Moku Hawaiian Grill is a tiki gem in Ahwatukee

If you’re looking for a plate best served on the islands of Hawaii, Moku Hawaiian Grill in Ahwatukee has got you covered.

Moku, meaning “island” in Hawaiian, is known for serving up authentic Hawaiian dishes “your way.” They specialize in grilling savory and sweet island favorites, like chicken katsu, kalua pork and poke.

When you step inside the restaurant, customers have the option to pick and choose their plating with their favorite foods. There’s a wide variety of tropical sides such as rice, edamame, corn and macaroni salad. Co-owner, Joseph Flexman, says Moku’s menu has a traditional mix of Asian and Polynesian influences.

“We use a lot of sugar and soy sauce in our marinades,” he said. “We also have savory meats, which are delicious.”

The restaurant also serves two different types of poke prepared fresh every morning. One is made Hawaiian style with a sesame soy base and the other has a spicy twist made with Sriracha mayo.

If your mouth is watering already, Moku Hawaiian Grill’s most popular dish doesn’t come from the grill. In fact, it’s best served cold. The restaurant is one of the few places outside of Hawaii where you can get Dole Whip.

With multiple flavors like pineapple, mango and strawberry, it’s a chilling sweet treat that everyone can enjoy.

Guests Erin Mulay and Navid Askarinya dined in to get the full experience. Mulay ordered chicken and kalua pork that she said was so tender it “melted in your mouth.”

Askarinya went for the spicy ahi tuna poke. He said the tuna had a great flavor to it and that it simply “goes with everything.”

Moku’s Hawaiian Grill is a Hawaiian staple for those in the Valley looking for traditional island cuisine.