Famed Las Vegas Hawaiian restaurant reopens a week after health department closure
One of the most high-profile Hawaiian restaurants in Las Vegas, often called the Ninth Island because of its many residents with connections to Hawaii, was closed for a week by the Southern Nevada Health District.
Aloha Specialties, which opened about 40 years ago in the California Hotel in downtown Vegas, was shut on Jan. 13 following an inspection that levied 31 demerits, according to the public inspection database maintained by the health department and the inspection report.
On Tuesday, a week later, the restaurant was reinspected, receiving a passing grade of A on the reinspection report. Aloha Specialties has reopened.
Demerits breakdown
The demerits involved requirements related to operating in accordance with the health permit, hand-washing and food handling (including sufficient hand-washing sinks that are properly stocked), food being protected from potential cross-contamination, food contact surfaces of equipment being properly cleaned and sanitized, effective pest control measures, proper food labeling and dating, and food being properly frozen, thawed and cooked.
Demerits were also levied for requirements related to an effective employee health manual, employees possessing mandated certification and food handler cards, and the person in charge being present, knowing duties and correctly performing them.
Hawaiian food mainstay
Sam Boyd, the founder of Boyd Gaming, opened the California in 1975, and the hotel has long played a key role in the Hawaii-Vegas love affair.
The menu at Aloha Specialties hits all the classics of Hawaiian food: loco moco or eggs with rice and Portuguese sausage for breakfast, thick planks of Spam musubi, saimin (including a fried option), and plate lunches featuring proteins (kalua pork, teriyaki) served with rice and mac salad.
A representative for Boyd Gaming never returned a request by Neon for comment on the closing.
This story has been updated from its original version.
Contact Johnathan L. Wright at jwright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @JLWTaste on Instagram.
