Find SPAM and Hawaiian BBQ at this Colorado Springs restaurant | Arts and entertainment

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ & Ramen is a busy place coming and going, so the greeting is the same whether you enter or leave this small eatery, which, we discovered, is more popular for takeout than dine-in.

Lots of people were taking their takeout orders, and given the lack of atmosphere, it’s easy to see why we were the only ones eating from the Styrofoam containers inside. Everyone else took their food with them.

Still, it’s clear why this is popular, even if no one sticks with it. The food is cooked to order and is a worthy representation of Hawaiian cuisine. Whether you like it: If Spam is on the menu at a restaurant that serves Pacific Island dishes, it’s a sign that the establishment is reputable.

Aloha, for example, serves musubis (two pieces $5.79). This is a thick slice of Spam on what can best be described as a rectangular block of rice wrapped in seaweed and topped with teriyaki sauce. Although it was tempting, we skipped the processed pork product.

Instead, we opted for the more pedestrian fried cheese wontons ($4.95). Four pieces stuffed with faux crab and cream cheese were exactly as they should be: crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, with soy sauce for dipping.

The appetizer order was ready at the same time as our main courses from the “Aloha Specials” section of the large menus above the counter. This includes nine combination plates, each offering a selection of proteins, sauces and preparations.

The Hawaiian BBQ Mix ($15.99) consisted of chicken, beef and kalbi short ribs. Each of the grilled pieces of meat was marinated in the homemade barbecue sauce. It was slightly sweet and spicy. The beef was cut into thin pieces and the chicken was cut into thick pieces. Kalbi ribs are short ribs that are cut across the bone so they are thin and long. They’re also hard to eat, but the marinade makes the effort worth it.

The meat platter came with a small container of homemade teriyaki sauce to be bottled for sale. The addition of fresh steamed broccoli adds color to the main dish.

The main courses come with two scoops of white rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. I’d rather have two of the latter, simply because it’s different from typical church picnic versions. Yes, it’s creamy, but also a little sweet.

The Shrimp and Whitefish Combo ($14.59) was an impressive serving (like the “plate”) of plump fried shrimp and breaded, fried whitefish. None were oily. There was plenty of crispy shellfish and the fish was flaky and tender beneath its layer of crust.

What the interior lacks in atmosphere is more than made up for in the food. Orders are placed at the counter and the working chefs are visible and busy at the back of the grill/hob. Next time we’ll take our orders with us. And it will be aloha as we walk in and then walk out.