Aloha Wagon

If you are looking for an incredible lunch or dinner from a family owned local restaurant, I highly recommend Aloha Wagon. The place is super cute, well decorated with a fun, tropical vibe. The food is absolutely delicious, made fresh and served in abundant portions - we always leave with leftovers. This is a Hawaiian restaurant with Filipino dishes also available, and everything I have tried here has been absolutely scrumptious. The spam musubi are such a good snack and the chicken dishes are served with salad, rice and macaroni salad - the boxes are heavy with yummy food and everything tastes so good together. Their in-house juices are also so delicious. Already looking forward to our next visit!

Cute, clean, friendly, and delicious. Never had Hawaiin bbq before but this is great. Mix of Phillipines american and distinctively Hawaiian. Had the Kalua pork n cabbage. Adobe chicken and spam sushi. So good but Adobe stole the show. Great hot sauces to compliment everything. Prices great for the amount you get too. Def a must try in chicago any time of the year.

Found this Hawaiian restaurant on south Western ave. It's decorated with vibrant colors, can't miss it. Ordered a Hawaiian BBQ chicken lunch. Man the chicken was a flavorful,tender and charred just right. It came with rice, mixed greens salad and a Hawaiian macaroni. Love the flavors and light seasoning for the macaroni. The other dish was the spicy pork. This was also very flavorful and not spicyat all. It's a bit fatty and oily, but if you're looking for that you will definitely enjoy this. I will definitely be back and will try the other items on the menu.

I dont even know where to start, but the food is amazing the kalua pork plate and sandwich is authentic like I never left the island. The spam musubi is the best ive had the sauce with the musubi is so flavorful and the fish tacos are to die for. the wasabi aioli sauce is great. I been to few Lil Hawaiian spots in the city and this one is the best hands down i tell everyone I know to check this spot out it will not disappoint. Hopefully soon they expand the menus I would like to eat sum fried saimin or regular saimin. Im so glad the restaurant is up a running again I missed this spot the past year with covid im glad they pulled through and thank yu for the amazing food

Try this yummy gem 😋 We ordered: 💙LOCO MOCO Plate 💙Hawaiian grilled barbecue plate 💙chicken katsu 💙Aloha bar 💙Sunset drink 🌶️♥️ Their Chile de árbol is 😋 a lil kick I feel like the plates are shareable but it’s really good that you might not want to. Food~chefs kiss The sunset drink is so delicious! We had to order another one!! I did also want to point out that the Aloha dessert was really good that even my sister who hates coconut liked it a lot. Also my Mexican picky eater father likes this place a lot, he eats it with no comments. The empty plate says a lot. We would definitely come here again and try other menu items :)

Chicken Adobos plate was delicious! Macaroni salad and greens were nice, too. All seasoned perfectly. The rice was a bit too mushy.

I couldn’t have asked for anything with more flavor and seasoning. We had the Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Plate, Mixed Plate (BBQ Chicken and Pork), Sunset drink, and the Aloha bar. Everything we had was cooked to perfection, the portions were so large for so cheap!!! I am surprised that the line wasn’t out the door, and it needs to be! This Hawaiian restaurant deserves all of the love and attention for bringing authentic, flavorful, and delicious dishes to Chicago. The staff were phenomenal and so helpful when picking out options. So Chicago, if you great food for a low price, don’t wait, and come to Aloha Wagon as soon as you can.

Food is delicious and portion size is great. Im not a fan of potato or macaroni salad but when combined it is phenomenal. I also dont like pork but got a pork plate and it is flavorful and delicious. Amazing place one of the best I've tried in Chicago!

Had the grilled fish, chicken adobo, and bbq chicken. All awesome, got the salad and potato salad as sides - solid. Great value and takeout packaging was top notch.

Came here on a whim after reading all of the good reviews and boy was I blown away!! It's a small restaurant with very limited seating (there's maybe 3 tables along with barstool seats at the window). You order at the counter and there's a menu on the wall you can order off of. We ended up ordering a mixed plate where you can pick two different types of meats. We shared spam and the Hawaiian grilled BBQ chicken. Both were sooo delicious!! I think I liked the spam a little better but overall both were so tasty that I even contemplated ordering an extra plate to go home with. We ordered two different drinks. I can't remember the exact names of them but one of them had ginger and turmeric in it which we weren't a huge fan of but the other juice had guava and other tropical fruits and was so tasty. Overall highly recommend coming here! We'll definitely be back

Food was great! - my brother took me here on the way out of Midway airport, it's now a must stop by when I come visit. Owner is from HI originally and the food is just like eating at a local place on the islands. The Adobo chicken and Kalua pork is fantastic. Of course I had to also have the Spam Musubi.

Finally made it here and must say that the food was delicious (great portion size) with fast and friendly service. Will definitely be back.

I would never guess a place like Aloha Wagon would be in Pilsen but here we are. It's Filipino owned and run, and this brings me back to the island from the exterior and when you enter the front door. Get the chicken adobo. It was my favorite! So flavorful and so much to eat! Comes with rice, greens, and Mac salad. You'll find other Hawaiian comfort foods like loco moco and spam on the menu whether you get a plate, sandwich, salad, or even a taco! They also offer Kona coffee and some tropical drinks which are a nice boost to your day. Aloha Wagon is the type of place you come back to as a regular because it's the right balance of tasty, value, and friendliness.

If you're looking for Hawaiian island food that hits your soul, this is the place for you. Everything is made to order on the grill and every bite will leave you wanting for more. The burger sandwich was fantastic. The beef patty was marinated in teriyaki to perfection and the grilled pineapples on top just brought out the flavor combo in a spectacular way along with the Hawaiian butter buns. Small shop vibes with about 5 tables and easy parking on a Saturday morning around the corner. Call ahead to place the order if you don't want to wait.

Really glad to try this place out! Saw it on Instagram and figured I would check it out with my brother and SIL. We swung by around 1pm on a Saturday and it was absolutely packed with pretty limited seating. Lucked out and a table was eventually open for us to sit down, but definitely would consider just doing takeout if you don't live too far away. I opted to get the mixed plate with chicken katsu and chicken adobo. Also got the sunset drink which was guava/lychee/lime to sip on while I was waiting. Total for the mixed plate and drink was about $20. The sunset drink was great. Super refreshing and not overly sweet. Would definitely recommend. Food took a little bit to come out, but understandable for how busy it was. The food itself was very impressive! The chicken katsu was nice and crispy while remaining juicy and the chicken adobo was super flavorful with a good balance of of sour from the vinegar and saltiness from the soy sauce. They sauce they also have at the counter is pretty good. Nice with a little bit of spice! Also the macaroni potato salad and greens that come with your order is also nice to break things up. My brother and SIL also got mixed plates and got meats like the kalua pork which I thought was a bit dry and the tocinio which is apparently only around for this month but I found pretty yummy, too. Still think the katsu and chicken adobo were the best meats we tried. Only two minor nitpicks is I do wish there was just a bit more rice with my order because the sauce from the adobe was definitely delicious and some more rice to mop that all up would've hit. On the other side though, my brother ordered the spam musubi and I found that to be a bit too rice-heavy. All-in-all, great spot and definitely something I want to come back to again. Items like the loco moco are definitely on my radar and I can't wait for my next visit!

They definitely don't have too much good quality Hawaiian food in Illinois. First time I tried this place I had to get take out because seating was limited inside and not too many parking spaces. Food is delicious. We did two of the mixed plates so we got to try grilled tofu, Hawaiian grilled bbq chicken, lime chicken, and chicken katsu. The meat was all very moist and juicy. Tofu was well seasoned. It's all to pick a favorite since they cooked the food so well. Prices are fair. Service was wonderful.

My friend and I did a pickup order and had the mixed plate which comes with two choices w/ rice, macaroni, and salad. The portions are pretty big, but I was so hungry I ate all of it! I had the bbq chicken and chicken katsu and had an egg also. The bbq chicken was tasty and tender. The katsu chicken came with the sauce and the sauce was flavorful. My friend had the fish and it was really good. The macaroni was also yummy. I would def go and try their other items on their menu.

Aloha Wagon was listed in a Yelp list of best restaurants in the midwest, and I haven't been to a Hawaiian restaurant in a long time and not at all since I've lived in Chicago. I had an appointment about 20 minutes away so decide to give it a try. It's hard to miss given the paint job is bright blue, so when you see the blue box on Western you've made it there! This is a very small restaurant. They have four two-top tables, along with two spaces for counter seating; one of those spaces is high-top counter seating and the other is table height counter seating right by the kitchen/prep area. You'll order at the counter. They have a variety of options starting with their plates. These are a choice of one or two meats with green salad and the (ever present in Hawaiian cuisine) macaroni salad (they add potato to theirs here). White rice completes the meal. I chose a mixed plate to try a couple different meats, selecting the lime chicken and chicken adobo. Both were okay. I also tasted the Hawaiian BBQ chicken from someone else's plate, and that was good too. They use boneless chicken, which is good because I don't eat bone-in chicken; however, I think it was chicken thigh which isn't my preference. The portions are humungous so you're definitely getting your money's worth. In addition to their mixed plates there are burgers and other items. I also got one of their dessert bars--I think it's supposed to be pineapple coconut cheesecake--and that was a bit disappointing. For a dessert that uses two very distinct flavors, it was flavorless. I wouldn't have known I was eating something with either of those flavors; in fact I forgot that it had pineapple and the only giveaway about the coconut was the grated coconut that was on it. Overall the food was ok but I wasn't blown away, unfortunately. I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again. Aloha Wagon does catering as well if you're looking for something a little different for an event. Parking is street only; there are four or five spaces on Western in front of the restaurant and probably some on the side streets. There's also a bus stop steps from their door, though I don't know what number, and the Western station on the Pink Line is less than halfway down the block.

First time having Hawaiian food? This is the spot to try! I was welcomed with open arms at this unassuming, tastefully decorated spot. The person at the counter recommended the mixed plate with spicy pork and chicken adobo. The spicy pork was so tender and had a nice kick!! And the chicken adobo was so beautifully seasoned and juicy beyond imagination - I almost asked for the recipe! The place came with a side salad, white rice, and potato mac salad. And the folks working there were so kind, they even gave me a taste of the kalua pig, which was smoky, soft, and juicy. Want an extra kick of spice? Ask for some of their salsa, but beware - it's spicy!! And don't forget to grab an aloha bar as to-go desert because you'll want a yummy dessert after such a delicious meal. While this was my first time here, I for sure want to come back!

The food is decent but I wish they provided more of the sauce. I felt the meat was a bit under seasoned and could use more of the sauce. Portions were pretty good for the price.

amazing food, great portion! We got take out, and it takes about 15 minutes to be ready, so call ahead :). I especially like the grilled fish, huge piece of fish and very tender and tasty. The spicy pork is also one of my favorite, it is a bit on the spicier side in case you can't take the heat. The meat itself is very juicy and tasty. The Hawaiian grilled BBQ chicken plate is really good, huge pieces of chicken breast marinated in pineapple teriyaki sauce, a hint of sweetness makes the whole dish very tasty. The aloha bar is pretty good, it's a piece of cheesecake with coconut shred on top

I've worked around her for a while and I'm sad I never visited before today! I got the Kalua pig and bbq chicken plate. Everything was so yummy, from the meat to the potato Mac salad to even the rice! The bbq chicken is soooo good and tender, I thought I would prefer the pork but the chicken was too good. The interior is very cute, music is on theme and perfect volume, and the staff is so nice. Can't wait to come back!!

Very cute mom and pop shop! The owners were super personable even when they were overwhelmed with the amount of online orders. The inside is decorated nicely; big picture frames of a family photo and their original food wagon in Hawaii were hung up on the walls.  We got the plate lunches and tried their Hawaiian grilled BBQ chicken (highly recommend), chicken katsu plate, and kalua pork. Portions were big and we agreed that it was the best Hawaiian food we've had in Chicago.

Okay kids. Let's talk ONO (good) Hawaiian food. I'll start with the staples that anchor a plate lunch: a heaping scoop of sticky rice, cold delicious potato Mac salad and fresh mixed greens w guava lime vinaigrette . When I say "get yourself some" of this salad dressing, I mean it. Mom had bbq grilled chicken and lime fish. The seasoning was just right. She doesn't usually fool around with tilapia, but she did it for the community. It was quite tasty. I had Katsu chicken and Loco Moco (steak burger with brown gravy topped with a fried egg). I'm glad the portions were Hawaiian style (see my photo). I had to split my food to eat some now and save some for later. Let's be honest. There was NO WAY I could eat all of this food in one setting. I was craving Hawaiian food. Thank you Yelp for your help in locating this wonderful little place. It's been forever since I've "talked story" with a local. You get that vibe here at ALOHA WAGON. The smiles, friendliness, and small talk could not be faked. Paul handled customer service so nicely. I'd come back just to visit him. Good thing this place gives you multiple reasons to return and spread ALOHA. The food, service, and music transported me back to Maui for this short visit. See you again soon.

I was so sad when they closed their location on Ogden and Western during the pandemic, but oh so overjoyed when I found out they've reopened at a new spot on Western! Outside they have that signature bright blue exterior (props to whoever originally wrote that in their review because it made it so much easier to spot), and inside has the same Hawaiian vibe including Hawaiian music. They have your classic Hawaiian lunch plates including katsu, BBQ chicken, Kalua pig, and loco moco. The lunch plate comes with rice, a little side salad, and a scoop of Mac salad. Food is so delicious. They even have some vegetarian options and sell also spam musubi. The restaurant definitely stands out visually and taste wise in this part of the neighborhood and the staff are so helpful!

We stumbled across Aloha Wagon and I'm so glad we decided to try ! The food was fresh and so so flavorful. The gentleman that helped us was great and his recommendations were perfect. We tried the Hawaiian burger , regular cheese burger , fries as well as two mixed chicken plates (bbq and adobo). Everything was very good. We will be back !

I'm so grateful to have finally found this place after being in Chicago for several years. This kalua pork is absolutely incredible! Better then I've had in some places in Hawaii. The owner and front staff gentleman are so nice and friendly. Added bonus that you can support this hard working family man business. The mixed plate is great option to try couple of choices each time since they are all so good! Will definitely be a loyal regular now. First great Hawaiian food option in Chicago I've found! Mahalo! Clearly deserves 5 star rating!

Came all the way down from Kenosha and when I walked in they told me they're closed for some reason & they're open again on Monday. What a complete 3+ hour waste of my time & gas money for the round trip I'm highly disappointed.

Great food. Always reasonable price and awesome service. I live not too far away from this place and I couldn't be happier.

Great food, good service. Family owned business. Always get the mixed plate with grilled fish and chicken katsu!

My gf found this place because it was near a pie popup, Justice of the Pies, and since my husband and I recently returned from our Hawaii honeymoon. We ordered lime chicken ($10.50) and grilled tofu ($9.75) plates with an aloha pineapple coconut cheesecake bar ($2.50) for dessert. Spam musubi and two other plates for carryout. Everything was delicious with generous portions. The mac salad, cheesecake bar, spam musubi, and friendly service reminded me of beautiful Hawaii :)

One of my favorite restaurants in the Chicagoland area! My go-to order is the mixed plate entree with half loco moco and half grilled fish. The grilled white fish here is one of the best I have ever had!! It is super fresh and light tasting but also very delicious and I think that the fish and the hamburger patty from the loco moco complement and balance each other very well. Also, their cheesecake coconut bars are delicious! They go great with a cup of coffee and I have to get one every time I'm here. As a bonus the owners are super nice and always working hard to provide the best food and service possible. Definitely check this place out!

I have been eagerly awaiting their reopen for a while now. I found out about them later on and couldn't try it til they reopened. They are open now and I finally made my way there. I got spam musubi, a mixed plate with bbq chicken and fish, another mixed plate with bbq chicken and kalua pork. The mixed plate comes with salad and potato Mac salad. I liked the fish the most. I liked the sauce on it and it came with lime that helped the flavor. Overall, everything was good. I wish I got a little more sauce with the chicken but it was super filling. The spam musubi was tasty but wish it had a little more sauce to it. It came warm and was good. They offer so many plates that I can't wait to go back again. There's plenty of free parking near by, too. There's a couple of tables but we got the food to go. They close early so be sure to get there before they close!

I've been to Aloha a few times at their old location. I was afraid they were a business gone forever due to this crappy pandemic so ecstatic that they are back! This was my first trip to the new location which has a little more space and seating. I came in wanting to get the grilled fish but I saw a specials sign with Chicken Adobo. I asked the lady what it was and her description gave me pause. She then suggested I get the half and half plate so I could get both and that's what I did! I also ordered their coconut cheesecake which was great. I've also had their banana bread, although it wasn't on the menu, and it's amazing. The meal I got for lunch gave me life. The fish came with a side of this cilantro lime sauce. The fish was light, moist and cooked perfectly. It didn't need the sauce but I used some of it just to try it with it. With or without, it's great! The chicken was also cooked perfectly. Not dried up at all and seasoned well. The plate also came with rice, a pasta salad, and side salad. These people know how to really burn in the kitchen and I love the thoughtfulness that they put into service. So far, the best in Hawaiian food that I've come across!

This place is very cute inside! It is very unassuming on the outside. You step inside and instantly feel that "Hawaiian" vibe. Nothing tacky, just like a cute little oasis. The food was all very fresh and delicious. I love spam! The spam musubi hit the spot and I could probably just eat an order of those myself and be content (an order comes with two). The mixed meal is a great deal. Two meats with rice, macaroni/potato salad, and a spinach salad. Everything was delicious. I also couldn't resist getting the pineapple coconut cheesecake slice. Yum! Tastes like a pina colada. What a special treat after a great meal. I will be back again soon!

Food was great! My partner and I ordered the Katsu and Loco moco. Katsu was crispy and tasted great although I didn't really like the katsu sauce just because it was a little sweet for my taste. The loco moco had 2 huge beef patties with a yummy gravy. The best thing I liked about the food was it was extremely flavorful without being salty. I definitely want to come back to try the teriyaki chicken and the chicken adobo. The mac salad was also very good, as it was light without being too thick via mayonnaise or salty. Price is very reasonable for the amount of food you are receiving too! Def come and try!

We ordered four dinner plates to go and everything was well package, nice portions, and delicious.

If you have ever wanted to step off a Chicago street and into a Hawaii, this is your chance. The interior of this place is reminiscent of something you might see on the north shore of Oahu. There were many food options, but anytime I see pork on a menu, I tend to gravitate toward it. I ordered the Kalua Pork and had no regrets. Everything was fresh and tasted excellent. It is worth mentioning that the portions are so significant that they serve the meal in a take-out container even if you are eating there. The meat, which melted in my mouth, had a green salad, white rice, and a macaroni salad as sides. I was there with two friends, and they ordered chicken katsu and the other called the fish. Both raved about the food. The common theme with each dish was the amount of meat they gave. It would be hard to leave this place hungry. The service was friendly. I hope to return soon.

If your in the neighborhood and need to grab something quick and fairly healthy, give it a try. Nice little hidden gem.

This place does worth 5 stars as many others have rated! I had the mixed plate with crispy chicken steak and pulled pork. It's a very generous portion for the price! It's also nicely cooked and very flavorful. This is a very small restaurant. I saw many people take out their food. Would re-visit this amazing place and try something else!

I read some reviews before going, and I don't know how anyone can say small portions! The boxes barely closed on my takeout meals. The loco moco was great! They fry the eggs when you order. I don't like mac salad in general, and there's didn't change anything. The salad dressing was some ginger mix and was delicious. Both chicken types (adobo, bbq) were tasty, but I would have appreciated some sauce on them. I've never had un-sauced chicken in Hawaii so I was a little surprised. Overall, the food is good and I would come back for the loco moco.

Service was perfect. Food was delicious. Portions were more than generous. Smells were great. Ambience took me back to the Islands.

Absolutely amazing. Would highly recommend trying one of everything. Everything blows kasama out of the water they deserve a Michelin star.

I'm happy to have found this place. The food is made to order. I always order the chicken katsu, the chicken taste great by itself or with the sauce. The portions are generous. Eat half for lunch and safe the other half for a late lunch

Fantastic food! Authentic and great price. We had played with the Hawaiian bbq chicken, katsu chicken and kalua pork and all were amazing. Added on grilled pineapple to both and it was a perfect meal. Could easily split a plate with someone because the plates are large. The house-made sauces had excellent flavor. We would highly recommend this spot to anyone!

Food tastes like a home-cooked meal. Service was great, lovely interior, amazing servings, and everything came out pretty quickly (there were around five other people in the restaurant at the time). I wanted to come here with my boyfriend for the longest time because he loves katsu and we were not disappointed. You know the food is good when the table is silent cus we're both busy eating. The chicken was cooked to tender perfection. The katsu was crispy and the sauce was yummy. Rice was steaming fresh out the rice cooker. I always need extra salad with everything I eat to balance out any strong flavors, but not this time-- everything was well-seasoned. The macaroni wasn't our favorite, but it didn't take away from the meal at all. I wish they had a location near where I live! I'd be a regular.

I was first introduced to this place when my ex-employer catered it for us and i instantly loved it! I had a lot of the chicken katsu with their very tasy spicy BBQ sauce. Since then, I i tried my best getting it every now and then until their original location on western closed right around the started of COVID :( I thought this place was lost.... UNTIL I SAW IT AGAIN A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE ORIGINAL LOCATION! Since then I have had it a couple of times and its always a treat! I also introduced it to a bunch of friends and they all loved it! Their chicken katsu is obviously great, but i also loved their spicy pork and according to my buddies, they loved their kalua tacos, BBQ chicken, and spicy pork as well. Can't get over how great this place is and not sure I'll be tired of it any time soon. They also have pretty great catering options!

First time having Hawaiian food and this did not disappoint at all! Food was filled with flavor, the people there were very friendly, and the restaurant itself was super cute.

Food was SO good! I have never had Hawaiian food before and this was an excellent introduction. Portions were large and everything was well-seasoned. Highly recommended

I'm not sure what's better here - the food or the friendly customer service. Everyone working here quickly makes you feel like family (especially when you become a regular do to the extraordinary flavors of the pork plate.) It's priced right, and piled high. I can never get enough of the macaroni salad! Do yourself a favor by ordering here and I guarantee you'll fall in love.

I ordered 2 plate lunches. Each plate lunch is served with white rice, potato mac salad, and a mixed green salad. Everything is standard; however, both of the salads are a bit warm after being in the same container as the hot rice and meat. The potato mac salad gives the best of a potato salad and a mac salad by combining the two. The chicken katsu plate had a panko breaded fried chicken cutlet with the tangy katsu sauce. It was still crispy even after steaming in the to-go container. The Hawaiian Grilled BBQ Chicken Plate had marinated chicken that was packed with flavor. Can't go wrong with either choice, but I personally like the grilled chicken.

Chill spot between Little Village and Lower West Side. They offer an array of different options with the different cuisines available here (Hawaiian, Filipino, & Mexican). It's a bit more spacious than their previous location which is nice. Big portions here, it's almost like 2 meals. To make it easier I'd recommend phoning in your order ahead of time. I recommend getting the mixed plate if you want to try more than one entree. Lots of flavor in their food. You may get food coma afterwards so be prepared.

Food is always great and very generous with portion size! Love love love! Go to Hawaiian takeout

It was good overall. Great service from the lovely lady at the register. The spicy pork was the best thing we had overall but we all enjoyed the food. Not enough seating though. Seems like doing takeout would be the better thing to do here for larger parties.

There was an ol' Hawaiian spot I used to go to all the time back in California that served generous portions of classic favorites from the chicken katsu, bbq beefs, porks, chickens and spam musubis. Finally found a spot that bangs out these classics in addition to some Filipino meat options too?! Wowzers. You really can have it all. It's definitely a hole in the wall spot. Hours are pretty limited 11am-3pm as I recall. Food is made to order. Free street parking and limited inside seating. Anyways, in terms of food we tried two mixed plate lunches with Hawaiian bbq chicken, kalua pork, chicken adobo, and tocino. While the filipino adobo and tocino don't strike me as the most authentic, it was still pretty damn good. I'll say in terms of portion is definitely good for at least two meals and we definitely didn't need that additional side order of spam musubi. Come hungry. Leave full and happy it didn't break the bank. 'Til next time, cheers!

Didn't know about this hidden gem in the area but the food was delicious! We shared the grilled bbq chicken plate and an order of the spam musubi- enough for 2 people! The chicken was so flavorful and tender. I did order a chicken adobo for my father to try but he said that one was a bit salty although I didn't try it myself. Highly recommended.

The best Hawaiian food with great service. You can't get Hawaiian street food around Chicago, this is where you get it.

The food was excellent, fresh and the wait time was less than 30 minutes, it was worth the ride and the $$$ the ambiance gave island vibes and reminded me of being in Hawaii a small cozy and clean establishment. I am looking forward to going back soon!