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

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Finding Hawaiian food in the Midwest isn't easy. It's probably as easy as finding a Polish Buffet in Waikiki. I'm going out on a limb here, having eaten at a half dozen Hawaiian restaurants in the Midwest...this one, Da Local Boy, is the BEST. Two words: Pork Belly. Try it with the platter, mac salad and rice on the side, or combine with their chicken. Chicken katsu is also a solid choice. Service is great, decor is simple, but puts you in an island mood. Get your hoki (butt) in here and dine fine on Hawaiian. read more

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This place sells some really good Hawaiian food! The service has always been pretty good too! It is in Lake Forest so it is a bit pricey. You can expect to pay about $20-$30 per person. The place is a bit hidden and small, but it's a nice place to eat for brunch/lunch. I've had their Mochiko Chicken and Huli Huli chicken plate and they both have been really good! I've also tried their Chicken Katsu plate, but I would personally recomend other menu items instead. read more

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

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This was a great dining experience. The music playing was really chill and it was playing at the perfect (soft) volume. I dined out with a couple who are both my friends. I enjoyed my kalbi short-ribs and katsu chicken dish. I dislike chicken normally and will only eat katsu at Japanese restaurants. This was the best piece of chicken cutlet I have ever had. It was served with their special sweet barbecue sauce. Kudos for cooking such fresh chicken that was not at all dry. The Kalbi short-ribs were well cooked. The flavor was very good. My friends had similar dishes and are regulars. Great place. read more

I like these small hole in the wall spots. Tasted their food when they were selling out of the food truck, and glad they now have a brick and mortar. If you have a Hawaiian spot and is not welcoming... might as well quit. lol. These people are welcoming and good service. Food tasted great and portion size is good. Definitely recommend. read more

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great small restaurant the Hulu chicken and pork back combo were exceptional had the nachos surprisingly excellent server and service was outstanding restaurant was not to busy we went early but the carry out bags were stacking up highly recommend read more

This place is so cute. It's a hidden gem! Newer small business in the area and has quickly gained traction. This place has been recommended to me multiple times and I finally made it. We started with two orders of spam musubi, it was so savory and quite filling. We ordered a side of garlic furikake fries (w/ garlic aioli?) and it's plenty for 2-3 people. The fries tasted so fresh and natural. I ate the majority of the fries before the meal . We got the grilled pork belly (comes w/ side of rice and macaroni salad), the pork belly was flavorful and had like a charcoal/smoky, off the grill taste, so yummy! We also had the Kahuku style garlic shrimp (comes w/side of rice and macaroni salad), we had great shrimp size, all bathed in the garlic butter, well cleaned and cooked. They were very easy to peel, normally it's a struggle. Portions are well priced. The servers were very generous checking-in and filling up water. I loved it and can't wait to try more of their dishes. read more

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This place was a 10/10 in all aspects. Customer service was friendly and welcoming. Food was ready fairly quick and the taste was 50/10. It's a small place, but they have a decent amount of seating available. All three items we tried were full of flavor and left you wanting more. Poke Nachos could have used a bit more tuna, but that's just me being greedy. Will be dreaming of those wonton chips. Huli huli chicken was so tender and had such a delicious taste. Serving of chicken was massive and well worth the price. Spam musubi although very simple was absolutely delicious. Will be back to try out more on the menu read more

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I wanted to try this place out and let me tell you... SO WORTH IT! I got the mochiko chicken and furikake fries and it was so ONO! I'm from Hawaii so it felt like being at home in there! Ambience, service and food was amazing! read more

Da Local Boy - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

I went to eat a late lunch here while in Highland Park based on Yelp reviews. My boyfriend and I split the Huli Huli Chicken, which was very flavorful and came with rice and macaroni salad. It was a very nice serving size for the two of us. The people were nice, including Nate, who is the owner and one of the chefs! He shared his story with us and how he was blessed that his family's house survived the big fire & how he started this restaurant as a tent 1st and then the food truck, and now the restaurant. They still have a food truck too if you ever are hosting a party or event, I would highly recommend them! The atmosphere is casual and welcoming with a big mural on the wall, pretty videos playing and nice music. read more

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Never would have found it, if not for a friend who raved. Had lunch and it was terrific.

Ain't nobody doing it like Da Local Boy in the northshore. Not one bad item on this menu! Do not sleep on this delicious island cuisine. Do not be afraid if the menu items seem foreign to you. Venture bravely into new food geography and ascend! Service is outstanding. Being inside feels like being on the sunny beaches of Kahala. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Amazing FOOD!!! Amazing Customer Service. I remember when they were a Food Truck and the food was Amazing, the people who serve you were even more. Amazing 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10 would recommend!!! read more

Visited This food truck at its stop at Tighthead Brewery tonight! I really like the vibe of the truck and they cook good food! Service was friendly and they were super popular amongst the brewery crowd. Poke Nachos: yum! Love the sauce and the fresh veg! This mixed nicely with the fresh tuna and chips. Highly recommend. Mochiko Chicken: my favorite dish of the night. The chicken was perfectly crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. When you pair it with the sauce they serve it with? What a delicious bite! Also the plate came with rice and this amazing macaroni salad! Garlic Shrimp: shrimp were jumbo sized! Shrimp was ok. Not my favorite. Da Combo: wow that pork belly was so tender and delicious. Very savory. The Huli Huli Chicken had a nice smoke and my husband really enjoyed it. Recommendations: Poke Nachos and Mochiko Chicken! read more

Da Local Boy - Da Combo and Garlic Shrimp - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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Blown away by how delicious this Hawaiian food was! Everything was cooked to perfection, with balanced flavors and tons of fun textures. I actually couldn't pick a favorite thing I ate -- everything was truly outstanding. Really nice people running the operation too. Highwood is lucky to have Da Local Boy! read more

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

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I really enjoy this Hawaiian cuisine food truck. I tried this place after recently returning from Hawaii and their flavors were so authentic and delicious! I really enjoyed their chicken plate and their mac salad was scrumptious. Every single thing on the plate from the protein, side, and rice are prepared with precision, packed with flavor and their textures are on point. I also got to try the lava flow drink which is like a mixed piña colada and wow - sooo good! Not too sweet, you can really taste the pineapple, and so refreshing on a hot summer day. What a gem of a business to have in the area! read more

Da Local Boy - a drink with a straw and a pineapple garnish - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

This was my first time here, and I couldn't recommend it enough! The staff was friendly and very attentive. The physical space was bright and lively featuring art painted on the wall by a local resident! The food was delicious. The flavors were bursting in my mouth and the char broiled taste was awesome. Can't wait to come back and try more off the menu! read more

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Oh wow... If you are looking for a local spot with flavorful food and delicious drinks then you NEED to go to Da Local Boy! I ordered the Huli Huli chicken which is their boneless chicken meal marinated in their house Hawaiian soy sauce. It smelled amazing and tasted even better! The white rice and mac salad were the perfect sides. For my drink, I ordered a Lava Flow which is a piña colada with a strawberry swirl. It was so flavorful and complimented my meal. Though it's a smaller building, there is a wall of windows at the entrance, allowing for the space to feel very bright and welcoming! The staff is also very kind and helpful if you have any questions while you order. I highly recommend visiting Da Local Boy if you are in the neighborhood! read more

Da Local Boy - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Excellent loco moco and mochiko chicken. Poke nachos were beautiful and it's a bit sweet. Pork belly is crispy and very fatty. Great selection of canned juice and we will definitely be back to try the huli huli chicken. Only thing I'd change is the styrofoam containers which the food is served for dine in or carryout. read more

Food - hit the spot, very tasty.. we trued the huli huli , the ube mochi pancake , nacho poke , short ribs with katsu Service- very friendly, the owner and chef even came out to greet my brother in law who was celebrating his birthday , and they were busy . Ambiance - aloha feel read more

Fantastic, tasty food with good service. Can't wait to return and try more items off the menu!

My go to place for hawaii foods . Love the huli huli chicken but I will be back for the other menu . read more

Da Local Boy - Huli huli chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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A great taste of Hawaii! We had the mixed plates with huli huli chicken, mochiko chicken and grilled pork belly. Big portions. read more

Da Local Boy - Huli huli chicken and grilled pork belly! - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

I've been following this food truck for a while now, but I live very far from the areas they serve. So when they opened up their brick and mortar spot, I knew I had to make the drive out to try it sometime. I was in the area recently so I made sure to stop by for dinner. I was surprised to see that the dining room was empty on a Sunday evening. The interior is cute and decorated nicely. Since I know I won't be coming back anytime soon, I made sure to order as many entree options as possible. I ended up ordering Braddah Paul's plate (mochiko chicken, grilled pork belly, poke), Surf n Turf (kahuku garlic shrimp, pulehu beef short ribs) and a spam musubi. The garlic shrimp and the beef short ribs were my favorite, followed by the mochiko chicken and then the grilled pork belly. Poke and spam musubi were also good, but I wouldn't come to just order those. The mac salad was good, pretty sweet and heavy on the mayo. I would have liked a little more rice with the large amount of meat that comes with the plates. Overall, the food was very good. I wish it was closer to home in the western suburbs so I can come by more often! read more

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What a nice find to have a tasty and hip Hawaiian spot in the burbs. I got the Mochiko chicken, which was a battered chicken that had a perfect crisp and balance of sweet and savory. The mac salad was very tasty too and above average (though the spectrum of mac salad is not very wide), and my kids really liked it, which is saying something. You can't go wrong with the chicken katsu, though I'd say the Mochiko chicken is a bit more interesting and flavorful. All in all, I'll be back for more :) read more

Great food. Great service. Had the poke bowl. Delicious! Loco moco can't go wrong! A gem in Highwood! Highly recommend!!! read more

We have traveled to Hawaii many times and it great having great food from there local. Poke nachos yum read more

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

Had an amazing take out meal experience. I ordered the Mac Salad it was creamy and perfectly balanced. Garlic Fries could use a bit more flavor, but still enjoyable. Chicken Katsu + Short Rib both were tender and packed with flavor. The OJ Plate the pork belly and grilled chicken were cooked to perfection. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the service was wonderful. They were out of the Lava Flow (virgin strawberry pina colada drink) which was disappointing, but I'll be back! Highly recommend this spot for anyone craving authentic Hawaiian food! read more

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Food was great except the mac salad. It didn't taste like any Mac salad I've had in hawaii. Service was good they were all very polite. It's a VERY small place but we still enjoyed the food very much. read more

The food is amazing and there is no other way to put it. The spam musubi is perfect and the poke will have your mouth watering. I think this is as good as it gets in terms of Hawaiian food outside of Hawaii. read more

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Da Local Boy is one of the best meals I've had in months! I had seen it on yelp but an Instagram post had me rushing to get in! I got the Poke Tacos, Ube Pancakes, Mochicko Chicken, and Garlic Shrimp. Every dish gets a 10/10 and I would order again. I am eager to come back and try more on the menu! read more

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We had an amazing experience with Da Local Boys as our wedding late night eats! They were professional, attentive, and incredibly accommodating. They let us customize our food with our favorite dishes mochiko chicken, spam masubi, and huli huli chicken. Our guests talked about their food days after our wedding. They went above and beyond to ensure that everything was perfect, and their presentation was stunning. Thank you Nate and Diane for making our special day perfect. See you at the restaurant soon. read more

Best place to eat if you're in the area. I ordered the Kolbe ribs and chicken katsu plates. The portions were plentiful and fresh off the grill. Mouth watering ribs, full of flavor and classic Hawaiian Mac kicked up a notch. The atmosphere is definitely laid back Islander style with a taste of Polynesian music playing as we enjoyed our meals. The owner, Diann, came out to greet us and made us feel like Ohana. Get here as often as you can. You won't be disappointed! read more

Food is fantastic. I've been craving authentic Hawaiin for years since my last visit there. I'd try everything on this menu!

So, I know nothing about Hawaiian food, or Hawaiian culture in general, so I'm the last person to ask about whether Da Local Boy is authentic Hawaiian. However, I do know about tasty, and Da Local Boy is definitely that. The pork belly, the chicken (both mochico and huli huli), all fantastic. I tried the loco moco, but it didn't work for me. Seemed a little dry. As I said, don't know if that's how it's supposed to be. The Kahuku garlic shrimp were really nicely flavored, but the shells were tough and chewy rather than crispy and tasty as I'm told it should be. The plates come with macaroni salad, which is sweet and nice, and rice which is plain and makes a good background for whatever your protein is. The restaurant is clean and cheerful, but very simple. Not the place to impress someone, but fine for a quick lunch by yourself or with a friend. The staff are friendly and helpful, and patient with my ignorance. We haven't tried their brunch yet, but we definitely will. read more

Stopped in on a whim because I saw they were open on Mothers Day morning. Grabbed a plate for my grandma and I to split; the woman working the register was very friendly and helped me make a good choice. I got the "Mochiko Chicken", something I never had before and I LOVE it. My grandma is super sensitive to spice and the wasabi-infused sauce is mild yet delicious. The chicken is perfectly crispy and gives you a little bit of a fight to bite it in half which makes it feel all the more rewarding when you get that burst of flavor. They give you a proper plate with sides for the Mochiko Chicken (white rice and pasta salad) for $14, a very reasonable price. The place is super cute with painted walls and nice decor and a good amount of seating. Definitely coming back, I'm feeling fat and happy!! read more

Da Local Boy - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

New addition to the neighborhood, you know this island raised girl had to check it out. Clean facilities, small dining area and outdoor seating. Walk up order/pay and they bring the food to your table. Right across from the train and surrounded by other shops and bar/restaurants. Island radio playing in the background and great mural on the walls. The food was delicious and then drinks were fun and tasty. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying all the options. My first order was the Poke nachos they use wonton chips, it's V saucy and V spicy. It had a great amount of fish on there each bite was exploding with flavor. The lilikoi bang drink was delicious idk what's in it but I'll be having that again. And lastly, the main dish which I ended up taking home because it was just so much food, the chicken Katsu and kalbi ribs. Can't go wrong with the katsu it hit the spot and the kalbi was good tho not the best I've had same with the mac salad and I love a mac salad. That's just my opinion, it's not going to keep me from going back and trying everything eventually. I would recommend this spot for friends missing island food or wanting to try new food even if they've never been to Hawaii. read more

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Da Local Boy is one of my favorite Hawaiian pop ups! I was finally able to catch them after a few months of not having them at the Highwood Gourmet Market. The seafood hush puppies were amazing and had a good amount of seafood in them. The hurricane tempura shrimp were crunchy and loved the sauce that was drizzled on top. You can't ever go wrong with their poke nachos too, those wonton chips & fresh ahi tuna is such great combo! Their poke is my favorite thing that they offer, if you ever get the chance to order just the poke, do it!! The pork belly bao buns was something I had ordered when they were offering delivery when I first started ordering from them. The fluffiness of the bao bun and the marinated pork belly was too good. I love these guys and can't wait until they are able to open their food trailer! read more

Da Local Boy - Seafood hush puppies, poke nachos, hurricane shrimp tempura - Hawaiian Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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We've now tried Da Local Boy for dinner and breakfast and we've loved both! Food is excellent, service is quick, vibe is very fun.

Literally.....Literally..... the best chicken on the planet earth!!! Go and get the Huli Huli Chicken plate, do not speak after that, wait 10-15 mins for them to homestyle cook you the BEST CHICKEN ON THE PLANET. This place is a month away from never being able to get a table!!!! read more