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    Island Loco

    4.7 (44 reviews)

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    Nick H.

    I can just vision myself sitting on the beaches of Hawaii, enjoying the cool breeze and the sounds of the waves flowing in and out from the shoreline. A clear blue sky as I lean back in my chair on the sand but then I open my eyes... and realize I'm still in Phoenix, enjoying a delicious and fresh Hawaiian infused taco from Island Loco. I've only been to Hawaii once in my life and it has been a long time since I had some really good Hawaiian food. Then, Island Loco came and chef Jeff Chang brought the flavors that reminded me so much of my trip to Hawaii so many years ago. I treated myself to the fusion tacos. Got one of each, the Kalua Pork with Lomi and the Teriyaki Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Salsa. The tacos were a pretty good size and very appealing. The meat just exploded with flavor and the salsa and lomi was very cool and refreshing. Everything was infused really well and was just delicious "Kemika" ("Chemistry") in my mouth. If you ever get the chance, try Jeff's tacos. They are delicious, fresh and full of flavor. And there is a Secret Menu item coming soon for Social Media fans as well so be sure to follow them as well.

    Fusion Teriyaki Chicken Tacos. So good.
    Joe C.

    This truck is amazing, we moved to Phoenix and we're hoping we'd find new favorite food spots. Luckily our apartment had a special event with this truck there giving free fusion tacos and we fell in love. The teriyaki chicken with corn and black bean salsa is delicious, especially topped with sriracha. We've become regulars here, not just for the food but the friendly staff of the truck. I definitely recommend trying this truck, you won't be disappointed.

    a meal in a styrofoam container
    Frank G.

    So had to try this truck so I'm down for Hawaiian food. I ordered the lunch plate combo with kalua pork & teriyaki chicken, scope of rice and Asian cole slaw. I ended up eating the rice 1st 2nd chicken and mixed the pork with the cole slaw. The pork by itself tasted a little dry, the cole slaw added a much needed drench of flavor. The chicken was chewy but good. They give you big portions but i wish the meat had more flavor since the reviews are sided to this? I would try this truck again

    The plate includes 3 meats, 2 scoops of sticky rice and a side
    Sheena M.

    Couldnt decide ending up going with the plate which included 3 meats and 2 sides, a huge portion of food and all of it was excellent. if i had to narrow it down to something smaller next time - would def go with the slaw, pork & chicken although the beef was excellent as well. I'm glad I found that little green truck on Jefferson yesterday

    Fusion Sliders: Kalua pork w/ lomi, Kalua pork w/ slaw, 'n Ckn teriyaki w/ slaw, & mac 'n cheese.
    Aileen B.

    Heard that Island Loco was going to be at Four Peaks' Tasting Room in Tempe on the 3rd and the 5th, so I decided I'd take visiting family and Mom along for our first try of both businesses yesterday. (I've never had IL's products, but the food truck's offerings looked and sounded great, and the reviews have been pretty positive from a few Yelp friends that I know and trust.) For some reason, I was under the impression there would be authentic Hawaiian sweets on board, perhaps shave ice (nope) or malasadas (fryers were being repaired), so it was a disappointment not to find any. However, the food that we had were delicious, if not almost worth the pain I had to suffer soon after consumption! We quickly found theTasting Room via smartphone's Navigation, saw Island Loco's food truck parked in front, and parked at a nearby space (there are many). After ordering our food, we went into the Tasting Room (food would be brought to us), which was just a room with tables and a bar counter that faced a window that looked into the brewery's warehouse. FYI, tours of said warehouse ISN'T available at this location. While FP food isn't available, the manager was able to provide us paper plates and extra napkins to use, since the food truck only supplies the to-go containers in which the foods are placed and sealed plastic utensils, salt and pepper packets, and single napkin. Between three adults and two children, we all were very satisfied with the three entrees ordered: Kalbi short ribs platter, $11-- short ribs marinated in traditional Kalbi sauce, two scoops of hot rice, and choice of side (Hawaiian mac 'n cheese). Fusion Sliders, three for $12 (or two for $9), choice of side and any combo of Kalua pork with lomi, Kalua pork with Asian slaw, and Chicken teriyaki with Asian slaw. I chose one of each, plus more Hawaiian mac 'n cheese. Hawaiian burger with rice, fried egg (any style), and mac 'n cheese, with choice of brown gravy or another topping, which I've forgotten- sorry! Everyone loved the Kalbi ribs! So much so, Mom asked me to order another one to-go. I found the meat to be too fatty, so I just trimmed the non-chewable gristle and put them aside. The flavor is exactly like Filipino pork BBQ (on a stick), so Filipino Yelpers will know exactly how these taste! :) The Hawaiian mac 'n cheese was light, yet flavorful, and the noodles were tender, but not mushy! I enjoyed this side very much, although I did notice too late that the dressing had very skinny and short ribbons of carrots (allergy), so it's one of those "enjoy now, and pay later!" deals for me. :( Mom said the rice was excellent-- she asked me to try it, but then remembered that I had an allergy. She said it was a pity, since the texture was very good! I asked Mom to see if the slider I was looking at was chicken (I try to avoid corn and anything that eats corn as much as possible), and she said it was pork, so after asking her again if it was chicken teriyaki, she said, "no, it's pork," I tried it. Loved the texture, but it was definitely chicken. I knew the slider next to this one was Kalua pork since I could spot it beneath the Asian slaw, but the other one had chunky lomi (Hawaiian-style pico de gallo) and I couldn't see what was underneath it. (Obviously, I couldn't recall which slider came with the lomi topping, or I would not have to ask Mom to identify the meats...) I can't recall if sister enjoyed the pork with lomi, but I think she finished the meat portion. Everyone enjoyed the bites pork and the chicken we all passed around. My only complaint was that the buns felt like pieces of paper on my tongue at times. Y'know, as in when you sometimes take a bite of food wrapped in tissue and you get a chunk of paper stuck to the food? So there I was, picking off what felt like paper on the tip of my tongue, and it's actually a piece of the bun- weird! Otherwise, the buns had a mildly-sweet flavor to them and were tender. They complemented the fillings well. (However, I would wait until they chose another bun variety before ordering "slider" style again, because that paper texture was very annoying.) Niece had the fried egg and brown gravy-topped burger patty over rice and choice side of Hawaiian mac 'n cheese to herself, and while she liked it, she preferred the Kalbi short ribs much more. This entree was basically a Loco Moco, but I think it was named so, because you could also choose Japanese curry topping. Bring cash if you don't want to be charged a card fee. I think I was only charged one time, even though I had two transactions.

    Found them at food truck night at the Peoria Sports Complex.
    Michael C.

    There is a difference between Island Burrito's and almost any other burrito you will find in the Southwest... white rice. I had a pork burrito with Asian slaw. The slaw was great with sweet and tangy dressing with relatively big pieces of shredded cabbage. I really liked the slaw dressing and used it on the second half of the burrito. The burrito itself was all good, but the rice seemed to be the dominate ingredient.

    Julia S.

    Fresh..Delicious & exceptional customer service! This food truck came to our community. First bite, I almost melted..the tacos I ordered were so goooood! The coleslaw was so fresh, crunchy and full of flavor! The meat was very tender and just all around yum! I hope they come by again!

    Everyone loves island loco!

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    14 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Thanks Island Loco. It was like I was back home in Honolulu. Haven't had a great plate lunch in a long time.

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    Zu Izakaya

    Zu Izakaya

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    14.4 km
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Sports on TV

    * Food: Rated 10 out of 10 for high quality * Ambience: Calm…read moreand relaxing, great for a chill time * Service: Friendly and efficient staff.

    The food was actually very good, which makes the experience even more disappointing because the…read moreservice was absolutely horrible. We were a party of 12 visiting on vacation, and none of us are from the area. We ordered spam musubi and a chicken skewer as appetizers. Both appetizers arrived well after our entrees had already been served and we had essentially finished eating. Each time we asked about them, we were repeatedly told, "They're coming." Mind you, these are simple appetizers that should not take anywhere near that long to prepare. When we asked for the third time, we finally asked that the appetizers be cancelled since we had already finished our meal. At that point, the gentleman working the front area , tall, with red hair, loudly yelled from across the restaurant, in an extremely rude and confrontational tone, "It's already on the grill!" There was absolutely no reason to speak to paying customers that way. His response was unprofessional, unnecessary, and honestly created a very hostile and uncomfortable feeling during what should have been an enjoyable dinner, especially while our group was on vacation and simply trying to enjoy a meal together. When the appetizers eventually came out, we left them sitting there because we were already done eating and ended up taking them to go. He eventually told us they would be removed from the bill, which we appreciated, but that did not excuse the way the situation was handled. Again, the food was good, but good food does not make up for poor service and especially not for an employee speaking to customers in an aggressive and disrespectful manner. Management should seriously address how customers are treated, because the interaction with this particular employee overshadowed what could have otherwise been a good dining experience for our party of 12.

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    Zu Izakaya
    Zu Izakaya
    Zu Izakaya - Izakaya dinner

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    Sumomaya - California roll

    Sumomaya

    4.0(2.9k reviews)
    17.4 km
    $$$

    Managed to snag a reservation on a busy Friday night around 7:30. Pulled into the lot and they…read morehave valet which is nice but was able to find an empty spot right in front so didn't need it. The place was buzzing with loud electronic music and tons of people dining -- I think because the ceiling is so high the noise is amplified. Because it was so busy it took a while for the server to come over but he did with waters which was nice but then the menus are all on QR codes -- which is annoying because it is hard to look at everything and because the menu is very confusing it would have been nice to see everything on paper. The menu is confusing because the selections are very odd -- I thought it was a mexican-asian/sushi fusion restaurant -- which I guess it is but it was still really hard to create the best food experience when I couldn't see everything available. My friend was hungry so she immediately put in an order for calamari and I was being called to order the blood orange margarita slushie. When the margarita came it was like nothing I have ever seen before. It looked more like a milkshake or like a creamsicle. I dove in thinking it would be too sweet but it was actually quite delicious and I sucked it back in a second! Also I put in an order for the edamame which sounded really good in the description -- "woodfired" and spicy miso butter -- but when they came they were really spicy and the woodfired element was making me cough, strangely enough -- I couldn't finish them! Finally after waiting forever we got the drinks and apps. It then took another 15 minutes to order our food. Again it was busy and my friend and I were catching up so it wasn't a big deal. We wanted a fairly light dinner so we just ordered one roll -- the Fuego, which had yellowtail and a whitefish, chili, cilantro and cucumber plus a pico de gallo on top -- it was very flavorful -- although a bit spicy for those who are spice wimps like me. Overall, thought it was a good meal but wasn't blown away.

    Food was flawless, but the service (on the night I went) was pretty bad. The guy at the bar was…read moreabout to get off, showed zero interest and then didn't say anything just left and a new girl took over, who also didn't seem like she wanted to be there. Food was prepared flawlessly but they brought my sides out a whole 10 mins before my steak arrived. Ambiance was low lit, cool vibe, reminded me of TOCA interior

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    Sumomaya
    Sumomaya - Carlito's Orange beef

    Carlito's Orange beef

    Sumomaya - Margarita

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    Margarita

    Sake Haus - Kyuubi Roll

    Sake Haus

    4.4(308 reviews)
    1.8 km
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Private events

    I was dying for sushi and this place looked promising. A few things to preface this review: 1) I…read morelove sushi and I typically steer clear of sushi in the desert for obvious reasons. 2) I lean towards sashimi and high quality fish. The service- pretty poor. I was sat in the bar at the back but I basically sat there for a good 5 minutes and nothing. I went back up front and asked to sit at the bar and it was still pretty inattentive, especially considering no one else was even seated in the front room at the time. Never got my water refilled, had to flag them down to put in more food, that sorta thing. The vibes- thought the bar was pretty lit and is prob pretty fun during HH. The food- overpriced for what you get and portion size while the fish and flavors being a smidge above average. I left still hungry after getting the gold omakase, bad and buri roll, and hamachi crudo. The hamachi was the best part of the meal but I'd still expect at least 5 pieces for the price. Anyways, this spot will hit the spot if you have a sushi craving. I can't vouch for the drinks but I assume it more than checks the box in that regard judging by the menu, selection, and vibe. But know that you're in for some trade offs imo.

    Our plan was to have dinner at Pedal Haus before an event, but our plan quickly changed. The…read morebrewery was packed with people watching the last game of the NBA finals AND the World Cup. We shifted gears and went next door to Sake Haus, and I'm so glad we did! Everything was spectacular! First of all--BEST edamame I've ever had! That tallow really adds a richness! And the gyoza had just the right amount of kick to them. We had both the hamachi crudo and the halibut crudo. They were both delicious, but the hamachi was the standout. Hamachi is usually a little too fishy for me, but this just melted in my mouth and left me wanting more. We also had one of the specials, the 808 roll. It was topped with poke, and we would not let them take the plate until we'd scooped up every little morsel! Cocktails and service were excellent as well. We definitely ended up with a pricier meal than what we'd planned next door, but it was totally worth it! I wish I'd taken pics of the beautifully plated dishes, but I was too just eating!

    Photos
    Sake Haus - Hai Melon Highball

    Hai Melon Highball

    Sake Haus - PYT Chef's Special

    PYT Chef's Special

    Sake Haus - Atmosphere at Sake Haus

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    Atmosphere at Sake Haus

    Zen Thai

    Zen Thai

    4.3(390 reviews)
    0.9 km
    $$

    Before going to watch the Dodgers play the Diamondbacks, we stopped by Zen Thai and I'm really glad…read morewe did. It's such a cute little spot. The decor is super adorable, but honestly, the food is what really stood out. We ordered the Tom Kha, Pad Thai, and combination fried rice, and everything was so good. The Pad Thai had amazing flavor. We got everything at a medium spice level, which was perfect for me. I also loved that they let you choose from mild all the way up to extra Thai hot...my fiancé loves super spicy food, so that was a big plus since not every place offers that. We ate everything between the two of us. That's how good it was. The service was also great. He kept checking in on us without being over the top, which I appreciated.

    I ordered the Larb Salad and Beef Stew Soup Noodles. The menu says the Larb Salad is made with…read moreground meat and roasted rice, with a choice of chicken or pork. When my salad arrived, I didn't see any roasted rice, so I asked the server. He had to go back to the kitchen to ask the chef and eventually brought me a small dish of powder, saying it was roasted rice powder. If that's what is actually served, the menu should clearly say "roasted rice powder" rather than "roasted rice." The Beef Stew Soup Noodles also had very little broth. I mentioned this to another waitress, who said she would ask the kitchen to bring me more broth. She never came back with it and didn't follow up until she brought the check. Then I noticed I had been overcharged. The Larb Salad was listed on the menu at $14.95, but I was charged $17.95. When I questioned the waiter, he said it was because I chose chicken and that chicken was the main protein. But I did not add extra chicken--I simply chose chicken as my protein, exactly as the menu allowed. I asked to speak with the manager, and eventually the charge was corrected. However, the waiter brought me the new receipt without any apology or acknowledgment of the mistake. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of attention to detail and customer service. My advice: Read the menu carefully, and most importantly, check your receipt before you pay.

    Photos
    Zen Thai - View from front/entrance towards the back/bar. Note: couches for the two large center tables, very cool! 5/2023

    View from front/entrance towards the back/bar. Note: couches for the two large center tables, very cool! 5/2023

    Zen Thai - Our togo order: Drunken Noodle with beef, Hawaiian Fried Rice, Papaya Salad and Tom Yum soup

    Our togo order: Drunken Noodle with beef, Hawaiian Fried Rice, Papaya Salad and Tom Yum soup

    Zen Thai - Entrance to Zen Thai

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    Entrance to Zen Thai

    Asian Fusion Cafe - Korean Fried Chicken Bowl

    Asian Fusion Cafe

    3.9(23 reviews)
    39.7 km

    Asian Fusion Café is located in the Tramonto shopping plaza. I have been wanting to try this place…read moreand today was the day. There are eight small tables and one large table in the middle of the room. The place was clean. The bulk of their business was take out. Staff were not especially welcoming yet were efficient. We decided on sweet sour chicken and chicken lo mein. Service was quick and the amount of food was generous. The sweet sour chicken was made very well. The batter was light, airy and not at all greasy. The lo mein was greasy and still tasty. I would have preferred it to be drier. The chef used cabbage as the vegetable. I would have preferred an assortment of veggies, but that's just personal. 3 for the lo mein and 4 for the sweet sour chicken. I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. All staff needed to do is smile once in awhile. Shared parking outside.

    Lived here two years and drove by this place countless times but never went in. Today after hike…read moreup Piestewa decided we would give it a try. Was mostly empty this Saturday, one amblivant waitress. Later three other came to get seated, service is slow! How's the food? Actually pretty good for Az. Chicken feet of the frozen kink reheated were four stars, house noodles was as well as Mango shaved ice five stars, not Taiwan good but good for phoenix. Wonder when and if the TSMC crowd will give it a go, the Chinese place down on Happy Valley is hopping with them, should this place.

    Photos
    Asian Fusion Cafe
    Asian Fusion Cafe - Pork Trotters lunch special with added veggies.  Milk tea with Boba

    Pork Trotters lunch special with added veggies. Milk tea with Boba

    Asian Fusion Cafe

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    Uchi Scottsdale - Lobster Maki - $23 (happy hour menu)

    Uchi Scottsdale

    4.4(515 reviews)
    15.4 km
    $$$$

    This is one of my friend's favorite spots to dine and after dining here with her I can easily see…read morewhy! Everything, from the service, food and decor, was exemplary. Ellie was our server and she was so sweet, friendly and attentive. If you dine with them often they will take note of your preferences for your future visits. Gotta love a restaurant that prices itself on the details to make customers feel welcome. We went here for lunch and shared the prix fixe menu which was an excellent way to try a lot off their menu. We had the akami te and hama chili for the first course. I am cilantro adverse so I requested the micro cilantro greens to be taken off the akami te which was an easy adjustment. Note that the sauce on the bottom does have some cilantro mixed in but I didn't notice a strong cilantro flavor with that and it tasted good with the rest of the dish. The hama chili was also really delicious with just the right amount of spice. Our second courses were the crispy rice with added wagyu beef and walu walu. I enjoyed both as they were delicious and visually appealing. We had some sorbet and also tried the

    I've been here several times for dinner, and this is my 2nd time coming for lunch, which is only…read moreavailable Fri/Sat/Sun from 11:30 until 2:30. Honestly, I like lunch as it works better with my schedule, and I get to enjoy the experience midday! All the perks at dinner but a different vibe. I was looking forward to the meal & the experience, and it did not disappoint. To our server, Valerie, you did an amazing job and like a few others, will be forever engraved in my head when I'm coming back. Upfront disclaimer... yes, Japanese. I actually had in mind getting the burger before coming, as the last time I came I chose something different and I had a bite from my friend, and it left a lasting impression for sure. This Burger hits different, and it's part of the prefix menu... and man, it's good!!! Cooked medium and served with a miso aioli and these onions that are not heavy and I think tossed with kimchi. Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't come here without grabbing some sushi. I ended up getting the Hamachi Nigiri and the Maguro Nigiri. To drink, I had the Tsurai cocktail, as I like a little tequila with fruit and we shared the iced tea. My business associate got the Sushi Omakase, which I had before. Bottom line, we were still raving about the food, the service, and just the vibe during the day.

    Photos
    Uchi Scottsdale - Gorgeous ambiance

    Gorgeous ambiance

    Uchi Scottsdale - Crispy Rice Cake - gai lan, mushroom, spiced Japanese curry -  $7 (happy hour menu)

    Crispy Rice Cake - gai lan, mushroom, spiced Japanese curry - $7 (happy hour menu)

    Uchi Scottsdale - Kinoko Nabe - $22.5 - add Gyutoro - +$6

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    Kinoko Nabe - $22.5 - add Gyutoro - +$6

    Island Loco - asianfusion - Updated September 2026

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