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Hello, Aloha!

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 08:55AM

Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

On the way back to the Arts District, I dropped into a new café in Honda Plaza and found a full menu with a healthy side of backstory.

Downtown’s Little Tokyo was planned to be the second location for the popular Monterey Park restaurant until chef Komai passed away. Jennifer Lee was in charge of operations, but after losing her mentor she took a year off before reopening the business starting last Friday as an owner.

First starting out as a waitress ten years ago, Lee now pays homage to Komai by having his image on the back of the staff’s t-shirts. They arrived Saturday in time to greet some Angelenos who used to travel to Monterey Park for the Loco Moco or the Aloha Bowl.

While I am not up on traditional Hawaiian fare, it will be interesting to see how Downtown’s Hawaiian Culinary aficionados will rate the extensive menu that includes Pork Lau Lau, Kal-B Beef, Kaula Pork, along with Beef Teriyaki Bowls, Kimchee Samin and of course, Spam Musibi (Aloha Café also carries a small breakfast menu).

Prices are reasonable, and according to a few who work in Honda Plaza, the portions are generous. Those not open late night hours, their 9pm close offers a resident friendly dinner addition on the east side of Little Tokyo. And as always, it’s good to see another mid-range priced café open.

Aloha Café

Hawaiian Homestyle Cooking
410 East 2nd Street
(Across from Office Depot in Little Tokyo)
(213) 346-9930
10am – 9pm Monday through Saturday
Closed Sunday

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Conversation

Guest 1

celia on March 16, 2008, at 12:12PM – #1

jim and i checked it out on their opening day: http://trainedmonkey.com/2008/3/14/first_look__aloha_cafe

and rich from angelenic took a second look (scroll down, he changed the post after he read jim's): http://www.angelenic.com/south-park-lands-two-new-businesses-on-olympic

they were already out of kalua pork when we got there, and their shave ice machine hadn't been set up yet, but their loco moco and their aloha breakfast was ONO, as was the service (benson rocks!)! i'm looking forward to systematically going through and trying out their entire menu.

Ed Fuentes on March 16, 2008, at 12:47PM – #2

I think we have another location for a blogger get together.

Guest 1

Urban Bruin on March 16, 2008, at 07:08PM – #3

Funny thing is I had a craving for Hawaiian food this weekend and was looking for the closest L&L Restaurant. I guess now I don’t have to travel far to get good Hawaiian food, can’t wait to give them a try.

Guest 1

jim winstead on March 17, 2008, at 10:52AM – #4

there's also a hawaiian restaurant in the international food court near 9th and los angeles.

and the vendor that does hawaiian bbq chicken at some of the local farmers markets also has a restaurant in chinatown, down the street from spring street bbq.

Guest 1