Nachos in Paradise: Imua Lounge

I am always on the hunt for new places for the nacho connoisseurs to enjoy. If I meet someone and they tell me they work at a bar, my first question is usually, "Do they have nachos there?" Quite often the answer is no. I get it, not every single establishment that sells food and booze has nachos...but one can dream! So there we were at a Team Captain meeting for the Honolulu AIDS Walk when we asked to join a table that two gentlemen occupied. Our new friends, Todd and Sonny, frequent the Imua Lounge (where Todd also works on Sundays and Mondays). When I asked him if they had nachos, he said, "Yes!" and we immediately planned out our next nacho night.

Imua Lounge is located on Keeaumoku across from the Walmart. They have live music on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with a mix of local and Hawaiian music. Karaoke songs cost $1. Monday night happy hour lasts all night with 1/2 off drinks all night long. Regular happy hour on other days is from 5-8pm. A lot of people go in for the pork chops ragu, pepperoni chips, and ahi poke. A sign greets you that says, "Aloha served here," as you walk in. The sign is totally true. So much aloha from the staff and the customers that I did not want to leave.

We posted up in a long booth table and as the nachos connoisseurs trickled in, I tried to get them all to wear the #nachotunics but only half happily participated. The nachos were huge, plenty to share with 1 or 2 others. The kalua pork was onolicious. They purchase the pork butt and kalua it in-house. Before the end of the night, I finally convinced the majority of the group to at least put the tunics on for a group photo. Thank you for putting up with me #nachofriends!

#nachofriends

Kalua Pork Nachos - $15

Brando (3) – PRESENTATION: No beans, Hawaiians must seem to hate beans, but I am going to eat the f@$% out of this. RAD: Jalapenos, I love jalapenos. LAME: No means….motherf@%#er. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4, very good. I give it a 4 because I like even numbers and natural cheese. Beans, I am a spoiled Californian, I need beans! They buy their own pork butts and it's kalua prok. Biggest plus of the night, it was delicious. Lots to eat, big plate, ting-a-ling.

Jessie (3) – PRESENTATION: Mounded full and high. RAD: Great amount of Jack on the Rocks…Shannon got everyone a uniform. LAME: It was raining today. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3.5.

Shananigans (4.75) – PRESENTATION: Holy f!$%! These are huge AF. Wondering about the layering with how high they are piled. RAD: Jalapenos, olives, flavorful kalua pork, watching Brando try to eat them with chopsticks. LAME: Too big for 2 people. No beans. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4.5, lots of toppings and cheese. Todd is the shit. I recommend going in to see him or any of the other friendly staff. They buy their own pork butt and do the kalua in house. Salsa is also made in house.

Nacho Lounge (4) – PRESENTATION: Well stacked plate. Looks taller than the plate is wide. RAD: Fresh toppings. The kalua pig is ono. LAME: Needs more kalua. Or too many chips. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3, there were lots of toppings on top but by the 3/4 mark the toppings disappeared. It's too large. By the end the bottom was soggy. Bartender was very friendly and helpful. Fun, local bar.

Nacho Libra (3) – PRESENTATION: HUMONGOUS pile of nachos! RAD: Real cheese! The pork was best piping hot The second set had layers of cheese through it - awesome! LAME: Lots of naked chips on the inside. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3, layers of the toppings throughout definitely help! A variety of toppings would be good - add to the bare chips and complement the pork and cheese. Plenty to share and the housemade pork and real cheese made them worth it. Too many empty chips though. Lots of drink specials! Servers were very attentive and quick!

Mykah (5) – PRESENTATION: Amazing, wow, great. RAD: Service, music, and food. LAME: Nothing. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 5, great ratio from chip to topping. Great energy and wonderful service.

Ms. Late (4) – PRESENTATION: 3rd one looked good. RAD: Layered nicely. LAME: Salsa looked…bad. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3rd one was very appropriate. Service was great.

Tango Tango (4) – PRESENTATION: Big portion! Enough for 3 people, melty real cheese covering a tall, salsa and sour cream topped peak. RAD: Friendly service + $2 domestic Mondays. Appears to be a karaoke bar. Real cheese, layering is good. Pig is cooked in house. Extra melted cheese on plate. LAME: A tad salty, even for nachos. A little dry. Pickled jalapenos, not fresh. Beans would balance these out nicely. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4, good layering. Salty, perhaps dry, meat. Excellent, but not enough. Otherwise basic toppings. Good, but make these moister and with more fresh ingredients. (Fresh jalapenos, some cilantro, and beans would make perfect.) Good honest nachos, also the fried pepperoni was tasty!

Ashley (3) – PRESENTATION: Large mound - looks appealing. RAD: All homemade ingredients. LAME: Hard to access toppings and limited toppings. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 3. Great service and music.

Jessica (4.5) – PRESENTATION: WONDERFUL! Large portion. RAD: Half price drinks on Monday! Many toppings. LAME: Nothing. TOPPING TO CHIP RATIO: 4. Great music, bartender, and server!