Service was nice. Place was comfy in an attached to a hotel kind of way. My issue is with the food. I ordered the bulgogi and it was pretty uninspired. Small portion for over 20 bucks and not very flavorful. There is a much tastier Hawaiian fast food chain just down the road that gives much larger portions for the same price. read more

Service was excellent, thanks to Rebecca, our server. The food was high quality and promptly served. Ambiance was interesting and cozy with historical feel. I would recommend The Switchboard to those who are adventurous and open to enjoying tasteful Korean Hawaiian fusion cuisine. A plus for me is the coffee bar connected to the restaurant in addition to their own traditional bar. There is indoor as well as outdoor patio seating for flexibility with larger groups. read more

Parking: street parking available in front and surrounding streets, if you are spending more time in the downtown area and don't mind a walk there is free parking at the transit station a couple blocks west and at the civic center a couple blocks north. Seating: 4 tables inside ,Plus bar seating and outdoor tables Ambiance: friendly relaxed atmosphere, this is a cute blend of history and a modern vibe. It is attached to a historic hotel that has recently rebranded as "the Fin". During WWII the hotel was used as a communication center hence the name Switchboard. Cute switchboard decor, and vintage style lighting. Service: friendly, efficient I arrived in the sweet spot between breakfast and lunch, I chose to have the lunch menu. I sat at a small table facing towards coast highway, the bench seat was cushioned and had cute decorative pillows. It really is a cozy little place. As I looked over the menu I enjoyed an iced maple latte. Sweet and flavorful, served in a cute tall glass. There were so many options, I took my time reading over the menu! The menu has Hawaiian/Korean/Asian fusion choices meshed with American food staples. I chose the Kalua pork fries, so good, flavorful, fresh and crispy. I'm a big water drinker, I was happy that they served water in a cup and a glass bottle for easy refills, I tend to be waiting for my water refills at restaurants so this was perfect! read more

The Switchboard - Kalua Pork Fries - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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This is my first ever review that isn't 5 stars. I used to love Switchboard. The food was flavorful, staff was attentive, and anything you ordered was great. However, since changing owners and chefs, the food has gone completely downhill. I gave it 2 tries since the new owners/chef, and I will not be back. So upsetting, as this was my favorite Oceanside restaurant. I hope the new ownership will read these reviews and see how much of their loyal clientele will never be back because of the changes made. What a shame read more

Our favorite place to get loco moco! Service is a hit or miss, but we will be back. Their cocktails are yummy too.

I was pretty stoked and excited to try this place out from the pictures and the reviews. After having it, I was pretty underwhelmed. The staff was pretty welcoming and friendly but the service was extremely slow. It took forever for the food to come out after ordering, at least 30 minutes and that's being kind. We had the following items: - K-pop Spicy Fried Chicken Sando with Spicy Fries - The Switchboard Burger - Spam Musubi - Iced Strawberry White Mocha with Oat Milk I definitely do not recommend coming here if you have kids. They have no kids menu so I ordered something for my 4 year old daughter off of the Pupus menu. She got the spam musubi which only came with 1 (I guess the waiter said it used to come with 2?). Overall she did enjoy it, minus the sauce it came with. The burger was lacking in flavor and there was no wow factor. They sold out of avocado by 1pm so be careful if that is something you are looking for. The K-pop Sando spicyness was not evenly distributed throughout the sandwich and that too seemed to be lacking something in the sandwich. The only redeeming thing about that meal was the spicy fries. The seasoning on that was amazing and with a side of ranch, perfection! The Iced Strawberry White Mocha was actually from next door, the North County Roastery and honestly was my favorite part of the meal. Overall, it definitely wasn't worth the hype of the other reviews. Even the aesthetic the other pictures have was no longer there as you can see from the pictures I took. read more

The Switchboard - Strawberry White Mocha - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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The overall atmosphere was fine, but keep in mind they recently changed their breakfast menu due to new management and a new chef. It's much much smaller and didn't have any of the items we came to try. We really disappointed by the size and quality of food. We got the omelet plate which was tiny and looked, frankly, unappetizing. The omelet was a bit overcooked and very irregular in shape, and I only got ten pieces of roasted potatoes. There wasn't much filling inside either, so the primary flavor of everything was ketchup. The other dish was chicken and waffles, a special, which consisted of one mini waffle and 3 small strips of candied chicken. For $16? It was the size of a sharing plate. Super sweet as well, we were shocked when it came out. Def would not recommend or come again. read more

The Switchboard - omelet plate ($16) - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Went here for my son's 1st birthday. FOOD WAS GREAT! SERVICE WAS GREAT! Place was a bit small, we had a party of 12, half were kids. Servers were super accommodating, especially after the cake mess and food allerHowever they only had 2 high chairs for the whole place. I didn't catch any pictures of the food. We came starving and the food looked and smelled amazing. There was no time to stop and take pictures. read more

The Switchboard - Breakfast menu - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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I love this restaurant! This is my 2nd time here in 2 days. I had the shrimp and sticky rice and it was the perfect amount of garlic and flavor. read more

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Just tried the K-pop chicken sandwich and sadly, it was a bit lacking. The flavors, while outstanding in field, were overshadowed by the execution. The chicken was breast meat, which other snobs will know needs to either A. be cooked to absolute perfection when in sandwich form and fried or B. needs to be thigh instead to maintain juiciness. The spicy fries were great as always, crisp and flavorful, but could not redeem this burger. I'm holding out for the duck. read more

Went back for round 2 and discovered another hidden gem! Stayed with my wonton appetizer because, LAWD that seared ahi is the stuff of gods! Pill box drink remains on point! Miranda and Clint killed the game, again. Korean fried chicken and waffles...speechless! The breading is light and somehow insanely crispy at the same time. The batter can literally be lightly flaked off, you can hear the crisp and the choice of thigh meat gives it that juicy bite we all crave. Hands down, fantastic execution. The real star of the dish though, the component that brought it all together was the syrup aka, nectar of the gods! Gochujang maple syrup poured over that delicious dish brought it to a new level. The juxtaposition of the flavors set my tastebuds alive. Honestly the best I've had. Honorable mention to the dishes I didn't try but witnessed the satisfaction on my friends faces: musubi, my GF who hates spam loved the bite. Switchboard burger, cooked to perfection and almost resulted in a fight for the last bite! Service award: Miranda and Clint, who have been working the two times I've been in; great team with matching attitudes. You can tell they work well together and their pleasantness and smiles are infectious. read more

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I was recommended this place by a friend. We got the Kahlua Pork fries and the Spicy Pork Hawaiian plate. The fries were good, nothing special. 80% fries, 20% pork. The Hawaiian plate was extremely disappointing. The mac salad had no flavor, the fried rice was mushy and there were about 5 pieces of pork. It wasn't terrible but it was just not worth. I would not recommend this place and don't plan on coming back. There's much better out there for a better price (my total was about $43 with tip / tax). read more

The Switchboard - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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We ordered the; Edamame Salmon tartar Chicken katsu sandwich And Hawaiian plate w pork. The edamame was terrible and mushy. No flavor, had to ask for some salt just to get it down and still ended up just not eating them. The salmon tartar was alright, very citrusy and the bread cut in half was greasy and bland. The chicken katsu was dry, in between two flimsy pieces of bread. The only saving grace for this dish was the fries. The Hawaiian plate had absolutely nothing Hawaiian about it. It was basically just pork, bland rice balls and some crappy macaroni salad. No flavor, bland, over priced. read more

I'm sad to say that they no longer sell any toast! The only bread option is Hawaiian rolls, which just aren't breakfast to me. I'm sure this is perfect for lots of folks, but I figured since this featured prominently in my last review I'd come and update. Also, if you like crispy bacon, make sure to let them know. This morning's bacon strips were quite floppy. I'm certain that they would have remade them for me, but I wasn't that hungry so I didn't bother them. The eggs were great and the potatoes were mostly crispy. As usual, the staff here were truly fantastic. Even without proper toast I still will likely come back again, because everyone is so nice and the vibe is so great. read more

The Switchboard - ETA- They don't have this toast anymore :( They have the absolute best toast. Kid is having fruit and yogurt parfait. - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

This place is a seat yourself casual place. Open early if you're ready to eat. I had the tiki fried rice. It was ok. Place is cute though. read more

The Switchboard - Tiki fried rice with Portuguese sausage - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

Enjoyed very tasty Japchae and Bulgogi here, and the cocktails will definitely keep me coming back. The server was so warm and attentive. Highly recommend this place for a comfortable evening cocktail and chat. read more

The Switchboard - Japchae and Bulggi - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Business operating during the pandemic, "thank you" Review #8 deciding it was high time i showered, dressed in something besides my PJs, and dragged my suddenly agoraphobic butt out to eat, i took a short cruise down South Hill with no particular stop in mind. i was parking in front of Master's when i noticed a "new" restaurant (after living as a shut-in for a couple of months EVERYTHING seems new) across the street. the SWITCHBOARD was a VERY pleasant surprise. i didn't have huge expectations (this is an unassuming and unpretentious sort of place) and the restaurant exceeded them in spades. what most impressed me was the attention to detail: everything was well conceived, meticulously prepared, gorgeous, and, most importantly, delicious. a major tip-of-the-cap to BOTH the kitchen and the bar. started with the PILLBOX, a soju cocktail with pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut milk, and freshly grated nutmeg. one of the very best "sweet" cocktails (i'm partial to Gray Goose martinis but SWITCHBOARD only has a beer and wine license) ever. the Maui-style AHI POKE (yellowfin tuna, soy-ginger marinade, avocado, sweet maui onions, cilantro, and heirloom tomatoes) got things off to a solid start. AUNTIE PUA's SANDO (char siu pulled pork, red cabbage-cilantro slaw, wok fried egg, daikon pickle slices, and Kewpie mayo) was amazing. when it comes to things i'd like to nibble on, Siu's my Kryptonite. theirs is pulled pork with a five-spice rub (hold the red-food coloring and cloying hoisin-honey sweetness) and it was amazing. the crispy fries were about as good as any i've ever eaten (Le Papagayo in Leucadia and Vigilucci's on Tamarack in Carlsbad still get a slight nod). service was charming but a bit hippie-dippy. for my setup i got four napkins (but no fork or spoon) and two knives which worked poorly as chopsticks (I tried). it was good for a giggle and seemed an appropriately laidback part of the authentic island experience. a nice addition to the surprising number of excellent restaurants along the south end of Hill Street with plenty of outdoor seating, an important descriptor in your dine-out options these days. dinner at the SWITCHBOARD was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. highly recommended. looking forward to my next visit. read more

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Recently opened inside/next to the recently and still being renovated hotel in Oceanside. We rode our E-Bike down here and had lunch. I had a spicy, yummy chicken curry sandwich, hubby had the Portobello burger. Both were excellent! Would return! read more

The Switchboard - Menu - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Food was ehh. Burger i ordered seemed like a pre-made patty. Service was horrible. Only one waiter/bartender and a bus girl. I ordered a Mai Tai after sitting down, which the waiter forgot and I had to remind the busgirl when SHE brought our food out. Waiter came around after to checkin and my wife asked for more sauce since her sandwich had hardly any. He apparently forgot again and spent the next 15 min making drinks at the bar. I had to get up and ask the bus girl for it. She deserved more of a tip than the waiter. Don't know his name, he didn't give it. I also thought his appearance wearing sweat pants and tennis sneakers was inappropriate for the atmosphere the owner was going for. read more

Was in Oceanside with a friend and had stopped by another location. The wait there was over 40 minutes. While waiting we watched and noticed not a lot of movement with customers being seated. So we took a gander at other nearby spots and found The Switchboard. A newly opened spot just down the street. We were greeted and seated right away. Tables are situated on a patio area in front of the establishment along the street (Coast Blvd). the menu looked somewhat small and limited, but appeared to have some favorites as noted on other Yelp reviews. However they were out of Loco Moco, my favorite Hawaiian dish! We ordered a couple of appetizers to start off with. The SPAMepeño Mac & Cheese and the Ahi Tuna. The Mac & Cheese has diced spam, jalepeño and some type of leafy green (maybe spinach?). The baked panko crust on top made this dish. The Ahi tuna was good, seasoned with wasabi and ginger. However the portion of ahi was lacking. It was hidden beside and underneath a sea of lettuce garnish. For entrees we had the Chicken Katsu Curry Sandwich and Auntie Pua's Sando. The Chicken Katsu had a generous portion of chicken, deep fried and panko crusted. Was served on a soft bun with Katsu sauce and apple slaw, that gave it a nice crunch and flavor. Auntie Pua's pulled pork sandwich has a fried egg and a big portion of flavorful pulled pork. An interesting combination. Our server wasn't quite familiar with the menu, in terms of how items were prepared. Additionally, our entrees came out first well before our appetizers. It sounded as if the orders got lost as the manager came by asking if we were still waiting on the Mac & Cheese and the Ahi. As we were pretty much done with our sandwiches, the appetizers came out. Kinda messed up the mojo of the meal, but not so it wasn't overall enjoyable. I'd visit again to try the loco moco. Keep on Yelp'n read more

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Cool and trendy decor, but seating was surprisingly comfortable! I love when places have big pillows in their bench seating. Bartender/server was amazing at juggling so many patrons. Loco moco was the hit! Fish and chips were ok, a little too much breading for me. Pineapple mayo was great though. Inventive drink list. Clean restrooms with fun art. Would definitely come back. read more

Excellent service and food. We ordered the Loco Moco, K fried rice and fish and fries. Even though there were only two people when we came in and the place was full, they were still able to efficiently provide service with a smile. We'll be back when we come to Oceanside. read more

The service staff was very attentive and helpful as we navigated the menu as first timers. We got the loco moco and Hawaiian plate. We think the food was tasty but not quite to our preferences. Specifically, the rice was too mushy and the bulgogi beef was too ginger forward for a beef bulgogi. The loco moco that I received also was a little light on the gravy, which I was a little disappointed. I am still willing to give other items on the menu a try, like the fish and chips because everything was plated well. read more

Great food. It was nice to try a taste of home in my husband's hometown. I loved the kimchi fried rice. Portions were a little small for my Samoan husband, but inflation ‍ what are you gonna do? read more

The Switchboard - Vegan Kimchi Fried Rice - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

The best island brunch this side of Waikiki! If you're looking for a little Hawaii/Korean fusion flair in your breakfast, look no further than the Switchboard in Oceanside. A unique, almost cafe like setting, attached the the historic "Fin" Hotel. With a menu overflowing with Korean and Hawaiian favorites from Kalua Pork, to Loko Mocos, to Huli chicken, you really can't miss! One of my favorites is the hearty Loco Moco, fried egg, gravy, fried rice. Prepare for a post brunch nap with this one! The Korean fried chicken and waffles is a unique take on the Southern favorite. Service has always been prompt and friendly. With the atmosphere never getting above a "buzz" in conversation level. I don't often brunch, but when I do, Switchboard is THE spot in north county. Definitely a must visit! read more

The Switchboard - Hot Chocolate! - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Fabulous food, drinks and staff. Service was excellent and the vibe of the place is wonderful. Shout out to everyone we met while visiting. We will be back. read more

Small restaurant with limited space attached the The Fin hotel. We went on a Friday night without a reservation and waited about 20 minutes for a table inside. The ambience is nice, the tables are clean and the seats are comfy. The service was just ok. Staff were friendly but not very attentive. For example, we received our appetizer but were never brought any utensils. The food was pretty good but overall lacked a wow factor deserving of the price. Overall, it was pretty good but we will not come back. read more

The Switchboard - Classic Hawaiian plate with Teri chicken, fried rice and Mac salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

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Spectacular decor and great tasting food! It's attached to a Hilton affiliate hotel lobby, which I wasn't thrilled about but everything else was perfect! We ordered the coffee flight which was cool to compare their flavors side by side. The lavender latter was also very good and sweet so make sure you like that stuff. The loco moco was amazing and the breakfast sandwich looks simple but executed very well and especially like the inside toasted buns! Will come Back again. read more

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Super cool history, house roasted coffee, and island inspired cuisine- need I say more?  Attached to Hilton's The Fin boutique hotel on Coast Hwy, The Switchboard is amazing. We tried: Korean Loco Moco (wagyu patty w/gochujang gravy makes it unique from other mocos) Korean Fried Chicken & waffles iced strawberry white mocha iced coconut matcha w/ espresso shot Perfection! Such quality ingredients and preparation. Might be our new favorite in the area for a leisurely breakfast. Would like to try their happy hour next! read more

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The Switchboard is a hidden gem in Oceanside! We stayed at the Fin Hotel for three nights and enjoyed breakfast at The Switchboard every morning, and looked forward to it in the evenings. The breakfast sandwich is delicious, and quite inexpensive. The staff were AMAZING, both at dinner and at breakfast; they were attentive, charming, and provided us with exceptional service. The dinner and drinks menus are also great - the portions were big and delicious. It's clear each item is chosen with intention. The ambiance of The Switchboard is unique too, and it's very relaxing to sit here and enjoy a drink or a meal. I highly recommend The Switchboard, for tourists and locals alike! If you're staying at the Fin, don't miss out, get the breakfast! read more

The Switchboard - The view from a back table - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

My whole family absolutely loved this restaurant. Service was great. The Miso Soup, Kaneohe Bay Shrimp, and Spam Musubi were so good!! Best miso soup I've had in awhile. And the Cobb salad was unique & delicious! We also loved the Fried Chicken Sandwich. The drinks were suuper good too. Cool historic building for all you history lovers and if you enjoy Hawaiian fusion cuisine too- definitely check out this place(: read more

Love how Oside is getting these cool restaurants so that North County peeps don't have to go further down in SD to find good food! When I saw a Hawaiian inspired menu, I had to try them out! One of my fave plate lunch meals is loco moco, so yeah, I had to try the Korean Loco Moco with gojuchang gravy! This was sooo good! Loved how there was gravy to the last bite! I'm a saucy kinda gal, so I'm so happy they didn't skimp on the gravy! Hubby got the steak and eggs. Simple but good! I can't say no to steak either! The restaurant is located in The Fin Hotel. It looked like a really cute boutique hotel! Loved the mural on the exterior, so check it out when you're there! I would totally love to come back for their dinner menu! Looking for new place to try while you're in Oside, then definitely try this place out! read more

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4.5 stars. -.5 stars because of shells in my crab cake. (Edit: I know it's super common for crab shells when making crab cakes in house, it wasn't a big deal, but appreciate the acknowledgement! Will be back!) BLUF: DO IT Okay, so I'll make this one pretty quick. This place is awesome. I stopped here to eat (outdoor seating), and it was legit. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious! I ordered the Crab Cake Benedict (because I'm a sucker for crab cakes and a sucker for eggs benedict). First of all, they put beautiful flowers (maybe lilies) on the plate as garnish - I mean, come on! (See photo). The food was so fresh, it was apparent that it was freshly made, no heat lamps, no waiting on tons of other diners and your food being cold, none of that. They also have bottomless mimosas..... You're welcome :) read more

Fantastic breakfast place with great style and ambiance. We visited for breakfast and were immediately seated at a table with a comfy couch and stylish chairs. The breakfast menu was simple, but had a nice variety of foods that highlighted their Korean/Hawaiian fusion theme. Our server Leah was bright and friendly. We ordered a cafe au lait and iced matcha coconut milk latte to drink. Both drinks were quickly prepared and just the right temperatures and sweetness. To eat we had the Spam Masubi and Loco Moco. The Spam Masubi was just the right size for the price abd perfectly cooked. It was served with a spicy aioli and a dipping sauce as well as topped with green onions. The Loco Moco had a fantastic Korean twist on the traditional with their fried rice and a gochujang gravy. The patty had a nice consistency that was tender, but not falling apart. The fried egg on top was perfectly cooked and added some extra "sauce"when mixed in with the rice. We will definitely be coming back to try their chicken and waffles as well as the rest of the menu or for lunch! read more

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Loved it! Superb service, the cocktails were amazing and the food was delish. Small quaint little restaurants. I definitely plan on going back in the very near future,... maybe next week! read more

The owners of this business keep flagging my question and getting it removed about whether or not they answer their phone. They never ever ever answer their phone. And instead of just giving me an explanation, they flag my question. The food is okay but because I can't contact anyone when placing an online order, it makes it difficult to request any dietary adjustments or ask general questions about their food. Not exactly the best way to earn public trust. read more

They got rid of their chicken and waffles. Their entire menu has been stripped down to uninspired basics with no effort. The new management doesn't seem to prioritize timely service anymore--lots of miscommunication with being seated, getting menus, and being served water. We used to really cherish this special place. read more

Hello to all. I seen SwitchBoard had great reviews, so I took my family to try. However, they weren't up to par today. My family waited almost an hour for our food, only for them to bring out cold chicken for my mom & hard waffles for my son. The other three still waiting on their dishes. We wanted to eat as a family. So We decided to get up and leave and go to "Masters "across the street ; which was actually a better choice. You get more bang for your buck @ Masters. Cons: The staff was very nice and understanding. They knew an over hour wait for food was ridiculous and apologized to us. read more

The Switchboard - Hard as a rock - Hawaiian Near Me - Oceanside, California

I was super excited to try this place but was totally turned off by my chicken and waffles. When I tried the waffle, it tasted exactly like the premade waffles that I've bought at Costco that are individually wrapped and packaged in a plastic container. It was disappointing. My drink was great, chicken was ok but the waffle...totally not fresh. read more

So... I was caught off guard with this place. I wondered in looking for a solid cup of coffee, and left with a stomach full of some of the best Hawaiian Food I've had, not just in SD... but ever! Let's start with the Mai Tai. Tiki Drink enthusiasts and Bartenders have varied opinions about what it takes to make a good Mai Tai. The classic Mai Tai is the lime-forward variation with a ton of mint garnish which lulls the senses into a refreshing over-sensitized slumber. The Hawaiian varietal is a juice forward concoction, often served with a float of dark Overproof rum. Both variations have their benefits and audiences, but there is a noticeable difference and a very wide gap between them. Bridging that gap is tricky. Like a radio station that plays every genre in an attempt to please everyone, but ends up pleasing no one, attempts to combine these variations of the Mai Tai often crash and burn. Whether through Voodoo or Mixology, The Switchboard has found the sweet spot! Next, the Mac Salad. I don't know how or who they bribed to pull this off, but the chef has somehow made the best Mac Salad I have ever tasted. And I'm a Mac salad junky. My standards are HIGH! Rainbow Drive In in Honolulu, or Da Kine's here in SD. But I've found my new favorite. No colorful embellishments here... just come taste it. I'll let the Mac Salad do the talking. Lastly, the Korean Loco Moco, complete with Wagyu Burger Patty & Gochujang Gravy. WTF?!? How do you improve on a Loco Moco?! ...this is how. Unbelievably delicious. Every bite overwhelms the senses. Don't play yourself. Try the Loco Moco, and let me know if it's not the best you've had. So there's the review. I'm smitten. I'll be here pretty much every Monday from here on out. Come by and say hi! read more

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