Kau Kau
I love Hawaiian food, but have always struggled to find a great Hawaiian restaurant in town. Sure, there are places like L & L Hawaiian BBQ as well as Ono Hawaiian BBQ, but these are chain restaurants that are a bit lacking when it comes to offering a meal that is truly unique and made with care. It’s not to say that L & L and Ono aren’t good places, but sometimes you just want something more. Kau Kau is definitely a place with something more. The dishes are prepared with care and have been meticulously crafted before hitting their menu. I’m pretty sure I’ve found my spot for a great Hawaiian meal.
Kau Kau is open for regular service Wednesday through Sunday and serve brunch from 10am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. I came in on a Thursday night to see what the excitement about Kau Kau was all about.
Kau Kau is tucked away in a plaza with a private parking lot. It’s not really near a large street where you’d see the restaurant while driving. If you want to come to Kau Kau, you’ll have to be going intentionally.
Walking in, you’ll find a beautifully furnished restaurant. The decor is modern, but not overly so. It’s clean and inviting. On this Thursday night it was quite easy to just walk in and be seated at a table, but I have heard that the restaurant can have quite a wait on their busier days and times. The restaurant operates on a first come, first served basis, so it’s wise to make sure to get there as early as you can and beat the rush.
The menu at Kau Kau is amazing. It’s one of those menus that you just want to try everything. Being my first time, I had to start with their spam musubi. Believe it or not, the spam is not the kind you find out of the can. The spam here is made in-house… which actually blows my mind. So the spam here is not the spam you would normally find elsewhere. This spam is well seasoned and has a more meaty texture than the actual spam product on a store shelf. Who would have thought to make their own spam!?!
Also for starters are Kalua pork sliders, chicken pupu (wings and drums marinated in a spicy guava sauce), and a poke sampler.
For my main I had to go for the Loco Moco. Loco Moco is a popular Hawaiian dish that is served with 2 scoops of sushi rice, 2 burger patties, 2 eggs, and brown gravy with green onion. It’s a simple dish that really can hit the spot if you’re hungry. The Loco Moco here does just that with a taste that is just divine. The patties in particular were stunning. Strong meat flavor that is cooked perfectly - savory and mild, this is a dish I could really have every single day.
The garlic shrimp and chicken katsu caught my eye on the menu as well, but I ended up trying the special soba noodle dish they offered. The soba noodles included shrimp and pork with Vietnamese greens. Each bite out of the dish was fresh and delicious. My wife commented that she could tell care was put into crafting this special dish as the ingredients were carefully placed so that they would bring out perfect bites each time.
Kau Kau really surprised me with their selections. It won’t be long before I go for another visit for either dinner or brunch. Great service. Great atmosphere. Overall just an excellent restaurant to visit in Sacramento.
Website: www.kaukau916.com (Not active as of the publication of this review)
Address: 855 57th St Suite C, Sacramento, CA 95819
Rating: A
If you are looking for a better Hawaiian meal, Kau Kau is the restaurant that you should visit next. There are so many options to try on the menu that you’ll have to make the tough decision on your first visit and come back for another go at it on another day!
