. Price ranged from $3.50-$5.50. 2. $3.50 for all sushi. There are 5 differenct options you can choose from. And each roll is cut into 8 pieces. All portions are large for price. 3. Calamari is great with large portion. I always get this. 4. Parking is a pain although you can just park at safeway and walk over. 5. Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 everyday. 6. You can only eat at the bar area or outside to get Happy hour. 7. Get their early or do not bring more then 4 people or be prepared to wait. 8. Happy hour also includes tacos, calmari, great drink specials, pizza, and more. Quite a few items for cheap. 9. One of the best happy hours in Denver. Especially for sushi rolls that are affordable and upper average in quality (for the price).
(5)
Krissy R.
I went here on a work trip with a friend and was dying of hunger. I decided on the burger (I love burgers) and was NOT disappointed. It was brought to the table exactly as I ordered it, was piping hot, the cheese was slightly melted, and the flavor was intense. My friend also ordered the burger and as we were eating we swore it was the best burger of our lives. The staff was also really friendly and our waiter went out of his way to walk outside of the restaurant before we left to have a taxi waiting for us. I am sad that there is no Kona Grill in my hometown, but if I ever go to a state that has a Kona Grill I will go out of my way to eat there.
(5)
Sherri K.
I hadn't been to Kona Grill since summer, and the experience was mediocre at best, but this time, it was an above average experience. I took my daughter after shopping, to have a little tete a tete before school started after holiday break. The hostesses were not too friendly, but the server made up for their stank attitudes by far. He was on his game and made a truly enjoyable dining experience for myself and mini-me. We had pot-stickers and green mussels which were cooked perfectly and came out quickly even though there was a wait and it was mid-dinner rush. My daughter ordered the California roll, and really, how can you screw that up? I had the Ahi salad which was fresh and very good and a crab tempura roll which was extremely tasty. Overall the meal was great and the service was even better. With free valet at dinner...another bonus. It won't take me so long to go back this time.
(4)
Jessica H.
Extremely slow service! The last 2 times my friend and I have gone (not during busy times mind you) we ended up getting our own menus and had to request a drink ourselves. We were sitting for almost 15 minutes before our waiter even came up to us. The food is average and overpriced.
(2)
Adam B.
The sushi here is very American-ized, but hits a sweet spot in my tummy nonetheless. Service is always friendly and fast, but it can get annoyingly packed at times. Happy hour is awesome for the discounted all-anyone-should-drink-in-a-sitting sake bombs. I didn't see the asparagus pizza on the happy hour menu last week though...so what's up with that Kona? Huh?!!? I should dock you a star, but I was too blitzed to care.
(5)
Morgan N.
Happy hour here is only happy because your drink will *eventually* show up. The service is so bad it hurts. Of the two times I've been, our orders took forever, came out wrong, and we were overcharged by accident. The menu /looks/ good and there are some pretty faces on the patio etc, but the music is stupid loud because "it's supposed to feel like a party." Moreover the food is vomit-inducing. Literally. I got sick after the happy hour sushi, an event that's only happened to me after grocery store grade sushi in the past. Also the seating arrangement is first come first serve and you're required to jam into small, loud areas versus the empty dining room. It's pretty formulaic really, apparently you're required to have a good time. Meaning of course, that you will be required to experience loud music, snobby singles, and long waits...which means the place is obviously posh.
(2)
Elizabeth h.
Second time I went here and got food poisoning. First time I went, I ordered the checkerboard roll and a margarita, got violently ill after. I thought it was a mixture between tequila and sushi. Second time I went, I got the checkerboard roll and a spider roll. I was up for 5 hours vomiting profusely until I was finally able to keep down water. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS FACILITY unless you like to picture yourself eating off of someone's hands who just wiped their genitals and are preparing your raw fish YUM!
(1)
Kyle M.
I write about this place for a somewhat unique (if not unfamiliar) reason. Don't lie, you know you can relate. They have Kirin Ichiban sake bombs for happy hour. This is wonderful, because if you have 2-3, it will lessen the blow of spending too much money at Cherry Creek Mall after your happy hour experience. I have made many incredible purchases after spending an hour or two here. Nordstrom, Saks, and Nieman should be thankful that an establishment like Kona shares mall space with them. A dream-come-true for any shopper with pre-buyer's remorse.
(5)
Eric T.
Ah , a late night happy hour in a Cherry Creek bar. There is almost nothing more annoying to me, and Kona does nothing to buck this trend. I enjoy their Sake Bomb drink special. $5 for a 22oz. beer and a small bottle of sake is a good deal no matter where you are. The happy hour appetizers are so-so. I liked the chicken satay, but the sushi is mediocre. The rolls have fake crab and the fish is basically flavorless. I've also had yellow mustard that is stronger than their wasabi. Especially around happy hour seating in the bar/patio can be a nightmare. Finding a place outside is difficult at best and I have seen many people just standing because of a lack of seating. The crowd is wanna-be upscale Cherry Creek so pretension and a flipped up collar is a must. Overall, not my favorite place and now that I have no friends working there or in the area I probably won't go back.
(2)
Heather S.
The food here is average at best. I should preface this review by saying that we ate here for dinner, not happy hour, so my point of view might be different than those who are raving about the happy hour. The menu seemed totally incohesive, with some sushi items, random asian fusian type dishes, pizza, american appetizers. So strange. We had no idea what to order, and there was an unpleasant fishy odor near our table. Totally unappetizing. The service was very good though...but not good enough to bring me back.
(2)
James D.
This place is all about the Happy Hour -- excellent prices on mostly-good food. There are a couple stand-out dishes, but most of it is just OK. But the price is absolutely right and so we keep going back. The sushi we've tried has all been excellent! Very fresh and flavorful, with some creative rolls thrown into the traditional stuff. The pizzas are thin, but very large, so a very good deal. Biggest disappointment would probably be the cocktails. They are really hit-and-miss. Sometimes the Cosmos are great, other times they are short on everything but cranberry and they are just an expensive glass of juice. They would be a 4-star rating, except I find it annoying that they don't manage the Happy Hour seating and it has to be a free-for-all to get a table. I know this isn't uncommon for Happy Hour, but most places aren't this packed. A number of times we've come and waited for a table, only to have someone else swoop in and grab the table before the previous group has even walked away. It gets very aggressive and we just don't have the patience for the fight. It seems like the hostess could easily do the seating there too, the regular restaurant never seems that full or busy, but they just take the easy route and let folks fight it out. We would go much more often if we didn't have to rumble to find a seat.
(3)
Tim C.
Pretty decent food. Went there on a lark for lunch and ended up spending $36 (not including tip) for 2 beers, three sushi rolls and some edamame. The happy hour menu looks promising...will probably try that before slamming the place for the overpriced lunch. Stay tuned... Update: went in there for happy hour...the server was great, the food was alright and the overall tab was so-so...and the house music seemed to be handpicked by a teenage girl...
(3)
Kimberly I.
If Kona Grill and I could get married I wouldn't be a newly wed. I probably go here 3 times a month at least and it is by far my favorite. It can be a little pricey for dinner so I usually just stick to happy hour, which you really can't beat! I have tried almost everything on the happy hour menu! From the crunchy calamari (best served with a side of sweet chili glaze), to the crab crunch roll! It is all super tasty. When I go with friends we always send one person ahead to grab a table because there can be quite a wait for the patio. (Happy Hour only served on patio and in bar area). The one downfall is people can get quite aggressive for tables here so stick your ground, and scout one out lil mama! Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 only to start again at 9 until close for upside-down happy hour. They also have great drink specials for wine, margaritas ($1 off for ladies), and sake bombs (large Kirin with full sake= $6) Truly, this is probably my favorite place ever! I even had my birthday here. I would recommend it to anyone. The pricing is great, the staff is super friendly, I have never had bad service here in my life, and it is delicious! Go to Kona and enjoy! Sushi Sushi Sushi!
(5)
Laura M.
I have given this place chance after chance and have been disappointed every time. I am not quite sure why I keep trying to make this place better than it is. Fish, not fresh, tough, flavorless. The potstickers are greasy and just completely boring. Overpriced and I own a business, so I know that you have to bum up your price for your location, but over $10 for lettuce and some asparagus. Really?? Once the GM left this place last year, it went downhill even more. Service that we have had each time has been horrible. I have given Kona Grill chances over and over, but this past time will be my last. Sorry, Kona Grill, buy fresh ingredients and put your heart into it and you won't have so many people complaining.
(2)
Sarah Z.
This place is great but really worth it during Happy Hour. Great drink and food specials. Also a great patio for those nice days.
(4)
Monica K.
I love Kona Grill's Happy Hour! The food is awesome and the prices are fantastic. I also really like the atmosphere and the seating arrangement outside. I am surprised that the sushi is actually really good for an American-Japanese restaurant. I would reccommend this place to people who enjoy happy hour. They also have a reversed happy hour, which starts at 9pm.
(4)
Joyce L.
Food should be personal. Every meal should be special and prepared with love. A publicly traded restaurant does not impress me. I guess their board has a lot of people to impress and have to be politically correct. Is that why each item on the menu seems like they had to apply affirmative action? Sezhuan beans with mashed potatoes and Kona steak? I'm confused. I want gravy with my mashed potatoes. I want rice with anything with the word Sezhuan in front of it. Call me close-minded, I don't care. Not fresh, long ass wait, see ya later alligator!
(1)
Nancy M.
I never had fish cooked so perfectly for a non-sushi gal that I am. The bass has always been great and so are the salads and the pork tenderloin my friend ordered. It is usually a nice place to dine with not a lot of children if you like to relax like me after work. I enjoy the atmosphere and staff who always seem very attentive but not hovering. Over sized booths and tables for groups so it has room for all kinds of parties. We went this time the week before Christmas and everything was hopping. We sat outside with the heaters and fire pit and after about 5 minutes our table was ready. Seems pretty quiet on the weekdays but I don't know about the weekends or Happy Hour which seems worth trying out in the spring on the patio.
(4)
Arash G.
One of if not the best happy hours in Denver. The quality of food you get for what you pay is ridiculous. The calamri is bomb and so are the pizzas and sushi. I haven't eaten anything on their happy hour menu that I didn't like. The drink specials are excellent too! You can get a nice buzz off of a sake bomber for $7! The only downside is that you have to fight over tables. People hover over them and then everyone bum rushes. I've seen people get into arguments and mean mug as well. One family got really feisty and was told they had to leave. Competition makes the food taste better!
(5)
Neenrn C.
Had the spider roll today for lunch, it was way too blah. The price was way to much for the dish. lack luster service. I would not recommend it to friends, maybe to people I don't like. Next time I'll drive to Sushi Katsu
(1)
Darika S.
The oriental salads are great! I had mine with the grilled salmon and my man had it with their specialty, macadamia nut crusted chicken. The dressing was light and the veggies include napa cabbage, green onions, and romaine lettuce and had some slivers of almonds. The price was high but would go back. Skip the flavored teas they are $4 and as priced as a beer.
(4)
lauren b.
A good, reliable happy hour spot. I have been here numerous times with friends and they have awesome drink and food specials. There is no parking right out front which kinda blows (I usually park by Macys and walk through the mall, which has proven to be DANGEROUS as I have stopped to shop in different stores after a few cocktails during happy hour). The wait to find a table/bar spot in the bar area during happy hour can also suck. I think I've had to wait each time I've come here for a table to open up, but usually only around 5-10 minutes. A couple of times I waited probably a half hour (or longer) though, ugh. The happy hour includes good drink specials, and the food is super yummy. Yes the sushi is pretty American-ized but very good nonetheless (especially the Atlantic roll). Other good items? Ahi tuna wonton strips (delish) and the margherita pizza. The happy hour has awesome items, but I don't think I would ever come here for an actual dinner and pay full price.
(3)
Candace W.
I have only eaten here once and I keep forgetting about this place. I think because it is in the mall, it seems weird to me. The sushi appetizer I ordered and my entree (which was some fish I forget now, I'd have to see the menu again to recall) were both good and I liked the ambiance. The menu had a lot of things that sounded fun to try, a nice selection of choices like a sushi sampler meal and everyone else's food around me that I spied on looked delicious. I totally want to check out their happy hour if I ever remember to. I'm always into eating well for less and this place has two happy hours which I think is totally cool. One is like normal happy hour time around 5-7 or something similar and the other one is after 9 or 10pm or such for late night deals on food and drink. I don't know for sure the times, so if you want to go to happy hour check and see what the exact times are by callling, I am just throwing out example time guesses because I forget the exact happy hour times, but they do have two a day.
(4)
Sheryl K.
Happy hour at 10pm? On my recent trip to Denver, I found myself at Kona Grill for their 3-5 sushi/appetizers, and I left happy. On a Friday night of course it's going to be busy as the outside patio is jammed packed with 20 something year olds. I suggest try scoring a high top inside and order as much sake bombs and finger lickin' good fried calamari or even pizza (yes pizza). Our server was attentive and humorous... mix that would good company, and it'll turn out to be a decent night. No dress code, but I suppose you can fancy yourself up - depending who you're trying to impress.
(4)
Kate R.
Been here a couple of times for happy hour. We have always found a seat on the patio, but it takes a little effort. Plus we usually have to sit there for 10-15 minutes before the server acknowledges our existence. Look, I've been a cocktail waitress before, and I know that sometimes you need to spend most of your time and energy on the one big "table of douchbags" (of which there are plenty at Kona) who look like they will provide the biggest tip. But you shouldn't make it obvious and let your other customers suffer because of it! I have never had a complaint about the food...in fact, their salmon sushi was some of the best I've had in awhile....very fatty, sweet and fresh. The happy hour prices are decent (especially for sushi rolls) and the cocktails are usually tasty. I wish they had a couple more tables and one more server to take care of customers. As a smoker I do kind of appreciate being able to smoke in their outdoor patio....that's a luxury I don't often encounter. So, 4 stars for the food-2 stars for service...we'll average it out to a 3
(3)
Rick G.
I have been here a handful of times both for happy hour and the main dinning room. The happy hour special are awesome and the food is consistently delicious. The main dining room is a little more money but well worth it, no waiting for an open table and more excellent food on the menu. At our last dinner we were celebrating a graduation and the staff was super nice and responsive to are needs. The manager even stopped by to see how everything was going. I have worked in the service industry before and I am not easily impressed, but the Kona Grill staff has amazed me every time. If your near Cheery Creek and want some great food for a decent price visit the Kona Grill.
(5)
Maha K.
Two of my exes love this place. They eat here weekly. I have had a bad taste in men, until recently. Which means unless you're griping about how badly your job sucks with like-minded coworkers for happy hour, this is not the prime time place to be for Match.com meet-ups or the like. The food is ok. I've cooked better, which is a shocker. And the first time I went there, the insects that were crawling and flying around inside the bar area ate more of my appetizers than I did.
(2)
Cyl B.
The happy hour food is good and the pricing is amazing. The one dish that I stay away from is the lettuce wraps because they are usually too salty. However I do love the calamari and the steak tacos, the sauces are just heavenly. I do find the happy hour drink selection to be lacking. The drinks are too sweet ... sugar on top of sugar!!! But I go there all the time. If you haven't been there in a while the patio has changed their tables to square ones from rounds so when additional people from your group arrives you can join the tables and the staff is always very helpful in aiding with this.
(4)
Kendra L.
It was quite an unexpected but pleasant occurence that had me sitting in a corner booth on a busy Cherry Creek Thursday evening. We were greeted by an easy-going cheerful waiter who took our drink order and made small talk as he introduced the menu layout(s). His service gets a star on all its own to be included with another star that counts toward the overall service, which included a couple visits from a professional yet friendly manager. We were not hounded by the service, but checked in on and kept in the loop regarding the time it would take for our food to reach us (even though it was a completely reasonable amount of time). I would say the service was my favorite aspect of my experience with Kona Grill, but then my salmon entree salad arrived and became the driver of my endorphins. I asked for rare-cooked salmon, which could not have been cooked a degree more or less - creating perfection beneath its sweet chili glaze. Speaking of heaven... I mean sweet... but it was also heaven if I were to know such a thing... dessert! Ohhh the dessert! My dining companion knew what he was talking about when he requested a "slice" of the Red Velvet cake. Slice is in quotations because I feel like I've made entire cakes smaller than the moist, creamy, chill-delivering piece that landed in the center of our table. Need I say more? Because I could. The atmosphere was lively and chipper. The lighting was perfectly dim (but not so dim that it becomes awkward to squint so that you can see clearly your good looking company). The walls were donned with warm colors from what I can remember (decor didn't seem to be important at the time); the seats were comfortable - although it was one of those booths that made me feel like a little kid (my height may also have bearing on this factor). Overall, Kona has left me with all positive thoughts. I plan on returning to try out the sushi lunch specials on some distant day off (the day off is distant, though not my desire to return). I may even have to tack on another star at that point. Stay tuned, Friends.
(4)
Becky S.
Here's the kicker: They have the BEST onion soup I've EVER had. And seriously, I crave onion soup constantly and therefore order it pretty much everywhere I go. Kona has the best. Hands down. Okay, now to go with their great onion soup, they have great brunch. And let me tell you about our server, who has the unique name of MYSTERY. No, I'm not joking, that's her real name. She was great. Only complaint was that my bloody mary refill came after a slight delay, but I also realize that she had a party of eight sit in her section and had to take care of them too. The manager even stopped by to make sure we were happy. And then there's the food. I got an omelet for Sunday Brunch, which they serve until 4pm. It was the perfect size, with yummy mushrooms and cheddar cheese. The potatoes I could take or leave, not my favorite, but I was full after the omelet anyway. Seriously, to everyone who did nothing but complain in their reviews, go back with an open mind. Or next time you're "dragged" there, request Mystery as your server. She made our experience cool and definitely enjoyable.
(5)
Jennifer W.
I do not understand why people rave about this place. The food is only "OK" the service is bad and the attitude is ridiciulous! I mean seriously----it's a chain restaurant in a mall! I know that people find it trendy but after going 3-4 times (the 2nd and 3rd dragged back by friends) I think I'm done. If I'm paying for food & drinks I prefer to be in an atmosphere that is enjoyable, where the staff actually WANTs to get a good tip and where I really enjoy the food.
(1)
Dan W.
This place is in a mall, a pretentious mall. It's got these weird pillow/sprinkler/lamp things on the ceiling. The beers they have on tap are kind of crappy. My wife loves the Kona-tini which is some sort of martini with pineapple juice. Other than that, it's a great place. Nice bathrooms and 2 happy hours. They have nice patio too, it's heated in the winter and there's a fire pit. I can't explain it but for whatever reason I keep going back here fairly frequently. If it sucked, I certainly would not do that. They also have one of the only raw Sushi bars in town that I order from, and I've yet to be disappointed. They also make a great BBQ chicken pizze which you might not expect.
(4)
Mark S.
Didn't get in the door. We were trying to find a table in the bar area with the two kids. They sat at the bar not taking space from anyone else waiting. Bartender ignored us for 5 minutes then sauntered over and told us the kids couldn't sit at the bar. God I love enthusiastic people working in the service industry (note sarcastic tone). Put this one on the "not kid friendly" list. Won't be back. Nice fish tank though.
(1)
Kate C.
I know people who enjoy going here, but I have to say I have never had a good experience. The first time we tried to eat there was mid afternoon during the week. The hosts were too busy chatting with each other to notice us. We sat & waited & waited until finally someone asked if we were being taken care of (five minutes). There were other diners in the area, but it was not busy which is typical for that time of day. So we order cocktails and don't see them for five more minutes until a new server informs us she will be taking over. We order a starter & change waiters two more times. I said no more, went to the front asked for a manager & let them know we were displeased with the service. He couldn't care less! SO, I think, maybe it was just one of those days. I have returned twice more, neither experience quite as bad, but certainly not good either. Typical of mall & chain restaurants. Probably why I don't care for them. The food is fun, but the service & air of "couldn't care less" is so undesirable. I loathe these experiences.
(1)
Arlyn C.
I've come here for lunch and happy hour, been satisfied both times. Tried the ahi tuna sandwich on ciabitta and freshly fried taro root chips.. MmmmMm. The aioli with the warm, toasty bread and flavorful ahi was very yummy. Friend ordered some kind of chicken salad and was also pleased. Good portion and tasty enough. Happy hour has good sushi and since I'm a beer snob, didn't take advantage of the prices.. lol.. what can I say? Service was excellent and I like the casual environment. You can sit oustide and enjoy the fresh air, or sit at the bar and watch sports. There's a huge dining area as well, great for tired shoppers or large families. Pretty decent place for being in the mall. Definitely like this place.
(4)
Andrea S.
If you eat in the dining room, the food is delicious and the service is average. If you happen to make it for their fantastic happy hour, their food is even better (because it's cheaper) and the drinks are great! Plus, I have had better experience with the service at the happy hour, than I have with the service in the dining room. Important recommendation...GET THERE EARLY. The bar fills up super fast!
(4)
Natalie D.
In all honesty, I like Kona because of the great happy hour they have! IF you can get a seat on the outside patio! I do enjoy coming with friends as they have 1/2 off app's and cheap drinks and as stated, if you can get a seat outside by the fire pit, it is even better - they do NOT do happy hour in the restaurant... the service could use quite a bit of improvment, but who really notices as long as you are enjoying time with friends! :) I am not sure I would come here for a "regular" dinner... But it is definitely a great time for happy hour.
(3)
Jeff V.
I really hate how crowded this place gets at happy hour and if you're planning to go do note that it's open seating and I strongly recommend that you arrive early, whether your group have 2 people or 10, tables fly just as fast. The happy hour here is good, the food is alright but the drink specials and location neutrality along with the abundance of parking (though you may have to walk a little) make it an A-OK place to start your night or end your day.
(3)
Jeff J.
Like kona grill.....sushi is good....had most things on menu.....great happy hour as well...
(4)
Viviene W.
This place is great for their happy hour. My friends and I almost always go here before heading downtown. We especially enjoy the avocado rolls, cosmos, wine, and sushi rolls. I would highly recommend this place. The inside/bar area is usually pretty packed but if your get there early, you'll be able to grab a spot inside. Otherwise, there are spots and tables outside underneath heaters. There's a fire pit too which is really cool. Nice place to chill and eat before the club/bar or just meet up with a few friends and catch up.
(4)
Brooke F.
My husband and I went here tonight for dinner, after trying to find a new place that sounded good. This place was hoppin for a Saturday night, and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table, pretty standard. Once seated, our server came and took our drink order right away and shortly after took the rest of our order. Everything was fairly timely. The only thing I think could improve is the pacing. We ordered an appetizer and soups before our entrees and the soups came out first, and the appetizer 30 seconds later, and before we could even get to the appetizer, our meals came. Other than that, service was prompt and prices were decent. The atmosphere is fun, with a neat fish tank behind the sushi bar and some hip music filling the air. I will definitely come back!
(4)
James S.
Been here three times. Saw the review about the noise etc. Odd... never had that experience. Hopefully they don't do anything stupid like that anymore. I usually get there at about 6PM - 7PM so maybe the happy hour thing is done by then. The food is amazing! Some of the better food I've had anywhere in Denver. I have to suggest thier avacodo egg rolls. I've had these at Cheese Cake Factory, but they aren't half as good as Kona Grill makes them. Other than that, I've had thier sirloin steak and multiple sushi dishes. The sushi is fresh and the steak is thick and cooked exactly the way I like it. My wife usually gets the macadamia nut chicken which I have to say is pretty amazing tasting. Service is A+++. You won't be disapointed with that. The atmosphere is classy, romantic, semi-casual but not too casual and not to formal either. Wear something nice, jeans are probably ok. It is a bit spendy, but the kind of place that you feel like you got what you paid for.
(4)
Karli F.
I met a friend for happy hour here last night. We arrived at 5:45 and there was no seating in the bar area inside and of course they won't serve you the happy hour deals if you sit in the dining area. So we sat outside, granted it was under heaters, but it was still quite chilly. They have a whole list of appetizers that are 1/2 off. They also have certain drinks and beers on special. I had a Cosmo which was mostly cranberry juice. My friend had beer. We ordered the spicy tuna roll, the tuna wasabi things (for lack of a better descriptor), a margarita pizza, and calamari. (We were being little piglets--don't judge). The spicy tuna roll was fine for a restaurant that shouldn't really serve sushi. The tuna wasabi things were weird. They were tuna wrapped in a tortilla and flash fried. The calamari was rather bland and of course it got cold really fast seeing as how we were outside. The margarita pizza was my favorite thing out of the bunch. Ultimately I'll probably go back because of location, the specials, and the price ($30 for all that). But I wasn't that impressed.
(3)
meredith h.
Didn't have the best experience, and def. not good enough to go back. From our entrace, no one told us of the valet parking deal, the hostess said "free for all" seating on the patio for happy hour - not in the most sincere way - and that was an awkward 5 minutes of perusing the patio, waiting to see if the one guy with a water at a table for 4 was going to get the hell out and stop staring everyone down. Server was nice (remember the name because its rare : Chance) The knowledge of sushi wasn't there, and the one time the manager walked by, he literally stood in front of the table, said HI, then turned and moved on...no unused dishes were taken, no "hows the food/having a good night?" The app was a blackened catfish taco, which as generous, but lots of intense flavors, especially the sauce, but I thought that was the best part. Sushi...eh...overall overpriced. They should spend money to redecorate!
(2)
Tina Marie E.
The Pad Thai here is the best! It never disappoints. Their Maui Onion Soup is also good. I would highly recommend it! My advice is to come before the dinner crowd because the prices are cheaper during lunch time. If you happen to come in on a weekend day/evening and it's crowded during lunch or dinner, you'll more than likely end up starving while waiting for your entree so ordering an appetizer would be ideal in this situation. Did I forget to mention that they have Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour? The staff is very friendly and helpful for those who are newbies to the establishment. Don't forget to order sushi! Save room for dessert, the Passion Fruit Creme Brulee is the sweet ending to a great meal at Kona Grill!
(5)
michelle b.
Been here once and had absolutely the MOST delicious Ahi Tuna Sandwich EVER! The others in our party had a variety of rolls and all were pleased with their choices. The service was good, as we went for lunch and it wasn't horribly busy. Will definately be trying it again.
(4)
Brian F.
The PF Changs of Japanese food. Awesome for Mexican-made sushi. The service is ok, the food is ok, the booze and bar rock.
(3)
Joe B.
The best thing about this location is there outdoor patio. I would give that portion of the restaurant four stars. A good drink menu and nice atmosphere. The rest of the experience is two stars. They food quality is average. You can get equal grade sushi at the airport or supermarket. The service, my two experiences there, was very slow. It's a mall sushi/asian place, just take it for what it is. You're not there for fine dining, you're there for the atmosphere.
(2)
Aaron W.
For a mall restaurant this was not too shabby. The decor is decent - sort of dark and kind of contemporary slightly tropical feel. My waiter was a little odd and forgot a few items, but he came back enough to check on us. The menu here is a bit eclectic with a sushi list, steaks, and meatloaf. My ribeye was done well and the white chedder potatoes were pretty good. I think my girlfriend's fish was a bit dry, but my brother's meatloaf was really good. I also really enjoyed their sparkling sake. I would say this is an okay place to grab food if you want something better than mall food and your feet are tired - but maybe for something just as satisfying at a lower price I'll just go to CPK or Macaroni Grill nearby.
(3)
Trevor F.
Great menu, not you average or regular chain restaurant menu. We got some pot stickers for a starter and they were pretty tasted, different but in a good way! My sister got the turkey burger and she said that it was damn good! The sushi was pretty good coming from Ness and my sister, Ness said here entree was good as well, as for mine I got the big island meatloaf! And it was pretty incredible to say the least! The sauce and mushrooms I got on the side because I'm picky like that and once I tasted the sauce I dumped it all over my love big piece of meat! It was all tide in well with mashed potatoes and veggies! I would go back and would like a Kona Grill closer to my stomping grounds!
(4)
Tali M.
I really like their happy hour for the food specials, the drink specials are not that great unless you like sake bombs. I think the margaritas are gross, way too sweet, I sent my drink back when I ordered it because I know if I drank the whole thing I would have a stomach ache. The only issue with the happy hour is that it is only offered in the bar area and the patio, so if you get there in the middle of happy hour you may be waiting a little while to get a seat, I really wish they offered the happy hour specials in the main restaurant. I really enjoy sitting outside when it's nice out, if it's a little chilly out they have a huge fire going, which helps.
(3)
Justin W.
The service at a restaurant has to be astonishingly bad for it to detract from my overall dining experience--and that was definitely the case here at Kona Grill. Our server was, well, for lack of a better description, incompetent. The drinks our party ordered were wrong, we received a different sushi roll than what we ordered, and she gave us our bill before we were even done eating, without entertaining the thought that we might want to order dessert. That would have all been fine had she been pleasant, but her service was noticeably curt and left us basically feeling like we were unwanted. As for the food, is this really supposed to be Hawaiian cuisine? The Macadamia Nut Chicken, proclaimed as their signature dish, was bland and diner-quality. The baked sea bass was decent, but overall, way overpriced. The only thing that saved Kona Grill from getting just one star is their dessert, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. We had the Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Passion Fruit Creme Brulee which were delicious and both come in generous portions. If you're at the mall, skip dinner and go straight for dessert. Oh, and don't expect real Hawaiian food.
(2)
Carrie R.
I made the mistake of ordering off the sushi menu. Flavorless and smelly. It even seemed like the rice had been processed to remove its natural flavor. Quite possibly the worst sushi I've had in Denver. The blase service took it from 3 star mediocrity to 2 star overall experience. I've heard the other food is better, but I would only try chicken at my next visit, I don't think I'd even dare get the seared ahi tuna salad. And yes, my "next visit" will only happen if I'm dragged there because it's a convenient place to eat in the mall. P.S. I won't be ordering the avocado egg roll again, either.
(2)
Brian B.
I usually just come here for happy hour. It gets really busy. The best time to come here is during happy hour for cheaper food and sake bombs.
(4)
Young B.
All I can say is that I liked the decor and atmosphere a lot more than the food.
(3)
Michele R.
I've always loved Kona, both in Denver and other locations. The menu is varied, the dishes are tasty, and you can't beat the happy hour (especially on the beautiful patio in the summertime). I'm also a big fan of the new skinny menu. This is my "go-to" happy hour spot. I've only had one bad experience and that was with a waiter who requested a tip. That rubbed me the wrong way. I wish the bar area were larger too---it's always so crowded because of the awesome specials.
(4)
Maple L.
One of my regulars. I don't like eating the regular dinner menu, but the happy hour is great. PROS: Super great happy hour. Sushi tastes good for the price. Nice outdoor patio area with a heading elements on the ceiling, fire pit... CONS: The Regular dinner menu doesn't have anything yet that I liked. The creme brulee is a tragedy! Bitter... parking sucks. They are free valet, but I'm not a valet type of girl. Usually I park in the mall and walk through it. OVERALL: I like it I usually get the spicy tuna and the phili rolls. However, during their busy time, I think they don't clean the tuna as well and there are those white fatty tendon things... But its still good. I also like the calimari, but I don't order it when they are busy, because i noticed that's when it comes out overcooked. All of the sushi rolls are pretty good, and a few are cooked and don't have raw food, which is good for when you bring a friend who doesn't want to eat raw fish. I really disliked the avocado eggrolls. To me, avocado isn't supposed to be warmed and deep fried! The chicken satay isn't very tasty. It is arranged in a very silly, unappealing way, and the sauce is really unappealing to me. Of course, everyone has different taste buds.
(4)
Jeff W.
My wife and I ate here on a Sunday night, didn't have reservations, called to see how they were busy about 7:30 and walked right in. For the FIRST TIME EVER in Colorado, we got fish cooked the way it is supposed to be. slightly rare with translucent in the middle. Sushi was good, service was excellent. Highly recommend getting any fish on the menu. Casual and nice without being a "meet market". Thanks for a great dinner.
(5)
John W.
I went here for lunch, and I really liked the $8 menu. You can choose two things from a menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other things for only eight bucks. Considering this place is Cherry Creek, I would otherwise think this place is pricey. I ended up ordering a salmon dish which was really tasty, and my sister ordered a salmon salad which she won't stop talking about. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch!
(4)
Stephanie L.
I actually had to walk out of Kona Grill last night . . . and it wasn't even busy. We got a table immediately, what we didn't get was service. After sitting there for about 10 minutes, a waitress finally came over to us and said she was looking for a menu and would be right back. She never offered to take a drink order. We saw her doing several other things, none of which was getting us a menu. After waiting another 10 minutes, we finally decided to leave. It was sad!
(3)
Joseph C.
I came to Kona for my birthday and the food, drinks and service were all excellent! I highly recommend trying the Avacado Egg Rolls as your appetizer! They're an awesome mixture of sweet and sour when dipped in the honey cilantro dipping sauce that comes with it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine, which is spicy and very tasty! I cant say when I last enjoyed a plate of pasta as much as I did this one. I like the decor and the lighting of Kona, not too dark and interesting light fixtures. This place seems to attract all types of people. Lots of friends, couples and a couple of families with children as well. They do have a gluten free menu as well. Having never been to Kona before I give the wait staff extra points for the great suggestions from the menu and for the free creme brulee because it was my birthday.
(5)
Ramon G.
Good menu, lot of selection. I was actually surprised with how good the sushi was. We went there wanting a normal dinner entree but ended up going crazy on the sushi. The service is usually good and the layout of the restaurant is pretty unique...I love the fish tank...
(4)
Jenny S.
Ok, I've been craving the Ahi Steak Sandwich here. Cherry Creek is in between my apartment and work so I take 1st Ave almost everyday. That sandwich is calling me. I hate parking in that stupid garage and don't want to hoof it past a bunch of pricey stores (the valet is parking always full and I don't want to pay for it since I lack a Mercedes) BUT I do it anyways. This sandwich is juicy and messy and I look like a slob eating it but it is soooo good. It's on a nice big piece of bread full of carbs and slices of avocado, tomatoes, and a tasty green sauce. It is served with taro chips that are super greasy and salty but you can always substitute those for a field green salad (but it's $2 extra)
(4)
K. S.
I love Kona Grill. My only complaint is that the happy hour is so bananas, you have to get there early....but now that its spring, sitting outside is an option. The atmosphere is pretty relaxing. Its an attractive space, with a laid back vibe. Its rather dark, even up front. They make a pretty good calamari, which is my favorite all-time appetizer, so that automatically scored buku points with me. The avocado eggrolls Ive never seen anywhere else, and theyre pretty scrumpious. Pot stickers are A-plus. The spicy sweet shrimp are just okay, I expected something a little different than what I got. The sushi is pretty damn good. Ive had the salmon skin roll (yum), the cali roll was just okay because I like regular crab as opposed to that crab salad-ish mix they use. Ive had various other sushi items that were of the best quality, including presentation. But overall, you will be very happy with your sushi.... I have not tried burgers or pizza there, its impossible to order that knowing how tantalizing their main fare is. They have one of those menus that is all over the place (american, italian, japanase, chinese, etc) and Im usually weary of places like that. But they pull it off, and if I want good food, good drinks, and I love sports, so its an upscale place to catch a game....and if I just got paid (because this isnt for the budget eater), is when I goto Kona. Great for a date, but not one with a squeamish wallet.
(4)
Dmitri P.
Great place for a happy hour if you can get there early enough. Get there late and good luck, seating is scarce! Bartenders are great and the happy hour food is quite tasty. Can't speak of the dinners as all I've had is the happy hour menu. Great people watching
(4)
Craig W.
Best frozen Margarita around !!! And they pack a punch...
(4)
Kendra R.
the patio is a nice place to cop a squat during the summer. I'd say spring, but this is Denver and they like to predict snow in mid April. Their cocktails taste more of alcohol than filler so you get the bang for your buck here. The Sashimi was a perfect fit to my rumbling tummy during the cherry creek festival. a great spot to people watch. One major pet peeve that is going to turn this 4 star review into a 2. There was a smoker on the patio, who's obnoxious habit made our throats itch and our noses curl. We asked the waiter if he could ask her to stop (other patrons around us had the same annoyed expressions on their faces) He told us that since the exit to the mall right here that it met the requirement of 20ft or whatnot. So once again grab a inside seat. I do like the decor so that's a plus, and they have sports at the bar like any bar should be required to.
(2)
Gregory A.
Decent sushi and advanced menu of Pacific fare. I don't feel I get my bang for the buck. I am thinking 3.5 stars (I round up). The food is good but it seems more a "to do" than it should be or priced for. Something just seems a little artificial or contrived or something here. Maybe I am too critical. I feel a little intimidated when I walk in but not when I walk out. Ease up Greg...Nice food. 4 stars. I'll go back when I am in the area and in the mood - but not sooner :). They staff is also nice.
(4)
Toni-Ann A.
Love this place!!! The food is good and priced right. Good service and great happy hour!! The heated patio is also a major bonus (just wish it wasn't located in the parking lot)
(4)
Allison L.
Have been there couple times! It was great! Friendly staffs. Appetizers, salad, sushi, noddles... everything we have tried was very good. The best of all.... the waiter admitted his mistake and forgot to put in our appetizer.... so it was on the house! It is ok to make mistake, but you hardly see people admitted it these days... they usually blame on the kitchen!
(4)
Sandi D.
Say what you will about Kona Grill, but their burger ROCKS !!! Kona Beef is from Cows who are massaged, which is suppose to yield a happy cow. Happy Cows = Tender Beef . All I know, is that Kona's Burgers are both huge and yummy. Not a piece of grizzle to be found. Their crispy shoestrings are good enough for me to go off Atkins. We stopped in here really late Saturday Night due to the BF's sucky Holiday hours, and this place was hopping !!! We had the option to eat with the masses at the bar or patio and get Happy Hour pricing, but after a long day at work, the empty restaurant looked like a sanctuary-- So we cozied up to a booth, order rare burgers, and were happy campers !!!
(5)
Dennis S.
I brought my sister here after Xmas shopping and the experience was very forgettable. I had the chicken wrap and a decent gin and tonic. My sister had their cheeseburger, which was BIG and tasty, but the sprite they brought her was carbonated water... she then ordered a hot tea, which was delivered with no lemon, sugar/sweetner or spoon.
(2)
Mariela S.
Welcome to Denver, where to eat after shopping in Cherry Creek? My bf and I were both pretty hungry the chocolate covered strawberry we had as a snack was not going to hold our appetite for very long. We decided on Kona grill. We were in for a special surprise! We loved everything we ate (which is usually not a surprise if you know us). We spiced up the night ordering almost everything that had the word spicy in front of it. Our favorite, was the spicy tuna salad, soo good and filling. They also had a really good wakame salad. Our waitress was great, although she was very speedy and was gone twice before we could order sake bombs. She was honest and personable, suggesting good sake. Will definitely try to eat there again, budget and waistline friendly!
(4)
Nikki R.
Great Happy Hour!! Good food and drink specials.
(3)
jane d.
my first time here was in phoenix, arizona. the happy hour menu is awesome! the sushi cheap but plentiful :9 yum however, because i had my out of state license punched out, they wouldn't let me sit in the patio area even though i'm FREAKIN 25 WTF i even had a temporary license with my name on it but since there's no PICTURE... they can't take it....... so whatever. we finished our food, and left. we threatened to not pay the bill if he wanted me out of the premises. so he relented of course, cuz we were a party of 9 so yeah.. came here to cherry creek cuz their happy hour is awesome. made reservations for happy hour then i get there with my group and find out.. WE'RE INSIDE WITH NO HAPPY HOUR! second time kona grill has messed up. so... WTF SQAURED... but yeah, the food is good- it was just shitty situations.. until i get one happy experience, these guys stay at ONE
(1)
Terry W.
My husband and I were in town from the Springs for the last Saturday night of the King Tut show. We aren't familiar with the area, so we just decided to wing it and lucked out. The fish was cooked perfectly! It was moist and still a little rare in the middle. Just like fish should be.(I'm from Fla). I had the fish of the day which was sea bass and my husband had the glazed salmon. We also had the calamari which was hot and tender with a great sauce.We've been to a lot of places all over the globe and this one is one of the best as far as their fish goes. The staff could not have been nicer and the service was very good. We showed up about 8:30 pm and they were still fairly busy. We parked across the main street at a parking garage for $4.00. Not sure if we were supposed to, but it was empty and we didn't see any signs saying not to. Short walk to the restaurant. Drinks were ok. Bathrooms were clean. Very nice dinner. When in town we will definitely return.
(4)
Raquel C.
LOVE Kona Grill- the kona grill is my favorite place to go to happy hour. All are equally good but u gotta love the creek.
(5)
Jessica G.
I love this place! you have to go for happy hour sometime. I think they have a reverse happy hour still from 9-11?? They have half off appetizers and good drinks.
(4)
Shiho F.
Pretty good Happy Hour: Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Reverse Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Thursday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday - Saturday 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. I tired their Spicy Tuna Roll, CA Roll and thier Hawaiian Pizza along with my Margaritas. Not too shabby.
(4)
Mark B.
4 stars for happy hour. Kona's happy hour is tops for the Cherry Creek area. If you want to eat good cheap happy hour food while looking at beautiful people go to Kona. I have also eaten here non-happy hour and was quite pleased with the food and service. The non-happy hour prices are well non-happy hour so expect to pay $$$ for good food. Have a good day!
(4)
Tammie W.
I've eaten here twice and I'm always shocked at how delicious the sushi is....coming from a girl who is Japanese and has eaten some of the freshest sushi around! Kona Grill is an extremely classy place that has superb service and excellent food! Their Happy Hour specials are dynamite (half priced apps, some drinks and sushi rolls). There's a fire pit on the patio, which is delightful and allows you to cozy up to your loved one. Their booths are quite comfortable and private. I would recommend this place for a date or just a nice night out for dinner, lunch and now Sunday brunch!
(4)
Rachael L.
This is my FAVORITE place, and has been for the past 2.5 years! They have a wonderful variety of food, from sushi to pizza to burgers to steak to meatloaf and beyond! Especially love their dragon rolls, calamari, macadamia nut chicken. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, very affordable, great happy hour...what more can you ask for!
(5)
Ari T.
Great food and drinks during happy hour! It gets extremely crowded and the chances of landing a table are slim, but that adds to the atmosphere. Be prepared to saki bomb standing up, but at the same time you cannot beat the prices and fun and outgoing happy hour crowd.
(4)
Hans O.
Food is great here, but on the other hand service is mediocre.
(2)
Catherine B.
Kona is just okay. It's got a decent happy hour and I like their patio, but I have gone for dinner too and I would not put it at the top of Denver sushi spots. It's very chic and hip, but the food quality is average, and the prices are high.
(3)
Ben S.
excellent! one of my favorite places in denver! they have a real nice menu of sushi and non-sushi dishes and all the food is good. for some reason, my family just loves eating there! the eda mame and soup are great. the main dishes are excellent, the cooked and sushi and salads! they have a great sushi & salad sampler, a great idea for a lunch. the rolls are good, nothing too exotic, but solid. the service is good and eating outside is real nice. the fish tank is awesome and lastly, the bathrooms are decorated real nice! :-0
(4)
Winsome D.
Full credit for their happy hour on a bang-for-buck basis. You can't go wrong with decent sushi (8pc order), garlic shrimp pizza, calamari, avacado egg rolls, and much more at a measly 3.50$ a pop. Just make sure you try and get a seat inside the bar or near the fireplace outside, otherwise your ass might get frost bitten from the coldness of the metal barred chairs. *brrrrrrrr*
(4)
Veronica W.
I've had friends tell me that the Happy Hour is phenomenal, but after the poor service and lackluster lunches I've had there I've passed it up for places I know have good food. Hey, I'll give anywhere a couple tries and the Kona Grill has had more than a couple. Great if the food is cheap, but if it's less than tasty and the service is marginal then who cares? I'll stick with somewhere less flashy with better food and be glad I spent a little more.
(3)
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Address :Cherry Creek Mall,3000 E 1st Ave
Denver, CO, 80206
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Young B.
All I can say is that I liked the decor and atmosphere a lot more than the food.
(3)Samantha Y.
Margaritas are always awesome here! Very balanced, I like mine with sugar rim instead of salt. I love the happy hour at kona, who doesn't? Cheap drinks and great food. Not really a fan of the sushi here.. I get that it's a fusion restaurant and I've worked in sushi restaurants before, so maybe that's why it seems "off" to me. It still is great though! Visited this one from Fort Worth :)
(4)Lindsey P.
I've been a couple times in the past couple years and I'd say Kona Grill is always just ok. I go mostly for convenience - I don't know Cherry Creek very well so I go because it's decent food at a good price (especially if it's Happy Hour) and it's the first place that comes to mind. This last time our waiter took forever to greet us. In fact, the whole visit seemed to take a reallllllly long time. He was friendly enough, but slow considering that it wasn't busy AT ALL. The food was pretty good and it has been previously too. The sushi is ok, their salads are good. This time I got the Chicken Avocado Club with taro chips; I asked for the chipotle mayo on the side and it came on the sandwich. Normally I would have asked for them to fix it but considering how long it took to get our food in the first place, I let it go. It was very tasty and my grandma seemed to like what she got too, the Chicken Caprese sandwich I think. Her sweet potato fries were warm enough, but also soggy and limp. Like I said...if you're around for Happy Hour and you have some time, do that. The prices are great and the items available on special are plenty. The drinks are cheap (also tasty). That's probably what I'll stick to from now on.
(3)Michelle S.
Kona is always a good bet for happy hour. Last night was the first time I dined in the dining room. Not my first choice but nonetheless I was meeting people and it was the birthday girls choice. This review is really about the service because it was hands down, truly one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. Drew was incredible. The 7 year old that I was with was cracking jokes and he managed to return to the table time and time again with new jokes for her. There were even a few other servers who joined in the silly telling of jokes. You could tell that they were enjoying themselves, that this wasn't something that they had to do. I haven't experienced a server who has gone above and beyond like that in a long time. Our food was good, we had a few sushi rolls while the birthday girl had a bento box. The bento box was a good looking meal, she definitely made out with the most delicious dinner I think. The orange shaped like a panda was the icing on the cake. I think typically I'd give Kona a 3 star rating but Drew's service last night prompted me to go with 4 stars. So way to go Drew! When we come back we know who we'll be asking for.
(4)Erin M.
Good, not excellent. Had the edamame and the chicken stir fry. The stir fry was spicy in a good way, the chicken was moist, and the edamame was made well. The atmosphere was also average, which leads to an overall rating of 3. Great place to stop while in the mall, but I wouldn't seek it out in particular.
(3)Lauren D.
I find myself constantly (and pleasantly!) surprised by 3.5 star Yelp-rated restaurants and Kona was no exception. I met a girlfriend here last night for Happy Hour and was really impressed. Downgrade from 5 stars because the music in the bar was WAY TOO LOUD (hi, I like to be able to have a conversation with the person I'm out with) and because I had to walk through the mall to get to the entrance but otherwise the drinks were delish (sake sangria!), the food was tasty and everything was reasonably priced. Oh and HH goes until 7 PM, something that's much appreciated by those of us who hold down a 8-5 PM work schedule. Recommended: the veggie sushi, avocado rolls and apple/brie flatbread Tip: the bar gets pretty packed so expect to wait for a spot, even on a weekday
(4)Tiffany N.
AMAZING happy hour specials on food, drinks not so much. I stopped here to grab something to eat while waiting at Cherry Creek and I hope to go again because for sushi and other yummies you really can't beat it! Happy hour is in the bar area and patio and you can get basic rolls for $3.75 (I got the crab crunch roll, delicious with eight pieces so if you're a sushi fiend like me, you may want to order two) along with other dishes like avocado eggrolls, sliders, pizza and more. The more advanced rolls go for $6 which is also a steal--why haven't I been coming here all along?? I would pass on drinks though since they're really not too big of a steal--draft beers were $4 and I believe that was only Sam Adams and the other drinks were pricier than I expected for happy hour prices. But that wouldn't keep me away from the happy hour food prices here!
(4)Alex W.
I came here for lunch and was disappointed. After asking about lunch specials I was told that's their "Pairings" option where you pick two items for $10.50. I got miso soup and the "sushi sampler". The miso soup arrived in a bowl smaller than their tea cups, then the "sampler" was three pieces of sushi. That's it. That is ridiculous by the standards of the most peckish eater. You can go to Osaka and get those two things with two small salads and a full entree (salmon/chicken/tempura) for a dollar less in their lunch bento. So, with tea and tip I paid over $16 to leave and go somewhere else to actually eat lunch. The soup was good, the sushi was on par with what you'd get at Whole Foods. Very unimpressive.
(2)Mike M.
Went there for happy hour with some friends to celebrate a birthday Blake was our server he was the best Smart funny and he knew the menu and made great recommendations Thank you Blake for the great service Will definitely go back
(5)Andy M.
Poor service! We sat at the sushi bar for happy hour on Sunday and we stood waiting for someone to clear the table for nearly 10 minutes. We had to ask the sushi chef to find someone to serve us. I would have understood more if we had merely walked in and waited at the bar, but we were escorted by a host to the bar. The sushi nearly all tasted the same and the rice was overly sweet. I was seriously disappointed, but perhaps having had sushi in California and in Japan has ruined my appetite for the lesser. It may not have been such a big deal if we actually had good service.
(2)Michael C.
I really like this place but the service today was exceptionally poor. The plates were dirty with dried particulate food on them. In addition it took ten minutes for a server to come to the table. Then to add insult to injury, it took over twenty five minutes to get our appetizer and drinks from the bar. When I literally wave my arms, like on MASH, the server finally came over and lied about the apart user and drinks. He could have said he for for bit he did not. It's an integrity and experience issue. I don't know if I hit the lottery with an aloof server or if Kona has dropped off the map with service.
(2)Rick B.
Good Service, good happy hour, fun atmosphere. I like their appetizers and drink specials. I dislike their sushi and the war zone of construction around the patio. The should probably lose another star for the construction but it's really not their fault. There's no noise or anything, it just looks pretty fugly and kinda ruins the patio experience. I don't really go there for dinner, mainly drinks and appetizers. Is what you make of it. If you're looking for fine dining, or traditional sushi you will be disappointed. The menu is pretty big and has something for everyone.
(4)Brett S.
I came very, very close to breaking my 3-star cherry on Kona Grill, but at the end of the day, I just couldn't do it. Here's the deal: Kona has a pretty damn excellent Happy Hour: mon - fri 3p-7p mon - thur 9p-11p fri - sat 10p-12a sun ALL DAY Check the website to make sure that hasn't changed since this review was written, but as you can see, you have a lot of options. Sit in the bar area at any of those times and you're more or less good to go. As is usual for most bar-only happy hours, the items you can grab are a bit appetizery, but this also includes a decent selection of sushi rolls. Factor in the cheaper brews and you're looking at a good place to fill up on food and drink. Provided your timing's right, of course. That said, the food really is just north of average. It's definitely not bad, but if you were buying any of it at full prices, you would be feeling a little robbed. The takeaway: ONLY come to Kona for the happy hour. The service is brisk, the food is decent, and the price is excellent then. Miss that window, however, and it's just too much for the food you get.
(4)Carolyn I.
Kona holds a place dear in my heart. It makes me think of the summer days on the patio with the fire pit burning in the background while you're sipping away on a glass of wine. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can catch up with friends in the Denver area without struggling too much for parking. Kona has pretty decent happy hours in terms of food and drinks, although be careful as the weekend times are off by an hour. Service is definitely a hit or miss. There are some servers that will do bare minimum but there are others that are very attentive and want you to have a good time. I was in on Friday and had an absolute blast with our server LaLa.
(4)Joseph H.
This restaurants hostesses are rude and unknowledgeable, the manager knows nothing about business and should never have that job. If I owned this restaurant I would fire all three hostesses as well as the manager to save my business and even if you see 8 tables open they will not sit you down but don't worry they will let you sit at the bar or outside except not a single person will give you a menu or ask if you need anything or let alone acknowledge your existence. Horrible restaurant and with all the options in the area this would be the last anyone should attend.
(1)Jessica L.
We came here last night for my sisters birthday. Our server was Lala and she was bubbly and wonderful. I ordered the chili lime shrimp salad with the dressing on the side. It was delicious and had soo many shrimp in there for $15 so definitely worth it. I especially liked the sautéed mushrooms. Other entrees that the table ordered were the sweet chili salmon, lobster mac and cheese, sushi, asparagus salad with macadamia nut chicken and a couple other things. We ordered a brownie for dessert which was huge and moist and Lala comped that since we had a birthday. Every time I come here I enjoy the food and so does everyone else in my parties. Although parking sucks. They also have Andes mints by the host stand (only Olive Garden has these mints that I know of). There is happy hour all day Sunday's and kona grill is known for their happy hour if you want to check that out. Sad that it's almost winter because they have a nice patio. Maybe it's heated but I'm not sure. Anyway check this place out.
(5)SnowChik B.
I sit in the bar area on Sundays. Always a great service staff, waiters & bartenders are so friendly! Food always comes out quick. & they have great happy hours!!! The sushi is pretty good as well as some of the appetizers. I always leave with a full tummy & a smile!
(4)Cindy B.
Delicious! Really enjoy Kona Grill every time I eat here and the friendly waiters, thanks!
(4)Kris R.
Scott was our server today on the patio, and he gave us phenomenal service!! Incredibly attentive, funny, just all around a great experience. The rainbow roll was delicious, and 1/2 price bottles of wine can't be beat!! Will definitely be back again
(5)Jimmy H.
Drive 15 miles to get here only to find it closed. Good job on relaying that info, Google. To say I'm upset is an understatement, not to mention - the parking stinks.
(1)jay g.
We found a lot of tasty options the the menu, from calamari to chop salad. The show stopper was the chocolate fandu!
(4)Jane S.
Their happy hour space is a joke. Such little space for that time. Drink specials are ok. Food selection is better. I liked the lettuce wraps.
(2)Kelly G.
This was our first visit to this chain. The restaurant was located next to the California Pizza Kitchen in the Cherry Creek Mall. We parked in the mall garage and walked through the mall to get to the restaurant, unless you use the Valet. I had signed up for their Konavore Program and received an e-mail for $15 off the bill for my birthday good for 2 weeks. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She seated us in a comfortable booth in the dining room. A giant fish tank separated the bar area from the sushi bar/dining room. The restaurant was dim, but there were pot lights shinning directly in the center of each table so you could see the menu and food. My husband ordered the Chicken Caprese Sandwich ($12). It was a chicken breast with tomato, mozzarella, baby arugula, basil pesto aioli on ciabatta bread served with garlic parmesan fries. The sandwich ingredients were light and fresh. The fries were shoestring potatoes with the skin, perfectly seasoned with garlic and parmesan. I ordered the Grilled Ribeye Sandwich ($15.25). The ribeye was tender and juicy. It came with garlic ailoi, baby arugula, danish bleu, onion strings on ciabatta bread served with fries. It was to die for and just melted in my mouth. Besides having $15 off the bill, the server brought me a complimentary Red Velvet Cupcake ($4 value) for my birthday. It was huge, enough for 2 people, served on a plate with sliced kiwi and strawberries. The cream cheese frosting wasn't too sweet. The manager came by to see how everything was. He stopped to talk to us about the temperature in the restaurant. He was aware that it was a little chilly in the restaurant and he was working on it. It really means a lot when the management is out on the floor, rather than hiding in the back office. The Happy Hour menu and prices look real attractive. We will definitely be back when the weather warms up so we can dine on the patio.
(4)Christine A.
I have to say I was really surprised at how much I liked Kona Grill. I didn't plan on going there. I was shopping at the mall when the alarm went off. After 15 minutes, I just couldn't take it any more, so I had to drink the annoyance away and Kona Grill was there. Their bar area is cool - one side of the bar is inside and the other side is outside on the patio. I sat at the bar outside. They had a fire going, so it wouldn't get too chilly, so it was very nice. Within 30 seconds of sitting down, all three of the bartenders greeted me. They were friendly and a HAPPY group of people. It was also all day happy hour and it is an impressive happy hour. I don't like it when restaurants serve lower-quality food for happy hour. Kona discounts their existing menu and doesn't downsize portions. This is an excellent happy hour. I had 2 cosmos - delicious. Nothing I like more than a strong drink that doesn't taste like alcohol too much. The drinks were strong - I could feel it after finishing half of my first cocktail. I also had 2 sushi rolls. They were good - not the same standard of sushi that you would get in some other places, but, overall, they were satisfying. I received excellent service throughout my visit - refills on my water, friendliness and checking back to see if I needed anything. When I received my bill, it was less than $20. Seriously - I was really shocked about that - like I said, excellent happy hour. At this point, I saw the manager, so I let him know how impressed I was with the staff, which made him very happy. I usually shop at Park Meadows b/c it's 5 minutes from where I live, but, if I'm up in Cherry Creek, I would definitely chose to come back to Kona Grill.
(4)Chuck S.
Sitting on the patio here on a warm summer and watching the "beautiful people" walk by is one of my favorite things to do at Cherry Creek. It helps that they have a good happy hour. The sushi is not the best I've had, but it was fine. The drinks are not the strongest here, but they were fine. The eye candy is some of the best here with the gals getting dressed up just to go shopping at the mall. The waiter took very good care of us checking in often and making sure we had what we needed.
(4)Cindy R.
Great place to get together for a quick happy hour. Love their potstickers and happy hour rolls.
(4)Michael P.
Polynesian cuisine set in Denver....this place does a good job of creating nice Hawaiian/Polynesian dishes. The salmon and mahi mahi are very tasty and outside of Hawaiii, great seafood. My one suggestion for this restaurant are more drink specials as they are little pricey. Overall, I do like place for special occasions.
(4)Jay C.
We ordered some sushi rolls, a roast beef sandwich and the jambalaya entrée. The jambalaya - the reason for this review - was awful. It was to contain chicken, crawfish and Andouille sausage with the sauce. The chicken was way over-cooked and hard. The crawfish could hardly be found. The Andouille sausage was either invisible or not present. Additionally, the peppers in the sauce was the largest pieces in the entrée. They should typically be cut smaller to be a part of the sauce instead of being IN the sauce. I guess everyone makes it different but someone at Kona doesn't know how to make jambalaya. During this visit they also permitted dogs to be tied to the patio fence which I normally don't mind if the owner is nearby. They would not stop barking and crying during dinner. They disturbed every customer on the patio.
(1)John P.
Kona Grill has it all. Good food and great service. The staff is attentive and friendly. The sushi was very tasty and came out pretty quickly despite being busy. This is a must try restaurant. Kind of hard to see due to the construction around the mall's new addition, but worth the search.
(5)A D.
Loved it! What great unique takes on sushi! So good, I could've eaten my weight in sushi. And the raspberry-hibiscus tea was fantastic.
(5)Jason K.
My girlfriend and I go here every time we have to visit the mall if it's after 3pm for their Happy Hour. The appetizers are probably the best in all of Denver that I can think of! They have a 1,000 gallon saltwater fish aquarium that is understocked, and lacking the beautiful colors that one would expect for a saltwater tank, and half the time it is dirty. The patio is a great place to sit during a nice day, but sometimes you can not get a table (inside or out) in the bar area, and they do not offer happy hour in the large dinning area. If you do get a table, you may not be getting a drink anytime soon. We have learned if it is to busy just to walk away and try again another day :) Although the sushi we had was delicious, we have never been dinner
(4)Steve S.
Ahhh, the Cherry Creek mall. Always a battle between image and substance. Usually image wins. The same holds true for the Kona Grill located on the north side of the mall. Now, they do have a great patio for people and car watching. On colder nights, the fireplace and heaters are well worth the price of admission. However, the food is lacking substance and so are it's waitstaff. Kona offers sushi, Asian inspired dishes and traditional American fare. For the most part its decent food that is priced well. However, Kona presents itself as a four star restaurant which is definitely is not. Just don't be confused. Always entertaining are the dudes wearing small child t-shirts and the women with more construction on their faces and chests than the summer roads in Denver. So go for people watching. Go for decent food. For for the inevitable oversell of the special by the waitstaff. It'll be worth it.
(3)Travis S.
Terrible happy hour they let people hold seats for over 15 min why people are there ready to eat and refuse to serve happy hour in main area will not be going back
(1)Kelly S.
Wonderful happy hour!! Not only are they good prices but there are lots of choices! Plenty of sushi rolls as well as other appetizers! I enjoy coming more in summer because the patio is great, but the bar is still nice if too cold for the patio. The only downfall can be finding a seat!
(4)Tumi M.
Great ambiance next to Cherry Creek Mall valet. There is a fire pit outside that adds a nice touch. Across from the bar inside is a 100+ gallon fish tank that adds some life inside. I sat at the bar with my business associate as we hashed out the details of a financial agreement. The bartender was cool, didn't interrupt us at all, but got our food out fast and refilled our glasses multiple times. He helped figure out the special order sandwich my associate placed and was a pleasant server. The happy hour menu looked good. I will be back for a after work hangout with my boys or a semi casual date with good ambiance.
(4)Meri O.
Amazing atmosphere on any day/time. Their appetizers are delicious plus they are half off Mon-Fri. They have two happy hours 3-7 & 9-12. Definitely worth checking it out. Enjoy.
(4)Kate O.
LOVE their patio. Super cute. They have a fire pit too. They have this angry edamame that is to die for but note this is crazy hot stuff. Their food is really good as well as their sushi. I also love the kids meals. They are $5 and my son had the housemade mac and cheese and LOVED it. Great atmosphere.
(4)Andre R.
I really disapprove the service of this restaurant. They charged my credit card with more gratuity amount than I give and even after I write on the bill that the service was not good. The restaurant was not busy and they took a long time to provide us service.We had to ask for a waiter and wait a long time to have our order.The waiter was looking at TV instead of bring us the bill.However the table on our side had two waiter to attend them at the same time and we were just three person in a table against a couple on the table on our side.The food was good but they really disappointed and showed to be not trustable and respectful.
(1)Jinny K.
Definitely a great spot for happy hour. Their sake sangria is pretty good though I can't really feel any alcohol in it. Their appetizers are also light and delicious. Can't beat the happy hour deal.
(4)Kate C.
Love their mojitos! Sushi is good and if you can find a seat during happy hour, definitely take advantage of it. It is part of the mall so can get a little busy but never had a bad meal. Service seems to be a little slow sometimes. Love the patio in the summer!
(3)Erica A.
I was pleasantly suprised by Kona Grill. I thought that the food would be subpar being in the mall. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Specifically, the avocado egg rolls are to die for! Sushi is fresh and average price for the area. They have a huge menu and even though they specialize in Asian food, they have a lot of other options if people dont like that. It is a great place to have dinner before a movie.
(4)Annie F.
We went to Kona Grill today around 6 Pm and sat at sushi bar. And we were order sashimi and sweet shrimp nigiri and open 1 bottle of fuji sake . The server was nice and funny . But the bad thing is after get out from Kona for 15 minutes and i got alergic from NOT fresh Sweet Shrimp nigiri and fishy . And now my lip are horrible . Note : check your sushi bar cooler's temperature and make sure peoples dont get sick.
(2)Anya M.
Years ago when I was poorer, more tolerant, and ate all the gluten I wanted, I used to love this place for happy hour. I was unemployed so I could get there early before happy hour to actually get a table, and I liked the cheap sake bombs and cheap appetizers (still miss those guac rolls). On the patio people watching is totally entertaining (always people trying to show off their cars in valet, show off the stuff they're wearing, show of their girl's new boob job etc). There is always a good chance you'll see some Nuggets/Bronco player roll up with his baby momma (I've had it happen multiple times). There isn't really a people-watching equivalent in Denver so that was fun, minus trying to get a table. Now that I'm older, have $, less patience, AND am gluten free, this place doesn't do it for me anymore. I'd rather pay full price for a beverage than stand around asking people if they are leaving soon, so I can steal the table before anyone else gets it. Or worse, drink standing up smashed next to the bar. Annoying and a time waster. Plus now that I am gluten free [they have a gluten free menu online] I pretty much can't order 90% of the menu. Obviously you can get meat/fish, white rice + steamed veggies, but I can make that at home. All the good stuff has gluten in it. I got the Kona Chopped Salad with PLAIN grilled chicken (you can't get the macadamia chicken because it is coated in breadcrumbs) and it was great. But it was $13. If you're stuck in the mall and starving this place is ok if you know what you're getting into. At least the decor/vibe/service are all great.
(2)Ashley F.
Avocado egg rolls are phenomenal!
(4)Whitney W.
I love Kona grill! I love sushi! No compliants here! They have a great Happy Hour Menu in the Bar til 7pm. Spicy Tuna Roll for $3.50. What a great value! Will always come back!
(4)Susan H.
While shopping at Cherry Creek we stopped in for lunch. Great decision The host was pleasant. We had booked ahead on Open Table and we were seated right away. The waiter was prompt, attentive, and helpful. He was well versed on the large variety of menu choices. Gave us enough time to unwind & relax a little bit before ordering, and was attentive and timely. Our food was great. I had the flatbread pizza with a glass of wine. The blend of flavors in the pizza was very good and the crust perfectly done. My husband had a sandwich with roast beef & gruyere cheese on a toasted baguette. He loved it. While the restaurant was very busy with weekend shoppers, the service and the food were very good and somehow the atmosphere still seemed relaxed. Will definitely eat here again when we are in Cherry Creek.
(4)Brady K.
I am allergic to fish so obviously I do not eat sushi. However, I have always wanted to eat at the Kona grill, since I generally love Asian food apart from fish. Usually, when we are at the mall, California Pizza Kitchen is our standard choice. But we decided to try something new and Kona Grill is right there. Great patio for a great afternoon and of course Kona has lots of non fish items to choose from. Today they were running a special on bul-go-gi tacos with a side of kim chi, so I decided to partake in my heritage and try some. I have to say the bul-go-gi was a little sweet and it was on some kind of filo dough taco. I think there was some sweetness in the bread and the meat, so I'm not sure it worked. Oh, also had some calimari appetizers and that was really good. So to clarify, I am only allergic to fishy fish, not shell fish or cephalopods if we want to get technical. Service was very good. It is amazing how the little things can be the most important. For example, the server offered us some chop sticks and I said yes. So she peeled off part of the wrapper, handed me the exposed side, while maintaining hold on the wrapper side. As I pulled my chop sticks from her, she maintained hold of the wrapper and I received the benefit of having chop sticks without dealing with the nuisance of trash on my table. Okay, I'm a compulsive weirdo, but that still can be classified as good service and I will be back to try more non fish items.
(4)Alex L.
Service on the patio (during happy hour) is definitely the best time to go. I went there once when it was their slow time, about 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and service was dismal. However, deciding to go to the patio was the best decision ever. Service was prompt and the food came out great! We ordered sliders, sushi and pizza. Bill came out to right around $17! Can't beat that for two people! The dining room just isn't a place to dine anymore and this holds true at many restaurants, not just Kona Grill!
(4)Jeff T.
Love the happy hour. I only go for the happy hour. . Keep in mind that the food isn't top notch but its reliable and fairly priced. Love the avocado egg rolls and flat-breads..perfect place to go to for a weekday or weekend night.
(4)David R.
What a great happy hour menu! The potstickers were excellent and the avocado rolls were interesting. The waiter did a great job and the food was better than expected. What a great value!! We'll be back.
(4)Simon J.
Been here a number of times, and went for happy hour last night which reminded me I really ought to Yelp this place as I have now had several really solid experiences here. Food has always been tasty and fresh, service has actually also been great-friendly helpful servers, even with our baby which I know can mean a little more work for them. The happy hour is a genuine bargain too with some really excellent deals, plus the decor is comfortable and has a higher end feel. So far, a great "never fail" spot.
(4)Steven S.
This place is packed and trendy so be prepared. Translation = Crowded. But the service and food are excellent. I've visited here three times over the past two years and each experience was very positive. This last visit, I ordered the Macadamia Nut Chicken with House Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Veggies, Shoyu Cream, and Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade. I had no idea how any of the above would turn out. And to be honest, I had no idea what the seasonal veggie would be, how the "Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade" would taste, and I'd never even heard of Shoyu Cream. So let's just say I was not entirely invested in the meal. And I almost walked. Why? I sat for over 45 minutes waiting. Even the server seemed a bit surprised and apologized, assured me he'd checked on the status, and the kitchen said it would be right out. I wasn't mad or anything. But I was hungry. So at this point I contemplated simply but silently walking out and grabbing something at the California Pizza Kitchen right across the mall. That would have been a mistake. No sooner had I decided to move on that the most masterfully-decorated plate arrived. Generous portions of succulent chicken covered in some amazing sauce. It was literally bursting with flavor. The seasonal veggie turned out to be bok choy. Now mind you, I've had bok choy before but nothing like this. I have no idea what they did to it, but I sincerely hope it was legal. It was not only the best bok choy I've ever encountered, but quite possibly the best vegetable I've tasted. That's how well it was seasoned. So I definitely recommend the Kona Grill. It can be crowded and service a bit slow, but there's a reason it's crowded. It's that good. Come check it out.
(4)Jim H.
Great sushi and amazing drinks!!! Go here for happy hour and leave happy!
(5)Dan P.
Kona Grill is one of those few restaurants that is always consistent in quality and service. We've had the opportunity to meet several of the staff and management. We must say Chance is the best wait person there-always friendly and always helpful. Their patio is closed for a few days due to the Cherry Creek Mall entrance overhaul. I am sure the new patio will be worth a visit.
(5)Hailey Z.
Every time I dine here the service gets worse and worse. Our last attempt was met with a server that just didn't care whether he made money off of us or not. I'm not sure what the draw is other than having a prime location. Go to Elways instead.
(2)Scott M.
I would crawl through the mud for their soft shelled crab and andouille sliders... they are out of this world. We've only been a couple times when there was a wait. Great sushi menu too!
(4)Richard N.
This Kona Grill is awesome! Great customer service and unlike other restaurants in Denver the manager is always present making sure everything is going great!
(5)Jihee Y.
If it wasn't for Kona's happy hour, I don't know if people would just go there for the food. The happy hour is the only thing that makes it worth it. The food is decent, not great. They have a good selection of rolls for happy hour and it's seriously a hit or miss. The same roll you get once that was delicious could be a total disaster another time you go. Flat bread, avocado eggrolls, and the calamari are consistent winners. Don't get the mini burgers, probably one of the worst burgers I've had. I don't know how they've lasted this long with service like they have. Maybe because it's happy hour but every time I go, the service has been completely horrible. You feel rushed and they make you feel bad for "bothering" them. I've only had one good experience there with the service and I let her know myself how great she was compared to others we've had. Bottom line, go for happy hour. One of the best happy hours in Denver.
(3)Nicole D.
Great happy hour but their sushi is just ok. Go Fish is my first choice for sushi. I used to really enjoy Kona Grill but now I'm like meh.
(3)Melanie L.
This was a fun lunch spot. I'd never been to Denver and didn't realize how many chain restaurants they had (and that I'd never visited). I am a hug believer in eating local when you can but this was a mall stop and shopping can really help work up an appetite. They had a cool fish tank by the sushi bar that I was transfixed by while we we were eating. Their menu was pretty extensive and offered everything from burgers to Pad Thai. I had the Avocado Chicken Club with chipotle mayo on ciabatta and traded the taro chips for their fries. Loved their fries. The sandwich definitely left something to be desired . We had calamari for an appetizer and that was pretty good. Overall, I would give this place a thumbs and say the food is decent at best. It's at the very least a nice place to rest your feet after shopping.
(3)Christian S.
My husband and I came here for our one year wedding anniversary and it was wonderful. The service was great and the food was even better! We were very happy with every aspect of our evening here and plan on making it an anniversary tradition:)
(5)Alicia H.
Ran in for a quick snack with my cousin... but anytime you get us together it takes a bit for us to stop talking and order... so I thank our waiter for his patience with us! He got a turkey burger that he inhaled and I ordered 3 rolls (philly, a tempera shrimp, and avocado crab I believe).... and it was quite delicious! I'm picky about my sushi but they were tightly wrapped rolls with lots of flavor. Prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly; can't wait to be in the area again and grab something else to eat!
(4)John H.
During happy hour this place is a hit or miss on service but its a great place to drink after work. I recommend everyone to show up early for happy hour because the patio area is the spot to be. It has an awesome fire pit and its right next to valet. The food isn't authentic. I only go here for the drinks. sake bombs! This is what everyone goes for. It's beer and a shot of sake. Cheers!
(3)Lynn W.
The food was not good here. We heard great things about their happy hour but were not impressed when we got there. The sake was hot and good, but the food was not very good or very fresh. We ordered calamari and it was a pretty sad excuse for calamari. Really tiny and not tasty - which is surprising since they were deep fried. We could barely eat the sushi. The place looked nice enough but the service was very slow. There are much better places for happy hour in Cherry Creek.
(2)Tara L.
By the time I added salmon to the asparagus salad it was a pretty steep salad. $18 is up there for veggies and a small salmon filet. Service was good though and easy to get to in Cherry Creek Mall.
(3)Stefanie Z.
My boyfriend and I do enjoy coming here for the sushi because the meals are pricey. The avocado egg rolls are aaaaamazing! We usually get the California roll and spicy tuna. I think their mojitos are so yummy and tasty ! The service sometimes is slow and we have had to wait for our waiter to pass by and for our food which was only sushi to come out. I do enjoy coming here and happy hour is so worth it!!!!!
(4)Tiffany N.
This mall bar/restaurant, for some inexplicable reason, is crazy packed for happy hour. When did hanging out in the mall become cool for people who can drink? At best it just seems dangerous for your checking account. So, Nick and I are here for a sort of wedding congratulatory party, which they've divided into two tables. Because, you know, it's too hard to put 10 people at one table. Whatever. I'm starving. They have a sushi bar. I'm a sushi fan. Let's order sushi. But, before that we had the only good thing that I tried - tuna wontons. This is rarely seared tuna on a crispy wonton with wasabi sauce on it. I should have eaten another order of those. But, we went with the sushi rolls. It was just crap. They were all falling apart and while fresh, the fish just seemed not to mesh with the flavors they were mixing in there. Nick and I order 3 rolls and ate about half of each. And we are not sushi wasters. Generally, I'd rather eat sushi until my stomach hurts than let it go to waste. The one highlight of our time there was the drink menu. They make a lot of very interesting cocktails, which I sampled quite a few of. And they have sparkling sake. So, if you're going, my suggestion is go for the beverages.
(2)Jessica G.
I've always wanted to go to Kona grill but it just wasn't the right price for my budget. Luckily my boyfriend got some gift cards from one of the Managers. My boyfriend works at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cherry Creek, and they stoped by asking if he ever sends people over to Kona Grill, he had never tried it so he said no he doesn't. They gave him some gift cards to get him to change his mind. Well lets just say it worked! We took his parents to dinner when they came to visit from Texas. The service was great, the drinks were amazing and the food was so delicious. I got the pan seared ahi, which was cooked great, as was everyone elses meal. The sweet chili sauce that went with the rice was so tasty, it wa just the right amount of spice. I would highly recommend Kona Grill to anyone that can afford it or for a special occasion. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Heather M.
Came here with a friend for a work lunch and wasn't terribly impressed. The restaurant was not very busy, yet it took over 30 minutes for us to receive our food. During this time, the waiter refilled our waters once but didn't offer an explanation for the long wait. As it was a work lunch, we were hoping for somewhat faster service. When the food did arrive, I received a dish I did not order. Though the dish I did order came out soon behind it, I had to make the effort to explain that I had not ordered the first. I had the pan-seared ahi, which was good enough, but left me wanting for more. I had been excited when I first looked at the menu because it looked like there were some great items. The fact that this place is in a mall doesn't really help it. If it weren't for the coupon I just received in the mail, I probably wouldn't return.
(2)Sal R.
I'm torn between starting with the phenomenal service or the amazing flat bread! The menu was tough for vegetarians. The pad Thai uses fish oil and the tomato basil soup has cheese cooked into it. My server, Madison, checked on the soup ingredients -- without prompting -- and came back to ask if the cheese was OK. When I said no, she happily agreed to swap my order for a custom vegan flatbread instead. I never complained. But the manager asked the kitchen to rush my revised order, brought it over himself and then didn't bill me for it. It was all totally unnecessary (but appreciated). I would have paid full price for that vegan veggie flatbread! My dining mate loved the pulled pork sliders and sweet potato fries (especially the sauce).
(5)Kristin K.
Awesome happy hour. Great food. Great atmosphere. Wave and Bama rolls were awesome. White Sangria on HH was also delightful.
(4)Alex R.
Not impressed. Thankfully I wasn't footing the bill for the less than stellar apps and entrees.
(3)Diana W.
I went here for lunch and was excited about the new less than 500 calorie menu option. Service was good at first but as the lunch rush came in the service and food slowed down but our waiter still helped us with a smile. Got the low calorie cucumber wrapped salmon roll which was tasty but I wish the sauce they drizzled on wasn't as citric. Also got the scallop sashimi dish that is on the low calorie menu too...it was delicious. Tasted fresh...I wanted 4 more! Will I come here again? Well, the sushi options aren't mind blowing. Run of the mill "generic" sushi chain for the masses but it has a great selection so if you want to meet people here that don't enjoy sushi, you can get your fix while they order a sandwich.
(3)Braden S.
Went here today before shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall as should be expected. The server was very nice, but not very attentive. He didn't come by many times even when I needed water and had to steal water from someone else in my party. People at my table tended to like their meals well enough, but I didn't love the sushi. I would have much rather gone to a reputable sushi place in the area instead of ordering the sushi at Kona. I tasted the ahi tuna salad and was underwhelmed, but it was still OK. Overall, food and service were OK. I think this is a place to go if and ONLY if you are shopping in the Cherry Creek Mall, but don't come here just for a place to go out.
(3)Crys A.
This is a chain and we all know it. Still, I'm not going to lie, the food, drinks and service are pretty darn solid. Because I'm into monetary self-flagellation I often find myself wandering blurry-eyed around Cherry Creek Mall for hours at a time, only to land, quite thankfully, in a seat at the bar at Kona Grill. They have this sushi sampler thing which is brilliant. I mean, being from Hawaii I know good sushi, and I'm not saying this is the omgbest sushi in town, but for the price and the amount served I'm not balking. The sweet Maui onion rings are also good, as are the potstickers. Again, nothing amazing to write your mom about, but for what it is and where it is and how it is --- I like. Entrees? The ribs are good but I find the macadamia nut chicken to be ... odd tasting. Can't put my finger on it, but I ordered it only once and that was good enough for me. The pad thai was standard, not especially special, but it's not like I didn't eat most of it.
(4)Lo B.
I have never seen such tiny shrimp. $17 for thumb nail sized shrimp was an insult. The pasta was over cooked and gummy, the lemon cream sauce wasn't remotely lemony. The service was inattentive and way below average. We would have loved to order a drink or a dessert but the server never returned.
(1)Katie B.
Kona Grill, you did a much better job of pleasing me on the second go - kudos! After my initial bad experience at Kona Grill, the district manager contacted me to apologize for my lackluster meal. He offered to send me a complimentary gift card as consolation, and naturally I eagerly accepted - but that's not why Kona earned a better star rating. The sushi saved this joint. I returned to Kona while my boyfriend was visiting from Florida. It was his last night in town, so I wanted to take him out for something nicer than the Mexican grub and leftover Thanksgiving chow that we had been noshing on all week. We started our dinner with ahi wonton crisps and edamame. Both were satisfying, but I've had better ahi tuna (can I get a holler for Cuba Cuba's ahi with watermelon, oh my). The wasabi sauce on the tuna was fantastic, and I sopped up all the remnants on the plate with my edamame. Having learned my lesson sampling the mediocre burgers during my first visit, my beau and I stuck to the sushi menu this time - and it was an excellent decision. We ordered about four different rolls, including the spicy salmon and a savory soft shell crab roll. However, the crowned jewels of this meal were clear: GET THE ATLANTIC ROLL AND YAMADA ROLL. Seriously, you must. The atlantic is a hearty, smoky baked salmon concotion with eel sauce, cucumber, and crunchy tempura flakes. Probably my new favorite roll. The yamada roll was the center piece of the dinner, and overwhelmed our tastebuds with tempura sea bass with crab, avocado, cucumber, and wonton slivers wrapped up in delicate yellow soy paper. Yes, yes, yes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We topped off our gluttony with a seasonal pumpkin-infused creme brulee - pretty good, but given how disgustingly full I was, it was hard to really enjoy it. Niko devoured it though, and I liked the fat little pumpkin seed topping. Overall, I would come back here for some sushi - especially those two amazing rolls.
(3)Tyler S.
Great American/Seafood/Sushi restaurant in the heart of Cherry Creek. I made the executive decision today with a good friend of mine to head over to Kona Grill today for lunch. Having eaten here numerous times previous, Kona just seemed to be calling out to me as we narrowed down our luncheon choices in the area. I ordered my absolute favorite from here, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken! Not only does it come with freshly steamed and deliciously seasoned green beans, served underneath the chicken cutlets, is a crazy tasty pile of cheddar mashed red potatoes that are the bomb.com ! My lunch partner ordered the grilled Mahi-Mahi, which I must say was also pretty tasty when offered a sample. Not too "fishy" (which I can't stand when ordered fish in Colorado) and grilled until it was perfectly cooked. It came with a side of mango salsa and some crazy vegetable called Broccollatini that was a weird hybrid between broccoli and asparagus. We also decided to split some sushi before our meals came out. At the recommendation from our server, we ordered this shrimp tempura, crab, spicy tuna roll that was all wrapped up in cucumber slices. On top of the sushi was this wasabi aioli sauce which made the entire dish outstanding! I would definitely order this sushi again! I've heard they have a great happy hour, although I haven't personally been during that time. They did have a sign posted advertising all day happy hour on their patio if that day's high temperature is below 40 degrees. The only downfall it seemed from this was that you had to sit out on their patio. All in all, Kona Grill is a great, kickback place to grab some drinks and American/Seafood and sushi with friends or family. Nothing special - I probably wouldn't come here for an anniversary or special occasion meal, but it serves it's purposes when the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken calls out to your stomach!
(4)Amir R.
I found nothing appealing about Kona Grill. The food was dull and uninspired. It seems the most important objective of the restaurant is to rush people through the place. The only reason I went to this place was because I was hungry and in the mall. A better bet would have been to walk out the door and head two blocks over to Hapa Sushi. Denver is full of good Sushi places, Really! This ain't one of them.
(1)Scrotie M.
I like this place and there food is pretty good. They have a nice atmosphere and good service. The food is a little over priced but is cooked well, their happy hour is good for food but the drinks are weak. I would give 4 stars but more than one time I have seen managment belittle staffers, and it is embarasing.
(3)Carlin L.
I ate at Kona this weekend. Sushi and salad were actually quite good with a fantastic patio. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is and the non-stop 70s music was rather peculiar...
(3)Kyle M.
went to kona because of raving fans and was not impressed. the food was ok and overpriced we had the hawaiian steak and some general sushi rolls. the steak lacked flavor and was no where near the $30 quality. the service at kona is a+ however. our server was on it all night.
(3)Kenneth P.
I'm reviewing in regards to the reverse happy hour (around 10pm-12). Kona's really good for some cheap drinks and cheap appetizers during their happy hour. But it's incredibly annoying on a busy night or a cold night. Their happy hour "requires" that you sit at the bar section or out on the patio? Yeah... I don't really understand it much, but it gets pretty annoying if there's weather or if you're in a big group and looking for a table. I don't really understand why, but I think Asians tend to flood towards Kona and have trouble reaching out to other places. But to be honest, I always dread being dragged there by friends mainly because of the seating. Besides that, the calamari and the barbecue chicken pizza are always good items to order. Some sushi is decent, but honestly, if you're a real sushi eater, you're not going to Kona's happy hour for sushi.
(2)Pilar D.
This review is for happy hour only. My expectation was not very high because, albeit, Cherry Creek, it was still in a mall. Kona Grill is located on the north side of the mall, near Neiman Marcus. Kona is also accessible from the outside. The restaurant space is indoors. The bar area inside is small, but more extensive outside. There is a fireplace and some heat lamps for cooler weather. The drink special was ok. There were a few cocktails (margaritas), beer, and wine. The list wasn't very extensive but was pretty inexpensive, around $5 - $7. For happy hour, I believe the appetizers were half off. There were also pizza around $7 and they were HUGE. It's really the size of a medium pizza. We had a couple of other appetizers (I think something with ahi tuna) but nothing memorable. The place is great for beer and pizza.
(3)Kim H.
The food is pretty good here, and service is nice too! The chicken club sandwitch was delicious! And the taro chips that came with it were yummy! The pad thai was very good as well-generous portion!
(4)Elizabeth M.
Having lived in Denver for 15 years, it is surprising that I never dined at this restaurant until just this month. For some reason, I thought this restaurant served different fare than it does, and I wound up being nicely surprised. I have now dined there twice and been for happy hour. I recommend either. The mixed drinks are great - have had both a cosmo and traditional martini, both of which tasted great. My friend had the cold sake, which she allowed me to taste, and it was also quite good. I generally order appetizers and sushi, both of which are very good. My favorites are the avocado egg roles and the wave sushi roll. My daughter loved the potstickers and sushi; her friend devoured a couple of the hand rolls. Service has been fairly prompt and efficient. They've been pretty flexible with us too, allowing us to change tables and have staggered arrival times. They seem to have very generously-sized dining rooms with more than enough seating. Kona Grill has become a new favorite for us, and we will definitely be going back.
(4)Jeanette D.
I've only been here for the reverse happy hour from 10pm to midnight but I'm a big fan. The food specials are $4-5.50 and include calamari, crab rolls, chicken and shrimp romaine wraps, etc. There are comso, beer and the famous sake bomb ($7) specials. They get crowded so plan to get there right when the happy hour begins to ensure that you get a table. The outdoor area includes large flat panel tv's and a fire pit so the ambience makes it a good place to hang out. Definitely a nice place to start or end your evening.
(4)Katianna C.
I am a huge konavore, I have been to almost all of them across the USA and i can't complain, i love their sushi and mojitos, I love the atmosphere and service there, if you sit outside or at the bar you can get great happy hour deals on drinks,apps, and sushi!! Can't complain!:-)
(5)Katharine A.
We showed up here minutes after Happy Hour ended and stayed for a couple of drinks. This place gets crowded and people were very packed in the bar. We had a good drink, but didn't stay to eat because of the sea of people.
(3)Perry C.
I thought of Kona Grill because the parking is easy there and because we'll e in Kona, HI next month. What an enjoyable meal! The four entrees, not all mine, included my Snapper with mushrooms broccoli and rice, Louisa & Mary each had the crab meat po' boy & Charles' tenderloin. The desserts were over the top! Terrific & HUGE! Key Lime Pie, Very Large Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream and my apple dumplings bread w/ vanilla ice cream... photos to follow. Our server Zane delivered excellent service too. It was our first visit to Kona Grill and it won't be our last.
(5)Asko B.
Delicious happy hour appetizers. Great staff and atmosphere is amazing as well. Check it out and enjoy.
(4)Stephanie S.
We sat outside - nice place with a good atmosphere. Service was speedy and friendly. I had 2 different martinis that were both yummy, though I cannot remember what they were called :( For my meal I got the Hawaiin Chicken sandwhich (grilled chicken with pineapple)... it was VERY good! A +
(4)Brittany B.
If you want a decent happy hour and you want to get a margarita for $1 cheaper just because you don't have a Y-chromosome during said hh, this place is for you! There are two margs on the menu, one a "ladies Margarita" which, when clarified with our server, is what females get, even though both beverages are the same. Sweet! The patio is great on nice days, though on cold days it's not so bad and supposedly they're putting together an all season patio soon? I'm anxious to check that out. I've enjoyed the "regular" food here, but happy hour is the reason this place thrives. Get there early... or don't and that will leave more room for me ;) j/k but really, this place fills up and the vultures looking for an open table can be vicious if you aren't careful
(4)Saydee X.
Kona grill is definitely one of my faves! The cherry creek location just remodeled and it looks amazing. There is so much more room and looks a lot nicer! The design is also really great! Anyways it is definitely a nice place for a date night or just come in to get drinks! Happy hour prices are my favorite! There's great picks on there. We got the pad Thai, coconut roll, angry edamame, and this other roll with white tuna. The angry edamame is my all time favorite but today they made it super salty. Our server was great and brought us a new one and we loved it. The coconut roll is super good! If you don't like raw fish I definitely recommend it. It was pretty much deep fried shrimp with coconut flakes and rolled with avocado and mango! It was a great combination. This was the first time we tried the combo pad Thai and it was good but I've had better. It wasn't a authentic type of pad Thai, I feel like it's definitely an Americanized pad Thai, still good tho but not the best! We topped it off with the chocolate fudge brownie and it was amazingggg!! It's a huge brownie probably feeds like 4 people!
(4)David N.
Normally restaurants that are housed inside of malls are mediocre at best, but I am willing to say that Kona is an exception. The service was very par, however the quality and taste of their menu was rather high quality. I came here for a family outing and so I got a rather comprehensive taste of many of their menu items. Below I have rated the various foods on a scale on ten. Sushi: Volcano- 8 Eel-6 Checkerboard- 9 King Crab-8 Picasso- 9 Bama- 9 Shrimp and lobster- 6 Appetizers: Fondue- 8 Calimari- 6 Lettuce wraps- 7 Shrimp Diablo- 5 Drinks: Sangria- 9
(4)Ryan N.
Recently renovated this restaurant offers an exquisite atmosphere with a very diverse menu that will fill any cravings. -The sushi is average at best, while there is nothing exceptionally unique about the rolls, the jalapeño sashimi will leave your mouth watering and asking for more -The pepperoni flat bread is also very basic however the margherita flat bread is a light healthy alternative that is incredibly satisfying -If you're looking for something a bit more filling, the macadamia nut chicken will melt in your mouth -If you enjoy tea the blackberry jasmine tea is refreshing and gives a unique natural sweetener to a classic drink -Desert, if you have a sweet tooth the brownie, snickers ice cream cake and passion fruit creme brulee are exceptional. The creme brulee is something in its own world Overall I highly recommend this restaurant for dates, families, business, lunch, casual dinner
(4)Charlene K.
I think Kyle did a great job, he was really busy at lunch on Labor Day. Asked for lime got lemon. Houston roll was fun-- cream cheese and jalapeño. And where else can I get sushi and tomato soup on the same plate? The hot tea is BAGGED and pretentious. Virtually no flavor. When I ask for tea at a Japanese place, I expect loose leaf green tea. The food is solid for a mall restaurant, I would eat here again.
(3)Kristen B.
Been here about 3 times already and I love the ambience. Great happy hour and wait staff is friendly beyond belief! I work in the mall and I've been here 3 times the last week. That should speak volumes!! Love this place.
(4)Sharod D.
I am quite the Happy Hour guy and this is by far one of my favorite late night happy hour joints! I have dined at Kona many times but after today, I needed to compliment on the food and service! Each time I come the service is great, with an extremely accommodating waitstaff. Now to the most important part, the food. Great half price sushi rolls, my favorites include: the wave roll and the avocado egg! They have closed down recently due to construction but as soon as they open back up, I'll be right there ready to throw back some saki bombs and delicious half price appetizers and rolls!
(5)Tanya V.
I love Kona!! Been going here for a very long time, recently it was temporarily closed for remodeling and I was super excited to find out they reopened, It looks absolutely amazing..very modern and LA like. The menu is the same, which is great because its absolutely delicious. Calamari and the sushi are the best!!!
(5)Sasha L.
I came here with friends after a hard day of shopping on Saturday. First we sat outside. I wish I could remember our servers name, he had light eyes and I think a beard, he was great. He was super friendly and funny. After we ordered drinks, we received our appetizer and ordered our entrees. We were in mid bite with our buffalo chicken flatbread (bomb) when the construction next to us become highly disruptive. A guy was welding above us, and hot metal flakes were literally falling on the entire patio, It looked like snow. It got in our hair, everyone was putting napkins over their food and drinks so metal wouldn't get in it. This weird issue sent us inside to ask the host to please reseat us. We also found our server and told him. Again, he was super cool. We told him we still wanted him to serve us (especially since we ordered our food and he was so awesome). He brought out our food at our new table right when we sat down and then told us he could not serve us because the long haired brunette girl who was in that section had worked there a long time or something. Total BS. I assume she was just a greedy unreasonable girl. And she sure seemed like one. She kept pushing us to order more drinks and tried to be charming but her attitude seemed really fake. We were all disappointed she wouldn't let our first server continue to take care of us. I really hope she gave part of the tip to our first server, who obviously deserved it. But I assume she didn't. The food here is good overall. We got the rainbow roll, phill rolls, and the spider roll. Everything was delicious. I wanted to get nigiri but it did not seem like a good value, I bet it is cheaper during happy hour. They had a Sam Adams seasonal on draft which was the best option, all other beers were macrobrew crapliquid. The value isn't bad for the area, it is pretty much what you would expect. I will totally come back when we are shopping but would not go out of my way to come here. If you come here do not sit on the patio unless they are finished with the new construction next door. It is very disruptive.
(3)George D.
Love this place, never had a bad experience here. Best calamari in town !!!! Will be back again soon
(5)Brielle G.
Awesome happy hour which includes all day happy hour on Sunday! Only downfall is very busy during happy hour and you have to sit at the bar or outside to experience happy hour prices so might have to wait a while. This is located in the cherry creek mall right across from California pizza kitchen and near john atencio jewelry store on the first floor. I always get the sushi here and it's always awesome. I get the rainbow roll which has huge pieces and is always fresh. I've also had a crab roll that is fried but was not as fresh as other places I've had. The sangria is delicious- by far the best sangria I've had in a while. I love the white and red sangria both are so refreshing and I could drink those day after day! They have a bubbly now it must have champagne or something because it's a bit more bubbly than the white sangria which consists of white wine. The margherita flatbread is huge and can definitely be split among the table. I wasn't a fan of the buffalo chicken flatbread but would order the margherita each time and it's great! The spinach dip is also addicting and uhhhhhmazing- simple but super duper must when coming here! Also the edamame is a nice size to be shared among two people.
(4)Jessica R.
A wonderful little sushi intermission while shopping! The hosts were kind and accommodating, since I had my infant son with me I wanted a table away from others. In case he started babbling loud. My server, Layne knew the menu perfectly. He was quick, kind and to the point! The sushi tower was sooo good and filling! I also like how one person can order sushi while another person can have a burger and fries, very accommodating. The bama roll wasn't that good, but everything else was and ill go back
(4)Julian T.
Great food and service. The sushi wasn't bad for Denver the timing was great and our server was on key and knew his menu would come back again. Stopped in for a quick bite and was in and out in great time. They have a sushi bar with s huge fish tank as well!
(4)Nicole S.
Always a great dinner spot! Best happy hour in town!
(5)Alex T.
I've came here multiple times, normally for happy hour. During those times we usually get the happy hour sakes, rolls and pizza which tastes alright, but extremely cheap. I came for the first time during non happy hour times and here's what we got: We had their avocado eggrolls because of other yelpers suggestions and wow it was good. We also ordered an eel cucumber roll which had a lot of rice and the rice was stickier than normal sushi places, it was different in a good way. 3rd and last item we had was the checkboard roll which was also outstanding. Service was great our server was constantly expalinig things and is always here, but it's a Monday and slightly slow.
(4)Christina P.
I was shopping at Cherry Creek on a Sunday and realized that Kona does Happy Hour all day on Sundays (SCORE!). I went in during the late afternoon and was easily able to find an open table. This is a rarity on the weeknights, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Why not a full five stars you ask? After I sat down and was given some water, I asked for a menu and never received one. I had to get up from my table and take some menus from another table in the patio. Once I got my own menu, I waited around for someone to take my order. This didn't happen until about 25 minutes after sitting down at the table. I had to call the restaurant from my table to ask for a server because no one ever walked by. Over 5 minutes later, still no service. My sister then got up and walked to the bar and asked a bar tender if we were expected to serve ourselves. It was then that a manager came out to apologize and take our order. This was their saving grace. The manager was incredibly apologetic. He explained to us an incident with some difficult patrons before us caused our slow service. While it was not an excuse, I could understand. Not only did he comp a couple of items that we ordered, he offered us a free dessert at the end of our meal. I will continue to come here for their great happy hours and advocate for the excellent customer service that is provided by the staff. NOTE: prices have gone up since my first review (sad). For comparison sake, the margaritas are now $4.75 (pre-tax), rather than the $3.50 they used to be.
(4)Jessica B.
This place was terrible! My husband ordered a salad and they brought him a sandwich. After we sent it back with the expeditor our server came over and instead of apologizing for clearly ordering the wrong item, she said "Oh, would you like a salad?" Then my daughter found the longest hair INSIDE of her burger. We couldn't even eat after that so we paid the bill (all of it) and left. As we were leaving I told the hostess about the hair so that maybe they could address it she just looked at me with this snarky face and said "yeeeeaahh, maybe next time send it back." Thanks Kona! That was the best $74 we've ever spent!
(1)Chelsea K.
Went here for the weekday happy hour with a friend, the rolls were half off and we got a plate of calamari for $6. The only bummer was that we had to sit outside, in Colorado, in January. It was a warmer night for us, but even sitting next to the fire place we got pretty cold and so did our food. We had four rolls and we liked all of them. The Atlantic being our favorite. The calamari was a much bigger plate than I would have expected for the price so we were pleasantly surprised. Service was really friendly and attentive.
(4)Sara B.
Love me some Kona Grill sushi! KG as been one of my go tos for sushi for years now. It is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. You actually get a lot in the rolls, so that makes it worth the price. My favorite you ask? Hands down, the spider roll! Hello soft shell crab heaven! Not sure what to get? Just ask. All of the servers I have had were awesome and super knowledgable of the menu.
(4)Brooke B.
LOVE Kona grill!! Great staff, great management. Happy hour is off the chain! They even do a mall employee private menu HELLO!! Great, never had any complaints! I will take all my outta town family and friends here. Atmosphere and vibes are great! I am defiantly becoming a regular! The shrimp garlic penne pasta is amazing! Thank you!!
(5)Vilma S.
Came with my sister and daughter for sushi and to use my $15 B-Day coupon. I got the Pan-Asian Noodles and it was very tasty. The sushi and avocado rolls were equally delicious. We sat at the bar in front of the Sushi Preparation Section and it was nice to be able to talk to the preparer and ask for advice on all the sushi specials. I also had a receipt from a previous visit and it was good for a complimentary dessert (after filling out the survey). We decided on the brownie and we definitely didn't go wrong. It was huge and tasty with ice cream and caramel sauce all over it. They even lit a candle on it for my birthday. Very good dining experience.
(4)Alice G.
Thanks Yelp, Exactly! Meh, I've experienced better. Big Happy Hour for a certain crowd that likes sake bombs, and sweet teriyaki sauce appetizers. Food is "pub fare asian" with really mayonaissy sushi rolls. Has the mass produced in a factory somewhere feel.....Sushi is always luke warm. Not a fan, sorry to say. Still, one of the "sit-down" options at our upscale Cherry Creek Mall, so if CPK or the Nordstrom cafe don't do it for you, you can get a hot lunch. Or a lukewarm one.
(2)Shreyas G.
Good, not great. Came here for the first time tonight and honestly, I was expecting more both in service and food. Every time we asked the waiter a question about the dish he repeated the description word for word. He didn't seem too interested in what he was offering, but anyways, on to the food. I ordered the calamari and avocado egg rolls. The egg rolls were interesting, I enjoyed those and the sauce that came with it. However, the calamari was soggy but at least the sweet sauce that came along with it was nice. During the main course, we had sushi. We ordered the special roll of today and two others, which apparently were the top sellers. One of which was the Picasso Roll that says "spicy" in the description. Now it was spicy but only because they put a blob of habanero on the top . The second roll was the Las Vegas Roll. I was extremely underwhelmed, it was simply crab mix wrapped in rice with a little square of cream cheese in the middle. Now on to the desert, we ordered the brownie. You can't really go wrong with the brownie, it was nice, warm and very large (great to share for 3-5 people). There was a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top as well, which was enjoyable. Oh and lastly, the entire meal was very expensive. It was over $80 without even ordering any drinks. Overall, the food, the service, the ambiance was decent but nothing special.
(3)Lina C.
Happy hour is what makes Kona Grill worthwhile. Many of their dishes are half off and the drinks are reasonably priced (even though I didn't get anything). i have to admit, if it weren't for happy hour, I'm not sure if I would have come since it's pretty expensive for the amount of food you get, period. For three girls, we were able to order two rolls, the lettuce wraps, and my favorite, the BBQ chicken flat bread (which is amazing! A MUST for those who haven't been there) for about $21! What a steal!!! The rolls were okay and the lettuce wraps weren't as bad as I thought it would be. The chicken and the veggies used in the lettuce wraps are a tad bit on the hard side. We ended up sitting outside. it was nice and warm, given that there was a fire pit in the center of the patio. Perfect on a warm summers night. Overall, take advantage of Kona Grill's happy hour. Lina Chen
(4)Peter D.
I came with the fiancée and her friend on a Wednesday night and sat in the dining area. The service was exceptionally slow. It took 10-15 minutes from when I sat down until I received water and another 10 minutes before we put in our order. Our server did constantly apologize, but didn't really do anything to make it up other than explaining that they didn't have that many servers working. The restaurant was pretty empty though so it was unfortunate. The food was OK, but I definitely have had better. The best way I can describe the food is that it is an Asian Fusion restaurant. The angry edamame was probably the best with the sauce. The rest was nothing really special. I got the Albacore Tataki, Spider Roll, and Spicy Korean Tuna Roll. For the most part, there wasn't enough flavor in any of those items. There was some sort of bitter flavor in the Spicy Korean Tuna Roll that I could not figure out. For the prices on the menu, I expected better service and more flavorful food. Overall, it seems like an overpriced restaurant for meh food.
(2)ElizabethAnn B.
Stopped in fo a quick bite after a day of running around and was in the area. My friend recommended it and to my delight it was HALFOFF wine...seriously how can you beat that. And with cork & carry, I don't have be a lush and finish the bottle at the restaurant. Though the bartender seemed confident that I could. At the recommendation of the bartender I had the bama roll and it was delicious and fresh and great deal for happy hour. I also had the chicken satay as well. Great flavor. Service overall was great and food was delivered rather quickly considering how busy it was.
(4)Amanda H.
This is by far my favorite happy hour in Denver. It's in beautiful Cherry Creek, has an amazing patio (especially gorgeous --and busy-- during the summer months), and delicious food/drinks. We always start out by ordering a "Sake bomber" that includes Sake and a tall Sapporo beer for about $7 which is an amazing deal-- we can get a solid three sake bombs out of this baby. They also have margaritas, sangria, wine, beer-- the usual-- on happy hour. Word of caution, the margaritas are a tad small for what you get so I'd skip those. In terms of food, it's hard to choose what I love the most on the happy hour menu. The Margarita Flatbread is amazing and includes a very large portion (if I ate it alone, I would be stuffed). Calamari is great, but the sauce that it's served with knocks it out of the park-- I like to dip the Avocado Egg Rolls in it. It's a spicy-mayo mixture sauce-- reminds me a lot of the "volcano sauce" that is frequently drizzled upon sushi. The Lettuce Wraps are delicious too, and once again, the sauce served with it is AMAZING. It's a sweet-herb concoction that is out of this world. If you're a fan of won-tons, I would highly recommend these. As you can tell-- I love all of the above, and would highly recommend just getting a group of friends together and ordering many dishes and just splitting it all. The sushi is also great, but nothing I haven't experienced elsewhere. We have always had amazing service. The only flaw of this place is how popular it gets during happy hour. If it's during the summer months, I would highly recommend arriving around 3:30 to ensure you get a patio seat (or a seat in general) because it's only available in the bar areas and patio. There aren't reservations or hostess seating in these areas, so you'll just have to "stalk tables" to wait for people to leave and snag up a seat. Hope you guys love this place as much as I do! Happy Kona'ing!
(5)Jake L.
Big fan of the Happy Hour here at Kona! Can't beat a Sunday afternoon on the patio enjoying happy hour margaritas, sushi rolls, & appetizers! Plus yes I have to have a Sake Bomb, agree or disagree, that's on you. The staff is amazingly friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you have in regards to food/drink items, major plus on that! Favorite appetizer? Pot Stickers!! Favorite Roll? Crunchy Crab Roll with eel sauce Went with a friend a couple weeks ago on a Sunday and after drinks (Margarita & Sake Bomb), appetizers (Lettuce wraps & Pot Stickers), & rolls (Crunchy Crab & Spicy Tuna), total was just a shade over $25! Great thing about the patio area is TV's around the bar, and nice air flow now that it is warm out & when it cools off this Fall/Winter they have an outdoor firepit!
(4)Sean S.
Bartender kinda sucks, I think he may have been mildly retarded. He was red-faced, dripping sweat, inattentive and frustrated. Drinks tasted awful. A martini should not taste like sunscreen. Having said that, Sushi prices are awesome and tasted decent for $3. The ceviche was impressive and again, good price. The environment is....well it's Cherry Creek. The bar is right by the valet parking so if you are feeling a little high fallutin', go for it. Overall I give it three stars because the service was terrible and I can only look at so many Abercrombie and Fitch hats.
(3)Krissy R.
I went here on a work trip with a friend and was dying of hunger. I decided on the burger (I love burgers) and was NOT disappointed. It was brought to the table exactly as I ordered it, was piping hot, the cheese was slightly melted, and the flavor was intense. My friend also ordered the burger and as we were eating we swore it was the best burger of our lives. The staff was also really friendly and our waiter went out of his way to walk outside of the restaurant before we left to have a taxi waiting for us. I am sad that there is no Kona Grill in my hometown, but if I ever go to a state that has a Kona Grill I will go out of my way to eat there.
(5)Logan L.
Two stars because I loved the low calorie drink options, and they were fantastic, albeit low in alcohol, but that is to be expected with low calorie options. Great sushi options, although my boyfriend and I stuck with the edamame. I really was tickled pink that I could enjoy a martini, cosmo, even a mojito for under 125 calories. The one martini (can't remember the name) I truly enjoyed was only 76 calories and tasted like candy...truly amazing. The lack of 5 stars because the service was absolutely horrible. The restaurant was not packed, not busy, and the bartenders completely ignored us. It took 10 minutes to get our first round. We had to wait well over 20 minutes, and get the attention of a manager (more about him later) before we could order a second round. During that 20 minute time we were trying to get the attention of the bartenders, but they were more focused on the glasses than the patrons surrounding the bar. Now for the manager...in all my years (7) of being in the restaurant industry, I have dealt with managers who are true dicks. This manager, probably because I was wearing a simple tank top, shorts, flip flops, and had my hair up (it was 90+ degrees and I had been walking outside for a few hours, sorry my boyfriend and I weren't dressed to the nines), treated us like we were dirt under his feet and then gave us the lamest excuse as to why the bartenders were so inattentive. "They are stretched pretty thin." Maybe it's because I'm used to a busier restaurant during my bartending days, but if two bartenders can't handle a 50% full bar area and a 50-65% full restaurant area (with not a lot of drink orders from my observation), than I shudder to think how they would handle things when it was busy. I have been a bartender, a server, yes even a manager in the restaurant industry and I was appalled at the way we were treated and the utter laziness and lackadasical attitude shown by the bartenders and the manager. Due to the yummy low calorie martini options, I will probably return, but the service and attitude of the bartenders and especially the manager, better be better on my second time, or that will be the last time I set foot in Kona Grill (at least in Denver, heard great things about the Chandler and Scottsdale ones).
(2)Melissa W.
This place was delicious. I loved that they had a gluten free menu, thought my steak was amazing and the crime brûlée was pretty delicious too. I would definitely eat there again!
(4)Bill B.
Good prices on good enough sushi rolls during happy hour. Nice and dark inside--great feeling on a hot afternoon (like it was on Labor Day). We sat at the sushi bar to watch the magic happen. Our waiter was split between the bar (somewhat crowded) the patio (very crowded) and the sushi bar (pretty much empty). Thus service was a bit slow. The sushi chef himself went to the kitchen line to bring out one of our orders. Also, the restroom was "out of order" so we were sent across to California Pizza Kitchen to use theirs. If you're in Cherry Creek Mall and don't want to walk outside or re-park, this and CPK are about your only options for sit-down places that serve wine or beer.
(3)Lily P.
So I wish I could give this place a good review... I went in thinking oh this will be great hawaiian/polynesian with sushi, I WAS IN! But sadly I hope that I am the only person that has had this experience here. Me and my boyfriend went to dinner there at 6:10 and promptly sat, I was quite happy about this (HOSTESSES WERE AMAZING) at 6:20 still no server but the hostess when they were doing their rounds saw we had no drinks and asked if she could get us anything, and we ordered water because we wanted to hear what beers were on tap. She came back promptly with the waters and told us what beers there were (she even went out of her way to find out because she had no idea). About 5 minutes later we had a server (YAY!) Apparently the server that was supposed to have us didn't so another server had to pick us up even though she was in a different section. So we promptly ordered our drinks and a quick appetizer as we had some questions and she was hurrying off to another table and she knew we were ordering entrees because we still had our menus. Around 7 we got our drinks... really had to wait 35 minutes for a mojito and a bottled beer. It wasn't THAT busy.,, after that we didn't see our server again AT ALL. Around 715 we got our one sushi roll that we ordered for an appetizer. Finally around 730 we got quite annoyed that we hadn't even ordered our entrees and we had been there for well over an hour. We asked to see the manager (by the way we had to go up to the hostess stand to do this because again our server had disappeared) who came over confused asking if we were the table that ordered 3 bottles of wine that they were out of... Uhhh there were 2 of us so no obviously not. And he said he was "confused and that there must be another table" and then he asked if everything was alright with our table.... So we complained obviously because I had to be at work in an hour and a half and there was no way that we were staying now. He graciously comped our mojito and beer and 9 dollar that isn't worth the price sushi (wave roll: avoid it). We left her a 5 dollar tip even though we saw her for literally a half a minute (way too kind on our part honestly i would have just walked out!). It's not her fault that we were out of her section but she should have remembered us... especially since she delivered plenty of food to the tables right next to us. If I ever go back to this place again (which I doubt after this experience) I will gladly be sitting at the bar instead because everybody seems to be much more on their game! As I said... I really hope we are the only people that have been treated like this!
(1)Jason R.
5-stars, let's keep in mind this is strictly for the happy-hour menu and vibe. I'd probably give it 3 to 4 stars for the regular menu as it's somewhat pricey, and makes me feel like i'm getting shortchanged if I ever come here outside of happy hour. :-) Anyway, the Sake bombs are great, the avocado eggrolls are amazing. This is def one of the best happy hours in denver, if you like something other than typical, greasy bar food. Come check it out, outdoor patio is wonderful in good weather too.
(5)Clint H.
Another awesome place I traversed on my trip to Denver this past week. I want to give this place 4.5 stars, but I guess I can give in 5. It would be a definite 5 but the men's bathroom has a really weird smell! it was like, really weird, maybe it doesn't smell like that all the time, but it did yesterday! Me and my boy came in here (twice actually!) yesterday to have a few beers before I sadly had to fly back to NYC. He was like, let's go to Cherry Creek and have a few brews. I was like, done. We came in here and had some beers, all of which were $3 (Sunday special). The decor is awesome, and it's a very good size restaurant, but we sat at the outdoor/indoor bar area, that is, before we left and came back and finally got a seat outside. There's a huge salt water fish tank inside too, and i love fishees! There was a real diverse group there, enjoying the sushi and the brewskees and the beautiful day that was this past Sunday. I suppose it would be nice if the bar was bigger, but I didn't really have a problem getting a seat there on Sunday afternoon, it was the outdoor area that was very sought after. My boy even got something to eat, these dumpling things that were nice and delicious and a tad spicy, which was great. If you don't mind valet parking your vehicle, this is an awesome during the day spot to chill, have some brews, see and be seen...
(5)Kelly R.
Really? I was there a few weeks ago and my jacket was stolen by the drunk 20- something next to me. Honesty, you expect theft in some parts of town, but Cherry Creek?! Come on. I guess my ignorance shows... Anyways, while I don't obviously blame this on Kona, I do sadly conclude that the crowd here is somewhat uninteresting. The bartenders are okay, they do a good job at slinging booze. No real personality though, that I saw. Food seems uninterestingly prepared, and sadly, the bar area is very small and somewhat uncomfortable. Typical commercialized hot-spot. Nothing to rave about, but on the flip, nothing really to complain about either. (Except for the girl who is now wearing my jacket.) Top on my list? Not quite. But it does well, and for those who do enjoy it.. Cheers!
(3)Lindsay A.
My girlfriend and I came here for happy hour one Wednesday afternoon. I was a little skeptical about happy hour at the mall but once we were in the restaurant you really couldnt tell you were at the mall. We went to the heated patio because it was such a beautiful day and it seemed to be where all the fun was at. Our waiter came right over and was got our drink orders right away. I ordered the Rock Coconut mojito, which definitely was not on the happy hour menu but we were splurging so I didnt mind one bit. The cocktail was amazing and came with a little piece of rock candy on top. My friend got the margarita and was satisfied. After drinking and chatting for a bit we decided that we were STARVING. We ordered 3 different types of rolls that were on the happy hour menu and a couple of the other happy hour apps. They came out very quickly and were very satisfying and delicious. Our waiter came over and checked on us frequently and joked around with us a lot. I am in the food serving business so I appreciate friendly, personal service. A few cocktails in and we decided we better call it a night if we were going to head to rock and roll bingo. All in all a fun experience.
(4)julie n.
we had reservations for 4 but changed it to 7 last minute and the hostess was very accommodating. the service was ok, a bit on the slow side. granted it was restaurant week but not super busy. (none of us ordered off the 5280 menu). seaweed salad...good angry edamame ( edamame with sriracha)...kinda sour, not a fan octopus...pretty good, as expected seven spice ahi...good but on the small side crab crunch roll...really good jalapeño yellowtail sashimi...sauce was bland but overall ok boyfriend had the kona filet and his friend had the ribeye. they both ate every last bite so must have been pretty good. they have bubblegum saki on their menu but no longer carry it. waitress said they haven't for over 6 months but menu hasn't been changed. we were looked forward to that for dessert. side note...the management at Kona is great!
(3)Ivy M.
Happy Hour Prices are the best.... in fact don't go any other time you'll feel a bit 'jipped'.. I would have to say that the calamari, is very, very delicious. And you must try the Shrimp Tempura Naruto roll, very tasty. Also the saki bomber, always hits the spot .. for the right price!
(4)Honey R.
The place is neat and clean. I love the ambiance of the place . Our waitress was very nice and friendly. She forgot some stuff but it okay we had a big group. Prize is in the high side. Fried calamari was pretty good. I ordered their burger(i forgot what it was called), that was pretty good too. I would definitely go back to this place:)
(4)J L.
Great service, great food, and great people in a great location! Their calamari is a must. I had their shrimp penne also and it was very good and filling.
(5)justin d.
I really wish they would open a location downtown but until then I will continue to make the trip to cherry creek for the excellent customer service and the great happy hour specials! saki bomb $7.50 and for that you get a 32oz beer I believe and 4 or 5 shots of saki. FMLiver with that special! The servers keep there patients and orders in line considering how hectic the late night happy hour can be! My only gripe is they need a bigger bar area to accommodate the demands of there specials
(4)Gary W.
I went to Kona Grill on Valentines Day and found the experience very average. The service was good but the food was very average or less and the price was high relative to the quality of the steak & lobster tail served. The steak advertised as a filet mignon was not, and it was overly tenderized, as well as over cooked and the lobster tail was quite small and "poached" vs. broiled which I had been told it would be. Very unappealing, tasteless and undercooked. The atmosphere was nice. In summary, I would not recommend this restaurant as a great place for a special dinner.
(2)Cory D.
I went here persuaded by the many things I had heard about their happy hour. I would say this place is a slight step up from grocery store bought sushi, like the crap in the plastic containers. Not sure what I was expecting from mall sushi though. Fish did not taste fresh, texture was off, calamari was way over breaded and over cooked. Great deal on drinks, service was okay. No desire to return, like ever... never... ever.
(1)Joey T.
Good drinks and service, food was fair but tasty. After seeing my mother in Neiman's at the Cherry Creek Mall, we all decided to get a bite to eat. We were immediately seated at a large table to fit all of us comfortably (3 adults, 2 kids, and our baby daughter). The menu definitely an Asian-Hawaiian fusion joint with a sleek and modern feel to the place. The waitress was very helpful with the kids and baby's needs as they arise. We started with the Avocado Egg rolls, which were a bit bland and could have used some more citrus to it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine that the waitress had recommended, but I found it to be sub par and nothing to write home about. This place is a good place for lunch if you are not expecting too much; but the service is very good, just wish the food was too.
(3)Melissa M.
Hidee Ho. Went here last Saturday around lunchtime. Outside was full (bummer, nice patio they have) but we had the best waiter in the WORLD! His name is Zack, and get this, I remember him from 2 years ago at Black-Eyed Pea. Needless to say, he got like a 40% tip. We even told the manager how great he was and the manager acted like a total asshole. Oh well! Anyway, oh, yes, the food! I've never had a horrible experience here. We had the ahi-tuna appetizer and the shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, which were REALLY good. I wouldn't do sushi here, there are way too many other places that are sooo much better for sushi. Last time I was at Kona we sat in the bar with Champ Bailey and Dominque Foxsworth? Fox (?) (sorry, I'm a Bears fan so I didn't really care). We were in the bar for happy hour, which is great, until happy hour is over. There are a bunch of drunk skanks that usually hang out there so if you're lookin' for a good time... Over all, decent experience, but nothing overthe top wonderful except for Zack.
(3)Anna N.
Love the happy hour! The Chicken Macadamia entree is always one of my favorites from here (not on happy hour menu)
(5)Patricia K.
Hoss took me here, not sure why because I don't like restaurants that cater to pretentious people, but he told me his daughter likes it so I gave in. The food is good, not worth the price charged however (see pretentious), I liked the patio and smokers don't bother me one bit, other than that I wasn't impressed.
(1)Michael I.
My wife and I stopped here for brunch on a Sunday when we happened to be shopping in the mall. We weren't expecting much, but the menu looked interesting. The place was pretty empty when we were there, so we definitely didn't have anything like the happy hour crowd experience that other Yelpers have talked about. Our server was friendly and helpful, and when we said we'd never been there before, she gave us a bunch of suggestions from the menu. Since we were already leaning toward two of those suggestions, we went with them and added a third. We ended up having the avocado egg rolls, the macadamia nut chicken and the strawberry kiwi sushi rolls from the brunch menu. All three were fantastic! We love the avocado egg rolls at the Cheesecake Factory, and these were very similar (not quite as good, but really close). The chicken and the sushi were both great, and we loved the fruit salad that came with the sushi. I wasn't too sure about the sushi at first - basically California rolls topped with strawberry and kiwi - but it totally worked for us.
(5)Crystal C.
A solid 4 stars for a restaurant in the category good decent food for $$ price tag. Short version: Go there for Happy Hour and fight for a table with tooth and nail, it's worth it! Appetizers are halved off but the size does not diminished!! Awesome! - Happy Hour food: -- Avocado Eggrolls: yum. One of my fav appetizers during Happy Hour. Great value during Happy Hour since it is still standard size not miniature Happy Hour size. -- Lettuce Wrap: Again, yum! Great flavors. All of my coworkers love this dish. -- Pizza: My coworkers think it is better than CPK... me? I am not a big pizza person and there are just so many great appetizers that the pizza does not interest me one bit. -- Sweet Spicy Shrimps: Crunchy, sweet, and spicy. I love all those adjectives. Also a favorite among my coworkers. -- Spicy Tuna Roll: Meh, again, there are better food. -- Fiery Shrimp Roll: Meh... so I guess their sushi is not that forte. If you don't make it for Happy Hour, order the ahi steak sandwich. I don't really care to try anything else because the sandwich is so good. -- Ahi Steak Sandwich: I order it raw and it comes up just barely seared -- PERFECT. Most restaurants in Denver would cook the fish too much. Taro chips are great. Everything is great with this sandwich.
(4)Leah G.
I love this place. Happy hour is one of the best deals in town. The bartenders are always friendly. Make sure you go early for happy hour. It fills up quick and you may have to fight your way through a crowd to snag a seat. Also, try the angry edamame. It's amazing!
(5)Savanna F.
This place likes to be pretencious but I don't let that bother me. I love the happy hour, love the food. Always a happy camper when I get to go to Kona.
(4)Daniel G.
I would like to thank Kona Grill for showing me exactly what well prepared Sushi can taste like. I first experienced sushi here 4 - 5 years ago and have since tried hundreds of rolls all over the united states and have yet to find a crew that prepares it and presents it as well as the team at Kona. Thanks guys
(4)Elizabeth L.
I'm not updating to review the restaurant itself or the dessert again, but more for the overall quality and taste of the food I got earlier today. We got a tuna, tempora shrimp soy paper wrapped roll (I don't remember what it was called) for $8.50 and the lobster ahi-tuna flatbread for $15. The tasted good but it was generally a disappointing roll. Sushi should not be warm. The rice wasn't the proper sushi roll rice (where it's mixed with a bit of vinegar/flavoring) and you could tell the rice was still cooling down-- it was warm. Other than that, the soy paper wrap was a pretty cool addition to the roll. The flatbread, on the other hand, was really good. It had red onions, lobster and seared tuna, baby tomatoes, avocados, and a creamy sauce drizzled on top. I just wish the flatbread wasn't so crispy or the pizza as a whole was more dough-y. Kinda tasted like a lobster/cracker dip. I would get this dish again....though it's a little out of my price range.
(3)Nicole W.
I've been here before and without walking outside, it is by far the best choice in Cherry Creek Mall! This time I did lunch with a friend. We got there right round noon, CPK was packed, but we were seated right swiftly at Kona! Yeah! We weren't in the mood for sushi, so we skipped those lovely items. - looked yummy though! I did the blackended cat fish tacos - over stir fried vveggies as opposed to the rice. Veggies were icky, but the tacos were amazing! They wrap them up, so it's kinda like a mini burrito, but very yummy! Loved them! The sauce inside... mmmmm! Yummies! The wait staff is very friendly, kept my water glass filled- so full i almost had to use the rest room mid meal! :) There were a number of options that looked really tasty, and next time i'm shopping I'll pop in!
(4)Victoria N.
The only reason I eat at "Kona Grill" is for their reverse happy hour. Their appetizers are much cheaper, select sushi rolls are decent and wonderfully cheap, and they make a mean, yummy, frozen strawberry margarita, for the happy hour price! So, if you're looking for a late meal with affordable sake bombs, get your bum to "Kona Grill." Beware though, reverse happy hour gets busy and it's often difficult to find a table in the patio/bar area if you arrive during "prime time" (usually an hour or so after happy hour has begun). So either get there early or arrive late. Don't hope for on-the-dot wait service, because the servers are already running around with their heads chopped off and I'm sure they're doing the best they can. I recommend: All the happy hour sushi rolls Avocado Eggrolls Frozen Strawberry Margarita Calamari Reverse Happy hour: 9-11 Mon-Thurs .. 10-Close Fri and Sat... I think.
(3)A A.
We went here because California Pizza Kitchen had a 20 min wait. We should have waited. For some strange reason we decided to get a pizza. Never in my whole life have I seen or tasted a greaser pizza. Everything from the cheese to the crust was saturated in grease. It wasn't very good, either. We also ended up getting the chicken fingers from the kids menu for a little one in our party. The chicken was similarly greasy and, while the macadamia nut crust was definitely crunchy, (and they get props for using real chicken), it was close to tasteless. If I was forced to return I would get the fake sushi, but I would set my expectations very low. They get a second star for the professional staff and nice decor.
(2)Katherine B.
I do not get the hype about this place. AT ALL. Eating there last night left me with only one question: why is this place considered hip and trendy? The interior decor reminded me of something you would see at your local IHOP. The bar/lounge area is far too small and crowded. There is no parking other than the valet ($8 I think), so you typically have to park elsewhere at the mall. While we didn't try everything on the menu, several sushi rolls were a mere slight step-up from the prepackaged kind you get at your local grocery store. Now I have repeatedly heard that this is the place to "see and be seen at" in Cherry Creek... Maybe if you're in your very early 20's and late teens. The bar area was packed with people who barely looked old enough to drink, while the dining room looked like a typical Sunday night at Chili's (families with kids!) The only reason this place is getting ANY stars from me is because the service was spectacular. Steer clear people and don't always believe the hype.
(2)Andrew W.
A nice restaurant connected to the Cherry Creek Mall. I down rated Kona for my personal respect for true and traditional sushi restaurants. Just because Kona is attached to a high class mall, does not automatically rate high in my standards for sushi, even thought it was pretty good. I give it a "pretty good" rating. The atmosphere is dimly lit and a great dinner atmosphere. They offer a wide range of dishes from Sushi to pizza. I found the menu quite spread out, which makes it good for families or groups. Our server was excellent! He did his typical run down of specials, but did have a personal connection with us. I'm sure these servers rattle off their individualized speeches a couple dozen times a night, rather daunting. Our food was wonderful and his recommendations were spot on. We started with the avocado rolls which melted in your mouth, a great starter. My girlfriend ordered the "Standard Pizza" with Canadian Bacon and pineapple. Nice crust, great flavor and plenty of leftovers to take home. As my girlfriend enjoyed her pizza, I did the sushi route. I ordered a seaweed salad and 3 rolls. My seaweed salad was very fresh, crunchy and cold. I love a really cold seaweed salad, that just makes it that much better for me when it is extra cold. My sushi rolls were very tasty. Also, they serve larger sized rolls in comparison to many Denver sushi restaurants. Larger, I mean, more rice and quite a bit more substance inside. I was very happy. For myself, I usually order 4 rolls. At Kona Grill, I could barely finish 3 rolls. My sushi dollar was definitely stretched further here. I am not a "mall" type guy, but I did go to help return a few items the girlfriend wanted to return. I think her comment got me, "I will buy you dinner." Sold! I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and have a drink or two outside near their fireplace patio.
(3)Rachel K.
This place is alright. They have a very nice atmosphere, I was a fan of their patio & the fish tank inside. I like the set-up of the bar. The menu is fairly large with good options. The tuna appetizer was tasty, as were the avocado egg rolls. The sushi was not so good; it did not taste fresh. Maybe this is because I am from Boston and the seafood is more local? I don't know. The spider roll (which I get everywhere) was not good-agreed among the whole group. The other sushi was just OK. The drink menu was also just OK. Nothing trendy or exceptional. All in all this place is decent, but nothing that will blow your breath away.
(3)Ilya K.
I have Ben here many times with my wife and other business meetings, I think that food is mediocre and I never understand the combination of the steak/sushi, neither is great
(3)Lendy L.
Went for happy hour on a Wednesday night starting at 9pm. I absolutely love sushi and tasty drinks. I had ordered the spicy tuna, the spicy shrimp roll, and a BBQ chicken pizza. The shrimp roll had to be returned because it tasted bad, that is, very fishy. As for drinks I ordered the Lady margarita for only $3.50 and it was pretty good. Personally the happy hour sushi rolls are nothing to rave about but I would definitely come back for the happy hour drink specials. The outside seating area was supplied with plenty of heat lamps so the night out was cozy and warm.
(3)Kristol T.
So I finally decided to try something different other than the sushi and I was impressed. My friend talked me into having the Chicken Chili soup which includes white cheddar cheese, jalapeno cornbread muffins, onions, chicken and chili of course. It was simply delicious! My drink of choice for the evening was the strawberry basil lemonade. This was also great but they need to go lighter on the basil as its hard to even sip the drink with so much basil in it. And it gets watered down really quickly. Now besides the food, the atmosphere is great! If you don't like dimly lit places, this is not your place. The servers are very nice and accommodated us staying at the table even after we finished our food and drinks. Expect a wait on Friday and Saturday night but you can always sit at the bar which seems to be the happening spot these days!
(4)Daniel R.
I begin my humble review by laughing haha because this is exactly how I feel about this restaurant. My laughing gesture, in a way seems rude, but at the same time I believe that it reveals truth. At Kona Grill, my eating experiences have been rather unfavorable unfortunately. Each time that I visit Kona Grill I go for the environment, and not the food. I see a lot of trendy people who have just finished shopping around the cherry creek mall. If you look around you'll see a handful of dates, older couples, younger couples, and good looking adults within all of these groups. It's a very nice place to relax in. The lighting is dim, the waiters are nice, so you can't complain about a bad experience. The one thing I'll bring into discussion is the food. Several times, I have ordered a meal and asked if I can get my money back. One time I ordered an almond-honey grilled chicken meal. I absolutely love grilled chicken, but this one had a certain spice that I disliked. It seemed inappropriately spicy and totally went against the honey. I know that contrast effects sometimes make a meal better, but the honey and sweet flavor versus spicy was a failure. So the next time that I go in, I ordered the fish tacos. What I got was a set of tortilla wraps filled with rice, the fish of course, and a disturbing tasting sauce. Within two bites, I asked the waitress to change my meal. My little brother, a seven year old, was eating chicken fingers with fries. I tried some of his food and decided that I would order the same thing. In five minutes, I was also enjoying a simple, yet satisfying meal. After a few attempts at ordering, I found a successful algorithm for making safe decisions at Kona Grill. The secret, is to order conservatively. Order pizzas, hamburgers, chicken fingers, anything that you can find at any other restaurant. I like the experience way too much in here. The food isn't going to chase me away.
(3)Dana R.
Two words - SAKE BOMBS!!!!! How I love thee... The fact that this place is in the fanciest mall in the area cracks me up. Both of their HH's are fun & crowded - nabbing a seat at the early HH means arriving early or waiting by the door and glaring at all the lucky ones who have a table. I've had better luck getting an outdoor seat at the late night HH. As for food - it is ok, although does get better as the night moves on. Chicken satay & onion rings (HUGE) are some of my fav noshes there.
(4)rebecca b.
I have a problem with bars in malls. So let's get that out of the way first. But then again, Cherry Creek Mall is no average mall..... people are wearing $800 torn jeans here. I'm so far out of my element, its hard to keep from laughing at every contrived outfit I see. Lots of cosmetic surgery on cougars and everyone is wearing "the latest" overpriced ugly trend. I'm practically breaking out in hives from the conspicuous consumption here. BUT Back to Kona Grill. Happy hour includes a "ladies margarita" for cheap. Its premixed sweet green grossness. Impossible to drink . And I wonder if all those designed label wearing chiquitas who were sucking them down realize that it about 600 calories a pop? Your Wine options: Chardonnay and Merlot. I'm dead serious. The food we ordered at the bar was very good - the yellowtail sashimi was fantastic and the sauce on the side of the avocado egg rolls was out of this world. However, not likely good enough for me to return to this cheesy mall bar.
(2)Adrian H.
The good: The tuna tartare The bad: Oyster Crackers destroyed the clam chowder The annoying: Parking a fair walk away (even if it is through the mall) My wife and I went to the Kona Grill for lunch. It's a reasonable spot just inside the Cherry Creek Grill. They have a good lunch selection, including Good pick-a-pair lunch items. I had half a portabella mushroom sandwich, and a cup of the tomato basil soup. The latter was obviously made with yellow tomatoes. My wife had the clam chowder and tuna tartare appetizer. Her chowder didn't taste of clams, instead being overpowered by the oyster crackers on top. If you get the clam chowder, ask for real croutons instead of oyster crackers - you will be happier. The tuna tartare comes with a nice avocado based mix and served on fried wonton wrappers. It's delicious. Overall, enjoyable. We like the Kona Grill - it's one of our favorites in the Cherry Creek area.
(4)Shawn N.
Made a trip back as I had a gift card in hand. The food on the inside was much better, the seating cozy, unfortunately while the waitress was sweet she was covering FAR too many tables and what should have been a 30 minutes sitting took closer to an hour and a half to get drinks and entrees. The staff also didn't know the drink menu confusing the non-alcoholic "Blackberry Tea" with the alcoholic beverage of the same name (of the two people asked neither knew they had two drinks of the same name). So while this trip was better than the foray into happy hour, I feel like Kona is still missing their potential.
(3)Becca W.
Kona, I gotta say has the best Happy hour! :) Great drink prices, and of course; Sake bombs! The food happy hour is pretty good too, good deals. But the food overall, isn't that great. So Kona is only good for Happy hour drinks!
(4)T.S. S.
Great food and even better service! Thanks Zack. My wife and I really enjoyed it
(5)Daron S.
Oh Kona happy hours, you used to be so amazing, but now I can hardly stand them. They have really good prices on wine, and happy hour food, especially their $5 pizzas (they are all good). I've never acually sat in the dining room or had much from their menu, but a lot of their stuff looks tasty. This place deserves 4 stars but I must give it 3. TOO MANY (RUDE) PEOPLE! It's impossible to get a table or a seat. So impossible that you have to stake out someone who is about to leave and ask if you can have their table. Most are nice about it, but some people have said I should get there earlier (Well I have a job that prevents me from drinking all day and shopping at Cherry Chreek). Even if you have been patiently waiting for a table, there is no guarantee some person won't swoop in and steal your table. It's funny because during happy hour, the dining room is completely empty. I think they could open up a few more table (It's like they don't want to make more of a profit) and enable some sort of list for people waiting. After that rant, they are lucky they are still at 3 stars.
(3)Mailou V.
Friends and I get together once in awhile on Thursday evenings for happy hour 4-7. The good: *Decent menu for happy hour, I ordered some sushi that I've never really tried before and it turned out pretty good. Not too impressed, kindda expected the vinegary taste- ya know, like real sushi. *Sat at the bar and the bartender was a little slow, but really nice and cool *decent drink menu, although super small glasses. The Bad: -Snobby crowd, I should probably expect this as it is cherry creek. -Small patio/ bar as I had to just make up a seat at the bar. I feel like I have to get here super early just to find a decent seat. Overall, seems it's always full during happy hour, which can be a good thing, but for the food I'd have to come back and try more of it other than the sushi to enjoy it more.
(3)RoseAnn V.
We tried the Kona grill last night for dinner. We had been there before for happy hour and decided to try it for dinner. Overall the experience was decent, although the food was a bit bland. The bill came to $70 and frankly, it was not worth that. The calamari was good, the special goat cheese flatbread was okay and the basil pesto linguine was overwhelmingly pesto. Bottom line, great for happy hour not so great for dinner.
(3)Sulema M.
5 stars for happy hour! The have happy hour and reverse happy hour. Did I mention their sake bombs are the bomb! Yup, yup! I love how you can sit outdoors, even in winter, under the heater, and have a jolly good time during happy hour. There can be a wait sometimes and you can choose to sit in the main dining room if you'd like, but the bar and patio area are the best! I do not know how you can get soo much food and booze for so little. Pizza and sushi would not fit in my book otherwise together, but during happy hour they seem to mesh well for the price. I've also eaten here during the lunch hour and felt the meals were a little overpriced, go figure, you're at Cherry Creek mall, but overall good.
(5)Angelina N.
My friends have been telling me about Kona grill for awhile but I never got around to try it until last week. I went here with my boyfriend who has eaten here before and he said they had good sushi, but he always went around happy hour. We went around 1 p.m. and sat outside. Our server was nice in the beginning and took our order without writing a single thing down which at the time I was impressed. We ordered 5 dishes if i remember it was calamari, coconut shrimp roll, wave roll, volcano roll, and i forgot the last roll but i believe it had baked crab in it. The calamari came out first and it was NOT good at all. All we tasted was their batter and a strip of squid, my boyfriend remembered that their calamari was really good but what came out was not good calamari. Then our server came out with 4 dishes, we were still waiting on our last dish which was the wave roll. I wasn't very pleased with the taste of the rolls they were on the bland side and after two bites of each roll you get sick of them. We still hadn't gotten our last roll then a manager came by and asked if everything was ok, we said we were waiting on one more roll which was the wave roll, the manager said he'd have that out right away. When we were done we checked the bill and it said we were charged 2 wave rolls, which we were ok with as long as it was fixed because it must have been a mess up. We told our server that we only ordered one wave roll and he objected and pointed to our coconut roll (which tasted very coconutty) said that was our second wave roll, so we asked "Then where is our coconut roll?" He snatched our bill up and left and came back with no apology and said "we knocked one off for you guys". I was a little upset because of how rude that was and the fact that we were almost charged for another roll and if that wasn't a coconut roll we were charged for it. Maybe happy hour has better food and friendly servers, but for MY first time experience I probably won't be coming here again.
(2)Erin J.
for the love of god, i'm not sure what i was thinking going here for dinner. the place is TIRED. and the food was mediocre at best. i know, i know... it's in a mall. what did i want? well, lesson learned. waitress was rude. we ordered something specifically because if came with taro chips... when it was delviered, no chips. then we sent it back and the manager came to say they were out of taro chips, so he'd adjust the item on our check. ya, he adjusted it... for half price. i'm not even going to waste anymore time here. i'm just underwhelmed. if you're going to eat in the mall, just head to johnny rockets then.
(1)Kristyne M.
Cool ambiance! Stopped here for HH on the way to a movie. My g/f had sushi and it looked pretty tasty, but I'm not into fishy business. I noticed other people ordered the flatbread combos which also looked good. I'll have to go back when I have more time.
(4)Gracie L.
Warning: My only experience was during happy hour.... The sushi was dry, the drink specials were disappointing, the service was SLOW, and the dining room looks like every other mall chain restaurant. BUT I will say, I had these ahi tuna nacho things and I have been dreaming about them since. They were delicious! My advice: Get a regular beer or mixed drink, skip the fru-fru happy hour drinks and order those tuna nacho things and the avo egg role. And come with plenty of time and a good friend you haven't caught up with in a while because you certainly are going to have the time to chat.
(2)Jason J.
I'll be honest, Kona is not THAT great, but it is a lot of fun. The menu is wide and varied, wish a bunch of sushi choices, as well as pizza pasta chicken and steak choices. So if you dig sushi, but your date does not -- don't fret, you'll find something you'll each like. The drink menu is decent, with a couple of abnormally and unexpectedly tasty cocktails (I prefer the Kona-Tini, and no I did not bring my purse to dinner.) It's great to sit at the back sushi bar to talk with the always friendly chefs, and watch the fish in their gorgeous fishtank. If you can get there early you MUST try the outdoor patio or the bar near the fishtank in front so you can experience the Sake Bombers at Happy Hour. Cheap and high in alcohol content, you'll love it. Things you must try: Hana Salad, Crab Crunch Roll, Giant Onion Rings, Kona Tini. Fun place with always decent service, a fun decor, and close to overpriced cherry creek shopping (at a price that won't kill your wallet like the nearby stores and shops.) Get your Kona on!
(4)Jafey A.
This is a great place to go to on a nice summer afternoon. The patio area is great and their happy hour deals make it worth the trip. Their sushi selection looks great but every time we go we have gotten the onion rings are burger because their spicy ketchup is incredible. The taste is unique and works perfectly with the onion rings. If you get a chance, give it a try.
(4)Mrs J.
Very good sushi. I had the checkerboard roll. Yum! Fresh fish, nicely rolled, big portion, good fresh wasabi. My friend had a sandwich which was huge and looked really good. She said it tasted great. Will go back again if I'm on that side of town. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to your neighborhood sushi spot but you pay for the experience right? All in all very good.
(5)Misha R.
The good: *The fish tank is gorgeous! *The decor is beautiful! *The servers are the very best, wonderfully trained! *The menu has incredible choices! *One beautiful outdoor patio, with fireplace. The bad: *The menu is way over priced. *The sushi is not that good, unfortunately. *It's in a mall, which you must walk through to park. *There are like 6 TVs in this beautiful place, really, why? *The portions are WAY too big, WaaaaaY too big! *The food is very mediocre.
(3)Karly K.
I'm a huge fan of interesting, nontraditional sushi rolls, and Kona Grill has great ones. The happy hour is fantastic, delicious drinks for a great price, along with the selected appetizers. I've been here twice and suggest it to my friends on a regular basis. Will definitely be back!
(4)Kyla A.
Man this place gets crowded, but they offer awesome happy hour deals, so what can you expect. The drink specials are definitely worthwhile. $4 Cosmos from 3pm-7pm on a Friday... does it get better? The food is not the best. In terms of bar food however, it is satisfying. I could not imagine coming here for dinner though and paying full price. It would not be worth it. Happy hour on the other hand, is another story. Nice patio, that people use even in winter because of the fire pit and heating lamps, and great deals on food and drinks, makes for a fun place to enjoy some drinks with friends.
(3)Kristina J.
I met a friend there on Monday for happy hour. This wasn't my first time there so I knew it was going to be crowded, which it was. We ended up ordering from the happy hour menu because we just wanted a quick bite before a movie. 40 minutes later the crab crunch roll and caprese flat bread arrive. I could understand if both the dining room AND the bar we full of people, but the dining room had barely any tables. And when we asked about our food the waiter just shrugged us off and told us the kitchen was backed up...like it happens all the time. It would be nice to have a good happy hour with timely service. Will I go back? Yah, I like the happy hour. I will make sure that when I go I don't have a time constraint
(3)Julie L.
One of THE BEST happy hours in Denver! No greasy happy hour bar food but fresh sushi rolls, shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, delectable pot stickers, mini cheeseburgers made fresh, delicious margherita pizzas and avocado egg rolls. I'm sure I'm missing something but believe me it's all good! Drinks are the bomb with cosmos, beer and wine at killer prices. Great patio seating and an upbeat bar flanked by a full size salt water tank.
(5)Katie R.
good friends. sushi. better yet, CHEAP sushi. mad drink specials. heated patio. What could be any better? oh yeah, being in the middle of a Russian discussion, seeing wannabe Jersey Shore Guidos fist pump, and random drunk girls playing in the fountain. ha :)
(5)Veronica G.
Great food!! Wide variety menu, service was great, food was amazing!! The only thing I'd change is the drink menu. I wish they had more standard liquor drink options available but the two I did have were ok. Definitely will be returning hopefully some time soon.
(4)Antonio S.
Nice atmosphere but terrible sushi, way over priced! The waitress at this "sushi bar" apparently had never heard of unagi before. I thought unagi was something normally found at a sushi bar. Big disappointment for an expensive meal! Stay away from here if you like real sushi.
(1)Mark S.
What You Must Know About Kona Grill's HAPPY HOUR: 1. Price ranged from $3.50-$5.50. 2. $3.50 for all sushi. There are 5 differenct options you can choose from. And each roll is cut into 8 pieces. All portions are large for price. 3. Calamari is great with large portion. I always get this. 4. Parking is a pain although you can just park at safeway and walk over. 5. Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 everyday. 6. You can only eat at the bar area or outside to get Happy hour. 7. Get their early or do not bring more then 4 people or be prepared to wait. 8. Happy hour also includes tacos, calmari, great drink specials, pizza, and more. Quite a few items for cheap. 9. One of the best happy hours in Denver. Especially for sushi rolls that are affordable and upper average in quality (for the price).
(5)Sherri K.
I hadn't been to Kona Grill since summer, and the experience was mediocre at best, but this time, it was an above average experience. I took my daughter after shopping, to have a little tete a tete before school started after holiday break. The hostesses were not too friendly, but the server made up for their stank attitudes by far. He was on his game and made a truly enjoyable dining experience for myself and mini-me. We had pot-stickers and green mussels which were cooked perfectly and came out quickly even though there was a wait and it was mid-dinner rush. My daughter ordered the California roll, and really, how can you screw that up? I had the Ahi salad which was fresh and very good and a crab tempura roll which was extremely tasty. Overall the meal was great and the service was even better. With free valet at dinner...another bonus. It won't take me so long to go back this time.
(4)Jessica H.
Extremely slow service! The last 2 times my friend and I have gone (not during busy times mind you) we ended up getting our own menus and had to request a drink ourselves. We were sitting for almost 15 minutes before our waiter even came up to us. The food is average and overpriced.
(2)Morgan N.
Happy hour here is only happy because your drink will *eventually* show up. The service is so bad it hurts. Of the two times I've been, our orders took forever, came out wrong, and we were overcharged by accident. The menu /looks/ good and there are some pretty faces on the patio etc, but the music is stupid loud because "it's supposed to feel like a party." Moreover the food is vomit-inducing. Literally. I got sick after the happy hour sushi, an event that's only happened to me after grocery store grade sushi in the past. Also the seating arrangement is first come first serve and you're required to jam into small, loud areas versus the empty dining room. It's pretty formulaic really, apparently you're required to have a good time. Meaning of course, that you will be required to experience loud music, snobby singles, and long waits...which means the place is obviously posh.
(2)Elizabeth h.
Second time I went here and got food poisoning. First time I went, I ordered the checkerboard roll and a margarita, got violently ill after. I thought it was a mixture between tequila and sushi. Second time I went, I got the checkerboard roll and a spider roll. I was up for 5 hours vomiting profusely until I was finally able to keep down water. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS FACILITY unless you like to picture yourself eating off of someone's hands who just wiped their genitals and are preparing your raw fish YUM!
(1)Kyle M.
I write about this place for a somewhat unique (if not unfamiliar) reason. Don't lie, you know you can relate. They have Kirin Ichiban sake bombs for happy hour. This is wonderful, because if you have 2-3, it will lessen the blow of spending too much money at Cherry Creek Mall after your happy hour experience. I have made many incredible purchases after spending an hour or two here. Nordstrom, Saks, and Nieman should be thankful that an establishment like Kona shares mall space with them. A dream-come-true for any shopper with pre-buyer's remorse.
(5)Eric T.
Ah , a late night happy hour in a Cherry Creek bar. There is almost nothing more annoying to me, and Kona does nothing to buck this trend. I enjoy their Sake Bomb drink special. $5 for a 22oz. beer and a small bottle of sake is a good deal no matter where you are. The happy hour appetizers are so-so. I liked the chicken satay, but the sushi is mediocre. The rolls have fake crab and the fish is basically flavorless. I've also had yellow mustard that is stronger than their wasabi. Especially around happy hour seating in the bar/patio can be a nightmare. Finding a place outside is difficult at best and I have seen many people just standing because of a lack of seating. The crowd is wanna-be upscale Cherry Creek so pretension and a flipped up collar is a must. Overall, not my favorite place and now that I have no friends working there or in the area I probably won't go back.
(2)Heather S.
The food here is average at best. I should preface this review by saying that we ate here for dinner, not happy hour, so my point of view might be different than those who are raving about the happy hour. The menu seemed totally incohesive, with some sushi items, random asian fusian type dishes, pizza, american appetizers. So strange. We had no idea what to order, and there was an unpleasant fishy odor near our table. Totally unappetizing. The service was very good though...but not good enough to bring me back.
(2)Adam B.
The sushi here is very American-ized, but hits a sweet spot in my tummy nonetheless. Service is always friendly and fast, but it can get annoyingly packed at times. Happy hour is awesome for the discounted all-anyone-should-drink-in-a-sitting sake bombs. I didn't see the asparagus pizza on the happy hour menu last week though...so what's up with that Kona? Huh?!!? I should dock you a star, but I was too blitzed to care.
(5)James D.
This place is all about the Happy Hour -- excellent prices on mostly-good food. There are a couple stand-out dishes, but most of it is just OK. But the price is absolutely right and so we keep going back. The sushi we've tried has all been excellent! Very fresh and flavorful, with some creative rolls thrown into the traditional stuff. The pizzas are thin, but very large, so a very good deal. Biggest disappointment would probably be the cocktails. They are really hit-and-miss. Sometimes the Cosmos are great, other times they are short on everything but cranberry and they are just an expensive glass of juice. They would be a 4-star rating, except I find it annoying that they don't manage the Happy Hour seating and it has to be a free-for-all to get a table. I know this isn't uncommon for Happy Hour, but most places aren't this packed. A number of times we've come and waited for a table, only to have someone else swoop in and grab the table before the previous group has even walked away. It gets very aggressive and we just don't have the patience for the fight. It seems like the hostess could easily do the seating there too, the regular restaurant never seems that full or busy, but they just take the easy route and let folks fight it out. We would go much more often if we didn't have to rumble to find a seat.
(3)Tim C.
Pretty decent food. Went there on a lark for lunch and ended up spending $36 (not including tip) for 2 beers, three sushi rolls and some edamame. The happy hour menu looks promising...will probably try that before slamming the place for the overpriced lunch. Stay tuned... Update: went in there for happy hour...the server was great, the food was alright and the overall tab was so-so...and the house music seemed to be handpicked by a teenage girl...
(3)Kimberly I.
If Kona Grill and I could get married I wouldn't be a newly wed. I probably go here 3 times a month at least and it is by far my favorite. It can be a little pricey for dinner so I usually just stick to happy hour, which you really can't beat! I have tried almost everything on the happy hour menu! From the crunchy calamari (best served with a side of sweet chili glaze), to the crab crunch roll! It is all super tasty. When I go with friends we always send one person ahead to grab a table because there can be quite a wait for the patio. (Happy Hour only served on patio and in bar area). The one downfall is people can get quite aggressive for tables here so stick your ground, and scout one out lil mama! Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 only to start again at 9 until close for upside-down happy hour. They also have great drink specials for wine, margaritas ($1 off for ladies), and sake bombs (large Kirin with full sake= $6) Truly, this is probably my favorite place ever! I even had my birthday here. I would recommend it to anyone. The pricing is great, the staff is super friendly, I have never had bad service here in my life, and it is delicious! Go to Kona and enjoy! Sushi Sushi Sushi!
(5)Laura M.
I have given this place chance after chance and have been disappointed every time. I am not quite sure why I keep trying to make this place better than it is. Fish, not fresh, tough, flavorless. The potstickers are greasy and just completely boring. Overpriced and I own a business, so I know that you have to bum up your price for your location, but over $10 for lettuce and some asparagus. Really?? Once the GM left this place last year, it went downhill even more. Service that we have had each time has been horrible. I have given Kona Grill chances over and over, but this past time will be my last. Sorry, Kona Grill, buy fresh ingredients and put your heart into it and you won't have so many people complaining.
(2)Sarah Z.
This place is great but really worth it during Happy Hour. Great drink and food specials. Also a great patio for those nice days.
(4)Monica K.
I love Kona Grill's Happy Hour! The food is awesome and the prices are fantastic. I also really like the atmosphere and the seating arrangement outside. I am surprised that the sushi is actually really good for an American-Japanese restaurant. I would reccommend this place to people who enjoy happy hour. They also have a reversed happy hour, which starts at 9pm.
(4)Joyce L.
Food should be personal. Every meal should be special and prepared with love. A publicly traded restaurant does not impress me. I guess their board has a lot of people to impress and have to be politically correct. Is that why each item on the menu seems like they had to apply affirmative action? Sezhuan beans with mashed potatoes and Kona steak? I'm confused. I want gravy with my mashed potatoes. I want rice with anything with the word Sezhuan in front of it. Call me close-minded, I don't care. Not fresh, long ass wait, see ya later alligator!
(1)Nancy M.
I never had fish cooked so perfectly for a non-sushi gal that I am. The bass has always been great and so are the salads and the pork tenderloin my friend ordered. It is usually a nice place to dine with not a lot of children if you like to relax like me after work. I enjoy the atmosphere and staff who always seem very attentive but not hovering. Over sized booths and tables for groups so it has room for all kinds of parties. We went this time the week before Christmas and everything was hopping. We sat outside with the heaters and fire pit and after about 5 minutes our table was ready. Seems pretty quiet on the weekdays but I don't know about the weekends or Happy Hour which seems worth trying out in the spring on the patio.
(4)Arash G.
One of if not the best happy hours in Denver. The quality of food you get for what you pay is ridiculous. The calamri is bomb and so are the pizzas and sushi. I haven't eaten anything on their happy hour menu that I didn't like. The drink specials are excellent too! You can get a nice buzz off of a sake bomber for $7! The only downside is that you have to fight over tables. People hover over them and then everyone bum rushes. I've seen people get into arguments and mean mug as well. One family got really feisty and was told they had to leave. Competition makes the food taste better!
(5)Neenrn C.
Had the spider roll today for lunch, it was way too blah. The price was way to much for the dish. lack luster service. I would not recommend it to friends, maybe to people I don't like. Next time I'll drive to Sushi Katsu
(1)Darika S.
The oriental salads are great! I had mine with the grilled salmon and my man had it with their specialty, macadamia nut crusted chicken. The dressing was light and the veggies include napa cabbage, green onions, and romaine lettuce and had some slivers of almonds. The price was high but would go back. Skip the flavored teas they are $4 and as priced as a beer.
(4)Rick G.
I have been here a handful of times both for happy hour and the main dinning room. The happy hour special are awesome and the food is consistently delicious. The main dining room is a little more money but well worth it, no waiting for an open table and more excellent food on the menu. At our last dinner we were celebrating a graduation and the staff was super nice and responsive to are needs. The manager even stopped by to see how everything was going. I have worked in the service industry before and I am not easily impressed, but the Kona Grill staff has amazed me every time. If your near Cheery Creek and want some great food for a decent price visit the Kona Grill.
(5)lauren b.
A good, reliable happy hour spot. I have been here numerous times with friends and they have awesome drink and food specials. There is no parking right out front which kinda blows (I usually park by Macys and walk through the mall, which has proven to be DANGEROUS as I have stopped to shop in different stores after a few cocktails during happy hour). The wait to find a table/bar spot in the bar area during happy hour can also suck. I think I've had to wait each time I've come here for a table to open up, but usually only around 5-10 minutes. A couple of times I waited probably a half hour (or longer) though, ugh. The happy hour includes good drink specials, and the food is super yummy. Yes the sushi is pretty American-ized but very good nonetheless (especially the Atlantic roll). Other good items? Ahi tuna wonton strips (delish) and the margherita pizza. The happy hour has awesome items, but I don't think I would ever come here for an actual dinner and pay full price.
(3)Candace W.
I have only eaten here once and I keep forgetting about this place. I think because it is in the mall, it seems weird to me. The sushi appetizer I ordered and my entree (which was some fish I forget now, I'd have to see the menu again to recall) were both good and I liked the ambiance. The menu had a lot of things that sounded fun to try, a nice selection of choices like a sushi sampler meal and everyone else's food around me that I spied on looked delicious. I totally want to check out their happy hour if I ever remember to. I'm always into eating well for less and this place has two happy hours which I think is totally cool. One is like normal happy hour time around 5-7 or something similar and the other one is after 9 or 10pm or such for late night deals on food and drink. I don't know for sure the times, so if you want to go to happy hour check and see what the exact times are by callling, I am just throwing out example time guesses because I forget the exact happy hour times, but they do have two a day.
(4)Kate R.
Been here a couple of times for happy hour. We have always found a seat on the patio, but it takes a little effort. Plus we usually have to sit there for 10-15 minutes before the server acknowledges our existence. Look, I've been a cocktail waitress before, and I know that sometimes you need to spend most of your time and energy on the one big "table of douchbags" (of which there are plenty at Kona) who look like they will provide the biggest tip. But you shouldn't make it obvious and let your other customers suffer because of it! I have never had a complaint about the food...in fact, their salmon sushi was some of the best I've had in awhile....very fatty, sweet and fresh. The happy hour prices are decent (especially for sushi rolls) and the cocktails are usually tasty. I wish they had a couple more tables and one more server to take care of customers. As a smoker I do kind of appreciate being able to smoke in their outdoor patio....that's a luxury I don't often encounter. So, 4 stars for the food-2 stars for service...we'll average it out to a 3
(3)Maha K.
Two of my exes love this place. They eat here weekly. I have had a bad taste in men, until recently. Which means unless you're griping about how badly your job sucks with like-minded coworkers for happy hour, this is not the prime time place to be for Match.com meet-ups or the like. The food is ok. I've cooked better, which is a shocker. And the first time I went there, the insects that were crawling and flying around inside the bar area ate more of my appetizers than I did.
(2)Kendra L.
It was quite an unexpected but pleasant occurence that had me sitting in a corner booth on a busy Cherry Creek Thursday evening. We were greeted by an easy-going cheerful waiter who took our drink order and made small talk as he introduced the menu layout(s). His service gets a star on all its own to be included with another star that counts toward the overall service, which included a couple visits from a professional yet friendly manager. We were not hounded by the service, but checked in on and kept in the loop regarding the time it would take for our food to reach us (even though it was a completely reasonable amount of time). I would say the service was my favorite aspect of my experience with Kona Grill, but then my salmon entree salad arrived and became the driver of my endorphins. I asked for rare-cooked salmon, which could not have been cooked a degree more or less - creating perfection beneath its sweet chili glaze. Speaking of heaven... I mean sweet... but it was also heaven if I were to know such a thing... dessert! Ohhh the dessert! My dining companion knew what he was talking about when he requested a "slice" of the Red Velvet cake. Slice is in quotations because I feel like I've made entire cakes smaller than the moist, creamy, chill-delivering piece that landed in the center of our table. Need I say more? Because I could. The atmosphere was lively and chipper. The lighting was perfectly dim (but not so dim that it becomes awkward to squint so that you can see clearly your good looking company). The walls were donned with warm colors from what I can remember (decor didn't seem to be important at the time); the seats were comfortable - although it was one of those booths that made me feel like a little kid (my height may also have bearing on this factor). Overall, Kona has left me with all positive thoughts. I plan on returning to try out the sushi lunch specials on some distant day off (the day off is distant, though not my desire to return). I may even have to tack on another star at that point. Stay tuned, Friends.
(4)Becky S.
Here's the kicker: They have the BEST onion soup I've EVER had. And seriously, I crave onion soup constantly and therefore order it pretty much everywhere I go. Kona has the best. Hands down. Okay, now to go with their great onion soup, they have great brunch. And let me tell you about our server, who has the unique name of MYSTERY. No, I'm not joking, that's her real name. She was great. Only complaint was that my bloody mary refill came after a slight delay, but I also realize that she had a party of eight sit in her section and had to take care of them too. The manager even stopped by to make sure we were happy. And then there's the food. I got an omelet for Sunday Brunch, which they serve until 4pm. It was the perfect size, with yummy mushrooms and cheddar cheese. The potatoes I could take or leave, not my favorite, but I was full after the omelet anyway. Seriously, to everyone who did nothing but complain in their reviews, go back with an open mind. Or next time you're "dragged" there, request Mystery as your server. She made our experience cool and definitely enjoyable.
(5)Jennifer W.
I do not understand why people rave about this place. The food is only "OK" the service is bad and the attitude is ridiciulous! I mean seriously----it's a chain restaurant in a mall! I know that people find it trendy but after going 3-4 times (the 2nd and 3rd dragged back by friends) I think I'm done. If I'm paying for food & drinks I prefer to be in an atmosphere that is enjoyable, where the staff actually WANTs to get a good tip and where I really enjoy the food.
(1)Cyl B.
The happy hour food is good and the pricing is amazing. The one dish that I stay away from is the lettuce wraps because they are usually too salty. However I do love the calamari and the steak tacos, the sauces are just heavenly. I do find the happy hour drink selection to be lacking. The drinks are too sweet ... sugar on top of sugar!!! But I go there all the time. If you haven't been there in a while the patio has changed their tables to square ones from rounds so when additional people from your group arrives you can join the tables and the staff is always very helpful in aiding with this.
(4)Dan W.
This place is in a mall, a pretentious mall. It's got these weird pillow/sprinkler/lamp things on the ceiling. The beers they have on tap are kind of crappy. My wife loves the Kona-tini which is some sort of martini with pineapple juice. Other than that, it's a great place. Nice bathrooms and 2 happy hours. They have nice patio too, it's heated in the winter and there's a fire pit. I can't explain it but for whatever reason I keep going back here fairly frequently. If it sucked, I certainly would not do that. They also have one of the only raw Sushi bars in town that I order from, and I've yet to be disappointed. They also make a great BBQ chicken pizze which you might not expect.
(4)Mark S.
Didn't get in the door. We were trying to find a table in the bar area with the two kids. They sat at the bar not taking space from anyone else waiting. Bartender ignored us for 5 minutes then sauntered over and told us the kids couldn't sit at the bar. God I love enthusiastic people working in the service industry (note sarcastic tone). Put this one on the "not kid friendly" list. Won't be back. Nice fish tank though.
(1)Kate C.
I know people who enjoy going here, but I have to say I have never had a good experience. The first time we tried to eat there was mid afternoon during the week. The hosts were too busy chatting with each other to notice us. We sat & waited & waited until finally someone asked if we were being taken care of (five minutes). There were other diners in the area, but it was not busy which is typical for that time of day. So we order cocktails and don't see them for five more minutes until a new server informs us she will be taking over. We order a starter & change waiters two more times. I said no more, went to the front asked for a manager & let them know we were displeased with the service. He couldn't care less! SO, I think, maybe it was just one of those days. I have returned twice more, neither experience quite as bad, but certainly not good either. Typical of mall & chain restaurants. Probably why I don't care for them. The food is fun, but the service & air of "couldn't care less" is so undesirable. I loathe these experiences.
(1)Arlyn C.
I've come here for lunch and happy hour, been satisfied both times. Tried the ahi tuna sandwich on ciabitta and freshly fried taro root chips.. MmmmMm. The aioli with the warm, toasty bread and flavorful ahi was very yummy. Friend ordered some kind of chicken salad and was also pleased. Good portion and tasty enough. Happy hour has good sushi and since I'm a beer snob, didn't take advantage of the prices.. lol.. what can I say? Service was excellent and I like the casual environment. You can sit oustide and enjoy the fresh air, or sit at the bar and watch sports. There's a huge dining area as well, great for tired shoppers or large families. Pretty decent place for being in the mall. Definitely like this place.
(4)Sheryl K.
Happy hour at 10pm? On my recent trip to Denver, I found myself at Kona Grill for their 3-5 sushi/appetizers, and I left happy. On a Friday night of course it's going to be busy as the outside patio is jammed packed with 20 something year olds. I suggest try scoring a high top inside and order as much sake bombs and finger lickin' good fried calamari or even pizza (yes pizza). Our server was attentive and humorous... mix that would good company, and it'll turn out to be a decent night. No dress code, but I suppose you can fancy yourself up - depending who you're trying to impress.
(4)Andrea S.
If you eat in the dining room, the food is delicious and the service is average. If you happen to make it for their fantastic happy hour, their food is even better (because it's cheaper) and the drinks are great! Plus, I have had better experience with the service at the happy hour, than I have with the service in the dining room. Important recommendation...GET THERE EARLY. The bar fills up super fast!
(4)Natalie D.
In all honesty, I like Kona because of the great happy hour they have! IF you can get a seat on the outside patio! I do enjoy coming with friends as they have 1/2 off app's and cheap drinks and as stated, if you can get a seat outside by the fire pit, it is even better - they do NOT do happy hour in the restaurant... the service could use quite a bit of improvment, but who really notices as long as you are enjoying time with friends! :) I am not sure I would come here for a "regular" dinner... But it is definitely a great time for happy hour.
(3)Jeff V.
I really hate how crowded this place gets at happy hour and if you're planning to go do note that it's open seating and I strongly recommend that you arrive early, whether your group have 2 people or 10, tables fly just as fast. The happy hour here is good, the food is alright but the drink specials and location neutrality along with the abundance of parking (though you may have to walk a little) make it an A-OK place to start your night or end your day.
(3)Jeff J.
Like kona grill.....sushi is good....had most things on menu.....great happy hour as well...
(4)Viviene W.
This place is great for their happy hour. My friends and I almost always go here before heading downtown. We especially enjoy the avocado rolls, cosmos, wine, and sushi rolls. I would highly recommend this place. The inside/bar area is usually pretty packed but if your get there early, you'll be able to grab a spot inside. Otherwise, there are spots and tables outside underneath heaters. There's a fire pit too which is really cool. Nice place to chill and eat before the club/bar or just meet up with a few friends and catch up.
(4)Brooke F.
My husband and I went here tonight for dinner, after trying to find a new place that sounded good. This place was hoppin for a Saturday night, and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table, pretty standard. Once seated, our server came and took our drink order right away and shortly after took the rest of our order. Everything was fairly timely. The only thing I think could improve is the pacing. We ordered an appetizer and soups before our entrees and the soups came out first, and the appetizer 30 seconds later, and before we could even get to the appetizer, our meals came. Other than that, service was prompt and prices were decent. The atmosphere is fun, with a neat fish tank behind the sushi bar and some hip music filling the air. I will definitely come back!
(4)James S.
Been here three times. Saw the review about the noise etc. Odd... never had that experience. Hopefully they don't do anything stupid like that anymore. I usually get there at about 6PM - 7PM so maybe the happy hour thing is done by then. The food is amazing! Some of the better food I've had anywhere in Denver. I have to suggest thier avacodo egg rolls. I've had these at Cheese Cake Factory, but they aren't half as good as Kona Grill makes them. Other than that, I've had thier sirloin steak and multiple sushi dishes. The sushi is fresh and the steak is thick and cooked exactly the way I like it. My wife usually gets the macadamia nut chicken which I have to say is pretty amazing tasting. Service is A+++. You won't be disapointed with that. The atmosphere is classy, romantic, semi-casual but not too casual and not to formal either. Wear something nice, jeans are probably ok. It is a bit spendy, but the kind of place that you feel like you got what you paid for.
(4)Karli F.
I met a friend for happy hour here last night. We arrived at 5:45 and there was no seating in the bar area inside and of course they won't serve you the happy hour deals if you sit in the dining area. So we sat outside, granted it was under heaters, but it was still quite chilly. They have a whole list of appetizers that are 1/2 off. They also have certain drinks and beers on special. I had a Cosmo which was mostly cranberry juice. My friend had beer. We ordered the spicy tuna roll, the tuna wasabi things (for lack of a better descriptor), a margarita pizza, and calamari. (We were being little piglets--don't judge). The spicy tuna roll was fine for a restaurant that shouldn't really serve sushi. The tuna wasabi things were weird. They were tuna wrapped in a tortilla and flash fried. The calamari was rather bland and of course it got cold really fast seeing as how we were outside. The margarita pizza was my favorite thing out of the bunch. Ultimately I'll probably go back because of location, the specials, and the price ($30 for all that). But I wasn't that impressed.
(3)meredith h.
Didn't have the best experience, and def. not good enough to go back. From our entrace, no one told us of the valet parking deal, the hostess said "free for all" seating on the patio for happy hour - not in the most sincere way - and that was an awkward 5 minutes of perusing the patio, waiting to see if the one guy with a water at a table for 4 was going to get the hell out and stop staring everyone down. Server was nice (remember the name because its rare : Chance) The knowledge of sushi wasn't there, and the one time the manager walked by, he literally stood in front of the table, said HI, then turned and moved on...no unused dishes were taken, no "hows the food/having a good night?" The app was a blackened catfish taco, which as generous, but lots of intense flavors, especially the sauce, but I thought that was the best part. Sushi...eh...overall overpriced. They should spend money to redecorate!
(2)Tina Marie E.
The Pad Thai here is the best! It never disappoints. Their Maui Onion Soup is also good. I would highly recommend it! My advice is to come before the dinner crowd because the prices are cheaper during lunch time. If you happen to come in on a weekend day/evening and it's crowded during lunch or dinner, you'll more than likely end up starving while waiting for your entree so ordering an appetizer would be ideal in this situation. Did I forget to mention that they have Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour? The staff is very friendly and helpful for those who are newbies to the establishment. Don't forget to order sushi! Save room for dessert, the Passion Fruit Creme Brulee is the sweet ending to a great meal at Kona Grill!
(5)michelle b.
Been here once and had absolutely the MOST delicious Ahi Tuna Sandwich EVER! The others in our party had a variety of rolls and all were pleased with their choices. The service was good, as we went for lunch and it wasn't horribly busy. Will definately be trying it again.
(4)Brian F.
The PF Changs of Japanese food. Awesome for Mexican-made sushi. The service is ok, the food is ok, the booze and bar rock.
(3)Joe B.
The best thing about this location is there outdoor patio. I would give that portion of the restaurant four stars. A good drink menu and nice atmosphere. The rest of the experience is two stars. They food quality is average. You can get equal grade sushi at the airport or supermarket. The service, my two experiences there, was very slow. It's a mall sushi/asian place, just take it for what it is. You're not there for fine dining, you're there for the atmosphere.
(2)Aaron W.
For a mall restaurant this was not too shabby. The decor is decent - sort of dark and kind of contemporary slightly tropical feel. My waiter was a little odd and forgot a few items, but he came back enough to check on us. The menu here is a bit eclectic with a sushi list, steaks, and meatloaf. My ribeye was done well and the white chedder potatoes were pretty good. I think my girlfriend's fish was a bit dry, but my brother's meatloaf was really good. I also really enjoyed their sparkling sake. I would say this is an okay place to grab food if you want something better than mall food and your feet are tired - but maybe for something just as satisfying at a lower price I'll just go to CPK or Macaroni Grill nearby.
(3)Trevor F.
Great menu, not you average or regular chain restaurant menu. We got some pot stickers for a starter and they were pretty tasted, different but in a good way! My sister got the turkey burger and she said that it was damn good! The sushi was pretty good coming from Ness and my sister, Ness said here entree was good as well, as for mine I got the big island meatloaf! And it was pretty incredible to say the least! The sauce and mushrooms I got on the side because I'm picky like that and once I tasted the sauce I dumped it all over my love big piece of meat! It was all tide in well with mashed potatoes and veggies! I would go back and would like a Kona Grill closer to my stomping grounds!
(4)Tali M.
I really like their happy hour for the food specials, the drink specials are not that great unless you like sake bombs. I think the margaritas are gross, way too sweet, I sent my drink back when I ordered it because I know if I drank the whole thing I would have a stomach ache. The only issue with the happy hour is that it is only offered in the bar area and the patio, so if you get there in the middle of happy hour you may be waiting a little while to get a seat, I really wish they offered the happy hour specials in the main restaurant. I really enjoy sitting outside when it's nice out, if it's a little chilly out they have a huge fire going, which helps.
(3)Justin W.
The service at a restaurant has to be astonishingly bad for it to detract from my overall dining experience--and that was definitely the case here at Kona Grill. Our server was, well, for lack of a better description, incompetent. The drinks our party ordered were wrong, we received a different sushi roll than what we ordered, and she gave us our bill before we were even done eating, without entertaining the thought that we might want to order dessert. That would have all been fine had she been pleasant, but her service was noticeably curt and left us basically feeling like we were unwanted. As for the food, is this really supposed to be Hawaiian cuisine? The Macadamia Nut Chicken, proclaimed as their signature dish, was bland and diner-quality. The baked sea bass was decent, but overall, way overpriced. The only thing that saved Kona Grill from getting just one star is their dessert, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. We had the Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Passion Fruit Creme Brulee which were delicious and both come in generous portions. If you're at the mall, skip dinner and go straight for dessert. Oh, and don't expect real Hawaiian food.
(2)Carrie R.
I made the mistake of ordering off the sushi menu. Flavorless and smelly. It even seemed like the rice had been processed to remove its natural flavor. Quite possibly the worst sushi I've had in Denver. The blase service took it from 3 star mediocrity to 2 star overall experience. I've heard the other food is better, but I would only try chicken at my next visit, I don't think I'd even dare get the seared ahi tuna salad. And yes, my "next visit" will only happen if I'm dragged there because it's a convenient place to eat in the mall. P.S. I won't be ordering the avocado egg roll again, either.
(2)Brian B.
I usually just come here for happy hour. It gets really busy. The best time to come here is during happy hour for cheaper food and sake bombs.
(4)Michele R.
I've always loved Kona, both in Denver and other locations. The menu is varied, the dishes are tasty, and you can't beat the happy hour (especially on the beautiful patio in the summertime). I'm also a big fan of the new skinny menu. This is my "go-to" happy hour spot. I've only had one bad experience and that was with a waiter who requested a tip. That rubbed me the wrong way. I wish the bar area were larger too---it's always so crowded because of the awesome specials.
(4)Maple L.
One of my regulars. I don't like eating the regular dinner menu, but the happy hour is great. PROS: Super great happy hour. Sushi tastes good for the price. Nice outdoor patio area with a heading elements on the ceiling, fire pit... CONS: The Regular dinner menu doesn't have anything yet that I liked. The creme brulee is a tragedy! Bitter... parking sucks. They are free valet, but I'm not a valet type of girl. Usually I park in the mall and walk through it. OVERALL: I like it I usually get the spicy tuna and the phili rolls. However, during their busy time, I think they don't clean the tuna as well and there are those white fatty tendon things... But its still good. I also like the calimari, but I don't order it when they are busy, because i noticed that's when it comes out overcooked. All of the sushi rolls are pretty good, and a few are cooked and don't have raw food, which is good for when you bring a friend who doesn't want to eat raw fish. I really disliked the avocado eggrolls. To me, avocado isn't supposed to be warmed and deep fried! The chicken satay isn't very tasty. It is arranged in a very silly, unappealing way, and the sauce is really unappealing to me. Of course, everyone has different taste buds.
(4)Jeff W.
My wife and I ate here on a Sunday night, didn't have reservations, called to see how they were busy about 7:30 and walked right in. For the FIRST TIME EVER in Colorado, we got fish cooked the way it is supposed to be. slightly rare with translucent in the middle. Sushi was good, service was excellent. Highly recommend getting any fish on the menu. Casual and nice without being a "meet market". Thanks for a great dinner.
(5)John W.
I went here for lunch, and I really liked the $8 menu. You can choose two things from a menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other things for only eight bucks. Considering this place is Cherry Creek, I would otherwise think this place is pricey. I ended up ordering a salmon dish which was really tasty, and my sister ordered a salmon salad which she won't stop talking about. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch!
(4)Stephanie L.
I actually had to walk out of Kona Grill last night . . . and it wasn't even busy. We got a table immediately, what we didn't get was service. After sitting there for about 10 minutes, a waitress finally came over to us and said she was looking for a menu and would be right back. She never offered to take a drink order. We saw her doing several other things, none of which was getting us a menu. After waiting another 10 minutes, we finally decided to leave. It was sad!
(3)Joseph C.
I came to Kona for my birthday and the food, drinks and service were all excellent! I highly recommend trying the Avacado Egg Rolls as your appetizer! They're an awesome mixture of sweet and sour when dipped in the honey cilantro dipping sauce that comes with it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine, which is spicy and very tasty! I cant say when I last enjoyed a plate of pasta as much as I did this one. I like the decor and the lighting of Kona, not too dark and interesting light fixtures. This place seems to attract all types of people. Lots of friends, couples and a couple of families with children as well. They do have a gluten free menu as well. Having never been to Kona before I give the wait staff extra points for the great suggestions from the menu and for the free creme brulee because it was my birthday.
(5)Ramon G.
Good menu, lot of selection. I was actually surprised with how good the sushi was. We went there wanting a normal dinner entree but ended up going crazy on the sushi. The service is usually good and the layout of the restaurant is pretty unique...I love the fish tank...
(4)Jenny S.
Ok, I've been craving the Ahi Steak Sandwich here. Cherry Creek is in between my apartment and work so I take 1st Ave almost everyday. That sandwich is calling me. I hate parking in that stupid garage and don't want to hoof it past a bunch of pricey stores (the valet is parking always full and I don't want to pay for it since I lack a Mercedes) BUT I do it anyways. This sandwich is juicy and messy and I look like a slob eating it but it is soooo good. It's on a nice big piece of bread full of carbs and slices of avocado, tomatoes, and a tasty green sauce. It is served with taro chips that are super greasy and salty but you can always substitute those for a field green salad (but it's $2 extra)
(4)K. S.
I love Kona Grill. My only complaint is that the happy hour is so bananas, you have to get there early....but now that its spring, sitting outside is an option. The atmosphere is pretty relaxing. Its an attractive space, with a laid back vibe. Its rather dark, even up front. They make a pretty good calamari, which is my favorite all-time appetizer, so that automatically scored buku points with me. The avocado eggrolls Ive never seen anywhere else, and theyre pretty scrumpious. Pot stickers are A-plus. The spicy sweet shrimp are just okay, I expected something a little different than what I got. The sushi is pretty damn good. Ive had the salmon skin roll (yum), the cali roll was just okay because I like regular crab as opposed to that crab salad-ish mix they use. Ive had various other sushi items that were of the best quality, including presentation. But overall, you will be very happy with your sushi.... I have not tried burgers or pizza there, its impossible to order that knowing how tantalizing their main fare is. They have one of those menus that is all over the place (american, italian, japanase, chinese, etc) and Im usually weary of places like that. But they pull it off, and if I want good food, good drinks, and I love sports, so its an upscale place to catch a game....and if I just got paid (because this isnt for the budget eater), is when I goto Kona. Great for a date, but not one with a squeamish wallet.
(4)Dmitri P.
Great place for a happy hour if you can get there early enough. Get there late and good luck, seating is scarce! Bartenders are great and the happy hour food is quite tasty. Can't speak of the dinners as all I've had is the happy hour menu. Great people watching
(4)Craig W.
Best frozen Margarita around !!! And they pack a punch...
(4)Kendra R.
the patio is a nice place to cop a squat during the summer. I'd say spring, but this is Denver and they like to predict snow in mid April. Their cocktails taste more of alcohol than filler so you get the bang for your buck here. The Sashimi was a perfect fit to my rumbling tummy during the cherry creek festival. a great spot to people watch. One major pet peeve that is going to turn this 4 star review into a 2. There was a smoker on the patio, who's obnoxious habit made our throats itch and our noses curl. We asked the waiter if he could ask her to stop (other patrons around us had the same annoyed expressions on their faces) He told us that since the exit to the mall right here that it met the requirement of 20ft or whatnot. So once again grab a inside seat. I do like the decor so that's a plus, and they have sports at the bar like any bar should be required to.
(2)Gregory A.
Decent sushi and advanced menu of Pacific fare. I don't feel I get my bang for the buck. I am thinking 3.5 stars (I round up). The food is good but it seems more a "to do" than it should be or priced for. Something just seems a little artificial or contrived or something here. Maybe I am too critical. I feel a little intimidated when I walk in but not when I walk out. Ease up Greg...Nice food. 4 stars. I'll go back when I am in the area and in the mood - but not sooner :). They staff is also nice.
(4)Toni-Ann A.
Love this place!!! The food is good and priced right. Good service and great happy hour!! The heated patio is also a major bonus (just wish it wasn't located in the parking lot)
(4)Allison L.
Have been there couple times! It was great! Friendly staffs. Appetizers, salad, sushi, noddles... everything we have tried was very good. The best of all.... the waiter admitted his mistake and forgot to put in our appetizer.... so it was on the house! It is ok to make mistake, but you hardly see people admitted it these days... they usually blame on the kitchen!
(4)Sandi D.
Say what you will about Kona Grill, but their burger ROCKS !!! Kona Beef is from Cows who are massaged, which is suppose to yield a happy cow. Happy Cows = Tender Beef . All I know, is that Kona's Burgers are both huge and yummy. Not a piece of grizzle to be found. Their crispy shoestrings are good enough for me to go off Atkins. We stopped in here really late Saturday Night due to the BF's sucky Holiday hours, and this place was hopping !!! We had the option to eat with the masses at the bar or patio and get Happy Hour pricing, but after a long day at work, the empty restaurant looked like a sanctuary-- So we cozied up to a booth, order rare burgers, and were happy campers !!!
(5)Dennis S.
I brought my sister here after Xmas shopping and the experience was very forgettable. I had the chicken wrap and a decent gin and tonic. My sister had their cheeseburger, which was BIG and tasty, but the sprite they brought her was carbonated water... she then ordered a hot tea, which was delivered with no lemon, sugar/sweetner or spoon.
(2)Mariela S.
Welcome to Denver, where to eat after shopping in Cherry Creek? My bf and I were both pretty hungry the chocolate covered strawberry we had as a snack was not going to hold our appetite for very long. We decided on Kona grill. We were in for a special surprise! We loved everything we ate (which is usually not a surprise if you know us). We spiced up the night ordering almost everything that had the word spicy in front of it. Our favorite, was the spicy tuna salad, soo good and filling. They also had a really good wakame salad. Our waitress was great, although she was very speedy and was gone twice before we could order sake bombs. She was honest and personable, suggesting good sake. Will definitely try to eat there again, budget and waistline friendly!
(4)Nikki R.
Great Happy Hour!! Good food and drink specials.
(3)jane d.
my first time here was in phoenix, arizona. the happy hour menu is awesome! the sushi cheap but plentiful :9 yum however, because i had my out of state license punched out, they wouldn't let me sit in the patio area even though i'm FREAKIN 25 WTF i even had a temporary license with my name on it but since there's no PICTURE... they can't take it....... so whatever. we finished our food, and left. we threatened to not pay the bill if he wanted me out of the premises. so he relented of course, cuz we were a party of 9 so yeah.. came here to cherry creek cuz their happy hour is awesome. made reservations for happy hour then i get there with my group and find out.. WE'RE INSIDE WITH NO HAPPY HOUR! second time kona grill has messed up. so... WTF SQAURED... but yeah, the food is good- it was just shitty situations.. until i get one happy experience, these guys stay at ONE
(1)Terry W.
My husband and I were in town from the Springs for the last Saturday night of the King Tut show. We aren't familiar with the area, so we just decided to wing it and lucked out. The fish was cooked perfectly! It was moist and still a little rare in the middle. Just like fish should be.(I'm from Fla). I had the fish of the day which was sea bass and my husband had the glazed salmon. We also had the calamari which was hot and tender with a great sauce.We've been to a lot of places all over the globe and this one is one of the best as far as their fish goes. The staff could not have been nicer and the service was very good. We showed up about 8:30 pm and they were still fairly busy. We parked across the main street at a parking garage for $4.00. Not sure if we were supposed to, but it was empty and we didn't see any signs saying not to. Short walk to the restaurant. Drinks were ok. Bathrooms were clean. Very nice dinner. When in town we will definitely return.
(4)Raquel C.
LOVE Kona Grill- the kona grill is my favorite place to go to happy hour. All are equally good but u gotta love the creek.
(5)Jessica G.
I love this place! you have to go for happy hour sometime. I think they have a reverse happy hour still from 9-11?? They have half off appetizers and good drinks.
(4)Shiho F.
Pretty good Happy Hour: Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Reverse Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Thursday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday - Saturday 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. I tired their Spicy Tuna Roll, CA Roll and thier Hawaiian Pizza along with my Margaritas. Not too shabby.
(4)Mark B.
4 stars for happy hour. Kona's happy hour is tops for the Cherry Creek area. If you want to eat good cheap happy hour food while looking at beautiful people go to Kona. I have also eaten here non-happy hour and was quite pleased with the food and service. The non-happy hour prices are well non-happy hour so expect to pay $$$ for good food. Have a good day!
(4)Tammie W.
I've eaten here twice and I'm always shocked at how delicious the sushi is....coming from a girl who is Japanese and has eaten some of the freshest sushi around! Kona Grill is an extremely classy place that has superb service and excellent food! Their Happy Hour specials are dynamite (half priced apps, some drinks and sushi rolls). There's a fire pit on the patio, which is delightful and allows you to cozy up to your loved one. Their booths are quite comfortable and private. I would recommend this place for a date or just a nice night out for dinner, lunch and now Sunday brunch!
(4)Rachael L.
This is my FAVORITE place, and has been for the past 2.5 years! They have a wonderful variety of food, from sushi to pizza to burgers to steak to meatloaf and beyond! Especially love their dragon rolls, calamari, macadamia nut chicken. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, very affordable, great happy hour...what more can you ask for!
(5)Ari T.
Great food and drinks during happy hour! It gets extremely crowded and the chances of landing a table are slim, but that adds to the atmosphere. Be prepared to saki bomb standing up, but at the same time you cannot beat the prices and fun and outgoing happy hour crowd.
(4)Hans O.
Food is great here, but on the other hand service is mediocre.
(2)Catherine B.
Kona is just okay. It's got a decent happy hour and I like their patio, but I have gone for dinner too and I would not put it at the top of Denver sushi spots. It's very chic and hip, but the food quality is average, and the prices are high.
(3)Ben S.
excellent! one of my favorite places in denver! they have a real nice menu of sushi and non-sushi dishes and all the food is good. for some reason, my family just loves eating there! the eda mame and soup are great. the main dishes are excellent, the cooked and sushi and salads! they have a great sushi & salad sampler, a great idea for a lunch. the rolls are good, nothing too exotic, but solid. the service is good and eating outside is real nice. the fish tank is awesome and lastly, the bathrooms are decorated real nice! :-0
(4)Winsome D.
Full credit for their happy hour on a bang-for-buck basis. You can't go wrong with decent sushi (8pc order), garlic shrimp pizza, calamari, avacado egg rolls, and much more at a measly 3.50$ a pop. Just make sure you try and get a seat inside the bar or near the fireplace outside, otherwise your ass might get frost bitten from the coldness of the metal barred chairs. *brrrrrrrr*
(4)Veronica W.
I've had friends tell me that the Happy Hour is phenomenal, but after the poor service and lackluster lunches I've had there I've passed it up for places I know have good food. Hey, I'll give anywhere a couple tries and the Kona Grill has had more than a couple. Great if the food is cheap, but if it's less than tasty and the service is marginal then who cares? I'll stick with somewhere less flashy with better food and be glad I spent a little more.
(3)Lee S.
Scott, our server, was very personable, quick and efficient; all that a waiter should be. He quickly explained all the sections of the menu and pointed out the best items in each section. My daughter is our sushi fan and selected their Sunshine Roll (spicy salmon roll, fresh salmon, shaved lemon) and their Wave Roll (spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, soy paper). My wife and I selected pairs of items from their luncheon selections. All the entrees were very good and I liked my daughters choices the best. My wife is a Crème Brûlée lover so we all shared a serving of their Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée, which she rated as the best she has ever had. Scott and the Crème Brûlée were definitely the standouts of this lunch that will make this a dining experience to remember.
(4)Da D.
Here now, been waiting for an hour. Haven't even received our food, let alone our drinks. I would rate zero if it were an option. They aren't even that busy.
(1)Will D.
I have tried to like the Kona Grill since its inception. Hadn't been there for at least two years and probably won't go back. If it is not the food, it is the service. Tonight it was both. Too many really good restaurants in Denver to spend any of myself there.
(2)Amy O.
I would go here every day if I could for the Oriental salad. If you have to stay inside the mall, I'd recommend going here. They have some nice outdoor seating too with a fire pit. I sat at the bar and had a great lunch.
(5)Phung L.
This place has one of the best happy hour! Where else can you get a 22oz of iced cold Kirin Ichiban and a large hot sake for $7? Happy hour is only located at the bar area so this place fills up quick! You're definitely going to have to arrive early just to grab a table especially if you're planning on going with a large party. The outside patio is nice, but as the weather gets cooler everyone prefers to be jam packed indoors. Half off appetizers are good. Try the mini burgers. My only gripe is that they took out the seared ahi wonton crisp from the menu. Those were so good!
(4)Jennifer B.
We were looking for a great place to eat after enjoying the Zoo on Sunday. Don't know exactly how we came up with this but we had heard good things and decided to take a shot. We were seated immediately. The menu is fantastic, and it took us a good amount of time to review the entire thing and decide on a meal. I decided on the recommendation of our waitress and got the Kona Chopped Salad, my friend had the Spicy Pesto Chicken Linguini. Our food was delivered timely and was absolutely gorgeous. See my pic of my salad. The Spicy Linguini was out of this world and I will confess I had more than one bite. The Salad had avocado, almond crusted chicken (the best I ever had) with a light honey mustard dressing. If the yummy deliciousness from the entrees wasn't enough we decided on their special dessert, the Banana Cream Pie. Wowza! Now that was a delight to feast my eyes upon. A big satisfying slice of Banana Cream Pie with whipped cream, some king king of sweet drizzle and shaved coconut. It was to die for to every last lick of the plate - I highly recommend the dessert. The next time I am shopping in Cherry Creek I will definitely make a point to stop in again.
(4)Kay T.
Only come here for the Happy Hour because the food is otherwise some what expensive. Happy Hour menu has a good selection at a reasonable price and the food is good. Not the best sushi I've had in the city but decent.
(3)Cat S.
I enjoy Kona Grill, but I realized it's the happy hour that makes it worth it. After multiple times going during happy hour, I went once with the boyfriend and we decided we didn't feel like waiting for a table by the bar to open up. So we opted for a normal dinner. The food is decent, but I feel it is overpriced for what you get. I got the miso-sake salmon club. The ciabatta was perfect - soft on the inside, crunchy near the edges (so not like the tough to eat ciabatta I've gotten in many other places). The boyfriend got the basil pesto linguine. And again, the food was a-ok, but nothing to boast about. I do love the avocado eggrolls though, but I like them even better half price during happy hour :) One plus: Even on cold nights, sitting outside isn't terrible as they have the fire grates and heaters on the ceilings.
(3)Kelsey W.
Every time I have ever been to a Kona during happy hour the dining room is completely empty. This is because Kona has only special sections for their happy hour (which I have always found ridiculous). Obviously during the hours of happy hour people would like to have the option of ordering happy hour (duh). What goes beyond just annoying and stupid is the fact that in the middle of January they will have you to sit outside if the other 15 seats inside are full and you wish to enjoy happy hour. Asking a guest to dine outside in the middle of winter in order to get happy hour when you have a completely vacant dining room? You have got to be kidding me. No thank you. We definitely went elsewhere and most likely won't be back. That is some awful customer service.
(1)Martha W.
Kona Grill is aweeeeeesome. Check it out during happy hour. The avocado egg rolls were bomb. :D
(5)David N.
Normally restaurants that are housed inside of malls are mediocre at best, but I am willing to say that Kona is an exception. The service was very par, however the quality and taste of their menu was rather high quality. I came here for a family outing and so I got a rather comprehensive taste of many of their menu items. Below I have rated the various foods on a scale on ten. Sushi: Volcano- 8 Eel-6 Checkerboard- 9 King Crab-8 Picasso- 9 Bama- 9 Shrimp and lobster- 6 Appetizers: Fondue- 8 Calimari- 6 Lettuce wraps- 7 Shrimp Diablo- 5 Drinks: Sangria- 9
(4)Saydee X.
Kona grill is definitely one of my faves! The cherry creek location just remodeled and it looks amazing. There is so much more room and looks a lot nicer! The design is also really great! Anyways it is definitely a nice place for a date night or just come in to get drinks! Happy hour prices are my favorite! There's great picks on there. We got the pad Thai, coconut roll, angry edamame, and this other roll with white tuna. The angry edamame is my all time favorite but today they made it super salty. Our server was great and brought us a new one and we loved it. The coconut roll is super good! If you don't like raw fish I definitely recommend it. It was pretty much deep fried shrimp with coconut flakes and rolled with avocado and mango! It was a great combination. This was the first time we tried the combo pad Thai and it was good but I've had better. It wasn't a authentic type of pad Thai, I feel like it's definitely an Americanized pad Thai, still good tho but not the best! We topped it off with the chocolate fudge brownie and it was amazingggg!! It's a huge brownie probably feeds like 4 people!
(4)Ryan N.
Recently renovated this restaurant offers an exquisite atmosphere with a very diverse menu that will fill any cravings. -The sushi is average at best, while there is nothing exceptionally unique about the rolls, the jalapeño sashimi will leave your mouth watering and asking for more -The pepperoni flat bread is also very basic however the margherita flat bread is a light healthy alternative that is incredibly satisfying -If you're looking for something a bit more filling, the macadamia nut chicken will melt in your mouth -If you enjoy tea the blackberry jasmine tea is refreshing and gives a unique natural sweetener to a classic drink -Desert, if you have a sweet tooth the brownie, snickers ice cream cake and passion fruit creme brulee are exceptional. The creme brulee is something in its own world Overall I highly recommend this restaurant for dates, families, business, lunch, casual dinner
(4)Charlene K.
I think Kyle did a great job, he was really busy at lunch on Labor Day. Asked for lime got lemon. Houston roll was fun-- cream cheese and jalapeño. And where else can I get sushi and tomato soup on the same plate? The hot tea is BAGGED and pretentious. Virtually no flavor. When I ask for tea at a Japanese place, I expect loose leaf green tea. The food is solid for a mall restaurant, I would eat here again.
(3)Kristen B.
Been here about 3 times already and I love the ambience. Great happy hour and wait staff is friendly beyond belief! I work in the mall and I've been here 3 times the last week. That should speak volumes!! Love this place.
(4)Sharod D.
I am quite the Happy Hour guy and this is by far one of my favorite late night happy hour joints! I have dined at Kona many times but after today, I needed to compliment on the food and service! Each time I come the service is great, with an extremely accommodating waitstaff. Now to the most important part, the food. Great half price sushi rolls, my favorites include: the wave roll and the avocado egg! They have closed down recently due to construction but as soon as they open back up, I'll be right there ready to throw back some saki bombs and delicious half price appetizers and rolls!
(5)Tanya V.
I love Kona!! Been going here for a very long time, recently it was temporarily closed for remodeling and I was super excited to find out they reopened, It looks absolutely amazing..very modern and LA like. The menu is the same, which is great because its absolutely delicious. Calamari and the sushi are the best!!!
(5)Jessica R.
A wonderful little sushi intermission while shopping! The hosts were kind and accommodating, since I had my infant son with me I wanted a table away from others. In case he started babbling loud. My server, Layne knew the menu perfectly. He was quick, kind and to the point! The sushi tower was sooo good and filling! I also like how one person can order sushi while another person can have a burger and fries, very accommodating. The bama roll wasn't that good, but everything else was and ill go back
(4)Sasha L.
I came here with friends after a hard day of shopping on Saturday. First we sat outside. I wish I could remember our servers name, he had light eyes and I think a beard, he was great. He was super friendly and funny. After we ordered drinks, we received our appetizer and ordered our entrees. We were in mid bite with our buffalo chicken flatbread (bomb) when the construction next to us become highly disruptive. A guy was welding above us, and hot metal flakes were literally falling on the entire patio, It looked like snow. It got in our hair, everyone was putting napkins over their food and drinks so metal wouldn't get in it. This weird issue sent us inside to ask the host to please reseat us. We also found our server and told him. Again, he was super cool. We told him we still wanted him to serve us (especially since we ordered our food and he was so awesome). He brought out our food at our new table right when we sat down and then told us he could not serve us because the long haired brunette girl who was in that section had worked there a long time or something. Total BS. I assume she was just a greedy unreasonable girl. And she sure seemed like one. She kept pushing us to order more drinks and tried to be charming but her attitude seemed really fake. We were all disappointed she wouldn't let our first server continue to take care of us. I really hope she gave part of the tip to our first server, who obviously deserved it. But I assume she didn't. The food here is good overall. We got the rainbow roll, phill rolls, and the spider roll. Everything was delicious. I wanted to get nigiri but it did not seem like a good value, I bet it is cheaper during happy hour. They had a Sam Adams seasonal on draft which was the best option, all other beers were macrobrew crapliquid. The value isn't bad for the area, it is pretty much what you would expect. I will totally come back when we are shopping but would not go out of my way to come here. If you come here do not sit on the patio unless they are finished with the new construction next door. It is very disruptive.
(3)George D.
Love this place, never had a bad experience here. Best calamari in town !!!! Will be back again soon
(5)Brielle G.
Awesome happy hour which includes all day happy hour on Sunday! Only downfall is very busy during happy hour and you have to sit at the bar or outside to experience happy hour prices so might have to wait a while. This is located in the cherry creek mall right across from California pizza kitchen and near john atencio jewelry store on the first floor. I always get the sushi here and it's always awesome. I get the rainbow roll which has huge pieces and is always fresh. I've also had a crab roll that is fried but was not as fresh as other places I've had. The sangria is delicious- by far the best sangria I've had in a while. I love the white and red sangria both are so refreshing and I could drink those day after day! They have a bubbly now it must have champagne or something because it's a bit more bubbly than the white sangria which consists of white wine. The margherita flatbread is huge and can definitely be split among the table. I wasn't a fan of the buffalo chicken flatbread but would order the margherita each time and it's great! The spinach dip is also addicting and uhhhhhmazing- simple but super duper must when coming here! Also the edamame is a nice size to be shared among two people.
(4)Julian T.
Great food and service. The sushi wasn't bad for Denver the timing was great and our server was on key and knew his menu would come back again. Stopped in for a quick bite and was in and out in great time. They have a sushi bar with s huge fish tank as well!
(4)Nicole S.
Always a great dinner spot! Best happy hour in town!
(5)Alex T.
I've came here multiple times, normally for happy hour. During those times we usually get the happy hour sakes, rolls and pizza which tastes alright, but extremely cheap. I came for the first time during non happy hour times and here's what we got: We had their avocado eggrolls because of other yelpers suggestions and wow it was good. We also ordered an eel cucumber roll which had a lot of rice and the rice was stickier than normal sushi places, it was different in a good way. 3rd and last item we had was the checkboard roll which was also outstanding. Service was great our server was constantly expalinig things and is always here, but it's a Monday and slightly slow.
(4)Christina P.
I was shopping at Cherry Creek on a Sunday and realized that Kona does Happy Hour all day on Sundays (SCORE!). I went in during the late afternoon and was easily able to find an open table. This is a rarity on the weeknights, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Why not a full five stars you ask? After I sat down and was given some water, I asked for a menu and never received one. I had to get up from my table and take some menus from another table in the patio. Once I got my own menu, I waited around for someone to take my order. This didn't happen until about 25 minutes after sitting down at the table. I had to call the restaurant from my table to ask for a server because no one ever walked by. Over 5 minutes later, still no service. My sister then got up and walked to the bar and asked a bar tender if we were expected to serve ourselves. It was then that a manager came out to apologize and take our order. This was their saving grace. The manager was incredibly apologetic. He explained to us an incident with some difficult patrons before us caused our slow service. While it was not an excuse, I could understand. Not only did he comp a couple of items that we ordered, he offered us a free dessert at the end of our meal. I will continue to come here for their great happy hours and advocate for the excellent customer service that is provided by the staff. NOTE: prices have gone up since my first review (sad). For comparison sake, the margaritas are now $4.75 (pre-tax), rather than the $3.50 they used to be.
(4)Jessica B.
This place was terrible! My husband ordered a salad and they brought him a sandwich. After we sent it back with the expeditor our server came over and instead of apologizing for clearly ordering the wrong item, she said "Oh, would you like a salad?" Then my daughter found the longest hair INSIDE of her burger. We couldn't even eat after that so we paid the bill (all of it) and left. As we were leaving I told the hostess about the hair so that maybe they could address it she just looked at me with this snarky face and said "yeeeeaahh, maybe next time send it back." Thanks Kona! That was the best $74 we've ever spent!
(1)Chelsea K.
Went here for the weekday happy hour with a friend, the rolls were half off and we got a plate of calamari for $6. The only bummer was that we had to sit outside, in Colorado, in January. It was a warmer night for us, but even sitting next to the fire place we got pretty cold and so did our food. We had four rolls and we liked all of them. The Atlantic being our favorite. The calamari was a much bigger plate than I would have expected for the price so we were pleasantly surprised. Service was really friendly and attentive.
(4)Sara B.
Love me some Kona Grill sushi! KG as been one of my go tos for sushi for years now. It is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. You actually get a lot in the rolls, so that makes it worth the price. My favorite you ask? Hands down, the spider roll! Hello soft shell crab heaven! Not sure what to get? Just ask. All of the servers I have had were awesome and super knowledgable of the menu.
(4)Brooke B.
LOVE Kona grill!! Great staff, great management. Happy hour is off the chain! They even do a mall employee private menu HELLO!! Great, never had any complaints! I will take all my outta town family and friends here. Atmosphere and vibes are great! I am defiantly becoming a regular! The shrimp garlic penne pasta is amazing! Thank you!!
(5)Vilma S.
Came with my sister and daughter for sushi and to use my $15 B-Day coupon. I got the Pan-Asian Noodles and it was very tasty. The sushi and avocado rolls were equally delicious. We sat at the bar in front of the Sushi Preparation Section and it was nice to be able to talk to the preparer and ask for advice on all the sushi specials. I also had a receipt from a previous visit and it was good for a complimentary dessert (after filling out the survey). We decided on the brownie and we definitely didn't go wrong. It was huge and tasty with ice cream and caramel sauce all over it. They even lit a candle on it for my birthday. Very good dining experience.
(4)Alice G.
Thanks Yelp, Exactly! Meh, I've experienced better. Big Happy Hour for a certain crowd that likes sake bombs, and sweet teriyaki sauce appetizers. Food is "pub fare asian" with really mayonaissy sushi rolls. Has the mass produced in a factory somewhere feel.....Sushi is always luke warm. Not a fan, sorry to say. Still, one of the "sit-down" options at our upscale Cherry Creek Mall, so if CPK or the Nordstrom cafe don't do it for you, you can get a hot lunch. Or a lukewarm one.
(2)ElizabethAnn B.
Stopped in fo a quick bite after a day of running around and was in the area. My friend recommended it and to my delight it was HALFOFF wine...seriously how can you beat that. And with cork & carry, I don't have be a lush and finish the bottle at the restaurant. Though the bartender seemed confident that I could. At the recommendation of the bartender I had the bama roll and it was delicious and fresh and great deal for happy hour. I also had the chicken satay as well. Great flavor. Service overall was great and food was delivered rather quickly considering how busy it was.
(4)Shreyas G.
Good, not great. Came here for the first time tonight and honestly, I was expecting more both in service and food. Every time we asked the waiter a question about the dish he repeated the description word for word. He didn't seem too interested in what he was offering, but anyways, on to the food. I ordered the calamari and avocado egg rolls. The egg rolls were interesting, I enjoyed those and the sauce that came with it. However, the calamari was soggy but at least the sweet sauce that came along with it was nice. During the main course, we had sushi. We ordered the special roll of today and two others, which apparently were the top sellers. One of which was the Picasso Roll that says "spicy" in the description. Now it was spicy but only because they put a blob of habanero on the top . The second roll was the Las Vegas Roll. I was extremely underwhelmed, it was simply crab mix wrapped in rice with a little square of cream cheese in the middle. Now on to the desert, we ordered the brownie. You can't really go wrong with the brownie, it was nice, warm and very large (great to share for 3-5 people). There was a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the top as well, which was enjoyable. Oh and lastly, the entire meal was very expensive. It was over $80 without even ordering any drinks. Overall, the food, the service, the ambiance was decent but nothing special.
(3)Lina C.
Happy hour is what makes Kona Grill worthwhile. Many of their dishes are half off and the drinks are reasonably priced (even though I didn't get anything). i have to admit, if it weren't for happy hour, I'm not sure if I would have come since it's pretty expensive for the amount of food you get, period. For three girls, we were able to order two rolls, the lettuce wraps, and my favorite, the BBQ chicken flat bread (which is amazing! A MUST for those who haven't been there) for about $21! What a steal!!! The rolls were okay and the lettuce wraps weren't as bad as I thought it would be. The chicken and the veggies used in the lettuce wraps are a tad bit on the hard side. We ended up sitting outside. it was nice and warm, given that there was a fire pit in the center of the patio. Perfect on a warm summers night. Overall, take advantage of Kona Grill's happy hour. Lina Chen
(4)Peter D.
I came with the fiancée and her friend on a Wednesday night and sat in the dining area. The service was exceptionally slow. It took 10-15 minutes from when I sat down until I received water and another 10 minutes before we put in our order. Our server did constantly apologize, but didn't really do anything to make it up other than explaining that they didn't have that many servers working. The restaurant was pretty empty though so it was unfortunate. The food was OK, but I definitely have had better. The best way I can describe the food is that it is an Asian Fusion restaurant. The angry edamame was probably the best with the sauce. The rest was nothing really special. I got the Albacore Tataki, Spider Roll, and Spicy Korean Tuna Roll. For the most part, there wasn't enough flavor in any of those items. There was some sort of bitter flavor in the Spicy Korean Tuna Roll that I could not figure out. For the prices on the menu, I expected better service and more flavorful food. Overall, it seems like an overpriced restaurant for meh food.
(2)Amanda H.
This is by far my favorite happy hour in Denver. It's in beautiful Cherry Creek, has an amazing patio (especially gorgeous --and busy-- during the summer months), and delicious food/drinks. We always start out by ordering a "Sake bomber" that includes Sake and a tall Sapporo beer for about $7 which is an amazing deal-- we can get a solid three sake bombs out of this baby. They also have margaritas, sangria, wine, beer-- the usual-- on happy hour. Word of caution, the margaritas are a tad small for what you get so I'd skip those. In terms of food, it's hard to choose what I love the most on the happy hour menu. The Margarita Flatbread is amazing and includes a very large portion (if I ate it alone, I would be stuffed). Calamari is great, but the sauce that it's served with knocks it out of the park-- I like to dip the Avocado Egg Rolls in it. It's a spicy-mayo mixture sauce-- reminds me a lot of the "volcano sauce" that is frequently drizzled upon sushi. The Lettuce Wraps are delicious too, and once again, the sauce served with it is AMAZING. It's a sweet-herb concoction that is out of this world. If you're a fan of won-tons, I would highly recommend these. As you can tell-- I love all of the above, and would highly recommend just getting a group of friends together and ordering many dishes and just splitting it all. The sushi is also great, but nothing I haven't experienced elsewhere. We have always had amazing service. The only flaw of this place is how popular it gets during happy hour. If it's during the summer months, I would highly recommend arriving around 3:30 to ensure you get a patio seat (or a seat in general) because it's only available in the bar areas and patio. There aren't reservations or hostess seating in these areas, so you'll just have to "stalk tables" to wait for people to leave and snag up a seat. Hope you guys love this place as much as I do! Happy Kona'ing!
(5)Jake L.
Big fan of the Happy Hour here at Kona! Can't beat a Sunday afternoon on the patio enjoying happy hour margaritas, sushi rolls, & appetizers! Plus yes I have to have a Sake Bomb, agree or disagree, that's on you. The staff is amazingly friendly and more than willing to answer any questions you have in regards to food/drink items, major plus on that! Favorite appetizer? Pot Stickers!! Favorite Roll? Crunchy Crab Roll with eel sauce Went with a friend a couple weeks ago on a Sunday and after drinks (Margarita & Sake Bomb), appetizers (Lettuce wraps & Pot Stickers), & rolls (Crunchy Crab & Spicy Tuna), total was just a shade over $25! Great thing about the patio area is TV's around the bar, and nice air flow now that it is warm out & when it cools off this Fall/Winter they have an outdoor firepit!
(4)Samantha Y.
Margaritas are always awesome here! Very balanced, I like mine with sugar rim instead of salt. I love the happy hour at kona, who doesn't? Cheap drinks and great food. Not really a fan of the sushi here.. I get that it's a fusion restaurant and I've worked in sushi restaurants before, so maybe that's why it seems "off" to me. It still is great though! Visited this one from Fort Worth :)
(4)Lindsey P.
I've been a couple times in the past couple years and I'd say Kona Grill is always just ok. I go mostly for convenience - I don't know Cherry Creek very well so I go because it's decent food at a good price (especially if it's Happy Hour) and it's the first place that comes to mind. This last time our waiter took forever to greet us. In fact, the whole visit seemed to take a reallllllly long time. He was friendly enough, but slow considering that it wasn't busy AT ALL. The food was pretty good and it has been previously too. The sushi is ok, their salads are good. This time I got the Chicken Avocado Club with taro chips; I asked for the chipotle mayo on the side and it came on the sandwich. Normally I would have asked for them to fix it but considering how long it took to get our food in the first place, I let it go. It was very tasty and my grandma seemed to like what she got too, the Chicken Caprese sandwich I think. Her sweet potato fries were warm enough, but also soggy and limp. Like I said...if you're around for Happy Hour and you have some time, do that. The prices are great and the items available on special are plenty. The drinks are cheap (also tasty). That's probably what I'll stick to from now on.
(3)Michelle S.
Kona is always a good bet for happy hour. Last night was the first time I dined in the dining room. Not my first choice but nonetheless I was meeting people and it was the birthday girls choice. This review is really about the service because it was hands down, truly one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. Drew was incredible. The 7 year old that I was with was cracking jokes and he managed to return to the table time and time again with new jokes for her. There were even a few other servers who joined in the silly telling of jokes. You could tell that they were enjoying themselves, that this wasn't something that they had to do. I haven't experienced a server who has gone above and beyond like that in a long time. Our food was good, we had a few sushi rolls while the birthday girl had a bento box. The bento box was a good looking meal, she definitely made out with the most delicious dinner I think. The orange shaped like a panda was the icing on the cake. I think typically I'd give Kona a 3 star rating but Drew's service last night prompted me to go with 4 stars. So way to go Drew! When we come back we know who we'll be asking for.
(4)Erin M.
Good, not excellent. Had the edamame and the chicken stir fry. The stir fry was spicy in a good way, the chicken was moist, and the edamame was made well. The atmosphere was also average, which leads to an overall rating of 3. Great place to stop while in the mall, but I wouldn't seek it out in particular.
(3)Lauren D.
I find myself constantly (and pleasantly!) surprised by 3.5 star Yelp-rated restaurants and Kona was no exception. I met a girlfriend here last night for Happy Hour and was really impressed. Downgrade from 5 stars because the music in the bar was WAY TOO LOUD (hi, I like to be able to have a conversation with the person I'm out with) and because I had to walk through the mall to get to the entrance but otherwise the drinks were delish (sake sangria!), the food was tasty and everything was reasonably priced. Oh and HH goes until 7 PM, something that's much appreciated by those of us who hold down a 8-5 PM work schedule. Recommended: the veggie sushi, avocado rolls and apple/brie flatbread Tip: the bar gets pretty packed so expect to wait for a spot, even on a weekday
(4)Tiffany N.
AMAZING happy hour specials on food, drinks not so much. I stopped here to grab something to eat while waiting at Cherry Creek and I hope to go again because for sushi and other yummies you really can't beat it! Happy hour is in the bar area and patio and you can get basic rolls for $3.75 (I got the crab crunch roll, delicious with eight pieces so if you're a sushi fiend like me, you may want to order two) along with other dishes like avocado eggrolls, sliders, pizza and more. The more advanced rolls go for $6 which is also a steal--why haven't I been coming here all along?? I would pass on drinks though since they're really not too big of a steal--draft beers were $4 and I believe that was only Sam Adams and the other drinks were pricier than I expected for happy hour prices. But that wouldn't keep me away from the happy hour food prices here!
(4)Alex W.
I came here for lunch and was disappointed. After asking about lunch specials I was told that's their "Pairings" option where you pick two items for $10.50. I got miso soup and the "sushi sampler". The miso soup arrived in a bowl smaller than their tea cups, then the "sampler" was three pieces of sushi. That's it. That is ridiculous by the standards of the most peckish eater. You can go to Osaka and get those two things with two small salads and a full entree (salmon/chicken/tempura) for a dollar less in their lunch bento. So, with tea and tip I paid over $16 to leave and go somewhere else to actually eat lunch. The soup was good, the sushi was on par with what you'd get at Whole Foods. Very unimpressive.
(2)Mike M.
Went there for happy hour with some friends to celebrate a birthday Blake was our server he was the best Smart funny and he knew the menu and made great recommendations Thank you Blake for the great service Will definitely go back
(5)Andy M.
Poor service! We sat at the sushi bar for happy hour on Sunday and we stood waiting for someone to clear the table for nearly 10 minutes. We had to ask the sushi chef to find someone to serve us. I would have understood more if we had merely walked in and waited at the bar, but we were escorted by a host to the bar. The sushi nearly all tasted the same and the rice was overly sweet. I was seriously disappointed, but perhaps having had sushi in California and in Japan has ruined my appetite for the lesser. It may not have been such a big deal if we actually had good service.
(2)Michael C.
I really like this place but the service today was exceptionally poor. The plates were dirty with dried particulate food on them. In addition it took ten minutes for a server to come to the table. Then to add insult to injury, it took over twenty five minutes to get our appetizer and drinks from the bar. When I literally wave my arms, like on MASH, the server finally came over and lied about the apart user and drinks. He could have said he for for bit he did not. It's an integrity and experience issue. I don't know if I hit the lottery with an aloof server or if Kona has dropped off the map with service.
(2)Rick B.
Good Service, good happy hour, fun atmosphere. I like their appetizers and drink specials. I dislike their sushi and the war zone of construction around the patio. The should probably lose another star for the construction but it's really not their fault. There's no noise or anything, it just looks pretty fugly and kinda ruins the patio experience. I don't really go there for dinner, mainly drinks and appetizers. Is what you make of it. If you're looking for fine dining, or traditional sushi you will be disappointed. The menu is pretty big and has something for everyone.
(4)Brett S.
I came very, very close to breaking my 3-star cherry on Kona Grill, but at the end of the day, I just couldn't do it. Here's the deal: Kona has a pretty damn excellent Happy Hour: mon - fri 3p-7p mon - thur 9p-11p fri - sat 10p-12a sun ALL DAY Check the website to make sure that hasn't changed since this review was written, but as you can see, you have a lot of options. Sit in the bar area at any of those times and you're more or less good to go. As is usual for most bar-only happy hours, the items you can grab are a bit appetizery, but this also includes a decent selection of sushi rolls. Factor in the cheaper brews and you're looking at a good place to fill up on food and drink. Provided your timing's right, of course. That said, the food really is just north of average. It's definitely not bad, but if you were buying any of it at full prices, you would be feeling a little robbed. The takeaway: ONLY come to Kona for the happy hour. The service is brisk, the food is decent, and the price is excellent then. Miss that window, however, and it's just too much for the food you get.
(4)Carolyn I.
Kona holds a place dear in my heart. It makes me think of the summer days on the patio with the fire pit burning in the background while you're sipping away on a glass of wine. It's a relaxed atmosphere where you can catch up with friends in the Denver area without struggling too much for parking. Kona has pretty decent happy hours in terms of food and drinks, although be careful as the weekend times are off by an hour. Service is definitely a hit or miss. There are some servers that will do bare minimum but there are others that are very attentive and want you to have a good time. I was in on Friday and had an absolute blast with our server LaLa.
(4)Joseph H.
This restaurants hostesses are rude and unknowledgeable, the manager knows nothing about business and should never have that job. If I owned this restaurant I would fire all three hostesses as well as the manager to save my business and even if you see 8 tables open they will not sit you down but don't worry they will let you sit at the bar or outside except not a single person will give you a menu or ask if you need anything or let alone acknowledge your existence. Horrible restaurant and with all the options in the area this would be the last anyone should attend.
(1)Jessica L.
We came here last night for my sisters birthday. Our server was Lala and she was bubbly and wonderful. I ordered the chili lime shrimp salad with the dressing on the side. It was delicious and had soo many shrimp in there for $15 so definitely worth it. I especially liked the sautéed mushrooms. Other entrees that the table ordered were the sweet chili salmon, lobster mac and cheese, sushi, asparagus salad with macadamia nut chicken and a couple other things. We ordered a brownie for dessert which was huge and moist and Lala comped that since we had a birthday. Every time I come here I enjoy the food and so does everyone else in my parties. Although parking sucks. They also have Andes mints by the host stand (only Olive Garden has these mints that I know of). There is happy hour all day Sunday's and kona grill is known for their happy hour if you want to check that out. Sad that it's almost winter because they have a nice patio. Maybe it's heated but I'm not sure. Anyway check this place out.
(5)SnowChik B.
I sit in the bar area on Sundays. Always a great service staff, waiters & bartenders are so friendly! Food always comes out quick. & they have great happy hours!!! The sushi is pretty good as well as some of the appetizers. I always leave with a full tummy & a smile!
(4)Cindy B.
Delicious! Really enjoy Kona Grill every time I eat here and the friendly waiters, thanks!
(4)Kelly G.
This was our first visit to this chain. The restaurant was located next to the California Pizza Kitchen in the Cherry Creek Mall. We parked in the mall garage and walked through the mall to get to the restaurant, unless you use the Valet. I had signed up for their Konavore Program and received an e-mail for $15 off the bill for my birthday good for 2 weeks. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She seated us in a comfortable booth in the dining room. A giant fish tank separated the bar area from the sushi bar/dining room. The restaurant was dim, but there were pot lights shinning directly in the center of each table so you could see the menu and food. My husband ordered the Chicken Caprese Sandwich ($12). It was a chicken breast with tomato, mozzarella, baby arugula, basil pesto aioli on ciabatta bread served with garlic parmesan fries. The sandwich ingredients were light and fresh. The fries were shoestring potatoes with the skin, perfectly seasoned with garlic and parmesan. I ordered the Grilled Ribeye Sandwich ($15.25). The ribeye was tender and juicy. It came with garlic ailoi, baby arugula, danish bleu, onion strings on ciabatta bread served with fries. It was to die for and just melted in my mouth. Besides having $15 off the bill, the server brought me a complimentary Red Velvet Cupcake ($4 value) for my birthday. It was huge, enough for 2 people, served on a plate with sliced kiwi and strawberries. The cream cheese frosting wasn't too sweet. The manager came by to see how everything was. He stopped to talk to us about the temperature in the restaurant. He was aware that it was a little chilly in the restaurant and he was working on it. It really means a lot when the management is out on the floor, rather than hiding in the back office. The Happy Hour menu and prices look real attractive. We will definitely be back when the weather warms up so we can dine on the patio.
(4)Christine A.
I have to say I was really surprised at how much I liked Kona Grill. I didn't plan on going there. I was shopping at the mall when the alarm went off. After 15 minutes, I just couldn't take it any more, so I had to drink the annoyance away and Kona Grill was there. Their bar area is cool - one side of the bar is inside and the other side is outside on the patio. I sat at the bar outside. They had a fire going, so it wouldn't get too chilly, so it was very nice. Within 30 seconds of sitting down, all three of the bartenders greeted me. They were friendly and a HAPPY group of people. It was also all day happy hour and it is an impressive happy hour. I don't like it when restaurants serve lower-quality food for happy hour. Kona discounts their existing menu and doesn't downsize portions. This is an excellent happy hour. I had 2 cosmos - delicious. Nothing I like more than a strong drink that doesn't taste like alcohol too much. The drinks were strong - I could feel it after finishing half of my first cocktail. I also had 2 sushi rolls. They were good - not the same standard of sushi that you would get in some other places, but, overall, they were satisfying. I received excellent service throughout my visit - refills on my water, friendliness and checking back to see if I needed anything. When I received my bill, it was less than $20. Seriously - I was really shocked about that - like I said, excellent happy hour. At this point, I saw the manager, so I let him know how impressed I was with the staff, which made him very happy. I usually shop at Park Meadows b/c it's 5 minutes from where I live, but, if I'm up in Cherry Creek, I would definitely chose to come back to Kona Grill.
(4)Kris R.
Scott was our server today on the patio, and he gave us phenomenal service!! Incredibly attentive, funny, just all around a great experience. The rainbow roll was delicious, and 1/2 price bottles of wine can't be beat!! Will definitely be back again
(5)Jimmy H.
Drive 15 miles to get here only to find it closed. Good job on relaying that info, Google. To say I'm upset is an understatement, not to mention - the parking stinks.
(1)jay g.
We found a lot of tasty options the the menu, from calamari to chop salad. The show stopper was the chocolate fandu!
(4)Jane S.
Their happy hour space is a joke. Such little space for that time. Drink specials are ok. Food selection is better. I liked the lettuce wraps.
(2)Chuck S.
Sitting on the patio here on a warm summer and watching the "beautiful people" walk by is one of my favorite things to do at Cherry Creek. It helps that they have a good happy hour. The sushi is not the best I've had, but it was fine. The drinks are not the strongest here, but they were fine. The eye candy is some of the best here with the gals getting dressed up just to go shopping at the mall. The waiter took very good care of us checking in often and making sure we had what we needed.
(4)Cindy R.
Great place to get together for a quick happy hour. Love their potstickers and happy hour rolls.
(4)Michael P.
Polynesian cuisine set in Denver....this place does a good job of creating nice Hawaiian/Polynesian dishes. The salmon and mahi mahi are very tasty and outside of Hawaiii, great seafood. My one suggestion for this restaurant are more drink specials as they are little pricey. Overall, I do like place for special occasions.
(4)Jay C.
We ordered some sushi rolls, a roast beef sandwich and the jambalaya entrée. The jambalaya - the reason for this review - was awful. It was to contain chicken, crawfish and Andouille sausage with the sauce. The chicken was way over-cooked and hard. The crawfish could hardly be found. The Andouille sausage was either invisible or not present. Additionally, the peppers in the sauce was the largest pieces in the entrée. They should typically be cut smaller to be a part of the sauce instead of being IN the sauce. I guess everyone makes it different but someone at Kona doesn't know how to make jambalaya. During this visit they also permitted dogs to be tied to the patio fence which I normally don't mind if the owner is nearby. They would not stop barking and crying during dinner. They disturbed every customer on the patio.
(1)John P.
Kona Grill has it all. Good food and great service. The staff is attentive and friendly. The sushi was very tasty and came out pretty quickly despite being busy. This is a must try restaurant. Kind of hard to see due to the construction around the mall's new addition, but worth the search.
(5)A D.
Loved it! What great unique takes on sushi! So good, I could've eaten my weight in sushi. And the raspberry-hibiscus tea was fantastic.
(5)Jason K.
My girlfriend and I go here every time we have to visit the mall if it's after 3pm for their Happy Hour. The appetizers are probably the best in all of Denver that I can think of! They have a 1,000 gallon saltwater fish aquarium that is understocked, and lacking the beautiful colors that one would expect for a saltwater tank, and half the time it is dirty. The patio is a great place to sit during a nice day, but sometimes you can not get a table (inside or out) in the bar area, and they do not offer happy hour in the large dinning area. If you do get a table, you may not be getting a drink anytime soon. We have learned if it is to busy just to walk away and try again another day :) Although the sushi we had was delicious, we have never been dinner
(4)Steve S.
Ahhh, the Cherry Creek mall. Always a battle between image and substance. Usually image wins. The same holds true for the Kona Grill located on the north side of the mall. Now, they do have a great patio for people and car watching. On colder nights, the fireplace and heaters are well worth the price of admission. However, the food is lacking substance and so are it's waitstaff. Kona offers sushi, Asian inspired dishes and traditional American fare. For the most part its decent food that is priced well. However, Kona presents itself as a four star restaurant which is definitely is not. Just don't be confused. Always entertaining are the dudes wearing small child t-shirts and the women with more construction on their faces and chests than the summer roads in Denver. So go for people watching. Go for decent food. For for the inevitable oversell of the special by the waitstaff. It'll be worth it.
(3)Travis S.
Terrible happy hour they let people hold seats for over 15 min why people are there ready to eat and refuse to serve happy hour in main area will not be going back
(1)Kelly S.
Wonderful happy hour!! Not only are they good prices but there are lots of choices! Plenty of sushi rolls as well as other appetizers! I enjoy coming more in summer because the patio is great, but the bar is still nice if too cold for the patio. The only downfall can be finding a seat!
(4)Tumi M.
Great ambiance next to Cherry Creek Mall valet. There is a fire pit outside that adds a nice touch. Across from the bar inside is a 100+ gallon fish tank that adds some life inside. I sat at the bar with my business associate as we hashed out the details of a financial agreement. The bartender was cool, didn't interrupt us at all, but got our food out fast and refilled our glasses multiple times. He helped figure out the special order sandwich my associate placed and was a pleasant server. The happy hour menu looked good. I will be back for a after work hangout with my boys or a semi casual date with good ambiance.
(4)Meri O.
Amazing atmosphere on any day/time. Their appetizers are delicious plus they are half off Mon-Fri. They have two happy hours 3-7 & 9-12. Definitely worth checking it out. Enjoy.
(4)Kate O.
LOVE their patio. Super cute. They have a fire pit too. They have this angry edamame that is to die for but note this is crazy hot stuff. Their food is really good as well as their sushi. I also love the kids meals. They are $5 and my son had the housemade mac and cheese and LOVED it. Great atmosphere.
(4)Andre R.
I really disapprove the service of this restaurant. They charged my credit card with more gratuity amount than I give and even after I write on the bill that the service was not good. The restaurant was not busy and they took a long time to provide us service.We had to ask for a waiter and wait a long time to have our order.The waiter was looking at TV instead of bring us the bill.However the table on our side had two waiter to attend them at the same time and we were just three person in a table against a couple on the table on our side.The food was good but they really disappointed and showed to be not trustable and respectful.
(1)Jinny K.
Definitely a great spot for happy hour. Their sake sangria is pretty good though I can't really feel any alcohol in it. Their appetizers are also light and delicious. Can't beat the happy hour deal.
(4)Kate C.
Love their mojitos! Sushi is good and if you can find a seat during happy hour, definitely take advantage of it. It is part of the mall so can get a little busy but never had a bad meal. Service seems to be a little slow sometimes. Love the patio in the summer!
(3)Erica A.
I was pleasantly suprised by Kona Grill. I thought that the food would be subpar being in the mall. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Specifically, the avocado egg rolls are to die for! Sushi is fresh and average price for the area. They have a huge menu and even though they specialize in Asian food, they have a lot of other options if people dont like that. It is a great place to have dinner before a movie.
(4)Annie F.
We went to Kona Grill today around 6 Pm and sat at sushi bar. And we were order sashimi and sweet shrimp nigiri and open 1 bottle of fuji sake . The server was nice and funny . But the bad thing is after get out from Kona for 15 minutes and i got alergic from NOT fresh Sweet Shrimp nigiri and fishy . And now my lip are horrible . Note : check your sushi bar cooler's temperature and make sure peoples dont get sick.
(2)Anya M.
Years ago when I was poorer, more tolerant, and ate all the gluten I wanted, I used to love this place for happy hour. I was unemployed so I could get there early before happy hour to actually get a table, and I liked the cheap sake bombs and cheap appetizers (still miss those guac rolls). On the patio people watching is totally entertaining (always people trying to show off their cars in valet, show off the stuff they're wearing, show of their girl's new boob job etc). There is always a good chance you'll see some Nuggets/Bronco player roll up with his baby momma (I've had it happen multiple times). There isn't really a people-watching equivalent in Denver so that was fun, minus trying to get a table. Now that I'm older, have $, less patience, AND am gluten free, this place doesn't do it for me anymore. I'd rather pay full price for a beverage than stand around asking people if they are leaving soon, so I can steal the table before anyone else gets it. Or worse, drink standing up smashed next to the bar. Annoying and a time waster. Plus now that I am gluten free [they have a gluten free menu online] I pretty much can't order 90% of the menu. Obviously you can get meat/fish, white rice + steamed veggies, but I can make that at home. All the good stuff has gluten in it. I got the Kona Chopped Salad with PLAIN grilled chicken (you can't get the macadamia chicken because it is coated in breadcrumbs) and it was great. But it was $13. If you're stuck in the mall and starving this place is ok if you know what you're getting into. At least the decor/vibe/service are all great.
(2)Ashley F.
Avocado egg rolls are phenomenal!
(4)Whitney W.
I love Kona grill! I love sushi! No compliants here! They have a great Happy Hour Menu in the Bar til 7pm. Spicy Tuna Roll for $3.50. What a great value! Will always come back!
(4)Lee S.
Scott, our server, was very personable, quick and efficient; all that a waiter should be. He quickly explained all the sections of the menu and pointed out the best items in each section. My daughter is our sushi fan and selected their Sunshine Roll (spicy salmon roll, fresh salmon, shaved lemon) and their Wave Roll (spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, soy paper). My wife and I selected pairs of items from their luncheon selections. All the entrees were very good and I liked my daughters choices the best. My wife is a Crème Brûlée lover so we all shared a serving of their Passion Fruit Crème Brûlée, which she rated as the best she has ever had. Scott and the Crème Brûlée were definitely the standouts of this lunch that will make this a dining experience to remember.
(4)Da D.
Here now, been waiting for an hour. Haven't even received our food, let alone our drinks. I would rate zero if it were an option. They aren't even that busy.
(1)Will D.
I have tried to like the Kona Grill since its inception. Hadn't been there for at least two years and probably won't go back. If it is not the food, it is the service. Tonight it was both. Too many really good restaurants in Denver to spend any of myself there.
(2)Amy O.
I would go here every day if I could for the Oriental salad. If you have to stay inside the mall, I'd recommend going here. They have some nice outdoor seating too with a fire pit. I sat at the bar and had a great lunch.
(5)Phung L.
This place has one of the best happy hour! Where else can you get a 22oz of iced cold Kirin Ichiban and a large hot sake for $7? Happy hour is only located at the bar area so this place fills up quick! You're definitely going to have to arrive early just to grab a table especially if you're planning on going with a large party. The outside patio is nice, but as the weather gets cooler everyone prefers to be jam packed indoors. Half off appetizers are good. Try the mini burgers. My only gripe is that they took out the seared ahi wonton crisp from the menu. Those were so good!
(4)Jennifer B.
We were looking for a great place to eat after enjoying the Zoo on Sunday. Don't know exactly how we came up with this but we had heard good things and decided to take a shot. We were seated immediately. The menu is fantastic, and it took us a good amount of time to review the entire thing and decide on a meal. I decided on the recommendation of our waitress and got the Kona Chopped Salad, my friend had the Spicy Pesto Chicken Linguini. Our food was delivered timely and was absolutely gorgeous. See my pic of my salad. The Spicy Linguini was out of this world and I will confess I had more than one bite. The Salad had avocado, almond crusted chicken (the best I ever had) with a light honey mustard dressing. If the yummy deliciousness from the entrees wasn't enough we decided on their special dessert, the Banana Cream Pie. Wowza! Now that was a delight to feast my eyes upon. A big satisfying slice of Banana Cream Pie with whipped cream, some king king of sweet drizzle and shaved coconut. It was to die for to every last lick of the plate - I highly recommend the dessert. The next time I am shopping in Cherry Creek I will definitely make a point to stop in again.
(4)Kay T.
Only come here for the Happy Hour because the food is otherwise some what expensive. Happy Hour menu has a good selection at a reasonable price and the food is good. Not the best sushi I've had in the city but decent.
(3)Cat S.
I enjoy Kona Grill, but I realized it's the happy hour that makes it worth it. After multiple times going during happy hour, I went once with the boyfriend and we decided we didn't feel like waiting for a table by the bar to open up. So we opted for a normal dinner. The food is decent, but I feel it is overpriced for what you get. I got the miso-sake salmon club. The ciabatta was perfect - soft on the inside, crunchy near the edges (so not like the tough to eat ciabatta I've gotten in many other places). The boyfriend got the basil pesto linguine. And again, the food was a-ok, but nothing to boast about. I do love the avocado eggrolls though, but I like them even better half price during happy hour :) One plus: Even on cold nights, sitting outside isn't terrible as they have the fire grates and heaters on the ceilings.
(3)Kelsey W.
Every time I have ever been to a Kona during happy hour the dining room is completely empty. This is because Kona has only special sections for their happy hour (which I have always found ridiculous). Obviously during the hours of happy hour people would like to have the option of ordering happy hour (duh). What goes beyond just annoying and stupid is the fact that in the middle of January they will have you to sit outside if the other 15 seats inside are full and you wish to enjoy happy hour. Asking a guest to dine outside in the middle of winter in order to get happy hour when you have a completely vacant dining room? You have got to be kidding me. No thank you. We definitely went elsewhere and most likely won't be back. That is some awful customer service.
(1)Martha W.
Kona Grill is aweeeeeesome. Check it out during happy hour. The avocado egg rolls were bomb. :D
(5)Susan H.
While shopping at Cherry Creek we stopped in for lunch. Great decision The host was pleasant. We had booked ahead on Open Table and we were seated right away. The waiter was prompt, attentive, and helpful. He was well versed on the large variety of menu choices. Gave us enough time to unwind & relax a little bit before ordering, and was attentive and timely. Our food was great. I had the flatbread pizza with a glass of wine. The blend of flavors in the pizza was very good and the crust perfectly done. My husband had a sandwich with roast beef & gruyere cheese on a toasted baguette. He loved it. While the restaurant was very busy with weekend shoppers, the service and the food were very good and somehow the atmosphere still seemed relaxed. Will definitely eat here again when we are in Cherry Creek.
(4)Brady K.
I am allergic to fish so obviously I do not eat sushi. However, I have always wanted to eat at the Kona grill, since I generally love Asian food apart from fish. Usually, when we are at the mall, California Pizza Kitchen is our standard choice. But we decided to try something new and Kona Grill is right there. Great patio for a great afternoon and of course Kona has lots of non fish items to choose from. Today they were running a special on bul-go-gi tacos with a side of kim chi, so I decided to partake in my heritage and try some. I have to say the bul-go-gi was a little sweet and it was on some kind of filo dough taco. I think there was some sweetness in the bread and the meat, so I'm not sure it worked. Oh, also had some calimari appetizers and that was really good. So to clarify, I am only allergic to fishy fish, not shell fish or cephalopods if we want to get technical. Service was very good. It is amazing how the little things can be the most important. For example, the server offered us some chop sticks and I said yes. So she peeled off part of the wrapper, handed me the exposed side, while maintaining hold on the wrapper side. As I pulled my chop sticks from her, she maintained hold of the wrapper and I received the benefit of having chop sticks without dealing with the nuisance of trash on my table. Okay, I'm a compulsive weirdo, but that still can be classified as good service and I will be back to try more non fish items.
(4)Alex L.
Service on the patio (during happy hour) is definitely the best time to go. I went there once when it was their slow time, about 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and service was dismal. However, deciding to go to the patio was the best decision ever. Service was prompt and the food came out great! We ordered sliders, sushi and pizza. Bill came out to right around $17! Can't beat that for two people! The dining room just isn't a place to dine anymore and this holds true at many restaurants, not just Kona Grill!
(4)Jeff T.
Love the happy hour. I only go for the happy hour. . Keep in mind that the food isn't top notch but its reliable and fairly priced. Love the avocado egg rolls and flat-breads..perfect place to go to for a weekday or weekend night.
(4)David R.
What a great happy hour menu! The potstickers were excellent and the avocado rolls were interesting. The waiter did a great job and the food was better than expected. What a great value!! We'll be back.
(4)Simon J.
Been here a number of times, and went for happy hour last night which reminded me I really ought to Yelp this place as I have now had several really solid experiences here. Food has always been tasty and fresh, service has actually also been great-friendly helpful servers, even with our baby which I know can mean a little more work for them. The happy hour is a genuine bargain too with some really excellent deals, plus the decor is comfortable and has a higher end feel. So far, a great "never fail" spot.
(4)Steven S.
This place is packed and trendy so be prepared. Translation = Crowded. But the service and food are excellent. I've visited here three times over the past two years and each experience was very positive. This last visit, I ordered the Macadamia Nut Chicken with House Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Veggies, Shoyu Cream, and Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade. I had no idea how any of the above would turn out. And to be honest, I had no idea what the seasonal veggie would be, how the "Pineapple-Papaya Marmalade" would taste, and I'd never even heard of Shoyu Cream. So let's just say I was not entirely invested in the meal. And I almost walked. Why? I sat for over 45 minutes waiting. Even the server seemed a bit surprised and apologized, assured me he'd checked on the status, and the kitchen said it would be right out. I wasn't mad or anything. But I was hungry. So at this point I contemplated simply but silently walking out and grabbing something at the California Pizza Kitchen right across the mall. That would have been a mistake. No sooner had I decided to move on that the most masterfully-decorated plate arrived. Generous portions of succulent chicken covered in some amazing sauce. It was literally bursting with flavor. The seasonal veggie turned out to be bok choy. Now mind you, I've had bok choy before but nothing like this. I have no idea what they did to it, but I sincerely hope it was legal. It was not only the best bok choy I've ever encountered, but quite possibly the best vegetable I've tasted. That's how well it was seasoned. So I definitely recommend the Kona Grill. It can be crowded and service a bit slow, but there's a reason it's crowded. It's that good. Come check it out.
(4)Jim H.
Great sushi and amazing drinks!!! Go here for happy hour and leave happy!
(5)Dan P.
Kona Grill is one of those few restaurants that is always consistent in quality and service. We've had the opportunity to meet several of the staff and management. We must say Chance is the best wait person there-always friendly and always helpful. Their patio is closed for a few days due to the Cherry Creek Mall entrance overhaul. I am sure the new patio will be worth a visit.
(5)Hailey Z.
Every time I dine here the service gets worse and worse. Our last attempt was met with a server that just didn't care whether he made money off of us or not. I'm not sure what the draw is other than having a prime location. Go to Elways instead.
(2)Scott M.
I would crawl through the mud for their soft shelled crab and andouille sliders... they are out of this world. We've only been a couple times when there was a wait. Great sushi menu too!
(4)Richard N.
This Kona Grill is awesome! Great customer service and unlike other restaurants in Denver the manager is always present making sure everything is going great!
(5)Jihee Y.
If it wasn't for Kona's happy hour, I don't know if people would just go there for the food. The happy hour is the only thing that makes it worth it. The food is decent, not great. They have a good selection of rolls for happy hour and it's seriously a hit or miss. The same roll you get once that was delicious could be a total disaster another time you go. Flat bread, avocado eggrolls, and the calamari are consistent winners. Don't get the mini burgers, probably one of the worst burgers I've had. I don't know how they've lasted this long with service like they have. Maybe because it's happy hour but every time I go, the service has been completely horrible. You feel rushed and they make you feel bad for "bothering" them. I've only had one good experience there with the service and I let her know myself how great she was compared to others we've had. Bottom line, go for happy hour. One of the best happy hours in Denver.
(3)Nicole D.
Great happy hour but their sushi is just ok. Go Fish is my first choice for sushi. I used to really enjoy Kona Grill but now I'm like meh.
(3)Melanie L.
This was a fun lunch spot. I'd never been to Denver and didn't realize how many chain restaurants they had (and that I'd never visited). I am a hug believer in eating local when you can but this was a mall stop and shopping can really help work up an appetite. They had a cool fish tank by the sushi bar that I was transfixed by while we we were eating. Their menu was pretty extensive and offered everything from burgers to Pad Thai. I had the Avocado Chicken Club with chipotle mayo on ciabatta and traded the taro chips for their fries. Loved their fries. The sandwich definitely left something to be desired . We had calamari for an appetizer and that was pretty good. Overall, I would give this place a thumbs and say the food is decent at best. It's at the very least a nice place to rest your feet after shopping.
(3)Christian S.
My husband and I came here for our one year wedding anniversary and it was wonderful. The service was great and the food was even better! We were very happy with every aspect of our evening here and plan on making it an anniversary tradition:)
(5)Alicia H.
Ran in for a quick snack with my cousin... but anytime you get us together it takes a bit for us to stop talking and order... so I thank our waiter for his patience with us! He got a turkey burger that he inhaled and I ordered 3 rolls (philly, a tempera shrimp, and avocado crab I believe).... and it was quite delicious! I'm picky about my sushi but they were tightly wrapped rolls with lots of flavor. Prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly; can't wait to be in the area again and grab something else to eat!
(4)John H.
During happy hour this place is a hit or miss on service but its a great place to drink after work. I recommend everyone to show up early for happy hour because the patio area is the spot to be. It has an awesome fire pit and its right next to valet. The food isn't authentic. I only go here for the drinks. sake bombs! This is what everyone goes for. It's beer and a shot of sake. Cheers!
(3)Lynn W.
The food was not good here. We heard great things about their happy hour but were not impressed when we got there. The sake was hot and good, but the food was not very good or very fresh. We ordered calamari and it was a pretty sad excuse for calamari. Really tiny and not tasty - which is surprising since they were deep fried. We could barely eat the sushi. The place looked nice enough but the service was very slow. There are much better places for happy hour in Cherry Creek.
(2)Tara L.
By the time I added salmon to the asparagus salad it was a pretty steep salad. $18 is up there for veggies and a small salmon filet. Service was good though and easy to get to in Cherry Creek Mall.
(3)Stefanie Z.
My boyfriend and I do enjoy coming here for the sushi because the meals are pricey. The avocado egg rolls are aaaaamazing! We usually get the California roll and spicy tuna. I think their mojitos are so yummy and tasty ! The service sometimes is slow and we have had to wait for our waiter to pass by and for our food which was only sushi to come out. I do enjoy coming here and happy hour is so worth it!!!!!
(4)Tiffany N.
This mall bar/restaurant, for some inexplicable reason, is crazy packed for happy hour. When did hanging out in the mall become cool for people who can drink? At best it just seems dangerous for your checking account. So, Nick and I are here for a sort of wedding congratulatory party, which they've divided into two tables. Because, you know, it's too hard to put 10 people at one table. Whatever. I'm starving. They have a sushi bar. I'm a sushi fan. Let's order sushi. But, before that we had the only good thing that I tried - tuna wontons. This is rarely seared tuna on a crispy wonton with wasabi sauce on it. I should have eaten another order of those. But, we went with the sushi rolls. It was just crap. They were all falling apart and while fresh, the fish just seemed not to mesh with the flavors they were mixing in there. Nick and I order 3 rolls and ate about half of each. And we are not sushi wasters. Generally, I'd rather eat sushi until my stomach hurts than let it go to waste. The one highlight of our time there was the drink menu. They make a lot of very interesting cocktails, which I sampled quite a few of. And they have sparkling sake. So, if you're going, my suggestion is go for the beverages.
(2)Jessica G.
I've always wanted to go to Kona grill but it just wasn't the right price for my budget. Luckily my boyfriend got some gift cards from one of the Managers. My boyfriend works at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cherry Creek, and they stoped by asking if he ever sends people over to Kona Grill, he had never tried it so he said no he doesn't. They gave him some gift cards to get him to change his mind. Well lets just say it worked! We took his parents to dinner when they came to visit from Texas. The service was great, the drinks were amazing and the food was so delicious. I got the pan seared ahi, which was cooked great, as was everyone elses meal. The sweet chili sauce that went with the rice was so tasty, it wa just the right amount of spice. I would highly recommend Kona Grill to anyone that can afford it or for a special occasion. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Heather M.
Came here with a friend for a work lunch and wasn't terribly impressed. The restaurant was not very busy, yet it took over 30 minutes for us to receive our food. During this time, the waiter refilled our waters once but didn't offer an explanation for the long wait. As it was a work lunch, we were hoping for somewhat faster service. When the food did arrive, I received a dish I did not order. Though the dish I did order came out soon behind it, I had to make the effort to explain that I had not ordered the first. I had the pan-seared ahi, which was good enough, but left me wanting for more. I had been excited when I first looked at the menu because it looked like there were some great items. The fact that this place is in a mall doesn't really help it. If it weren't for the coupon I just received in the mail, I probably wouldn't return.
(2)Sal R.
I'm torn between starting with the phenomenal service or the amazing flat bread! The menu was tough for vegetarians. The pad Thai uses fish oil and the tomato basil soup has cheese cooked into it. My server, Madison, checked on the soup ingredients -- without prompting -- and came back to ask if the cheese was OK. When I said no, she happily agreed to swap my order for a custom vegan flatbread instead. I never complained. But the manager asked the kitchen to rush my revised order, brought it over himself and then didn't bill me for it. It was all totally unnecessary (but appreciated). I would have paid full price for that vegan veggie flatbread! My dining mate loved the pulled pork sliders and sweet potato fries (especially the sauce).
(5)Kristin K.
Awesome happy hour. Great food. Great atmosphere. Wave and Bama rolls were awesome. White Sangria on HH was also delightful.
(4)Alex R.
Not impressed. Thankfully I wasn't footing the bill for the less than stellar apps and entrees.
(3)Diana W.
I went here for lunch and was excited about the new less than 500 calorie menu option. Service was good at first but as the lunch rush came in the service and food slowed down but our waiter still helped us with a smile. Got the low calorie cucumber wrapped salmon roll which was tasty but I wish the sauce they drizzled on wasn't as citric. Also got the scallop sashimi dish that is on the low calorie menu too...it was delicious. Tasted fresh...I wanted 4 more! Will I come here again? Well, the sushi options aren't mind blowing. Run of the mill "generic" sushi chain for the masses but it has a great selection so if you want to meet people here that don't enjoy sushi, you can get your fix while they order a sandwich.
(3)Braden S.
Went here today before shopping at the Cherry Creek Mall as should be expected. The server was very nice, but not very attentive. He didn't come by many times even when I needed water and had to steal water from someone else in my party. People at my table tended to like their meals well enough, but I didn't love the sushi. I would have much rather gone to a reputable sushi place in the area instead of ordering the sushi at Kona. I tasted the ahi tuna salad and was underwhelmed, but it was still OK. Overall, food and service were OK. I think this is a place to go if and ONLY if you are shopping in the Cherry Creek Mall, but don't come here just for a place to go out.
(3)Crys A.
This is a chain and we all know it. Still, I'm not going to lie, the food, drinks and service are pretty darn solid. Because I'm into monetary self-flagellation I often find myself wandering blurry-eyed around Cherry Creek Mall for hours at a time, only to land, quite thankfully, in a seat at the bar at Kona Grill. They have this sushi sampler thing which is brilliant. I mean, being from Hawaii I know good sushi, and I'm not saying this is the omgbest sushi in town, but for the price and the amount served I'm not balking. The sweet Maui onion rings are also good, as are the potstickers. Again, nothing amazing to write your mom about, but for what it is and where it is and how it is --- I like. Entrees? The ribs are good but I find the macadamia nut chicken to be ... odd tasting. Can't put my finger on it, but I ordered it only once and that was good enough for me. The pad thai was standard, not especially special, but it's not like I didn't eat most of it.
(4)Lo B.
I have never seen such tiny shrimp. $17 for thumb nail sized shrimp was an insult. The pasta was over cooked and gummy, the lemon cream sauce wasn't remotely lemony. The service was inattentive and way below average. We would have loved to order a drink or a dessert but the server never returned.
(1)Katie B.
Kona Grill, you did a much better job of pleasing me on the second go - kudos! After my initial bad experience at Kona Grill, the district manager contacted me to apologize for my lackluster meal. He offered to send me a complimentary gift card as consolation, and naturally I eagerly accepted - but that's not why Kona earned a better star rating. The sushi saved this joint. I returned to Kona while my boyfriend was visiting from Florida. It was his last night in town, so I wanted to take him out for something nicer than the Mexican grub and leftover Thanksgiving chow that we had been noshing on all week. We started our dinner with ahi wonton crisps and edamame. Both were satisfying, but I've had better ahi tuna (can I get a holler for Cuba Cuba's ahi with watermelon, oh my). The wasabi sauce on the tuna was fantastic, and I sopped up all the remnants on the plate with my edamame. Having learned my lesson sampling the mediocre burgers during my first visit, my beau and I stuck to the sushi menu this time - and it was an excellent decision. We ordered about four different rolls, including the spicy salmon and a savory soft shell crab roll. However, the crowned jewels of this meal were clear: GET THE ATLANTIC ROLL AND YAMADA ROLL. Seriously, you must. The atlantic is a hearty, smoky baked salmon concotion with eel sauce, cucumber, and crunchy tempura flakes. Probably my new favorite roll. The yamada roll was the center piece of the dinner, and overwhelmed our tastebuds with tempura sea bass with crab, avocado, cucumber, and wonton slivers wrapped up in delicate yellow soy paper. Yes, yes, yes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We topped off our gluttony with a seasonal pumpkin-infused creme brulee - pretty good, but given how disgustingly full I was, it was hard to really enjoy it. Niko devoured it though, and I liked the fat little pumpkin seed topping. Overall, I would come back here for some sushi - especially those two amazing rolls.
(3)Tyler S.
Great American/Seafood/Sushi restaurant in the heart of Cherry Creek. I made the executive decision today with a good friend of mine to head over to Kona Grill today for lunch. Having eaten here numerous times previous, Kona just seemed to be calling out to me as we narrowed down our luncheon choices in the area. I ordered my absolute favorite from here, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken! Not only does it come with freshly steamed and deliciously seasoned green beans, served underneath the chicken cutlets, is a crazy tasty pile of cheddar mashed red potatoes that are the bomb.com ! My lunch partner ordered the grilled Mahi-Mahi, which I must say was also pretty tasty when offered a sample. Not too "fishy" (which I can't stand when ordered fish in Colorado) and grilled until it was perfectly cooked. It came with a side of mango salsa and some crazy vegetable called Broccollatini that was a weird hybrid between broccoli and asparagus. We also decided to split some sushi before our meals came out. At the recommendation from our server, we ordered this shrimp tempura, crab, spicy tuna roll that was all wrapped up in cucumber slices. On top of the sushi was this wasabi aioli sauce which made the entire dish outstanding! I would definitely order this sushi again! I've heard they have a great happy hour, although I haven't personally been during that time. They did have a sign posted advertising all day happy hour on their patio if that day's high temperature is below 40 degrees. The only downfall it seemed from this was that you had to sit out on their patio. All in all, Kona Grill is a great, kickback place to grab some drinks and American/Seafood and sushi with friends or family. Nothing special - I probably wouldn't come here for an anniversary or special occasion meal, but it serves it's purposes when the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken calls out to your stomach!
(4)Amir R.
I found nothing appealing about Kona Grill. The food was dull and uninspired. It seems the most important objective of the restaurant is to rush people through the place. The only reason I went to this place was because I was hungry and in the mall. A better bet would have been to walk out the door and head two blocks over to Hapa Sushi. Denver is full of good Sushi places, Really! This ain't one of them.
(1)Scrotie M.
I like this place and there food is pretty good. They have a nice atmosphere and good service. The food is a little over priced but is cooked well, their happy hour is good for food but the drinks are weak. I would give 4 stars but more than one time I have seen managment belittle staffers, and it is embarasing.
(3)Carlin L.
I ate at Kona this weekend. Sushi and salad were actually quite good with a fantastic patio. Seems a bit overpriced for what it is and the non-stop 70s music was rather peculiar...
(3)Kyle M.
went to kona because of raving fans and was not impressed. the food was ok and overpriced we had the hawaiian steak and some general sushi rolls. the steak lacked flavor and was no where near the $30 quality. the service at kona is a+ however. our server was on it all night.
(3)Kenneth P.
I'm reviewing in regards to the reverse happy hour (around 10pm-12). Kona's really good for some cheap drinks and cheap appetizers during their happy hour. But it's incredibly annoying on a busy night or a cold night. Their happy hour "requires" that you sit at the bar section or out on the patio? Yeah... I don't really understand it much, but it gets pretty annoying if there's weather or if you're in a big group and looking for a table. I don't really understand why, but I think Asians tend to flood towards Kona and have trouble reaching out to other places. But to be honest, I always dread being dragged there by friends mainly because of the seating. Besides that, the calamari and the barbecue chicken pizza are always good items to order. Some sushi is decent, but honestly, if you're a real sushi eater, you're not going to Kona's happy hour for sushi.
(2)Pilar D.
This review is for happy hour only. My expectation was not very high because, albeit, Cherry Creek, it was still in a mall. Kona Grill is located on the north side of the mall, near Neiman Marcus. Kona is also accessible from the outside. The restaurant space is indoors. The bar area inside is small, but more extensive outside. There is a fireplace and some heat lamps for cooler weather. The drink special was ok. There were a few cocktails (margaritas), beer, and wine. The list wasn't very extensive but was pretty inexpensive, around $5 - $7. For happy hour, I believe the appetizers were half off. There were also pizza around $7 and they were HUGE. It's really the size of a medium pizza. We had a couple of other appetizers (I think something with ahi tuna) but nothing memorable. The place is great for beer and pizza.
(3)Kim H.
The food is pretty good here, and service is nice too! The chicken club sandwitch was delicious! And the taro chips that came with it were yummy! The pad thai was very good as well-generous portion!
(4)Elizabeth M.
Having lived in Denver for 15 years, it is surprising that I never dined at this restaurant until just this month. For some reason, I thought this restaurant served different fare than it does, and I wound up being nicely surprised. I have now dined there twice and been for happy hour. I recommend either. The mixed drinks are great - have had both a cosmo and traditional martini, both of which tasted great. My friend had the cold sake, which she allowed me to taste, and it was also quite good. I generally order appetizers and sushi, both of which are very good. My favorites are the avocado egg roles and the wave sushi roll. My daughter loved the potstickers and sushi; her friend devoured a couple of the hand rolls. Service has been fairly prompt and efficient. They've been pretty flexible with us too, allowing us to change tables and have staggered arrival times. They seem to have very generously-sized dining rooms with more than enough seating. Kona Grill has become a new favorite for us, and we will definitely be going back.
(4)Jeanette D.
I've only been here for the reverse happy hour from 10pm to midnight but I'm a big fan. The food specials are $4-5.50 and include calamari, crab rolls, chicken and shrimp romaine wraps, etc. There are comso, beer and the famous sake bomb ($7) specials. They get crowded so plan to get there right when the happy hour begins to ensure that you get a table. The outdoor area includes large flat panel tv's and a fire pit so the ambience makes it a good place to hang out. Definitely a nice place to start or end your evening.
(4)Katianna C.
I am a huge konavore, I have been to almost all of them across the USA and i can't complain, i love their sushi and mojitos, I love the atmosphere and service there, if you sit outside or at the bar you can get great happy hour deals on drinks,apps, and sushi!! Can't complain!:-)
(5)Katharine A.
We showed up here minutes after Happy Hour ended and stayed for a couple of drinks. This place gets crowded and people were very packed in the bar. We had a good drink, but didn't stay to eat because of the sea of people.
(3)Perry C.
I thought of Kona Grill because the parking is easy there and because we'll e in Kona, HI next month. What an enjoyable meal! The four entrees, not all mine, included my Snapper with mushrooms broccoli and rice, Louisa & Mary each had the crab meat po' boy & Charles' tenderloin. The desserts were over the top! Terrific & HUGE! Key Lime Pie, Very Large Brownie w/ vanilla ice cream and my apple dumplings bread w/ vanilla ice cream... photos to follow. Our server Zane delivered excellent service too. It was our first visit to Kona Grill and it won't be our last.
(5)Asko B.
Delicious happy hour appetizers. Great staff and atmosphere is amazing as well. Check it out and enjoy.
(4)Stephanie S.
We sat outside - nice place with a good atmosphere. Service was speedy and friendly. I had 2 different martinis that were both yummy, though I cannot remember what they were called :( For my meal I got the Hawaiin Chicken sandwhich (grilled chicken with pineapple)... it was VERY good! A +
(4)Brittany B.
If you want a decent happy hour and you want to get a margarita for $1 cheaper just because you don't have a Y-chromosome during said hh, this place is for you! There are two margs on the menu, one a "ladies Margarita" which, when clarified with our server, is what females get, even though both beverages are the same. Sweet! The patio is great on nice days, though on cold days it's not so bad and supposedly they're putting together an all season patio soon? I'm anxious to check that out. I've enjoyed the "regular" food here, but happy hour is the reason this place thrives. Get there early... or don't and that will leave more room for me ;) j/k but really, this place fills up and the vultures looking for an open table can be vicious if you aren't careful
(4)Logan L.
Two stars because I loved the low calorie drink options, and they were fantastic, albeit low in alcohol, but that is to be expected with low calorie options. Great sushi options, although my boyfriend and I stuck with the edamame. I really was tickled pink that I could enjoy a martini, cosmo, even a mojito for under 125 calories. The one martini (can't remember the name) I truly enjoyed was only 76 calories and tasted like candy...truly amazing. The lack of 5 stars because the service was absolutely horrible. The restaurant was not packed, not busy, and the bartenders completely ignored us. It took 10 minutes to get our first round. We had to wait well over 20 minutes, and get the attention of a manager (more about him later) before we could order a second round. During that 20 minute time we were trying to get the attention of the bartenders, but they were more focused on the glasses than the patrons surrounding the bar. Now for the manager...in all my years (7) of being in the restaurant industry, I have dealt with managers who are true dicks. This manager, probably because I was wearing a simple tank top, shorts, flip flops, and had my hair up (it was 90+ degrees and I had been walking outside for a few hours, sorry my boyfriend and I weren't dressed to the nines), treated us like we were dirt under his feet and then gave us the lamest excuse as to why the bartenders were so inattentive. "They are stretched pretty thin." Maybe it's because I'm used to a busier restaurant during my bartending days, but if two bartenders can't handle a 50% full bar area and a 50-65% full restaurant area (with not a lot of drink orders from my observation), than I shudder to think how they would handle things when it was busy. I have been a bartender, a server, yes even a manager in the restaurant industry and I was appalled at the way we were treated and the utter laziness and lackadasical attitude shown by the bartenders and the manager. Due to the yummy low calorie martini options, I will probably return, but the service and attitude of the bartenders and especially the manager, better be better on my second time, or that will be the last time I set foot in Kona Grill (at least in Denver, heard great things about the Chandler and Scottsdale ones).
(2)Melissa W.
This place was delicious. I loved that they had a gluten free menu, thought my steak was amazing and the crime brûlée was pretty delicious too. I would definitely eat there again!
(4)Bill B.
Good prices on good enough sushi rolls during happy hour. Nice and dark inside--great feeling on a hot afternoon (like it was on Labor Day). We sat at the sushi bar to watch the magic happen. Our waiter was split between the bar (somewhat crowded) the patio (very crowded) and the sushi bar (pretty much empty). Thus service was a bit slow. The sushi chef himself went to the kitchen line to bring out one of our orders. Also, the restroom was "out of order" so we were sent across to California Pizza Kitchen to use theirs. If you're in Cherry Creek Mall and don't want to walk outside or re-park, this and CPK are about your only options for sit-down places that serve wine or beer.
(3)Lily P.
So I wish I could give this place a good review... I went in thinking oh this will be great hawaiian/polynesian with sushi, I WAS IN! But sadly I hope that I am the only person that has had this experience here. Me and my boyfriend went to dinner there at 6:10 and promptly sat, I was quite happy about this (HOSTESSES WERE AMAZING) at 6:20 still no server but the hostess when they were doing their rounds saw we had no drinks and asked if she could get us anything, and we ordered water because we wanted to hear what beers were on tap. She came back promptly with the waters and told us what beers there were (she even went out of her way to find out because she had no idea). About 5 minutes later we had a server (YAY!) Apparently the server that was supposed to have us didn't so another server had to pick us up even though she was in a different section. So we promptly ordered our drinks and a quick appetizer as we had some questions and she was hurrying off to another table and she knew we were ordering entrees because we still had our menus. Around 7 we got our drinks... really had to wait 35 minutes for a mojito and a bottled beer. It wasn't THAT busy.,, after that we didn't see our server again AT ALL. Around 715 we got our one sushi roll that we ordered for an appetizer. Finally around 730 we got quite annoyed that we hadn't even ordered our entrees and we had been there for well over an hour. We asked to see the manager (by the way we had to go up to the hostess stand to do this because again our server had disappeared) who came over confused asking if we were the table that ordered 3 bottles of wine that they were out of... Uhhh there were 2 of us so no obviously not. And he said he was "confused and that there must be another table" and then he asked if everything was alright with our table.... So we complained obviously because I had to be at work in an hour and a half and there was no way that we were staying now. He graciously comped our mojito and beer and 9 dollar that isn't worth the price sushi (wave roll: avoid it). We left her a 5 dollar tip even though we saw her for literally a half a minute (way too kind on our part honestly i would have just walked out!). It's not her fault that we were out of her section but she should have remembered us... especially since she delivered plenty of food to the tables right next to us. If I ever go back to this place again (which I doubt after this experience) I will gladly be sitting at the bar instead because everybody seems to be much more on their game! As I said... I really hope we are the only people that have been treated like this!
(1)Jason R.
5-stars, let's keep in mind this is strictly for the happy-hour menu and vibe. I'd probably give it 3 to 4 stars for the regular menu as it's somewhat pricey, and makes me feel like i'm getting shortchanged if I ever come here outside of happy hour. :-) Anyway, the Sake bombs are great, the avocado eggrolls are amazing. This is def one of the best happy hours in denver, if you like something other than typical, greasy bar food. Come check it out, outdoor patio is wonderful in good weather too.
(5)Clint H.
Another awesome place I traversed on my trip to Denver this past week. I want to give this place 4.5 stars, but I guess I can give in 5. It would be a definite 5 but the men's bathroom has a really weird smell! it was like, really weird, maybe it doesn't smell like that all the time, but it did yesterday! Me and my boy came in here (twice actually!) yesterday to have a few beers before I sadly had to fly back to NYC. He was like, let's go to Cherry Creek and have a few brews. I was like, done. We came in here and had some beers, all of which were $3 (Sunday special). The decor is awesome, and it's a very good size restaurant, but we sat at the outdoor/indoor bar area, that is, before we left and came back and finally got a seat outside. There's a huge salt water fish tank inside too, and i love fishees! There was a real diverse group there, enjoying the sushi and the brewskees and the beautiful day that was this past Sunday. I suppose it would be nice if the bar was bigger, but I didn't really have a problem getting a seat there on Sunday afternoon, it was the outdoor area that was very sought after. My boy even got something to eat, these dumpling things that were nice and delicious and a tad spicy, which was great. If you don't mind valet parking your vehicle, this is an awesome during the day spot to chill, have some brews, see and be seen...
(5)Kelly R.
Really? I was there a few weeks ago and my jacket was stolen by the drunk 20- something next to me. Honesty, you expect theft in some parts of town, but Cherry Creek?! Come on. I guess my ignorance shows... Anyways, while I don't obviously blame this on Kona, I do sadly conclude that the crowd here is somewhat uninteresting. The bartenders are okay, they do a good job at slinging booze. No real personality though, that I saw. Food seems uninterestingly prepared, and sadly, the bar area is very small and somewhat uncomfortable. Typical commercialized hot-spot. Nothing to rave about, but on the flip, nothing really to complain about either. (Except for the girl who is now wearing my jacket.) Top on my list? Not quite. But it does well, and for those who do enjoy it.. Cheers!
(3)Lindsay A.
My girlfriend and I came here for happy hour one Wednesday afternoon. I was a little skeptical about happy hour at the mall but once we were in the restaurant you really couldnt tell you were at the mall. We went to the heated patio because it was such a beautiful day and it seemed to be where all the fun was at. Our waiter came right over and was got our drink orders right away. I ordered the Rock Coconut mojito, which definitely was not on the happy hour menu but we were splurging so I didnt mind one bit. The cocktail was amazing and came with a little piece of rock candy on top. My friend got the margarita and was satisfied. After drinking and chatting for a bit we decided that we were STARVING. We ordered 3 different types of rolls that were on the happy hour menu and a couple of the other happy hour apps. They came out very quickly and were very satisfying and delicious. Our waiter came over and checked on us frequently and joked around with us a lot. I am in the food serving business so I appreciate friendly, personal service. A few cocktails in and we decided we better call it a night if we were going to head to rock and roll bingo. All in all a fun experience.
(4)julie n.
we had reservations for 4 but changed it to 7 last minute and the hostess was very accommodating. the service was ok, a bit on the slow side. granted it was restaurant week but not super busy. (none of us ordered off the 5280 menu). seaweed salad...good angry edamame ( edamame with sriracha)...kinda sour, not a fan octopus...pretty good, as expected seven spice ahi...good but on the small side crab crunch roll...really good jalapeño yellowtail sashimi...sauce was bland but overall ok boyfriend had the kona filet and his friend had the ribeye. they both ate every last bite so must have been pretty good. they have bubblegum saki on their menu but no longer carry it. waitress said they haven't for over 6 months but menu hasn't been changed. we were looked forward to that for dessert. side note...the management at Kona is great!
(3)Ivy M.
Happy Hour Prices are the best.... in fact don't go any other time you'll feel a bit 'jipped'.. I would have to say that the calamari, is very, very delicious. And you must try the Shrimp Tempura Naruto roll, very tasty. Also the saki bomber, always hits the spot .. for the right price!
(4)Honey R.
The place is neat and clean. I love the ambiance of the place . Our waitress was very nice and friendly. She forgot some stuff but it okay we had a big group. Prize is in the high side. Fried calamari was pretty good. I ordered their burger(i forgot what it was called), that was pretty good too. I would definitely go back to this place:)
(4)J L.
Great service, great food, and great people in a great location! Their calamari is a must. I had their shrimp penne also and it was very good and filling.
(5)justin d.
I really wish they would open a location downtown but until then I will continue to make the trip to cherry creek for the excellent customer service and the great happy hour specials! saki bomb $7.50 and for that you get a 32oz beer I believe and 4 or 5 shots of saki. FMLiver with that special! The servers keep there patients and orders in line considering how hectic the late night happy hour can be! My only gripe is they need a bigger bar area to accommodate the demands of there specials
(4)Gary W.
I went to Kona Grill on Valentines Day and found the experience very average. The service was good but the food was very average or less and the price was high relative to the quality of the steak & lobster tail served. The steak advertised as a filet mignon was not, and it was overly tenderized, as well as over cooked and the lobster tail was quite small and "poached" vs. broiled which I had been told it would be. Very unappealing, tasteless and undercooked. The atmosphere was nice. In summary, I would not recommend this restaurant as a great place for a special dinner.
(2)Cory D.
I went here persuaded by the many things I had heard about their happy hour. I would say this place is a slight step up from grocery store bought sushi, like the crap in the plastic containers. Not sure what I was expecting from mall sushi though. Fish did not taste fresh, texture was off, calamari was way over breaded and over cooked. Great deal on drinks, service was okay. No desire to return, like ever... never... ever.
(1)Joey T.
Good drinks and service, food was fair but tasty. After seeing my mother in Neiman's at the Cherry Creek Mall, we all decided to get a bite to eat. We were immediately seated at a large table to fit all of us comfortably (3 adults, 2 kids, and our baby daughter). The menu definitely an Asian-Hawaiian fusion joint with a sleek and modern feel to the place. The waitress was very helpful with the kids and baby's needs as they arise. We started with the Avocado Egg rolls, which were a bit bland and could have used some more citrus to it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine that the waitress had recommended, but I found it to be sub par and nothing to write home about. This place is a good place for lunch if you are not expecting too much; but the service is very good, just wish the food was too.
(3)Melissa M.
Hidee Ho. Went here last Saturday around lunchtime. Outside was full (bummer, nice patio they have) but we had the best waiter in the WORLD! His name is Zack, and get this, I remember him from 2 years ago at Black-Eyed Pea. Needless to say, he got like a 40% tip. We even told the manager how great he was and the manager acted like a total asshole. Oh well! Anyway, oh, yes, the food! I've never had a horrible experience here. We had the ahi-tuna appetizer and the shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, which were REALLY good. I wouldn't do sushi here, there are way too many other places that are sooo much better for sushi. Last time I was at Kona we sat in the bar with Champ Bailey and Dominque Foxsworth? Fox (?) (sorry, I'm a Bears fan so I didn't really care). We were in the bar for happy hour, which is great, until happy hour is over. There are a bunch of drunk skanks that usually hang out there so if you're lookin' for a good time... Over all, decent experience, but nothing overthe top wonderful except for Zack.
(3)Anna N.
Love the happy hour! The Chicken Macadamia entree is always one of my favorites from here (not on happy hour menu)
(5)Patricia K.
Hoss took me here, not sure why because I don't like restaurants that cater to pretentious people, but he told me his daughter likes it so I gave in. The food is good, not worth the price charged however (see pretentious), I liked the patio and smokers don't bother me one bit, other than that I wasn't impressed.
(1)Michael I.
My wife and I stopped here for brunch on a Sunday when we happened to be shopping in the mall. We weren't expecting much, but the menu looked interesting. The place was pretty empty when we were there, so we definitely didn't have anything like the happy hour crowd experience that other Yelpers have talked about. Our server was friendly and helpful, and when we said we'd never been there before, she gave us a bunch of suggestions from the menu. Since we were already leaning toward two of those suggestions, we went with them and added a third. We ended up having the avocado egg rolls, the macadamia nut chicken and the strawberry kiwi sushi rolls from the brunch menu. All three were fantastic! We love the avocado egg rolls at the Cheesecake Factory, and these were very similar (not quite as good, but really close). The chicken and the sushi were both great, and we loved the fruit salad that came with the sushi. I wasn't too sure about the sushi at first - basically California rolls topped with strawberry and kiwi - but it totally worked for us.
(5)Crystal C.
A solid 4 stars for a restaurant in the category good decent food for $$ price tag. Short version: Go there for Happy Hour and fight for a table with tooth and nail, it's worth it! Appetizers are halved off but the size does not diminished!! Awesome! - Happy Hour food: -- Avocado Eggrolls: yum. One of my fav appetizers during Happy Hour. Great value during Happy Hour since it is still standard size not miniature Happy Hour size. -- Lettuce Wrap: Again, yum! Great flavors. All of my coworkers love this dish. -- Pizza: My coworkers think it is better than CPK... me? I am not a big pizza person and there are just so many great appetizers that the pizza does not interest me one bit. -- Sweet Spicy Shrimps: Crunchy, sweet, and spicy. I love all those adjectives. Also a favorite among my coworkers. -- Spicy Tuna Roll: Meh, again, there are better food. -- Fiery Shrimp Roll: Meh... so I guess their sushi is not that forte. If you don't make it for Happy Hour, order the ahi steak sandwich. I don't really care to try anything else because the sandwich is so good. -- Ahi Steak Sandwich: I order it raw and it comes up just barely seared -- PERFECT. Most restaurants in Denver would cook the fish too much. Taro chips are great. Everything is great with this sandwich.
(4)Leah G.
I love this place. Happy hour is one of the best deals in town. The bartenders are always friendly. Make sure you go early for happy hour. It fills up quick and you may have to fight your way through a crowd to snag a seat. Also, try the angry edamame. It's amazing!
(5)Savanna F.
This place likes to be pretencious but I don't let that bother me. I love the happy hour, love the food. Always a happy camper when I get to go to Kona.
(4)Daniel G.
I would like to thank Kona Grill for showing me exactly what well prepared Sushi can taste like. I first experienced sushi here 4 - 5 years ago and have since tried hundreds of rolls all over the united states and have yet to find a crew that prepares it and presents it as well as the team at Kona. Thanks guys
(4)Elizabeth L.
I'm not updating to review the restaurant itself or the dessert again, but more for the overall quality and taste of the food I got earlier today. We got a tuna, tempora shrimp soy paper wrapped roll (I don't remember what it was called) for $8.50 and the lobster ahi-tuna flatbread for $15. The tasted good but it was generally a disappointing roll. Sushi should not be warm. The rice wasn't the proper sushi roll rice (where it's mixed with a bit of vinegar/flavoring) and you could tell the rice was still cooling down-- it was warm. Other than that, the soy paper wrap was a pretty cool addition to the roll. The flatbread, on the other hand, was really good. It had red onions, lobster and seared tuna, baby tomatoes, avocados, and a creamy sauce drizzled on top. I just wish the flatbread wasn't so crispy or the pizza as a whole was more dough-y. Kinda tasted like a lobster/cracker dip. I would get this dish again....though it's a little out of my price range.
(3)Nicole W.
I've been here before and without walking outside, it is by far the best choice in Cherry Creek Mall! This time I did lunch with a friend. We got there right round noon, CPK was packed, but we were seated right swiftly at Kona! Yeah! We weren't in the mood for sushi, so we skipped those lovely items. - looked yummy though! I did the blackended cat fish tacos - over stir fried vveggies as opposed to the rice. Veggies were icky, but the tacos were amazing! They wrap them up, so it's kinda like a mini burrito, but very yummy! Loved them! The sauce inside... mmmmm! Yummies! The wait staff is very friendly, kept my water glass filled- so full i almost had to use the rest room mid meal! :) There were a number of options that looked really tasty, and next time i'm shopping I'll pop in!
(4)Victoria N.
The only reason I eat at "Kona Grill" is for their reverse happy hour. Their appetizers are much cheaper, select sushi rolls are decent and wonderfully cheap, and they make a mean, yummy, frozen strawberry margarita, for the happy hour price! So, if you're looking for a late meal with affordable sake bombs, get your bum to "Kona Grill." Beware though, reverse happy hour gets busy and it's often difficult to find a table in the patio/bar area if you arrive during "prime time" (usually an hour or so after happy hour has begun). So either get there early or arrive late. Don't hope for on-the-dot wait service, because the servers are already running around with their heads chopped off and I'm sure they're doing the best they can. I recommend: All the happy hour sushi rolls Avocado Eggrolls Frozen Strawberry Margarita Calamari Reverse Happy hour: 9-11 Mon-Thurs .. 10-Close Fri and Sat... I think.
(3)A A.
We went here because California Pizza Kitchen had a 20 min wait. We should have waited. For some strange reason we decided to get a pizza. Never in my whole life have I seen or tasted a greaser pizza. Everything from the cheese to the crust was saturated in grease. It wasn't very good, either. We also ended up getting the chicken fingers from the kids menu for a little one in our party. The chicken was similarly greasy and, while the macadamia nut crust was definitely crunchy, (and they get props for using real chicken), it was close to tasteless. If I was forced to return I would get the fake sushi, but I would set my expectations very low. They get a second star for the professional staff and nice decor.
(2)Katherine B.
I do not get the hype about this place. AT ALL. Eating there last night left me with only one question: why is this place considered hip and trendy? The interior decor reminded me of something you would see at your local IHOP. The bar/lounge area is far too small and crowded. There is no parking other than the valet ($8 I think), so you typically have to park elsewhere at the mall. While we didn't try everything on the menu, several sushi rolls were a mere slight step-up from the prepackaged kind you get at your local grocery store. Now I have repeatedly heard that this is the place to "see and be seen at" in Cherry Creek... Maybe if you're in your very early 20's and late teens. The bar area was packed with people who barely looked old enough to drink, while the dining room looked like a typical Sunday night at Chili's (families with kids!) The only reason this place is getting ANY stars from me is because the service was spectacular. Steer clear people and don't always believe the hype.
(2)Andrew W.
A nice restaurant connected to the Cherry Creek Mall. I down rated Kona for my personal respect for true and traditional sushi restaurants. Just because Kona is attached to a high class mall, does not automatically rate high in my standards for sushi, even thought it was pretty good. I give it a "pretty good" rating. The atmosphere is dimly lit and a great dinner atmosphere. They offer a wide range of dishes from Sushi to pizza. I found the menu quite spread out, which makes it good for families or groups. Our server was excellent! He did his typical run down of specials, but did have a personal connection with us. I'm sure these servers rattle off their individualized speeches a couple dozen times a night, rather daunting. Our food was wonderful and his recommendations were spot on. We started with the avocado rolls which melted in your mouth, a great starter. My girlfriend ordered the "Standard Pizza" with Canadian Bacon and pineapple. Nice crust, great flavor and plenty of leftovers to take home. As my girlfriend enjoyed her pizza, I did the sushi route. I ordered a seaweed salad and 3 rolls. My seaweed salad was very fresh, crunchy and cold. I love a really cold seaweed salad, that just makes it that much better for me when it is extra cold. My sushi rolls were very tasty. Also, they serve larger sized rolls in comparison to many Denver sushi restaurants. Larger, I mean, more rice and quite a bit more substance inside. I was very happy. For myself, I usually order 4 rolls. At Kona Grill, I could barely finish 3 rolls. My sushi dollar was definitely stretched further here. I am not a "mall" type guy, but I did go to help return a few items the girlfriend wanted to return. I think her comment got me, "I will buy you dinner." Sold! I would like to come back when the weather is warmer and have a drink or two outside near their fireplace patio.
(3)Rachel K.
This place is alright. They have a very nice atmosphere, I was a fan of their patio & the fish tank inside. I like the set-up of the bar. The menu is fairly large with good options. The tuna appetizer was tasty, as were the avocado egg rolls. The sushi was not so good; it did not taste fresh. Maybe this is because I am from Boston and the seafood is more local? I don't know. The spider roll (which I get everywhere) was not good-agreed among the whole group. The other sushi was just OK. The drink menu was also just OK. Nothing trendy or exceptional. All in all this place is decent, but nothing that will blow your breath away.
(3)Ilya K.
I have Ben here many times with my wife and other business meetings, I think that food is mediocre and I never understand the combination of the steak/sushi, neither is great
(3)Lendy L.
Went for happy hour on a Wednesday night starting at 9pm. I absolutely love sushi and tasty drinks. I had ordered the spicy tuna, the spicy shrimp roll, and a BBQ chicken pizza. The shrimp roll had to be returned because it tasted bad, that is, very fishy. As for drinks I ordered the Lady margarita for only $3.50 and it was pretty good. Personally the happy hour sushi rolls are nothing to rave about but I would definitely come back for the happy hour drink specials. The outside seating area was supplied with plenty of heat lamps so the night out was cozy and warm.
(3)Kristol T.
So I finally decided to try something different other than the sushi and I was impressed. My friend talked me into having the Chicken Chili soup which includes white cheddar cheese, jalapeno cornbread muffins, onions, chicken and chili of course. It was simply delicious! My drink of choice for the evening was the strawberry basil lemonade. This was also great but they need to go lighter on the basil as its hard to even sip the drink with so much basil in it. And it gets watered down really quickly. Now besides the food, the atmosphere is great! If you don't like dimly lit places, this is not your place. The servers are very nice and accommodated us staying at the table even after we finished our food and drinks. Expect a wait on Friday and Saturday night but you can always sit at the bar which seems to be the happening spot these days!
(4)Daniel R.
I begin my humble review by laughing haha because this is exactly how I feel about this restaurant. My laughing gesture, in a way seems rude, but at the same time I believe that it reveals truth. At Kona Grill, my eating experiences have been rather unfavorable unfortunately. Each time that I visit Kona Grill I go for the environment, and not the food. I see a lot of trendy people who have just finished shopping around the cherry creek mall. If you look around you'll see a handful of dates, older couples, younger couples, and good looking adults within all of these groups. It's a very nice place to relax in. The lighting is dim, the waiters are nice, so you can't complain about a bad experience. The one thing I'll bring into discussion is the food. Several times, I have ordered a meal and asked if I can get my money back. One time I ordered an almond-honey grilled chicken meal. I absolutely love grilled chicken, but this one had a certain spice that I disliked. It seemed inappropriately spicy and totally went against the honey. I know that contrast effects sometimes make a meal better, but the honey and sweet flavor versus spicy was a failure. So the next time that I go in, I ordered the fish tacos. What I got was a set of tortilla wraps filled with rice, the fish of course, and a disturbing tasting sauce. Within two bites, I asked the waitress to change my meal. My little brother, a seven year old, was eating chicken fingers with fries. I tried some of his food and decided that I would order the same thing. In five minutes, I was also enjoying a simple, yet satisfying meal. After a few attempts at ordering, I found a successful algorithm for making safe decisions at Kona Grill. The secret, is to order conservatively. Order pizzas, hamburgers, chicken fingers, anything that you can find at any other restaurant. I like the experience way too much in here. The food isn't going to chase me away.
(3)Dana R.
Two words - SAKE BOMBS!!!!! How I love thee... The fact that this place is in the fanciest mall in the area cracks me up. Both of their HH's are fun & crowded - nabbing a seat at the early HH means arriving early or waiting by the door and glaring at all the lucky ones who have a table. I've had better luck getting an outdoor seat at the late night HH. As for food - it is ok, although does get better as the night moves on. Chicken satay & onion rings (HUGE) are some of my fav noshes there.
(4)rebecca b.
I have a problem with bars in malls. So let's get that out of the way first. But then again, Cherry Creek Mall is no average mall..... people are wearing $800 torn jeans here. I'm so far out of my element, its hard to keep from laughing at every contrived outfit I see. Lots of cosmetic surgery on cougars and everyone is wearing "the latest" overpriced ugly trend. I'm practically breaking out in hives from the conspicuous consumption here. BUT Back to Kona Grill. Happy hour includes a "ladies margarita" for cheap. Its premixed sweet green grossness. Impossible to drink . And I wonder if all those designed label wearing chiquitas who were sucking them down realize that it about 600 calories a pop? Your Wine options: Chardonnay and Merlot. I'm dead serious. The food we ordered at the bar was very good - the yellowtail sashimi was fantastic and the sauce on the side of the avocado egg rolls was out of this world. However, not likely good enough for me to return to this cheesy mall bar.
(2)Adrian H.
The good: The tuna tartare The bad: Oyster Crackers destroyed the clam chowder The annoying: Parking a fair walk away (even if it is through the mall) My wife and I went to the Kona Grill for lunch. It's a reasonable spot just inside the Cherry Creek Grill. They have a good lunch selection, including Good pick-a-pair lunch items. I had half a portabella mushroom sandwich, and a cup of the tomato basil soup. The latter was obviously made with yellow tomatoes. My wife had the clam chowder and tuna tartare appetizer. Her chowder didn't taste of clams, instead being overpowered by the oyster crackers on top. If you get the clam chowder, ask for real croutons instead of oyster crackers - you will be happier. The tuna tartare comes with a nice avocado based mix and served on fried wonton wrappers. It's delicious. Overall, enjoyable. We like the Kona Grill - it's one of our favorites in the Cherry Creek area.
(4)Shawn N.
Made a trip back as I had a gift card in hand. The food on the inside was much better, the seating cozy, unfortunately while the waitress was sweet she was covering FAR too many tables and what should have been a 30 minutes sitting took closer to an hour and a half to get drinks and entrees. The staff also didn't know the drink menu confusing the non-alcoholic "Blackberry Tea" with the alcoholic beverage of the same name (of the two people asked neither knew they had two drinks of the same name). So while this trip was better than the foray into happy hour, I feel like Kona is still missing their potential.
(3)Becca W.
Kona, I gotta say has the best Happy hour! :) Great drink prices, and of course; Sake bombs! The food happy hour is pretty good too, good deals. But the food overall, isn't that great. So Kona is only good for Happy hour drinks!
(4)T.S. S.
Great food and even better service! Thanks Zack. My wife and I really enjoyed it
(5)Daron S.
Oh Kona happy hours, you used to be so amazing, but now I can hardly stand them. They have really good prices on wine, and happy hour food, especially their $5 pizzas (they are all good). I've never acually sat in the dining room or had much from their menu, but a lot of their stuff looks tasty. This place deserves 4 stars but I must give it 3. TOO MANY (RUDE) PEOPLE! It's impossible to get a table or a seat. So impossible that you have to stake out someone who is about to leave and ask if you can have their table. Most are nice about it, but some people have said I should get there earlier (Well I have a job that prevents me from drinking all day and shopping at Cherry Chreek). Even if you have been patiently waiting for a table, there is no guarantee some person won't swoop in and steal your table. It's funny because during happy hour, the dining room is completely empty. I think they could open up a few more table (It's like they don't want to make more of a profit) and enable some sort of list for people waiting. After that rant, they are lucky they are still at 3 stars.
(3)Mailou V.
Friends and I get together once in awhile on Thursday evenings for happy hour 4-7. The good: *Decent menu for happy hour, I ordered some sushi that I've never really tried before and it turned out pretty good. Not too impressed, kindda expected the vinegary taste- ya know, like real sushi. *Sat at the bar and the bartender was a little slow, but really nice and cool *decent drink menu, although super small glasses. The Bad: -Snobby crowd, I should probably expect this as it is cherry creek. -Small patio/ bar as I had to just make up a seat at the bar. I feel like I have to get here super early just to find a decent seat. Overall, seems it's always full during happy hour, which can be a good thing, but for the food I'd have to come back and try more of it other than the sushi to enjoy it more.
(3)RoseAnn V.
We tried the Kona grill last night for dinner. We had been there before for happy hour and decided to try it for dinner. Overall the experience was decent, although the food was a bit bland. The bill came to $70 and frankly, it was not worth that. The calamari was good, the special goat cheese flatbread was okay and the basil pesto linguine was overwhelmingly pesto. Bottom line, great for happy hour not so great for dinner.
(3)Sulema M.
5 stars for happy hour! The have happy hour and reverse happy hour. Did I mention their sake bombs are the bomb! Yup, yup! I love how you can sit outdoors, even in winter, under the heater, and have a jolly good time during happy hour. There can be a wait sometimes and you can choose to sit in the main dining room if you'd like, but the bar and patio area are the best! I do not know how you can get soo much food and booze for so little. Pizza and sushi would not fit in my book otherwise together, but during happy hour they seem to mesh well for the price. I've also eaten here during the lunch hour and felt the meals were a little overpriced, go figure, you're at Cherry Creek mall, but overall good.
(5)Angelina N.
My friends have been telling me about Kona grill for awhile but I never got around to try it until last week. I went here with my boyfriend who has eaten here before and he said they had good sushi, but he always went around happy hour. We went around 1 p.m. and sat outside. Our server was nice in the beginning and took our order without writing a single thing down which at the time I was impressed. We ordered 5 dishes if i remember it was calamari, coconut shrimp roll, wave roll, volcano roll, and i forgot the last roll but i believe it had baked crab in it. The calamari came out first and it was NOT good at all. All we tasted was their batter and a strip of squid, my boyfriend remembered that their calamari was really good but what came out was not good calamari. Then our server came out with 4 dishes, we were still waiting on our last dish which was the wave roll. I wasn't very pleased with the taste of the rolls they were on the bland side and after two bites of each roll you get sick of them. We still hadn't gotten our last roll then a manager came by and asked if everything was ok, we said we were waiting on one more roll which was the wave roll, the manager said he'd have that out right away. When we were done we checked the bill and it said we were charged 2 wave rolls, which we were ok with as long as it was fixed because it must have been a mess up. We told our server that we only ordered one wave roll and he objected and pointed to our coconut roll (which tasted very coconutty) said that was our second wave roll, so we asked "Then where is our coconut roll?" He snatched our bill up and left and came back with no apology and said "we knocked one off for you guys". I was a little upset because of how rude that was and the fact that we were almost charged for another roll and if that wasn't a coconut roll we were charged for it. Maybe happy hour has better food and friendly servers, but for MY first time experience I probably won't be coming here again.
(2)Erin J.
for the love of god, i'm not sure what i was thinking going here for dinner. the place is TIRED. and the food was mediocre at best. i know, i know... it's in a mall. what did i want? well, lesson learned. waitress was rude. we ordered something specifically because if came with taro chips... when it was delviered, no chips. then we sent it back and the manager came to say they were out of taro chips, so he'd adjust the item on our check. ya, he adjusted it... for half price. i'm not even going to waste anymore time here. i'm just underwhelmed. if you're going to eat in the mall, just head to johnny rockets then.
(1)Kristyne M.
Cool ambiance! Stopped here for HH on the way to a movie. My g/f had sushi and it looked pretty tasty, but I'm not into fishy business. I noticed other people ordered the flatbread combos which also looked good. I'll have to go back when I have more time.
(4)Gracie L.
Warning: My only experience was during happy hour.... The sushi was dry, the drink specials were disappointing, the service was SLOW, and the dining room looks like every other mall chain restaurant. BUT I will say, I had these ahi tuna nacho things and I have been dreaming about them since. They were delicious! My advice: Get a regular beer or mixed drink, skip the fru-fru happy hour drinks and order those tuna nacho things and the avo egg role. And come with plenty of time and a good friend you haven't caught up with in a while because you certainly are going to have the time to chat.
(2)Jason J.
I'll be honest, Kona is not THAT great, but it is a lot of fun. The menu is wide and varied, wish a bunch of sushi choices, as well as pizza pasta chicken and steak choices. So if you dig sushi, but your date does not -- don't fret, you'll find something you'll each like. The drink menu is decent, with a couple of abnormally and unexpectedly tasty cocktails (I prefer the Kona-Tini, and no I did not bring my purse to dinner.) It's great to sit at the back sushi bar to talk with the always friendly chefs, and watch the fish in their gorgeous fishtank. If you can get there early you MUST try the outdoor patio or the bar near the fishtank in front so you can experience the Sake Bombers at Happy Hour. Cheap and high in alcohol content, you'll love it. Things you must try: Hana Salad, Crab Crunch Roll, Giant Onion Rings, Kona Tini. Fun place with always decent service, a fun decor, and close to overpriced cherry creek shopping (at a price that won't kill your wallet like the nearby stores and shops.) Get your Kona on!
(4)Jafey A.
This is a great place to go to on a nice summer afternoon. The patio area is great and their happy hour deals make it worth the trip. Their sushi selection looks great but every time we go we have gotten the onion rings are burger because their spicy ketchup is incredible. The taste is unique and works perfectly with the onion rings. If you get a chance, give it a try.
(4)Mrs J.
Very good sushi. I had the checkerboard roll. Yum! Fresh fish, nicely rolled, big portion, good fresh wasabi. My friend had a sandwich which was huge and looked really good. She said it tasted great. Will go back again if I'm on that side of town. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to your neighborhood sushi spot but you pay for the experience right? All in all very good.
(5)Misha R.
The good: *The fish tank is gorgeous! *The decor is beautiful! *The servers are the very best, wonderfully trained! *The menu has incredible choices! *One beautiful outdoor patio, with fireplace. The bad: *The menu is way over priced. *The sushi is not that good, unfortunately. *It's in a mall, which you must walk through to park. *There are like 6 TVs in this beautiful place, really, why? *The portions are WAY too big, WaaaaaY too big! *The food is very mediocre.
(3)Karly K.
I'm a huge fan of interesting, nontraditional sushi rolls, and Kona Grill has great ones. The happy hour is fantastic, delicious drinks for a great price, along with the selected appetizers. I've been here twice and suggest it to my friends on a regular basis. Will definitely be back!
(4)Kyla A.
Man this place gets crowded, but they offer awesome happy hour deals, so what can you expect. The drink specials are definitely worthwhile. $4 Cosmos from 3pm-7pm on a Friday... does it get better? The food is not the best. In terms of bar food however, it is satisfying. I could not imagine coming here for dinner though and paying full price. It would not be worth it. Happy hour on the other hand, is another story. Nice patio, that people use even in winter because of the fire pit and heating lamps, and great deals on food and drinks, makes for a fun place to enjoy some drinks with friends.
(3)Sean S.
Bartender kinda sucks, I think he may have been mildly retarded. He was red-faced, dripping sweat, inattentive and frustrated. Drinks tasted awful. A martini should not taste like sunscreen. Having said that, Sushi prices are awesome and tasted decent for $3. The ceviche was impressive and again, good price. The environment is....well it's Cherry Creek. The bar is right by the valet parking so if you are feeling a little high fallutin', go for it. Overall I give it three stars because the service was terrible and I can only look at so many Abercrombie and Fitch hats.
(3)Kristina J.
I met a friend there on Monday for happy hour. This wasn't my first time there so I knew it was going to be crowded, which it was. We ended up ordering from the happy hour menu because we just wanted a quick bite before a movie. 40 minutes later the crab crunch roll and caprese flat bread arrive. I could understand if both the dining room AND the bar we full of people, but the dining room had barely any tables. And when we asked about our food the waiter just shrugged us off and told us the kitchen was backed up...like it happens all the time. It would be nice to have a good happy hour with timely service. Will I go back? Yah, I like the happy hour. I will make sure that when I go I don't have a time constraint
(3)Julie L.
One of THE BEST happy hours in Denver! No greasy happy hour bar food but fresh sushi rolls, shrimp and chicken lettuce wraps, delectable pot stickers, mini cheeseburgers made fresh, delicious margherita pizzas and avocado egg rolls. I'm sure I'm missing something but believe me it's all good! Drinks are the bomb with cosmos, beer and wine at killer prices. Great patio seating and an upbeat bar flanked by a full size salt water tank.
(5)Katie R.
good friends. sushi. better yet, CHEAP sushi. mad drink specials. heated patio. What could be any better? oh yeah, being in the middle of a Russian discussion, seeing wannabe Jersey Shore Guidos fist pump, and random drunk girls playing in the fountain. ha :)
(5)Veronica G.
Great food!! Wide variety menu, service was great, food was amazing!! The only thing I'd change is the drink menu. I wish they had more standard liquor drink options available but the two I did have were ok. Definitely will be returning hopefully some time soon.
(4)Antonio S.
Nice atmosphere but terrible sushi, way over priced! The waitress at this "sushi bar" apparently had never heard of unagi before. I thought unagi was something normally found at a sushi bar. Big disappointment for an expensive meal! Stay away from here if you like real sushi.
(1)Mark S.
What You Must Know About Kona Grill's HAPPY HOUR: 1. Price ranged from $3.50-$5.50. 2. $3.50 for all sushi. There are 5 differenct options you can choose from. And each roll is cut into 8 pieces. All portions are large for price. 3. Calamari is great with large portion. I always get this. 4. Parking is a pain although you can just park at safeway and walk over. 5. Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 everyday. 6. You can only eat at the bar area or outside to get Happy hour. 7. Get their early or do not bring more then 4 people or be prepared to wait. 8. Happy hour also includes tacos, calmari, great drink specials, pizza, and more. Quite a few items for cheap. 9. One of the best happy hours in Denver. Especially for sushi rolls that are affordable and upper average in quality (for the price).
(5)Krissy R.
I went here on a work trip with a friend and was dying of hunger. I decided on the burger (I love burgers) and was NOT disappointed. It was brought to the table exactly as I ordered it, was piping hot, the cheese was slightly melted, and the flavor was intense. My friend also ordered the burger and as we were eating we swore it was the best burger of our lives. The staff was also really friendly and our waiter went out of his way to walk outside of the restaurant before we left to have a taxi waiting for us. I am sad that there is no Kona Grill in my hometown, but if I ever go to a state that has a Kona Grill I will go out of my way to eat there.
(5)Sherri K.
I hadn't been to Kona Grill since summer, and the experience was mediocre at best, but this time, it was an above average experience. I took my daughter after shopping, to have a little tete a tete before school started after holiday break. The hostesses were not too friendly, but the server made up for their stank attitudes by far. He was on his game and made a truly enjoyable dining experience for myself and mini-me. We had pot-stickers and green mussels which were cooked perfectly and came out quickly even though there was a wait and it was mid-dinner rush. My daughter ordered the California roll, and really, how can you screw that up? I had the Ahi salad which was fresh and very good and a crab tempura roll which was extremely tasty. Overall the meal was great and the service was even better. With free valet at dinner...another bonus. It won't take me so long to go back this time.
(4)Jessica H.
Extremely slow service! The last 2 times my friend and I have gone (not during busy times mind you) we ended up getting our own menus and had to request a drink ourselves. We were sitting for almost 15 minutes before our waiter even came up to us. The food is average and overpriced.
(2)Adam B.
The sushi here is very American-ized, but hits a sweet spot in my tummy nonetheless. Service is always friendly and fast, but it can get annoyingly packed at times. Happy hour is awesome for the discounted all-anyone-should-drink-in-a-sitting sake bombs. I didn't see the asparagus pizza on the happy hour menu last week though...so what's up with that Kona? Huh?!!? I should dock you a star, but I was too blitzed to care.
(5)Morgan N.
Happy hour here is only happy because your drink will *eventually* show up. The service is so bad it hurts. Of the two times I've been, our orders took forever, came out wrong, and we were overcharged by accident. The menu /looks/ good and there are some pretty faces on the patio etc, but the music is stupid loud because "it's supposed to feel like a party." Moreover the food is vomit-inducing. Literally. I got sick after the happy hour sushi, an event that's only happened to me after grocery store grade sushi in the past. Also the seating arrangement is first come first serve and you're required to jam into small, loud areas versus the empty dining room. It's pretty formulaic really, apparently you're required to have a good time. Meaning of course, that you will be required to experience loud music, snobby singles, and long waits...which means the place is obviously posh.
(2)Elizabeth h.
Second time I went here and got food poisoning. First time I went, I ordered the checkerboard roll and a margarita, got violently ill after. I thought it was a mixture between tequila and sushi. Second time I went, I got the checkerboard roll and a spider roll. I was up for 5 hours vomiting profusely until I was finally able to keep down water. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS FACILITY unless you like to picture yourself eating off of someone's hands who just wiped their genitals and are preparing your raw fish YUM!
(1)Kyle M.
I write about this place for a somewhat unique (if not unfamiliar) reason. Don't lie, you know you can relate. They have Kirin Ichiban sake bombs for happy hour. This is wonderful, because if you have 2-3, it will lessen the blow of spending too much money at Cherry Creek Mall after your happy hour experience. I have made many incredible purchases after spending an hour or two here. Nordstrom, Saks, and Nieman should be thankful that an establishment like Kona shares mall space with them. A dream-come-true for any shopper with pre-buyer's remorse.
(5)Eric T.
Ah , a late night happy hour in a Cherry Creek bar. There is almost nothing more annoying to me, and Kona does nothing to buck this trend. I enjoy their Sake Bomb drink special. $5 for a 22oz. beer and a small bottle of sake is a good deal no matter where you are. The happy hour appetizers are so-so. I liked the chicken satay, but the sushi is mediocre. The rolls have fake crab and the fish is basically flavorless. I've also had yellow mustard that is stronger than their wasabi. Especially around happy hour seating in the bar/patio can be a nightmare. Finding a place outside is difficult at best and I have seen many people just standing because of a lack of seating. The crowd is wanna-be upscale Cherry Creek so pretension and a flipped up collar is a must. Overall, not my favorite place and now that I have no friends working there or in the area I probably won't go back.
(2)Heather S.
The food here is average at best. I should preface this review by saying that we ate here for dinner, not happy hour, so my point of view might be different than those who are raving about the happy hour. The menu seemed totally incohesive, with some sushi items, random asian fusian type dishes, pizza, american appetizers. So strange. We had no idea what to order, and there was an unpleasant fishy odor near our table. Totally unappetizing. The service was very good though...but not good enough to bring me back.
(2)James D.
This place is all about the Happy Hour -- excellent prices on mostly-good food. There are a couple stand-out dishes, but most of it is just OK. But the price is absolutely right and so we keep going back. The sushi we've tried has all been excellent! Very fresh and flavorful, with some creative rolls thrown into the traditional stuff. The pizzas are thin, but very large, so a very good deal. Biggest disappointment would probably be the cocktails. They are really hit-and-miss. Sometimes the Cosmos are great, other times they are short on everything but cranberry and they are just an expensive glass of juice. They would be a 4-star rating, except I find it annoying that they don't manage the Happy Hour seating and it has to be a free-for-all to get a table. I know this isn't uncommon for Happy Hour, but most places aren't this packed. A number of times we've come and waited for a table, only to have someone else swoop in and grab the table before the previous group has even walked away. It gets very aggressive and we just don't have the patience for the fight. It seems like the hostess could easily do the seating there too, the regular restaurant never seems that full or busy, but they just take the easy route and let folks fight it out. We would go much more often if we didn't have to rumble to find a seat.
(3)Tim C.
Pretty decent food. Went there on a lark for lunch and ended up spending $36 (not including tip) for 2 beers, three sushi rolls and some edamame. The happy hour menu looks promising...will probably try that before slamming the place for the overpriced lunch. Stay tuned... Update: went in there for happy hour...the server was great, the food was alright and the overall tab was so-so...and the house music seemed to be handpicked by a teenage girl...
(3)Kimberly I.
If Kona Grill and I could get married I wouldn't be a newly wed. I probably go here 3 times a month at least and it is by far my favorite. It can be a little pricey for dinner so I usually just stick to happy hour, which you really can't beat! I have tried almost everything on the happy hour menu! From the crunchy calamari (best served with a side of sweet chili glaze), to the crab crunch roll! It is all super tasty. When I go with friends we always send one person ahead to grab a table because there can be quite a wait for the patio. (Happy Hour only served on patio and in bar area). The one downfall is people can get quite aggressive for tables here so stick your ground, and scout one out lil mama! Happy hour starts at 3 and ends at 7 only to start again at 9 until close for upside-down happy hour. They also have great drink specials for wine, margaritas ($1 off for ladies), and sake bombs (large Kirin with full sake= $6) Truly, this is probably my favorite place ever! I even had my birthday here. I would recommend it to anyone. The pricing is great, the staff is super friendly, I have never had bad service here in my life, and it is delicious! Go to Kona and enjoy! Sushi Sushi Sushi!
(5)Laura M.
I have given this place chance after chance and have been disappointed every time. I am not quite sure why I keep trying to make this place better than it is. Fish, not fresh, tough, flavorless. The potstickers are greasy and just completely boring. Overpriced and I own a business, so I know that you have to bum up your price for your location, but over $10 for lettuce and some asparagus. Really?? Once the GM left this place last year, it went downhill even more. Service that we have had each time has been horrible. I have given Kona Grill chances over and over, but this past time will be my last. Sorry, Kona Grill, buy fresh ingredients and put your heart into it and you won't have so many people complaining.
(2)Sarah Z.
This place is great but really worth it during Happy Hour. Great drink and food specials. Also a great patio for those nice days.
(4)Monica K.
I love Kona Grill's Happy Hour! The food is awesome and the prices are fantastic. I also really like the atmosphere and the seating arrangement outside. I am surprised that the sushi is actually really good for an American-Japanese restaurant. I would reccommend this place to people who enjoy happy hour. They also have a reversed happy hour, which starts at 9pm.
(4)Joyce L.
Food should be personal. Every meal should be special and prepared with love. A publicly traded restaurant does not impress me. I guess their board has a lot of people to impress and have to be politically correct. Is that why each item on the menu seems like they had to apply affirmative action? Sezhuan beans with mashed potatoes and Kona steak? I'm confused. I want gravy with my mashed potatoes. I want rice with anything with the word Sezhuan in front of it. Call me close-minded, I don't care. Not fresh, long ass wait, see ya later alligator!
(1)Nancy M.
I never had fish cooked so perfectly for a non-sushi gal that I am. The bass has always been great and so are the salads and the pork tenderloin my friend ordered. It is usually a nice place to dine with not a lot of children if you like to relax like me after work. I enjoy the atmosphere and staff who always seem very attentive but not hovering. Over sized booths and tables for groups so it has room for all kinds of parties. We went this time the week before Christmas and everything was hopping. We sat outside with the heaters and fire pit and after about 5 minutes our table was ready. Seems pretty quiet on the weekdays but I don't know about the weekends or Happy Hour which seems worth trying out in the spring on the patio.
(4)Arash G.
One of if not the best happy hours in Denver. The quality of food you get for what you pay is ridiculous. The calamri is bomb and so are the pizzas and sushi. I haven't eaten anything on their happy hour menu that I didn't like. The drink specials are excellent too! You can get a nice buzz off of a sake bomber for $7! The only downside is that you have to fight over tables. People hover over them and then everyone bum rushes. I've seen people get into arguments and mean mug as well. One family got really feisty and was told they had to leave. Competition makes the food taste better!
(5)Neenrn C.
Had the spider roll today for lunch, it was way too blah. The price was way to much for the dish. lack luster service. I would not recommend it to friends, maybe to people I don't like. Next time I'll drive to Sushi Katsu
(1)Darika S.
The oriental salads are great! I had mine with the grilled salmon and my man had it with their specialty, macadamia nut crusted chicken. The dressing was light and the veggies include napa cabbage, green onions, and romaine lettuce and had some slivers of almonds. The price was high but would go back. Skip the flavored teas they are $4 and as priced as a beer.
(4)lauren b.
A good, reliable happy hour spot. I have been here numerous times with friends and they have awesome drink and food specials. There is no parking right out front which kinda blows (I usually park by Macys and walk through the mall, which has proven to be DANGEROUS as I have stopped to shop in different stores after a few cocktails during happy hour). The wait to find a table/bar spot in the bar area during happy hour can also suck. I think I've had to wait each time I've come here for a table to open up, but usually only around 5-10 minutes. A couple of times I waited probably a half hour (or longer) though, ugh. The happy hour includes good drink specials, and the food is super yummy. Yes the sushi is pretty American-ized but very good nonetheless (especially the Atlantic roll). Other good items? Ahi tuna wonton strips (delish) and the margherita pizza. The happy hour has awesome items, but I don't think I would ever come here for an actual dinner and pay full price.
(3)Candace W.
I have only eaten here once and I keep forgetting about this place. I think because it is in the mall, it seems weird to me. The sushi appetizer I ordered and my entree (which was some fish I forget now, I'd have to see the menu again to recall) were both good and I liked the ambiance. The menu had a lot of things that sounded fun to try, a nice selection of choices like a sushi sampler meal and everyone else's food around me that I spied on looked delicious. I totally want to check out their happy hour if I ever remember to. I'm always into eating well for less and this place has two happy hours which I think is totally cool. One is like normal happy hour time around 5-7 or something similar and the other one is after 9 or 10pm or such for late night deals on food and drink. I don't know for sure the times, so if you want to go to happy hour check and see what the exact times are by callling, I am just throwing out example time guesses because I forget the exact happy hour times, but they do have two a day.
(4)Sheryl K.
Happy hour at 10pm? On my recent trip to Denver, I found myself at Kona Grill for their 3-5 sushi/appetizers, and I left happy. On a Friday night of course it's going to be busy as the outside patio is jammed packed with 20 something year olds. I suggest try scoring a high top inside and order as much sake bombs and finger lickin' good fried calamari or even pizza (yes pizza). Our server was attentive and humorous... mix that would good company, and it'll turn out to be a decent night. No dress code, but I suppose you can fancy yourself up - depending who you're trying to impress.
(4)Kate R.
Been here a couple of times for happy hour. We have always found a seat on the patio, but it takes a little effort. Plus we usually have to sit there for 10-15 minutes before the server acknowledges our existence. Look, I've been a cocktail waitress before, and I know that sometimes you need to spend most of your time and energy on the one big "table of douchbags" (of which there are plenty at Kona) who look like they will provide the biggest tip. But you shouldn't make it obvious and let your other customers suffer because of it! I have never had a complaint about the food...in fact, their salmon sushi was some of the best I've had in awhile....very fatty, sweet and fresh. The happy hour prices are decent (especially for sushi rolls) and the cocktails are usually tasty. I wish they had a couple more tables and one more server to take care of customers. As a smoker I do kind of appreciate being able to smoke in their outdoor patio....that's a luxury I don't often encounter. So, 4 stars for the food-2 stars for service...we'll average it out to a 3
(3)Rick G.
I have been here a handful of times both for happy hour and the main dinning room. The happy hour special are awesome and the food is consistently delicious. The main dining room is a little more money but well worth it, no waiting for an open table and more excellent food on the menu. At our last dinner we were celebrating a graduation and the staff was super nice and responsive to are needs. The manager even stopped by to see how everything was going. I have worked in the service industry before and I am not easily impressed, but the Kona Grill staff has amazed me every time. If your near Cheery Creek and want some great food for a decent price visit the Kona Grill.
(5)Maha K.
Two of my exes love this place. They eat here weekly. I have had a bad taste in men, until recently. Which means unless you're griping about how badly your job sucks with like-minded coworkers for happy hour, this is not the prime time place to be for Match.com meet-ups or the like. The food is ok. I've cooked better, which is a shocker. And the first time I went there, the insects that were crawling and flying around inside the bar area ate more of my appetizers than I did.
(2)Cyl B.
The happy hour food is good and the pricing is amazing. The one dish that I stay away from is the lettuce wraps because they are usually too salty. However I do love the calamari and the steak tacos, the sauces are just heavenly. I do find the happy hour drink selection to be lacking. The drinks are too sweet ... sugar on top of sugar!!! But I go there all the time. If you haven't been there in a while the patio has changed their tables to square ones from rounds so when additional people from your group arrives you can join the tables and the staff is always very helpful in aiding with this.
(4)Kendra L.
It was quite an unexpected but pleasant occurence that had me sitting in a corner booth on a busy Cherry Creek Thursday evening. We were greeted by an easy-going cheerful waiter who took our drink order and made small talk as he introduced the menu layout(s). His service gets a star on all its own to be included with another star that counts toward the overall service, which included a couple visits from a professional yet friendly manager. We were not hounded by the service, but checked in on and kept in the loop regarding the time it would take for our food to reach us (even though it was a completely reasonable amount of time). I would say the service was my favorite aspect of my experience with Kona Grill, but then my salmon entree salad arrived and became the driver of my endorphins. I asked for rare-cooked salmon, which could not have been cooked a degree more or less - creating perfection beneath its sweet chili glaze. Speaking of heaven... I mean sweet... but it was also heaven if I were to know such a thing... dessert! Ohhh the dessert! My dining companion knew what he was talking about when he requested a "slice" of the Red Velvet cake. Slice is in quotations because I feel like I've made entire cakes smaller than the moist, creamy, chill-delivering piece that landed in the center of our table. Need I say more? Because I could. The atmosphere was lively and chipper. The lighting was perfectly dim (but not so dim that it becomes awkward to squint so that you can see clearly your good looking company). The walls were donned with warm colors from what I can remember (decor didn't seem to be important at the time); the seats were comfortable - although it was one of those booths that made me feel like a little kid (my height may also have bearing on this factor). Overall, Kona has left me with all positive thoughts. I plan on returning to try out the sushi lunch specials on some distant day off (the day off is distant, though not my desire to return). I may even have to tack on another star at that point. Stay tuned, Friends.
(4)Becky S.
Here's the kicker: They have the BEST onion soup I've EVER had. And seriously, I crave onion soup constantly and therefore order it pretty much everywhere I go. Kona has the best. Hands down. Okay, now to go with their great onion soup, they have great brunch. And let me tell you about our server, who has the unique name of MYSTERY. No, I'm not joking, that's her real name. She was great. Only complaint was that my bloody mary refill came after a slight delay, but I also realize that she had a party of eight sit in her section and had to take care of them too. The manager even stopped by to make sure we were happy. And then there's the food. I got an omelet for Sunday Brunch, which they serve until 4pm. It was the perfect size, with yummy mushrooms and cheddar cheese. The potatoes I could take or leave, not my favorite, but I was full after the omelet anyway. Seriously, to everyone who did nothing but complain in their reviews, go back with an open mind. Or next time you're "dragged" there, request Mystery as your server. She made our experience cool and definitely enjoyable.
(5)Jennifer W.
I do not understand why people rave about this place. The food is only "OK" the service is bad and the attitude is ridiciulous! I mean seriously----it's a chain restaurant in a mall! I know that people find it trendy but after going 3-4 times (the 2nd and 3rd dragged back by friends) I think I'm done. If I'm paying for food & drinks I prefer to be in an atmosphere that is enjoyable, where the staff actually WANTs to get a good tip and where I really enjoy the food.
(1)Dan W.
This place is in a mall, a pretentious mall. It's got these weird pillow/sprinkler/lamp things on the ceiling. The beers they have on tap are kind of crappy. My wife loves the Kona-tini which is some sort of martini with pineapple juice. Other than that, it's a great place. Nice bathrooms and 2 happy hours. They have nice patio too, it's heated in the winter and there's a fire pit. I can't explain it but for whatever reason I keep going back here fairly frequently. If it sucked, I certainly would not do that. They also have one of the only raw Sushi bars in town that I order from, and I've yet to be disappointed. They also make a great BBQ chicken pizze which you might not expect.
(4)Mark S.
Didn't get in the door. We were trying to find a table in the bar area with the two kids. They sat at the bar not taking space from anyone else waiting. Bartender ignored us for 5 minutes then sauntered over and told us the kids couldn't sit at the bar. God I love enthusiastic people working in the service industry (note sarcastic tone). Put this one on the "not kid friendly" list. Won't be back. Nice fish tank though.
(1)Kate C.
I know people who enjoy going here, but I have to say I have never had a good experience. The first time we tried to eat there was mid afternoon during the week. The hosts were too busy chatting with each other to notice us. We sat & waited & waited until finally someone asked if we were being taken care of (five minutes). There were other diners in the area, but it was not busy which is typical for that time of day. So we order cocktails and don't see them for five more minutes until a new server informs us she will be taking over. We order a starter & change waiters two more times. I said no more, went to the front asked for a manager & let them know we were displeased with the service. He couldn't care less! SO, I think, maybe it was just one of those days. I have returned twice more, neither experience quite as bad, but certainly not good either. Typical of mall & chain restaurants. Probably why I don't care for them. The food is fun, but the service & air of "couldn't care less" is so undesirable. I loathe these experiences.
(1)Arlyn C.
I've come here for lunch and happy hour, been satisfied both times. Tried the ahi tuna sandwich on ciabitta and freshly fried taro root chips.. MmmmMm. The aioli with the warm, toasty bread and flavorful ahi was very yummy. Friend ordered some kind of chicken salad and was also pleased. Good portion and tasty enough. Happy hour has good sushi and since I'm a beer snob, didn't take advantage of the prices.. lol.. what can I say? Service was excellent and I like the casual environment. You can sit oustide and enjoy the fresh air, or sit at the bar and watch sports. There's a huge dining area as well, great for tired shoppers or large families. Pretty decent place for being in the mall. Definitely like this place.
(4)Andrea S.
If you eat in the dining room, the food is delicious and the service is average. If you happen to make it for their fantastic happy hour, their food is even better (because it's cheaper) and the drinks are great! Plus, I have had better experience with the service at the happy hour, than I have with the service in the dining room. Important recommendation...GET THERE EARLY. The bar fills up super fast!
(4)Natalie D.
In all honesty, I like Kona because of the great happy hour they have! IF you can get a seat on the outside patio! I do enjoy coming with friends as they have 1/2 off app's and cheap drinks and as stated, if you can get a seat outside by the fire pit, it is even better - they do NOT do happy hour in the restaurant... the service could use quite a bit of improvment, but who really notices as long as you are enjoying time with friends! :) I am not sure I would come here for a "regular" dinner... But it is definitely a great time for happy hour.
(3)Jeff V.
I really hate how crowded this place gets at happy hour and if you're planning to go do note that it's open seating and I strongly recommend that you arrive early, whether your group have 2 people or 10, tables fly just as fast. The happy hour here is good, the food is alright but the drink specials and location neutrality along with the abundance of parking (though you may have to walk a little) make it an A-OK place to start your night or end your day.
(3)Jeff J.
Like kona grill.....sushi is good....had most things on menu.....great happy hour as well...
(4)Viviene W.
This place is great for their happy hour. My friends and I almost always go here before heading downtown. We especially enjoy the avocado rolls, cosmos, wine, and sushi rolls. I would highly recommend this place. The inside/bar area is usually pretty packed but if your get there early, you'll be able to grab a spot inside. Otherwise, there are spots and tables outside underneath heaters. There's a fire pit too which is really cool. Nice place to chill and eat before the club/bar or just meet up with a few friends and catch up.
(4)Brooke F.
My husband and I went here tonight for dinner, after trying to find a new place that sounded good. This place was hoppin for a Saturday night, and we had to wait 20 minutes for a table, pretty standard. Once seated, our server came and took our drink order right away and shortly after took the rest of our order. Everything was fairly timely. The only thing I think could improve is the pacing. We ordered an appetizer and soups before our entrees and the soups came out first, and the appetizer 30 seconds later, and before we could even get to the appetizer, our meals came. Other than that, service was prompt and prices were decent. The atmosphere is fun, with a neat fish tank behind the sushi bar and some hip music filling the air. I will definitely come back!
(4)James S.
Been here three times. Saw the review about the noise etc. Odd... never had that experience. Hopefully they don't do anything stupid like that anymore. I usually get there at about 6PM - 7PM so maybe the happy hour thing is done by then. The food is amazing! Some of the better food I've had anywhere in Denver. I have to suggest thier avacodo egg rolls. I've had these at Cheese Cake Factory, but they aren't half as good as Kona Grill makes them. Other than that, I've had thier sirloin steak and multiple sushi dishes. The sushi is fresh and the steak is thick and cooked exactly the way I like it. My wife usually gets the macadamia nut chicken which I have to say is pretty amazing tasting. Service is A+++. You won't be disapointed with that. The atmosphere is classy, romantic, semi-casual but not too casual and not to formal either. Wear something nice, jeans are probably ok. It is a bit spendy, but the kind of place that you feel like you got what you paid for.
(4)Karli F.
I met a friend for happy hour here last night. We arrived at 5:45 and there was no seating in the bar area inside and of course they won't serve you the happy hour deals if you sit in the dining area. So we sat outside, granted it was under heaters, but it was still quite chilly. They have a whole list of appetizers that are 1/2 off. They also have certain drinks and beers on special. I had a Cosmo which was mostly cranberry juice. My friend had beer. We ordered the spicy tuna roll, the tuna wasabi things (for lack of a better descriptor), a margarita pizza, and calamari. (We were being little piglets--don't judge). The spicy tuna roll was fine for a restaurant that shouldn't really serve sushi. The tuna wasabi things were weird. They were tuna wrapped in a tortilla and flash fried. The calamari was rather bland and of course it got cold really fast seeing as how we were outside. The margarita pizza was my favorite thing out of the bunch. Ultimately I'll probably go back because of location, the specials, and the price ($30 for all that). But I wasn't that impressed.
(3)meredith h.
Didn't have the best experience, and def. not good enough to go back. From our entrace, no one told us of the valet parking deal, the hostess said "free for all" seating on the patio for happy hour - not in the most sincere way - and that was an awkward 5 minutes of perusing the patio, waiting to see if the one guy with a water at a table for 4 was going to get the hell out and stop staring everyone down. Server was nice (remember the name because its rare : Chance) The knowledge of sushi wasn't there, and the one time the manager walked by, he literally stood in front of the table, said HI, then turned and moved on...no unused dishes were taken, no "hows the food/having a good night?" The app was a blackened catfish taco, which as generous, but lots of intense flavors, especially the sauce, but I thought that was the best part. Sushi...eh...overall overpriced. They should spend money to redecorate!
(2)Tina Marie E.
The Pad Thai here is the best! It never disappoints. Their Maui Onion Soup is also good. I would highly recommend it! My advice is to come before the dinner crowd because the prices are cheaper during lunch time. If you happen to come in on a weekend day/evening and it's crowded during lunch or dinner, you'll more than likely end up starving while waiting for your entree so ordering an appetizer would be ideal in this situation. Did I forget to mention that they have Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour? The staff is very friendly and helpful for those who are newbies to the establishment. Don't forget to order sushi! Save room for dessert, the Passion Fruit Creme Brulee is the sweet ending to a great meal at Kona Grill!
(5)michelle b.
Been here once and had absolutely the MOST delicious Ahi Tuna Sandwich EVER! The others in our party had a variety of rolls and all were pleased with their choices. The service was good, as we went for lunch and it wasn't horribly busy. Will definately be trying it again.
(4)Brian F.
The PF Changs of Japanese food. Awesome for Mexican-made sushi. The service is ok, the food is ok, the booze and bar rock.
(3)Joe B.
The best thing about this location is there outdoor patio. I would give that portion of the restaurant four stars. A good drink menu and nice atmosphere. The rest of the experience is two stars. They food quality is average. You can get equal grade sushi at the airport or supermarket. The service, my two experiences there, was very slow. It's a mall sushi/asian place, just take it for what it is. You're not there for fine dining, you're there for the atmosphere.
(2)Aaron W.
For a mall restaurant this was not too shabby. The decor is decent - sort of dark and kind of contemporary slightly tropical feel. My waiter was a little odd and forgot a few items, but he came back enough to check on us. The menu here is a bit eclectic with a sushi list, steaks, and meatloaf. My ribeye was done well and the white chedder potatoes were pretty good. I think my girlfriend's fish was a bit dry, but my brother's meatloaf was really good. I also really enjoyed their sparkling sake. I would say this is an okay place to grab food if you want something better than mall food and your feet are tired - but maybe for something just as satisfying at a lower price I'll just go to CPK or Macaroni Grill nearby.
(3)Trevor F.
Great menu, not you average or regular chain restaurant menu. We got some pot stickers for a starter and they were pretty tasted, different but in a good way! My sister got the turkey burger and she said that it was damn good! The sushi was pretty good coming from Ness and my sister, Ness said here entree was good as well, as for mine I got the big island meatloaf! And it was pretty incredible to say the least! The sauce and mushrooms I got on the side because I'm picky like that and once I tasted the sauce I dumped it all over my love big piece of meat! It was all tide in well with mashed potatoes and veggies! I would go back and would like a Kona Grill closer to my stomping grounds!
(4)Tali M.
I really like their happy hour for the food specials, the drink specials are not that great unless you like sake bombs. I think the margaritas are gross, way too sweet, I sent my drink back when I ordered it because I know if I drank the whole thing I would have a stomach ache. The only issue with the happy hour is that it is only offered in the bar area and the patio, so if you get there in the middle of happy hour you may be waiting a little while to get a seat, I really wish they offered the happy hour specials in the main restaurant. I really enjoy sitting outside when it's nice out, if it's a little chilly out they have a huge fire going, which helps.
(3)Justin W.
The service at a restaurant has to be astonishingly bad for it to detract from my overall dining experience--and that was definitely the case here at Kona Grill. Our server was, well, for lack of a better description, incompetent. The drinks our party ordered were wrong, we received a different sushi roll than what we ordered, and she gave us our bill before we were even done eating, without entertaining the thought that we might want to order dessert. That would have all been fine had she been pleasant, but her service was noticeably curt and left us basically feeling like we were unwanted. As for the food, is this really supposed to be Hawaiian cuisine? The Macadamia Nut Chicken, proclaimed as their signature dish, was bland and diner-quality. The baked sea bass was decent, but overall, way overpriced. The only thing that saved Kona Grill from getting just one star is their dessert, which was definitely the highlight of the meal. We had the Ultimate Fudge Brownie and Passion Fruit Creme Brulee which were delicious and both come in generous portions. If you're at the mall, skip dinner and go straight for dessert. Oh, and don't expect real Hawaiian food.
(2)Carrie R.
I made the mistake of ordering off the sushi menu. Flavorless and smelly. It even seemed like the rice had been processed to remove its natural flavor. Quite possibly the worst sushi I've had in Denver. The blase service took it from 3 star mediocrity to 2 star overall experience. I've heard the other food is better, but I would only try chicken at my next visit, I don't think I'd even dare get the seared ahi tuna salad. And yes, my "next visit" will only happen if I'm dragged there because it's a convenient place to eat in the mall. P.S. I won't be ordering the avocado egg roll again, either.
(2)Brian B.
I usually just come here for happy hour. It gets really busy. The best time to come here is during happy hour for cheaper food and sake bombs.
(4)Young B.
All I can say is that I liked the decor and atmosphere a lot more than the food.
(3)Michele R.
I've always loved Kona, both in Denver and other locations. The menu is varied, the dishes are tasty, and you can't beat the happy hour (especially on the beautiful patio in the summertime). I'm also a big fan of the new skinny menu. This is my "go-to" happy hour spot. I've only had one bad experience and that was with a waiter who requested a tip. That rubbed me the wrong way. I wish the bar area were larger too---it's always so crowded because of the awesome specials.
(4)Maple L.
One of my regulars. I don't like eating the regular dinner menu, but the happy hour is great. PROS: Super great happy hour. Sushi tastes good for the price. Nice outdoor patio area with a heading elements on the ceiling, fire pit... CONS: The Regular dinner menu doesn't have anything yet that I liked. The creme brulee is a tragedy! Bitter... parking sucks. They are free valet, but I'm not a valet type of girl. Usually I park in the mall and walk through it. OVERALL: I like it I usually get the spicy tuna and the phili rolls. However, during their busy time, I think they don't clean the tuna as well and there are those white fatty tendon things... But its still good. I also like the calimari, but I don't order it when they are busy, because i noticed that's when it comes out overcooked. All of the sushi rolls are pretty good, and a few are cooked and don't have raw food, which is good for when you bring a friend who doesn't want to eat raw fish. I really disliked the avocado eggrolls. To me, avocado isn't supposed to be warmed and deep fried! The chicken satay isn't very tasty. It is arranged in a very silly, unappealing way, and the sauce is really unappealing to me. Of course, everyone has different taste buds.
(4)Jeff W.
My wife and I ate here on a Sunday night, didn't have reservations, called to see how they were busy about 7:30 and walked right in. For the FIRST TIME EVER in Colorado, we got fish cooked the way it is supposed to be. slightly rare with translucent in the middle. Sushi was good, service was excellent. Highly recommend getting any fish on the menu. Casual and nice without being a "meet market". Thanks for a great dinner.
(5)John W.
I went here for lunch, and I really liked the $8 menu. You can choose two things from a menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and other things for only eight bucks. Considering this place is Cherry Creek, I would otherwise think this place is pricey. I ended up ordering a salmon dish which was really tasty, and my sister ordered a salmon salad which she won't stop talking about. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch!
(4)Stephanie L.
I actually had to walk out of Kona Grill last night . . . and it wasn't even busy. We got a table immediately, what we didn't get was service. After sitting there for about 10 minutes, a waitress finally came over to us and said she was looking for a menu and would be right back. She never offered to take a drink order. We saw her doing several other things, none of which was getting us a menu. After waiting another 10 minutes, we finally decided to leave. It was sad!
(3)Joseph C.
I came to Kona for my birthday and the food, drinks and service were all excellent! I highly recommend trying the Avacado Egg Rolls as your appetizer! They're an awesome mixture of sweet and sour when dipped in the honey cilantro dipping sauce that comes with it. I ordered the Basil Pesto Linguine, which is spicy and very tasty! I cant say when I last enjoyed a plate of pasta as much as I did this one. I like the decor and the lighting of Kona, not too dark and interesting light fixtures. This place seems to attract all types of people. Lots of friends, couples and a couple of families with children as well. They do have a gluten free menu as well. Having never been to Kona before I give the wait staff extra points for the great suggestions from the menu and for the free creme brulee because it was my birthday.
(5)Ramon G.
Good menu, lot of selection. I was actually surprised with how good the sushi was. We went there wanting a normal dinner entree but ended up going crazy on the sushi. The service is usually good and the layout of the restaurant is pretty unique...I love the fish tank...
(4)Jenny S.
Ok, I've been craving the Ahi Steak Sandwich here. Cherry Creek is in between my apartment and work so I take 1st Ave almost everyday. That sandwich is calling me. I hate parking in that stupid garage and don't want to hoof it past a bunch of pricey stores (the valet is parking always full and I don't want to pay for it since I lack a Mercedes) BUT I do it anyways. This sandwich is juicy and messy and I look like a slob eating it but it is soooo good. It's on a nice big piece of bread full of carbs and slices of avocado, tomatoes, and a tasty green sauce. It is served with taro chips that are super greasy and salty but you can always substitute those for a field green salad (but it's $2 extra)
(4)K. S.
I love Kona Grill. My only complaint is that the happy hour is so bananas, you have to get there early....but now that its spring, sitting outside is an option. The atmosphere is pretty relaxing. Its an attractive space, with a laid back vibe. Its rather dark, even up front. They make a pretty good calamari, which is my favorite all-time appetizer, so that automatically scored buku points with me. The avocado eggrolls Ive never seen anywhere else, and theyre pretty scrumpious. Pot stickers are A-plus. The spicy sweet shrimp are just okay, I expected something a little different than what I got. The sushi is pretty damn good. Ive had the salmon skin roll (yum), the cali roll was just okay because I like regular crab as opposed to that crab salad-ish mix they use. Ive had various other sushi items that were of the best quality, including presentation. But overall, you will be very happy with your sushi.... I have not tried burgers or pizza there, its impossible to order that knowing how tantalizing their main fare is. They have one of those menus that is all over the place (american, italian, japanase, chinese, etc) and Im usually weary of places like that. But they pull it off, and if I want good food, good drinks, and I love sports, so its an upscale place to catch a game....and if I just got paid (because this isnt for the budget eater), is when I goto Kona. Great for a date, but not one with a squeamish wallet.
(4)Dmitri P.
Great place for a happy hour if you can get there early enough. Get there late and good luck, seating is scarce! Bartenders are great and the happy hour food is quite tasty. Can't speak of the dinners as all I've had is the happy hour menu. Great people watching
(4)Craig W.
Best frozen Margarita around !!! And they pack a punch...
(4)Kendra R.
the patio is a nice place to cop a squat during the summer. I'd say spring, but this is Denver and they like to predict snow in mid April. Their cocktails taste more of alcohol than filler so you get the bang for your buck here. The Sashimi was a perfect fit to my rumbling tummy during the cherry creek festival. a great spot to people watch. One major pet peeve that is going to turn this 4 star review into a 2. There was a smoker on the patio, who's obnoxious habit made our throats itch and our noses curl. We asked the waiter if he could ask her to stop (other patrons around us had the same annoyed expressions on their faces) He told us that since the exit to the mall right here that it met the requirement of 20ft or whatnot. So once again grab a inside seat. I do like the decor so that's a plus, and they have sports at the bar like any bar should be required to.
(2)Gregory A.
Decent sushi and advanced menu of Pacific fare. I don't feel I get my bang for the buck. I am thinking 3.5 stars (I round up). The food is good but it seems more a "to do" than it should be or priced for. Something just seems a little artificial or contrived or something here. Maybe I am too critical. I feel a little intimidated when I walk in but not when I walk out. Ease up Greg...Nice food. 4 stars. I'll go back when I am in the area and in the mood - but not sooner :). They staff is also nice.
(4)Toni-Ann A.
Love this place!!! The food is good and priced right. Good service and great happy hour!! The heated patio is also a major bonus (just wish it wasn't located in the parking lot)
(4)Allison L.
Have been there couple times! It was great! Friendly staffs. Appetizers, salad, sushi, noddles... everything we have tried was very good. The best of all.... the waiter admitted his mistake and forgot to put in our appetizer.... so it was on the house! It is ok to make mistake, but you hardly see people admitted it these days... they usually blame on the kitchen!
(4)Sandi D.
Say what you will about Kona Grill, but their burger ROCKS !!! Kona Beef is from Cows who are massaged, which is suppose to yield a happy cow. Happy Cows = Tender Beef . All I know, is that Kona's Burgers are both huge and yummy. Not a piece of grizzle to be found. Their crispy shoestrings are good enough for me to go off Atkins. We stopped in here really late Saturday Night due to the BF's sucky Holiday hours, and this place was hopping !!! We had the option to eat with the masses at the bar or patio and get Happy Hour pricing, but after a long day at work, the empty restaurant looked like a sanctuary-- So we cozied up to a booth, order rare burgers, and were happy campers !!!
(5)Dennis S.
I brought my sister here after Xmas shopping and the experience was very forgettable. I had the chicken wrap and a decent gin and tonic. My sister had their cheeseburger, which was BIG and tasty, but the sprite they brought her was carbonated water... she then ordered a hot tea, which was delivered with no lemon, sugar/sweetner or spoon.
(2)Mariela S.
Welcome to Denver, where to eat after shopping in Cherry Creek? My bf and I were both pretty hungry the chocolate covered strawberry we had as a snack was not going to hold our appetite for very long. We decided on Kona grill. We were in for a special surprise! We loved everything we ate (which is usually not a surprise if you know us). We spiced up the night ordering almost everything that had the word spicy in front of it. Our favorite, was the spicy tuna salad, soo good and filling. They also had a really good wakame salad. Our waitress was great, although she was very speedy and was gone twice before we could order sake bombs. She was honest and personable, suggesting good sake. Will definitely try to eat there again, budget and waistline friendly!
(4)Nikki R.
Great Happy Hour!! Good food and drink specials.
(3)jane d.
my first time here was in phoenix, arizona. the happy hour menu is awesome! the sushi cheap but plentiful :9 yum however, because i had my out of state license punched out, they wouldn't let me sit in the patio area even though i'm FREAKIN 25 WTF i even had a temporary license with my name on it but since there's no PICTURE... they can't take it....... so whatever. we finished our food, and left. we threatened to not pay the bill if he wanted me out of the premises. so he relented of course, cuz we were a party of 9 so yeah.. came here to cherry creek cuz their happy hour is awesome. made reservations for happy hour then i get there with my group and find out.. WE'RE INSIDE WITH NO HAPPY HOUR! second time kona grill has messed up. so... WTF SQAURED... but yeah, the food is good- it was just shitty situations.. until i get one happy experience, these guys stay at ONE
(1)Terry W.
My husband and I were in town from the Springs for the last Saturday night of the King Tut show. We aren't familiar with the area, so we just decided to wing it and lucked out. The fish was cooked perfectly! It was moist and still a little rare in the middle. Just like fish should be.(I'm from Fla). I had the fish of the day which was sea bass and my husband had the glazed salmon. We also had the calamari which was hot and tender with a great sauce.We've been to a lot of places all over the globe and this one is one of the best as far as their fish goes. The staff could not have been nicer and the service was very good. We showed up about 8:30 pm and they were still fairly busy. We parked across the main street at a parking garage for $4.00. Not sure if we were supposed to, but it was empty and we didn't see any signs saying not to. Short walk to the restaurant. Drinks were ok. Bathrooms were clean. Very nice dinner. When in town we will definitely return.
(4)Raquel C.
LOVE Kona Grill- the kona grill is my favorite place to go to happy hour. All are equally good but u gotta love the creek.
(5)Jessica G.
I love this place! you have to go for happy hour sometime. I think they have a reverse happy hour still from 9-11?? They have half off appetizers and good drinks.
(4)Shiho F.
Pretty good Happy Hour: Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Friday 3 to 7 p.m. Reverse Happy Hour In our Lounge Monday - Thursday 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday - Saturday 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. I tired their Spicy Tuna Roll, CA Roll and thier Hawaiian Pizza along with my Margaritas. Not too shabby.
(4)Mark B.
4 stars for happy hour. Kona's happy hour is tops for the Cherry Creek area. If you want to eat good cheap happy hour food while looking at beautiful people go to Kona. I have also eaten here non-happy hour and was quite pleased with the food and service. The non-happy hour prices are well non-happy hour so expect to pay $$$ for good food. Have a good day!
(4)Tammie W.
I've eaten here twice and I'm always shocked at how delicious the sushi is....coming from a girl who is Japanese and has eaten some of the freshest sushi around! Kona Grill is an extremely classy place that has superb service and excellent food! Their Happy Hour specials are dynamite (half priced apps, some drinks and sushi rolls). There's a fire pit on the patio, which is delightful and allows you to cozy up to your loved one. Their booths are quite comfortable and private. I would recommend this place for a date or just a nice night out for dinner, lunch and now Sunday brunch!
(4)Rachael L.
This is my FAVORITE place, and has been for the past 2.5 years! They have a wonderful variety of food, from sushi to pizza to burgers to steak to meatloaf and beyond! Especially love their dragon rolls, calamari, macadamia nut chicken. Great atmosphere, friendly staff, very affordable, great happy hour...what more can you ask for!
(5)Ari T.
Great food and drinks during happy hour! It gets extremely crowded and the chances of landing a table are slim, but that adds to the atmosphere. Be prepared to saki bomb standing up, but at the same time you cannot beat the prices and fun and outgoing happy hour crowd.
(4)Hans O.
Food is great here, but on the other hand service is mediocre.
(2)Catherine B.
Kona is just okay. It's got a decent happy hour and I like their patio, but I have gone for dinner too and I would not put it at the top of Denver sushi spots. It's very chic and hip, but the food quality is average, and the prices are high.
(3)Ben S.
excellent! one of my favorite places in denver! they have a real nice menu of sushi and non-sushi dishes and all the food is good. for some reason, my family just loves eating there! the eda mame and soup are great. the main dishes are excellent, the cooked and sushi and salads! they have a great sushi & salad sampler, a great idea for a lunch. the rolls are good, nothing too exotic, but solid. the service is good and eating outside is real nice. the fish tank is awesome and lastly, the bathrooms are decorated real nice! :-0
(4)Winsome D.
Full credit for their happy hour on a bang-for-buck basis. You can't go wrong with decent sushi (8pc order), garlic shrimp pizza, calamari, avacado egg rolls, and much more at a measly 3.50$ a pop. Just make sure you try and get a seat inside the bar or near the fireplace outside, otherwise your ass might get frost bitten from the coldness of the metal barred chairs. *brrrrrrrr*
(4)Veronica W.
I've had friends tell me that the Happy Hour is phenomenal, but after the poor service and lackluster lunches I've had there I've passed it up for places I know have good food. Hey, I'll give anywhere a couple tries and the Kona Grill has had more than a couple. Great if the food is cheap, but if it's less than tasty and the service is marginal then who cares? I'll stick with somewhere less flashy with better food and be glad I spent a little more.
(3)