Island Style Food & BBQ — Restaurant in Spokane

Story time! When I left Moscow, Idaho and moved to Spokane, one of the biggest devastating moments was leaving behind Loco Grinz, the best authentic island restaurant I had experienced. (You could say, "Kelsi! That's rural Idaho! You don't have much to compare to!" And I'd say "Hush up and sit down, children! The owners were from the Island and would snowbird back during winter break. And I would cry over my beer at the local alehouse how much I missed them. Clutching the window as I drove by a dark restaurant covered in snow for 3 months out of the year. Dreaming if kalua pork and mac salad. Come back to me....)

Let us come back to the present: Spokane has some good island food options, sure. And this isn't a slight to them, but something has been missing. A hole in my heart that used to be filled with that sweet Loco kalua pork dish. ISLAND STYLE FOOD & BBQ IS THE PLACE TO BE MY FRIENDS! My new favorite. Hands down. I've waited 10 years to find my new island food place. This is it! Passing the restaurant on my way to the bank yesterday was a metephorical and comedically literal sign to me. I would risk my foody-heart being broken again, just to try.

Not only was the food heavenly, but the ambiance inside was cozy! I could have read a book in the waiting lounge and been happy. This time I ordered takeout, but the next will definitely be dining in. I was immediately greeted by a friendly face, and shown the sauce-bar. As a sauce-queen, I was impressed. They even have laminated guides to direct you to what sauce pairs well with certain dishes. I got the siomai dumplings to share, the island style beef noodle dish for myself, and my boyfriend got the BBQ liempo. We aren't huge cucumber people but the cucumber salad on the side was enjoyable to the both of us. I had to cut myself off from destroying the entire plate of noodles and show self-restraint from hoarding the rest of the dumplings in a corner like a deviant. If I hissed at my boyfriend perched atop my dumpling treasures, he might become suspicious that I am indeed a dumpling creature. He loved his food too, but this is my story.

In summary, eat here. Support this business. There is a reason they expanded from a food truck to a full-fledged restaurant. You can throw a stone and hit a burger place or pub, or even a fancy-pants dining establishment but it's businesses like this that make me proud to be a Spokanite and of our melting pot...

Island Style Food & BBQ: A Taste of Paradise in Every Bite

When you walk into Island Style Food & BBQ, you’re not just stepping into a restaurant—you’re entering a little slice of the tropics. And trust me, if you’ve ever wanted to eat like you’ve just arrived on a sun-soaked beach, this is the place.

I kicked things off with the Island Style Noodles, and if you’ve ever been burned by mushy pasta, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail here. The noodles were perfection—just the right amount of chew, never overcooked, and the beef? Let’s talk about that beef. Tender, juicy, swimming in a sauce that made every bite feel like a luxury. The spice level? Well, let's just say I’ve got a tolerance that could put most dragons to shame, so I was wishing for a bit more heat—but hey, that's just my personal preference. For most, it’ll be just the right kick.

Next up was the Smackin' Sesame Chicken. The rice was, without question, the most perfect rice I’ve ever had—sticky enough to make you wonder how they did it, yet light enough to let the chicken take the spotlight. Speaking of the chicken, it was tender enough to make a grown man tear up a little, bathed in a sauce that had the ideal balance of sweet, savory, and a little something else you can’t quite put your finger on. And that cucumber salad? A refreshing crunch that was the ideal counterpoint to the richness of the dish. It wasn’t just there for garnish—it held its own.

Oh, and the Tropical Macaroni Salad deserves a mention. It was light, flavorful, and the texture was spot-on—refreshing enough to be the perfect side to any dish. Nothing bland about this place.

The staff? Beyond friendly, with that warm, laid-back vibe that makes you feel like you’re at a friend's backyard BBQ rather than a restaurant. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself here, you’re definitely going to want to come back.

Island Style Food & BBQ isn’t just another meal—it’s a mini vacation, served up on a plate. Go hungry. Leave happy.

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Wow where do I even begin… this restaurant is one of the BEST I’ve been to. The food is so delicious, the environment is warm and home-y, the staff is friendly and truly feels like family. We’ll be coming here again and telling everyone we know about it!

Here was the food we got: Coconut Breaded Chicken - Sooo good, my husband added the sweet chili sauce and he LOVED it! They offer the spice on the side too if spicy is not your thing.

Mango rice - sooo delicious

Kädun Mänuk (it is a chicken and corn soup made entirely with coconut milk, similar to chowder) and red rice (BOTH 100% GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE)… AMAZING!! The red rice dipped in the soup tastes like HOME - so unbelievably comforting especially in this cold weather.

Asian cucumber salad - so fresh and delicious… I could eat this all day every day!!

Tropical Macaroni Salad (made with pineapple and apples) - very sweet and yummy!

Lumpia (Filipino Fried Spring rolls filled with pork and vegetable)… need I say more?! YUM!

and … we cannot forget the UBE SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM SUNDAY … vegan and dairy free upon request… WOAH! This hits different (in the actual best way). The color purple is fun but if you love vanilla you will LOVE this - we both were so full but could not get enough of this!

Oh, we had fountain drinks and the soda was on point too. :)

There were TONS of gluten free options including their sauce station where they used gluten free soy sauce. They were very cautious with my celiac allergy and made me feel very safe and took my allergy extremely seriously. They also offer dairy free, vegan, vegetarian… so cautious, courteous, and inclusive. Love it!!

They do takeout orders as well as dine in (which we did) OH - and they cater!!! The best of the best!!

Thank you Island Style Food & BBQ - we can’t wait for MANY more visits in the future.

(Not all food is pictured ... phone did NOT eat first in...