Hawaiian Plate Lunches Arrive in Chicago Loop

Da Local Boy's new downtown counter-service spot lands on The New York Times' 25 Best Restaurants list.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:43pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic Hawaiian spam musubi item repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the vibrant and playful essence of Da Local Boy's comfort food offerings.Da Local Boy's Hawaiian plate lunches have found a new home in the heart of Chicago's Loop, earning national recognition from The New York Times.Chicago Today

Da Local Boy, a family-run Hawaiian plate lunch concept that started with a food truck and pop-ups, has opened a new counter-service location in Chicago's Loop neighborhood. The new downtown outpost has quickly gained national attention, earning a spot on The New York Times' list of the 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago just months after its soft opening.

Why it matters

The rapid rise of Da Local Boy's Loop location highlights how suburban flavors and family-run operations can find success in catering to the weekday lunch crowd in the heart of the city. The Times' recognition brings a national spotlight to the business and its Hawaiian comfort food offerings.

The details

The Da Local Boy counter sits at 335 S. Franklin St. in the Loop and is open weekdays from roughly 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the busiest rush around noon. The menu features Hawaiian staples like poke, garlic shrimp, beef short ribs, mochiko fried chicken, and spam musubi. The small shop also serves Hawaiian Sun blended drinks, and a colorful mural by local artist Kevin Garbacz adds to the beachy vibe.

  • Da Local Boy's Loop location opened this spring.
  • The New York Times included the Loop counter on its 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago list in April 2026.

The players

Da Local Boy

A family-run Hawaiian plate lunch concept that started with a food truck and pop-ups before opening a full restaurant in Highwood and a counter-service location in Chicago's Loop.

Nate Domingo

The owner of Da Local Boy, who traced the business's origins to cooking for coworkers and testing recipes at pop-ups and on a food truck before expanding to brick-and-mortar locations.

The New York Times

A prominent national newspaper that included Da Local Boy's Loop counter on its list of the 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“It's the last thing we thought we would get into.”

— Nate Domingo, Owner, Da Local Boy

What’s next

Da Local Boy's Loop location is expected to continue drawing crowds during the weekday lunch rush, and the national recognition from The New York Times could lead to further expansion or attention for the family-run Hawaiian concept.

The takeaway

Da Local Boy's rapid rise from suburban food truck to a spot on The New York Times' 25 Best Restaurants in Chicago list showcases how innovative, family-run businesses can find success by bringing unique flavors and a personal touch to the heart of the city, even in the competitive world of weekday lunch crowds.