Hula Newcastle rebrands into Moku – new name, same unreal Hawaiian food

By Ania Askwith

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Moku, 90 Side, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1PR

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Best For: Hawaiian food, sharing boards, cocktails, dog friendly, Newcastle city centre dining, set menu

New name, same unmistaken Hawaiian vibes

Hula has been bringing the tropical vibes to our doorstep in Newcastle for a while now, and they have just changed their name to Moku which means ‘island’ in Hawaiian. We visited to check out whether the name brings any other changes.

We have been regulars here since the place first opened – you can read my full review here.

I can’t tell you how excited I was when it first opened – the first Hawaiian restaurant coming to Newcastle was kind of a big deal.

And it never disappoints! It’s unique, beautifully decorated, and super inviting.

Our menu highlights at Moku

There’s been a few menu items that stood out on our previous visit – both food and drinks. These are:

• Huli Huli Chicken
• Salmon Poke Bowl
• Steak Sharing Board
• Corn Luu
• Sticky Rice
• Potato Sidewinders
• Miso & Garlic Shrimp
• Tequila Tiramisu
• Tommy’s Margaritas
• Blood Orange Mai Tai
• Mango & Chilli Margarita
• Plantation Daiquiri
• Island Breeze
• Oops I Did It Again

Hula’s food was exceptional… does Moku compare?

Since we have been big fans from the very first visit, we expected this one to be no different. And it was another great Hawaiian feast.

This time we opted for their set menu – which is 2 Courses for £20, and 3 Courses for £25

Moku set menu – starters

Miso & Carlic Prawns – King Prawns, Confit Carlic and Miso Emulsion, Lime, Coriander Oil, Bread. I get it every time because it is one of my favourite dishes. The prawns are gorgeous, and the bread is not just a little side – it is perfectly soft and charred to add depth of flavour to the dish. And the garlic and miso sauce – UNREAL. I could drink it, its’s that good.

Barbecued Korean Broccoli – Broccoli Florets, Gochujang, Crispy Onions, Garlic and Thyme Cauliflower Purée, Herb Oil. Cooked perfectly, and the puree with herb oil is addictive.

Moku set menu – mains

Salmon Skewer – Charred Salmon Cubes, Soy, Gochujang, Sriracha, Mayo, Sour Cream, Spicy Cucumber Salad, Sticky Rice, Lemon, Pineapple, Pickled Cabbage. I love their other salmon dishes, so had high expectation for this one. And it was beautiful. Huge chunks of salmon, gorgeous sticky rice, and grilled pineapple that was stunning. I am not even a pineapple fan and this has me converted. Next time I am having a BBQ, I am putting pineapple slices on; it won’t be Moku good, but I love the creative menu that I can steal ideas from!

Grilled Steak Skewer – Tender Picanha Steak, Padron Peppers, Chimichurri, Pickled Asian Slaw, Chips. This dish is a £5 supplement, but that’s what you’d expect from a lovely, beautifully cooked steak (the way you like it). A large portion, as with the salmon dish, and super delicious.

Loui usually targets me at meal times as I am the weak link and will share my food with him, but I was abandoned for the duration of this course as he was right beside Ryan waiting for bits of steak.

Moku set menu – desserts

Banana Bread – Homemade Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Vanilla Infused Cream. The cream was GORGEOUS, and this time I was the popular parent having to share this with Loui (I guess for him this was just a puppycino levelled up, ha!). The banana bread was lovely, rich and moist, and portion was so big I couldn’t even eat it all by myself.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart – Chocolate Tart, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Ice Cream. Decadent and rich, super moreish, and the presentation – just wow.

Drinks at Moku

As always, you can’t visit Moku and not sample their drinks. We opted for some mocktails:

Baywatch – Passion Fruit Syrup, Vanilla, Lime, Pineapple. Super refreshing and tasted like the real thing.

Island Breeze – Apple, Lychee, Lime, Egg White, Watermelon. I get this one every single time because I love the subtle watermelon flavour. Delicious.

Hula to Moku rebrand – our honest thoughts

Hula might have rebranded into Moku, but the vibe, drinks and food are consistently stunning.

We eat out a lot and this place is always on our list we go back to, and one I recommend to my friends and family whenever they ask. Even better because it is dog friendly – Loui loves it as much as we do!

What’s going on at Moku

Aside their new set menu, they have other things going on you may want to check out, including:

• £9.50 Lunch set menu: Lunch dish and a drink – Wednesday-Saturday 12-3pm
• Hawaiian style BBQ Sunday lunch: 12-5pm every Sunday
• Bottomless brunch: Wednesday-Saturday 12-4pm
• £6 Early bird cocktails: all cocktails £6 -Wednesday-Saturday 3-6pm

Location
Moku is located at 90 Side, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1PR, just a short walk from central Newcastle, and equally close to the Quayside, with convenient access to both city centre parking and public transport.

Tips for visiting:

• The set menu we went for is 2 Courses for £20 or 3 Courses for £25 Wednesday-Friday 12-6:30pm

• Book in advance. Walk ins are welcome, but they do get quite busy and if you’re coming with a group or would like a specific seat (we love their comfy booths), it’s worth making a booking.

• Share their small plates or platters to try more of the menu including a range of their signature dishes.

• Come hungry; the portions are generous. The poke bowl is the largest I’d ever been served in a restaurant and could easily be shared between two. Their sharing boards serve 2-3 but I would say that even 4 people can easily share a board, especially if you’re also adding a cheeky side to your board (read: I have to order the shrimp with any dish when I visit because it is divine)

• Cocktails and mocktails are a must try here: they are creative anddelicious. If you are a margarita fan – theirs are among my top 3 in the whole of North East and I have tried margs in every bar that serves them.

• Bring your dog; Loui loves it here

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If you love discovering the best places to eat and drink, things to do, wellness experiences, places to go, hotels and staycation spots in Newcastle, the North East, and beyond, be sure to follow my Newcastle blog for more reviews and recommendations. As a Newcastle blogger, I share everything from foodie finds, self care experiences, to weekend escapes.

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