Kau Kau takes its name from the Hawaiian word for eating or a meal, and that idea of food as connection sits at the center of the restaurant. Chefs Tracee and Brandon Hirahara, both originally from 'Oahu, started the concept as a pop-up in 2021 before settling into a permanent spot on NE Alberta Street in Portland's Vernon neighborhood.
The menu is built around the plate lunch format long associated with Hawaii, drawing on family recipes the Hiraharas grew up with and have refined through their own culinary training. The cooking leans homestyle rather than fussy, aiming to carry a taste of home to the Pacific Northwest while leaving room for their own touches.
Regulars have made Kau Kau a fixture in the neighborhood, returning for consistent cooking, generous portions, and service that keeps the room feeling more like a family kitchen than a formal dining room.
The menu is built around the plate lunch format long associated with Hawaii, drawing on family recipes the Hiraharas grew up with and have refined through their own culinary training. The cooking leans homestyle rather than fussy, aiming to carry a taste of home to the Pacific Northwest while leaving room for their own touches.
Regulars have made Kau Kau a fixture in the neighborhood, returning for consistent cooking, generous portions, and service that keeps the room feeling more like a family kitchen than a formal dining room.