Pacific Flame Island Grill is a hidden gem, literally not figuratively, in North Austin on Pond…read moreSprings Road. You literally can miss it as I did when I initially tried to find this food truck. It is located near Ruku mechanic shop and shaved ice food truck after your drive down a relatively long path. Pacific Flame Island Grill has been touted as the lead for Austin's most authentic Pacific Island BBQ. According to Tammy, the owner, this family-owned truck serves authent ic pacific island food from Maui, Guam, Philippines, and Okinawa. It was nice talking to Tammy as she was super engaging. She draws you in with the Pacific Island history, cooking techniques and family traditions. I learned Tammy's family has a family crest which is tattooed on family members only. You have to obtain permission to get the tattoo and only one woman creates the tattoo. She indicated that their family is mainly from an area near Hana affectionately called the divorce road to Hana. My hubby and I drove up the road to Hana, which was treacherous...many one lane areas where only one car can pass and many blind curves. While the hubs and I are still married, next time we will take a helicopter to the waterfalls in Hana. Smile. I ordered the Teriyaki & Shoyu Chicken bowl. The chicken was tender with a deep, smoky char that Pacific Flame Island gets from their black iron grill. The accompanying rice was flavorful and enjoyable to eat. Win, win...all the way...food and island family!

Food truck tucked away in the back lot of nowhere, Pacific Flame is worth seeking out to get the…read moreHawaiian food fix you didn't know you needed. There's plenty of outdoor seating but little shade, so you decide if you want to brave the heat or eat in your car. The plate lunch is a classic and they do it proud here. It typically consists of a protein, a few scoops of rice and macaroni salad. I went with the Huli Huli chicken, which is more or less grilled teriyaki cooked with extra pineapple tang. They give a good amount of meat for the price. Food takes a bit of time but I appreciate them cooking it fresh. They got other classics like loco moco too!

This is a little family Navy Veteran owned spot, located in a BINGO Hall. I came for the Mac…read moreMusubi, stayed for the Garlic Chicken Please support this place!

I'm not sure how this place isn't more known. Great food…read morewith greater service. You want some real island grindz, stop here! Located inside the bingo hall next to the gym. Soon as you walk in, you smell the food. The garlic chicken is my favorite. The Mac salad is awesome. And the musubis are awesome as well. Be sure to stop in the spot if you can!

I love working with these amazing dancers! The show is so high quality. The kids and parents love…read moreto learn and dance along. They bring some amazing props. They are super professional and easy to work with. 5 stars for sure!

Our Elks Lodge had a Luau event June 25, 2022, I hired the…read moreHula Dancers to perk up our evening. The ladies were terrific!!! The dances, costumes and their music was perfect. They posed with our guests and members for pics afterwards. It was a marvelous evening...and I am still getting compliments on hiring them. Hope to hire them next June 2023 and do it again. Marilyn NB Elks Lodge

I ordered from Doordash because they had a deal going on…read more I got the Molokai and the Huli Huli combo. I thought the plate would have one on one side of the plate and one on the other, but the meats seemed combined so I couldn't tell which was which. There is a lot of rice and meat, and there is even more rice under the chicken which tastes great from soaking up the sauce. They include sauce on the side, and you can add on more too! I liked the teriyaki one better than the pineapple.

These bowls are massive. If you'd like to be in a food coma, this is your spot. If you want to…read moresplit one order into two meals, potentially three, this is also your spot. Online nutrition seems absurdly inaccurate as the luau pork has nearly double the protein of any chicken but that's a separate issue. Big if true though! I'd skip the mac salad. I'm not sure if I had a bad batch but I didn't get a good impression as the mac salad was firm, stale, and challenging to eat. It makes up a whole fourth of the plate but luckily you are able to substitute. More rice, vegetables, or even their pineapple skewer sound fantastic. I've had tons of different mac salads and appreciate all the variations enough where I'm not picky but this was a fail. Large Mixed Plate w/ Huli Huli Chicken and Luau Pig - chicken is juicy and tender with a nice glaze of huli-huli as a simple sugary soy sauce. Beneath the chicken rests a bed of rice marinating in sauce which is super delicious. On the other side is a pile of kalua pork which is a flavorful but slightly dry. Extra sauce is extremely helpful. Unfortunately underneath isn't a marinated pool of rice but you can do it yourself. I'll note that the foundation of rice does lead to a misleading idea that it's packed with meat, but the portions are still very hefty. Mac salad was poor as noted above.

An out of town trip for the Memorial Day weekend brought us to Austin. First day, we were looking…read moreto eat out for dinner and drove out to Lake Austin at Oyster's Landing and decided to give Hula Hut a try. First look it has the tropical Polynesian theme. But definitely a packed place with all the seating a bit tight. Looking at the menu it was a mix of Tex-Mex Polynesian fusion items. We decided to start off with the Mexonesian shrimp flautas, main course was the back ribs and dessert Cinnamon Toast Crunch fried ice cream. The appetizer was an interesting mix of what I would call something between a stuffed jalapeño popper and cheese wonton. Crispy, saucy, cheesey and a sweet plum sauce to balance out the flavors. The ribs definitely did not come to play. Nice size rack of ribs, saucey spicy bbq, tortillas to soak up the flavor and side potatoes plus cannot forget about the wet wipes. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch fried ice cream is a monster of a dessert. Softball sized scoop, crunchy Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, whipped cream and chocolate syrup/caramel streaks. Definitely shareable. Overall it was a straightforward visit and the view is nice next to the lake at Hula Hut. Our staff was nice and our server Violet was great. My only issues why I did not make it a 5 star were really small things that I was attentive to: *Though we had our silverware and drinks, when the appetizer came out, there were no plates even when given the chips and salsa at the table and had to ask one of the food runners. *My ribs were good and the portion great but when I think of ribs, I would think of some tenderness to the meat and a little bit of fall of the bone action. I found the ribs to be overcooked in some where the meat felt a bit tough. And I would run my fork through the rib meat to check the tenderness and it did give me some push back. Definitely cooked through nonetheless but maybe a little too long. The potatoes were an interesting take too. Definitely different versus fries so it kind of surprised me to have these instead of the traditional take.

We had such a fun experience at Hula Hut. We sat outside by the lake and it was the perfect setting…read morewith the fans going and a really beachy relaxed vibe. It felt like a mini vacation. I ordered the chicken enchilada and it was massive. Honestly big enough to share. It was super cheesy which I personally loved but my friend thought it was a little too much cheese. Definitely something to keep in mind depending on your preference. The service was good and the overall atmosphere really made the meal. Between the lakeside view and the laid back energy it is a great spot to hang out and enjoy a meal with friends.

Drinks only review…read more Ambiance: Feels like you've entered a different world. LOVE. We were at the bar, but service was good. Drinks are not cheap, but would you expect them to be? Overall just really fun, different environment

Tiki Tatsu Ya on S. Lamar feels like you have been transported to a different place and time. It…read morereeks of Caribbean or tropical flavor. GPS Alert: The restaurant/bar is accessed from behind. It is hidden behind a travel agency façade. When you step into Tiki Tatsu Ya your sensory motor goes into overdrive...it's small...almost cave like appearance, dark and dank lighting, shell horn and hard water sound effects pouncing against your ears, and tropical artifacts hanging from the ceiling. Its dramatic...in a good way! We were celebrating a friend's birthday, and our friend wanted a drink from Tiki Tatsu Ya, a rum Barrell. So, we granted her wish. The over-the-top atmosphere makes Tiki Tatsu Ya truly unique. It's distinctive and memorable. It's colorful, laden with jungle-like items and items dropping from the ceiling on steroids. This was an ideal stop for my friend's birthday train. We had been to a sushi restaurant for dinner, stopping here for her rum barrel and then going to the Broken Spoke for some boot scooting. Service was excellent. All servers appeared to dress in the jungle like theme and super friendly. Very authentic... This Rum Barrel was a bit pricey but was supposed to be enough for 4 people. I only had a sip. The drink was a secret blend of rum, aged sake, spices, and tropical juices. The barrel was massive. Our friend was pleased! Then we were off to the next location.

June 23, 2022. This company seems closed, but had to put a star to make this statement. Tried…read morecalling the -4693 # and it is someone's new personal #. The website also appears to be unavailable, and there is no other contact info.

I hired Island Rhythms to preform and teach hula at my husband's surprise 40th birthday party…read more They exceeded my expectations. Vivian was a pleasure to work with during the planning phase. And at the party, the performance included a variety of hula styles ranging from traditional to modern, and all dances were highly entertaining and expertly performed. The lessons were fun and enticed many of the party attendees to participate. Several attendees said the party was the best party they have ever attended, and I owe this in large part to Vivian and Emily at Island Rhythms. We have decided to start having an annual luau, and I will definitely be inviting them back!

Came here for the first time in a while. The old owners had sold their business to this family who…read morefortunately, is also from Hawaii Nei so that means they know how to make legit local food. We ordered: Kalbi Plate: exactly like home, marinated and grilled to perfection. Mac salad and rice are perfect compliments to this delicious short ribs. Korean Fried Chicken Plate: I wish the sauce would be mixed into it, but I know they did um like this to prevent it from being soggy. The delicious sauce on the side is great as a dipping sauce. Garlic Shrimp (Special): I ordered a side order of just the shrimp. I wish it was a bit more garlicky and salty, but otherwise, the shrimp are a decent size and not tiny. It is flavorful with a slight crispy texture. Teriyaki Chicken Plate: I was always an ok fan of teri chicken, but my kids loved it. Spam Musubi: exactly how it's supposed to be. Right spam to rice ratio. Ube Butter Mochi: amazing and so moist Staff here are super friendly and fast. Lots of tables for outdoor dining. There are portable potties and other food trucks in the area. You order at the window and they give you a pager to let you know when it's ready. They also sell Li Hing Mui candy, butter mochi, and Hawaii brand juices. There's ample parking, but the lot is packed with pot holes, I guess just like home too lol. Overall, decently priced for a nice portion of food. We will definitely be back to try their other delicious food items whenever we are in this are again.

Shoyu Sugar, located in North Austin on Anderson Mill Road in a food truck park, is a family-run…read moreoperation that brings an authentic Big Island flavor to Austin. The truck has had a bit of a management change recently.... the original owners moved back to Hawaii in late 2025 to take of aging parents. The food truck reopened under new management with Hawaiian brothers Kevin and Adams at the helm, maintaining the original recipes and high standards. In Hawaiian culture, a plate lunch includes two scoops of white rice, one scoop of macaroni salad, and a heavy protein. Shoyu Sugar follows this plate lunch protocol. I ordered the Kalua pork baked in banana leaves, which super moist and well-seasoned...flavor explosion in every bite. My macaroni salad was light and enjoyable to eat along with fluffy scoops of rice. In addition, I ordered the butter mochi, a gelatin like dessert with a mild taste. Pretty quiet atmosphere at the food truck park. Look forward to trying other Shoyu Sugar items...

I usually steer clear of chain restaurants, but the Waco location of L&L Hawaiian BBQ proved why…read moreI'm glad I made an exception. This franchise stands out above the rest in freshness and flavor. Everything tasted like it was made with real care, not just cranked out. The staff were so friendly and accommodating!! I ordered my go to choice, the Mix Grill Plate, and it blew me away. The meats were perfectly cooked, bursting with flavor, and served in generous portions. As for the macaroni salad? It's hands down the best I've had at any of their locations I've visited. It was creamy, well-balanced, and the perfect complement to the hearty plate. If you're in Waco and even slightly considering it, just go. This location sets the bar high.

We stopped by Waco on the way to Dallas and wanted to grab a quick lunch. I haven't had Hawaiian in…read morea while and figured we can give this place a try. We got the bbq chicken and kalua pork. Unfortunately, while the food visually looked appetizing, everything ended up being pretty salty. The only thing that was tasty to me was the macaroni salad. I did like how big the portions are for the bowl option, which came with 1 scoop of rice and one scoop of either macaroni salad or veggies. It's too bad you can't swap out the rice for two scoops of macaroni or do a macaroni and veggie combo.

Let's get this straight: I absolutely love all things sushi & poke. When it comes to marinated fish…read moreatop rice, greens, and other accoutrements, I'd like to think I've sampled a hallowed range of poke in my time. From the original Sushirrito in San Francisco, to Foodland's poke fare in the islands of Hawaii - I've been there and done all the things. So I'd like to think I know what good poke tastes like: fish tasty enough to eat on its own, sauce that complements rather than overpowers, and just the right amount and flavor of toppings to bring a unique twist to each bowl. One can get a little nerdy about raw fish and I hope to submit my master's thesis one day. Customization is an integral part of the poke experience, and who am I to tell you what to order. Some people don't even put any sauce on their raw fish - and like pope Francis said "who am I to judge that person?" But I simply could not, in good conscience, leave without suggesting this absolute banger, slap my knee, mmh mmh mmmmh, finger lickin good, ask the host for the recipe, delicious poke burrito. It's seriously the best poke item I have eaten in I can't even remember how long. Regular pokerrito Hot Cheetos seaweed wrap Classic ahi tuna + salmon Sweet ginger sauce Edamame, red cabbage, half portion of seaweed salad, mango Drizzle of wasabi Aioli Furikake, tempura crisps 5/5 I'd go out of my way to visit this establishment again

Poke House Austin is a great restaurant for fresh, customizable poke bowls, offering a flavorful…read moreintroduction to Hawaiian inspired cuisine in a fast casual setting. Poke (pronounced poh kay) is a traditional Hawaiian dish made with cubed raw fish, usually tuna or salmon, served over rice or greens and topped with sauces and fresh mixed ingredients. The word poke means to cut or to slice in Hawaiian, which describes how the fish is prepared. At Poke House, the build your own bowl format allows customers to fully customize their meal. You choose a base such as white rice, brown rice, salad greens, or a mixed combination, then add proteins like ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp, or tofu, followed by sauces and toppings such as seaweed salad, avocado, edamame, sesame seeds, and spicy mayo. This customization makes poke approachable for new and experienced poke connoisseurs. Poke House Austin's strengths are its freshness and quality. The restaurant has high quality fish with generous portions. For new poke fans, salmon is always a good starter for new poke fans. The atmosphere is casual and laid-back, making it pleasant to linger. Poke House Austin was a great place to try poke or enjoy it on a regular basis.