Ben U.
Yelp
It's so good ... I don't even know where to start!
Some time ago I was longing for a simple traditional Hawaiian-style meal of chicken, rice, and perhaps most importantly, pineapple. At the time, it didn't seem like a tall order to find a place nearby. After all, Gresham is part of the greater Portland area and, with all the foodie choices around, I figured it'd be easy to find what I was looking for. Perhaps it was due to the pandemic, but I had no such luck! I'd even gone in search of the elusive meal at other nearby restaurants that I thought were similar and that seemed as if they'd have what I was looking for. No luck, nothing, nada, zip, zilcho! One fellow, when asked about pineapple, replied with, "No! No pineapple! Only have small cups!" Clearly, he was confused and I, well, I was completely bewildered!
However, that scenario has recently changed with the joyful opening of Kuya's Islander Cuisine. Fred Asa and team are our new local purveyors of Authentic Filipino / Hawaiian cuisine, and I couldn't be happier! Nothing says relaxation quite so wonderfully as the islander motif. When it comes to creating a laid-back atmosphere, it can be hard to beat the melodious sounds of Hawaiian slack key guitar, the dreamy images of tanned dancing hula girls adorned with colorfully flowered leis swaying about, the sensual feel of a cool summer breeze upon the skin, the tantalizing taste of cold fruity-fresh beverages, and the soulful smell of seasoned meats being grilled.
Enter Kuya's. The interior is clean and well pieced together with nice, tasteful wall decor and furniture. Large menus show menu choices clearly and concisely from quality wall-mounted displays. It's simple, it has a welcome openness to it, it's clean, and it's inviting.
I was kindly greeted by the staff and invited to take a seat in the waiting area, which is large and open, and provides easy access to the restrooms. In addition to the open dining area, there is also a separate more private area that, to my understanding, has a bar and Lotto. A small, but nice outdoor patio provides for those who like the breezy, albeit noisier, outdoor setting.
I had a few pleasant encounters with the staff while there, including a brief conversation about the refreshing Halo-halo dessert that is served. According to Wikipedia, Halo-halo, also spelled haluhalo, is Filipino for "mixed" and that is precisely what the waitress told me to do with it! It seems that mixing it all up is the intended way to enjoy the cold treat!
Now, back to my initial quest for a traditional-style plate of islander food! Did I finally find it? You bet I did! Was I impressed? Well, does a hawksbill sea turtle do whatever it likes out in the ocean? Yessiree! I finally did find it and it really makes me smile. I guess the old saying, "Seek and ye shall find", is true. What I didn't realize, until I caught a whiff of that wonderful food as I walked across the parking lot, is that while I was seeking, angels were hard at work turning a dream into a reality. I'm so glad that they did and I hope you will be, too!