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Bali Hai Restaurant
📍 2230 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106

We dined at Bali Hai on Sunday, October 19th to celebrate a birthday, and it was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. We had 7:30 p.m. reservations, arrived about 15 minutes early, and were seated right away by the window with a breathtaking sunset skyline view overlooking the San Diego Bay.

Bali Hai is a Polynesian-style restaurant known for its relaxing island ambiance and delicious menu. While their Sunday brunch offers an incredible spread of crab legs, oysters, prime rib, omelets to order, and more, we came for dinner and enjoyed every bite.

We started with the Ali‘i Tasting ($28) — a must-try sampler that includes coconut shrimp, Bali Hai tuna poki, spinach lumpia, beef skewers, and firecracker ribs — perfectly portioned and full of flavor. For entrées, I ordered the Honey Cashew Shrimp, featuring lightly battered shrimp with bell peppers, onions, candied cashews, and jasmine rice. My son loved his Korean Fried Chicken with scallions, sesame seeds, and sweet sesame sauce, while another family member ordered the Crispy Pork Belly, which looked incredible with spiced lemon, pickled peppers, black vinegar, and balsamic jam.

Our server, Diego, was friendly, attentive, and professional, and the hostesses and beverage team were equally warm and efficient. Our drinks arrived promptly around 7:45, and the food followed shortly after — impressively fast for such a busy evening. We wrapped up just before 9 p.m., fully satisfied after a long, fun day at the beach and park.

This was my third visit to Bali Hai, and each time it continues to exceed expectations — from the outstanding service and delicious Polynesian cuisine to the stunning waterfront views and relaxed, elegant atmosphere. I’m already looking forward to returning on my next trip to San Diego. 🌴✨

– Holly Landis

One of the old school Tiki bars still standing! Must stop for tiki lovers. Food was good but not amazing. Drinks were strong! Almost to strong! Tried the Mai tai, Pina colada and the jetty. Food we tried the fried rice, calamari and the tasting for two. Desert was the best! Great selection of custom tiki mugs!

– Spencer E

We had an amazing lunch today filled with delicious Polynesian and Hawaiian-inspired flavors—but the true highlight wasn’t the food or even the stunning view. It was our incredible server, Ava.

From the moment we sat down, Ava guided us through the menu with such enthusiasm and knowledge that we assumed she was a seasoned pro. To our surprise, it was only her second day serving! She recommended standout dishes that ended up being our absolute favorites, and her understanding of the drink and food menu was unmatched.

Ava made our experience not just enjoyable but genuinely memorable. We will absolutely be back—and when we are, we’ll be requesting her by name. She’s a gem and a true asset to this establishment!

– Joseph X (Joe)