Shaka’s, Alhambra
Hawaiian culture and cuisine has been apart of Southern California life in many ways that you might not notice. Obviously, beginning with the beach & surf culture, Hawaiian cuisine has a nice following here in Los Angeles.
With King’s Hawaiian, Bruddahs, Back Home in Lahaina, The Loft, Aloha Cafe, L&L’s, Bob’s Hawaiian, Ono Grill, and Roy’s, Hawaiian cuisine is gaining more and more in popularity. In the past, there were more mom & pop restaurants, mostly based around the South Bay, with Bob’s, Bruddahs, and Back Home. Later on, family style restaurants popped up with The Loft and King’s. L&L’s, a chain from Hawaii, started to spread Hawaiian cuisine gospel and influence. Shakas started with its hole-in-the-wall reputation in Monterey Park years ago. And in the last few years, they opened their second location with a large sit down restaurant featuring a bar in Alhambra, to cater to the nighttime Main street crowd.
With Japanese, Korean, and Chinese influences in the cuisine, Hawaiian can be considered more sweet than savory. With the base staple of rice, Hawaiian food is gaining acceptance with the Latino, other Asian and mainstream cultures. Kalua Pig, one of my favorite, has similarities to smoked pulled pork from the deep south and Mexican carnitas. I could possibly eat Kalua pork almost every day. There’s a smokey flavor with a slight savory element which makes my mouth water as I write. Excellent with hot sauce, like Tabasco or Fire Water, Kalua Pig is probably the most well known Hawaiian dishes. It is sometimes mixed with cabbage, though I prefer my pig without. Often served at Luaus, an outdoor Hawaiian tourist tradition, with a whole pig, most tourists will remember this dish with their trip to the islands.
When I think of Hawaii, I envision exotic foods & fruits. Smoked in banana leaves and wrapped in an edible Taro leaves, Pork Lau Lau may seem so foreign at first. When you first look at it, you see a little green burrito. After you unwrap the banana leaves, you fork around the taro ones to expose the pork goodness inside. I like to eat the dark green leaves with the pork to produce this unique combination. If you imagine spinach wrapped around broiled pork or fish, then it may not be so hard to imagine or accept. The vegetable, the leaves, has a consistency, after steaming, to just melt in your mouth. Personally, I like the taro leaves, which provide a silky and a slight bitter and salty taste. The pork, or salmon, has its flavor enhanced by these leaves.
Shaka’s also offers combination plates, such as the 442 plate, which has almost everything imaginable. There’s also a yummy appetizer – the Spam Musubi, which is another popular favorite. I don’t think I have ever had a Hawaiian meal without Spam Musubi. I never knew spam to be so good, till I first had a Spam Musubi. Enjoy your time at Shakas.
Shakas Hawaiian Flavors 101 W Main Street Alhambra, CA 91801 Neighborhood: Alhambra (626) 293-5520 www.shakas.com
What to Order: Pork Lau Lau, Kalua Pig, and Spam Musubi What not to Order:
Rating 2 Pigs Price Range $/¥/NT
