Island Style

I don't particularly care for much Hawaiian food, it's a little heavy on the Spam for my taste, but Island Style on Sahara does the cuisine justice and serves it with as much hospitality as their friends across the Pacific. Better still, only one item on the menu is over $10 and you are generously showered with large portions of free appetizers.

We were given addictive boiled peanuts and kimchee, as well as pickled bean sprouts, cucumbers, and radishes, all before we even ordered. The peanuts were the highlight, with the shells enveloping the salty brine they were cooked in so you could enjoy it with your legume. Did I mention they were free?

As you may have surmised from the appetizers, Island Style serves "Fusion Korean Food and Island Style Loco Food." Though you may recognize most menu items, many will probably provide you with a learning experience, as they did for me. Don't worry, your uber friendly host will explain each item with big picture menus and photos on the wall so you aren't at a loss for what to order.

I passed on my favorite Korean dish, Bi Bim Bap, in favor of the Hot Spicy Beef soup ($9.90). This was served in a massive bowl filled to the brim with shredded beef, glass noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and egg simmered in a paprika broth (think Korean goulash). It was hot and spicy for sure, but not overwhelmingly so, and it kept growing on me sip after sip. Ian ordered the Meat Jun ($8.25), which we both agreed was even better. This dish consists of pounded beef marinated in a sweet and salty shoyu (soy) sauce, that is then coated in egg and pan fried (think paillard francese). It is served with rice, bland macaroni salad (a Hawaiian staple), and more of the incredible shoyu sauce. If you eat meat, get this.

We were honestly shocked by how good the food was as it was better than anything we had in Hawaii and there were actually some healthy items as well. The server, who I believe was the owner, couldn't have been more genuine, friendly, and competent. Even if the food wasn't good, we still might have gone back anyway just because of his hospitality. If you want to explore Hawaiian cuisine in Vegas, this is definitely the place to do it.

Island Style

3909 W. Sahara #1

Las Vegas, NV 89102

closed Sunday

Today's Food Ratings:

Meat Jun: 9

Hot Spicy Beef soup: 7.5

Peanuts: 10

Would I go back?A'I, E HELE MAI 'AI. ONO! (YES, COME EAT. IT'S DELICIOUS!) MY HAWAIIAN ISN'T AS GOOD AS THE FOOD, BUT IN A WORD, DEFINITELY.