Walter Macalma

Review of Da Luau Hawaiian Grill

We ve all done the obligatory Hawaiian Luau throug...

We ve all done the obligatory Hawaiian Luau through our over priced 4 star hotel when we visit and some of us travel amongst the locals. Hawaiian food out here is less about authentic, but more about BBQ because that s what the Western palate likes.

My Hawaiian family does eat a good amount of meat, but they also infuse a good amount of non fried seafood. Poke, tuna, sardines and that s what I liken L&L s and Aloha s compared to this. YES, they do the typical plates here and they do fried fish, but they certainly do it better than L&L and Aloha.



I wish someone did garlic shrimp, grilled their mahi mahi and slow cooked their oxtail soup up thick. Those are my 3 biggest complains about mainland Hawaiian food.

I found their poke and poke salad to be at odds. The salad had ginger soy dressing but the regular poke had no ginger shavings and the carrots, whoa, those do not belong. Love the jicama, but I have no idea where they were taking this dish, unpolished. Hamburgers were good overall, but their loco moco was not so legit. First off it s only hamburger patti, not your choice of meat. The brown sauce is gravy, but it doesn t have the right consistency. Kalua pork is good, but could be more tender. Mochiko chicken was good, not a fan of the deep fry though.

Service is hit or miss depending on the time and your server/cook combo. I ve regularly come and had my order packed as I walked in, regularly had amazing service, but I ve also seen the place get packed and seen people after me wait 30 minutes for a combo plate, hohhhhhhh brah, not cool.

Since I don t live around here, I doubt I ll ever make it here for breakfast and since I m only in OC for work, I can t speak on it.

It s closer to Hawaiian grinds than others, but it aint no Back Home in Lahaina in Carson. Hohhh brah.