My partner and I are not strangers to Hawaiian food, which means we walked into Aloha Eats in…read moreChicago with actual expectations and not just curiosity. Those expectations were met, exceeded, and then handed back to us with a side of macaroni salad. We split the Pork Katsu Loco combination plate, which arrived looking like something the Jedi Council would have commissioned for a victory feast. The egg on top was scrambled but folded with enough care that it looked intentional and beautiful, draped over the pork katsu like it had always belonged there. The accompanying gravy was the kind that makes everything around it better, the rising tide theory of plate lunch confirmed. Every spoonful we built with rice, pork katsu, and macaroni salad together was its own complete moment. Ono does not even begin to cover it. The portions were enormous, the kind of plate that makes you recalibrate your lunch ambitions halfway through. Our son ordered the loco moco, which at this point is his standard field test at every Hawaiian spot we visit. A reliable benchmark, consistently deployed. Aloha Eats passed without hesitation. We also picked up chicken katsu musubi for each of us, took them home for later, and they held up just as well, which is a logistical victory worth noting. The vibe inside felt authentically Hawaiian without overdoing it, the kind of atmosphere that sets the right tone without requiring tiki torches and a ukulele soundtrack. Julie was our cashier and also brought out our food, handling both roles with the kind of warmth that makes a place feel like more than a transaction. Her smile genuinely lit up the room, which is not a phrase I use lightly or often. Five stars. Aloha Eats is the real deal and worth every parsec of the trip to Chicago.

I am Filipino-Hawaiian so I was so excited to finally try Aloha Eats and it did not disappoint! The…read morestaff was so incredibly kind and helpful, to start. There are only a few tables but late night on a Friday we were able to snag one. This is definitely a casual spot -- I enjoyed the charm and the nostalgic island decor. It was acceptably clean, I think the staff was a little overwhelmed which is totally understandable but the water needed a refill, trash needed to be emptied, and tables could've used a quick sweep and wipe down. The food was so good! It was nostalgic, just like the island food I grew up on. I was especially ecstatic to see they had POG drink, something that's not as easy to find on the mainland. My chicken katsu was cooked perfectly and the sauce was really good -- I don't always like katsu sauce on the mainland but this one was perfect. Overall I loved the food and was so happy to try it!

just about the most generous fish portions in poke i've ever seen (and the thickest, fattiest…read moresalmon cuts)... and their macaroni salad is my favorite!!! the virgin lychee frozen daiquiri was great, not too sweet huge menu, but the server was very sweet in helping us navigate everything. and did i mention the interior... just made me so happy sitting in such a beautifully built and decorated place!!

Oh u know I'd be back soon. Thanks mucho to owners Betty and Duane! Had to order usuals cuz so dang…read moregood: crispy hot egg rolls, perfect spam musubi & steamed fish. New to us is the oh so yummy japchae! Bro & I enjoyed our "appetizer cocktails ": lychee martini and lemon vodka thingy. Our lovely waitresses always make our dining extra special. Thank you ladies!

This was another fortunate find randomly while walking around downtown Chicago. Seems to be a super…read morepopular place based on the number of reviews this place has. It was hard to find, but we discovered the entrance is in a back alley and bar is located downstairs. We loved the Tikki Bar theme. Drinks were good but a little watered down which was disappointing. Overall, it was a unique experience in the city.

We stop here every time we visit Chicago. If you love tiki cocktails, this is the place to go!…read moreCan't recommend enough. It's a speakeasy, so it feels like a hidden escape from reality. We've been to many tiki bars in the US and this is by far the best! Love that you can now buy a mug (with a cocktail) for cheaper than the shop... It's a great deal to get a mug this way! The only slight disappointment was the updated food menu.. loved the Spicy Thai Chicken, Veggie rolls, and coconut shrimp in years past.. sad to see them go.

Quick easy delicious meal! Greeted and treated well!…read more Small location but very cool decor! Would return !

Overall, not for me. The small, cozy space is inviting (seating is not abundant, but comfortable)…read moreand the staff was very attentive and friendly, but I've had better Hawaiian food not only elsewhere, but in the city. I visited during a weekday lunch (yay jury duty, lol), and was impressed with how fast my meal was served to me - in less than 10 minutes. The food arrived fresh, the quality of ingredients are definitely present and the price point is reasonable ($15) for the amount of food given. I ordered the chicken katsu and while flavorable, I simply didnt like the taste profile. I didn't like what was seemingly potatoes in the macaroni dish, which made it more like a macaroni salad in my mind. The katsu was very crispy, but really relied on the katsu sauce for flavor, and I didn't like that. The only part of my meal that I ate in entirety was the side salad, and the dressing for that was very good. Nice enough experience, just wasn't 'wowed' by the food.

I've walked past Hawaiian Bros in the Loop a million times and finally gave it a try via DoorDash…read morelast night and I'm so glad I did. First off, the price totally caught me off guard (in a good way). I got a full dinner for about $12 after tip, which feels almost impossible in the city right now. I ordered the classic plate with half Honolulu chicken and half Huli Huli chicken, plus rice and mac salad. Loved that you can mix the meats without paying extra it's super convenient and a nice way to try more. The portion was legit too, definitely enough food, even for the regular size. Flavor-wise, it totally exceeded my expectations. The chicken was juicy and flavorful, the rice was solid, and the mac salad was surprisingly tasty. For a fast-casual chain, it honestly tasted more like a local one-off spot. Will 100% be ordering again. Great value, generous portions, and super satisfying. No complaints 5 stars all the way for what it is.

I ordered at 4 o'clock with a specified pickup time of 645. It's currently 715 and my food still…read moreisn't ready for pickup. This food could be the best ever and it wouldn't make a difference as the person I spoke to from Hawaiian brothers was dismissive of me at the front desk. I had resisted ordering from one of these ghost kitchens before this and will not do so again.

Lugaw was so yummy! It is complimentary to whatever you order and it felt like a hug for my soul…read more  We opted to get two combos. I got the combo with spam and longanesia. The meats were done simple but had some great flavors and it all came with white rice and eggs. My husband got the combo with big bangus and tocino and he really liked both options too! The bangus was more like a crispy fish. Both combinations also come with a little chocolate pudding. There are options for an American breakfast and lunch but I am happy we got the Filipino style breakfast.  Overall the space is huge with a ton of seating and very much gives you a diner feel. The service is very quick.

Omg I knew this place was familiar--- first full day of my move to Chicago and craving---NEEDED--…read morecomforting Filipino food. I just saw I reviewed Uncle Mike's back in 2018-19.... And im doing the baby Bantus and longanisa this time, but have my sister in law with me who got the tocino/porkchop silog combo so we can share the viands. Same comforting feeling and delicious silogs! Glad my gut memory brought me back here!

Experience: For me door dashing is the better experience. I drove here and found that it's part of…read morea digital kitchen where you select a brand/restaurant from a kiosk and wait until a code appears on your phone to unlock the designated locker door to retrieve the take out. Service was fast with no human interaction. Which made me second guess the tip I included at the kiosk. Ambience: a small lobby like setting with square lockers on the wall. Two kiosks at one wall. And three smaller ones on the opposite side used to scan QT codes to check on orders. Food: The largest portions I've had from a Hawaiian take out since moving to Chicago two years ago. Very impressive! The rice was slightly on the dry side. Although I loved the large portion of the mac salad, there's way too much mayonnaise. Both Huli Huli and Honolulu chicken dishes were similar in taste. The base marinate seems to taste like the two teriyaki sauces that are packed. Both dishes are presented as cubed shapes. I imagine it makes it easier for production. Conclusion: I do recommend Hawaiian Bros if you are looking for large portions and sweet/savory flavors leaning towards teriyaki. Since I live just minutes away, I'll order again when I'm really craving for comfort food from home (Kauai).

Was really looking forward to this place and because there was a BOGO deal, I though it would be a…read morenice time to try. So, I ordered all 5 of the chicken variants, and they all tasted the same. I was hoping for a sweet-island-pineapple inspired taste, but it was not. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I expected. Secondly, they should state that rice is included under the chicken entree. I did get a side of rice along with the macaroni salad which was totally bland! I just don't get the correlation of what was written and how the food actually tasted. I may give them another try but again, not impressed. The concept is great, but I was underwhelmed with the reality!

We were excited to try some of the hawaiian inspired flavors at Kanin, as we love visiting the…read moreislands every few years. Be mindful of peak hours because the line gets long and street parking can be a nightmare; we were fortunate to come right before the lunch rush. The venue is quite small with a few tables, however it sounds like they will be expanding in the near future. We ordered a variety of musubis and got the loco moco bowl, it took about 20 minutes to come out but was piping hot and fresh. The flavors of the musubi were okay, nothing to rave about and plenty of other places in the chicagoland area that taste similar or better. The loco moco was pretty good, something we'd order again in the future. Overall a positive experience, but wouldn't be worth the wait if we had to stand in line on top of the food prep times. Best, Charlie

To give this place less than 5 stars is criminal. Everything I ate had superb flavors and made with…read moregreat quality. The Ube Banana Pudding is TO DIE FOR! Also, the Longanisa & Egg Musubi was absolute fire! 6 out of 5 stars if anything. Some jerk gave this 2 stars and compared the food to junk food in a Hawaiian gas station and he clearly has no idea what he is talking about. Sure, I guess it costs more than average, but you are paying for quality and the love these people put into their product. I just finished eating and I CAN NOT WAIT to go back! - Not to mention the shop is soooo cute!

Hala Kahiki is a tiki bar staple in the Chicago Suburbs! The inside is much larger than I expected…read morewith a huge bar area, covered outdoor patio, and at least two other indoor seating areas. I love that as soon as you enter, you are transported to a tropical oasis that is dark and moody. I visited with a larger group so we made a reservation before. One pays $5 per person in your group and the amount is later applied to your bill. The food menu is minimal and most items weren't available sadly. We got two orders of their pineapple salsa with taro chips. It was yummy but wasn't enough substance to match the drink levels. For drinks, our group got a wide variety. They have all sorts of flavor pairings to accommodate every guest. I got the Captain's Revenge after hearing the Pearl Diver was unavailable. It was good but not amazing. For my second drink, I got the Chocolate Banana Old Fashioned which I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't hear anyone in our group be disappointed with what they ordered. Our server, Jazmine, was very knowledgable about the menu and asking the right questions to make sure what we each ordered would be something we liked. Overall, this was a fun experience and I am happy I finally got to visit! My experience was slightly tainted with how much was not available the night we visited.

The best way I can some up this place: "Aloha, mf'ers!"…read more Drinks are strong strong and always garnished with something fun. Heed the warnings on the menu and ask for help if you get stuck. Decor is classic tiki and the wait staff is top notch.

We had a free night in the Chicago area and found this ridiculously AWESOME tiki bar, Kahala Koa…read moreTiki Bar. The selection of drinks is downright encyclopedic, and the drinks were outstanding. In addition, we ordered a plate of bacon-covered water chestnuts, and they were so effing delicious!! I mean, they were a serious revelation!! So we ordered another plate. The atmosphere is amazing. The family that owns this wonderful tiki bars has put some serious work into adorning the place with amazing tiki decor. And this has to have taken YEARS to do. The outside of the building does not say, "Hey!! I'm an awesome tiki bars!!" But step inside and you are transported to tiki land extraordinaire. And then there is the staff there. They are so friendly, attentive, and helpful, and just very authentic and genuine. I CANNOT WAIT to return to Kahala Koa Tiki Bar the next time I'm in the Chicago area. The place totally rocks!!

This was a spur-of-the-moment choice but ended up being very fun for drinks and dinner!…read more I LOVE tiki bars and my husband noticed this one in the area near where we happened to be on Google maps, so off we went! We had about a 15 minute wait for a table but it gave us time to peruse the menu in the car. They offer many classic tiki cocktails, a page full of seasonal drinks, a page of "Designated Driver" mocktails (nice to have an option for something other than just a Shirley Temple!), Polynesian appetizers and entrees, and then Lola's Pizza. For drinks, I got the seasonal Gingerbread Painkiller and my husband got a Green Flash mocktail. (Pro tip on the seasonal drinks: check the regular cocktail menu to see how many skull and crossbones are listed under the regular version of your drink, if applicable, to see if it's a super strong one!) Mine was creamy and spicy but quite powerful. Props to our waitress, Makayla, who checked if anyone at the table was epileptic, because normally the "flash" part of my husband's drink is a strobing LED ice cube; I actually am photosensitive, so it came in the drink in non-strobe mode and just glowed an alien green. She said this was the first time it had actually paid off to ask, but I'm glad she did! The food was tasty: I ordered rumaki, an old-school appetizer of bacon-wrapped water chestnuts that you don't see very often these days, and he got loaded fries. We also got a small Lola's Pizza, which was very good, with a crisp but also chewy crust. The atmosphere here is pure tiki, with a fountain, swag lamps, bamboo, and Hawaiian-influenced Christmas music playing for the season. Lots of big groups here; everyone seemed to be having as good a time as we were! What a laid-back gem in Arlington Heights! We'll be back. Mahalo!