I am a recent transplant to Chicago from Hawaii where I was born and raised so naturally I was stoked to find out there was a Hawaiian plate lunch place near me. Eating here brings me back home every time. Seriously, broke da mouth! Truly as close as it gets to a plate lunch from L&L or Loco Moco Drive Inn (man, I miss those places!). I recommend everything, especially the chicken katsu, bbq chicken, kalua pork, curry katsu, and bbq short ribs. I haven't tried their spam musubi because I make it all the time myself, but I will next time I'm there. Don't bother going to any other place for a Hawaiian style plate lunch; this is the only place to go! Thanks guys for keeping the Aloha spirit alive and well in Chicago. read more

i came here the other day with my boyfriend. We ordered the pork katsu lunch, an order of the spam musubis, and a hawaii imported canned drink. The total came out to be about $20. Pork Katsu- comes with rice, macaroni salad, very generous portion of pork katsu, and sauce. Although it was a lot of food, I would say pass on this. The breading was very thick and it was all we could taste. Spam Musubi- you get two per order. It was exactly what i expected and I was very pleased. While portions were generous, I was a bit disappointed in the food. It wasnt anything special. Maybe I didnt order the right things, so I'm planning to try some other items on the menu next time. read more

Very novel Hawaiian BBQ food. I've never really had Hawaiian before this, so I don't have much to compare it to, but the food was excellent. The beef is a little fatty, but that just brings that much more flavor to the party. The combo plate is definitely the way to go. Aloha also has the best burgers in the area - they have an interesting seasoning on them. It's VERY casual - almost like a fast food joint - and perfect for lunch from which you can take home leftovers for dinner. Try the plates, but skip the curry sauce. And please, do yourself a favor and try the spam just once :) read more

this place just piles the food on your plate. what's so great about this place is that they serve the food in styrofoam containers because they know you'll need it eventually. so, it's convenient too! it's a low-key, laid back kinda place which is nice and comfortable. the prices are reasonable for the amount of food they give you because they obviously anticipate you'll be eating it again for the rest of the day. i have an aunt living in hawaii and i know they eat a lot of spam there so i was delighted to see that they served that mystery meat. yum!!! this will be the place to go if i'm hankering for some hawaiian eats. read more

So my husband and I were in the neighborhood as I started to reminisce about Hawaii. How I wished that I could get a plate lunch somewhere in Chicago. To my surprise, minutes after that conversation we walked past Aloha Eats. Couldn't wait to try it!! I ordered the mini bbq chicken -it's not bbq like texas bbq, but it's more like teriyaki. My husband ordered the Loco Moco (which he had ordered once while we were in Oahu). I loved it! The chicken was well-seasoned, perfectly marinated, not too salty or too sweet. I actually don't normally order teriyaki anything because it's too sweet, but this was great! The chicken was cooked to perfection. They served two BIG pieces of succulent chicken with one scoop rice and one scoop mac salad. The mac salad is just like it was in Hawaii. I can understand why some might say it's bland, compared to American mac salad, but in Hawaii, this is how their mac salad tastes. Lots of mayo! Love it. I was a little disappointed in a couple things. Underneath the chicken was raw green cabbage. I'm a fan of cabbage but I wish that they would have done something to dress it a little. Also I would have like a little more teriyaki sauce to put over my rice. There was no sauce at all. I will say that in Hawaii, there are more "sides" to choose from and we're not always forced to pick mac salad as a side but hey this is the closest to a plate lunch that I will find in Chicago so it's alright by me. The mini is the perfect size for me. My husband loves the Loco Moco. If you hadn't had it before it's two hamburger patties, two eggs (any way you like it), with brown gravy. They serve it in Hawaii at all the local diners and plate lunch places. I had a bite, and I'll honestly say that it was pretty tasty but I don't think that I could eat a whole one by myself. I peruse the menu while eating my plate lunch and saw that they also serve Saimin. Saimin is the Hawaiian version of something like ramen with maybe a fish cake, nori, and some veggies like bamboo shoots. It was tasty in Hawaii so the next time I go I might try that. Thanks Aloha Eats. Please eat there if you can. Keep them in business so that we can have a slice of Hawaii whenever we need our fix. read more

First, I must admit my complete ignorance of Hawaiian food. Roy's doesn't count. That said, I noticed a good number of possibly-Hawaiian-looking folks while lunching here today. I had the breaded, fried tofu-mmmmm. My friend loves the BBQ chicken. I like the option of "mini-plates"- they're not so mini. The fries were actually yummy (I didn't want the macaroni salad- too much of that crap in my past! Thanks, Midwestern mom!). I need to explore the menu more, but I was very pleased with the sauce that came with my tofu- spicy, sweet, and just good! I was dipping my fries in it, mixed it with the white rice, and of course, the tofu....I'll go back and try other stuff! read more

This place is awesome! The portions are huge, with lots of meat, and prices are very affordable. My favorites are the chicken katsu, the moco loco (beef patties with eggs and gravy), and the grilled beef short ribs. Still have not tried the spam musubi though. read more

What an awesome surprise! I never thought to stop in here, as I'm a vegetarian and the whole "Hawaiian grill" thing didn't seem like it would work well for me. However, when our first nighttime destination was closed, my boyfriend and I walked down Clark Street to see what wasn't. Lucky for us, Aloha Eats was open. As I looked at the menu, I was hard-pressed to make a choice. It all looked delicious, and the prices are great. I ended up ordering a garden burger, he got the Spam saimin, and we split an order of the tofu katsu, complete with mac salad and rice. So! Good! The garden burger (all of $3.95) was delicious, as expected, and served simply with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and ketchup. My boyfriend loved his Spam soup ($4.95). The tofu katsu was a huge amount of food for $7.75, but it wasn't a problem for us. The four large tofu pieces were fried in panko breadcrumbs and served with the yummiest sauce ever. The mac salad was great. We left satiated and very pleased. I'll absolutely be back. How else will I find out how good everything else is? read more

maybe i ordered the wrong entree. i had the seafood platter. everything fried. did i make a mistake substituting my macaroni salad for fries? hehe it was ok. read more

This place is a small, casual restaurant that tries to be like a restaurant in Hawaii. I guess it is as close as it is going to be in Chi-town. They have different rice plates like Hawaiian BBQ chicken or Chicken Katsu that come with rice and macaroni salad. The food was good and the price is cheap! The drawbacks of the place is there is no bathroom and it is a little stale inside since it is more like a fast food set-up...order at the counter and eat out of styrofoam containers. The only thing it is missing that is truly Hawaiian is poi, which is gross anyway! read more

I was totally not expecting such good food when I stopped by while walking past the other day. And such big portions! I would almost make a special trip to this place to try it again. read more

Always looking for cheap food that has quality and quantity aloha grill is the place to be. The katsu's (chicken or pork) is awesome and it towers over the rice. Loco Moco is another dish that seems like it could be made at home but is so worth it ordering it here. It's just rice with burger meat steaks and an egg with gravy over it. It's good, and definitely filling. Teriyaki's are all really good too. To simply put it, it's worth going and trying it out AT LEAST once. You'll be on this site writing the exact same thing!! GO TRY IT!! read more

Love this place! If I am anywhere near the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area I usually stop by. Favorites are the Chicken Katsu (Katsu sauce is amazing), Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, and BBQ Beef. Combination Plates are my go-to because you get multiple items, and you might end up with some tasty leftovers :) read more

Wow such delicious simple island food. If you get a full size plate, you won't finish it and you can save it later or share it with someone because the portions are quite large. They have been around for so long and are consistently pumping out food. I've never seen this place empty but actually most people get to go. The food is just as fresh if you get take out. I am a big fan of the bbq mix plate and the loco moco. The people that work here are always so nice and efficient. read more

Good food, great prices, and huge portions...what more could you ask for? Definitely money well-spent!

When the mood strikes for the stuff that you shouldn't tell your personal trainer about, Aloha Eats delivers, but doesn't exceed. I enjoyed the katsu chicken, and made sure to get some curry sauce to go with it. It was a good decision. I wouldn't get the beef again, and would trade it to try the short rib next time. Other reviewers have noted that the food is a bit salty, which can certainly be the case if you have a lighter palette. Spam musubi was a bit unbalanced because it had much more rice to spam ratio than I prefer. read more

Something for everyone, really. Beef/chicken/pork/tofu katsu! Which means breaded and fried beef/chicken/pork/or tofu. With katsu sauce, of course. The sauce is reminiscent of a mix between A1 and that eel sauce..? Tangy & sweet. They also have spam. Yes, very Hawaiian. Oh, kimchi, too! Portions are huge. Plate lunch can be shared (imo) since it comes with rice and macaroni salad(or fries... whichever you prefer). I don't like rice so I asked for extra fries :) I didn't like their curry.. the curry was too watery and didn't taste right with my tofu. Good thing they put the curry on the side! Shrimp burger is pretty good! Mahi mahi is O-K. WHAT THE.. I just saw their menu and they have salmon! I never had their salmon. Will try it next time :) It's cheap for what you get. You order and they give it to you in a styrofoam to-go box. Condiments section includes tabasco, ketchup, & sriracha. Good job. Space is pretty small.. I'd say it'd fit.. 25-ish people at most? read more

I have family on Oahu and this is very close to what I consider authentic Hawaiian grub. I had the Seafood and Spare Ribs combo plate. The Mahi and Shrimp were great but I found the spare ribs hard to eat and a little fatty for my taste. The mac salad and rice were great compliments to my meal. The SPAM Musubi and Kim Chee made it feel like I was off the mainland and back in paradise. The girl behind the counter was very friendly and patient. She reminded me of Michelle Rodriguez, which was a nice touch. I will be back! read more

I took my friend from Hawaii here and she was so moved, she was tearing up! She said it reminded her of Hawaii and she loved the mahi with macaroni. The owners are so sweet and love telling you stories about the islands! A great place in Lincoln park! Go there. read more

I have to say it, this place is the best! The foods not only great, but cheap as well. I regularly order the Grilled mahi mahi, or the grilled salmon plate, the quantity is enough for a sumo wrestler, and the fish itself just melts in your mouth :) The macaroni salad is always the delightful bonus! Ever since the first time I was taken here by some friends, I have been a regular visitor. The staff are as helpful as possible and the food has consistently been great. I fully recommend this place to everyone to come and eat, its wonderful. read more

Review for Hawaiians: Ho cuz, check dis out. Me and da oddah hawaiians was cruising at one summah concert near da bean trying to make like we was home jamming outside da shell. Da kine wen buy me one BBQ chicken/ katsu mixed plate from Aloha Eats, said it wuz jus like L&L's. Ho, nah. I going try 'em so I wen order regulah mixed plate all rice no mac salad yeah cause I stay on one diet. Ho da buggah was grindz. Had choke chicken and katsu. Da portion stay bigger den 2 L&L plates. Dey wen give plenny katsu sauce too. I only wen grind half cause I stay on one diet yeah and was going go save da rest for afters. But den I thought nah, da buggah so good I jus going eat 'em so den I jus wen pound da oddah half. Wen I was pau, I wen small kine pass out from one majah kanak attack. Dis place stay awesome. Translation for Mainlanders: Hello there fellow Yelpers, please read my review on Aloha Eats. Aloha Eats is excellent. One day, my fellow Hawaiians and I went to a summer concert in Millenium Park. It was reminiscent of the times when we would picnic outside of the Waikiki Shell and listen to summer concerts for free. My friend was gracious enough to buy me a BBQ chicken/chicken katsu mixed plate from Aloha Eats. He said it was just like L&L's plate lunch and thought I would really enjoy it. "Really?" I exclaimed. I certainly missed Hawaii's plate lunches so I ordered a regular sized BBQ chicken and chicken katsu mixed plate. I have been trying to watch my weight and, rather than consuming the hydrogenated fats found in macaroni salad, I opted for an extra scoop of rice. It was ridiculously delicious. There was an abundant portion of BBQ chicken and chicken katsu- easily equivalent to 2 L&L plate lunches. I simply couldn't imagine how I would finish it all. A common problem that I find with chicken katsu plate lunches is that they often come with an inadequate portion of katsu sauce. Aloha Eats did not have this issue as I had enough sauce for my chicken katsu and even an additional amount leftover for my rice. Since I was on a diet, I decided to only eat half of my delicious meal and to save the remainder as a treat for another future meal. However, the BBQ chicken was so tasty that I couldn't resist eating my leftovers. After such a delicious meal, I was completely full and decided to spend the rest of the evening enjoying the music with my eyes closed. Aloha Eats is a superb restaurant. read more

I've been to Hawaii several times and this place is better than some places there. The chicken katsu and short ribs are must haves. The portions are large, so the half sizes are perfect. read more

I truly wish I could eat here every night. If aloha eats was a mile south and a mile west of where it currently stands I probably would actually eat here everyday. Oh and if they served cocktails and had a tad bit more comfy of a dining area. Whatevs tho it almost doesn't matter because the grub is truly worth the struggle. The space has literally 7 tables, so sometimes you're forced to take it to go and if you have to use the bathroom they point you across the street to Starbucks LOL. I've had the chicken katsu and the bbq beef. Words do not describe the way my body feels after downing a whole styrofoam tray full of their God-like Hawaiian meats. I love every bite of it. Yes. read more

Food was pretty good. Just disappointed in the price. A kalbi (short rib) plate in Hawaii is only about $13 not almost $20 (their market price), price is ridiculous for that. And why is there a market price for the Aloha Maid juice? The prices for other food was decent though. Too bad this is the only place where I can get local food for now. read more

Aloha Eats - Kalbi (Short rib) & Loco moco plate. - Hawaiian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I do like the BBQ chicken with curry sauce, but I tried the chicken katsu today and wasn't really impressed. It was just fried breading and a sliver of chicken inside. They do give you a ton of food though! I always order the smaller plates and still have food left over. I have heard the beef and fish are also good, but haven't tried them. The sides aren't spectacular - the macaroni salad is bland, and they serve unseasoned white rice with each meal. The french fries are pretty good though, especially dipped in the curry sauce. So as I write all these negative things about this place, I am wondering why I ever go back... really I just go here for the grilled chicken with curry sauce and for something a little different every once in awhile. read more

I heart this place. Comfort food at its finest. Chicken katsu is decent though their beef BBQ is probably where its at

Finally came and checked this place out! Surprisingly the macaroni salad and rice actually goes together perfectly with the crispy chicken. We can't wait to come back and try more menu items. The staff was friendly and the food came quick and fresh. Everyone try the spam and the katsu chicken! read more

Finally got to try this place today. Love it. Great hawaiian style plate lunches. Huge portions. Seriously, I could order one regular-size plate lunch and make three meals of it. All for under $8. I gotta go back soon.. read more

Aloha eats is sooo good. 100 percent a hole in the wall and the space isn't nice or anything but the food is so good. Anytime I'd get takeout here I'd feel like a huge fatty because I couldn't help but eat the entire plate and their portions are huge. Chicken Katsu is bomb, but their macaroni salad is the best I have ever had, sometimes I dream about it (like right now). read more

The chicken and pork katsu are amazing. I always crave them. And their macaroni salad and coleslaw is bomb. It's a must try. And it's cheap. The only downside is they open at 11 so I can never get it before class. Womp. Womp. read more

i love spam therefore i love the aloha grill. so much that i brave the subzero temperatures and walk 5 blocks - into the wind - just to sink my teeth into some spam musubi. if i was extra hungry, the plate meals are totally sweet as well. speedy, smiley, friendly service. great portion sizes. if you eat in, they bring the food to you. they don't have to, but they do. :) mahalo, aloha grill, mahalo. read more

The portions are a good size, yes. It's pretty inexpensive food for the Lincoln Park location, but if this is located somewhere else the price is just right. The guy behind the counter was nice and appreciative to your business. I had the Hawaiian BBQ mix and I thought the beef was lacking in flavor just a tad. The chicken was good and the macaroni. Don't mind trying this place another time. read more

Stumbled upon this place while walking around at the Lincoln Park Zoo and hungry. I had a mini chicken katsu (which was HUGE) and my bf had the pork/cabbage combination plate. My chicken katsu was on the heavy side with a thick fried breading. It was still good, but I was so full afterwards! The macaroni salad was very creamy and delicious with the rice. read more

Not so bad, I remember Hawaiian delicacies to include poke and fresh sushi. That stuff is not on the menu, but if you like the fast food Hawaiian style this is the place in Chicago. read more

Still same rating, but I was considering giving them 1 star solely because of their curry! It's so incredibly salty!! It's also really expensive $10+ for chicken katsu with a curry sauce. The curry has no taste other than salt. It's slightly spicy, but not like the tasty kind of spicy, but rather just burn your mouth spice. The only reason I'm not giving this place 1 star is because everything else is edible. I'm mainly disappointed by the prices and this curry is no exception. Everything needs to be dropped by at least a couple bucks. read more

First time trying Hawaiian food and oh man did this place do it right. I got the loco moco with rice and carrots and peas along with the burger patties and the eggs. It's like the most perfect comfort meal I could have wanted. You mix everything up and let the runny egg yolks mix into the rice with the brown gravy and the burger patties. And for all around 10 bucks you get pretty stuffed. Definitely coming back here to try all the other Hawaiian foods this place has to offer. read more

This is a gem of a find! I was excited to try some more Hawaiian food. The restaurant is a little small but if you come when its not busy you can eat here. The food is similar to street food and even comes in the styrofoam containers. I got the rice, beef/chicken, and the macaroni...delicious!! My friend got the spam plate which he said was also very good. The servings are heaping so come hungry. I can't wait to come back and eat some more off their menu. BTW, the also had siracha lollipops at that time. read more

Great place for lunch, bad place for belly. I'll look closer for healthy options. Also just get the small size the plate portions are huge and I couldn't move afterwards. Its def nap time after the big meals there. read more

I ordered a mini and i couldn't finish all of it! Got so much food for what you pay for and the service was fast. Unfortunately, there isn't much space to eat and i went with a larger group and we all had to stand and wait for seats and sit separately. The food was great though & i will def. be returning! read more

Great little place, did not know what to expect but was pleased with the food. Not fancy but I will go back.