Tropix Hawiian BBQ is remotely located off of Highway 6&50 in Orchard Mesa. It is a hidden treasure buried in a small strip mall of stores near City Market. They have a very affordable menu, with nearly all items under $10.
At Tropix Hawaiian BBQ, you’ll find one thing on the menu that you’ve probably never seen at another restaurant: Spam. Sure, sounds kind of odd, but I had to give it a try. And I’m not talking a hunk of spam straight from the can. They make it into something special and unique.
As an appetizer or small snack, Tropix serves “Spam Musubi.” It is grilled Spam with rice grouped by a seaweed wrap, much like a sushi roll. They took a typical sushi combination and made it unique by adding an odd meat choice. It also looked quite interesting. I had no idea Spam could be prepared so decadently.
The cashier who took our order explained that Spam is actually a popular snack in Hawaii. She even said that McDonald’s restaurants in Hawaii serve Spam. This not only provided an explanation for the uncommon use of Spam but also lent cultural richness to Tropix.
Aside from the unique Spam Musubi, Tropix also has a nice selection of Hawaiian food like fried rice, ribs and seafood dishes. I also ordered the BBQ chicken fried rice. I was served a generous portion of rice with chunks of chicken and vegetables in it. It was good, but not as memorable as Spam Musubi.
If you couldn’t tell, the one thing that sticks with me about Tropix is the Spam Musubi. Every once in a while, I love snacking on Spam. Next time I get a craving for this strange, processed, canned meat, I know where I’ll go.