Nothing but good words for this family-owned Hawaiian restaurant located in downtown Colorado Springs. We stumbled across this place by complete chance after noticing some people eating outside the restaurant and telling us how good it was. We decided to pop in and order a small kalbi plate and some drinks. The kalbi was super tasty and authentic. Made me feel like I was eating back home in Honolulu. It was so good, we decided to come back the next day for brunch and had the mixed plate with kalbi, garlic shrimp, mac salad, and white rice. Also had some drinks and a spam musubi. The owner came out and introduced herself to us as well. Just as I thought, she too was from Hawaii and told us that all of the pictures hanging up on the walls were taken by her on the west side of Oahu. Since this place is so tiny and easily missed, I would make it a point to visit this place in the future. Wonderful staff, Ono grindz, and a very happy customer :) read more

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Delicious foods on everything we tried from Kalbi, garlic shrimp, macaroni salad, spam musabi. Compared to authentic Hawaiian foods I tried in Honolulu this Roots cafe did very good job on the authenticity. Prices are reasonable for CO and you can pick smaller plate version for cheaper price which I really like. Service is good & fast. The owner who came from Oahu is very friendly & explained to us on her family operation. The atmosphere decors with all Hawaiian pictures, Hawaiian music & moving beautiful Hawaii scenery on the TV. I thought I went back to Oahu when I stepped into Roots cafe. Definitely will be back when I'm around Colorado Springs downtown. read more

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Absolutely enjoy going to lunch at Roots Cafe, one of the best "hole-in-the-wall" spots in downtown Colorado Springs. The staff is always friendly, the service timely, and the food satisfying. If you haven't tried Hawaiian BBQ, I highly recommend Roots. My go to dish is their mini plate of garlic shrimp, served in the shell. Though when I'm craving something sweet, salty, and spicy I have to order Katsu Musubi and add some tabasco sauce! It is breaded spam, fried to perfection, placed on a bed of rice-drizzled with our homemade katsu sauce and wrapped in seaweed. read more

Fantastic little gem downtown. Sorry I had not come in sooner. Loco Moco and the Musubi were very flavorful and generous portions. For being super busy for lunch...our food was received rather quickly. Service was great and super friendly. Tiny place indoors, however, they have a little bit of outdoor seating. Will definitely return! read more

Roots Cafe - Loco Moco is terrific! - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Not only is the food ono grindz. The owner and staff make you feel like Ohana. I've had several things from here but my fav combo is the loco moco and garlic shrimp. Mac salad is on point! Stop in and support this local spot! read more

Roots Cafe - Loco Moco and Garlic Shrimp plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

I was born and raised in Hawaii, been craving some good local style food. Roots Cafe helps tame that craving. The food was delicious! Reminiscent of the kind of food I grew up on. They even had Aloha shoyu on the table, only shoyu (soy sauce) worth it's salt! read more

Roots Cafe - Chicken katsu and Kalbi ribs - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

We visited Roots Cafe after hearing good reviews and being in the area. It's a family-owned spot with a clean, simple, unassuming interior, much like a cozy hole-in-the-wall eatery. The menu is straightforward--you order and pay at the counter and they bring the food to your table. The kalbi ribs were flavorful, but the meat cuts were small and very thin which made them less satisfying. The chicken katsu was dry. Both the loco moco and chicken teriyaki were just okay. While the family-friendly vibe and welcoming atmosphere were nice, the portions felt a little on the smaller side and the inconsistent flavors left us dissatisfied. It seemed like there's potential but the experience didn't meet our expectations. read more

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I was excited to try this unique spot in downtown Colorado Springs. Upon stopping by for some lunch, I found there is no parking available for patrons. The local traffic makes navigating to a spot difficult, so keep an eye out for parking spots before arriving. The restaurant is small, with a handful of tables, but ordering was made easier by the photo display of items along the wall. Ordering went smoothly (though no eye contact) as I ordered a mixed item plate (Katsu and kalbi ribs) and a side of cucumber kimchi. I ordered to go since there were some weird red pill guys having a pep talk and some cop looking guy in the corner. No women patrons and the convos(and bible verses on the wall) made me extremely uncomfortable. I had high hopes for this place, but the mixed plate was very meh. I've had lots of Hawaiian food and good Hawaiian food at that, but the Mac salad tasted like straight cheap mayonnaise and nearly four bucks for a tiny cup of cucumber kimchi (that tasted off as well), so I was pretty disappointed. In between the uncomfortable restaurant experience and the mediocre food, I won't be back. The cashier was nice enough, but I noticed she was much more chatty with others and while I was nice, her lack of hospitality was also noted. read more

Roots Cafe - Mixed plate with kalbi ribs and chicken katsu, Mac salad, and cucumber kimchi - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

This was my second time visiting. The food is amazing. Tastes like a home cooked meal. The restaurant itself doesn't sit very many and no frills but the food delivers. Too bad they didn't have any desserts today which I've heard they make fresh. We tried the kalbi, garlic shrimp and loco moco. They were all good though the garlic shrimp is a standout for me. It's fried well and has a nice crisp outside to it and is tasty. We also got the stir fried veggies on the side and that was very good also. Service is great. Overall, I highly recommend this place!! read more

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Exactly what I've been craving! I've passed by this place so many times, but wanting some good Hawaiian food made me finally search this place out. It's so perfect on the inside, definitely gives "hole in the wall" excellence you know you get from places that are family owned. Go support local small businesses like this one instead of the big business moving here! Delicious, kind people, comforting environment, and definitely getting my business again! read more

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This place was Ono! Truly authentic Hawaiian vibe way to represent in Colorado Springs. Loco Moco put me to sleep!! I will come back before I leave. read more

Roots Cafe - Loco Moco, Spam Musubi - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Place is small and hidden away with good vibes inside. Food was delicious, I've had Kalbi (short ribs) many times but this place had an extra kick of flavor. The chicken katsu was also very crunchy and fried well. Also had a side of spam masubi, they definitely know what they are doing here! read more

Roots Cafe - Kalbi & Chicken Katsu Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

We found this place on our spring break trip in 2024. We got there 30 minutes before closing and the lady was so kind and didn't rush us. We told her we hadn't had food like this since our vacation to Hawaii and she said they were from there. Food was hot and delicious so happy we were able to dine there. read more

I was beginning to enjoy my meal when I couldn't help but notice a large strand of what seems to be facial hair hopefully in my meal. I am beyond disappointed with the quality of the meal. After finding that strand of hair I contacted GrubHub about it and hopefully I do receive a refund because that is insane. Hopefully the workers of this establishment increased their hygiene or proper care of food. read more

Roots Cafe - The Kalbi Rib plate with hair inside - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

The flavors will blow your taste buds away!! We are visitors from CA and we found Roots on the Maps app. The mini plate is just the right serving size. I had the short ribs upon their recommendation, one of my family members had the Chicken Katsu, and the other family member the Teriyaki Chicken. All three plates were beyond chef's kiss. We will be in Colorado for 4 more days.... We will be back for sure!! read more

We love this family-run place. The food is delicious, service is excellent, and friendly staff!

We've always gone to L&L when we're craving local food and saw that this place opened up a location so we had to try it. I ordered to-go and the person on the phone was so friendly and upbeat. We ordered the mixed plate, teriyaki chicken and chicken katsu. The kids plate came with a juice box. Portion size was good, but the food was so flavorful. It reminded us of eating at L&L in Hawaii. I wish they offered mochiko chicken though because that's something we miss. We'll definitely be back here to try the other ono things on the menu. read more

Ambiance, service, and food were all amazing! Highly recommend you stop in this cute local spot in the springs!

Absolutely love there's a Hawaiian place in the springs! Great food and great people. Parking can be a bit confusing for first timers. The place is tiny and I hope they continue to thrive. read more

Highly recommend this spot for all your Hawaiian cravings!! This place is a family ran business with all the love and down home goodness ... food for the soul vibes! Mama D, and family truly are bringing us delicious Hawaiian food at an incredible price for the portions! So glad we found this place as we will be coming here frequently now! Can't recommend this place enough!! Thank you Mama D for an amazing dinner and conversation! See you soon! read more

Roots Cafe - Teriyaki Chicken dinner plate with Rice and Mac salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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Roots Café food truck! These grindz are no ka oi! So tasty! I had Loco Moco with rice and Mac salad. Best I've had in ages! read more

Roots Cafe - Roots Café Colorado Springs! - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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OMG!!!! First time here. The food was delicious and the staff friendly. The place is small and cute, not catered for big parties. This is a must try!!! I will definitely be back. read more

I accidentally stumbled into Mama's Cafe and from the moment I walked through the door and felt aloha not only through words but through actions and other communications. For a few brief moments I felt at home. They immediately fell in love with my little dog and even all customer service aside the food is so ono(delicious), it broke da mouth! (My taste buds dance). This has officially become my place for comfort food. Just a few days ago I walked into the cafe after my dog had been kidnapped and they didn't even have to wait for me to open my mouth to say anything they knew that my heart was shattered. Every single person on staff jumped in and wanted to know who messed with our Ohana. Here I am, one little hanai boy, lost in the world, and something so simple like a Musubi can make someone know that we will find our little Pono boy. Every time I walk into this restaurant even is broken as my little heart is I feel loved and accepted and acknowledged. The dining area they're serving area and the kitchen area is the most spotless clean places I have seen in a long time. They took the concept of Hawaiian barbecue and gave it a little bit of a cafe vibe, with just a dash of Hawaiian blessing. I'm never going to L&L ever again, and about the only thing that I can wish for is a decent Lau Lau. Mama's musubi is filled with just enough love I almost forget that a lau lau is even an option in other places. I miss my hale, i miss my hanai ohana. My little Pono'Kai was loved the moment we met, and as picky as he is, even my little doggo loves Makiahine's Kalbi rib bones. Thank you everybody for filling me with hope and love and aloha on whatever random occasion I pop in. I don't have to miss getting my spam musubi before or during work everyday anymore either. I guess I could keep rambling or I can wrap things up and just finish by saying isn't my review enough? Why haven't you gone in to eat at Roots Cafe yet? Make sure you get Mama's Kailua Park, don't skimp on the musubi, and no matter which plate lunch you get, you have to get dessert. May I recommend the banana haupia? read more

Colorado springs Hawaiian gem, great quality food, do yourself a favor and get some Kalbi ribs.

I SO wholeheartedly recommend this place...it's a 2+ thumbs up kind of place! I don't know why I'm just now writing this review, because we had Roots cater our company Christmas party a few months ago, but better late than never! They were above and beyond in every way...they took a huge order for us, provided us with WAY more than enough food (everyone got to take home leftovers!), and people were raving about it all night long! Loved the pork, the chicken (they even were able to provide GF chicken!), the veggie combo we got was phenomenal, and the mochi cake - mwah! The food was amazing, and the service equally so! Can't wait to have it again! read more

Da Ono Grindz at Roots Cafe! If you haven't been by to see Mama D you're missing out! The food is outstanding: kalua pork, katsu chicken, garlic shrimp, today's special Portuguese sausage, mixed vegetables, kimchi, rice and of course Mac salad. Totally enjoyed the conversation with Mama D and sharing recent sunset photos from Oahu Mahalo Sis! See you the next time we're in town!! read more

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Love this place! They are fairly new but have gained my loyalty. Food is always consistent and the hospitality is amazing. It always feels like you're grabbing lunch at your auntie's house. read more

Roots Cafe - Kalbi short ribs & chicken katsu platters - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Came for lunch and enjoyed the nice weather and friendly service. Hubs had pork and shrimp combo and I had teriyaki tofu and the girl had garlic shrimp and musubi. All of the food was fresh, yummy, and made to order. Very friendly staff & lots of aloha spirit- try it out! read more

Roots Cafe - Shrimp pork combo - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

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This is the second time I've been here this month. The service & the food make you feel like you were invited over to your favorite aunt's house for dinner. Literally my favorite place & OMG auntie does her thing in that kitchen! Every plate comes out tasting delicious. The katsu is so yummy too the seasoning is perfect. The mac salad isn't too mayo tasting & seasoned to perfection. Of course last but not least the spam musubi are my son's FAVORITE. The banana bread was so soft & also the most important the service. All the aunties & sis working the register are all so sweet every time we come in & they always seem to remember us which is feel like family! read more

Roots Cafe - Chicken tery plate with sushi rice - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Food is amazing and so are the people here. Definitely make you feel so welcome! If you're in the area I recommend stopping by and checking it out!! read more

Talk about comfort all around. Immediately welcomed with an aloha and friendly service. The food was delicious and the staff even better. You can tell mama D really LOVES to do this - her food is proof of that! Thank you guys for the hospitality and great eats. We'll be back again! read more

Roots Cafe - Teriyaki chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Thanks for working with me on my catering order! I like your chicken katsu and the fried saimin was fun! We'll order more next time! My friends tried new food and liked it! read more

Love this hole in the wall! Great customer service, very friendly, and best of all the food! You get more food than you expect so be ready. #MamaD read more

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I can't even begin to describe how amazing this place is! The food is absolutely phenomenal and was exactly what I was looking for . The staff was extremely friendly. I honestly plan to go here at least once a week. read more

We enjoyed the taste of Hawaii at our office Christmas party. Roots Cafe catered the event with a delicious variety of foods! There were even options for various dietary restrictions. Excited to try the rest of the menu in the future. Recommend ordering the Kalua Pork, Kalbi Ribs, and Butter Mochi. read more

Roots Cafe - Catered meal, we had the ribs, the kalua pig, the teriyaki chicken, veggies, rice, mac salad, and the butter mochi cake. All delectable! - Hawaiian Near Me - Colorado Springs, Colorado

Some of the BEST katsu I have ever had!! Kalbi ribs were on point too! I highly recommend this family owned business. MAHALO!!

In a post on Facebook, dated 15 Jul, it says "Roots Cafe is closed until further notice." - rootscafecos on FB They apparently looking for a more suitable location for their growing business. read more

This is my go-to place every trip I make to the Springs. I live in Hawaii and the aloha spirit is definitely felt in this place. The food is just like home cooking, and the portions are big. By far better than L&L or other "Hawaiian" eateries (and I've tried them all!) read more

Cute lil cafe with nice people! I ate the Musubi. Food is great can't wait to try it all :)

Someone from my neighborhood page recommended this restaurant and I had been craving Kalua Pork. The stars aligned and I the hubby and I stopped by today. Aloha Cafe did not disappoint!! The Kalua Pork and Teri chicken, Mac salad were everything I wanted and more!! It was so good that no words were spoken between me and my husband while we ate. After we feasted we both agreed that this was our new spot! We tried L&L and was super disappointed. We feel so much better giving our money to a local restaurant than a restaurant chain. The vibes and food are so good. Give this restaurant a chance! You will not be disappointed!!! read more