The best way I can describe Braddah's is like the end result "nine months in the making" of Chipotle, Pieology, and Subway vacationing in Hawaii and getting a bit frisky amongst the tropical oasis?!?
It has your typical trendy step by step process of selecting your meal like the three restaurants above and in this case there was five which had me a bit taken back at first, but everyone who's dined that way is trained enough by now to take even that like a champ.
Faced with the choice of burrito, bowl, salad, three tacos, or nachos it certainly was a task, but I figured in order to get the full overall experience the taco route was the best way to go. Perhaps I'll do a burrito or nachos next time to further the experience.
I then moved on to the selection of the meat and not wanting to focus on just a single meat I did all (Kalua pig, Huli Huli chicken, and Pulehu steak), but the grilled fish sounds like a crowd pleaser as well yet seems easily forgotten when stacked up against a triple threat like that. I'll invest in a potential fish taco next stop so I can truly say I've tried it all.
I will pause to discuss the highs and lows of each protein as unfortunately it was not as consistent amongst each as my heart anticipated. Hands down my favorite was the Kalua pig, truly a high recommendation here. I found it to be melt in your mouth tender and did make me reminisce of the paradise cove luau in Oahu so how's that for authentic?
I was however left to desire that same experience with both the Huli chicken and Pulehu steak. I was mentioning to my wife that the seasoning was clearly there partnered with the slightest char taste radiating off each bite were impressive, but where things fell flat for me was the fact that both tasted a bit tough and if they had been more moist and tender it'd surely even have made King Kamehameha himself lick his chops over and over again!
The remaining three steps is the traditional topping overload (rice, beans, veggies, etc.), but the highlight for me here was their charred pineapple verde. There are a few other salsa choices here (mango and roasted corn or tomato w/grilled Maui onion) and maybe for round #2, but this one again was a party pleaser. I don't quite know what exactly it was about it, but the sweetness from the pineapple and light hint of char worked very well with the mixing of all that went in the taco. Another must try here for sure!
Although it wasn't consumed until the following day I want to bring honorable mention to the coconut bark as it left both us howling at the moon..the bark itself was soft and flaky, but throw some silky butterscotch layers on top of it and you'll be saying aloha in no time. I'm glad the cashier lead us to this vs. the regular bark as it took the meal to an all time level!
So all in all, (to play off of the rainbow road location) I can say Braddah's is certainly a pot of gold after it hands down. Even after all this time I can honestly say my lucky charms are salivating at another chance to consume some of this cuisine all over again!