- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Aloha Eats
Category: Restaurants Hawaiian Hawaiian [Edit]
2534 N Clark St(between Deming Pl & Wrightwood Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 935-6828
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
472 reviews for Aloha Eats
Review Highlights
"The macaroni salad is so yummy and creamy."
(in 156 reviews)
"The chicken katsu and short ribs are must haves."
(in 126 reviews)
"The Spam Musubi was amazing and for such a cheap price."
(in 81 reviews)
Loading...
472 reviews in English
-
Review from Pascal M.
Naperville, IL
1/25/2012
I think a song should be written about the Hawaiian Mixed Plate.
Aloha Eat's is another great place on Clark that is doing something unlike anyone else in the city. They serve up delish, quick, and reasonably priced Hawaiian plate lunches.
All their meats in the mixed plate are fantastic. Beautifully tender, juicy, and full of rich flavor. Can you go wrong with sticky rice? The macaroni salad is good too. I would love to try one of their curry dishes or perhaps get some catering by Aloha Eats.
Aloha drinks are served too, which goes great with a nice to-go plate lunch.
I love this food so much I have mastered sticky rice at home, I make a grilled pineapple huli-huli chicken, and my own macaroni salad so I dont have to make the drive.
Any time I'm on Clark, i have to ask myself if I'm hungry. If so, Aloha Eat's is a front runner. -
Review from Ehow C.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Despite the lovely bites I received at Sullivan's Steakhouse, I was craving just a bit more food. Going along with the Hawaiian-esque martinis I had earlier in the evening, my faux-girlfriend and I ordered some food at Aloha Eats.
I ended up ordering the chicken katsu with curry, as a to-go order since it was super late. When we were able to transfer the styrofoam contents onto a plate, the chicken katsu could have covered the entirety of the surface. There's definitely some false advertisement going on, because the mini-plate was definitely not mini... not that I'm complaining about more food, but I could have fed a small village with these portions, yikes!
The katsu was fine, though the curry itself was a bit too salty for my taste. I did enjoy the subtle flavors of the macaroni salad, it was a counterbalance to the fatty, fried chicken.
I would like to try this place again, if only to see the curry was just a fluke. The portions are generous enough that I would make it a regular dining spot, if I lived in the neighborhood. -
Review from Sean B.
12/30/2011
The world's largest katsu lunch special! This is seriously like 4 meals for me. For like $9 total. Wonderful! I want to buy that sauce they serve with it.
Now there are a few things that get me at a restaurant. Politics aside, I'm not all that thrilled that this place is a bit of an Obama shrine, despite that he is from Hawaii and this is a Hawaii restaurant. That won't stop me from eating more delicious Katsu though! (Try the white meat it is very tender!).
There is no obvious bathroom here. And because of the way they are set up in the front, it is hard for them to keep the tables clean, so my table on a few occasions has been sticky or dirty, or there have been issues with the soda machine. I think they could use a little more clean up in the front parts given the popularity of this place.
The macaroni salad is quite good here.
Having eaten Katsu in Hawaii at several places, this is the real deal. A hidden gem really! -
Review from Nina S.
Chicago, IL
2/6/2012
Was planning on going to Sultans Market down the street from Aloha Eats. Decided to check out this place instead. The restaurant was small but full of people, a good sign.
I look at the menu and selections- as I recall besides, macaroni salad and a vegetable side order were all meat (guess that's how they do it in Hawaii). Next I consider what to order. The meat choices come with sticky rice and macaroni salad. The order taker was this obnoxious Hawaiian boy who rushed me into ordering and then attempted to sell me the whole restaurant in the two seconds that I spoke with him.
I ordered Teriyaki chicken and a friend ordered the breaded chicken (bout 10 each). Food comes in a Styrofoam container, lots of plastic and paper are used and we are dining in. maybe its just me, but I feel that a little more effort can be put into some actual plates and utensils, even those red hot dog things something!
The rice was mushy and overly sticky. The chicken was overcooked in a soft and also mushy way-like they make all of the food ahead of time and stick it in a warmer. There was no color to my meal. brown meat, white rice, white macaroni salad.
On the flip side the macaroni salad was creamy and just right. -
Review from Mike T.
Bolingbrook, IL
2/5/2012
I've eaten here a few times and I think the food is very tasty. I enjoy the macaroni and the short ribs and the variety of different things you can order. I've had one of their curry dishes once and I thought the portions were way too much for me to finish.
The only issue is that the seating is very limited so if you have a large group, good luck on finding seating.
The area has a lot of popular restaurants to eat at but I would rank Aloha Eats pretty high. -
Review from Yanyao N.
12/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Hello. My name is Yanyao and I am a Spam-a-holic.
Aloha Eats is my candy store, and I am a very fat kid.
Seriously. It is Spam heaven up in here! You can pretty much add Spam to anything you order, or, get the Spam loco moco, or my absolute favorite: the Spam musubi. Spam and sushi rice together? In such a portable form? Eat it. Trust me.*
Since first eating here a few weeks ago, I always make it a point to stop in here when I'm in the neighborhood and pick up some spam musubi (because a fat kid will always be hungry later and must be prepared!). The entree options are delicious too, and my mayonnaise-loving heart can't get enough of that macaroni salad... but really, if we're talking the best of Hawaiian eats, the Spam cannot be ignored.
The portions are HUGE, the prices are cheap, and the staff are as sweet and patient as can be! Lucky for me, I live pretty far away from this place. Otherwise, the combination of Spam and macaroni salad would be bad news. Delicious news, yes... but still bad news.
* Also trust me when I say: Order the Lilikoi Passionfruit drink. It comes in a can shipped all the way from Hawaii. The last time I was in there, they had sold out and I almost lost it (but settled on a Pass-O-Guava Aloha Maid instead). As of last week, they received 23 cases of Lilikoi Passion. I'm pretty sure one of my friends already has an IV of this going into his blood stream, so I suggest stopping in here soon. LILIKOI! -
Review from Tony M.
Morton Grove, IL
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Big portions! You get your money's worth!
Their chicken is marinated like the beef! -
Review from Jimmy N.
Chicago, IL
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I ordered the curry chicken Katsu plate lunch which came with 2 scoops of rice and 1 scoop of macaroni salad for $10 and change after taxes.
This place has a lot of good things going for it. Firstly, I can't complain about the price, and, believe you me, I ALWAYS complain about food prices in the city (or anywhere for that matter). The portions are large enough for 2 people to share and spare, and I am saying this as a guy who doesn't think anything is big enough to share.
The food is legit. The chicken had a crunch to it that I would never be able to duplicate at home. It was really really crunchy! The rice was normal medium grain rice which was something I can make at home but I am not gonna fault them for that. I would have preferred short grain rice, but that's more of Japanese style than Hawaiian style I guess. The macaroni salad was good.
The only thing I didn't like was the curry. It was a bit too salty for me and didn't blow me away with flavor. It was passable yet unimpressive. I wouldn't order it again.
Overall a very decent place, especially for the poor starving student. However, there was no magic for me, no memory lasting bite, no incentive to come back. -
Review from Nick M.
Neenah, WI
1/18/2012
Ordered the BBQ chicken, and it is more of a teriyaki, which was surprising and pleasing. It was enormous, and well worth the money. The chicken itself reminded me of Sarku in the mall, except higher quality. Very tasty. The macaroni salad was also very good, but the chicken stole the show. The only downside was the warmed instead of steamed cabbage, which I found to be rather useless. Other than that a very good meal.
-
Review from Alan C.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
I like this place! they have chicken katsu, and SPAM!!!!! Yummy! How often do you find a restaurant that serves span with eggs over rice!
Definitely recommended!!!! -
Review from Justin L.
11/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place and I can't believe I haven't written a review yet! This place is a great value for your dollar, is perhaps the only Hawaiian style restaurant around, and just tastes great!
The food is great! If you're expecting sit-down style fancy food, you're in the wrong place. This is everyday style food. I love the combination plate (BBQ ribs, chicken, and beef). I'm a fan of the mac salad, but if you're not (like some of my friends) you can swap out for french fries. The spam masubi is also worth a try!
The location is great, but the parking situation is not. It's on Clark and it's in a busy stretch. So the location is great for pedestrians and anyone in the area, but it can be a mess when you need to park! HOWEVER, they deliver. Yep... people might not notice, but I've ordered take out from them before, they're prompt, there's a small fee, but for the convenience factor... who cares.
Overall... one of my go-to eats when I want a casual meal. -
Review from Albert O.
Skokie, IL
1/30/2012
Reminds me of when I live in Hawaii. If you want the taste of local hawaiian food it's a must go. From mix plate to curry katsu, and local moco.
-
Review from Jasmine N.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
Yummy chicken katsu! I j'adore you. I love how they have large sizes and "mini" sizes so I can get a variety of food for the same price.
-
Review from Tommy H.
Irvine, CA
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure why this place has such rave reviews.
no the food isn't bad, no the service doesn't suck, then why only 3-stars?
i don't see what's so special about it.... maybe it's the only Hawaiian food place in all of Chicago? i had the pork katsu. it was ok, a little oily but nothing spectacular. i also had the spam masubi... too much rice and the rice was too soft. -
Review from Tim H.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2011
I've been in love with Aloha since it was Aloha Grill. In fact I stumbled in on their very first week in business and I've been a fan ever since. Thankfully I don't live that close and parking is always impossible to find or I might eat there every week, which, when your favorite plate is the Loco Moco (two scoops rice or fries and a scoop of mac salad topped with two Hawaiian style burger patties, brown gravy and two eggs any style), could be a very bad thing.
I can't say I've tried everything but I've probably come pretty darn close. My favorites in no particular order are as follows:
Double chicken plate (both BBQ chicken and chicken katsu)
Chicken curry plate (katsu chicken with a curry flavored brown gravy instead of the sweet katsu sauce, GET IT WITH FRIES INSTEAD OF RICE, anyone who's everbeen to an Irish pub knows how awesome curry fries are)
Kaluhu Pork (slow braised pork with cabbage, salty sweet and delicious. One time I actually had to pull my car over and dig into it because it smelled so intoxicatingly good I could wait until I got home)
SPAM Musubi (kinda like a giant SPAM sushi 2-pack, I get this every time I go, one for now and one for later)
I also really like their burgers (a tasty Hawaiian style patty with little bits of chopped onion in it and a flavor reminiscent of teriyaki) I always get a double scoop of mac with my burger rather than fries.
some other items I have had in the past and enjoyed are the short ribs (Korean kalbi style) BBQ beef (thin sliced teriyaki style) Mahi mahi both grilled and fried, and the saimin noodles.
you can also choose from an assortment of canned hawaiian juices and my favorite part of all is that they provide little to-go cups for you to mix your siracha with ketchup cause it tastes good on everything.
Did I mention? the plates of food are big enough to feed a family?
One of the things that I love most about Aloha is their unwillingness to compromise on the size of authentic Hawaiian plate lunch, yes their prices have gone up quite a bit over the years but the size has never ever gone down, we even asked the owner about the price hikes and he said that as food costs have gone up he would never consider down sizing the plates as so many other establishments have done, it just wouldn't be the real deal anymore if it were made smaller. Thankfully, for those with smaller appetites or smaller wallets they have more recently made mini plates available. (Just for a comparison, the prices of the mini plates are what the full-size plates cost seven years ago) even with the higher prices the majority of the large combo plates are still under ten bucks and you will easily get two meals out of it.
I love Aloha. LOVE LOVE LOVE. -
Review from Roxy A.
When you're on the north side & you've got a craving for plate lunch, Aloha Eats is the place to go! The mini katsu plate (ask for white meat $0.45 extra) comes w/ a scoop of rice & a scoop of mac salad. The prices are pretty decent and the portions are pretty big too, even the mini plate is a decent amount of food! They even have the regular plate lunch staples like Loco Moco, Hawaiian BBQ and...love it or hate it SPAM! I love spam musubi!
When you order your plate lunch too be sure to get a can of Aloha Maid Lilikoi (passion fruit) Iced Tea or Pass-O-Guava Juice. They're 100% all natural drinks made in none other than the Aloha state.
I've eaten at Aloha Eats plenty of times & I actually ordered catered food from here for my bf & sister's birthday, the food was awesome we ordered Hawaiian BBQ & Mac Salad..my only gripe is that when I told them about how many people would be at the party they made it seem like the half size portion would be too small so I ordered a full tray of BBQ..and good lord we had so much food I ended up sending guests home w/ their own plate lunches for days. So I just wish that they could have quoted me a lil better on how much food I should order. Other than that Aloha Eats has got some onolicious eats in my book! Mahalo! -
Review from Denrick B.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Having lived in a city flooded with Hawaiian restaurants/fast-food joints (Las Vegas), I had low expectations going into this place, and I was ready to be forgiving. I knew that the place did not serve some of my favorite island dishes (e.g., mochiko chicken, oxtail stew), and I was fine with their limited selection of food (mostly bbq dishes, katsu, and curry-like dishes). I did not anticipate getting a well-crafted dish from this joint and would have appreciated a pedestrian Hawaiian dish just to satisfy my hankering for island-flavor dishes. I'm sad to report that the dishes (Loco Moco and Musubi) I had still disappointed my palate, despite coming into the place with little expectations.
Loco Moco gone wrong:
The burger steak in the Loco Moco had a sour taste to it and was likely made from stale ground beef. The over-easy eggs that were supposed to come with it end up overcooked, and it had a rubber-like texture to it. The rice was also dry (I don't understand how a Hawaiian restaurant can screw up something so simple. Perhaps the owner should invest in a fuzzy-logic rice cooker if they can't steam rice correctly.)
The musubi was OK, although I would have preferred that they wrap the whole spam w/ seaweed and not just the middle part. Admittedly, this made the dish more aesthetically pleasing, but who cares about how it looks when it comes to island food!
On a positive note, the person taking the orders was very pleasant and personable.
I'm willing to give this fast-food place another try since (sadly) it is the only fast-food joint in Chitown that "attempts" to serve Hawaiian food. -
Review from Wei H.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/11/2011
Ok so i went back and try the shrimp katsu. It was better than the tofu katsu but the shrimp was very small :(
Boyfriend had a spam noodle which he wasn't impressed by either. The soup base was very delish though.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/22/2011
To be fair, my 3-star review doesn't do Aloha justice because I couldn't have their famous/signature… Read more »
-
-
Review from M M.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2011 6 photos
This is the closest you can get to Hawaii in Chicago!
With my obsession of Hawaii, I'm surprised it took me so long to get to this place after hearing about it last year. Finally I set out to take a bike trip there. Last Saturday, after watching Moody Church's first baptism on the lake that morning I continued my usual bike course to the Shedd and back north. Already feeling famished and thirsty by 11am (no breakfast), realizing Aloha Eats was too far, I stopped at Navy Pier and got the lowest priced meal deal there: a McD's Fish Meal $6 including a drink--the ice cold diet Coke most appealed to me right then. Afterwards, I walked around Navy Pier to burn off some calories and shop for a present for my godson, Josh, whose birthday is coming up.
I headed back north along the path fighting a southwest breeze, it was a relief to leave the path as I headed for Aloha Eats. Somehow I got side-tracked along Lincoln--oh those diagonal streets--but I finally found my way to Clark Street. I sighted the attractive red lettering "Aloha " beckoning me in. At long last, I was going to get the simple yet pleasing rice/meat/shredded cabbage/macaroni salad combination that I was introduced to in Maui.
A young man greeted me with the familiar layed-back friendly Hawaiian aura at the counter and took my order of the Hawaiian BBQ Mix Plate - $9.40 BBQ Beef, BBQ Chicken, and BBQ Beef Short-Rib. For a moment I was imagining myself back in Maui which was easy to do on one of the few beautiful perfectly warm sunny summer days in Chicago.
As I was waiting observing the different business ads/cards left on the counter and the menu items, I was interrupted by a snotty tone of, "CAN YOU MOVE YOUR BAG?!" Immediately I was brought back to reality--this would never happen in Hawaii. I turned to see a young couple and their 2 kids seated at the table closest to the counter, the woman was standing ready to put her child in the baby carriage which my backpack must have been brushed up against. I excused myself, but my beautiful day was tarnished by the rudeness of this person. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her husband as I observed him addending to one of the kids seated next to him. How horrible it must be being married to such a woman, and to think the kids not learning how say, "excuse me" or "please".
Seeing how they were not ready to leave, I decided to wait outside away from the negative spirit she released. On my way out I over heard some reminising of a past vacation at another table. I walked out into the Maui-like weather where the sidewalks were filled with happy people that day. There was a unique bike/carriage next to a pole not far from where I locked my bike against a tree. The father & son that owned it soon emerged as patrons of Aloha Eats. I wondered how many times they had visited Hawaii, I figure with that cool bike, they could probably afford to go a lot more times than I could :)
Just as I walked back inside, my name was called and they were bagging my order. I carefully placed it into my backpack and headed back onto Lincoln Avenue to stop at Trader Joe's and pick up some Italian wine that was recently recommended by my friend, Jeannie. I thought it would go lovely with my Hawaiian dinner. One more errand and an hour later I was home to enjoy my Hawaiian meal, it was great and the portion lasted me for 4 meals :)
I can't wait to go back and try every single item on the menu! What are the chances of me running into that rude woman again? Unfortunately with food this good--lots.
Humm...maybe I'll have the Loco Moco next time! Gound beef patty, eggs sunnyside up, over rice, topped with gravy? Gashly I first thought, "Well, when in Maui, do like the Mauians eat."....then I tried it.--"WOW" (however, I believe credit was due to the Hawaiian raised beef & poultry, I doubt AE imports from Hawaii). -
Review from Amy Z.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2011
How this place managed to get 4 stars is beyond me. If you can't cook, I agree, this place would be like a haven. But if you can, this was nothing special.
Chicken katsu was a disappointment. This is why Americans are fat/gain so much weight - this dish is pure fried (close to no) chicken... with rice. If you're craving this dish, I'd recommend downing a gallon of water if you plan to finish a dinner sized portion.
Speaking of which, dinner portions are
HUGE. Go for the snack portions unless you want to save leftovers for lunch.
The mahi was moderate. Again, nothing special.
Leaving this restaurant, I admit I have a very confused idea of Hawaiian food. Is this really what it tastes like? VERY Fried, BBQ or teriyaki with rice and a side of macaroni salad? Very bland. -
Review from Nae L.
7/26/2011
Oh how I have missed you Spam Musubi!
It's been a long time since I've had me some good ol' hawaiian food! After passing this place on my way to Del Seoul, I head to Lincoln Park for some good hawaiian grubbing.
First, me think dis spam musubi got choke rice brah, me love to grind but da kine is going lolo with rice! Ok, enough with pidgeon language. Spam musubi has the hint of a soy sauce and it was delicious regardless. I smashed 2 of them for dinner and I was feeling good!.
Also had chicken katsu and hawaiian bbq combo. Combo comes with 2 scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. Enough to feed 2 people for sure. I'm pretty big dude and there is no way I can finish this thing by myself in one sitting. Katsu is fried perfectly but to me, their sauce is little too sweet for me, it's ok though, I smashed them with sriracha sauce. Hawaiian bbq was just like korean bbq we used to get and they are also little too sweet for my taste, but I'm a freak who hates sweets, so it would probably be perfect for your pallet.
I remember the days in hawaii when I was young, hungover and hanging with bok bok girls. But those days are gone, and I will definitely come back here for some more musubis! -
Review from Shain C.
Berwyn, IL
8/22/2011
I don't quite understand all of the bad reviews of this place, but can only chalk it up to never having a plate lunch in Hawaii. And why you would order anything but the Loco Moco, Portuguese Sausage, or Kalua Pork plates is beyond me.
The cashier was very friendly and helpful... son of the owner from what we gathered and we chatted about the islands for a bit.
The Loco Moco is pretty hard to screw up I guess... rice, hamburger patties, eggs, and brown gravy... but I enjoyed the hell out of it's simplicity anyway. The wife had the Kalua Pork and was quite happy with it and the haupia.
The macaroni salad was just like you'd expect from a Hawaii plate lunch and we enjoyed it. Sure it's kinda bland, but so is most Hawaiian food in a way. This is a culture where poi was a staple for crying out loud... the ingredients speak for themselves. (I was actually surprised to see curry dishes on the menu.)
I'm not sure what people expect of "Hawaiian food" but I did enjoy the ignorant comments wondering how Hawaiians could be so fat eating such bland food. I guess it's something where either you get it or you don't.
All in all, it's better than Zippy's... and I'll be back for the Portuguese sausage. -
Review from Julia V.
KEW GARDENS, NY
12/6/2011
I knew I was addicted right away. The stuff is too good, packed with flavor. The first time I had saimin there I couldn't stop thinking about it till the day after. Also, the counter guy with a beard was really nice and welcoming.
-
Review from Phil J.
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't know much about Hawaiian food...so when I happened to be in the neighborhood visiting my friend Molly I decided to swing by this joint and give it a whirl. I ordered the mini chicken katsu plate. It came with a side of macaroni salad and a scoop of white rice....along with a sweet katsu dipping sauce. I was impressed with the portion I received. For your money, they seem to really hook it up.
The chicken katsu consists of thin strips of boneless chicken fried with a batter. The flavor of the batter was pleasant, but it was way too crunchy to enjoy. I mean, clearly, it wasn't burnt or anything...but damn...why so crunchy? This chicken was so crunchy I thought it was covered in grape nuts cereal. To put things lightly, I almost broke a tooth eating this. The menu mentions something about katsu sauce or an optional gravy sauce alternative. I ask for a side of gravy sauce to see how it is (I am all about the sauce). The lady at the register tell me it's gonna cost me an extra dollar-sixty. I stare at her...waiting for her to tell me that she is kidding....she wasn't. I fork over the money and they give me this bowl of instant gravy. I'm talking about the type of instant gravy that you put on instant mash potatoes. The katsu sauce was better...but after a while I was afraid my teeth were going to be destroyed from the hard, crunchy chicken.
The macaroni salad was my favorite part. This mixed with the white rice...the creamy texture...the mayo. I would definitely get two scoops of mac salad next time. The have exotic Hawaiian juice cans. I washed my food down with the guava juice. It was good. I will have to come back here again and try their beef short rib next time. For the amount I paid I did receive a very generous portion. I want to like this place...but I also want to keep all my teeth. -
Review from Wesley H.
Chicago, IL
6/22/2011
I think I have nothing bad to say about this place.
The dude at the front was super friendly. He was a chatty McChatster (not in a bad way), and I personally like it when staff is really interactive. He gave a very detailed explanation of what he recommended when we were undecided, and gave reasons why. Plusss! We also eaves dropped on him talking to another table about the Hawaiian community in Chicago, and how they are distributed throughout the US. Interesting stuff.
I ordered the Double Chicken combo, where you get grilled chicken breast and a chicken katsu with sauce, macaroni salad, two scoops of rice, and cabbage. For about $9, you get some pretty big portions. I think that's what sold me: the portion size. I felt pretty full after eating my order... and a third of my friends' order... cuz I'm a god damn garbage can.
Really liked it. The macaroni salad has this not-so-macaroni-salad taste. I know, I'm really articulate right now. Anyway, it just didn't taste like the mayonnaisey sour tangy macaroni salad that (I guess) non-Hawaiian macaroni salad tastes like. It was much creamier and awesome. Went really well with the rice. The grilled chicken was delicious, very tender and juicy. The katsu was bountiful (see? articulate), so I had plenty to last me through the meal, with some good sauce to boot.
Actually, I lied, I do have something slightly bad to say: the slices of cabbage were a pretty unwieldy. They were sliced into strips. Really long strips. They also were raw and large and just sorta got in my way when I ate things. I was digging through shit, and they kept getting all up in my space, cuz they were so large and long. Like, they'd flick across my food, cuz they're kinda bouncy and raw, y'know? And they didn't taste like much, they were just hard and crunchy. I really wanted to ask them, "why are you here?" But everyone knows, cabbage are shy and don't like to talk. True story.
So right. I loved everything about the place, except the weird long large cabbage.
Would totally go again. -
Review from Shawday B.
San Francisco Bay, CA
6/6/2011
My husband, living in Hawaii until he was 16 - is always on the lookout for good Hawaiian food. Luckily we are from California so we can find it everywhere, BUT that doesn't mean it's good everywhere. We have our favorite spots we frequent, but are always trying to new ones that have good reviews.
Now, Chicago is one of our favorite places to visit. We frequent it for pleasure, but have the honor of being here for a month for some training for my husband's job (score!). The very first time we visited Chicago was in 2009. We drove by this place and decided to check it out and loved it from the beginning. Now that we are here on an extended (work) vacation, we've been hitting this place up like champs. Something like once a week. My husband had a 5 minute conversation with one of the guys who works there (maybe even manages the place), Paolo or Paulo (spelling?) and ever since then he addresses my husband by first name and shows us love every time we come in.
The food is great, authentic Hawiian plate style lunches. The portions are large. I usually get the BBQ chicken full plate to have left overs, and last time we went (Friday). I decided to get a mini plate of chicken katsu... That thing was jam-packed! We're never disappointed when we go. As my husband says 'It's ono every time!'Listed in: Chi-town :D
-
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
7/27/2011 3 photos
Aloha Eats does not have a large menu but they do have a good variety of dishes that you can't find in too many places. My friend and I ordered the shrimp burger deluxe and mini barbecue chicken. The shrimp was very well fried. Took a bite. Mmm...crunch, crunch, crunch...hold your horses! These are some puny shrimps bathed in batter! There was not a few but a mere shrimp of two and this burger cost $4.60? I'll have to pass...
The mini barbecue chicken on the other hand was awesome! We guzzled away at the dark, tangy, and tender chicken meat like we've never had chicken before. It was aggressively juicy and flavorful whereas the macaroni salad and stir fried cabbage was more mellow. The sides created a good balance for the whole dish.
In addition to our entrees, we also ordered two imported Aloha maids: guava and pass-o-guava. They were good but I'm not sure if I will pay $2 per can again.
Aloha Eats is definitely worth returning to and I'd like to give the loco moco and kalua pork a try. -
Review from Howard W.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011
Aloha gets an A-OK
My first time here was in hopes of popping my katsu chicken cherry. Never had it and after this experience I don't think i will be eating it again. It was really oily and taste like they don't change their oil. I did however enjoy their mac salad and BBQ beef. If i ever come back to this place I will avoid the chicken and go for their BBQ dishes.
On the brighter side, Their canned drinks are very thirst quenching tho. I had the guava and it was great. -
Review from Johnny T.
9/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
There's something about gray skies that gets me hankering for Hawai'i. I wonder what. And while I haven't been there for many years (and didn't eat the plate lunch when I was there), katsu sauce can always turn my S.A.D. frown upside down.
Wanting to make sure I was ordering correctly, I called the Queen of Hawai'i herself, Emi H, and had her walk me through the menu. After all, if you're going to do something, do it right. I hadn't been to Aloha Eats in years (just after it opened), so I didn't remember what I wanted. I just remembered that it tasted good. She pushed me toward the spam, but I couldn't do it. Spam musubi *is* rather tasty but that's about as far as I can take my spam eats. I just have too many mental blocks up to eat an entire plate of spam. So, knowing me, she compromised and told me to get the chicken katsu plate. I was leaning toward the curry plate but she told me what I needed what sweet katsu sauce and she needed to go because the woman works all the time and accomplishes mucho all over the big island. So, I hung up, ordered the katsu plate, waited an appropriate amount of time and headed home to chow down.
I thought I might be pregnant. Not until I open the box and smelled the mixture of aroma did I realize that I *needed* macaroni salad in my life. Usually, the thought of mayonnaisey pasta makes me wretch. That day? I stirred it into my rice, placed it atop my chicken and then poured sweet sweet katsu sauce on top. I realize it sounds disgusting. Writing it even now makes me a little queasy. At the time, though. Slammin'. Slam.Min. From what I understand, Aloha Eats really benefits from having an authentic feel. They're not trying to be upscale or fusion. They're just offering Chicagoans a taste of what islanders chow down on on the daily. I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate the fact that I got enough food for two meals. Of course I ate it all in one setting but I didn't have to. Or, shouldn't have. Potato. Potatoe. Dead sexy. This is comfort food for the Vitamin D deficient. Prepare to see a lot of me, Aloha Eats. Winter's coming. -
Review from Donn A.
Chicago, IL
6/13/2011
I don't deny that next to lust, gluttony is the deadly sin I am most guilty of. Hell, I'd even say that's a coin toss right there. So I thank Baby Jesus for Aloha.
This place satisfies the glutton in me. Two Spam Musubis and either the barbecue or the Loco Moco and I am in deadly sin heaven. I'm talking here about the regular serving too, not those pretentious mini-servings for people watching their "diet." Listen to me, people. Size does matter.
So go and make yourself some Pina Colada and make the trek to Aloha Eats. You may pass out from eating too much, but hey, at least you'll do it with a smile on your face. -
Review from Amy D.
8/3/2011
Aloha, I've loved you since I spotted Spam on your menu when I moved to Chicago years ago. Growing up Filipino, I know that Spam is a legitimate foodsource and not just a kitschy item for ironic hipsters. The fact the rest of their menu is a mottled Asian/Pacific Islander-inspired meat and starchy carbohydrate fest is just BONUS.
I've only had the Spam Musubi a handful of times and didn't grow up with it prepared in this sushi-ish style, but it's good stuff nonetheless. My go-to items here are the mini plates (laughably named, as you can easily share this with a similarly hungry buddy) - especially the BBQ beef and BBQ chicken. Rice, macaroni, sliced cabbage, and your choice of meat? Yes, please. The fatty, delectable beef and the juicy, teriyaki style chicken are wonderful. One night in my broke early 20's led me to the happy discovery that $3 can buy sustenance that hasn't been sitting in the 7 Eleven for months or mysteriously concocted by Mickey D's or Booger King - the Hawaiian style hamburger.
I take the criticism against this place for not being authentic enough or too simplistic with a grain of salt, or, better yet, a douse of soy sauce. Aloha Eats is comfort food, which isn't a slave to accuracy or complexity. It's a feeling, and Aloha feels so gooooood. -
Review from Rhoda G.
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
One day I was craving Hawaiian and wasn't sure if there are any places in Chicago until I found this place on Yelp.
I love this place. For the price you pay, you get huge portions and have enough for leftovers for maybe 1 or 2 more meals. I usually get the Chicken Katsu plate and it's so good especially the sauce that comes with it. I also like their macaroni salad and sometimes I get another side order. If you want to try something authentic Hawaiian, get the Moco Loco plate. Very satisfying and I managed to eat the entire thing. Yes, I was very hungry that day.
This place is part of my usual rotation. -
Review from Kato t.
Morton Grove, IL
7/12/2011
I used to know this place as Aloha GRILL! I love Aloha Grill, but I guess now it changed the name slightly. So, for those of you who have memorable dining at Aloha Grill, relax: it's still the same joint.
It's small quaint little place, like a fast food hot dog place but the food is tremendous! The price is reasonable, and what makes it all happen is the KATSU sauce, which seems to come with most of their dishes. It doesn't matter what I order, that Katsu sauce and the rice always meld into one tasty munch.
Love this place, the name change didn't effect it, and the manager was a friendly dude. -
Review from Richard M.
Chicago, IL
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is the bomb diggity.
After hearing so much hype about this place, I finally tried out this AMAZING place for lunch. All I can say is, OUTRAGEOUSLY DELICIOUS. I cannot believe I've been in the dark about this place for so long. I ordered Double Chicken, a combo plate. The serving sizes there are far beyond generous. I got a lot of katsu chicken and BBQ chicken for 9 dollars. It was beyond marvelous.
The place was very cozy and was overall perfect.
GO THERE RIGHT NOW. -
Review from Doe L.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I love me some spam musubi! There's a little too much rice for my taste but oh well... better too much than too little! Plus I have nowhere else to get spam musubi...
My favorite is the BBQ Chicken. It's not like American BBQ so don't expect what you would for ribs (ie dripping in bbq sauce). It's actually a big slab of tender skinless chicken with a subtle.... glaze? I'm not sure how to describe it. Either way, it's delicious and much lighter than the heavier stuff like the katsu. -
Review from Tom and Angie X.
Chicago, IL
Hawaiian food in the midwest, I can hardly contain my excitement.
Having had my fair share of Hawaiian food both in Hawaii and LA, my palate for hawaiian food is probably more spoiled than most; and as such, I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this place. But seeing how it's difficult to find a spam musubi of any quality here thousands of miles away from Hawaii, I'm not complaining about the existence of such a restaurant.
To start things off, I ordered a kalua pork and a combo plate of meats. A fair warning: the portions are HEFTY! Just try lifting the styrofoam box of food and you'll see what I mean.
1) Kalua Pork: meh...... the pork was ok, the cabbage tasted like wet napkins (Tasteless as Dennis S. Stated), but overall, it wasn't too bad. I actually liked the macaroni salad, it wasn't the best ever, but adaquate.
2) Combo meat platter: you get bbq short ribs, chicken, and beef all in 1 box. All 3 of the meats we got were perfectly cooked and wonderfully seasoned. I don't remember the last time I've had such tender chicken as I had been traumatized too many times by dry, overcooked chicken. The beef and shortribs were deliciously sweet and salty, perfectly representing the culinary tradition of the island.
Oh and about those portions, we ate maybe 1/2 of what we ordered and took the rest to go, and it was just as delicious the next day.
Not wanting to leave without grabbing a couple of obligatory misubis we ordered 1 order of 2 spam musubis. Having already eaten those misubis some 6 hours after, I can honestly say they were just as delicious as any I've had... but hey, hard to screw up a spam misubi, right? -
Review from KuangYou C.
Chicago, IL
5/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Actually I have no idea what the real Hawaiian food look like. There are many Japanese in Hawaii, so I think that's why the food here is like Japanese food. But in a less delicate way.
If you have a big stomach, they provide you definitely big portion of food. I had Kalua pork and my friend had double chicken. Honesty, I think mine is good but not in a surprising way. I think double chicken looks better but i didn't try so I don't know if it is really good as it look like.
I saw two girls next to us had BBQ rib and chicken. I will definitely try those next time. -
Review from rebecca s.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2011
I enjoy the Chicken Katsu Plate lunch as there are good portions and tasty for what it is. I've also tasted the Mahi burger which was also yummy. Parking in the area isn't easy but the restaurant itself is nice little place to go to. This place makes me wish there were more Hawaiian eats in the city.
-
Review from brenda f.
Milwaukee, WI
6/26/2011
Having never eaten here before the staff were really helpful in making suggestions. I got a side of tofu katsu and the chicken katsu with rice and macaroni salad. I would definitely go back and try other foods on the menu.
Good things:
1. Lots of food...very generous portions
2. Really good value for the money
3. Different sauces for the tofu and chicken were good and complimented the flavors
4. Macaroni salad was delicious!
Bad things:
1. Macaroni salad was not so good later
2. Tofu was freshly deep fried and so hot I couldn't eat it for 10 minutes -
Review from Megan M.
Bartlett, IL
6/29/2011
After all the noise I heard about this place, I still can't find myself raving about Aloha Eats like everyone else does.
The best part about it is the atmosphere. It's different. You almost feel like you've walked into a shack along a beach for lunch...cozy. The owner is such a great guy too, so down to earth. He radiates positive energy. Haha, ok...enough about the owner...
Portions are gigantic and priced accordingly from $8-$11 a plate. The chicken katsu is more 'katsu' than actual chicken, but deep fried anything is delicious. I don't usually eat it, but I gave the macaroni salad a shot. Bleh, reminded me of why I don't like it. It could use some work. Spam musubi is a sooo good, but $4.50 for 2 slices of spam on top of rice wrapped in seaweed. Eh, it's pushing it.
Feel free to mix and match for the combo plates, the owner is really accommodating. Uh oh, here I go again...
So, it's worth a try, but nothing I salvate for.
