Italian cuisine in a food truck? Why not?! And there's a good one too: JOJA, which is named after the first names of the husband and wife owners, Jason and Joslyn Lee, which came on board on Oahu in late Jan. 2021.
Don't let the food truck fool you, as the owners have had extensive and successful restaurant experience in the past. Jason literally grew up in the restaurant business, as his dad owned 18 Giant Burger fast food locations in the Bay Area. At 15, he started as a cashier and cook, helping his dad with his restaurants. After graduating from the CA Culinary Academy in SFO, Jason was a prep, sauté, and pantry cook at Michael Mina at Aqua in SFO and mastered Asian flavors at Yabbie's Coastal Kitchen in SFO, with each restaurant known for its take on seafood.
In 2002, Jason purchased and operated a successful 50-seat restaurant in Rafael, specializing in pasta and seafood. In 2007, he subsequently sold it and bought a 170+ seat (+200-seat banquet room) restaurant in Greenbrae, which he named Jason's Restaurant, specializing in French, Asian, and Italian cuisine. Although it was one of the top restaurants in Marin County, he subsequently sold it for a smaller restaurant, which he named JOJA due to the hectic demand and to spend more time with his family. With the COVID pandemic in 2020, Jason and Joslyn decided to sell their restaurant and their home in SFO and move to HI, as they had visited HI annually for many years. They custom-made and designed a food truck that they got in San Diego, and shipped it to HI. That huge black truck with green and white lettering with "JOJA" and stars printed all over it, is the JOJA food truck that you see on Oahu.
And as several reviewers have noted, their menu offerings are of restaurant quality served in a food truck. How true it is, especially when you know the restaurant background of the owners! They have a variety of Italian dishes with an Asian influence, including a daily special: truffle poke, salads, lasagna, baked salmon, pastas, and desserts. All pasta is made from scratch, and their menu offerings change frequently, with some of the popular items always on the menu. Each dish comes with a generous slice of French bread that pairs well with the entrée, and you can mop up any delicious remaining sauce with the bread.
It was great that they participate in the Kaiser PTSA Farmer's Market, as it is convenient for us, as it is close to home. We were there when it opened at 4p on Tues., and was 2nd in line and were happy that we didn't encounter long lines often seen at JOJA. There was a 10-minute wait, as dishes are made to order.
We had the following:
· Fettuccine Shrimp: jumbo shrimp cooked in roasted garlic white sauce with apple wood smoked bacon, basil, and fresh fettuccine, topped with diced tomato. The fettuccine was al dente and we could tell its freshness and perfect texture. There were six huge shelled and cleaned shrimps that were perfectly cooked, and large slices of the smoked bacon were so tasty. The garlic white sauce was so creamy due to the garlic being pureed for a nuttier, richer flavor that it amazingly enveloped all the ingredients perfectly, without making it too rich.
· Short Rib Lasagna: short rib ragu layered with fresh pasta sheets, crepes, and ricotta cheese. This was an amazing daily special, and we loved it! The delicious layers of crepe pasta, together with the flavorful shredded short rib beef (instead of ground beef), ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, and seasonings, just melt in your mouth! This was filling and not overly rich and heavy.
Joslyn manages the front end, so you'll be putting in your order with her. She is very friendly, efficient, and provides additional info and recommendations of their dishes if asked. Jason is in the back, cooking your dishes, and making all the delicious sauces.
COVID compliance is intact, with facemasks and social distancing required, and hand sanitizer available.
In addition to Kaiser's Farmer's Market, you can find JOJA at the following locations as of 3/24/21:
· Cooke St. and Kapiolani Blvd., Wed. - Fri., 11:15a - 2:30p
· Kaka'ako Farmer's Market, Sat., 8a -12n
· Kailua Farmer's Market, Sun., 8a - 12n
· Various pop-ups on Oahu
· Catering on request
We wholeheartedly support this locally owned and family operated business and look forward in returning to try their other dishes. You'll be pleased with their high quality of their menu items. And yes, we can attest that you'll be eating restaurant quality food in a food truck! read more