Barbecue in Hawaii comes with its own island twist, from kiawe-wood chicken to slow-smoked brisket served with rice and mac salad. Some of the best spots are roadside stands, food trucks, and family-run counters that regulars have counted on for years.
This list rounds up nine places across the Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai where the meat is the main event. Whether you are chasing huli-huli chicken on the North Shore or ribs on the Road to Hana, these stops are ones worth planning a meal around.
1. The Fish And The Hog, Waimea, HI
Set inside a historic building in cool, upcountry Waimea, this rustic cafe puts seafood and slow-cooked barbecue front and center. The sampler plate is a smart move if you want a bit of everything.
Expect smoked brisket, baby back ribs, pulled pork, and house-made sausage. There is also a smoked chicken club, a hot pastrami burger, gumbo, and fish and chips for anyone who wants to branch out.
Save room for dessert. The menu includes chocolate cake, coconut cake, and a banana cream pie that has earned a following of its own.
Plan around the schedule, since the kitchen is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and runs from 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM the rest of the week. Prices land around 20 to 30 dollars per person, and parking is usually easy.
It is casual, good for groups, and family-friendly, with high chairs and a kids’ menu on hand.
2. Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken, Haleiwa, HI
On the North Shore, weekend plans often revolve around this open-air roadside grill and its kiawe-wood charbroiled chicken. It only runs Saturday and Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM, so timing matters.
The signature order is the half chicken, cooked over wood charcoal and finished with a touch of Hawaiian seasoning. Pair it with the pineapple coleslaw, which happens to be vegan, and white rice for the full plate lunch.
Setup here is simple. Picnic-table seating, no restroom, no reservations, and no table service, which keeps the focus squarely on the food.
Plates run in the 10 to 20 dollar range.
Parking is usually plentiful, and it is an easy stop for families driving the North Shore loop. Just remember it is weekends only, so build your Haleiwa day around it.
3. Braddah Hutt’s BBQ Grill, Hana, HI
Anyone who has driven the Road to Hana knows the barbecue stands start to blur together, but this family-run stop stands apart. Perfectly charred chicken and flavorful mac salad give it staying power.
The menu leans into island comfort food, with ribs, chicken, and a kalua pork plate served with rice and macaroni salad. There are also shrimp and chicken pasta options for a change of pace.
Hours are limited to weekdays, 11 AM to 2:30 PM, so plan your Hana drive around the midday window. Portions run generous, and plates land around 20 to 30 dollars.
Seating is outdoors and no-frills, with dogs welcome and no restroom on site. Since it does not take reservations, just roll up hungry when you pass through Hana.
4. Paniolo Santa Maria Style BBQ, Kapaʻa, HI
Live music and Santa Maria-style barbecue make this Kapaa spot a full evening out rather than a quick bite. It now runs a full saloon with a covered patio for music nights.
Smoked tri-tip is the calling card, and the menu also features tri-tip nachos, cheeseburgers, an ono fish sandwich, and ribs with real grill flavor. Root beer floats round things out for the table.
Located right in downtown Kapaa, the setting is casual and family-friendly, with indoor seating and beautiful outdoor space. Reservations are accepted, which is handy on live-music nights.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 5 to 9 PM, and plates land around 20 to 30 dollars. It is one of the few spots on this list where you can catch a live band while you eat.
5. Randy’s Huli Chicken and Ribs, Kealakekua, HI
Up in the hills above Kona, this small roadside operation has built a big reputation on wood-fired huli-huli chicken. Picnic tables come with an ocean view, which does not hurt.
Beyond the huli chicken, the lineup includes pork ribs, moist brisket, and pulled pork, plus a combo plate for the indecisive. Sides include mac and cheese, with banana bread among the local baked items.
It keeps a tight schedule, open only Thursday and Friday from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. Portions run huge and plates stay affordable in the 10 to 20 dollar range.
Service is fast, seating is outdoors, and there is no restroom on site. Come early in the day, since the window is short and the food moves quickly.
6. Chicken in a Barrel Hanalei, Hanalei, HI
Over on Kauai’s north shore in Hanalei, this comfortable counter smokes its meats and lets you add the barbecue sauce on the side. The pulled pork earns particular praise for its smoky flavor.
Plates are built for value, with chicken and rib combos, a sampler plate, and the namesake Chicken in a Barrel plate. The Hanalei location also serves chili cheese fries, plus sweet potato fries for the table.
Service moves fast and prices stay reasonable for barbecue, generally in the 10 to 30 dollar range. It is a safe pick for groups with picky eaters thanks to the straightforward menu and kids’ options.
Hours are generous, running 11 AM to 8 PM most days and closing at 7 PM on Sunday. Seating is casual and outdoor, with a restroom on site and easy parking.
7. Mama’s Ribs & Rotisserie, Lahaina, HI
Call-ahead ordering is the move at this no-frills spot in Napili Plaza, where Maui-style barbecue meets soul food. Pick up your order and you are set for a beach lunch or a quiet dinner.
Ribs come tender enough to pull from the bone and dip in sauce, while the rotisserie chicken stays moist. The menu also includes quarter traditional or teriyaki chicken, beef stew, chicken katsu, and baked beans.
Setting is simple, with picnic-table seating and a quiet, casual feel. Prices are friendly, landing around 10 to 20 dollars per person, which stands out on Maui.
It is open daily from 11 AM to 8 PM, does not take reservations, and offers takeout, delivery, and dine-in. For a low-key meal that does not stretch the budget, it is an easy call.
8. Mike’s Kiawe Broiled Huli Huli Chicken, Kahuku, HI
You will spot the bright yellow food truck in Kahuku before you spot the sign. It has been dishing out broiled chicken and tropical smoothies long enough to earn its storied reputation.
Combos are the heart of the menu, from the Chicken-Kalua Combo to the Steak-Shrimp Combo and a two-pork combo. Options span huli huli chicken, kalua pork, lau lau, and char siu BBQ, often with mac salad and rice.
Multiple sauces let you customize your plate, and the open-fire flavor comes through on the chicken. Plates run in the 10 to 20 dollar range.
Open daily from 11:30 AM to 7 PM, it is counter service only with a restroom on site and dogs welcome. Parking is usually easy, making it a simple stop while circling the North Shore.
9. Ippy’s | Hawaiian BBQ, Waimea, HI
Farm-to-table island cooking gives this Waimea eatery an edge over the usual plate-lunch counter. The menu blends Hawaiian staples with traditional barbecue for a mix you do not always find under one roof.
Kalua pork, loco moco, and plate lunches anchor the menu, alongside a mixed BBQ steak plate, ribs, fresh fish, salmon, saimin, and fresh salads. Portions run large and flavors lean bold.
The dining room is clean, casual, and quiet, with helpful staff and prices that stay reasonable by Hawaii standards, generally 10 to 20 dollars. It is a comfortable pick for groups and families, with high chairs available.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM, and it is closed Sunday. Between the barbecue plates and the fresh fish, it is a well-rounded finish to a Big Island food run.
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