Aloha Specialties Restaurant to Close at The Cal After 41 Years

By Scott Roeben, on November 05 2026
2 min read 2 comments
Downtown Las Vegas Las Vegas Las Vegas Restaurants

A longtime downtown fixture is saying “aloha” to The Cal. “Aloha” can mean “hello,” “goodbye” or “love.” In this case, it’s mostly the “goodbye” thing, but a lot of people love the place, so there’s that.

Aloha Specialties Restaurant at California Hotel & Casino downtown has announced it will permanently close Nov. 22, 2026.

The restaurant, located on the mezzanine level of the California casino, opened in 1985. That means it was in operation for 41 years, in case you aren’t a math person.

The Hawaiian word for “dead” is “make” (pronounced “MAH-keh”). Given this is sad news for many, far be it from us to make a make joke.

The closure of Aloha Specialties will be a blow to longtime Cal visitors, many of whom are Hawaii residents.

A statement about the closure was posted on social media.

Warning: A “heavy heart” may indicate a pericardial effusion. Seek medical attention immediately.

The closure announcement was signed by Aloha Specialties Restaurant and the “Yamagata ohana.” “Ohana” is Hawaiian for family.

Aloha Specialties is a family-owned restaurant founded by the late Larry Yamagata, a former Sheraton executive chef in Hawaii, who also opened Ross J’s Aloha Grill (mentioned in the statement) in Vegas-adjacent Henderson in 2001.

This photo was taken in 2016, further evidence we have been doing this far too long.

The statement provided no information about the reason Aloha Specialties is closing, but the Vital Vegas Golden Rule always applies.

In lieu of better information, we’ll stick with this.

The Cal, owned by Boyd Gaming, has deep ties to Hawaii.

Las Vegas is sometimes called the “Ninth Island,” mainly because of the popularity of Las Vegas among Hawaiians.

Aloha Specialties wasn’t James Beard quality, but it felt like home for a lot of visitors from Hawaii. On the menu were saimin, Spam musubi, loco moco, teriyaki plates, kalua pork, curry and rice bowls.

The restaurant’s history actually predates its arrival at The Cal. In 1980, Herb Yamagata founded Aloha Specialties as a beef jerky business. The restaurant followed in 1985.

The restaurant underwent a major renovation in 2016 as part of a broader overhaul of The Cal.

Nothing fancy, but Aloha Specialties has its fans. Had.

Earlier this year, Aloha Specialties was temporarily closed following a Southern Nevada Health District inspection that resulted in 31 demerits. The restaurant passed a subsequent inspection and reopened about a week later. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

Boyd’s business strategy is largely “do not let people leave the building,” and Aloha Specialties was part of that strategy. There are many, much better, restaurants nearby, but convenience is everything to gamblers.

No replacement for the restaurant has been announced.

There’s a chance Boyd will bring a similar concept to the space, just managed in-house.

The casino company knows its customers, and the closure of Aloha Specialties will leave a void. Yes, a Boyd void. Which we should trademark immediately.