From poi to pig, Hawaii is famous for its ono (delicious) food. A mixture of Asian and Pacific Island cuisine, Hawaii's local eats can be found at several places in Tucson.
Lani's Luau
2532 S. Harrison Road, 886-5828
Owners: Zane and Leilani Dowling, from Oahu.
Open since last year, Lani's is becoming popular among Hawaiian locals because of its "plate-lunch" style that consists of rice, macaroni salad and an entree such as kalua pig or teriyaki chicken.
"My wife is from Kauai and she took me and introduced me to the food, and I've been craving it ever since," says Chuck Truitt, while eating laulau at Lani's.
If the food doesn't make you feel Hawaiian enough, the place is decked out in island garb, complete with a TV that plays Hawaiian movies and recordings.
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What's good: The No. 9 Luau Plate ($9.99): kalua (smoked) pig, chicken long rice, mac salad, pork laulau (pork wrapped in spinach leaves, ti leaves and steamed), lomilomi salmon (cured salmon), ahi poke.
Equally yummy is the Ono Pono plate ($9.50), which consists of mahi-mahi and teriyaki chicken, or the haupia ($1), a coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert.
Northshore Hawaiian Cuisine
6225 E. Golf Links Road, 571-8384
Owners: Jeff Sternitzky and his wife, Jessica Brown. Brown is from Waimea, on the north shore of Oahu.
One of the more popular drinks at this Hawaiian sports bar is the Blue Hawaii, ($4.50/shot), made with Island Blue Pucker schnapps, vodka and 7-Up, says Sternitzky.
Open since July 2007, Northshore caters to a wide variety of patrons, many of whom hail from nearby Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
"It's a new bar, but they've come along far," says Jesse Castro, 24, who lives in the area and frequents the bar often. "The way they treat you is very respectful and there's no drama."
What's good: Entrees include laulau, pork cutlet (with brown gravy) and Huli huli rotisserie chicken. Also on the menu: Kimchee (flavorful cabbage), manapua (steamed dough with meat sauce in the middle) and lumpia (Filipino egg rolls).
A plate with two items of your choice costs $5.95. A plate with three items of your choice: $7.95.
With a recent expansion almost complete, Northshore will host a grand opening of its deli-style kitchen on March 22.
Northshore will be serving deli-style plate lunches on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with entrees accompanied by rice, steamed or yakisoba noodles, and choice of macaroni or pasta salad.
Kon Tiki
4625 E. Broadway, 323-7193
Owner: Paul Clark.
Chances are, you've seen its colorful sign and tiki heads while driving down Broadway. Open since 1963, Kon Tiki has long been serving Hawaiian and Polynesian food.
Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and features half-off appetizers and $3 double-shot well drinks.
Feeling dangerous? Try the Scorpion ($7), a four-shot drink so potent that patrons are limited to two per visit.
What's good: Hawaiian combination ($15): A half-rack of polynesian barbecue ribs and a half-portion of Shrimp Hawaiian.
Other favorites include the Hawaiian halibut ($13) and the coconut-crusted Fried Tiki Ice Cream ($3.50).
