By CHRISTINA K. COSDON
Published November 10, 2003
LARGO - Hawaiian barbecue is the newest food choice at the popular Largo Mall.
Aloha opened Oct. 30 and offers what the menu claims is typical Hawaiian fast food - a blend of Hawaiian, Asian and American tastes.
The business is family-owned and -operated.
Billy Chan, 25, is the manager. His sister Frances, 27, is the cashier and uncle Guohe Fong, 40, is the cook. Kitchen help includes a Chan brother and cousin. Billy Chan said his parents, who are retired and live in New York, own the business. The family, originally from China, has owned and operated similar restaurants in Honolulu, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Aloha's doors are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Booths, tables and chairs in the 2,300-square-foot restaurant can seat 60. Walls are decorated with light blue tile and pictures of Hawaiian seascapes. Hawaiian music plays in the background.
The restaurant, formerly an American-style cafe, has been remodeled. In addition to new flooring, wall tiles and upgraded bathrooms, the business sports new kitchen equipment and a large counter area where orders are taken - all for an investment of $150,000, Billy Chan said.
All meals are served in Styrofoam boxes and containers with plastic eating utensils. Sandwiches and lunches come in two sizes - mini and regular.
Chan said the family has experimented with the barbecue sauce to make it less spicy for Floridians.
"I don't think Floridians would like the sauce as spicy as Californians," he said.
The barbecue chicken is quite mild. Among the deep-fried, but not greasy, entrees are mahimahi ($6.49 regular, $4.49 mini) and garlic fried shrimp (same prices) with a garlic butter sauce.
Loco moco ($5.89 regular, $3.89 mini) is a Hawaiian-style spicy hamburger with eggs, served on a bed of steamed rice and topped with Aloha's gravy. Chicken katsu (same prices as loco moco) - deep-fried chicken cut in strips - is served with a mildly sweet sauce, steamed rice and macaroni salad. Kalua pig ($5.89, $3.89) is shredded pork, slow-roasted in an oven and served with chunks of cabbage and onion.
Peter Borys, who owns B&B Signs and Awnings in Largo, tried out Aloha last week at lunchtime. He ordered the BBQ Mix ($6.89) - a combo platter with Hawaiian barbecue beef, chicken and short ribs, steamed rice and macaroni salad.
He said he liked that the meat was not too greasy and enjoyed the different flavor of the barbecue sauce. "I definitely will come back," he said.
Aloha Hawaiian Barbecue
Largo Mall, 10500 Ulmerton Road, Suite 288
Specializes in Hawaiian-style chicken, pork and beef barbecue entrees, and seafood dishes offered in mini or regular size servings
Five full-time employees
"This has a lot more flavor and less grease." - First-time customer Peter Borys, dining on a combination luncheon dish of barbecue beef, chicken and short ribs.
