Lili’s BBQ
2300 N King St,Ste 101, Honolulu, HI, 96819
Lili’s BBQ Menu
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Address :
2300 N King St,Ste 101
Honolulu, HI, 96819 - Phone (808) 842-9100
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:30 am - 7:3
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Colin K.
If you're looking for a great value, delicious food, and plenty of it come to Lili's. I tried it once and I'm a fan. The beef brisket is out of this world! Tender, juicy, and delicious. You can't beat the price and quantity of any of their plate lunches. Friendly and fast service, a very clean establishment, and ample parking. I only wish that they opened a little later. I rush to make it before they close at 7:30pm. I also wish that they offered brown rice and more veggies. It's not a place you can eat at every day if you want to have a healthy diet but it's a great treat at the end of a long work day.
(4)Jason Y.
The smoked brisket is super good. The meat is very tender, you don't really need a knife to cut except for the bark which is a nice contrast to the tenderness. There's a nice smokey taste, not to much or to little. And if you enjoy the fatty parts they just melt in your mouth. This is my first time trying Lili's BBQ and I will be back to try more. The brisket comes with mac salad, kim chee, and corn bread which I think is unusual but we're not in Texas this is Hawaii. The meal comes with BBQ sauce which is pretty good but I suggest you try the brisket by itself first. We were there at 10 am so it was empty. It's probably busier during lunch time.
(4)Duane G.
Been here twice. First time had the Brisket. Big pieces but not what I expected. Kinda on the bland side. Ordered the ribs today and was ok. I have a smoker so I try to compare the smoke rings with the flavor it gives off. I might try the breakfast cause they only serve on Mondays. I'm off that day. We'll keep you posted.
(3)Cin C.
Honestly, the best BBQ chicken, kalbi and meat jun I have ever tasted! I have tried this at many Korean restaurants but this one is "da bomb!" I read the article in this Sunday's paper and thought I would check it out with several friends. Everyone enjoyed the food as much as I did and we all plan to go back for more and to tell our friends and family too.
(5)Renee C.
LOVE BBQ, so had to try this place and the brisket. I had two fairly large slices of brisket, which was smoked nicely but had way too much fat for me. I could only eat about half of what was given. Even the "leaner" pieces had lots of fat (which melted in your mouth), but still. The mac salad, kim chee and cornbread all pretty good. My co-worker had the chicken with gravy and it was good/tasty (had a bite) and another had the bento, which was a great deal for $6 bucks and a lot of food. I'm willing to give this one more try for the BBQ. Maybe I'll try the ribs next time. But, giving 4 stars since I love the fact that we can get BBQ now in Kalihi and prices were fairly reasonable. But, got to cut that fat a bit and would be a winnah!
(4)Tongu K.
Saw this on cheap eats and thought wow! This place looks like a must try! Unfortunately the food is just bland, dry, and cold. It shouldn't be that hard to make things better, a little more salt and some nice gravy will help a lot. Even a microwave will make things more palatable. The brisket was cooked decently. It just needs flavor. The chicken cooked nice, but again needs work on seasoning.
(2)Deena T.
The Good: I love brisket, and there aren't that many places on the island to get it. And most of the places are overpriced. Lili's brisket is amazing. It's tender and the portion is huge. I was able to split my plate into two servings. Like many others have said, it's a clean and bright location. The Bad: It's a Korean BBQ restaurant, so I expected the kim chee to be better. It wasn't great. They also didn't have their pineapple dessert ready. The ribs weren't as tender as the brisket, and the flavor wasn't strong enough. Overall: I'd go back over and over for the brisket, but next time, I'd ask for an extra cup of sauce. It's great with the brisket. I wouldn't order the ribs again.
(4)Omi P.
The Fried Chicken was so delicious. It was Crispy and oh so flavorful. Lili ' s bento is also delicious. The fish Jun was tender and tasty . The prices are right. Don't forget it's CASH ONLY. Can't wait to come back and try the Chicken & Gravy with cornbread. Thank you Hon for stumbling on this great find.
(4)ED B.
If your looking for large portions at around $10 plate lunches this is the place. My favorite is the smoke brisket plate which comes with cornbread, rice, Mac & kimchee.
(4)Jennie C.
I always believe that first impression is very important, especially for a restaurant. Today is the first time I am coming here. I love the brightness and cleanliness of the restaurant. It's very spacey and lots of parking. I ordered the smoke brisket, and I was shocked at the size of my plate. It was huge. The regular size plate is the mini plate. The brisket was very tasty and cooked just right. It was soft but it still kept its form. They gave lots of and lots of rice. The cornbread was a great blend with the brisket. My children came to eat with me and they were also surprised (and happy) at the size of their plate. They also love what they ordered and they made me promise them that we can come back. Most definite. Customer service was really. Very nice and pleasant Korean lady at the counter. They were about to close when we got there but she was still very pleasant. Again, a very, very clean place. It's a new place but I highly recommend. Try it!
(4)Lala L.
First time coming here b/c I saw Guy Hagi advertise it on cheap eats. Just about everyrhing was sold out, no brisket, no rice, no ribs. So i ordered fish jun, it was ok, nothing id go back for. The wait was about 30 min to receive my food. Won't be going here in the future unless I make a phone order.
(2)Eddie P.
Smoked Southern style ribs and brisket and meat jun and kalbi served with cornbread and kim chee for sides.
(3)Lyla D.
It's a good thing that we worked out before coming to Lili's. Lili's BBQ is located in a multi-business building on its EWA end. The building is across the street from New City Nissan close to the Ola Lane turn. We liked the large parking lot associated with this location so don't panic if the lot in front is full. This restaurant boasts sit-down, takeout and catering services. As you approach the restaurant's entry, you'll be drawn in by the BBQ aroma that wafts out through the vents. The interior is "sparkling" clean and not crowded which makes you relaxed and ready to eat. You'll be greeted with friendly, helpful and patient counter help. The menu is quite extensive so, stand back a few seconds to "soak in" their choices. Their menu combines the ethnicity of their owners (The Maiava(sp?) Family)- husband is Samoan/Chinese and wife is Korean. Lili's is UNLIKE other Korean BBQ restaurants because your lunch plate doesn't offer banchan sides other than Kim Chee. Their Korean menu goes beyond the usual Kal Bi, BBQ or fried chicken, meat or fish jun and combo plates. They offer oxtail, Kim Chee, Spicy Tofu, and seaweed soup. They also feature an Americana South menu with Country Chicken, white gravy and cornbread (chicken fried steak), smoked brisket with cornbread, pork BBQ ribs with cornbread. Ah, the Samoan menu influences kicked in pineapple half moon pies, curry meat pies, chicken pies and German buns with fresh coconut filling. As your sides, you'll get MORE than 2 scoops of rice (it covers the bottom of the styrofoam container), a healthy scoop of Mac salad and house made Kim Chee. When we picked up our order, my wrists bent under the weight. You'll truly be delighted with the freshness, delicious tastes and generous portion sizes! We ordered their combo plates: - Kal bi & meat jun plate that contained 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x 3-bone-in Kal bi ribs, a massive egg battered beef cutlet, rice, Mac salad and Kim Chee. I dare say, because I've been working out, I normally can "pound" a plate lunch without difficulty. This one was large and I couldn't finish it, as delicious as it was. - Kal bi & fish jun plate that featured 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x3-bone-in Kal bi ribs and a large piece of tender, moist egg battered fish. The portions are humongous and the flavors were all on-point! While there, other tables were filled with diners who all "praised" their choices as "broke da mout", "onolicious" and "opu busting"! We plan to go back for their pineapple pie and the Country chicken. We'll make a point to get there EARLY or call ahead to reserve some more of Lili's goodness!
(5)Laura G.
When you're looking for good BBQ in Kalihi Lili's is the place. I tried the meat jun/BBQ chicken combo: the meat jun was one of the best I've had - not oily and heavy - and the BBQ chicken was juicy and very flavorful. Mac salad was Mac salad, and the kimchi was tasty. The restaurant itself was clean & bright and the staff was very friendly. Portions were huge so I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow...or second lunch in an hour or so...overall a great lunch spot. Will stop by Lili's again I'm sure!
(5)John I.
A bit pricey for the full plates but they do have mini's available and are still good sized. Food is freshly made. Kimchee crispy. Mac salad not limp. Meat made to order. Gave it four stars because its not pre cooked food.
(4)Shirley P.
Wish I could give this place ZERO stars. My husband picked up the pork ribs and beef brisket for dinner. As soon as I looked at the ribs I instantly knew that it was DRY DRY DRY. I took one bite and it tasted as nasty as it looked. The cornbread was placed on top of the kim chee and it was as dry as the ribs. Took a bite of of the brisket and I thought it was just as nasty. This is first and last time we'll be eating at this place.
(1)Brad I.
Jesus coming soon... Augie T Since being features on the news twice for cheap eats, this place is definitely a cheap eat with great food! We've had the Brisket, ribs, BBQ Chicken and the country chicken (not in all one sitting because that would be food for 2 weeks). Great service, clean restaurant, great food... Nothing more to say.
(5)Mavisi E.
I'm sure on their first day, GRAND OPENING, some glitches (as with any new business) is expected, but the owners were very receptive to feedback, and always welcome feedback from their patrons! As the owner puts it, "it can only make us better! And as the new kids on the block...we aim to ensure customer satisfaction!" Now THATS worth 5 stars! On the food side, DELISH!
(5)Corey B.
I tried the smoked brisket with fried rice. The rice contained some leftover brisket from breakfast and was pretty good. The brisket was rather dry and the bbq sauce was ok. Go to the south for real smoked food. The crowd was next door at Mitsuken. Generally the food was ok but for the price I would go elsewhere nearby.
(3)Epicurious M.
$5.50 for #1 Lunch Bento: BBQ chicken x fish jun over rice FTW!! I should have bought two so I can have lunch for work tomorrow. Good food, cheap price, good quantity...I'm happy! I'm that easy. I've also tried the spicy pork. For $8.50 you get these thin strips of pork over rice, a side of mac and kim chee. When I opened the plate I was happy to see such a huge mound of food. For me, the pork wasn't even spicy, but I enjoyed how it was freshly cooked and nice and hot over that steaming rice. That's some comfort food right there. I like this place and my only knock is that it is so far away to get to from my home base and the seating options can be a little limited (thus the four-star rating). I was one person and I took over a table meant for four, so luckily it wasn't really crowded otherwise it would have been that proverbial "awkward moment."
(4)Mary M.
We decided to try this place and was just curious with what their food tasted like! We ordered the brisket cause they said it was one of the popular dishes. Although we only ordered one meal due to the fact it was cash only but we weren't disappointed at all! The brisket was so good it literally melted in our mouth! And the portion was great! And I love the cornbread as well! Definitely will be coming back to try other items on their menu!!!
(5)Hyo K.
Great food and clean atmosphere. Price is about the same as Zippys but the food portion is much bigger. Glad they opened not too far from where I work.
(5)Dennis L.
We got the bbq chicken and kalbi combo. The portions were huge. I remember the plate was pretty heavy. The food was pretty good. The place is clean and there was plenty of parking. A decent place, I will probably go back to try the pies.
(4)Ben F.
This place is ok. In the evening (6 p.m.) they were out of beef brisket, BBQ ribs, salmon, and spicy pork. We ordered the Kalbi beef and Country Chicken. The Kalbi was tender and tasty but the chicken had a few burnt spots. The portions are large and the mac salad is tasteless. In the future, I would only go back to this place if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)Del C.
had pork ribs horrible burnt very bad will never go bk. smoke brisket no taste
(1)Jedidiah H.
Nice & Clean restaurant. Friendly staff. Food tasted great. I had a mini BBQ chicken & my husband had the Smoked Ribs w/corn bread. Portions were great and the price is reasonable. Will definitely be back again.
(5)Ken F.
Ordered the Brisket, Ribs since I was craving some smoked meats Both meat lack a specific smoky flavor as in most BBQ meats and with that the meat tasted bland, not enough smoke gone through the meat. The BBQ sauce was good thought it saved the day. The portions are huge for carbs only. The meat portion to carbs was like 1 to 5. Kimchee doesn't match well with BBQ sauce. Tasting them together was pretty awful. I dislike sweet Cornbread, what is it with Hawaii and sweet cornbread? A good BBQ meat should have a dry rub which acts as a bark when smoked. I see nothing here. It seems like meat was boiled prior to smoking. If it was true BBQ the smoking should have only done the cooking and there should be a smoke pit somewhere and the entire restaurant should smell smoky and eating there should make your clothes and skin smell smoky. That is true BBQ. I had Molly's BBQ and that place does BBQ how it should but, unfortunately it is a long drive.
(2)Betty M.
The Brisket is "Da Bomb!
(5)Sean N.
Wow....saw this place on cheap eats a few months back finally went. Had the pork ribs and brisket and whoa....the flavor quality and quantity was awesome. The brisket fell apart as u tried to eat it and was so tasty. The pork ribs was so tender and tasty. Will definitely go back again and let my friends know. Great job!
(5)Velma C.
My first visit (& first review ). Initial impressions.... The restaurant is very CLEAN, bright and inviting. Ordered BBQ chicken, Lili's bento and Kalbi/Meat Jun combo. My boys are big eaters and devoured their plates. I ordered the bento because of the salmon...was flavorful, even better when dipped in meat jun sauce. Priced very reasonable and convenient location.
(4)Jenna T.
Stopped by for a quick lunch and was impressed with their smoked BBQ ribs!!! Super yummy!! Meat falls right off the bone!! A must try
(5)Gail S.
The first thing that I tried from Lili's was their oxtail soup, the broth is very tasty and they give a good amount of meat with a side container of rice for $9.50 it was delicious! So I went back and bought a lili's bento, kalbi, fish jun, and meat jun for $6 and the container was packed not a stingy amount, it was a really good deal that fed me twice. My bf tried their smoke brisket with corn bread and his plate was packed and the flavor and tenderness of the meat was perfect for $9.75. Overall I believe this place is a small hole in the wall gem, and most of their prices are all under $10
(4)Elppa J.
Now that I think about it, there aren't too many Korean BBQ joints in Kalihi. Alas, this is where Lili's BBQ steps in the picture. Just a few doors away from Mitsuken, Lili's offers Korean BBQ and mainland Southern style menu, with a little twist: Samoan influence through their pies. The good: -So far, I've tried their meat jun and chicken katsu, which never fails to disappoint. I do look forward to trying out more of their menu -Each plate is packed with generous scoops of rice, mac salad, and kimchee (which tastes homemade!) The best part is, your plate is loaded up generously. -I saw one of the owners in the kitchen, manning the kitchen and busting work. Kudos to her. -Establishment is clean, kitchen looks clean, and although the place is small, there is ample amount of seating inside. Cash only! -One girl working the counter was very friendly and talked story to the customers -Food is made fresh and piping hot once you pick it up -Lots of parking, same area as Mistuken, so if you can't snag a spot right outside the restaurant, FHB parking is right next door. The meh: -Tried their oxtail soup once, but I couldn't really care for it. I've had better -Wait time was a tad bit long. When I went in, the kitchen was slammed with orders. On top of that, I overhead that they were waiting for the rice to finish cooking, which meant additional wait time for the rice. Luckily, I didn't have anywhere to go, so waiting wasn't a problem for me. However, I do hope Lili's BBQ finds a way to minimize wait time Overall, a decent place to get a Korean BBQ fix if you're ever in Kalihi. Support local!
(4)Bun M.
I saw this place on cheap eats and the menu looks similar to my fav haunt, smokin grill. So i figured it would be good to try the competition! On a plus side they give a ton of food. On the other side the food could use a lot more flavor. The brisket was a bit on the dry side and need a lot of salt. I also tried the chicken cutlet, it was decent, but again it lacked enough seasoning. I might try here again, but smokin grill is still the best for brisket, ribs, fried chicken!
(3)Katsumi I.
Food was OK. But girl working at the counter can't Take orders as requested. Food was edible but nothing to be craved for. There are better choice in town. I won't be going back.
(1)S A.
BBQ Brisket was ono! Brisket was tender with a nice smokey taste. I would prefer it to be a little bit more salty but the plate came with a side of bbq sauce that put it all together. For $9, you can't go wrong!
(4)Jeff Y.
This is the second time in a week. Followed the recommendations of fellow yelpers. The brisket is really good. Large portions too. This time I ordered the country chicken. Tables are clean and room well lit. Parking is a little quirky but easy to find parking if you don't park directly in front. Sadly, going back to mainland soon. It will be a regular stop next time.
(5)Marcus S.
Great tasting food. Ribs awesome. Brisket good. Bento great value. To think this was our 3rd choice. Going to be on our lunch rotation now.
(5)Lvlynaka L.
Not worth it! Husband ordered the spicy chicken wings that came out mild and soggy. You could tell they tried to mix all kinds of seasonings in the batter that just didn't come out right. I wanted their brisket but they had none so I ordered the country chicken with gravy. It was a big portion yet bland in taste. Not enough gravy, chicken was dry and needed seasoning. The cornbread was something you could make better at home and the mac salad, ugh! I will not order from this place ever again. Cashier was so not customer service oriented, terrible service! The one star is for the clean dining area. On to the next!
(1)Bam M.
That country chicken is definitely a winner! i highly recommend it!!!! only down side was that they did not have brown rice or toss salad, but overall the brisket and chicken was delicious
(4)Davis C.
Small place-7 tables. Korean style Hawaiian food. Kalbi and brisket are really good. Plates come with Mac salad-not a fan bc too much mayo, rice and Kim chee. Kim chee was ok, not too spicy. Brisket comes w cornbread which is pretty good Some plates come in mini versions. The reg kalbi comes w 3 pieces and the mini has 2 pieces
(3)Ben F.
This place is ok. In the evening (6 p.m.) they were out of beef brisket, BBQ ribs, salmon, and spicy pork. We ordered the Kalbi beef and Country Chicken. The Kalbi was tender and tasty but the chicken had a few burnt spots. The portions are large and the mac salad is tasteless. In the future, I would only go back to this place if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)Ken F.
Ordered the Brisket, Ribs since I was craving some smoked meats Both meat lack a specific smoky flavor as in most BBQ meats and with that the meat tasted bland, not enough smoke gone through the meat. The BBQ sauce was good thought it saved the day. The portions are huge for carbs only. The meat portion to carbs was like 1 to 5. Kimchee doesn't match well with BBQ sauce. Tasting them together was pretty awful. I dislike sweet Cornbread, what is it with Hawaii and sweet cornbread? A good BBQ meat should have a dry rub which acts as a bark when smoked. I see nothing here. It seems like meat was boiled prior to smoking. If it was true BBQ the smoking should have only done the cooking and there should be a smoke pit somewhere and the entire restaurant should smell smoky and eating there should make your clothes and skin smell smoky. That is true BBQ. I had Molly's BBQ and that place does BBQ how it should but, unfortunately it is a long drive.
(2)Betty M.
The Brisket is "Da Bomb!
(5)Nani G.
If you don't look closely you could miss this place. Such a pleasant atmosphere which makes the eating experience just as pleasant. It is clean and each table decorated with a vase and little flowers. The staff is friendly too. I have been wanting to try this place since I first saw a couple of those news guys here and said it was a must try. I ordered the beef brisket which has a good amount of fat, but was so tender that there is no need for a knife. It didn't have a lot of flavor by itself, but when paired with the BBQ sauce it is truly enhanced. The portion was huge and I should have walked away after finishing one piece, but I couldn't. The meal is your typical lunch plates and comes with salad, Mac salad and rice. It has a slice of cornbread too. This is definitely a place I would come back to hands down.
(4)Robynne M.
I had the beef brisket and it was ok not the best. My other Co workers had the ribs, fish Jun, meat Jun Teri chicken combo. All in all I won't eat there again
(2)Roxanne Lynn T.
CASH ONLY! I've been here twice since they opened up. Very clean establishment which makes the dining area presentable and up kept. The decor makes it feel homey and welcoming when entering the restaurant. The service is very friendly and attentive. So I would rate them 5/5 stars for that. We went around 6pm and there wasn't anyone there so we didn't have to wait long for our food either. The plate lunches were about $10 each but the portions were really huge that we had to take half of it home for leftovers. The mac salad was bland and the kim chee wasn't as great as I've had in the past. My boyfriend enjoyed the pork ribs that he ordered and the cornbread it came with was a bit dry but still manageable to eat. He said the pork ribs were very tasty and filling. I ordered the new item on the menu which was the sweet and spicy chicken. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. The last time I ordered the fried chicken wings and that was really good but this new entree didn't satisfy my taste buds well. Overall, service, ambiance, cleanliness is all a positive. I wouldn't mind going back to try the other items that they offer on their menu. I hope in the near future they would consider taking debit cards/credit cards as for someone like me, I don't carry cash too often. They have ample parking space that shares with the First Hawaiian Bank so parking shouldn't be an issue. Don't knock it til you try it though!
(3)Eduardo S.
I'll give them three stars at the moment for the brisket, My order came with three nice slices of brisket, good fat to meat ratio, smoke flavor and seasoning of my brisket was well balanced though I think one or two more spices in their mix would make the brisket more flavorful and desierable. My only complaint was that the brisket though tender was at the falling apart stage thus making it a bit difficult to eat at times. My wife ordered the bbq ribs, they were good and tender, but again was lacking something in the seasoning department. Overall friendly staff and would go back again.
(3)Remi M.
American style BBQ with local flair (rice, mac salad, kim chi & cornbread) Also serves standard korean fast food. And now serving breakfast too. Other Details: -Located in the same building as Mitsuken, on the opposite end. -Plenty Parking. Traffic can be horrible Diamond Head bound during rush hour. -Cash Only. -Closed on Sundays. My Observations: -Hours are always changing. Now opens at 5:30 am. -Their breakfast menu is posted on the wall. They have an early bird special until 7am. -They no longer serve the Samoan pastries and pies. -Popular choice is brisket. Did you see all the Yelp pictures? The Food: Smoked Brisket (4/5 Stars): Smoky and tender. Three BIG pieces of thinly sliced brisket with a side of BBQ sauce. A bit on the bland side so it needed the BBQ sauce to help it along. I rather have bland then salty. Definitely way better than the one I had from Whole Foods which was rough n tough. BBQ Pork Ribs (4/5 Stars): Fall off the bone meaty goodness. A bit on the dry side but still delicious. Biscuit with Pork Gravy (3/5 Stars): Served during breakfast only. Served with 2 eggs any style and choice of breakfast meat. This one is a bargain. Easily feeds 2 or you'll have leftovers for days. I prefer my biscuit with jelly & butter. Biscuit actually tasted better the next day. Gravy is like S.O.S. I love S.O.S. so I was actually eating my leftover gravy over toast which is what S.O.S. is all about. Will return to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)Craig S.
Went to Mitsuken for some breakfast but forgot they are closed on Monday. Thought I'd check out Lili's right next door. They stopped serving breakfast at 10:00. :( it was 10:30. Asked the cashier what their specialty was and she said the brisket. I'd never had a brisket plate lunch. But I figured if it's their specialty it must be good. It is! The meat was super tender! The sauce was just a little tart for my taste but still good. As in all good restaurants, the side dishes were all good too. The kimchee, the mac salad, the rice and the cornbread. Generous portions of all. All for about $10.
(5)Addie L.
2nd time here and must say their fish jun is one of best we ever had. But... Their pork bbq ribs is average at best. Very tough and sticks to the bone (not fall off). They use off the shelf bbq sauce. The good thing is the dish is $10 and it's a big portion. Tip: stick to their fish jun and brisket.
(4)Angelo A.
Came here hoping to try their beef brisket. Unfortunately, they were out. They were also out of ribs, all soups and all sides!!! What??? This was at about 4 pm. Since we drove all they way into Kalihi to find the restaurant, we ordered the BBQ chicken and the country chicken. Country chicken was bland (the chicken itself as well as the canned gravy). BBQ chicken was flavorful. Both came with mac salad (OK), kim chee (OK) and LOTS of rice. Country chicken also came with corn bread (OK). Portions were large - definitely enough for two meals. One star for the new and clean restaurant. Another star for the BBQ chicken. Otherwise, the rest of the experience was disappointing. Will update my review when/if I get to try their brisket.
(2)Frankie R.
Since it has opened, it is my very first time coming to this restaurant. If u are hungry for something good, then this is the place for you. I hope people who are in the area will be able to go to check out the place and I hope eventually, they will surely take debit and credit cards too. This is good because they have good specials that will make you wanna eat here! So come on down and see what they have for you. Very good restaurant for Korean BBQ!
(5)Mei-Lan C.
my hubby was craving brisket , so we gave this place a try . ordered the brisket ( 10.21 $ ) . it came with lots of rice , mac salad , kimchi and corn bread . the portion was really big , but unfortunately the meat was tasteless . my hubby had to put a lot of bbq sauce on every bite before eating it .
(2)April Y.
Went here for the 1st time, my bf Second time...very clean restaurant. CASH ONLY!!! Had the beef brisket plate good price, meat was a little dry needed the bbq sauce, didn't care for the Mac salad too much mayo, Kim chee was not spicy. Need to work on their corn bread very dry. Next time gonna try the Korean dishes on the menu
(2)Fran C.
After reading my Yelp buddies - Li Y. & Val Y.'s reviews on Yelp, I knew I had to make the time to venture out to Kalihi for some good ol' BBQ! By now, you folks must know I'm a big time BBQ fan! I've been searching for the perfect BBQ, ever since I had some authentic BBQ when I was working in Houston, TX. a few years back. Lili BBQ I must say is pretty good, and it would surely give any Texas BBQ a run for it's money! Only difference with Lili's BBQ, is that they have a local Asian flare to the BBQ plate. Located just next door to the famous "Mitsu-Ken" take out joint, Lili's BBQ is a small hole in the wall place that has sit down tables (approximately 7 to 8 tables). You walk up to the counter, order your plate, then find an open table to sit down. This past week, I ventured into this establishment very late..........I wanna say around 2:30 in the afternoon or so, for a very late lunch. To my surprise, the place was stilled packed with people........and I was just lucky enough to get the last open table. Upon walking up to order my food, I picked the #1 - Smoked BBQ Ribs with Corn Bread for just ($9.75). I sit down at an open table, and shortly the nice clerk calls me up to get my order..........food came out fast, and upon picking up my plate, I must say it was HEAVY!!!! And when I say "HEAVY", I'm talking about volume of food!!!! Upon crackin' open my Styrofoam plate, I see one scope of mac salad, Kim Chee, white rice, & my BBQ Ribs. What can I say about the grub.........I immediately start attacking da ribs first! The ribs were so soft, and the BBQ sauce was so tangy & sweet! I just loved the ribs I tell you!!!! Saw the mac salad...........if you know me & mayonnaise, you know what happened next............ that is correct my friends, I did not eat it! Kim Chee? I loved their Kim Chee...........it was hot & spicy!!!! Loved it, and it went perfectly with the white rice. I did not partake too much of the white rice, as I wanted to eat my corn bread.........WAIT!!!!!! Where is my CORN BREAD???????? Dammmmmmm! They forgot to give my my corn bread, so I walked back to the counter, gooooowie BBQ sauce all over my face & told the girl - "YO, didn't I order da numba #1"? If so, where's my CORN BREAD????? The counter girl was very nice & apologized for her mistake, corrected her mistake, & even gave me an extra corn bread too! Yay!!!! Extra corn bread fo' meeeeeeee!!!!! SCORE!!!! :) Overall, a very satisfying BBQ meal! Great service! They made a mistake, apologized & corrected their mistake. Excellent customer service! I will be coming back here again, as they serve other things like smoked brisket, Korean Kalbi Ribs, fried chicken, & other things.............check 'em out gang! No can go wrong!
(5)Wes K.
The brisket was soft and tender and juicy with the BBQ sauce slathered all over was heavenly. Hope to return soon.
(5)Misty P.
The place is clean, lots of parking, and friendly service. I got the beef brisket plate. Delicious bark but needed more seasoning. It did go well with the BBQ sauce but ask for another container because one is not enough. Otherwise portions are huge, great tasting cornbread and kim chee to go along with it. I'd get it again.
(4)Taylor R.
No lines, very clean, great menu, super nice workers and fantastic food. It's my new favorite spot. I cannot wait to take more people there
(5)Rachael O.
OMG, the brisket!! I grew up in Alabama where pork BBQ reigns supreme and it will always hold a special place in my heart. But, I really love brisket. Shhh! Don't tell my mama, or she might faint. I do not, however, always need to have the temptation of an entire succulent brisket in my house and available for wanton devouring at any time of the day or night. (I know!!) Enter Lili's. As a Southern girl, I would prefer the traditional sides of greens, beans, and all manner of carbs, both mayo-laden and not. For better or worse, Lili's does not offer those. Rather, it offers the local plate lunch sides, plus some kimchee. The brisket is the star. Tender, slightly juicy, with a mildly smokey flavor. I don't know about y'all, but I want a good cut of meat to taste like meat, not like I'm drinking from a bottle of liquid smoke. Lili manages just that! If another restaurant pops up that serves brisket like this AND traditional BBQ sides that you might get in Texas or North Carolina, I'll be there. Until that time, I'll gladly plunk down $9.75 and wait on line with the rest of the hungry bunch at Lili's!
(4)Denise P.
After seeing Guy and Augie's review of Lili's on Cheap Eats, we really wanted to check this place out. We were fortunate to get there before the lunch hour rush and found parking right in front. The place was well lit, clean, with easy listening music playing softly in the background. We were greeted warmly by the staff. That's a big plus for me. We proceeded to the counter where my bf ordered the BBQ Ribs plate and I ordered the Brisket plate. The ribs and brisket were very tender and tasty. In regard to the sides, the macaroni salad and corn bread was okay. My bf didn't care for the Kim Chee. Overall, we were satisfied with the experience. The portions they gave was very generous and for the price, we felt we couldn't complain. Finding parking especially during lunch can be a challenge. I would suggest calling in one's order ahead of time and possibly go with another person. That way one person can go in to pick up the order and one can wait in the car. I would recommend anyone to at least try this place out. Support our local businesses and hopefully by our feedback, the Lili's team will make the necessary adjustments to make this endeavor of theirs a successful one!
(4)Matt A.
I had the BBQ Chicken and Meat Jun Combo. The BBQ Chicken was pretty good with good moisture and very little to no fat on the chicken. The serving was generous. The Meat Jun was a whole different story. It was a thick layer of batter on a small sliver of meat. It was moist, but I barely tasted the meat. The staff was extremely friendly. They did mess up a friends order we asked for no Mac salad and they repeated double Kim Cher then. Order still had Mac salad. Friends child was allergic to mayo. Luckily she checked before handing it to her son. Their location was a clean area, although was surprisingly empty during lunch.
(3)Wina G.
Came here on suggestion of my son. Ordered the smoked beef brisket for $9.75 HUGE portion! 3 large slices of the brisket which was moist, fork tender. Came with rice, kim chee, mac salad,corn bread with BBQ sauce on the side. Enough to feed 3 of us. Thumbs up for the beef brisket!
(4)Shari L.
Small nice clean restaurant first time here food is pretty good employees are nice too only down side for this place is CASH ONLY and not much parking. But if I'm in the area I would come here again food was good.
(4)Li Y.
Thanks to the mouthwatering reviews and tips of Josie and Lyla, I just knew I had to try this place. Throw in the video clip found on Val's review which is an interview of owner Filipo Maiawa explaining why he and wife Young Suk are so passionate about their new restaurant, the question changed from "if" to "when"...WHEN am I going to get to try this interesting new place in the newest building in Kalihi. So, one afternoon I dragged my neighbor down to an early dinner before errands and boy, were both of us pleasantly surprised. The next time I snuck down there by myself and ran into a band of armed men, police to be exact, enjoying a duty meal there. Hey, that's always a good sign right? ...unless you are a robber. I always say, if there's a bunch of police...must be good cause... they know where to eat! :). Had a nice convo with them while waiting for my food and took mental note of the "must tries" @ Lili's, based on their recommendation. The food is so "broke da mouth" I have yet to be disappointed. Top of my favorites list is their pies and their smoked brisket plate which comes with corn bread and Kim chee. Strange combination? Absolutely...still it works! Did I mention Filipo's wife is Korean? Mmm makes for some awesome Korean plates and bentos as well! This is my new go to place for a take on the airplane bento before heading to the airport. Another favorite...the BBQ chicken plate. No matter what you order, ya can't go wrong that is...unless you don't like massive amounts of delicious food at a fraction of the price of other plate lunch houses! Conveniently located in the same parking lot as the new Mitsu-Ken and First Hawaiian Bank. Mondays open earliest . Other days open @ 9:30am.
(5)Val Y.
How to Start a Successful Restaurant in Kalihi. If you want to open a restaurant in Kalihi and you want it to be successful, you have to understand the demographics of that hood. You have to understand that Kalihi is not high end, upscale or fine dining. There is a reason why you do not see a Chanel, LV or La Mer in Kalihi. Kalihi is a tough neighborhood and the people living or have jobs there work hard and play hard; and burn a lot of calories. There are a lot of hungry people in that part of town. If you want to own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question". If you know the answer to "The Question", chances are, you will find successful. Before I get to "The Question", let me tell you about a relatively new restaurant I found in Kalihi. I like to venture out and try new eating places. Sometimes I find a restaurant that I never noticed but has been right in front of my eyes. I was driving on North King, heading for the Ben Franklin in Mapunapuna and saw the typical long line in front of Mitsu-Ken. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a white sign over a pair of doors on the Ewa side of the building. "Catering and Takeout Lili's BBQ 842-9100" Somehow, I never noticed that sign. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I go back to my office and Google "Lili's BBQ" and see this heading: "Lilis bbq - YouTube" youtube.com/watch?v=PQIT… Lili's BBQ opened at the end of 2013 and is the life long dream of owner's Filipo and Young Suk Maiawa. The reason I didn't notice Lili's is because, like most people, I sometimes have tunnel vision. Like most people, I was just too focused in on Mitsu-Ken. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… In the video, Filipo Maiava says: "I promise you this: If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." So with an open mind, I decide to head on down and check out Lili's. The restaurant is clean and new. There's a picture of Lili on the inside sign. Turns out Lili is Filipo's mother. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… They have a big easy to read menu board in the back of the counter. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I browse the menu. The No. 9 - Smoke Brisket with Corn Bread catches my eye, so I order that. The Curry Meat Pie $2.75 and Chicken Pie $2.75 also sounded inviting. I look to see what people in the restaurant are eating and what I noticed is that this place serves Kalihi size portions; which gets back to "The Question." If you want own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question." Most people living outside of Kalihi, won't know the answer to "The Question." The Question: "What do you call a 300 pound Tongan girl in a bikini; that lives in Kalihi?" The Answer: "Anorexic!" The secret to a successful restaurant in Kalihi is quantity. People in Kalihi have big appetites. Kalihi is the home or working place of construction workers, truck drivers, the military and big offensive tackles that go to UH and Farrington High School. A half an hour after finishing breakfast; people in Kalihi are asking "What's for lunch?" OK! Take a look at my Smoke Brisket plate lunch: GINORMOUS!! MONSTROUS!! HUMONGOUS!!! ...and absolutely delicious! Easily enough food to satisfy the appetite of two Japanese people. My lunch must have weighed two to three pounds!! I had to eat half for lunch and half for dinner. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… The taste of their mac salad needs some tweaking and their kim chee was fresh but a little on the salty side. But the cornbread and brisket more than made up for any of the shortcomings of the sides. For Price, Taste .....and Weight; Lili's BBQ rocks! I think Lili's BBQ is destined to be another landmark eating place in Kalihi like Mitsu-Ken and Ray's Café. I will be heading on down to Lili's to try their meat pies, Smoked Pork BBQ Ribs, Lili's Bento and Oxtail Soup in the near future. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I have to agree with what Filipo Maiava said: "If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." P.S. Meat pies sell out early. You got to get there when they open. P.P.S. It is obvious to me that the Maiava's know the answer to "The Question."
(5)Shanon S.
Update: i love this place so much. They are remaking my fried rice order because they did not realize regular shoyu is not gluten free...they did leave out the oyster sauce. For lunchtime I am gluten free so I order all rice and no cornbread but I don't care...its all about the brisket!
(5)Suzanne T.
This place is kind of an odd mix of southern and Korean food. It's across the street from my work so we've already tried it out several times! The BBQ chicken and country chicken are really good. My coworkers all love the brisket, but it's not my kinda thing. I think the cornbread is dry and the kim chee and mac salad are just okay. Prices are standard, portions are very generous (the minis are big enough for almost anyone). The staff are always very nice and the restaurant is clean.
(4)MarkandCheney P.
Ate here twice since they opened and I don't see the big deal is. I got the beef brisket and tofu soup for my wife. The food was just "alright" but taste wise It could've been better. I think I enjoyed the corn bread the most and I like that they give a good amount of portion for what you pay. I gave an extra star for customer service. Just wish they add more flavor to their food. It was somewhat bland.
(2)Del C.
had pork ribs horrible burnt very bad will never go bk. smoke brisket no taste
(1)Jedidiah H.
Nice & Clean restaurant. Friendly staff. Food tasted great. I had a mini BBQ chicken & my husband had the Smoked Ribs w/corn bread. Portions were great and the price is reasonable. Will definitely be back again.
(5)Lyla D.
It's a good thing that we worked out before coming to Lili's. Lili's BBQ is located in a multi-business building on its EWA end. The building is across the street from New City Nissan close to the Ola Lane turn. We liked the large parking lot associated with this location so don't panic if the lot in front is full. This restaurant boasts sit-down, takeout and catering services. As you approach the restaurant's entry, you'll be drawn in by the BBQ aroma that wafts out through the vents. The interior is "sparkling" clean and not crowded which makes you relaxed and ready to eat. You'll be greeted with friendly, helpful and patient counter help. The menu is quite extensive so, stand back a few seconds to "soak in" their choices. Their menu combines the ethnicity of their owners (The Maiava(sp?) Family)- husband is Samoan/Chinese and wife is Korean. Lili's is UNLIKE other Korean BBQ restaurants because your lunch plate doesn't offer banchan sides other than Kim Chee. Their Korean menu goes beyond the usual Kal Bi, BBQ or fried chicken, meat or fish jun and combo plates. They offer oxtail, Kim Chee, Spicy Tofu, and seaweed soup. They also feature an Americana South menu with Country Chicken, white gravy and cornbread (chicken fried steak), smoked brisket with cornbread, pork BBQ ribs with cornbread. Ah, the Samoan menu influences kicked in pineapple half moon pies, curry meat pies, chicken pies and German buns with fresh coconut filling. As your sides, you'll get MORE than 2 scoops of rice (it covers the bottom of the styrofoam container), a healthy scoop of Mac salad and house made Kim Chee. When we picked up our order, my wrists bent under the weight. You'll truly be delighted with the freshness, delicious tastes and generous portion sizes! We ordered their combo plates: - Kal bi & meat jun plate that contained 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x 3-bone-in Kal bi ribs, a massive egg battered beef cutlet, rice, Mac salad and Kim Chee. I dare say, because I've been working out, I normally can "pound" a plate lunch without difficulty. This one was large and I couldn't finish it, as delicious as it was. - Kal bi & fish jun plate that featured 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x3-bone-in Kal bi ribs and a large piece of tender, moist egg battered fish. The portions are humongous and the flavors were all on-point! While there, other tables were filled with diners who all "praised" their choices as "broke da mout", "onolicious" and "opu busting"! We plan to go back for their pineapple pie and the Country chicken. We'll make a point to get there EARLY or call ahead to reserve some more of Lili's goodness!
(5)Laura G.
When you're looking for good BBQ in Kalihi Lili's is the place. I tried the meat jun/BBQ chicken combo: the meat jun was one of the best I've had - not oily and heavy - and the BBQ chicken was juicy and very flavorful. Mac salad was Mac salad, and the kimchi was tasty. The restaurant itself was clean & bright and the staff was very friendly. Portions were huge so I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow...or second lunch in an hour or so...overall a great lunch spot. Will stop by Lili's again I'm sure!
(5)John I.
A bit pricey for the full plates but they do have mini's available and are still good sized. Food is freshly made. Kimchee crispy. Mac salad not limp. Meat made to order. Gave it four stars because its not pre cooked food.
(4)Mavisi E.
I'm sure on their first day, GRAND OPENING, some glitches (as with any new business) is expected, but the owners were very receptive to feedback, and always welcome feedback from their patrons! As the owner puts it, "it can only make us better! And as the new kids on the block...we aim to ensure customer satisfaction!" Now THATS worth 5 stars! On the food side, DELISH!
(5)Corey B.
I tried the smoked brisket with fried rice. The rice contained some leftover brisket from breakfast and was pretty good. The brisket was rather dry and the bbq sauce was ok. Go to the south for real smoked food. The crowd was next door at Mitsuken. Generally the food was ok but for the price I would go elsewhere nearby.
(3)Epicurious M.
$5.50 for #1 Lunch Bento: BBQ chicken x fish jun over rice FTW!! I should have bought two so I can have lunch for work tomorrow. Good food, cheap price, good quantity...I'm happy! I'm that easy. I've also tried the spicy pork. For $8.50 you get these thin strips of pork over rice, a side of mac and kim chee. When I opened the plate I was happy to see such a huge mound of food. For me, the pork wasn't even spicy, but I enjoyed how it was freshly cooked and nice and hot over that steaming rice. That's some comfort food right there. I like this place and my only knock is that it is so far away to get to from my home base and the seating options can be a little limited (thus the four-star rating). I was one person and I took over a table meant for four, so luckily it wasn't really crowded otherwise it would have been that proverbial "awkward moment."
(4)Shirley P.
Wish I could give this place ZERO stars. My husband picked up the pork ribs and beef brisket for dinner. As soon as I looked at the ribs I instantly knew that it was DRY DRY DRY. I took one bite and it tasted as nasty as it looked. The cornbread was placed on top of the kim chee and it was as dry as the ribs. Took a bite of of the brisket and I thought it was just as nasty. This is first and last time we'll be eating at this place.
(1)Brad I.
Jesus coming soon... Augie T Since being features on the news twice for cheap eats, this place is definitely a cheap eat with great food! We've had the Brisket, ribs, BBQ Chicken and the country chicken (not in all one sitting because that would be food for 2 weeks). Great service, clean restaurant, great food... Nothing more to say.
(5)Cin C.
Honestly, the best BBQ chicken, kalbi and meat jun I have ever tasted! I have tried this at many Korean restaurants but this one is "da bomb!" I read the article in this Sunday's paper and thought I would check it out with several friends. Everyone enjoyed the food as much as I did and we all plan to go back for more and to tell our friends and family too.
(5)Renee C.
LOVE BBQ, so had to try this place and the brisket. I had two fairly large slices of brisket, which was smoked nicely but had way too much fat for me. I could only eat about half of what was given. Even the "leaner" pieces had lots of fat (which melted in your mouth), but still. The mac salad, kim chee and cornbread all pretty good. My co-worker had the chicken with gravy and it was good/tasty (had a bite) and another had the bento, which was a great deal for $6 bucks and a lot of food. I'm willing to give this one more try for the BBQ. Maybe I'll try the ribs next time. But, giving 4 stars since I love the fact that we can get BBQ now in Kalihi and prices were fairly reasonable. But, got to cut that fat a bit and would be a winnah!
(4)Tongu K.
Saw this on cheap eats and thought wow! This place looks like a must try! Unfortunately the food is just bland, dry, and cold. It shouldn't be that hard to make things better, a little more salt and some nice gravy will help a lot. Even a microwave will make things more palatable. The brisket was cooked decently. It just needs flavor. The chicken cooked nice, but again needs work on seasoning.
(2)Deena T.
The Good: I love brisket, and there aren't that many places on the island to get it. And most of the places are overpriced. Lili's brisket is amazing. It's tender and the portion is huge. I was able to split my plate into two servings. Like many others have said, it's a clean and bright location. The Bad: It's a Korean BBQ restaurant, so I expected the kim chee to be better. It wasn't great. They also didn't have their pineapple dessert ready. The ribs weren't as tender as the brisket, and the flavor wasn't strong enough. Overall: I'd go back over and over for the brisket, but next time, I'd ask for an extra cup of sauce. It's great with the brisket. I wouldn't order the ribs again.
(4)Omi P.
The Fried Chicken was so delicious. It was Crispy and oh so flavorful. Lili ' s bento is also delicious. The fish Jun was tender and tasty . The prices are right. Don't forget it's CASH ONLY. Can't wait to come back and try the Chicken & Gravy with cornbread. Thank you Hon for stumbling on this great find.
(4)ED B.
If your looking for large portions at around $10 plate lunches this is the place. My favorite is the smoke brisket plate which comes with cornbread, rice, Mac & kimchee.
(4)Colin K.
If you're looking for a great value, delicious food, and plenty of it come to Lili's. I tried it once and I'm a fan. The beef brisket is out of this world! Tender, juicy, and delicious. You can't beat the price and quantity of any of their plate lunches. Friendly and fast service, a very clean establishment, and ample parking. I only wish that they opened a little later. I rush to make it before they close at 7:30pm. I also wish that they offered brown rice and more veggies. It's not a place you can eat at every day if you want to have a healthy diet but it's a great treat at the end of a long work day.
(4)Jason Y.
The smoked brisket is super good. The meat is very tender, you don't really need a knife to cut except for the bark which is a nice contrast to the tenderness. There's a nice smokey taste, not to much or to little. And if you enjoy the fatty parts they just melt in your mouth. This is my first time trying Lili's BBQ and I will be back to try more. The brisket comes with mac salad, kim chee, and corn bread which I think is unusual but we're not in Texas this is Hawaii. The meal comes with BBQ sauce which is pretty good but I suggest you try the brisket by itself first. We were there at 10 am so it was empty. It's probably busier during lunch time.
(4)Duane G.
Been here twice. First time had the Brisket. Big pieces but not what I expected. Kinda on the bland side. Ordered the ribs today and was ok. I have a smoker so I try to compare the smoke rings with the flavor it gives off. I might try the breakfast cause they only serve on Mondays. I'm off that day. We'll keep you posted.
(3)Mary M.
We decided to try this place and was just curious with what their food tasted like! We ordered the brisket cause they said it was one of the popular dishes. Although we only ordered one meal due to the fact it was cash only but we weren't disappointed at all! The brisket was so good it literally melted in our mouth! And the portion was great! And I love the cornbread as well! Definitely will be coming back to try other items on their menu!!!
(5)Jennie C.
I always believe that first impression is very important, especially for a restaurant. Today is the first time I am coming here. I love the brightness and cleanliness of the restaurant. It's very spacey and lots of parking. I ordered the smoke brisket, and I was shocked at the size of my plate. It was huge. The regular size plate is the mini plate. The brisket was very tasty and cooked just right. It was soft but it still kept its form. They gave lots of and lots of rice. The cornbread was a great blend with the brisket. My children came to eat with me and they were also surprised (and happy) at the size of their plate. They also love what they ordered and they made me promise them that we can come back. Most definite. Customer service was really. Very nice and pleasant Korean lady at the counter. They were about to close when we got there but she was still very pleasant. Again, a very, very clean place. It's a new place but I highly recommend. Try it!
(4)Lala L.
First time coming here b/c I saw Guy Hagi advertise it on cheap eats. Just about everyrhing was sold out, no brisket, no rice, no ribs. So i ordered fish jun, it was ok, nothing id go back for. The wait was about 30 min to receive my food. Won't be going here in the future unless I make a phone order.
(2)Eddie P.
Smoked Southern style ribs and brisket and meat jun and kalbi served with cornbread and kim chee for sides.
(3)Gail S.
The first thing that I tried from Lili's was their oxtail soup, the broth is very tasty and they give a good amount of meat with a side container of rice for $9.50 it was delicious! So I went back and bought a lili's bento, kalbi, fish jun, and meat jun for $6 and the container was packed not a stingy amount, it was a really good deal that fed me twice. My bf tried their smoke brisket with corn bread and his plate was packed and the flavor and tenderness of the meat was perfect for $9.75. Overall I believe this place is a small hole in the wall gem, and most of their prices are all under $10
(4)Elppa J.
Now that I think about it, there aren't too many Korean BBQ joints in Kalihi. Alas, this is where Lili's BBQ steps in the picture. Just a few doors away from Mitsuken, Lili's offers Korean BBQ and mainland Southern style menu, with a little twist: Samoan influence through their pies. The good: -So far, I've tried their meat jun and chicken katsu, which never fails to disappoint. I do look forward to trying out more of their menu -Each plate is packed with generous scoops of rice, mac salad, and kimchee (which tastes homemade!) The best part is, your plate is loaded up generously. -I saw one of the owners in the kitchen, manning the kitchen and busting work. Kudos to her. -Establishment is clean, kitchen looks clean, and although the place is small, there is ample amount of seating inside. Cash only! -One girl working the counter was very friendly and talked story to the customers -Food is made fresh and piping hot once you pick it up -Lots of parking, same area as Mistuken, so if you can't snag a spot right outside the restaurant, FHB parking is right next door. The meh: -Tried their oxtail soup once, but I couldn't really care for it. I've had better -Wait time was a tad bit long. When I went in, the kitchen was slammed with orders. On top of that, I overhead that they were waiting for the rice to finish cooking, which meant additional wait time for the rice. Luckily, I didn't have anywhere to go, so waiting wasn't a problem for me. However, I do hope Lili's BBQ finds a way to minimize wait time Overall, a decent place to get a Korean BBQ fix if you're ever in Kalihi. Support local!
(4)Bun M.
I saw this place on cheap eats and the menu looks similar to my fav haunt, smokin grill. So i figured it would be good to try the competition! On a plus side they give a ton of food. On the other side the food could use a lot more flavor. The brisket was a bit on the dry side and need a lot of salt. I also tried the chicken cutlet, it was decent, but again it lacked enough seasoning. I might try here again, but smokin grill is still the best for brisket, ribs, fried chicken!
(3)Katsumi I.
Food was OK. But girl working at the counter can't Take orders as requested. Food was edible but nothing to be craved for. There are better choice in town. I won't be going back.
(1)Lvlynaka L.
Not worth it! Husband ordered the spicy chicken wings that came out mild and soggy. You could tell they tried to mix all kinds of seasonings in the batter that just didn't come out right. I wanted their brisket but they had none so I ordered the country chicken with gravy. It was a big portion yet bland in taste. Not enough gravy, chicken was dry and needed seasoning. The cornbread was something you could make better at home and the mac salad, ugh! I will not order from this place ever again. Cashier was so not customer service oriented, terrible service! The one star is for the clean dining area. On to the next!
(1)S A.
BBQ Brisket was ono! Brisket was tender with a nice smokey taste. I would prefer it to be a little bit more salty but the plate came with a side of bbq sauce that put it all together. For $9, you can't go wrong!
(4)Jeff Y.
This is the second time in a week. Followed the recommendations of fellow yelpers. The brisket is really good. Large portions too. This time I ordered the country chicken. Tables are clean and room well lit. Parking is a little quirky but easy to find parking if you don't park directly in front. Sadly, going back to mainland soon. It will be a regular stop next time.
(5)Marcus S.
Great tasting food. Ribs awesome. Brisket good. Bento great value. To think this was our 3rd choice. Going to be on our lunch rotation now.
(5)Sean N.
Wow....saw this place on cheap eats a few months back finally went. Had the pork ribs and brisket and whoa....the flavor quality and quantity was awesome. The brisket fell apart as u tried to eat it and was so tasty. The pork ribs was so tender and tasty. Will definitely go back again and let my friends know. Great job!
(5)Velma C.
My first visit (& first review ). Initial impressions.... The restaurant is very CLEAN, bright and inviting. Ordered BBQ chicken, Lili's bento and Kalbi/Meat Jun combo. My boys are big eaters and devoured their plates. I ordered the bento because of the salmon...was flavorful, even better when dipped in meat jun sauce. Priced very reasonable and convenient location.
(4)Jenna T.
Stopped by for a quick lunch and was impressed with their smoked BBQ ribs!!! Super yummy!! Meat falls right off the bone!! A must try
(5)Hyo K.
Great food and clean atmosphere. Price is about the same as Zippys but the food portion is much bigger. Glad they opened not too far from where I work.
(5)Dennis L.
We got the bbq chicken and kalbi combo. The portions were huge. I remember the plate was pretty heavy. The food was pretty good. The place is clean and there was plenty of parking. A decent place, I will probably go back to try the pies.
(4)Bam M.
That country chicken is definitely a winner! i highly recommend it!!!! only down side was that they did not have brown rice or toss salad, but overall the brisket and chicken was delicious
(4)Davis C.
Small place-7 tables. Korean style Hawaiian food. Kalbi and brisket are really good. Plates come with Mac salad-not a fan bc too much mayo, rice and Kim chee. Kim chee was ok, not too spicy. Brisket comes w cornbread which is pretty good Some plates come in mini versions. The reg kalbi comes w 3 pieces and the mini has 2 pieces
(3)Nani G.
If you don't look closely you could miss this place. Such a pleasant atmosphere which makes the eating experience just as pleasant. It is clean and each table decorated with a vase and little flowers. The staff is friendly too. I have been wanting to try this place since I first saw a couple of those news guys here and said it was a must try. I ordered the beef brisket which has a good amount of fat, but was so tender that there is no need for a knife. It didn't have a lot of flavor by itself, but when paired with the BBQ sauce it is truly enhanced. The portion was huge and I should have walked away after finishing one piece, but I couldn't. The meal is your typical lunch plates and comes with salad, Mac salad and rice. It has a slice of cornbread too. This is definitely a place I would come back to hands down.
(4)Robynne M.
I had the beef brisket and it was ok not the best. My other Co workers had the ribs, fish Jun, meat Jun Teri chicken combo. All in all I won't eat there again
(2)Craig S.
Went to Mitsuken for some breakfast but forgot they are closed on Monday. Thought I'd check out Lili's right next door. They stopped serving breakfast at 10:00. :( it was 10:30. Asked the cashier what their specialty was and she said the brisket. I'd never had a brisket plate lunch. But I figured if it's their specialty it must be good. It is! The meat was super tender! The sauce was just a little tart for my taste but still good. As in all good restaurants, the side dishes were all good too. The kimchee, the mac salad, the rice and the cornbread. Generous portions of all. All for about $10.
(5)Addie L.
2nd time here and must say their fish jun is one of best we ever had. But... Their pork bbq ribs is average at best. Very tough and sticks to the bone (not fall off). They use off the shelf bbq sauce. The good thing is the dish is $10 and it's a big portion. Tip: stick to their fish jun and brisket.
(4)Roxanne Lynn T.
CASH ONLY! I've been here twice since they opened up. Very clean establishment which makes the dining area presentable and up kept. The decor makes it feel homey and welcoming when entering the restaurant. The service is very friendly and attentive. So I would rate them 5/5 stars for that. We went around 6pm and there wasn't anyone there so we didn't have to wait long for our food either. The plate lunches were about $10 each but the portions were really huge that we had to take half of it home for leftovers. The mac salad was bland and the kim chee wasn't as great as I've had in the past. My boyfriend enjoyed the pork ribs that he ordered and the cornbread it came with was a bit dry but still manageable to eat. He said the pork ribs were very tasty and filling. I ordered the new item on the menu which was the sweet and spicy chicken. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. The last time I ordered the fried chicken wings and that was really good but this new entree didn't satisfy my taste buds well. Overall, service, ambiance, cleanliness is all a positive. I wouldn't mind going back to try the other items that they offer on their menu. I hope in the near future they would consider taking debit cards/credit cards as for someone like me, I don't carry cash too often. They have ample parking space that shares with the First Hawaiian Bank so parking shouldn't be an issue. Don't knock it til you try it though!
(3)Eduardo S.
I'll give them three stars at the moment for the brisket, My order came with three nice slices of brisket, good fat to meat ratio, smoke flavor and seasoning of my brisket was well balanced though I think one or two more spices in their mix would make the brisket more flavorful and desierable. My only complaint was that the brisket though tender was at the falling apart stage thus making it a bit difficult to eat at times. My wife ordered the bbq ribs, they were good and tender, but again was lacking something in the seasoning department. Overall friendly staff and would go back again.
(3)Matt A.
I had the BBQ Chicken and Meat Jun Combo. The BBQ Chicken was pretty good with good moisture and very little to no fat on the chicken. The serving was generous. The Meat Jun was a whole different story. It was a thick layer of batter on a small sliver of meat. It was moist, but I barely tasted the meat. The staff was extremely friendly. They did mess up a friends order we asked for no Mac salad and they repeated double Kim Cher then. Order still had Mac salad. Friends child was allergic to mayo. Luckily she checked before handing it to her son. Their location was a clean area, although was surprisingly empty during lunch.
(3)Wina G.
Came here on suggestion of my son. Ordered the smoked beef brisket for $9.75 HUGE portion! 3 large slices of the brisket which was moist, fork tender. Came with rice, kim chee, mac salad,corn bread with BBQ sauce on the side. Enough to feed 3 of us. Thumbs up for the beef brisket!
(4)Shari L.
Small nice clean restaurant first time here food is pretty good employees are nice too only down side for this place is CASH ONLY and not much parking. But if I'm in the area I would come here again food was good.
(4)Dan F.
I found this restaurant in the dining section of the Sunday newspaper and I thought this might be a good place to eat for a Southern Korean BBQ fusion. I was misled when I stepped inside the restaurant. I didn't find anything to be Southern. It looked like a typical Korean plate lunch place minus the cold sides section. Last time I trust the Star Advertiser for recommendations. I was starving so I went ahead and ordered the smoked beef brisket, smoked BBQ ribs, and spicy tofu soup. Total cost was about $30. The smoked beef brisket was tender but dry and bland. It didn't had any smokiness to it. The fat wasn't rendered completely so it was a little unpleasant to eat. The ribs weren't tender or fall off the bone but the BBQ sauce was decent but not mind blowing good. The spicy tofu soup was the worse out of the three. It was more of a seafood soup than tofu. It tasted like clam juice and I just couldn't stomach it. If I could return that soup and get my money back I would but you don't want to anger Koreans. You can, but don't.
(2)Taro L.
Meal plates are getting worse every time I eat there. The meat / fish and chicken is much less in portion compared to 3 months ago. This was the "bomb" a few months ago. They do give about 4-5 ice cream scoops of rice and lay a small portion of your main dish on top of that. Brisket is bland without any BBQ sauce. Try eating it without any sauce first. Good BBQ does not require BBQ sauce as you are not tasting the true flavors but just tasting the sauce. It is soft and tender but you require sauce unless you enjoy bland meat. Mac salad ? ? ? Well check it out same as meat now. Bland and no mayo or very little mayo in it. Had to pour BBQ sauce on it. I ordered brisket but instead I ate BBQ sauce with side brisket and Mac salad with my sauce. They do not have salmon any more. Just a promo to bring people in. Then you gotta order something else. They told me it was seasonal ? ? Wth all the supermarkets SAMs club and Costco have salmon year round. Salmon from Korea ? I hope they change this. Good concept poor execution. Give less rice and more of what people order. Get a good meat rub for your brisket and ribs instead of depending on the taste of the BBQ sauce to cover up the bland brisket and ribs .
(2)Frankie R.
Since it has opened, it is my very first time coming to this restaurant. If u are hungry for something good, then this is the place for you. I hope people who are in the area will be able to go to check out the place and I hope eventually, they will surely take debit and credit cards too. This is good because they have good specials that will make you wanna eat here! So come on down and see what they have for you. Very good restaurant for Korean BBQ!
(5)Mei-Lan C.
my hubby was craving brisket , so we gave this place a try . ordered the brisket ( 10.21 $ ) . it came with lots of rice , mac salad , kimchi and corn bread . the portion was really big , but unfortunately the meat was tasteless . my hubby had to put a lot of bbq sauce on every bite before eating it .
(2)April Y.
Went here for the 1st time, my bf Second time...very clean restaurant. CASH ONLY!!! Had the beef brisket plate good price, meat was a little dry needed the bbq sauce, didn't care for the Mac salad too much mayo, Kim chee was not spicy. Need to work on their corn bread very dry. Next time gonna try the Korean dishes on the menu
(2)Remi M.
American style BBQ with local flair (rice, mac salad, kim chi & cornbread) Also serves standard korean fast food. And now serving breakfast too. Other Details: -Located in the same building as Mitsuken, on the opposite end. -Plenty Parking. Traffic can be horrible Diamond Head bound during rush hour. -Cash Only. -Closed on Sundays. My Observations: -Hours are always changing. Now opens at 5:30 am. -Their breakfast menu is posted on the wall. They have an early bird special until 7am. -They no longer serve the Samoan pastries and pies. -Popular choice is brisket. Did you see all the Yelp pictures? The Food: Smoked Brisket (4/5 Stars): Smoky and tender. Three BIG pieces of thinly sliced brisket with a side of BBQ sauce. A bit on the bland side so it needed the BBQ sauce to help it along. I rather have bland then salty. Definitely way better than the one I had from Whole Foods which was rough n tough. BBQ Pork Ribs (4/5 Stars): Fall off the bone meaty goodness. A bit on the dry side but still delicious. Biscuit with Pork Gravy (3/5 Stars): Served during breakfast only. Served with 2 eggs any style and choice of breakfast meat. This one is a bargain. Easily feeds 2 or you'll have leftovers for days. I prefer my biscuit with jelly & butter. Biscuit actually tasted better the next day. Gravy is like S.O.S. I love S.O.S. so I was actually eating my leftover gravy over toast which is what S.O.S. is all about. Will return to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)Angelo A.
Came here hoping to try their beef brisket. Unfortunately, they were out. They were also out of ribs, all soups and all sides!!! What??? This was at about 4 pm. Since we drove all they way into Kalihi to find the restaurant, we ordered the BBQ chicken and the country chicken. Country chicken was bland (the chicken itself as well as the canned gravy). BBQ chicken was flavorful. Both came with mac salad (OK), kim chee (OK) and LOTS of rice. Country chicken also came with corn bread (OK). Portions were large - definitely enough for two meals. One star for the new and clean restaurant. Another star for the BBQ chicken. Otherwise, the rest of the experience was disappointing. Will update my review when/if I get to try their brisket.
(2)Fran C.
After reading my Yelp buddies - Li Y. & Val Y.'s reviews on Yelp, I knew I had to make the time to venture out to Kalihi for some good ol' BBQ! By now, you folks must know I'm a big time BBQ fan! I've been searching for the perfect BBQ, ever since I had some authentic BBQ when I was working in Houston, TX. a few years back. Lili BBQ I must say is pretty good, and it would surely give any Texas BBQ a run for it's money! Only difference with Lili's BBQ, is that they have a local Asian flare to the BBQ plate. Located just next door to the famous "Mitsu-Ken" take out joint, Lili's BBQ is a small hole in the wall place that has sit down tables (approximately 7 to 8 tables). You walk up to the counter, order your plate, then find an open table to sit down. This past week, I ventured into this establishment very late..........I wanna say around 2:30 in the afternoon or so, for a very late lunch. To my surprise, the place was stilled packed with people........and I was just lucky enough to get the last open table. Upon walking up to order my food, I picked the #1 - Smoked BBQ Ribs with Corn Bread for just ($9.75). I sit down at an open table, and shortly the nice clerk calls me up to get my order..........food came out fast, and upon picking up my plate, I must say it was HEAVY!!!! And when I say "HEAVY", I'm talking about volume of food!!!! Upon crackin' open my Styrofoam plate, I see one scope of mac salad, Kim Chee, white rice, & my BBQ Ribs. What can I say about the grub.........I immediately start attacking da ribs first! The ribs were so soft, and the BBQ sauce was so tangy & sweet! I just loved the ribs I tell you!!!! Saw the mac salad...........if you know me & mayonnaise, you know what happened next............ that is correct my friends, I did not eat it! Kim Chee? I loved their Kim Chee...........it was hot & spicy!!!! Loved it, and it went perfectly with the white rice. I did not partake too much of the white rice, as I wanted to eat my corn bread.........WAIT!!!!!! Where is my CORN BREAD???????? Dammmmmmm! They forgot to give my my corn bread, so I walked back to the counter, gooooowie BBQ sauce all over my face & told the girl - "YO, didn't I order da numba #1"? If so, where's my CORN BREAD????? The counter girl was very nice & apologized for her mistake, corrected her mistake, & even gave me an extra corn bread too! Yay!!!! Extra corn bread fo' meeeeeeee!!!!! SCORE!!!! :) Overall, a very satisfying BBQ meal! Great service! They made a mistake, apologized & corrected their mistake. Excellent customer service! I will be coming back here again, as they serve other things like smoked brisket, Korean Kalbi Ribs, fried chicken, & other things.............check 'em out gang! No can go wrong!
(5)Wes K.
The brisket was soft and tender and juicy with the BBQ sauce slathered all over was heavenly. Hope to return soon.
(5)Misty P.
The place is clean, lots of parking, and friendly service. I got the beef brisket plate. Delicious bark but needed more seasoning. It did go well with the BBQ sauce but ask for another container because one is not enough. Otherwise portions are huge, great tasting cornbread and kim chee to go along with it. I'd get it again.
(4)Taylor R.
No lines, very clean, great menu, super nice workers and fantastic food. It's my new favorite spot. I cannot wait to take more people there
(5)Rachael O.
OMG, the brisket!! I grew up in Alabama where pork BBQ reigns supreme and it will always hold a special place in my heart. But, I really love brisket. Shhh! Don't tell my mama, or she might faint. I do not, however, always need to have the temptation of an entire succulent brisket in my house and available for wanton devouring at any time of the day or night. (I know!!) Enter Lili's. As a Southern girl, I would prefer the traditional sides of greens, beans, and all manner of carbs, both mayo-laden and not. For better or worse, Lili's does not offer those. Rather, it offers the local plate lunch sides, plus some kimchee. The brisket is the star. Tender, slightly juicy, with a mildly smokey flavor. I don't know about y'all, but I want a good cut of meat to taste like meat, not like I'm drinking from a bottle of liquid smoke. Lili manages just that! If another restaurant pops up that serves brisket like this AND traditional BBQ sides that you might get in Texas or North Carolina, I'll be there. Until that time, I'll gladly plunk down $9.75 and wait on line with the rest of the hungry bunch at Lili's!
(4)Denise P.
After seeing Guy and Augie's review of Lili's on Cheap Eats, we really wanted to check this place out. We were fortunate to get there before the lunch hour rush and found parking right in front. The place was well lit, clean, with easy listening music playing softly in the background. We were greeted warmly by the staff. That's a big plus for me. We proceeded to the counter where my bf ordered the BBQ Ribs plate and I ordered the Brisket plate. The ribs and brisket were very tender and tasty. In regard to the sides, the macaroni salad and corn bread was okay. My bf didn't care for the Kim Chee. Overall, we were satisfied with the experience. The portions they gave was very generous and for the price, we felt we couldn't complain. Finding parking especially during lunch can be a challenge. I would suggest calling in one's order ahead of time and possibly go with another person. That way one person can go in to pick up the order and one can wait in the car. I would recommend anyone to at least try this place out. Support our local businesses and hopefully by our feedback, the Lili's team will make the necessary adjustments to make this endeavor of theirs a successful one!
(4)Li Y.
Thanks to the mouthwatering reviews and tips of Josie and Lyla, I just knew I had to try this place. Throw in the video clip found on Val's review which is an interview of owner Filipo Maiawa explaining why he and wife Young Suk are so passionate about their new restaurant, the question changed from "if" to "when"...WHEN am I going to get to try this interesting new place in the newest building in Kalihi. So, one afternoon I dragged my neighbor down to an early dinner before errands and boy, were both of us pleasantly surprised. The next time I snuck down there by myself and ran into a band of armed men, police to be exact, enjoying a duty meal there. Hey, that's always a good sign right? ...unless you are a robber. I always say, if there's a bunch of police...must be good cause... they know where to eat! :). Had a nice convo with them while waiting for my food and took mental note of the "must tries" @ Lili's, based on their recommendation. The food is so "broke da mouth" I have yet to be disappointed. Top of my favorites list is their pies and their smoked brisket plate which comes with corn bread and Kim chee. Strange combination? Absolutely...still it works! Did I mention Filipo's wife is Korean? Mmm makes for some awesome Korean plates and bentos as well! This is my new go to place for a take on the airplane bento before heading to the airport. Another favorite...the BBQ chicken plate. No matter what you order, ya can't go wrong that is...unless you don't like massive amounts of delicious food at a fraction of the price of other plate lunch houses! Conveniently located in the same parking lot as the new Mitsu-Ken and First Hawaiian Bank. Mondays open earliest . Other days open @ 9:30am.
(5)Val Y.
How to Start a Successful Restaurant in Kalihi. If you want to open a restaurant in Kalihi and you want it to be successful, you have to understand the demographics of that hood. You have to understand that Kalihi is not high end, upscale or fine dining. There is a reason why you do not see a Chanel, LV or La Mer in Kalihi. Kalihi is a tough neighborhood and the people living or have jobs there work hard and play hard; and burn a lot of calories. There are a lot of hungry people in that part of town. If you want to own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question". If you know the answer to "The Question", chances are, you will find successful. Before I get to "The Question", let me tell you about a relatively new restaurant I found in Kalihi. I like to venture out and try new eating places. Sometimes I find a restaurant that I never noticed but has been right in front of my eyes. I was driving on North King, heading for the Ben Franklin in Mapunapuna and saw the typical long line in front of Mitsu-Ken. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a white sign over a pair of doors on the Ewa side of the building. "Catering and Takeout Lili's BBQ 842-9100" Somehow, I never noticed that sign. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I go back to my office and Google "Lili's BBQ" and see this heading: "Lilis bbq - YouTube" youtube.com/watch?v=PQIT… Lili's BBQ opened at the end of 2013 and is the life long dream of owner's Filipo and Young Suk Maiawa. The reason I didn't notice Lili's is because, like most people, I sometimes have tunnel vision. Like most people, I was just too focused in on Mitsu-Ken. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… In the video, Filipo Maiava says: "I promise you this: If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." So with an open mind, I decide to head on down and check out Lili's. The restaurant is clean and new. There's a picture of Lili on the inside sign. Turns out Lili is Filipo's mother. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… They have a big easy to read menu board in the back of the counter. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I browse the menu. The No. 9 - Smoke Brisket with Corn Bread catches my eye, so I order that. The Curry Meat Pie $2.75 and Chicken Pie $2.75 also sounded inviting. I look to see what people in the restaurant are eating and what I noticed is that this place serves Kalihi size portions; which gets back to "The Question." If you want own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question." Most people living outside of Kalihi, won't know the answer to "The Question." The Question: "What do you call a 300 pound Tongan girl in a bikini; that lives in Kalihi?" The Answer: "Anorexic!" The secret to a successful restaurant in Kalihi is quantity. People in Kalihi have big appetites. Kalihi is the home or working place of construction workers, truck drivers, the military and big offensive tackles that go to UH and Farrington High School. A half an hour after finishing breakfast; people in Kalihi are asking "What's for lunch?" OK! Take a look at my Smoke Brisket plate lunch: GINORMOUS!! MONSTROUS!! HUMONGOUS!!! ...and absolutely delicious! Easily enough food to satisfy the appetite of two Japanese people. My lunch must have weighed two to three pounds!! I had to eat half for lunch and half for dinner. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… The taste of their mac salad needs some tweaking and their kim chee was fresh but a little on the salty side. But the cornbread and brisket more than made up for any of the shortcomings of the sides. For Price, Taste .....and Weight; Lili's BBQ rocks! I think Lili's BBQ is destined to be another landmark eating place in Kalihi like Mitsu-Ken and Ray's Café. I will be heading on down to Lili's to try their meat pies, Smoked Pork BBQ Ribs, Lili's Bento and Oxtail Soup in the near future. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I have to agree with what Filipo Maiava said: "If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." P.S. Meat pies sell out early. You got to get there when they open. P.P.S. It is obvious to me that the Maiava's know the answer to "The Question."
(5)Shanon S.
Update: i love this place so much. They are remaking my fried rice order because they did not realize regular shoyu is not gluten free...they did leave out the oyster sauce. For lunchtime I am gluten free so I order all rice and no cornbread but I don't care...its all about the brisket!
(5)Suzanne T.
This place is kind of an odd mix of southern and Korean food. It's across the street from my work so we've already tried it out several times! The BBQ chicken and country chicken are really good. My coworkers all love the brisket, but it's not my kinda thing. I think the cornbread is dry and the kim chee and mac salad are just okay. Prices are standard, portions are very generous (the minis are big enough for almost anyone). The staff are always very nice and the restaurant is clean.
(4)MarkandCheney P.
Ate here twice since they opened and I don't see the big deal is. I got the beef brisket and tofu soup for my wife. The food was just "alright" but taste wise It could've been better. I think I enjoyed the corn bread the most and I like that they give a good amount of portion for what you pay. I gave an extra star for customer service. Just wish they add more flavor to their food. It was somewhat bland.
(2)Mavisi E.
I'm sure on their first day, GRAND OPENING, some glitches (as with any new business) is expected, but the owners were very receptive to feedback, and always welcome feedback from their patrons! As the owner puts it, "it can only make us better! And as the new kids on the block...we aim to ensure customer satisfaction!" Now THATS worth 5 stars! On the food side, DELISH!
(5)Chris C.
Get the Country Chicken! Everything is good especially the BBQ, but get the Country Chicken!!!
(4)Jana T.
Bento was good and worth the wait but coming in at peak lunch hour and out of their star menu items? REALLY??? They were just on channel 9- Cheap Eats and were not expecting a crowd?? Their excuse? Only got 2 cooks but I figured with stuff cooking they would get their easier plates out. Got to organize their line better. Time is of the essence if we order take out. Even if the food is good and cheap. Maybe go when not so busy.
(3)Antoinette C.
Not only was there a long wait, but I was given the wrong order. Instead of 3 BBQ chicken plates, I got a brisket plate and a fish jun plate. I would give only two stars for the amount the food that they give for the price and the mac salad was really good. However, there was too much rice. I mean, how can anyone eat all of the rice portions when there is only four long pieces of brisket? I also have to agree with Mei-Lan C.'s review about the brisket. The meat was soft, but there was too much fat and it was flavorless. Using the BBQ sauce cup works until it runs out. Also, the corn bread was really dry. Would I go here again? No...it's over-hyped.
(2)Corey B.
I tried the smoked brisket with fried rice. The rice contained some leftover brisket from breakfast and was pretty good. The brisket was rather dry and the bbq sauce was ok. Go to the south for real smoked food. The crowd was next door at Mitsuken. Generally the food was ok but for the price I would go elsewhere nearby.
(3)Elppa J.
Now that I think about it, there aren't too many Korean BBQ joints in Kalihi. Alas, this is where Lili's BBQ steps in the picture. Just a few doors away from Mitsuken, Lili's offers Korean BBQ and mainland Southern style menu, with a little twist: Samoan influence through their pies. The good: -So far, I've tried their meat jun and chicken katsu, which never fails to disappoint. I do look forward to trying out more of their menu -Each plate is packed with generous scoops of rice, mac salad, and kimchee (which tastes homemade!) The best part is, your plate is loaded up generously. -I saw one of the owners in the kitchen, manning the kitchen and busting work. Kudos to her. -Establishment is clean, kitchen looks clean, and although the place is small, there is ample amount of seating inside. Cash only! -One girl working the counter was very friendly and talked story to the customers -Food is made fresh and piping hot once you pick it up -Lots of parking, same area as Mistuken, so if you can't snag a spot right outside the restaurant, FHB parking is right next door. The meh: -Tried their oxtail soup once, but I couldn't really care for it. I've had better -Wait time was a tad bit long. When I went in, the kitchen was slammed with orders. On top of that, I overhead that they were waiting for the rice to finish cooking, which meant additional wait time for the rice. Luckily, I didn't have anywhere to go, so waiting wasn't a problem for me. However, I do hope Lili's BBQ finds a way to minimize wait time Overall, a decent place to get a Korean BBQ fix if you're ever in Kalihi. Support local!
(4)Bun M.
I saw this place on cheap eats and the menu looks similar to my fav haunt, smokin grill. So i figured it would be good to try the competition! On a plus side they give a ton of food. On the other side the food could use a lot more flavor. The brisket was a bit on the dry side and need a lot of salt. I also tried the chicken cutlet, it was decent, but again it lacked enough seasoning. I might try here again, but smokin grill is still the best for brisket, ribs, fried chicken!
(3)Katsumi I.
Food was OK. But girl working at the counter can't Take orders as requested. Food was edible but nothing to be craved for. There are better choice in town. I won't be going back.
(1)Lvlynaka L.
Not worth it! Husband ordered the spicy chicken wings that came out mild and soggy. You could tell they tried to mix all kinds of seasonings in the batter that just didn't come out right. I wanted their brisket but they had none so I ordered the country chicken with gravy. It was a big portion yet bland in taste. Not enough gravy, chicken was dry and needed seasoning. The cornbread was something you could make better at home and the mac salad, ugh! I will not order from this place ever again. Cashier was so not customer service oriented, terrible service! The one star is for the clean dining area. On to the next!
(1)S A.
BBQ Brisket was ono! Brisket was tender with a nice smokey taste. I would prefer it to be a little bit more salty but the plate came with a side of bbq sauce that put it all together. For $9, you can't go wrong!
(4)Deena T.
The Good: I love brisket, and there aren't that many places on the island to get it. And most of the places are overpriced. Lili's brisket is amazing. It's tender and the portion is huge. I was able to split my plate into two servings. Like many others have said, it's a clean and bright location. The Bad: It's a Korean BBQ restaurant, so I expected the kim chee to be better. It wasn't great. They also didn't have their pineapple dessert ready. The ribs weren't as tender as the brisket, and the flavor wasn't strong enough. Overall: I'd go back over and over for the brisket, but next time, I'd ask for an extra cup of sauce. It's great with the brisket. I wouldn't order the ribs again.
(4)Omi P.
The Fried Chicken was so delicious. It was Crispy and oh so flavorful. Lili ' s bento is also delicious. The fish Jun was tender and tasty . The prices are right. Don't forget it's CASH ONLY. Can't wait to come back and try the Chicken & Gravy with cornbread. Thank you Hon for stumbling on this great find.
(4)Lyla D.
It's a good thing that we worked out before coming to Lili's. Lili's BBQ is located in a multi-business building on its EWA end. The building is across the street from New City Nissan close to the Ola Lane turn. We liked the large parking lot associated with this location so don't panic if the lot in front is full. This restaurant boasts sit-down, takeout and catering services. As you approach the restaurant's entry, you'll be drawn in by the BBQ aroma that wafts out through the vents. The interior is "sparkling" clean and not crowded which makes you relaxed and ready to eat. You'll be greeted with friendly, helpful and patient counter help. The menu is quite extensive so, stand back a few seconds to "soak in" their choices. Their menu combines the ethnicity of their owners (The Maiava(sp?) Family)- husband is Samoan/Chinese and wife is Korean. Lili's is UNLIKE other Korean BBQ restaurants because your lunch plate doesn't offer banchan sides other than Kim Chee. Their Korean menu goes beyond the usual Kal Bi, BBQ or fried chicken, meat or fish jun and combo plates. They offer oxtail, Kim Chee, Spicy Tofu, and seaweed soup. They also feature an Americana South menu with Country Chicken, white gravy and cornbread (chicken fried steak), smoked brisket with cornbread, pork BBQ ribs with cornbread. Ah, the Samoan menu influences kicked in pineapple half moon pies, curry meat pies, chicken pies and German buns with fresh coconut filling. As your sides, you'll get MORE than 2 scoops of rice (it covers the bottom of the styrofoam container), a healthy scoop of Mac salad and house made Kim Chee. When we picked up our order, my wrists bent under the weight. You'll truly be delighted with the freshness, delicious tastes and generous portion sizes! We ordered their combo plates: - Kal bi & meat jun plate that contained 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x 3-bone-in Kal bi ribs, a massive egg battered beef cutlet, rice, Mac salad and Kim Chee. I dare say, because I've been working out, I normally can "pound" a plate lunch without difficulty. This one was large and I couldn't finish it, as delicious as it was. - Kal bi & fish jun plate that featured 4 fried mandoo dumplings, 3 x3-bone-in Kal bi ribs and a large piece of tender, moist egg battered fish. The portions are humongous and the flavors were all on-point! While there, other tables were filled with diners who all "praised" their choices as "broke da mout", "onolicious" and "opu busting"! We plan to go back for their pineapple pie and the Country chicken. We'll make a point to get there EARLY or call ahead to reserve some more of Lili's goodness!
(5)Laura G.
When you're looking for good BBQ in Kalihi Lili's is the place. I tried the meat jun/BBQ chicken combo: the meat jun was one of the best I've had - not oily and heavy - and the BBQ chicken was juicy and very flavorful. Mac salad was Mac salad, and the kimchi was tasty. The restaurant itself was clean & bright and the staff was very friendly. Portions were huge so I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow...or second lunch in an hour or so...overall a great lunch spot. Will stop by Lili's again I'm sure!
(5)John I.
A bit pricey for the full plates but they do have mini's available and are still good sized. Food is freshly made. Kimchee crispy. Mac salad not limp. Meat made to order. Gave it four stars because its not pre cooked food.
(4)Epicurious M.
$5.50 for #1 Lunch Bento: BBQ chicken x fish jun over rice FTW!! I should have bought two so I can have lunch for work tomorrow. Good food, cheap price, good quantity...I'm happy! I'm that easy. I've also tried the spicy pork. For $8.50 you get these thin strips of pork over rice, a side of mac and kim chee. When I opened the plate I was happy to see such a huge mound of food. For me, the pork wasn't even spicy, but I enjoyed how it was freshly cooked and nice and hot over that steaming rice. That's some comfort food right there. I like this place and my only knock is that it is so far away to get to from my home base and the seating options can be a little limited (thus the four-star rating). I was one person and I took over a table meant for four, so luckily it wasn't really crowded otherwise it would have been that proverbial "awkward moment."
(4)Shirley P.
Wish I could give this place ZERO stars. My husband picked up the pork ribs and beef brisket for dinner. As soon as I looked at the ribs I instantly knew that it was DRY DRY DRY. I took one bite and it tasted as nasty as it looked. The cornbread was placed on top of the kim chee and it was as dry as the ribs. Took a bite of of the brisket and I thought it was just as nasty. This is first and last time we'll be eating at this place.
(1)Brad I.
Jesus coming soon... Augie T Since being features on the news twice for cheap eats, this place is definitely a cheap eat with great food! We've had the Brisket, ribs, BBQ Chicken and the country chicken (not in all one sitting because that would be food for 2 weeks). Great service, clean restaurant, great food... Nothing more to say.
(5)Cin C.
Honestly, the best BBQ chicken, kalbi and meat jun I have ever tasted! I have tried this at many Korean restaurants but this one is "da bomb!" I read the article in this Sunday's paper and thought I would check it out with several friends. Everyone enjoyed the food as much as I did and we all plan to go back for more and to tell our friends and family too.
(5)Renee C.
LOVE BBQ, so had to try this place and the brisket. I had two fairly large slices of brisket, which was smoked nicely but had way too much fat for me. I could only eat about half of what was given. Even the "leaner" pieces had lots of fat (which melted in your mouth), but still. The mac salad, kim chee and cornbread all pretty good. My co-worker had the chicken with gravy and it was good/tasty (had a bite) and another had the bento, which was a great deal for $6 bucks and a lot of food. I'm willing to give this one more try for the BBQ. Maybe I'll try the ribs next time. But, giving 4 stars since I love the fact that we can get BBQ now in Kalihi and prices were fairly reasonable. But, got to cut that fat a bit and would be a winnah!
(4)Tongu K.
Saw this on cheap eats and thought wow! This place looks like a must try! Unfortunately the food is just bland, dry, and cold. It shouldn't be that hard to make things better, a little more salt and some nice gravy will help a lot. Even a microwave will make things more palatable. The brisket was cooked decently. It just needs flavor. The chicken cooked nice, but again needs work on seasoning.
(2)ED B.
If your looking for large portions at around $10 plate lunches this is the place. My favorite is the smoke brisket plate which comes with cornbread, rice, Mac & kimchee.
(4)Colin K.
If you're looking for a great value, delicious food, and plenty of it come to Lili's. I tried it once and I'm a fan. The beef brisket is out of this world! Tender, juicy, and delicious. You can't beat the price and quantity of any of their plate lunches. Friendly and fast service, a very clean establishment, and ample parking. I only wish that they opened a little later. I rush to make it before they close at 7:30pm. I also wish that they offered brown rice and more veggies. It's not a place you can eat at every day if you want to have a healthy diet but it's a great treat at the end of a long work day.
(4)Jason Y.
The smoked brisket is super good. The meat is very tender, you don't really need a knife to cut except for the bark which is a nice contrast to the tenderness. There's a nice smokey taste, not to much or to little. And if you enjoy the fatty parts they just melt in your mouth. This is my first time trying Lili's BBQ and I will be back to try more. The brisket comes with mac salad, kim chee, and corn bread which I think is unusual but we're not in Texas this is Hawaii. The meal comes with BBQ sauce which is pretty good but I suggest you try the brisket by itself first. We were there at 10 am so it was empty. It's probably busier during lunch time.
(4)Duane G.
Been here twice. First time had the Brisket. Big pieces but not what I expected. Kinda on the bland side. Ordered the ribs today and was ok. I have a smoker so I try to compare the smoke rings with the flavor it gives off. I might try the breakfast cause they only serve on Mondays. I'm off that day. We'll keep you posted.
(3)Mary M.
We decided to try this place and was just curious with what their food tasted like! We ordered the brisket cause they said it was one of the popular dishes. Although we only ordered one meal due to the fact it was cash only but we weren't disappointed at all! The brisket was so good it literally melted in our mouth! And the portion was great! And I love the cornbread as well! Definitely will be coming back to try other items on their menu!!!
(5)Jennie C.
I always believe that first impression is very important, especially for a restaurant. Today is the first time I am coming here. I love the brightness and cleanliness of the restaurant. It's very spacey and lots of parking. I ordered the smoke brisket, and I was shocked at the size of my plate. It was huge. The regular size plate is the mini plate. The brisket was very tasty and cooked just right. It was soft but it still kept its form. They gave lots of and lots of rice. The cornbread was a great blend with the brisket. My children came to eat with me and they were also surprised (and happy) at the size of their plate. They also love what they ordered and they made me promise them that we can come back. Most definite. Customer service was really. Very nice and pleasant Korean lady at the counter. They were about to close when we got there but she was still very pleasant. Again, a very, very clean place. It's a new place but I highly recommend. Try it!
(4)Lala L.
First time coming here b/c I saw Guy Hagi advertise it on cheap eats. Just about everyrhing was sold out, no brisket, no rice, no ribs. So i ordered fish jun, it was ok, nothing id go back for. The wait was about 30 min to receive my food. Won't be going here in the future unless I make a phone order.
(2)Eddie P.
Smoked Southern style ribs and brisket and meat jun and kalbi served with cornbread and kim chee for sides.
(3)Gail S.
The first thing that I tried from Lili's was their oxtail soup, the broth is very tasty and they give a good amount of meat with a side container of rice for $9.50 it was delicious! So I went back and bought a lili's bento, kalbi, fish jun, and meat jun for $6 and the container was packed not a stingy amount, it was a really good deal that fed me twice. My bf tried their smoke brisket with corn bread and his plate was packed and the flavor and tenderness of the meat was perfect for $9.75. Overall I believe this place is a small hole in the wall gem, and most of their prices are all under $10
(4)Jeff Y.
This is the second time in a week. Followed the recommendations of fellow yelpers. The brisket is really good. Large portions too. This time I ordered the country chicken. Tables are clean and room well lit. Parking is a little quirky but easy to find parking if you don't park directly in front. Sadly, going back to mainland soon. It will be a regular stop next time.
(5)Marcus S.
Great tasting food. Ribs awesome. Brisket good. Bento great value. To think this was our 3rd choice. Going to be on our lunch rotation now.
(5)Sean N.
Wow....saw this place on cheap eats a few months back finally went. Had the pork ribs and brisket and whoa....the flavor quality and quantity was awesome. The brisket fell apart as u tried to eat it and was so tasty. The pork ribs was so tender and tasty. Will definitely go back again and let my friends know. Great job!
(5)Velma C.
My first visit (& first review ). Initial impressions.... The restaurant is very CLEAN, bright and inviting. Ordered BBQ chicken, Lili's bento and Kalbi/Meat Jun combo. My boys are big eaters and devoured their plates. I ordered the bento because of the salmon...was flavorful, even better when dipped in meat jun sauce. Priced very reasonable and convenient location.
(4)Jenna T.
Stopped by for a quick lunch and was impressed with their smoked BBQ ribs!!! Super yummy!! Meat falls right off the bone!! A must try
(5)Hyo K.
Great food and clean atmosphere. Price is about the same as Zippys but the food portion is much bigger. Glad they opened not too far from where I work.
(5)Dennis L.
We got the bbq chicken and kalbi combo. The portions were huge. I remember the plate was pretty heavy. The food was pretty good. The place is clean and there was plenty of parking. A decent place, I will probably go back to try the pies.
(4)Ben F.
This place is ok. In the evening (6 p.m.) they were out of beef brisket, BBQ ribs, salmon, and spicy pork. We ordered the Kalbi beef and Country Chicken. The Kalbi was tender and tasty but the chicken had a few burnt spots. The portions are large and the mac salad is tasteless. In the future, I would only go back to this place if we were in the neighborhood.
(3)Del C.
had pork ribs horrible burnt very bad will never go bk. smoke brisket no taste
(1)Jedidiah H.
Nice & Clean restaurant. Friendly staff. Food tasted great. I had a mini BBQ chicken & my husband had the Smoked Ribs w/corn bread. Portions were great and the price is reasonable. Will definitely be back again.
(5)Ken F.
Ordered the Brisket, Ribs since I was craving some smoked meats Both meat lack a specific smoky flavor as in most BBQ meats and with that the meat tasted bland, not enough smoke gone through the meat. The BBQ sauce was good thought it saved the day. The portions are huge for carbs only. The meat portion to carbs was like 1 to 5. Kimchee doesn't match well with BBQ sauce. Tasting them together was pretty awful. I dislike sweet Cornbread, what is it with Hawaii and sweet cornbread? A good BBQ meat should have a dry rub which acts as a bark when smoked. I see nothing here. It seems like meat was boiled prior to smoking. If it was true BBQ the smoking should have only done the cooking and there should be a smoke pit somewhere and the entire restaurant should smell smoky and eating there should make your clothes and skin smell smoky. That is true BBQ. I had Molly's BBQ and that place does BBQ how it should but, unfortunately it is a long drive.
(2)Betty M.
The Brisket is "Da Bomb!
(5)Bam M.
That country chicken is definitely a winner! i highly recommend it!!!! only down side was that they did not have brown rice or toss salad, but overall the brisket and chicken was delicious
(4)Davis C.
Small place-7 tables. Korean style Hawaiian food. Kalbi and brisket are really good. Plates come with Mac salad-not a fan bc too much mayo, rice and Kim chee. Kim chee was ok, not too spicy. Brisket comes w cornbread which is pretty good Some plates come in mini versions. The reg kalbi comes w 3 pieces and the mini has 2 pieces
(3)Nani G.
If you don't look closely you could miss this place. Such a pleasant atmosphere which makes the eating experience just as pleasant. It is clean and each table decorated with a vase and little flowers. The staff is friendly too. I have been wanting to try this place since I first saw a couple of those news guys here and said it was a must try. I ordered the beef brisket which has a good amount of fat, but was so tender that there is no need for a knife. It didn't have a lot of flavor by itself, but when paired with the BBQ sauce it is truly enhanced. The portion was huge and I should have walked away after finishing one piece, but I couldn't. The meal is your typical lunch plates and comes with salad, Mac salad and rice. It has a slice of cornbread too. This is definitely a place I would come back to hands down.
(4)Robynne M.
I had the beef brisket and it was ok not the best. My other Co workers had the ribs, fish Jun, meat Jun Teri chicken combo. All in all I won't eat there again
(2)Roxanne Lynn T.
CASH ONLY! I've been here twice since they opened up. Very clean establishment which makes the dining area presentable and up kept. The decor makes it feel homey and welcoming when entering the restaurant. The service is very friendly and attentive. So I would rate them 5/5 stars for that. We went around 6pm and there wasn't anyone there so we didn't have to wait long for our food either. The plate lunches were about $10 each but the portions were really huge that we had to take half of it home for leftovers. The mac salad was bland and the kim chee wasn't as great as I've had in the past. My boyfriend enjoyed the pork ribs that he ordered and the cornbread it came with was a bit dry but still manageable to eat. He said the pork ribs were very tasty and filling. I ordered the new item on the menu which was the sweet and spicy chicken. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would have. The last time I ordered the fried chicken wings and that was really good but this new entree didn't satisfy my taste buds well. Overall, service, ambiance, cleanliness is all a positive. I wouldn't mind going back to try the other items that they offer on their menu. I hope in the near future they would consider taking debit cards/credit cards as for someone like me, I don't carry cash too often. They have ample parking space that shares with the First Hawaiian Bank so parking shouldn't be an issue. Don't knock it til you try it though!
(3)Eduardo S.
I'll give them three stars at the moment for the brisket, My order came with three nice slices of brisket, good fat to meat ratio, smoke flavor and seasoning of my brisket was well balanced though I think one or two more spices in their mix would make the brisket more flavorful and desierable. My only complaint was that the brisket though tender was at the falling apart stage thus making it a bit difficult to eat at times. My wife ordered the bbq ribs, they were good and tender, but again was lacking something in the seasoning department. Overall friendly staff and would go back again.
(3)Remi M.
American style BBQ with local flair (rice, mac salad, kim chi & cornbread) Also serves standard korean fast food. And now serving breakfast too. Other Details: -Located in the same building as Mitsuken, on the opposite end. -Plenty Parking. Traffic can be horrible Diamond Head bound during rush hour. -Cash Only. -Closed on Sundays. My Observations: -Hours are always changing. Now opens at 5:30 am. -Their breakfast menu is posted on the wall. They have an early bird special until 7am. -They no longer serve the Samoan pastries and pies. -Popular choice is brisket. Did you see all the Yelp pictures? The Food: Smoked Brisket (4/5 Stars): Smoky and tender. Three BIG pieces of thinly sliced brisket with a side of BBQ sauce. A bit on the bland side so it needed the BBQ sauce to help it along. I rather have bland then salty. Definitely way better than the one I had from Whole Foods which was rough n tough. BBQ Pork Ribs (4/5 Stars): Fall off the bone meaty goodness. A bit on the dry side but still delicious. Biscuit with Pork Gravy (3/5 Stars): Served during breakfast only. Served with 2 eggs any style and choice of breakfast meat. This one is a bargain. Easily feeds 2 or you'll have leftovers for days. I prefer my biscuit with jelly & butter. Biscuit actually tasted better the next day. Gravy is like S.O.S. I love S.O.S. so I was actually eating my leftover gravy over toast which is what S.O.S. is all about. Will return to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)Craig S.
Went to Mitsuken for some breakfast but forgot they are closed on Monday. Thought I'd check out Lili's right next door. They stopped serving breakfast at 10:00. :( it was 10:30. Asked the cashier what their specialty was and she said the brisket. I'd never had a brisket plate lunch. But I figured if it's their specialty it must be good. It is! The meat was super tender! The sauce was just a little tart for my taste but still good. As in all good restaurants, the side dishes were all good too. The kimchee, the mac salad, the rice and the cornbread. Generous portions of all. All for about $10.
(5)Addie L.
2nd time here and must say their fish jun is one of best we ever had. But... Their pork bbq ribs is average at best. Very tough and sticks to the bone (not fall off). They use off the shelf bbq sauce. The good thing is the dish is $10 and it's a big portion. Tip: stick to their fish jun and brisket.
(4)Angelo A.
Came here hoping to try their beef brisket. Unfortunately, they were out. They were also out of ribs, all soups and all sides!!! What??? This was at about 4 pm. Since we drove all they way into Kalihi to find the restaurant, we ordered the BBQ chicken and the country chicken. Country chicken was bland (the chicken itself as well as the canned gravy). BBQ chicken was flavorful. Both came with mac salad (OK), kim chee (OK) and LOTS of rice. Country chicken also came with corn bread (OK). Portions were large - definitely enough for two meals. One star for the new and clean restaurant. Another star for the BBQ chicken. Otherwise, the rest of the experience was disappointing. Will update my review when/if I get to try their brisket.
(2)Frankie R.
Since it has opened, it is my very first time coming to this restaurant. If u are hungry for something good, then this is the place for you. I hope people who are in the area will be able to go to check out the place and I hope eventually, they will surely take debit and credit cards too. This is good because they have good specials that will make you wanna eat here! So come on down and see what they have for you. Very good restaurant for Korean BBQ!
(5)Mei-Lan C.
my hubby was craving brisket , so we gave this place a try . ordered the brisket ( 10.21 $ ) . it came with lots of rice , mac salad , kimchi and corn bread . the portion was really big , but unfortunately the meat was tasteless . my hubby had to put a lot of bbq sauce on every bite before eating it .
(2)April Y.
Went here for the 1st time, my bf Second time...very clean restaurant. CASH ONLY!!! Had the beef brisket plate good price, meat was a little dry needed the bbq sauce, didn't care for the Mac salad too much mayo, Kim chee was not spicy. Need to work on their corn bread very dry. Next time gonna try the Korean dishes on the menu
(2)Fran C.
After reading my Yelp buddies - Li Y. & Val Y.'s reviews on Yelp, I knew I had to make the time to venture out to Kalihi for some good ol' BBQ! By now, you folks must know I'm a big time BBQ fan! I've been searching for the perfect BBQ, ever since I had some authentic BBQ when I was working in Houston, TX. a few years back. Lili BBQ I must say is pretty good, and it would surely give any Texas BBQ a run for it's money! Only difference with Lili's BBQ, is that they have a local Asian flare to the BBQ plate. Located just next door to the famous "Mitsu-Ken" take out joint, Lili's BBQ is a small hole in the wall place that has sit down tables (approximately 7 to 8 tables). You walk up to the counter, order your plate, then find an open table to sit down. This past week, I ventured into this establishment very late..........I wanna say around 2:30 in the afternoon or so, for a very late lunch. To my surprise, the place was stilled packed with people........and I was just lucky enough to get the last open table. Upon walking up to order my food, I picked the #1 - Smoked BBQ Ribs with Corn Bread for just ($9.75). I sit down at an open table, and shortly the nice clerk calls me up to get my order..........food came out fast, and upon picking up my plate, I must say it was HEAVY!!!! And when I say "HEAVY", I'm talking about volume of food!!!! Upon crackin' open my Styrofoam plate, I see one scope of mac salad, Kim Chee, white rice, & my BBQ Ribs. What can I say about the grub.........I immediately start attacking da ribs first! The ribs were so soft, and the BBQ sauce was so tangy & sweet! I just loved the ribs I tell you!!!! Saw the mac salad...........if you know me & mayonnaise, you know what happened next............ that is correct my friends, I did not eat it! Kim Chee? I loved their Kim Chee...........it was hot & spicy!!!! Loved it, and it went perfectly with the white rice. I did not partake too much of the white rice, as I wanted to eat my corn bread.........WAIT!!!!!! Where is my CORN BREAD???????? Dammmmmmm! They forgot to give my my corn bread, so I walked back to the counter, gooooowie BBQ sauce all over my face & told the girl - "YO, didn't I order da numba #1"? If so, where's my CORN BREAD????? The counter girl was very nice & apologized for her mistake, corrected her mistake, & even gave me an extra corn bread too! Yay!!!! Extra corn bread fo' meeeeeeee!!!!! SCORE!!!! :) Overall, a very satisfying BBQ meal! Great service! They made a mistake, apologized & corrected their mistake. Excellent customer service! I will be coming back here again, as they serve other things like smoked brisket, Korean Kalbi Ribs, fried chicken, & other things.............check 'em out gang! No can go wrong!
(5)Wes K.
The brisket was soft and tender and juicy with the BBQ sauce slathered all over was heavenly. Hope to return soon.
(5)Misty P.
The place is clean, lots of parking, and friendly service. I got the beef brisket plate. Delicious bark but needed more seasoning. It did go well with the BBQ sauce but ask for another container because one is not enough. Otherwise portions are huge, great tasting cornbread and kim chee to go along with it. I'd get it again.
(4)Taylor R.
No lines, very clean, great menu, super nice workers and fantastic food. It's my new favorite spot. I cannot wait to take more people there
(5)Rachael O.
OMG, the brisket!! I grew up in Alabama where pork BBQ reigns supreme and it will always hold a special place in my heart. But, I really love brisket. Shhh! Don't tell my mama, or she might faint. I do not, however, always need to have the temptation of an entire succulent brisket in my house and available for wanton devouring at any time of the day or night. (I know!!) Enter Lili's. As a Southern girl, I would prefer the traditional sides of greens, beans, and all manner of carbs, both mayo-laden and not. For better or worse, Lili's does not offer those. Rather, it offers the local plate lunch sides, plus some kimchee. The brisket is the star. Tender, slightly juicy, with a mildly smokey flavor. I don't know about y'all, but I want a good cut of meat to taste like meat, not like I'm drinking from a bottle of liquid smoke. Lili manages just that! If another restaurant pops up that serves brisket like this AND traditional BBQ sides that you might get in Texas or North Carolina, I'll be there. Until that time, I'll gladly plunk down $9.75 and wait on line with the rest of the hungry bunch at Lili's!
(4)Denise P.
After seeing Guy and Augie's review of Lili's on Cheap Eats, we really wanted to check this place out. We were fortunate to get there before the lunch hour rush and found parking right in front. The place was well lit, clean, with easy listening music playing softly in the background. We were greeted warmly by the staff. That's a big plus for me. We proceeded to the counter where my bf ordered the BBQ Ribs plate and I ordered the Brisket plate. The ribs and brisket were very tender and tasty. In regard to the sides, the macaroni salad and corn bread was okay. My bf didn't care for the Kim Chee. Overall, we were satisfied with the experience. The portions they gave was very generous and for the price, we felt we couldn't complain. Finding parking especially during lunch can be a challenge. I would suggest calling in one's order ahead of time and possibly go with another person. That way one person can go in to pick up the order and one can wait in the car. I would recommend anyone to at least try this place out. Support our local businesses and hopefully by our feedback, the Lili's team will make the necessary adjustments to make this endeavor of theirs a successful one!
(4)Matt A.
I had the BBQ Chicken and Meat Jun Combo. The BBQ Chicken was pretty good with good moisture and very little to no fat on the chicken. The serving was generous. The Meat Jun was a whole different story. It was a thick layer of batter on a small sliver of meat. It was moist, but I barely tasted the meat. The staff was extremely friendly. They did mess up a friends order we asked for no Mac salad and they repeated double Kim Cher then. Order still had Mac salad. Friends child was allergic to mayo. Luckily she checked before handing it to her son. Their location was a clean area, although was surprisingly empty during lunch.
(3)Wina G.
Came here on suggestion of my son. Ordered the smoked beef brisket for $9.75 HUGE portion! 3 large slices of the brisket which was moist, fork tender. Came with rice, kim chee, mac salad,corn bread with BBQ sauce on the side. Enough to feed 3 of us. Thumbs up for the beef brisket!
(4)Shari L.
Small nice clean restaurant first time here food is pretty good employees are nice too only down side for this place is CASH ONLY and not much parking. But if I'm in the area I would come here again food was good.
(4)Li Y.
Thanks to the mouthwatering reviews and tips of Josie and Lyla, I just knew I had to try this place. Throw in the video clip found on Val's review which is an interview of owner Filipo Maiawa explaining why he and wife Young Suk are so passionate about their new restaurant, the question changed from "if" to "when"...WHEN am I going to get to try this interesting new place in the newest building in Kalihi. So, one afternoon I dragged my neighbor down to an early dinner before errands and boy, were both of us pleasantly surprised. The next time I snuck down there by myself and ran into a band of armed men, police to be exact, enjoying a duty meal there. Hey, that's always a good sign right? ...unless you are a robber. I always say, if there's a bunch of police...must be good cause... they know where to eat! :). Had a nice convo with them while waiting for my food and took mental note of the "must tries" @ Lili's, based on their recommendation. The food is so "broke da mouth" I have yet to be disappointed. Top of my favorites list is their pies and their smoked brisket plate which comes with corn bread and Kim chee. Strange combination? Absolutely...still it works! Did I mention Filipo's wife is Korean? Mmm makes for some awesome Korean plates and bentos as well! This is my new go to place for a take on the airplane bento before heading to the airport. Another favorite...the BBQ chicken plate. No matter what you order, ya can't go wrong that is...unless you don't like massive amounts of delicious food at a fraction of the price of other plate lunch houses! Conveniently located in the same parking lot as the new Mitsu-Ken and First Hawaiian Bank. Mondays open earliest . Other days open @ 9:30am.
(5)Val Y.
How to Start a Successful Restaurant in Kalihi. If you want to open a restaurant in Kalihi and you want it to be successful, you have to understand the demographics of that hood. You have to understand that Kalihi is not high end, upscale or fine dining. There is a reason why you do not see a Chanel, LV or La Mer in Kalihi. Kalihi is a tough neighborhood and the people living or have jobs there work hard and play hard; and burn a lot of calories. There are a lot of hungry people in that part of town. If you want to own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question". If you know the answer to "The Question", chances are, you will find successful. Before I get to "The Question", let me tell you about a relatively new restaurant I found in Kalihi. I like to venture out and try new eating places. Sometimes I find a restaurant that I never noticed but has been right in front of my eyes. I was driving on North King, heading for the Ben Franklin in Mapunapuna and saw the typical long line in front of Mitsu-Ken. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a white sign over a pair of doors on the Ewa side of the building. "Catering and Takeout Lili's BBQ 842-9100" Somehow, I never noticed that sign. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I go back to my office and Google "Lili's BBQ" and see this heading: "Lilis bbq - YouTube" youtube.com/watch?v=PQIT… Lili's BBQ opened at the end of 2013 and is the life long dream of owner's Filipo and Young Suk Maiawa. The reason I didn't notice Lili's is because, like most people, I sometimes have tunnel vision. Like most people, I was just too focused in on Mitsu-Ken. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… In the video, Filipo Maiava says: "I promise you this: If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." So with an open mind, I decide to head on down and check out Lili's. The restaurant is clean and new. There's a picture of Lili on the inside sign. Turns out Lili is Filipo's mother. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… They have a big easy to read menu board in the back of the counter. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I browse the menu. The No. 9 - Smoke Brisket with Corn Bread catches my eye, so I order that. The Curry Meat Pie $2.75 and Chicken Pie $2.75 also sounded inviting. I look to see what people in the restaurant are eating and what I noticed is that this place serves Kalihi size portions; which gets back to "The Question." If you want own a successful restaurant in Kalihi, you have to know the answer to "The Question." Most people living outside of Kalihi, won't know the answer to "The Question." The Question: "What do you call a 300 pound Tongan girl in a bikini; that lives in Kalihi?" The Answer: "Anorexic!" The secret to a successful restaurant in Kalihi is quantity. People in Kalihi have big appetites. Kalihi is the home or working place of construction workers, truck drivers, the military and big offensive tackles that go to UH and Farrington High School. A half an hour after finishing breakfast; people in Kalihi are asking "What's for lunch?" OK! Take a look at my Smoke Brisket plate lunch: GINORMOUS!! MONSTROUS!! HUMONGOUS!!! ...and absolutely delicious! Easily enough food to satisfy the appetite of two Japanese people. My lunch must have weighed two to three pounds!! I had to eat half for lunch and half for dinner. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… The taste of their mac salad needs some tweaking and their kim chee was fresh but a little on the salty side. But the cornbread and brisket more than made up for any of the shortcomings of the sides. For Price, Taste .....and Weight; Lili's BBQ rocks! I think Lili's BBQ is destined to be another landmark eating place in Kalihi like Mitsu-Ken and Ray's Café. I will be heading on down to Lili's to try their meat pies, Smoked Pork BBQ Ribs, Lili's Bento and Oxtail Soup in the near future. yelp.com/biz_photos/lili… I have to agree with what Filipo Maiava said: "If you come down and try one of our dishes, you won't regret it." P.S. Meat pies sell out early. You got to get there when they open. P.P.S. It is obvious to me that the Maiava's know the answer to "The Question."
(5)Shanon S.
Update: i love this place so much. They are remaking my fried rice order because they did not realize regular shoyu is not gluten free...they did leave out the oyster sauce. For lunchtime I am gluten free so I order all rice and no cornbread but I don't care...its all about the brisket!
(5)Suzanne T.
This place is kind of an odd mix of southern and Korean food. It's across the street from my work so we've already tried it out several times! The BBQ chicken and country chicken are really good. My coworkers all love the brisket, but it's not my kinda thing. I think the cornbread is dry and the kim chee and mac salad are just okay. Prices are standard, portions are very generous (the minis are big enough for almost anyone). The staff are always very nice and the restaurant is clean.
(4)MarkandCheney P.
Ate here twice since they opened and I don't see the big deal is. I got the beef brisket and tofu soup for my wife. The food was just "alright" but taste wise It could've been better. I think I enjoyed the corn bread the most and I like that they give a good amount of portion for what you pay. I gave an extra star for customer service. Just wish they add more flavor to their food. It was somewhat bland.
(2)Dan F.
I found this restaurant in the dining section of the Sunday newspaper and I thought this might be a good place to eat for a Southern Korean BBQ fusion. I was misled when I stepped inside the restaurant. I didn't find anything to be Southern. It looked like a typical Korean plate lunch place minus the cold sides section. Last time I trust the Star Advertiser for recommendations. I was starving so I went ahead and ordered the smoked beef brisket, smoked BBQ ribs, and spicy tofu soup. Total cost was about $30. The smoked beef brisket was tender but dry and bland. It didn't had any smokiness to it. The fat wasn't rendered completely so it was a little unpleasant to eat. The ribs weren't tender or fall off the bone but the BBQ sauce was decent but not mind blowing good. The spicy tofu soup was the worse out of the three. It was more of a seafood soup than tofu. It tasted like clam juice and I just couldn't stomach it. If I could return that soup and get my money back I would but you don't want to anger Koreans. You can, but don't.
(2)Taro L.
Meal plates are getting worse every time I eat there. The meat / fish and chicken is much less in portion compared to 3 months ago. This was the "bomb" a few months ago. They do give about 4-5 ice cream scoops of rice and lay a small portion of your main dish on top of that. Brisket is bland without any BBQ sauce. Try eating it without any sauce first. Good BBQ does not require BBQ sauce as you are not tasting the true flavors but just tasting the sauce. It is soft and tender but you require sauce unless you enjoy bland meat. Mac salad ? ? ? Well check it out same as meat now. Bland and no mayo or very little mayo in it. Had to pour BBQ sauce on it. I ordered brisket but instead I ate BBQ sauce with side brisket and Mac salad with my sauce. They do not have salmon any more. Just a promo to bring people in. Then you gotta order something else. They told me it was seasonal ? ? Wth all the supermarkets SAMs club and Costco have salmon year round. Salmon from Korea ? I hope they change this. Good concept poor execution. Give less rice and more of what people order. Get a good meat rub for your brisket and ribs instead of depending on the taste of the BBQ sauce to cover up the bland brisket and ribs .
(2)Chris C.
Get the Country Chicken! Everything is good especially the BBQ, but get the Country Chicken!!!
(4)Jana T.
Bento was good and worth the wait but coming in at peak lunch hour and out of their star menu items? REALLY??? They were just on channel 9- Cheap Eats and were not expecting a crowd?? Their excuse? Only got 2 cooks but I figured with stuff cooking they would get their easier plates out. Got to organize their line better. Time is of the essence if we order take out. Even if the food is good and cheap. Maybe go when not so busy.
(3)Antoinette C.
Not only was there a long wait, but I was given the wrong order. Instead of 3 BBQ chicken plates, I got a brisket plate and a fish jun plate. I would give only two stars for the amount the food that they give for the price and the mac salad was really good. However, there was too much rice. I mean, how can anyone eat all of the rice portions when there is only four long pieces of brisket? I also have to agree with Mei-Lan C.'s review about the brisket. The meat was soft, but there was too much fat and it was flavorless. Using the BBQ sauce cup works until it runs out. Also, the corn bread was really dry. Would I go here again? No...it's over-hyped.
(2)Dan F.
I found this restaurant in the dining section of the Sunday newspaper and I thought this might be a good place to eat for a Southern Korean BBQ fusion. I was misled when I stepped inside the restaurant. I didn't find anything to be Southern. It looked like a typical Korean plate lunch place minus the cold sides section. Last time I trust the Star Advertiser for recommendations. I was starving so I went ahead and ordered the smoked beef brisket, smoked BBQ ribs, and spicy tofu soup. Total cost was about $30. The smoked beef brisket was tender but dry and bland. It didn't had any smokiness to it. The fat wasn't rendered completely so it was a little unpleasant to eat. The ribs weren't tender or fall off the bone but the BBQ sauce was decent but not mind blowing good. The spicy tofu soup was the worse out of the three. It was more of a seafood soup than tofu. It tasted like clam juice and I just couldn't stomach it. If I could return that soup and get my money back I would but you don't want to anger Koreans. You can, but don't.
(2)Taro L.
Meal plates are getting worse every time I eat there. The meat / fish and chicken is much less in portion compared to 3 months ago. This was the "bomb" a few months ago. They do give about 4-5 ice cream scoops of rice and lay a small portion of your main dish on top of that. Brisket is bland without any BBQ sauce. Try eating it without any sauce first. Good BBQ does not require BBQ sauce as you are not tasting the true flavors but just tasting the sauce. It is soft and tender but you require sauce unless you enjoy bland meat. Mac salad ? ? ? Well check it out same as meat now. Bland and no mayo or very little mayo in it. Had to pour BBQ sauce on it. I ordered brisket but instead I ate BBQ sauce with side brisket and Mac salad with my sauce. They do not have salmon any more. Just a promo to bring people in. Then you gotta order something else. They told me it was seasonal ? ? Wth all the supermarkets SAMs club and Costco have salmon year round. Salmon from Korea ? I hope they change this. Good concept poor execution. Give less rice and more of what people order. Get a good meat rub for your brisket and ribs instead of depending on the taste of the BBQ sauce to cover up the bland brisket and ribs .
(2)Chris C.
Get the Country Chicken! Everything is good especially the BBQ, but get the Country Chicken!!!
(4)Jana T.
Bento was good and worth the wait but coming in at peak lunch hour and out of their star menu items? REALLY??? They were just on channel 9- Cheap Eats and were not expecting a crowd?? Their excuse? Only got 2 cooks but I figured with stuff cooking they would get their easier plates out. Got to organize their line better. Time is of the essence if we order take out. Even if the food is good and cheap. Maybe go when not so busy.
(3)Antoinette C.
Not only was there a long wait, but I was given the wrong order. Instead of 3 BBQ chicken plates, I got a brisket plate and a fish jun plate. I would give only two stars for the amount the food that they give for the price and the mac salad was really good. However, there was too much rice. I mean, how can anyone eat all of the rice portions when there is only four long pieces of brisket? I also have to agree with Mei-Lan C.'s review about the brisket. The meat was soft, but there was too much fat and it was flavorless. Using the BBQ sauce cup works until it runs out. Also, the corn bread was really dry. Would I go here again? No...it's over-hyped.
(2)