‘Ai Love Nalo Is Back With Vegan Hawaiian Plates and Other Meatless Comfort Food

Photo: Mari Taketa

Vegan Hawaiian food seemed an oxymoron until ‘Ai Love Nalo came along nearly a decade ago. It closed for a time during the pandemic, came back as a meal plan business and finally reopened as a takeout spot last fall—one of those places you don’t realize how much you miss until word of its return propels you on a single-minded mission from town.

Photo: Mari Taketa

‘Ai Love Nalo is in the same converted gas station in Waimānalo. Dine-in in the breezy, casual dining room has been replaced by a tent-shaded patio out back, which is also where you’ll find the ordering and pickup window.

Photo: Mari Taketa

Back is the Medi Bowl ($18.75) of deep-pink beet hummus, baba ganoush, millet tabouleh and fresh-fried falafels. Back is the Buddha Bowl ($16.75) with its riot of roasted kabocha, sautéed mushrooms, house-made kim chee and other plant-based staples. These are joined by a Scrambler Wrap ($16.75) where scrambled tofu replaces egg; a BBQ Porto Sandwich of organic portobellos dressed in house barbecue sauce with coconut slaw; a satisfying ‘Ulu Chowder ($16.75 for the meal) creamy with sweet corn and edamame; plus lū‘au stew and chili.

SEE ALSO: First look: ‘Ai Love Nalo

But mostly, we’re all about Oh Wow Laulau ($16.75), an unassuming plate whose star amid better-than-expected tofu poke, salad and brown rice is the coconut milk-topped wonder of creamy sweet potato cocooned in silken lū‘au leaves.

Photo: Mari Taketa

The poi-fect parfait brings back chocolate coconut strips and granola topping and all the fruits we remember. It’s bigger than before (this is the small, 16 ounces for $11.25; large is 20 ounces for $12.50), and now that you choose your topping—poi, chia seed pudding or brown sugar coconut yogurt—it’s been renamed the Rainbow Parfait. We like poi, but ours has nearly too much, draping the jewel-like layers of fresh pineapple, apple banana, papaya, avocado and sweet potato in purple luxuriance. Some days, ‘Ai Love Nalo’s banana-based soft serve also makes a return, always welcome in steamy Waimānalo.

Open Wednesday to Monday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 41-1025 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, (808) 799-9727, ailovenalo.com, @ailovenalo