Abunai

Love, love, love this Hawaiian deliciousness!
I’ve had quite a variety of Hawaiian dishes, be they authentic, inspired, or somewhere in-​between. Abunai — while some might say is not authentic — really don’t get it.
Imagine professional chefs in Hawaii coming up with dishes that respect the spirit of everyday Hawaiian cuisine, but adding a finesse and finish to them that would make them at home on the menu of any upscale restaurant. From my research, there is a professionalism behind Abunai that is rarely found among even the best and most popular food trucks in the area… and it shows from the smiles at the window to your happy belly after you’ve enjoyed your plate.
My personal experience with the Kalua Pig Taro Croquettes was unexpectedly delicious. The meticulous presentation didn’t quite survive the walk back to the office, but it held up pretty well nonetheless. The croquettes themselves were crispy on the outside, smooth on the inside with a rich but simple complexity of flavors and textures that you will rarely find curbside. The spam inside was the expected familiar flavor, but not overpowering… and visually, you would never know it was spam. Don’t hate on the spam folks! The house-​made Taro and Purple Sweet Potato chips that complimented the dish were beautifully crunchy.
I look forward to my next visit… and may have to hunt them down before then as I don’t know that I can wait an entire week to sample more from their menu!
Mahalo Abunai!

I love this food truck! The food takes a spin on traditional Hawaiian favorites and makes them into something more of a fusion Hawaiian truck. I went during the weird week of the blizzard and Abunai was the only truck that toughed it out after the blizzard, mad props! The employees were super friendly and nice, and very courteous as well! I got the spam katsu musubi and the mahalo-​sadas. The spam katsu musubi came with Mac salad and pickled veggies. What I was expecting was just a tiny handheld musubi, but it was a legit carb heaven! Four pieces of spammy goodness. The spam was not salty and was coated in Panko bits and the spam party was fried. It was a nice balance of rice to spam ratio! Yum! And the mahalo-​sadas was a perfect pick me up for some colleagues that were feeling the sting of the blizzard. The mahalo-​sadas are just donuts but add the Kona glaze and its Ono grindz, brudah!!!

I’ve only been to the food truck once, but it definitely prompted me to follow them on all social media to keep up with them!
On a chilly winter day, I strolled the streets to find lunch when I walked pass 8 Mediterranean/​kabob trunks and stumbled upon my first and only (to my knowledge) Hawaiian food truck– friendly faces that greeted me, Hawaiian/​island/​Caribbean music and an exotic, but familiar enough menu invited me to stay. I got the long noodle chicken soup lunch special for $ 11 and the Hawaiian beignets $ 6. I was skeptical of the clear noodle dish, but all was delish. The long noodle chicken soup was like Hawaiian phở– clear noodles, mushroom and tasty broth served with fried chicken pieces covered in a sweet and spicy sauce to add to the noodles when I got to my dining spot of choice. The Hawaiian beignets (I forget the name) was served with a Kona coffee sauce… omg it was a surprise to my palette and was orgasmic. Coffee lovers try it! My perfect idea of coffee and donuts!
I got an Hawaiian experience in the middle of winter. I’m in love! I’m looking forward to the purple potato pie treat soon!
My «lunch special» didn’t come with a drink. I’ve dined in at restaurants at these prices that include a drink with your meal. Is DC the only place you’ll eat at a food truck for the same price as dining in a restaurant?

I’ve been to a lot of food truck, 191, so when I saw Abunai, that it was Hawaiian food, I was pretty excited to try it, as I had never heard of it. I glanced the menu and ordered the Kalua Pork, thinking it would be a typical plate lunch. Boy was I wrong. I reread the menu and saw it was croquettes and decided to roll with it. Took the food back to my office and opened the box and I see this gourmet looking meal staring at me. The food was excellent, presentation for a to go container was great. I would recommend the Kalua croquesttas, but I will need to work my way through the menu first. I was the only one at the truck at the time and I should have said hello, perhaps next time. This is excellent food, regardless if it comes from a truck or not.

Came all the to 700 constitutional ave today from Montgomery county to see this new food truck… and I’m so glad I did! I ordered one of everything off the menu.
Never really had really Hawaiian food before so I didn’t know what to except when I ordered the Spam Katsu but BOYYYY was I impressed! SO CRISPY, SO FLAVORFUL, AND SUPER PROFESSIONAL, 5 STAR QUALITY PRESENTATION! I’m so sad I had to it share with my husband becuase it was that good!
The Kalua Pig was fried to perfection! So much flavor packed into this thing the sides were so unique a d delicious as well!
The chicken and moffles were a unique twist on chicken and waffles loved it!
The Loco moco was great too never thought of these flavor combinations but everything was so good!
If you like super sweet desserts the
Mahalo Sadas is for you (see picture for description)
If you like a more not so sweet but still all the flavor the Macha mochi is my new fav!
Portion sizes are great and it’s about the average price range for most food trucks in D.C. Staff were friendly and fun to be around!
Can’t wait to see Abunai food around more!!!

So today, I had my first food truck experience in DC. I’m originally from the DMV area, my boyfriend, and best friend are as well. Although we haven’t experienced much of the food truck scene the DMV has to offer, we decided to visit our friends at Abunai. We went to one of their pop-​up events during the summer (first time trying Hawaiian cuisine), and were left wanting more! Akina and her team were so welcoming and made us feel like we were apart of her family, and showed passion and love for the food they served. We thought our first experience in San Francisco could never be topped, but boy we were wrong! Just remembering and writing this review is making my mouth water. My boyfriend ordered everything off the menu so we could share. And I’m glad he did because we definitely would’ve been fighting, he doesn’t know how to share when it comes to good food.
They had four menu items and sides and desserts:
* I’m in love with. Loco Moco; fried quinoa, hamburger patty, tempura boiled egg, mushroom & onion gravy, and side of furikake macaroni salad and cucumber & carrot namasu.
*Chicken and muffles; garlic chicken wings, mochi waffles and side of furikake macaroni salad and purple sweet potato and taro chips.
*Kalua pig & taro croquettes; poi vinaigrette and lomi and side of furikake macaroni salad and cucumber & carrot namasu.
*Spam katsu musuvi «sushi roll»; furikake rice and nori and side of furikake macaroni salad and cucumber & carrot namasu.
Desserts:
*Mahalo sadas; Hawaiian style beignets and Kona coffee and glaze.
*Matcha mochi; green tea and glaze.
My favorite items hands down were, I’m in love with… Loco Moco, chicken & muffles and both desserts. Abunai is definitely a must try for those who are foodies. You won’t be disappointed; it’s great food, the prices are reasonable, and the portions are just right. Now I definitely want to go to Hawaii to visit my best friend for yesterday!

I sampled some abunai hawaiian cuisine at a Unilocal event. Although it was only a few small bites, I was hooked! The owners were the sweetest, and their little spam hand roll was unexpectedly delicious! And I HATED spam as a child! (or at least I thought I did, who knows if i had even tried it…)
Word is there food truck is rolling soon, cant wait to try some poke!

Hello fellow Unilocalers. So Oct the 17^th I spent my evening with the lovely Akina and her family… when I say family I mean Everyone
When I walked up to the address given I was shocked, I thought someone pulled a prank on me. But when I walked in, I was greeted by Akina the owner and was talked through all the assortment of food.
Honestly now that I think about it, I was being to shy I just took small bites of everything. The pokey with two types of fish was absolutely delicious and I’m not a fan of raw fish. There was pasta salad with dried nori. And braised chicken. There was also fried rice with spam, a mussel or oyster soup with Bok choi. All of it that I could eat was tastey.
I was told the food trunk will be up and running very soon. And I can’t wait to try more. Akina is easily one of the most laid pack people who just wants to make you happy with her food. I told her I don’t eat pork or red meat and she willingly went to the kitchen to whip me something since alot of the dishes had some type or pork. It tasted like chicken, rice and gravy, but it was fish, rice and a taro vinaigrette wrapped in seaweed with alil spice. She heard me say how I like spicy and she took that into account when she whipped me something. Absolutely the best.
When I go to DC for my me-​time I will be definitely looking for Abunai.
Smile!

I had a chance to attended a pop-​up this past weekend in DC and was pleasantly surprised. Walking into the venue, I was greeted with legit «local» music and the smell of home cooking. The hosts were friendly and it immediately felt like walking into your auntie’s house. Food was amazing — it was definitely local food with a «abunai» (meaning: risky) twist. First thing I scooped onto my plate: kimchee fried rice was tasty, I then scooped some poke (ahi & Hamachi) onto the heaping pile of rice. Hamachi poke was seasoned with a ginger and chili sauce — so on point! Ahi poke was even tastier, like butter melting in your mouth! Lechon porchetta, you gotta try this, garlic flavor was so subtle and complimented the pork perfectly — their abunai twist was the garden fresh variety tomatoes and pickled onions, crispy pork skin was insane! Hulihuli chicken was so tender and full of flavor — reminiscent of the times we use to do fundraisers at koala moa. Seafood hekka — rice noodles were good and I loved the crunch of the baby bamboo shoots and the clams were yummy. Spam musubi — brought back memories of the hanabaddah days but again, an added abunai twist: ginger sauce! Who would have thought. .. they did and let me tell you, so tasty it made a non-​spam eater into a lover of spam with just ONE bite. The variety desserts brought back the nostalgic feeling of home: li hing mui pineapples — it got me thinking about the times we would stroll through Aloha flea market on a sunny Saturday morning, the pumpkin butter mochi was the perfect consistency of chewiness reminiscent of the bibingka of childhood — again with the abunai twist — a crunchy granola looking topping; the fried haupia topped with chocolate shavings was so ONO, warm and gooey. It was an all you can eat function and I definitely had my fill — Just like being at grandma and grandpa’s house eating good food, talking story and just having a great time with family and good friends. Mad props to the chef — you are awesome braddah! I wish all of you the best in your endeavors. Let me know when the next pop-​up and when the truck is up and running and we’ll make it a point to support!

I had the opportunity to attend their pop-​up event near DuPont. What an experience! The hosts were very welcoming and excited to showcase their talent. The food was delicious and well executed. Their twist on Hawaiian cuisine has me extremely intrigued! As for the the ambiance. It was comfortable, relaxed and engaging! I am looking forward for to see what comes next and hope to experience such tasty food again very soon!