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    Da Local Boy

    4.8 (157 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Order Da Local Boy Takeout or Delivery

    Da Local Boy Photos

    DA LOCAL BOY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Da Local Boy

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    Chicken Katsu & Pork Belly (they ran out of Kalbi Ribs :()
    Maggie L.

    We love coming here whenever we need to get our Hawaiian food fix! It's a cute little storefront, and parking was pretty easy, we found plenty of parking along the train tracks. We came on a particularly hot day, and their AC was definitely working overtime because it was pretty warm inside. Maybe they're just trying to give you the full experience of enjoying your food in Hawaii, heat and all! LOL The staff were wonderful and very attentive. We ordered the loco moco and the Chicken Katsu & Pork Belly, which was supposed to come with Kalbi Ribs, but unfortunately, they had run out. :( Their food is always on point and delicious. They also have this bottle of vinegar sitting on the table that is SO good! You must add it to everything, it really takes the food to another level!

    Poke bowl
    Sydney G.

    Holy wow I can understand why this spot is so popular! If I lived nearby I'd be here all the time!! We got two different meat platters to sample everything and I'm so glad we did because I'm still dreaming about the Huli huli chicken and the short ribs. Spam musubi was also on point and the Mac salad was bomb. Also enjoyed trying some Hawaiian drinks!

    Chicken Katsu & Kalbi Ribs
    Eugene B.

    It's been a little over a year since I've been back. Today, I ordered the Katsu+Kalbi combo. I think the Kalbi was the star of the show. Perfect color! And the taste was definitely there. The servers are nice and attentive. A friendly casual environment with Hawaii vibes for ambiance.

    David C.

    Chicago has amazing and authentic food but finding a good/authentic plate lunch and poke has been hard until now. Felt like I was grabbing lunch at a place in HI. The vibe is also awesome with a great reggae playlist and welcoming staff. Literally every single bite was so good but my favorites had to be the short ribs, chicken katsu, and poke. These mac salad was a little sweet but it definitely worked well especially with the heavier mains of the plate. Poke was really fresh btw and def had my eye on the poke nachos so gotta go back! Def a must try for anyone craving real Hawaiian food in Chicago!

    Ryan D.

    If I could give Da Local Boy 10 stars I would. That's how impressed I was with their food. Their restaurant is small in size but large in flavor. My husband and split the poke nachos. This was a huge plate and was loaded with really big chunks of tuna. The nachos were fried wantons and the sauce and avocado just added to the experience! We liked Da Local Boy so much we brought our friend with us a week later. I highly recommend Da Local Boy!

    Sherwin C.

    I'm not sure why there aren't more Hawaiian restaurants around Chicagoland because I find Hawaiian cuisine to be delicious. Even if we don't consider its rarity, Da Local Boy is a winner in every category. The prices are very fair for the enormous portion sizes, the decor is fun and appropriate, the service is friendly, and food is phenomenal both in flavors and textures. The only possible criticisms are that the space is a bit small for how popular this spot gets, and the parking in the area can be a bit limited around popular meal times. The food here shines, making it worth a special trip -- both again for the rarity but also the quality. For me, the poke nachos are a must order item, just the perfect mix of large chunks of tuna with super crispy wontons, fresh avocado, and a good helping of sauce. Amongst friends, we've agreed that this is a must order item. The huli huli chicken is also unreal in flavor and texture. Besides being marinated and sauced well, the chicken is melt in your mouth tender while simultaneously having a delicious crisp skin. Think brick chicken, but with more flavor and a much better price. The rice and macaroni salad that accompany this are also well done -- and feel more like a core part of the meal rather than an afterthought. The grilled pork is pretty good as well, though I kind of wish it wasn't sliced as thin, as certain pieces felt a bit dry. The spam musubi with a light touch of furikake also provided a flavorful, fun dish to accompany the other delicious items I tried. Overall, delicious and consistently surprises me with the quality of the execution and bold flavor combinations. This is on my top places to visit in the area and has never disappointed.

    Hersh A.

    Da Local Boy is a delightful gem of a restaurant that serves flavorful dishes inspired from Hawaiian cuisine. I have been here once and enjoyed my dining experience. This restaurant is welcoming, has a cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Their menu variety is good and the pricing is reasonable. Since it was our first, we took our time ordering the food. We started off with one order of Spam Musubi which was yummy. Then, for entrées, we got a Poké Bowl, Da OG Plate, and Aloha Mixed Plate (see my photos). The Poké Bowl was fresh and flavorful. The Da OG Plate had delicious and flavorful Huli Huli Chicken and grilled Pork Belly. Both were on point with the flavor and texture. Nicely cooked and delicious. I had the Aloha Mixed Plate and the beer battered fish and Pulehu Short Ribs were quite tasty, especially the ribs. I also had the Huli Huli Chicken that was really good. It was an awesome meal overall and we enjoyed it. We received good service and the food made us want to come back for more (which we will). Da Local Boy is a great addition to Highwood's culinary scene. You got to check it out.

    Sheyenne H.

    Poke nachos were unexpectedly superb! They used fried wontons which are delicate but crispy. Tuna poke cubes are chunky. I had the katsu and ribs combo. The chicken was well done but not dry! Probably the moistest fried chicken breast I ever had. Large portions as well. Definitely recommended. Packaging can be made compostable that is why 4 stars only. Also, the staff could be more attentive. We were looking in their direction as we were ready to order and was hungry. Instead they chose to clear the table next to us. There wasn't anyone else on the floor and it was 12:30pm. We came from a walk so were so ready to eat. Also, one of my friend's complaint was when she asked if they have ice, they said yes. Then they asked if she want ice, lol. Naturally. The intuition is barely there.

    Restaurant Inside
    Jonathan S.

    Was looking to try something new and was pleasantly surprised by Da Local Boy! We got the Aloha Mixed Plate (swapped the rice for fries -- small up-charge but totally worth it) and Braddah Paul's Plate. Portions were way bigger than we expected, so we had leftovers. The chicken was juicy with a nice char, the fries were crispy and seasoned well, and the mochiko chicken + pork belly combo on Paul's Plate had great flavor, the poke was fresh, everything hit the spot! The restaurant has a great vibe, clean, bright, and the music is at the perfect volume so my spouse and I were able to talk and enjoy our lunch. Staff were attentive and really friendly. Overall, a great experience.

    Food
    jordan m.

    Went on a Friday evening around 630 pm. Seated immediately and order the Poke Nachos along with the Huli chicken. Nachos were great, but the standout was the Huli chicken. Sweet, juicy, perfect char and skin crisped just right. Servers was attentive but not overbearing. Great experience!

    Poke tacos
    Kesha B.

    A long overdue review since we've been long time fans, we were SO excited to hear that they were opening a brick and mortar last year. We've been back so many times and have introduced so many of our friends to it. Our most recent visit was today where we stopped in for brunch. They've now added items to the menu to offer a more table side experience and we had an incredible time. We started with the spam masubi and the bbq skewers. It was the perfect bite and truly reminded us of our favorite bites in Hawaii. For my entree I opted for the Poke bowl with included their poke of the day, and today it was the ahi. There was plenty in the bowl and it absolutely hit the spot! I usually get their oh Bruddah plate to have a combination of a bunch of my favorite things. There's nothing like the comfort of Hawaii here in the north shore. Can't wait to come back and get my next fix!

    Mochiko chicken (upper left), surf and turf (upper right)  loco moco (lower left) and poke bowl (lower right).

    Mother's day at Da Local Boy. Food never fails to impress. Huge portions. Very tasty. Cooked just right. Everything was fresh off the grill. Highly recommended...great to know the quality, size and service is still topnotch and has not changed from the food truck days.

    Mochiko chicken
    Jessica B.

    This is a small, cozy eating establishment. Waiters are super nice and accommodating. I got the mochiko chicken and enjoyed it a lot - it's delightfully crunchy on the outside but soft and juicy on the inside. Their macaroni salad is delicious as well. It can get busy and I hear from friends that it can sometimes take a while to get a table. Plenty of free parking available in the area.

    Poke Nachos

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    I ordered online for the first time in this restaurant and Great food braddah! Masarap

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    Probably the closest to Hawaiian food taste you'll ever find in Chicago. Poke Nachos, Garlic Shrimp and Katsu are must haves.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

    Love authenticity, ambiance and service. Will return next time I'm visiting Highwood.

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    Ask the Community - Da Local Boy

    Can I order a poke bowl online?

    Yes. Google "Da Local Boy", click the location you want to order, on the right side, you can select "order pickup" or "order delivery". Nowadays, most food places can be ordered remotely/virtually, if they are up to date in their business… 

    Can you eat in the restaurant or is it carry out only?

    Yes you can eat inside. There are tables and chairs.

    Is anything on the menu gluten free?

    yes there are lots of GF options!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Serious Sanji

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    Staffers' counter area.
    Staffers' counter area.
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    Asian Harbor

    Asian Harbor

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    Tom kha shrimp
    Tom kha shrimp
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    Our various sushi rolls, delicious!
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    Interior
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    Scallop meat stone bowl rice
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    Da Local Boy - hawaiian - Updated August 2026

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