Ai Love Nalo restaurant review

As a vegan on Oahu, Ai Love Nalo is nothing new to hear. When I came back home from Hawaii, I was anxious to try this restaurant’s unusual fixings out for myself. From their Instagram, any plant-based foodie would drool over the colorful vibrant photos with a view of the ocean in the background and posts showcasing how involved this establishment is about their mission. When I first stepped into Ai Love Nalo, I couldn’t help but awe over the menu. The owner greeted me with a huge smile and such hospitality. My friend, Alyssa, and I were so overwhelmed with the opinions that we ended up-ordering 5 items, coming out to $60 for both of us. What I learned from this short exchange of words, I discovered that Ai Love Nalo has a mission she works tirelessly towards everyday: to provide healthy food options for the Waimanalo community. Peer out the window and notice that there is a Mcdonald’s coincidentally located right next to its arch nemesis, a whole plant-based little eatery.

For owner Malia Smith, starting Ai Love Nalo wasn’t just a source of revenue, it was and still continues to be her way of giving back to the community she grew up with her entire life. “Before, there were no other places to eat in Waimanalo except Mcdonalds and 7-11. We know that being next to Mcdonalds is still not the cheapest option for those who are looking for a quick meal, the fact that we can provide real delicious and healthier food in this community may make locals take us into consideration. There are so many farms right in our backyards here growing amazing produce that could be feeding our neighborhood well but I think a lot of people have never had plant-based food prepared well so we hope to change their minds on eating this way,” Smith said.

Tucked in the depths of the majestic Ko’olau mountain range on the Windward side, Waimanalo is notorious for being a farmer’s dream come true. Plants including fresh vegetables, fruits, and beautiful flowers tend to grow splendidly in this environment. Yet, the State of Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture stated, "Between 85-90% of Hawaii’s food is imported which makes it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that might disrupt shipping and the food supply.” Smith however, is a strong believer that Hawaii can reach a self-sustainable future here by fairly treating the farmers of the produce we use, stop relying on importing food, and treating the land well.

Although Smith’s original intention for Ai Love Nalo was meant to be trendy, the restaurant has created a strong presence on social media and for food-obsessed milennials. The overall vibe of the restaurant is one of its’ very own. Beachgoers and tourists from all walks of life filled most of the seats when I tried to find a spot of my own with my friend. Although it took some time to find an empty table, it goes to show how much success Ai Love Nalo has garnered within the island already. Finally, we sat down and waited around 30 minutes for our food which isn’t terribly long considering how tedious preparing aesthetically pleasing vegan plates is (fellow vegan foodies, you know what I mean). Merely looking at the display in front of me was appetizing enough for eyes. My order, the Medi bowl was out of this world creative with baba ganoush, an assortment of fresh vegetables, beet hummus, millet tabouleh, sitting on a bed of greens and topped with a balsamic drizzle.

My friend ordered the roasted veggie plate which had many of the same ingredients in the Medi bowl except it contained an array of roasted vegetables, avocado sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds and a homemade mushroom gravy which would probably taste good on vegan rendition of a loco moco as well. Both were absolutely amazing, bursting with flavor in our mouths and left both of us feeling extremely satisfied. Smith said everything is homemade and all-natural, making the menu of smoothies, bowls, and burgers even more impressive than it already was. In the back of the store, there is an open-spaced sitting area with their crew hastily fulfilling orders for the guests and a small area titled the “Garden of Eating” chock full of coconuts and produce to peruse.

After this visit, I went back to Ai Love Nalo numerous times to either get one of their hand-crafted nutrition-packed smoothies, which usually turned into getting a plate as well to eat later. My taste buds start to dance and my heart feels happier when I know Ai Love Nalo is in my day’s agenda.

Ai Love Nalo,

41-1025 Kalanianaole Hwy

Waiamanalo, HI 96795

808-888-9102