ADVERTISEMENT

    Review: Aloha Hawaiian BBQ & Asian Bistro

    When I first read about Aloha Hawaiian BBQ in the Columbus Underground messageboard, I got pretty excited. Then when I found out that it would be my first assignment for a new weekly restaurant review column featured on Columbus Underground, I was ecstatic!

    ADVERTISEMENT

    First, a little background. Aloha Hawaiian BBQ & Asian Bistro is a family business. Restaurant Manager Sammi Tsai explained that her father-in-law runs the kitchen and has a background in the restaurant business. Originally from Thailand, the inspiration for the restaurant comes from the many types of Hawaiian BBQ restaurants in the Los Angeles area. The owners of ‘Aloha’ wanted to bring this type of cuisine to Central Ohio, where it currently doesn’t exist.

    The restaurant is located in the Shoppes on Fifth Avenue plaza, in the 5xNW neighborhood, adjacent to Grandview Heights. The plaza is a new development, so the building looks very modern and the parking is ample in the front or back of the restaurant.

    So what exactly is Hawaiian BBQ you may be asking yourself. It’s really the ultimate melting pot of fusion cuisine. In addition to the flavors of the Hawaiian Islands, there are strong Chinese, Japanese and Korean influences, hints of Southern cuisine, a splash of the Caribbean, and some uniquely American flourishes.

    The menu at ‘Aloha’ is divided into two sides. The Hawaiian menu was composed of barbeque platters, all of which ranged between $6.25 and $7.95. The Asian side of the menu includes udon noodles, ramen noodles, pad thai, rice bowls and lo mein along with Chef Specialties, which seemed to lean more toward a traditional Chinese takeout menu. Those items ranged between $6.50 and $6.95.

    The Spam Musubi (2 large pieces for $2.95) is exactly what you’d expect. A play on traditional Japanese Onigiri, this dish is composed of a rectangular bed of white sticky rice, a slice of grilled spam and a wrap of nori to hold it together. Whether or not you’ll enjoy it really depends upon whether or not you enjoy spam. It’s not really for me. The flavor, odor and texture combine into what I imagine catfood is like. Not that this is any fault of the chef. The ingredient is not a good one to begin with.

    The Chicken Katsu ($6.25) comes with two thin chicken breast filets that are breaded and served with a side of Katsu Sauce, which reminded me of a tangy barbeque sauce. The chicken was nicely cooked, and the breading was not overly heavy. The fact that it was served sliced was a nice touch, as cutting it with plastic silverware would have been a challenge.

    The Hawaiian BBQ Chicken ($6.25) is grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast marinated in Hawaiian BBQ sauce. The preparation reminded me of a Chinese-style pork barbeque technique, and was quite tasty. This dish was the most similar to Asian cuisine that I am most familiar with, but they really nailed the flavors, and I’d put it high on my list of considerations next time I’m in the mood for Chinese takeout.

    The Kalbi Short Ribs ($7.95) are tender beef short ribs marinated in a Korean-style BBQ sauce and grilled. This type of short rib is served as very thin strips of steak that could be eaten off the bone. The meat was a little fatty, but very delicious.

    The Hawaiian BBQ beef platter ($6.95) contains grilled lean beef strips marinated in Hawaiian BBQ sauce and served with a side of Teriyaki sauce. These were also similar flavors to what you can find in many beef dishes in traditional Chinese restaurants, but very well prepared. The beef did taste a bit heavy on ginger. This was really the standout item for me, and something I’ll be back to order again.

    The Mahi-Mahi platter ($6.95) comes with two filets that are marinated, breaded, cooked and served with a side of tartar sauce. The flavor of the fish was quite mild and I was initially a little underwhelmed with it. After adding some of the sauce, I thought that it complemented it well. I don’t think you’ll find a cheaper entree of Mahi Mahi anywhere in Columbus. (Though I’d love to be proven wrong!)

    All of the main Hawaiian entrees are served with a scoop of white rice and a scoop of macaroni salad, which is custom to many casual Hawaiian restaurants. The rice is fairly standard and comparable to what you can find in most Chinese restaurants. The macaroni salad on the other hand is creamy and true to the traditional recipes used in Hawaii: semi-sweet and heavy on mayonnaise.

    One glaring omission from the menu is a lack of desserts. I’d love to see something taro-based. Or perhaps some Punalu’u style sweet bread or a treat with Macadamia Nuts. It would also be fun if they carried Hawaiian drinks such as Hawaiian Sun Guava Nectar or Passion Juice. Something a little different from the standard Pepsi products.

    Overall, Aloha Hawaiian BBQ & Asian Bistro offers some excellent food for the price, and a unique enough concept to Central Ohio to make it worth the drive no matter where you live. The service was friendly, the restaurant was spotless, and the service was amazingly fast. On a Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t too busy. There was a patio available although there were no seats on it.

    I realize that I managed to break one of the cardinal rules of restaurant reviewing by stopping in this place less than a week after opening. I like to give new restaurants at least two months to work out the kinks. But few kinks were to be found at Aloha, so I wanted to offer a more robust first impression since they’ve managed to put their best food forward.

    Aloha Hawaiian BBQ & Asian Bistro is located at 974 West Fifth Avenue in the Shoppes on Fifth Plaza. They’re open daily.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    French Bistro Slated for Prominent Downtown Corner

    Another new restaurant is coming to the corner of...

    Cheap Eats: 6 Breakfasts on a Budget

    What’s the old saying? Breakfast is the most important...

    14 Easter Brunches in Columbus

    No holiday calls for a big, fancy brunch quite...

    The Thurman Cafe: Truly the Tastiest Burgers in Columbus?

    The Thurman Cafe is a Columbus staple. It’s hard...

    The “Liz Lessner” Restaurant Era Has Officially Come to An End

    There's no denying the impact that Elizabeth Lessner has...
    Morgan Kelley
    Morgan Kelleyhttps://columbusunderground.com
    I'm the former Restaurant & Food Critic of Columbus Underground. I love all types of food, and I'm not afraid to try anything once. I strive to adhere to the Association of Food Journalists guidelines, which means I don't do special foodie events, I pay for all of my meals in full and I will always share with you my honest and unbiased opinion.
    ADVERTISEMENT