Hawaiian food has a special place in my foodie heart. My dad and that side of the family grew up in Hawaii so naturally he passed his passion of Hawaiian food down onto the next generation. There are certain aspects of Island Style Cafe that capture some of the moments I’ve experienced in Honolulu, but really, it’s just good food.
So this time we decided to get the Kaloko Moco. It comes with fried rice on a crepe with a burger patty and eggs on top with gravy. If you are hungry, this is a dish to get. We couldn’t finish it! I’m not really a savory and sweet guy on the same plate. And this didn’t change that. I think the dish for me could have done without the crepe. I think they drench the crepe in syrup before they put it on the plate and place all the other toppings on it, which throws the balance of the dish off for me. But then again, I can see other people just loving that contrast…just not me. Everything else tasted great, and again, the portions you cannot complain about. The gravy isn’t too salty or heavy, and the fried rice and egg are good compliments to the large meat patty.
Next up: Korean chicken. Now this was a well executed dish. You get a choice of a mac salad or regular salad along with rice and the chicken. The salad was better than average and I got mango dressing on top. The chicken is why I got the dish though. What makes good fried chicken to me is the perfect crispy texture and moisture in the meat. They cook the chicken quite well here. The flavor is a little sweet, but not overpowering. The meat tender, but not heavy. It’s just something you taste and can’t help but feel happy and at ease.
Last up was the shaved ice with li hing mui powder on top. For those of you who haven’t had li hing mui before, typically it’s a salty, sweet, and sour dried plum. I know I just said I don’t typically like mixing my savory and sweet. This is the exception to the rule. I’d say this is an acquired taste and most people wouldn’t like this the first time. But we also got lime, fruit punch, and watermelon flavored syrup as our shaved ice flavors. It wasn’t the best shaved ice in the world, but definitely hit the spot as there aren’t too many places to get this in SD. Overall, I am always very pleased when I go here to get my Hawaiian fix. So go make a visit to Island Style Cafe!
Island Style Cafe
5950 Santo Road, Suite K
San Diego, CA 92124
(858) 541-7002
www.islandstylecafe.com
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