It takes an exceptionally great place to inspire me enough to write a review and Ali’i is just that place! YOU MUST EAT HERE! My husband and I shared the “feast” with an order of egg rolls and there was still a small snack leftover. We both loved it!
Jonathan C.
The Garlic chicken is insanely good, and big enough to share. The Mac salad is a great side. Just don't expect a healthy dish, it's heavy and delicious!!
Eric A.
Katsu chicken is amazing ! Good service island food, and good portions too. Good eat for the price!
William Corcuera
Food was pretty good. I'll be back for sure.
Beausoleil P.
It took us a little while to try this place, but it will now make the permanent rotation! The beef in the teriyaki combo was short ribs... lightly glazed with delicious sauce. Not too sweet. That paired perfectly with the flavorful garlic chicken. Fried, tasty and perfectly accompanied with the standard sides of two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Spam musubi was a fun and tasty hand roll style snack. Must try! We're so happy to have them in the neighborhood.
Aline B.
If you ate plate lunches in Hawaii, then you know that Island Alii is one of the most authentic local grindz available in SD.Must haves:1- Mac salad- absolutely delicious and addictive. I'm usually not a big fan of anything with lots of mayo. But Island Alii's Mac salad is a perfect balance of mayo, special spices, soft wider macaroni pasta, and chunks of potatoes.2- Teriyaki Beef (kalbi)- This type of kalbi has a different seasoning then the traditional Korean bbq ribs. Although it marinated overnight with teriyaki soy sauce it's not too salty or sweet. You can tell that Island Alii cares about the quality and experience of their dishes. The thickness of their ribs not only makes it for a generous portion but makes every bite more tender and juicier.3- Chicken katsu- are sliced pieces of chicken pounded thinly and fried with a crusty batter. This is a Hawaii local favorite and Island Alii nailed the flavor and the crispness you taste in every bite. Warning: the katsu sauce must be guarded from heavy dippers. My husband tried to still my sauce! The sauce is thick and filled with spices that goes perfectly with the katsu.4- Spam musubi- I don't get how other Hawaiian bbq style restaurants either don't cook their musubi or don't add furikaki (dried seaweed and white sesame seeds) to the rice. Those two are a must! Island Alii will make you go from hating spam to loving spam musubi. They basically make it the way it's supposed to be. We loved their food so much so that I had them catered my husband's 40th birthday party. And "yes" I made sure that he had enough chickens katsu sauce!
Tiffany D.
Amazing place to eat! Since moving to the area, we have eaten at this place at least once a week. The teriyaki beef tastes amazing and you can tell they use quality ingredients for their food. Unfortunately it's so good that I keep on forgetting to snap a picture before I gobble it up! The garlic chicken is absolutely wonderfully crispy with a deep garlic taste. You would definitely not regret ordering it!Last but not least, my third favorite from here is the teriyaki pork. It's good as an entree and tastes even more amazing in their loaded fries. Service here is also top notch with friendly employees! It's a cute mom and pop restaurant so definitely support and visit this place!
Jim E.
Good place to go when your craving Island style food. Basically to go only right now but we sat at a table out front (only 1) or you can sit under shade canopy in the parking lot in front of "Fish District" next door . Not sure that would be ok, but. Will come back again. Hopefully they will be able to fully open.
Brian F.
When I heard there was a new Hawaiian place opening up nearby I got super excited. This truly is my favorite food option when I want to eat. The food here is good, I have had so many delicious offerings and they are all good. I would have gave 5 stars if the prices were a little better, but they are still manageable for a lunch and occasional family dinner. Service is friendly on pickup and I was fortunate enough to dine in before the world fell apart and they were generous in bringing some samples and complimentary things for us to try.
Michael Grant
The fried garlic chicken is amazing. Maybe a little overpriced tho. And they need different side choices. I don't care for rice or Mac n cheese. Let's get some fries, mashed potatoes, maybe coleslaw or baked beans.
Island Alii is always delicious and reliable when looking for Hawaiian food. They're open for take out or delivery. They greet you with the friendliest Aloha when you call or walk in. My go to is usually spam musubi with the chicken katsu entree and a guava Hawaiian sun drink. The musubi is perfectly formed, brushed with teriyaki, wrapped then dipped in furikake on both ends. I could seriously eat these a few times a day. Next is the katsu. It's the right thickness and fried to perfection. The breading is so crispy that you think you're full, but continue to eat until it's all gone. Then there's the mac salad we need to discuss. It's SO creamy and delicious. Of course, the rice is good too but that mac salad. Venture up to Bressi ranch and check these guys out. I don't think you'll regret it.
Andrea M.
I came due to all the high reviews and got to say I was somewhat disappointed. I've been to multiple Hawaiian grills and I will say their portion here is a little but smaller than I'm use too. Also the chicken katsu was either fried a little bit too long because it was really dark breading or as if the oil hadn't been changed in a while.Manapua was ok not like ones I've had. Maybe I came on a bad day not sure. But service was good.
Trevor Kist
They have the best chicken katsu in all of North County.
Aileen V.
Had the kalua pork and my friend had the teri beef and shrimp combo. Very delicious. Pork wasn't overly salty. Ate everything. Nothing left. Will have to try other things. Nice to find a good Hawaiian place after Keilani's closed.
Peter Tran
Everything was on the salty side. Lumpia came with no sauce. Garlic chicken was extremely salty. Moco loco was the best.
It takes an exceptionally great place to inspire me enough to write a review and Ali’i is just that place! YOU MUST EAT HERE! My husband and I shared the “feast” with an order of egg rolls and there was still a small snack leftover. We both loved it!
The Garlic chicken is insanely good, and big enough to share. The Mac salad is a great side. Just don't expect a healthy dish, it's heavy and delicious!!
Katsu chicken is amazing ! Good service island food, and good portions too. Good eat for the price!
Food was pretty good. I'll be back for sure.
It took us a little while to try this place, but it will now make the permanent rotation! The beef in the teriyaki combo was short ribs... lightly glazed with delicious sauce. Not too sweet. That paired perfectly with the flavorful garlic chicken. Fried, tasty and perfectly accompanied with the standard sides of two scoops of rice and macaroni salad. Spam musubi was a fun and tasty hand roll style snack. Must try! We're so happy to have them in the neighborhood.
If you ate plate lunches in Hawaii, then you know that Island Alii is one of the most authentic local grindz available in SD.Must haves:1- Mac salad- absolutely delicious and addictive. I'm usually not a big fan of anything with lots of mayo. But Island Alii's Mac salad is a perfect balance of mayo, special spices, soft wider macaroni pasta, and chunks of potatoes.2- Teriyaki Beef (kalbi)- This type of kalbi has a different seasoning then the traditional Korean bbq ribs. Although it marinated overnight with teriyaki soy sauce it's not too salty or sweet. You can tell that Island Alii cares about the quality and experience of their dishes. The thickness of their ribs not only makes it for a generous portion but makes every bite more tender and juicier.3- Chicken katsu- are sliced pieces of chicken pounded thinly and fried with a crusty batter. This is a Hawaii local favorite and Island Alii nailed the flavor and the crispness you taste in every bite. Warning: the katsu sauce must be guarded from heavy dippers. My husband tried to still my sauce! The sauce is thick and filled with spices that goes perfectly with the katsu.4- Spam musubi- I don't get how other Hawaiian bbq style restaurants either don't cook their musubi or don't add furikaki (dried seaweed and white sesame seeds) to the rice. Those two are a must! Island Alii will make you go from hating spam to loving spam musubi. They basically make it the way it's supposed to be. We loved their food so much so that I had them catered my husband's 40th birthday party. And "yes" I made sure that he had enough chickens katsu sauce!
Amazing place to eat! Since moving to the area, we have eaten at this place at least once a week. The teriyaki beef tastes amazing and you can tell they use quality ingredients for their food. Unfortunately it's so good that I keep on forgetting to snap a picture before I gobble it up! The garlic chicken is absolutely wonderfully crispy with a deep garlic taste. You would definitely not regret ordering it!Last but not least, my third favorite from here is the teriyaki pork. It's good as an entree and tastes even more amazing in their loaded fries. Service here is also top notch with friendly employees! It's a cute mom and pop restaurant so definitely support and visit this place!
Good place to go when your craving Island style food. Basically to go only right now but we sat at a table out front (only 1) or you can sit under shade canopy in the parking lot in front of "Fish District" next door . Not sure that would be ok, but. Will come back again. Hopefully they will be able to fully open.
When I heard there was a new Hawaiian place opening up nearby I got super excited. This truly is my favorite food option when I want to eat. The food here is good, I have had so many delicious offerings and they are all good. I would have gave 5 stars if the prices were a little better, but they are still manageable for a lunch and occasional family dinner. Service is friendly on pickup and I was fortunate enough to dine in before the world fell apart and they were generous in bringing some samples and complimentary things for us to try.
The fried garlic chicken is amazing. Maybe a little overpriced tho. And they need different side choices. I don't care for rice or Mac n cheese. Let's get some fries, mashed potatoes, maybe coleslaw or baked beans.
Restaurantji Recommends
Island Alii is always delicious and reliable when looking for Hawaiian food. They're open for take out or delivery. They greet you with the friendliest Aloha when you call or walk in. My go to is usually spam musubi with the chicken katsu entree and a guava Hawaiian sun drink. The musubi is perfectly formed, brushed with teriyaki, wrapped then dipped in furikake on both ends. I could seriously eat these a few times a day. Next is the katsu. It's the right thickness and fried to perfection. The breading is so crispy that you think you're full, but continue to eat until it's all gone. Then there's the mac salad we need to discuss. It's SO creamy and delicious. Of course, the rice is good too but that mac salad. Venture up to Bressi ranch and check these guys out. I don't think you'll regret it.
I came due to all the high reviews and got to say I was somewhat disappointed. I've been to multiple Hawaiian grills and I will say their portion here is a little but smaller than I'm use too. Also the chicken katsu was either fried a little bit too long because it was really dark breading or as if the oil hadn't been changed in a while.Manapua was ok not like ones I've had. Maybe I came on a bad day not sure. But service was good.
They have the best chicken katsu in all of North County.
Had the kalua pork and my friend had the teri beef and shrimp combo. Very delicious. Pork wasn't overly salty. Ate everything. Nothing left. Will have to try other things. Nice to find a good Hawaiian place after Keilani's closed.
Everything was on the salty side. Lumpia came with no sauce. Garlic chicken was extremely salty. Moco loco was the best.