Lilo's Hawaiian BBQ The Dalles — Restaurant in The Dalles

I'm really torn on this one. The customer service was great. The young man attending the counter was spot on. Polite and attentive. He was a 5 star review. I ordered 4 to-go meals. They were out of Salmon and they substitited ginger beef on this one meal at no extra charge even thought it was a dollar more. ( I threw a one dollar bill on the counter to cover the difference, which he promptly hid at the bottom of my to-go bag, cool dude) ... anyways ordered 2 teriyaki chickens for the kids (didn't get to try ) and a kalua pork for myself. Granted this is the Dalles not Hawaii. So I do have to take that into account. However. I was really dissatisfied on the Kalua pork. It's not even on the same spectrum. No smoke flavors, tough thick shreds and little salt. Im not a professional cook but I've made better authentic Kalua pork in my instapot. I wouldn't pass off what they sold me ask Kalua pork, at all. It need more smoke, more salt and a lower and slower cook time. My wife's ginger beef was dry and lacking flavor it was similar to Chinese bbq pork. I would do both these dishes different they seemed amateur. On the plus side besides the awesome dude manning the front, the mac salad was pretty spot on and Jasmine rice fresh and cooked to perfection. Just torn on it, if I was running Lilos I would taste the food and say NO... this isn't what I want. Try Hula boy in Vancouver WA, that's the flavor and feel you should want. This is a poor attempt in the gorge. (PS. GIVE THE DUDE AT THE FRONT A RAISE, HE WAS GREAT AND MADE...

I ordered the Huli Huli Chicken and Kalua Pig. Let me start with the backround. I am from Hawaii. I am also part native Hawaiian. So my expectations are high.

The Huli Huli Chicken was not traditional. It was chicken thighs with a marinade or sauce over the top. It was tender and tasty but not Huli Huli Chicken. It was more of a BBQ chicken plate you'd get at an L&L in Hawaii. True Huli Huli is on the bone and simple salt pepper over a nice crust on the chicken skin (some variations) the Mac salad was on point. (but no shoyu available) the rice was on point in terms of texture, but they use Jasmine rice. We use Japanese shirt grain style (usually the California crop)

The Kalua Pig had BBQ sauce!!! 🥺 Which turned it into "pulled pork" if it wasn't for the sauce I would have given this review a 4star rating. True Kalua Pig allows the flavor of the pig and smokiness to shine through. Let the customer decide if they want sauce. But as a true representation of Hawaiian cuisine deliver it as a respect to Hawaiian culture.

The ambiance was good with Hawaiian music.

Overall I enjoyed it. Positives are: a MUCH needed representation in Oregon.

I understand that maybe they felt the pressure to bend the recipes to make it more palatable to the local residents in The Dalles.

I gave the 3 star rating from a Hawaiians perspective. If I was a local in Oregon I would probably rate higher because it's something different...

When: Saturday, April 27th; Party of 2 Adults, 1:00 pm

Ambiance: When my wife and I arrived for a late lunch, this eatery was full with patrons dining on their Saturday lunches. It was a mixed crowd of families with children and couples. There is ample seating for about 30+ guests. Parking is primarily on-street parking. There is a public parking lot about a couple of blocks away.

Service: Staff member upfront was efficient and cordial. She took your order and brought it out to your table when it was ready. She also picked up empty dishes & cups and wiped the tables. Hint: when your done eating & drinking, clean-up of after your done and bring your baskets and cups to the trash bin and utility cart. (That's the Hawaiian way).

Food: My wife ordered the Teri Chicken plate and I ordered a Cheeseburger & Fries basket. My wife asked me: "Why did you order Cheeseburger and Fries, when you can get that anywhere". That is true, but as a former Island of Oahu resident, some of the best places to have burgers is at these Hawaiian eateries. Lilo's Cheeseburger & crinkle cut fries did not disappoint, it definitely...