Can Hawaiian restaurant revitalize Palatine site?

A new Hawaiian restaurant could be saying aloha to Palatine.

The village council will vote Monday whether to allow Hawaiian Brothers Island Grill to open at 1597 N. Rand Road, near Dundee Road

The restaurant’s owners are seeking approval for a drive-through operation and variations from village zoning regulations for parking and signage.

Petitioner Raj Patel told Palatine’s planning and zoning commission the plan calls for demolishing the existing structure on the site and replacing it with a 2,541-square-foot building with a drive-through lane. The commission gave the plan its unanimous recommendation in December.

A development that included a KFC restaurant was approved for the property in 2024, but was never built.

Kansas City, Missouri-based Hawaiian Bros Island Grill about 70 locations nationwide, including three in Chicago.

The restaurant serves island-inspired fare built around a traditional Hawaiian plate lunch featuring white rice, macaroni salad and a choice of protein. Offerings include Huli Huli Chicken, teriyaki-marinated grilled chicken and Luau Pig.

If council members approve the proposal, construction is expected to begin this summer.