Tropicali Big Bear review for Hawaiian food at lunch

No official website was confirmed, but public listings consistently identify a counter-service menu centered on Hawaiian-style bowls and poke.

Reviewers repeatedly mention fresh fish, generous bowls and friendly, efficient service. The tropical theme adds character without turning it into a formal dining experience.

Tropicali offers Hawaiian-inspired dishes in a casual, counter-service setting. The menu features customizable poke bowls suited to a quick lunch. These bowls combine a base of rice with your choice of fish, vegetables, sauces, and various toppings. Protein options include ahi tuna and salmon, and the establishment is reportedly owned by a native Hawaiian.

The restaurant is located at 40771 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, placing it near both the lake and the Village area. A distinctive feature is its entrance, designed to resemble a shark's mouth, which serves as a notable spot for photos. The outdoor patio provides partial views of the surrounding lake and mountain peaks.

Tropicali tends to be busier during warmer periods. During summer weekends, the limited seating capacity can fill up quickly.

The restaurant is near Big Bear Lake and the Village and serves customizable bowls in a casual counter-service setting.

The dining area is described as casual, with an outdoor patio that offers views. The shark-mouth entrance is a memorable visual element. The restaurant uses a casual counter-service format suited to a quick lunch.

The food preparation centers on poke bowls, allowing for a personalized meal. The bowls combine fish, rice, vegetables, sauces, and toppings.

The restaurant is on Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake and serves Hawaiian-inspired food in a casual setting.

Food and drink

This measures the quality and range of what is served. Tropicali scored 9.5 out of 10. Reviewers repeatedly mention fresh fish and generous bowls.

Value and setting

Value measures what you get for what you spend, and Tropicali scored 7 out of 10. The setting, which measures the room, the view, and the atmosphere, scored 7.5 out of 10. Tropicali has a distinctive Hawaiian and poke menu.

Service and wait

This measures how guests are served and how long the wait is. Tropicali received a score of 8 out of 10. Friendly, quick service is frequently noted by visitors.

The counter-service format is not suited to every occasion. No official website was confirmed, but public listings consistently identify a counter-service menu.

Our overall score is 8.3 out of 10, a weighted sum of the four criteria. Frequently praised food, quick service, and a distinctive casual setting contribute to this score.

Tropicali vs. nearby dining

Tropicali, a Hawaiian and poke spot, holds an overall score of 8.3 out of 10. It received a 9.5 for food and drink, 7 for value, 8 for service and wait, and 7.5 for setting. This location is about 1.5 miles from Snow Summit's main address and is suggested for a quick lunch.

Peppercorn Grille, serving Californian cuisine, has an overall score of 8.1 out of 10. Its scores are 9 for food and drink, 6.5 for value, 8.5 for service and wait, and 7.5 for setting. It is approximately 1.4 miles from Snow Summit's main address and is recommended for a polished dinner.

Sweet Basil Bistro, an Italian restaurant, earned an overall score of 7.9 out of 10. It scored 8.5 for food and drink, 7 for value, 8 for service and wait, and 7.5 for setting. This option is about 1.6 miles from Snow Summit's main address and is noted as suitable for date night.

Captains Anchorage, offering steak and seafood, has an overall score of 7.8 out of 10. Its food and drink score is 8, value is 6.5, service and wait is 8.5, and setting is 8. It is located about 0.7 miles from Snow Summit's main address and is suggested for a special-occasion dinner.

Score breakdown

When comparing Tropicali to these other establishments, Tropicali scores higher in food and drink compared to Captains Anchorage (9.5 vs. 8). Tropicali's value score of 7 is higher than both Peppercorn Grille (6.5) and Captains Anchorage (6.5).

In terms of service and wait, Tropicali's score of 8 is lower than Peppercorn Grille and Captains Anchorage, both scoring 8.5. The setting scores are identical across Tropicali, Peppercorn Grille, and Sweet Basil Bistro at 7.5.

Visitors seeking a quick lunch might favor Tropicali because it is designated best for quick lunch. Those looking for a polished dinner or date night may prefer Peppercorn Grille or Sweet Basil Bistro, respectively.

The menu at Tropicali

Tropicali offers a range of dishes beyond poke bowls. You can find barbecue bowls and tiki tortas on their menu. They also serve Belgian waffles topped with barbecue chicken and sauce.

Specific bowl offerings include the Rasta Bowl, which features jerk chicken, and the Malibu bowl, a combination of tofu and Tahiti sauce. The Kraken bowl comes with eel sauce, panko crumbs, and wonton chips.

Drinks and ordering

For beverages, Tropicali’s Tropsicle is a blend of passion fruit, orange, guava, pineapple, and coconut. Reviewers also frequently mention the island-style iced coffee.

Ordering food is done via oversized touch screens. For drinks, customers can order at the counter.

Reviewer notes

Reviewers often highlight the smoothies and the attentive service. The portions of fish are also frequently noted as generous.

This spot is suitable for a quick lunch.