Taste

Kono’s Northshore brings kalua pig favorites to town

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Kono’s Haliewa breakfast bomber (left) and pig on grass plate
Photo: Wade Vandervort

One of my all-time best days was spent wandering the village of Hale’iwa on Oahu’s north shore, buying beach stuff at touristy shops, sampling all the flavors at the legendary Matsumoto Shave Ice and lunching at Kono’s.

When I found out the pig-centric restaurant had opened a Las Vegas location in the former Cinnamon’s space just off Summerlin Parkway, I was excited to relive that day in this new desert version—but also concerned. Was the simple food really that good, or did I have inflated memories from my Hawaiian vacation?

Kono's Northshore

Turns out, it’s really good, specifically the kalua pig that serves as the foundation on the menu of breakfast burritos (“bombers”), sandwiches, wraps, bowls and more. I’m a plate lunch addict, and I love the Kono’s version ($13) with lots of that slow-roasted pork and white rice, mesclun salad with bright papaya seed dressing and guava barbecue sauce for sweet-and-sour dipping.

For a hearty morning meal, the Chuns bomber ($11) is a great choice, packed with kalua pig and bacon, eggs, potatoes and cheese. Other burritos named for Hawaiian locales add Portuguese sausage, bell peppers, tomatoes or chorizo, and you can get a bagel with avocado, cream cheese or lox if you’re going meat-free. I’ve gone overboard with the biscuit slider trio ($13), puffy biscuits filled with egg and cheese and different meats and covered in peppery sausage gravy. It was fun.

That tasty pork can also be enjoyed in sliders ($12), tacos ($11), a lunchtime burrito with barbecue sauce, cheese and grilled onions ($12) and on a pile of messy, delicious nachos ($14) topped with onions, tomatoes, sour cream and cilantro. Milkshakes, smoothies and vanilla Macadamia nut coffee round out the island-style experience at Kono’s, which still feels like a vacation to me

KONO’S NORTHSHORE 7591 W. Washington Ave., 702-331-1824. Daily, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

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Tags: Dining, Food
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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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