This is a solid, go to place for quick, healthy food in Orinda's Theater Square. Â Dine in or take out, both good options here.
Kalua Pork is a must get here for me. Â Succulent, flavorful, not too fatty, served with cabbage and rice. Â Kids are fans of the BBQ Chicken, in a teriyaki sauce, with sushi rice. Â They also like Chicken Katsu, which is basically chicken strips, but a can't miss kid pleaser. Â Wife gets the Curry Vegetables, which are good, maybe more of an island approach with a little less spice and curry kick than we'd prefer, but the hot sauce on the table or a dash of sirracha at home easily fixes that. Â Brown rice is also an option, on the healthier side, which we appreciate.
Horrible dry food!! Â I was so disappointed because the reviews are glowing about this place. Â I got the meat BBQ, a salad and brown rice. Â What a waste of my money. Â The only thing that was great was the fact the cupcake store was across the way. Â Think the owners need to eat their own food to see if they are representing Hawaiian food in good light or are they just wanting to make money.
Review Source:Since I knew that I was going to be in Orinda, I turned to my trusty Yelpers for a lunch place. Â Seeing Hawaiian and Yelp Deal and I was sold!! Â Although it may not be your typical Hawaiian plate lunch like L&L, I did not mind their healthier twist to it by offering a choice of brown rice and having pineapple salad vs. mac salad so something to keep in mind just in case you are expecting a traditional plate lunch. Â
Because it is not quite like a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch place, some of the staples like the kalua pork may not be what we expect. Â I only got it in the lettuce wrap appetizer but found it was on the drier side and way too salty. Â The BBQ mix was sliced a little too thin and therefore felt that at times was a bit too dry for our taste.
So why the 4 stars? Â Well, it's probably more of a 3 1/2 but was feeling generous since the kitchen staff was very friendly but their crispy entrees are a 4-5 star. Â The katsu mahi although thin was flavorful and delicious with the red lava sauce and ditto for the katsu prawns. Â You get a good amount of food...you just need to know what to order.
This is place is okay but there are definitely better Hawaiian food establishments elsewhere in the Bay Area. Â This restaurant is very small, and the menu is unusual to say the least. Â All entrees in a typical Hawaiian plate lunch establishment usually comes with a side of mac salad but this place comes with house pineapple salad (which isn't that great). Â I mean how can you not have mac salad? Â Anyways, I wish this place good luck. I don't know how they are getting a average of 4 stars on here. T
Review Source:The service was good but the food wasn't.
I had a small kalua pork bowl. It was so dry and burnt that it was crunchy. I also got a cookie that looked good at first glance, but I later noticed it must have been sitting there a while because the packaging was dusty. The Spam Musubi was just ok. I always feel like places charge too much for one piece of musubi, especially when it's nothing special.
But the staff was nice and I checked in for a 15% discount on my entree.
This review is for catering:
My company ordered party trays for an all day meeting we had. The foods were great! Tasty, not soggy, and the foods weren't too cold by the time we got it. They delivered it on time. No mess (great bonus!), clean, and everybody loved it. My favorite were the shrimp skewers, they were so tasty! We ordered a very large tray for the chicken katsu and it was soo good. The rice was heavenly.
I've been here a bunch more times over the summer because I've been lazy and I have to say I'm impressed.
The Yelp check-in deal is cute, and definitely takes the edge off the relatively expensive prices. Â I mean, who doesn't like free stuff? Â My friend got the 25% off entree the other day, so it's definitely possible to save actual money from it.
The BBQ Beef they make, while very dry and overpowered by the sauce before, is much, much better now. Â It's tender and marinated well so it can stand up to the sauce. Â That, or they just use less sauce. Â Either way, very tasty. Â The BBQ Mix is definitely worth getting now.
Pulled pork is still a tad salty for my taste, but that's easily rectified by just not ordering it.
The Lava Pit is owned by a local family and it is a Son, Father and Mother who are there working much of the time. Â Sam is the son and he is not only a nice person but he oversees some amazing food. Â
The menu is chock full of amazing delights that will cater to all types of palettes. They are very much into customer service and making sure you leave full. Take some time to go on their website and browse their menu. I have eaten here at least 40 times now and it never gets old.
My favorite is the BBQ Mixed Grill plate. Yummy! Eat Good!
Great service. Sometimes my friends sit here for like 40 minutes after ordering just one spam musubi and the people there are totally okay with it.
My friend loves the gyoza here, but I've never tried it. I always get the spam musubi here, which is inexpensive and so yummy. I'm not really a fan of the kalua pork here, which dry and really salty. They do give you a lot of rice and meat for a mini bowl and the price!
Something about this place just rubs me the right way. I'm no Hawaiian (though I have a good friend who IS, and I think he liked the place), but I do like good food, and the food here is good! I usually go for chicken katsu, and this time was no exception. The chicken is moist and the batter is nice and crispy.
I'd like to try the Kalua pork next time - will have to curb my katsu craving as I only go here maybe twice a year.
Got a free soda out of the yelp check-in prize wheel. Cherry coke ftw. :D
I reunited with a friend here for a quick cheap lunch. We were the only customers there on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the prawn and mahi mahi mini-bowls. My friend liked her mahi mahi and my prawn with its sweet and sour dipping sauce was crispy outside and tender inside. My mini-bowl only had 4 prawns (although, that's probably why it's mini!) and I quickly ran out of prawns in the rice-to-prawn/veggie ratio. We had fun sitting outside and people-watching.
I might come back again for a cheap/quick lunch but I might try elsewhere for bigger portions if I'm hungrier than I was yesterday!
Went to Lava Pit yesterday with a local friend and found it to be a great location and a great value in Orinda. I had the chicken katsu mini bowl and it was a good serving of crispy chicken katsu, vegetables and your choice of steamed brown or white rice. The katsu sauce was pretty good too and their menu was pretty diverse they also had curry
I will more than likely be coming back since this is the most affordable and convenient Hawaiian in a nice area!
It get's 3 stars because it's a 3-star type of place. It's a great place to get a bite to eat for cheap. I love their kalua pork rice bowl. I will say that service is much more friendly at the Lafayette location as the Orinda location doesn't take kindly to special requests (more veggies and less rice in the rice bowl). They just plain said "No, we don't do that," in Orinda. Even though it's just down the street from me, I would rather drive to Lafayette and have exactly what I want served up with a smile.
In any case, it's a great convenient option when you're in a hurry.
I came here today and used my yelp deals..I got a free fountain soda.
I ordered the barbeque chicken with two scoops of  brown rice and salad.
I did not like it, this was a one hit quit , a toot it and boot it type of deal for me.
THe barbeque sauce was too sweet and slaughtered the top of my chicken and onto my salad. Â
THe food in the pictures look better then the food you get on your plate when you order. FALSE ADVERTISING.
I will not come back.
We trekked out to Orinda to try Lava Pit. Â We weren't sure whether to expect a sit down restaurant or more casual seating. Â It is definitely the latter (order at the counter, pick a table to sit at, etc.), making for a casual quick meal. Â
We had recently gone to Kauai without having enough authentic Hawaiian food, so we had a hankering for some poi. Â Poi we did not find, but there was a small selection of food you would find in Hawaii. Â Duh, it says "Grill" in the name and it is basically all that can be grilled, as well as kalua and katsu.
We started with the Spam Musubi, which was pretty good, but hard to mess up! Â We each had the Kalua Pork Mix, consisting of kalua pork, side salad, two scoops of rice, and your choice of BBQ steak, chicken, or short ribs. Â All for under $10! Â We both chose the chicken as our second meat.
The PROS:
-a crazy amount of food at a reasonable price (in retrospect, we probably should have shared, rather than licking both plates clean)
-they offered brown rice as a rice option (gotta do something healthy while eating my weight in meat!)
-the salad dressing was pretty good
-the BBQ chicken, which was drizzled with teriyaki sauce, was pretty good. Â The meat was thin so you could taste the BBQ char pretty readily in every bite.
The CONS:
Not sure what to think about the kalua pork. Â It was shredded pretty thin and sauteed with cabbage, resulting in a stringy, drier kalua than I am used to. Â Now, for all I know this is just a different style of the moist, juicy kalua pork I am used to; I really don't know and don't want to misspeak. Â But, I could see someone either loving it or hating it. . . except for me, who can't seem to form an opinion. Â I would just call it "different." Â My husband didn't like it. Â
I would definitely come again to try the katsu, curry, and mahimahi.
And I used to think L&L was GOOD. Â But my palate has come a long way and now a lot more refined than what it used to be. Â L&L probably won't meet my standards these days.
There was a Groupon for the restaurant a few months back, so it was impossible to say no. Â There was a parking garage conveniently located directly below Theatre Square, with 3 hours of free parking. Â A quick walk up the stairs and you'll see Lava Pit.
It's a quaint little place with limited amount of seating. Â There was also outdoor seating, but brrr...are you CRAZY?! Â To our dismay, the bigger tables were taken when we arrived at lunch. Â These two women took up a 4-seater and did not offer to give up their spot...EVIL females...Grr. Â So, we stood around until the guy working the counter helped us move another table over. Â THAT guy was nice and accommodating.
We ordered the kalua pork musubi ($2.25 each), shrimp skewers ($6.95), pineapple katsu mahi mahi ($8.95), and BBQ short ribs ($9.95). Â The musubis were huge and hit the spot. Â The shrimp skewers (3 skewers of 3 shrimps each) had this great sauce with savory flavors. Â The entrees had pretty sizable portions: meat, rice of your choice, and salad with miso dressing. Â The mahi mahi (5 pieces of filet) was also covered with a delicious sweet and tangy sauce that I want to lick every last drop from the plate. Â The short ribs were okay. Â I guess I really wished I had some of the various great sauces Lava Pit had to offer to drizzle on.
Whenever I go to Homegoods again, I'll be sure to come eat here again.
I read a Yelp from my pal Krys T. in San Antonio about a Hawaiian BBQ there that she really enjoyed. It reminded me of Honolulu, my second home. I fondly remember the Rainbow Drive-In's Loco Moco.
Oh, I'm Yelping Lava Pit. My first and last trip there.
Last month on my way to the Casa Orinda, I was excited to see the Lava Pit at Theater Square. I just kinda passed by and thought it was clean and perhaps tasty.
Note to self; you have to try this place. Three weeks later, upon reading the menu, I knew this was not Hawaiian BBQ. But, I was there, needed a parking validation, and decided to try it out.
It was really clean and the staff was super nice. However, I will never go there again.
Going for the safe bet, I ordered a Curry Katsu Chicken Plate. The Katsu Chicken was good, but it was doused with a weird "Lave Curry Paste" that was a combination of South Asia, China, and Trader Joe's Coconut in a pouch Curry. Not the accepted Hawaiian standard of Golden Japanese Curry Sauce. S&B brand.
All was not lost. The Pineapple Slaw was pretty good.
Consider this place as a "Pan-Asian Fusion" restaurant, like my beloved PF Chang's. Lava Pit is Hawaiian BBQ "haole style." And I mean "haole" in a nice way. If you need the translation of "haole" you will love the food here.
Here is what is wrong:
1) A Hawaiian BBQ or "Plate Lunch" is the following: a generous portion of a meat or fish entree or combo (grilled or deep fried), 2 scoops white rice, and 1 scoop macaroni salad. Gravy all over. You have to have macaroni salad (heavy on the mayo. please) and gravy on the dance card. It is not an option. Every plate must have that savory gravy it poured liberally. If I'm not mistaken, I believe it is a state and federal law. And Brown Rice? Well, it is Cali.
2) Absent is the true Loco Moco, that wonderful plate of two fried hamburger patties, ditto fried eggs, and brown gravy. Spam, Katsu Chicken, and Steak cannot be substituted. Without the hamburger patties, it's like going to Japanese restaurant and they are out of sushi!
3) No Spaghetti w/Weiners and Spam and Chili w/out beans on the menu? Well, I guess that is asking too much.
Perhaps the locale of Lava Pit in Orinda and Lafayette dictates this type of food. Â A true Hawaiian Plate Lunch is a combination of carbs (good n' bad) and greasy calories. It is not organic nor gluten-free. It will give you the heart wrenching "food coma" if you indulge too much.
The Plate Lunch is seriously "ono grinds" (good food) and Lava Pit you are not it. Â "Kaumaha au nou" (go look it up).
When in Honolulu, check out Rainbow Drive-In.
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-drive-in-honolulu">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>
Wow. This place is the most legit Hawaiian grill place I've come across in the mainland. L&L doesn't even compare.
Fresh ingredients. Offer healthy choices like brown rice instead of white, and a pineapple salad instead of the mactato salad. Very fresh. Cooked to order.
Last night, lovie and I took our food to go so we can eat picnic style at the Cal Shakes Theater down the way. The Mister got the BBQ plate which came with BBQ chicken, spare rib, and teriyaki beef and I got the BBQ and seafood combo which came with spare rib, fried shrimp and mahi mahi. Everything was delish, but being the dude that he is, lovie wished there was more meat. He was also blown away with the flavorful pineapple salad with sesame dressing while I found their mactato salad, which was macaroni lightly drizzled with oil and mixed with a mashed potato, a refreshing change to the usual Hawaiian mac salad that's drenched in mayo and pineapple sweetness.
Overall, a pretty decent place if you're a big fan of Hawaiian cuisine. You won't be disappointed!
Small clean joint. Maybe seating for 15 inside with more tables outside. I got a Lori's Diner-esque feel from the furniture and glass block walls.
It was freezing inside. Building heat not working? There was a space heater next to the register. I moved to the table closest so I would stop rubbing my hands together and blowing on them to try and keep warm.
I got the Lava Pit Mix. 2 fried pieces of Mahi Mahi, 3 fried shrimp, and choice of BBQ beef, chicken, or spare ribs (aka Hawaiian version of Korean LA Cut Galbi). Side of pineapple salad which can be subbed out for mactatoe salad. I opt'd for the pineapple salad and spare ribs.
The salad was very good topped with a light seasame dressing and a healthy departure from the standard mac salad at other Hawaiian places. The rest of the plate was very inconsistent. Only one of my shrimp and one piece of mahi mahi were nice and moist. The others were really tough and dried out. The spare rib was precut into three pieces with a bone each which is a nice touch making it easier to eat. Two of the three pieces were tender and reasonably tasty, but the third was almost all gristle and fat.
On the plus side, I'm now caught up on the latest goings on in All My Children which was featured on the 40" plasma.
Lava Pit is a great and delicious restaurant, hidden out of view, in Orinda. Â It has unique and wonderful food (especially the Kalua Pork) and is well worth your time and money! Â
The owner, Sam Lim, is so friendly and easy to work with (we worked with him on utilzing his catering services for a possible party). Â Make sure you stop here for a quick snack or a full meal, and introduce yourself if you can. Â :-)
After coming here again with the girlfriend on a hot summer night I was forced to rethink my previous evaluation. Â The food was great again, fresh, tastey, and well portioned. Â On this night there weren't many people around so we sat outside to some nice easy listening music. Â
I realized it also makes for a good eating spot in case you need to go somewhere quick because it's right by the fwy and you can get food to go. Â Had the chicken katsu and it was just right. Â Not too oily and not too dry.
Lava Pit is a hidden gem. If you've ever been to the mall next to the Orinda movie theater, you'll know that business isn't exactly booming there. But don't let that stop you from checking out this restaurant. Standing out among the empty storefronts is Lava Pit, a real Hawaiian BBQ treat.
If you're like me, you're used to the style of Hawaiian BBQ offered at L&L or other similar places like Wiki Wiki in Berkeley. Those spots are great for what they are, but they're greasy and feel like fast food when compared to Lava Pit.
That's not to say that Lava Pit is a formal, sit-down establishment. It retains the casual, laid back feel that any Hawaiian BBQ place should have. You order and pay at the counter but, unlike your typical Hawaiian BBQ place, they bring the food to you at your indoor or outdoor table. It has the advantages of table service without the trouble of tipping, waiting for your check, etc. Plus, there's a flat screen with ESPN running in the corner. My husband firmly believes that every restaurant should have a TV with sports on it, so if you agree you'll be pleased.
On to the food. If you've read some of the other reviews, you'll know that it's a little different. Lava Pit prides itself its higher quality, healthier, and fresher food than your typical L&L-type joint. You'll immediately notice this when you get your order. Take the bbq mix plate, for example. Instead of macaroni salad, you get a pineapple green salad. The portions, while plenty large, aren't quite as gut-busting as a standard mix plate. Rather, there's a clear emphasis on the quality of the food over the huge pile of meat wow factor. You can even opt for brown rice instead of white.
I usually go for the chicken katsu at Hawaiian BBQ places and I usually regret it. That's not the case here! Again, unlike typical places, the katsu is much healthier. The meat is tender, but not greasy or covered in fatty skin. The breaded outside is crispy without being too fried (ie, soaked in oil). It's quality is definitely up there with nicer Japanese restaurants I've been to. Overall, Lava Pit is a real delight for basically the same price that you'd spend at an L&L. And you'll leave without that sickening heavy feeling that's normally the consequence of a standard L&L mix plate.
My husband and I actually like the place so much that we had them cater our wedding at the Oakland Zoo's Snow Building in Aug. '09. We had almost 200 hungry people at the reception, and they all commented on how much they loved the food. They served the standard mix plate meat/rice/salad offerings plus curry vegetables, gyoza, shrimp skewers, golden crusted prawns, and kalua pork. I particularly liked the shrimp skewers. Most of the guests' favorite (other than the fantastic bbq mix plate meats) was the kalua pork.
Lava Pit did a fantastic job catering for us. They really went above and beyond not only what they normally do as caterers, but also what we asked of them. Sam, the owner, was more than happy to work with us and provide the food and service we needed for such a big, important event. Knowing he was in charge of the food really made the day go smoothly. If there were any problems, I definitely didn't hear about it - that's how professional they are! Highly recommended for any event. They've got an impressive list of corporate catering clients on their website, too.
Finally, the owner Sam is great guy and a recent Cal grad who grew up in the restaurant business. It always feels good to support a fellow Golden Bear. Here's to hoping he opens another Lava Pit on this side of the tunnel closer to his Berkeley roots and, more importantly, me! Til then, we'll be back...
Do NOT expect completely traditional Hawaiian food here.
with that said, here's my review:
BS
- Clean Commercial type Hawaiian BBQ minus the traditions of many Hawaiian dishes
- Seems to be healthier and fresher
- I've had WAY BETTER Mac Salad (It's one of the KEY parts of Hawaiian dining
- They don't have traditional sauces - No Shou (Hawaiian) Soy Sauce (it's sweeter then normal soy sauce) or the traditional Katsu Sauce
- The power went out at the plaza and there was no AC but customer service was still good - they still let us order our food etc
It was blistering hot on Tuesday in the area and I wanted to to try something new. So we ventured out to Orinda, and finding the location was kind of interesting. Don't use google maps for directions because they don't really make any sense. Lava Pit is located in the same plaza type area as the Orinda Theaters (idk if that's the actual name). There's plenty of parking UNDERNEATH the plaza and MOST places VALIDATE! So that's a plus.
When you first walk into Lava Pit, you'll notice it's a lot more refined then the L&L's you might have been to. L&L is pretty well known and is a staple in Hawaii as far as I know. Every Hawaiian I know is always super excited when an L&L opens in the area. Nevertheless, I liked the modern and simple style of Lava Pit. It was instantly hot and we could only get water from the soda machine since the power went out. Fortunately Lava Pit does use GAS grills and were able to make our food.
Our order included:
Sping Rolls
Spam Musubi
2 mini meals (bbq chicken and shrimp)
1 large combo (bbq chicken)
I'm a huge fan of Loco Moco but was saddened when I read that the Loco Moco came with like "beef steak." I know it sounds close minded but I can't imagine Loco Moco with Hamburger patties. Maybe someday I'll try this magic beef steak that Lava Pit prescribes but not this time.
Let me address the Meat that came with our food. All of the chicken was cook to perfection. It was probably the BEST Chicken Katsu I've ever had. It wasn't super greasy but it was perfectly crispy. The BBQ was grilled perfectly as well but it didn't seem to have been marinated like many of the places I've been to. So it was great chicken but didn't taste like much.
The Sauces: I kind of feel like this place really LACKS in this sense. First of all My Spam Musubi wasn't super delicious because of whatever sauce they put on it. And when I asked for the sweet Hawaiian Soy Sauce - They didn't have it.
The next sauce that disappointed was what I assume to be a bbq sauce that came with the bbq chicken that we ordered. It wasn't an american style bbq sauce but it was more of like an asian bbq sauce? I don't know but because of the chicken not being marinated you needed the bbq sauce and it just wasnt' very satisfying or Hawaiian.
Whatever sauce came with the spring rolls was also weird but I didn't taste it personally. Both of my coworkers thought it was interesting. but not very tasty with the spring rolls.
The Mactatoe Salad. Basically I've had better. And it was fresh but didn't have anything special about it.
In general I think the idea of a healthier version of Hawaiian food is GREAT but I still think that the traditions from the Islands are so important to a Hawaiian BBQ joint. I will be probably be visitng the Lava Pit again but with a different outlook.
Being raised on hawaiian food, i've always had an affinity for it. Obviously i am impartial to the super authentic greasy hawaiian food, but then my girlfriend started making me go to Lava Pit. I was skeptical at first, but then i realized that Lava Pit doesnt sacrifice taste for being healthy, they just find a great way to keep the taste but create a much healthier dish.
That being said, I love Lava Pit. And i'm pretty sure they know who I am each and every time i walk through their doors and order my regular meal. Keep up the good work Lava Pit, you guys are awesome!
Tips and Pointers:
-Grilled chicken is amazing
-Loco Moco is healthy and delicious
-Shrimp skewers are really good too
-Parking is abundant
-Free refills!
[APPROVED]
I work just around the corner from here and I come here almost every time I'm working. It is different from L&L and other Hawaiian food I've had bc it does seem less like fast-food-grease-pit; like I'd for sure rather have this than a Subway which is just a couple businesses over. (sorry Jared Fogle)
I usually get a mini-meal bc they are just the right size for a fast meal - a scoop of rice (white or brown), a scoop of mactato salad, and your choice of meat. I usually get the BBQ chicken (its a bit sweeter than other places but i like it) or the Kalua Pork (which is really tastey, the portions are large...its good). I look forward to continue being a regular!
sometimes...I just get in the mood.
No...not that kind of mood. Â Freak. Â That mood is ALL the time, not just sometimes. ;-)
Sometimes...all I want is that hot styrofoam to-go box full of greasy and crunchy chicken katsu (complete with that lovely katsu sauce because we all like it wet), some moist and steaming white rice, and two generous scoops of succulent hawaiian macaroni salad.
A LOWWW HAAA.
So one night after work, I was craving exactly the previously mentioned.
And I got none of it at Lava Pit.
BUT...it was probably the healthiest Hawaiian BBQ I've had....EVER. Â The katsu and BBQ chicken were still very tasty, and the pineapple salad was a delightful treat. Â Yet, they lose one star for NOT telling me I had the option of trading in my pineapple salad in for some macaroni salad.
Because you know I would've traded that shit in a heartbeat.
Really great service and atmosphere (small, but cute)...and they still took my order even though they had just a few minutes before closing.
Overall...I'm definitely coming back...who knew I could still train for a marathon AND still have Hawaiian BBQ?
Oh, and did I mention they sell Yan-Yans? My mom would always buy me these at the "Oriental" markets...and they just bring me back.
So go ahead, fall into the pit. ;-)
Ok, I now believe the hype! Â I came here with a friend last night for a late dinner, ok not too late because this place closes at 8:30, but we got there around 7:45ish so we were good to go.
I ordered the chicken katsu loco moco and my friend got one of the combo plates. Â I thought it was strange that the guy taking our order asked us what kind of rice we wanted but didn't ask if we wanted mac salad or pinapple (perhaps they were out of mac salad already?).
Either way besides that slight nuance, I have to say, the food was pretty damn good. Â Sure I had to add some soy sauce to the gravy to make it saltier but that's cool with me. Â I love the fact that you can get your meal with brown rice, I automatically give props to any restaurant that gives you that option! Â The pinapple salad was good, and I'm pretty particular when it comes to eating anything green. Â Hopefully next time I come here, and I do mean there will be a next time, I can sample the mac salad!
Hawaiian food can best be judged by one dish: Kalua Pork.
Lava Pit has the best Kalua Pork in the BArea (now that Ono in Half Moon Bay is closed). It's delicious, with all the proportions dead-on. I ate a thing fo if myself and was ballooned totally. It was majestic.
Great food, nice atmosphere and decent service. And the Kalua Pork is fantastic.
My co-worker bought a house in the Orinda Hills and he and his family invited the Fantastic-4 to check out his new crib in the East Bay. And within walking distance from his crib, there is Orinda Village with shops and fine restaurants, which is located down the hill. "Lucky Bastard!"
Inside the Orinda Village, there is a Theatre Square. And in the square there is a theater (of course), restaurants and other businesses and offices. One of the restaurants we had for lunch is Hawaiian (again) and another favorite's of Yelp and City Search, with the respective stickers stuck on the door. It's also a favorite of the football team of  De La Salle High School with their football champion banners and pennants hanging on top of the self-serve Coke dispenser.
With this place being so small, I often wonder how these big barbarian high-school football players can fit in here; because this is not a big restaurant and even smaller than my preceding review from another Hawaiian restaurant. But this restaurant is located in the very back of the complex with a cool shade and where no moving cars are visible in sight. It is perfectly safe and quiet for my kids to eat outside.
We split two meals. We ordered the Double Chicken (C) and the "Lava Pit Mix" (E) from the All Stars' menu. Because it was a quiet and peaceful we ate inside the little place and enjoyed the Plasma Screen TV and watching Saturday Baseball on FOX. The 7.95 Double Chicken dish have one piece of Chicken Katsu and one piece of Teriyaki Chicken. Â The $10.00 Lava Pt Mix had a piece of Mahi Mahi, battered prawns and a piece of thin Hawaiian BBQ Steak. Both meals were in a black elegant tray and come with 2 scoops of rice: Brown or White and tossed green salads. I ate the Chicken Katsu and along with the other entree they're less greasy than other Hawaiian places; which makes them perfectly edible for my family. We also bought cans of Hawaiian Sun Soda at $1.00 a can.
Sammy was the man that took our order, and treated us like a family with friendly service. Wife's MasterCard was accepted for our meal. And being in the quiet city of Orinda, this Hawaiian place closes early at 8:30pm.
Any place that can gracefully accommodate nine rambunctious Filipinos deserves five stars.
Since there aren't any good Hawaiian BBQ places close to Rockridge (hint: the ones in Berkeley are mediocre, at best), the Lava Pit was on my short list of places that I need to try east of the Caldecott. The East Coasters among us remarked that it was odd that us West Coasters substitute Hawaiian BBQ as our comfort food when Filipino food is not available. I thought this was common practice, considering my family frequented King's in Torrance so often when I was a kid. Alas, I was mistaken.
The Lava Pit was great. For nine people, each with their own entree, and a slew of appetizers, we paid less than $100. Less than $100! For serious. Gas was probably more expensive.
The food and service were great. I'm a huge fan of brown rice and they had brown rice to accompany my Kalua Pork. Kalua Pork was just right --- not too dry, not too soggy. The shrimp skewers were also great, from what I heard.
I seriously hope that this place can move to a better location. This place deserves to survive.
Good food. Good people.
Whenever I'm heading out east past the Caldecott Tunnel to visit friends in Orinda or meet people for drinks in Walnut Creek, I make sure to stop by Lava Pit for a meal first. Â The Hawaiian food here is surprisingly better than most meals I've had during my trip to Hawaii last year. Â The food also tastes much healthier than other Hawaiian restaurants, possibly because they grill their meat rather than fry like other places. Â
I usually order the grilled bbq mix for the variety of meats, but other dishes such as lava pit mix which include seafood are also really good. Â One of the reviewers below was critical of the lava rocks, which I don't feel is representative of the food served here. Â
Very friendly service with a clean & modern decor, but a bit hard to find in the back of a shopping complex.
It's like L&L lite. Â The portions are deceptively hefty, but not as huge as other more traditional Hawaiian BBQ joints. Â You will still leave stuffed though! Â
It's a lot more like a diner than other Hawaiian BBQ places. Â They actually serve you on dinnerware and give you flatware - non-plastic! Â They offer a wide variety of dishes, including a lot of grilled fish options. Â They also have noodles (chow mein-ish) that look really good. Â They do not offer saiman though. Â
I particularly enjoy the katsu loco moco ($8). Â The gravy is tasty, but not too heavy. Â The katsu breading is also very crisp, but not heavy. Â My fiance likes the L&L katsu sauce better, but the sauce at Lava Pit is more of a traditional tonkatsu sauce rather than a watered down version. Â The shrimp skewers were also very good, and reasonable ($6 for 9 shrimp). Â
They offer mactato salad, which is alright. Â Lighter than other mac salads. Â If you want to be healthy, they offer pineapple salad which is actually very good. Â I like mac salad with my BBQ though.
Lava Pit is the only Hawaiian BBQ in Lamorinda though - so for my health and my gas usage, I'd pick Lava Pit over L&L. Â They also have a curbside pick-up, which we're actually going to try tonight!
Oh, and if you park in the garage, it's always free for the first hour =)
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