Roka Hula Orlando is fairly new to the Orlando food scene and packs a punch to all your senses. As the title says, this dining experience is not for the unadventurous! So buckle up buttercup and get ready for a provocative journey into Roka Hula, a hidden tiki barstaurant.
If you know anything about me and this blog you know I love an ‘experience’. Something out of the norm that makes you feel excited for what’s to come. It could be zip lining over gators, having dinner in a castle, or drinking an exotic cocktail out of a miniature divers helmet. I want to experience all of it!
So when I heard of Roka Hula, a place where their website says: Dare To Be Adventurous And Surrender To The Immersive Seductive Ambiance For An Unforgettable Dining Escapade. I said YES! I need to experience this!
Prepare For Your Roka Hula Orlando Experience!
Roka Hula Orlando is located at: 7525 Sand Lake Rd. Bldg. A, and is actually located inside of another restaurant, Voodoo Bayou. There is self-parking in the large community parking lot or use the on-site valet.
Roka Hula is open Mon-Sat at 5pm and 4pm on Sundays. You must be 21+ To make a reservation or confirm hours: click here.
We went on a Saturday and booked a same day early (5:00) reservation. There seemed to be many tables available but the bar was already quite full. So keep that in mind if you’re just hoping to sit at the bar.
Once inside Voodoo Bayou, check in with the host and let them know you’re there for Roka Hula. You will soon find out there are 2 ways to gain entry inside Roka Hula. One is the typical walking method (boring)….the other requires that adventures spirit I mentioned. I think you know which one I chose.
We were asked to take a seat and pet the head of a cheetah…I’ll stop there. I don’t want to spoil your fun if you choose to take part in this experience. (Or watch my included video if you’d like to see!)
Once inside this exotic establishment prepare for the unexpected! With its highly themed and maybe a little intentionally tacky decor, you may need a few moments to take it all in! Then you’ll be ready to check out the menu.
Meet the chef: Michael Andrezejewski is a 3-time James Beard Semifinalist and has appeared on Beat Bobby Flay (my favorite show) as well as Chopped. So he knows his stuff! He has curated a modern asian menu featuring lots of sushi, pork belly baos, dumplings and fried rice.
Everything we had was done well and presented beautifully. And of all the amazing sushi I’ve had (I’m talking about you Edoboy), Roka Hula now has one of the best sushi rolls I’ve eaten. The Smoky Spicy Tuna roll.
The other delicious stand out we had was the Thai Chili Pork Belly Baos. They were absolute perfection. I also got the Foie Gras Nigiri, which was just okay. (If you’re into Foie Gras the best Foie Gras Nigiri I’ve had is at Kabookie Sushi Sand Lake.)
Let’s talk about the cocktails! Their cocktails were well balanced, creative, and had that perfect ‘tiki bar’ vibe. We absolutely loved them all and would go back just for them. My favorite was Dead-Lee (tequila based) although the Bangkok Betty might be the most unusual cocktail I’ve had…this vodka based cocktail also has green onion and wasabi in it…this is also NOT for the unadventurous!!
If you’re looking for an utterly outrageous tiki bar vibe, love sushi/asian cuisine, have an adventurous spirit, then you’ll love Roka Hula Orlando! It’s fun and unexpected with a menu that is just as captivating as the decor. You should check this spot out if you’re looking for an adventurous night out!
If you are interested in more tiki bar/restaurants, check out my experiences at Maitland’s Permanent Vacation and Disney’s Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.
Orlando and surrounding communities are full of exceptional restaurants, bars, and attractions. To stay up to date and get suggestions on the Best of Orlando consider subscribing to my blog!
Thanks for reading! Xx Autumn
