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. read more

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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! read more

Da Local Boy - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Da Local Boy - Food - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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

We were craving Hawaiian food and trekked our way up to Highwood. Unfortunately, we were never seated. No acknowledgment at all. We left and went to Noon O Kabab who greeted us enthusiastically and thanked us for coming when we walked in. read more

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. read more

Da Local Boy - Mochiko chicken (upper left), surf and turf (upper right) loco moco (lower left) and poke bowl (lower right). - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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. read more

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Ambiente casual, con un staff amigable con buena actitud. Nos atendieron tan pronto entramos al local. Es nuestra segunda vez viniendo a este restaurante y no nos decepcionaron, la comida excelente cómo siempre con buena porción, ingredientes frescos y la comida hecha al momento de ordenar. Definitivamente volveremos. read more

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

The vibe here is amazing. It's so inviting and the people are great. The food is also great, the mochiko chicken is by far the best but if you were sharing upgrade it to the item with poke, mochiko and pork belly. The fries are also good and crispy. read more

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

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! read more

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This is a great local Hawaiian restaurant with a Maui twist. Look for the Hawaii flag outside the entrance. The interior is casual and clean. Our meals were delicious. The Hawaiian music really brought us closer to home. Before heading back on the road, we got two Spam musubis to go. The staff was friendly and our dishes were served rather quickly. I highly recommend Da Local Boy! read more

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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. read more

Da Local Boy - Mochiko chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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This spot recently has been on my radar and yep, def going back lol. We actually got a lot to share as the portions are pretty damn generous! We got take out but when I went in to pick up the food made a mental note of how comforting and charming this place is. No frills, just a couple tables but cozy! The flavors of every single thing we had were perfectly balanced. All their entrees fortunately come with a little side of their macaroni salad and, oh man, what a hell of a side!! And then there were those Poke Nachos Such a novel idea but the combination of tortilla chips and poke did wonders. Yep...I'll be back. If their fake out was this fresh I can't wait to do a dine in!! read more

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Was passing by in the area and saw this place on google and WOW, truly enjoyed everything we had. So flavorful, and the portions are also so generous! I haven't had much Hawaiian food but by far, this is the best that I've had in Illinois. read more

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Finally tried this place since they don't have delivery on UberEats or GrubHub which is my go to when I don't have the discipline to make my super healthy organic meals. Food: Mochiko chicken. Sooo good. Love the crispy batter. It comes with rice, a side of creamy macaroni salad & a very generous delicious serving of fried chicken. It's a bit too much food for me but I was at a Highwood festival so leftovers were a no go. Service was fine. Ambiance is a cute casual place. Highly recommend for Hawaiian food in the burbs! read more

I came here to grab lunch with some co-worker and this place does not disappoint. The Kahuku Style Garlic Shrimp was amazing and brought me back to Hawaii when I first had this plate. From the food to the service everything was great. This is a very casual place to check out. read more

I was perusing Yelp and happened upon Da Local Boy so we made a special trip up to Highwood to check it out. There's some street parking in front of the restaurant but it involves parallel parking. The restaurant is pretty small and there are mostly tables for 2-4 people inside. We came on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and we were able to snag a table right away though. Hubby had the loco moco (rice, house burger patties, two sunny side up eggs, topped with house gravy) while I had the Aloha mixed plate (huli huli chicken, short rib, beer battered fish). I shared my dish with our daughter and it was plenty of food. The prices are more expensive than what I was expecting but the portions are large. I enjoyed all three proteins from the Aloha mixed plate, especially the huli huli chicken. I just wish that it came with garlic rice instead of regular rice (garlic rice is extra $). Hubby enjoyed his dish too but he would probably opt to get the mixed plate next time too. Overall, food was good and we will be back again! read more

Best Hawaiian food I've had outside of the islands. Friendly staff, service a little slow but worth the wait. We had a large party and between everyone in the group we had half the items on the menu, all the dishes were great. Spare ribs, pork belly, and garlic shrimp really stood out. read more

Service was attentive, food was plentiful and delicious. First thing you notice upon walking in is the super cute Hawaiian decor and the biggest Aloha. Stopped by for an early lunch with a friend and shared the pork lumpia and the Aloha mixed plate (beer battered fish, shrimp tempura, kalbi). It was so delicious. Everything we ate was so good, we cleaned the plate. Portions are pretty big, so you get what you pay for. There's so much more I want to try and will definitely be back! read more

Just love love love this restaurant! It reminds me of being back in Hawaii when I can't be there. If you are hesitant on what to order, the Huli-Huli, Katsu Chicken, and short ribs won't disappoint and will have you coming back for more! Spread the word and the love! Come down and give it a try! It will soon become a recurring fab read more

Da Local Boy - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Had to update that we have been to their storefront many times now and their food truck countless times. EVERY SINGLE TIME it is spot on. We absolutely love the food and it takes us back to our times in Hawaii. Everyone who works here always is happy to help. The owners are so sweet and passionate about what they do. We cannot express how much we love supporting this business! The storefront is absolutely beautifully decorated and has perfect relaxed vibes. Exactly as if you were in a cafe in Hawaii :) They deserve all the success ! You will not regret trying them out. Our favorites: Poke nachos (so fresh!) Poke bowl (YUM) Pulehu short ribs (to die for!) Mochiko chicken (crunchy and flavorful) Everything else we have tried has been amazing as well!!! read more

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Just posting more pictures from a recent brunch at Da Local Guy. We were pleasantly surprised at how crowded it was so we were glad we came early. Food was so good! read more

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They soft-launched brunch today! We tried the ube panckes, French toast, banana macadamia nut pancakes, and moco loco. Everything came out beautifully, and while my girls thought they would prefer the sweet stuff, it was the moco loco that stole the show! Now we have to go back to try all the other savory options. I'm posting the brunch menu picture and soon they will be open many days starting at 9am. I'd suggest calling first to make sure they are open until Yelp updates the hours. read more

Da Local Boy - Menu - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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This place is absolutely delicious and is my new obsession! I came here recently and tried the skewers, spam musubi, and the Da OG Plate Combo. Every dish was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The plate combo was an amazing. It came with generous portions of chicken and pork belly, along with a side of rice and creamy mac salad. There aren't many places in the area serving Hawaiian food this good, so I'm really glad I found this spot. The restaurant has a cute and chill vibe that totally fits the Hawaiian theme, and located right next to the Metra station. The staff was also super friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing friends and family next time! read more

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as someone born and raised in Hawaii, this place offers authentic local flavors and preparation! I ordered the katsu moco, crispy, saucy, and delicious. the poke nachos were really good too and the wonton chips were light and good contrast in texture for the poke. portions are definitely meant to share waiter and staff was very friendly and checked in on us when needed. the restaurant offers indoor, outdoor seating, plays island music and is decorated with casual, inviting, hawaiʻi decorations read more

Da Local Boy - poke nachos - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Yeah, the 5 stars do this place justice. We kept running into their food truck at various summer festivals and their huli huli chicken platters were always so good and portions were very fair, especially when it felt like every other food truck was trying to overcharge on novelty. After a few times, we learned about their storefront and knew we had to check it out. Wow, its even better. The pork belly is succulent and the right amount of savory and sweet. The mochiko chicken is perfectly fried comes with a delicious drizzled sauce on top. And the huli huli chicken remains our classic favorite, nicely barbequed with the perfect amount of char. Oh, and the portions are HUGE so you'll have more than enough to share your dish with friends and family. The service is always mom-and-pop cheery with a family who clearly knows they can have pride in what they're serving up. Five stars, easily. read more

This place is amazing!!!! Been 3 times, amazing all 3 times. Friendly staff , great food, Love taking people here as they all say the same thing. read more

Really chill vibe and local food is definitely on the mark. Friendly staff. All plate lunches came with rice and Mac salad. The hurricane shrimp was excellent, crunchy good the sauces had a slight heat that my kids noticed but I didn't think it was extreme(and I didn't notice at all until the last bite). I liked how they had green onions all over. Wonderful dish. Mochiko chicken was my fav. It was crunchy, well marinated and just a must have. Some furikake flakes gave it some real depth of flavor too. (After first bite, I knew I loved it) I only had small bites of the combination special. The short ribs were on point, really flavorful. Fried chicken I thought was kind of plain on its own, but it came with a Huli Huli sauce which great for dipping. I also splashed a bit of chili water on it which was delightful. Counter service. Take all credit cards. Found parking along the street Available seating, could accommodate a larger family. High top Bar seating along wall. read more

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We finally made it out to Da Local Boy! If you are a Chicago transplant from Hawaii like we are, you will not be disappointed with the food you order from this spot! If I had the stomach space for it, I would've ordered much more than what we had! We ordered the Ube pancakes, side of fried rice, chicken katsu plate, and braddah Paul's plate. We also ordered a pound of poke to take home. Service was great and we can't wait to go back again! read more

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From the food trailer to a restaurant spot, Da Local boy has been consistent in serving delicious and authentic Hawaiian cuisine. The amazing ambiance and tropical decor gives you the vibe of being in the islands . From the Loco Moco to the Maui Local Deluxe, every bite was a flavor explosion. Service is outstanding and made us feel like ohana. Don't miss this culinary treasure in the heart of HIGHWOOD. read more

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Amazing food! Simple eat-in with good vibes. Excellent carry-out! So happy to have found this gem!

I ordered takeout for the second time from this cafe today. All I can say is. Amazing. It was the second time I try food from Da Local Boy Cafe and it just got even better. I want to thank all the kind staff for providing amazing service and amazing vibe. I would definitely recommend anyone to this cafe 10/10 must try read more

Da Local Boy - The receipt of the most amazing meal ive EVER had. - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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What a pleasant, satisfying meal to start off the weekend. We came in on a Friday evening during dinner time. It was not busy when we arrived however after coming there were handfuls of people coming throughout our stay at the restaurant. Upon walking in the interior is fabulous, the mural is pretty and adds so much to the space. You can walk up to the counter where you are warmly greeted and place your order there. We ordered 3 different plates boxes. We got the mochiko chicken, Da Local Pac, and the Hurricane Shrimp Tempura. All the dishes were delicious, the mochiko chicken was probably my favorite. We have had this dish before in Hawaii and I must say Da Local Boys take on it was fabulous, lots of flavor, crispy and juicy on the inside. I loved how a lot of their dishes had green onions as toppings. The special of Da Local Pac was a nice sampling of some of their dishes. The spare ribs and fried chicken were in there and it was great. The shrimp had some spicy flare to it, were crispy and with lots of flavor. They also had a chili sauce at the table that had a lot of great flavor. The pricing too was pretty decent. Overall a great experience! read more

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Here's what you need to know: incredible food! Just wow. Service was sweet and friendly. Ambiance is very much casual Hawaii - like a local eatery or even grocery store cafe. Unpretentious, Fun and relaxed. The Huli Huli chicken is spectacular, truly. Far exceeded our expectation. The glaze, the moistness, all phenomenal. Rice is clean tasting and well prepared. Mac salad is like Hawaii - a little too heavy on the mayo :) the poke shoyu tuna nachos were excellent too. Tuna was so well marinated and fresh. Eggs cooked perfectly and Portuguese sausage is absolutely delish. Everything was a success, even my son's cheeseburger and fries. Bravo. Very well price too for the north shore read more

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Da Local Boy Cafe is such a gem! Their poke nachos are absolutely delicious loaded with flavor and perfect for sharing. The macaroni salad is hands down my favorite side dish; creamy, fresh, and the best comfort bite to pair with anything on the menu. The vibe is super welcoming, chill, and gives you that Hawaii local vibe where you just want to relax and enjoy your meal. the customer service is always friendly and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better. read more

Da Local Boy - Poke Nachos - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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5 stars all the way across the board! Food great! Service greater! Ambience greatest! read more

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