Fran C.
Yelp
I had this vegan restaurant bookmarked like forever!
Now don't get me wrong.........I NOT SICK, but why is Bruddah Fran not hangin' around his favorite Frrrrrrried Chicken joint - (Popeye's or Pioneer Chicken?), or his favorite bakery getting a custard pie (Ani's Bakery)?
Well, once in a while you just gotta eat a little healthier, and do some vegan, because like mom would say............"Eat Your Vegetables! It's good for you!"
Located in the wonderful town of Waimanalo - "Ai Love Nalo" as in "I Love Waimanalo", get it? Is a wonderfully run vegan restaurant.
For you meat eaters, this place may not be a place that you would dig, but if you come here with an open mind, the food served at Ai Love Nalo really ain't bad at all..........
I came here with my friends - Sharon H., & Cathy I., Sharon has been a veteran of Ai Love Nalo...........but as for Cathy & I, we're just 1st timers.
As we walked into the restaurant, I could see it was very popular, as the restaurant was packed!
How it works..........
Basically there is a wall menu, you check out the items that interest you, then you place your food order with the clerk at the ordering counter.
After paying for your food, the clerk will give you a number, then all you have to do is look for an open table & place your order number on the table.
When your food is ready, someone will bring the food out to your table.
The day we came here, I ordered the -
1. Oh Wow Laulau! ($11.00) - Local veggies such as kalo, ulu, & u'ala wrapped in Lu'au leaves, served with a choice of poi, brown rice, or millet (I got poi), tofu poke (plain or spicy..........I got the spicy), & fresh greens.
My friends got -
1. Roasted Veggie Plate ($12.00) - Slow roasted veggies over a bed of brown rice or millet (she got brown rice). House-made mushroom gravy for dipping, & fresh greens with a choice of creamy balsamic or ginger tahini dressing. (Avocado when available)
And for a drink -
It's Mint To Be Smoothy ($8.00) - Coconut Milk, Carob & Maca Powder, Bananas, Local Mint, Honey & Cacoa Nibs.
2. Medi Bowl ($14.00) - Kalo falafel, fire roasted baba ganoush, beet hummus, millet tabouleh over a bed of greens with a creamy balsamic dressing. This is Ai Love Nalo's #1 seller!
And for a drink -
Lime In Da Coconut Smoothy ($8.00) - Coconut Milk, Key Limes, Avocado, Banana, Coconut Flakes & Honey.
What can I say about my Vegan Lau Lau plate?
I loved every item on my "Oh Wow Laulau" plate............with exception of the main course, the Laulau.
Now let me explain..........if you folks ever had Hawaiian food, and ate a Laulau, you know very well a traditional Laulau has some kind of meat (pork or chicken, with a small piece of butterfish, and of course some fat. Usually the fat & meats when cooked in the Laulau gives it the tenderness & moistness of the inside of the Laulau.
Since I was eating a vegan Laulau, the inside of my Laulau had a piece of salted Ulu (Breadfruit), Okinawan Sweet Potato (purple potato), & a Carrot, I have to tell you the Laulau was rather dry, & not too palatable.
As a trooper.........I still choked it down, and drank more water. Lol!
As for the other items on my plate, poi, mixed greens, & the spicy tofu poke..........those items were great! No complaints at all!
Parking -
Ai Love Nalo is a very successful Vegan restaurant and it's really busy here! The parking situation at this restaurant is pretty dire, so hopefully when you do come, you will be lucky enough for find a parking space..........otherwise you will have to look around someplace to park within the Waimanalo neighborhood.
Overall, still a great vegan restaurant............and by far the best vegan restaurant I've been to, so far.
Chance 'em, no can go wrong!