The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill
Aiea Bowl,99-115 Aiea Heights Dr, Ste 310, Aiea, HI, 96701
The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Aiea for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
Aiea Bowl,99-115 Aiea Heights Dr, Ste 310
Aiea, HI, 96701 - Phone (808) 486-3499
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 9:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dessert
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
William L.
Tasty Chicken is so tasty!!!
(5)Jackie O.
I was so shocked upon coming to eat here (for the first time in a long time) with my parents a few nights ago! This was always my go-to eatery for good, local-style gourmet food that was reasonably priced, but.... Just because you're featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives shouldn't warrant you to significantly increase your prices. When I used to work in Aiea, my co-workers and I would frequent this restaurant 1-2 times per week. I would always get the mixed plate (tasty chicken and garlic shrimp), which was $10.95 maybe even $9.95...definitely no more than $11. Then I switched to the Coca-Cola Turkey Salad because I figured it was a more healthier choice. As mentioned, I came here the other night for the first time in a while. I ordered the mixed plate (Kalbi and Tasty Chicken) for my dad . My mom and I were going to share the Coca-Cola Turkey Salad since we weren't that hungry. Tsk, tsk, tsk.....I was floored!!! The mixed-plate was $16.75....wow...what a price increase!!! And get this.....the Coca-Cola Turkey Salad was much smaller in portion size. It also went from good to mediocre and went from $9.00 to $13.70....almost $14 dollars....for. a. salad.?!?! The Tasty Chicken wasn't as good as I remembered it (I took a piece from my dad's plate).....Tanioka's Garlic Chicken is better! And the portion size is laughable. When I looked at the scoop of the macaroni salad on my dad's plate, I thought, 'Geez, they shouldn't even have bothered putting any on the plate.' I just remember too...the last time I came here was in February 2014 after a friend's baby shower...but it was for late night drinks/pupus....the experience was pretty lousy. They were getting ready to turn it into a club vibe for the cosmic bowling. We were sitting at the bar and the security guy was kicking us off the bar, yet there was absolutely no demand for drinks or people rushing up to the bar...so we were definitely not in anyone's way. He could clearly see we were still eating our pupus and drinking. By the way...on this occasion we ordered the calamari. The calamari here is lousy....it tastes like the pre-frozen, breaded calamari rings...yuck! I must say...it really grinds my gears when restaurants significantly increase their prices...ESPECIALLY when the quality has gone down and portion sizes have gone down. Remember...it's your loyal patrons who supported your establishment in the beginning and it's disappointing when you don't even feel like you want to go there anymore...sad!
(1)Chablis T.
We always come for the tasty chicken. The tasty chicken is very crispy and full of flavor. We ordered the hamburger steak as well and is very tasty. The short ribs are very tender with loads of flavor. I don't recommend the garlic fries ($4.50). As for dessert; I must admit the lemon crunch cake is my favorite and is bursting with flavor. I don't recommend the pumpkin crunch as well as the carrot cake. As for the service, I was a bit confused as the host was not at the post. Service I didn't and don't expect much. Our waiter was prompt and checked up on us frequently. They do have booths available. They also got football playing on the two televisions they have. We come here for the food whether it's take-out, dine-in, or party pans. I've never had a problem with my orders. Sometimes if they're busy you might have a longer wait than hoped for. As satisfied customers, we will return.
(4)Diana N.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the food here!!! Fellow yelpers weren't kidding when they raved about the tasty chicken, oxtail soup, and the lemon crunch cake. I'm sure you've read all about them in the previous reviews, so I won't torture you. I will say that the best tip I've to offer is to pay the $3 for noodles in the oxtail soup. The noodles absorb the flavors of the oxtail making it a more hearty meal. After two visits here, I'm thrilled to say this will be a regular stop for me. I will order the tasty chicken every stinkin time, too! Other notables that weren't mentioned much in the other reviews was the garlic fries...super crispy and garlicky...and just a few bucks. I ordered a bowl of soup with rice and salmon and it was so tasty that my 6 year old son licked the bowl!!! He kept tipping the bowl over to get every last drop! I did have to take a star off for the 20-30 minute wait yesterday. Our waitress was very friendly but the kitchen took FOREVER to get our food out. The prices are a bit high for a bowling alley restaurant. $14 for a bowl of oxtail soup seems a bit out of reach...granted it's the best bowl of oxtail soup ever....still. I must say their dishes are large and definitely share worthy. There's often a long line of patrons waiting, so I suggest you go on off hours or you just order takeout. Listening to pins crashing against one another is not my idea of a nice meal anyway. I will say that all the noise distraction kept my kids' attention for the whole dinner. Now they have an unnerving will to bowl =(
(4)Michael L.
Waited for over an hour after we were.told wait was half an hour. Got my order wrong. Completely forgot an order of another person in party. Food tasty but over priced.
(1)Kelli S.
When it comes to local eateries, venues like The Alley instantly come to my mind. Aiea Bowl's in-house restaurant does local food right. Some of the entrees can be a bit pricy, so I don't visit The Alley all that often. But when I have a serious craving for that "Tasty Chicken," a trip to The Alley for lunch and dinner is always pleasant. I try to go for an earlier lunch or dinner, because during prime meal times, the small eatery can get packed (take-out is always a good option). Here are some of my favorites when it comes to dining at The Alley: "Tasty Chicken": This is probably one of The Alley's best-sellers, and I've gotten it before when I've dined in and ordered take out. The "Tasty Chicken" dish is one of my favorites from this eatery. It features lightly dusted and deep-fried chicken thighs that are dipped in The Alley's secret sauce and coated generously with sweet soy sauce, garlic and chili flakes. I love how the golden-brown batter is fried to a crisp, resulting in chicken pieces with a tender interior and crunchy shell. The garlicky flavor and the kick from the chili flakes is phenomenal when combined. The dish is served with two scoops of white or brown rice and a side of macaroni or spring mix salad. I always get brown rice and the mac salad with my entrée. "Pan-Seared Furikake Ahi": If I'm looking for something slightly healthier and feel like eating fish instead of chicken, I'll go for this savory entrée. The Alley's got it down when it comes to that tasty furikake layer! This entrée features fresh ahi that's sliced and crusted with sesame nori furikake and served with the eatery's spicy Thai sauce. I love the ahi's fresh taste, and the thin furikake layer adds extra crunch and texture to the dish. I also opt for the brown rice and mac salad to accompany this dish. "Mahi Mahi Alley Style": I love mahi, and The Alley's version is amazing, thanks to some extra features. This entrée features your traditional mahi that's sliced and dipped in egg batter, cooked on the griddle and finished with sesame nori furikake and served with spicy Thai sauce. While most mahi are just breaded and deep-fried, I love how The Alley includes a layer of nori furikake on this dish as well, taking its flavor and texture to the next level. "Mahi Mahi Sandwich": From time to time, I've opted for the sandwich version of the "Mahi Mahi" plate. It's light and great for a lunch entrée. It includes mahi mahi fillets that are dipped in egg batter, finished on the griddle, topped with nori furikake and a dash of creamy Thai sauce and served with mayo, lettuce in a sesame seed bun. It pretty much tastes the same as the "Mahi Mahi" plate, but I like having my fish fillets served in the sesame seed bun now and then to switch things up. This sandwich is accompanied by a side of mac salad, but I've switched out the mac salad for French Fries before. "Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake": I liked getting this sweet treat to finish off my meal (I've gotten a pack of the cupcakes before, but I liked this one the best). It features a dark chocolate cake with creamy peanut butter frosting and topped with a chocolate-peanut butter cup. I liked the lightness of the cupcake and the creamy frosting. It didn't feature a strong peanut buttery flavor, but it was still enjoyable. And the cake was moist (not dry), which is always a good thing. The "Red Velvet" and "Chocolate Chocolate" cupcakes were good, too, but I liked the "Chocolate Peanut Butter" one the best. "Loco Moco": I haven't had a chance to try the "Loco Moco" from this joint yet, but on paper, it sounds phenomenal. This local plate consists of a housemade, tender hamburger patty topped with homemade gravy and a fried egg. I'm curious to taste the flavor of the patty, since it's supposed to be homemade and more "authentic," as well as the gravy (hopefully thick and flavorful, not runny). One day, I'll have to deviate from my "Tasty Chicken" usual and try this dish. "Suppa Garlic Shrimp": This is another Alley dish that I haven't gotten my hands on yet, but since I love shrimp, I'm sure I'll like the featured flavors of this dish. This entrée consists of shrimp that's sautéed with fresh minced garlic and finished with sweet cream butter. I can just picture the succulent shrimp dripping with garlic and butter, and immediately, my mouth is watering! I can't wait to try this garlicky classic. "Mama Miya's Chocolate Cake": Though I haven't tried this chocolate cake, I've seen enough pictures of it to make me want to order it on my next visit to The Alley! This dessert features moist chocolate cake layered with chocolate cream and topped with chocolate ganache. Sounds like heaven for a chocolate lover like me!
(5)John C.
This review is for The Alley's Restaurant / Bakery. We ordered a 5-layer lemon crunch cake for our parents' 34th Anniversary party more than 48 hours in advance and requested such celebratory writing on top. We picked the cake up on October 4, 2014. When we opened the cake at the party we were completely horrified by the messy and unprofessional writing on the cake! It was completely unacceptable having spent $40+ dollars on this cake. If it couldn't be written nicely, please let the customer know. We would have preferred no writing at all. Our family trusted The Alley with our special event. Shame on The Alley bakery for allowing this to happen! Please see my posted picture.
(1)Bennie Ann K.
No matter what entree that we've tried we have never been disappointed! This is actually my 3rd time but have never checked in until today. I had the Boneless Kalbi, the meat was so tender and flavorful! My hubby had the Tasty Chicken - that also was great! The sauce that was on the chicken had just the right kick to it. (Hot spice) we also order an order of their Garlic Fries yum! The portions were huge, we actually took home the extras for dinner! If you enjoy desserts they also make a really good Pumpkin Crunch! These is a place that I look forward to returning again!
(5)Megan W.
Good food. Always comes out hot and has a good variety. I love their burgers and the tasty chicken.
(4)Ashlyn C.
It's been a while since I've been to the Alley, so when my coworker suggested we go there for lunch today after I told him I was craving plate lunch, I did not hesitate to say yes. Do you know what I love so much about the Alley? Many things, but first, let's start off with the most important... The food. Their food is consistently good. The one thing on their menu that definitely keeps me coming back is their tasty chicken. It's not drowning in an overpowering sauce, but yet, it is still incredibly flavorful. I also like the fact that you can choose 2 things from their entree menu to create a combination plate. Today, I got tasty chicken AND loco moco... So ono! The hamburger steak was not dry & very delicious & the gravy had good flavor & was not overly salty. My coworker told me that I absolutely had to try the fried noodles so he ordered that for us to share. I am so glad he did because those were, hands down, THE best fried noodles I have ever had. The noodles were not dry & had so much flavor! I would definitely get that again! The service at the Alley is great. Our waitress (I wish I had gotten her name) was friendly & attentive. She greeted us & have us water right away, told us she'd be right back to take our order & came back, I swear, like 30 seconds later. Our food came out in a timely manner, she made sure to check up on us a couple of times & filled my water. When I first got to the Alley around 245pm, it was really crowded! There were a ton of people waiting outside to get seated. If it's like that when you go, don't let that deter you because it moves pretty quickly. I had to go on a waiting list & was told it was going to be about 10-15 minutes. I probably waited not even 10 minutes before we were seated. I'm happy my memory of the Alley is refreshed & I can't wait to come back again :)
(5)Heather P.
We went on Thurs. so we had a 20 min wait because of the 6-8 happy hour and no entry fee. But there was live music and the food was worth the wait. I had the oxtail with ramen and it was delicious. The oxtail was falling off of the bone and the broth was flavorful. The Ponzu sauce that came with it was really good too. My husband had the teriyaki salmon and the salmon was cooked perfectly, a little crispy on the outside and the sauce was just the right amount of sweet. We finished with the Lemon Crunch Cake and it was amazing! The moist cake and the toffee crunch was the perfect mixture. This place is a must visit.
(5)Randy D.
Food is always great...service top notch!...reasonable sized portions...little pricey...but flavor is worth the price...bowling is fun too
(5)Mika K.
Tasty chicken is always a favorite! Lemon crunch cake is da bomb BUT, you MUST try the strawberry crunch cake too!
(4)Mike M.
Food was delicious and reasonably priced. That's about the high point of this review because it basically tanks regarding service. A server we encountered was very pushy and had no sense of customer service. The heavy set, tattooed, middle aged server woman we had last night has no business in the service industry. Seemed very hostile when we would ask for additional items, never offered us water, only checked up on us when it was time to cash out. Witnessed a young boy almost run into her, apparently his safety was not a concern as she only gave him a not so kind look. It's a bowling alley on a Friday night, what do you expect? She went on to complain about the boy TO US!!!! Way to set an already awkward mood lady. Terrible If you truly crave the food here, don't let the terrible service ruin it so get your food to go and stay away. Don't bother even considering tipping this kind of service. To the Alley Management, you're food is delicious yet you really need to toss out your bitter, sour and stale servers.
(2)Jaymee P.
This review is based just on the customer service. I wish you could rate zero or negative stars. They said the wait would be 25min. We waited. Checked in around 45min later. They SAID they didn't have our name. They said we would be seated next. Another 20min pass by. We check again. They SAID they called us and canceled because we weren't there. I call BS. That hostess (little Filipino girl with highlights) straight up lied right to my face. I am appalled she had the nerve to do so. Admit when you're wrong and made a mistake. You don't go blaming the customer. You had one job, to take down names and seat people. How incompetent can you be? It does not take rocket science or a genius to figure this out. We spend one hour waiting to be seated. One hour of my life that I will never get back. You're lucky your tasty chicken and lemon crunch cake are so good. Next time, I'll just order from the window. I won't waste any time and have to deal with a bunch of idiots.
(1)Diana C.
I've heard so many great things about the food at Aiea Bowl. My co-workers and I were at a training on Ford Island and decided to hit this place up during lunch. There was a 10 minute wait, but the hostess have us a few menus to look through while we waited. The menu has a variety of different things: burgers, pizza, and local food items. The restaurant itself is a little small, yet cozy. My friend raved about the Tasty Chicken and the Lemon Crunch Cake. I ordered the mixed plate with tasty chicken and garlic shrimp. The food comes out to the table as it becomes ready which I can appreciate. I mean, who likes eating food that's been sitting around waiting (and drying out) until all the other dishes are ready?! The tasty chicken was indeed very tasty! My one co-worker ordered the boneless kalbi which I tried and the meat was so tender and flavorful! The portion size is generous and plenty for leftovers, unless you are starving! We all shared a bite or three of the Lemon crunch cake which was sooooo good! The staff members are extremely friendly and attentive. The food at Aiea Bowl really hit the spot and is very impressive for bowling alley food. Four stars because it can get a little snug in the restaurant and we had issues with the flow of traffic keeping out of the way of the staff and customers. I want to come back to check out the Cosmic Bowling on of these days :)
(4)Azadeh K.
First time eating here & literally the food blown me away. Seriously! A bit noisy, but I honestly did not mind, it wouldn't be a bowling dining setting if there were no noise! So if your looking for a quiet candle lit dinner, this is probably not the best place to eat! Ordered the "Tasty Chicken" plate with brown rice & they're Mac Potato Salad which was 1. HUGE! I mean the pieces of chicken were like giant meatballs! it was as if I died and went to fried chicken heaven with flavor galore! It was awesome!!! The brown rice was like any brown rice but the Potato Mac Salad was BOMB! It's like they over cooked the macaroni longer then normal so it was succulent good! & if anyone knows me I hate any type of Mac salad, unless it's Potato Mac then I will try...& yes I know I should really order a salad with my main dish especially after ordering 2 of the delicious thin cut garlic fries for pupu but I couldn't help myself! It was super delicious that the price was all well worth it!!! Oh! & my wife ordered the "Boneless Marinated Kalbi" with brown rice and Potato Mac salad, and she wanted me to note that it was succulent ono! Definitely worth the price lol soooooo..... If you want great quality and quantity of food this is the place to eat! Wish I got to taste some desert but as you can tell I was stuffed! Next time no 2 orders of garlic fries hahaha! Great customer service! On top of they're game when it comes to making conversations, filling up water and bringing your order in quick! 5 star rating most def! Will definitely be back here again! Happy eats yelpers!
(5)MaryAnn G.
Local food at it's finest! A must! Yes, it's off the beaten path but eat there after you visit Pearl Harbor.
(5)Dennis R.
Crowded! But that's only because this place has some awesome food. Try their Tasty Chicken. It's the bomb. You ever think about a food and it makes you salivate immediately even if you're full? That's what The Alley's Tasty Chicken does for me. Their place is located in Aiea Bowl and is very small and can seem stuffy when you're in there and it's fully seated. That's the only reason I can see taking a star away...but I won't because the food is just that good! Seems like they tried to cram as many seats as possible instead of taking a table or two away to have their customers eat in comfort. I dunno. Maybe it was just me. But yeah, their food is still awesome and you should still eat there if you're in the area. I believe they also have a take out window outside if you don't want to wait to eat in their crammed restaurant. Oh yeah these guys were featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-in and Dives with Guy Fiery so you know it's legit.
(5)Michelle E.
Wow! Great food in the center of a local bowling alley. This place is a must try; not only for the locals, but for visitors to the island too! Their chicken here is bomb! It's called "tasty chicken" and is indeed extremely tasty. The most outstanding part of this meal was the dessert! That lemon crunch cake is die for!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO TRY IT NOW!
(5)Shannon H.
Three words: LEMON. CRUNCH. CAKE. The Alley Restaurant was recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives which, of course, means that it's swarming with people. The two dishes featured on that episode were the OXTAIL SOUP (simmered with chinese spices, ginger, mushrooms, and peanuts and served with housemade ponzu sauce) and the GRILLED COCA COLA MARINATED TURKEY SANDWICH (turkey breast marinated in coke, garlic, and spices then grilled and served with lettuce on a hoagie bun). I ordered neither of these things. Brother tried the oxtail soup but that's not really my thing so I didn't taste it. Family ordered a bunch of different dishes to share. My favorite was the TASTY CHICKEN (chicken thighs lightly dusted and deep fried, then dipped in a secret sauce with sweet shoyu, garlic, and chili flakes). SO GOOD. It's like uber garlic chicken. The chili flakes are not overpowering and add just the right amount of kick to the dish. My favorite. We also got the PAN-SEARED FURIKAKE AHI (sliced and crusted with sesame nori furikake, served with a creamy spicy thai sauce) and the BONELESS MARINATED KALBI (boneless short ribs marinated in housemade kalbi sauce and finished on the char broiler). Both very tasty but neither as good as the tasty chicken. Portions were pretty good too. Prices were a little steep for the quality and quantity that you get, I think it's still worth it. Now.. onto the main event: THE LEMON CRUNCH CAKE. I had tried the lemon crunch cake at Diamond Head Market + Grill and heard that it can't compare to the cake here.. boy, were they right! The cake it self is good; not too lemon-y and very fluffy but what sets this cake apart are the toffee chips sprinkled on top. YUM. I could eat that all day. Wanted to try other cakes but felt like nothing could follow the lemon crunch cake. If you are here, you definitely need to try it. There is a lot attached to the structure that had a fair amount of stalls but I heard that it fills up but we got there early and didn't have any problems. Not sure what alternative options are available parking-wise so just gotta get lucky! Note: I made no mention of the bowling alley because I didn't spend any time there. There are leagues though! And daily specials for shoe rentals and whatnot. Check it out online! Menu is also available there.
(4)Pinay F.
Always an excellent place for lunch or dinner, never disappointed. I really don't mind the wait when I come here, it's worth the wait.
(5)Marjorie S.
Great food and desserts. The Lemon Crunch Cake is to die for, so ono. Ordered it for mother's day and it was enjoyed by all. Enjoyed the Tasty Chicken and Ox Tail Soup too. We would sure stop by for dinner again. The only thing is that parking is limited as there are other shops and restaurant in the area. Did not bowl and which they would open another location in town.
(4)G P.
Always tasty... I like their tasty chicken... I haven't sat there for awhile as I like doing take out more now.... I wish they brought back the Katsu burger... Panko crust around a juicy patty topped with gravy... That was a long time ago...
(4)Steven U.
I love it here......I am actually glad this place is not closer to home....I would be huge! The service is usually pretty good here, and a lot of times you have to wait for a table, but it is so worth it. The furukake ahi and oxtail soup are very good here. Tasty and homemade, this restaurant always feels like comfort food made with a fine dining approach. The ingredients are fresh, and even the onion rings are great! The portions are really good size here so bring your appetite. My all time favorite is the tasty chicken. A spin on a type of Korean chicken, this crispy dish makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The flavor of the sauce, with the crispiness of the chicken makes this the perfect dish. My wife's favorite is the lemon crunch cake. Already pre-sliced and ready to go, I rarely get a bite before she finishes it.....so good. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are out visiting Pearl Harbor, or if you are just need a really good meal. TASTY CHICKEN!!!!!
(4)Jenny C.
I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed the food but I can't. We came in early on a Sunday morning to dine in. We had 3 adults and 3 small kids, and checked in. We asked if we could sit in a booth but was told that a booth cannot hold 6 so we would have to wait for them to set up a table. That's fine. I looked around, this place was pretty slow this early in the morning. The hostess was cold and rude. We went outside and started to wait thinking it would take just a few minutes to set the table up (had quite a bit of tables free). It was taking way too long and we watched as random smaller groups went in and got seated right away. After 15 minutes, we go back in and ask how much longer it would be. The hostess tells us the same answer as when we checked in, the waiter has to set up the table. The tables were free but I guess only a certain waiter could set up the table - even though there are 5 of them working in the restaurant. I decided to leave because of her attitude and the additional parties that were seated since I checked in - who knows how long this one waiter would be to set up the table. I was so disappointed. We came to celebrate a birthday with breakfast and this is how we were greeted.
(1)Pat O.
Lunch today at the Alley was not as expected. the food was very good had the pork chop plate and it was awesome. The service was horrible. Found a seat at the bar because the place was packed. Couldn't get the server to acknowledge I existed. After what seemed like forever got her attention when she stopped to talk to the person next to me. I thought I was invisible for lunch had to flag down another server to get a refill on my soda. The server definitely had down the art of tunnel vision to come and go without seeing anybody trying to get her attention no matter how loud I said excuse me. The only time she seemed to hear me was when I asked for the check. I gave this review two stars solely because the food was good. Will think twice before I return.
(2)Arthur P.
Food good but after eating and drinking for 3 hours the owners mother asked us to leave because they have a waiting list and we have been there for a long time. I felt very insulted and will not return here.
(2)Karyn C.
I had heard about the Alley for awhile now from my friends who have been going there for years and didn't realize that it was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives... Hence the popularity and business of the place everyday. The parking lot is a bit small (especially since the bowling alley is right there along with a few other businesses) and I heard the wait can be up to an hour and a half sometimes but we got lucky on both parking and wait time on our stop in on a Thursday night after shopping at the Waikele Outlets up the road. The tasty chicken a definite must get and lives up to its name for sure. The furikake salmon wasn't bad but I'm not sure if I didn't know the name of it already that the amount of furikake on it would have led me to think that's what it was. I expected more of a furikake crust not just a small sprinkle of furikake. I don't eat beef but both of my girlfriends ordered the boneless kalbi so it leads me to believe it's tasty as well. Another option people may like as well is that they give you the option of brown or white rice. The servers are very attentive and food comes out quick! The pastry cases were empty when we walked in so we thought they were all sold out of cakes but luckily we mentioned that to our server because they didn't tell us that there was an issue with the cases and all of the cakes were in the back!! The lemon crunch cake is definitely another must-have if you come here. A restaurant next to a bowling alley - yes, you can see and hear the people bowling at the lanes next door - but the food and service are great so I would recommend putting it on your bucket list of places to eat on Oahu and I would definitely come back! Aloha!
(4)Reid H.
So I went for the first time with my buddies during lunch time. They said the wait time was going to be 30 minutes. We were seated in 5 minutes which was phenomenal! The food came out quick as well! Service was great and my water was always filled. This place is bomb and I highly recommend it. Food was damn brilliant!
(5)Syvannah O.
Can't get enough of this place. The flavors captured in their food are unbeatable. Best kalbi, best Tasty chicken, best desserts, best everything. If I was rich I'd eat here more often. The service is always good and the workers are all very pleasant. They know their menu. It's often crowded so we like to go on none peak hours like early dinner/ late lunch time. It's kind of loud considering its attached to the bowling alley but the music does no justice when you're getting the delicious food they serve. We've been coming here for years and they just get better and better. Absolutely LOVE The Alley Restaurant!
(5)Marko C.
FIVE STARS for Alley Restaurant! My Aunty brought over a DELICIOUS Lemon Crunch Cake for my mother's birthday! The cake was OMGSODELICIOUSBROKEDAMOUTH good! The cake on the inside was a white/yellow cake, layered with a tart lemon filling. The outside of the cake was the winner and star of the show! It was a kind of Almond Roca crunchy topping. Holy smokes that cake is delicious! yelp.com/biz_photos/alle… I heard that the store has so many great things to eat, and I can't wait try it. In the meantime, I'll just enjoy the memories of eating their Lemon Crunch Cake. Get some, as it was delicious!
(5)Hi E.
Really hate to leave a low rating, but yesterdays meal left a lot to be desired. We eat here frequently and it is usually consistently good. The boneless kalbi had only 3 pieces that were even edible. The rest were full of gristle that could not be choked down if we wanted to, not to mention the meat was way undercooked which gave it a very rubbery, tough texture. Mind you we had 2 orders (one plate and one bowl) of kalbi and they were both the same. We took home dessert and since they were out of our favorite Strawberry Crunch Cake, we opted for the Boston Cream Crunch Cake. The chocolate topper, while a nice smooth consistency, had a funky taste, you know the kind that picks up other flavors from the fridge. Thats what it tasted like...a hint of garlic, maybe some onion, stale fridge taste. Hoping this was just an off day for The Alley. We will try again.
(2)Roxy W.
Food: I love their Tasty Chicken! It is truly tasty. It's pretty much Korean fried chicken. I also tried the furikake ahi. It was good. I ordered their combo plate so I had a decent amount of chicken and fish. They give you a small scoop of Mac salad and two scoop rice. My husband tried the short ribs. He wasn't a fan of it. I also got to taste their famous Oxtail soup. The broth is tasty but it comes with very little meat (mostly fat). We ordered a pumpkin crunch for dessert. It's delicious. You can't find anything like it anywhere else. Location: It's located with Aiea Bowl. Parking is limited! I recommend on the lower level near McDonalds. Service: Check in at the front. They have a decent size seating area so the wait time is usually less than 15 minutes. Service is prompt once you are seated and food comes out pretty quickly after ordering. But they don't come around enough to refill waters. Overall, I recommend trying the Tasty chicken and the pumpkin crunch! It's worth the wait.
(3)LowcSai T.
Today was our first time eating at the alley the food and the service was great and the lemon crunch cake highly recommended.
(4)Karen T.
This restaurant is located within the bowling alley but they also serve food to go. There was a wait for the restaurant so we ordered take out and it still took awhile to get our food. We tried the famous oxtail soup ($13.95), tasty chicken ($10.95), coke turkey sandwich ($9.95). The oxtail soup was very rich and the meat was very tender. It was pretty good with rice. I've never had oxtail soup before so I can't really compare but my friends that are oxtail soup fans said that it is pretty good and comparable to the famous oxtail soup in Vegas. The tasty chicken was crispy but it had a lot of breading and not very much chicken. It is slightly sweet. The coke turkey sandwich was good but I didn't really taste the coke. My friends really liked the sandwich though. Food is decent but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back. Of the dishes we tried, I would recommend the oxtail soup.
(3)Don T.
Visited The Alley for dinner on March 21 and couldn't believe how crowded it was! It was early, 5-ish, but we hadn't eaten since breakfast so we decided to chow down as they did have seating for two. I had the Mahi Mahi and my wife had the Furikake Ahi, we both were stunned at the 3 huge pieces of fish we each got. Mine was lightly fried and had a thin batter coating, which was perfect, not greasy at all. The sauce on mine was the house dressing, and it was awesome. We were so full that we didn't have room for dessert, but took a piece of the Chocolate Insanity Cake home with us. While we were at it, we also took an order of the Fried Noodles home, which we ate later, before the chocolate cake. Both were incredibly good. I would love to try their fried chicken, burgers, and pizza on my next visit. UPDATE: after visiting the nearby Flea Market a day later, we decided to try The Alley for breakfast, and arrived at about 10:00 am. The place was crowded again, and I distinctly said to the host, "Two for Breakfast." We waited for about 3 or 4 minutes, then he handed us off to a server, who found us a table and handed us menus with a breakfast insert. Within a few more minutes, a waitress came over to take our order, and when we ordered breakfast items, she told us they don't serve breakfast after 10:00 am. By now it was 10:15, and I told her that we specifically mentioned we were here for breakfast, but she just restated that they don't serve breakfast after 10, so we left. As good as the food is at the Alley, I had to deduct 1 star for this poor handling of our breakfast experience.
(4)H C.
Tasty chicken and Lemon crunch cake! Have been enjoying these for several years. Their peperoni pizza is also very good. Call ahead for take out orders.
(5)Misty P.
Bowling and gourmet local fare. How can you go wrong? Come here to bowl and have a great snack or meal, or just stop by for lunch or dinner. I love their hamburger steak and their pork chops. Service is friendly and it can get crowded during the lunch hour. Even if you come here in the wee hours to bowl, they still offer great tasty pizzas along with their bar drinks. There are even homemade desserts to finish off your meal. It's clean and modern for a bowling alley restaurant. Parking is plentiful, unless there's some event or tournament.
(5)Dan O.
The Alley is another in a bunch of go-to eateries in this area of Aiea. When I worked in Ewa, lived in town, and traffic home was a bear, Aiea was a convenient pitstop to have dinner. Ono for a little comfort food, my parents and I headed to the Alley on a Saturday night. The parking lot was crowded and there was a line. We got our table surprisingly fast, less than 10 minutes. Wanting to save some room for those famous desserts, I split an order of ox-tail soup with my mom, while my dad got a mixed plate. The ox-tail soup hit the right spot! The right mouth feel, just enough meat to satisfy, the accompanying rice in the soup, mmm! I've ordered some of the items that you can get with the mixed plate, so I know dad enjoyed his meal as well. We got an order of the lemon crunch to share, now I know why everyone raves about the Alley's crunch cakes! This was a great welcome home meal. Definitely repeat and recommend!
(4)Kathy V.
A hidden gym inside a bowling alley for food that is!! Apparently only the local's know about this place, and a buddy of ours wanted to take us to his local hangout spot growing up. They are well knows for their pies but there food was just a hit in my book! Not your average fried bowling alley food such as chicken nuggets, hot dogs, burgers but there most popular dish is what caught my attention. TASTY CHICKEN-an upscale version of Korean fried chicken, crunchy and piquant, with a heavy load of red-pepper flakes. BOMB!!! all of their items from the menu are made from scratch. My friends ordered the loco moco and oxtail soup which brought amazing flavors to the table. If your in the neighborhood, I suggest you make a trip not to bowl but to eat!!
(4)Hervick R.
We finally decided to try this place. I was originally gonna order their steak and eggs but because of the reviews I was reading while waiting for a table, I ended up ordering the oxtail soup. I couldn't taste what the hype was about. We also ordered the alley burger, it was tasty but also very greasy. We also got to try the tasty chicken, tasted good but there were too much breading and again super greasy. We also tried the pumpkin crunch, not a fan either. Maybe we should've came here with low expectations, maybe then everything would've tasted better. Overall, I wish everything I ordered wasn't so oily. I should've known better. Unless, u don't mind eating super greasy foods, then this place is for u. As for me and my boyfriend, we're probably not coming back.
(3)Mel T.
Everybody already knows about the Tasty Chicken. Everybody also already knows about the Lemon Crunch cake. But does everyone already know about the beef stew? D loves beef stew. To continue on from our last Hawaiian visit, we were on the prowl for the best beef stew on the island. And we think we've found it. Tender beef, soft carrots and potatoes, a not too tomato-y sauce, and not too watery yet not too think, Alley's beef stew truly delivered. One thing to note is that the beef stew isn't on the daily menu (although it should be!). Call beforehand to ensure it's available!
(4)Doreen R.
Great service all the time no matter how busy they are! All of their food items including their desserts that I've ordered are delish! My fav is the FRIED CHICKEN and the SPICY SOYBEANS! All of their workers are very polite and helpful... they never ever make you feel rushed even though the place is small and can get somewhat crowded on weekends. If you haven't been there, go!
(5)Lori T.
It's been a while since I've been here so came to grind on some tasty chicken while my partner in eating came for the oxtail soup. For a Saturday lunch time at 12:30, we only had a 15-minute wait and found parking on the upper deck, too! I wanted to eat it all but it was just too much. I'm totally getting my money's worth with what I taking home but have no room for lemon crunch cake now. I'll just have to eat it later!
(5)Jennifer S.
Pretty good food, especially when you compare it to "usual" bowling-alley fare. Loads of choices for mains and dessert! Tasty chicken was just that. I had the sandwich because I wasn't feeling like rice. I may have enjoyed the thin and crispy fries more than the chicken. Three large pieces of breaded, fried mochiko-chicken style pieces, a toasted sesame-seed bun, a leaf of lettuce, and the fries. The chicken is sauced with what tastes like a mix of shoyu, sweet chili sauce, and some other flavors. I liked that it wasn't over-sauced. Just enough for flavor, not so much to be messy. One of my dining companions raved about the Portabello Sandwich, but I'm no fan of fungus. Burgers, salads, sandwiches, and plate-lunch fare. Plates have two sizes: bowl (one scoop rice and salad) or plate (two scoop rice and salad). You can also design your own mix plate with any combination of two entrees - including steak, chicken, pork, ahi, and a dozen others. Pizza also available. Small selection of beers (for someone who doesn't drink inexpensive domestics) - maybe the bar has a wider liquor variety? Lemon crunch cake - not lemony at all! The toffee crunch definitely dominates. I really wanted Pumpkin Crunch, but since I was sharing with my husband (who is averse to all things pumpkin) and I wasn't feeling chocolate, we compromised with the lemon crunch cake. It surprised both of us, in a good way. Decor is sort of retro-diner-y, with lots of noise spilling over from the lanes. Service was good, very attentive. Our server was also very conscientious about a dressing that may have contained an allergen of one of my dining companions - he had a better-safe-than-sorry attitude and quickly whisked away the plate and brought a new one with no dressing. Parking is a real pain, especially on league-bowl nights. Getting between the parking levels requires going back out into the street - also a pain when there is no left turn out of the garage/lot. Very busy for a weeknight - we were seated at 6 and the place was full the whole time we were there. I plan to go back for the Pumpkin Crunch, if nothing else!
(4)Lance W.
OK ordered the Ox Tail Soup. First time trying, so I had to taste the broth before adding any seasoning. I could tell that they did simmer for a long time because all the flavor was gone out of the anise. The Shiitake mushrooms were large and whole, not sliced up. The ox tails were tender and was able to o just suck the meat off the bones. Broth was weak for my taste. So it required more ginger. Go back again? Sure, but not for the ox tail. I wanna try the other stuff, because they sure looked good.
(3)Sunnyday N.
Food is good but the service ia terrible. The waitress was so mean when she came to our table. The State HI driver license is old version so it was taped one side, my friend is over 50s. They said his ID is not good and refuse to serve him beer. What?! Its not his fault, the State fault. Thats the only ID he had. Manager was unprofessional also when we asked about the ID. One guy in the staff used bad words when he saw we all walked away. We are so pissed off. We felt that is the discrimination since we all just wore gym clothes and sweated. The service destroyed all this restaurant's reputation for food. SO SO BAD. This is my first time to experience this kind of service in US. We consider to file a claim but we like the food from the chef. Previous orders: Oxtail is good. Cake is good. Fries chicken is quite dried.
(1)Charlotte Y.
Awesome food! The Korean chicken is tangy and just enough spice! I love the shoe string fries they're very tasty! And the oxtail soup is a must!! It's flavors are stewed for 2 days so the oxtail is fall off the bone and the flavors soak up in your broth! They add just the right amount of cilantro and peanuts and spices! It's finished off with brown or white rice and a generous helping of fresh ginger to compliment the oxtail, yummy! Don't forget to save room for the lemon crunch cake! It's heaven, with a light lemony flavor full of yellow cake and a crunchy topping that gives it a compete delicious finish! Or u can order one of their tasty cupcakes, red velvet and peanut butter chocolate are my favorites! Atmosphere in the bowling alley so sometimes it's kind of hard to hear! But worth it!!!
(4)Bea M.
Parking is terrible and waits can be long for a table but the tasty chicken and boneless Kalbi is worth it. Call it in and just pick up, it's much easier.
(4)Kehau N.
Great food, dessert and place to bowl . Got to go early or you will wait for a table. Ox tail soup is super ono.. I have to remind myself to try other food items. One suggestion, servers should tell the customers the specials.. Didn't realize they had specials until I looked towards the wall. Also, parking can be a little chaotic so plan accordingly
(3)Kent S.
First time coming here and it was DELICIOUS! My girlfriend suggested going here after watching the episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network that had this restaurant on it. The wait was a little long at 45 mins on a Sunday afternoon, but what do you expect? This is a popular spot and everyone's off on Sundays. We ordered the Oxtail soup and the Coca Cola Turkey Sandwich, which were both featured in the Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives show. They were both very tasty and quite filling. The turkey was juicy and the fries that came with it were thin and crispy. The broth for the oxtail soup was quite delicious as well. My girlfriend loved it. I also ordered the Kalbi short ribs on the A la Carte menu. That was very good as well. It was just slightly over cooked, but still good. We will definitely be coming back again!
(5)Sheryl L.
Went by based on so many positive recommendations over the years. Had to try the lemon crunch cake. Had hoped they would have the strawberry crunch cake but no luck for me that day. The lemon crunch cake is very similar to diamond head market and grill, but the topping is just a little different - More caramel like. I found the food to be good but way overpriced. Nothing I would make a trek for, nor want to spend that much money on. I am still glad I tried it.
(4)S E.
oxtail soup was delicious. never had it before. it was full of flavor and good portion. also had some chicken. it was the best. sweet and crunchy. not sure the name of it. also had the lemon crunch cake. delish.
(5)Jason Y.
My first review from here was 2 days ago but it was under 'Aiea Bowl'. Now I'm back here bc I wanted the tasty chicken again but also wanted to try the coca cola turkey sandwich. It was good. Flavor on the turkey was just right and very filling. I had a piece of turkey almost every bite. They use solid white pics of turkey and cut them into chunks so they sort of look like chunks of pork loin. My only thing about it was that it was very bare, they only give you a piece of lettuce. The hoagie bread is a good choice but it was pretty soggy by the time I got it and my sandwich just fell apart. However I would get it again. Garlic fries were good but this was the second time that my fries were cold. Of course we got the cake, this time added the pumpkin crunch cake, I couldn't tell which one I liked more, that or the lemon crunch. Id still go with the lemon, but the pumpkin is close.
(4)Stephan T.
Wow, the best meal under $15 a plate (most around $10) I have ever had. I don't know if people in Hawaii are really spoiled, maybe all the food we have had so far has been excellent . Seriously order anything on the menu you won't be disappointed five different meals all great. Great service they all worked together delivered for really quick and cleared plates. We never had empty drinks. I am sad they don't have food this good and cheap by me in Los Angeles.
(5)KC C.
My husband and I came here because this place was located right by where we were staying... I had a "Tasty Chicken" plate which was pretty tasty:) Hubby had a combination plate which allowed him to get two items from selected menu. Everything was good, I'm giving only four star because it's so loud and don't feel like you are at a restaurant... Kind of like in and out diner theme...
(4)Chael K.
I had an excellent lunch here today with my family ! We made it just in time before the lunch rush. The overall environment was loud and crowded, (it is in a bowling alley) but it was a great place for the family, and the food was delicious ! My sister and I shared a mixed plate of 'tasty chicken' and boneless kalbi, with fried rice and mac salad. As an appetizer we shared garlic fries and soybeans with everyone and by the end of the meal my sister and I were full, and there was still enough left overs for another meal ! The portions were very good sized and food was quickly served. Overall the experience was great, I never ran out of water, the servers showed great customer service and I left with a very happy and full stomach. We will definitely be back soon with more friends and family again ! Loved it.
(5)Rena G.
The food and service are excellent here. Our family ordered the garlic fries, the loco moco, the combo (furikake salmon & ahi), and the asian braised pork. Everything was delicious and at a great price point for quality dishes (under $15 each). Better yet... our server was awesome. He was friendly and very helpful. My husband was having trouble deciding between the oxtail soup (which he tried before) and the asian braised pork (which he hadn't tried yet), so the server gave his recommendation and when our food came, my husband was not disappointed in trying a new dish from this place. Everyone was left satisfied. Because of the excellent food and service we'll definitely be returning sooner rather than later!
(5)Debi V.
The Alley Restaurant is a great place to dine. You can come casual and with the family. This is a popular place and there have been many times that we had to wait in line to get seats. The great food is worth the wait ad their desserts are to die for. The service is good and our waiter was friendly. I had their Tasty Chicken and Furikake Ahi with brown rice and tossed greens. They are famous for their Tasty Chicken and I always have that when I eat at the Alley Restaurant. It can get a bit noisy as this restaurant is in a bowling alley but the food is great and their Lemon Crunch Cake is Devine! Their dishes are reasonably priced.
(4)Brittany B.
I have come to this place a few times and is still my go to spot when I can't think of anything better. I love the tasty chicken plate. Sometimes it's better than other times. I noticed I like it much better when I eat in. I've tried other dinner items but nothing beats the tasty chicken. Oh and the Lemon crunch cake is To Die For! always a must!
(4)Craig S.
We're having the pork chops, Tasty Fried Chicken Salad (2) and Tasty Fried Chicken plate. I like the pork chops. My wife likes her salad. But our guests said just 4 stars. I had a bad experience before but I'm trying not to be vengeful.
(4)Michelle T.
Okay okay this review is based on today's lunch and I must say I need to adjust my first review on The Alley Restaurant. My first review I rated them super low bcuz it was my first time and I expected the oxtail soup to be good, just not my liking but I'm sure it's good to them oxtail soup lovers out there. So today my hubby wanted to go back there and try there tasty chicken and I got their classic saimen I am a saimen lover a will say it was okay. Husband ordered the tasty chicken with mahi mahi and shared some with me and boy I must say I was in food heaven. That chicken sure was tasty, by why call it tasty when it was so garlicky and mmmmm, why not just call it garlic chicken. But anyways now I'm excited to try out there whole menu and no more soups for me from there. I recommend this place if your looking for good local and fresh plate lunches and beer! Hehe Mahalo, until next time.
(5)Jenny B.
I have never been to The Alley before. No matter how many times my friends have talked about this place, and we always plan to visit, today was the first time for me. Sadly it's true. The wait was about 15 minutes and it was pretty packed since it was lunch time. The good thing about waiting though is that there is a mini arcade area to look at and the bowling alley to stall time. Also another plus, is that they would call your name through the speakers to catch your attention. I was feeling seafood and I couldn't decide between the furikake Salmon or furikake ahi so i asked the waiter and he said the best he tried was the salmon over the ahi. I've heard the ahi was the best but i was leaning more towards the salmon. Best choice - so moist. Cooked perfectly. They could of added more furikake on top just because I love furikake. Hence the one point gone haha. I would honestly go back again and try the other things on the menu!!!
(4)Josie C.
Oh wow oh wow! My first updated review and for good reason. My sissy and I came to Aiea Shopping Center, originally to get our eyebrows threaded. However, we were hungry and the Threading place had not yet open. We both didn't want McDonald's so I skeptically mentioned the Alley. Since she's never been there before she said, "oooh yah lets try there." And I responded with, "only if you're paying.." She agreed ;) As we walked through the parking lot, I explained about my previous experience to her. And since she's my sister, she already took my word for it. But we were hungry so we walked in with low expectations of customer service as possible. We dined in and was told upon entry to just choose any table. We sat near the door. The hostess comes up to us with a big beautiful smile and gives our menu and takes our drink order. As she walks away, my sister looks at me and says, "She's nice!". And I say, "yah she was, but that's not the lady from the last time." Ha! We ordered with no problem; she was very patient, informative, and patient. My sister and I have the same taste when it comes to food. The difference is she doesn't eat raw or bloody things. We both ordered the steak and eggs. Mine was medium steak with over medium eggs. Hers was well done steak with over hard eggs. Ewww! Haha! Oh ... And can't forget, the blueberry cream cheese scone. We get the scone first; warmed up, moist, and buttery. There was no part of the scone that was dry. Even the top and crust had a glazed sweet taste. It was perfect to share between my sissy and I. And it went well with our coffee as we waited for our food. Shortly after, we received our food, the first thing I saw was how beautifully "medium" my steak was done. I took a bite, "OH YUMM" was the first words that came out of my mouth. It was soft and tasty, not needing me to ask for steak sauce. My sister loved it just as much. My eggs was more over soft than medium but I didn't care. And they gave me the brown rice instead of my sister. But the steak was good enough to make me forget about those. I observed the staff throughout my dining experience and this staff certainly is not the same staff that was here the first time I came. Friendlier atmosphere. More personal attentiveness to the customers, they were actually smiling and very cordial to the customers and to each other. It was certainly a delight to see such a huge change in their staff. ;) I'm really happy that I tried this place again. I don't know what caused the improvement on the customer service but keep it up! You certainly caused a "change of heart" from me, and this updated review. ;) P.S. We were too full to eat dessert but it only means we'll be back because my sissy is a dessert laavaaah, just like me! =o)
(4)Ken W.
I was skeptical about going to a bowling alley for food, but dang these guys do something right. Their Tasty Chicken sounds unoriginal, but it's the best fried chicken I've ever had. Holy smokes, the sauce they drizzle on it is amazing. Get the combo with the Kalbi and you'll be in heaven. The Oxtail Soup is as advertised, darn tasty. Yes it's probably hot outside. Yes you'll be hot after eating it. But if you're here, you might as well try it if you like oxtail. The Strawberry Crunch Cake was FAN-TASTIC and the Lemon Crunch Cake was better than any other on the island. The Strawberry sells out fast, so make sure you go early. We went once at 1pm and the other time at 11am, and it was almost sold out by 11am. Our experience was we had to wait a little bit for the food both times we were there, but it's worth it.
(5)Janine M.
It was Cinco de Mayo and what else do you do if you're not going to drink the night away because it's a week day and you have to be up in the morning and be able to function at work? Eat Mexican! Well, that didn't quite work out either. A 30-45 minute wait and a Hangry woman don't get along. Instead, we walked right into The Alley which is just a few doors down from the Mexican restaurant and were greeted by a friendly employee and seated immediately. Our super sweet and efficient waitress, Meeka greeted us, took our drink orders and politely made suggestions on the menu. We ordered the pork chops (what they're known for) and a kalbi/furikake ahi mixed plate. Although they were busy our food came pretty quickly... Good thing because I was HANGRY. The pork chops were fried and chopped just right... sooo tender! The brown gravy on the side to pour all over was perfect. I was in the mood for fish and the Ahi was just what I was hoping for. The kalbi, also flavored and cooked to perfection was delicious! The portions were enough to satisfy us and give him something to take for lunch the next day. I'm a fatty so of course I had to have dessert... a slice of Strawberry Shortcake (I think that's what it is called) and their awesome Pumpkin Crunch. I'm determined to go back enough times to try all of their desserts! Don't sit me next to the dessert case... That could end very badly for everyone involved. The absolute only bad thing about this place isn't even their fault... parking is an interesting situation. Although there are 3 levels of possible parking stalls, it gets tough on league night when everyone is at the bowling alley. But, the restaurant is definitely worth looking for parking and even a short walk from another floor.
(4)Greg W.
The last time I had ox tail soup my Mom made it. That was over 30 years ago ... eating the Alley Restaurant's ox tail soup took me back to that younger and more innocent time. Not a single bad thing to say about it at all. I was there at 1:30 pm and the place was packed. Because I was by myself I sat at the counter and the service and food was quick. The broth is what makes it. Normally I add some pepper or a little salt to soups but this was seasoned perfectly. I added the minced ginger and cilantro to the soup and that made it perfection in a bowl.
(5)W Q.
Saw this on the Food Network. Came here with high expectations, and this restaurant was everything I expected - 5 stars. Awesome! The wait was long, but once seated, excellent service and food came out fast. The oxtail soup was one of my favorite oxtail ever. The dipping sauce and broth both amazing. I could eat this everyday. Also tried the tasty chicken and loco moco combination plate. Delicious. This was a satisfying meal and an excellent value. The food was fantastic. If you have never been, I would highly recommend it!
(5)Kaitlin B.
I got addicted to the foodspotting app and saw a bunch of pictures of their food on it so we decided to detour from traffic home and try it out. The place had quite a few customers but I wouldn't call it "busy." We were seated right away while the table was kinda of awkward because of where it was located we didn't mind because of the small amount of room they have to work with. We went for the tasty chicken as an app and it was DELISH! Seriously the best chicken I've had on the island. It was crispy and hot and sauced perfectly. Not too much to where it was drowning and not to little to where you couldn't taste it. My boyfriend got a burger and it was HUGE. It was flavorful and juicy and the toasted bun was perfect - they also serve a large portion of waffle fries with it. I went for the furikake ahi bowl. I love the bowl option! I didn't want a ton of food and the bowl offered the perfect amount. A handful of greens (I think they use a miso dressing) a scoop of brown rice and 2 pieces of ahi. All it all it was really good and perfect lunch. We snagged a piece of both the lemon and pumpkin crunch to go. When we finally tried it I was happy that it held up to the praise of all the reviews. I wish they sold it close to my house!! I've read several other reviews and noticed service has taken a beating so I wanted to make sure to comment on that. Our server was awesome! She had short dark hair and I think her name was Bri? Attentive enough to make sure my water never stayed empty for more than a minute or 2 and extremely pleasant. We actually had 2 other people come by while we were there to ask about water and to clear plates. I'm very happy to have had such a positive service experience as I wasn't expecting much after the other reviews. This place is great and we will definitely be back!
(5)Kristine T.
The oxtail soup was recently featured on an episode with Guy Fieri on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. I cannot remember the last time I had a bowl of oxtail soup, so I had to try it. This is a delicious, tasty soup with LOTS of stuff in it. The broth has depth and developed flavor. The next time I'm craving some oxtail soup, I am coming back to the Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill. Thank you for a delicious dinner!
(4)Bobby S.
Awesome food but super loud and the service is just ok. I've been a few times and I think my favorites are tasty chicken and the ribs. Definitely give it a try for yourself.
(3)Chris H.
For breakfast, the blue berry scone and loco moco = awesome! Their dinner menu is good too.
(5)Jaime C.
Just finished eating and WOW the Tastey Chicken is great! Ask for some of there chicken sauce on the side and BAM marvelous lunch. Parking is good and the location isnt to bad.
(5)Kellyn T.
Tasty chicken is one of the best fried chickens Ive eaten. Its always crowded, which sucks, but that just means that everyone wants to go there. Food took a little long to come out, but service and the taste was good enough to forget about the wait. Loco moco is a classic. Didnt have any of the desserts but Ive heard great things about it. Good place as long as youre not looking for a healthy meal but very good comfort foods.
(4)Reena P.
We were driving towards Pearl Harbor to do some touristy sightseeing and yelp'd lunch places along the way. All the positive reviews for Lemon Crunch Cake made it hard to not check this place out. My friends were wondering what I was doing at Aeia Bowl but when I told them that I read reviews on the Lemon Crunch Cake, they said, "Oh yeah, that's really good!" Ample parking in the lot right by the bowling alley, as well as in the lower level shopping plaza. This place can get packed but we came at a good time and avoid an afternoon rush. The food itself is large portions of burgers and fries, but I had to try the tasty chicken after so many rave reviews about it. Definitely was tasty but super heavy. After all, I wanted to save room for cake. The cake was DELICIOUS and worth every bite and calorie. Loved it so much, husband said he could've had one slice all to himself. It's not super sweet but it's very moist and the crunch is the perfect touch. The atmosphere is loud and crowded so it's best to get there on an odd hour like we did before the rush floods the restaurant. I would seriously just go for this cake.
(4)Jo Z.
So, this is a late post...ate here about week and a half ago...but just had to comment about the Oxtail Soup. Earlier I was watching DDD on the Food Network while I was down with Flu...and even though I didn't have an appetite, watching Guy Fieri eat it made me hungry. Fast forward one week later, dragged the Hubs to go and try it. For some reason whenever we go to The Alley, we always order our default of Kalbi/Furikake Ahi or Tasty chicken but not this time we came to eat the Oxtail Soup. We came, we ordered, we ate, and we were SATISFIED. According to Hubs, that's one of the best he tasted. It was my first time trying Oxtail, but I thought it was delicious and that ponzu sauce just made it taste that much more. Should I venture and try another Oxtail Soup..it would be a tough act to follow...
(5)Katt O.
This place is better then expected. Definitely coming back and telling everyone I know about this place. One word to describe the food and it is "ONO".
(5)Donald S.
I have to say that the food here is delicious. They get one star for lack of customer service. Okay so on July 1, 2015 @ 8:00pm, we check in and its busy and we were told it was gonna be a wait. Okay that's cool. I'll wait for awesome food. On 8:12 pm I received a text that our table is ready. We check in with one of the workers who checked with the hostess if we had a table. The hostess looked at him and nodded no. So here we are with no table. The gentleman who spoke with us said to us "we'll get you a table as soon as one is available." During the wait, tables were begining to open up and it looked like the gentleman forgot about us. So we decided to walk to an empty booth and sit. The gentleman came to us and asked if we were on the list. I explained we were waiting for a table for almost an hour and no one contacted us for a table. After showing him the text and explaining what happened, the gentleman finally obliged and gave us the table. The waiter was great. The food was awesome. But the hostess did not make an effort to remedy our situation after our the mixed up. And the gentleman totally forgot about us I know it was busy, but had we not taken the initiative to walk to a table, we would not have been seated. I wish the staff would have been more accomodating and apologetic. I was hoping for maybe a discount on our bill,but no such luck.
(1)D. C.
The soup; made with oxtail or spine? See the pic; i know my oxtail and i like my soup made with only oxtail. Included; rice, asian sauce, chopped green onions and cilantro. Not included; jalapenos +$2 or reg onion +$2. The beer; bud light draft, $3.50, cold but not the glass.
(3)Hulali O.
Was so excited to try the food since I heard so many good things about it. But this was one of the WORST customer service experiences! They had at least 4 open tables & couldn't seat us because I had a stroller with me. Did not pay attention to us. Talked to their friends they just sat not once but twice after they sat them. Took another tables check all while we were waiting to be seated. Walked out VERY disappointed & didn't even get to try the food!
(1)Fun T.
The alley never fails to deliver a delicious bowl of Ox-tail Soup. It's one of my must visit places to eat at whenever I make it back to Honolulu. I usually skip the rice and get extra finger and cilantro. Don't forget to save room for the Lemon Crunch Cale for dessert. I wish we had a place in SF that was as good.
(4)Pua L.
This place is a f****ing joke.....if I could give negative stars I would, on there service! Waited almost an hour after we were told 30 minutes. We noticed groups of people were being called before us who arrived AFTER us. So my husband goes in to find out how much longer, as he's waiting he glances over at the waiting list and sees that other people were called before us actually signed in after us. I waited for a little bit to see what was going on and sure enough another group of people were called after just arriving so I go in to talk to someone, no one is available so I look at the list and sure enough!!!!!! 4 people were called before us who signed in after us. Mind you we had our daughter who is 3 years old with us and hungry and this is the kind of service we get. NEVER, NEVER will this sh*t hole ever get our business. I will be sure to pass it on to all our military friends too! Just because they were on Diners, Drive Inns & Dives don't mean crap!! Support Local.....whatevas!
(1)Felicia S.
I love this place. You would think...reallllly a good eating spot inside of a bowling alley?!? Don't knock it until you tried it brotha. Tasty chicken is the bomb dot com. I've yet to try their slice of cake and oxtail soup. A lot of people around us were also getting the burgers. But definitely you need to get the Tasty Chicken. It is very very tasty plus more. Mahalo for the great service.
(5)Isa R.
Just having a bad night here? It's my first time here. I ordered a furikake salmon salad. Simple enough. 15 minutes later I get my salad. Furikake ahi. In total, it took half an hour to get my correct order. And it wasn't even that great of a salad for $10.95. Sorry, but on this experience alone I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. On that note, the tiramisu is great. Too bad the half hour salad killed my experience here, because the rest of the desserts look really great.
(3)Kelsey M.
I really love the food here. I've tried the tasty chicken, the kalbi, pork chops and pulehu steak. All are really good. The pork chops are probably the best I've had in a really long time. The portions are also really good. The Kalbi meat they use is really good too. The meat slices are thick and there isnt a ton of rubbery fat. You get massive amounts of meat instead of massive amounts of rice (I hate when restaurants do that). The only thing is that they are a bit pricy. Because of that I don't go as much as I would like to. Still a good place to eat though, one I would recommend to others.
(4)Pabs G.
Pesto pizza and oxtail soup is my favorite combo! The oxtail soup sauce should be bottled and sold! Menu serving size varies, depending on the items. I have seen mountain tall serving size of deep fried chicken that people seem to enjoy. Restaurant is often crowded, especially on the weekends. Breakfast menu is pretty simple. Overall, just an okay place to go with a few very popular items on the menu, including desserts. Prices are a bit higher than I remember them to be.
(4)Jhoren C.
How have I not eaten at the Alley Restaurant?! I ordered their famous Tasty Chicken and Kalbi (note, just order their Tasty chicken!) Kalbi was too dry for my liking. anyways back to the chicken OMG! thats was so so so yummy!!! portions are Huge, I had leftovers for the next day. Also try their extra crispy fries. Will have to come back for their dessert, we were too late to order cuz my friends and I had soo much fun bowling we missed the last call for kitchen.
(4)Christian Y.
This place has the best Loco Moco because of the gravy. The oxtail and pork chops are pretty killer as well! The desserts are worth coming here as well! Staff are everywhere to help you. The bartender could smile a little more if possible. All around great place though don't get me wrong. been going here for years. Since Na'alii days
(4)Nadine J.
I love the alley restaurant. The BONELESS RIBS are my favorite. secondly I LIKE THE CHICKEN OR SHRIMP. THE OXTAIL SOUP is awesome too. Oh yeah their cakes and pies are huge. I love the PUMPKIN CRUNCH, its da bomb. It can get crowded around meal times but you can order take out from the outside window facing the parking lot. Parking can be tight because of the bowling alley so be patient because its worth it.
(5)Teri S.
The food was amazing! This was the last place I would expect for 5 star food. The only reason why I'm leaving 4 stars because the service was terrible. After we ordered drinks and food we did not see our waitress until I walked over to the dessert tray and asked someone else for cake.
(4)Estella H.
This is a long delayed review from a trip to Hawaii way long ago. When does a bowling alley have such great food? We came not for bowling but for the food. We really wanted to try some Hawaiian comfort foods and this place did not disappoint. We had: Tasty Chicken The Alley Fried Noodles Ox Tail Soup All homey and delicious...and based on reviews we had to take home a slice of Lemon Crunch Cake...Layers of cake, rich lemon curd, and cream topped with whipped cream and dusted with toffee bits. With a description like that how could I not? I only wish we had gotten two slices instead.
(4)Keith K.
Took my wife to confirm what I was thinking on the oxtail soup. She loved it! Catch that part? She loved it? Yeah, I was pretty surprised, too... she don't eat any old thing you put in front of her and her soup was gone on this visit. I had the turkey salad because the sandwich sounded good but didn't want all of that bread. Somebody forgot to tell the chef that his turkey tastes like really good grilled beef steak. That stuff was awesome! Service was awesome, as well. The guy who served us [Garrett, I think] was pretty cool and helpful. Good job! Original Post on 7/22/2014 Today is the third time I've been to the Aiea Bowl. First two times were in my "BY" years [Before Yelp]. Have liked their food and still cannot believe they serve this quality level at the bowling alley. Everybody was raving about the oxtail soup.... so gave her a shot today. Now I see why they raved. That stuff was making my tongue dance. Really good/deep broth flavor.
(5)Stefanie P.
So delish! Never would have believed a bowling alley had this food! Well deserving of a diners, drive thrus, & dives nod. The desserts are a must try.
(5)Burt M.
Haven't been to the alley in a while. Had the tasty chicken which has always been my favorite. What made it great was the service provided by the staff and our server Noah was especially "on it". With the traffic being caused by the bad planning on the part of the city and county ... the Alley restaurant was a great place to stop and have dinner. Thanks Noah for the excellent service!
(5)Michael C.
I had the opportunity to meet newly-anointed California resident, Thomas O., for lunch last month before he left for new Yelp-y adventures in the Golden State. I am quite thankful Thomas and I got to meet for lunch because 1) we got to "talk story", and 2) I had the chance to try menu items I'd never ordered before: 1) Garlic Fries: We shared this as an appetizer (although it arrived at the same time the entrees did). Any french fry lover (like me!) will appreciate french fries be it as an appetizer or an entree. Recommended. 2) Tasty Chicken Plate: The chicken is quite Tasty indeed, and is served with either white or brown rice, and mac or tossed salad. 3) Hamburger Steak Plate: This was easily my favorite dish at our lunch! I loved it! This is also served with either brown or white rice, and your choice of mac or tossed salad. SERVICE: Satisfactory customer service was provided throughout our visit. Although we were not seated in the main dining area (we sat in an area reserved near the bowling alley lanes), I appreciated that the staff came to check on us in a timely manner. Bottom Line: Great company + Good food = Memorable Lunch
(4)Jozlyn H.
Be prepared to have an orgasm in your mouth! I've been here numerous times..... it can get crowded but the wait isn't too bad. If you don't feel like dining in, you can order out at the take-out window. I get surprised when I hear about locals never eating here before. I'd say everything included their dessert is delicious. Service is awesome.... by chance I always get the same server... he's kinda handsome too! I love to over tip him cause he's so handsome hahaha the other workers are friendly and courteous too. My suggestion is to keep coming here till you tried their entire menu... If you plan to order oxtail soup to go, I suggest you call it in prior because the wait is a bit long. Everything else is fairly quick. The wait for the oxtail soup is worth it... there's only three places on the island that have good oxtail soup and this place is one of them.
(5)Curtis H.
You wouldn't expect a bowling alley restaurant to provide consistently good food, but this one does. Recommended are the Loco Moco, the tasty chicken, the furikake ahi and of course the best Mac salad on the island.
(4)kristine f.
Tasty Chicken, Tasty Chicken, Tasty Chicken. Mmmm love the Tasty Chicken bowl which comes with your choice of White Rice, Brown Rice or you can sub the Fried Rice or Fried Noodles for an extra cost and also your choice is Mac Salad or Toss Salad. They also have the Tasty Chicken Salad. I also love the Blueberry scones as they are extremely moist, tasty and makes my taste buds sing. :) Parking can always be a pain so if you can try to avoid the times when they have Bowling leagues, which are unfortunately pretty often. Another favorite of mine is their fries as they are thin, crispy and tasty. They also have Garlic fries.
(4)Jennifer M.
To die for: tasty chicken, garlic shrimp, lemon crunch cake, mamma mia cake. Service was friendly and fast (lunch hour on a weekday). We had my daughters birthday party here and had a blast.
(5)Erik K.
We came to the Alley for lunch on Friday. They were busy but we were seated within the quoted timeframe of 10 min. I frequent the Alley and I always order the oxtail soup. I've been a fan of oxtail soup and I think the Alley has the best oxtail soup on the island. The soup base is always flavorful and the spices/aromatics used in the soup reminds me of how my mom and my grandmother prepared their soup/stews - with shiitake mushrooms, aged orange peel, red dates, star anise - just to name a few. The boiled peanuts added a nice earthy tone while the ground ginger and fresh cilantro added another layer of bright and pungent tones. The oxtail itself is very tender and falls right off the bones and the acidity in the ponzu dipping sauce rounded the flavors out perfectly. I've retuned time and time again just for the oxtail soup and I will for sure return again!
(5)Kathy A.
Okay our fav Southern Cuisine place was closed so number one son said let's eat at The Alley....really? Haven't been for a year and a half but O K she says. Why don't I come here more often? Don't know but I really need to rethink that don't know. My choice, Portobello Burger with onion rings. OMG that was the best burger I believe I have ever had! The portobello was perfect, not over cooked and not under cooked. The burger patty was the correct size and didn't overwhelm the mushroom. Topped with caramelized onions, one fresh lettuce leaf, mayo only and on a fresh soft bun. One bite and I was professing my love and promising never to imbibe in another burger place. The beer battered onion rings were fantastic. HB had the Loco Moco...he never deviates from his fav and will have it anywhere. He was most impressed vowing to return soon and licking his chops. Topping dinner off was the Lemon Cake. I luv luv that it is so light and not over powering. Fabulous, my first try and decided I actually liked it better than the chocolate cake. I think if the ambiance was better I could rate this establishment a 5. The service was great, attentive and on their toes. I don't like the noise from the bowling alley but next time I'm thinking take out!
(4)Evan N.
YES!! This place was great. Funny thing, it's next to a bowling alley. The line was about 45 minutes but the food that came out was amazing. We had the pork shank, tasty chicken, furikake crusted ahi and some other things. They were all good. The only thing bad was the garlic fries were about 20 fries on a tray with some garlic seasoning. meh. Otherwise we opted to eat outside because waiting for a seat inside was like 2 hours. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Virgilio G.
Half of my order was given to the party behind me and I was not given an apology. The "manager" did not greet me with any customer service and they expected me to take the order that was taken by a group of other people. Very disappointed in the staff.
(1)Christa B.
If it wasn't for the lack of parking, I'd give them another star. However, Meeka is wonderful and friendly, and yes, the lemon crunch cake is really that good! I love my desserts and this ranks up there in the top five. It's got so many textures going on. It's moist, creamy, and crunchy. Five stars for dessert. Five stars for service. Sorry, although their signature crispy chicken did have lots a good flavor, there was just too much breading and not enough chicken. I prefer the garlic shrimp which was so buttery with succulent sweet shrimp. When you go, definitely don't leave home without dessert and hopefully you'll get Meeka to wait on you if you dine in.
(3)Mark C.
The wait is a hit or miss. Place is crowded. But the food is on point, hence the crowd. The Tasty Chicken is way above the level of chicken strips. Crunchy but moist in the middle. Savory, sweet, hint of chili pepper, but still feeling light. Loco Moko beef patty got plenty of seasoning and gets you wondering where the flavors are coming from. They dont skimp out on the toppings on the pizza. Be patient about the service, they always on the go and feels like a derby race in there..
(4)Lori T.
This restaurant was highly recommended from Triple D Food Network show. The Ox Tail Soup with Rice was SOOO GOOD! The Ribs were cook perfect. Staffs are super friendly.
(5)RO F.
Best oxtail soup ever! Putting shitaki mushrooms adds a new dimension. Only bummer is having to wait until 10am to order it! We asked for more ginger which came quickly. Perfect hangover food, perfect non-hangover food too!
(5)Trish P.
Service still needs work. Went to bowl and eat. Myself and 2 other friends are in line to order. We wait 10 minutes just to order some food..... Yes it was busy, but I also saw 2 workers kind of walking around not doing anything. Ok, so maybe they were not assigned to be cashiers..... Fine. I'll let it go. I order and pay, then friend #1 orders and pays, then friend #2. we all order the same thing, then wait for our orders..... Friend #1 AND #2 get their orders before me, when I ordered before them. We got the same damn thing! Ended up having to go up there to ask abt my order and was told its not ready yet... An additional 10 mins. WTF.... Get your sh*t together please....
(2)Justin H.
Always awesome food and awesome service. Always busy during peak meal hours, expect to wait. BUT it's well worth the wait. Recommend: Loco Moco (homemade patty and gravy), tasty chicken, boneless kalbi (even though I prefer bone-in). DESSERTS!!! Pumpkin crunch, lemon crunch cake...ONO Kine Grinds.
(5)Shantel V.
i found heaven on earth... in a slice of cake. The lemon crunch cake is no joke. It's so delicious that writing about it is making my mouth water. It's a 3 layer lemon cake with toffee all around it. Just the perfect combination of sweet, crunchy, savory, delicious!! Sheesh, the cake was so good i don't remember what i ordered for dinner. haha! I had the hamburger steak... I'm glad it wasn't the store bought kinda patty. It was a nice plump and juicy homemade style patty. My husband had the loco moco and had no complaints either. Although if I do come here, I think I'll skip on the main dishes and go straight for the cake. Don't get me wrong, my dishes weren't bad at all. But the cake was soo damn good that it really overshadowed any other dish I had.
(5)Edward L.
I came here for the oxtail stew, they ran out but gained a loyal customer whenever I'm in town. We ended up just getting dessert before the flight out and upon hearing that we visited just to try out the stew gave us our pie and drinks on the house. Totally unnecessary but completely awesome - you guys rock!
(5)Tawnie M.
This place is greaT! After reading the reviews I was hesitant to eat there. The food was exceptional! The service was great! And the desserts were awesome! My husband had the tasty chicken and I had a burger. Both were very tasty. The lemon crunch cake well let's just say that was exceptional too! It was so good we went back 2 nights later. The food doesn't look like much but boy when you try it it's good!!!!! We will definitely be back!
(5)Nicole K.
Two words: LEMON CRUNCH. My Grandpa has been bowling at Aiea Bowl since...forever. Which means I grew up sitting on those tables coloring and drawing and eating old school Hamburger Steak and Saimin... So when the old restaurant was set to close and reopen as The Alley a few years back, I was admittedly apprehensive. But since trying The Alley, and then becoming a loyal customer, I guess it's true what they say: "Change is good." And guess what! They kept the Hamburger Steak and Saimin!! I've tried a few things along my visits, but I always come back to Tasty Chicken and the Furikake Ahi. And of course, LEMON CRUNCH! Lemon Crunch is what they serve in heaven. I'm sure of it! Lemon Crunch is some sort of miraculous mixture of cake and lemon cream and toffee crunch that is impossible to describe in a manner that serves its justice. Just close your eyes, chew your food, and nod your head. If you ever go to The Alley and don't order the Lemon Crunch, you have committed the greatest sin EVER. Go back immediately and do it right!
(5)Alyson Y.
A friend had planned a birthday party for her fiance at The Alley and then we were going bowling after. Since it was so convenient for big parties who wanted to go bowling, I figured it was going to have decent food and maybe some beer. But, I was really impressed. The restaurant does not take reservations, so since we had a big group I went an hour early to put our names in. They told me it would take an hour, which was perfect since everyone would be arriving then. However, it took closer to 2 hours to get a table, which was very disappointing because we had bowling lanes reserved. Thankfully the bowling alley was understanding and pushed back our reservations. Once we were all seated, I ordered the Spicy Chicken and it was delicious. Everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered and if I came back again I might try their Loco Moco after seeing everyone else's. We all had Pumpkin Crunch Cake for dessert that was delicious! And they offered drinks from their full bar, which was nice. For the price, quantity and convenience of he location - I gave this place 4 stars and knocked one off because of the wait. We were told there were tables of people ahead of us that had finished eating almost an hour ago, but didn't get up. It seemed to me that the wait staff should be hurried them along after the first 20 minutes. But, the service was great once we sat down.
(4)Maile L.
This is my favorite place to eat mahi mahi and tasty chicken! Also can't forgot the lemon crunch and pumpkin crunch! The only thing is sometimes the wait is long just to be seated. But worth the wait!
(5)Coni V.
Our first night on Oahu we were taken to Aiea Bowl for dinner. We were not sure about eating at a bowling alley. But OMGOSH!!! The food was so good. We all loved the tasty chicken. This restaurant has also been featured on the Food Network show Diners Drive-ins and Dives. Now, I'm back in Texas wanting some tasty chicken.
(5)Monamarie A.
Food here is great and atmosphere is casual. However parking can be difficult but at least it's free. We usually eat here about once a week for the oxtail soup which is always delicious and the ponzu sauce is yummy. Tasty chicken can become addicting with the mac salad. The pizza is always on point and they are generous with toppings. My favorite is the furikake ahi whether as a plate or on a salad especially with the flavorful house dressing. Took one star away due to take out experience. Was a little bummed they put my furikake ahi salad in the same plastic container and in the same hot bag as the soup so I ended up with warm soggy lettuce. Will definitely request to have it boxed and bagged separately next time. Other than that quality of food is always consistent and their lemon crunch cake is a great way to end a meal.
(4)Alex L.
Two words: PUMPKIN CRUNCH When someone mentions bowling alley, you might think about a shady establishment; old guys puffing on cigarettes and you hacking up from the second-hand smoke. Food wise, you might think about burgers, fries and beer. You probably would never find a bowling alley that serves legitimate Hawaiian food with a family friendly ambiance. Every time I've been here, I've been greeted with excellent service, excellent food and little to no wait. Though it is in a bowling alley, you might say the bowling comes second to the restaurant within it. Sure bowling is fun but one cannot just visit Aiea and not swing by The Alley restaurant. I mean, you just can't. From their tasty chicken to the Coca-Cola turkey sandwich, it's all good. It's probably wonder why this place is always busy, packed with customers. With that, they still manage to make you feel like you're the only one they're serving. Towards the end of your meal, the auntie (her family owns the joint) will come by asking you how the food was. You can't help but rub your stomach and smile. I love this place. Next lunch is on me.
(5)Jarod H.
Five stars. Pulehu steak and the Tasty chicken. Two dishes that are a must try! Very delicious. I'll say that it's like a parallel to Side Street Inn's deep fried pork chops and fried rice. The steak and chicken here at The Alley are the anchor dishes, for me, that'll bring me back again and again. I have yet to try the lemon crunch...watching my figure. lol
(5)Aldann R.
Scones!!!! I don't eat scones, but I love The Alleys scones. I buy 1 or 2 on the way to work in the morning for breakfast when I get the chance. Gotta go early because they sellout pretty fast. Their hamburger steak and boneless kalbi is killer also.
(5)David L.
2nd time here and it is as delicious as everyone claims it to be. Desserts are also on point!
(4)Chon T.
Note: this place does get packed, so go early. OR...order it take out and sit at the tables by the bowling alley. Apparently it's easier to grab food to go and sit down than have someone serve you. Heard so much clamor about this place thought id take the fam to try it out. Had the Oxtail soup with a side of noodles and a mixed plate of boneless kalbi and spicy shrimp. Oxtail soup is good, not mindblowingly amazing but they do give you a lot (i mean for 15+ bucks they should throw in a lotta bones, eh?) of oxtail, the meat is tender and juicy and the ponzu that comes with it is awesome balls with sriracha. Mixed plate was okay, shrimp was not good. Now to the best part: MAC SALAD. order that shizz in bunches cause I was close to taking a gallon of it home with me. No other place in Oahu (or the mainland, for that matter) has mac salad this good. a little tabasco on it and its just heaven. this 3 star review gets bumped up just for that damn salad....i miss it already.
(4)Duane Y.
Why say you open till 10p if you won't take anyone at 930p.......say u FN closed at 930p on a Friday night
(1)Amy N.
Came here for the first time and it was AMAZING! We waited about 30 minutes around 7:30 pm for a table, which isn't too bad on a saturday night. The service was excellent. Our waitress kept checking on us to make sure we were doing ok. I ordered the oxtail soup and man it was DELICIOUS! Aside from the Alley giving you plenty of oxtail, there were two difference sauces to choose from. One is the house sauce, which I heard tastes good with everything and anything. The other is the usual ginger and shoyu. I couldn't decide which one I liked more! I will definitely be hitting this spot more frequently now!
(4)Gemma R.
Cam was at Aiea Bowl for a team building event and since I rarely go out that way, I requested some of their famous desserts. Cam came home with both the pumpkin and lemon crunch cake. I absolutely love pumpkin flavored desserts and I was really hoping this was going to blow my mind and honestly it didn't. (It was a great pumpkin pie but Ted's haupia pumpkin is way better.)I did however fell in love with the lemon crunch cake and will definitely come back for that again (and again! Lol). I just wished the topping was thrown in the middle of the cake too!
(5)Jason C.
We had: the Coca Cola marinated turkey sandwich, which was okay; the deep fried pork chops with gravy, which was juicy and better than the turkey sandwich; but the Tasty Chicken was the best entree. The Lemon Crunch cake was amazing. Don't let the lemon title scare you b/c I don't like lemon desserts; however, the lemon flavor was subtle and the toffee crunch made the dessert. The chocolate cake was good, but nothing special.
(4)Al D.
Had the furikake ahi sandwich. It wasn't good. The ahi was not fresh. It was thinly cut but rough and brownish. The bun was fresh but I didn't care for the sauce. The fries were thin and I didn't care for those either. The onion rings were ok. So was the cake. Service was so so. I probably wouldn't choose to return here though.
(2)Mad D.
I've actually been here at least a handful of times. This place is always busy. Tasty chicken is rightfully named and it might have some magical crack in it. It really is tasty. Perfect crunch on the outside, and nice salty sweet flavor. Yummmerz. Kalbi has good flavor, and tender. Don't leave without trying desert, especially the lemon crunch cake!!!!
(4)Kelly M.
Almost feel dishonest giving this 3 stars. I know everyone loves this place, and it was good, just not memorable.
(3)S Y.
In my opinion, bowling alley food will never be the same- thanks to The Alley! 4 stars for the unbelievably delicious baked goods that can be found here- a bowling alley restaurant! The best lemon crunch cake - the crunch isn't too crunchy and sticky like toffee, whipped cream and moist lemon, sponge cake. Orange Crush Cake, smooth sweetened cream, a hint of sweet citrus cake, oh, so very refreshing and indulgent at the same time. Blondie's can tend to be dry, but theirs have a nice moist density- full of brown sugar goodness. The Pumpkin Crunch Cake looks tempting and I'm not even a fan of pumpkin treats. To add to the list, more cakes and cupcakes, cookies, cheesecake, scones and more... Yes, dessert ranks first with me. But the meals are just as good... Garlic Shrimp, crispy Fried Chicken, Garlic Fries, Furikake Ahi, Pulehu Steak and Kalbi- a menu full of reasons as to why I come to Hawaii to eat. All The Alley is missing is a nice hotel, beach and sun and I would never have to leave!
(5)Carly H.
11.7.13. Checking in here made me realize that I think I posted my original review in the wrong place... ( yelp.com/biz/aiea-bowl-a… )...oh well? ...so this review will focus on the "Grill" part (e.g., take out). If you're craving a meal (gourmet plate lunch) from here but don't have the time, the take out option will be your friend! The take out window is located to the left of the bowling & restaurant entrance. The same great food is served & available to order. If I had any suggestions, the window people need to prioritize window customers first, not phone orders! Oh, and don't forget to ask for gravy on the (brown rice is avaiable; no extra charge) rice! P.S. if you don't want to fight for parking, park on one of the lower levels and walk up--it's usually faster & a little exercise wouldn't hurt right? Especially after you devour your delish meal here ;) Yelp 365 Challenge: #310/365
(4)Sherry S.
Love everything! My fave for breakfast is the fresh blueberry cream cheese scones.
(5)Daniel N.
The tasty chicken is really good here. The bakery is also very good. The pumpkin crunch and lemon crunch cakes are excellent and not too sweet!! There are quite a bit to choose from on the menu. There are ample seats and tables. It can be crowded especially on weekends. Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet!! The desserts make excellent dessert items for parties!
(5)Nikki C.
The hubby & I normally dine in and always enjoy our food very much--oxtail soup, salmon, Shrimp, tasty chicken, and the desserts etc! The desserts are amazing, try the crunch cake! Decided to place a take out and eat at home, I was very pleased that our food was ready quickly. However, I decided to try the loco moco--I'm so disappointed. The gravy was mediocre, the mac salad had no flavor, and the hamburger was terrible--words cannot explain. I didn't even finish. On a good note tho, the egg was cooked right and my rice was cooked to perfection. Other then my loco moco not being up to par with what I had imagined it would taste like--everything else on the menu is great. Going to stick with my normal order--chicken!
(4)Brian M.
I wonder what would be cheaper....Being a "Crack Head" or Being addicted to "Lemon Crunch Cake" ! Story..... I go back to a dinner party at my friend's house at desert time... Friend: You want desert? Me: What kind of desert we got? Friend: Red Velvet CAKE! (Our joke is saying Cake like loud and pronouncing it like 'Cai Ka"!) Me: Shootz ! I eat some 'Cai Ka"!! ( I already buzzin from all the alcohol... :) ..What about you? Friend: I don't eat 'Cai Ka'! Me: Wtf! You don't eat "Cai Ka'! Friend: Oh Sorry I only eat one kind of "Cai Ka"! , Lemon Crunch "Cai Ka'! Me: What kind of "Cai ka"! is that?....What eva's ! I'm drunk and no kea ! Moving forward in time Six Months later at another friends Birthday Party... Lunch is over,it's time to sing Happy Birthday and the unveil the B" Day Cake... Me: Wow what kind of cake is that? Friends Wife: OMG! That's a Full Sheet of "Lemon Crunch Cake"! (I thought she just had an orgasm right there!!!!) Me: Oooohhhh...That's what a "Lemon Crunch Cake" looks like..(Getting fricken flash backs about "Cai Ka"!!!) We sing,they cut the Birthday cake and I was really anxious to sample some of the "Cai Ka"! that everyone seems to be "Getting Off' on...Well....after taking my first bite into one of the moistest cakes I ever saw......I Had To Look Down To See If I Came!!! Damn!! OMG !! Now I know why my friend is so picky and why everyone raves about how good it is! So brings me to today..Here I am pre-ordering and picking up five layer "Lemon Crunch Cake" to take to my good friends party at his house that started it all by telling me... "I ONLY EAT 'LEMON CRUNCH 'CAI KA'!! yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA…
(5)Kasey B.
Honestly, I thik this place is totally overrated. While the food is decent, in my opinion, it's an over-priced version of "Zippy's". I've had the chicken in which everyone raves about, but I saw it as nothing special. The decor and complete ambiance of the place is alright, it's clean and the servers are nice but every time I've eaten there, the wait for the food was kind of ridiculous. They also have a full service bar, which is a plus. Overall, I'd say the place is neither good nor bad, just personally, not my favorite.
(2)Cynthia L.
I went here twice in the same week! That's how good it was; I'm a fan. The restaurant is part of Aiea Bowl. The cool thing about this place is the fact that you could either dine-in with waiter service inside the bowling alley or you could order take-out at the counter from the outside. They also take phone orders. Open late until midnight Thursday to Saturday. Ono eats: - Furikake ahi: pan-seared ahi with a tasty furikake crust. Tender and cooked to perfection. - Homemade hamburger steak: soft and tender beef patties smothered in homemade gravy. YUM! - Tasty chicken: deep fried boneless pieces of chicken. If you are a fried food fan like I am, I think you will like it, too. Each bite of chicken was nice and crispy with a sweet ending. Between the three items I had, I'd say the Tasty Chicken was my favorite. All were great though! Also, the bowls and plates come with choice of white or brown rice, as well as, mac salad or mixed greens. Brown rice and mac salad is what I normally order. I love mayonnaise too much to eat a healthier mixed greens salad! For a plate lunch type of meal, the Alley was a few dollars more than other places. Although a smaller portion, to shave a couple dollars, order the bowls instead of the plates. Bowls were about $8-11 while the plates ranged $10-16. Considering the portion size and the food quality, I thought their menu was fair priced and worth the money spent. Like other Yelpers mentioned, it's hard to believe that this restaurant is in a bowling alley! Next time, I'll have to save room for dessert. I've heard the lemon and pumpkin crunch cakes are delish! Perhaps I'll swing by just to buy a piece of cake if I'm in the area.
(4)D K.
As a bowler at Aiea Bowl for MANY years, I have seen the transformation of the center from an "alley" to the youth oriented and progressive "cosmic bowling" entertainment center that it aspires to be today. I have witnessed the bar and "drive in" transform from a friendly and inexpensive place to drink and eat to a rather expensive place to drink and eat. Being there every week, I have tried just about everything on the menu. I enjoy the specials that they offer... they just don't offer them enough to take away from the everyday menu fare. All of that being said, I have to give them a low rating because of the inconsistency of the food. Sometimes it's good to really good to really bad. This last week, I ordered the onion rings. They were soft and mushy... gross. The oil was saturated in the batter. I didn't bother returning them because I have had to return the tasty chicken several times before and I know the staff there well. In other words, I'd just as soon not eat there anymore as opposed to complain about the food again. I've resisted writing this review over the last year, but I've finally come to the realization that the quality just isn't worth the price they charge for mediocre food and service. I will just eat at Wendy's or McDonalds before bowling from now on. Sorry Glenn and Cy, but you have to be better than this.
(2)Randy P.
Best meal I had on this last trip to the island. My wife's friends that live there took us out for dinner here. It's inside a bowling alley, hence the name The Alley Restaurant! Now onto the food... I ordered the Tasty Chicken w house special chili. OMG. The best I've ever had! It's deep fried with batter and was tossed with a sweet sauce. I've had nothing like it before. Soo good. The chili was a plus. Had a lot of ground beef and a lot of flavor. I also had the Strawberry Crunch cake. It was a special flavor that month. Really good. The topping had crushed almond roca to it! Oh yeah! Next trip to HI, this will be my first meal on the island. Straight from the airport to The Alley. I'm not joking...
(5)Tim H.
Mediocre at best. We heard a ton of good things about this place, especially since it was featured on diners, drive ins and dives. There was nothing special about the coca cola turkey sandwich. It tasted like a regular turkey sandwich I could have made on a processed roll. The garlic fries were hit with garlic, and my wife's burger was average. The desserts were big, but not the freshest tasting I have had on island. All this for a $40 price tag. Not worth the price. Can get way better food on island for way less money. Skip this one!!!
(2)Lenny B.
Lemon crunch cake is ONOLICIOUS !! Great food and service. Love coming here, always busy but worth the wait.
(5)Andrew I.
The atmosphere is a bit noisy, but what can you expect at a bowling alley? What really matters is that the food is delicious. I had the furikake ahi and it was excellent. Good taste and good sized portions. Its air conditioned which is always nice. However, my girlfriends family and I were seated at a big table nearby a garbage bin, which was kinda gross. We asked them to move the bin and they apologized and did so promptly. Our food arrived not even ten minutes after we ordered. That was pretty impressive I thought. All in all it was a good experience and I'd definitely eat here again.
(4)Sheila C.
I have been here a few times before, and have never been disappointed. It's always busy and you might have to wait for a table, but service is fast and friendly. The food is delicious.....all of them! The Tasty Chicken is my favorite, but everything else on their menu is also awesome. They have a wide variety of desserts, but the pumpkin crunch is out of this world. You can even call your order in for pick-up. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Mang Glen C.
Parking not good at all. Order ahead may take awhile but getting my garlic fried chicken and hamburger steak fix tonight.
(4)Claudia M.
Walked right in at 5:45pm on a monday night. We had the mini tasty chicken and oxtail soup. The oxtail soup came with a ponzu sauce and grated ginger. We didn't use the ponzu since we're used to grated ginger with shoyu. The meat on the oxtail was cooked just right but it had quite a bit of fat. We topped off our dinner with a lemon crunch cake. Everything was delicious. Service was good. I like that they use a disposable wipe to clean the tables...instead of a smelly rag that many other restaurants use.
(4)Andrea W.
I really, really wanted to like The Alley as I've been wanting to try it after hearing so much about it. However, sadly, I didn't even get as far as to tasting their well known oxtail soup and lemon crunch cake because their service was so horrible. So, this review is solely on their service and not their food. I went here with a friend on a Sunday around 1:30pm. There was quite a bit of people waiting outside, but were told the wait would be about 15 minutes. Not bad. We were probably called in less than 15 minutes. We were seated outside of the restaurant, right outside where people were bowling, given menus and utensils. My friend and I reviewed the menu and were ready to order and waited....and waited....while on our phones. It was a good 10-15 minutes and no one came to tend to us. No water or anything. I finally decided to go up there and tell a worker we were ready and if we could put in our order. He told me he'd send someone over to take our order. So, ok, we wait. Five minutes pass and no one. I was going to go up again to tell them, but my friend said no because she didn't want her food possibly being spit on. Then, after ten minutes, we decided just to leave and it wasn't worth it. We told the hostess, he apologized, but the damage has been done. Very frustrated. Really wanted to try their food, but don't know if i would give their dine-in another shot. Perhaps I could try take out.
(1)Scott K.
I love the Alley, they have great local dishes and great desserts. Unusual atmosphere since it is in the Aiea Bowling Alley, hence the name. You can have a fairly large party there.
(4)Tim H.
Well, this Yelp review is incredibly overrated. We didn't try the Oxtail soup despite seeing Guy Fieri's mug spray painted on the side of the wall (does he travel with his own stencil for spray painting?! LIKE A BOSS). Anyhow, we went here with 4 adults, 4 kids. It's a restaurant for a bowling alley. Didn't know that till we got here (failed to read detail reviews, so our fault). The menu is pretty random, but the staff really wasn't recommending much (sign of a 'meh' experience already). I ordered Tasty Chicken 'bowl' (came on a plate) with macaroni salad. Mac salad was pasty and warm. Chicken was...well, NOT Tasty. It is your garden variety over-battered/over-fried chicken parts. More breading than chicken. My friend had the same and had the same comment. We ordered pizza for the kids and while it looked good, it tasted less good. One daughter had the burger and said it was incredible, so there's that. Another travel mate is gluten-free and the server had MAJOR problems describing things that were gluten-free. He was not confident of pretty much anything. Anyhow, I wouldn't recommend this unless you are bowling and then get the burger I guess. The desserts -- we did NOT get them, but they did look AMAZING. I see most of the reviews are for a lot of desserts, so maybe that's what keeps people bumping the rating.
(1)Ralph R.
Chocolate insanity cake is amazing. Best chocolate cake I have had anywhere. Tasty Chicken and teriyaki salmon are always good.
(4)J C.
Went to the Alley today based on a recommendation from Dean at the Marriott! The food was excellent and the service was too! We had to wait around 30 minutes to be seated but it was well worth the wait! Hubby had the chicken bowl and I had the salmon bowl along with the strawberry crunch cake!! So good!!
(5)Erin Y.
Move on over, garlic chicken. Make way for tasty chicken and make it snappy! After a long day of Sunday shenanigans we decide to do take out at the Alley for dinner. It was crowded. Several people standing in line to order and lots of people waiting for a table. I got the tasty chicken bowl and a blondie brownie. I will say that they guy nearly forgot to give us our desserts (the brownie and a lemon crunch cake), then after I reminded him, he gave me the wrong one. Nevertheless, I scarfed down my tasty chicken in the most feminine of fashion and got right to my brownie. Yeah it was the wrong one but it was still delicious. I'm wondering about the tasty chicken...is it garlic chicken? Every restaurant in Hawaii seems to make garlic chicken (which I think is ok) but it seems very unoriginal. What is tasty chicken? Because (dare I say) it is much better than any garlic chicken I have had to date. I do not bowl, nor do I plan to, but I will make many a stop to this Alley if only to stuff my belly with desserts and chicken. Boneless.
(5)Steven K.
Not much parking when there is a league bowling, I had the Oxtail soup, and my friend had the fried chicken. Portions are large, food is delicious.
(4)Chelsea P.
Good food! got the kalbi, furikake ahi, and tasty chicken. but if you're getting the Oxtail soup be prepared to wait longer then the rest of you're party. The wait seems worth it! And then.... as I write this review a cockroch walks across the both so they lost a star. But over all good. Now on to dessert, lemon crunch cake.
(3)Tyler C.
Very good food and terrific service. The service is super good. They check on you without feeling rushed, the back waiters are helping each other fill water or clear or what ever....good team work.
(4)Joy P.
Still 4 stars, because the waiter gave the wrong check then totally forgot to come back to have my sis in law sign it. Anyway, based solely on food I would give this place 5 stars. I recently had their tasty chicken and boneless Kalbi. The tasty chicken definitely lives up to the name, and then some! It was juicy and whatever sauce they put on it was sweet, tangy and pure heaven!! Chicken was perfectly cooked, perfect amount of crunch and tenderness. The boneless Kalbi was the best I've ever had! Tender, moist, juicy and the fact that it's boneless makes it so much more enjoyable! I hate to work hard to enjoy my meal. Total fat girl statement, but I'm sure most people can agree.
(4)Annie K.
This place doesn't need my FIVE stars. It is already a popular place with the community. It's another hot spot to hang out with your friends. The main reason I go there if I ever get motivated to travel that side is the one and only, LEMON CRUNCH CAKE. *hmmmmm* It's my favorite cake. It's a lemon cake sprinkled with toffee crunch. It is absolutely FABULOUS. The second reason, is the PUMPKIN CRUNCH. OMG, delicious. I know I might sound like a crazy dessert addict, so don't judge me. I love SWEETS. If you ever get a chance, try their desserts, especially the lemon crunch cake. You won't regret it. :)
(5)Jamie W.
Strawberry crunch cake is beyond amazing!!!! The Coca-cola turkey sandwich and crunch fries were great too.
(4)Stephen H.
First time here. Had the "Asian Braised Shoyu Pork" for lunch. "Pork shoulder braised with soy and garlic" (per online menu), 2 scoops of brown rice, and a scoop of mac salad for $10.95 + tax for takeout. Fair amount of pork chunks fork-tender. Taste very simple---sweet. Single note becomes rather boring after a while. Amount of water drunk while and after eating tells me another ingredient may be MSG. Mac salad nondescript. Glossy black styrofoam containers almost amusing. Okay, but not something/somewhere I'd seek out. And I'm not athletic enough to bowl (har har) so seldom if ever the twain shall meet.
(3)Sheryl C.
Went there yesterday prior to the dinner rush, alot of empty tables, just a few patrons sitting at tables. No one greeted us, the "hostess" at the front door, standing around talking to fellow waitress/waiters. As I was standing there with my 2 daughters, I observed 1 waiter whom was standing behind the counter counting the money from the check book, also taking out money from his apron what it appeared to me as if he was making change from his tips, not sure, but whatever it was it didn't look professional. They finally sat us down, with menus, and that same waiter that was counting his money, came over to our table & asked if we were ready to order...um, no we just sat down, I asked for more time. He finally came back with some waters then I had informed him we were ready, I gave him our orders, and specifically said it was ok to bring our french fries prior to our orders. Our waiter began to talk, but he spoke so fast, that I had to ask him multiple times to repeat himself. Our food came out pretty quick except for my oxtail soup. I waited awhile & my 2 girls were more than 1/2 way done with their food. So while I ate my hot soup, they waited for me to finish. No one came over to offer some water or desserts. So finally, when I was done (sometime later) the waiter asked, (again, talking so fast) asked if we needed anything. My girls wanted to eat desserts, so they asked for the dessert menus, they both ordered cheesecake brownie & blond brownie. Again, waited for another 7mins for 2 brownies, at this time I wanted to leave as I knew the traffic was building on the h1 freeway. Waiter comes back with 2 brownies on each plate. I apologized, and asked if I can have them to go. Waiter stood there looking at the brownies that he had just put on a plate & stared at it for awhile as if he was confused & didn't know what to do. He then said, "aw man, it just came out of a container"...my thought was "what"???..then he asked if he could put it in 1 container...I said sure, thats fine, then I asked for the check while he's putting our desserts together...guess what yelpers?...I waited, waited & waited...walked up to the cashier and waited again...omgosh!! seriously. My waiter was behind the other counter, who knows what he was doing, maybe counting his tips again to make change. So he comes around, by passes me standing in the line waiting to pay for my dinner, & walks over to the other table to present them their bill, walked passed me again behind the counter, then comes back around after sometime & hands me my check...at this point I'm livid. Waiter comes back to me, & asked if I was paying with cash or credit card. I said cc-I gave him my card, he comes back says something to me, which I could not understand, so I asked him to repeat it again. something to do with the other person's bill & he had to deal with their gift card...who cares? was my thought. I paid & left out of there. As we were driving towards the H1 onramp west bd is when my youngest said mommy, they didn't give us our dessert. UGH!!!! seriously! I checked my bill & I was charged for 2 brownies ($8.12) if it was a $2.00 brownie I would've said forget it...but it was $4.00 ea..so I called, a girl with a high pitch young voice asked for my name, I asked to speak to a mgr...she then asked in an irritated voice for my name..I said that should not matter at this point, I need to speak to a mgr, she argued with me on the phone for my name....she put me on hold for a good 4mins. came back to the line only to tell me that all 3 mgrs are very busy. I told her I need to speak with a mgr, explained briefly the severity of the call & that I was a paying customer & paid over $8.00 for something that was not given to me....then she stops me to tell me to call back cause her other 3 lines are ringing & they are customers that may want to order food..oh hell no!! she said what? I told her, I am & was a paying customer, I still never get what I paid for therefore how are you gonna blow me off..she told me to wait sec's, put me on hold again for what was a minute...and FINALLY a mgr came to the line. Explained my frustrations, apologized for MY tone, but am very very upset at how me & my 2 girls were just treated. Mgr apologized & was very empathetic, she asked if we could come back for the desserts..I told her I was on the freeway heading west bd, no way can I come back, and I told her I would never return because of the service I had just experienced. Mgr again apologized & she informed me she was gonna refund the $8.12 towards my debit card. Food-I give 3 1/2 stars. Service - BIG FAT 0.
(2)Courtney Y.
I'm quite a creature of habit when it comes down to food. Can't go sacrificing my humongous appetite on food that may be less than amazing (can't risk the calories, too!) Which is why I got one of my favorite plate lunches ever: the TASTY CHICKEN with brown rice and choice of salad or mac salad (MAC SALAD!) Ever so crispy, with the perfect amount of kick from a bit of spiciness, and so TASTY! Needless to say, I'm sure I reaked of garlic afterwards. The mac salad complimented the tasty chicken well. And a helpful tip, you may as well spring for the regular (paying a dollar something more) than the mini and load up with tasty chicken which makes for a pretty good leftover! Also, their lemon crunch cake is to dieeee for. The toffee bits (which add some crunchiness to its texture) topped on the frosting is winning! Also, the lemony zest flavor is not too strong in the spongy cake, SO GOOD. I've also seen strawberry crunch cake but alas had no room to try it. Le sigh. Definitely love The Alley and it's nomminess.
(5)April A.
Can't go wrong at Aiea Bowl! Good food, good bowling! Went to "her way Thursdays" where it's free for girls to bowl. Always a winner = furikake salmon... But unfortunately it was all out by the time ordered it, but that's ok cause the furikake ahi was good too, and you would think cooked ahi is dry, but not this one. And hubby ordered tasty chicken which was too fried/crunchy for me... But the BBQ kalbi made up for it. And the lemon crunch cake is just as Ono as always! And for as busy as it was we didn't have to wait too long to be waited on and have our good served. And waiting for our table was a good 30mins but we filled that up with bowling time...
(5)Greg A.
I don't understand all the hype about this restaurant in a bowling alley. I find it laughable that the owners are trying to pan this place off as a high end restaurant complete with a "by appointment only" tasting menu compliments of the chef. I must admit the desserts are great but everything else is just ok. What's not ok is the prices! Too high for my taste!
(3)Haupu C.
HANDS DOWN the best place to eat, and DO NOT do takeout but sit down instead. Loud because of the bowling alley, but the food and value is the best in town! This is a twice monthly treat for my family!
(5)Nathan N.
For a bowling alley restaurant this joint ain't bad. The two main reasons why I gave it 3-stars: There isn't always parking on the same level as the bowling alley and I hate having to walk up dirty stairs to eat. Also the service was sub-par. If you're going to take my order by trying to memorize it and not write it down, at least get order right. I will admit though the server brought me an ala carte order of the missing food item at no charge. Tiramisu - Pretty tasty, but nothing spectacular Pumpkin Crunch Cake - Excellent. Really thick crust. Great flavor. Loved it. Combo Plate (boneless kalbi and tasty chicken) - Sterling Silver boneless short ribs were good. Great marinade and very tender. It's hard to go wrong with Sterling Silver beef or pork. The tasty chicken that everyone raves about reminds me of the Mitsuken garlic chicken crossed with the Zippy's Korean chicken minus some of the spice. The chicken was S'okay. Hamburger Steak - eeewwww.
(3)Angelica B.
I love Aiea Bowl and the food from The Alley, but this past Sunday I was really dissapointed. I remember coming here before and getting great quick service and great food... they must have a new chef or something going wrong because when I was there for breakfast it was a complete 180 of what I usually expect. I went with my mom and dad for some after swapmeet breakfast. We got seated pretty quickly and our waitress did a pretty good job keeping up with refilling our coffees and waters (especially sense it seemed like she was the only waitress working). My complaint is with the food. It took forever for us to get our plates. I appreciate the food being made to order (if it really is) but should it really take 20 minutes just to make a veggie omlete?? I don't think so. That was my dad's order. My mom got 2 pancakes, just 2 and her order took the longest to come out. I got the Apple Cinnamon French Toast which sounded so yummy, looked really delicious, and tasted... ok. I was actually really let down because it looked so good but ended up tasting like french toast I could've made at home and some canned apple pie filling. The bacon was pretty good though so I have to give them that, but really not that hard to make bacon taste good. Anyways to shorten this up: the place is an ok small diner (I counted there's only 14 tables in the main dining area) if you don't mind waiting, but I can't really see myself getting food here again unless I'm already there bowling and I want some fries. And next time I want to go out for breakfast after the swapmeet and Anna Miller's is packed I'm just gonna go to Koa Pancake House.
(3)Lai T.
I've been hearing amazing things about The Alley and so I suggested it for lunch after a trip to the swap meet with some friends. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with the overall experience. Our server not only gave me tossed salad when I had ordered mac salad, but he also failed to remember my entire order! Yes, he actually dropped off three dishes and then never came back with mine. I had ordered a mixed plate (loco moco and tasty chicken)...I felt so bad as my friends' plates were getting cold, as we were waiting for my food to arrive. I was finally able to flag down another server and she brought me my food within minutes. As for the pumpkin crunch...it tasted like pumpkin pie, which I like. But I'm sorry Yeeps, going to have to say that I don't see myself craving that again anytime soon. After we finished our pumpkin crunch, our sever never came by. When I finally saw him, I literally flagged him down for our bill. All in all, I don't see myself coming back here to dine. If I ever did, it'd probably be for a to-go order. Thumbs down.
(2)Pammy F.
My lemon crunch pie was a hit with me and my favorite. The boneless kalbi was flavorful, and the crunchy french fries, but my steak was well and not medium like I asked for...
(4)Dan N.
Since the last time I came here the service has gotten 100 percent better.i finally got to try the ox tail soup ,and trust me it is one of the best I've eaten. I also noticed that the potions are a lot bigger than the last time I came here ,so the price is not bad considering quantity and quality of the food.
(4)Jason M.
Awesome eatery and great, friendly service. Stopped in today after a while away & was just as pleased as last visit. Had the meatloaf special--wrapped in bacon and with Portuguese sausage inside. Very tasty. Also, friends had the pot roast which was exceptional.
(4)N And J.
I came here for the first time last week while the hubby and I were on vacation with our almost 2 year old. Immediately we were greeted and a minute later we were seated. Our waitress was super friendly and was always looking out for our little guy (she gave him makeshift toys out of condiment containers to keep him busy...her mommy-dar was on point!). As for the food, we ordered the furikake ahi salad, kalbi, and the coca-cola turkey sandwich. OMG it was all sooooo good. The salad was fresh, the ahi was seasoned just right and cooked perfectly, the kalbi was addicting (my son kept asking for more ), and the turkey sandwich was the best turkey sandwich I've ever had: the turkey was tasty, tender and there was a lot of it! One would never know it was marinated in coke if it didn't say so on the menu. I wish we had space for dessert because it all looked so yummy, but man were we full! We'll definitely be coming back the next time we're here. The hubby wants to try their ox tail soup...
(5)Amy M.
The Alley is located in a bowling alley..yes i know you're thinking 5 stars to a restaurant in a bowling alley...but trust me their food is so yummy we come here to just eat. We've been coming here for years and everything from salads, plate lunches, soups, and desserts, everything is ONO! Our favorites here are the tasty chicken and the strawberry crunch cake. I absolutely love this cake and requested it for my birthday cake. SOOOO Yummy! This place can get very crowded so go a little early and they take credit card.
(5)Aaron W.
Attentivale hole in the wall restaurant at a bowling alley. I got the 10 pin Pizza. it tasted very good and fresh. The only negative is it's about a 15 minute wait. Servers were very attentive. the desserts looks delicious unfortunately I was too full to eat one. I was also very interested in the Coca Cola chicken sandwich.
(3)Riley L.
It's an okay place to eat. Taste: Food is pretty Good. I would recommend the tasty chicken. Their desserts are awesome. I love their lemon crunch cake. Price vs. Portion size: I feel like their menu is over priced, depending on what you get. When you order seafood dishes they are a bit stingy, however when you order other items like chicken, burgers, fries, and other non seafood items, they are usually generous. Service: It's not consistent. I've had days where we had to track down our server constantly because we needed our waters to get refilled or they would forget to bring our orders. Other days we would have a good server who would check up with our party to see if everything is okay. Location/Parking: Right next to Aiea bowl. You can park on the first floor (closer to the restaurant) or the second floor where McDonalds is.
(3)Mitchell I.
I ordered the combo plate of tasty chicken and furikake coated ahi. The chicken was just outstanding. How can you say no to deep fried chicken with Thai sweet sauce. I was so full for all the food I had eaten earlier, I had to take the lemon crunch cake home for dessert. Perfect combo of moist cake, light whipped cream and lemon crunch candy. Solid service. By the way, it is located in a bowling alley.
(4)JJ S.
Mediocre. Period.
(2)Shirley N.
So much fun eating yummy food in a bowling alley. The four of us decided on family style dining. Had to have the kalbi beef, their tasty chicken, the oxtail soup, the fried rice, and two desserts - pumpkin crunch and the lemon crunch cake. We ate everything. Cleaned our plates. The only odd thing was we had to ask our server for plates, extra spoons and bowls as each dish came to the table. Fried rice but no bowls. Oxtail soup with one soup bowl for four people, etc. But he was very sweet. Then we were going to keep our lunch forks to use for dessert. He said no problem. He'll bring us clean forks. Was it just us the whole time? Thanks to my foodie friend for another great bargain bite. She also happens to be an expat.
(4)Teresa M.
Although it's always busy, I enjoy eating here! The food is great! My favorite is the furukaki salmon and the coca cola turkey sandwich featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Drives. Their lemon crunch cake is pretty good, but I must caution using portion control And, if you decide to eat here, hopefully, you will be fortunate to have Chenoa as your server because he is just on point with outstanding service.
(4)Nicole M.
Tasty chicken is really TASTY! This was the first food stop from the airport last time I was in Hawaii. Kalbi is also good. For dessert: had the lemon crunch cake and strawberry crunch cake. So good! Mouth is watering right now just thinking about their food.
(5)GLENN F.
Special of the day. Hot Dog with Pastrami (see photo). Hot dog and bun was good, the pastrami was dry and hard. This is what happens when the chef doesn't plan his specials in advance.
(1)Juliet M.
The portions are good. I feel like the quality of food has gone down since they opened years ago. The food used to be off the hinges and appearance was good as well. Now the food looks a little on the sloppy side and taste okay. It would be one thing of it was a plate lunch place but with those price it is def not the case. The food is good - but for the price ..I think the slippage needs to be tended to.
(3)Marisa A.
Finally!!!! I got the eat at the Alley for the first time yesterday for lunch. We only had to wait for 15 minutes, which isn't bad considering it was the weekend. I had never been there before so I didn't know what to expect. When they finally called us in and I walked in I thought it looked like a bowling alley restaurant...hence being called the Alley. The place was filled with people, with no open tables. My cousin told me that I should try the Tasty Chicken. So I listened and she ordered the Kalbi, and my other cousin ordered the Ox Tail Soup. While waiting for our food I couldn't help noticing the dessert in the showcase. I mean how can you not notice different types of goodness in a glass showcase? While waiting for our food we decide which dessert we're going to get...STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE. When the food arrives, it comes on a huge glass plate. The tasty chicken was their version of korean chicken. Not only was the chicken made perfectly, the sauce was so good. My cousin's kalbi was so soft and tender. My other cousin's ox tail soup was awesome. The broth was perfect for that rainy day that we were having. DESSERT: I've had the lemon crunch cake before and it is out of this world. So I knew the strawberry shortcake was gonna be just as good. It's basically a layered white cake with diced up strawberries and topped with toffee bits. Soooo good!!!! If you haven't tried this place, I highly suggest that you try this place at least once. It's great for everyone. Parking: because it's also a bowling alley parking is tight, but you can usually find a stall within minutes.
(5)Jerry H.
Loved the food! I had the garlic chicken and it just melts in your mouth! I will definitely be coming back! I only have one complaint... The noise level was a bit high but I guess that's too be expected from a bar/grill place! -one star off
(4)Talia P.
This place is AMAZING. The food is delicious and the staff is so sweet. I usually come here to get dessert if I have a sweet tooth. Their carrot cake is amazing and so is the chocolate insanity. So moist. But their pumpkin crunch cake is something everyone must try if they go there. Food wise, I usually get the tasty chicken which is a customer favorite. It's crispy and packed with a lot of flavor. Last time I was here, I ordered a HUGE portion of tasty chicken to feed others at work. They all loved it. And the staff handled my order without hassle. Love them!
(5)Lorna P.
Love! Love! Love! I'm a huge fan of calamari and cocktail sauce, and the amount that this place serves is wonderful for my tummy! It's more than enough, which I love! I've tried a bunch of their other items, including pork chops, pizza, and tasty chicken salad- which were all deliciously good, but my favorite is their calamari because of their portion size. Go and give it a try!
(4)Nat N.
Came here with 6 people (including myself) and we all had one thing in common on our plates - Tasty Chicken! It comes on its own as a plate, or you can order it as a combo with something else. You can also order it as a salad. Either way, it'll take you to fried chicken heaven. Their hamburgers are also heavenly (either as a burger or as hamburger steak). I'm not sophisticated enough to be able to break down the ingredients by taste, but, I can assure you that whatever they put in there is what makes it happen. I also love their skinny, crispy french fries! I personally was not very impressed with their pizza. It is what it is - pizza, and why would you want to eat an ordinary pizza when you can eat their TASTY CHICKEN. Don't ever leave here without trying their lemon crunch cake. Holy Batman it's the best cake ever! And if you ever want to be the hero of a potluck, bring one of their 3 layer lemon crunch cakes to your get together!
(5)Monica J.
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE. Things we bought a loved: Tasty Chicken Strawberry Crunch Cake (to die for) Lemon Crunch Cake (good, but not strawberry good) Pumpkin Crunch (really great)
(5)Elizabeth N.
The Alley Mixed Plate is my favorite. Connected to the bowling alley and famous for their pies, cakes, desserts.. this is a great place to have a good time. Established by two brothers, one owning the bowling alley and the other the restaurant. They came together and created: Quality food Great environment Family Friendly and good for group outings Fun bowling alley, I believe everything's available Reasonably priced desserts on display inside incased glass bakery Friendly workers Kind of noisy but not in a bad way unless you're hard of hearing So yeah.. basically, I have zero complaints ;)
(5)Chris A.
My very first visit here I ordered a hot dog and garlic fries. I know... but it wasn't a disappointment at all. They serve Nathan's dogs and their garlic fries are so good you won't want to put even a single fry to waste. The tasty chicken is definitely my favorite. It's boneless big sized or sometimes strips of garlic chicken. A plate will cost you $10.95 (price increased, not sure when exactly). It's a heaping sized portion of chicken with 2 scoops of rice (brown or white) and 1 scoop of either macaroni or toss salad. For $2 less you can get a bowl, which contains a little less chicken with a single scoop of rice & salad. You'll usually end up having chicken left after you've finished your rice and salad. There is normally a wait for your table, since there aren't much tables and booths in here. Luckily we were able to squeeze (5) people in a booth to eliminate the wait time of 15 minutes yesterday morning. Keep in mind this is a bowling alley so it's pretty loud in here because you can hear all the activity in the background. You cannot pass on dessert! I love their pumpkin crunch and their lemon crunch cake is delicious too. The only thing is a slice will run you @ $4.95 and I'm afraid to think what the entire cake would come out to. If you're calling in a take out order during lunch time be prepared for a little extra wait. Once I had asked for the mac salad to be separated from the plates, but I don't think they were too ecstatic about that and didn't come through with my request anyway. I've noted not to ask for this in the future. I've never bowled here or at least I don't recall, but this isn't your average bowling alley. It's probably the best bowling alley food you'll get on the island especially considering the food here doesn't come out of a freezer wrapped in plastic or cardboard. Definitely a fan, but please... No more price increases. We got (3) bowls, (2) plates, (2) desserts to share, & (2) hot teas. Cost for lunch and tip = $80.
(4)Rejie A.
Tasty chicken when right out of the frier is awesome. Pork chop portion on the money, gotta increase the rice portion though. Living on the islands, rice is one of the major food groups. Customer service is on point. And don't get me started with the dessert. Love this place. Can be a little crowded at times but it's well worth the wait.
(5)Suzette G.
First time dining here with the fam. Came in on a Friday at about 7pm. We were seated right away which was a plus. Hubby ordered tasty chicken plate, the kiddies ordered Nathan's hotdogs with fries and I ordered the oxtail soup which turned out to be one big mistake (not that it didn't taste good it was okay I still prefer Kam Bowls)... it seems to me the air conditioning unit was out or is it always like this? Service was good- waiters/waitresses looked fairly young but were all attentive and periodically check in on us. Food- Tasty chicken was by far the best garlic/mochiko combo that I've had Ambiance- this place needs some major updating. Booths and lights were circa 70s lol! Major negative- this place needs to check the air conditioning system
(3)Trisha G.
Everyone knows that this is the place to go for LEMON CRUNCH CAKE. The best part about this place is that even when you are stuffed from your meal, they will give you dessert in pre-packaged to go boxes. To be honest, I haven't tried much of the other baked goods because I can't get past how sad I would if I went home and didn't have a slice if lemon heaven. But there were some other appealing dessert: cream cheese brownies, scones, and something called the insanity cake. That being said there are the regular local staples on the menu. True to form, I usually get the same thing: Mixed palate of furikake ahi and tasty chicken. Solid choices. Garlic shrimp is decent also. Plates come with rice and toss or Mac salad. No matter when I go the place is always packed. We went at 3pm and it was still busy. That's how you know it's good!
(4)Asher G.
oxtail soup= awesome ..that's all i am going to say
(4)Clay Y.
Tasty chicken with garlic fries, the bomb. Ox Tail soup winnas. Desserts... Chocolate decadence, lemon crunch, carrot cake, pumkin crunch...broke the mouth
(4)Lily B.
After spending the morning shopping and having fun cosmic bowling... we were HUNGRY! I convinced my sister and her family to eat at The Alley since we had just finished bowling. My sister was skeptical about the food but I told her they would enjoy it! The restaurant was busy as usual, so I put our names down when we still had about 15 minutes left to bowl. We waited an additional 10 minutes for our table. I can't remember the name of our waitress, but she was AWESOME! Friendly and so on it! We ordered a bunch of different items. The kids got burgers. My brother got a burger. My sister got the kalbi/fried noodles plate. My brother-in-law got the tasty chicken/kalbi plate. I got the tasty chicken/garlic shrimp plate. The tasty chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It was WAY better than the first time that I had it. They give a generous portion and I couldn't finish the plate! The shrimp was perfectly cooked but I wished there was a little more seasoning to it. I think I'll stick to the North Shore for garlic butter shrimp. :) yelp.com/user_local_phot… I LOVE the garlic fries. Super skinny fries and LOTS of garlic! yelp.com/user_local_phot… The boneless kalbi (appetizer) is DELISH! JUICY, TENDER, boneless kalbi... I poured the juices onto my rice... hehe. :) yelp.com/user_local_phot… My BF swears the oxtail soup is the best oxtail soup he's ever had. yelp.com/user_local_phot… My sister and her family couldn't believe how delish the food was! In fact, before they went back to North Carolina, they stopped to order take out from The Alley as their meal on the plane. It's THAT good!!! Definitely a "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" PS. We got a slice of the lemon crunch cake to go. YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS CAKE. Best lemon cake EVER! We also tried the pumpkin crunch. I think the lemon crunch is way better! yelp.com/user_local_phot… PPS. My sister was like... "Who knew that food THAT good could come outta a bowling alley"? I was like... "I told ya so"!
(5)Sara S.
Take me back, take me back, back to da kineeee Take me back, take me back, back to da kineeee All over, mo betta, go to "The Alley," I will returnnnnnn! I like the sand spreading out to the sea, I like the tropical moon and the lazy palm trees I like to listen to my heart, there's no place that I'd rather be I like da service, I like da way the servers smile I like the feeling of a garlic chicken bowl in my tummy on this paradise isle I like da lemon crunch cake, man this is where I wanna be I like the plate lunch bowls even in the night I like to do the dance I do when I eat nom food When the chicken stay crispy always mo betta da kine I LOVE the lemon crunch cake, I think it's like crack Oh I don't understand how they make it so good but in time I think I could If I just had the time, oh if I just had the time Oh now won't you come along we'll have a nom-fest by the bowling alley We'll eat a little crack chicken, and the water's flowing free (or booze, if you so desire... but it's not free) What you see is probably too big for your stomach because portions are generous I know you're going to like it and I hope you come (backkkk!) All over mo betta, to "The Alley" I will returnnnn! If you like: Cake. Possibly the best cake in the world. Lemony, crunchy, almondy, creamy, spongy. DA BEST. ($4.95 though T__T) Garlic chicken Furikake ahi The ability to select brown rice without paying extra Bowling Bowling with booze Bowling with booze and good food If any or all of the above apply, come to The Alley!!!! It may be a little pricey but you won't regret it. But because of the prices, I wouldn't come here everyday or anything like that. Ya okay nothing rhymes and may or may not actually be accurate with "Molokai Slide" butttttt I tried! The only downside is that I don't really like the parking lot here. My friend once got her car broken into here... all her valuables were stolen. Fuhhhhh!
(4)Ro V.
Thought this place was overrated. It wasn't bad, just not that great. The service was bad but it was really busy but still bad. Overall I might come back when it's less crowded
(3)Cathy T.
I had the best hamburger steak of my life. But I have to admit I'm coming late to this party... see even though I was born and raised here on Oahu I really never ate "local" plate lunch type food that often.... and when I did I almost always got something chicken/bbq/katsu type combo... I mean I didn't have my first loco moco until I was 25! But slowly I've been exposed to more local comfort foods and so far Hamburger steak is my go-to! The hamburger steak at the Alley is crazy delicious! The regular size comes with two hand shaped(?) patties and the gravy is nice and thick and tastes like real gravy and not something from a can or powder! It's seriously so nom nom worthy that I ate everything on my plate! Including the two(!) scoops of rice! (I've never in my entire life eaten both scoops of rice!) Because I was dining alone I sat at the bar and the service was pretty good. I think I might have stumped the servers a little because I whipped out a book and buried my nose in it while waiting, ordering, and eating lol. But in all seriousness The Alley is most likely going to become one of my first tier "go-to" spots especially for the Aiea/Pearl CIty area!
(5)Jenny M.
This place is a little bit hidden because it's in a bowling alley, which seems sketch... but thankfully the food and service definitely exceeded my 'bowling alley restaurant's' expectations. My parents got the burgers, which were super huge and seemed really worth the money. The fries were really good as well. My brother and I, on the other hand, got the plates. The ahi plate was delicious - I love sesame seeds and appreciated that they coated my ahi with it. However, the plates as a whole were very underwhelming in portion size when compared with the price and size of the burgers. I am also really not used to the rice that they had. It was on the overly moist side for my taste. The desserts here looked really good as well, but we saved our room for some shaved ice instead, so I didn't get to try it.
(4)Christy M.
Absolutely great service, we had George Aleka as our server awesome guy with the best tips on what's great. Overall good food and great service. Pumpkin crunch desert A+
(5)Molly H.
Yummy!! Thanks to my father-in-law for knowing about this place. I would never have found it or considered it on my own. The food is amazing plus you can watch the locals bowl while you eat. I recommend the Alley burger or the Braison Pork. The husband had the Loco Moco (hamburger steak with a fried egg on top). All was delicious. The food at the bowling alleys in GA are NOT like this!!
(5)Haupia F.
I only heard about this place two days ago so since I was leaving the airport today to go home westbound I decided to drop by and try their burgers as I am such a burger fanatic. People were sitting/standing out on the sidewalk when I arrived - pretty crowded. I was by myself at 1 in the afternoon so I was immediately seated at the bar. My Alley Burger and fries arrived less than 10 minutes later. Very good timing considering how crowded it was. The burger was large and stuck out of the sides of the warm soft sweet bun. Although the texture felt pre-made it had a wonderful flavor to it that wasn't overwhelming. That flavor combined with the slightly sweet bun was pretty awesome. The shoestring fries were freshly done - not like they sat in a pan for a while. I will highly come back here and try one of their other dishes.
(5)Jen G.
Good food. Good prices. This is not your average bowling alley food. There was a big menu selection and lots of desserts on display. The portions are generous. My husband tried the tasty chicken and I had a hot dog (which was huge) with garlic fries. We shared the strawberry crunch cake for dessert. There were so many things I wanted to try. We will definitely be going back. The only cons were that's its very small inside and quite noisy since its in a bowling alley.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Yelp 365 Challenge x 2 #169/365 *Flashback* My dad was stationed at Kbay back in the 70's yet every Friday nights, he would travel from Kaneohe to Aiea because he was in a bowling league with his brothers/family. During this time (when smoking was allowed in business establishments) my sister and I would reek of cigarettes (we were 7 & 8) because we'd run around the bowling alley with our cousins. Mind you, we weren't allowed to venture outside because my mom would threaten us that an ugly man was waiting to kidnap us if we didn't listen. So...we'd run in the women's restroom, wet toilet paper and throw it up to stick on the ceiling. If we were hungry, there was a snackbar that made the best grilled and ham and cheese. In addition, I remember a lady with a crochet vest over her blouse carrying a chihuahua in her big bag. *fast forward to 2012* -No longer does the bowling alley reek of cigarettes -No longer do I see the lady with the chihuahua -No longer is the long counter of the snack bar but it is now known as "The Alley Bar and Grill" that has one of the best menus to go to for eats or to cater in the Aiea area. Keep in mind that if you decide to venture here, you can order take out or sit down. If you decide to sit down in the restaurant, there may be a wait. Not because of the staff being slow but because their food is that good AND there are most likely ole' timers that frequents here as well to eat. I usually order ala carte dishes like the Pulehu steak and edamame (salted or their special sauce). My co-worker swears by their fried chicken and will take the rest home for her dinner because the portions are great. I regret that I didn't try their desserts but I was too busy enjoying my steak and edamame. The service is quick and friendly. If the restaurant area is crowded, there are a few tables by the alley side that are reserved for the restaurant during lunchtime to accommodate the crowd. The prices are the typical plate lunch prices that you also see at Zippy's. I definitely recommend coming here to eat as well as bowl especially because this alley has such great childhood memories when I didn't have to worry about bills and only had to worry if my mom would see me toeing the line of wanting to race out into the parking lot with my cousins but I dared not because her dragon wrath was not worth it (just kidding, Mary). Service: 5 Stars Ambiance: 5 Stars Food: 5 Stars Price: Reasonable Location: Easy to find Recommendation: Yes and don't forget to bowl!
(5)Steven K.
OMG! Fine food, friendly efficient service in the loud ambiences of a bowling alley. Enjoyed their Pan-Seared Furikake Ahi dish and finished off my meal with their great lemon crunch cake. Had a interesting and fun dining experience on the 10th of August.
(5)Keri S.
I give the service a thumbs down. The staff doesn't even take time to acknowledge you are there, and the wait is VERY lengthy. If you are looking to be treated like just a number, this is the place. The food however, is good. The furikaki ahi and their salmon is really good. The mac salad is also refreshingly good. Cupcakes, pumpkin crunch, and so much more! Their desserts will not dissapoint you!
(3)Lei G.
Foods okay, service is horrible. Been here a couple times for lunch and they have had bad service every time. They really make you feel like they authentically don't give a crap about you and would prefer you spend your money elsewhere. As a concierge I have sent my guests here for bowling, but warned them about the bad service and they've come back agreeing that the service is terrible so I've stopped sending guests, family and friends.
(2)Denby R.
I wish I could rate their desserts seperate from their service. Would give 5 stars for dessert, 4 for food, and 3 for service. I love LOVE LOVE LOVE love the desserts here. The lemon crunch cake is TDF, but every cake, cupcake, crunch; every single beautiful bite that I take SCREAMS love. They have lemon crunch, red velvet, carrot, chocolate insanity, pumpkin crunch, and more. The food here is great. It's a classy spin on many of our plate lunch faves. The crispy chicken, the garlic shrimp, kalbi, and even coca-cola turkey sandwiches. (yeah.....Julia O said it " It makes it really moist and soft and has a great flavor"). The service was hit or miss, we had a great waiter, but the lady who took our names down on the list could have been more welcoming. She actually made one of my co-workers want to go somewhere else for lunch. I will go back.....definitely. Hopefully, my husband and I can make it a dinner and bowling date.
(4)Krystal H.
I ordered the lemon crunch cake from here for a birthday party. First off let me say that the cake is AWESOME! If anything, their lemon crunch cake is why I go back. The reason I only gave them one star is for their customer service. I had called this morning to see if I could pickup a lemon crunch cake for a staff meeting that I had (I know that normally you need to make 48 hour advance notice) but I just called to see if it was at all possible to buy a whole one and chance it. So when I called this girl answered and just said "you need to give us 48 hour notice" I understood and apologized and said what did they have in their 'showcase' and she said "well theres a lemon crunch cake that's sliced but if it falls apart that's not our problem".....serious attitude there. I really couldn't believe how she was acting! At that point I was so annoyed by how she was treating me over the phone that I just gave up. No customer should feel that way especially the last cake that I ordered was almost $100.
(1)Adam A.
Best bowling alley food in the world. Period. I love taking out of town guests here just to see their faces "your taking me to eat at a bowling alley?!?!?" Little do they know just how good the food here is. As soon as you open the menu you know this isn't your typical bowling alley diner. Tons of local food offerings, along with what you would expect (burgers, fries, etc..) I personally love their braised pork, oxtail soup, loco moco and tasty chicken. Prices may seem a bit high, but the portions are huge. I think even after I finished eating I had enough food to equal another serving. Try to come for lunch, because if you end up here on a league night, you might not find parking or a place to sit and eat, but I will say the food is more than worth the visit.
(4)Teresa G.
The food here is pretty good and they give HUGE portions. There's not a big space to eat so seating is limited. We got lucky and was able to sit down right away. I LOVE that they have mixed plate option. I ordered the tasty chicken and fried noodles. My plate was covered! Holy schmolly how was I suppose to eat all that food. I was able to make 3 servings off of that 1 plate. With that being said, the price can be steep but if you look at how many portions you can make off of 1 plate then I guess it can be worth the price. The salad dressing was good. Tasted like it was home made with miso. It was delicious. Tasty chicken was definitely tasty with a hint of garlic. Yummo. Fried noodle was delicious. They have a huge variety of desserts too .
(3)Jon T.
$9 something for a cheeseburger that does not come with fries unless you dine in. Can't understand the reasoning behind this....bcuz I wanna eat elsewhere I have to pay an additional $3 something for fries? Plz reevaluate this policy.
(3)Raych D.
One Saturday night me and a few friends spontaneously decided to go bowling (well more like I was forced to go) to meet up with some other friends...only reason why I decided to go was 1) drinks would be for free and the big 2) wanted to sample that infamous lemon crunch cake. I made a plan to get the slice on lemon crunch right when they did last call so I could take it home and eat it the next day...unfortunely I didn't hear them say last call and almost forgot to get my cake and when we were about to head out I immediately remembered my cake and headed over to the bar to buy a slice...luckily the cashier was nice enough to still let me buy one and with my card. I was so tempted to eat it because it looked soooo good! As soon as we got back to town (our hood) we headed over to the club. I wanted to leave the club to go home but my slice was in my friends car and they were holding it ransom for me to stay out still...which I did it all for the cake! When we finally did leave and I got home, I placed my cake in the fridge and as soon as I closed the door, I just said "what the hay" and ate the whole slice at 4am...YUP IT WAS DAMN GOOD AND DAMN WORTH THE CALORIES! I don't even like lemon cakes but this one was super moist, creamy and not overly filling. One slice will draw you back to about $6 but it's worth it...my suggestion is just buy the whole pie for $40..way better deal. I used to love Diamond Head Bakery for their lemon crunch cake but I think I now like The Alley's one better. I may just have to drive my lazy butt from town to here just to get me those cakes now.
(5)Carrie G.
Yummy food! Very tasty sauces and everything was cooked perfectly. The loco moco was my fav. Delicious burger patty, gravy that made me feel like Dr. Evil's kitty- purr!! Perfectly cooked egg. The spicy shrimp were good but the portion wasn't enough on the mix plate. The tasty chicken was good- perfectly cooked and crispy but I wish it had a bit more sweet sauce. I ate the oxtail soup and I don't really like it but theirs was good. The salad dressing was delish. Service was good. It's a bit loud but its a bowling alley, so enjoy! Oh, decent drink selection, too!
(4)Calvin M.
One of my favorite restaurant that consistently has great food, large portions awesome desserts!
(5)Lesli O.
I went there just to order some deserts from the counter. Everyone just ignored me, until I finally had to finally say to one of the workers after about 5 minutes, "can I order something?!" Second experience, got there at about 6:00pm for dinner with some girlfriends. We felt as though the waitress was trying to rush to get us off the table. At about 7:30pm another worker comes to our table and tells us that they have a lot of customers waiting outside so if we can leave. Don't go there if you plan to have dinner and talk story. They want to get you out so they can turn their tables quick. Their desserts are really good, but sad to say that I am not going back there again.
(1)Chanel A.
Parking 3/5- only cuz its always so crowded right out front of the bowling alley I mean u could park on other side but have to walk up stairs to get the the alley. Food/dine in 5/5 For me everytime I went the customer service and waiters are very nice and always coming back to check on us and making sure our drinks r refilled which most places now days only give u one free refill or none at all...even after placed my order the food comes with a decent wait time n always delicious a must try local hot spot I luv there oxtail soup which i have never been a fan of oxtail soup but luved theres, polehu steak the wait time can be long cuz they cook it to perfection but its worth the wait, kalbi is very tasty soft n juicy flavor and tasty chicken the flavor of it is really good but sumtimes a little to hard on outside for me at times being that I had a bad tooth at the time.. even there salads r good. can't forget there awsome famous lemon crunch cake! I also luv there chocolate marshmellow blondies. Also there furikaki salmon is awsome too *be aware though the noise level is loud be cuz it is in a bowling alley n also has a bar in there as well doesn't bother me though cuz the food is always so darn good lol...even there restrooms r very clean n smell so sweet becuz they put fresh hawiian flowers in there!! Lol
(5)Dale W.
i tried to get here using the yelp app on my iphone and idk if it was the yelp or map app but i ended completely somewhere else. anyways, when i finally found the place: i got a mix plate: tasty chicken & furikake salmon with brown rice and a side salad. that chicken was freakin awesome!! the salmon wasnt bad but i wasnt a fan. salad and dressing was good too. i would definitely come back again for another mix plate consisting of the chicken and somethin else
(5)Patrice Y.
A bit of a wait, but it is for a good reason and trust me, it is worth the wait for the food and service!
(5)Paul C.
I didn't really see what the big deal about this place was. I thought it was a bit overrated, service was pretty slow, and I thought some of the staff we're pretty rude and lazy especially at the bowling alley. Food was ok and amazing deserts supposedly, pretty average.
(2)Erica Y.
A lot of friends laughed at me when I said we were going to a bowling alley for dinner. But this place is GOOD! I love their TASTY CHICKEN! And they had some good combination plates, the steak is good (get your order in when you arrive because it takes 20 minutes to cook - HUGE portion), and the drinks are good and strong :)
(4)Andrea H.
I was gifted an entire Lemon Crunch Cake for by birthday a while back, and let me tell you I was one sugar-hyped, extremely grateful, stuffed with chiffon and toffee girl. If you want a dessert with layers of flavors, yet not overly complex, and a variety of textures, then Lemon Crunch Cake needs to be your order. Sometimes I'll venture into The Alley Restaurant just for a slice of cake, and the pieces are so large that's really all you need. Fortunately for us all, Lemon Crunch Cake isn't the only stunner of the group; The Alley makes varieties of the Lemon Crunch (like strawberry) as well as other divine cakes and pies. Now onto the food. Tasty chicken, tasty chicken, and please load my plate with tasty chicken, furikake ahi, and garlic shrimp. How to describe that 'tasty' chicken? Golden, fried, succulent, and tender and very reminiscent of mochiko chicken, yet amped up quite a few notches with that sauce - a sweet yet warms-the-back-of-your-throat addition. Now on to my second favorite: furikake ahi. Honestly, it's not the most difficult to coat and sear your own ahi at home, but why on earth would you if you can have it made at The Alley Restaurant? I like the Furikake Ahi Salad more than the plate, perhaps in hopes of making myself feel less guilty knowing a airy, pillow of cake will soon follow, but this opinion is probably influenced by their salad dressing. I just like their dressing, it's creamy and sweet with a little kick, perfect for dunking my fruikake-encrusted fishies. Then the garlic shrimp. Although not the most unique or saliva-inducing dish, garlic, butter, and shrimp will always make me a happy girl. The shrimp isn't overly cooked and chewy, but perfectly pink and cooked to shrimpy perfection. Best of all, and drumroll for my 'frugality,' you really can't beat the prices for the quantity and quality of food you get. My only complaint is the restaurant can get quite crowded and noisy, but what would you expect from a restaurant coupled with a bowling alley? The eating area is also quite small, but I'm completely wiling to wait my turn for food at The Alley. For those on the go or picking up a catering order, they do have a takeout window.
(5)Uncle Ernie ..
MY FRIENDS!!!! You gotta go here for the TASTY CHICKEN. enuf said. Eat it there. OH my friends know I love fried rice. I tried it ONCE. too salty.. may have been the COOK on duty that day,, but I won't try it again.
(4)Sandy N.
man oh man, this is one of many things I miss about Hawaii when I'm away. Good local food. I had the tasty chicken and boneless kalbi. I loved how it was not fatty or greasy, and the mac potato salad was good too. I normally don't eat that. Then of course the lemon crunch cake was ono! Just like the one at Diamond Head Grill. Until next time....and maybe a game of bowling after.
(4)Harry S.
Food was great, service was great. Would have given 5 stars overall because of service except the host guy was very rude to the workers.
(4)Sean S.
Everything was good, not great. We went for lunch and we had 4 different items. Garlic chix, Hamburger, Ox tail soup and slow braised pork. No complaints on any of the dishes and will be back if I'm in the area. I would recommend the "alley fries" (skinny and crispy) and the ox tail soup were my favorites.
(4)Kim M.
This review is soley based on my most recent Tasty Tuesday experience. This month (July) marks the 2-year anniversary of Tasty Tuesdays, and this Tasty Tuesday line-up is exceptional: yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 1. Seared Cajun Ahi yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 2. Soft Shell Crab with Asian Slaw yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 3. Pasta Parmagiano Reggiano yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 4. Rack of Lamb Wellington yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 5. A Special Dessert yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… I dined with my friend Jon, since the bf had to work (and boo, he's not a fan of lamb). Anyway, Jon and I were happily greeted and seated. Focaccia bread and some garlic cheesy biscuit rolls were brought out. yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… I jammed them into my mouth bc they tasted great and I was starving, only to realize we were in store for a 5-course meal... Each dish was a delightful surprise in terms of both taste and presentation. The array of colors presented and creative plating arrangements really made each dish stand out. The Seared Cajun Ahi rested beautifully upon a bed of daikon and Asian guacamole. The bf would have loved this!! The Soft Shell Crab and Asian Slaw complemented each other perfectly. The Pasta Parmagiano Reggiano was prepared table-side: after being tossed in a cheese wheel from Parma, Italy, our linguini pasta was topped with prosciutto di parma and fresh basil. Yum!!! The Rack of Lamb Wellington was exquisite. The lamb was cooked to perfection: pink, juicy, and tender. I kept glancing at Jon's plate for scraps! Lastly was the dessert special: mini lilikoi chiffon pies topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. What a great way to end a fantastic meal. Stuffed to the brim, I did not let anything go to waste. :) I can't wait to see next month's line-up!! FYI- Tasty Tuesday every Tuesday, with the menu changing every month. Check out aieabowl.com for the month's current prix fixe menu. For reservations, call Bobby 808-342-6232. The last seating is at 7:30pm.
(5)Bryan W.
Coca cola sandwich was good. Turkey was tender and flavorful and the bun was soft like a hot dog bun but bigger. The fries are the best. Service was good and food came out quickly.
(5)Loren R.
First let me say I never write reviews. However I do watch Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives so when I was in Hawaii I had to try the Alley. The restaurant lives up to the rave reviews it got on the show. We met the owner Glenn and chatted with him. Even as busy as he was he took the time to visit. He could not have been nicer. The food and the service were excellent. The quality was that of an extremely fancy restaurant. It is hard to imagine you are in a bowling alley. My kids who are picky eaters said it was one fonts best meals they ever had.
(5)Angela Maria Y.
Great food for a bowling alley!!! I ordered the marinated beef and shrimp with rice combo. Fast service...even when they where busy...
(4)Brandon T.
This place has some real good food. Tasty chicken, the burger, garlic fries, lemon crunch. One of the workers claimed they had the best chilli, even better than zippys but have yet to try it. The workers here are really friendly, but I did have an experience where we dined in and our waiters totally forgot about us. I had to walk up to her just to get a refill of water. To me one bad incident can't bring down the overall greatness that the alley can bring to my stomach
(5)A Y.
Tasty chicken is good, but not mind blowing or particularly memorable. It reminds me of the popcorn chicken from boba place or KFC, but much much better seasoned. It fact, it seems more of a stand alone item then a meal combo. It'd go so well with a cup of boba. The girl at the cashier seemed nice but became curt when we tried to eat our takeout inside. The place was empty so it wasn't like we were taking a spot away.
(3)Ron H.
Ate here before and it was alright. The prices r high and the portions have gotten smaller over the years. The tasty chicken is really good but y can find the same kind of chicken at other places like zippy. Service is fast dining in but I would suggest calling if ur taking out. Deserts r good and home made but again I don't feel like $5 for a slice of cake is worth it even if it's a good size. Always packed with the locals and bowlers, its a busy place. Parking can get bad when u have bowling events, but u can park at any of the 3 levels, u just have to walk up the stairs. The level w/ mcd has the most covered parking. Today I got the pork chop, take out for my wife's lunch. First off I almost dropped my wallet when the casher told me $13.61, for pork chops??? Do I get bread with that? What ever, it's what my wife wants so what u going to do? When I got home I was surprised to see how little they give for $14. I would say maybe 1 1/2 - 2 thinly cut pork chops breaded and fried cut up onto pieces, gravy, 2 scoops rice and a toss salad, not impressed but they were good, just not $14 good. Overall this place is a great place to eat. Large variety of favorite local food from pizza to oxtail soup. Local owned that's always a plus. The reason for the 3 stars, I would not come here on my own. It's not a place I would chose if I wanted any type of local foods, mainly because of the prices, parking and portions. However, also not a place I would make a fuss about if my wife choose here to eat.
(3)Alyssa M.
HOLY COW! i loovveee their tasty chicken! their whole menu is pretty awesome, including their desserts. such a dangerous place to eat because everything is so good. this place is usually crowded so a 10-15 wait is normal (during dinner hours). service is good, workers are nice. i think they have one of the best tasting chicken on oahu!
(5)Spence C.
Haven't had any major issues with service like other posters were talking about - although I could see it having issues because of the volume of business they have. The food is pretty good and I'd say it's one of the better food options in the area. Get there early because parking's always rough.
(4)Traci H.
this is for the LEMON CRUNCH CAKE. WOW. That's all I need to say. Who would have thought the bowling alley would have some good food, but when you have a serious chef like that, this is one serious bowling alley food. I've eating the regular food and it's great local food but the lemon crunch cake just blew me away. If you like your smooth stuff smooth and your crunchy stuff crunchy, this might not before you, but otherwise, that little crispiness is just a delight and the flavors are so ono!
(5)Aaron B.
Had the fried rice tonite. It was okay very stanadrd fried rice. Could be more fancied out like their other dishes. I think some kamaboko and sweet egg slices would make a huge differnce in taste and color. Also had their cupckaes. The redvelvet and choclate penutbutter. Leme start off in saying I don't like red velevet at all, but this one was good. The peanutbutter cupcake was off the hook. The frosting had hints of peanut butter, a nice chocolate truffle on top. Ohhhhh so delicous!
(4)Lina O.
the bf and i went here on a friday night and the whole parking lot was full, so we parked below, by the mcdonalds. it must have been league night. we walked into The Alley door and walked right into the diner, which is right in the bowling alley. all of the tables were full so we put in our name and went into the bowling alley. we probably waited less than 5 min and our names were called surprisingly. i ordered the oxtail soup. it came with a huge bowl of the oxtail soup, a small bowl of brown rice, a bowl of a ponzu type dipping sauce for the meat and an empty bowl to put the bones in. it also came with some ginger and cilantro on the side. i can say this was the best oxtail soup that i have ever had. the broth was so flavorful and the meat so tender it fell off the bone, literally. and the dipping sauce gave the meat a nice refreshing kick. the bf ordered the tasty chicken, which came with a side of brown rice. it was nice and crispy and the crust slightly flavored like it was dipped in a sweet teriyaki sauce or something. not soggy and still flavored. we also split a lemon crunch cake. it was a big slice of cake, not sweet at all, with a lemon jelly filling, cake like pound cake, and a crunchy crust like tiny crumbs of brittle. it was really good. the waiter and other staff were friendly and helpful. the food didnt take too long to come out even though it was super busy. i highly recommend the oxtail soup!
(5)Krissy M.
Wow. My parents suggested we go and eat here one rainy evening. Prior to that visit, I had tried both their pumpkin and lemon crunch cake...so I knew it was going to be yummy. My mom really wanted to oxtail soup (her fave) but unfortunately it was sold out. So, she had garlic shrimp instead, which she said was really good anyway - dad and my aunt had the tasty chicken, which they raved about, and hubs and I went with the veggie pizza - SO good. Would definitely recommend.
(5)A W.
Came here twice during a recent stay in Oahu. Friends had recommended this place, so we thought we'd try it out and it was worth the drive. Would recommend the Oxtail Soup, Kalbi Beef, Garlic Shrimp, Lemon Crunch Cake and Mama Mya's Chocolate Cake. Also had the tasty chicken and the ahi were ok.
(5)K F.
I was introduced to this place by my husband and have been going back numerous times since then! I always go thinking I'll try something new but I always order the tasty chicken bowl, toss salad, brown rice! I never get sick of it! :) the portions are pretty good. They give about 5 pieces of chicken, one scoop rice, and a handful of salad.
(5)Kristen C.
I finally made my way to try this place out because I had coupons and they were expiring =P. The restaurant area is right at the entrance with the bowling area right behind. I ordered take out but had to go inside to order even though it was a bit before 12pm. I ordered the coca-cola marinated turkey breast sandwich and the oh so highly rated Tasty Chicken plate. both were $8.95 but i had a bogo coupon so saved me some mullah. While waiting for 15mins I watched a bit of the bowlers and scanned everything that they had in the dessert case and it looked sooo good, especially that lemon crunch cake but for $6+ i'll save that for later. They even had various scones on the counter for $2 so i think i'll need to go back and try that too. When I got home to try the food, the first thing i went for was the sandwich and boy was it packed with sliced turkey breast with some shredded lettuce. The flavor was good but I wished they put more toppings such as tomato at the least. Overall it was good but i dont think its worth the $9 just for the sandwich. I only ate half of that and then went for the tasty chicken. I took a few bites and it was well...tasty. haha. The skin was nicely crisp with the inside moist and juicy. The garlic flavor wasnt too strong and not spicy from the noticeable chili flakes but it was good. I'll prob come back to try other things but def coming back to try the desserts!
(3)Tehani L.
I ordered the mix plate garlic shrimp and kalbi. My sis ordered the mixed plate cripsy chicken and kalbi. Let's start with the best to not-so-best: Crispy Chicken: This was so so good. I wished I had some right now. The skin was wait for it: crispy. It had the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Kalbi: Like any well marinated kalbi, it was soft and bursting with flavor. Can you ever go wrong with kalbi? They served it without the bone, which i liked because I didn't feel like I got cheated by getting all bone and fat. Shrimp: Gross. My first bite and i just couldn't take it. I think they just took bitter garlic, pureed it with butter and poured it all over the shrimp. I don't know if there was salt or pepper or anything else - all I could taste was bitter garlic. Normally, when you order something "garlic" you would expect a balance of acid, whether it be white wine or lemon. Nope, just pure garlic. It was pretty gross. So why four stars? The food, ambience and people were all good. I'll be back, just won't ever order the shrimp again.
(4)Rene B.
Tasty Chicken was amazing. It's a bit unnerving thinking you're about to go eat at a bowling alley, but there's a segregated restauranty area, so it's not so bad. I have been to the island several times, and this will be a new must stop from now on.
(5)Marcus S.
Breakfast and cake, yes please! Pretty good joint for breakfast. Fried rice omelette and bacon was done well. Service was pretty good too. You wont jump out of your seat yelling WOW, but you will enjoy the food. The cakes to me me are over rated. After a few bites I got bored. But they do serve Stella so I will be back.
(3)LA S.
Short: We had the Mahi-Mahi "Alley Style" bowl with brown rice and toss salad AND Asian Braised Pork (Shoyu Pork), brown rice and pot/mac salad....both were good. Her fish was fresh and juicy with a nice "thai style" dressing. Mines was nice and tender, very flavorful and had a good amount left for tomorrow's lunch. Never had desert this time around but love their lemon crunch cake. Wish was cheaper. Shorter: Noisy (of course) but good food. Wish was cheaper.
(4)Connie M.
5 shining stars for the lemon crunch cake. The lemon flavor is citrus-y without being over powering. The cake itself is so perfectly soft and the toppings on the outside is sinfully good
(5)Sandy H.
After reading the reviews from fellow Yelp-ers, I doubt I'll have anything new to contribute. When Kam Bowl closed, I mourned. Not because the bowling alley was going away, but because that meant Kapiolani Coffee Shop was going bye bye too. (I realize they opened at other locations after the alley closed, but let's face it...it just wasn't the same.) I was excited with the launch of The Alley a few years ago and got a little nostalgic. I always get the Alley Style Soybeans because I think edamame should always have a kick to it. The Kalbi is tender. The Tasty Chicken is harmonious in the mouth. EVERYTHING on the dessert menu makes me cry tears of joy. I haven't found anything here I don't like. What I appreciate the most is the family style atmosphere behind the counter. You got the young kids keeping the business running, but you've also got mama-san (in all her chef uniform glory) with her watchful eye, running the show. These are the establishments I love to support the most.
(5)Kimi L.
Lots of parking. Clean - a huge priority for me. One of the last bowling alleys to be found, anywhere. And even if you did find a bowling alley, you wouldn't be able to match the food. Their food is top notch. I'll repeat myself - their food is awesome. What's good? Everything. Saimin, tasty chicken, pizzas, oxtail (love the combo of salad & tasty chicken) AND the desserts are omg freakin' fantastic. Try anything on the menu and you won't be let down. So, grab one of everything on the menu, grab a pair of shoes & a ball and bowl the night away.
(5)Niki J.
Checked out this spot today while in Aiea, much better looking on the inside then the out, so don't be afraid to go in! Food was decent, I ordered the loco moco and tasty chicken mixed plate. Food tasted good but the chicken was cold and the hamburger patty Was cold and a little tough. It seemed like it was food that was already cooked and not made when ordered. I liked that I had the option to sub Mac salad for green salad cause I hate mayo. If the food was hot I would definitely have given them a higher rated. When I was paying I did order two desserts, the pumpkin crunch and carrot cake...Anne they will change my opinion..... Stay tuned :)
(3)Amanda L.
Yum yum yum! I hear great things about Tuesdays too. I've only sampled left overs but it's a five course meal for just under $40. The regular menu is awesome! I love the shoyu pork and hamburger steak patty (not the gravy). I'm really picky about gravy so this one doesn't have the depth in flavor that I enjoy. Their Mac salad is just ok, most times I'll go for the tossed salad - I guess thanks for the healthy push! You can go to the Alley with a diverse group. There's healthy (brown rice, fish, salad, etc.) and local favs. Don't forget to hit the dessert counter - yummo!
(4)Kevin N.
My favorite is the pork chops with gravy. They give tons of gravy and it is very tasty. What I also like is the tasty chicken. We order this for catering and it is everyones favorite dish. Kalbi is also very good and recommended. The fried noodles is good, not great, but still good and I like it better than Big City diner's fried noodles. In fact we even ordered this for catering and got good results from our guests. You have also got to try Tasty Tuesday. They got a five course meal at $42. Most people would say, what?... a bowling alley charging $42 for a meal? OK, stay away if you feel that way, but its always packed, you need reservations, and the food is sooooo good.... so you will be missing out. In fact, if you dont have reservatons, you may be surprised how long you have to wait for a table on Tuesday. It is worth it and I have been there many times just for that meal. A way better decision than going to a fine dining restaurant to blow your money.
(4)Krys Y.
I've been here a few times and the food is ALWAYS good. I'd recommend getting a combo plate because you can sample two different dishes in one order! Most recently, I had the loco moco-garlic shrimp combo, and let me tell you it was BROKE DA MOUT! I loooooved it and had garlic breath the WHOLE NIGHT after. But it was SO worth it! Also, I'd recommend doing a take out of the chocolate insanity cake after you eat your dinner. The piece is big enough to share with 3 or 4 people, and doing take out is a good way to have a little time to digest your dinner and make room for dessert! The place gets a little crowded. There's one bad table near the back that's right by the entrance to the actually alley that I would not recommend sitting at or getting seated at, as everyone walks past that table and bangs you. As long as you don't get that table, you're good to go!
(5)Rachel S.
Zippy's Korean Fried chicken makes me angry these days. Always wrong somehow- not enough/ too much sauce, not enough chicken, too much batter.. The SOLUTION: Tasty chicken at the Alley. Nomnomnomnomnomnomnomnomnomnomnom. It's even better that they serve a choice of brown or white rice and toss or mac salad. Pumpkin crunch is to super good too. Apple pie thing is not that bad, but I don't really care for the rest of the desserts much. Waitress was nice, although the guy clearing tables took my plate and threw away my leftovers (without asking) instead of boxing it x_x mah, oh well. Bottom line: Menu overall is good/okay/notbad. The tasty and pumpkin crunch are all you need.
(4)Stefani C.
Went to The Alley last night and it was delicious. I had the Tasty Garlic Chicken bowl and I can see why it's so popular. I had the Garlic Chicken bento from the Hukilau restaurant that day also so was able to really compare the flavors and The Alley's Tasty Garlic Chicken was by far the best! The servers were very friendly which helps alot with the atmosphere and mood of the restaurant. I plan on going again soon. Hopefully, I'll have room for their delicious desserts!
(5)Jocelyn R.
Went on a Saturday night and it was moderately busy... Service was very friendly and our wait wasn't too long. I already knew it was a bowling alley so it really didn't bother me that we had to sit at the bowling alley side. As the waiter sat us, I passed through the dessert area and instantly drew a craving for sweets... OhhhMMMGGOsh... check out the cakes... and crunch cakes... We ordered dinner which consisted of a huge house salad with Thai dressing (good flavor), Edamame, Side Pork Chops, Furikake Fish platter, and some Loco Moco's for the kiddies. The food was really good and tasty! Portion size was good for the price also. The pork chops were really ono, although I must say Side Street Inn is still my favorite. Our waiter was pretty quick with our order although it took awhile for our check to come because somehow, we drew a crowd... :) Kids were happy and so were we... Would I come back? OF COURSE!! Needless to say as i ate most of my food, I couldn't order dessert...so you betcha.... I'll BE BACK!
(4)Nick W.
Great plates, great pizza. When I lived in Aiea, I used to come here before bowling, but ended up coming just for the food after awhile.
(5)Darcie I.
Not bad. Garlic fries were thin, crispy and tasty. Had the combo tasty chicken/furikake crusted ahi. Chicken was crunchy, and a little spicy but good. Ahi was dry and tasteless. Bf had oxtail soup. He liked the broth, but not enough veggies and meat. Want to try the tasty tuesdays.
(3)Janis G.
This place is awesome. Who knew it would be in a bowling alley. Their food is excellent. I highly recomend this place!
(5)Mangione M.
Tastey Chicken and crunch cake are the way to go. Also I think it's funny that the name of the food epitomizes what you are eating. No surprises, no gimmicks, not even an explanation of how it's prepared or what's in it. All you know is that your are getting some "tastey" chicken and a "crunch" cake. They need to put a "fill you up" plate or a "no longer thirsty" drink on the menu to complete the cycle.
(5)Derek K.
Huge fan of the Alley Restaurant and not cause I'm a regular here due to my bowling league. Not fair to the rest of the dishes, but I can only really review the tasty chicken. The tasty chicken is AMAZING! This deep fried goodness is crunchy, loaded with garlicy flavor and packed with tender meat. Just recently, I tried the alley style mahi. The mahi is battered, similar to jun style, but what makes this dish is the sauce, which also doubles as their salad dressing. The fish was very tender bringing out the natural flavor of the mahi. The sauce definitely kicks this dish up a notch! The dressing, if you've never had it, is a oriental black sesame seed style dressing. The food here is more than amazing. You may have to wait a little, but for bowling alley food, it is worth it. If you eat at the alley, you almost forget that you're eating in a bowling alley. I definitely recommend this place and I will be back on Wednesday (league night, haha). 5 stars because where you gonna get bowling alley food like this?! Oh, yeah, I've only tried the pumpkin crunch, but from what I hear all the desserts are on par with the food...AMAZING!
(5)Bradley H.
Pretty good for a bowling alley. I must admit that i'm not a big fan of bowling alley food and would probably fear it just as much as the buffet at the strip club (see Chris Rock stand up comedy act for reference...but you get the point). Anyway, a friend and I were pleasantly surprised by the portabella mushroom burger, which was a hamburger with a giant mushroom on it. The overall burger was pretty tasty, and significantly better than i had imagined. All burgers are cooked well done over there regardless of request...which means they either don't trust the cooks or they don't trust the meat...that's not good. In addition to the burger, we also had the calamari. Too much batter, not enough calamari. It tasted like one of those generic, frozen, pre-battered, over seasoned, boxed recipes...not very good and not recommended. The highlight of the meal was the dessert. The blond brownie was delicious and i would recommend having them heat it before you eat it...With the dessert, the overall experience rounds up to a realtively solid 2.5 stars :-P Happy Eating!
(3)Kristal G.
In my opinion better than Side Street Inn on the strip... Love it great local food the kalbi and tasty chicken is my fave. Can't get enough of their Lemon crunch and Blueberry scones. Oh yeah and the Alley is in Aiea bowl so you know we try to hit the bowling alley right afterwards if there's room to play ^.^ Perfect finish to a great meal, love it there and so do my hubby and kiddies....
(5)Claire T.
4 stars for the food!! Tasty chicken is exactly that....tasty! The service isn't always the greatest, but you'll keep coming back for the food. Their desserts are to die for. Lemon crunch cake and the marshmallow blonde are my favorites!!!
(4)Blake M.
Went here twice in the past week: The first visit was over my lunch break so we had to be in and out fast. Parking was a drag, but we were seated quick. I was still late returning to work because the service is a tad bit slow - I think we waited about 20 minutes before our order was taken. The food came out quick but we had to scarf it down and walk up to the register to get out on time. I ordered the tasty chicken - super good! It's along the lines of Sugoi's chicken, boneless fried chicken pieces tossed in their special sauce. Of course, my friends insisted on taking a lemon crunch cake slice to go - very worth it. The second visit was on a Saturday night, and parking was much easier. We waited just a couple minutes for a table and service was a lot quicker than over lunch. I decided to order the furikake ahi and hamburger steak mixed plate because my friend raved about it at lunch...in the end I wished I just got the tasty chicken again. The hamburger steak was good but nothing special, the taste and consistency of the gravy was a bit too homemade/over the counter. The furikake ahi would have been awesome with a little more sauce on it, as such it was a touch too dry for me. We also ordered their fries as an appetizer (very good; crispy but not oily). The garlic shrimp was not as good as the classic shrimp trucks - much less garlic. The pumpkin crunch pie I think it was was a little lacking in terms of portion unlike the large slices of cakes. A good place but I won't be rushing back here any time soon. If I were reviewing the bowling alley I'd give it four stars because an alley with food like this in it? Pure awesomeness.
(3)Kevin M.
Tasty Chicken = crispy garlic goodness, one of the best in the island Hamburger Steak = hand made, juicy, and the gravy is the very best Oxtail Soup = A must (my wifes favorite in the Island) Kalbi = kinda salty, only reason why they get 1 less star Pumpkin and Lemon Cake Crunch = Wow make some room if you can I wish this place was not in a bowling alley. It was so crowded, but worth the wait. I would drive all the way from the East Side to eat here.
(4)Clifton C.
I have mixed feelings about "The Alley"! I've eaten several times dining in and have always felt the food is O.K., but not worth the prices they charge. Today I was craving a teri burger and unfortunately "Big City Diner" was crowded, so we ended up at "The Alley". (Big City Diner has a Ms. Teri Burger for $10.99 that comes with all the fixings and fries) Ordered the Alley Burger with Teri Sauce and for $8.45 it was a huge disappointment. A bun, lettuce, mayo and a hamburger patty with teri sauce. Nothing outstanding and for the price, no tomato? Definitely not worth $8.45 and this was at the take out window. My daughter had the Furikaki Ahi Salad, now that looked good and she enjoyed it. That was priced right at $11.95. We also ordered french fries, very good and crispy, but for $3.25 for a small portion.. umm..! Got my grandson an order of the Edamame Soybeans..$6.50 for a bowl..I think we could have done better elsewhere. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying if the food is worth it. This is a popular place, just not for me!
(2)Jamie T.
This is only the second time that I had a chance to eat here. I loved the oxtail soup the first time so I convinced my husband to take me there for lunch yesterday. When we first walked in to wait at the "wait to be seated" sign, no one in there even greeted us in any way. I know that there's a host/ess that seats but should you really ignore the guests when they walk in? The food was as good as it was last time but our waitress named Sabrina couldn't crack a smile to save her life. Not sure if she was having a bad day but she seemed to be like that to all of her tables. So disappointing!! At least she had 2 other guys to help her clear tables & get misc items for us & the other tables. I really wanted to not tip her but then I figured if I didn't tip her then those other 2 guys wouldn't get tipped either. Also I wished that they had a children's menu, nothing fancy, maybe a kid's size pizza, hamburger & hot dog? I ended up having to buy my 3 year old a medium size cheese pizza since that's the smallest size that they had which she only ate one piece from. So on top of having a horrible waitress I had to tip her even more since I had to buy a $13 pizza for my 3 year old. The food is good, I wouldn't say excellent but the service sucked!! What a horrible experience! Hope they get their act together so that I can try to come & enjoy a meal there.
(2)Janine R.
We went here recently and I gotta say that it's definitely unlike the bowling alleys of my youth! This place has no greasy burgers oozing with a mayo/mustard/ketchup mixture... It isn't clouded with smoke.... And it isn't packed with really old waitresses. And although just reminiscing about the days of that kind of bowling alley does get me a bit misty eyed. I have to admit I love the fact that the food here is super yummy and yet can be ordered with brown rice. And I love that it has delicious desserts. And I especially love it because there is no haze of smoke while bowling. Although for that we gotta thank legislators who passed the smoking law and not the owners of Aiea bowl! :) But all in all I am definitely digging this new hip style bowling alley with young cocktail waitresses, rocking music and a DJ! What a fun place for a week night! I definitely gonna come back here next time we wanna bowl... Even if only to eat the food again!! Yelp 365: 39/365
(4)Mari S.
Do you love Saimin? If so, you have to try the saimin at The Alley! Especially if you are a saimin fanatic like I am! It is so rich in flavor, delicious and I really liked the broth. It shoots Zippy's saimin down in a second. You will not be disappointed! Btw, I also heard the oxtail soup is excellent. I can't vouch for it though, since I haven't tried it myself. The Alley also sells an array of desserts with their selection ranging from pies to cakes. I shared a slice of pie with my boss (can't remember what, though), but I do remember being impressed with the taste and overall quality. This is a great place for those who are looking for a QUALITY local-style lunch in the Aiea area. Its also super convenient for those coming to bowl at Aiea Bowl!
(4)J R.
Horrible customer service. I will never return. After voicing my complaints about employee attitudes, the manager, Bobby, seemed to get one as well.
(1)Martha F.
We got there on a Wednesday night hoping to get some good food and bowling but there was League bowling all night so we decided to get some food. Despite the place being so busy we were seated pretty quick and the wait staff was friendly and efficient. The fries here are great! Thin cut and crispy and not too salty. Garlic ones are awesome! If you're getting a burger you can substitute for garlic fries if you like. It's a great option! The servings are generous here! The Alley burger with bacon and cheese was lovely. Juicy and delicious! Loved it. My son inhaled the fried rice and my daughter ate the Nathan's hot dog so fast i had to ask her if the waiter brought it out. This place is definitely kid friendly. My sister says the fried noodles were good here too. I wouldn't know but I trust her. I will be back on a non-league night to get more finger-lickin food and then some bowling to work it off!
(4)Emi H.
Holy hamburger steak Batman! How have I not yet written a review of the Alley?! There are so few good food options in Aiea and I've forgotten about my cholesterol laden, fat infused friend! Most recently I had the Tasty Chicken for lunch and I've fallen hard for this deep fried, sweet concoction that is cooked with a great crisp. If you're a fan of fried chicken then you're really going to enjoy this dish. Many times I don't care for fried chicken with teri sauce on it but the flavor on this bad boy was just right! Not too sweet, not too rancid...but juuuuust right! (Hiccup!) Thank gosh my fit and healthy BF wasn't with me because he probably would have shaken his head and made me feel bad about digesting my Tasty friends. Buuut he wasn't there so I ate joyously and completely without guilt! The other must try is their Pumpkin Crunch which is really like your Mom's Pumpkin Crunch on steroids. It has a huge layer of whipped cream which you'd initially think would be too much but it's so light and fluffy that it's like you're eating lovely clouds with your bites of pumpkin heaven. Completely wonderful and if you're a sweets freak like me you're going to really enjoy it. I started laughing when I started eating it because it made me so damn happy! I also tried the Lemon Crunch cake which was nice as well but I'm a pumpkin fan so I preferred the Pumpkin Crunch. I think it's really a personal preference. I recommend trying both! Yes, the Alley is more expensive than the usual plate lunch joint but considering the portion sizes, quality and taste, I think the value is still there. Oh and you're not in Town so food completely SUCKS on the West side and you should be grateful you can run to the Alley when you're hungry. It's way better than that crappy cheap plate lunch across the street (Yeah, that's right I said it and you know what I'm talking about!) I figure if I'm going to clog my arteries and shorten my life then I sure as heck had better be licking my lips and smiling the entire time. This is definitely a neighborhood restaurant where there are lots of regulars and its fun to see a wide spectrum of ages. I would feel good about bringing the entire fam here for a casual lunch or dinner. Staff is super friendly and I particularly enjoy the Japanese G-Mas running around. I met a really sweet one who said "What do I know! I'm just here to help!" God bless the G-Mas because they just make everything feel more homey and Hawaii... (Note: If you're going to order pumpkin crunch for Thanksgiving you'd better pre-order at least a week ahead of time!!!)
(5)Greg C.
5-stars. Period. See prior review. Tasty chicken has the name for a reason. Combine that with garlic shrimp and you've got a combo that will rival anything! Desserts to die for and they're so good that you might want to eat it before your meal. This time we went twice during our stay and one time the owner came over and introduced herself. She was reeeaally nice and made us feel at home and just had a really cool convo with her. If there's one place I would recommend coming while on Oahu, this is it. You will thank me.
(5)Jon M.
What can I say? Personally I've never been disappointed here. My daughters and I had the kalbi/fried noodles combo, tasty chicken, crispy fries and Asian braised shoyu pork, all thumbs up. The wait time and service was very good and we had a party of 11. It's always a bit crowded but I'm guessing it's cause the quality of the food, if you've never been here I suggest you give them a try and draw you're own conclusions.
(5)Tatiana M.
Fun Place
(4)Ashley O.
Hella expensive, hella busy, but dammit... the pumpkin crunch pie is SO GOOD! Also tried the oxtail soup, it was decent. Lots of meat but lacking a bit in the flavor department. Garlic fries are winnah, though. Giving these guys 4 stars mainly because of the faaabulous pumpkin crunch pie. Makes having to hunt for parking worth it.
(4)Krissy K.
High notes: tasty chicken, boneless kalbi, french fries (seriously), potato-mac salad, lemon crunch cake. Low notes: high catering prices; if it's really crowded and you're dining in the bowling alley and not the main eating area, forget about service. The Alley is a favorite place to meet and eat when I'm not hanging out in town. I'll be back...again and again.
(4)Chad Y.
The local food at the Alley is really fantastic. The Tasty Chicken is pretty darn tasty and is a really good mix between a mochiko chicken and a garlic chicken. Soooo Yummy! The Lemon Crunch Cake was simple but really amazing! It was just the perfect balance of sweet and tart and the cake was perfectly moist! The service here is a bit lacking and the reason why it gets three stars instead of four. The prices are a little on the higher end, but the food is well worth the money!
(3)Daniel L.
Today is Sunday about 12:00. We ordered the shoyu pork,garlic fries,and the fried noodles. The pork was Ono as well as the garlic fries. The noodles left a little more to be desired. The portion was really small, half of it was cabbage, and there was a small sliver of spam. Friends got a burger and said it was pretty good. In all, I'll be back again.
(4)Kamalani H.
I took my parents here today for mom's birthday, and I'm so glad I did. Yes, it's a restaurant in a bowling alley, and for us, that was part of the charm. Mom had a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke. Dad had the Tasty Chicken and mega fries. Pretty much every review here raves about the Tasty Chicken, and it really is good. But I am on a quest for the best hamburger steak plate, and I found it here at The Alley. Soft, flavorful and grilled to perfection, with a not- salty brown gravy. Heaven. The service was great. Our waitress was really friendly, and the food came out faster than we'd expected it would. Excellent. I bought a slice of lemon crunch cake to got. The waitress recommended it, and it was great - three layers of moist cake with a slight bite of lemon in the frosting. Yum. We arrived here by 10:30 on a Thursday and expected to be the only ones there. By 11 nearly every table was filled, and a number of people had dropped in for takeout orders. I love that this is a local business being supported by local people and a few military members. We will be back for sure!
(5)Mike W.
I went specifically for the oxtail soup and was told they were out. I ended up ordering something else, leaving the Alley semi-satisfied. As I was walking out, I saw a waitress taking two orders of oxtail out! Unacceptable!!!
(1)Phil F.
First time going to this place for some food after searching for a place nearby that has oxtail soup. After reading other reviews of the place i decided to try it. The price wasnt too bad considering that the place wasnt your ordinary fast food joint. Similar to a zippys. The portions were generous in comparison with zippys however. Thumbs up! The quality of the food was top notch. I had the tasty chicken which was like zippys Korean fried chicken but bigger portions and cooked better. The gf had oxtail soup which was pretty awesome from what i tasted. The Soup was hot and tasty plus the oxtail was soooo soft! Omg! I'm getting me my own order the next time i go. The only bad thing that kept me from giving the full five stars was the wait that i had to endure for my phone order. The girl was taking a pre order for thanksgiving over the phone while I waited in front of her. Took about 5 minutes before she even said that she would be right with me. After she hung up, she took even longer as she seemed to be taking her time organizing the paperwork that she filled out and receipts for the preorder that she had just taken. I will be back for sure! Good stuff! Don't know why i resisted the place to begin with. It's so good n so close by where i live :)
(4)L O.
Good food every time! Lemon crunch cake is excellent! Tasty chicken never disappoints!
(5)Leipupu S.
Like I say "you buy, I fly"...My cousin Makalani and Keahi treated Wally and I at the Alley Rest at Aiea Bowling alley and the food is to die for! Whoever the cooks are I just wanna say "HATS OFF TO YOU"!!! We have eaten here numerous times and it is ALWAYS excellent! This time I had the Alley Burger and Fries, excellent choice, the burger was cooked just right and the bun was very fresh. It wasn't any ordinary bun either, this bun was on the semi-sweet side and sesame's on it! the garlic fries were tasty. Wally had the tasty chicken (you must try if you haven't) and the kalbi. The Kalbi was definitely amazing! The food is 'Ono and the service is great! Mahalo Makalani and Keahi for the "treat" P.S. the price is on the high side, but definitely worh it!
(5)jesse g.
you'd never expect such a good restaurant to be located inside of a bowling alley. but this place lives up to it's rumors. inside of this restaurant the setting is very cozy setting that makes you feel like your in a living room. it is very noisy however because you are in fact inside of a bowling alley. on the up side to that the parking is isn't that bad because it accommodate a bowling alley along with the other small shops it neighbors. the food is great! the tasty chicken, garlic shrimp, all of it is ono and served to you literally right after if leaves the frying pan, grill, or oven. yup, that's how fresh it is and it's served in very generous portions. there is even an option for mix plate where you can select 2 entree's for your meal. i also like the fact that they have the option white or brown rice to accommodate the healthier crowd. the service is good as well. even on a busy hour your glass will not go empty and the staff is very friendly. overall i was very impressed with the alley. good prices, good service, good location, good parking, and most importantly, good food. just think of it as a classier more generous version of zippys inside of a bowling alley. good stuff.
(4)Jimmy C.
I was in Hawaii on vacation and my local friend brought me here specifically for Tasty Chicken...and I'm so happy she did! The chicken was crispy and flavorful, but I did ask for some extra sauce on the side. The single portion was enough for both of us to leave full. We also ordered the garlic fries, but look out, they're more potent than shrimp truck shrimp! As in, you'll keep tasting them all day long! I'm saving one star...Next time, I'll save some room for the lemon/pumpkin crunch cake!
(4)Tania P.
Furikake Ahi... Tasty Chicken... Oxtail Soup... Drool! So so so good! Dessert is WONDERFUL! Pumpkin crunch PLEASE!??!?! Best "gourmet plate lunch" in the Aiea area...
(4)Kellie O.
I never thought that a bowling alley could serve delicious food until I tried The Alley's Tasty Chicken! It's packed with sweet flavor that you'll find yourself licking your fingers after you're done :). Be sure to try their desserts! Especially the Pumpkin Crunch and Lemon Crunch! They are out of this world!!
(5)Julie H.
I had been here for bowling but I finally got to try the food! First off, parking here can be rough. I don't know why they have so many sectioned off for employees. I've had to park down by samurais which is actually quite nice if they're open. Aside from parking, the restaurant can fill up rather quickly but they take reservations and you can order takeout and sit by the bowling lanes or outside. It's pretty noisy in there wherever you are but the yummy food keeps me happy. No matter what you order morning, day or night, you MUST order a slice of lemon crunch cake. It's heavenly! Even if you are full, grab a slice to take home or just cram it in your belly. It's worth being disgustingly full. Other than that, I love the oxtail soup! The shoyu pork, tasty chicken and furikake ahi are also delicious (in that order). I like that you can also order bowls instead of plates because the servings are pretty big... And u can get brown rice and tossed salad as healthier choices. You know, to compensate for the cake :)
(4)Mark D.
Tasty chicken is by far the best. Just went there tonight with my family. But the best part was the girl working there. Wish I got her number. Other than that, best place to go with a lot of people
(5)Erich K.
Parking: weekend ride certified! (it's crowded, but stalls are big) I've tried several things on the menu, but what I always return for is the Tasty Chicken. Whoever made this recipe is a genius. They are also great for ordering take-out (look for their black styrofoam containers!). Need to bring something to a party? Just order one or two side orders of Tasty Chicken, perfect! The other great thing about this place is the dessert. Probably the Lemon Crunch Cake is what they are most famous for. The pumpkin crunch cake is good, but not as good as the lemon one. I also tried the chocolate insanity cake, but it was too rich for me.
(5)Lani B.
Been coming to The Alley since I moved back to Hawaii a couple years ago. I heard about them from a review in Midweek so I tried and was hooked! Two words...Tasty Chicken! Have had garlic chicken every place you can think of but their version is so good that my eyes roll back when I bite into it. I also love their hamburger steak. The homemade patty and the brown gravy is awesome. You can tell that the gravy is from scratch...not the powder kind or from a can. Give me a bowl of their gravy and I'd sip it like soup...Mmm! They offer a mix/combo plate that you can pick two entrees. I usually get mine with tasty chicken with the hamburger steak...kill two birds with one stone! I've also tried the hamburger w/crispy fries, Coca Cola marinated turkey breast sandwich, furikake mahimahi, oxtail soup (it's better than Kapiolani Coffee Shop), pork chops, pizza...everything is really good! As far as desserts...my favs are pumpkin crunch, lemon crunch cake and mama mia chocolate cake. If you go for breakfast, their signature French toast topped with caramelized apples is to die for...no need syrup! Prices are a little high for a plate lunch joint but you'll leave happy, full and with leftovers. Parking can be tight if the bowling alley has a tournament so park on the second level and walk up to the third. Service is usually good and consistent. Enjoy!
(5)Kalena J.
Pumpkin crunch pie super good!!!
(4)Melissa M.
I would have to say that the only bad thing that I can say about this place is that sometimes when it gets busy here the service suffers big time. The waitstaff gets flustered and they forget things or sometimes there is simply just not enough of them. I think that they're food definitely makes up for their service. I usually get either the alley burger with cheese and fries or the tasty chicken. However, last night we got their pizza for the first time and it was AMAZING!! I think its called their perfect 10 or their perfect 300 but whatever it was called it was delicious. The crust was perfectly crunchy and the tomato sauce was not overpowering. You could tell that everything was fresh because the mushrooms still had a crunch to them. I would highly recommend getting their pizza and taking some home with you because I can't get enough of their food. You would never imagine this great of food coming out of a bowling alley kitchen. They do an amazing pumpkin crunch that is to die for and other places can't compare to the amount of whip cream and fat that they put into this dessert. I simply don't care how many calories it has because it is the best dessert ever. I would recommend everyone to come and try their alley burger, fried pork chop, pizza and definitely their tasty chicken. Also their salads are handmade and made to order and can be considered a meal of their own. Definitely come here and taste every one of their desserts because once you eat their sweets you will not go anywhere else for any of your homemade goodies. The pumpkin and lemon crunch are definitely must haves and they just added a pistachio crunch which I have yet to try but I can't wait for an excuse to try one.
(4)Maria T.
The only menu item that anyone needs to know, Boneless Kalbi Sandwich...oh and Lemon Crunch Cake......and Orange Cranberry Scones. Just a little restaurant attached to the bowling alley with an outside window to order from as well. Don't forget to go inside to see the AMAZING pastry case with all the heavenly delights. I just might have to break my rule in order to try all the desserts as well as other menu items. Yay!
(5)A G.
Got the chocolate insanity cake. It was insanely rich and delicious. Not sure I'd pay $8 a slice often but it was a nice treat.
(4)Derek K.
Their service is GARBAGE. I won't ever go there again. People don't go to restaurants just to get something to eat. Service is important too. The workers must think they're doing customers a favor by going there. F that! One doesn't go to a low-end restaurant in a bowling alley and expect 5 Star service but when I don't even get a "thank you" after picking up an order???! Seriously?! This place is a joke...
(1)Joanna L.
I've heard amazing things about this place's crunch cake and I've been wanting to come here for some time, so finally I did. Upon walking in to the restaurant, before even taking a look at the menu, we had already decided we were getting pizza. If you think it looks amazing, it tastes even better! We ordered the "cosmic" vegetarian, which came with portabella mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, roma tomatoes, fresh spinach, and garlic pesto sauce on thin crust. It wasn't too heavy and the ingredients were amazingly fresh! Thinking about that pizza is seriously making my mouth drool right now. :) We ordered the medium, which they recommend for 2 to 4 people, and even though the two of us finished the pizza, we were super stuffed! So I took my crunch cake to go. (There was no way I was leaving without trying a piece of that!) They also sold pumpkin crunch, lemon crunch, and strawberry crunch, which, unfortunately for me, they were sold out of, so I ordered the lemon crunch cake. There was about 5 or 6 layers of cake, so it was quite tall, but the slice itself was rather small. The layers of cake reminded me of pound cake (it kind of had that consistency) and the lemon crunch part was awesome! Perhaps because I love pound cake and toffee! :] *more drool* If you have a sweet tooth, I'm certain you'll enjoy it! TL; DR: Go there. Nao. Immediately. Pronto! Order pizza and crunch cake! And don't forget to bring some back for me. ;)
(5)Betsy P.
Delicious carrot cake! Quite expensive at $7 a slice but it is worth it. My son loves their chocolate cupcakes. I ate their fish the last time and it was kind if weird, battered with egg like meat jun...very strange and not in a good way! The first time I ate their fish it was delicious, sprinkled with tons of furikake and sooooo delicious! Don't know what happened there ;) My husband loves their shoyu pork and stops by there for lunch just for a taste! Very delicious food for being in a bowling alley.
(4)Jensine S.
Got the Kalbi boneless short ribs for lunch, it was ok. Wish I got the tasty chicken instead. Called in to pre-order and pre-pay to minimize wait time. The bummer was when I had also ordered 3 of the lemon cake slices for me and my co-workers to enjoy after lunch but they forgot to bag it! They credited my card but was dissapointed, no lemon cake!! Also think its a bit pricey for plate lunch.
(2)D M.
I went there not for the bowling but for the food. I was visiting family and friends and needed some good local food on a Saturday night. Parking can be a hassle but we lucked out. We got there at about 8pm and was seated immediately. I got the Loco Moco but my two friends got the Tasty Chicken. The Loco Moco was good. I tried the Tasty Chicken and it is like chicken karaage. It is battered and fried with a nice salty kind of sauce. If I go back I'll get a plate of that. The food is reasonably priced, good, and well portioned. I'll get the "bowl" the next time and not the "plate", since it was too much for me. Service is good as well.
(4)Kimothy K.
Aiea Bowl has definitely had a major makeover. WOW. Since it's facelift, this place has been attracting the masses especially on weekends and holidays. I feel so blessed to work right downstairs from this place. Their #1 menu item is their Lemon Crunch Cake, hands down. I must admit it's a little hefty in price and probably in calories, but it's definitely worth it. The cake is moist and layered with lemony goodness... The whipped frosting (which could just be whipped cream) is not too sweet and very light... And the best part of this cake is the Crunch! You know it's just that good when you pick up the little stray crunchies that just happen to fall off your cake. Other items worth trying: -Tasty Chicken: crispy outside, moist on the inside and coated with Tasty sweet/spicy sauce -Oxtail Soup: a generous portion of meat in a rich broth, comes with normal condiments plus ponzu sauce (The first time I ever tried oxtail soup was at The Alley, and I LOVED it!) -Mega Crunch Fries: skinny fries that are mega crunchy, you can't go wrong! I prefer regular over the garlic version -Mixed Plate: a great option since it's hard to choose just one item when everything tastes so gooood I feel a kanak attack coming over me just writing about this place. Good night Alley, see you next week!
(5)Barbara B.
BEST local food ever!! It's in a bowling alley but the food is delicious and cheap for Hawaii prices! Their OX tail soup simmers for 2 days! Furikaki Tuna is amazing, and their pumpkin crunch pie is ridiculously good!! They also have regular fried stuff and Burger's. Parking can be crazy sometimes, worth it though!! Friendly service.
(5)Dave H.
Warning: 1) garlic fries have tons and tons of garlic=D, so you had better like garlic. Case in point, I had this for lunch at 1pm and it's 9 right now, my breath still tastes of garlic and i listerined thrice! 2) And the Tasty Chicken is da bomb! Better than mitsuken? You be the judge, but I definitely think so. This is how I begin and end my plate lunch venture when back in hawaii from my break at school. If there were such a thing as an "upscale" plate lunch, this would be it. Everything is neatly presented whether you do take out and get those cool looking black plate lunch boxes or do dine in. Just a few years ago the aiea bowling complex was run down and looked like it was dieing, now look at it! W/ new ownership, it seems it has definitely turned around into an awesome place! Like i mentioned, definitely definitely go for the tasty chicken to start with if it's your first time or do half the tasty chicken and half something else, but definitely try it! I cant seem to love anything else as much as I love that chicken! lol.
(5)Dennis L.
I have never bowled here but have come to the restaurant and bar a few times already. I like the service here. The bartender always hooks it up with the drinks. It can pretty busy here at times but I never had to wait long for a seat at the bar or at the table. As for the food, I enjoyed everything I had so far. Unfortunately, I haven't had the pizza yet but I will try it one day. I do think their loco moco is one of the best because their gravy is delicious. I also liked the grilled ahi furikake salad. They also give out good portions so I am able to eat my friend's leftovers. I don't remember what else I had because I was probably wasted.
(4)Kara K.
I like to bowl. I like to eat chocolate cake and pizza from The Alley. Most of all, I like to bowl, eat chocolate cake, and eat pizza at the same place. The Alley Restaurant is so good! It's one of my favorite places to eat, although it is rather pricey. I've had quite a few of their menu items. My top three are: any of their pizzas, caesar salad with the tasty chicken (their chicken is quite tasty, I usually don't enjoy eating chicken), and their Mamma Mia chocolate cake. I'll tell you right now that their chocolate cake is one of the best desserts I've had on Oahu, and this is what makes me come back to eat here. If you are running on a budget, just go to McDonalds or make saimin at home, and spend your last $6 here on their chocolate cake. Costly piece of cake, but quality ingredients and love go into their cake. Get a second opinion on the cake lest I disappoint you, but I enjoy it and if I ever get married, I would like to order their Mamma Mia cake for my wedding. Maybe I will have my wedding on cosmic bowling night on one of the bowling lanes and then we will head over for a superb pizza, salad, and chocolate cake dinner and reception. Oh yes!!!
(4)Jerry L.
This place has pretty good food but it can be pricey. However everyone has probably heard of what The Alley is known for!! That is the lemon crunch cake! If you haven't tried this then I strongly recommend a slice! I've been here 5 times and the food is always pretty consistent. However the service leaves something to be desired. Once my friends and I have enjoyed outstanding service from a bartender. She was engaging, attentive and always smiled when greeting patrons. Twice the service was just ok. The other 2 times service was pretty none existent. The last time I walked in and found the staff all sitting down eating. Not even a "HI, you can take a seat anywhere." Just got stared at as I made my way to the bar. Then I had to wait over 5 minutes at an empty bar with no bartender. Several of the kitchen staff saw me and didn't even bother. Had several drinks, closed my tab and didn't even get a thank you. Guess I was interrupting employee meal time! I give this place 2 stars after averaging in service!! If you feel like gambling no need go Vegas. Just come here and hope you get at least decent service
(2)Claudia M.
It was a little hard to find this place but once I found it....it was so hard to find parking. That was the only major thing about it. I ordered the coca cola turkey sandwich. OMG it was delicious. I loved it. I will come back again for them and probably try what other delicious foods they have.
(5)Gayle C.
The very best are the desserts!! Winners...if you are on a diet, but need to splurge and want to do on something that is memorable I would recommend their Lemon Crunch Cake or the Pumpkin Crunch Cake. You can't go wrong. But beware they are both very rich and probably loaded with calories. But such a treat!!
(4)Yun Y.
After trying the oxtail soup at the Mermaid bar we had to come and try here.....so here goes...the good the bad and the ugly. I always like to start with the positives: 1) Lots of meat, shitake mushrooms, broth was rich 2) Tempting desserts just out of your reach 3) Portion was pretty hefty - we left pretty full The Bad: 1) Too many peanuts 2) Salty and seemed like they dumped a quart of MSG in there? Thirsty and tired we were leaving the place.... 3) Too chinsey on the cilantro and ginger 4) Had a ponzu sauce that we didn't use for the meat - it was way too different. The Ugly: 1) PRICEY - for $14 that's more expensive than Utake and they give you dessert and a drink. It wasn't that bad - just not good enough and we expected better being that they recently won the Ilima award. Well we hope to hear better things next time from others - since this place does give you a little nostalgia for those days when we'd have oxtail soup at Kam Bowl.
(2)Chantelle T.
Oh man. Soo good. The tasty chicken is to die for! The bowl is a bit small for the price you're paying, but it does fill you up (surprisingly). If you tend to eat more though, I'd highly recommend paying the extra $2 for the plate vs the bowl. The ox tail soup is winnaz! I haven't had a lot of ox tail soup before (only the one my aunty makes) but everything was great. The flavors all complemented each other and nothing was too overpowering. The furikake ahi (I'm pretty sure this is what it was...) is also pretty good! I only had a small bite, but what I did try was pretty good. The best thing about this place is definitely the desserts. The lemon crunch cake is TO DIE FOR. I always get this when I'm back home!
(4)Tiffany A.
First time dining at night for dinner (not counting all the bar times and visits to the bowling alley). First up: our waiter was fabulous! Always attentive the way a waiter person should be. Definitely deserved my 20% tip hehe. But let's move to the food people! We all ordered different items and so I'll start with the soup... Oxtail Soup. Good portion of oxtail in the soup, a big scoop of rice, some kind of shoyu sauce on the side and ginger. All the yummy fixings of a classic and wonderful Oxtail soup. Next up: the chicken bowls! Tasty chicken vs Fried. Both reined in supreme with their orderers. Following in the other corner was the Boneless Kalbi burger with garlic fries. It was yummy without all the messing around with bones and I can't stop loving those little teeny tiny fries that are wonderful crispy yet not too oily (you know of course you can't have fried without oil!) Lastly was my delectable, soft and chewey, medium pizza covered or shall I say smothered in cheese, three-blend btw, with tomatoes and mushrooms. As my girlfriend said "Oh-mah-gawwwwd" with the pizza in her mouth. Hahaha. And that's not all! If you call in the next 10 minutes... just kidding. They also have some amazing desserts. There's a whole menu ranging from cakes to ice cream. The crunches are fabulous but the one thing we tried that I have to give mad props was the Apple cobbler thing with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. I scream for "damn this is delicious especially the crumb layer!" Check it out one night on your way to bowling... Gotta warn you, you may not even make it to your game.
(4)Noeru N.
More reason to head to Aiea! Git yo bowling shoes on and lets eat! Tita (my big sister) and I got some breakfast of hotcakes and loco moco.. easy choice for 9am! When putting in my loco moco order I for a med rare burger and was told they only serve well done *eek! I understand the safety precautions they are taking with serving a welldone, but I really dislike a dry overcooked piece of meat. (I surely wouldn't order a undercooked meat if it were a sketchy establishment, which fo sho The Alley is not). Skeptical, yet hungry, I patiently waited. Loco moco was HUUUGE with brown rice, over easy egg and gravy all over. Then the moment of truth.. burger. was. A.May.Zing! Tender. Flavorful. Mouth full of Yum. We all lived happily ever after. Can't wait to bring my real appetite next to try the tasty chicken.. lemon crunch kek and then some..
(5)R K.
Food excellent!...SERVICE POOR.....I had dinner here 2 weeks ago the food was excellent but the service was poor 1st of all when we walked in no acknowledgment or welcome from staff just standing around...2nd we got seated before the table next to us but the table next to us received service before us...we had to ask the waitress if we can have water and place our order...there was so many STAFF just STANDING around while place is busy.... CUSTOMER WALKS IN AND NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR GREETING....the food was great pork chops are excellent!......its sad that a place with such good food has POOR SERVICE!.....I HOPE THIS REVIEW CAN HELP IMPROVE SVC!
(2)Liz T.
I hate doing things I'm not good at, so I don't come to Aiea Bowl to put my bowling skills on display. The Alley is worth a visit alone. Order at the conveniently-located window outside and have a picnic at the park--no basket required. Forget the Colonel and his fried chicken (so 19th century), the Tasty Chicken here is the next big staple in Hawaii. Crisypy, saucy, garlicky--it'd still be a perfect 10 if it was served in a pre-used Long's paper bag, but the aesthetically-pleasing black styrofoam it comes in enhances the overall taste. There are 2 sizes available for 2 sizes of people: Bowl for $6.50 (me) and Plate for $8.50 (my growing boy--haha). Call me the antithesis of local, but I always love when there's a healthy substitute for mac salad--like the Spring Mixed Salad here. There's nothing salad-y about mac salad; it's just pasta, mayonnaise, and salt (carbs, fat, and water retention where you don't want to see it). I've had other stuff here, but the Tasty Chicken is all you'll ever need to reach abdominal nirvana. If only this place would open a 2nd location somewhere cooler--like down the street from my apartment in town. UPDATE - 05/06/2008 Got a slice of the Cream Cheese Brownie as Joshua C. recommended--it was rather dry but rich and tasty. My boyfriend and I were at the beach and had a little trouble floating on the water after inhaling one of these--it's quite heavy!
(4)Julie A.
I don't think I've had anything bad here. Their food is great, their desserts are awesome (the apple crumble rocks!) It can get really crowded so be prepared to wait if you come during peak dining hours.
(5)Teddy C.
Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 3/5 Overall Experience: 4/5 Coming to Aiea Bowling Alley to eat never fails to satisfy my hunger and keeps me satiated. The food here is ALWAYS GOOD! Appetizers - * Garlic Fries - If you are a garlic lover, this is the appetizer to get with your meal! Every bite you take is a mouthful of overpowering spiciness of garlic sensation! LOVE THIS DISH! Most of the times when you get garlic fries, it is usually soggy due to the garlic butter tossed with the fries; this is NOT the case! The fries are still crispy! MUST TRY! Entrée - * Tasty Chicken - If you love eating Korean chicken, this is a dish you have to try! Although Zippy's do serve some good Korean chicken, you are not getting what you pay for. At the Aiea Bowling Alley Café, their rendition of Korean chicken is the tasty chicken! Each piece is deep fried and dipped in a shoyu sugar garlic sauce with a hint of spice. You would think the chicken would be soggy, but in actuality, the chicken stays crispy! And if you are a fried chicken skin lover, then you will LOVE this dish! * Ox Tail Soup - A must try IF you love ox tail soup! I took my aunts and uncle to this place because they wanted to try a good bowl of ox tail soup! This dish is pretty big so I would suggest to share if you plan on trying everything else. Each bowl comes with ginger, a shoyu and grated daikon sauce, and either white or brown rice. The soup is very flavorful! It has peanuts, shitake mushrooms, bak choy, and of course a generous serving of ox tail! * Pulehu Steak - This was my first time trying this dish and I must say, one of the best steaks I have had in a very long time! The steak was cooked medium rare and served with grilled onions and mushrooms. It was DELICIOUS! The meat was very tender and well seasoned. Another must try. Dessert - * Pumpkin Crunch - I was quite disappointed when I took my first bite of their pumpkin crunch cake. The flavor was not as powerful as I expected it to be. Most of the dishes have a powerful punch of flavor on the first bite, except for this dessert. You can try it if you want, but I wouldn't waste my money on it. Overall, if you are looking for a good meal at a decent price, this is once of the best places to go! They have an extensive menu of appetizers, entrées, and desserts. Every time I come to eat here, I always have to order everything I described above.
(5)Crystal L.
Every time my bff comes home from college she has to get the tasty chicken!! If you're a light eater like me who loves sushi and non-greasy food, you might not enjoy it as much as she does. The tasty chicken is oily, heavy but good!! However, after consuming it, I had a major kanak attack: lazy with a tummy ache for the whole day! I've also tried their steak and burgers. Pretty decent bar food. I wanna try their desserts! I would go to Aiea Bowl for the drinks...one shot looks more like double shot - thank you hot bartendress!
(3)Toan D.
One of my favorite places to eat on O'ahu. Always consitenly great local style comfort food. Get the Furikake Ahi...YUM!!. They make their own desserts there and it's Amazing!! Be ready for a loud atmosphere as it is located inside a bowling alley.
(5)pat m.
great place to eat since the redesign... one of my favorites!! boneless kalbi- ONO! tasty chicken-ONO lemon crunch cake-MMM!! but my favorite.. CHOCOLATE INSANITY!! try it.. you would not believe how ono this cake is.. speaking of which.. think i'm going back tomorrow!!
(5)Geoff K.
The Alley Restaurant? I don't think that name is going to stick. Everyone I know just calls this place Aiea Bowl. This place is one of my favorites. Despite it's shortcomings I will always return to Aiea Bowl. The signature dish here is the Tasty Chicken. It's not just a clever name. It is so so good. The greatness is in the skin. I'm not sure what they do to it. It is so crispy and flavorful. If you come here and you're not sure what to get, give the Tasty Chicken a try. The Furikake Ahi and Hamburger Steak are also really good here. A close second place is on their desert menu. The Lemon Crunch Cake. It is very good. It is kind of expensive, but you get a big piece. Great for sharing. I wish you could order half a slice. You can order most plates in a smaller bowl size. Eating a regular size plate leaves me feeling a little too full. For the health conscious you can swap out your white rice for brown and your mac salad for tossed greens. The service here is good. It can get really crowded but there are always seats at the bar. The food comes quickly and I always get at least one table visit from the waitress while I'm eating. One time when I was leaving the waitress made me a new drink with a paper cup turning my dine-in drink into a to-go drink. That really impressed me. My only compliant I've ever had here is the soda. There is something wrong with their fountain drinks. They are half flat and often taste funny. Not ha ha funny but ewww funny. I sent the drink back once and it came back a little better but it was still "funny". I love my Diet Coke so this is a big issue for me. They need to turn up the carbonation and clean out the crud in the fountain that is making the drinks taste bad.
(4)Cy C.
No longer the days of yucky floor and paper plates. Since the complete renovation of the bowling alley and restaurant, this place has become a hangout for young and old. Its sad that bowling alleys around the island has been closing, its nice see Aiea Bowl is still striving! Part of the revival is the opening of The Alley. Let's see local plate lunch (wait let me rephrase that fancy local plate lunch), pizza, beer and desserts. What a combination! Lets just say I tried every aspect of the restaurant and enjoyed. Some dishes to order includes the chicken, oxtail soup with ponzu sauce (a different take), kalbi and fried noodles. Pizza is pretty tasty too! Okay but the kicker is the desserts! They have lemon crunch, scones, fancy cupcakes but my fav is pumpkin crunch. Great lunch place but it does get a little crowded. Also a nice place for dinner and late night snack. Well snack may not be the most appropriate word because the dishes are filling. If you are looking for a complete meal make sure you get there before 10 pm, after that they serve pupus only. Friendly service and a bar ready to serve you! I must admit prices are not cheap but it will not break your bank. Meals are around $9 to $15. Desserts are from $4 to $7! Not sure if they have happy hour, but nice place to hang out if you don't mind the Cosmic Bowling atmosphere on the weekends. So if you want some great food, the place to be is in Aiea at THE ALLEY!
(4)Jaynie K.
Tasty Tuesdays! An incredibly affordable and DELICIOUS 5 course prix fixe gourmet meal with a menu that changes monthly! Inventive and exciting dishes to look forward to every month, with the one faithful item: Pasta Parmagiano Reggiano with prosciutto and basil. It's prepared right in front of your eyes by Marty, who tosses the pasta in a big beautiful cheese wheel! Mmm! See photos!
(5)Jerrene T.
Lary and I went here last night because I really wanted some oxtail soup and this place seemed to have rave reviews of the dish, for the most part anyway. We got here around 7ish and I'd say the place was 2/3 full. We were greeted and seated right away. Being our first time here, I wanted to look at everything on the menu. I'd say the waiter came by at least three times to check up on us to see if we were ready. I was kinda getting borderlined pissed because I like to take my time. Oh well, I settled for oxtail soup while the hubby got tasty chicken since everyone raved about that too. He wanted to try their pizza but I wouldn't let him... I told him, next time! Not really but I sort of nudged him towards the chicken. I'm a good wife, I promise! haha. Anyway, his food arrives probably like five minutes before mine so he eats his salad... he didn't want mac because most places put too much mayo for his liking... that's Hawaii for ya! The waiter eventually brings my soup and while I agree with another user that they're quite stingy on the ginger... I ask for more anyway. He brings a small to go cup of it... perfect! By this time, the hubby has eaten a few chickens and I have tried a piece. Quite tasty but that's not what my baby wanted to eat. As I have dug into my soup, there's soooooooo much oxtail that you don't really know what to do. Normally you don't get that much oxtail unless you make your own soup. While a lot of meat isn't necessarily bad per se, you'd like a few more veggies than two shittake mushrooms and a piece of mustard cabbage. The soup base itself is quite good and the oxtails melt in your mouth so that's always good. They give you the ponzu and I hit myself in the head for not trying it... but it honestly didn't need it. I just wanted to see what it tasted like. So while it's annoying that the waiter checked up on our menu selection a million times... they were really quick on the water refills. Plus in my book for sure. We also got the pumpkin crunch and the lemon cruch cake. Both were good... well I didn't like the pumpkin because I'm not a big fan (only when it comes to pumpkin spice latte at Starbuckles) but the husband sure loved it. The lemon crunch cake was good but I was stuffed and I didn't have room so the husband finished it. Overall? The food was 3.5 and the service was a solid 4... so four stars it is.
(4)June H.
Ordered take out. The hamburger steak was very burnt, the Coca-cola Turkey sandwhich was dry. Expected better quality for the price we paid. There were numerous employees horsing around. We didn't even get a thank you when we got our order. Not going there again!!
(1)Rayjay H.
The chicken and loca mocha mix was good. Also the cosmic bowling was fun.
(5)Lofa L.
The food at the alley is really good. I ordered hamburger steak and was extremely pleased. Their garlic chicken is 'ono as well. The only downside to this place is that it is often hard to find a seat and I always want to go bowling afterward. I wish I didn't break my bowling ball. The staff is friendly and the food is prepared in a prompt manner.
(4)Manda S.
I've heard that the food is here SUPER TASTY so my coworkers and I came for a "we'll miss you" lunch. We were a party of 7 so I made reservations and they sat us in the bowling side (you can sit in the restaurant side if you've got 6 or less people). We didn't mind the "outside" section so much (it was kinda fun!) but the crammed all 7 of us onto a small table. It was suuuuper tight but we figured the food was worth it. And it totally was! I had the furikake ahi. It was really. really. good. The fish was not greasy or dry and the furikake wasn't overpowering at all. They even had brown rice with my tossed salad! I was happy. We were too full for dessert (I know, I know, we didn't eat the pumpkin crunch but we had to go back to work!) so we just paid and we left. I give this place 3 stars because the service was only...meh. Our waitress was nice but she charged us twice for one of our entrees (They couldn't put it back on the card so I had to drive back for my refund in cash). The food came out kinda slow, but they took a SUPER LONG TIME to bring out the shoyu pork. By the time it came, everyone else had eaten more then half of their food...and what made it more awkward was that my boss ordered it. Hmm. :P If I came back, I'd make sure that I beat the lunch/dinner crowd. We came early and the parking lot was empty. By the time we left, there were people fighting for our stalls!
(3)Joshua C.
It's tough finding anything "gourmet" in Aiea, but this bowling alley restaurant will shock and amaze you with it's reasonably priced perfectly executed flavorful local food. This place is both a funky modern sit down diner and a good-enough-to-eat-there-daily take out window. Along with Nico's, da Spot, and Diamond Head Grill, this place is one of the best values to be had island wide. Hand's down best Hamburger Steak, fresh "handmade" ground beef patty, charred with slight crunch on the outside, left moist inside...yum. This goes really well paired with the Pan Seared Furikake Crusted Ahi or with eggs as a top notch Loco Moco. Our friends love the Tasty Chicken, which might actually rival Mitsu-Ken's Garlic Chicken. These fried pieces of poultry come out light and crispy, with just the right amount of shoyu, sugar, garlic flavor. One nice plus for the healthful eater is that the brown rice here is actually good. The dessert selection is deep and delicious. If you're going to order take out, it's best to phone in your order. Plates are served in black food containers that mentally just make the food appear that much better. Even the side toss salad here is more than just a few Thousand Island topped lettuce strips. If you're in the area, this place is a must. Is it worth a drive to get there, definitely, but don't come expecting an intimate dining experience, foie gras, or ocean front seating. It's still a bowling alley after all. Do come for the ridiculously affordable "gourmet" local food, you'll leave satisfied and might even have enough money left to bowl a few frames. ---update 3/18/08--- uploaded pictures....wasn't blown away by the teri beef steak...loved the Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Brownie!
(4)Lisa L.
The tasty chicken was super hot and good. I haven't had a bad experience here so far!
(5)J K.
Went for lunch a few days ago. Maybe the server wasn't happy to be working on an observed holiday but still there's no excusing the lack of acceptable service that day. When I'm at a local place, I don't expect much in the way of variety for a vegetarian. But for a place that has attempted to step up the quality of food, I was hoping to find something different than pizza and a portabella mushroom sandwich. Ordered the portabella sandwich and requested garlic fries instead of the regular fries. Started asking the server about the mac salad (wanted to find out if had tuna or fake crab in it) and she ignored my question and asked to take the next person's order. The other two people at the table ordered the same item: "The Alley Mixed Plate": Tasty chicken, boneless kalbi, rice and mac salad. The first order was with white rice and when the second person asked for brown rice, the server automatically assumed that the order also included a green salad instead of mac. Not true. Got that straightened out and then waited for our food. The one guy in our group received his food first, the height on his plate was impressive with the amount of chicken and kalbi piled on. We waited for a few more minutes and then a few more before the rest of our food was brought to the table (3 total in our party). The amount of food on the second plate of the identical order was significantly less than on the first plate. I looked at my portabella mushroom burger plate with garlic fries and tried the fries first. I couldn't taste any garlic and the fries looked pretty naked. Asked the others at the table to also taste the fries to see if it was just me. It wasn't. (Sidenote: Chefs, please find another mushroom, please.) When the server came back to the table I told her that I had ordered garlic fries and I didn't think that it was it, also that I had attempted to order mac salad with my meal but somehow that was missed. She took my plate back without a word. When she returned it to the table, there were more fries on the plate with a scoop of mac salad in bowl and she still didn't say anything. The fries didn't look any different than before, just more of them. Again I asked my fellow diners to try them and we agreed that maybe, maybe the fries had been in the same kitchen as some garlic but doubted that they mingled much. Not even an essence of garlic was present... The roasted mushroom was just that, roasted, but the menu didn't give any more of a description than that, so I shouldn't have expected much. Ended up seasoning it myself with the condiments available at the table. Later we asked for the dessert menu and she brought one and gave it to the only guy at the table. She came back, took his order and walked away without asking the other two of us if we wanted anything. Apparently she didn't think that people who eat brown rice and are eating the veggie option are interested in dessert. The hot apple crumble that was ordered was the redeeming part of the meal and the only reason I'm giving the Alley two stars instead of one. The crunchy oatmeal streusel topping was the perfect complement for the warm apple wedges underneath. Now if we only didn't have to divide it amongst the three of us...
(2)Mei-Li P.
I took 4 kids and a teenager to Aiea Bowl on Friday as it was a state holiday. We got there about 9pm, signed up for cosmic bowling, but didn't start bowling until 11:30pm. In the meantime from 9:30 to 11ish, The kids and I went to check out The Alley. Three boys on the table ordered the Fried Rice, my stepdaughter ordered the Caesar salad, and I had The Alley Burger, with Garlic fries. My daughters and my food came first, the burger was this huge handmade monstrosity, and the garlic fries were sooo good, with a hint of spicyness. The burger ended up being too big for my mouth so it was all over the plate.. I couldn't finish it all as it was really oily and really unhealthy for me. I ended up finishing off my daughters Caesar salad, just the right amount of dressing and croutons. The teenager really liked the garlic fries. Some of those garlic fries were a tad spicy but really crispy. I like the fact that the garlic was fried with the potatoes too. I don't know how the boys liked their fried rice, but most of them ate all of it. The downside? they only had small ketchup packets,,, where's the bottle? It's now Sunday and I have this huge craving to have the Garlic fries again... thats how good the garlic fries were. :)
(4)Laurie S.
Bad customer service! Never offered water. No one smiles just walks around like they hate their job. Never going back!
(1)Jane G.
For the last three years or so, I've made Pumpkin Crunch for Thanksgiving. So of course I made one last year. One of my cousins came a little late, and she walked in with a high, white bakery box. And what did she bring? A Pumpkin Crunch... from The Alley. *dun dun dun* Can you say showdown? Anyways, after the turkey-stuffing-gravy-sushi-kalbi-garlic shrimp-lumpia round (yups, that's how my family rolls at Thanksgiving), it was time to for dessert. Both Crunches were cut and served at the same time. I offered one to my boyfriend, who was still digesting and said he'd have a piece later. As I was passing plates out to the rest of the family, my mom offers The Alley's Crunch to my boyfriend. Well, more like presses the plate into his hand and walks away smiling. Haha. That is *so* my mom. Well, my boyfriend did get to eat a slice of the one I made, and he declared mine the winner! And yes, so did I. In fact, we both had the same criticisms. - The crust was too nutty - The pumpkin filling wasn't enough and could have used more spices - There was too much whipped cream (and my Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting tastes better too haha) So, thanks to my cousin. I've always wanted to try more desserts from The Alley, but at 6 bucks a pop, I'm glad I found out that mine tastes better for free =)
(3)Sara T.
Came here for an office party, and we had buffet line of all the greats: boneless kalbi (SO TENDER!), chow mein, "tasty" chicken (lives up to its name), mac salad, mahi mahi, and three kinds of cake. The food was great! I can't comment on the prices or value of the normal portion sizes, because my three plates were definitely more than the usual amount. Sure, the atmosphere is not the best (it's a bowling alley...), but I think I might even come here just for the food one day :)
(4)Anson G.
Bottom Line: Good place to get some good food. The place is relatively unassuming. It's just a little restaurant inside the bowling alley. It appears to be pretty clean and tidy for the most part. The food has been been better than average 3 out of the 4 times I've eaten there. The 1 time it was off, it seemed to me to have a slight after taste in the hamburger steak. I have had tasted the hamburger steak twice, and the next time, it did not have the previously mentioned after taste. I don't know how to explain it, other than it tasted "artificial." It was not very strong at all, but I could swear it was there. It didn't stop me from eating a few more bites of it though. :) I've had the furikake ahi, salmon, the hamburger steak, and the tasty chicken. All are satisfactory, but the furikake fishes were especially good. I thought the tasty chicken was a bit oily for my liking, and didn't have enough tastiness. I like it to a toned down Korean chicken dish, without any kick. I think their apple pie is entirely forgettable, and I actually didn't think it was as good as most bakeries. Their red velvet cup cake on the other hand was very good and was a rival for Hokulani Bakery in my eyes. Although the cup cake featured a chocolate center - which I thought was a nice treat. The desserts are fancy looking - and they should be, they're pretty expensive! The service here is no nonsense. They are helpful for the most part, but sometimes it's hard to get your water refilled. Note: Check your bill - a lot of times you will be charged more than what is shown on the menu's prices! This has happened 3 times to me already, and probably the main reason for me not giving them a higher star rating.
(3)Shane C.
Good food. Tasty chicken is my favorite. I bit pricey, but worth it. Might have to wait for table if dining in.
(4)joannie h.
We waited for over 10 mins to get our order drinks in. When we finally got a waiter he got our drink order and food order in. He was very attentive after he finally figured out he had more people to serve. The food was good but it wasn't hot which I think would have improved my experience. I would come here again even with the 3 stars. It was after all very busy when we got here, and the waiter did awesome after we waited so long. I came on yelp to see what users before me liked from here and I'm glad I did. Mix plate Kali and tasty chicken was delicious. The lemon crunch cake was Ono too
(3)Mike B.
This place is the best. Killer entrees + the best pumpkin crunch ever. Don't think twice because it's in a bowling alley, it'll be your loss
(5)La L.
Love love love the Lemon Crunch Cake. I don't like to bowl and really would never be caught otherwise in a bowling alley, but I will definitely be returning for more Lemon Crunch Cake. The food was also decent. I ordered a cheese pizza for the kiddies and it was pretty darned tasty. We also had the tasty chicken, furikake ahi and a few other dishes. The Alley is pretty popular with the locals and was fairly busy on a Wednesday night.
(5)Yvonne O.
I have eaten at The Alley on several occasions for lunch and take out dinner but never thought to swing by for breakfast. OMG! how did I miss this place. Simple fare for breakfast for reasonable prices. My daughter (1 yrs old) and I went on Sunday 9/01/13 early in the morning around 8 am. Service was on it and because it was before the crowds we got extra attention so big plus in my book! I ordered pancakes with milk for my daughter ( the waitress was really nice to put her milk in a plastic covered cup and water too) and bacon & eggs for me. I also splurged on a blueberry cream cheese scone!!! I have to say it was fresh and warm. So yummy!!! I ordered one to take home with me. I also ordered my other daughter at home a apple cinnamon french toast to go. It was so divine to smell in the car with all the vanilla and warm apples soaking in a cinny sauce! I snuck a bite at home and must say order this wonderful stomach pleasing dish if you love cinnamon! The breakfast menu has also mini orders for the less hearty eater which is great for the kids or older person who just wants a bite. My sister stopped by our table before we left and she ordered a loco moco. My sister is a absolute lover of loco mocos and she can tell you what is a thumbs up and a big fat zero. She said that the gravy was lip smacking good and the burger had the right seasoning with minimum grill burn LOL! I told you she loves her loco moco. She would rather have the breakfast moco vs. the lunch/dinner moco because she said the gravy was way different. I will have to take her word on it. Last but not least I have to explain the 4 stars vs 5 stars for the place. There was a error on the receipt at the time of payment.. Comparing the menu to the receipt it was really obvious. It took some hand waving as the crowd had already come in to get someones attention. In the end I ended up at the counter to hash out the errors. So check your receipt before you leave. I did leave a good tip as the server was nice in how she treated us even after the errors she still wished us a good day and hoped we be back. Our family will certainly be frequent eating here :-)
(4)Eric O.
I actually ate here at the beginning of the year, but it was so good and comfortable, I feel I can give an honest review as if it were yesterday. My buddy suggested we eat at Aiea Bowl, and I had no idea there was a kick-*ss local-style restaurant there. I had the special tasty chicken, white rice (gotta have gohan), and of course when in Hawaii, mac salad, and a side of fries. Everything was so damn good, and because I was a big bowler back in high school, I just loved the atmosphere of being in an alley and eating great comfort food. The wait for middle of the day on a weekday wasn't too bad (about 15 minutes), prices were reasonable, and the service was excellent. And while the food isn't necessarily the healthiest, I could care less when I'm on vacation back home. I would recommend the Alley Restaurant to anyone who loves local food.
(4)Dutch R.
The pastries are awesome!
(5)Chuco T.
the Kal-bi was by far the star of the show during our recent trip to 'The Alley'. thick cuts, perfectly cooked, and the sauce was spot on. i will definitely be back for this. the Tasty Chicken, as the name would have you believe, is pretty darn tasty. the 'Spicy' shrimp, though good, was not really 'spicy' at all. i guess spicy as a concept is pretty subjective, but for my palette, it was just shrimp. 'circle slash 'spicy' . the furikake ahi was just ok. the fish was nice, and cooked well. not dry or overcooked at all, however, it just didn't match up to the likes of nikos (who i compare all furikake ahi to these days). it was not 'bad' by any means, but it didn't stand out. now... what is the big deal about the lemon cake? i read the reviews and just had to try it, and i have to say, it was pretty disappointing. the cake was a pretty standard lemon cake, though very moist. it was light and tangy, just as you would expect from a lemon cake. good so far. then they smother it in what seems like a mixture of crushed werthers or butterscotch candies, and caramel. not only did this throw off the delicate nature of the lemon cake, but it just about raped my tatsebuds as soon as i put it in my mouth. be forewarned. you may want to taste the topping, before going in for a full bite of the lemon cake.
(4)Jayson Q.
Tasty chicken with a piece of pumpkin crunch cake....kanak attack
(5)Wasa B.
Everything we had here was O to da N-O! Some stand-outs: Oxtail Soup - choke oxtail with fresh shiitake mushrooms and the requisite grated ginger and cilantro on the side. What makes this particular version unique is the dipping sauce which is daikon oroshi with ponzu sauce. "Perfect 300" combo pizza - served hot out of the oven. I think this pizza stands up to any NY pizzeria..."Yo Vinnie, I got your pie ovah heah!" Mega Crunch Fries - crispy on the outside, tender on the inside All the plate lunch options - Tasty Chicken, Boneless Kalbi, Furikake Ahi, Garlic Shrimp, etc...no complaints here. The one thing that put me off was the Lemon Crunch Cake that everyone raves about. To me, it was like eating lemon cake with raw brown sugar...the toffee bits were way too sweet and overpowering. A much better dessert option is the Marshmallow Blondie: a not too sweet, chocolate and marshmallow brownie that's chewy and delicious. I had to restrain myself from eating it all while I drove downstairs to Starbuck's for the perfect pairing...a nonfat latte. It's a good thing The Alley doesn't have a location in town because I'd be going there so much I'd practically be living there. ;-)
(4)Warren S.
never had a bad meal here and the desserts no look just take it home. thanks for the great food and service. always will return
(5)Nicole W.
This is not what you would expect from bowling alley food. This was one of the first places I had eaten at when I first got to the island, and so far, nothing has come close to how good the food tastes. There were 5 of us and we all got different things. Everyone was fully satisfied with the meal. The loco moco and the garlic chicken was what I remembered the most, and they were amazing. I do not know how much the people who say that it is not enough food eat because I took home over half of my chicken! Also, I love love love their mac salad!!! And their tiramasu!! The prices are pretty standard. Maybe a couple dollars more, but this is also a restaurant in a bowling alley. Bowling alley food is always a little more expensive. The reason it is only 4 stars is because the service is awful. It took us over a half an hour to get our checks. We only even got them because someone in our party stood about 10 ft away from our waitress as she was taking another table's order to ask for the check. The bad service isn't ever in the forefront of my mind when I think of this place. Just go there knowing that it will take a while, relax, and enjoy the delicious food!
(4)S C.
Went here to try their famous Korean chicken (it's crispy fried chicken strips with a sweet glaze). Oh it's so good! Not too sweet, got a definite something to it. Definitely try it out! Price is expensive relative to mainland, but it's Hawaii! And it's good!
(4)Brian A.
I had their Ox Tail Soup, which wasn't too bad. To me though, it's their desserts that stand out. We had their Lemon Drop Crunch Cake which is described from their website as, "Layers of cake, rich lemon curd, and cream topped with whipped cream and dusted with toffee bits." It's winnahs and is as advertised. It is located in a bowling alley, so it can get pretty loud with all the diner patrons and the bowling balls crashing in the background. Parking can sometimes be difficult if you are going to the diner on a league bowling night. It wasn't too bad when we went, but it was busy enough to have a short wait.
(3)Tlisa A.
went for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious! EVERYTHING is BIG be prepared to share or "doggy-bag" your left overs. Service was fast & friendly :)
(4)Brian F.
Didn't have quite the same quality as in the past. Food was just ok, maybe they're concetrating too much on their "Tasty Tuesday" and not enough on the regular menu on Tuesdays. Also noticed that they turned away several walk ups or they left due to the reserved tables. They had run out of several menu items by 6pm and the alternatives weren't very satisfying. The pork chops were dry and tasteless, the calamari was frozen out of a bag. Their desserts while tasty and sweet are over priced. Stick with the tasty chicken or the kalbi and you'll be fine. Kind of surprised at the outcome of this visit as they adversise themselves as being a finer quality of dining experience.
(2)Kellen I.
I grew up in Aiea Bowl from the time I was a little kid. Having a restaurant where there used to be a "hole-in-the-wall" plate lunch dive is still hard to swallow. However, the Alley Restaurant does not disappoint even though the prices aren't the way that I'd like. Thinking of the place as a full-scale restaurant, which it deserves to be thought of as, makes the experience of going there well worth the drive and the fight for parking in the limited spaces in the tinier parking lot now that part of it has been converted to employee parking. The food, while a little pricey for me, is still well worth it. The Alley does not disappoint whether you go for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night. For breakfast, I recommend three things. (I frequent the Alley mostly for breakfast) 1. Apple Cinnamon French Toast. I kid you not when I say this is orgasmically delicious! Slices of cinnamon apple and sweet syrup poured atop sweet bread french toast...sooooo good. 2. Scones (Blueberry Cream Cheese, Cranberry Cream Cheese, and Peanut Butter and Jelly). While they are $2 a pop, the BEST I've ever eaten. They run out super fast, so you'll need to get there early if you want to get your hands on some. If you get lucky, they may make another batch and believe me when I tell you, a WARM cranberry cream cheese scone is up there in TOP breakfasts ever. 3. Loco Moco: At $10, you better be getting something super good. My Gift Card bought me and my girlfriend this monster of a meal. Two Enormous handcrafted hamburger patties, covered with 2 eggs, smothered in wonderful brown gravy all atop a mound of rice was well worth the $10 "spent" on this awesome meal. For lunch/dinner: I don't go to the Alley for these meals. However, the menu offers Salmon, Shrimp, Steak, a Coca Cola Marinated Turkey Sandwich (which I hear is Award winning), and other such items that, again, aren't your typically bowling alley foodstuffs. 1. Tasty Chicken still does not disappoint, but I preferred the bone-in thighs that the old "restaurant" specialized in. The new recipe is boneless, but the sauce is exactly the same. 2. Garlic Fries: Thin, crispy, crunchy, golden fries mixed with parsley and garlic? Awesome. Totally yummeh. 3. TASTY TUESDAYS: I have yet to go to the Alley for Tasty Tuesdays but I have definitely been meaning to. For $38, you will be treated to I believe a 5-course dinner on a much higher "scale" than what is served on a normal basis. Some of the menus I've seen included Beef Wellington, Lilikoi Soufle (sp), and a pasta that is mixed in a $2000 cheese wheel before it reaches your plate. Fine dining at a bowling alley? Is this for real?! Dessert: You know, pretty much every dessert that I've so happened to try at the alley has been to DIE FOR! The Lemon Crunch cake that many people have commented upon is wonderful. Another cake that I personally enjoyed was the carrot cake. It has about 8 layers of cake with cream cheese frosting between each layer and spiced wonderfully. Expensive: Yes. Delicious: Very yes. Go and try this place. In fact, go twice. Nothing on that menu will disappoint.
(4)Sher E.
I am a big fan of their desserts! It's always hard for me to decide on what dessert to order after my meal... My favorites are the tiramisu, mya's chocolate cake, pumpkin crunch, and blondies!
(4)Scott P.
I was thoroughly impressed with this restaurant. Service was great. Food was unbelievable. I had the Kalbi and chicken combo plate. I cant remember what all came with it cause it was like a month ago but i do remember it being amazing. I will definitely eat at this place as often as possible.
(5)Jenny Z.
Today I had the Tasty Chicken bowl (take-out) with Brown Rice and Mac Salad. It cost $7.28 including tax. This is the first time I've had takeout from The Alley, the last time I had the same dish but ate in the restaurant and it was a lot better. The chicken was dry and not very flavorful. The skin was chewy and not crispy and tasted doughy, not like it did in the restaurant. Those of you that are comparing this to Zippy's Korean Chicken, I think Zippy's is a lot better with much more flavor. The mac salad was also flavorless. It had a good balance of Mayo, Macaroni, and potato, but lacked seasoning. I should've got the tossed salad instead. The Brown Rice was the best thing on the plate. Sad to say, but I started to have the oily feeling in my stomach when I was about 3/4 of the way done with it. I ended up throwing the rest away and not caring about wasting. Another co-worker of mine had the Tasty Chicken on Salad, and commented that there was not enough lettuce. I don't think I'll order this for take out again.
(2)Aaron S.
Okay, this place used to always grab my attention. I wanted to point out a recent issue however. For the past few times I went in and ordered take out, my food always seemed old like it was cooked a long while before I arrived. Either that or it seemed heated up. I used to remember how juicy my Tasty Chicken would be, but I swear the last few times I ordered they were all dry and bland. It's really putting me off. If Queen St. Grill, down the road, wasn't closed on Sundays, I'd go there. So much more better than this crap.
(2)JC R.
I grew up going to this bowling alley but not to eat....to bowl. Since I left Hawaii, I've heard so much about the new restaurant there that I had to try it. My friend invited me for lunch and the minute we walked in, it was packed! We waited about 5 minutes before we were seated in a nice comfortable booth. I love that they offer "mixed plate" since there is so much to choose from. I went with Tasty Chicken and Furikake Ahi (with Mac Salad - of course!). So glad I did! I love this type of chicken, but some places don't cook it right. It's either undercooked or it has a strong gamey taste. Not this chicken....it was cooked perfectly and it was delicious! My friend ordered the Pulehu Steak. YUM!!! I rarely order steak out since it's so easy to cook at home. However, this steak is well worth ordering. Not only was the flavor great, the portion was huge! I'm definitely coming back when I return to Hawaii. There is still much more for me to try! I would highly recommend this place to people who visit Hawaii who wants to try "local food." .....after my meal, I realized why this place was PACKED! ... because the food is so delicious.
(5)Lisa T.
Ended up here for breakfast, and it was a pleasant surprise! The blueberry cream cheese scones are just like the ones at Diamond Head Market (yuh-uhm!), and they also have a peanut butter and jelly scone that the kids loved. (I also enjoyed the tiny piece that they relinquished to me.) But the best things were the apple cinnamon french toast (HUUUGE and tasty, I could totally do shots of that buttery cinnamon sauce) and the loco moco (the gravy is supah ono!). Service used to be pretty bad, but it has gotten WAY better in the last 6 months or so. The current crew is pretty on it, and are friendly and attentive.
(4)Adrienne B.
Under normal circumstances if someone asked me if I wanted to eat in a bowling alley, I would shade them and shade them hard. Typically bowling alley food consists of random bulk food served at restaurant prices and pitchers of beer, this my friends is no typical bowling alley food, but unless you just crawled out from under a rock, I'm pretty sure you already knew that. Not surprisingly, there was a wait for seating even on a Saturday afternoon. We checked in with the hostess and were able to give her our cell phone number so she could text us once our table was available. Less than ten minutes later we were seated. The menu is quite expansive. You can order everything from your typical bar food like pizza, fries, hotdogs, etc. to more restaurant type food like boneless kalbi, chicken katsu, loco moco and of course their famous ox tail soup and desserts. I ordered the ox tail soup and added ramen noodles, and subbed a side salad in lieu of rice, and the husband ordered the loco moco with eggs over easy. I've seen a few reviews complaining about service but our server was attentive and checked on us multiple times while we were eating. My soup was delicious and the broth had a depth of flavor that made you know that it didn't come from a can. It came with cilantro, ginger, a spicy dipping sauce for the ox tails and of course an extra bowl for the bones. I wasn't able to even eat half of my bowl of soup before tapping out I was so full. My husband on the other hand was a member of the clean plate club. We took a slice of the Mamma Mia Chocolate Cake to go, but it still hasn't been tackled. Needless to say we'll definitely be back, but this will remain the only bowling alley I'll be eating at.
(4)Emma Jasper W.
Food was very good. Not top shelf -- but very appetizing. Spicy soy beans, mac/potato salad and coke chicken -- all very tasty. Fine for after work bite and beer. I wouldn't get a taxi or rent a car to get to this place from Waikiki etc. Service is slow. Front area is very crowded together - tables practically touch. Very loud. Don't expect to hear each other speak. The appetizer came out about 15 mins after we finished dinner. Waitress never came back so we were unable to tell her to kill it before it finally showed up. One of our group never got utensils -- so we each gave up an item so he could eat his fried rice. Dodgy parking area -- lots of local boys blowing smoke in your face when you walk into restaurant -- but otherwise ok.
(3)Sheryl G.
what: it's like nothing you've ever seen at a bowling alley before. it's cute and comfy and serves restaurant quality food and homemade baked goods. something good: super delicious food and entertainment right around the corner! the service is quick and efficient :) and the french fries are my all time favorite fries on the island!! something not so good: portions aren't huge, but i'm not a big eater so it works for me :) something to try: mega crunch french fries & furikake salmon
(5)Maya A.
The service just kills me at this place. The issue is with the rude and inattentive servers. Went in mid afternoon for a snack with some friends. The server did not appreciate that I asked for buffalo sauce for the chicken tenders, and very smartly told me that "this is a local place, we don't have buffalo sauce and things like that. We only have ranch." I asked for the same sauce they use on their spicy wings, and she said we're out of wings. I didn't want wings. I wanted the sauce. Apparently that's not available without the wings. So I said forget it, I'll eat fries. The other girls ordered wine, which the waitress forgot about for 25 minutes, and had to be reminded to get from the bar when the food was served. It took another 10 minutes to get the wine. After the food was dropped off, she quite literally fell off the face of the earth. We had to flag down another server to get our check, which the other sever did, but since it wasn't correct, we had to wait again to track our server down to correct it. Meanwhile, we all needed drink refills at the table and we all would have liked to order dessert, but since she disappeared for 40 minutes, and we had a concert to get to, no dessert for us! The food is not special enough to put up with rudeness and bad service. There's countless other "local" places on this island. I'll be skipping this place for a while.
(2)Troy M.
Oxtail was awesome. Lunch hour here is crazy busy. Good food & servers here. Pizza was good too
(4)Demur E.
I've been to The Alley a few times and found my tummy is a happy camper each time I leave. Food: Very good. Everything seems aptly named. The tasty chicken is tasty...crunchy with the right amount of sauce so you can actually still taste the chicken. Yum. The garlic shrimp is pretty darn garlicky (not for the feint of smell), the boneless kalbi is tender and has that great sweet/salty balance. The steak was good, but not particularly memorable. French fries are very thin and crispy, but the fried calamari seems like the frozen rings. The desserts are divine. Tirimisu was good, but oh! The blondie brownie sundae is practically orgasmic. They heat it up so the caramel part is soft and sweet and there are chocolate chips just barely melting in the middle. A big scoop of vanilla bean icecream...and *sigh* Just thinking about it now is getting me excited. I want to try the coca-cola turkey and the loco moco in future visits. Service: Friendly and nice. It can be a bit slow when it's busy, but on the whole very good. They kept water glasses full, re-filled my diet coke and stayed to chat sometimes, too. Ambiance: It's a bowling alley, so it's not quiet. At least there's no smoking now, but sometimes you can still smell the faint lingering scent of feet. The women's bathroom is huge, clean and smells good. Overall: Definitely a place to try. They take reservations during the week, but not the weekend. Tuesday night they have a gourmet dinner...I think 3 or 4 courses, I forgot. I wouldn't mind trying that out.
(4)Amber M.
So the other day, my gal pal invites me to lunch and suggests we dine at the Aiea bowling alley. Of course, I then smile and say "sure okay!" but then wince a little when thinking of how horribly awful the food will be. Imagine my surprise and delight to find that not only is the food better than average, but the desserts are phenomenal! I have since been back twice this week! Entree-wise, the furikake salmon was satisfying, and the fried noodles are pretty good but remind me of something made with Sapporo saimin, and let's be honest, after college, who really has any desire to eat more ramen noodles?! The tasty chicken is clearly the best dish I've tried on the lunch/dinner menu so far. I'll have to go for the loco moco next time and see how it compares. Breakfast is the usual fare. I have yet to try the apple cinnamon french toast, but the normal eggs/sausage/ rice stuff is simple yet filling. The best thing about breakfast here is that portions are great for the price. If you have lunch or dinner however, go for the plate serving size instead of the bowl. It's worth it for an extra couple of bucks because the bowl serving size is manini (even for a small girl like myself who doesn't eat huge portions). The thing to really write home about though, is the dessert. The lemon crunch cake is amazing and this is coming from someone who a.) doesn't like cake, and b.) doesn't like lemon. The crunchy toffee coating pairs perfectly with the moist yellow cake filling and nothing about this dessert feels typical of most cake-and-frosting combos. Usually frosting is a gross compound mixture of mystery crap that leaves that icky residue on your tongue. Not so with the lemon crunch cake! I also tried the pumpkin crunch dessert which was really yummy too. I think after the holidays we're all a little sick of pumpkin though, so it will probably become a favorite after some time has passed. The cupcakes here also look incredible and I can only imagine how great they'll be too. Bring a group and try everything if you can! Bottom line: This place is worth traveling out of town for on the basis of the desserts alone, and is great for people who love local comfort food but want better quality grinds than the typical fare at L&L.
(4)David S.
For years the Aiea Bowling Alley had been one of the best places to get breakfast or lunch (my personal favorite) at a good price. In the last year or two they have renovated and completely changed their menu. I understand that they have to charge a little more but when you go from a plate for $5-6 up to $13+ that is asking a lot especially when they don't carry any of the specialties that made the restaurant what it was. If a plate lunch is what you want, you should go across the street to Aiea Heights Drive Inn or down the street for lunch at Sakura Delicatessen.
(1)Dela N.
Went there last night after Campbell High Schools graduation at the stadium. Like everyone else, we heard how good the food was and wanted to try it out. First off, the wait was 30 minutes. So we decided to go to the take out counter. I ordered a hamburger steak. My youngest daughter ordered the combo plate of kalbi and tasty chicken. My oldest daughter ordered tasty chicken and my husband ordered the combo plate of hamburger steak and kalbi. The girl working the counter asked everyone but me if they would like white or brown rice and mac or toss greens. When she repeated the order to me, she said "I have three plates of", that's when I stopped her and said "you didn't get my order, hamburger steak". She says "oh, white or brown rice...mac or toss greens. I'll call you when your order is done". Se didn't even ask for a name. We waited about 30 minutes. A lady after us got her order. My husband then went up to the counter and saw a package of plates on the ick up side. So he waited for the girl and asked her if our order was done. She goes and checks the package of plates...our order. Don't know how long it was there. When we got to the car, I told my husband to check the order. All the plates where correct, except for my youngest daughters plate. It was ahi and kalbi. The girl thought she heard ahi instead of kalbi. Well what do you expect, When she didn't get my order of hamburger steak and she didn't call us for our order when it was done. The food was good. As for the hamburger steak...I've tasted better.
(2)Alyssa K.
The food here is really good. I had the oxtail and my husband had the hamburger steak which was seriously delicious. I wished I had ordered that instead!!!
(4)Matthew K.
Great local restaurant that's part of Aiea Bowl! The Furikake Ahi & Monchong Special was excellent. Furikake is Japanese Rice seasoning, mostly Sesame & Nori Seaweed. The Ahi is encrusted and cooked up much like Pepper crusted Ahi popular in seafood restaurants. A quick squeeze of lemon and very tasty! I'd never had Monchong before, it was simply prepared and tasty. Reminded me of snapper. Tried some of the Tasty chicken and it lived up to it's name and reputation! No dessert this time, but previously the Cupcakes were very yummy!! Waitress was very friendly and the manager stopped by to make sure we were being taken care of.
(5)Mako Y.
As a creature of habit, the Salmon Chazuke is so far consistantly delicious. I tasted their lemon crunch cake and carrot cake and both were pretty moist and scrumptious (although I don't have much of a sweet tooth so my opinion shouldn't pull much weight).
(3)Christina R.
Love this place. Who would think that a bowling alley would have such great food! the furikake ahi and mahi mahi alley style are our favorites. You have to try their lemon crunch cake, too. Portions are large as with most plate lunches, in my opinion. This was often our go to choice for late dinners. We would usually order at the walk up window and eat at one of the tables outside. On our last night in Oahu before moving we ate here before heading to the airport and sat at a table right next to then mayor Mufi Hannemann.
(5)Barbara S.
Let me first say that I never write reviews about places I've eaten at but do tend to share my views with family members and friends. So let me first say we went to Aiea Bowl to have my son's 12th birthday party on Sunday, October 6th, 2013. Every year it is something different. Last year we went to D&B's. This year I decided on bowling and lunch at Aiea Bowl because I knew my son would enjoy both. There was no problem what so ever with setting up reservations for the 2 lanes to bowl. We were there from 11 am to 2 pm. Perfect time to eat and bowl. When we got there we checked in and got our shoes. I then proceeded over to the restaurant side to TRY to order food for our group. Ok so for those who have never been to Aiea Bowl the tables right outside of the restaurant, near the bowling alleys appear to be off limits to the patrons of the bowling alley. This was explained to me numerous times by numerous people who work at the restaurant side. I tried to tell them that I was ordering food, not take out but food from them that our party was going to be eating in the restaurant. This went on for a good 10 minutes....unbelievable. Who runs a restaurant and thinks that it is ok to tell their customers that they can order food but they can't sit in the restaurant to eat? There were no other people at the restaruant waiting to be seated or had reservations for those tables that we had taken. I was so mad and felt so unwelcome in that area. My poor family (in-laws and extended family members) felt so bad for us and could not believe what was happening. I ended up paying right under $200 for pizzas, fries and drinks for everyone in our party. I just wanted to make sure that I shared this with everyone because I have never ever experienced anything so awful. If it were not my son's birthday party and he was not bowling I would have left... probably would have gone back to D&B's where the staff are excellent, the food is good and my son loves going up stairs to play the games. Everyone says buy local and support the local companies but guess what local companies are going to loose out when they treat their paying customers bad. This incident that occurred was uncalled for and I will be sure to share it with everyone that I know and care about so that they will not have to experience what we went through. If I could I would have given this restaurant zero stars.
(1)Sherry C.
I came to the Alley to eat and watch the UH Football game on 10-29-11. We had to grab the menu ourselves, waited 20 minutes to place our order, waited another 10 minutes (30 min - total) just to get a cup of water and the food came another 20 minutes later. At 11:05a, the waiter didn't switch the channel to football. His reason: he was busy cleaning the tables and seating people into the restaurant. He is too busy to switch the TV channel just for a "TV show". So rude!!! We came because they have the football game live. I had to ask them 3x times before they swtiched the channel which was at 11:20am. Then, I stood up from my stool while I was watching the game. The waiter removed my stool behind my back. I wanted to sit down but I felt something was missing below my butt. Luckily, I didn't sit down. Or else, I would have hurt myself. It took another 10 minutes for me to get my tab, pay and get my change. NO TIP. WILL not come back AGAIN.
(1)Stan B.
All I can say is, the lemon crunch cake is legit. 'Nuff said.
(5)Sheri D.
I've heard so many good things about The Alley and was ecstatic about FINALLY getting a chance to try it out yesterday. Food was FANTASTIC! We had the oxtail soup and the Alley Mixed Plate and both were awesome choices! The oxtail soup had numerous tender pieces of oxtail and the broth was just flavorful. It came with a sesame, ponzu sauce that just went really well with the dish. (But it tasted fine without it either). My cousin loved this dish so much that he was practically in tears while eating it. HAHA :) For the mixed plate, we decided to go with their Tasty Chicken and the Furikake Ahi... sooooo good! ::drool:: I've heard people say that The Alley serves pretty good food for a restaurant in a bowling alley. I think that description serves them an injustice doing an excellent job as they do. Bowling alley or not they just serve great food... PERIOD. I'll definitely be back to try other items on their menu. Two thumbs up from me!
(5)Che L.
Boneless Kalbi is very tender. The combo plate is a good choice. Tasty chicken is also very good. Ox tail soup little fat.
(4)Rae W.
I've gone with just one friend and with a big group of people, and the place is fun every time. Sure, the food is great, the service is a bit spotty (especially if you have a big group), but there's something about the atmosphere.
(5)J P.
LEMON CRUNCH CAKE, i tried you at a party last night and fell in love. you're at the top of my list baby. the cake part is good, moist... the frosting on the edge of the cake is topped with heath bar/toffee pieces i think that makes it "oh sooo delicious!" the lemon is sweet enough & all the tastes go together.
(5)Nina S.
I've been to The Alley many a time and let me tell ya it's ALWAYS good. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it! My favorites: - tasty chicken (suuuper good) - boneless kalbi (very tender) - fried noodles (not too sweet, not too salty... but jus' right!) - lemon crunch (to die for) - pumpkin crunch (served all year, as it should be) For your first time I'd recommend a mixed plate ($11+), so you can try at least two of the dishes. You can pick from white or brown rice and tossed or mac salad... but'cha really outta go all out with white and mac! Parking is sometimes difficult... you can park in front of the bowling alley or downstairs by Times Supermarket. The restaurant gets crowded, so avoid the mess and have an early lunch or early dinner.
(5)Tyler A.
Tasty Chicken Everything thats all you need to get. Seriously though some of my favorites here are the Garlic Frieds because they load the garlic on top. The Tasty Chicken salad, and for desert i love getting the pumpkin crunch mmmm. Only thing is i usually wait a lil long and the food could be a little cheaper but thats just me
(4)Nick Y.
Sear - definition from the Mirriam-Webster Online Dictionary: Main Entry: 2sear Pronunciation: \sir\ Function: verb Etymology: Middle English seren, from Old English sarian to become dry, from sar sere Date: before 12th century 1: to make withered and dry : parch 2 a: to burn, scorch, mark, or injure with or as if with sudden application of intense heat b: to cook the surface of quickly with intense heat When I see "Pan-Seared Furikake Ahi" on a menu, I assume it will correspond with definition 2b above. However, since my girlfriend and I have been served dry, fully cooked "seared" Ahi several times recently, I specifically asked the counter person if the Ahi was seared medium rare. He responded in the affirmative so - along with The Alley "Handmade" Burger, and some Mega Crunch Fries - the Pan-Seared Furikake Ahi Sandwich was a go. What we received 40 minutes later, when our magic coaster finally buzzed, could have been better described with definition 1 above. While not completely withered, the Ahi in the sandwich was not done well, it was well-done. Oh well, it's a takeout counter, so even if we still had time to wait, we wouldn't have sent it back. But damn... Ahi snafu aside, my burger was pretty darn good. It was plainly garnished, juicy, and very melty-cheesy. I don't know about gourmet, but it was the best burger I've had on Oahu recently. Four stars for the burger alone, but, as stated in other reviews, call your order in ahead of time because I'm not sure if it's worth the wait. I had other plans today, you know. I guess Ice Gardens will have to wait for another Sunday sojourn over the H-3. (If they're even open on Sunday. I really should check that out first)
(3)Sylvia F.
Went here for a friend's bday. We had quite a large party on a Friday night and it was super busy, really cool to see for a local bowling alley (especially when you hear of the potential shut down of other alleys on the island). I've been here before for Bowl for Kids Sake, a GREAT fundraiser put on by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, and had a sampling of their food that time. But tonight I thought I must try out their burgers (I'm a burger girl) and I have to say I was highly unimpressed. For the price, it's not much, and the fixins cost a good 75 cents extra. For onions. and 2 small slices of tomatoes. Not too fun. But, the other food was great. I picked around, the garlic fries are nice and spicy-garlicky, and their furikake ahi is pretty tasty as well. The chicken tho - that is their strong point for sure. I'd definitely go back for that crack chicken...sweet crunchy fatty greasy, perfect for a bowling alley. You can't beat 4.50 beers, and their bar is well, just ok. Let's just say they have small olives. Went for the food, stayed for the bowling, and it was loads of fun. I'll have to try more on the menu next time...I'll be sure the shy away from the burgers...
(3)Kevin C.
It was okay. The ox tail was tasty but came out not very hot. The tasty chicken was good but again, everything came out Luke warm. They are busy so don't expect the best service. Had to wait 5 minutes between dishes. Had to also make another trip up to the counter to request a check.
(3)Mark G.
Decided I'd try The Alley last night and have some of their "Award Winning" chicken. I don't know who was giving out the awards, maybe it was the Award for "Best Chicken in a Bowling Alley" I'll give them that. Maybe it was an off night but the chicken tasted like it was cooked in some old oil. And to be fair The Alley is pretty good although I've had better, just not at a bowling alley. Spicy Soy Beans were good ( I don't know how to spell Edemane), Fries were good, Pork Chops were so so. Choc. cake was reportedly good. There isn't much better in the 701 so I'll gladly go back again. The service was very good and the wine they have isn't bad. Decent beer selection. A lot of baked items to choose from for dessert. The best thing I had though, were the french fries, very crisp.
(3)Elyssa D.
After reading the reviews we had to try this place before bowling! Service was extremely slow and that's the only reason I'm not giving 5stars. We waited awhile to be seated even though there were free seats. I had to flag someone down in order to be seated. We waited quite a bit of time in between being seated, getting our drinks, and getting our orders taken. Once the food arrived we hadn't even received our silverware and still had to wait again. So why give 4 stars you ask???.... Our food was amazing! I had the furakake ahi sandwhich and my husband had the mixed plate with steak and mahi mahi. Everything down to the French fries was delicious! We also got the pumpkin and lemon crunch cake to go. I'm a pumpkin lover and didn't trust the reviews enough to sway me to get lemon even though everyone says its the best. After trying both I have to say that the lemon crunch is the best! The pumpkin taste pretty ordinary for a pumpkin crunch meaning just as good as it always is. But the lemon crunch was not what I expected at all! (In a good way!) it's a MUST try!
(4)Rita L.
who would have known this place got great food! the yummy chicken is soo good, the loco moco is delicious! ahhh...great portions! the garlic shrimp was pretty good also! the ahi poke wasn't the greatest but everything else was great! i love the diner feel of this place! the prices are good. i really need to try the pumpkin crunch here, it looks sooo good! this place can be very busy, luckily we came on a good night, our food was ready fast! great place to try if you are in aiea!
(4)Trix Q.
The food was good a few years back and now it seams dried out and pricey.
(3)Porky Penguin S.
Before I ordered the cheeseburger, I asked the waitress if the burger was all beef. She said, "yes." When the burger arrived, I took a bite--yuck! It was NOT all beef. It had onions and filler; probably bread crumbs. The burger was pasty and really vile. The rest of the group enjoyed their meals, though. The tasty chicken was apparently very good, as well as the boneless kalbi. I think I'll think twice before eating there. I'll go only to get some of their Lemon Crunch Cake.
(2)Diedre C.
Crowded but always worth the wait! First time trying the shoyu pork, and it did not disappoint. Soft, tender, full of flavor, this is one dish to try! I usually get the saimin, ochazuke, oxtail soup or fried noodles, all of which are super yummy and satisfying. Many times our running group comes here after a training run we are in the area, and we always find great carbs and proteins to refuel with here! The menu is fairly extensive, with a wonderful selection of local dishes, salads, sandwiches and burgers, and ono kine plate lunches. Desserts are amazing; my favorite is the lemon crunch cake. I have heard that the scones are delicious too, that is, if you can get them before they run out! Portions are very generous, service is usually pretty good, and prices are reasonable. Now they have an efficient pager system where the take your cell number and text you when your table is ready. Employees are friendly and helpful when you have questions about the menu. Overall, a really good place for some tasty local grinds. All of our friends from Japan love The Alley!
(5)Arnel D.
OMG, this place is awesome! They serve up delicious homestyle Hawaiian food with a smile. Whether you stumble up on this place or stop by due to word of mouth, you know what I'm talking about... I enjoyed their oxtail soup which came out from the kitchen in a tower! My wife and family tried their tasty chicken, which is what they are known for... Guy Fieri also stopped by here and recommend it on his show. Service was great, considering you're in a bowling center... drinks were topped off and our server cleared plates as soon as they were empty. I loved the atmosphere too. The only issue I had was the parking as space is limited throughout Oahu. Luckily, I was meeting a party there, so we double parked/ tandem style!
(5)Ramona L.
Spectacular place! Every person that visits should eat here.....more than once! I'm just sad that we're leaving today and have to wait until the next time. Abigail was an attentive server and we can not say enough nice things about her or the food! Yes, it's a bit noisy, but seriously fantastic!!!!
(5)Jeffery A.
Thug holding up bowling ball: "What the f**k is this?" The Dude: "Obviously you're not a golfer!" You come home beat down from work. Your house appears to be empty, but a SUV in the stall tells you someone is home (AC running proves the point!). You go about your usual routine, you clean the yard, workout, shower, yelp a bit, and nap. "While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as someone gently rapping, a rapping at my chamber door..." "Hey," I answer. A smile... "Happy Birthday," I add rolling over. "Oh, is it my birthday," yawn, knowing smile. "Unless I miss my guess? What do you want to do?" Leaning against the door jam in a lazy fashion. "I wanna go bowl." "Shut the f**k up Donny!" No, I didn't say those last words, but I thought them. We met some fifteen (plus?) years ago at Isenberg Bowl-O-Drome...it was her birthday party. RQ is a blessing to me. She is a friend like none other. If she wants to "Roll"...we roll. Aiea Bowl is one of only three publicly accessible bowling ally's left (Bowl-O-Drome closed many years ago) and I had rolled (Aiea) here before, way before Yelp. The Alley Restaurant had been on my "List," but I had actually never been, nor noticed it, as I was a late night bowler, and I guess it was always closed. Shoes sprayed and rented, balls selected from the rack, we bowled two games. Scores: 187-159; 211(Wow!)-147...I won't tell you who was the winner, but I am easily distracted, and she knows this. The feel of the hand blower, fingers, a slight click to my heals, three steps and slide, hand extended, right legs swings across the back of the left (strike the pose!), the sound of a softly lofted rock kissing the parquet, the rumble of a well place roll hitting the pins just perfect, the wobble of a number ten as it finally comes tumbling to the ground. The not so cool fist pump...(I turn)...the smile on her face as she claps...Is there much finer? After tasting bitter defeat (hey, I can take it) we decided to grab take out. Furikake Ahi was moist and well seasoned, the black sesame seeds were flavorful and miso shows through. Two scoops of "dime" rice and a "dime" of mac salad...$13.95 Tasty Chicken was just that, not to sure of the breading, no panko, but was a light flour mixture, chicken was cooked perfectly. Again, two scoops (a #10 scoop is referred to as a "dime" and is pretty puny by local standards!) and tossed greens...$11.95 Lemon Crunch Cake...$4.95. Yet to be tried...but the night is young...I'll get back to ya. Was the food worth the price? There are way better deals, but atmosphere and companionship are irreplaceable. Food is about mood, not just taste. Here, the taste was oh, so sweet, and I couldn't have ask for more. I really, really needed this. We both did. "Yeah, well, the Dude abides." "The Dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that..." Check out "The Alley" it's attached to Aiea Bowl... "Sometimes you eat the bear, some times the bear eats you." Happy Birthday RQ! I loves ya. Aloha
(5)Red F.
This review is strictly on my cake order time and service. They have delicious food, both entrees and desserts. What I'm reviewing is the cake order I made last week Tuesday and called on Thursday to reschedule my pickup to Monday instead of Saturday. Whomever answered the phone said ok and wasn't even going to ask my name before he hung up. Good thing I told him hold up. I then received a call on Saturday night by Nathan, good guy, I remembered bc he took my cake order, saying my cake order was ready for pick up. I told him I had spoken with someone on Friday and they said they would change it. Come Monday, and when I pick it up, it was NOT ready by 2, but 2:15. If they cake wasn't so good, I wouldn't wait. They're probably banking on this fact. I would too if I were them. It's that good. I get my cake, go on my merry way. Will still order from them again. Around 4, I get a class from Jasmine asking if I'm going to pick up my cake. I tell them I already have my cake. They said they have a box with my order form on it that hasn't been picked up. They asked if I checked it to make sure it is my strawberry crunch, which I should have from the likes of this call. I told them I hope so because I'm not anywhere near my house to check. Jasmine says to call back and ask for the manager, Stacy, if I have the wrong cake. Sounds good. Appreciate this customer service. Got home, checked cake, correct cake, we are all good on both ends. This could have been handled better and if it were someone else, they would not have had a similar reaction to the calm one I gave them.
(3)Wes N.
Dined here before we bowled. Pretty busy, so be prepared to wait. I had the Kalbi boneless as well as the furikake ahi...both were good! Want to come back and try other dishes!
(4)Mikey H.
It has been almost a year since I've been here and it is still as good as I remember. Brought the partner in for the first time. He ordered the Loco Moco and said it was good, but the scrambled eggs didn't taste so good...told him he should've had it over easy. I got the combo tasty chicken and loco moco and it was so "ono ono!" Again, friendly service...and they were busy! It's really great to see the hip crowd with the old skool aunties and uncles...and I had to have the lemon crunch cake! I'm glad I'll be able to come at least one more time before heading home!
(5)Nancy N.
The Alley Restaurant is located inside Alley Bowl. The food here is pretty good, as I expected less. We just ordered a bunch of dishes a la carte and shared. Mega Crunch Fries with garlic was good. There are chunks of garlic on top that can definitely give you garlic breath. Fried noodles was OK. A lil on the salty side. You can pass on this one. Ahi Tuna was good, covered in black and white sesame. This is a fully cooked dish. Shrimp and rice was decent. Tasty Chicken was the best entree. It's fried with a sweet sauce glaze. I think best part of the meal here was their dessert. Their lemon crunch cake and pumpkin cake are the popular ones.
(4)Roxanne Lynn T.
It's been a long time since I've been here but it was just as good as I remember. Maybe because it's in not in my area that I've neglected this place but it was a great eating experience on my last recent visit. We went on a Sunday around mid afternoon and it wasn't as busy so we were able to get seated right away for a table of 5 in a booth. It can get pretty busy as it is in a bowling alley so it's pretty much a family orientated location especially on the weekends. I suggest you park downstairs to save the hassle of looking for parking in front. That's always my go to trick whenever I'd come here to eat or go bowling. Like everyone said on here, one of the most popular menu item to get is the TASTY CHICKEN. It's also the award winning signature dish as per the restaurant. So of course I got the tasty chicken house salad as I didn't want to eat heavily on my main dish since I was more looking forward to the dessert part. The chicken kind of reminded me of korean chicken with a hint of chili flakes. It really is tasty and delish! My boyfriend got The Alley Mix Plate where you can mix any two of the list they provided but depending on what you get will determine how much the plate will cost. He got the tasty chicken and boneless marinated kalbi which were all recommended dish items. On to dessert, LEMON CRUNCH and APPLE PIE ALE MODE with ICE CREAM. TOOOOOO AWESOMELY DELICIOUS! Melt in your mouth, eyes roll back, so darn good kind of desserts. Approved by all of us 5 who devoured those desserts in a matter of seconds. These two desserts were recommended by our waitress so we got them both and added an extra ice cream scoop for our apple pie ale mode. Thank God we did because 1 scoop would not have been enough for us to share. Although the apple pie ale mode seem like it too forever to make, it was worth it in the end. I believe they quoted us on 15 min to prep but it actually took a little longer than that. But we were enjoying each others' company so time flew by as we talked stories among ourselves. The service was impressively very attentive that day. I was beginning to think if the busboys/servers had anything to do as they literally came by about 10 times asking to refill the water which was awesome customer service but I felt that it was too many different people coming at our table in such a short amount asking the same question when at times we didn't even touch our water. Our plates were cleared in a quick manner as well. But it was cool, better water service than other places I've been to. Prices are not cheapest but you get what you pay for. It's affordable and filling for the portions and quality you get for each dish. I haven't had any complaints coming here so you know I'll always be down to come back here anytime.
(5)George S.
The waiter we had, must have had patrons outside the door because he spent some time outside talking to his "friend". As soon as he came in, he brought our order right out.......COLD. I guess it too, was waiting to be brought out to us. Calamari had to be returned for another HOT serving, and another WAIT! We've always had good service but long waits and that is why we came in at 3pm with only one other booth occupied and already served. Yet we end up with a dud. Well, we'll just cross this place OFF of our favorites list, and never return. C-yah! One star was for the oxtail soup.
(1)Diana J.
Honestly i was very doubtful when my friend said we were going to eat at a bowling alley. I thought she was kidding around except I didnt get the joke haha. But she partially convinced me when she mentioned that A. Her boyfriend highly recommends and B. Guy Fieri featured this restaurant on his tv show. Also C. I saw my friend's yelp review when I checked this place out on yelp. So we got the three most mentioned dishes oxtail soup, tasty chicken, and afterwards lemon crunch cake. Tasty chicken came out in great portion. Kind of reminded me of crunchy, tangy, korean fried chicken + popcorn chicken. The oxtail soup, though it doesn't embody the idea of "Hawaii" to me, really hit the spot. On a hungover weekend day, I'd love to have this dish (except I bet the loud bowling environment would be very unhelpful haha). The meat fell off the bones easily and the soup didn't need extra seasoning. Ah! The lemkn crunch cake was pretty good! Who knew toffee and lemon would go well together. Im convinced toffee goes well with everything now? Verdict: yess, if you have the chance to visit this place, try it!
(5)Rick B.
Confusing little place if you are there for just food...but if you are there to bowl and eat it might rate a higher review. Inside the restaurant it was noisy (fully expected since it was a bowling alley) as the alleys back up the restaurant and had tons of kids. There must have been a kids league playing that day. We showed up for food and inside the restaurant we were told the wait was 20-25 minutes...so we gave our name and went outside to sit, and finally decided to order from their outside window and get served quicker even though we'd be eating outside. Sure enough about three minutes later - after we already ordered at the window - someone comes out and yells our name for an inside seat...as I said a bit confusing. Food-wise this is a 3 star place...It was just like pub grub...but at the bowling alley. We had a cheeseburger and fries (ok...frozen patty but good fries), a pair of Nathan's hot dogs (the hot dogs were very good...but you'd think Hawaii would know how to make their own doggies), and a turkey sandwich (just ok...not a lot of meat and not a lot of taste). Service-wise this is a 2 star place. To complement the just OK food, the food was slow to come. The parking situation is a mess...some spots say only 15 minutes parking, a whole row says employees only, and the rest were spread out over three levels. There just weren't enough parking places for the strip mall and bowling alley...of course, there are not enough parking places anywhere in Hawaii...I guess that goes with being paradise. Overall this place rates barely 3 stars.
(3)Tiff M.
The food is so good! I love the lemon crunch cake and tasty chicken. However, 2 stars will be given due to service. I went in for a take out order and no one greeted me and my friends, and as I stood at the register, the cashier just stood there waiting for me to order. Again I didn't get a greeting, not even a small smile. I understand it was lunch time and it was busy, but you're working in a customer service setting. Cashier didn't even take the time to let me know when my order was ready.
(2)Heidi D.
I wouldn't make the drive for the food but it wasn't bad. Came here after a day at Pearl Harbor and we were tired and hot. It was nice to relax with a beer, eat some fine food and watch the Warriors/Mavericks. (best part)
(3)Jessica P.
The food: I've tried the Portabella Sandwich and the Furikake Ahi. My favorite of the two is the sandwich. It came with waffle fries the first time, then shoestring fries the second time. So good! The portion size is just right. I recently ordered a Garlic Shrimp bowl and it was good. So glad the shrimp was already peeled!! But sadly there were only about 5 pcs in there hidden by the salad, cabbage, and rice. It's still going to be one of my favorites though. My son ALWAYS orders the Tasty Chicken and it's pretty good, too. The hubs finally tried the Oxtail soup (and of course I tried it). It was phenomenal. It's one of the dishes featured in tripleD. In comparison to the Oxtail soup at Liliha Bakery, this one is wayyyy more flavorful. Bone marinated more than 24 hours. Delicious! For dessert, we've had both chocolate cakes. Enough for sharing and very moist. I like that the restaurant is inside a bowling alley. A unique experience! We saw the chef today which felt like seeing a celebrity since he was featured with Guy on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives! The service: On our latest visit, upon entering the restaurant, which is a very tight squeeze just before the sign reads "Wait to be seated," there was nobody at the podium to greet us. However, there were at least 5 employees that looked at us, passed right by us, or simply ignored us. Not any one of those employees stopped to say, "Someone will be right with you!" It took about 5 minutes before two girls returned giggling and unapologetic. Grrr, one of my pet peeves is to not be acknowledged upon entering a restaurant. Wish I could knock off one star that would affect their rating. Our waiter/waitresses though have been doing their jobs on point.
(5)Keith R.
The bowling alley/fusion restaurant combination is truly imaginative. It was no wonder the place was packed with people. The restaurant, featured on Guy Fieri's Food Network show, "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" did not disappoint. Our waitress was friendly and the service was attentive. We had a great time. And the food? Whoa! You understand why Hawaiians plan days around their meals after chowing on the "plates" served up here. We tried several of the the plate combos and none disappointed. All around a great foodie experience.
(5)Amanda K.
This is one of the best places on the island. Most people don't believe me since it's a bowling alley, but it's truly a surprising gem. I've tried the tasty chicken, coca cola turkey sandwich, and ox tail soup, all were delicious!! Oh and they make the BEST LOCO MOCO EVER!! The hamburger patty is amazing and so tasty and the gravy is homemade, seriously the best I've ever had. Order it with the fried rice. Also, the desserts are incredible, especially the lemon crunch cake or anything with the toffee crumbs. This is a must!!!! I can never get enough of this place.
(5)Joy B.
The hype is real. Tasty chicken is out of this world. The Chinese style oxtail soup is full of flavor, and the lemon crunch cake...oh my! Friendly service, reasonable prices, fantastic food. Make sure you come. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Kristy L.
Went there for dinner, and was happy that we were able to get seated rite away. The nice older lady told me she had a booth for us, so i rushed outside to get my family out of the car and when i got back, a worker was taking a family to our table. I stopped her and told her that the older lady had saved it for us. The worker seemed irritated and said that she wasnt told anything than gave me a bad look and turned her head, so we sat ourselves. It took forever for anyone come to our table (btw there were workers standing behind the desk talking story). When the server finally came, he took our drink orders (water) and didnt come back with it for about 10 minutes. I than had to stop him agian to give him our food order. Not to mention when he put straws in my kids cups he touched the top of the straw with his dirty hands!!!! After taking our food order we had to wait another 45 minutes for our food to arrive (onion rings, french fries, noodles, tasty chicken and oxtail soup) not too much food if you ask me. The food tasted alrite, but when we asked for simple things like extra ginger and ranch dressing it took another 5-10 minutes. When we were pretty much done eating, and were waiting for our server to come to our table to check on us, he never did and we had to stop the busser for to go boxes. Our server finally came with our check after waiting a good 20 minutes. Our kids (1 yr and 3yrs) were fussy, somthing made me sick and we had HORRIBLE service. The water tasted horrible like drinking dirty tap water, the server never came to fill up our waters so we had to keep asking other people. This was our second time here, The first time the service was ok, so we decided to try it again, but this time it topped the cake. We will NEVER dine in again. If i wanna eat their food, which is pretty decent than i will opt for takeout. Extremely dissappointed!!! But i do Love their Lemon Crunch Cake, thats why i'll give them 2 stars lol
(2)Monica L.
3.5 stars I haven't been to Aiea Bowl since high school, so I was shocked when I heard there was dining area connected to it. It's pretty good local food - with great pupus, beer and sports TV. A bunch of us watched a game and had poke, garlic chicken, calamari, fries, and edamame. The edamame was tossed in a spicy, savory shoyu mixture, which added a nice twist to it. The fries looked fresh and were sliced thinly, I like that. My friend had a tempura okazuke ($4.95), which is a bowl of rice, swimming in green tea, topped with one shrimp tempura. This place is worth a try. I totally missed dessert and will have to go back to try that cream cheese brownie (see pictures by Joshua C.) **On the down side, the waitresses were really, I mean REALLY taking their time to serve people. The place was about 1/2 full and it took forever to flag someone down. And then, it took another 10 minutes before I got my beer. They ended serving the pupus first and then drinks. In most places, they start you off with the drink right away. The overall impression I get is that they are a little too laid back. I even ended up pouring myself a glass of water at the counter.
(4)Marnelli Joy B.
I stand corrected! My apologies to The Alley -- the Lemon Crunch Cake IS made IN HOUSE! :D
(5)Shawn M.
Ok this sucks!! Ordered the Loco moco take out, get home and NO GRAVY!!!! WTH man?? How can it be a loco moco if there's no gravy!! These guys are slippin :(
(1)Stephanie Y.
Love eating here, but it can get really busy and the parking is really bad. Since The Alley Restaurant is located inside of Aiea Bowl, there is never any parking because 1) the parking area is not the greatest to start with 2) all the bowlers are already parking there. Many times I tried to go there for dinner only to turn away because I could not find parking on their level (level 3) or even level 2. But when I am able to get in I always enjoy myself. I love their garlic shrimp and tasty chicken. Once I ordered their mixed plate of chicken and teri beef and was told that they were out of the teri beef so they gave me kalbi instead? The kalbi was great . . . so tasty and tender. Once my mom had some type of pork dish and that was yummy too . . . so flavorful and tender. Hard to get too (when the bowling clubs are bowling), but great once you get there.
(5)Andy D.
My mom was raving about their Loco Moco the last time I met up with my family for lunch, so I decided that I would pick up some food for the family when I went to my parent's house in Aiea. I placed my order, and within a few minutes, I got my food and I was off to the house. I do really like their very sleek black take out containers. I ordered the Yum Yum Chicken, and my parents got Loco Moco, and a Lemon Crunch Cake. The Yum Yum Chicken is essentially a variation on local-style garlic chicken. It was good, but not nearly the best I've ever had. Most of the pieces they gave me consisted of mostly skin. Hardly any meat! The brown rice is a nice option for those of us who prefer it. My parents loco moco was good too, great hamburger and nicely cooked over-easy eggs, but the gravy was a bit off. The lemon crunch cake was really good - nice and light, and not overly sweet. I think the prices are too high for what you get - at its heart it's just plate lunch food no better than other places, in nice containers
(3)Mich G.
First time ever in Hawaii and I never thought to go to a bowling alley to eat! LOL My boyfriend and I were hanging out with a friend who lives in HI and she was playing tour guide for the day. After hiking the Diamond Head, I needed an afternoon snack! So much for a snack, we ordered 4 dishes - edamame coated in this spicy sauce, korean kalbi beef, tasty chicken and the pan seared furikake ahi. ALL dishes were devoured in a matter of minutes! she told us how this place also has a bakery and its always packed (which it was when we arrived but luckily got a table). the entire menu sounded soo good and by the looks of it, everyone was enjoying their meals!
(4)Josh T.
Great food, horrible service. Got take out for peeps in the office, but found out once i had gotten back to the office that the dessert was missing. Went back to the restaurant to pick up the cake, and received a very cold "thank you" when i was given the missing item. There was no appology, no "sorry WE forgot yout dessert that you paid for". You could chock it up to the counter girls youth, or lack of job experience, but its still no excuse for dismal service.
(2)Arlene A.
For those of you that did not know The Alley serves breakfast, now you do! I didn't know either until a friend suggested we meet up for breakfast there. There are quite a few tables and booths. We went on a Monday morning around 9am, was greeted and had no problem finding a booth. Our server was very friendly and outgoing. She talked to us as if we had been friends for years. She made suggestions for us, told us which were her favorites and what was good to share amongst the three of us friends. It seemed like she went over the entire menu! I thought to myself, "Everything must be good!" She did emphasize their Signature Apple Cinnamon French Toast that she eats every week so we had to get it. We also got their fried rice omelet and bacon. After a few minutes our server came back to say she may have heard they ran out of the French toast but had to double check. She returned and said the chef is able to make it but it may take a little longer than normal. Sweet! Way to go server in selling your product and making it happen! I like that she kept us informed rather than keep us waiting and wondering for our damn french toast. And a good thing we were able to experience it too because it was amazing! Warm and freshly made with two thick slices of french toast diagonally cut with lots of apples, I could have finished it by myself! A must try! On a different note, I left my iPhone on the table there and I did not even realize it. I never do that! We left and our server called my friend that I was with. My friend was like, "Arlene, you're calling me!" and I immediately knew I did not have my cell phone on me. Not sure how our server knew to call her. Maybe because she was the last person I called before breakfast. It was a good thing we weren't too far away and I was able to reunite with my iPhone soon thereafter. I am truly grateful for honest people like our server.
(4)K K.
Having dinner at The Alley Restaurant on a Saturday was not a good idea. The place was packed and service SLOW..... We were a group of 8 and sat on 2 different tables. We both ordered within 5 minutes apart and ordered almost the same items however our food came 30 minutes apart. WTH? One excuse we got was the tasty chicken had to be cooked so it'll be a wait. Okay so we expected fresh hot chicken. Wrong! It came out cold. Prices are HIGH for the amount of food you get. On busy nights the quality drops. Our fried rice had chucks of cold caked up rice. If you going take 45 minutes to serve us our chicken then you can take a little more time and cook the fried rice good. The only reason I'm giving this place 3 and not 2 stars is the fact our waitress was nice enough to recognize the slow service and comp our table 4 desserts ($5.95 each). Plus she was nice but just overwhelmed.
(3)Jonathan N.
havent been here for a while but this experience was pretty bad for me. first of all we got sat by the door and within 5 minutes another table was sat next to us. the table that just sat down was offered water and ordered their food before us. i had to actually flag someone down and ask for water. after the food was ordered the waiter/waitress did not even come back to ask us how we were doing or if the food was ok, i even had to ask them to refill my drink. we had a party of three and we had to wait for the last order for a while and it was only a burger. the food was good and the dessert was awesome...but the experience is what got to me!!
(2)Nancy C.
The Tasty Chicken was really tasty - sweet and spicy. The chicken is not "saucy" - like Sugoi's or Zippy's Korean fried chicken. It's like the spiciness is in the skin??? I can't place my finger on it but it's really, really good. I think they bread the skin with cornstarch instead of flour? The skin just has a different texture than your usual spicy/sweet korean or whatever fried chicken. I ordered the mix plate - so half of it was the tasty chicken and the other half was the furikake salmon. I almost picked the hamburger steak as the the other half to my chicken but decided to be healthy. Brown rice - not fluffy at all - pretty dense and kinda chewy. Brown rice can be made fluffy, just need to add more water peeps!!!! Mac salad - very creamy - but very average. Tasty Chicken - read 1st paragraph. Furikake salmon - 3 words to describe - WTF??? A SLIVER of salmon (seemed fresh to me, it wasn't overcooked at all), no creamy thai sauce that they claimed to drizzle on and certainly no furikake was on it. I was pissed. LIVID! I felt like the cook ripped me off. I couldn't do anything about it because we did the phone order drill. I didn't bother to check my plate when we got it because no one f's up on my order... Seriously - I mean, it seems like 75% of the time, places will mess up my husbands order but I have that immunity. I guess 2009 is a new year for me huh? Anyways - my husband said that when he went to the take out window to pick up our food, the cook was yelling at the cashiers and waitresses and also threw a chicken at someone. So ok, Cook-y was having a bad night... I'll let that slide... but don't mess with me and my furikake fishy!!! No lemon drop cake - sold out, but the Mama Miya's Chocolate cake is very very good. I think you may want to leave it out of the fridge for about 30 minutes so it's not so cold. Think if it as an upper-scale Zippy's dobash cake. I just ate like 2 bites and saved the rest for breakfast. So props to them to offer brown rice and greens vs. white rice and mac salad. I'll try this place again. It's pretty expensive - 33 smacks for 2 plate lunches and 2 chocolate cakes. Parking is okay unless you see idiots who leave their cars in the middle of the parking area because they think their take out orders are on schedule (which our's was not - again, assuming it had to do something with Cook-y) I'll try this place again, since people speak so highly of their furikake salmon. Just hope there's another cook there or hopefully the grouchy one got laid.
(3)Jenn L.
Pretty dayam tasty... garlic chicken and garlic fries... you know it would be good because the wait was ridiculous
(5)Max K.
Great food....even a late night menu....awesome! We tried the 'Suppa Garlic Shrimp, the Loco Moco, the Furikake Seared Ahi, the Furikake Seared Ahi Ochazuke and the Tasty Chicken. Everything was really ono (for the non-locals, "very delicious"). We had reservations at 9pm for the Cosmic Bowling and decided to go early and have dinner there. I'm glad I thought of it. We all enjoyed our food and the atmosphere. The pizza sounds good too and we will be back to try that too. The potato/macaroni salad was also ono and the portions were very large. Other items I saw that looked really good was the Pork Chops, the Garlic Fries and the desserts. They have quite a large selection of desserts. The food was much better than my bowling skills so I'll be back again for more food, more practice with the bowling, and the drinks. If I'm not mistaken the ladies bowl for free on Thursdays. Hmmmm, might be a great night to have dinner there?
(4)Lisa C.
I knew I was going to be eating at a restauarant attached to a bowling alley, but I wasn't really quite prepared for it. From Joshua C's pictures, I had expected more of a restaurant atmosphere. I had my mind set on trying the Tasty chicken and the Lemon Crunch Cake, but I went a step beyond and also sampled the garlic fries and Loco Moco. The Tasty chicken lives up to its name. It was moist ,tender, garlicy boneless deep fried morsels of chicken. The garlic flavor was very good, but I still prefer the garlic chicken at Sugoi. The fries were shoestring style, nice and crisp without a trace of greasiness. I enjoyed the Loco Moco too. To me, the gravy stood out because it had a buttery taste to it which elevated the taste of the dish. The patty was made of good quality ground beef and well charred. The Lemon Crunch cake is a 3-layer sponge cake with a delicate lemon flavor and a crunch from toffee bits similar to a Heath bar. I thought it was a little expensive for eating at a bowling alley. We spent $40 for the food, a beer, a soda, and tips. I don't know if I would go out of my way to go to the Alley again, but if I am in the area and hankering for garlic chicken and fries, I would drop by.
(4)Christopher C.
Visit: 8/2/09 - Lunch. Had Tasty Chicken and water. desert was the lemon cruch cake. Tasty chicken was good. This was the second time I drank the water and it tasted polluted. So I ordered a coke to hind the polluted taste. Lemon Crunch cake was good. But not my favorite since I am not a lemon fan. At $6 a piece, it is hard to say it was junk for such a high asking price. Service was bad today. Saw the waitress run around for 10-15 mins. Then she spilled a drink on someone. After all of that, the food came out really fast. So it was bad service that we received, instead of too many orders, the kitchen can't keep up. Price was pretty high. The chicken is very similar to Zippy's Korean chicken. Zippy's chicken might be less expensive. The cake was totally not worth the price. I felt cheated. I will come back if I feel like expensive plate lunch.
(2)Margie N.
The chocolate insanity is just that, INSANE!! For you chocolate lovers out there, this is the place to stop and get your fix! It's not too sweet and it's not over kill, it's a perfect cake that I wouldn't change....I didn't want to eat it all so saved the rest for the next day and it's still absolutely delish!!! Warn you though, this piece of cake is humungous!
(5)Sam S.
i LOVE the dessert here! my favorite are the lemon crunch cake, carrot cake and the 5 layer chocolate cake. I haven't actually tired their food, just dessert!
(5)Murray O.
I brought a dozen of the blueberry scones, 2 slices of the lemon crunch cake and a slice of their chocolate cake. All were hits! The lemon crunch cake was so soft and the crunch topping so yummy and with just the right amount of sweetness. It is my girlfriend's favorite so I got her one slice for herself. The rest of us had to share...it is kind of expensive. I didn't taste the chocolate cake but the chocoholic in our office just loved it, she took it home. The blueberry scones is always a winner. I can't wait to have another!
(4)Etek E.
Cafe type Environment and menu ... Near fine dining quality of prep. The food was very tasty & flavorful. Went in with my GF and a couple of friends. The GF had a combo plate of Tasty Chicken & Furikake Crusted Ahi which was delicious. I had the Oxtail Soup, and I gotta say... That was the best damn Oxtail Soup I've had since Kam Bowl. Quality was equal to Kam Bowls oxtail soup, tasty broth with soft fall-off-the-bone pieces of Oxtail. We also shared an order of French Fries before the meals came out, even that was The Best Fries I've ever had. For desert, I had a Vanilla Bean cupcake, that I gobbled up pretty quick & forgot to share with the GF (Sorry Babe). I highly recommend this place to everybody. I will return because there's more I want to try. They even have an upscale Tuesday event, that serves fine dining cuisine... you must make reservations for that.
(5)Katrina D.
I started getting my birthday cake here two years ago and I will plan to get it every year! Their 3 layer chocolate cake is HEAVEN!!! the cake is so moist, the light chocolate creme between each layer is not too sweet and the thin chocolate fudge that coats the whole cake is divine! I convince my family to get this cake for their b-days too cause I want an excuse to eat it with out feeling like a total HEFFER!
(4)Alex T.
For a restaurant in side a bowling alley this place really surprised me. They have really good food. Large portions and high end dishes. The ahi was really fresh and the loco moco was good. The best deals are the combination plates.
(4)Gordon C.
Food was great. Furikake ahi could be better if it was cooked rare. The tasty chicken really was tasty! The restaurant was a bit loud since it is located in a bowling alley.
(4)Cariann N.
This place is pretty darn good. If im in the need to eat out and dont know what Im craving for, this is the place I end up. SO much to choose from, cant go wrong with the oxtail soup or tasty chix!!
(4)Joe L.
No matter what time I go food is good and BAD service I won't be back anytime soon.
(1)Emiko T.
You don't expect a bowling alley to pull out the stops for a restaurant but this place is pleasantly surprising! Sure it's noisy and loud...people are throwing 12 pound balls on the floor 10 feet away. But for a night of bowling/dinner this is a good choice. Got the ahi bowl with a side salad and scoop of rice. Tasty! Have yet to see what their bakery is about but their cakes and cupcakes looked so tempting.
(4)Danielle Y.
I had never really "been" to Aiea before, but you know I'll be back. Tasty Chicken. Eight dollars and ninety-five cents of pure fried garlic awesome. I may actually still be in tastebud heaven. There's a bowling alley too, if that's your thing.
(4)Serge B.
Garlic shrimp and tasty chicken are amazing!!!
(5)Kathryn D.
My boyfriend and I went to The Alley for lunch on a whim. It was prime lunch time too, around 12-1230p. The first thing I noticed while still in the car was that the takeout area was packed. When we got in the restaurant side, there were 2 other parties before us and no empty tables in site. I got myself ready for a long wait...however, we didn't have to wait long for a table at all. They sat us down near the bowling area in a corner table along side the lockers. Wasn't a prime seat, but I wasn't about to begin being picky. My boyfriend ordered the Tasty Chicken plate ($9 and some change) and I ordered the Tasty Chicken/Boneless Kal Bi mixed plate ($12 and some change). I told the waiter that I already knew that I wanted to have the Lemon Crunch cake for dessert ($4 and change). And last minute my boyfriend decided to order the Oxtail Soup to take home. I was worried that they would make us order it at the take out window, but the waiter was very accommodating and put the order in right away. The food took a while to come out and honestly I wasn't that impressed at all. The Tasty Chicken is your standard Garlic/Korean Chicken. It was a little on the dry side and I noticed that I had more chicken skin then actual chicken. The Kal Bi lacked the traditional Korean BBQ flavor that I was hoping for. It needed a little something extra. The Lemon Crunch cake was okay...not really what I expected at all. Of course I've only heard good things about it, but I was expecting it to have more of a lemony flavor and I wished it did. I think that would have cut the sweetness of the crunch a little. What I did appreciate about The Alley, is the option to have brown rice over white rice without paying extra! Also their salad dressing is super good! I think it's a creamy sesame and I usually don't like creamy dressing, but I was practically licking this one off the plate, it was so good! The service at The Alley was great. Servers came by to refill our water multiple times. And as busy and hectic as it was, the staff was really friendly.
(3)Ericka M.
THE LEMON CRUNCH is DIVINE!!! But everything else not so much. Had the hamburger steak/ tasty chicken combo and didn't care for it. But the saimin is good and so is the burger and the crunchy fries are awesomeness! But the service is snotty and its not as clean as it could be. Thus the 3 stars.
(3)Dorothy M.
Had oxtail soup with brown rice. Superb taste. Oxtail meat falling off the bone; soup is flavorful; rice came with sauce, cilantro, and plenty of garlic on the side.
(4)Cristina H.
Yes... We all know tasty chicken and lemon crunch cake is the way to go here... But me? My absolute fav is the furikake ahi salad... Sooooo good! It is a little on the cooked side, but hey... It works! The Thai dressing they use had the right balance of flavors... mixed with the ahi and the fresh greens... Soooo good! Oh, I can taste it in my mouth right about now...
(5)Karl K.
Finally went to The Alley for lunch ..... twice. After my first trip, I could hardly wait for the second. It's comfort food taken up a notch or two. The atmosphere is casual and the food is tasty and well-worth the modest prices charged. I'm partial to local-style cuisine like meat loaf, roast pork, hamburgers, garlic fries, and the like. Linens, candles, fine china, and silverware are okay every so often, but it's usually casual dining for me. Lots of available parking and getting in and out of the lot is easy. I didn't partake of any of their well-praised dessert items, but I'll be sure to get at least a taste the next time. I have an admitted "sweet tooth," but have refrained in light of health concerns. But, you gotta "live a little," so an occasional foray to the dessert cart, with due regard to portion control, won't kill me. At least, I hope not, Very solid 4-1/2 stars.
(4)jeddie k.
Went to the Alley restaurant twice this past January. First time was furikake salmon bowl from my BF's workplace. The creamy Thai dressing is super tasty=] The second time was for the 5 course dinner with the BF. Poor thing had to suffer through dinner at his workplace...but I had a good time =] We started with cheesy balls! Crunchy and gooey at the same time. Next was tempura chicken with enoki mushrooms and carrots tempura-ed right along side. The coating was surprisingly light and super crispy without being oily. Well done Alley, well done... Then, Greek salad with feta, tomatoes, red onion, pistachios and kalamata olives. I picked out the olives- no me gusta kalamata. The pistachios were a surprising favorite addition to this salad. Then, the wheel of cheese. Our pasta was tossed INSIDE the wheel of cheese. Could a more perfect dish have been made for me? The resulting pasta was tossed with basil and proscuitto. A favorite of the BF's and mine. For the next course we were given a choice of laulau style oxtail or stewed oxtail- we got one of each and shared. Braised oxtail was next. Laulau style with fried green tomatoes on the side. It came wrapped in leaves which were cut away when it reached our table. It's the little things that count. The stewed oxtail had a sauce that was tomato based and more "stew-ish". The flavor was a bit more rich which I liked. For dessert, was a pear frangipane tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. The BF concluded that the caramel tasted more like butterscotch. I was happy either way. Warm pears, crispy crust, and melty ice cream. A perfect ending. Hello also stuffed as all sin after. Worth the 40? I believe...
(3)Devin A.
Tasty Chicken Salad was really...well, Tasty! Nice service people too.
(4)Tracey U.
Rarely do you find good food at a bowling alley but here comes the Alley. The first time I tried this place my nephew had a birthday party there. I've been back twice since then but only thru the takeout window. The reason being the service completely sucks here. So I decided to always phone in my order as to not subject myself to such horrible service. However, it doesn't matter whether or not you go into the restaurant or take out window, you still get crappy service. There's a lot of teenagers or early twenty-something running the place who do not care about customer service so they'll help you when they're good and ready. Just go there knowing you'll get your food at their convenience not yours. Don't get me wrong I still like the food....Don't care for the people!!!
(2)J H.
Recently renovated and attached to one of the few bowling alleys left in Hawaii, The Alley Restaurant has really stepped it up since the alley underwent a major facelift two to three years ago. Instead of its former somewhat-seedy atmosphere, the revamped alley and restaurant is versatile: it could be a nice place for a family dinner, a good pau hana spot, or just an everyday joint to hang out and grind. Last time I dined there on a weekday for dinner, it wasn't very crowded. I ordered the OXTAIL SOUP, and that buggah brok-da-mout! It came with all the classic fixings like cilantro, peanuts, and mushrooms, along with a generous serving of rice and grated ginger on the side. At first, I wasn't sure it could hold up against its Kam-Bowl competition, but the deep brown broth and huge chunks of meaty oxtail won me over. Still, a good dining experience depends on more than just the food. The service leaves something to be desired, as there was only one and a half waitresses serving four or five tables, and having trouble keeping up at that. I say one and a half because one of the waitresses kept disappearing. I also noticed that one couple who finished before me was waiting for 10-15 minutes for their check, but it never came. They got tired of waiting, so they just paid cash and walked out - that's never good. Nevertheless, I must say that when my waitress did manage to come around, she was very pleasant and funny. I'm glad to see businesses steppin' up in Aiea/Pearl City side. No need to be shame eating out on this side anymore. Thank God for places like The Alley. Finally! A much tastier alternative to Z*%%y's ;P
(4)Rani R.
it will be hard with all the good food but, leave room for desert!
(5)Crystal S.
Lemon Crumb Cake......quite possibly the best cake I've ever eaten. Surprisingly moist and light!
(5)Ryan S.
Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!! Sorry Significant Others (SO) of football fans but The Alley not only has an Apple Crisp French Toast, fresh made Blueberry Scones and Loco Moco for breakfast but a full range of College and Pro Football on Saturdays and Sundays....ahhhh heavenly! On Sundays I counted 15 different games last year! And seeing a couple with the guy wearing a Chicago jersey and the girl wearing a Minnesota jersey was sooo sweet! Back to the food. Lunch is great for the Tasty Chicken and the Lemon Crunch Cake is da winna too! Gotta go to The Alley!
(5)Ryan A.
Tastey chicken is great and so is the lemon crunch! It is a great place to grab some lunch during work or enjoy some time with friends and family. I definitely will be coming back here a lot more.
(4)Kurisutii M.
Garlic Fries are AWESOME if you love garlic!! Hamburger steak and Fried Rice are always a hit also... Service is always good!
(5)Michael M.
Let us start with the dessert: Pumpkin crunch- OMG!!!! lemon crunch- light and sooo good. I tried their chicken special, a must have. The hambuger steak has that homemade quality with a huge portion. I should have just ordered the bowl. I am going back to try the other items on the menu. Big smiles here.
(4)Traci J.
Had lunch here on the way back into town from swap meet on a Saturday afternoon. The Warriors were playing so it was a bit of a wait for a table. Eventually got seated at a two-top against the wall and pondered the menu. After reading all the reviews, all I knew that I wanted was lemon crunch cake to go. Since I am a two-taste person, I knew I wanted some kind of combo meal. After going back and forth in my head, I ordered the furikake salmon and garlic shrimp. I saw a plate of their Tasty Chicken go by and decided that I needed that instead of the salmon, which I could get anywhere in Washington. OMG, that sh*t is the best by far. I would even go so far as to say it's better than Mitsu-Ken. It's chunks of chicken (with skin - yay!), marinated and then deep fried. I don't know what you guys have out here in the 808, but we don't have that saucy stuff on the mainland anywhere. Have no idea what's in it, but there was a tiny kick to it at the end. It was enough to jazz up the chicken, but not so much that it sogged it up. The garlic shrimp were good and it was nice to mop the rice into the sauce. Opted for just a green salad since I was kind of mac salad'd out. The boyfriend got oxtail soup with side of ramen and completed slurped all its goodness. He got a piece of the chocolate cake and I got the lemon crunch. Not sure what's in that but it's like crispy bits of seafoam candy. Yum. Thoroughly enjoyed the cake even though I am not a big sweets fan. Meat over sweets for me. Would definitely go back and have either the Tasty Chicken and something else, or this big whompin steak, mushroom, onion thing that I saw on someone else's plate.
(5)Arlen N.
Who would have thought really good food could be found in a bowling alley? Try the specials.
(4)Laurie L.
Poor service!!!! Took 30 minutes to get our food from the take out window: 2 plates, a burger and fries. When I checked I was told "we're really busy." Staff seemed adequate. But someone was disorganized because the chef/cook yelled for them to put the tickets in order. Then when we get to our destination, no utensils. How does one eat hamburger steak without utensils.So disappointed I didn't eat the food. thought we had another neighborhood restaurant to go to, Denied!
(1)Manuel Labor J.
Dont come with expectaions. Food is decent. Very overhyped. Does not compare to HOME bar and grill or side street or Kampai. Not worth the drive from town but a good place to go if you are in the area for lunch. I had the hamburger steak, garlic chicken and oxtail all were decent.
(3)Quinn M.
I've had a couple of bad service experiences in the past here, but Kristin is the best server ever. My Mom and I went to lunch there yesterday and she was so friendly. The food was amazing (shoyu pork was the best I've ever had) and the pumpkin crunch was great, but I really wanted to thank Kristin. She truly defines great customer service and has reversed my outlook on their dine-in experience.
(5)Wade H.
My latest outing was after the Great Aloha Run. All I could think about was having the mixed plate with homemade hamburger steak and tasty chicken. Took people from Maui there. I had recommended the hamburger steak so 3 of the 4 of us had that. I had the combo plate that included tasty chicken which is very tasty. There are other specials. Other person had kalua pork sandwich. Choice of white or brown rice, mac salad. The fries are good. Really thin strips. Can get it garlic too! Very strong. Watch out for the rest of the day. Portions are plentiful and it's best to eat in. Go early since it gets crowded. Wait is about 10-15 minutes. Maui folk thought the tasty chicken was better than hamburger steak. They also have great desserts - lemon crunch cake. 3 or 5 layers. 3 layers is more than sufficient. Supposed to be the same recipe as the famous Alexander Young Hotel in downtown. Never been to the hotel. No longer standing. The Alley now has cupcakes too. Did someone call my name - red velvet? We sat in the bowling area since it was crowded but it was cool to watch the bowlers. The bowling alley is pretty crowded and it has automatic scoring (no can cheat!). Parking can be limited so sneak to the second floor of Aiea Shopping Cener and walk up. Maybe next time, I'll take a chance and bowl. I was too tired from the Great Aloha Run. After lunch as if we had room, we went down to shave ice place on 2nd floor. After that it was time to get some zzz's.
(4)April P.
Everything is awesome! So tasty!
(5)Jack M.
Overpriced, for what you get! Everything was greasy. 12 bucks for a scrimp bowl, hate to say it but l&l makes a better garlic scrimp. Tasty garlic chicken, oily making my stomach upset.
(1)Gina A.
My son and I ate here only because I heard that the food was similar to that of Diamond Head Market and grill. I ordered the portabella sandwich, it was alright, but could have used a dipping sauce. It came with garlic fries which were good. My son ordered their bbq chicken plate which had a generous portion but was alright.
(3)Barry S.
Having someone recommend a restaurant at a bowling alley for great food was surprising. Being a bowling alley meant it was a bit loud, and when we went (Sunday evening) it was somewhat crowded, but we were seated immediately. The server was excellent and my meal was outstanding. I felt the prices were quite good, especially considering this was Hawaii and the Honolulu area. Overall, I felt is was a very good expreience.
(4)Shannon C.
UPDATE: I ordered take out this weekend and ordered the Alley burger w/o mayo and a chocolate cake. When I got the burger, all I got was the bun, the patty and a piece of lettuce. That's all! No tomato, onions, not even a pickle! The total for the buger and cake came out to like $14. I would've been better of eating at McDonalds for way less. I think I'll just stick to their cakes. If it wasn't for their cakes, I would deduct one more star.
(3)Marlene W.
I first tried their dessert..... ahem..... only b/c it was featured on the morning show w/Manolo Morales KHON.... I'm getting ready for work and these beautiful Valentine's Day cakes appear.... huh? A restaurant in a bowling facility that is known for Valentines Day cakes --- enter the Red Velvet Cake --- heard it before, never tried it. Ooohhh kay ..... go down to the Alley, 1st time .... open the door slowly and just a bunch of noise with bowling balls, people chatter..... aaaa, too late to turn back, just go forward. I look in the glass dessert case and the most delicious, scrumptious desserts smile at me! Buy me, try me ...... kay..... which one? I finally settle for the pumpkin crunch and when I get home that night..... Oh my heck!!! it is the most beautiful experience I had in awhile.... Now.... it's a love affair between this place and me..... I like ALL the desserts and food..... I know..... gotta stay away from the carbs.... hmmm...... aloha!
(5)Anjelika J.
*snnnniiiiiiiffffffff* *exhaleeeeeeeeee* mmm... ahhh... the great smell of old, musty, ashtray and stank cheeto feet. ooh, wait! with the hint of garlic chicken and pizza... mmm. i like it. the food here is so friggin' ono! had the oxtail soup... was yummy. had the spicy shrimp... ooh yeah! and i didn't even have to go to the north shore for this one! stole some of H's "tasty chicken"... damn that was good! it's so good that it's not enough... nah, it's enough, but i want more! damn piggy. still need to try other menu items but i just can't get past the shrimp! ok... i'm just rambling on to myself. Oh, one more thing, don't sit in that corner seat behind the pillar... they not going see you ovah dea and then you going get all pissed off and think the service sucks, but it doesn't cuz it's your fault you hiding in da cornah! *minus one star for da cheeto feet ashtray smell, but it's not their fault. it's the guy w/ the stinky feet and cigarette fingers fault.
(4)Daniel F.
Went for dinner sat night, not very busy. Good service, fast and friendly. We had the hamburger and tasty chicken. Both very good, tasty and cooked well, but best of all cheap. Around nine to ten dollars a plate. Had the apple strudel I was very impressed, it could have feed four people.
(5)Shawn P.
had breakfast on a sunday morning, wasn't greeted with a good morning, wasn't offered coffee, couldn't boil water to make poached egg or cuddled egg( to hard to do), couldn't offer a re coffee, re coffed 10 minutes or longer after request(lucky had TV), shiitake mushroom in soup to hard to chew(soup good),didn't check back if the food was OK, was going to take out dessert cake but check already presented without saying if we wanted anything else. even cashier didn't asked how was everything. place wasn't busy like other places on a sunday. would have considered coming back but didn't accept all major credit cards.
(1)HIILEI M.
So I posted a pic here a week ago and forgot to write a review, sue me, im new to yelp,lol.. Anyways i grew up in A-Town and you cant say your from Aiea if you havent been to Aiea bowl, Kana's, or the Hieghts drive in across the street(wassup with the valet parking) or the ice garden.. Anyways i grew up in Aiea but now live in Maui which doesnt hold any weight when it comes to local kine grinds. As a kid i ate at Aiea bowl many of times, it was good but nothing fancy.. You had to order either outside or thru the half door inside, remember that? And i always got the combo "B" plate which was fried rice and chicken.. I came back here after a 8 year absense, man how things have changed. This place looks like a fine dining place now with ono ono food to match the quality.. Anything you order here, and i mean anything is ono.. My favorite is the Tasty chicken spicy suppa shrimp combo with about 6 Ice cold hienekens throughout diner.. Broke da mouth... Service is good, the whole bowling alley looks new not just the restaurant.. Amazing food, i would have given five stars but the noise can be overpowering if your trying to have a conversation, but come on, its a bowling alley first right? i give this place 4 \lll/ (shakas). I was glad to be back home..
(4)Gloria K.
Normally I have excellent food & service but there is a prob with phone orders. I called an order on for a vegetable pizza for a 2:45 pickup. The girl kept saying 1:45 and repeated 3 times 2:45. Got there and my pizza was ready but warm, not hot - the cheese already hard. So the cashier says they are going to put it back in the oven to heat it up which is unacceptable because everything gets dried up ESP the tomatoes. Talked to the manager and they made a new one. They made it right. My major pet peeve is not having my food piping hot.
(1)Lopaka H.
i'll keep it short and simple. the food was great, the portions were great, and the price was great. had the crispy chicken and kal-bi mix with the toffee covered lemon cake and pumpkin crunch at the end.....make sure you bring someone to share the food with. my girlfriend and i both had leftovers
(5)Amanda-Joe P.
I love the hamburger steak here. You can't go wrong with the desserts either. I love the tiramisu and the lemon crunch cake especially.
(4)Lisa O.
Came here on a recent trip to Oahu, and it did not disappoint! The tasty chicken was so amazing! But unfortunately didn't have room in my stomach to try the Lemon crunch which I heard is fabulous. Wish they had something like the Alley on the mainland.
(5)Ms Theo F.
We finally made it to the Alley. All the hype about it is correct, awesome food. Too bad the furikake ahi was overcooked & dry (good flavor), the fried pork chop was better than Side Street's, redvelvet cupcake not worth $3 for 3 bites. My quest to find a lemon crunch cake closest to Alexender Young Bakery of the 60s has ended, it was to die for. Next time we're going to try the hamburger & skinny french fries, we wanted to snatch some fries off the next table's plate. We'll be back soon.
(5)Melanie C.
my aunty really liked this place, so she and my uncle took us here to eat before dropping us off at the airport, even though she ate here the day before haha. i had the large fried noodles and damn they gave me alot! i could barely finish it all. my sister got the tasty chicken and i wish i had gotten that, it was TASTY! it was basically like a mochiko/garlic chicken type thing but it lived up to its name. their mac salad is really good too, i kept eating all my little sister's off her bowl. portions are fairly large, my aunty also ordered fried calamari as an appetizer and i thought they gave alot. but yup, the alley filled me up real good before sitting in on an airplane for 5 hours.
(4)Jack T.
I had the Tasty Chicken it was ok. Some of the co-workers had the Fried Rice and said it was not that good, kind of dry. Others had the Shoyu Pork and HB Steak, they said it was good.
(3)Shelly i.
Went with my mom on a Sunday afternoon and ordered the pork chop, tasty chicken and garlic fries. The tasty chicken and fries were good, but I'm giving The Alley low marks for the overpriced, tiny, dried out pork chop that they dared to charge me $5 for. It was horrible and had no taste at all. We also got crap service. The staff was sitting at a table maybe icing a cake? We were all but ignored for at least 10 minutes. I do want to try the sourdough pizza but probably won't go back unless my friends want to go bowling.
(2)Meep M.
For a bowling alley (or any restaurant), this place has very good food. I AM IN LOVE WITH THEIR FRIES! The fries portion is very large and I couldn't stop shoving fries in my mouth. I almost ate the whole basket of fries by myself. Their Ahi Poke is yummy. I love it when poke is served with a sprinkle of salt, so you get the crunch and bursts of saltiness.
(5)jonah A.
I tried the oxtail soup because every time I go to the Alley, I see at least two-three people eating it. I was totally looking forward to. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It was salt city. Not good since I've been trying to stay awhile from too salty food. Lots of oxtail, not enough vegetables and the soup is just a bit too much of something. The color is dark and the taste just stays with you for a while after you're done eating it.
(3)Jess M.
Awesome coca cola turkey sandwich. Amazing dessert counter.
(5)Arlette D.
so we ordered, 10 pin pizza no jalapenos and onions, crispy fries, Kal bi & tasty chicken, Kal bi and hamburger steak, fried noodles, and last person had salmon and tasty chicken.. the food is always great here, but the waitress forgot my soda and we had to remind her after she brought someone else's soda out who had come before us. the fried noodles was great as with the pizza we always love the food here... then we tried the new cup cakes, we had red velvet and pnut butter and lemon meringue. the cupcakes were good, the frosting a little firm because it was in the cooler. but the red velvet had a chocolate center and the pnut butter had a light caramel center.. i had mine the next day after they thawed out a little bit and omg they were awesome!!!!
(5)Jyron S.
They got it right here. I would describe the menu as polished-up local food. It's food the way I want it, how I would want it, and would make it, if I had the time and ingredients, more importantly the know how. I don't know, but for some reason there is a level of comfort I get from hearing the pins pounding against one another while feasting on a bowl of Oxtail soup. Its just good food, without pretention. I happen to work at the office building across the street and for my health I only go out of gluttony. Yeah, they have healthy options like your standard Furikake Mahi Mahi, yes you can ask for brown rice instead of white, and yeah you can opt for a mixed green salad instead of mac, which is nice, really nice when you are watching what you eat, but when you are not, that's when you should go to the Alley and forget about what you'll look like in a bball game of skins. I have yet to regret anything I've ordered. So I suggest you stop wasting your time reading and go here if you're in the mood for excellent, polished-up, local fare.
(4)Aimee J.
Heard great things about this place and decided to check it out with a friend. Got in immediately, would recommend going early (6ish) for quick seating. We wanted to try as much as possible, so we both ordered mixed plates and split an order of garlic fries. When the plates came out we almost died! One plate could EASILY feed two people. We got the tasty chicken, which was good, just had a bit more breading and less chicken than I expected. Still a very good flavor. The loco moco was awesome! Boneless kal-bi was very good, not syrupy like some can be. Nice balance between the marinade and beef flavor. Fried noodles were excellent, but nothing super special. The best part was Dessert!!! The lemon crunch cake is a MUST! light, moist, not too sweet, ugh... I dream about this cake at night. We also got a piece of the chocolate insanity cake, which is delicious but not made in house. Very rich and heavy, if you love chocolate would recommend this cake. Service was good on the front end, a little slow on the back, but the restaurant filled up quickly. Overall a fantastic experience and I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Matt M.
i was on oahu for a lil while in october and my uncle told me this place had some good chicken so i tried the tasty chicken... they ain't lying when they named it tasty chicken! hahaha 2 days later i came back and ordered the kalbi and tasty chicken. too bad im back in LA now and so far away.
(5)Christina L.
i dont like bowling i dont have any special affinity for chicken and i avoid fried foods BUT outta 5 starts, i give the TASTY CHICKEN 19 stars. its essentially garlic fried chicken, but i was blown away. i couldnt stop stuffing my face! it was probably laced w/ heroine. also had the fish plate, which was okay. nothing special. b/c i didnt get an opportunity to try everything.... but loved the tasty chicken, i think 4 stars is fair.
(4)Mojojojo Y.
maybe i had been building this place up with expectations because of all the hype? but to me, the food was just ok and the prices were downright outrageous! my combo plate of furikake ahi and tasty chicken was $13, and the bf had the oxtail which was $13. i know this place is supposed to be "gourmet" plate lunch style but it just didn't taste like it. the ahi was a bit too well done for my taste and it was covered in furikake and had a slightly sweet "dressing" type of sauce on it (it was kinda plain tasting), while the tasty chicken is the alley's version of garlic chicken and most of my portion was batter and not actual chicken (i think fort street cafe's garlic chicken tastes better). it was good but not great, i wouldn't go out of my way to come back here again. i've had way better plate lunches. i mean $4.95 for a slice of lemon crunch cake? and $7.95 for a slice of the insanity chocolate cake? i've never paid so much for slices of cake before! (and i used to work at a bakery) our total bill came to $50 for two people and that was before tip. granted we also had a piece of the chocolate-marshmellow blondie and a slice of the pumpkin crunch...but everyone on this island makes pumpkin crunch and i've eaten better at my friend's house! and other places make their own version of lemon crunch which to me taste just as good and they don't charge $5 per slice. nothing really stood out except for the chocolate insanity and even that i can't justify shelling out $8. service was mediocre. it started off good, we got seated right away and our server took our order and our food came out in a timely manner. but then our server never returned and we waited for our request for a box to be filled by a busboy but then apparently he forgot. and then we waited some more for someone to take our dessert order because we wanted to take stuff to go. it was like they had no follow through. i think i'll just stick to town for my plate lunch cravings.
(3)jenna h.
I'm sort of bummed to have to write a bad review for this place, because my family and I have eaten here a lot since they renovated. For the most part, the food has always been good, but recently my mother received such terrible service that I'm sure I'll never spend another dime here. My mom ordered takeout only to bring it home and realize the tiramisu she ordered wasn't there. Not wanting to drive all the way back to the restaurant, she called to see about getting a credit of some sort for the next time she comes in. They put her on hold and never got back to her. She eventually hung up and when she tried calling back they didn't answer. She then called from a different number and they answered. Once again, after explaining the problem, they put her on hold and didn't get back to her. The Alley Workers--WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! My mom had to drive all the way back to the restaurant to get her money back, because these people obviously don't give a crap about customer service. I'd like to think that perhaps this terrible service is the handy work of one bad apple worker, because it'd be really sad to think the management would condone this type of shady dealing, but then again, I don't think they deserve the money we'd spend to go back and try again. If you've experienced terrible service here, don't go back. They don't care about repeat customers.
(1)Justin H.
Always good food and great service. My favorite foods are the tasty chicken, boneless kalbi and ox tail soup. The pizza is also really good if your bowling and want something to share with your friends.
(5)Mike C.
Wanna bowl? Not that kind of bowl, with pins and balls. Meant da kine like hearty, tummy warming soup! During last season's DDD, Guy Fieri popped in here and featured this restaurant for two dishes. The one that pulled me in was the ox tail soup. After picking up an arriving friend at the airport, we made this our late lunch destination. Remember coming here twenty years ago, but, being outvoted, I was not able to try the food that time. Fast forward to a recent weekday afternoon, we quickly parked and saw a short line at the takeout window. Popping our heads in, the restaurant area was packed and there were two or three people waiting for a table. We put our name on the list and shortly waited as the late lunch crowd was finishing their meals. Seated near the cashier area, here's what I tried: Ox tail soup, shared ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) - Made in a hearty beefy broth, there were shiitake mushrooms and baby bok choy pieces in the soup. Didn't need the dipping sauce which contained some ginger, this did not disappoint as the meat was off-the-bone tender and flavorful from the five spice seasoning. Loco moco ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ) - Looking at the photo, you'd have a hard time determining this dish, especially since my egg was sunnyside up. There is not shortage of gravy and the hamburger patty was beefy good. Add some Red Devil sauce or Tobasco to this bad boy and you'll be nodding your head sideways. Lemon crunch cake ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ), to go - To Bay Area dwellers, you'd compare this to Blum's back in the day. The crunch part is actually coffee candy and the lemon refers to the jelly filling and the sponge cake flavor. We shared this in the room a day or two later as we were in food coma from our main meal. Refrigerating it, the cake stayed moist and tasted fine. By the time we left, the restaurant was only around half full. Our waitress was very kind and checked on us on a regular basis for drinks and water refills. The cashier dude was cool too and not the least bit surprised when I picked a cake slice to go. For a local, down home experience, this is definitely a nice option especially if you live or work in the area. Just avoid those prime time dining times and you'll save the aggravation of having to wait for a table. Will be back... perhaps for one of their other signature dishes?!
(4)Paul F.
Ate their tonight and their handmade burger ($1.00 extra for cheese) sucks. Their tasty chicken is bomb but that burger is overpriced. There is nothing special about it, nothing about it makes it nearly worth the $8 it costs and then paying a dollar more for cheese. Rip off!
(1)Marqueen M.
Great food!! We finally gave this place a chance after trying to figure out something different to eat in Aiea/Peal City Area. We got the seated pretty quick, service was friendly and courteous. The staff came around regularly to check on our drinks. But most of all... The food was HOT, FRESH and DELICIOUS! I ordered the tasty chicken and fried noodle combo, the hubby had a burger. We were both impressed!!!. This place is a gem!
(5)Al L.
After arriving at Honolulu airport, my friends picked me up and we headed for The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill, which is located at the Aiea Bowl, for lunch. Arriving around 2pm, parking was not an issue in the lot in front and we were promptly seated in one of the dozen or so tables in the restaurant. The lunch crowd appeared to be thinning out during our course of our visit. As the sign by the register advertises, The Alley was featured by Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives for its Coca-Cola turkey sandwich and Oxtail Soup. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Our order consisted of: Coca Cola turkey sandwich. An all-white turkey breast meat marinated in Classic Coca cola soda and roasted and sliced and grilled for extra char and flavor and served on a hoagie. The turkey was sliced into chunks and they give you a generous amount so pieces will fall out of your hoagie as you're eating it. Wished the hoagie was toasted as the bottom bun was a little soggy from the juices. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Oxtail soup- the oxtail is simmered over two days and served with ponzu sauce and served with a choice of rice. We shared this dish. The oxtail was flavorful and fall off the bone tender. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Loco Moco - handmade patties smothered with homemade gravy and topped with over easy eggs. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Alley hamburger with fries ( yelp.com/biz_photos/the-… ) Overall, food was good and service was prompt and friendly. Though no bowlers were on the lanes while we were dining, you might be dining to the sounds of falling pins since the restaurant is not enclosed from the alley.
(4)Leroy M.
Friendly and helpful host but gave only 2 stars for food and service. Their house special oxtail soup was not the same as I had previously. Instead of vegetables and shiitake mushrooms in the soup there was only 4 pieces of baby shanghai cabbage. Not only that but 2 of the 5 oxtails was hard and rubbery (dental floss nightmare). My server was very inattentive as well. Late to greet and never followed up once after I was served. I never had a chance to complain as I saw her in the kitchen refilling creamers for the night. I had to go up to the cashier and have her figure out my bill. After some apologies I paid my bill and gave her my servers tip. Might be a while before I come back again.
(2)Stacy F.
OMG, this place is FANTABULOUS! It isn't a huge restaurant but the favors are superb! Check out this gem in the ally! We had the oxtail soup, yummmm! The tasty chicken, need I say more with this title - it is most tasty, and the coca cola turkey sandwich, wow! We also had their onion rings, crispy and tasty! As featured on triple D, this place will not disappoint! The portions are generous and the flavors top notch. Our server, was terrific giving us a true island welcome! Thank you, Patricia for making our visit memorable! We will hopefully have time to return while we are on the island.
(5)Jin M.
For starters, their Lemon Crunch Cake is deeeeeeelicious. I kind of wish I ordered just that pie (or three) and forgo the Furikake Ahi dish--- I met few of my friends here on a weekday for an early dinner. It wasn't crowded at all at this time, it's rather a very casual dining type of a restaurant located inside of a bowling alley (hence, the name). As for parking, make sure you park on the 3rd level of the "shopping mall". The restaurant is located above Samurai, above McDonalds, yep- third level. And yes, parking is free. I saw few raving reviews about the Furikake Ahi so I had to order this dish! And of course, white rice (I eat what I want, don't push that healthy brown rice on me) and mac salad (yummm, mayo). Oh, btw, you can order the bowl instead of the main dish, which is smaller and cheaper by few bucks. I'm always hungry so I didn't even see that as an option on the menu until the server pointed it out. Ha! You know.. with Furikake being a bit salty, you would think the ahi would be full of flavor. When the dish came out, it looked delicious. The ahi was covered in seasoning and the sauce that was drizzled on top looked delectable. However, the taste was surprisingly bland and the mac salad was also .. surprisingly bland. But hey, it was nice and crunchy. :) Crunchy, bland ahi for $14! Come and get 'em! But like I said, that Lemon Crunch Cake is amazing so make sure you save room for dessert!
(3)Minna W.
Guy, you done did it. You took a girl from Baltimore, MD and had her eating in a bowling alley restaurant on Oahu. Yes, we had to a wait a little bit, but the wait was worth it. The oxtail soup was absolutely delicious; I even got ramen noodles, but I'm sure that I would have been full without them. My husband had the fried chicken, and it was seasoned well and light and crispy. We enjoyed sharing our entrees with each other and are glad to have been able to sample some of the most popular items there. We were seated next to the dessert case, but I showed lots of self-control and walked out of there without any crunch cake. Le sigh.
(5)Sashanna W.
Whenever I come here the service is on point and the food delicious...I love places that are consistent but what I love more is that the food deliciousness is always a plus...I always recommend this place to any outsiders I come across
(5)Laurina S.
This place is pretty dam delicious. Excellent local food and surprisingly, they have a variety of options. I ordered the chicken and spicy shrimp combo plate. My friend ordered the same thing. We also ordered a side of fried rice, onion rings, and desserts (pumpkin crunch cake and chocolate blonde). I thought everything was good except I felt the chicken was very fatty and overly breaded, the taste was there, if you're not counting calories. The friend rice and onion rings were ok. The desserts were the best part. They're homemade and not too sweet. The prices were a tad bit high. For the same price, you can order everything at a nice restaurant downtown. Each combo plate was $18.95 which included rice and macaroni salad. The side of onion rings were $7. Each dessert was around $6-$9 each. I'm glad I experienced this local favorite. Everyone was extremely friendly and accommodating. I will definitely be back for the dessert.
(4)Matt A.
The restaurant is very noisy, but it's a bowling alley. So no dings on that. Noisy from being busy is good. We were services very quickly given the evening rush. I had a combo meal which had the tasty chicken and boneless Kalbi. Boneless Kalbi dammit! No bone means more meat! More meat means happiness! Kalbi was tasty and chewy and was nice size able portions. The signature tasty chicken lives up to its name. Nice large portions of crispy flavorful sweetness. The chicken wasn't fatty and was moist. The skin was crisp and not soggy from the flavoring injected into it. It reminded crispy after our conversations we had at the table. The Mac salad was fine, nothing to be excited about. We ended with a lemon crunch slice of cake. A great cake topped with some kind of toffee crumble. The lemon was not strong or tangy which made it a delight to eat. Highly recommend going here!
(4)Matt Y.
Just went in today, Labor Day, to go and pick up a cake for a party. They were going to sell me a lemon crunch cake for $95, ouch...The cashiers response was they were busy. If they were going to be busy then they should have made more. Told my friends how much it was and they even were freaked out. They bought two of the same cakes I was going to buy the other week for $35. Huge price gouging I must say. Terrible, terrible, terrible. =(
(1)Jeff T.
GOOD: Indisputably delicious food. Pretty much everything they have is good. Ridiculously good desserts - lemon crunch cake, mama mia cake, etc....you can't go wrong. For the reasons above we have been here many times and will be back. NOT GOOD: Prices - $40+ for a cake... Inconsistent service quality - this is why we don't patronize The Alley more frequently. Our experience is about 50/50 as to whether we receive sincere and attentive service or the feeling that the staff have the attitude that they know their establishment is good/popular/successful so they don't give a rat's a** about the customers.
(3)Denise P.
I am so glad that bowling is alive and well in Hawaii. I am extremely happy that the Alley offers some ONO food and outstanding customer service. My family and I weren't sure where to go for dinner. On a whim, we decided to head out to Aiea and go to The Alley. We got there about 7:45 p.m. The parking lot was packed and there were people hanging outside. We found out that the bowling alley had a fundraiser going on. We also found out that there would be about a 15-20 minute wait to be seated in The Alley. We chose to wait and were seated within 20 minutes. Like the bowling alley, The Alley was super busy, too. However, the customer service and food was outstanding! My honey and I each ordered the Furikake Salmon bowl and my 13-year old son ordered the Ribeye Steak. Geez! Where did those kiddie meal days go?! I digress - and my son inhaled his meal minus the plate and utensils. Our waiter was very attentive and courteous. Our food came out in less than 30 minutes; and they still had people coming in around 8:30 p.m. The team work and comraderie was apparent and made our dinner outing very pleasant. A big mahalo to The Alley team!
(5)Evan M.
A decent place for dining in while at the bowling alley. Growing up in Hawaii, you always hear about their famed desserts- Lemon Crunch and Pumpkin Crunch cakes. I have liked both before, so was willing to try their diner part too. I got the Oxtail Soup, which was good. Nothing blew me away about it, but I suppose the ponzu dipping sauce was a nice touch. Their Tasty a Chicken plate reminded me of Zippy's Korean Fried Chicken or Garlic Chicken blend, which was good but not as special as I was hoping for. The desserts were good though. So I probably wouldn't order in for dinner again, unless starved while bowling. However, I will definitely keep ordering out their Lemon and Pumpkin Crunch cakes though!
(3)Daisy J.
This rating originally was supposed to be 1 star because an order of french fries took a little over 20 minutes. My sister ordered a mixed plate right before I ordered and she got her plate almost immediately. After waiting 10 minutes I reminded them I was still waiting but waited for an additional 10 minutes before letting them know again that I haven't gotten the fries yet.I was fine with waiting because we were having fun bowling & I understood it was really busy. After the second reminder the manager (I think) gave GREAT customer service!!! Thank you Alley Restaurant for recovering a bad service. They even brought the fries to our lane. The fries were delicious!! The compensation for the wait & taste of the fries gave reasons for the 5 stars!
(5)Jake C.
Yelp 365 Challenge 2015 #20/365 Rachel and I recently came here for lunch, after hearing through the great vine that they actually had good food, even while located inside a bowling alley! So we checked in with the host for a table for two, and it was a bit busy, but the wait was a little less than 10 minutes, so we had nothing to complain about. We weren't seated inside the actual restaurant area, but instead directly behind the bowling alley lanes, so it was a bit loud. Our waitress was a little busy, and we weren't expecting too much, but every time she would come to our table, she would apologize, which was nice, but not completely necessary, because I didn't feel forgotten at any point throughout the service, like I have other places. Rachel ordered the Alley Burger and I ordered their "famous" Tasty Chicken. Their menu is interesting because it seems like they have the same core items, but in different variations, i.e. Tasty Chicken Sandwich, Tasty Chicken Salad, Tasty Chicken appetizer, Tasty Chicken Plate. I ordered the plate, being that I am a full grown man, hungry and looking for a full grown meal. The food came out pretty quickly, and the Tasty Chicken really did live up to its name. I couldn't really put my tongue on the flavor, but I think it was somewhere between garlic and Korean chicken. Very good taste, and their portion of chicken is really big too! Rachel's burger was great as well, and the patty was homemade. It did taste a bit like meatloaf, but it was still better than a frozen or premade patty. This place has good food and a cool atmosphere, although the noise level is really high especially if you're seated right behind the lanes. The service by the hosts and waiters/waitresses is really good too, so there's nothing really wrong with this place, but I wouldn't say I'm dying to come back. If it's convenient, I would suggest it as a place to eat, but I wouldn't be driving all the way out to Aiea just to come here.
(3)Kanoe I.
The perfect place in Aiea for local foods and awesome desserts!! Located in the Aiea Bowl, The Alley is a good, casual-dining restaurant with a menu full of favorite comfort foods and more. I love the healthy options on their menu. I ordered the Furikake Crusted Ahi Salad (11.95). It came with two generous pieces of Ahi (cooked just right) and was served on a bed of fresh greens. Their house dressing is delicious.....It's hard to describe but you have to try it! My bf ordered the Furikake Salmon Bowl ($11.95). It was salmon fillets sprinkled with nori and goma w/ a creamy thai sauce and green onions. This bowl came with a salad and a scoop of rice. He devoured it. Love: The Lemon Crunch Cake and The Pumpkin Crunch desserts. You can buy individual pieces of either for $4.95. We bought a whole Pumpkin Crunch Cake for a Thanksgiving dinner and it was about $27. So worth it....and everyone loved it!! I highly recommend trying both!! Service was great, parking was easy, food hit the spot.....I have no complaints. And I will definitely be back!!
(4)Tiffany A.
It's a restaurant in a bowling alley and we came here to just eat! That says a lot! I had the Oxtail Soup and it was really good. Several of my family order combo meals and the chicken and other items and they were all very happy with the Tasty Chicken. They have seating in the restaurant and then along the bowling lanes. We were a decent size group of 10 with toddlers and were seated within minutes. Service was good... the setting... well, it's a bowling alley... so pretty much... expect that. lol. Enough food that we brought some leftovers home. Oh and don't forget to try whatever special desert they have too... I think I had the crunchy lemon cake. So good!
(4)Crystal L.
I've been here 4-5 times now because the boyfriend loves this place, but I didn't really care for it until our most recent trip... when I had their shoyu pork. Literally flakes right off and has a mouthful of flavaaaa. But I heard they sometimes run out towards the closing time. This place has been on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and is well-known for their tasty chicken and oxtail soup (both of which I think are pretty good.) I've also had their coke turkey sandwich which was my go-to until I tried their pork. You don't really taste the coke, but the turkey is juicy which I liked. - furikake ahi is allllright, wouldn't order it again though. - kalbi is good, but has a strong flavor that made it hard for me to keep eating. - ahi katsu was one of their daily specials which I would def get again (they have daily specials which also ran out 3/5 times I've been here) Also known for their desserts like lemon crunch cake, def something to try. It's a restaurant in a bowling alley with it's own parking structure, so parking ain't a problem. They also have a pick-up and go window if you aren't trying to dine-in. Service can be hit-or-miss here. I've had super friendly servers, ones that that try and take my plate away before I'm done, even a GTFO vibe when it came towards closing time. My boyfriend is what kept me coming back here, but I've gradually become a fan of the food as well.
(4)Janine B.
Staff didn't acknowledge my boyfriend and I when we walked in. Five people walked past us with a "get-out-of-here" glare. The host finally came and put our name on the waiting list which didn't make any sense since there were maybe more than five opened tables, and we waited almost ten minutes for a seat. Our server was not very helpful. Being it was our first time here, I asked him if the first page of the menu was considered the "appetizers" and he said yes. I proceeded to ask him how big the portions were. We had fried rice, the tasty chicken, and deep fried porkchops. He told me that it was just like the plate version without rice. How am I supposed to know how big the plate version is? Can you give me ounces? Plate sizes? Anything besides "it's like the plate without rice?" It seemed like he was in a rush for us to order and he had better things to do. Irritated, we just ordered the three dishes. Service was disappointing. My water was not filled once. He checked on us once. The other wait staff had a bit of an eye problem too. I thought ordering their lemon crunch cake would make my experience better but the guy at the counter couldn't even let me look at the other choices. I felt pressured to hurry and order so I just left with one crunch cake. I would've got more but I was already mad and didn't want to spend any more money. The food was great. The service was disappointing.
(3)Pax H.
Bowling? Did you say bowling? Who would think bowling and a restaurant go together. At Aiea bowl, The Alley does. About 2007, Aiea bowl needed a boost to spark business. They always had a takeout window but more was needed. The Alley was born. I discovered it while driving by back then. I noticed there were more cars than usual. So I stopped by. It became a weekly stop for me. The bar of course. The menu changed and desserts became a specialty. Although small, the bar was modernized making it attractive and appealing. Friday nights are busy and you could wait awhile for a table. But it's worth the wait. My favorite it a mix of hamburger steak and tasty chicken. If wanna drink, pupus consist of alley sauce soybeans, pulehu steak, fries, pizza, or tasty chicken. They are all good. If you are around Aiea around lunch or dinner, stop by and check it out. Your taste buds will celebrate. =) 4****.
(4)Christopher S.
Solid dive serving up excellent Hawaiian homestyle cooking. Never had a bad meal, no matter what I've tried on the menu. Desserts are a great ending too. Only downside is that it is always crowded and you have to wait. But that's only because it is so popular, and for good reason.
(5)Po'u L.
Ordered the tasty chicken, loco moco mix. The food was as awesome as everyone says it is. I also like the fact that they seated us away from the crowd in the restaurant. I like to enjoy my food without hearing other people and their conversation. Next time...oxtail soup.
(4)Nelson Q.
YELP 365 CHALLENGE 2014-(227/365) "Right Up My Alley!" CRACK CHICKEN!!!!(That's what they need to change the name to!) Honolulu Yeep Bruddah Dave F. suggested that I try the Tasty Chicken when I come here, so when we finally got in after a pretty good wait, I was HANGRY! Flipping through the menu, they offer everything from burgers, pizza, desserts, and local specialties too. We shared the Fried Noodle Plate and a plate of their Tasty Chicken. I see a lot of raves for their Oxtail Soup, but for me, I like to make it at home. (Cheaper, more portions) Both plates came out with generous portions and both had great flavor, but man that chicken with that crack sauce on there...SO ONO! I'd definitely get this again. Our waitress suggested their popular Pumpkin Crunch so we tried a piece which was okay, but I prefer real whipped cream, not that "whipped topping" stuff. Guess I'll just make this myself too! Pretty slammin' food for being in a bowling alley which can get hella noisy for some, but no worries for me because the flavors of the food are much louder! ALOHA!!! Shaka Meter: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 4
(4)Lori L.
I love the Lemon Crunch Cake from The Alley Restaurant Bar and Grill. I know people usually come here for the Tasty Chicken, which is good, and often I eat the Ahi and Salmon Combo--just be sure to say you want your fish rare to mid-rare or it might be over cooked, and the Kalibi. They also make a good Loco Moco for Breakfast. But the real reason I regularly stop by The Alley, is to pick up desserts on my way home. Not cheap, a Brownie will be $3.50 - $4.50, the Pumpkin Crunch is $4.95, Cakes run $4.95 - $7.95 a piece, but are so worth it as a treat. They also have whole (expensive) desserts for parties, and I've been blessed with a whole Lemon Crunch Cake for my birthday--they do love me! The interior is loud and lively, especially for dinner and there are a few outdoor tables if you do want to eat in, just make sure to get dessert!
(3)Johanna M.
I love the food and desserts at The Alley. Anytime I have the opportunity to purchase their yummy desserts at festivals or in their restaurants, I take full advantage. Their lemon crunch cake is soooo delicious and their pumpkin crunch is also soooo delicious. Seriously...if you're casually driving by, and there is parking, just run in and grab one or both of these desserts. Do it! In terms of eating in the restaurant, they offer really good food. Think about the food you normally get at a bowling alley...throw those notions out the window. The Alley is serving everything from fries, to oxtail soup, to kalbi...and so much more. I really like their boneless marinated kalbi bowl. Is it the best kalbi I've ever had? No, but it's pretty good and it was pretty filling. My husband got their oxtail soup, which he enjoyed. It was good, but we've had better. The desserts are the main reason we usually visit The Alley. The actual food just serves as a precursor to that main event, for me.
(4)Joshua R.
When I think Bowling Alley I don't usually associate it with good food. If anything, good bar food as in wings, nachos, beer, etc. But I kept hearing otherwise from friends and Yelpers and I'm glad I decided to finally give it a try. I even came back a second time and now here's my review! Go for a pick two! And one of those options has to be the Tasty Chicken! So crispy, so Ono, seasoned and marinated to perfection. You just can't go wrong. I did the pick two both times and got the Tasty Chicken each time. The first time I got the Garlic Shrimp which was good but not the highlight. Especially, since there are so many garlic shrimp options on this island. The second time I paired the chicken with the Furikake Ahi and OHMYGOSH! Sooooo good! I think I found my go to items whenever I eat here. Somehow, some way save room for dessert! This place also has some really good pastries. I want to try them all but you should definitely give the Lemon Crunch a try. Great place to eat! Bring a group because there's lots to eat. If I had a bigger group I would've added some appetizers beforehand. Lots of good stuff on the menu that I've yet to try. If you have a group you can share that dessert at the end or always take it home to enjoy later.
(5)Charmaine L.
Apparently parking has been reviewed in the past to be challenging. My friends and I parked downstairs and took a little walk up to the top where the restaurant is located....which was not bad of a walk at all. Got some good exercise out of it! The atmosphere is fun! All the servers and waiters are kinda and friendly. FRIED chicken is a must! The Ox tail soup is EXCELLENT for hawaii. But there are way better places in Los Angeles :) There is a to-go order too if you are short in time. Also, why not go bowl after or before you grub if you have time?!
(4)Alvin J.
Whenever someone mentions "The Alley", thoughts of their Tasty Chicken flood my senses. Seriously, the Tasty Chicken at this restaurant is insane! So crispy and delicious and cooked perfectly every time. It's the only thing I order whenever I go to The Alley. One time I ordered a combo plate with Tasty Chicken and furikake ahi, and while the ahi was also pretty good, I left that night wishing I had ordered all chicken instead because I just can't get enough! The restaurant is somewhat small as it's inside Aiea Bowl (which is also a big plus!), so it tends to get crowded during peak hours, especially on weekends. However, I've gone multiple times for late lunch or early dinner and didn't have to wait very long, maybe 20 minutes tops. But to be honest, I'd wait a lifetime just to get that feeling of satisfaction in my tummy after eating their chicken (okay, maybe more like 30-45 minutes because anything longer than that, my body won't be able to handle the wait and axiety). If you haven't already, please do yourself a favor and visit this restaurant! Believe me, you won't be disappointed. You (and your stomach) will thank me later. :)
(5)The Cook T.
Unfortunately we won't be able to make a review for the food as we waited 15 min seated at a table without someone coming to even offer us a glass of water. We looked around and realized that it wasn't because they were overly busy but just because that's how the personnel was that night, not very concerned with customer service. We were not in a mood to wait any longer and left.
(1)Gerard G.
We had a great experience even though it didn't seem to initially start out that way. When we pulled into the parking lot for Aiea Bowl, there were no spaces available so we had to exit back onto the street and park in a lower level. Once we got inside, it looked like it was a bowling league night which explained why the parking lot was full. When, we asked how long was the wait for the Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill, they told us about an hour to an hour /fifteen minute wait...well since we were already there we figured we'd stick it out. It was only about ten minutes when they called us...the hostess said they had a table reserved for a large party but they never showed...COOL! Our waitress was very friendly, and provided some suggestions. I eventually ordered the loco moco and the lemon crunch cake. The loco moco was good...lots of gravy, runny egg, burger patties, and enough rice to keep me happy. But my main focus was the lemon crunch cake...cos I'm all about the sweet stuff. Honestly, I'm mainly a chocolate fan..and wasn't expecting much from the lemon crunch cake...but boy was I wrong. The lemon crunch cake was unbelievably delicious...there wasn't too much lemon where it was tart and made me pucker up...naw this was perfectly sweet and the crunch just made it that much more awesome. Unfortunately, they didn't have the strawberry crunch cake otherwise I probably would have ordered that too. Our waitress said they didn't have the strawberry crunch cake that particular day and actually they only make it every once in a while...and it sells out fast. Well, I guess I'll have to be back another day...and now I have to struggle to find a similar tasting lemon crunch cake on the mainland.
(4)Krysten I.
WOOHOO!! I"m such a fan of the Alley Restaurant! They have really great food, decent prices and great service! They also share a very large parking lot, so finding parking is not a problem. I've been to the Alley Restaurant on two occasions and both experiences were great. The first time, I had a portobello sandwich. The burger and accompanying flavors and textures were awesome and the fries were nice and crispy. The second time, I had my heart set ox tail soup because it had been a cold day. It was phenomenal. They best ox tail soup I've had!! It comes with a delicious ponzu dipping sauce and pieces of Choy sum and shiitake mushrooms. I'm salivating just thinking about it. We ended the night with a piece of lemon crunch cake. I had wanted the strawberry crunch, but they sold out in the time it took us to finish our entrees, so make sure you come early if you want the strawberry crunch....orrrrr order it for an appetizer :) the lemon crunch cake was not a bad consolation dessert, but I definitely want to go back for strawberry crunch in the near future. The service is great, and if you need something to do after, you can just head on over to the bowling alley part of the establishment. It does get really crowded on the weekends for dinner, so plan accordingly (aka have a snack in the late afternoon) or get take out!!
(5)Jennifer D.
"MMMMMMmmmmmmm" describes the food here. I always make sure that my family covers the basics when we visit The Alley. - Tasty Chicken - Lemon Crunch Cake - Oxtail Soup Pretty much everything is good here but those are the must-haves. The tasty chicken is always a crowd pleaser, but it just depends on my mood if I order it or not. The lemon crunch cake is so decadent it will make you go into a food coma for sure. The oxtail soup is very good. The soup is flavorful and not greasy. I didn't need the ponzu sauce that it came with. I prefer to dip my oxtail in soy sauce and ginger. I've had the garlic fries and they were actually way to garlic-y for me. It was kinda spicy. But overall a great meal waiting to happen. I'm making myself salivate right now.
(5)Terry K.
When you got it, YOU GOT IT What started out to be a diner in a bowling alley, The Alley Restaurant morphed itself into a FINE DINER location. Here are some observations 1) Always crowded, you will more than likely have to wait for a seat (courteous customer service) 2) you WILL wait (anticipation) 3) you will study the menu while you wait OR you just know your order will be the oxtail soup 4) you will order desert with your meal OR you will have dessert to go. 5) you will leave the restaurant with a pleasant fulfilled feeling- and maybe a lemon crunch cake or pumpkin crunch cake in your hand for the evening dessert. The food is above average from the standpoint of quality first, quantity second. The service is okay, they are so busy the table service may sometimes come off as abrupt but understand it comes with a reason (valid reason). The menu is extensive, you can order a mini meal, a regular sized meal or appetizers (their appetizers can fit as part of a shared meal) and dessert (of course I have desert first when dining here and many times end up having my meal to go!) Too many good prepared meals to list, suffice to say everything on the menu is good. My picks of meals? Ahi furikake (mini), fried rice breakfast, or ANY burger and last, most enjoyed by me is the oxtail soup. Don't forget the Lemon crunch cake! Only drawback????? PARKING!!!! Difficult! Horrible parking conditions! That said, indicative of a great restaurant if I can overlook the parking situation (I am the parking police) PS I agree with Guy Fieri
(4)Kayla B.
What can I say.... The food taste as great as it looks. I had the ahi and kalbi mix plate is was amazing... I would have been even better if it came out "hot"...but nevertheless it was good.. I'm giving the alley 4 stars only because the wait staff could use a little more training on customer service just because asking one person if he or she wants a refill and failing to ask everyone is just bad manners... Other than that great place to come and eat and then bowl after..
(4)Vicky S.
Wow- sitting on a picnic table at a bowling alley could be so gourmet! Who knew! 5star Shoyu Pork 4.5 ahi salad (it was very cooked) Onion rings great too
(5)Jacob N.
What comes to mind when you think of a bowling alley? I think of Lysol aerosol spray, stinky community shoes that would probably smell like some sort of ripe cheese if not for the Lysol spray, noisy video games, and old cigarette burned carped from decades ago. Who would have thought that you'd also be able to find some awesome local food too? Well, The Alley at Aiea Bowl is a prime example of this, and they're so well known here in Hawaii that it even landed them a spot on Food Network's show Diners Drive-In's and Dives! OH YEAH!! + Tasty Chicken + Loco Moco + Kalbi + Oxtail Soup + Lemon Crunch Cake + Pumpkin Crunch + Strawberry Crunch Cake OH NO!! - Seems to always be crowded - Sometimes hard to flag down your server - Hard to find parking OH MY?! ~ Why is this restaurant in a bowling alley?! When you first enter, you'll probably notice that it's pretty crowded, and there will most likely be a wait for a table unless you've got awesome timing, and/or good luck. The staff seem to be running around like freshly headless chickens, and a hum of chaos accented with the crash of bowling balls into pins fills the air. Things seem less chaotic once you're seated safely on your table, or in your booth, but I noticed that the way the servers divvy up the tables is that they alternate taking new tables as new customers come in instead of having assigned sections to wait on. This probably adds to the appearance of chaos and confusion on the floor since servers will be waiting tables all over the place. Be sure to check the dessert case early during your visit. The staple desserts are the Lemon Crunch Cake and the Pumpkin Crunch, but every once in a while they'll bring out some Strawberry Crunch Cake which tends to sell out quickly. I've only had the chance to have it once, and it blew my mind. I thought the Lemon and Pumpkin were awesome, which the are, but the Strawberry was on another level completely! Maybe it was just the added flavor of it being so rare and limited, and my sense of nostalgia is further enhancing the flavor, but for me, it's tops. You can't go wrong with the food here. Good local grindz. And yes, that's grindz with a "z". That's how local it is. I normally get the Tasty Chicken and Kalbi, but I'm trying to be more adventurous, and order different things, so I'll just keep expanding on that, and you should too! Great... Now I'm in the mood for some Tasty Chicken... Does anyone want to meet me in Aiea to grab a bite??
(4)Keli B.
I made a phone order today for fried rice and apparently they ran out of fried rice. I don't understand why they couldn't make more. Service on restaurant side sucks. Food is great tho. Kind of pricey if you ask me
(3)Patrick's Taxi Honolulu Hawaii W.
5 star because it's in a bowling alley!!! food is great, Kalbi, Oxtail soup, and dessert.... wow.... mouth watering food !!! When can, I try stop by.... sometimes pretty full but I can't blame them !!! go early or take out!!!! oh yea ... bowling is fun tooooo !
(5)Matt C.
Came to get something to eat there walked in once and didn't get any help as me and a friend were reading a menu, we then left because we thought we try something else, decided to go back stood in line and waited a bit more. After a while two parties walk in and immediately get seated, we then leave in complete disappointment and head to hughleys.
(1)Vangie A.
Came for dinner with a party of 9 and they said it was an hour wait. Guess there was a bowling tournament going on because it was crowded! First impression : very small place.. And very loud! We got seated about an hour and a half later. Our waiter, Joel, was very accommodating. We ordered oxtail soup, garlic chicken, pulehu ribs, a few combos, furikake ahi.... And started off with garlic fries. Portions were more than enough... And price was very fair for the amount! The garlic fried chicken - the best I've tried in Hawaii! Regardless if it's dark or white meat, they all are crunchy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside - and I'm not even a chicken type! The flavor.... They pulled the garlic off with a hint of honey - I'm drooling thinking about it! Pulehu ribs : big portion! Oxtail soup: Here are specific instructions : Step 1: Mix soy sauce in bowl of grated ginger. 2: Scoop some rice with the spoon and absorb some soup on that rice. 3: take your chopsticks and get a piece of oxtail. 4: Dip oxtail meat on soy sauce-ginger mix and place on spoon with rice soaked with soup. 5: ENJOY PERFECTION! HIGHLIGHT OF MEAL: EVERYTHING!! Even if we were fill, we all shared some desserts! Lemon crunch cake: I was skeptical with the reviews but we ordered it anyway. And... It tastes nothing lemon!! It is delicious!! My fave from the desserts... MUST TRY. Does not taste like what you'd expect. If you're a lemon fan - may not be the dessert for you. Pumpkin Crunch: delicious pumpkin pie with thick whipped cream and crunchy texture. Chocolate insanity: a little too rich for my taste... Maybe with some Icecream. But perfect for chocoholics.
(5)Joyce L.
I saw this restaurant on Food Network about 2 months. I was drooling while watching the show so I wanted to try their oxtail soup. I went on a Thursday night & it was a full house. One of the server tells me that usually it's jam packed. Luckily we didn't have to wait for a table. So I order their famous oxtail soup. It came in a big saimin bowl with a half plate covering the oxtail soup. A spoon and shredded ginger with Chinese parsley sauce were on it. It also came with a bowl of rice and house sauce. The broth was on the darker side but it was delicious. Oxtail meat were so soft and juicy. Some of the meat fell off the bone so I had to rescue them with the spoon into my mouth. Peanuts and Chinese spices were in the broth. This is not cheap eats. The oxtail soup alone is $13. We also had steak plate & salmon bowl. Both were also good. As for the service, they have a big production of people working efficiently. Our server Khrystal (I hope I got the spelling) was so smiley and pleasant. Also other servers kept themselves busy with picking up dirty dishes and refilling water. They also had happy hour/pupus/drinks menu. I'm not sure it's only for certain time though. Longboard beer was $4. The table next us order mostly pupus enjoying themselves. That's what I want to do next time. There's ample parking available. They also have takeout window. If you like oxtail soup, this is a must try place.
(5)Grace L.
Everyone says the Alley is super amazing and has the best food but I don't know about that. I mean the food is okay but I didn't think it was spectacular. The service is excellent and I feel that the staff is really attentive. The desserts are amaaaazing but you can get those to go without having to dine in. I ordered the furikake salmon and my boyfriend had the cola turkey sandwich. Maybe we just ordered the wrong thing but both of our dishes were really dry. The cola turkey was featured on DDD, which made us think it was going to be a flavor explosion but it was....alright. The salmon was exactly as you would think but it was a bit more on the dry side. We also had some garlic fries with the sandwich. I like that the garlic flavor was there but not overpowering to the point where the fries were hard to eat. It was well balanced and I really like the crunch of the fries since it's thinly sliced. I would order this again to go. For dessert we had the chocolate cake (Mama Miya), which was probably the best part of our meal. We fought over the last bite. The cake was so smooth and soft and the ganache was a perfect touch without being overly rich. Not sure if we just ordered the wrong thing though because everyone swears by the tasty chicken. We were both trying to be healthier so we opted for the salmon and the turkey. Bad choice. Food wasn't too bad but I wouldn't order those dishes again. Next time I'm getting the chicken and the oxtail. Yes, there will still be a next time.
(3)Jenel O.
I thought I already reviewed this place... maybe put it in the bowling alley by accident? Anyhoo... the food here is good but what is GREAT is the lemon crunch cake. Yes, it's not crazy lemony... but the toffee bits on the outside are to die for! I'm such a chocolate person but when I come here, this is my dessert of choice (even over their chocolate cake!). Tasty chicken, good... Boneless kalbi, good... French fries, good! Pizza, really good!
(4)Raelyn B.
Aiea bowling alley is always busy whenever I go but when you do, make it a point to go the Alley Restaurant. The food will not disappoint you. They're portions are huge, half order seems like a regular I wonder what the full order looks like. Like the bowling alley it's busy. Really popular among locals, businesses and military. Thankfully a friend got there early and got us a table. We knew what we wanted and ordered. Kudos to the waiters, bussers, and everyone helping out. It's pretty crazy but they're doing their job right. Filling up waters, getting food out, giving checks. I was impressed. This day I got the Furikake Ahi, the half or regular plate, comes with three pieces of nicely seasoned furikake ahi. haha. one bed of lettuce, side of tossed salad and white rice. That was honestly my first time having it, it was good! Filling, tasteful, and it wasn't over cooked which I poorly do to myself when I make fish. The best part probably wasn't the food when I came here, the best part was checking out. Remember when I mentioned the staff being great? They're seriously on it. Everyone was everywhere and we were pretty patient but life was happening a bit fast. When he gave us our check I asked to a blueberry cheesecake square to go and he made that happen. TY to my server which i did not get the name to! The blueberry cheesecake was delicious, I love blueberry. Unfortunately I didn't try their lemon crunch cake which everyone talks about. I will soon though! Kudos Alley Restaurant I commend you for your great service.
(5)Victoria A.
With 500 yelp reviews to date - this is a popular restaurant that has a cult like following. For those newbies looking for a solid place to eat in Aiea...this is the place to go. It's conjoined the Aiea Bowl (restaurant/bakery/bar & lounge) on Aiea Heights Drive. Come for their juicy and tender pork chops, boneless Kalbi and definitely for their pumpkin crunch pie! Back in the day when I did eat chicken, I recall that the chicken was quite crispy and tasty (I'm told it's still a favorite). My review though is really for their dessert My husband has been raving about this particular strawberry crunch and lemon crunch cake for a while already. Mention DESSERT and I'm there...quicker than flies on food on a hot beach day at the park! So willingly I go to get a mouthful of their sweets only to discover that the all too hyped up cakes were overrated and underwhelming (in my very, very humble opinion). I had such a high expectation for this new dessert that the fall from this hype was pretty hard. We ordered a slice of each to share and much to my dismay the pictures were too good to be true. The strawberry crunch cake is basically a very underwhelming strawberry shortcake with a topping of "crunched up" toffee. I'm not a toffee fanatic...but if you are - this cake is for you. The lemon crunch cake was a bit of the same with me wondering "did I miss the lemon?" This was more of a lemon-less crunch cake, so basically a yellow cake with whip cream and toffee crunches on top. Synonymous with Aiea Bowl/The Alley is their PUMPKIN CRUNCH cake. THIS cake alone is a 5 star (IMHO). No other restaurant/bakery does it the way Aiea Bowl/The Alley does - it's light, airy, filling and sweet but not so sweet that it's inedible. Definitely come for the food but bypass the hype and stick to a tried and true dessert - pumpkin crunch. And it doesn't hurt that there is an island band that plays on Thursdays for happy hour with discounted pupus on the menu.
(4)Kaylee J.
This review is totally based on their service. I wish I had a chance to try the food and rate it. The wait was only about 20 minutes, which I didn't mind at all. But after being seated, we waited for about another 20 minutes. Not one person came by our table. No water, no drink order was taken, nothing. We didn't want to see how long it would've take us to get out of there so we left. I hope their service gets better because I would love to try their food sometime.
(1)Ronni D.
SO good! Tasty chicken or ahi salad is primo! Very busy so be ready to wait. I'd say it's worth it
(5)annie L.
Service - very friendly Food - great portions and delish local style Dessert - the best pumpkin crunch I've ever had in my life no joke. Puts the mainland pumpkin cakes to shame. Boom! This is great value for the price. Very down to earth unpretentious local crowd. I wod Definitely come back. Da pork chop is bomb here and fried rice is mouth watering. I've come to add inches to my waistline.
(5)Amanda L.
What a great dining experience! The food was delicious and came out in great time! The service was awesome! The dessert was divine!!!! Highly recommend the chocolate insanity cake! Worth 9 bucks!!! The lemon cake was really wonderful as well! Next time we'll bring our bowling shoes!
(4)Will L.
My family had a chance to visit The Alley after my son's flag football game at Aloha Stadium. I was excited to go after seeing the Triple D recent episode where Guy had the oxtail soup, Coca Cola turkey sammie, and featured shots of the garlic chicken and other dishes. We reserved a couple of bowling lanes for the team and ordered take out as there are tables behind the playing area. On a Sunday afternoon, the dining room was packed and the waiting time was 25 minutes. My family ordered the Coca-Cola turkey sandwich, pork chops, boneless kalbi plate, and garlic fries. The turkey sammie was flavorful and chopped into good sized morsels, which makes it hard to eat cleanly. It just comes in a roll on a bed of lettuce. The pork chops were nicely spiced but not as succulent and flavorful as say a place like Side Street Inn (OK well that's the standard for pork chops for me). My kids had the kalbi plate and they loved it since it was boneless, with a side of mac salad and rice. My son just told me he would love to go back there again. The garlic fries were OK, but maybe I got to it a little late, so they looked a little limp and not fresh. Overall the food is quality and worth trying. I'm not a big oxtail soup fan, so I likely missed out on what makes The Alley go, but again . . . just not a big oxtail soup fan. It's not a place I would go out of my way to eat at, as opposed to Side Street Inn, where I would go out of my way to eat their pork chops if given an opportunity. However, parking is ample at The Alley (you can go to lower shopping center levels if parking is full at the top), and you do have a fun bowling alley background as well for the kids to enjoy.
(4)Shane S.
Dined Saturday Morning Jan. 17th 8:00 am, Party of 2 Order Number #26428 Positives: Fried Rice Omelette and a Bacon,Eggs & Rice Platter were fine and probably what saved them from me giving them a 1-star for this particular dining experience. Negatives: Place was half-filled and it appeared the initial morning rush was just completed because there were a lot of tables and booths that needed to be cleaned. When we were finally greeted, the host/cashier, told us to sit anywhere except the booths which was fine with us...after about 15 minutes with no service, i walked up to the host/cashier and asked for a menu, her response was "oh here"...after another 15 minutes, our server "Chenoa" finally swings by our table with the canned morning greetings to take our order...knowing this was probably going to be our one & only opportunity to have his attention, we ordered our coffee and food & hoped the food would not take a half-hour to arrive... My recommendations: Call-In your order and order take out...you can always take your food and sit at one of the tables in the bowling alley and you save on a tip...Just my own personal opinion...
(2)Chanel V.
Omg talk about tasty chicken! They have the best tasty chicken I've ever eaten! Something about thei tasty chicken makes you wanna go back more and more every time Pelehu steak is another good one I like it is a bit more expensive but it is worth what you are paying for. I also love their furikaki ahi I rate that 5 stars any day!!!!! The area is a decent size and it is located in the bowling alley. They do get really busy sometimes where they wait is somewhat ridiculous but it is well worth the wait.
(5)Gloria S.
I absolutely love, love, love... did I say LOVE? Love their Boneless Marinated Kalbi their website describest it as "Sterling Silver boneless short ribs, marinated and grilled to perfection" the bowl comes with your choice of brown or white rice and macaroni salad or regular salad. Let's not forget dessert... I highly recommend the Pumpkin Crunch Cake "Creamy Pumpkin on a crunchy pecan crust, topped with whip cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon"... Pricing is reasonable.
(5)Darrell P.
My braddah told me about this restaurant and being a yelp*er, I was curious about this place called "The Alley" @ Aiea Bowl. Photo - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… Aiea Bowl (Official Website): aieabowl.com Little coffee shop/diner-esque layout with open access to the bowling alley. 'Has a very throwback feel to it, kudos. The waitresses were very friendly and open to my plethora of general yelp* questions about the menu, local favorites, etc. (I usually ask @ "first time places" that have a fairly decent rep on yelp*.) Mahalo for your patience! Restaurant Layout - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… Julie, our waitress was very sweet and nice in taking the time to tell us about the specials, their entrees & desserts, in addition to their "Tasty Tuesdays."('More about that below.) Julie mentioned that the house special was the Tasty Chicken... So, I was having the Tasty Chicken for lunch! Photo - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… My brother ordered the Furikake Ahi. I can't recall what DD ordered... 8/ Tasty Chicken (4 Stars): Good; very tasty; deep fried garlic chicken w/their "special sauce" Pan-Seared Furikake Ahi (2 Stars): Tasty; over cooked; dry *TP said the last time he ordered the Furikake Ahi, it wasn't as dry... The ahi wasn't seared, the buggah was completely cooked throughout. Too bad, I was really looking forward to tasting it after he told me how ono(good) it was the last time. 8/ Mac Salad (3+ Stars): Tasty; a bit too much mayonnaise For dessert we shared the Pumpkin and Lemon Cake Crunch. Pumpkin Cake Crunch (3 Stars): Good; fresh; creamy; great texture; could be a little bit sweeter Photo - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… Lemon Cake Crunch (4 Stars): Very good; light; great balance of tart to sweet; nicely done Photo - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… 'And they have a dessert case to satisfy just about any craving... Photo 1 - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… Photo 2 - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… For drinks - 1 Diet Coke; 1 iced tea; 1 hot ocha(tea) Total for 3 people - $63 (including tip) The waitresses were great, the service was good. However, there were a few times that it seemed that they had more staffing than necessary due to the number of people "just hanging" around the front counter. ('Not sure if some of the loiterers were even employees, they definitely weren't patrons... 'Maybe friends just hanging out.) In my managing experience, not the best thing for a business just to have people cruising at the front of the establishment. The front area of a business should be open and spacious for people to move about with the exception - it's busy and it's packed butt to gut with guests. I looked around and saw what seemed to be a couple of tourist, a husband and wife sitting in an elevated, corner booth. I was watching them as they too took in the overall vibe and ambiance. If I was the manager/owner I would train the team to filter out the clientele as they were being seated(Local vs Tourist) - "Oh hi, have you been here before? Where are you from? How'd you hear about us?" A little more fielding of questions as customers are being seated can go a long way... Especially in referral business which in marketing, "word of mouth" is number one. Overall experience for the kala(money) - Eh... It was just "okay..." However, is a bowling alley lunch for three = $63?... (thoughtful pause/sigh) I'd have to say no. It wasn't bad, it was just "meh..." I wanted to give this place more stars but yelp* is about real, solid reviews. They also have: Tasty Tuesdays - $39/person (Prix Fixe Menu) 5 Course Meal *Reservations required. Menu Sample - yelp.com/biz_photos/KShA… It is an "upscale dinning experience" at a bowling alley restaurant. The 5 course menu changes monthly. Sounds intriguing... 'But with deep reservations. 'Maybe something to try once... 'And that's a huge maybe. 'Would I come back?... (shrugs) Hey, I'm a curious guy... 8) 'But I definitely won't be running straight here the very next time I step off the plane on the aina. 8) If you're curious, give The Alley a try & then yelp* it! - Big Aloha! Food: 3+ Ambiance: 3 Service: 4 Value: 2
(3)Rhi S.
Everyone I know always talks about the Alley and how good the food is. I must admit, they all know what they're talking about! :) It's so convenient having a full restaurant in a bowling alley, and a great restaurant at that. The food is super good, especially their cupcakes! The Caesar salad, the best I've ever tasted. I love the sauce they cook the chicken in. It's so delicious. If all salads tasted like that, I'd be eating it every day. Waiting for the food doesn't take too long and the service is really great. Really nice, kind waiters and waitresses! This past visit the bowling alley was packed, but there were quite a few empty tables in the restaurant. Previous to this time, it was packed and we had to wait for a table, but both times the food was prepared in a timely manner! ^__^ I recommend coming here. It's a great place as a hang out with your friends or a family outing.
(4)Ramfis B.
( D ) ine in or takeout ( A ) iea Bowl is where they are located ( B ) owl after you eat here ( E ) very Tuesday they have a dinner with wine pairings ( S ) exy cocktail waitresses work here latenight =) ( T ) ip your waitresses, especially if they are CUTE ( L ) oud as hell in here!!! ( E ) at the Tasty Chicken here...ONO!! ( M ) ake sure you save room for dessert ( O ) rder the Oxtail Saimin ( N ) ever mind the crackheads outside late at night ( C ) hill with da boys and check out da chicks ( R ) ead my lips.....Lemon Crunch Cake ;) ( U ) ncles and Aunties, bring your hearing aids ( N ) o can find parking sometimes =( ( C ) osmic bowling here too ( H ) idden gem of a restaurant ( C ) razy atmosphere but fun,fun,fun for everyone ( A ) mazing desserts here!!!! ( K ) iller Loco Moco's and Steak's here.. ( E ) verytime i eat here, it's FANTASTIC!!!
(4)Andrew D.
We saw this place on diners drive ins and dives and decided to give it a shot... So glad we did. It was busy even at 545 on a Sunday. The service was very good, prompt and courteous. I had the short ribs and they were very well prepared and seasoned. My husband had the oxtail soup which he let me taste and it was delicious also. Looking forward to trying more things the next time. Take note that they are located in a bowling alley. And like any bowling alley, it is noisy with the balls crashing into the pins and little kids screaming and crying. We didn't mind, but if you are looking for a quiet dinner, this isn't the right place. Other than that, give it a go... You won't be disappointed. We will be back!
(4)Terry H.
This place was alright. My friend's cousin is married to the owner and she said it was good. Maybe it would have been better on the Tuesday night where they have the special 5-course meal. The garlic fries were cut thin and they were really tasty. I had the oxtail soup. The base was really good and the fillings were fairly good, but they could have had more vegetables in it. I still like Violet's oxtail soup the best. Darcie had tasty chicken and furikake ahi. Both were nothing to get excited about. I might go here again, but it'll be sometime.
(3)Colin E.
This place has been recommended to me by several people, so I decided to check it out when I had some family in town. We all ordered different things and were all pretty unimpressed. The food was OK. Not bad by any means, but not great and not worth the prices charged. My stepfather really liked the blackened ahi sandwich, but my wife's "Tasty Chicken" was really pretty blah. They use shoestring fries which really do not have much flavor and get cold quickly. The service was terrible. It really was not that busy, but took half an hour to prepare a handful of regular items (which I would assume a place would have ready to go). The kicker was the delay of our order was due to my turkey sandwich, which supposedly takes "over 20 min to prepare." I paid before I received the food and felt cheated that I tipped since we had to wait so long. When I asked about the delay since I had seen 4 people order and receive food after we ordered (not phoned-in pick up orders; I was there waiting and heard them order) The staff seemed pretty uninterested in helping me or offering me an approximate time. I would not recommend this place to anyone- the food was OK at best and for the money and time spent, it was definitely not worth it.
(2)Lorilynn L.
The food is very delicious!! Especially if you dont mind the noisy bowling alley, but other than that, YUM!!
(4)Val D.
After reading all the reviews of the food at the Alley, I should have tried the fried chicken, but I wanted to eat healthy, so I ordered the fish instead. It's not somewhere I'd go too often because the plates are a little pricier, than other local restaurants and most of the food is just average: Oxtail soup - 5 stars - Kam bowl used to make the best oxtail soup, but since they've closed, this is the only place that makes the best. Although a bit oily, we got a really big bowl for $13.50 that could feed 2 people. The oxtail melts in your mouth, which means they must have boiled it very long, and the soup has black mushrooms, bok choi, peanuts, some type of berry, and star anise in it. They also give you chinese parsley and grated ginger on the side. Loco moco - 3 stars - for $11.95 we ordered with all rice since my kids were splitting the plate and don't care for the salad. I thought it was a bit expensive, but the hamburger patties looked home made and was very thick. The gravy was a little bland, and my kids said they rather have L&L's loco moco because it tasted better. As I usually split the loco moco in half, they were still hungry. Mahimahi - 2 stars - I was a bit disappointed with this plate. For $8.50, They gave two small pieces of fish with two small scoops of brown rice. The mahi didn't have much taste to it. Lunch trucks makes way better fish plates than this for a much cheaper price. I wouldn't order this again. Service - we just ordered at the counter, and they gave us a buzzer. We ate outside since I had outside food, plus, if we ate inside, we'd have to pay another $6 for tip, which we used to buy shaved ice downstairs instead. I think the next time we'll eat there is when we decide to go bowling.
(3)Lei N.
I always knew that this place was nearby but I never thought to actually go there and grab a bite to eat. It was during one night when my family couldn't decide on what to eat so my dad suggest that we head over to the bowling alley and since I hadn't been up there for a while I didn't understand why he wanted to go bowling when we needed something for dinner. We got to the alley around eight o'clock and already there were a few customers waiting outside. The wait for a table was fifteen minutes and I didn't mind since we were here already and where else should we go if we just left? I will admit though the wait felt like FOREVER and since we were outside it was getting cold. I was super glad when we were finally called in for a table. I thought we were going to end up with one of the tables in the middle of the restaurant but luckily we got the corner booth which felt like we were hidden from the other customers. Looking around I finally understood why the place was packed, there were big parties and they were taking a long time getting through their meal. Another thing we had to wait for is the menus. We had to call over one of the waiters just to get one before we got to ask for drinks. I already knew what I wanted so I stuck with that. I guess if I wasn't craving a burger, I wouldn't know what I would have gotten. The wait for our food wasn't too bad but I didn't enjoy their burger as much and their fries were thin yet crispy. Since a friend of mine worked there and so happened to be waiting on us he made sure we were okay. Towards the ending of our meal they really took a long time to get our checks to us so we could get up and pay, then again we were uncertain on how we got around to paying but we figured it out. Overall, going to the restaurant made me realize how much I missed going to a bowling alley and I just might come back again and actually bowl.
(3)Cici L.
Lemon crunch it amazingly good! Perfectly balanced not to rich not to sweet not to tart! The best short ribs ! Chicken is awesome , Ramon noodles yum! Can't go wrong ... It's crowed for a reason! And it has a bowling alley!
(5)S S.
Could they be gaining money and losing Heart? Two Occasions ordered the Furikake Ahi. 1st OK, 2nd time was "fishy," 2 tiny (thin, 2"x 3" ) pieces. "Creamy Thai" Salad Dressing was ono. Beer Battered Onion Rings: Oily enough to shine my entire kitchen floor! Put two onion rings in 7 or 8 napkins, twice! Wasted money; couldn't eat. Why serve food Soaking in Oil?! Tip: Oxtail Soup: if you order it "To Go," be sure to ask for the side of ginger and cilantro. Told, "It always comes with it"---2 out of 3 times: not in the bag. The 1 time it came with the ginger (but still no cilantro) was the time I remembered to ask. Chocolate Insanity Cake yummy. BIG PRICES for SMALL KIDS: 9 yr old son ordered a 'PLAIN cheeseburger': told "we removed the lettuce, onion, tomato, but we charged EXTRA for the cheese"= $9.
(3)Nadia K.
I've been here a couple of times for lunch and it's always just been okay. The reason I come back is for the excellent desserts! The lemon crunch cake, pumpkin crunch, carrot cake are all so very excellent. I also love their scones. Be prepared to spend as much money on the desserts as lunch, but they are sooooo worth it!
(4)Grant S.
The last time I ate at The Alley was during my bowling days in high school and haven't been there since college. Dang I've been missing out! So I went to the dentist today and to celebrate no cavities (yes, thats normal) decided to try the *NEW AND IMPROVED* Alley restaurant and bar. I remember the old alley to be greasy spoon type fare with a big price tag. I also remember going to Young's Kalbee or even CrapDonalds for food during bowling tournaments instead of opting for the alley food. Time to give this place a try especially now its got quite a following! Now the prices are the same as before, but after a very nice renovation and overhaul of the menu, voila! So on a busy Tuesday night I ordered the fried rice. media1.px.yelpcdn.com/bp… Tastes just like home! Oyster sauce is the base instead of shoyu which makes me YUM. Bits of veggies and Portuguese sausage is also winners. Served piping hot and finger lickin good. Also got boneless chicken wings. Just like any good bar food. media3.ct.yelpcdn.com/bp… Super juicy and hot with really good fries and two sauces. I was actually surprised at how juicy it was. The juices got on my hands like hot lava (as opposed to cold lava) but it was enjoyably painful. Gotta say, if I was bowling this would be pretty good to have. And the fries, they don't look too tasty, but hot and fresh outta the fryer they are quite tasty and compliment the chicken well. Just my two cents on decent bar food haha. And last, the tasty chicken, better than i remember it when the Alley was in its dark ages. media4.px.yelpcdn.com/bp… Good garlic chicken, a nice different taste. Oh and over the winter break I had a HOMEMADE pumpkin crunch cake for the first time ever. I will say I was not impressed at all. Didn't really like it, rather have pumpkin pie. BUUUUUT all the yelp reviews from buddies all recommend it... THANKS EMI KA'ILI, RACQUEL, and JERRENE! haha it was SUPERB. Everything I wish that first slice of pumpkin crunch was... to think SOMEONE was trying to convince me to try the lemon crunch, HELLS NO. Can't be better than the pumpkin. You serious? It's like comparing froyo to ice cream. Froyo can GETOUTTAHEA! Holy moly I didn't take a picture of this one because 1. i forgot and 2. it was gone REAL FAST. I would definitely recommend this even if you have had mediocre pumpkin crunch and didn't like it. This is something else. The nice whipped topping with cinnamon gave a nice light texture to the not-too-sweet pumpkin filling with very well seasoned pumpkin. The base was the greatest. Holy moly. Not too firm, not too mushy, just right (thanks auntie marialani's cooking show). The nuts were chopped to just the right size for the texture contrast and the slice was HEAVENLY. READY FOR MORE.
(5)Jennifer C.
I swear, I lived on this island my whole life and only now within the past couple of years, I start venturing off and try a lot of different things. So last night I finally made my way to The Alley (aka Aiea Bowl) to try their famous tasty chicken. It was busy on a sunday night, we waited about 15 mins for our table, which isn't too long. I ordered the half an half thing (forgot what it was called) where I got to choose the meats. i chose the Tasty Chicken and Furikake Ahi. I love any restaurant that serves brown rice, because I like to feel not too guilty and have something semi-healthy on the plate haha. My friend ordered the garlic fries and those garlic fries are yummy! They are super tiny and small, but I love the chunks of garlic in there, it was very garlicky and spicy, but so yummy! I wish their fries were bigger though, they were tinier than my pinky toe. When our meal came, I was excited... this was it, I was finally going to try their tasty chicken that everyone tells me is amazing. At first glance, it reminded me of Sugoi's garlic chicken. As I took my first bite, it was good. Did it blow me away? No. To be honest, I was even disappointed. Maybe I had high expectations? It reminded me of a less tastier version of Zippy's Korean Fried Chicken, but at least the alley had good piece of chicken meat in theirs. It was yummy, don't get me wrong, but I just expected more... a different kick. I really wanted to like their chicken, really!!! But, mehhh... it was just ok to me. Maybe they didn't add enough sauce that night? Their furikake ahi was okay too. Lots of furikake, maybe a little too much sesame seed for me... It kind of tasted a little burnt, so it added a weird smokey taste. I don't know how to explain it. I took a bite and just saved it. Their dessert I ordered, the lemon crunch, was delicious! I loved it. It was yummy, sweet, and had enough lemon flavor, where it wasn't overbearing and I had to squint my eyes cause it was sour like how most places can have. It was just right! All in all, my experience at 'The Alley' was okay, maybe I expected too much? I'll give this place another try, but until then....
(3)Dean A.
Tastey chicken and lemon crunch cake was delicious but the carrot cake was also pretty good too. Definitely be going back to try all their desserts. The place can be pretty busy so expect long wait times. Parking can be difficult in the upper level parking lot but there's more in the lower level.
(4)Brandon T.
So came here to watch the NBA finals at the bar. Like any fan of a sports,we were watching the game and cheering. Not being obnoxious or loud,just cheering like fans. This old lady that was there "working",I guess. Started banging the utensils and making a lot of noise. Way more noise then us cheering. She kept doing it and we got the hint that she didn't want us there. Which is kind of weird cause it's a bar. So we stopped cheering and just watched. As the game came to an end she told us to leave. Like we were being a nuisance at the bar(we were the only ones there). I guess you can't go there and watch any sporting event and cheer. Kind of funny cause it's a bar and a bowling alley,which is loud in itself. Service was great but won't go back because of the rude old lady. I'd rather take my chances at a Korean bar. Lost a customer and great tipper.
(5)Eva H.
Disappointing... I've been wanting to come here for the past year, but my boyfriend always vetoed me. He finally relented, warning me, but I wanted to see for myself. Four of us came on a Saturday night and although it was busy, the wait wasn't too long. The three of them ordered plates, while I ordered the kalbi burger with garlic fries (other yelpers had recommended the fries). Their plates came out fairly quickly, but my burger didn't come until 10 minutes after their plates and by then, they were pretty much done eating. I'm not sure why my meal came out so late. I was thinking it was the fries, but they came out cold. The bun was stale and crumbly. I ended up just eating the kalbi meat which was good by itself. There was one bright spot: the pumpkin crumble; yum! Kind of expensive at five bucks, but tasty and as good as everyone's been saying. Service was okay. Our waitress was nice, but overwhelmed and seemed like she was not very experienced. I give them credit that it was so busy and the tables are crowded together, but when they came around refilling water, they refiled everyone's water except for mine! And this was when I was the only one still eating! The only reason we'd ever come here again is for the dessert, and we'd get that to go.
(2)Cree T.
We came here to pick up breakfast and desserts the first time and it was really good. The Scones, carrot cake, & chocolate cake were really good. I would be a buyer again for those items. We came back to try dinner and we may not have ordered the popular items because it was average. We ordered a pizza with sausage, ham, bell peppers, & olives, it was really average. I think for the price & taste I would go to La Tour's and get the SMG pizza. The port. mushroom burger was not bad. The fries were a bit greasy, but hey they are fries. Overall we should have probably asked them what they are known for or asked them what was popular. We will give them another shot for dinner and ask them what is popular before ordering, but not anytime soon.
(3)Elsie F.
There's a first time for everything!!! I was so pleased to receive EXCELLENT customer services today! I was greeted as soon as I walked in and the person who helped me was friendly and had a beautiful smile on her face. She was super polite and thanked me for my purchase. Thank you for a wonderful experience! Keep up the good work!
(5)Timmy W.
This place isn't all its cracked up to be. Not sure why people like the oxtail soup, its greasy and full of fatty meat...the steak my friend had was also really fatty. I guess that's what happens when eat at a bowling alley.
(2)Michelle L.
Three words: Lemon. Crunch. Cake. Spare yourself from the subpar service and just get the best cake in the world to-go! I've eaten at The Alley a few times while bowling and the food has always been good. The Tasty Chicken is definitely tasty and the garlic shrimp is really good too! Their mini portion is big enough to satisfy most people because their regular plates are huge. Anyway, on to my favoritest thing ever! I don't know why it took me so damn long to try the lemon crunch cake but I finally did a few months ago. I think it was because it's pretty pricey but it was the best $6 I've ever spent. Soft spongy lemon cake with a brown caramel crumble on top. The crumble makes it absolutely delicious! Trust, one bite and you will be a believer too! Service here is far from good. Some of the workers act and look like they really hate their jobs. The cashier/wait help don't really acknowledge your presence and give you a half-hearted thank you for your patronage when you leave ( if you're even lucky to get a "thank you".) With the knowledge of crap service in mind, dining at The Alley won't be a disappointment because their desserts and food is worth it!
(4)Courtney O.
If I could give awards out, I would give this restaurant: Best furikake ahi! Best french fries! Best gravy! Best desserts! Best everything really!! This place has one of the best menu's I've ever seen. Literally everything I've tried I have loved. I suggest going with lots of friends and ordering one of everything on the menu! Then making a mini buffet. Whatever you do, please leave room for dessert. It is out of this world! Creme cheese brownie, lemon crunch cake, pumpkin crunch cake, whatever you pick, it will leave your meal on a wonderful tasty note. I recommend if you eat there, to park on floor one or floor two because floor three (the one the alley is located on) is very crowded usually. I often do take out from here so I call in my order ahead. This place is very popular so if you go during peak hours, there may be a wait. By far, THE best bowling alley food and one of the best restaurants on the island!
(5)MariaValentina H.
Had another family session at the Alley Restaurant. The tastey chicken is definitely an award winner!! We wanted something new, braised pork shoulder it was. Unfortunately, the meat was dried out. It tasted as if the braised pork had been sitting under the warmer all day leaving the outside layer tough and the inside dry and hard to chew. We were disappointed. I wouldn't choose that plate again. So my advice: stay away from the braised pork and stick to their award winning plates, I.e tastey chicken.
(2)Maria S.
Staff is always friendly and looks happy! Food is always good especially the oxtail soup (the meat is so tender it just falls off the bone), fried noodles (not oily), and tasty chicken (crunchy with lots of good flavor)! They always have fun events with discounts and cosmic bowling!
(5)Sarah L.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man. Make one lemon crunch cake as fast as you can Pat it and prick it and mark it with an S, Cuz this girl is a fatty and she ain't sharin'. And I obviously can't rhyme either. Shut up and eat your cake :)
(4)Amanda J.
I was a little worried when I read some if the other reviews but I went to dinner Thursday night at 830. Got seated right away, and the service was really good. The tasty chicken was good, not the best I ever had, but still good. The goma & furikake ahi was good too, but the best was the teri burger. I'd definitely come back for that again. I personally didn't like the fries though. Unless you like them thin, so its more grease than potato, its a waste of time. Overall, a good experience.
(4)Kallen A.
Get the lemon crunch cake! I go here for either the furikake salmon, tasty chicken, or oxtail soup; but you definitely have to try their desserts. I usually get the lemon crunch cake, which is like lemony toffee heavenly goodness. It's always so moist and the toffee crunch that they put on takes the cake, haha get it? ;) Try it sometime, it's inside of a bowling alley, so it's a bit noisy; however, there is a seating area placed aside from the lanes, so you can feel more like you're eating at a restaurant more than a bowling alley.
(4)Julia O.
What, bowling? No way, we come to The Alley for the FOOD! I'll make it simple for everyone, here's what to get: Tasty Chicken: Super juicy fried pieces of succulent chicken in a sauce almost like korean fried chicken. BEST THING THERE! Coca Cola Marinated Turkey: YES they really marinade this turkey in Coke! It makes it really moist and soft and has a great flavor. Don't worry, it doesn't taste like someone dumped their soda on some turkey meat. So surprisingly good! Boneless Kalbi: Tender, soft, and well marinated. Loco Moco (Or anything with their homemade hamburger): Their hamburger patties are great and you can definitely tell they're homemade. Garlic Fries: Their fries are really thin so if you're into these kind of fries and like garlic these make a good appetizer. They're packed with fresh garlic and the fries are nice and crunchy yet they still manage to keep it soft on the inside. Lemon Crunch Cake: Yep what everyone else said. You gotta try this stuff to believe us. Pumpkin Crunch Cake: The pecan crust on this cake is awesome Now I haven't really tried a lot of other stuff since I keep ordering the same things so I can't say for sure that there's not other great items on the menu. I haven't had anything that I didn't like from there though. They also have a "Mixed Plate" option where you can choose two items from a list they provide and you can create a plate with your favorite dishes. This place is so good that I had it catered to my graduation party...yea BOWLING ALLEY FOOD, can you believe it? Who knew that this place would have some of the best food in the area? But yes since it's in a bowling alley, it can get loud and food is a little expensive. That doesn't stop us though, I just wish it wasn't so expensive but I guess that's the price you pay for good quality food.
(4)Richard H.
The food here is Amazing! Their oxtail is so delicious, with hearty chunks of meat, shitake mushrooms, anise seeds, with some whiskey for "true" Chinese flavor. Served with two scoops of rice, and a side a grated ginger. This is the best Oxtail soup. For smaller appetites, order the salmon chazuke, which tea and rice, seaweed and a small portion of broiled salmon. Excellent, french fries, Onion rings and dessert. It is hard to believe that this restaurant is situated in a bowing alley!
(5)Pualena P.
Bowling alleys are not usually known for their gourmet food. Let's be honest, If I told any ole chap that I was going out for lunch and dessert at a bowling alley, he'd look at me with a puzzled expression and either demand an explanation or walk away because he'd simply deem me a lunatic. But Aiea Bowl defies the odds and hosts The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill: a humble restaurant that serves up some delicious local favorites. I've recently tried their furikake salmon brown rice salad. The salmon was cooked perfectly and had such a great flavor! I also had the calamari, which is pretty standard, but not bad. The thing that truly keeps me coming back here is the Lemon Crunch Cake. Actually, all of their desserts are gourmet and out of this world! But I've never tried anything quite like their Lemon Crunch Cake anywhere else. My old office used to order it for birthday celebrations and someone would go out of their way to pick it up from Aiea and bring it to our office in town. It's THAT good. The thing that turns me off about The Alley is the food seems to be a bit on the pricey side. Don't get me wrong, it's all really good! But I can find similar dishes elsewhere for a bit cheaper. I do, however, think it's TOTALLY worth it for the desserts! :)
(4)Aiko A.
Overall, the Alley is good. Service is excellent. Garlic fries are great. The tasty chicken lives up to it's name. It's light, crispy, and tasty. The salmon is fine, but nothing special. The fried noodles are very good and the boneless kalbi a bit salty. Pass on the pumpkin crunch. The chocolate cupcake w/ frosting is divine. I wish we could have tried the Chocolate Insanity but they were out of that. I would go back to try that, the carrot cake, and some other menu items. Service: 5 stars Garlic Fries: 4 stars Tasty Chicken: 4 stars Salmon: 2 stars Fried Noodles: 5 stars Kalbi: 2 stars Pumpkin Crunch: 2 stars Chocolate Cupcake: 5 stars Portion size: 5 stars Overall a mixed bag, but I will be back to try more. What will bring me back is the excellent attentive service, the good food we did have, and the portions.
(3)Jesse B.
I wish I was writing this after I'd gone more than once because there's so much good food I have yet to try, but I've been so busy I've barely had time to write this. My Oxtail soup was pretty good (although I mistakenly thought it came with noodles) but it was my Pumpkin cake that rocked my world. SO GOOD. Yum! I have yet to try the Lemon Crumb cake but it's the first thing on my list for next time. Believe the ratings, this is DeLiCiOuS.
(4)Colleen O.
Food fabulous...tasty chicken, fried noodles and fresh baked baguette sandwich..OMG, off the chain definitely on the list of favorites! I was so hungry that I skipped the photos but my stomach is happy! It gets busy and glad we didn't have to wait but wait staff on it and I'm coming back! Next time getting a dessert!
(5)Michelle M.
Local food yum with a gourmet twist? Hell yeah! Im soooo there... Everything I have heard about this place is true! Oh no, wait...It's all lies, Lies I tell you! (trying to stop ppl from going here since I dont want to ever have to deal with the long lines of patron waiting to get a table) Short Ribs...Delish! Spicy Shrim...BOMB!! MahiMahi...OMG, so good!! You get the picture, right?? I gotta say...this is my new place for Local type grinds. Have I even mentioned the desserts? No, I havent!!! Well, if you have a sweet tooth, dont make a mistake and forget to save room for dessert. The cakes & sweets here are AMAZEBALLS! Read my FONT: Lemon Crunch Cake. Done.
(4)Kuulei M.
two words: tasty chicken the end.
(5)Susan F.
I'm gonna keep this one short. I've been craving a burger for the past few days and decided to pick one up from the Alley since its so close to home. Oh boy, I should've just drove somewhere else to get a burger. I got the homemade "alley" burger with cheese ($7.95 plain burger, $1.00 more for the cheese). They literally just slapped this burger together, the meat was half on the bun and the lettuce was wilted. I would say more about it, but honestly that is all there was to the burger. No tomato, no onion, no type of special sauce :( Garlic fries were good.
(2)Mike Y.
A great restaurant in a bowling alley?!? That's correct. The service was very good despite all of the reviews that I had read about The Alley. I was prepared for the worst and was more than satisfied in the end. We ordered: Garlic fries - I love garlic so these tasted great but they seem to finely grate the garlic (raw) onto the fries so the the garlic taste is all up in yo grill. Be prepared for some serious lingering garlic goodness in your mouth for 16+ hours. Ox tail soup with extra noodles - Very tasty and they really give you a large amount of tail pieces. Comes with a ponzu sauce and ginger to mix with your shoyu. Alley Plate - You get to pick 2 listed items and we chose the Tasty Chicken and boneless Kalbi. Both were great! However, they need to rename the chicken to appropriately describe the taste/texture... Something like "F-ing amazing chicken" or "I want to make out with you chicken" would suffice. U gotta try the tasty chicken! Lemon Crunch Cake - I'm a little on the fence with this dessert. Maybe it was overhyped so I felt let down? It's super moist and has nice contrasting textures, but it left me wondering why it's called a lemon cake. I didn't taste much other than the overpowering smashed up toffee pieces on the outside. You know, that heavy , sugary, caramel, toffee flavor. I still enjoyed the cake but I'm not completely sold on it yet. I'll give it another chance next time. ;) The only real gripe I have is with the water. It tasted terrible! Like freezer burned ice with a wickedly nasty aftertaste. Yuck.
(4)Juan F.
Two Words: Tasty Chicken It is just sooo tasty. Omg. People kept raving about it so I had to try it. Their chicken is crispy, sweet and salty, juicy, and tender. It is like the perfect combination of flavors in a bite of chicken.
(4)Holly B.
The furikake ahi is ono, though I wish they would automatically add an extra container of the sauce; my significant other doesn't always remember to ask for extra when he brings home take-out! The desserts are always good and consistent. Only problem is it's noisy (being in a bowling alley!) and not conducive to conversation or lengthy meals.
(4)Nolan C.
For $30 I did not get what I paid for. What a damn rip off for 1 garlic shrimp plate, kalbi Sandwich, garlic fries and coke. Food was good though, thats why I give three stars. Was expecting to get plenty being a local establishment, but i was wrong. The girl taking the order looked irritated and it showed all over her face. You don't like your job, then quit. Simple as that. For $30 for all of the above I suggest you go elsewhere if you want more for your money. Food is good though, but their prices ain't for the quality you get.
(3)Jonathan L.
They have the best lemon crunch cake. It is not too sweet or bland and mixed with the perfect blend of ingredients to make a the most moist/soft cake I've ever tasted. The price is somewhat steep for a slice of cake (about $5.67) but really worth it. I would actually drive to Aiea bowl from town to buy this cake for birthday parties. The entire cake is about $40. I didn't try anything else on the menu before but when I do I'll write another review.
(5)Deb D.
They are going downhill. Food is still good, desserts are just yummy as I can remember, however the service is horrible. We waited for 25 minutes with open tables and one other party waiting before us. Finally, we were sat at the open table that we were gazing at for that 25 minutes. Then waited another 10 minutes before I got up to get a waitress to take our order, however she wasn't our waitress. She then passed our order to another person, whom came back to us to confirm our order, then of course placed the order into the system. After another 20 minutes one of our three orders came, but like a gentleman, my fiance waited till I got my order. His food was cold by the time my food was brought to the table. My suggestion--ORDER TO GO!
(2)B F.
Everything is worth the wait for a table at this very popular restaurant in a bowling alley: the big bowl of oxtail soup is hardy and oh so tasty, the tasty chicken is so ono, and make sure to come hungry and save room for lemon crunch cake! Maybe eat cake first because you can always take out leftover meals. Everyone is friendly and hospitable.
(5)Dana Z.
This place may look like a mom and pop joint but they do some serious cooking! They run this place like a well oiled machine. I say they have some of the best food on Oahu. I loved the Tasty Chicken (reminds me of San Tung in San Francisco), and the Saiman. Wish I had more time to go back for breakfast. Lots of locals but we mainlanders were treated great.
(5)Hohoho B.
OK, so the lunch "host" leaves a lot to be desired. He is such a GROUCH. Sad that a young man (early to mid 20's) is so grouchy. No smile, no greeting, nothing. If he is the first face of the restaurant, he should be friendlier. didn't get his name, but management take note: He was working today Tuesday at noon. If I wasn't meeting a friend there I would have left after telling him what I thought about his stink-ass attitude! Our server was better, at least he was friendler, but if he works for tips he has to be. these young men better remember that without customers, they would have no job, so they damn well better LEARN HOW TO PROVIDE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE! now on to the food: we shared the furikake ahi sandwich and a portebello mushroom sandwich. Both were brought out in a reasonable time and was very well done! I really like the furikake ahi, and the portebello sandwich was a good choice. Both came with the skinny shoestring fries! I love those fries! I rated this 3 stars because the food was pretty good. The host, however, needs to go take some lessons in customer service. But I guess if you don't have a personality to start with, how are you gonna learn to be personable?
(3)Joy D.
Get the tasty chicken!
(4)Noelani C.
Ever since Aiea Bowling alley was bought by the two wonderful Brothers, Glenn and Greg, this place has turned around on a positive VIBE! The food in the Alley Restaurant is amazing! Everything Glenn ever created in that kitchen is the best tasting local food on the island! The Boneless kalbi with brown rice and tossed salad with dressing on the side is one of my FAVORITE! The oxtail soup is delicious! Then I cant forget to talk about the desserts! His recipes are still making money for Diamond Head Market and Grill! Glenn used to work there and created the blueberry scones, the pumpkin crunch, the lemon crunch, every dessert in Diamond Head Market and Grill was all of Glenn's creations! I have watched him move on to bigger and better opportunities! Now he has his own restaurant and bowling alley! His mom is amazing! She helps waitress, she sets tables, she restocks things and helps around with whatever she can do. She is amazing! This family has the ultimate team work integrated in the whole family UNIT! Then Glenn Marries my past bartending partner from 10 years ago and they are happily married and she helps this bowling alley promote, she manages the bar, she does the interior designs and helps with projects for their business. She has always had a business approach to everything she does! She is young and ahead of her game! Now 90% of the staff in the Alley restaurant are awesome...but there's always the 10% and its bad service. So its a hit or miss when it comes to friendly customer service here. I usually have to make my personal calls to the owner to complain about whoever served me and how bad the service was. That was 3x out of 20 that I have dined there so its not too bad. Everyone has their bad days and NOT everyone knows how to work under pressure with a smile on their face too. So just because I love the owner's, and my baby Angela, I must say overall they are doing an excellent job! Two Thumbs UP! I will and always look forward to dining here to support the locally owned business.
(5)Diana P.
Bowling and delicous pies! Who can beat that? We had come on a Thursday night.. it was pretty fun! Glow in the dark bowling, a DJ, and drink specials.
(4)Lon H.
New Jersey trucker diner meets Oahu commoner in a slightly upscale bowling alley. Food good, dessert is better. Quick, friendly service. Inexpensive for Hawaii.
(3)Talor M.
There's been so much talk about this restaurant that I just had to try it! The food here is slightly better than average but the dessert here is outrageous! The dessert alone gets 5 stars, it was so good. I had the loco moco plate and the thing is gigantic! Its the first time I've ever got more meat than rice on my plate. Good quality stuff but not mind blowing. Next time I'm going for the bowl...... Then we shared a pumpkin square and it was glorious. The whipped cream on top is freshly made and the pumpkin was so smooth and not too heavy or too sweet. This place is big on portions so next time I'm probably going to share with someone as it can get a little pricey.
(4)Zulma A.
Our favorite place to eat. My girlfriend BEGGED me to bring her, just to eat Garlic Chicken. I was like girl, I can get you garlic chicken from fort street mall. She gasped. Are you kidding me, AIEA BOWL is the best. She was not kidding. Also, the Lemon Crunch Cake is legendary. I love everything. Our waiter was Marty, so professional, quick and friendly. A great customer service team with Zeven with those pierced ears and super friendly smile. Zeven kept the refills coming. He was on it. Then Grant showed up and offered me a fourth refill. I said, we had a great time here. I want names. I have to yelp this. Great team, excellent ambience, people go here for amazon eats and surprisingly quality food. Wow, thoroughly impressed with the excellent service and food. Mahalo guys! Call us Cynthia and Zulma, party of two regulars. :)
(5)Ruby W.
Love their desserts!
(5)Tracey O.
Don't let the bowling ambiance fool you. This restaurant serves quality food at reasonable prices. While I wouldn't say that the food is cheap, the food is worth the price. You can't go wrong with the restaurant's signature tasty chicken and oxtail soup. The pork shank and pizza are good choices too. Also, don't leave without eating a slice of the lemon crunch cake or the pumpkin crunch.
(5)Doreen H.
So sad on a Wednesday I have a great dinner at the Alley, service was awesome even gave a 20% tip. I truly believe in customer service . Then on Friday just so happened my Fraternity Sister went for one drink at the bar and the bartender who worked on sept 28 2013 at 1pm was the rudest female I have ever meet. Service was horrible , she was rude, obnoxious and arrogant . Smh Then Saturday night I was talking to another friend and even he knew who I was talking about . Will probably never venture there again. Sad. Gave her NO tip
(1)Kenji M.
If you're expecting food to be fancy and an excellent atmosphere, this restaurant is in a bowling alley. You should not expect fancy presentation and wonderful ambience at a bowling alley. That being said, this is probably the best restaurant in the Pearl City/Aiea area, at least in terms of the taste. The oxtail soup and lemon crunch cake were very good, and all the other items I saw around me also looked excellent. It's not gourmet food, but it's simple, Hawaii homestyle food that is a jillion times better than Zippy's, L&L etc. could dream to be. Maybe more expensive than other places but food quality is just absurdly better, and it's still not expensive: you can easily eat here for $20
(5)Tyler G.
Special thank you to the The Alley Bar and Grill for making the beef stew at the TACA event today (talk about curing autism) at the Waimalu Plaza. Our family loved your beef stew.
(5)Les T.
I've tried The Alley a few times now. For dinner, drinks, lunch and their lemon crunch cake that my sister brought to a birthday party. The atmosphere is very much like a bowling alley... Oh yeah... it is a bowling alley. Have you seen the movie "He's just not that into you", or something like that? Anyway, in that movie, Jennifer Connelly's character and her husband are at Home Depot. They are looking for wood flooring. The husband (played by Bradley Cooper), shows her two samples of wood flooring and asks Jennifer to pick the real wood and the artificial wood. Of course, she picks the artificial wood. Brad is happy and says it is also cheaper than real wood. Jenn isn't having it and says that she still likes the real wood. When asked why, she responds "I don't like the way it is pretending to be wood. If you're not wood, don't try and look like wood." I think The Alley is pretending to be real wood. Don't get me wrong, the food is decent. It's a clean place. It's super popular and gets so crowded, it becomes difficult to find parking. But the service is below average (unless you're a regular that tips heavy). Really, a two star place, but I cannot ignore how good the lemon crunch cake thing was. I would definitely buy that to take to a party. It was a big hit!
(3)Michael S.
We came here on a Wednesday, since we had time to spend before going to Pearl Harbor memorial tour. No wait around 1130, but there was a line after we sat down. Service was very quick, food was brought out fairly quickly. Fried rice was good; oxheart was good but very big so not able to finish; burger was okay but so-so. Had lemon cake for dessert, it's as good as everyone says (5 stars). Parking lot is sizable but busy during lunch hour. RECOMMEND.
(4)Wina G.
Be prepared to wait! We had a 25 minute wait on a Monday afternoon. Fun place to eat and watch the bowlers. The Asian braised pork was sooooo good! The kalbi was nicely flavored, not too salty. The oxtail soup was ok. We were too full to eat dessert. Too bad because they had a great selection of yummy desserts- wanted to try the lemon crunch cake. Next time cuz there WILL be a next time.
(4)Kahea C.
Checked in and sat down in 15 mins. Thee server was nice and friendly! Our meal consisted of Tasty Chicken, Garlic Shrimp and Hamburger Steak which was very delish. Today's experience here was pretty good.
(4)Sho U.
Tasty Chicken! This is THE place to get ono grinds. "Restaurant in a bowling alley?" you say? Let me just say, that this place has the best fried chicken dish ever, the tasty chicken. It is soooo good. The tasty chicken is fried chicken doused in a sweet/spicy sauce that's out of this world. The only drawback to the dish is that as you eat it, you can just feel it wreaking havoc on your health, and you feel a little guilty. Just a little. My friend Tim introduced me to this place. The first time I ate here, I was flabbergasted that a bowling alley restaurant can have such good food. The fried noodles, garlic fries, garlic shrimp, are also good dishes to get with the tasty chicken. I would eat here every day if I didn't care about my health one bit. Service is very efficient. Highly recommended. Usually plenty of parking.
(5)Rissa M.
If you are craving some major local kine grinds, this is the place to be! Super low key, family friendly, and really friendly service. I cannot say anything bad about anything that I've eaten off of this menu! I don't come here very often so when I do, I get into a little bit of an ordering craze and get about 3 items.....to share, of course. Yeah right! Eating here is always such a treat! My favorites are: -Oxtail Soup-- so fatty and delicious, and I love the dipping sauce! -Garlic Fries-- they use skinny fries! -Hamburger Steak (OMG MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH) -Loco Moco (served with the Hamburger Steak) -Tasty Chicken-- the best garlic chicken on the island! -Lemon Crunch Cake Um... dang. I'm craving this place so badly now, my mouth is watering!!!!
(5)Christine C.
I had to go to Aiea today for an appointment in the Aiea Medical Building. I am not familiar with this part of the island, so I asked the receptionist where I should have lunch. She suggested a few places and then added "the tasty chicken is really good at Aiea Bowl". I looked it up on Yelp and saw that someone else said that too, so I decided to try this place. I didn't actually realize that it IS the bowling alley. Hmm, bowling alley food. The dining area was pretty full, so I decided to sit at the bar. I ordered the Tasty Chicken bowl with tossed salad and brown rice, for $8.25. The food came quickly and it was pretty good. The desserts are what caught my eye. I got a pumpkin crunch($4.95) and a slice of carrot cake(7.75) to go. So much for trying to eat healthier . . . .
(3)Garret J.
A friend had posted photos on Facebook that looked delicious so I had to try the food! I had the furukame ahi and tasty chicken combo. My mom had the kalbi beef short ribs (that were boneless). And my sister had the ox tail soup. We all sampled each other's dishes. They were ALL delicious! This was a great find, probably only known by locals (it was quite busy, though). I highly recommend this place, even though it is at a bowling alley, if you don't mind the noise and the rumble of the floors.
(5)Kelsey T.
I come to Aiea Bowl more often to eat than to bowl and it's because the food is soooo ono here. My faves are the oxtail soup, kalbi and the tasty chicken. I've never been unsatisfied with any of these dishes. If you're in the mood for dessert, the lemon crunch cake is as good as advertised. But if you're in the mood for something a little different, the pumpkin crunch cake is also a winner. I often get takeout when I'm here, but distinctly remember having Kalehua as our server on my last visit and she was awesome! I love the food so much, I even recommended this place for a business lunch for a friend of mine visiting the islands!
(4)Roston O.
Had breakfast there the other day. Quick, simple and easy. Portuguese sausage, eggs and rice along with a saimin. All was good and service great. Also had the best blueberry scone. It had just came out of the oven. It was delicious. Will be back.
(5)Pomai S.
Had lunch here for the first time this past Sunday. Couldn't resist trying their "famous" Oxtail Soup, and must say, what a GREAT CHOICE! It takes a little adjustment getting used to the "modified" citrus-twanged Ponzu sauce versus shoyu and grated ginger, but once you become acclimated, it goes really well with the melting-off-the-bones meaty Oxtails. And talk about quantity of Oxtails... my bowl had CHOKE! It was like a bottomless pool of Oxtails. Couldn't believe it! The broth is fantastic as well. It's a bit different than Kapiolani Coffee Shop/Asahi Grill's broth, which I'm sure has lots to do with the whole Shiitake Mushrooms in it, giving it this really "meaty" flavor, with a more subtle hint of Star Anise, only just barely in the background, flavorwise if you will. I think this gives Kapiolani Coffee Shop serious competition, and might also be in contention to beat my current favorite Oxtail Soup, which is from Pho Bistro 2 near the Kaheka Don Quijote. But yeah, The Alley's Oxtail Soup is certainly up there at the top of the charts. If you're a fan of this dish, you MUST try their take on it! Da' Oxtail Soup gets 5 stars!
(5)Gina K.
Oh! Recently tried their oxtail soup and I am hooked! with the ponzu sauce and parsley- my mouth is already watering! But it is like $13! Worth every cent if you can afford it! My usual fave - tasty chicken salad! Love the dressing they make with the perfect little kick to it and their croutons are so buttery yummy. I take it home and shred up the chicken, cut the 3 cherry tomatoes and 3 slices of cucumber into smaller pieces, smash the croutons and evenly distribute it along with the dressing. Perfection.
(4)Lisa M.
First time eating here. Service was awesome! (9/30 @ 6:30pm) Always full drinks, very friendly, and food was ready fast. Garlic fries, tasty chicken, loco moco, fried rice, and furikake salmon were all yum. Maybe a little oily for the fried rice and tasty chicken. Lemon cake was delicious!!! I would definitely recommend.
(5)Malia H.
Who wolud ever think a bowling alley would serve up gourmet great food. The Alley is located in Aiea Bowl which is in the Aiea shopping center, third floor. The food is really good but the portions are not very large. The dishes are also a bit on the pricey side. This is one of the best loco moco plates I have ever had. The burger is homemade and the brown gravy is very tasty. The pork chop is ok but overpriced. The garlic fries and even their regular fries are crunchy and good to order. The fried saimin is ok but does not have a lot of flavor. They have furikake salmon and ahi which is a hit or miss when you order it. I have had some really awesome pieces and some really not so good ones... Their salads have a homemade creamy dressing that is a must try. I absolutely love their portabella mushroom salad. They even have a portabella mushroom burger which is a great meat alternative choice. They also have huge pizzas which are pretty good as well. The desserts are made from scratch and good. The cupcakes are wonderful and the lemon crunch cake is a must try. Parking can be a bit troublesome and the place can get packed, depending on what events are going on at the bowling alley. Overall this place has some great food and different daily specials too. The baked goods alone are reason enough to come here. ^_^*~
(4)Brett I.
Probably a 3.5 if there was an option. In the past I've had their scones on the way to work and they're good. This review, however, is based on my dine-in experience the other day. Perhaps I ordered the wrong things. The night we went they said they were out of the oxtail soup and the pork chop; maybe those are good items. I ordered the two-item plate dinner; chose the spicy shrimp and boneless kalbi (around $13). For dessert I ordered the apple pie ala mode (around $6). The shrimp and kalbi were fine, i guess. I didn't really think it was worth what it cost. The quality was something you'd find at L&L and Zippys. The apples in the apple pie had a strange texture. Yes, the apples were freshly cut, but perhaps they didn't bake it long enough. Or maybe they should have cut the apples thinner, that way it would have cooked better and more thoroughly. My mother ordered the salmon, which was bland. I did think the tasty chicken that my brother ordered was good, though. And the furikake ahi that my dad ordered was good, as well. It would just be better if the quality was consistent across the menu. It's not that I don't recommend going to this place, because I do recommend this place, as long as you order the right thing. If you don't, you're just paying for L&L food, only considerably more expensive.
(3)Mand M.
Been here numerous times. The place is usually packed. We've had most of the dishes on the menu. They are all very flavorful and the portions are ok. The desserts are beautiful and delicious! The prices are really steep here..it's almost fine dining in a bowling alley.. I know that one of the owners is a chef so that's where it all comes from. This isn't your ordinary bowling alley food fare. If you've never eaten here, you should come out and try it! One thing I really did not like and can't tolerate when going anywhere, is the bad customer service! Really people..if you're in that business, treat your customers as you'd like to be treated! Are you not also consumers yourselves?! If you see someone standing near the counter or looking like they may need assistance, is it not your job to find out if someone needs help regardless if that's not your area or because you're on your way to do something else? Your jobs are not just that, (You should take pride in your work!) you are representing your owners and their dream! And another thing..tips ARE NOT REQUIRED!!! Tips are given because the person giving feels that they were treated beyond expectation! All the tasks that are instructed to you in your job description IS YOUR JOB!! I have worked in Customer Service for many years, never had I treated someone other than what I'd expect when I go anywhere! If and when anyone gave me a monetary tip or gift, I was very grateful, it was never expected! There was also many instances when I was given tips for just doing what I was supposed to & I refused it!! The food is good but it's awkward because it's in a bowling alley and prices are high. The service is strange, almost feels like they don't care about the customers and they just come to work to socialize with co-workers. I cannot tolerate bad customer service even if the food is good.
(2)Marge T.
Why the one star? Trust me I love this place like any other yelper but last night customer service did not sit well with me and I felt the need to share. Don't get me wrong I've been here on a few other occasions to dine in and to pick up a phone order, and FOOD is always on point. I love their Tasty chicken way better than Zippy's Korean chicken hands down. I can never leave without eyeing their delicious desserts. And here comes the BUT.......last night my husband did a phone order and ordered a couple of plates AND a pumpkin crunch to end our delicious meal. Of course the forgot to put in the pumpkin crunch. It wasn't a big deal, I get we all make mistakes. So he calls (in a good mood still) and a woman answers the phone. He tells her what happened and without a single "I'm sorry" she asks for his name and number and says she'll call him back. We finished our meal, watched a movie and still no call. We check the time and know that the restaurant is already closed and still no call. Honestly I won't die without my pumpkin crunch but come on now I have never had a restaurant say oh I will call you back and not even apologize!
(1)Rissa K.
Casual family friendly restaurant with lots of free parking. It's located inside Aiea Bowl. I had the kalbi and garlic shrimp combo. Generous portions! The Lemon crunch cake was so yummy! Good service too. Will come back!
(4)Debbie G.
Had the Oxtail Soup and Pumpkin Crunch and both were great. Service was a little slow but wait staff were always friendly. Will go again.
(5)Elizabeth A.
I don't know why The Alley doesn't have solid 5 stars! Loved Loved Loved it! The staff is so over the top friendly...not just our waiter, it was everyone! Then let's talk food! All of the previous posts tell you to try the Tasty Chicken...do it! Yuuuuummmmmm! Then, there is the bowling alley...through our entire meal, we heard a raffle going on over the microphone .."Auntie L!!! You win...." then lots of people cheering! I wished I lived here and could be a part of this every week! When you go...give them some love from their new "Auntie Elizabeth from Colorado"!
(5)Jennie E.
The Alley Restaurant serves up the best plate lunches on island. My all time favorite is the Boneless Marinated Kalbi. It's a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth every penny! Also, their blueberry scones and lemon crunch cake are scrumptious.
(5)Brooks O.
Waited about half an hour to be seated. Got a combo of the hamburger steak and furikake salmon, which was good, but nothing special. Calamari appetizer a little too tough for my preference. Food came fairly quick but slow on refilling the waters. My son ordered his burger no mayo, but it came with the mayo. Our waiter quickly resolved the issue and added extra fries. Ordered 3 different desserts: lemon crunch cake, hot apple crumble, pistachio crunch cake special... all 5 stars!!! A little noisy next to bowlers, but the tasty food and delicious desserts made up for it!
(4)Erin B.
I saw the Yelp reviews and decided to give The Alley a try for breakfast. The fact that it was connected to a bowling alley surprised me and made me a little leery. The food and service were great! I liked it enough to cone back for dinner.
(4)Dave F.
Went for dinner with some family from the mainland recently. The food was delicious and well prepared as always! You gotta try the boneless kalbi ribs, they're so tender and cooked just right... The tasty chicken and furikake ahi are also good choices. I also ordered a lemon crunch cake to take home and it was so good! Everyone enjoyed it, it's so moist and I liked it because it wasn't too sweet. I highly recommend it, try it!!
(4)Dean H.
Wait, is YELP telling me that I didn't review this place? Really? With the mouth watering pork chops, ono hamburger steak, and the ever so popular lemon crunch cake. Ok, well here it goes. First of all, when I walked in, I was like WHOA, this place doesn't look like a bowling alley restaurant. The decor is really modern and very well done. The sounds of the pins flying was the giveaway to the ambiance. Second, the food. As mentioned above, everything that I have tried is good. From the pork chops to the hamburger steak to the fried noodles to the saimin to the garlic fries. All good stuff, to say the very least. Third, the lemon crunch cake. I am going to start by saying, that I am not a dessert guy and surly not a cake guy PLUS to top it all off I am not a lemon guy. So why the heck would this taste at all good to me? Well, if I need to eat cake, this would be the one. Good, crunchy, lemony, moist, not super dang sweet, and just plain good. Ok, then why, you may ask, do I minus a star, ahhh, well there is 2 reasons. One, the prices are pretty high and two, the parking is a nightmare. I am all for paying a bit more for good food but the prices are a little high to eat on a regular basis. As for the parking, it is a bear, and I usually feel like one while finding a spot. With that said, the pork chops is a win and I will pay the price for it on occasion PLUS fight for parking. 053/365 porkchopgoodness yelp challenge!
(4)Clarissa M.
Went here for a bday lunch for five. This place is super busy and packed which is a great sign! Our server was friendly and gave great suggestions on what to order for our meal and dessert! I had the furikake ahi Caesar salad huge portions and we shared an order of mega crunchy fries - fries are super skinny. I tried the tasty chicken salad from which was damn tasty! Desserts we tried the lemon crunch, blueberry cheesecake, and chocolate chip brownie. The brownie was very sweet. The lemon crunch was fluffy with hint of lemon. The cheesecake hands down was my favorite not too tart not too sweet not to dry (crust) it was just right for me ;) get here early to get a table but parking was easy.
(4)Rod U.
The food is high end plate lunch fare that uses good ingredients and quality cooking techniques infused with a bit of creativity. The food can be clumsy and not every dish is well thought out. The restaurant itself fails to meld with its environment (IT'S A BOWLING CENTER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD). That said, most of the food is good eats. I gotta agree with most Yelpers, the "tasty chicken", boneless kalbi, and spicy shrimp are all great. All are well cooked, tender, and juicy. For the health conscious, the restaurant offers the option of brown rice and tossed salad instead of mac. If you opt to take out, the tossed salad will wilt in the container within 10 minutes. Yuck and a perfect example of not thinking about a dish. Screw your diet and just take the mac. Final tasting note, the Coca Cola turkey sandwich was ummm interesting. Perfect if you hate Coke or turkey. Portions are large. Prices high. Many repeat visits and the food is consistently good. Recommended (for takeout).
(3)Paul R.
This place is on point!!! Love their tasty chicken!! Its crisp, light, and sweet with a little spice flavor. I've also tried their loco moco and their furikake ahi. Both are amazing.. Their ingredients just taste and look so fresh. Its obvious that they care very much about the quality of their food. And you can't forget their pumpkin crunch for dessert!! You won't regret visiting this place!
(5)Jane L.
I love the food here it is absolutely delicious. The service was very pleasant, fast an accommodating. The food was excellent. The only thing I had an issue with was the garlic fries were too garlicky but I mean I'm the one who wanted garlic fries so I can't complain right?
(5)Wally J S.
The Alley has now been my first food pit stop after arriving at the airport on two occasions. Although you wouldnt normally think much of a small restaurant in a bowling alley, the menu here offers some good well prepared grindz. I usually order the combo platter because I cant choose just one thing. Ive had the garlic shrimp, tatsty chicken, and mahi mahi. I did notice the flavor of the garlic in t he garlic shrimp or the sweetness of the tasty chicken mite b a little overpowering but overall I was very happy with it. Plus, the egg battered mahi mahi was extremery dericious. They also have a large bowl of oxtail soup which ive tried and enjoyed, but my dad thought it was just meh. Just fyi, this place offers some good priced pitchers if u need some Heineken if u are as bad at bowling as me, and some cheap pizza to soak up the pitchers of beer.
(4)Clarice K.
I had always heard about this place and was determined to try it this trip. Soooo glad we did! I had kalbi and tasty chicken and my husband had kalbi, we both loved it! Neither of us could finish it, lots of food plus I didn't want to be too full to try the pumpkin square so I had it before lunch, hehe! That was excellent as well. We had 3 different waiters serve us, the service was awesome. This place is highly recommended and we will be back next time we are on Oahu.
(5)Myong C.
I've been wanting to try this place for a long long time and finally was in the area for lunch a few days so went to check it out. We ordered the shoyu braised pork and the oxtail soup. The shoyu braised pork was a decent dish but could have been a lot better. The pork was a little stringy and I think the meat wasn't braised or marinated long enough because some clumps of meat were very flavorful and others (most) only had a hint of the shoyu/garlic flavor. The oxtail soup on the other hand was full on winnahs. The broth was different that others I've had and I kept dipping my spoon into it for more of the goodness. The generous portion of oxtail meat was cooked very well and had good flavor as well. So I'm giving The Alley 4 stars, an average of the 3 star shoyu braised pork and the 5 star oxtail soup.
(4)Rachel A.
Whoulda thunk you could get super tasty treats at a bowling alley? Not this LA girl. You get food at a bowling alley in Los Angeles, and you'll get nachos and pizza - with a side of diarrhea. This is DEFINITELY not the case at The Alley in Aiea. It's a little awkward when you walk in; there's an open seating arrangement but it's so busy in here you get passed by about ten different people who work here before someone walks up and sits you at a table. No harm, no foul, but a "hello, and we'll be with you in a moment," would be nice. Even a sign or a robot that says that would suffice. On to the good stuff - the main dishes. I ordered the Kalbi Short Rib plate, which comes with salad or macaroni salad and a bed of rice. I also got a side of garlic fries, cause hey, who doesn't enjoy a little vampire hunting? The Kalbi Short Ribs were a little on the fatty side, but the sauce was super tasty and the salad and rice - were salad and rice. Hard to mess those up. The garlic fries were thin, crunchy, and doused in garlic. YUM. Certainly can appreciate some well cooked fries. For dessert, which tempts you while you eat from a display case coincidentally placed smack dab in the center of the counter, I got a slice of the pumpkin crunch cake. Holy pumpkin seeds, I'm still dreaming about that little slice of heaven. There's a huge layer of light, fluffy whipped topping, adorned with a sprinkling of cinnamon, atop the super chiffon style pumpkin main layer, atop the crunchy (I believe the crunchy part was part nuts, part streusel) and tender crust. I didn't have room to eat this at the restaurant but you KNOW I took a piece to go and devoured that beast back at home. I'd return simply for their desserts alone, and I saw many a customer come in solely for that purpose.
(4)'Ululani L.
Pumpkin Crunch are the Bes' to Munch on an Lunch Break...
(5)Tiana L.
I would give 5+ stars if their food/dessert was a little cheaper. Given that, everything else is awesome! The service is usually pretty good, I only had 1 somewhat negative experience in service. I love the furikake ahi salad, tasty chicken, the fires, and of course the dessert! My absolute favorite is the lemon crunch cake, but the pumpkin is right up there too. I would suggest to eat in the restaurant because twice I gor the ahi salas to go, and I swear they give a lot less when you take out.
(4)Lisa K.
I was at Aiea Bowl earlier this week with my bf's family and all I could think about the whole time was eating here afterwards. This restaurant is located inside the bowling alley but I will come back here just to eat! We walked in mid afternoon on a weekday so they were able to seat our party of 8 right away. I ordered the mix combo plate with tasty chicken and furikake ahi which came with a scoop of mac salad and two scoops of brown rice. My bf ordered the oxtail soup and some garlic fries to share. I'm usually not a fan of skinny fries but the ones here were light, crispy, and delicious! If you like garlic, you must give these a try. I was a little bit disappointed with my furikake ahi because I felt like the flavor was a little bland. It seemed like it was missing the salty sweetness flavor of the furikake. I must've just had a not so good one since they have good ratings on them here. Thank goodness my plate came with a bunch of tasty chicken though because I was all over those!! The chicken was juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. It wasn't very oily which was also a plus. My bf's oxtail soup was tasty as well. The oxtail meat came right off the bone and the dipping sauce it came with went well with the meat. After finishing off my plate, I couldn't even get myself to look at the dessert menu. I was so stuffed! I wanted to try the strawberry crunch cake but when I saw the size of it, there was no way I could eat it and I wasn't in the mood to take it home. But the good thing about eating out with a big family is that you can try a bite of everyone else's dessert! haha So I ended up trying a bite of both the strawberry crunch cake and the pumpkin crunch. I enjoyed both of them but probably not enough to order a whole slice for myself. My only request to the strawberry crunch cake is to resprinkle each slice with the crunch stuff, or have them in every layer so you can enjoy the crunchiness in every bite...but that is just me being a fatty haha Overall who knew bowling alleys had great food!?
(4)Michael M.
I have never seen a bowling alley restaurant with such good food. When a co-worker took me to try this place, I was skeptical. Then I took my wife back for dinner the next week. The food was great. We had spicey shrimp and garlic shrimp. I've also had the salmon. All was good. You can choose a plate or a smaller bowl serving depending on how hungry you are. The dessert counter looked good, but we didn't try any. Bottom line: Good place for lunch or dinner. Families could eat here easily. The environment was a little noisy and crowded, so 4 stars.
(4)Q T.
It's a bit busy. The food is good. I love the tasty chicken! And their deserts although a bit pricey they are good. We went around early evening (between lunch and dinner). It was busy and a lil pack. It's not the roomiest place and sometimes the servers have a problem with remembering to bring the lil stuff that you ask for but it does have good food. NOTE: It's definitely not a great place to bring a fussy child to though. I don't think the servers would know what to do or can handle stressful situations like that. Especially in that crowded place.
(4)Chad C.
The tasty chicken is amazing. Had many meals here, but that is by far my favorite. They make all around good food. A top 5 go to in Aiea. A great mix of food for any palate.
(4)Kent T.
Always love coming here. Today, I had the boneless kalbi mini plate, small crunch fries, and Mama Miya's Chocolate Cake. The boneless kalbi mini plate is served donburi (Japanese rice bowl) style with a scoop of white or brown rice and choice of tossed or macaroni salad. The meat is plentiful for a mini portion as you will still have a little extra even after your rice is gone. But who's complaining? It just as if you knew the chef and he snuck you a few extra pieces. What makes it a success is the tenderness of the meat and the well balanced (not overly sweet) kalbi sauce. Definitely worth the try and keeps you coming back for more. The French fries are shoestring cut but oh so tasty. The right amount of salt is added for flavor and the fries disappear quickly once they enter your mouth. No times to savor the flavor as you will keep grabbing for more. I decided to go back to one of their staple signature desserts as the apple crumble was far too large for one person - looked totally good though. The cake can be compared to a grown up hostess snack cake - three layers of moist chocolate cake with creamy chocolate filling enrobed in a chocolate layer that only a Hoho fan could truly appreciate. Totally yummy but also totally dangerous for the diet. Will definitely return again.
(5)Nonya B.
Everything we got was ok, but the hype on this place is way too high. The tasty chicken was very greasy. The Lemon Crunch Cake was the only thing that kind of held up. It was very sweet but tasty
(3)Never F.
Tasty chicken, teriyaki beef, 2 rice, and a really really small portion of macaroni, but tons of food left over. Extremely good and well cooked, full of flavor, simple but high quality. The place didnt have a working blender so had to have a margarita on the rocks, which wasnt that great. Nice staff, very helpful and nice. Overall great expierence.
(5)Bryanie R.
Tasty chicken lives up to its name! It's definitely one of the best chicken plate meals I've ever eaten. Their portions comes in plate form (regular) and a bowl form (mini). & My mom and I love to get the pumpkin crunch before our actual meal. Either that or the lemon crunch. The food here is delicious and the staff is always friendly.
(4)Rose V.
Holy cow this place is crazy good! I was so stuffed we did not even have room for dessert...ugh I wish I did the cakes looked so good! I had the Tasty chicken and Boneless Kalbi combo, the hubby had the Ahi Poke Bowl. They were not joking when they named it Tasty chicken, it was so crunchy on the outside w/ garlic and moist and tender on the inside. The Kalbi was tender, juicy and so flavorfull! The ahi was good as well. I highly recommend this placed, it hit the spot after shopping at the Aloha Stadium Swapmeet. The service was friendly and fast. The food was so ONO!
(5)Elizabeth N.
I admit I totally slept on this place for years. Co-workers and strangers alike have been raving, raving, raving about the Lemon Crunch Cake amongst other things here. Dude, I suck for waiting so long to come here but I totally made up for it as I've been coming here at least 1x a month now. The food here is just so not worthy of being a slightly sticky bowling alley BUT with that said, you totally feel like you're getting the deal of the century with the quality, quantity and taste of food you're getting. If this food was plated up in Waikiki, you'd be paying triple the cost and not even guarantee it'd be this good. Plus, since its in a bowling alley, you can go straight from hiking (yups!) and eating a 5 star bowl of ox tail soup and lemon crunch cake with no one giving you stink eye. Not that you should come straight here from working out......just saying you could coz looks like other folks up in here do. Either way, I'm a total, total fan of this place for the food alone. Ambiance is kitschy for sure and very local, but I do believe it adds to the flavor of the experience. Pros: -FIVE STARS for the LEMON CRUNCH CAKE, and I don't even like lemon flavored desserts! Should be called Lemon cruch crack cake coz its so addictive: think light and not too sweet cake with just a hint of lemon, with delicate whipped cream, spackled with hella crumbled toffee. Oh yeah. Actually all the dessert here are great. Carrot cake, apple crumble...all YUM. -FIVE STARS for the Oxtail soup and edamame. -They have a bar! -Lots of ESPN/Sports being shown at all angles so you're entertained. -Sit down service is quick, even when there's a wait, it's not terribly bad. Cons: -Uh, it's in a slighty sticky bowling alley. So it's very loud and colorful. Come here for the food and expect nothing more. I just find it hilarious that at any given time during your meal, you're gonna hear blaring overhead, "Kimo party, your lane is ready. Kimo party." -Parking sucks during prime time (dinner/weekends). Don't even try to park in a stall marked for that Mexican food joint coz they got somebody out there, asking if you're eating there and they will watch where you're trying to walk into.
(4)Kawena K.
Today, I ordered the Coca Cola Marinated Turkey sandwich from the take-out window. I thought all sandwiches came with mac salad but mine was just by itself. Oh well, was so hungry that it didn't matter at that point. While chewing, I noticed the turkey had a weird texture and I couldn't chew through certain pieces but I just kept spitting out the pieces I couldn't chew, thinking it was weird parts of the turkey. I took another huge bite and happened to look down at my sandwich and was greeted by a piece of RAW turkey. This was not a case of "ohh it's just a little undercooked" but a full blown piece of pink meat. AHHHHH! I freaked out and spit everything that was in my mouth on to the plate. I snapped a picture on my phone then called the restaurant to let them know their turkey wasn't properly cooked. While the girl was nice and accommodating, this experience makes me extremely wary to eat their food again, out of fear of food poisoning. While I love the food there, I love my stomach health even more. Sorry, The Alley Restaurant Bar & Grill...don't think I will be returning.
(1)Ira J.
When is a bowling alley not a bowling alley? When you're having dinner or lunch at The Alley Restaurant Bar and Grill inside Aiea Bowl! Well, Of course it is still a bowling alley, but the food and décor are both so non-bowling alley like that one could easily forget that one was in a bowling alley. One minor stipulation: One would have to be deaf to completely forget. The thunder of rolling balls and the din of crashing pins serve as the only reminders of where you are dining. Rather than a distraction, I've found that this unique background soundtrack adds to the experience. More so than the quirky factor of being in a bowling alley, the quality of the food is what really stands out here. I've had many of the items on the menu including more than several awesome desserts. None have disappointed me. My wife is a real Oxtail Soup connoisseur. She tells me The Alley Restaurant Bar and Grill had the best available on the island. It must be. She gets it almost every time we go.
(4)Todd T.
Ordered take out last weekend. Ordered the kalbi plate, mahi plate, and garlic fries. This was just the right amount of food for 3 adults and 1 child. The kalbi was boneless and very tasty. It was cooked just right, served with white rice and mac salad. The mahi was breaded and fried with white rice and toss salad. The mahi was cooked just right and good flavor. The garlic fries were cold compared to our plates, we must have gotten an old batch of fries. Will not order the fries again but love the plate lunches there. Its fun to watch the people bowling while waiting for your order. Parking can sometimes be a problem on the 3rd floor but just look for the 20 mins stalls which are usually available.
(4)Derek R.
the alley restaurant what more can I say....Tasty Shicken! if this is the first time and you don't know what to get? you gotta get... Tasty Shicken! I like it with "all white rice no veggies, please!" and if you got room for more after your huge meal.... you gotta try the pumkin crunch! oh! my gawd! it's so onolishish! my bestest friend loves the lemon crunch.... nah! I still prefer the pumkin crunch :D
(5)Ram K.
Went for a late lunch around 2:30 on a Saturday. Couldn't find parking outside of restaurant, had to go one level down by the McDonalds. Ordered the furikake ahi my gf had the furikake ahi/ boneless kalbi combo. Also an order of fried noodles. Everything was ono! Can't wait to come back and try other dishes! The desserts look awesome.
(5)Jennifer M.
As many other reviewers have said, the food is good but the service is horrible. Honestly, anything I ate from here was great. Some of my favorites are: cheeseburger with garlic fries, loco moco, spicy shrimp, tasty chicken, and pumpkin crunch. When the boyfriend is sick, we take out oxtail soup and it works wonders.
(5)Rachel L.
I got the furikake ahi bowl, which I thought was a little dry - I don't think I'd get it again. I had some of my husband's kalbi though and it was pretty tasty! I'd want to come back to try their desserts (the pumpkin crunch cake looked yummy!) and the tasty chicken! I like how they give brown rice as an option - I've been eating so much unhealthy food on this island that little things like that help me feel better :p. Thanks to my brother for taking us here!
(4)Loren O.
After they renovated, The Alley Restaurant really stepped it up! It went from being a typical bowling alley type restaurant, to this new upbeat restaurant! Theres multiple tv's, booths and tables, and AWESOME food. Things to try: Tasty Chicken- may not be "the best" garlic chicken i've ever had, but its definitely worth eating :] It's all boneless pieces too which makes me love it even more Furikake Ahi- Pan seared ahi with a furikake crust.. Yuuuuum! Kalbi- It's boneless! Definitely a plus!! Garlic Fries- soooo good! I like that the fries are cut thinner.. I LOVE crispy fries :D and i loved how every fry had garlic! Super delicious :] Pizza- I'm one who loves to eat the crust of the pizza, and their pizza crust is pretty tasty! Lemon Crunch Cake- definitely save room for this! THE BEST lemon crunch I've had. Ever. You won't regret it :] Aiea Bowl turned into a pretty popular hangout so parking could be hard to find right outside The Alley. But if you go to the 2nd level, theres normally parking there. If not, the 1st level is always empty. Staff is pretty friendly, I havent had a bad experience with them. They are good with checking up on you, and making sure you have water/refills. Their menu is a little on the pricey side, but it's worth it. I've never left still hungry, and the food is always delicious :]
(4)Mark M.
It's amazing how a simple makeover can affect the flavor of food. That's what I first thought when they redid the Alley. Before, everything was coated in oil or grease and it was almost a last ditch place to go to when all other plans failed, and failed hard. Now, it's among the top choice of places to pick up an awesome plate of well made and not so greasy food. Sure, that won't apply to the aptly named Tasty Chicken, but the furikake mahi is nothing to mess with. Everything here is so far, so good. I haven't tried anything I didn't like and my default favorite is the furikake mahi. You'll notice that prices that they charge are a little on the higher side for a plate lunch. It shouldn't bother you since the quality of the ingredients and the overall quality of the food are pretty high and the portion sizes are good as well. If you want cheap food you should go to Zippy's... oh, wait.
(4)Christopher-desiree G.
Eat? Bowling? Eat AND Bowling!!! This place is one of my favorite places to eat. Their menu isn't as extensive as Zippy's, but you do get the local favorites such as Tasty Chicken, Kalbi, Fried Noodles, Furikake Fish... I really LOVE their Tasty Chicken and Garlic Fries. I usually get the bowl size which is perfect for me. It comes with a scoop of rice, salad, and tasty chicken. *drool* You can also get the plate size which comes with 2 scoops of rice, salad, and tasty chicken. Or you can get a com bo plate like my brother and husband get since they can't choose just one. BUT that's not all!!! Their Pumpkin Crunch is oh so yummy. Try their food. You know you want to!
(5)Jen H.
WORDS CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE..... HOW GOOD THIS PLACE'S DESSERTS ARE!!! yes, I said desserts not food lol. Honestly, I could come here JUST to eat dessert! I would walk through a raging hurricane if it meant I could have a piece of their scrumptious pumpkin crunch cake!!!! gahhhh!! I can't believe I didn't come here sooner! although if I did I might have already gained like 50lbs from cake overdose. I give them 5 stars just for dessert. Seriously, who makes their desserts???! I would like to give that person a handshake and get their autograph. WINNING! the food is also very good. I like their tasty chicken and braised shoyu pork... broke da mouth! but... I still love their desserts :P I also love how this place has an ala carte menu as well as regular menu so that you can order just the food without the rice or salad on the side. Some of their menu items come as a salad as well (like the tasty chicken) so for people on low-carb diets its great! Atmosphere is very laid back, the noise level from the bowling alley is a little high but not crazy like a club so its all good. The food is decently priced and they have a full bar :) desserts ftw!
(5)Faye M.
Ate here a few times and I must say, the food is great!! The last time I ate there, I had the boneless kalbi plate with brown rice & toss salad. It was soo good!! There was a lot leftover, too bad I forgot it at the table when they called our name when a lane opened up!! The Kalbi was cooked perfectly and I liked that the meat was already cut into nice pieces for me :) Eating here for dinner at prime dinner hour, on a Saturday does require reservations - unless you like waiting for 20 minutes or so!! I still have yet to go to their "Tasty Tuesdays" dinner where it is a multi-course dinner, but one day I'll make it!! ps: Xtra Hawaiian Miles here!!
(4)Kathleen G.
Tasty Chicken is a MUST have! Fried to perfection and they give big portions. Our waiter Kalani was awesome. My bf and I were heading to a movie but wanted to take some heavenly 7 chocolate layer cake to go. He packed our cake in a plastic bag of ice and double bagged it for us so that it wouldn't melt. What awesome service!
(5)Kyle A.
The food was great, but the service was awful. My husband and son got their meals and I was told that my ox tail soup would be out in a minute. We didn't see out waitress again for 30 minutes. My husband finally flagged someone down to go get her. She said they ran out and were making a new batch, yet I had seen several other tables get their soup while I had been waiting. Another 15 minutes passed before she came back with my soup. By then, my husband and son had already finished their meals. I asked her to make it to go and she left the check. She didn't even offer to take it off the bill. Good soup or not, it's not worth a 45 minute wait. We won't be back.
(1)Jade N.
Bowling Alley food? YES, YES, YES! The last I been here was not what I remembered it to be. What it is now? Nice renovated cool seating area with delish food choice. Everything on the menu list was a crave. Our pupus ended up to be: Garlic Fries- made small and with fresh garlic. Boneless chicken wings- nugget looking with fries on the bottom of it. For my meal, I ended up getting the Spicy Shrimp. You can choose to have it with mac salad or a green salad and it comes with rice. Toney got the loco moco. I couldn't decide what was better but then again...the menu listing was a crave in itself. Service did seem as though our waiter was rushing to take our order, but then again they were super busy. Great! Now I'm craving the garlic fries. They do have a take out walk up to a window section. I may just have to do that today. Worth it? Yes! Go there and try it.
(4)Racquel S.
I love love love LOVE this place! I haven't been here for a while and oh boy did I regret all those abandon years! The place is attached to Aiea Bowl but has a door of their own as well. It's a very cozy ohana family where you have your youngies and oldies working together... When we got there it was really busy, luckily we were taken care of by the wonderful staff :) We heard the mixed plate was the best thing on the menu from the chef himself so we ordered the mix plate, I ordered the tasty chicken and boneless kalbi with mac salad and a scoop of brown and white rice just to even the fields out. The chicken was to die for, it was so juicy and crunchy at the same time and I like how the kalbi was boneless because I didn't have to work for it. I highly recommend the mix plate as we were giving our tummies a little break our neighbor started making a friendly conversation and he said that he only gets the oxtail soup because he loves it so much. I really enjoyed how it feels like we are all eating our meal and sharing conversations. You think that would already deserve 5 stars and you're correct on that one! If there were more stars I would give it all because the desserts are just so delightful! We were already stuffed from the food but already discussed we were gonna share a dessert but usually sharing would is caring but not at the alley! You need to get your own dessert and then share it! We couldn't decide which to get the lemon crunch or the pumpkin crunch, so we got both! And thank heavens! I usually don't like pumpkin pie but that pumpkin crunch is amazing!! It makes me want to take back all the bad things I said about pumpkins... and that fresh light whip cream is so fluffy and completes it! And the lemon crunch oh yeeeahhh.. the cake is just right and not dry and the perfect amount of lemon! I think I wrote just about enough for you to get your behinds there and try them out or at least make you try it again for those who didn't have the same 5 star as I did.
(5)Rebecca C.
got the usual furikake ahi... but i still think nico's is by far the best and worth the price... finally got to try a dessert and boy was the lemon crunch cake ala mode light and delicious... =)
(4)Greg N.
Get the Pumpkin Crunch pie! If you like pumpkin pie like me, you'll love this souped-up version (crunchy crust & rich thick cream topping). Liked the Lemon cake too, but not as much as the pumpkin pie. Some high-quality desserts coming out of this bowling alley restaurant. Tried the Tasty Chicken. It was good, but honestly wasn't blown away. We discovered, most restaurants around Oahu have a good version of fried dark meat chicken.
(5)Carolyn E.
You could be eating in a bowling alley. It could be noisy. We were in Aiea looking for food and yelp steered us here, and I'm not sad about that. This seems to be where the locals eat. I had the Furikake Ahi which was delicious. The star of the show was the super garlicky garlic fries. Oh goodness, so much garlic and so tasty. The husband had a hamburger which he described as average. As a tourist, this was definitely something different.
(4)Josh S.
From the description I was not expecting an Asian inspired restaurant attached to a bowling alley. I think the idea of this being a bowling alley impacts reviews because the food was nothing special yet this place currently has four stars. I tried their special "tastey chicken", which had way too much breading and little flavor, and the loco moco which I believe had canned gravy on it. If you are bowling and want food it's great, otherwise consider other places.
(3)Doris D.
What a local gem! I got the famous oxtail soup and it is THE best I've eaten so far (perhaps even better than Asahi Grill). The broth is complex, flavorful, and dark; you get lots of oxtails and mushrooms, plus a bowl of rice. It might stretch your wallet a bit at $13 but I think it's definitely worth it. My husband got the loco moco which is done mighty right - great gravy, well-seasoned real hamburger patty, and delicious mac salad. Next time i come back, I might try the garlic chicken which looked awesome and their desserts, giant slices of heaven. Some may find the atmosphere a bit noisy but I enjoyed the ambiance of being in a bowling alley. It's pretty lively.
(5)Steve N.
I had the mixed plate with tasty chicken, garlic shrimp, macaroni salad and rice. The garlic shrimp was okay, but the tasty chicken was better. The service was quite good, especially considering how busy they were. The food is definitely a step above your typical bowling alley food, although you still have the background noise of bowling balls and pins dropping :-) The desserts are very good also.
(4)Grace N.
I'd heard for ages that this place had "amazing" food. Did something happen? The only this I'd come back for is the Lemon Crunch cake. I felt like we sampled enough items to get a feel for this place including: Tasty Chicken, Pork Chops, Fries, Salad w/ Portobello mushrooms, Pizza, Onion Rings and Edamame. All the dishes were tiny, mediocre and over priced. I'm not coming back... plus, the service sucked. The waitress could care less about her job or her patrons. Giving 1 extra star because their cake was the only thing close to good.
(2)Ka'ili H.
OH Sweet Home Hawai'i!!!!!! Craving some sweets on the way into town from Waipahu we took the Aiea cutoff to this wonderful restaurant. If you know me, you KNOW I love sweets. No matter what Shaun T. or my good friend who's a Hardass Fitness Coach says, I will have my sweets & eat them too!!! (it's all about balance and moderation and one sweet a day IS moderation!!) I've heard and read many many great words of endearment of their wonderful sweet stuff, so my excitement levels were calmly at their peak upon arrival. I already decided what dessert I wanted when I looked in the glass fridge they have displaying their beautiful concoctions. (I believe they do this on purpose, it's great marketing if you think about it. EVERYONE wants to know what their food looks like before they buy it. I do, you do, we all do, good job Alley!) Pumpkin Crunch: you are mine!! (also cuz I want to make this in the next coming weeks for thanksgiving and/or Christmas) We sat down and my friend ordered the Furikake Ahi, seared, with brown rice and tossed salad and a side of Garlic Fries. The thin cut Garlic Fries were nicely crisped with clumps of Garlic-y goodness all around. I was literally in Garlic Fry Heaven!! The Ahi was okay, I expected more on the seared side than the cooked side, however I loved their Furikake take on it. It was just right! (On another note, brown rice can be substituted at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. That's so great!!) Now to the main course: The Pumpkin Crunch. The crust was made with chopped pecans and a regular crust (I think?) It was just the right amount of pecans, sometimes people go nuts when putting nuts in their desserts & the nuts just get in the way, if you know what I mean... It had about an inch of pumpkin which was a great pumpkin flavor. And about a half inch thick whipped cream topping. Eating all three layers was divine!! My mouth & tummy were jumping up for joy! My friend ordered the Lemon Cake with the Almond Toffee Crumble on top. I tried a bite of his and that too was wonderful! Our waiter was cool, he took our order when we were ready, cuz we needed time to figure out what we felt like eating and couldn't decide. He also gave his honest opinion about the food, which was nice. Our second waitress (I guess he got off earlier) was sweet, filled our waters and took our dessert order. Overall, I liked them. I also bumped into my friends who were eating there! I love bumping into people out and about. She was devouring the oxtail soup, which I will definitely try next time, which she said was really great! Heck, I probably will make it a point to go out to Aiea JUST to try one dessert every time! Anyone wanna join?
(4)Courtney B.
We had the best meal of our whole vacation here! The tasty chicken was soooo amazing, the Korean BBQ beef was out of this world and the asian pork was delicious. I dream about this meal now!! The cake (chocolate) was perfection! Our waitress was very nice also!!
(5)Reid Y.
I AM IMPRESSED. My Mother, who doesn't really rave about anything, kept telling me to come here. Yes, this is a restaurant in a bowling alley and in a random location, but the food here is awesome! The Tasty's Chicken is awesome - crispy and sweet boneless and moist chicken. I also had an order of kalbi - the meat was juicy and cooked perfectly. My family enjoyed the fried saimin and garlic fries as well. This place is a hidden gem and a great find. Just don't come here on league night - it's gonna be packed.
(5)Heidi N.
Okay, as a loyal Heights Drive Inn fan, I was hesitant to follow the hype surrounding the Alley. But you know what? Their food is pretty good. So far everything I have eaten is pretty good tasting, and the Kalbi is actually a good deal too. They gave more than I have seen any other place give, for the price I paid. I have only eaten lunch here. Food and quality, is a 3.5; better than okay, but not necessarily a fan. The desserts here are ridonkulous! (ridiculous with a donkey in the middle=ridiculous plus) The cakes live up to the hype. The lemon crunch is light, fluffy, moist, with the nice bitterness of toffee. Carrot cake is big, not to sweet with a lot of texture. I'm a fan with 5 stars. I have and will be back for more. The killer for me at this place was the service. Holly crap! They look like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off and when I was there, it wasn't even that full! If was off hours like 2 pm. When we first walked in, 2 females were in each others face, then a much taller man got in the middle and kind of joined the chaos for a bit. (I know he was trying to break it up, but it took a while and he didn't even take them in the back of the side before addressing them so it just made it seem worse!) Being that the entrance is right next to counter, where they were arguing, they were literally right next to us. Kind of hard to overlook/avoid. Overall service appeared to be minimal communication, and it seems like everyone is trying to one-up the next person by "handling" it themselves. Looks like management is having a hard time keeping their workers united. And the only reason I took notice to all of this is the uncomfortable vibe was getting. It literally made me edgy and detracted from the overall experience. I have made a few mental notes to meet my own tastes, i.e. face the other direction from the service counter if I must eat there, Take-Out, etc. for this place, because the food is worth it. But 4 or 5 stars, maybe when service is a bit better.
(3)Brandon Y.
I haven't been to Aiea Bowl for many many years so I was pretty surprised when I walked in the other day. The place looks nice and hip now! So we came here to eat. I went with the safe choice, Tasty Chicken. Not my favorite garlic chicken but it's pretty good. The prices here are a little on the higher side but the food is good quality so it's worth it. I also tried the lemon crunch cake that everyone loves and although i'm not a fan of lemon it was really good.
(4)T C.
Food: The beef patties (whether you get them via loco moco, burger, etc) here are amazing. Lightly seasoned (I hate when places try to get too fancy, and the seasoning overwhelms the meat), perfectly charred with a nice flavorful crust, oozing full of juices on the inside, with a spot on texture. Tasty chicken was indeed tasty; good, but not zOMG! A nice light batter, which is a nice change from the usual heavier batter at most other places - more like a light airy tempura than a crunchy KFC. Could use a pinch more something something for flavor, though it may have just been my batch. Fries were nice and crispy, just how I like 'em. Sampled a few of the cakes, and the oft-mentioned lemon crunch was indeed my fav - a bit like the toffee crunch cake you can get in SF's J-town, though a bit lighter (which is nice). Service: Manager was really cool, and chatted it up with us a few times over the course of the meal. We sat outside near the lanes, which was nice, but I could see how it'd feel more crowded in the main dining area.
(5)Tracie F.
YUM! Wow! This place blew my slippers off. I expected good food but not this good!! Food was excellent. Service was awesome. Location great. What more is there to say? Ok well a lot... Our waiter, Kameron, was faboo! He was sweet and totally went above and beyond asking things like "do you want your burger cut in half? Ranch with your fries?" It's like not only is he a waiter but a pschic as well. The food was out in a reasonable amount of time and we never had to ask for a soda refill. Food was crazy good. I had the cheeseburger. The only reason I didn't love it was the bun. It was sweet which is just not my preference for the bun. The patty was juicy and fries were crispy and cooked to perfection. Next time though I will defintely get the HAMBURGER STEAK! It is by far the best hamburger steak I have ever eaten in my life. I hate brown gravy. This one...I could drink. The patties were home-made and HUGE. Filled with flavor and onolicious juiciness. Wow! The tasty chicken was pretty good. It was definitely garlic laden. Bring gum. We had the pumpkin crunch for dessert. Awesome! It wasn't too sweet. The crust was perfect. I wanted to try one of everything. Ok well maybe two of everything. Price? I can not tell a lie...it was a tad on the expensive side. I truly believe in supporting local business and this is one worthy of my limited cash flow. Their food is fresh and of good quality. That doesn't come cheap. You MUST try The Alley! Awesome!
(5)Russel M.
Even though I'm not a bowler anymore the restaurant is one of our faves for dessert. Lemon Crunch Cake is all you need to know. All of the other desserts are killer also. We decided to try TASTY TUESDAYS last night. A once a week event that features a 5 course menu for $39-. It was amazing! Started with Pepper Cheese stuffed Rolls followed by Shrimp mini Tacos, Curry Chicken Lettuce Wrap, Fettucini Alfredo mixed in a Giant Cheese Wheel , then your choice of Seared Fresh Ahi or Short Rib (we got one of each) and they were both incredible!! Dessert was Chocolate Napoleon. Corkage is $10- if you wish to bring your own wine. Service was stellar. Menu changes monthly.
(4)Cely H.
The Alley looks so different from when I was last in there. Lol, I was probably about 7 years old! The hubs got off of work early so we decided to go here. He wanted a burger and I wanted hamburger steak. Everyone was really friendly and the staff (all men?) were really laid back and nice. The food and service was excellent. The hubs got a bacon burger and they were happy to bust out the big jar-o-pickles because my husband really eats a pickle burger with a little meat on it. I got the hamburger steak and salmon combo and can you believe that this *points to herself* hamburger steak loving gal actually ate all of her salmon first? :) so yummy! For dessert the hubs got creme brulee and I got the pumpkin crunch per Emi's recommendation. The pumpkin crunch was to-die-for; the creme brulee, not so much. There was no sugar coated brulee on top! My husband was so sad that he wanted to ask for some sugar and a lighter. Our waiter just explained that it was just the way the pastry chef makes it. Despite the lack of sugar crusts, this place still gets 5 stars. Just stay away from the brulee!
(5)Doug D.
Went to this place long ago when they first opened and did take-out. Waited a while for my fish order. Others before me got their stuff before me so I thought they must be out catching the fish. Then I got only 4 slices, so I never went back. I thought it was over-rated and over-valued. The other day we stopped by for lunch; mainly for the oxtail soup since it was raining and we were looking for someplace decent. So, I thought I'd give them a try again. Wow! must say the place was crowded so that told me something. I couldn't be that bad! It wasn't. We never got to the oxtail soup, but I had their special Tasty chicken and my wife had the Furikake Ahi. Both with brown rice and tossed. I gotta say, we definitely will be back. we still gotta try the oxtail soup. Even the hamburger looked good. We did a slice of lemon crunch pie as take-out and that was a very good choice. I learned later that they are famous for that. The wait help gave us good service and they were very prompt and courteous, contrary to some of the other patron's review, so it could be a hit and miss thing. Definitely a keeper.... we highly recommend.
(5)Seiji N.
What a gem. This was my first meal after landing in hawaii. Normally you'd think "bowling alley food? meh" Well let me be the 384325th person to tell you to give this place a try. Seriously you will not regret it. The mix plate is a good deal as you get two entrees, 2 bowls of rice (brown or white), and a choice of macaroni or tossed salad. I had their tasty chicken and their loco moco. I ended up having better loco moco on this trip so it was average, but the tasty chicken is highly recommended! The servers have the aloha spirit and they were very prompt. They even let us split the check 6 ways. Overall, good food and great service for an affordable price.
(4)Sajili B.
The first place I ate when I got to Hawaii was the Alley. Straight from the airport to the Alley. You can imagine straight from LA to HI, I was excited to start a new life and the best way to anchor that memory is two things: FOOD and MUSIC. Turn on the radio and turn up the Paina or KCCN to listened to that great music when we left. Now, I live close right now so I pop in often and grab some grub. I take everyone here with me (monthly visitors, friends, dates, etc.) for a laidback place to grab a bite. The downside: during Aiea Bowl Monday nights (college Monday) the kitchen is closed! How great would it be to eat some Alley Garlic fries, drink a pint, and bowl!?! I usually start off my meals with Carrot cake (dessert first, priorities I tell you!) and I rarely leave without a 4-pack of cupcakes. Just got to have it. I change up my order often but the only thing I won't get again is Oxtail soup.
(5)Natalie P.
Prior to coming in my husband was really worried about how busy it was going to be. However once we sat down, ordered our food and ate...his thoughts of this place changed. He absolutely loved what he ordered which was the TASTY CHICKEN and chili mix plate. He loved it so much that we are changing our menu for our daughter's birthday party next week so we can eat more TASTY CHiCKEN!!! Also all the staff that was working today during the lunch hour was awesome! Double team cleaning of the tables, quickly seating and greeting customers. Regardless of the fast pace the staff was calm, collected and efficient. Keep up the great service everyone!
(5)Erik K.
We walked in and waited for 5-10 minutes before being seated even though there were 3 open tables, another couple who arrived after us was seated before us, we ordered the same food Oxtail soup but they received their order 15 min before us which seems strange because I thought the soup was always prepared earlier. Fortunately the food and our waitress made up for it the Oxtail soup was delicious (I have to admit was one of the best I've tasted) and the waitress kept checking up on us to see if we were ok and refilling our water. I've been here several times in the past and didn't think too much of the food but this was the first time I was put off by the way we were treated upon entering. So overall I'm giving them 3 stars because most of the food is OK, the only reason I would eat here again is if I really wanted Oxtail Soup.
(3)Dean G.
The tasty chicken should be re-named to "the best chicken ever created by mankind". I love it!
(5)Emily T.
So, I keep hearing from others about the tasty chicken and the lemon crunch cake from the Alley, so I went down to give it a try. This was my third attempt to see what the hype is on the tasty chicken. The chicken was moist on the inside, sort of crispy on the outside, but the sauce was...well, let's say a really toned down version of Sugoi's/Mitsuken garlic chicken. Yes, sometimes the garlic chicken at those other places are a bit too garlicky, so much so that it sticks with you, but the tasty chicken's sauce, it was really light, wished that it had more kick or flavor to it. I know, it does not claim to be garlic chicken, but that is kind of what it reminded me of, a toned down garlic chicken...very toned down. I wonder if it was because I order it from the take-out window instead of dining in? I don't know, but the tasty chicken was just 'ok' for me. I got the tasty chicken in a combo plate, with the boneless kalbi. The kalbi was nice meaty pieces, local style preparation. But I guess I have bias towards korean style kalbi (esp. the big bone kind), so this kalbi for me was again, just 'ok'. So, to end my meal, I had the slice of lemon crunch cake. It was nice and light, I want to say white cake with lemony filling in between the layers, and topped with sort of a crumble topping, tasted like it might have had some toffee in it. The topping was pretty good, but overall I thought this cake was just 'ok'. So, overall, the food was just 'ok' for me. I would give it one more try, maybe dining in next time...
(3)Estelle T.
I LOVE THE BONELESS KALBI! I wish I got a bigger scoop of the mac salad though :( It was really good! Oh, and getting seated in the bowling alley sucked lol.
(3)Ferdz G.
Just thought I try their garlic shrimp so I ordered a "side order" for $12.50 to go. When I got home, I opened the box and was surprised to see 4 PIECES of shrimp! I called them up to verify and they said that's what you get for $12.50. This is freaking "highway robbery" in my opinion -- you can go to a shrimp truck and get from 9-12 pieces of shrimp. The thing is, their shrimp is not even that good - compared to Giovanni's or Romy's. What a rip-off !!!
(1)Timothy P.
Do you like bowling? Do you like tasty food? Congratulations, it's in one place! After hearing about this place for years, I finally made a trip here. First off - Geez, how many tiers of shops does this shopping center have? So if you become a fatty and pig out at Alley Restaurant, Dirty Lickins, or Koa Pancake House; just take a stroll through the shopping center. It's like a free stairmaster! In order to be a fatty here, you gotta have some dollar dollar bills though. I spent about $10 dollars and was barely satisfied. I had the Tasty Chicken Sandwich and Garlic Fries (picture included). It is indeed quite well seasoned crispy awesome... BUT for that price, 3 strips of chicken and a bunch of fries doesn't cut it; I could have went next door to Dirty Lickins and had little feast for the same price (I almost spelled it Dirrty. Look what Christina Aguilera has done to me.) . The service was a little off. Okay. Very off. After sitting a for a few minutes, I grabbed myself a menu. The only menu available were takeout menus. The waitress comes by and asks if we're ordering takeout. Once she finds out we're eating in, she makes a sassy comment "WELL. You grabbed the wrong menus." I just wanted to snap back "WELL. Would you like me to grab the correct menus and wait your tables for you?" But I held my composure as a lady should. But what do you expect at a bowling alley? Let me tell you what I expect. I don't mind poor service, but that poor service better be coming at me at a lower price. Tasty. Rude. Overpriced.
(2)Missy S.
Have to give this place average ratings as the service their sucks bad!! But the atmosphere is very fun, enjoyable, a place that makes you crave some bowling time! The tasty chicken plate I ordered was excellent, the best garlic chicken I have ever eaten by far. I ordered it with regular white rice, and green salad. But what is most memorable about this place is their deserts, especially their lemon crunch cake. OMG! That cake is literally to die for. I thought I was in heaven for a minute. After reading reviews on it decided to try it, and I fell in love. Definately recommend the lemon crunch cake for those who have yet to try it. The service does suck, but considering their establishment is small, they are busy and its hard getting good timing service. That is my only complaint.
(3)Caitlin T.
I might be wrong, but when I order Ahi I expect it to be medium to medium-rare. Not here. It was well done and quite fishy. I am not a big fan of the flakiness of fully cooked fish, nor the fishy taste. Since this was the first entree I have had here, it didn't make a good impression. Now on the other hand, the pumpkin crunch is absolutely fabulous! Of course it is covered with half an inch of whipped cream so it is definitely not the best for you, but what great tasting dessert is? Maybe one day I will give the Alley another try, but until then I will stick with Dirty Lickins next door.
(3)Un-Soo W.
Like everyone else has posted, the fried chicken is very good, but it's hard to eat a lot of it. My husband had the garlic shrimp, which had more of an Asian flavor, but he said he still preferred Giovanni's Garlic Shrimp. Service was friendly, and it definitely gets crowded at lunch, so go early, or be prepared to wait. I wish had room for cake. However, Ice Garden is in the next shopping center over, so I went for shave ice, instead.
(4)April N.
My family and I have been to Aiea Bowl (Alley Restaurant) several times in the last year. The food is good and the price is okay, not sure I would call the prices reasonable. The number one reason that keeps us from coming here more often, is the POOR service. It isn't just one person but it is every time we come. We have been there when it has been busy and when the restaurant seems at half capacity. There is no area to "wait" for your table despite seeing several empty tables. The host/hostess area is near the separate entrance which is okay if you enter through that door but a good majority of the people enter through the bowling alley entrance. It is almost like the staff knows it is a good restaurant but you are an interruption to their day. I agree with one reviewer (Nathan); don't try to memorize the order and not get it right! I see nothing wrong with writing the order down. The last time we were there, the bartender was our server and she forgot to bring us a drink and still charged us for it. She barely apologized for it and was busy doing her bartender job, so it was 20+ minutes between each time she stopped at the table. The food- the Tasty Chicken is their most popular dish and that is why we come. My son loves the boneless marinated kalbi and recommended it to everyone at the table. I do not eat beef or pork so I had to take everyone's word that it was delicious! We shared the Pumpkin Crunch and it is as good as everyone says it is! To purchase the whole "cake" is quite expensive so be prepared to pay. So to sum it up....If you have lots of time and don't mind waiting, the food is good, the service is less than desirable and prices are okay.
(3)Erin T.
5 stars based solely on the Lemon Crunch Cake!! Some of the best cake I've EVER eaten! So fresh, incredibly light, but full of flavor. Delicate lemon flavor with a light, almost whipped cream icing, then lots of crunchy toffee bits covering the outside. AMAZING, and from a bowling alley! I also tried the Pumpkin Crunch Cake. It was good, but nothing at all compared to the lemon. (Basically a pumpkin pie with a nutty bottom and 2 inches of whipped cream on top- no 'cake.') DEFINITELY go to this bowling alley for a slice of cake. SO SO SO worth the drive.
(5)Hanna C.
why is SERVICE always a FAIL here? I guess i always go back b/c the food is really good. But I don't know if I will ever be back after my weekend's experience. My friend ordered the burger with teri sauce. The MANAGER(not our server) delivers the food to our table. He didn't know which belonged to whom. So my friend asked if it was a teri burger. The manager then picks his plate up, puts his face real close to the food and smells it! HE SMELT IT!!!! SOOOOO not right? I don't even work at a restaurant and I could tell you that's so unsanitary! It made me wonder what else goes on in the kitchen if the manager does this. While he sniffed the food, the ketchup fell on me! good thing i was wearing red shorts! but my white shirt was stained! I'm not talking a splash, the whole thing fell on me! I didn't make a big scene b/c i guess accidents happen. BUT he wasn't nice about it, and when our bill came, he looked at our table....and we looked at the bill. NOT even a soda was comped! I'm not looking for a free anything, but cah man~~~
(2)Mick K.
I came here for lunch with my girlfriend. She ordered the Tasty Chicken mini and I ordered the Pulehu Steak. The Tasty Chicken was two pieces of fried chicken without the bone--I think it was thigh meat--doused with some honey chili sauce. It came with rice and a small salad. The whole dish came in a bowl. The Pulehu Steak was a 1 lb of tri-tip meat that was grilled. It came with rice and romaine lettuce salad with dressing. Overall, the Chicken was crispy and about as moist as it can be without the bones. The dish's size was of a regular plate lunch box size, which was descent for $8.25. The steak was chewy because it was not tenderized enough and it came cut up in large chunks. Its seasoning was under. However, portion size of this steak dish was a descent size for its price of $16.95. The service was friendly and quick and attentive--as all services in the food industry MUST be. I wasn't able to try the desert, but I will be back. I'm looking forward to eating well while bowling. I've never had that experience.
(3)Kate T.
You know I have been coming to this place for awhile but the last time I went I had the WORST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!!! I wish I could put how horrible this experience was!!! I first came in and told them I had two more people coming. So they sat me. Then ignored me....for 30 minutes!!!I was like HELLO I WANT A BEER. Then my friends came and they ignored me for ANOTHER 15 MINUTES! WTF so finally the chick came over and took our order. By then I was beyond mad! So I ordered the tasty chicken and a beer. That took about 15 minutes to brign them out and when I ate my chicken it was hard and wasnt very good!!!!! I was so upset that I really dont want to go here anymore. Usually you have to wait and the customer service here is horrible. The food is good but only if you wait an hour for it :-/ I'd rather go on base to go bowling and get cheap food there.
(1)Karen K.
The specialty tasty chicken is so Ono. We ate every piece and can't wait to go back. Excellent service. Server always checking on us and making sure we were doing OK.
(5)Nancy F.
As hungry as I was, I was a bit annoyed that it took forever and a day for the waitress to bring out my Tasty Chicken plate. The beast was quelled though, when she finally arrived with the chicken piled sky high (the cook's way of apologizing for the wait). The garlic fries, although not as garlicky as the ones they serve up in Cole's and Colony Cafe (I'm pretty sure I yelped those two...?), they get an A for effort. Whenever I start jonesin' for some garlic fries, I'd probably go to The Alley for my fix. I'm still in search of the best garlic fries in Hawaii, by the way. Any recommendations? Not normally a fan of lemon cake or lemon inspired desserts, but the Lemon Crunch cake...hot damn! I think we have a winner. Bypass the Strawberry Crunch and go straight to the Lemon Crunch. Trust.
(4)William E.
I've never bowled at this alley, and I didn't expect much from a bowling alley. I'm quite happy with eating here. I've never eaten dinner here, but I understand it's more fantastic (in price) than lunch. I'm quite happy with lunch. The food is great. The service is good, too, especially since you'd expect less going to a bowling alley. I really haven't eaten anything here that I didn't like, and I'm the kind of guy who steals "samples" of food off other's plates. Sometimes even from the people not at my table (just kidding). I've tried the shrimps, the pork chops, the hamburger steaks, and a few desserts. Every time, I've been satisfied. I'm actually kinda glad they don't use pictures on their menu because it probably wouldn't do them justice. On the flip-side, it's torturous to look at the dessert display and not buy something.
(4)Tyler M.
Great value for the amount they give . It's plate lunch style :) I got the mixed plate 12.00. Tasty chicken (5 stars) and hamburger steak. The best one I've had so far, and homemade, and of course MAC salad . Food came out really quick with good service. Hot and fresh. :)= fast, friendly service :)= good, fresh food :)= they give choke food :(= long wait with no reservation :(= crowded with a mix of boilers and bar patrons walking past you while you eat ?= weekdays should be less crowded and make reservations ahead of time
(5)Donna M.
So I came here this past Monday night - my son is a junior bowler and their ILH season is about to start so I figure eh...he can practice and we can eat dinner at the same time. First of all...we're here frequently and we've been coming here for the past 15+ years. Before the alley was taken under new management, it was your run of the mill grungy bowling alley. But really...that's what you expect for a bowling alley. While the new management did offer a modern, "club" type atmosphere...it lost the feeling of a "bowling alley". Never expected to have to pay cover to come in or have bouncers at the door. Love the improvements but somewhere along the way...I think they lost something. Food...by far the food is really good here...however the wait can be long depending on when you come. Monday...I waited almost 45 minutes for my dinner order. You'd think I'd at least get a free drink or an apology...nope nothing. There is a wide selection of desserts that are ALL to die for. Pricey but definitely worth it if you like desserts. Strawberry Crunch, Pumpkin Crunch, Mamma Mia Chocolate Cake, Cream Cheese Brownie are all my faves. Service could definitely improve. The wait help really don't look too enthused to be there.
(2)Sam R.
Awesome service and LOTS of Tasty Chicken ...but long wait. Pros: -I had the Tasty Chicken plate. It was very delicious. This definitely will be on my best local food places. -The amount of food they gave me was ridiculous. It seems like it was half a chicken. -The server was on top of it. We never had an empty glass of water. I asked for a Jameson and ginger, and the server got me a sample of ginger ale because he thought it might not be a ginger ale I like. Cons: -Long wait to get a table, about 25 min. But really, what great places to eat aren't busy?
(5)Charlie E.
We tried out the mixed plate of boneless Kalbi and garlic shrimp, with 2 scoops of brown rice and a tossed salad. The Kalbi was very tasty, shrimp could have been cooked a bit more but good garlic flavor, I'd order the Mac salad next time, brown rice was perfect. I'm a big eater and took half of the Kalbi and one scoop of brown rice home. For $12.75 it's a deal! The Saimin missed! Supposed to come with BBQ pork, and had to asked for it. When we got it, it was very tough! Zippy's does a better job and bigger portion for the same price. Didn't have time to try the lemon crunch cake but we're coming back. Oh yeah, it's noisy and caters to the little kids so...Service is quick and they check on you & keep you watered down. Next time, Oxtail & Lemon crunch cake! We arrived at 1pm so no wait for a table but still crowded!
(4)Julie M.
This place is another must-stop whenever we're on Oahu. LOVE the blueberry cream cheese scones, the fried rice omelette, and the apple French toast for breakfast! The tasty chicken or boneless kalbi sandwich with garlic fries are lunchtime winners too! And who can forget about the lemon crunch cake?!? That is my absolute favorite thing from the Alley....in fact I think we're going to have to go back for some today!
(4)Suzi F.
Alley Bar and Grill is a casual place that serves surprisingly delicious food. For a tourist, it's much more convenient if you have a car, but it is only about 12 miles from Waikiki. It's open late, and in case you couldn't tell from the name, is also a bowling alley. So you can come to one place for your food and your entertainment. The service is friendly, and the food suggestions they give are actually true. I had the opportunity to try their garlic fries (pretty skinny-almost shoestring skinny perfectly crispy), oxtail soup, mahi and tasty fried chicken. I will be the first to say that having tried many different places with oxtail soup, this was very good. The meat was perfectly cooked and the broth was right on the dot. I will also highly recommend the tasty chicken. It's name doesn't do it justice. It isn't fried chicken or chicken wings. It is lightly battered chicken with a sweet and slightly salty (if that's possible) flavoring. SO GOOD!
(4)Janet K.
The food is pretty decent, but I come here for the Lemon Crunch Cake and the Pumpkin Crunch Cake. When Thanksgiving rolls around, I go pick up a whole cake because I really don't want to just eat plain pumpkin pie anymore. You can get brown rice and toss instead of white rice and mac salad with your plate lunch. That way you won't feel guilty scarfing down dessert when you promised yourself just one bite which quickly turned into one whole slice (by yourself). It's okay, it was worth it.
(4)Ryan Y.
Came here a few months ago so memory is fuzzy, what I remember are the reasonable prices, tasty food and servings are good size which left me no room for dessert. Will have to go back to try the wide selection on the menu and report back.
(4)Sam G.
Sunday football and lunch?? Yes please! Three TVs with great coverage depending on which table or booth you sit. I treated my parents here for the first time. We ordered a large oxtail soup and tasty chicken. Can't go wrong there! It was plenty of food for the three of us. I planned on getting a slice of lemon crunch cake to top it off, but we were too full. :-/
(5)Lynn S.
One of my faves!! A little noisy and always super busy but totally worth the wait and temporary hearing loss. The tasty chicken is more than tasty! Fries are crisp and yummy! Even the pizza is the bomb! Lemon crunch cake is amazing. Had an Asian braised pork or was it beef? Can't remember but it was delish! And there's some coca cola turkey or something sandwich that was super duper as well. Who would have thought such great eats would come from a bowling alley???? Unexpected! My husb loves that they serve beer and have sports games running on flat screens all over the place. This review is making me hungry for more : )
(5)Charmaine C.
OMG, the service was off the hook, parking sucked tho BUT food was oh so delish!!! Tried the Pastrami sandwich which waiter suggested, our meal was a little late but the waiter apologized so we ordered dessert. Oh my the pumpkin crunch as wonderful & we didn't get charged because of the delay in our meal. Loved everything about it.....YUMMY!!!
(5)Randi J.
Went to a potluck last weekend and the favorite dish of the night was The Alley's Tasty Chicken. Garlicy and sweet, without the killer post-meal breath. I've dined-in here before but that was pre-renovation, when The Alley was just plain old Aiea Bowl, so we had to try this place again. Last time I tried The Alley was takeout, about a year ago. I was sick and had a killer craving for Oxtail Soup. Yelped 'oxtail soup' and was led to The Alley. Oxtail Soup: 2/5 stars. Sorry guys, but I'm not a fan. It was a long time ago but from what I remember, it was too gingery. I prefer my mom's homemade Korean style oxtail soup anyday. Tasty Chick: 5/5 stars. Ono. 'Nuff said. Furikake Ahi: 3/5 stars. A-ok but nothing to write home about. The sesame seed taste overpowered the furikake taste. Hamburger Steak: 3/5 stars. Another a-ok dish. Good, same, local flavor. Can get a similar dish down the road at Forty Niner ( bit.ly/IdBJMq ). Lemon Crunch Cake: 5/5 stars. Oh my gosh...so tasty! Have never tasted anything like this before. This alone will make me visit The Alley again...and again...and again.
(4)L. Y.
It's nice that they have a good variety. The desserts looked delish but i didn't try it because it was overpriced. Their tasty chicken is comparable to other places but costs more. I got the ahi salad and the best thing about it was the dressing-creamy with a kick. I was a little disappointed because i thought it would be seared but it was cooked all the way through.
(3)Jesse C.
As part of a challenge, I came here to taste the Lemon Crunch Cake. It is rather simple but remarkably delicious. Good but no extravagant nor enough to induce a craving frenzy. I do like that for being a restaurant tucked in a bowling alley, it surprisingly satisfies. I've tried a few things over the course of many trips. So far I keep coming back.
(4)Russell S.
Very good food. I was a bit nervous eating at a bowling alley, but the yelp reviews were good and then I saw the full menu, wait staff, and the mention of appearing on the food network! That all made me feel better about my decision to eat here. I got a bacon cheeseburger and really enjoyed it. The fries were thin but very good as well.
(5)