Aina Kauai Style Grill begins serving lunch service at the Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room this week Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

“People are just excited to have the food again. It’s crazy. It’s amazing. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a good feeling.” — Ian Vidinha,

Aina Kauai Style Grill

owner

Aina Kauai Style Grill, Bend’s Hawaiian food truck that closed last November, is set to reopen for lunch service this week.

The food cart will be open 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday at the Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room. The projected first day of service was Tuesday, owner Ian Vidinha told The Bulletin on Monday.

Vidinha also plans to offer catering, which he said will allow for “a little more freedom and a little more fun.”

Last year, Aina closed to a seemingly endless line of supporters at Bevel Craft Brewing. As Vidinha made preparations to reopen the food truck, he dropped hints on social media, which led to an outpouring of community support ahead of the food truck’s official opening.

“People are just excited to have the food again. It’s crazy. It’s amazing. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a good feeling,” Vidinha said.

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A new focus for Aina

The daily menu will be smaller, but similar to the former menu. It will feature local favorites such as poke bowls, with specials highlighting the traditional foods Vidinha grew up with in Kauai. He said he plans to mix it up with different styles of chicken and fish.

For Thanksgiving, Vidinha will be taking orders for savory poke cakes, comprised of layers of rice and topped with sauce, colorful raw fish and tobiko.

Most importantly, Vidinha plans to “try to have more fun” this time around.

He closed the food truck after a final day of service on Nov. 5 last year to take care of his health and spend time with his wife and three kids. After shuttering the business, he received a lot of offers. But the offers weren’t enough, he said.

“I wasn’t willing to just give away everything I worked for for just pennies on the dollar,” Vidinha said.

After much reflection and a clarified focus, he said, reopening the business is the right decision for him and his family.

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Details

What: Aina Hawaiian Style Grill

Location: Deschutes Brewery Tasting Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave., Bend

Contact: facebook.com/ainahawaiianbend, @ainahawaiianbend on Instagram

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday

“People are just excited to have the food again. It’s crazy. It’s amazing. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a good feeling.”