Roy's Hawaiian Fuson Cuisine

Ok the good reviews for this place could only be fore two reasons

1. They work there and need the income (see review one).

2. They are the type of people who assume since they give you tiny portions and it's really expensive it must be trendy and good.

It's neither. The crabcake was actually worse than the previously frozen, imitation crab, Ralph's brand crabcake that I used to think was the worst ever. The service is slow and the fact that there is a wait so you need a reservation is MIND BOGGLING.

I've never met someone who liked this place. It's kind of a running joke actually. Please, save yourself. Or, just drink like a fish and hope someone else pays.

Pros: Lighter wallet and you are still starving when you leave!

Cons: Oh, they can't cook...or serve...plus it's expensive.

Posted 04/01/09

I work at Roys and it is a FANTASTIC restaurant. Great management and wonderful food. And for the person who write below me, you don?t know what you are talking about. We do not sing when we bring out dessert. It is not in our policy.

Posted 10/28/08

Just had the worst dining experience ever. I would NOT RECOMMEND this place. To the point; its overprices. save your money and go elsewhwre. 30 dollar plates. first, i made reservations at 9:30p, didn't get seated until 9:50p. then i ordered the Macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi and asked for well done well cooked. once served it came medium; so they took it back. they must of made a whole new plate cause it took 20 min for me to get my food back. total 40 min for my plate of food. Also they were supposed to bring a dessert with song for my wife who graduated. they said they would send out a dessert with candle and sing when i reserved two nights ago. They didnt sing. no dessert was brought out. Forget this place. If you don't want to loose your cool, don't visit this place. I warned you. Best thing about this place is, . . nothing!

Pros: None i can think of

Cons: Reservations. Staff. Service. promptness to visit table by wait staff. Management.

Posted 10/10/08

I went before a Laker game and sat at the bar where we got a good stiff drink and then started ordering sushi which wasn't the best I ever had but i give it a solid 8.5 to 9. The service was very good and the Mahi Mahi was great.

Pros: location

Cons: parking

Posted 09/01/08

We live a couple blocks away at Market Lofts and finally got around to coming here. We called around 8 and made reservations for half an hour in advance. We walked over and were seated immediately even though the restaurant was buzzing with people. It was a Friday night, the crowd was a mix of the young and hip and couples out for a good time. Our waitress was wonderful. We had a sauvignon blanc and pinot griggio and both were good choices. The ahi tuna was awesome as was my boyfriends mahi mahi which he unknowingly shared with me! lol Would definitely go again.

Pros: mahi mahi and wine selection

Cons: nope

Posted 06/08/08

I went to Roy's today for lunch with co-workers. I had the Roy?s Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi. WHOLY MOLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was fabulous. We also had the Poketini and Potstickers which was also good. Service was great food delicious I defiantely recommend.

Pros: Great Service, Great Food

Cons: Didn't have any cons today

Posted 05/28/08

This was our first time dining at Roy's in downtown and it will be our last as well. I'll start off on a positive note, we made a reservation for 8:15 and went early anyways and we were seated quite early. Then the night took a drastic turn for the worse. It took them about 15 minutes to get us water at the table and we didn't even know who our waiter/waitress was until after that. We ordered the appitizer and a drink. The appitizer came and then the drink about 5 minutes after. We ordered our entrees and waited. I ordered the "steak, fries & shake" and my boyfriend ordered the sea bass. I ordered my steak medium well and was aware that it would have a light pink center. As I was cutting my steak I made a comment to my boyfriend that it was really hard to cut my steak and thought maybe it was because of the knife. About 5 minutes later, I look down at my plate and my steak WAS NOT EVEN COOKED!! It was nearly purple in the middle. I didn't finish any of it. My boyfriend enjoyed his sea bass, but it could have been better. We then asked for the check. The manager then came out with a plate of fresh fruit and a sorbet of sorts because we were celebrating our anniversary. That was a plus of the night. All-in-all, the experience was terrible. The best part of the night was the passion fruit mojito and the fruit at the end!! I would not advise anyone to dine here if they want a great experience. INSIDER TIP: Park in the empty lot directly across the street for $6 instead of the valet that took 15 minutes to get our car for $7!! Worst experience in LA!!!

Pros: The Passion Fruit Mojito

Cons: Everything Else...

Posted 05/24/08

Came here on a Friday night, reservations were not a problem. I had the Butterfish as my appetizer which was AMAZING. It was so buttery it honestly melted in my mouth! My Sister had the Taco sliders which were good but not great. I had the short ribs for my main which were good, ( it was really tender), well done :) My sister had the surf and turf, steak was perfectly done, shrimp were not overcooked, good flavor! Dessert was a tad disappointing though, their Chocolate Souffle is more of a fondant, its not exaclty a souffle, I was looking forward to the Souffle. Doubt I would order the Chocolate "Souffle" again, Probably try their Pineapple turnover! Roys DID exceed my expectations, great Hawaiian food in LA!

Pros: Service, Food

Cons: A tad loud on game nights

Posted 05/14/08

I'm not much of a cooked fish kind of person, but the fish at Roy's is excellent! I had the Mahi Mahi for lunch a few weeks ago and have never had fish so good before. It was cooked perfectly! The lobster butter sauce and macadamia nuts were a delightful compliment to the fish. The atmosphere is a lot of fun and the service is really great. I would recommend Roy's to anyone who wants to try a good piece of fish! :)

Pros: Great Food

Posted 12/15/07

First, I want to say I love love love Roy's food. The first time I went was the one on Flamingo Rd. in Las Vegas when I was on vacation. It was quiet, intimate, great service, some of the best food. So, when my birthday came around later this year, my boyfriend and I decided to go to the one in LA. It was such a night and day experience. The restaurant was filled with people, mostly business people going out for an after-work cocktail and dinner, the rest were larger parties.
We had made reservations, but the place was so crowded we still had to wait close to half an hour for a table. We would have been ok hanging at the bar for a while, but the place was standing room only it was so packed with people.
When we were finally seated, our waiter was obviously overworked and we didn't see him very much throughout the meal. We had to resort to flagging down other waiters to help us. He also wasn't very friendly when we did see him.
The food as good, but not the at the same level as the one in Vegas. I realize each restaurant is different and, on busy nights, quality is sometimes compromised for vast quantities. However, I felt let down from my past experience.
I was considering going back on another day, say a Saturday to see if the crowds were lessened because of the weekend, but, from reading other reviews, this doesn't appear to be the case.
Over all, at least I know of a great restaurant in Vegas to go to out of the thousands of choices there!

Pros: Still the same great food.

Cons: Crowded, crowded, crowded

Posted 12/11/07

Hmmmm, I unfortunately can't agree with all the raves. I wish I could - was hoping to love the experience, but didn't. We were actually disappointed. My husband had wanted to try Roy's. I took him Sat. night for his b-day. The frenetic/frantic pace, loud room & casual atire was not what we had envisioned our nice dinner to be. It was not romantic, it was not elegant, it was not incredible. The food was good, but not amazing. I don't mind spending $$ on a dinner worth it - this experience was not.

Pros: ????

Cons: Frantic atmosphere, not romantic, loud

Posted 04/01/07

Some of the entrees are a bit pricey, but I have a soft spot for prix fixe menus and Roy's has a great one. Go the appetizer sampler, slow braised short ribs, chocolate souffle route for your choices, as they're all exquisite. I've learned from taste-testing my friends' dishes that Roy's fish is all very good, though I'd go for the cooked versions rather than the seared ahi here (it was good, just not as good as the rest). The bar is packed on weeknights with an after-work crowd, but restaurant diners get the royal treatment... it's a small touch, but the whipped butter, warm bread and steamed towels won me over.

Pros: Service and food, especially the souffle

Cons: Pricey, but the prix fixe was worth it

Posted 11/03/06

Not all Roy's are the same. Some are better than others. The Roy's in Downtown LA is as good as it gets without having to go to Oahu, Hi.
The Special Dinner for 35- is highly recommended.

Pros: Convenant Location

Cons: Parking is located next door in a Parking Lot

Posted 11/03/06

This restaurant offers phenomenal food that just plays with your palate and brings pure joy. The ambiance is one that almost demands a good experience with friends and loved ones. Everything about this restaurant just exudes a wonderful dining experience. You can't help but have great conversation, be happy and enjoy food and drinks. The management is beyond friendly and they focus sincerely on "taking care of family"- meaning their hospitality is beyond compare. A wonderful place to go if you want to feel special! The menu changes constantly and always offers a splendid array of fabulous dishes. Go now!

Pros: on top of a great menu, the sushi here is to die for!

Cons: non.. great location, great restaurant!

Posted 10/31/06

I was pleasantly surprised to find that what I thought might be a touristy/corporate destination had truly excellent food. We started with a sashimi app and Bibb salad, and both wound up getting the halibut, which was fantastic. Adding in two glasses of wine and a glass of port each, plus the molten chocolate dessert and tip, the total came to $180--well worth a special occasion or business meal. The service was attentive if kitschy, and overall it was a terrific evening.

Posted 10/27/06

While I felt like I was paying more for the atmosphere and the name, the food and service were on par with the reputation. My friend and I both had a tropical cocktail that was subtle (not sickly sweet) and delicious - followed by splitting a seafood appetizer and a lemongrass, scallop rissotto. The food was rich and the seafood perfectly cooked. I felt like our waiter was somewhat "corporate copy" of his training manual, he was right on in timing, and efficiency, and even met our special dietary request.

Pros: Unique cuisine, Fun ambience

Cons: Corporate feel

Posted 09/13/06

I love Roy's in Maui and was so happy to hear there is one in LA when I moved here! I plan on having my birthday party there in a few months. The food is FANTASTIC- must try the molton chocolate cake thing you have to preorder. Appetizer canoe is amazing. Must go!

Pros: everything!

Cons: nothing

Posted 07/25/06

Extra Nice on everything!!!!!
Food, Service, Deco, and just everything is over the top! but not a chance to meet
Roy Yamaguchi himself!!! Lolz
Must Try Out !!!!

Pros: Everything !! Filet Mignon Roll is must try

Posted 07/16/06

When I heard Roy's was opening downtown, I was estatic! I've had the pleasure to know Roy's from the inside out. The great part is, Roy's have had such a established reputation.. despite the fact it's somewhat a chain. Nevertheless, each location only has a few of it's signature dishes it cares through each restaurant.. the rest are made entirely by it's distinct chef! Servers are always friendly and very knowledgable, food always incredible.. and ambience, great.

Pros: food, service, ambience

Cons: nothing, nothing, nothing!

Posted 03/18/06

I had a great experience at Roy's. We went for dinner for a friend's birthday. The appetizer, entrees, drinks and desert were all I think fantastic (and I eat out alot) :) The service was superb.

The only slight downside is it does get quite noisy during peak hours and valey is a little hard to find at first. Other than that I highly recommend!

Pros: Food, Service, Drinks

Cons: Valet, A Little Bit Noisy

Posted 01/19/06

Our waiter and everybody else there was sooo friendly. The food was the best we have ever had. We went during New Year's Eve and ordered from their special menu. The grilled ahi, veal chop, and Kobe beef appetizer are to die for!! The atmosphere was beautiful and we loved the presentation with the food. Only problem was getting a reservation but everything else was excellent!!!

Pros: Food, Service

Cons: Parking

Posted 12/31/05

I live in San Marino, and it's worth the drive and traffic! The food is fabulous and the service is definitely what they call "Aloha." Since their opening just two months ago, I have had business gatherings, birthday dinners - and they have been very accomodating! I even plan on having a holiday dinner for family and friends. I am so excited that there is finally a Roy's in Los Angeles! It's so convenient that they are just a couple blocks from the Staples Center, and that they offer free limo/shuttle service to all the theatres!

Posted 12/12/05

I went to Roy's on a date recently. It was great! The service was impeccable, and the food was delicious. A great deal at Roy's is their Prix Fixe menu -- you get an appetizer sampler, choice of entree and dessert for $33 or so. Try the Roy's chocolate souffle for dessert -- it is to die for. Make sure you ask for it when you order your entree though, it takes them a while to bake it.

Also, if you're looking for a more quiet, (or romantic) meal with your party, ask to be seated in the back of the restaurant. This area is also used for private dining, and this section of the restaurant is significantly more quiet since it is away from the bar area and the kitchen. Most large groups seemed to be seated up near the front, though. All in all, a great experience!

Pros: Amazing food, Amazing service, Great date spot

Cons: A little pricey,, but worth it

Posted 11/18/05

great ambiance and service! my friends and i had a great time! the food and cocktails are absolutely delicious, and i can't wait to go back soon! reservations are highly recommended!!

Pros: SERVICE!!, delicious, great selection

Cons: valet is on 8th stree

Posted 10/27/05