Hawaiian Luau Catering

Hawaiian Luau Catering

Bringing the spirit of a Hawaiian luau to New York City is more than a matter of importing tropical décor or throwing leis over every guest's neck. At its core, a luau is about connection—celebrating through food, music, and atmosphere. For modern events in NYC, that means crafting an experience rooted in abundance, seasonality, and warmth—without leaning into stereotypes or clichés.

At Gotham Catering and Events, we view Hawaiian luau catering as an opportunity to blend tradition with creativity. Our team develops bespoke menus that reflect island heritage while drawing from the culinary diversity and energy of New York. Whether it’s a rooftop summer party, a wedding reception, or a corporate appreciation dinner, we aim to create immersive, tasteful experiences that respect the origin of the luau while embracing our local identity.

Hawaiian Luau Catering Menu

NYC Tropical Island Catering Experience

Pricing

$36.95 per guest – One Entrée
$39.95 per guest – Two Entrées
$44.95 per guest – Three Entrées
Includes two hot sides, one salad, bread, sliced fruit, dessert, and standard buffet setup.

Entrées

• Kalua Pulled Pork with Hawaiian Sea Salt and Citrus
• Huli Huli Chicken with Pineapple Soy Glaze
• Teriyaki Glazed Salmon with Ginger and Scallions
• Grilled BBQ Chicken with Island Spices
• Grilled Pineapple & Vegetable Skewers (Vegetarian, Vegan Option Available)

Hot Sides

• Steamed Jasmine Rice
• Hawaiian fried rice
• Hawaiian baked beans with pineapple
• Sweet Potato Mash with Coconut Milk
• Grilled Seasonal Vegetables with Pineapple Glaze

Salads

• Tropical Mixed Greens with Mango, Papaya, and Citrus Vinaigrette
• Pineapple Cucumber Slaw with Lime and Mint
• Classic Island Coleslaw

Breads

• Hawaiian Sweet Rolls with Butter

Desserts

• Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
• Coconut Macaroons
• Mango Passion Fruit Mousse Cups

Beverage Add-Ons

• Tropical Fruit Punch
• Fresh Lemonade
• Iced Tea with Lemon
• Bottled Water

Service Options

• Corporate drop-off catering
• Buffet-style luau setup with sternos and serving utensils
• On-site staffing available upon request

Customization & Dietary Notes

• Vegetarian and vegan-friendly options available
• Gluten-free accommodations available upon request
• Menus customized for corporate and social events
• Minimum order: 20 guests

Rooted in Culture, Elevated for the City

A traditional Hawaiian luau centers on dishes like kalua pig, poke, lomi-lomi salmon, and haupia—all rich in cultural significance. In our kitchens, we take inspiration from these foundations while applying seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and modern technique. The result is food that feels grounded and generous, but also elegant and unexpected.

Our menus often include elements like pineapple-glazed ribs, seared ahi with sesame oil and soy, or vegan jackfruit in a housemade teriyaki sauce. Sides may feature coconut rice, roasted summer squash, or basil-infused watermelon salad. Each ingredient is carefully chosen for both flavor and story—highlighting sustainability and the natural rhythm of the season.

When designing Hawaiian-inspired events, we also pull influence from other cuisines that share similar values of communal eating and fresh produce. From our Southwest BBQ catering roots to our renowned Brazilian BBQ buffet, we’ve found creative ways to cross cultures at the table without compromising authenticity.

Designing a Sense of Place

In New York, the environment becomes the canvas. A luau can unfold across a Brooklyn rooftop, a shaded Central Park nook, or a private Upper West Side terrace. Wherever it happens, the setting should echo the ease and openness of island life.

Our approach to styling a luau focuses on texture and intentional detail—natural fabrics, reclaimed wood trays, clusters of seasonal florals, and ambient lighting. We avoid plastic props and instead favor subtle nods: banana leaf accents, coconut husks used as serving vessels, or carved wood signage that nods to Polynesian design.

Whether it’s a formal seated dinner or a more relaxed cocktail-style affair, we adapt the aesthetic to match the mood. Our clients often draw inspiration from other themes we offer, such as NYC picnic-style catering, which shares that balance of elegance and grounded charm.

Interactive Elements and Culinary Showmanship

An island-inspired event invites interaction. That’s why we often recommend incorporating food stations or live-action culinary experiences—elements that transform the meal into entertainment.

Our custom BBQ stations bring fire-grilled flavor to the forefront, while poke bowl bars and grilled pineapple carving stations let guests build their own flavor profiles. This approach is perfect for larger events where flow and engagement matter.

Adding on specialty rentals like our pretzel machine rentals or popcorn machine rentals provides unexpected touches of nostalgia and whimsy—perfect for balancing the refined with the playful. A key value we bring to all our events is inclusivity. Our menus are designed with dietary considerations top of mind, offering vegan, gluten-free, and kosher-style options. We also love working with clients who want to celebrate their identity through food. Many of our Hawaiian luau events have integrated elements from our work with LGBTQ+ themed events, bringing personality and pride into every detail.

Global Flavors, Island Heart

While Hawaiian cuisine has its own history, we find that some of the most memorable luau events draw from global influences. Our chefs often look to our Italian catering feasts, Greek-themed events, and authentic Brazilian catering as inspiration for innovative sides, sauces, and appetizers that pair beautifully with island staples.

And for hosts looking to create a fully immersive themed event, our design team can pull from the visual storytelling seen in our “The Godfather” menu or French cuisine experiences, adapting that level of cohesion and drama for your tropical celebration. New York might not have sandy beaches or palm groves, but it does offer exceptional produce, world-class chefs, and vibrant event spaces—ingredients we use to craft unforgettable luaus with a Gotham twist. We’ve adapted the carefree charm of a luau to elegant venues, pairing roasted pineapple cocktails with city views and steel guitar with string quartets.

Clients looking for bold, Asian-inspired twists often incorporate elements from our Asian-inspired offerings or Asian fusion menus, blending umami-rich sauces and delicate textures into the Hawaiian profile.

Summer Events That Flow Naturally

Summer in NYC is a season of abundance, making it ideal for luaus. Our team frequently draws on seasonal ingredients like corn, peaches, basil, mint, and heirloom tomatoes—building menus that reflect the current harvest and support local farms.

Inspired by our beach BBQ event menus, we craft platters that feel fresh, unfussy, and generous: grilled vegetable skewers, tropical fruit displays, and passed bites served on banana leaves. These presentations make the most of open-air settings, allowing guests to mingle and move while savoring each dish. Not every luau is a formal event. Some are multigenerational birthday parties or casual reunions. For those, we offer lighter formats and family-friendly extras—like carnival-themed catering games or our hot dog catering carts for kids and kids-at-heart. These small details offer big impact without requiring a full entertainment production.

Crafting Experiences with Depth and Personality

No two luaus are the same. Some may center around a milestone birthday, others a rooftop corporate celebration, and others still a relaxed backyard gathering. What unites them isn’t the pineapple motifs or tiki torches—it’s the feeling of shared joy, thoughtful hospitality, and a sense of transport.

In our work across New York’s diverse venues and event styles, we’ve found that the most successful Hawaiian-themed events treat every detail as part of a cohesive story. Whether it’s layering live ukulele music into a cocktail hour or pacing the dinner service to allow for conversation and pauses, every decision shapes the guest experience.

This same mindset guides how we execute other location-inspired events, like our New York-themed catering. With the luau, the challenge is different: to bring lightness and island warmth into a bustling city. We do that through subtle flourishes, strong logistics, and an intuitive sense of flow that comes from years of catering in NYC’s unique spaces.

Blending Tradition with Local Rhythm

Because Gotham Catering emphasizes local sourcing, seasonality plays a vital role in all of our themed experiences. Our chefs work closely with nearby farms and suppliers to craft menus that honor Hawaiian flavors while aligning with what’s growing here in the Northeast. You might find grilled Long Island peaches next to a miso-honey glazed chicken thigh or heirloom tomatoes used in a coconut-lime dressed salad. It’s not fusion for the sake of novelty—it’s a way to make the event feel grounded and of the moment.

We’re proud of the care that goes into our culinary design, not only in Hawaiian-inspired events but across our full range of global themes. Take, for example, the delicate layering of flavors in our Asian-inspired offerings or the rustic simplicity of our Italian catering feasts. These concepts all share a throughline of elegance, cultural respect, and memorable presentation.

Choosing Luau Catering That Fits the Moment

There are moments when you want to do it all yourself: cook, decorate, set the vibe. And then there are times when the guest list, complexity, or ambition of the event calls for collaboration. In those cases, our clients turn to us not just for food, but for a seamless experience—from planning to execution.

Our Hawaiian luau catering service includes drop-off options for more intimate affairs and full-service packages for larger events. Whether you're envisioning passed hors d'oeuvres on a Brooklyn rooftop or a relaxed buffet in Prospect Park, we tailor our offerings to fit your space, needs, and vision.

Sometimes our clients borrow elements from other events to round out their Hawaiian theme. A family planning a luau-style anniversary dinner might incorporate the more formal structure and pacing of our French cuisine experiences, while another might add a late-night snack cart inspired by our hot dog catering carts for a playful twist. These details make the event not just themed, but deeply personal. You don’t need fire dancers or sand underfoot to create an impactful Hawaiian event. Sometimes, the best results come from restraint: a few thoughtful textures, a drink that tastes like summer, food that tells a story.

By pairing Hawaiian traditions with Gotham’s signature attention to detail, we help create luaus that feel elevated, grounded, and unmistakably New York. If you’re planning a gathering this season, whether large or small, themed or subtly inspired, consider the values a luau celebrates: generosity, nature, and joy. It’s through those values that your event will resonate—and linger long after the final toast.