Aiea Grill

Recently moved offices and discovered Aiea Grill down the street. Now, I LOVE Hawaiian food, so had to try it… and it is excellent!
Have tried a number of different dishes including the Kahlua Pork (My favorite), chicken teriyaki, spam/​egg/​rice bowl, spam musubi, etc.
But, I just read they’re closing in two weeks. Bummer.

The little Loco Mocos that could — and DID, gawt-​dammit!
6 different Loco Mocos to choose from on the menu. Were mine eyes deceiving me? Really? Why don’t more Hawaiian places offer this variety on their menus?
Loco Mocos are painfully simple concoctions o’ joy: Rice. Hamburger patties. brown gravy. Egg. Grilled onion option, for those in the know. But in lieu of the usual hamburgers, Aiea also offers huli huli chicken, Kalua pig (pulled pork), SPAM, and musabi mushrooms, and more! Simple ingredients yes, but they belie the cumulative impact on your sensory mechanisms. Now I know why they’re called «Aiea,» b/​c that’s the unending songnote of joy straight from your soul, from the first bite, when you realize the fruit of their grilled efforts. It’s like Beatlemania all over again! It’s almost too much good, for our fragile human shells can only handle so much afterall.
In other news, the Musabi was unbelievably savory. Couple bites of this, and you just might find yourself wondering how in the world you managed to live your entire life up to the point of first tasting this concoction. How indeed– and why?
The Stir fry veggies — superb.
The spicy garlic shrimp w/​veggies— what not to love? Ono kine.
The Kim Chee— even the Kim Chee was notably great. Definitely tastier and SPICIER than much of the competition. As I wiped my mouth after the first bit o’ pickled, fermented cabbage staple from Korea, I suddenly realized why the ladies swoon whenever they’re lucky enough to catch a sweaty scarf thrown by such lounge lizard legends as Englebert Humperdink and of course, the immortal Tom Jones…
So Thanks Aiea. Nothing’s broke, so don’t go trying to fix it! Wish you had a sister restaurant (late nite!) in North Portland, so please make haste to opening one there, pronto!
As recorded on the Beatles’ lost original recording of their classic hit:
«So how could I dance with another, whooooo! when I saw… those …Loco Mocos… theeeeere???»

I went with a mini 2-​choice plate of teriyaki chicken and pork adobo, with potato-​macaroni salad and brown rice ($ 7.25). The teriyaki chicken is a marinated, grilled chicken breast, drizzled with teriyaki glaze. Aiea Grill makes their pork adobo by simmering chunks of pork shoulder in a garlic-​soy sauce until the meat is tender.
One of my good friends got Aiea Grill’s Mushroom Moco, one hamburger patty topped with grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, gravy, and two eggs, with a side of potato-​macaroni salad.
The pork adobo was very good. The pork was extremely tender and the amazing flavors of the garlic-​soy sauce really made it successful.
Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where the positives end. The teriyaki chicken was quite bad. The chicken breast was dry and was not marinated too well (at least in comparison to other places). It was a struggle to cut the chicken. Mild teriyaki flavors here, but that’s really due to the sauce on top. I wouldn’t even say it was a glaze (as Aiea Grill puts it)…it was more like a sauce on my portion.
The cold potato-​macaroni salad was average at best. The elbow macaroni was cooked nicely, and they added a nice proportion of mayonnaise (not too much). It’s better than a couple of places, but still could use work on flavoring and color. Adding more seasonings (especially more pepper) and vegetables (like peas or shredded carrots) would really do wonders here.
I sampled my friend’s Mushroom Moco. Good flavors on the gravy, and the mushrooms really come through in the dish. The patty was just OK. But a huge error here on the eggs: they were basically fried eggs… a huge no-​no in mocos! The eggs should be over-​easy, so when cut into, the runny yolk coats the rest of the dish, marrying its flavors with the savory gravy, hamburger patty, onions, and rice (and in this case, mushrooms as well). Such a shame.
The man taking my order and my friend’s order really did not seem too helpful when I asked him for recommendations. He was not very enthusiastic… seemed like he wanted to just go home and take a nap instead.
Even though the pork adobo was delicious, I’m just not a fan of Aiea Grill overall.

WILL NEVER EAT HERE AGAIN. The food is either bland or too salty. The chicken has no flavor. I couldn’t even finish my food and I got the safest thing on the menu the grilled teriyaki chicken. I did have my husband short ribs which was ok but not worth coming back for. Generally I hate wasting food and always eat my left overs but I just threw it out.
This place is not even reminiscence of Hawaii. Roxy’s and Hawaiian time smash this place. I’m not sure how they stay in business… Maybe they attract customers who like Asian flare food and don’t know what Hawaii food is. Definitely will never come back. Sorry Aiea… but you are definitely not from Aiea

I worked two doors down next from Aiea Grill for 10 years. I had most of my lunches there and was amazed on the quality of the food for the price. You can get a healthy tasty meal for under $ 6! They always accommodated my needs (no carb) wirthout any problems! Try the grills. The Mahi Mahi for the price cannot be beat!
Dr. Michael McCall

A local Aiea Boy, excited with the name and the eats! The staff extremely friendly and the interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated with Hawaiian décor.
I ordered the Loco Moco with Macaroni Salad and if your a local from hawaii, it definitely wont disappoint you. The dish was seasoned well, gravy tasty, but not salty and sweet with the delicious onions. I look forward to going back and satisfying my craving for local food.

Dear Aiea Grill,
I had high expectations to be fulfilled from my Hawaiian cravings. But I felt it was not up to par for (1) what I spent and (2) what I ate.
I had read reviews from other Unilocalers who had given you a couple more stars than I had, but my experience was just so-​so and pretty much «mediocre.» I do give you props for friendly service and promptness in pumping out my meal. I also give you props for a clean facility and a well-​decorated environment. I’m sorry but those factors didn’t give me that «wow» factor to make me come back.
I had the mini 2 combo plate — where I tried the chicken katsu and kalua pork. This came with a side of your potato mac salad and a scoop of rice. The chicken katsu felt like it was breaded lightly but quite lightly that it felt that it wasn’t really authentic. The potato mac salad was so-​so A-​okay for me. I know other Unilocalers claimed it was the «best thing that they ever ate» but I do agree it was better than grocery store made type ones. I wasn’t really head over heals on the potato mac. Sorry! BUT! The only thing that I thought was worth eating for was the Kalua Pork. It was a bit on the saltier side for me, so if you like your stuff salty, then this is for you. It is probably saltier than the other Hawaiian places I’ve been to in the area.
Would I go back? Only for the Kalua Pork.

I really had high expectations for Aiea Grill because of the high reviews on Unilocal.But I was disappointed. I had the mini 2 combo plate which was about 7 – 8 bucks with adobo and beef with potato mac and mashed potatoes.
Adobo was pretty good but too vinegary for me.
Beef was ok, it would be better with more flavor.
Potato Mac was just ok not the best I’ve had.
Mashed potatoes were buttery but the gravy tasted powdery.
Maybe my taste buds were off that day but I felt like it needed more salt or an extra kick to it… However, I tasted my friend’s kalua pork and I would come back just for that.
I still prefer roxys for hawaiian food.

This is a 3 – 4 times a month lunch spot for me. Especially if I’m super hungry. And a to go dinner another couple of times a month. you might say I’m a regular.
Everything is made fresh. you order fried noodles, they fry them up while you wait, vegetables and noodles, ditto.
Well, ok the fantastic potato mac salad isn’t made right as you wait, but it hasn’t been sitting around either. And it is so very yummy! Not what you’d typically find in a Hawai’ian plate lunch but the combo of potato and mac salads is absolutely to die for. I regularly buy it to take to pot lucks in the summer and pretend I made it myself.
My favorite is their fried panko breaded shrimp which I have with veggie fried noodles instead of potato/​mac and rice. It’s enough for 2 meals for me. Excellent home made tartar sauce-​I always ask for two of them.
All of their dishes, however, has be ordered in a smaller size if you aren’t interested in take homes…
Lunches run from a simple teriyaki bowl for about $ 4.50 to shrimp which is $ 9.00. Chicken and Pork as well as the ever popular hamburger patty and gravy with rice are also on the menu/​
Not much for ambiance but great food, cooked up quickly, very nice people, a clean business and a fairly complex menu make for a great spot for a quick lunch or dinner on the go if you’re going to be at the Park and Rec center for a baseball game.

I think the smell of nail polish remover from the salon next door deterred me a little bit, but overall our food was pretty good.
we ordered our food at the counter and it was all delivered to us at once (aside from the drink, which we grabbed out of the fridge by the counter).
started with a coconut shrimp salad roll that was cut like a sushi roll. it was okay, but I’m a salad roll snob and have had much better.
for our main dishes, I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband ordered the lemongrass chicken. I do like that they have a white meat option, as most Hawaiian places don’t. it was pretty good. it didn’t hurt that it was smothered in sauce and that I added more to it. my husband’s chicken did not look very good, but I think he actually liked his more than I liked mine.
I think there are better Hawaiian places in the area, but I’m glad we tried it.

The best part of the entire meal was the Potato Mac. I could eat that by the gallon!
I purchased the 2 meat combo and selected 2 different kinds of pork (sorry the names escape me) and was presented with a plate with healthy portions of both.
Unfortunately neither wowed me. They weren’t terrible tasting but they weren’t all that amazing either. I also tried what resembles a SPAM sushi roll. It was horrible.
Maybe it was just a bad day for the kitchen. I don’t know but based on the meal I had I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way for this place.

Not a fan of their Potato Mac salad. Kind of grainy :(
The Mac salad is the key to the plate lunch… so not going back.
Now for more bad news-​no malasadas. They don’t do them anymore.

As a current resident of Aiea, Hawaii I had to pay a visit to a restaurant named after my hometown. The Aiea Grill did not disappoint our expectations and would definitely be ranked one of the top plate lunch places in the Hawaiian Islands.
My Chicken Katsu was done perfectly and not greasy. Just like how you would have it at a traditional Japanese restaurant. My wife ordered the Fried Noodles plate with Kalua Pork and my adult daughters shared a mix plate of Pork Adobo and Hamburger Steak. Obviously, there were no complaints from any of them, because of their empty plates. Lots of convenient parking in this shopping complex, across Fred Meyer. Will definitely return and recommend to any Kamaaina or Kamaaina at heart…

This is the sort of place I’d go for a quickie lunch (if I worked in the waste land of strip malls and generic apartment complexes known as Beaverton.) If kind of reminded me of a Subway, but you know, Hawaiian.
I actually went here specifically to try the potato mac. (i love potato salad, i love mac, i love mixing them together…) but found it a little bland. The grilled pineapple was great, and the meaty options my companion tried seemed acceptable for a lunch time eat.

We went to Aiea Grill for the first time and had a great experience. The restaurant is small but clean and the portions are huge. I think that is why the price is a little higher than some other Hawaiian grills.
The mac and potato salad was delicious from our standpoint — loved the combo of the two and the added pepper. I had the pineapple with teriyaki chicken salad and I thought it was very tasty! My husband said the meat was juicy and full of flavor. The only item we thought could use a little more flavor were the yakisoba noodles. The chicken and veggies added flavor, but just on their own the noodles were slightly bland.
We will definitely be coming back for more!

One, they serve spam musubi.
Two, it is mac and potato salad. Therefore there will be chunks. Stop whining and just taste it. If you don’t like it, then so be it. I’m partial to it.
It is salty– as most Hawaiian foods are. Greasy, yes sir. But not overly greasy like a douchebag in heat.
Three, we are not in Japan to have authentic Japanese cuisine. Hawaii is a melting pot of different ethnicities and culinary tandems. So there will be some parts of it that eventually diminish. — Darwinism perhaps?
Four, the price is a little expensive compared to L & L. But it is not that expensive. Seriously. Go to McDonald’s at the next block if you want something cheap.
Five, the place is clean and neat. Though it is on the small side I kind of like it. It controls all the whiners that can’t appreciate food.
What’s not to hate?
The quaintness and location of the place. One of the few Hawaiian fastfoods in the area (L& L is at Cedar’s Crossing Mall), condiments galore (drown yourself in Katsu sauce, Teriyaki sauce, hot sauce and other regular condiments)
What’s to appreciate?
Spam musubi.
Pork Adobo (yum!)
Teri-​beef.
Mahi-​Mahi.
Loco-​Mocos.
Garlic Shrimp.
Kahlua Pork.
A little smile from all those framed Hawaiian cloth prints.
Friendly crew.
I’ve been ordering the same stuff for weeks now but it’s decent and good.
If you have a small appetite, I would recommend getting a mini-​plate. It will fill you up. Definitely.
Juicy and tender. Last three words I will share with you from that place.

Aiea Grill’s «local kine grinds» are as authentic as I’ve found in Oregon.
Most of the dishes here have a fresh, clean gourmet taste.
My favorites are the grilled Mahi Mahi and the Kalua pork. I’ve tried a couple of the loco moco dishes, and they are tasty, but I feel guilty after eating them.
They also have warm Malasadas! If you’ve ever been to Leonard’s Bakery on Oahu, you know what I’m talking about.
The dining area is relatively small and has seating for pairs of people. I usually call ahead and get take out.
I wish that they could get real Maui onions (they use Walla Walla sweets) as it does make a difference.

This was really hard for me. I been trying to decide if this place gets 4 or 5 stars. Orginally i was thinking 4 but nothing jumped out at me at what needed to be improved. maybe more seating? but to me that doesn’t detract from the fact that this place is good.
I had the loco moco combo with katsu. Everyone knows loco moco simple to make. But that doesn’t mean it always turn out good. This place was still juicy which is awesome the gravy was a plus not a nessecity. Katsu also was juicy, don’t you love it when fried food comes out still juicy?

This is my favorite Hawaiian restaurant in portland metro. The portions are gynormous. The cuts of meat are very good. A lot of local kine places serve up cheap gristly pieces of meat, but not Aiea Grill. Also, when you get katsu (chicken or pork), it is crispy on the outside and so very tender on the inside. just perfect.
They have a wide variety of local kine grinds, from adobo to kalua pig to loco moco.
The loco mocos are my favorites. They have a few choices for the loco moco combos: spam, katsu, kalua pig, curry, mahi mahi and maybe some others. my favorites are the mahi moco and the curry moco.
Whatever you get, you’ll probably be happy.
Also, they’ve got malasadas! Not quite as good as Leonards, but best I’ve had on the mainland.

Out and about just for the hell of it we headed to strip-​mall hell to check out Aiea Grill.
I can’t speak for authenticity; I’ve never been to Hawaii (yet). But from what I’ve read, it’s where it’s at. Moco, a kitchen sink concoction with hamburger patties, grilled onions, gravy and two eggs on top and also dishes with Spam are things you won’t find elsewhere.
My husband and I each had a two item mix plate. The grilled pineapple salad is a taste sensation, and the spicy garlic shrimp were to die for. The shrimp must have been marinating FOR-​EVAH as they were simply falling apart. Excellent.
The chicken katsu was paper thin low quality chicken with little flavor; the bread coating was thicker than the chicken itself which was kind of gross. The katsu sauce however… I could have put that on a number of things.
The meal as a whole is a nice balance: the entrée, a small side salad, a ball of rice. A light but filling lunch. A two choice combo is $ 8.75, so add a drink and you’re at @ $ 11.50. Not cheap — but where else can you get some yummy grilled Mahi Mahi in a jiffy?
The location is bright and cozy, and they do a brisk lunch take-​out traffic. Service is with a smile, and I heard one gentleman say he’d never been there before, so he’d take the house recommendation and they fixed him up well.
Give it a go if you want something tasty and different.