Hawaiian Bros Island Grill in Oklahoma City: Fast-Casual Poke and Plate Lunches in Midtown
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a fast-casual counter-service chain specializing in poke bowls, plate lunches, and grilled proteins, with a location in Oklahoma City's Midtown district that draws on the growing regional appetite for Hawaiian-style casual dining.
What Hawaiian Bros actually is
The concept centers on made-to-order poke bowls and traditional Hawaiian plate lunches (kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, and mahimahi), assembled in front of customers at a counter line. Bowls start with a base of white or brown rice, sushi rice, or a salad, then layer raw or cooked protein, toppings, and a sauce. Plate lunches follow the diner-style three-compartment format: protein, two sides (macaroni salad, rice, vegetables), and come with a drink. The chain originated in Hawaii and has expanded across the mainland in recent years. The Midtown Oklahoma City location fits the neighborhood's mix of casual lunch spots and takeout options.
Menu and pricing
Poke bowls run $12 to $15 for standard proteins like ahi tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, and imitation crab. Premium options like seared ahi or multiple proteins can reach $16 to $17. Build-your-own bowls let diners choose base, protein, toppings (edamame, cucumber, seaweed salad, tempura flakes, avocado), and sauce. Hawaiian plate lunches range from $10 to $13 and include kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, and mahimahi, each paired with macaroni salad and rice. Sides like spam musubi or a katsu chicken sandwich run $6 to $8. Drinks are bottled and canned sodas, water, and iced tea; no fountain service. Prices are consistent across the Hawaiian Bros chain and do not fluctuate by season, but confirm current pricing with the location when ordering.
How it compares to other Oklahoma City fast-casual options
Hawaiian Bros occupies a middle ground between food-truck poke pop-ups and sit-down Hawaiian restaurants. For raw-fish bowls, it competes with local sushi spots like Ichiban or smaller poke-only vendors that may appear at farmers markets. Unlike those, Hawaiian Bros offers cooked-protein bowls and plate lunches, making it more approachable for diners who avoid raw fish. Against generic fast-casual chains (Chipotle, Sweetgreen), Hawaiian Bros' advantage is its focus on Hawaiian comfort food and plate-lunch tradition, not customizable salads. The trade-off: Chipotle and Sweetgreen offer more dietary customization and faster ordering; Hawaiian Bros delivers a narrower, more regionally defined menu. For warm, sit-down Hawaiian food, Ted's Cafe Escondido or local Filipino restaurants offer different regional takes on plate-lunch culture.
Who it suits and who it does not
Hawaiian Bros works best for lunch-rush diners in or near Midtown seeking a quick, single-dish meal. It suits people comfortable with raw fish or willing to try poke for the first time, and those craving Hawaiian plate lunches in a casual setting. Office workers and students can grab a bowl, pay under $16, and eat at a desk or nearby park. It does not suit diners needing sit-down table service, alcohol, or extensive vegetarian options. Those with soy or shellfish allergies should note that many sauces and toppings contain soy sauce or fish sauce; the counter staff can identify ingredients, but the kitchen is compact and cross-contamination is possible in a fast-casual setting.
What the first visit involves
Walk in and join the counter line. A menu board displays bowl bases, proteins, toppings, and sauces with photos. First-timers should expect to make two or three choices in under a minute: base, protein, and sauce. Staff will ask about doneness for cooked proteins and whether you want raw or cooked fish. Plate-lunch diners simply point at a menu photo or say the protein name. Payment happens at the register after assembly. Seating is minimal (a few high-top tables or takeout-focused); most customers eat at their desks or take the bowl to go. Wait time during lunch (noon to 1 p.m.) is typically 5 to 10 minutes in line.
Hours and logistics
The Midtown location operates Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with reduced or closed weekend hours; confirm current weekend availability before visiting. The space sits in a shopping center with free adjacent parking. No online ordering or app service is available at this location; you order in person at the counter. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Takeout containers are recyclable plastic, and most customers leave within the footprint of the small dining area.
Hawaiian Bros fills a specific niche in Oklahoma City's casual-lunch landscape: it brings Hawaiian plate-lunch nostalgia and poke-bowl trends to Midtown without requiring a sit-down restaurant reservation or premium pricing. For Midtown workers and nearby residents, it is a straightforward weekday lunch stop.
