Polynesian BBQ Launching Island-Style Food Truck in Crestview
The new food truck will serve island-style barbecue and Polynesian comfort food favorites.
CRESTVIEW, FL — Polynesian BBQ, a new food truck from Aleki Siaki and his wife, Lisa Siaki, is targeting an early July opening serving Okaloosa County and surrounding areas, Siaki told Business Debut.
The truck will focus on Polynesian island barbecue, with Siaki drawing from his Samoan background and the food he grew up eating.
What to Expect
Polynesian BBQ will focus on island-style barbecue rooted in Aleki Siaki’s Samoan background, with additional influences from other Polynesian food traditions. Siaki said the truck is intended to introduce the area to the food he grew up around and has cooked for years.
The food truck is expected to serve Okaloosa County and surrounding areas, with Siaki hoping to secure a more permanent parking location where customers can regularly find the truck.
Menu and Vision
The menu will include barbecue boneless chicken, barbecue ribs, barbecue turkey tail and hot dogs, Lisa Siaki told Business Debut. Plates are expected to be served with sides such as white rice and potato crab salad.
One of the items Siaki said he is most excited to share is the potato crab salad. He said he first made it for his church, and word of the dish spread as people began asking him to cook for their own gatherings.
“I never see anybody here that make that potato salad yet,” Siaki told Business Debut. “I make that for my church, everybody was talking about it.”
The truck will also serve barbecue turkey tail, an item Siaki said is familiar to many island communities but harder to find locally. He said the turkey tail is marinated overnight, then cooked on the grill.
“The only way it’s going to be good with the turkey tail is barbecue,” Siaki told Business Debut.
Siaki also plans to serve long noodles with corned beef, known in Samoa as sapasui. He described it as a popular island dish similar to Samoan chop suey.
Background
Siaki said this is his first food business and a dream he has worked toward for several years. He said he has been cooking most of his life, beginning with helping his grandmother while growing up.
“I want to share the culture to everybody,” Siaki told Business Debut. “I want to help my community somewhere somehow.”
Siaki said encouragement from people at his church helped push him toward opening the truck. After cooking for church gatherings, he said people began contacting him to prepare food for their own events.
Opening Timeline
Polynesian BBQ is targeting an early July opening, depending on final paperwork and inspections, Siaki told Business Debut.
The truck is still looking for a more permanent parking location. Siaki said he hopes to stay in one regular spot, preferably near a military base, while still attending events when possible.
Long term, Siaki said he hopes to grow into a restaurant and eventually host a luau in Crestview with Polynesian dance and fire knife dance performances.
Hours
Planned hours are Monday through Saturday from about 10:30 a.m. – 6 or 7 p.m., or until sold out.
Follow for More
Social media pages are to be announced.
Those with potential parking opportunities where the truck will be able to park regularly should reach out to Saiki via email at alekisiaki6@gmail.com.
Ross McWaters
