The choice of presidents!

Cult burger and sandwich grill Kua ‘Aina, and favourite haunt of US President Barack Obama, has crossed the oceans from Hawaii and launched in London after decades serving traditional surfer cuisine in America’s 50th state.

Located in Soho, on Foubert’s Place just off Carnaby Street, this authentic shack-style eatery provides an easy-going haven in the heart of the Capital.

The Kua ‘Aina lava-grilled menu is an homage to traditional, hearty surfer cuisine, featuring succulent burgers, grilled sandwiches and impressive salads. Created at the original site on the legendary North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, the home-made recipes and dishes have been popularised and perfected during almost 40 years of serving locals and visitors.

Founder Terry Thompson’s recipes were born out of a desire to produce honest food using high-quality ingredients and cooking methods for the everyday demands of surfers looking for wholesome cuisine that could fuel their ocean riding.

The Soho home of Kua ‘Aina is a direct descendent of the original Hawaiian North Shore restaurant and has stayed true to its traditional recipes and cooking methods. All burgers, chicken, fish and steaks are chargrilled over lava rocks using homemade marinades and seasonings – in exactly the same way that Terry has been doing since 1975.

Juices from the meat drip onto the rocks under the hot grills, flaring back into the meat, producing a smoky, rich flavour and locking all the moisture and tenderness into the meat.

It’s the unique cooking method and seasonings that have earned their burgers a cult following for nearly 40 years with fans including the US President himself. Obama is a regular diner when he returns to his home state, and caused an international media frenzy in 2008 when he was pictured ordering 24 burgers and 20 portions of fries for his team from Kua ‘Aina.

Obama always chooses a lava-grilled half-pound Avocado Burger when he visits Kua ‘Aina - a Hawaiian classic that isn’t just popular with the President’s palate: the dish is also proving the star seller in Soho.

The atmosphere and interiors of the Soho venue honours Terry’s original shack, with wooden floors and panelling, bamboo roof, retro surfer prints, tropical ceiling fans and surf boards. Set over two floors, patrons can sit upstairs and see the lava-grilling in action from the open kitchen, or dine downstairs in one of the restaurant’s intimate booths.

Kua ‘Aina in Soho pairs the authentic recipes with the finest British produce, including its burgers made by hand from an exclusive blend of premium cuts of grass-fed West Country Farm Assured cows and its buns and breads delivered daily from former Michelin star chef Paul Rhodes’ famous bakery in Greenwich.

Their burgers are prepared as third or half-pounders, lava-grilled to order from medium-rare through to well done and served open on a golden seeded bun. Each burger can be enjoyed with additional toppings including Cheddar, Swiss or Monterey Jack Cheese, Crispy Bacon, Scooped Avocado, Grilled Halloumi and Grilled Pineapple. They are best enjoyed with a portion of Crunchy Skin-On Fries or Chunky Sweet Potato Chips.

American style lava-grilled sandwiches are also available with a huge variety of fillings from Rosemary Chicken & Halloumi, Teriyaki Chicken & Pineapple, to Roast Turkey, BLT and Philly Cheesesteak.

As lighter alternatives, Kua ‘Aina has a selection of chicken and fish salads, and even a No Bun Burger Salad. Each are served with a home-made dressing, including the Kua ‘Aina ‘Wafu’, enriched with sesame and ginger.

As an island state, fish is central to food in Hawaii. Kua ‘Aina serves two types: Ahi (yellowfin tuna) and Mahi Mahi, which is a highly sustainable tropical fish that produces a firm, slightly sweet fillet, perfect for lava-grilling. Both fish can be enjoyed in sandwiches or salads.

To complement these dishes, Kua ‘Aina serves a selection of exclusive craftbrews from the award winning Kona Brewing Co. in Hawaii, house wines, cocktail pitchers and desserts, including Fluffy American Pancakes served with maple syrup, fresh bananas, blueberries or chocolate.

The pancakes can also be found on the Kua ‘Aina breakfast menu, served with bacon & maple syrup, alongside great Bacon or Sausage Sarnies, each lava-grilled and available with eggs.