NT’s Kau Kau

As thrilled as I was to see access to Hawaiian grindz in No Po…
As thrilled as I was to see more entrepreneurial types giving this fledgling corner a chance to launch them into the stratosphere.
As certain as I am that, if they’re any good (and even if they’re not that good), they won’t stick around for any appreciable length of time in this zip code…
As pleased as I was to see the Filipino influence in the mix (albeit, entirely too limited on the menu)
There are carts in Portland that get Hawaiian food right. Boy oh boy, do they get it right. I mainly mean eight o eight and Flyin’ Hawaiian, but there are others that pass muster as well.
For one thing, the portions at NT’s Kau Kau are skimpy … the prices for the plate lunch aren’t bad, starting around $ 6, but there’s no way to upgrade. I asked for double meat, and made it clear (or so I thought) that I was willing to pay extra for it. The two ladies just looked at me blankly. «I’m-a choppin’, and no chips are flyin’,» is what it was…
I loved that they offer multiple meat options for both their musubi and the loco mocos, but again, skimpy skimpy skimpy! Those were some lame burger patties amigos! same with the musubis. Also, no furikake sprinkle bottle. I realize not everyone wants the furikake or cares, but its’ awful nice to have the option.
Near as I could tell from the menu, adobo was the only Filipino option at present. They told me in no uncertain terms: No Pancit noodles, No lumpia, and no no no lechon or crispy pata!
They are only 4 months or so into operations there on N. Greeley and Killingsworth, and I will certainly be checking back in on these folks a nd will happy to revise this review as is warranted. NT’s, you had me at «Aloha»… now just don’t louse it up!

Wow I agree with shell s. The pork adobo and the Teriyaki Chicken was awesome!!! I went back to try the Kalua taco with CHEESE and it actually was very good, in fact the girl recommended the taco Trio. I had one Kalua, one fish and one chicken and their salsa was very good! The girls were of great service and I recommend others to go and try them out! Going back to try one of their specials next week!
Mahalo girls :)

Hmmmmmm… well, I’m going to have to highly disagree with Ana B.
I thought the food was absolutely amazing! I did not have the Kalua Pig tacos though, I do have to admit, so I guess I can’t really say anything about those. I did have the Kalua Pork though. Man, that stuff just melts in your mouth. She did mention it was a Philipino dish and that some people aren’t used to the vinegar taste, so that could be why some aren’t sure about it? Don’t know. I thought it complimented it perfectly. I also thought the cabbage, rice, and macaroni salad complimented it perfectly as well. I have to say I thought the mac salad was more than «okay» too. I thought it was very good. The service, well, they were outstanding. Very nice, polite, she came back to make sure everything was okay, she explained the «vinegar» thing before I ordered (good service and a smart move), she explained all the dishes I asked about happily (sometimes you can go places and they act annoyed when you ask questions, and she came over to make sure the meal was okay after I ate some of it. Also, very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. I highly recommend this dish for sure. My boyfriend stole about half of it as well, so there’s another opinion. :)

Rarely am I so inspired to write a less then positive review, of a small business none the less. But, I look forward to my meals out… and hate to see them go so epically wrong. So I feel it my duty to help you, dearest Unilocaler friend.
It was a quick roller coasted of emotions: From elation to seeing new carts in my hood to oh my geeeesh this was a bad choice.
I ordered the Kalua Pig tacos. Fusion, maybe too bold of a choice. Upon the first bite I was confronted with two major no-​nos. The first of which being the colby jack cheese, an assault on both sides of the fusion. Any tacos with colby jack, just please no. There are so many other stellar options. Hawaiian, while it’s a type of food I know less througholy than my dear Mexican, it seems out of place. The tacos were coated on the bottom with a think layer of cheese and sprinkled again on top, double offender. Frankly when I ordered them I didn’t even think they would have cheese!
So maybe you’re thinking «well, she should’ve kept to the basics» and perhaps you’re right. However, this wouldn’t have changed anything. The meat was a straight up salt bomb. I’m one salty lady, it’s more often that I add salt to things. To be beat at my own game is something that doesn’t happen often. I tried my husbands Kalua Pig plate and found the same to be true.
So why two stars? The Mac Salad, I tried the spicy and the regular, was okay. Nothing to wax poetic about but nothing to mourn. The cabbage on my tacos was crispy and fresh looking.
If you need you Hawaiian fix, Roxy’s Island Grill in Beaverton is the mountain top.