Had a sudden craving for some musubi so we Yelped "musubi" near my zip code. Hawaiian Garden BBQ was on the list and looked promising in terms of both distance and rating. I called the restaurant to place our order when I was leaving from work on the westside. The gentleman on the phone asked me when I would arrive to pick up because he wanted to make sure my food would be fresh and hot. I gave an estimated time but realized that I needed to revise the arrival time due to traffic. Called back and push the ETA by 20 minutes. When I arrived 5 minutes after my revised ETA, my food was ready for me to pick and was still hot when we got home. The musubis were tasty and the spam/chicken to rice ratios were good. The Hawaiian fried rice was not too bad, with plenty of cubed spam and veggies. The establishment is small and oily smelling (understandably so with all deep frying it has to do). More of a takeout/delivery place. The parking was surprisingly easy for a place right on Fair Oaks. Spam, katsu or HBBQ are not my top choices for the healthy eats but this would be a convenient place for us to satisfy the guilty pleasure from time to time.
(4)
Rasien I.
Chicken Katsu is super crispy. Mac Salad is just okay. Musubi is missing some flavor. Call ahead and pick up your order.
(3)
Alex M.
This place use to be good but something changed. Not sure if it was the owner or the cook but something. I went for lunch and ordered their #18 BBQ mix. It comes with short ribs, teriyaki chicken and either beef or pork not sure exactly what it is. I use to like it and especially with their teriyaki sauce and some Sriracha but something was off. The Mac was a little watery and taste was different. Rice is always good, short ribs and chicken were good but the other meet was just ok. I was a little disappointed and not sure if I'd go back. Seating is limited but they have seats outside that I enjoy.
(2)
Calvin L.
It's like getting a sweater for your birthday. Nothing special. Short Ribs Combo ($8.99) This combo comes with your choice of another meat. I opted with the BBQ chicken. So like my birthday, I was pretty excited to open my box. Guess what I got for Christmas.. a wool sweater... Well what's what it felt like. Nothing special. A few pieces of meat with a TON of rice. They don't even have cooked cabbage. It was more like cabbage that's in salads. It wasn't HORRIBLE, but nothing too great. It's also a little expensive for what you get. Not a fan, the 3 star rating is pretty generous, just because the food was average.
(3)
Shirlene N.
I decided to come to this place during work lunch hour over L&L, which is closer, because I saw that this place had shrimp skewers. Something different to try. Parking is not that great, it shares with El Pollo Loco and its crowded during lunch hour. I was lucky to find one on the street. Shrimp skewers - it was good, lightly seasoned with terriyaki, good flavor, but not really worth it for $2.99 a skewer. Mini Chicken Katsu - I actually like it here better than L&L. It's not overly fried flavor and there was not as much fatty chicken meat. Overall, its good but not much different from other Hawaiian bbq places around the area. It's a bit of a drive from work just to get Hawaiian BBQ but it is something to consider to stop in to pick up dinner on the drive home.
(3)
Pancho V.
Earlier this Year (2013) Hawaiian Garden BBQ had a change of Ownership as the previous Owner went back to Korea, he was a VERY nice person and I'm sure ALL his regular customers miss him. NEW OWNER...... Seriously needs some Customer Service skills, several times I've found him to be a bit rude with customers, it also seems they have new cooks in the kitchen, and tastes like they changed or are using a lesser quality Beef & Chicken, portions have gotten smaller while prices have risen! Unless this New Owner get's an attitude adjustment, and brings back the QUALITY of the food...... I see his demise in 2014 2.5-Stars
(2)
G G.
Good portions...tasty food. Nice services...but L&L is still my favorite. I would come back here if in area. Liked BBQ Chicken and Fried Shrimps
(4)
Jay T.
I used to "like" this place. Now, it really has gone down. Why 1 star? Because of the Hawaiian Special Fried Rice... in the pictures, you see big prawn size shrimp.... what I got... little orange larvae... literally. Good luck cause I ain't comin' back. Update: I forgot to mention that there was a change in ownership. Pooh-dee on the new owner..... how are you gonna keep those nice pictures from the previous owner who did have food that matched the pictures and serve his old clientele your new sub-standard food? If you were the guy at the cashier area... yeh, I said it, "pooh-dee on you."
(1)
Keila N.
Hawaiian BBQ is located in a strip mall across from Bristol Farms. It shares real estate with El Pollo Loco. I ordered the mini spicy pork for $5.98 and a shrimp skewer for $1.99. Price was definitely reasonable. Service was fast. I didn't like the flavor of the pork. I didn't care for the shrimp either.
(2)
Krista K.
2nd visit...:/ prices are similar to Ono-Hawaiian but the taste isn't really as flavorful. .. Decided to try new things on the menu as my last meal was a bit oily. Decided to get the chicken mini meal. It had a tiny scope of macaroni and the chicken was a bit stale. As in, refrying fried katsu. I'm not givin up on this place , I'm sure there is something I'll favorite ... (There better be, it's right down the street from my house -_-)
(3)
Celia S.
Greasy cabbage under the chicken does not count as a vegetable. I really wanted a teriyaki bowl, and it looked like this place might be ok. It was NOT. Weird chicken bits, flavorless macaroni salad, even the soy sauce had no flavor.
(1)
Sushi J.
Good: easy to get to, easy parking. Bad: Food was awful. Ate some, threw a lot out. Gravy on the loco moco was mostly worscestershire sauce flavored, and tasted a little off. Chicken katsu was dry and chewy. Shrimp and kalua pork were ok.
(1)
Ti B.
I am fan of this place for many reasons. Let's start with my favs first! 1. Price 2, Service 3, Flavor 4. Portions 5. Location 6. Convenience and fast 7. Menu!! I brought my huge family here a few days ago and we took over the whole place! They were so nice and accomodating! I love it!
(4)
Jen C.
Ordered the #1 combo. It had good flavor and was a large amount of food. Chicken was mostly dark thigh meat. Service was polite and food came out really quick. Macaroni was pretty standard, but I ve had better.
(3)
Paul A.
This is a nice spot to grab a quick bite. Not the gourmet side of life but fast, good service and the meat is done upon order in my experience. Plenty of parking in the front and back, these lots don't connect fyi. It's also nice to step away from the mundane subway and el pollo loco that share the plaza. The bbq chicken is good, the macaroni salad could use less mayo, and the white rice is average. This is my go to dish and I haven't ventured out in the handful of times I've been there.
(4)
Kaila Y.
I was excited to find Hawaiian Garden BBQ because its at such a convenient location for me -- discovered it by accident driving by the plaza and made a mental note about the fact that it delivers! (a poor selection of delivery places can be found on eat24hours.com for the south pasadena area) I got the House Super Combo (comes with beef ribs and bbq chicken) The meat was pretty good quality and the price was great . Bonus points for the fact that my combo came with 2 fried eggs! The macaroni salad was ok though, not bad, but not to die for like Ono's Hawaiian BBQ I would definitely choose Onos or Aloha Food Factory but I would definitely come back to Hawaiian Garden BBQ for convenience. Remember they also deliver! (I dont know any other Hawaii places that do)
(3)
Douglas S.
Place isn't the most beautiful but the food is great. I love the ribs and chicken combo. A little expensive though.
(4)
Kyle D.
I'm really sad that I have to write this review. Last night, when I was looking for delivery places and found this one, I was really excited. A decent Hawaiian place that delivers? Yes, please! We immediately called them and placed an order for delivery. This was around 8:25PM. Everything went fine. Half an hour later, we're wondering where the food is. It's not that far and most delivery places don't take that long. But it's ok, half an hour is not bad. 45 minutes comes and goes and now, we're concerned. Maybe they got lost. We try calling them but no one picks up. After a few times, I check and see that they actually closed at 9 PM. Now, we're confused. What do we do? Do we wait to see if they show up eventually? Or do we just assume they aren't coming? Given that it was almost 9:30PM and we were waiting for our dinner, we were really hungry. We finally gave up and went out to go buy food. At 9:40PM, we get a phone call. They're outside of our place, we're told. Why are we not there? Now at this point, I was pissed. I can't wait an hour+ for delivery unless I can at least get a hold of someone to find out that the food is still on its way. Why were we not told when we called that they might close before the food was delivered and given an alternative phone number? Or even told that they might be awhile do to the place closing at 9PM? We told them that we waited and they never came. They tried to argue that they had been there but no one answered the door (which wasn't true - we were standing outside of our house just in case they couldn't find it). We asked why they didn't call earlier. They said they had "forgotten the phone in the car". At that point, it seemed fruitless to argue any longer. So yes, I am very disappointed in this place - at least in their delivery service. And as sad as I am to say this, this experience will keep me from ever trying their food.
(1)
Alan K.
One word. Overrated. The guy behind the cash register was so rude. I asked for a cup of water and he kindly obliged. Unfortunately, the fountain machine didn't have ice in it. However, he didn't even bother to fill it and just told me that it was empty. I just got some warm water from the dispenser. However, I realized that the ice dispenser was just right there behind the cash register and he could have filled it. Wow, talk about lazy. I asked him later if he can fetch me ice from the dispenser. I got my "food." I ordered their BBQ chicken plate. However, I was not impressed by this dish. I got over burnt BBQ chicken super saturated with sauces that were not good. I ate some of it and had to toss the rest. Perhaps the other food is better, but honestly, with horrible service and bad food, I won't be returning here. If you are craving Hawaiian food, Ono Hawaiian Grill in Alhambra serves way better Hawaiian BBQ chicken with superior ambiance and service than this place.
(1)
Cindy G.
I love this place because it is around the corner from my apartment, however, during my last visit, I found that the food quality was not the same and the flavors were not as good. I asked the cashier how the owner Jay was and he said that Jay had sold it and there was a change of ownership. Makes sense. That visit was my last time. Food now is okay, not amazing anymore :(
(3)
Just C.
Great food. I stop in with the girlfriend after every acupuncture appointment without fail. The service is fast and everything I've tried has been fresh and ridiculously flavorful. The #19 is my usual. And if there's something you'd rather have (or have not!) don't hesitate to ask. I've yet to pay extra for a substitution. Katsu is amazing, BBQ beef and short ribs are the best I've had as well. I'm not super into chicken but the BBQ chicken is tasty. I always get honest opinions from David about food options and look forward to our weekly visit. I highly recommend stopping in, and if meat is your thing this is a must visit!
(5)
Morison W.
Cheap Hawaiian food, for a decent price. Not the best Hawaiian I've had before, but it's in a convenient location that is next to my work. Their burger was alright. I ordered the chicken one, and they put a lot of meet in the burger. They were also pretty tender too, which is always a plus.
(4)
Age C.
This place offers some of the best chicken katsu (Tonkatsu) combo I've tried. Only downside. The owner is kind of an asshole.
(3)
Mario G.
Great little place! On the way home, cheap spam musibi & pretty good BBQ chicken plate. I will be back!
(4)
Sean O.
There really aren't too many options for delivery spots in South Pasadena, not to mention, Hawaiian BBQ in the Pasadena area. This place is much tastier than the places near my work (near LAX). I also don't walk-out of here smelling like a greasy kitchen (like the places near my work). *meh* The Beef Short Ribs here are yummy, and the service is always very friendly. The guy at the counter even kicked-me-down an extra slab of short ribs for tipping. That alone deserves a fair yelp review! =P The delivery service really is a huge plus, as well, and they don't get lost like Papa John's always does, even though I only live 2 blocks away.
(5)
Rowena F.
I came here a couple days ago with some friends and the place was lightly packed. I ordered the #1 Classic BBQ Chicken. The meals come with a side of their macaroni salad, rice, and the meat is over lettuce. Overall, the meal was pretty good. The slight disappointment was probably that most of the chicken was burnt. However, it was still pretty tender. If you decide to check this place out try going for the mini instead of the regular size since the mini is actually a large portion of food and cheaper than the regular.
(4)
Desirae M.
`Husband and I went there after finding it on Yelp. We both had the Pork and cabbage with rice and macaroni salad. There macaroni salad is so good. The Pork was so moist. The meal was really delicious and affordable. To top it off they have my favorite drink ever which is Thai Iced Tea. Will com back again.
(5)
Jon R.
The food is GOOD but there's something not quite right about paying $10 for lunch and still having to eat out of a styrofoam to-go box whether you're dining in or taking it home/to work. Compared to L&L this place is AMAZING! Compared to Hawaii, this place is ok. I like their Hawaiian bbq beef, spicy pork, short ribs, bbq chicken, rice, and mac salad. Their kalua pork is mixed with too much cabbage in my opinion. But I like how they can make anything spicy even the kalua pork. Honestly I don't eat here as often as I'd like cuz their prices are odd. $10+/person. When I wanna save money and spend 5 bucks or less on dinner, nope, can't come here! In contrast, when I want to go out and treat myself, I overlook this place simply because there are way better places to eat (sushi, steak, etc.). They should really have lunch specials for like $6, they would get a LOT more business! Food is good, prices are a bit high IMHO, oh, and ambiance, what ambiance?
(3)
Tim E.
I was hungry the other day and I was just being picky about what I wanted. I saw mac salad and I was sold based off a couple of reviews. So that was it. I got the short ribs with mac salad and I was ho hum about eating it. It satisfied me but it wasn't the thrill I was looking for.
(3)
Chimi C.
Ok. I'm sad. I picked up #1 chicken with rice and mac salad last friday. It was terrible. I don't know if it was a different cook, or what, but the salad was flat and the chicken was limp, flavorless. Not even a dash of Sriracha helped. I don't know if this is a trend or just an off day. I ate very little of my chicken, shared with my 3 doggies, then decided not to punish them further. I threw the rest away. I just don't know anymore.
(2)
Ania S.
You know what sucks about this place..... $4 delivery charge. That is just not right. We were ordering $40+ worth of food. Shouldn't we get free delivery??
(1)
Pete D.
Many Hawaiian-style restaurants suffer from the same problem... BBQ that's too salty and macaroni salad that's too bland from cheap mayonaise. Hawaiian BBQ does NOT suffer from this problem. Their food is actually well balanced in flavor! Their BBQ beef is moist and hearty and goes perfect with some hot, steaming rice. Their Katsu chicken is good on its own and does not need sauce. The macaroni salad is just right... the right balance of mayonaise and seasoning. Their shrimp fried rice is great and loaded with small shrimp. Service is okay... responsive. Food came out fairly quickly. Location isn't the greatest, parking limited. I would have given four stars but they don't want you to share drinks!?! What's up with that? Drinks are self-serve... do they watch you? But if you are hungry for a flavorful Hawaiian food and reasonable prices, go to Hawaiian BBQ.
(3)
Alex B.
NOTE: This is for a visit in April 2012, I just stumbled on my unfinished review today. I can't judge the food. I never made if that far. Since the place doesn't seem to have its own website, I went in person to order. They closed 5 minutes early on me, after driving from the north side of Pasadena to South Pas just to get Hawaiian take out. The sign said open and the door was open, they just weren't going to prepare one more hot meal for a customer with five minutes to go. I guess they were hoping I would only order a pre-made salad or drink or something. If this was a sit down restaurant I could understand, but this is take out food. Either change your hours or serve your customers until closing. BAD SERVICE!
(1)
Sam L.
Wow, the grilled chicken is amazingly tender. If I could make one change to their dishes, it's to add some more veggies on the side. I always have to order an extra side of salad for $1 to get the crunch I need to offset the carb and protein overload.
(4)
Jennifer S.
This place has some of the best macaroni salad i've ever had. The plates are well worth your money. Do not order your food for delivery though. The guy who usually delivers the food can be creepy and weird. On a couple occasions, he has peeked his head in my house as if he wanted to come in. On another occasion, I gave him a 13 percent and he argued the point that I need to give at least a 15 percent tip. Your best off picking up your food.
(3)
Chantelle T.
I'm usually disappointed by Hawaiian food here in LA since I grew up eating some bombdidlytastic plate lunches back home in Hawaii. But this place was actually pretty good...a nice pleasant surprise after a day of working on my surgical project. I ordered the chicken katsu plate (comes on a bed of shredded lettuce w/ mac salad and rice on the side) for $7. The rice is good and boy, the mac salad was pretty amazing. and the katsu was delicious. The execution for the katsu was a bit sloppy (you could tell they used a really thin piece of chicken so it curled up a lot during the frying process) but the taste was okay. I would definitely come here again for some food if I'm in the area. Hopefully the service is better the next time i go too. The guy behind the counter asked me to wait after I asked him for a water cup...seriously man, takes you like 2 seconds to get a cup and hand it to me.
(4)
Josue G.
This place is kind of hidden in the inside corner of the plaza. I was actually going to eat at Pollo Loco but decided to give Hawaiian BBQ another shot. I was kind of hesitant after my last awful experience at another place, which has no affiliation to this one; but I am glad I gave this place a try! The cashier, who I believe is also the owner, was very friendly! I ordered their BBQ beef mini, which is more than enough food for one, and a small soft drink. The total about $7.99, which was fine to me. The beef was perfect cooked and meat was very tender and moist. It did not have tons of fat like other places. The beef was chopped into bit size pieces that made it easier to eat. The beef was perfectly seasoned, it really did need any teriyaki sauce. The white rice was fine and the macaroni salad was great too. Definitely a place I would check out again.
(4)
Patrick G.
This is a great place to go for a filling moderately priced lunch. I come here often and get a bbq beef / chicken katsu combo plate. This includes a generous serving of bbq beef cooked in a fantastic sauce and has grilled onions mixed in, katsu fried chicked which comes with a container of sauce. It also comes with a big serving of rice and a side of macaroni salad which is great too. I usually get this with an order of spam musubi which is always fried for just the right amount of time. It's not cheap although its not expensive either and I always leave satisfied. Their macaroni salad and bbq beef is the best i've had outside of a high priced diner and better than most places specializing in bbq. They also serve Thai tea which you can order with boba. The Thai tea is okay but the Boba is overcooked sometimes. They have the best tasting Hawaiian food i've eaten in the Pasadena-San Marino area by far and i'd say as just about as good as what you'd get at a decent authentic place the islands. It has a bit of a strange decor but is mostly clean and kept neat. It's not very big and has small tables so it's best to pickup and dine somewhere else if you are in a large group. They deliver within a 3 mile radius if you pay over $16. It seems like most of the complaints about this place don't have to do with the food itself and i've never had a bad experience for the 4 years i've been eating here neither food nor service related. They don't open till 10 in the morning and clost at 9 every day, but are closed all day on Sundays. I can not stress enough how good their food tastes, it's miles ahead of L&L and almost as good as what you'd expect in Hawaii. Despite the amount of starch I find myself eating here almost weekly. Definitely give this place a try.
(5)
Matt W.
The homely atmosphere combined with the great japanese american fusion food makes for a great restaurant.
(5)
Danny A.
It's ok but I like L&L better
(3)
Elle T.
Maybe it was an off-day today. We all have those, right? But Hawaiian BBQ wasn't as great today at lunch as all these reviews made them sound. It's your standard Hawaiian BBQ place, if you ask me. there wasn't anything particularly special about it. Parking was fair enough and so was the service. He wasn't what I'd call friendly, but that's no big deal to me. He took my order promptly. I ordered a BBQ chicken + short ribs combo. It was in my hands in the next 5 minutes - came with rice and mac salad, sides of Sriracha and Teriyaki sauce included. I got it in a to-go box and took it outside to eat. The chicken was good; cooked well, and still tender and juicy. I would have enjoyed a more grilled (smoky) taste, but that's just my preference and there was nothing wrong with the chicken. The short ribs were disappointing. Mine were mostly stringy fat and very hard to chew. Bleh. I gave up on most of that. The mac salad had a lot - A LOT of pepper. you can decide if that's a good or bad thing. I didn't mind the pepper, but some might. And the rice was mush. A giant, scoop-shaped chunk of mush. All for a total of $8.66. I guess that's around a standard price, but I would have preferred Ono or Aloha Grill.
(3)
Larry G.
Delicious chicken katsu and spam musubis. They have homemade teriyaki sauce too. Small size is fine. The only thing you get in the larger size is more rice and an extra scoop of mac salad.
(4)
John L.
great portion sizes and a home-made flair set this place apart from other chain hawaiian restaurants. Everything is cooked to order, and food comes out piping hot. the chicken is well seasoned and not oily at all. The spam musubi is well made and is as subtle as spam can get. The bbq sauce is homemade and delicious!
(4)
Carlos G.
There are good Hawaiian BBQ joints and there are bad ones. This is one of the good ones. I may not have had their whole menu, but I have had a lot of the regular items. Their macaroni is delicious, katsu is one of the best I've had, and BBQ chicken is great. Get their small (or mini) size which come with one entree and steamed rice and mac. If you're super hungry, then go for their regular combo plates that offer two to three entrees. Either way, you won't be disappointed in their beef or chicken. The owner and staff are very nice and happy to have your business, especially since the construction that's been going on for almost a year has seriously slowed business down. If there's a mistake in the order they usually are happy to correct it. Oh, and they deliver on orders of $10 or more if you live close by as well as cater. If you've had one of those bad Hawaiian BBQ places, give it one more shot here.
(5)
J. Francisco A.
I've avoided this place because I'm not a big fan on Hawaiian food but decided to give it a try on a friends recommendation. I'm also writing this review to help give the place some business and maybe someone else will try it for the first time too. The construction on fair oaks seems to be taking its tool on this place along with a few other in the area. When I walked in there seemed to be 4-5 high school age kids hanging out and the guy behind the counter seemed to be entertained by them. I told the guy that I had never been there and that I was thinking about having some chicken. He recommended the chicken combo so I went with it. Combo was great and it gave me a chance to sample the chicken and beef. Both were really good but I found the flavors to be more in line with Japanese teriyaki than Hawaiian. Next time I'll ask for something a bit more Hawaiian. Next time you're in the area or if your tried and hungry and sitting in traffic drop by.
(3)
Sassie B.
We ordered #9 Kalua Pork w/cabbage, #17 House Super Combo, and #2 Chicken Katsu. I thought the mac salad was bland and it was warm. I am from the South where mac salad is delicious and always cold. The curry sauce for the Chicken Katsu had no flavor and the meat was dry and tasteless. The man behind the register was friendly and accommodating, but the food was less than mediocre. Unfortunately, we will not be going back for a second try. But, I must say on a positive note, I ordered two Thai teas without ice; I didn't receive any grief/attitude as is sometimes the case when ordering w/o ice or sometimes I will get a glass that is not full to the top.
(1)
Ernest T.
The food here isn't bad, its actually pretty good, but everything kinds makes this place wierd. I got the the chicken katsu and the spam musubi. Fantastic chicken katsu, with a lot flavor but the spam musubi gets a little bland after a few bites. Their meats are good and ribs is okay. Definitely needs to be hotter when it gets to me. I thought the price was just ok...good food, but pricey... 3.5 stars for food, 1 star for customer service. The person at the counter was kinda of weird and not to helpful. No sharing drinks...ok...odd...
(3)
D R.
I went with the spicy pork based on other Yelpers recommendations and was pretty let down. It's not terribly spicy, but the real problem is that it tastes bad in the same way that canned food tastes from 99 cent stores ... like it was concocted by someone that never bothered to taste it themselves and just dumped a bunch of preservatives into it instead. I can't go down to one star on the review, however, as the macaroni salad is pretty amazing. I didn't have the problems with the owner that Alan K. and Chantelle T. did, though when I mentioned that I've been enjoying trying out the various restaurants in their strip mall that pretty much ended his side of the conversation. With the awesomeness that is Charm, little wonder.
(2)
Sharon K.
Chicken Katsu + macaroni salad = Delicious! Absolutely love how they make the chicken katsu here! It's so crispy and tender. It's delicious! The macaroni salad is far much better than Uno grill or Shakas! Definitely! Great flavor! They have two sizes, a regular or a mini!
(5)
Annie L.
Compared to all the Hawaiian food in the area, this place is good and cheap. Mac salad is good, spicy pork is good but the best thing is... Free delivery. We eat here at least twice a month. The only downside is they don't have hamburger loco moco which is a must have for us.
(4)
Denis K.
Sitting here finishing my dinner. Hmm don't order the recommended Mac Mahi Mahi. It's a piece of fried frozen breaded fish in misc butter rich sauce for $14. Umm no thanks. Hate to be harsh. But the problem isn't the service, it's the food.
(1)
Moses P.
The food here isn't bad, but it isn't amazing either. I usually get the chicken katsu and the spam musubi. Fantastic chicken katsu, but the spam musubi gets a little bland after a few bites. Their beef rib combo is okay. Definitely needs to be hotter when it gets to me. 3 stars for food, 1 extra star for fantastic customer service. The person at the counter forgot to add my drink onto the bill, so he just gave me a cup and said it's on the house.
(4)
Scott D.
Can't say that Hawaiian food is high on my list of faves, but in my limited experiences these guys do it well. Great food, prices and service. Definitely in the rotation of neighborhood lunch spots right now.
(5)
Gee S.
This place is way better than LL Hawaiian BBQ. Their Chicken Katsu is very tender inside with the perfect crunchiness outside. The macaroni too is a perfect combination for the chicken. Not too sweet and with the right amount of mayo. They even accept phone orders, ready to be picked up after a few minutes. I've been coming here for the past year and will be coming for more. Pls make sure my order of curry chicken katsu with the curry at the side ready in 5 minutes ;-)
(5)
Jonathan M.
Awwww yeah! After eating some take out from this joint I felt like I could go and kick some Somoan ass! For real. This is the kind of place that you don't know if you should eat the food or just slather it directly onto your thighs and butt because that is most assuredly where it is going to end up! First things first: I called at 9:30 because they were the only place left I hadn't tried for delivery (by way of explanation I'm a single father and a writer ergo I can't just waltz out when the fridge is empty). Anyway it was late and they were closed...but by some odd miracle they said, 'hey, we'll take your delivery order no problem, what do you want?' Well an order of Chicken Katsu and some BBQ Beef for lunch tomorrow sounds about right. When the food arrived I was shocked. SHOCKED. Why? The chicken was HOT and CRISPY and absolutely delicious. I mean who actually thought I was going to get real Katsu chicken that was as so hot it gave me the impression it was cooked on the stoop only seconds before it was delivered. The sauce was authentic, the rice was fresh and fluffy and the mac salad tasted like my Hawaiian grandma whipped it up after I got done dropping barrels...and I'm a haoli! All in all they hooked me up with cheap, reasonable, awesome take out after hours and even the delivery guy was chill. My new favorite delivery and the guys running Patakan should walk around the corner and see how it gets done.
(5)
Jenny S.
Absolutely LOVE this place. Food is waaaay better than L&L and the people are friendly and they deliver for FREE!! The spicy pork with mac salad (add an egg) and the katsu chicken is da bomb!!!
(5)
Trang P.
The food cooks when you order which is the way I like it! Nice and Hot! Jay the owner is very friendly and curteous.
(5)
Victorious R.
I always love the BBQ chicken its good but never tried anything else on the menu. The tables are cool by the way if u go in take a look at them.
(4)
A F.
Bomb!!! This place deserves the 5 stars. Crazy good, macaroni salad is delicious........ Bbq ribs bomb and the chicken too. Everything is good.... Only thing that sucks they're closed Sundays, booooo we were craving it right now... Other than that, this place is our go to for some good Hawaiian food.
(5)
Mike L.
This is one of the go to family dining places for us. Fresh good quality ingredients. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommended for catering. They even have free local delivery. Like their chicken, Mac & Cheese, and Musubi. Jae, one of the partners that own the place, has always been very nice as well. Highly recommend for reasonably priced good food for the family.
(4)
Forrest D.
Truly uninspired name for a pretty good fast food hawaiian bbq place, a bit like Wells Fargo naming themselves Bank but I guess people know what to expect. I've only tried the beef ribs, so I can't really vouch for any other plates but the beef is always pretty good. You have a choice of two sized for each plate, and even the smaller portions are generous. They also have a large menu of other options about 20 or so to choose from. Food - B+ Ambience - D Service - B+ Value - B+
(3)
Maxx B.
I come here minimum once a week, and have sometimes gone every day of the week. I have also several times considered making the drive from downtown LA, to south Pasadena to satisfy a Hawaiian BBQ craving. All the employees here are great, best service, they make the effort to learn your name, and learn what you like, so that when you walk in the door, your order is already being ringed up. The chicken katsu.... if i were given 2 weeks to live, I would eat enough chicken katsu to kill myself in 1. I love the Katsu like an unborn child. I love the katsu more and more every time I have it.... and I'm not even gonna get started on the macaroni salad, all I have to say, is less then half an hour ago, I finished my meal, marched back in there, and ordered a container full of mac. When I sit down in the restaurant, I feel at home, the decorations are very unique, and although i doubt I will ever know why there is a dodgers poster in between all of the posters of Hawaiian beaches, I wouldn't want it any other way. Anyone who isn't a chump, has tried, and enjoyed this restaurant...
(5)
Aaliyah R.
YUMMY, YUMMY YUMMY TO MY TUMMY. I could eat #1 all day everyday. It the chicken meal with rice and macaroni! yummmmm meeee...anyway, i go here often on my lunch break with coworkers. The staff is super nice and the food come quick!
(5)
Michael P.
It's a hole in the wall but the chicken katsu is amazing and the spam musubi is a must have!!! The owner is also incredibly friendly. I come here at least once a month and am never let down.
(4)
Darbar '.
I've tried a bunch of Hawaiian places, this is the one I keep going back to. All the BBQ meats are tasty, and katsu chicken has just the right texture. The macaroni salad, forgettable at most places, has real flavor here. I got a few trays for a birthday party, the food just got devoured, and people kept asking where it came from. Oh, and free delivery!
(5)
Justin S.
It's a bit on the pricey side for what it is, but I have to say this is the best Hawaiian BBQ place I've found in the LA area, hands down. The spicy pork was delicious and perfectly spiced heatwise, and the BBQ chicken was juicy and had a nice subtle teriyaki flavor. The people who work here are friendly too. A hard-to-find gem, tucked away in the far corner of a strip mall. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Tavis L.
I go in here at least once a week for the spicy pork lunch, because it's terrific. I tried the BBQ beef once, which was alright, but the spicy pork has an awesome kick that makes mouths happy. Love the macaroni salad that comes on the side, too.
(4)
David T.
Decided to try this local place after reading the reviews and it did not dissapoint. Ordered chicken combo (katsu and bbq), beef combo (ribs and bbq) and spicy pork. All were very tasty and the macaroni was excellent. I also ordered 2 spam musubi and got 2 for free. I was planning on picking up but they said they were making a delivery around where I lived so I went with it. Would definitely order again.
(4)
Ruth C.
There's a clear issue with communication and respect between the counter staff and the short order cooks. This is a fairly small counter in a strip plaza, about ten tables or so. The mango smoothie was delicious, and the macaroni salad was perfect. Unfortunately the barbequed short ribs were a bit overdone, but not inedible. Minimum $5 purchase to use credit card.
(3)
Edward S.
BEST PLACE EVAR! I go here because I go to PCC and my friend told me about this place. THE FOOD IS AWESOME!! I was hooked immediately to the chicken katsu. The only problem you'll find is trying to find this place and leaving. (I got lost trying to find this place.) Screw all those other wanna-be places. Come here and you'll be hooked, guaranteed. (Not hooked on drugs, but on food.)
(5)
Anne L.
Went there last Saturday for lunch to go. I love the mini meals. I had the mini fried shrimp combo plate. This is one of the few times that I'll say i liked something because it came out battered and crunchy. Yum My friend had the chicken burger meal and it was packed with fries and a huge burger. Craving, satisfied.
(4)
Dean Q.
I almost want to give it 1 star. It's basically run by Asian non-Hawaiians. Made me think of a nicer version of the fast-food Chinese restaurant owner from South Park. Anyway, it tasted like Chinese fast food. C'mon. L&L is just up the street. And Ono's is definitely better. 2 stars because they are trying. But the foodie in me wants to knock them down to 1 star. Spam masubi was an interpretation by the latino cook and supervised by the non-Hawaiian owner/manager. I also think they used a Spam substitute. Ew. Okay, 1 star it is.
(1)
Kellyn P.
My husband and I will never go back to this place again. We paid for our 2 plates and one fountain drink. After we paid the cashier tells us that we are not allowed to share the drink. "You can have refills" he tells my husband "but you can't share." So while we're eating our food, the guy is eyeballing us from the counter to make sure we're not sharing the drink. Best part of it is, he comes outside by where we're sitting, clips his nails in his car (I can even hear the clipping as we eat our meal) and watches us again on his way back inside the restaurant. Talk about poor business tactics. The food wasn't great either. Frozen peas and carrots in the overly oily Fried Rice, and canned pineapples on their katsu. My grandma makes better fried rice with the same ingredients. I'm telling you, we will never go back there again.
(1)
Susan W.
The BBQ combination is addicting. I call ahead and pick it up for dinner almost once a week. It's a lot of good food for a little price.
(5)
suzy q.
Hey this place is pretty good.. I always get the chicken katsu mini plate... so yummy and $5 and it suffices as a dinner for one... the bigger plate can be shared by two (small people). Their boba isn't the best though.. And they do free delivery for $10 minimum!
(4)
Steve R.
Chicken is very flavorful -- not too salty nor sweet --- just balanced perfectly. Service is great. I go here at least 2-3x a week. (I work nearby). Staff is always friendly. Prices are just right along with large portions. Actually I get the MINI plates vs REGULAR plates --- the regular size is too much food for a lunch meal. Meal is always cooked to order, fresh and yummy!
(5)
jonathan l.
Food was far too greasy. Chicken was flavorless. Server hardly spoke English.
(1)
paul b.
i'm not often in the mood for hawaiian bbq, but when i am it's a very solid lunch stop. all the other reviews describe their menu well.
(4)
Steve B.
YES, that really is the name... and they really should change it, but it's obviously an attempt to drum up some business to make up for it's crappy location. It's tucked away in a little strip mall on Fair Oaks in the El Pollo Loco plaza. The location's terrible and it's a shame they don't get more business because the food is great. I have a real weakness for hawaiian food and I've pretty much sampled all the hawaiian places on the east side. This place is really one of the best! A sweet little grandma runs the place and so far, every dish I've tried is great! The Kahlua Pork is one of my favorites! They have so many different combinations of Hawaiian food, there's no way you will walk in there and NOT find something you like. For example, I think you can have them throw eggs on just about anything. They have a loco moco w/chicken and instead of hamburger too. The mac salad tastes just like Rainbow Drive-In in Waikiki. They also have Chicken Musubi for you diet conscious eaters. Be forewarned, the food takes a little bit of time to cook because she insists on not pre-cooking anything until you order it, but it's well worth it.
(5)
Lisa d.
This place has a truly great macaroni salad. The fellas that run the counter are personable and thoughtful. Their portions are ample and the quality is very good. I really enjoy coming here and I know that whether I order a katsu, a wrap or even the dishes made with spam (musubi or fried rice), it will be tasty and made well.
(4)
RDizzl E.
Decent offering of Hawaiian BBQ favorites despite an very un-original name. They have all the typical lunch plates: BBQ beef, chicken, katsu, etc. I especially like their macaroni. The chicken was ok, but not on the same level as Ono or L&L. If you're close by and your feigning for Hawaiian, go for it. Otherwise make the trip to L&L or Ono.
(3)
C C.
awesome place. best chicken katsu and spam musubi.
(5)
Heather E.
I go to Hawaiian BBQ every Monday! I get the same thing every week and I love it! I get the Mini BBQ Chicken Plate. The Chicken is marinated in teriyaki sauce and it is great! The plate usually comes with macaroni salad and a scoop of rice, both are great but i get two scoops of rice instead of macaroni salad because i don't like mayo. When I get the chicken I dip it in a special hot sauce, not the sriacha stuff in the bottle with the rooster on it.
(5)
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Address :711 Fair Oaks Ave,Ste D
South Pasadena, CA, 91030
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
T S.
Had a sudden craving for some musubi so we Yelped "musubi" near my zip code. Hawaiian Garden BBQ was on the list and looked promising in terms of both distance and rating. I called the restaurant to place our order when I was leaving from work on the westside. The gentleman on the phone asked me when I would arrive to pick up because he wanted to make sure my food would be fresh and hot. I gave an estimated time but realized that I needed to revise the arrival time due to traffic. Called back and push the ETA by 20 minutes. When I arrived 5 minutes after my revised ETA, my food was ready for me to pick and was still hot when we got home. The musubis were tasty and the spam/chicken to rice ratios were good. The Hawaiian fried rice was not too bad, with plenty of cubed spam and veggies. The establishment is small and oily smelling (understandably so with all deep frying it has to do). More of a takeout/delivery place. The parking was surprisingly easy for a place right on Fair Oaks. Spam, katsu or HBBQ are not my top choices for the healthy eats but this would be a convenient place for us to satisfy the guilty pleasure from time to time.
(4)Rasien I.
Chicken Katsu is super crispy. Mac Salad is just okay. Musubi is missing some flavor. Call ahead and pick up your order.
(3)Alex M.
This place use to be good but something changed. Not sure if it was the owner or the cook but something. I went for lunch and ordered their #18 BBQ mix. It comes with short ribs, teriyaki chicken and either beef or pork not sure exactly what it is. I use to like it and especially with their teriyaki sauce and some Sriracha but something was off. The Mac was a little watery and taste was different. Rice is always good, short ribs and chicken were good but the other meet was just ok. I was a little disappointed and not sure if I'd go back. Seating is limited but they have seats outside that I enjoy.
(2)Calvin L.
It's like getting a sweater for your birthday. Nothing special. Short Ribs Combo ($8.99) This combo comes with your choice of another meat. I opted with the BBQ chicken. So like my birthday, I was pretty excited to open my box. Guess what I got for Christmas.. a wool sweater... Well what's what it felt like. Nothing special. A few pieces of meat with a TON of rice. They don't even have cooked cabbage. It was more like cabbage that's in salads. It wasn't HORRIBLE, but nothing too great. It's also a little expensive for what you get. Not a fan, the 3 star rating is pretty generous, just because the food was average.
(3)Shirlene N.
I decided to come to this place during work lunch hour over L&L, which is closer, because I saw that this place had shrimp skewers. Something different to try. Parking is not that great, it shares with El Pollo Loco and its crowded during lunch hour. I was lucky to find one on the street. Shrimp skewers - it was good, lightly seasoned with terriyaki, good flavor, but not really worth it for $2.99 a skewer. Mini Chicken Katsu - I actually like it here better than L&L. It's not overly fried flavor and there was not as much fatty chicken meat. Overall, its good but not much different from other Hawaiian bbq places around the area. It's a bit of a drive from work just to get Hawaiian BBQ but it is something to consider to stop in to pick up dinner on the drive home.
(3)Pancho V.
Earlier this Year (2013) Hawaiian Garden BBQ had a change of Ownership as the previous Owner went back to Korea, he was a VERY nice person and I'm sure ALL his regular customers miss him. NEW OWNER...... Seriously needs some Customer Service skills, several times I've found him to be a bit rude with customers, it also seems they have new cooks in the kitchen, and tastes like they changed or are using a lesser quality Beef & Chicken, portions have gotten smaller while prices have risen! Unless this New Owner get's an attitude adjustment, and brings back the QUALITY of the food...... I see his demise in 2014 2.5-Stars
(2)G G.
Good portions...tasty food. Nice services...but L&L is still my favorite. I would come back here if in area. Liked BBQ Chicken and Fried Shrimps
(4)Jay T.
I used to "like" this place. Now, it really has gone down. Why 1 star? Because of the Hawaiian Special Fried Rice... in the pictures, you see big prawn size shrimp.... what I got... little orange larvae... literally. Good luck cause I ain't comin' back. Update: I forgot to mention that there was a change in ownership. Pooh-dee on the new owner..... how are you gonna keep those nice pictures from the previous owner who did have food that matched the pictures and serve his old clientele your new sub-standard food? If you were the guy at the cashier area... yeh, I said it, "pooh-dee on you."
(1)Keila N.
Hawaiian BBQ is located in a strip mall across from Bristol Farms. It shares real estate with El Pollo Loco. I ordered the mini spicy pork for $5.98 and a shrimp skewer for $1.99. Price was definitely reasonable. Service was fast. I didn't like the flavor of the pork. I didn't care for the shrimp either.
(2)Krista K.
2nd visit...:/ prices are similar to Ono-Hawaiian but the taste isn't really as flavorful. .. Decided to try new things on the menu as my last meal was a bit oily. Decided to get the chicken mini meal. It had a tiny scope of macaroni and the chicken was a bit stale. As in, refrying fried katsu. I'm not givin up on this place , I'm sure there is something I'll favorite ... (There better be, it's right down the street from my house -_-)
(3)Celia S.
Greasy cabbage under the chicken does not count as a vegetable. I really wanted a teriyaki bowl, and it looked like this place might be ok. It was NOT. Weird chicken bits, flavorless macaroni salad, even the soy sauce had no flavor.
(1)Sushi J.
Good: easy to get to, easy parking. Bad: Food was awful. Ate some, threw a lot out. Gravy on the loco moco was mostly worscestershire sauce flavored, and tasted a little off. Chicken katsu was dry and chewy. Shrimp and kalua pork were ok.
(1)Ti B.
I am fan of this place for many reasons. Let's start with my favs first! 1. Price 2, Service 3, Flavor 4. Portions 5. Location 6. Convenience and fast 7. Menu!! I brought my huge family here a few days ago and we took over the whole place! They were so nice and accomodating! I love it!
(4)Jen C.
Ordered the #1 combo. It had good flavor and was a large amount of food. Chicken was mostly dark thigh meat. Service was polite and food came out really quick. Macaroni was pretty standard, but I ve had better.
(3)Paul A.
This is a nice spot to grab a quick bite. Not the gourmet side of life but fast, good service and the meat is done upon order in my experience. Plenty of parking in the front and back, these lots don't connect fyi. It's also nice to step away from the mundane subway and el pollo loco that share the plaza. The bbq chicken is good, the macaroni salad could use less mayo, and the white rice is average. This is my go to dish and I haven't ventured out in the handful of times I've been there.
(4)Kaila Y.
I was excited to find Hawaiian Garden BBQ because its at such a convenient location for me -- discovered it by accident driving by the plaza and made a mental note about the fact that it delivers! (a poor selection of delivery places can be found on eat24hours.com for the south pasadena area) I got the House Super Combo (comes with beef ribs and bbq chicken) The meat was pretty good quality and the price was great . Bonus points for the fact that my combo came with 2 fried eggs! The macaroni salad was ok though, not bad, but not to die for like Ono's Hawaiian BBQ I would definitely choose Onos or Aloha Food Factory but I would definitely come back to Hawaiian Garden BBQ for convenience. Remember they also deliver! (I dont know any other Hawaii places that do)
(3)Douglas S.
Place isn't the most beautiful but the food is great. I love the ribs and chicken combo. A little expensive though.
(4)Kyle D.
I'm really sad that I have to write this review. Last night, when I was looking for delivery places and found this one, I was really excited. A decent Hawaiian place that delivers? Yes, please! We immediately called them and placed an order for delivery. This was around 8:25PM. Everything went fine. Half an hour later, we're wondering where the food is. It's not that far and most delivery places don't take that long. But it's ok, half an hour is not bad. 45 minutes comes and goes and now, we're concerned. Maybe they got lost. We try calling them but no one picks up. After a few times, I check and see that they actually closed at 9 PM. Now, we're confused. What do we do? Do we wait to see if they show up eventually? Or do we just assume they aren't coming? Given that it was almost 9:30PM and we were waiting for our dinner, we were really hungry. We finally gave up and went out to go buy food. At 9:40PM, we get a phone call. They're outside of our place, we're told. Why are we not there? Now at this point, I was pissed. I can't wait an hour+ for delivery unless I can at least get a hold of someone to find out that the food is still on its way. Why were we not told when we called that they might close before the food was delivered and given an alternative phone number? Or even told that they might be awhile do to the place closing at 9PM? We told them that we waited and they never came. They tried to argue that they had been there but no one answered the door (which wasn't true - we were standing outside of our house just in case they couldn't find it). We asked why they didn't call earlier. They said they had "forgotten the phone in the car". At that point, it seemed fruitless to argue any longer. So yes, I am very disappointed in this place - at least in their delivery service. And as sad as I am to say this, this experience will keep me from ever trying their food.
(1)Alan K.
One word. Overrated. The guy behind the cash register was so rude. I asked for a cup of water and he kindly obliged. Unfortunately, the fountain machine didn't have ice in it. However, he didn't even bother to fill it and just told me that it was empty. I just got some warm water from the dispenser. However, I realized that the ice dispenser was just right there behind the cash register and he could have filled it. Wow, talk about lazy. I asked him later if he can fetch me ice from the dispenser. I got my "food." I ordered their BBQ chicken plate. However, I was not impressed by this dish. I got over burnt BBQ chicken super saturated with sauces that were not good. I ate some of it and had to toss the rest. Perhaps the other food is better, but honestly, with horrible service and bad food, I won't be returning here. If you are craving Hawaiian food, Ono Hawaiian Grill in Alhambra serves way better Hawaiian BBQ chicken with superior ambiance and service than this place.
(1)Cindy G.
I love this place because it is around the corner from my apartment, however, during my last visit, I found that the food quality was not the same and the flavors were not as good. I asked the cashier how the owner Jay was and he said that Jay had sold it and there was a change of ownership. Makes sense. That visit was my last time. Food now is okay, not amazing anymore :(
(3)Just C.
Great food. I stop in with the girlfriend after every acupuncture appointment without fail. The service is fast and everything I've tried has been fresh and ridiculously flavorful. The #19 is my usual. And if there's something you'd rather have (or have not!) don't hesitate to ask. I've yet to pay extra for a substitution. Katsu is amazing, BBQ beef and short ribs are the best I've had as well. I'm not super into chicken but the BBQ chicken is tasty. I always get honest opinions from David about food options and look forward to our weekly visit. I highly recommend stopping in, and if meat is your thing this is a must visit!
(5)Morison W.
Cheap Hawaiian food, for a decent price. Not the best Hawaiian I've had before, but it's in a convenient location that is next to my work. Their burger was alright. I ordered the chicken one, and they put a lot of meet in the burger. They were also pretty tender too, which is always a plus.
(4)Age C.
This place offers some of the best chicken katsu (Tonkatsu) combo I've tried. Only downside. The owner is kind of an asshole.
(3)Mario G.
Great little place! On the way home, cheap spam musibi & pretty good BBQ chicken plate. I will be back!
(4)Sean O.
There really aren't too many options for delivery spots in South Pasadena, not to mention, Hawaiian BBQ in the Pasadena area. This place is much tastier than the places near my work (near LAX). I also don't walk-out of here smelling like a greasy kitchen (like the places near my work). *meh* The Beef Short Ribs here are yummy, and the service is always very friendly. The guy at the counter even kicked-me-down an extra slab of short ribs for tipping. That alone deserves a fair yelp review! =P The delivery service really is a huge plus, as well, and they don't get lost like Papa John's always does, even though I only live 2 blocks away.
(5)Rowena F.
I came here a couple days ago with some friends and the place was lightly packed. I ordered the #1 Classic BBQ Chicken. The meals come with a side of their macaroni salad, rice, and the meat is over lettuce. Overall, the meal was pretty good. The slight disappointment was probably that most of the chicken was burnt. However, it was still pretty tender. If you decide to check this place out try going for the mini instead of the regular size since the mini is actually a large portion of food and cheaper than the regular.
(4)Desirae M.
`Husband and I went there after finding it on Yelp. We both had the Pork and cabbage with rice and macaroni salad. There macaroni salad is so good. The Pork was so moist. The meal was really delicious and affordable. To top it off they have my favorite drink ever which is Thai Iced Tea. Will com back again.
(5)Jon R.
The food is GOOD but there's something not quite right about paying $10 for lunch and still having to eat out of a styrofoam to-go box whether you're dining in or taking it home/to work. Compared to L&L this place is AMAZING! Compared to Hawaii, this place is ok. I like their Hawaiian bbq beef, spicy pork, short ribs, bbq chicken, rice, and mac salad. Their kalua pork is mixed with too much cabbage in my opinion. But I like how they can make anything spicy even the kalua pork. Honestly I don't eat here as often as I'd like cuz their prices are odd. $10+/person. When I wanna save money and spend 5 bucks or less on dinner, nope, can't come here! In contrast, when I want to go out and treat myself, I overlook this place simply because there are way better places to eat (sushi, steak, etc.). They should really have lunch specials for like $6, they would get a LOT more business! Food is good, prices are a bit high IMHO, oh, and ambiance, what ambiance?
(3)Tim E.
I was hungry the other day and I was just being picky about what I wanted. I saw mac salad and I was sold based off a couple of reviews. So that was it. I got the short ribs with mac salad and I was ho hum about eating it. It satisfied me but it wasn't the thrill I was looking for.
(3)Chimi C.
Ok. I'm sad. I picked up #1 chicken with rice and mac salad last friday. It was terrible. I don't know if it was a different cook, or what, but the salad was flat and the chicken was limp, flavorless. Not even a dash of Sriracha helped. I don't know if this is a trend or just an off day. I ate very little of my chicken, shared with my 3 doggies, then decided not to punish them further. I threw the rest away. I just don't know anymore.
(2)Ania S.
You know what sucks about this place..... $4 delivery charge. That is just not right. We were ordering $40+ worth of food. Shouldn't we get free delivery??
(1)Pete D.
Many Hawaiian-style restaurants suffer from the same problem... BBQ that's too salty and macaroni salad that's too bland from cheap mayonaise. Hawaiian BBQ does NOT suffer from this problem. Their food is actually well balanced in flavor! Their BBQ beef is moist and hearty and goes perfect with some hot, steaming rice. Their Katsu chicken is good on its own and does not need sauce. The macaroni salad is just right... the right balance of mayonaise and seasoning. Their shrimp fried rice is great and loaded with small shrimp. Service is okay... responsive. Food came out fairly quickly. Location isn't the greatest, parking limited. I would have given four stars but they don't want you to share drinks!?! What's up with that? Drinks are self-serve... do they watch you? But if you are hungry for a flavorful Hawaiian food and reasonable prices, go to Hawaiian BBQ.
(3)Alex B.
NOTE: This is for a visit in April 2012, I just stumbled on my unfinished review today. I can't judge the food. I never made if that far. Since the place doesn't seem to have its own website, I went in person to order. They closed 5 minutes early on me, after driving from the north side of Pasadena to South Pas just to get Hawaiian take out. The sign said open and the door was open, they just weren't going to prepare one more hot meal for a customer with five minutes to go. I guess they were hoping I would only order a pre-made salad or drink or something. If this was a sit down restaurant I could understand, but this is take out food. Either change your hours or serve your customers until closing. BAD SERVICE!
(1)Sam L.
Wow, the grilled chicken is amazingly tender. If I could make one change to their dishes, it's to add some more veggies on the side. I always have to order an extra side of salad for $1 to get the crunch I need to offset the carb and protein overload.
(4)Jennifer S.
This place has some of the best macaroni salad i've ever had. The plates are well worth your money. Do not order your food for delivery though. The guy who usually delivers the food can be creepy and weird. On a couple occasions, he has peeked his head in my house as if he wanted to come in. On another occasion, I gave him a 13 percent and he argued the point that I need to give at least a 15 percent tip. Your best off picking up your food.
(3)Chantelle T.
I'm usually disappointed by Hawaiian food here in LA since I grew up eating some bombdidlytastic plate lunches back home in Hawaii. But this place was actually pretty good...a nice pleasant surprise after a day of working on my surgical project. I ordered the chicken katsu plate (comes on a bed of shredded lettuce w/ mac salad and rice on the side) for $7. The rice is good and boy, the mac salad was pretty amazing. and the katsu was delicious. The execution for the katsu was a bit sloppy (you could tell they used a really thin piece of chicken so it curled up a lot during the frying process) but the taste was okay. I would definitely come here again for some food if I'm in the area. Hopefully the service is better the next time i go too. The guy behind the counter asked me to wait after I asked him for a water cup...seriously man, takes you like 2 seconds to get a cup and hand it to me.
(4)Josue G.
This place is kind of hidden in the inside corner of the plaza. I was actually going to eat at Pollo Loco but decided to give Hawaiian BBQ another shot. I was kind of hesitant after my last awful experience at another place, which has no affiliation to this one; but I am glad I gave this place a try! The cashier, who I believe is also the owner, was very friendly! I ordered their BBQ beef mini, which is more than enough food for one, and a small soft drink. The total about $7.99, which was fine to me. The beef was perfect cooked and meat was very tender and moist. It did not have tons of fat like other places. The beef was chopped into bit size pieces that made it easier to eat. The beef was perfectly seasoned, it really did need any teriyaki sauce. The white rice was fine and the macaroni salad was great too. Definitely a place I would check out again.
(4)Patrick G.
This is a great place to go for a filling moderately priced lunch. I come here often and get a bbq beef / chicken katsu combo plate. This includes a generous serving of bbq beef cooked in a fantastic sauce and has grilled onions mixed in, katsu fried chicked which comes with a container of sauce. It also comes with a big serving of rice and a side of macaroni salad which is great too. I usually get this with an order of spam musubi which is always fried for just the right amount of time. It's not cheap although its not expensive either and I always leave satisfied. Their macaroni salad and bbq beef is the best i've had outside of a high priced diner and better than most places specializing in bbq. They also serve Thai tea which you can order with boba. The Thai tea is okay but the Boba is overcooked sometimes. They have the best tasting Hawaiian food i've eaten in the Pasadena-San Marino area by far and i'd say as just about as good as what you'd get at a decent authentic place the islands. It has a bit of a strange decor but is mostly clean and kept neat. It's not very big and has small tables so it's best to pickup and dine somewhere else if you are in a large group. They deliver within a 3 mile radius if you pay over $16. It seems like most of the complaints about this place don't have to do with the food itself and i've never had a bad experience for the 4 years i've been eating here neither food nor service related. They don't open till 10 in the morning and clost at 9 every day, but are closed all day on Sundays. I can not stress enough how good their food tastes, it's miles ahead of L&L and almost as good as what you'd expect in Hawaii. Despite the amount of starch I find myself eating here almost weekly. Definitely give this place a try.
(5)Matt W.
The homely atmosphere combined with the great japanese american fusion food makes for a great restaurant.
(5)Danny A.
It's ok but I like L&L better
(3)Elle T.
Maybe it was an off-day today. We all have those, right? But Hawaiian BBQ wasn't as great today at lunch as all these reviews made them sound. It's your standard Hawaiian BBQ place, if you ask me. there wasn't anything particularly special about it. Parking was fair enough and so was the service. He wasn't what I'd call friendly, but that's no big deal to me. He took my order promptly. I ordered a BBQ chicken + short ribs combo. It was in my hands in the next 5 minutes - came with rice and mac salad, sides of Sriracha and Teriyaki sauce included. I got it in a to-go box and took it outside to eat. The chicken was good; cooked well, and still tender and juicy. I would have enjoyed a more grilled (smoky) taste, but that's just my preference and there was nothing wrong with the chicken. The short ribs were disappointing. Mine were mostly stringy fat and very hard to chew. Bleh. I gave up on most of that. The mac salad had a lot - A LOT of pepper. you can decide if that's a good or bad thing. I didn't mind the pepper, but some might. And the rice was mush. A giant, scoop-shaped chunk of mush. All for a total of $8.66. I guess that's around a standard price, but I would have preferred Ono or Aloha Grill.
(3)Larry G.
Delicious chicken katsu and spam musubis. They have homemade teriyaki sauce too. Small size is fine. The only thing you get in the larger size is more rice and an extra scoop of mac salad.
(4)John L.
great portion sizes and a home-made flair set this place apart from other chain hawaiian restaurants. Everything is cooked to order, and food comes out piping hot. the chicken is well seasoned and not oily at all. The spam musubi is well made and is as subtle as spam can get. The bbq sauce is homemade and delicious!
(4)Carlos G.
There are good Hawaiian BBQ joints and there are bad ones. This is one of the good ones. I may not have had their whole menu, but I have had a lot of the regular items. Their macaroni is delicious, katsu is one of the best I've had, and BBQ chicken is great. Get their small (or mini) size which come with one entree and steamed rice and mac. If you're super hungry, then go for their regular combo plates that offer two to three entrees. Either way, you won't be disappointed in their beef or chicken. The owner and staff are very nice and happy to have your business, especially since the construction that's been going on for almost a year has seriously slowed business down. If there's a mistake in the order they usually are happy to correct it. Oh, and they deliver on orders of $10 or more if you live close by as well as cater. If you've had one of those bad Hawaiian BBQ places, give it one more shot here.
(5)J. Francisco A.
I've avoided this place because I'm not a big fan on Hawaiian food but decided to give it a try on a friends recommendation. I'm also writing this review to help give the place some business and maybe someone else will try it for the first time too. The construction on fair oaks seems to be taking its tool on this place along with a few other in the area. When I walked in there seemed to be 4-5 high school age kids hanging out and the guy behind the counter seemed to be entertained by them. I told the guy that I had never been there and that I was thinking about having some chicken. He recommended the chicken combo so I went with it. Combo was great and it gave me a chance to sample the chicken and beef. Both were really good but I found the flavors to be more in line with Japanese teriyaki than Hawaiian. Next time I'll ask for something a bit more Hawaiian. Next time you're in the area or if your tried and hungry and sitting in traffic drop by.
(3)Sassie B.
We ordered #9 Kalua Pork w/cabbage, #17 House Super Combo, and #2 Chicken Katsu. I thought the mac salad was bland and it was warm. I am from the South where mac salad is delicious and always cold. The curry sauce for the Chicken Katsu had no flavor and the meat was dry and tasteless. The man behind the register was friendly and accommodating, but the food was less than mediocre. Unfortunately, we will not be going back for a second try. But, I must say on a positive note, I ordered two Thai teas without ice; I didn't receive any grief/attitude as is sometimes the case when ordering w/o ice or sometimes I will get a glass that is not full to the top.
(1)Ernest T.
The food here isn't bad, its actually pretty good, but everything kinds makes this place wierd. I got the the chicken katsu and the spam musubi. Fantastic chicken katsu, with a lot flavor but the spam musubi gets a little bland after a few bites. Their meats are good and ribs is okay. Definitely needs to be hotter when it gets to me. I thought the price was just ok...good food, but pricey... 3.5 stars for food, 1 star for customer service. The person at the counter was kinda of weird and not to helpful. No sharing drinks...ok...odd...
(3)D R.
I went with the spicy pork based on other Yelpers recommendations and was pretty let down. It's not terribly spicy, but the real problem is that it tastes bad in the same way that canned food tastes from 99 cent stores ... like it was concocted by someone that never bothered to taste it themselves and just dumped a bunch of preservatives into it instead. I can't go down to one star on the review, however, as the macaroni salad is pretty amazing. I didn't have the problems with the owner that Alan K. and Chantelle T. did, though when I mentioned that I've been enjoying trying out the various restaurants in their strip mall that pretty much ended his side of the conversation. With the awesomeness that is Charm, little wonder.
(2)Sharon K.
Chicken Katsu + macaroni salad = Delicious! Absolutely love how they make the chicken katsu here! It's so crispy and tender. It's delicious! The macaroni salad is far much better than Uno grill or Shakas! Definitely! Great flavor! They have two sizes, a regular or a mini!
(5)Annie L.
Compared to all the Hawaiian food in the area, this place is good and cheap. Mac salad is good, spicy pork is good but the best thing is... Free delivery. We eat here at least twice a month. The only downside is they don't have hamburger loco moco which is a must have for us.
(4)Denis K.
Sitting here finishing my dinner. Hmm don't order the recommended Mac Mahi Mahi. It's a piece of fried frozen breaded fish in misc butter rich sauce for $14. Umm no thanks. Hate to be harsh. But the problem isn't the service, it's the food.
(1)Moses P.
The food here isn't bad, but it isn't amazing either. I usually get the chicken katsu and the spam musubi. Fantastic chicken katsu, but the spam musubi gets a little bland after a few bites. Their beef rib combo is okay. Definitely needs to be hotter when it gets to me. 3 stars for food, 1 extra star for fantastic customer service. The person at the counter forgot to add my drink onto the bill, so he just gave me a cup and said it's on the house.
(4)Scott D.
Can't say that Hawaiian food is high on my list of faves, but in my limited experiences these guys do it well. Great food, prices and service. Definitely in the rotation of neighborhood lunch spots right now.
(5)Gee S.
This place is way better than LL Hawaiian BBQ. Their Chicken Katsu is very tender inside with the perfect crunchiness outside. The macaroni too is a perfect combination for the chicken. Not too sweet and with the right amount of mayo. They even accept phone orders, ready to be picked up after a few minutes. I've been coming here for the past year and will be coming for more. Pls make sure my order of curry chicken katsu with the curry at the side ready in 5 minutes ;-)
(5)Jonathan M.
Awwww yeah! After eating some take out from this joint I felt like I could go and kick some Somoan ass! For real. This is the kind of place that you don't know if you should eat the food or just slather it directly onto your thighs and butt because that is most assuredly where it is going to end up! First things first: I called at 9:30 because they were the only place left I hadn't tried for delivery (by way of explanation I'm a single father and a writer ergo I can't just waltz out when the fridge is empty). Anyway it was late and they were closed...but by some odd miracle they said, 'hey, we'll take your delivery order no problem, what do you want?' Well an order of Chicken Katsu and some BBQ Beef for lunch tomorrow sounds about right. When the food arrived I was shocked. SHOCKED. Why? The chicken was HOT and CRISPY and absolutely delicious. I mean who actually thought I was going to get real Katsu chicken that was as so hot it gave me the impression it was cooked on the stoop only seconds before it was delivered. The sauce was authentic, the rice was fresh and fluffy and the mac salad tasted like my Hawaiian grandma whipped it up after I got done dropping barrels...and I'm a haoli! All in all they hooked me up with cheap, reasonable, awesome take out after hours and even the delivery guy was chill. My new favorite delivery and the guys running Patakan should walk around the corner and see how it gets done.
(5)Jenny S.
Absolutely LOVE this place. Food is waaaay better than L&L and the people are friendly and they deliver for FREE!! The spicy pork with mac salad (add an egg) and the katsu chicken is da bomb!!!
(5)Trang P.
The food cooks when you order which is the way I like it! Nice and Hot! Jay the owner is very friendly and curteous.
(5)Victorious R.
I always love the BBQ chicken its good but never tried anything else on the menu. The tables are cool by the way if u go in take a look at them.
(4)A F.
Bomb!!! This place deserves the 5 stars. Crazy good, macaroni salad is delicious........ Bbq ribs bomb and the chicken too. Everything is good.... Only thing that sucks they're closed Sundays, booooo we were craving it right now... Other than that, this place is our go to for some good Hawaiian food.
(5)Mike L.
This is one of the go to family dining places for us. Fresh good quality ingredients. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommended for catering. They even have free local delivery. Like their chicken, Mac & Cheese, and Musubi. Jae, one of the partners that own the place, has always been very nice as well. Highly recommend for reasonably priced good food for the family.
(4)Forrest D.
Truly uninspired name for a pretty good fast food hawaiian bbq place, a bit like Wells Fargo naming themselves Bank but I guess people know what to expect. I've only tried the beef ribs, so I can't really vouch for any other plates but the beef is always pretty good. You have a choice of two sized for each plate, and even the smaller portions are generous. They also have a large menu of other options about 20 or so to choose from. Food - B+ Ambience - D Service - B+ Value - B+
(3)Maxx B.
I come here minimum once a week, and have sometimes gone every day of the week. I have also several times considered making the drive from downtown LA, to south Pasadena to satisfy a Hawaiian BBQ craving. All the employees here are great, best service, they make the effort to learn your name, and learn what you like, so that when you walk in the door, your order is already being ringed up. The chicken katsu.... if i were given 2 weeks to live, I would eat enough chicken katsu to kill myself in 1. I love the Katsu like an unborn child. I love the katsu more and more every time I have it.... and I'm not even gonna get started on the macaroni salad, all I have to say, is less then half an hour ago, I finished my meal, marched back in there, and ordered a container full of mac. When I sit down in the restaurant, I feel at home, the decorations are very unique, and although i doubt I will ever know why there is a dodgers poster in between all of the posters of Hawaiian beaches, I wouldn't want it any other way. Anyone who isn't a chump, has tried, and enjoyed this restaurant...
(5)Aaliyah R.
YUMMY, YUMMY YUMMY TO MY TUMMY. I could eat #1 all day everyday. It the chicken meal with rice and macaroni! yummmmm meeee...anyway, i go here often on my lunch break with coworkers. The staff is super nice and the food come quick!
(5)Michael P.
It's a hole in the wall but the chicken katsu is amazing and the spam musubi is a must have!!! The owner is also incredibly friendly. I come here at least once a month and am never let down.
(4)Darbar '.
I've tried a bunch of Hawaiian places, this is the one I keep going back to. All the BBQ meats are tasty, and katsu chicken has just the right texture. The macaroni salad, forgettable at most places, has real flavor here. I got a few trays for a birthday party, the food just got devoured, and people kept asking where it came from. Oh, and free delivery!
(5)Justin S.
It's a bit on the pricey side for what it is, but I have to say this is the best Hawaiian BBQ place I've found in the LA area, hands down. The spicy pork was delicious and perfectly spiced heatwise, and the BBQ chicken was juicy and had a nice subtle teriyaki flavor. The people who work here are friendly too. A hard-to-find gem, tucked away in the far corner of a strip mall. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Tavis L.
I go in here at least once a week for the spicy pork lunch, because it's terrific. I tried the BBQ beef once, which was alright, but the spicy pork has an awesome kick that makes mouths happy. Love the macaroni salad that comes on the side, too.
(4)David T.
Decided to try this local place after reading the reviews and it did not dissapoint. Ordered chicken combo (katsu and bbq), beef combo (ribs and bbq) and spicy pork. All were very tasty and the macaroni was excellent. I also ordered 2 spam musubi and got 2 for free. I was planning on picking up but they said they were making a delivery around where I lived so I went with it. Would definitely order again.
(4)Ruth C.
There's a clear issue with communication and respect between the counter staff and the short order cooks. This is a fairly small counter in a strip plaza, about ten tables or so. The mango smoothie was delicious, and the macaroni salad was perfect. Unfortunately the barbequed short ribs were a bit overdone, but not inedible. Minimum $5 purchase to use credit card.
(3)Edward S.
BEST PLACE EVAR! I go here because I go to PCC and my friend told me about this place. THE FOOD IS AWESOME!! I was hooked immediately to the chicken katsu. The only problem you'll find is trying to find this place and leaving. (I got lost trying to find this place.) Screw all those other wanna-be places. Come here and you'll be hooked, guaranteed. (Not hooked on drugs, but on food.)
(5)Anne L.
Went there last Saturday for lunch to go. I love the mini meals. I had the mini fried shrimp combo plate. This is one of the few times that I'll say i liked something because it came out battered and crunchy. Yum My friend had the chicken burger meal and it was packed with fries and a huge burger. Craving, satisfied.
(4)Dean Q.
I almost want to give it 1 star. It's basically run by Asian non-Hawaiians. Made me think of a nicer version of the fast-food Chinese restaurant owner from South Park. Anyway, it tasted like Chinese fast food. C'mon. L&L is just up the street. And Ono's is definitely better. 2 stars because they are trying. But the foodie in me wants to knock them down to 1 star. Spam masubi was an interpretation by the latino cook and supervised by the non-Hawaiian owner/manager. I also think they used a Spam substitute. Ew. Okay, 1 star it is.
(1)Kellyn P.
My husband and I will never go back to this place again. We paid for our 2 plates and one fountain drink. After we paid the cashier tells us that we are not allowed to share the drink. "You can have refills" he tells my husband "but you can't share." So while we're eating our food, the guy is eyeballing us from the counter to make sure we're not sharing the drink. Best part of it is, he comes outside by where we're sitting, clips his nails in his car (I can even hear the clipping as we eat our meal) and watches us again on his way back inside the restaurant. Talk about poor business tactics. The food wasn't great either. Frozen peas and carrots in the overly oily Fried Rice, and canned pineapples on their katsu. My grandma makes better fried rice with the same ingredients. I'm telling you, we will never go back there again.
(1)Susan W.
The BBQ combination is addicting. I call ahead and pick it up for dinner almost once a week. It's a lot of good food for a little price.
(5)suzy q.
Hey this place is pretty good.. I always get the chicken katsu mini plate... so yummy and $5 and it suffices as a dinner for one... the bigger plate can be shared by two (small people). Their boba isn't the best though.. And they do free delivery for $10 minimum!
(4)Steve R.
Chicken is very flavorful -- not too salty nor sweet --- just balanced perfectly. Service is great. I go here at least 2-3x a week. (I work nearby). Staff is always friendly. Prices are just right along with large portions. Actually I get the MINI plates vs REGULAR plates --- the regular size is too much food for a lunch meal. Meal is always cooked to order, fresh and yummy!
(5)jonathan l.
Food was far too greasy. Chicken was flavorless. Server hardly spoke English.
(1)paul b.
i'm not often in the mood for hawaiian bbq, but when i am it's a very solid lunch stop. all the other reviews describe their menu well.
(4)Steve B.
YES, that really is the name... and they really should change it, but it's obviously an attempt to drum up some business to make up for it's crappy location. It's tucked away in a little strip mall on Fair Oaks in the El Pollo Loco plaza. The location's terrible and it's a shame they don't get more business because the food is great. I have a real weakness for hawaiian food and I've pretty much sampled all the hawaiian places on the east side. This place is really one of the best! A sweet little grandma runs the place and so far, every dish I've tried is great! The Kahlua Pork is one of my favorites! They have so many different combinations of Hawaiian food, there's no way you will walk in there and NOT find something you like. For example, I think you can have them throw eggs on just about anything. They have a loco moco w/chicken and instead of hamburger too. The mac salad tastes just like Rainbow Drive-In in Waikiki. They also have Chicken Musubi for you diet conscious eaters. Be forewarned, the food takes a little bit of time to cook because she insists on not pre-cooking anything until you order it, but it's well worth it.
(5)Lisa d.
This place has a truly great macaroni salad. The fellas that run the counter are personable and thoughtful. Their portions are ample and the quality is very good. I really enjoy coming here and I know that whether I order a katsu, a wrap or even the dishes made with spam (musubi or fried rice), it will be tasty and made well.
(4)RDizzl E.
Decent offering of Hawaiian BBQ favorites despite an very un-original name. They have all the typical lunch plates: BBQ beef, chicken, katsu, etc. I especially like their macaroni. The chicken was ok, but not on the same level as Ono or L&L. If you're close by and your feigning for Hawaiian, go for it. Otherwise make the trip to L&L or Ono.
(3)C C.
awesome place. best chicken katsu and spam musubi.
(5)Heather E.
I go to Hawaiian BBQ every Monday! I get the same thing every week and I love it! I get the Mini BBQ Chicken Plate. The Chicken is marinated in teriyaki sauce and it is great! The plate usually comes with macaroni salad and a scoop of rice, both are great but i get two scoops of rice instead of macaroni salad because i don't like mayo. When I get the chicken I dip it in a special hot sauce, not the sriacha stuff in the bottle with the rooster on it.
(5)