Ohana Island Grill — Restaurant in Oxford Township

I was looking for a place to eat, and noticed a new restaurant in my search that I hadn’t heard of before. Hawaiian barbecue sounded very interesting to me, and I had to try it out. Especially because of how good the reviews were!

I walked in and the owner asked if I had been there before, and when I said I hadn’t, he walked through the menu with me, and told me the popular dishes and the benefits of each. The BBQ mix is the most popular, and the Chicken Katsu is also very popular. The owner also recommended the Kalua Pork.

I wanted to try the macaroni salad that I had seen on the menu, so after confirming that the BBQ mix came with a scoop of it (and two scoops of rice), that’s what I ordered. I also got a can of Hawaiian Sun Passion-Orange juice.

The food was brought out to me in about 8 minutes, and the owner also included a very sizable sample of the Chicken Katsu, so I could try it out for next time. The short ribs were delicious, the BBQ chicken was wonderfully delicious and tender, and the teriyaki beef was delectable. The macaroni salad had a lovely rich flavor, I’ll have to get more than just one scoop of that next time I visit.

The Chicken Katsu was even better than it looked. The breading was delightfully crispy and felt wonderful in the mouth, and the chicken almost felt… smooth is the word that is coming to mind, but whatever the best descriptor is, it was truly delicious.

The parking was very easy when I was there (an off-peak time a bit after the usual lunch hours), and I parked on the street (metered), though I can see the street parking being a potential issue if Uptown is very busy. However, there is a parking garage located next to the restaurant. When I visited, the temperature in the restaurant was a bit cold, and I was glad I wore a sweatshirt.

When I first thought about eating here, I was thinking of getting something with Spam in it, which is something I had been looking to try for a while. While I didn’t get it this time, I’ll try it another time I come here, as well as a full meal of the...

Ohana means family, but WELA means HOT and that's what it is...it's HOT in here! Yes, it's summer in Ohio and there are definitely no Hawaiian trade winds blowing here. Twenty (20) minute wait in off season? I can only imagine what it's like when the Miami University students are in town. There are two families in this restaurant...and that's including mine. If you are in a hurry, you better e hoolohi (slow down)! Sadly,the menu is also very disappointing. I was fully expecting to see a Schwann truck parked out back or my childhood lunch lady donning a full hairnet in the back because the food was reheated Salisbury-steak circa 1986 bad. In fact, there's little authentic Hawaiian fare on the menu, besides SPAM. The most refreshing part of the experience was the canned Hawaiian juice, but at $2.50 a pop it's tempting to walk a block to the gas station and save 50%. Two stars because it's nice to see something unique in this college town. But, seriously, it's not good. I mean, not even one pineapple on the menu? Aloha means hello and goodbye but it also means pity and grief. So, to sum up the entire experience in one word:...

Oh how I miss Hawaii!! I stop here every time I pass by and I usually skip restaurants and fast food place. This though, is good stuff and I highly recommend this restaurant. Always good service, never messed up any of my orders. Mahalo.

I just edit one star for service today. 8/3/25.

I lived in Hawaii, served in the military in Hawaii, and even attended Hawaii Pacific University. I even married a local boy!! So when come in there today and my”brain fog” couldn’t think of the word lumpia and called it Filipino Spring Roll, it wasn’t a reason to get offended because it is what I called it. My brother and sister Filipinos wouldn’t have cried about it. So instead you told me it would take two to three hours to make. It doesn’t take that long to make fresh ones, and you are probably serving frozen ones. I could absolutely make everything on the menu, not only would it taste better, but it would be fraction on the price. Have the day you deserve. Racist people eat at establishments like McDonalds, do be...