Islands Restaurant Brea - American restaurant in Brea - 250 S State College Blvd, USA

Mahi Mahi Hoisin Bowl ($13.85) + Mai Tai ($8.99): Mahi Mahi Hoisin Bowl is made with fresh grilled mahi mahi, fresh grilled pineapple, red bell peppers, snow peas, water chestnuts, red onions, broccoli, diced scallions, and hoisin sauce over brown rice. Mai Tai is made with dark rum, pineapple & orange juices, sweet & sour, orgeat syrup, grenadine, and a float of Myer’s Rum. The bowl had a good mix of flavors of the succulent mahi mahi and savory vegetables balancing with the sweetness of the pineapple. The mahi mahi was able to hold up to the sweetness to shine through. This would pair better with the Big Island Iced Tea as the sour flavor works better with the fish and hoisin sauce. Rating: 4.5/5 Yaki Tacos ($10.69) + Pina Colada ($8.99): Yaki Tacos are flour tortillas stuffed with grilled chicken, teriyaki sauce, cheddar & jack cheeses, fresh pineapple salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, and served with a side of ranchero beans. Pina Colada is made with Don Q Rum, pineapple, and coconut cream. The tacos were a lighter entree and the combination of pineapple and teriyaki sauce make this a much sweeter dish. I would probably change out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas to tame some of the sweetness. Pina Colada pairs perfectly with the tacos. The coconut flavor tames the sweetness from the tacos. Rating: 4.7/5 Hawaiian Burger ($12.45) + Big Island Iced Tea ($8.99): Hawaiian Burger is made with fresh pineapple, teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, swiss, and mayo. Big Island Iced Tea is made with vodka, gin, tequila, rum, triple sec, pineapple juice, and strawberry puree. The burger was juicy and slightly sweet from the teriyaki and pineapple. It had lots of sauce so it was not dry, but it was messy (have the napkins handy). The wheat bun held up nicely. The Big Island Iced Tea was a little too sour for the burger. A better pairing would be the Mai Tai. Rating: 4.3/5 Margarita Lite ($10.79) is served on the rocks with Patron Silver Tequila, organic agave nectar, freshly squeezed lime juice, and triple sec. It was a little less sweet than a traditional margarita, but had all the flavor of a margarita that you know and love. It will definitely give you a little pucker! Rating: 4.5/5 Turkey Burger Lite ($10.79) is served on a whole-wheat bun with tomato, sliced red onion, lettuce, and mustard with a side of steamed broccoli and carrots (640 calories). This burger had a huge, flavorful turkey patty! The patty was a little dry, but that often happens with ground turkey due to the low-fat content. The veggies were a good substitute for fries. Rating: 3.9/5 Northshore Tacos, Limited ($10.29) are corn tortillas stuffed with spicy chicken, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and ranchero beans on the side (590 calories). The tortillas were nice and thick. The chicken was tender and slightly spicy. They were packed with veggies for a refreshing texture. Despite its size, this dish was deceptively filling. I love the ranchero beans. They were so flavorful and made me want more! Rating: 4.5/5 Sleek Greek Salad ($10.55) is made with grilled and chilled chicken breast, hearts of romaine, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions tossed with a low fat balsamic vinaigrette (380 calories). I love this salad!!! It had all the Greek flavors – briny Kalamata olives, creamy tangy feta, sweet tomatoes, refreshing cucumber, and zingy onion. Rating: 4.5/5 No-Blame Grilled Veggie Tacos ($9.75) are corn tortillas stuffed with a variety of grilled vegetables and cheddar, topped with roasted corn black beans, pico de gallo, avocado, and served with a side of Island slaw (480 calories). This is a great option for the vegetarian in your party. The veggies provided a variety of different textures and flavors – firm zucchini, sweet peppers, sweet and smoky roasted corn, smooth black beans, and creamy avocado. The slaw was a little too vinegary and needed a refreshing flavor like cilantro to brighten it up. Rating: 3.5/5

People always have a complaint about chain restaurants and usually for good reasons. Looking at you Applebees. But every single time I visit Cali I make it a point to specifically stop by Islands. Is it the best burger in California? No. Does it satisfy some weird craving for a good burger and the biggest beer for the price that I can find in the whole state? Maybe. Look its just a fun place and that's all I can ask for. Applebees is notfun.

Good place for a fast bite to eat. Happy hour specials in the bar area. Love new new bowls, good flavor and not too bad on the calorie count.

I love islands! They have great food for a good price. My favorite dessert is the chocolate lava which is a brownie with ice cream and chocolate syrup. Another favorite is their cheddar fries!!! The service is great and very friendly.

This place never changes - and that's a good thing. Consistently good food and drinks. Great staff and service without being over the top. I've never been disappointed by this place. Update: still like home, after all these years..

Small restaurant. Service was pretty slow and can't blame it on costumers because they were pretty empty. Waited a while for the food. The food itself waa decent. Service was ok, just needed to be fast and waiter more attentive. I might give it another chance, maybe on a busy day?

Friendly staff and great food. Not too crowded and nice Hawaiian vibe. Will definitely be back.

Great service, great presentation, taste and quality of my meal was a 3 out of five.