lolani's Plate Lunch

Been trying to catch this place open for months and finally got to try it today!! First thing, the owner is absolutely the chillest person ever and is incredibly friendly! You can tell that he loves life and what he does for a living, it just radiates off him and is infectious to the point where your day is instantly better! Just great vibes all around! The food is as good as it looks, so incredibly tasty, filling and worth every penny! I arrived a little late and was disappointed that the Pastele stew was sold out, and I said that next time I would come back to try it, but when my order was ready he handed me what I ordered and an additional togo box with Pastele stew for free!!! I think it was whatever was left and he just gave it to me 🤙🏼🤙🏼 Delicious food and an incredible owner, will definitely be coming back!

YOU WILL WAIT FOR AWHILE IF THIS DETERS YOU CHOOSE A DAY WHERE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME (the food is worth all regulars and Hawaii locals will go here rather than anywhere else) In the photo, this line is just overspill from where people are standing behind me and most people in their cars waiting. If you want a Hawaiian/Local vibe this is gonna be it. You will have to WAIT, he is a one man operation. The portions and food is worth it though, I will not give anything lower than 5 stars for any of it due to the fact he is running a solo operation. Very very local style and feels just like Hawaii mom & pop shops. You need to follow his instagram page to stay up to date with what’s on the menu, whether or not he will be operating to be honest. If anything that was said in this review deters you, then don’t go. Parking is easy there’s street parking, there’s a covered area to wait in front of the Mexican truck (yes he will have a literal massive line/queue either sitting in their cars waiting or in line or by the taco truck EVEN in pouring down rain) All the food is good and it’s one of the ONLY places that you can go with actually good Lū’au (Lau Lau) which is pork/fish wrapped in taro leaves and then cooked/steamed in Ti leaves for hours. Everything is cooked to order from what I can tell so your plates are coming out HOT! Prices are competitive and actually on the lower side compared to some “Hawaiian restaurants” but coming from Hawai’i island, I literally have stopped going ANYWHERE else, the only place I consider going for Hawaiian food if it’s not Iolani’s is Grind wit tryz

This place has been on my list of food spots for a while and I’m SO glad I went today! It’s so hard to find good Hawaiian food in the area and this place is the best and reminds me of the island. The best Mac/potato salad, huge portions, and the owner is the best—I mentioned wanting to try the mochiko chicken next time and he tossed in a few pieces in my plate, it was the best surprise. Can’t wait to go back!

Nolan the owner always jamming the hawaiian music serving up his ono food . We always get the combo plates Mochiko chicken with Lau lau and Guava chicken with Lau lau, Mahalo braddah!

Great portions even better food. If you're on the east side and don't come here to eat youre missing out So it’s been over a year since my review. Portion sizes are still large, food quality and flavor is amazing. Nolan (the owner) is always friendly with great service. My go to spot for Hawaiian food. The mochiko chicken is my go to and is always beautifully golden fried and pairs perfect with the Mac salad and rice. New tables in the food cart area make it handy to sit down and eat at

Hands down the best Hawaiian food in Portland. Huge portions, great flavors, and amazing, friendly service. Can't wait to go back.

EAT HERE. Flavors were amazing with the guava chicken!!! Came with rice, Mac salad and this homemade bbq type sauce on the side. Mac salad wasn’t mayonasey and heavy like most Mac sad and paired so well with all the other flavors. Will DEFINITELY be back to try other stuff on the menu. This was a random stop based off yelp reviews - you won’t be disappointed! Located off 82nd, smaller parking lot.

Definitely worth a visit, and just as good as anything you could find on the islands. A plate is more than enough to fill you up and fairly priced. This is a new favorite and I will be back for more guava chicken.

Wow...where do I begin? Food was ONOLICIOUS! I was immediately transported back to the islands after my first bite! The owner/cook was friendly and chatted with us about Hawaii as he was preparing our food. He thought we were from the islands since we were asking questions about the Pastele Stew. Told him about our favorite place for Pastele Stew on Oahu. Now for the food... We ordered 2 mixed plates. One with Lau Lau and Kalua Pork. The other with Pastele Stew and Mochiko chicken. Portions are generous. The two combos fed 3 of us and we had leftovers for the following day. Hubby loved his Lau Lau. He said it was the bomb! I wouldn't know since he didn't share. My favorite was the Pastele Stew. It's hard to find good Pastele Stew even in Hawaii. The only thing missing was Chicken Long Rice. Mahalo for the awesome Hawaiian food! Definitely will be back!

Amazing food!!!! Love that the portions are so big especially in this economy. 10/10 would recommend

This place is always amazing. The mochiko chicken, guava chicken, and the pastele stew are always must orders. Life changing, try to get here early so options are not sold out!

Food truck that serves great tasting food. Portion size was great and the flavor was in point. Definitely will be back.

"Hawai'i has often been called a melting pot, but I think of it more as a 'mixed plate'-a scoop of rice with gravy, a scoop of macaroni salad, a piece of mahi-mahi, and a side of kimchi." -- Alan Brennert, Honolulu Driving up to this little cart in a nondescript tiny lot next to a flower shop doesn't really give you the impression that you're in for something special... ...BUT YOU ARE. There is LOVE in these plate lunches. There is ALOHA in this food. A few bites of the PASTELE STEW will having you hollering ONO and MAHALO witih every bite. There's pork cubes in a mildly tangy tomato based sauce with some olives, and achiote (I think). My favorite thing on the menu. The Mac salad is the best I've ever tasted. Friends - there is potato in there. There is some hard boiled egg in there. There's the usual mac, mayo, and shredded onion in there. There's probably secret ingredients in there. And its all balanced perfectly. The GUAVA CHICKEN is 'gazmic. The KALUA PORK is delicious. The dude who owns the cart is a WHOLE VIBE. Seriously - Get the Pastele Stew. It is incredible. The closest thing I've ever tasted that might be similar is my mom's Filipino Cocido. Apparently it has Puerto Rican roots, and got filtered through a bunch of Hawaiian grandmas to become the delicious dish it is now. Effing magical.

So I seriously stock them on IG to see if they're open! I drive 20 mins to pick up food. Lunch or dinner.. doesn't matter. Something about their food is so comforting. And the owners, hands down the nicest people ever! Located in a corner on their own. Easy parking, on 82nd. Look for the flower shop!

Absolutely the best Hawaiian food in town! No question about it. The owner is extra awesome, and his food makes your soul smile! If you crave the best, this is da spot!!

Guava chicken & mochiko chicken Need I say more Great service, nice chatting with him. Do yourself a favor and get food from here. You won't regret it!

Delicious! Huge portions, enough for two meals. Best Kalua Pork in town. Service was great. I love the food. You won't be sorry you tried it.

Favorite Hawaiian plate food in town, hands down. PRO TIP: You've gotta follow his IG page though, his hours are wonky. So check his IG before you head out to make sure he is open. He closes when food runs out (it's a popular place, so it happens) and he closes when things come up with weather or personal life. That being said, more than worth it for the extra effort to get this food in your belly. His chicken is like crack and his Mac salad is our favorite. The portions are also huge. You really cannot go wrong! Parking is easy, service is fast, the music he plays is A+. Now go get you some Iolani's.

Iolani's is in a shared parking lot with a florist. Plenty of parking, and he's right on the left corner - hard to miss! Check his IG before coming and he posts if he's open for the day. We came Saturday afternoon for the first time and plenty of people were coming to pick up order, good sign to know he's in demand. We ordered and food took about 15 mins. I had the stew and fried chicken. SOOOO good, and so much of it. I ate it for lunch, dinner, and a little for breakfast and I still have some left lol. The order came with rice (perfectly cooked!), Mac salad, and some bomb bbq sauce! The Mac salad was okay and the bbq I could drink! My husband had the pork adobo and it was super tender and delicious! I would for sure come back and try more entrees & would recommend to give him a try!

Got the mixed plate with kalua pork and guava chicken. So delicious! Huge portion and great price!

AMAZING!!! Nolan makes some of the best Hawaiian food in town. My husband and I came for lunch today and had the mix plate with grilled chicken and pork. We will definitely be returning back for more. Such wonderful service and very nice owner.

SO GOOD. Got the guava chicken and the meat was so tender and flavors were insane. I don't even live on that side of town, and I have already gone back for a second time this week! Check it out, you won't be disappointed

Awesome! Probably the best Hawaiian joint in town. Friendly and fast service, reasonable prices! Will def be coming back.

Mixed Plate is amazing I was in Hawaii for 10 days and was craving some authentic Hawaiian food. Iolani's delivered. The food is AMAZING! You will not be disappointed.

Finally made it here. I love Hawaiian plate lunch and this was great! Loved the Guava Chicken, and the pork. Mochiko Chicken next time! The owner was great too...we talked Cali Roots and the Green. Don't miss it....tucked in the flower shop parking lot! Mahalo, Nolan!!

Anyone who puts less than a 5 star is lying. This place is straight gasolina. Nolan is yelling a lot but I think it makes the chicken cook faster

Kool dude, best island food you can get in the city I highly recommend the Stew! They deserve a whole restaurant for sure.

Awesome food! Awesome guy cooking the food, great vibes and I will definitely be back! I loved the variety and unique recipes.

Bruddah never disappoints. Always on point. Always cordial and never a long wait. Mochico chicken my favorite!

Some of the best Hawaiian food in Portland. I use to think Roxy's and Hawaiian time were good but ever since I tried Lolani's I refuse to eat at those food chains. The pricing is just soooooooo affordable makes me feel like we are in the twilight zone or something cause it's just that affordable. Please give them a try

Huge portions, delicious food, cheap prices and a really sweet owner! definitely coming by again!

This place is some straight flames. I feel like it's hard to find good Hawaiian food in Portland. It can be hard to catch this place when they're open but just check their Instagram. The owner is super nice. We were lucky to come on a day that they had lau lau. It was delicious. Super juicy and packed with flavor. The mochiko chicken might be the best I've ever had. It was so crispy and I love the sauce that it comes with. I also really liked the Mac salad. It was different from what I'm used to with potato mixed in but super pleasant. Check this place out if you're in the area. The plate that I got was only $14 and it's good to share between two people. Way better deal and quality than some other popular Hawaiian places in Portland.

No contest. Just hands down DA BEST plate lunch! Not to mention cuzzo is so freaking nice and good vibes. Definitely worth the drive down from Seattle (fr! fr!) and I definitely ordered extra mixed plates to take home to share with family and friends. Everyone loved the mochiko chicken and kalua pig. The Mac salad -- v delicious! Even the chili water/red spice is scrumdiliumptious (however you spell that)! I ordered from the the usual truck window and waited less than 10 minutes for my huge order. You can wait standing in the parking lot or just sit in your car .. not much shady spots (FYI), but cuzzo moves fast. The food cartons came out full and clean. Truly ono grindz broke da mout kanak attack - all those!

Fire! Ahi! Tried this place other than my other fav, Roxy's. This did not disappoint...fast friendly island service. Got the combo plate, Mochiko chicken was amazing and the sauce is the best...a play on some bbq sauce, so good....guava chicken is sweet and has a great char like a teriyaki chicken...rice was solid with tasty seasoning and Mac salad was good For sure coming back to try other items...good portions

Food is very good and a single plate is enough for 2 people or even save some for later. Dude there is really nice and gets your order done quick even tho it's just him making food. Best Hawaiian food in Oregon I'd say give it try. Thank you man will be back again. Follow him on IG to see if he's open sometimes he caters and has to close early or even not open at all so make sure you check his IG before making drive.

My husband follows these guys on IG and gets excited for the food every time he (or I) go to pick up food. The food is always on point and the owner Nolan is awesome. Friendly and welcoming. Good portions. Only thing I can say is don't come here for "quick food" they are busy and it's just either him or just 2 people. So be patient. It's worth the wait.

This is my go-to spot for when I'm craving Hawaiian food! It's a small food cart with the friendliest people running them. You get so much food for a good price. The menu is small, but everything they serve is perfected. Id you want to know what they're serving day by day, check out their instagram!

Super friendly service, amazing lau lau, mochiko chicken, and mac salad (which is something I'm very picky about) and great stickers decorating the truck. :) The location itself has no seating, but it's perfect for picking up takeout or tailgating some lau lau in your car and it's not crowded with many other carts. Would definitely recommend and come here again! (I regret not taking a photo before obliterating this plate lunch--it was so good!!)

Great spot--can't go wrong but my favorite is the mix plate! This one had kalua pork and shoyu chicken!

Forgot to take pictures because I was so hungry. We got the guava chicken (which is grilled), mochiko chicken (which is fried), kalua pork & pastele stew. Everything was good and reasonably priced - $9 each for a solid portion. The Mac salad was like a combo Mac and potato salad, which I've never had with Hawaiian food but I liked it. Some dishes come with a small side of hot sauce which was nice.

Hands down, the best Hawaii foods I had in Portland. The portion is HUGEEE, and the price is very reasonable. The Pastele Stew is well seasoned and the Machiko chicken is so crispy and tender. Believe me you won't put down your spoon at all, just can't stop eating.

Absolutely incredible. The Guava Chicken was super juicy and delicious and the Mochiko Chicken was crispy and packed with flavor. The owner makes you feel like family and he's a super wonderful dude. This place is a hidden gem tucked away in SE Portland.

The mochico chicken and short ribs were delicious! Great price for a delicious plate of food!

Okay, if you're looking for truly 'ono and legit Hawaiian/Local food, IoIani's is the place to go. Many Portland area eateries claim to serve "Hawaiian BBQ" or "Hawaiian Plate Lunch" but most can't even cook the rice right. First and foremost, Iolani (Nolan) is a Braddah, and his food is 100% pure Hawai'i. His menu is all old school/local kine' food. You won't find any corn and vinegar in his Mac salad or any Chicken Katsu on his menu. This is not an L&L! This is aloha comfort food. The Patele Stew is better than any that I've had at places back home and reminds me of the kind you only come across at luau or family gatherings or when Tutu is in the kitchen. His Kalua Pig is perfectly smoky and salty and clearly not prepared the lazy way (pork butt, salt and liquid smoke in a slow cooker). It is also not super oily, like those places where they keep it in a pot, warming all day. Portions and price also pass the Kanaka test. My mixed plate ($11) was massive and fed me twice. The attached picture was taken after I already ate! If you are from Hawai'i and are looking for a taste of home or are just curious and wanting to try real local Hawaiian/Hawai'i food, you MUST take the drive to Iolani's.

uncle has yet to make a bad dish. i can cook my own local food at home but if i'm feeling lazy, iolani's is a good place for a ono plate lunch

5 star Food, Service, Quality, Vibe... Alla Dat. But minus one huge big fat shiny star for the 45min I wasn't warned about for my Pork and Chicken Plates. Hubby, kids and I stopped here for a "quick bite". I jumped out the car and placed my order. After about 15min of waiting I decided to sit in the curb..... Another 10mins and one person's order is called. Then someone drives up.... Talks on the side with the owner and they order and get food. Clearly looked like close friend or family. Next person's order is called..... Then mine. Honestly.... It's hard to not be pissy after 45min wait at a food cart so needless to say it really ruined the vibe of our family day out despite the food being delicious. Clearly 8ts not very friendly of me to down rate for long wait times but hey.... Yelp! If you have the time to wait or catch them on an up Day, their food is Authentic and always on point as other reviews have stated. The service is super friendly and welcoming.

Presentation is great and so is the customer service. The food is alright, however I judge Hawaiian plates based off of their Mac and I must say, I wasn't impressed. The Mac salad is basically your everyday hpatato salad with macaroni added and lacks seasoning. However, the Pastele Stew and Kalua pig are decent dishes. Machiko chicken comes with a really good sauce that reminds me of a katsu sauce.

One of my favorite Hawaiian restaurants I've been to and the food is delicious. They give big portions and comes with a flavorful tangy bbq with a bit of spicy kick to it. Only one person working and is located in a small parking lot. The Mac salad was okay, I could tell it was homemade but maybe I'm just use to eating the ones made at teriyaki restaurants. Again big portions that I could only eat about 65% of it.

Highly suggest checking out the owner's instagram, iolanis_plate_lunch for updates on opening and closing times. I can't say enough how good this food is.

I am a product of Hawaii. Being born and raised in Hawaii, there is nothing that compares when you are able to taste food that reminds you of home. Since I have moved to Oregon, it has always been s hard to find Hawaii food that gives me all the Hawaii feels. Braddah Nolan really has a gift of making his plate lunches true to the islands. If you are looking for flavorful packed plate lunches then you need to check this place out. Super meaty laulau, soft haupia, and savory lomi salmon totally hits the spot. But let me bring it a little further and tell you about is mac salad. The mac salad here is winah winah chicken dinnah! Like seriously! Hawaii mac salad is so hard to replicate and I feel like he totally hit it on the dot with his recipe. If you want Hawaii food that is made by a local braddah, then Iolani's Plate Lunch truck is the place. He often rotates his menu and he sells out fast so if you want to be in the know, follow him on instagram. Super friendly family run food truck that totally gives me all the Aloha vibes! Mahalo Braddah Nolan and family for the ono food. I will be back for more for sure. :)

YUMMY! One of the best places to go for Hawaiian food in Portland. This hidden gem of a food cart is located in a parking lot of a little market. I always drive by and it always looks super sketch. We got the guava chicken, and omg it was super yummy. The chicken was cooked perfect and super flavorful you could definitely taste the guava! The other plate we got was the mochiko chicken which was just as good, not overly fried and super juicy and tender. Each plate comes with mac salad as well. You get a lot of food for the price too sometimes hawaiian food in Portland is so over priced and not good but this spot is super tasty and affordable. Make sure you have time to wait though because it did take a little while to get our food but it is a must try if you're in the area. Super nice guy as well.

My co-worker recommended this place. We got there and the "sold out" sign was up. While we were in our vehicle, he called us and said we can order - this is what he still had available. The food was good, my family really enjoyed it. The mac/potato salad was delicious. Mahalo again for serving us

I wanna start by saying that Bradda Nolan is the best. Second, the food is AMAZING. Third, 12 mins from my house. Portions are huge and the food tastes exactly like it does when you're back home in hawaii at your families house having a BBQ! Anytime I'm craving Hawaiian food I definitely will frequent Iolani's. I recommend following them on IG since they don't have set hours. They kind of run in Hawaiian Time and if you're from Hawaii you know what I mean. Which is fine by me because it lights fire under under my okole when they are open because I know I gotta go get my food! In all seriousness they are open pretty much everyday, just the bourse sometimes vary which is why I recommend following them on IG because they post if they are open or not. Oh and this is some authentic Hawaiian stuff because once you get up to the window...you know Bradda is from Hawaii. Hawaii recognizes Hawaii.

Excellent and friendly service! Food was excellent and the portions are huge! Unfortunately no seating area nearby, but that's not going to be held against them. I brought 5 people with me and we were all impressed. I recommend the guava chicken, mochiko chicken, or pastele stew. We tried them all and they were delicious. The kalua pig was good also but I prefer it elsewhere. Highly recommend this place!

I've been dying to try this place since i moved to Portland after being born and raised on Oahu. i finally got the chance today. Ordered the pastele stew/mochiko chicken combo plate. Mochiko chicken was fried perfectly, and the pastele stew had SO MUCH flavor. $13 for huge portions, definitely could get 2 (maybe 3 with how small i eat) meals from it. Mac salad is so good (you know its legit when the mac is solid.) Owner is really nice and has good vibes. Places to park, as well. Check his instagram for when he'll be open. Definitely worth it to check it out!

awesome portion sizes, definitely a whole meal packed with tons of flavor. A bit hard to spot and sometimes isnt open when it says it should be but other than that its great

Chee-Hoo!!! Found another legit Hawaiian food truck. Iolani's serves up some very delicious grinds (food). Went there today and ordered the Kalua Pork and Pastele Stew mixed plate. It comes with Rice and Potato Macaroni Salad. The food tasted delicious just like back home in the islands. Service was awesome with the aloha spirit. Will definitely be returning for more delicious grinds (food)