Finally Decided to Try Hawaiian Bros

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I had driven past it for a couple of years and thought the place looked interesting. But it never really "caught my eye," so to speak. Hawaiian food? I mean, what really could it be? Turns out the menu is rather Asian inspired, but with a twist. Of course, there's pineapple stuff on the menu as pineapples have always been a big crop in Hawaii. Apparently, the story is that as pineapple and sugar plantations grew, many of them were worked by Asians and with them came some culinary traditions, and one popular one workers enjoyed were "plate lunches" that consisted of dishes made with meat leftover from the night before served with rice. That plate lunch evolved to include macaroni salad. Not that there is anything particularly fancy about the food offerings. There are only a few options of plate lunches they serve. We finally decided to stop there when we were out running errands yesterday for some lunch, and we chose the Huli Huli chicken, which are bites of teriyaki marinated grilled chicken—of course served with rice and macaroni salad. I have to say it was quite good and the dish reminded me very much of the bourbon chicken meal I used to like to get at the mall. Very tasty and right up my alley, and a nice break from burgers when you think of fast food. They are a fast-growing business with only 57 locations throughout Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. I will say the place won't be a "go-to." But it will definitely be a do over.