Da Local Boy Cafe

As a girl born and raised on Oahu her whole life and moved down to Illinois due to my military spouse. Hands down best Hawaiian fusion kine food around here. Love the service love the food the music and the vibe makes me feel like I’m back home. Me and my partner got the poke nachos as a pupu (appetizer) poke is very fresh and we asked where the poke was sourced and we were told that they get a shipment from Hawaii.lastly server Dianne very amazing server give her a raise. Very impressed we will be coming back. Ono Ono broke da mout 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤤

We drove out to try Da Local Boy Cafe after hearing great things, and it was absolutely worth it! The Huli Huli Chicken instantly made it to my list of favorites, so tender, bursting with flavor, and perfectly cooked. The Garlic Furikake fries and Mochiko chicken were also big wins with the kids, and the macaroni salad complemented every dish perfectly. The staff stayed efficient, attentive, and welcoming even when the place was packed. A gem worth returning to! 🤌

Food here was delicious, honestly pretty surprised. Some of the best Hawaiian food I’ve had outside of Hawaii. Poke nachos a must, Huli Huli chicken amazing and the Hawaiian sodas are delicious.

Fantastic food Reminded me of Hawaiian local food. The servers were so sweet and the music was islandee 🥰

Great food. Came for dinner. Braddahs plate with michiko chicken and pork belly was very good. The poke had too much soy for my liking. The surf n turf had great shrimp and the ribs (kalbi) was excellent. Pleasant staff. Decent street parking and there’s a Jewel across street. I live 45 minutes away but Er oils definitely be back if in the area.

Da Local Boy Cafe is such a gem! Their poke nachos are absolutely delicious loaded with flavor and perfect for sharing. The macaroni salad is hands down my favorite side dish; creamy, fresh, and the best comfort bite to pair with anything on the menu. The ambiance is super welcoming, laid-back, and gives you that local vibe where you just want to relax and enjoy your meal. On top of that, the customer service is always friendly and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better.

What a great Hawaiian dining experience 🍍 this is a fantastic small place for those who love the Hawaiian cuisine or for those who like to experience, discover and enjoy new flavors. Food is tasty, well presented, flavorful and generous.

Incredibly friendly service. The staff working the front of house were fabulous. I ordered the pork belly and it came with rice and macaroni side.I did a to go order and it came out really quickly The serving was so generous! I love that they text you when the food is ready ! A great experience and I look forward to coming back to dine in .

This place is amazing!!!! Been 3 times, amazing all 3 times. Friendly staff , great food, Love taking people here as they all say the same thing.

Was looking to try something new and was pleasantly surprised by Da Local Boy! We got the Aloha Mixed Plate (swapped the rice for fries -- small up-charge but totally worth it) and Braddah Paul's Plate. Portions were way bigger than we expected, so we had leftovers. The chicken was juicy with a nice char, the fries were crispy and seasoned well, and the mochiko chicken + pork belly combo on Paul's Plate had great flavor, the poke was fresh, everything hit the spot! The restaurant has a great vibe, clean, bright, and the music is at the perfect volume so my spouse and I were able to talk and enjoy our lunch. Staff were attentive and really friendly. Overall, a great experience.

Finally tried this place since they don't have delivery on UberEats or GrubHub which is my go to when I don't have the discipline to make my super healthy organic meals. Food: Mochiko chicken. Sooo good. Love the crispy batter. It comes with rice, a side of creamy macaroni salad & a very generous delicious serving of fried chicken. It's a bit too much food for me but I was at a Highwood festival so leftovers were a no go. Service was fine. Ambiance is a cute casual place. Highly recommend for Hawaiian food in the burbs!

This is a small, cozy eating establishment. Waiters are super nice and accommodating. I got the mochiko chicken and enjoyed it a lot - it's delightfully crunchy on the outside but soft and juicy on the inside. Their macaroni salad is delicious as well. It can get busy and I hear from friends that it can sometimes take a while to get a table. Plenty of free parking available in the area.

This spot recently has been on my radar and yep, def going back lol. We actually got a lot to share as the portions are pretty damn generous! We got take out but when I went in to pick up the food made a mental note of how comforting and charming this place is. No frills, just a couple tables but cozy! The flavors of every single thing we had were perfectly balanced. All their entrees fortunately come with a little side of their macaroni salad and, oh man, what a hell of a side!! And then there were those Poke Nachos Such a novel idea but the combination of tortilla chips and poke did wonders. Yep...I'll be back. If their fake out was this fresh I can't wait to do a dine in!!

Was passing by in the area and saw this place on google and WOW, truly enjoyed everything we had. So flavorful, and the portions are also so generous! I haven't had much Hawaiian food but by far, this is the best that I've had in Illinois.

Today was my first time trying Da local Boy Cafe, all I can say is. Amazing. One word to describe every aspect of this amazing cafe. Amazing staff, amazing food, amazing atmosphere. And the best of all. AMAZING PRICES I love this cafe I would definitely recommend coming 10/10

I was perusing Yelp and happened upon Da Local Boy so we made a special trip up to Highwood to check it out. There's some street parking in front of the restaurant but it involves parallel parking. The restaurant is pretty small and there are mostly tables for 2-4 people inside. We came on a Sunday afternoon for lunch and we were able to snag a table right away though. Hubby had the loco moco (rice, house burger patties, two sunny side up eggs, topped with house gravy) while I had the Aloha mixed plate (huli huli chicken, short rib, beer battered fish). I shared my dish with our daughter and it was plenty of food. The prices are more expensive than what I was expecting but the portions are large. I enjoyed all three proteins from the Aloha mixed plate, especially the huli huli chicken. I just wish that it came with garlic rice instead of regular rice (garlic rice is extra $). Hubby enjoyed his dish too but he would probably opt to get the mixed plate next time too. Overall, food was good and we will be back again!

A long overdue review since we've been long time fans, we were SO excited to hear that they were opening a brick and mortar last year. We've been back so many times and have introduced so many of our friends to it. Our most recent visit was today where we stopped in for brunch. They've now added items to the menu to offer a more table side experience and we had an incredible time. We started with the spam masubi and the bbq skewers. It was the perfect bite and truly reminded us of our favorite bites in Hawaii. For my entree I opted for the Poke bowl with included their poke of the day, and today it was the ahi. There was plenty in the bowl and it absolutely hit the spot! I usually get their oh Bruddah plate to have a combination of a bunch of my favorite things. There's nothing like the comfort of Hawaii here in the north shore. Can't wait to come back and get my next fix!

This is a great local Hawaiian restaurant with a Maui twist. Look for the Hawaii flag outside the entrance. The interior is casual and clean. Our meals were delicious. The Hawaiian music really brought us closer to home. Before heading back on the road, we got two Spam musubis to go. The staff was friendly and our dishes were served rather quickly. I highly recommend Da Local Boy!

This place is absolutely delicious and is my new obsession! I came here recently and tried the skewers, spam musubi, and the Da OG Plate Combo. Every dish was packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The plate combo was an amazing. It came with generous portions of chicken and pork belly, along with a side of rice and creamy mac salad. There aren't many places in the area serving Hawaiian food this good, so I'm really glad I found this spot. The restaurant has a cute and chill vibe that totally fits the Hawaiian theme, and located right next to the Metra station. The staff was also super friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back and bringing friends and family next time!

Here's what you need to know: incredible food! Just wow. Service was sweet and friendly. Ambiance is very much casual Hawaii - like a local eatery or even grocery store cafe. Unpretentious, Fun and relaxed. The Huli Huli chicken is spectacular, truly. Far exceeded our expectation. The glaze, the moistness, all phenomenal. Rice is clean tasting and well prepared. Mac salad is like Hawaii - a little too heavy on the mayo :) the poke shoyu tuna nachos were excellent too. Tuna was so well marinated and fresh. Eggs cooked perfectly and Portuguese sausage is absolutely delish. Everything was a success, even my son's cheeseburger and fries. Bravo. Very well price too for the north shore

Service was attentive, food was plentiful and delicious. First thing you notice upon walking in is the super cute Hawaiian decor and the biggest Aloha. Stopped by for an early lunch with a friend and shared the pork lumpia and the Aloha mixed plate (beer battered fish, shrimp tempura, kalbi). It was so delicious. Everything we ate was so good, we cleaned the plate. Portions are pretty big, so you get what you pay for. There's so much more I want to try and will definitely be back!

Just love love love this restaurant! It reminds me of being back in Hawaii when I can't be there. If you are hesitant on what to order, the Huli-Huli, Katsu Chicken, and short ribs won't disappoint and will have you coming back for more! Spread the word and the love! Come down and give it a try! It will soon become a recurring fab

as someone born and raised in Hawaii, this place offers authentic local flavors and preparation! I ordered the katsu moco, crispy, saucy, and delicious. the poke nachos were really good too and the wonton chips were light and good contrast in texture for the poke. portions are definitely meant to share waiter and staff was very friendly and checked in on us when needed. the restaurant offers indoor, outdoor seating, plays island music and is decorated with casual, inviting, hawaiʻi decorations

Had to update that we have been to their storefront many times now and their food truck countless times. EVERY SINGLE TIME it is spot on. We absolutely love the food and it takes us back to our times in Hawaii. Everyone who works here always is happy to help. The owners are so sweet and passionate about what they do. We cannot express how much we love supporting this business! The storefront is absolutely beautifully decorated and has perfect relaxed vibes. Exactly as if you were in a cafe in Hawaii :) They deserve all the success ! You will not regret trying them out. Our favorites: Poke nachos (so fresh!) Poke bowl (YUM) Pulehu short ribs (to die for!) Mochiko chicken (crunchy and flavorful) Everything else we have tried has been amazing as well!!!

Just posting more pictures from a recent brunch at Da Local Guy. We were pleasantly surprised at how crowded it was so we were glad we came early. Food was so good!

They soft-launched brunch today! We tried the ube panckes, French toast, banana macadamia nut pancakes, and moco loco. Everything came out beautifully, and while my girls thought they would prefer the sweet stuff, it was the moco loco that stole the show! Now we have to go back to try all the other savory options. I'm posting the brunch menu picture and soon they will be open many days starting at 9am. I'd suggest calling first to make sure they are open until Yelp updates the hours.

This place is so cute. It's a hidden gem! Newer small business in the area and has quickly gained traction. This place has been recommended to me multiple times and I finally made it. We started with two orders of spam musubi, it was so savory and quite filling. We ordered a side of garlic furikake fries (w/ garlic aioli?) and it's plenty for 2-3 people. The fries tasted so fresh and natural. I ate the majority of the fries before the meal . We got the grilled pork belly (comes w/ side of rice and macaroni salad), the pork belly was flavorful and had like a charcoal/smoky, off the grill taste, so yummy! We also had the Kahuku style garlic shrimp (comes w/side of rice and macaroni salad), we had great shrimp size, all bathed in the garlic butter, well cleaned and cooked. They were very easy to peel, normally it's a struggle. Portions are well priced. The servers were very generous checking-in and filling up water. I loved it and can't wait to try more of their dishes.

Yeah, the 5 stars do this place justice. We kept running into their food truck at various summer festivals and their huli huli chicken platters were always so good and portions were very fair, especially when it felt like every other food truck was trying to overcharge on novelty. After a few times, we learned about their storefront and knew we had to check it out. Wow, its even better. The pork belly is succulent and the right amount of savory and sweet. The mochiko chicken is perfectly fried comes with a delicious drizzled sauce on top. And the huli huli chicken remains our classic favorite, nicely barbequed with the perfect amount of char. Oh, and the portions are HUGE so you'll have more than enough to share your dish with friends and family. The service is always mom-and-pop cheery with a family who clearly knows they can have pride in what they're serving up. Five stars, easily.

Never would have found it, if not for a friend who raved. Had lunch and it was terrific.

Da Local Boy Cafe is such a gem! Their poke nachos are absolutely delicious loaded with flavor and perfect for sharing. The macaroni salad is hands down my favorite side dish; creamy, fresh, and the best comfort bite to pair with anything on the menu. The vibe is super welcoming, chill, and gives you that Hawaii local vibe where you just want to relax and enjoy your meal. the customer service is always friendly and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better.

Amazing FOOD!!! Amazing Customer Service. I remember when they were a Food Truck and the food was Amazing, the people who serve you were even more. Amazing 5 out of 5, 10 out of 10 would recommend!!!

Really chill vibe and local food is definitely on the mark. Friendly staff. All plate lunches came with rice and Mac salad. The hurricane shrimp was excellent, crunchy good the sauces had a slight heat that my kids noticed but I didn't think it was extreme(and I didn't notice at all until the last bite). I liked how they had green onions all over. Wonderful dish. Mochiko chicken was my fav. It was crunchy, well marinated and just a must have. Some furikake flakes gave it some real depth of flavor too. (After first bite, I knew I loved it) I only had small bites of the combination special. The short ribs were on point, really flavorful. Fried chicken I thought was kind of plain on its own, but it came with a Huli Huli sauce which great for dipping. I also splashed a bit of chili water on it which was delightful. Counter service. Take all credit cards. Found parking along the street Available seating, could accommodate a larger family. High top Bar seating along wall.

We finally made it out to Da Local Boy! If you are a Chicago transplant from Hawaii like we are, you will not be disappointed with the food you order from this spot! If I had the stomach space for it, I would've ordered much more than what we had! We ordered the Ube pancakes, side of fried rice, chicken katsu plate, and braddah Paul's plate. We also ordered a pound of poke to take home. Service was great and we can't wait to go back again!

From the food trailer to a restaurant spot, Da Local boy has been consistent in serving delicious and authentic Hawaiian cuisine. The amazing ambiance and tropical decor gives you the vibe of being in the islands . From the Loco Moco to the Maui Local Deluxe, every bite was a flavor explosion. Service is outstanding and made us feel like ohana. Don't miss this culinary treasure in the heart of HIGHWOOD.

5 stars all the way across the board! Food great! Service greater! Ambience greatest!

What a pleasant, satisfying meal to start off the weekend. We came in on a Friday evening during dinner time. It was not busy when we arrived however after coming there were handfuls of people coming throughout our stay at the restaurant. Upon walking in the interior is fabulous, the mural is pretty and adds so much to the space. You can walk up to the counter where you are warmly greeted and place your order there. We ordered 3 different plates boxes. We got the mochiko chicken, Da Local Pac, and the Hurricane Shrimp Tempura. All the dishes were delicious, the mochiko chicken was probably my favorite. We have had this dish before in Hawaii and I must say Da Local Boys take on it was fabulous, lots of flavor, crispy and juicy on the inside. I loved how a lot of their dishes had green onions as toppings. The special of Da Local Pac was a nice sampling of some of their dishes. The spare ribs and fried chicken were in there and it was great. The shrimp had some spicy flare to it, were crispy and with lots of flavor. They also had a chili sauce at the table that had a lot of great flavor. The pricing too was pretty decent. Overall a great experience!

Oh wow... If you are looking for a local spot with flavorful food and delicious drinks then you NEED to go to Da Local Boy! I ordered the Huli Huli chicken which is their boneless chicken meal marinated in their house Hawaiian soy sauce. It smelled amazing and tasted even better! The white rice and mac salad were the perfect sides. For my drink, I ordered a Lava Flow which is a piña colada with a strawberry swirl. It was so flavorful and complimented my meal. Though it's a smaller building, there is a wall of windows at the entrance, allowing for the space to feel very bright and welcoming! The staff is also very kind and helpful if you have any questions while you order. I highly recommend visiting Da Local Boy if you are in the neighborhood!

Finding Hawaiian food in the Midwest isn't easy. It's probably as easy as finding a Polish Buffet in Waikiki. I'm going out on a limb here, having eaten at a half dozen Hawaiian restaurants in the Midwest...this one, Da Local Boy, is the BEST. Two words: Pork Belly. Try it with the platter, mac salad and rice on the side, or combine with their chicken. Chicken katsu is also a solid choice. Service is great, decor is simple, but puts you in an island mood. Get your hoki (butt) in here and dine fine on Hawaiian.

I like these small hole in the wall spots. Tasted their food when they were selling out of the food truck, and glad they now have a brick and mortar. If you have a Hawaiian spot and is not welcoming... might as well quit. lol. These people are welcoming and good service. Food tasted great and portion size is good. Definitely recommend.

I wanted to try this place out and let me tell you... SO WORTH IT! I got the mochiko chicken and furikake fries and it was so ONO! I'm from Hawaii so it felt like being at home in there! Ambience, service and food was amazing!

This place was a 10/10 in all aspects. Customer service was friendly and welcoming. Food was ready fairly quick and the taste was 50/10. It's a small place, but they have a decent amount of seating available. All three items we tried were full of flavor and left you wanting more. Poke Nachos could have used a bit more tuna, but that's just me being greedy. Will be dreaming of those wonton chips. Huli huli chicken was so tender and had such a delicious taste. Serving of chicken was massive and well worth the price. Spam musubi although very simple was absolutely delicious. Will be back to try out more on the menu

I went to eat a late lunch here while in Highland Park based on Yelp reviews. My boyfriend and I split the Huli Huli Chicken, which was very flavorful and came with rice and macaroni salad. It was a very nice serving size for the two of us. The people were nice, including Nate, who is the owner and one of the chefs! He shared his story with us and how he was blessed that his family's house survived the big fire & how he started this restaurant as a tent 1st and then the food truck, and now the restaurant. They still have a food truck too if you ever are hosting a party or event, I would highly recommend them! The atmosphere is casual and welcoming with a big mural on the wall, pretty videos playing and nice music.

Ain't nobody doing it like Da Local Boy in the northshore. Not one bad item on this menu! Do not sleep on this delicious island cuisine. Do not be afraid if the menu items seem foreign to you. Venture bravely into new food geography and ascend! Service is outstanding. Being inside feels like being on the sunny beaches of Kahala. 10/10 would recommend!

Blown away by how delicious this Hawaiian food was! Everything was cooked to perfection, with balanced flavors and tons of fun textures. I actually couldn't pick a favorite thing I ate -- everything was truly outstanding. Really nice people running the operation too. Highwood is lucky to have Da Local Boy!

My go to place for hawaii foods . Love the huli huli chicken but I will be back for the other menu .

This was my first time here, and I couldn't recommend it enough! The staff was friendly and very attentive. The physical space was bright and lively featuring art painted on the wall by a local resident! The food was delicious. The flavors were bursting in my mouth and the char broiled taste was awesome. Can't wait to come back and try more off the menu!

We have traveled to Hawaii many times and it great having great food from there local. Poke nachos yum

Fantastic, tasty food with good service. Can't wait to return and try more items off the menu!

Found this gem when I was looking for places to eat around Highwood park after a day of swimming. I'm really glad I saw this. The food is amazing. I got the da og plate and the pork belly plate. Both were 10/10. Flavors were amazing - the chicken was very tender and moist , and the pork belly was cooked to perfection. Both had so much imami and some tangy sweetness . The lava flow drink was good but was slightly too sweet for me. Def recommend this place.

Excellent loco moco and mochiko chicken. Poke nachos were beautiful and it's a bit sweet. Pork belly is crispy and very fatty. Great selection of canned juice and we will definitely be back to try the huli huli chicken. Only thing I'd change is the styrofoam containers which the food is served for dine in or carryout.

Great food. Great service. Had the poke bowl. Delicious! Loco moco can't go wrong! A gem in Highwood! Highly recommend!!!

Food - hit the spot, very tasty.. we trued the huli huli , the ube mochi pancake , nacho poke , short ribs with katsu Service- very friendly, the owner and chef even came out to greet my brother in law who was celebrating his birthday , and they were busy . Ambiance - aloha feel

A great taste of Hawaii! We had the mixed plates with huli huli chicken, mochiko chicken and grilled pork belly. Big portions.

I've been following this food truck for a while now, but I live very far from the areas they serve. So when they opened up their brick and mortar spot, I knew I had to make the drive out to try it sometime. I was in the area recently so I made sure to stop by for dinner. I was surprised to see that the dining room was empty on a Sunday evening. The interior is cute and decorated nicely. Since I know I won't be coming back anytime soon, I made sure to order as many entree options as possible. I ended up ordering Braddah Paul's plate (mochiko chicken, grilled pork belly, poke), Surf n Turf (kahuku garlic shrimp, pulehu beef short ribs) and a spam musubi. The garlic shrimp and the beef short ribs were my favorite, followed by the mochiko chicken and then the grilled pork belly. Poke and spam musubi were also good, but I wouldn't come to just order those. The mac salad was good, pretty sweet and heavy on the mayo. I would have liked a little more rice with the large amount of meat that comes with the plates. Overall, the food was very good. I wish it was closer to home in the western suburbs so I can come by more often!

Amazing try Tbe poke Nachos and Fried rice. Big portions and friendly service. Great Hawaiian food.

What a nice find to have a tasty and hip Hawaiian spot in the burbs. I got the Mochiko chicken, which was a battered chicken that had a perfect crisp and balance of sweet and savory. The mac salad was very tasty too and above average (though the spectrum of mac salad is not very wide), and my kids really liked it, which is saying something. You can't go wrong with the chicken katsu, though I'd say the Mochiko chicken is a bit more interesting and flavorful. All in all, I'll be back for more :)

A bite into the garlic shrimp from here brought me back a flood of food memories of our dining experiences in Maui years ago. The garlic shrimp was cooked to perfection and the huli huli chicken was super moist and perfectly marinated with a nice char on the skin. Kalbi was good but slightly on the chewy side. There's plenty parking on the street and lots of seating inside. Also there's a nice city park just a minute away with plenty of picnic tables. I am so happy to have a new addition of authentic Hawaiian food options just a short drive from Chicago. Will definitely coming back to try the poke from the menu next time.