Food quality was very disappointing Chicken katsu is usually one of our favorite dishes, but this visit was a letdown. The chicken was overcooked, extremely thin, dry, and rubbery. It was so tough that it was difficult to chew and actually hurt our gums and mouth after a few bites. For the price we paid about $65 for three plates and a couple of drinks, the quality is so poor. We expected something much better, especially for such a simple dish. read more

Stressed. It was loud! Seems like the owner's family is holding a daycare at the restaurant. Kids are crying, running back and forth, yelling from one side to the other. Ring, Ring, Ring! go's the counter bell. Food was good. Atmosphere terrible. Last words... the Salinas curse. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Food service and atmosphere are awesome! The family who owns this place is amazing and the food is always delicious. The portions are enormous my coworker and I get a chicken combo plate and split it for lunch. It's very ideal for us so there's no waste. I can't believe some of the disparaging comments I have read talking about kids in the establishment. They should be ashamed of themselves. Any family owned, and operated place thriving should be applauded. Bravo aloha you deserve it! read more

Excellent service. Excellent hot food! I'll always return. Plenty of seating. Clean restrooms. Lots of parking!! read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

I have had Hawaiian food before, but not there so I was pretty excited about giving it a try. The food was so delicious. I will definitely be going back for the Pineapple chicken. I've had Katsu chicken before, but the pineapple sauce. Oh my goodness delicious! The Customer Service was excellent. She was very kind and helpful. She even said how long they have been open so I took that as Owner ran. I did not ask though I'm only assuming. The restaurant was very clean and comfortable. I got mine to go because I needed to get home. My Pineapple chicken was cooked fresh to order of course that's another great thing about Hawaiian food. I can't wait to go back. read more

The food was so delicious here. I have a feeling the service I received was possibly one of the owners. They were very helpful and helping me choose and decide what I ordered. The ambience was very nice inside although I had to get mine to go but next time I will definitely enjoy it there. read more

this was my first time here and i was very happy! the lady was really nice and the food was YUMMY!!! read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Cheeseburger with Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Food wise not good. Speaking from an islander from the South Pacific. Would be my first and last time eating there. BBQ chicken, not Flavorful, musubi waaay too much rice and so plain. Prefer Haiku Hawaiian BBQ at north Davis. Mahalo read more

This local Hawaiian restaurant is one of my mom's favorite places to go. She tends to get the laulau and I came along with her to get saimin. The saimin hit the spot and now I'm content. The other reason my mom loves to come here is Maria and the friendly service. I enjoyed the holiday music and everything was nice and clean. There's a clean bathroom down the hallway for customers. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - The laulau after we unwrapped it from the ti leaves. - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Stopped by here on the way back from LA for some dinner and it was the right decision. Our family loves Hawaiian food. We came in at about 8:30pm and mind you they close at 9pm so we were rushing to get our order in. They welcomed us kindly, took our order and made our food. We ordered the BBQ mix plate, chicken Katsu plate and plenty of spam musubis. Food was delicious. Marinade on the bbq was some of the best we've had. Spam musubi hit the spot. And the chicken Katsu was finished. Prices have gone up from previous menu pics but for the amount of food you get, it's worth it. Our girls 3,7,10 enjoyed all of the food. We will definitely be stopping in again when we decide to take the scenic route back home from Los Angeles. read more

See all

Never again. I had stopped coming here ever since they opened Haiku Hawaiian BBQ. Anyway, the food was not fresh! I ordered chicken Katsu and the chicken was either old or over fried because it was hard. The rice was either made the day before or early in the morning because it was not warm and very dry. The mac salad which is my favorite had no flavor and so over cooked you couldn't eat it with a fork AND to top it off they are so skimp with food, nothing compared to Haiku but good thing because we didn't finish this food anyway. Owner needs to make major adjustments. read more

**Aloha Hawaiian BBQ Review** We stumbled upon Aloha Hawaiian BBQ by accident. We usually place orders for pickup from another Hawaiian BBQ restaurant in Salinas but, in a rush, we placed our order at Aloha instead. I didn't realize the mix-up until it was time to pick up our food and noticed the reviews while entering the address on Google Maps. My heart sank, as the reviews were significantly lower than other Hawaiian BBQ restaurants we frequent. Long story short, we had our food and were thrilled! I don't understand why this restaurant has negative reviews for their food quality. Unlike many other Hawaiian BBQ restaurants, Aloha's food isn't overly sweet. The mac salad nicely seasoned, the chicken katsu sauce was savory with good consistency, and the chicken katsu and musubi were perfectly prepared, portions The portions were good, providing great value for the price. I've been to a lot of Hawaiian BBQ restaurants, both on the mainland and in Hawaii, and this place is excellent. The savory flavors really stood out and made for an exceptional meal. We will definitely be returning to Aloha Hawaiian BBQ. Highly recommended! read more

This place is a happy place. The lady that takes orders is a sweetheart. Food was yummy, and big portions. Love the hawaiian decorations as well. Will keep going back for more. read more

Hmmmm, i don't know if this is an isolated incident but the Kalua pork wasn't fresh at all. It was also very bland. The interior of this spot is clean and nicely decorated. The staff was pleasant and friendly... read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

I had the bbq chicken plate and it was delicious! The service was very helpful and friendly. I didn't eat in, but the spot has all the island vibes. read more

The food is always delicious, and the lady upfront her service is amazing. Good food good service 10/10

I went here once a long time ago and wasn't terribly impressed. I always give places two shots, however, and I'm glad I came back. There's another Hawaiian place in town and I've gotten in the habit of getting Spam Masubi (don't judge). Recently I was in the shopping center and decided to give these guys another try. I am now more impressed. Their Masubi is large, deliciously warm and about half the price of their competition. Nice, friendly people, quick service, and tasty food. read more

Not worth your money! Chicken Katsu was just a bunch of overcooked crumbs, there was virtually no meat. The Katsu sauce was obviously watered down. The macaroni tasted bland, watery, and peppery (??) . Just an overall unappetizing experience. Never buying here again. I was raised in SF Bay Area and I always had authentic Hawaiian BBQ. Disgusting and disrespectful to the culture that they call themselves such. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Disgusting Chicken Katsu - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

If you like beef jerkey, this might be for you. Meat very overcooked. Might even say burnt dry meat. Macaroni was more of a picnic Macaroni. Would not serve this at a Hawaiian joint. Katsu sauce should not be lumpy and thick. At least not what I'm used to. I can't even say that they rushed my order. I was the only one in the restaurant and they took at least 15 minutes to bring me my order. Perhaps they forgot I was there, and forgot my meat on the grill and then proceeded to sell it to me like that. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - BBQ beef - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

Okay this place beats the other places for chicken and rice. They give you a really good portion of chicken and rice. The chicken is cooked great, it's not a bunch of skin or chewy stuff from the chicken. The rice is nice and thick. The veggies are a little dry, I do have to say. I ordered my meal 10 minutes before I picked it up. I waited for it even when I arrived, so I would've expected nicely steamed veggies... but other than that, it's good. I went in during my lunch and there was not many people in there, for me it was more of a grab and go. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Hawaiian Bbq Chicken with rice and veggies or you can order double rice and skip the veggies - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Be careful when getting the ice cream. The owner likes to recycle old frostbite ice cream and place it on top of a new tube. Last time I got a cup to go, it was gooey and nasty. Tried talking to the owner next time I saw her, and she told me I should have called that day so she could check the cameras. Really, like what are the cameras gona do. Prove that u don't throw away old and expired ice cream read more

Love the food here !! Super friendly staff !! Really recommend !! Make sure to call before hand!! read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - I love this !! - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

See all

Honestly I tried this place one time because I liked the Hawaiian bbq on North Davis, however this Hawaiian bbq did not meet my expectations the food didn't taste good and I ordered the same plate from the other restaurant. If you're wanting Hawaiian bbq you're probably better off going to haiku Hawaiian bbq on N Davis. read more

Ordered a large order to go at Hawaiian bbq in North Salinas, it was ready and waiting when we arrived, always a friendly greeting from the owner, nominally we would enjoy the pleasant ambiance of the restaurant, but had a party in Marina waiting for it, it was hot and delicious and enjoyed by everyone, Thanks Again read more

Been here before and the BBQ Chicken & Katsu Plates were ok. So I figured let's venture out and try the Mahi Mahi, huge mistake! They give you 4 thin slices of mahi...tasted ok but I couldnt stop laughing at the 4 miserable little pieces on my plate that cost $7.99+ tax. DANG!! Being from Hawaii...this is a disgrace!! You just lost a customer and maybe a few.. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

I was at TMobile and spotted a Hawaiian restaurant and was intrigued to give it a try. That was definitely a major mistake on my part. This is definitely the worst attempt of Mexican owner's trying to prepare Hawaiian style cuisine. I tried numerous items and nothing I tried was good. But the clencher is that they can't even cook rice properly. The rice was partially uncooked and raw. The chicken Katsu was mostly crumbs and didn't have much chicken. The Kalua pig was very salty and I just couldn't get myself to eat it. Just nasty! The Bulgogi Korean meat dish was the worst part of my entire order. The meat was way overcooked and there was not any flavour of Bulgogi sauce. This restaurant is a disgrace to Hawaiian style grinds ( cuisine ) and I suggest people should steer clear of this restaurant. What a horrible experience. read more

Food was fast. I made a phone order and it was ready by the time the promised, no wait. I had the bbq chicken saimin( yummm) and a spam musubi. Lady at the cashier was kind and polite read more

Service was good , however the food was not was I expected , chicken was a little in the raw side and macaroni salad was too plain

There's nothing Hawaiian about this restaurant, except for the decor. Smh. If you want to try some good Polynesian food, there's a restaurant in Daly City. There's a Filipino restaurant down the road in Salinas, and it's the closest thing to Polynesian food. I'll pass on this restaurant. read more

I'm a little shocked by the bad reviews as I found this place to be pretty good. Food was cooked as I expected, service was friendly, restaurant was clean and inviting. Their katsu and BBQ chicken were both exactly what I want them to be after living for years eating L&L. read more

The employees here are absolutely a joy to order from. They always greet with a smile and remember customers that come often. My coworker and I go here at least once a month on our lunch break and always receive high quality food. It is always fresh and nice and hot. The are very kind on substitutions and providing alternatives. I enjoy their spam musubi a lot. The environment is calm with just great low volume conversations happen all around. read more

PROS - I really like the lady who takes my order. I've been going several times this past 2 weeks and she's been a pleasant face and demeanor (which means a lot cause my job is stressful sometimes). - They have mini plates, which are perfect for a smaller eater/grazer like myself. - Small but not too small area, and never too packed and loud. CONS - The food is delicious, I wish there was more meat sometimes on the kalbi order I get. - It's not like the Hawaiian BBQ place in Marina, but for as I'm in Salinas for work and can't always swing by Marina, its a good nearby substitute. read more

Got the seafood BBQ combo plates and a small side of chicken katsu. The lady at the front (I think her name is Maria but not 100%) was so friendly, nice, and accommodating. Great customer service. The food was pretty good too! Breaded shrimp was really good along with the chicken katsu. BBQ chicken was juicy and just the right amount of char. I have no complaints except for the Mahi. Inside was clean and sanitized during this time. Prices are good. Taking off one star because I do not recommend the breaded Mahi Mahi. Don't let the bad reviews steer you away. Great place overall. read more

Girl at the register had good personality/service. The food was pretty.... MEH though :/ We had ordered a Chicken Katsu plate and a Seafood Combo Plate, as well as a spam musubi. Chicken Katsu: The chicken was still pink, and the piece(s) they used looked gnarly and really fatty. Seafood Combo: The fried scallops were teeny tiny and almost tasteless. The fried shrimp was kind of burnt, and you can tell they're from a frozen package. Other than those, the Mahi Mahi was pretty good. sides: The macaroni salad - This is just preference but the black pepper was unnecessary, it overpowered it haha Spam musubi: haha you can't really mess up spam, rice and a strip of seaweed... so this was good :P I kind of hope they'll find a better cook, because these all have great potential to be super tasty. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

My coworker suggested this restaurant. The two stars is for their awesome and friendly customer service. The soup I ordered had 2 fried shrimp and It was very bland!!! I hope my friend enjoyed the meal I brought her. Thank you ladies for the good customer service. I am sorry this soup needs significant improvement on flavor. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Salinas, California

They give very little meat and their Mac and cheese is bland. I recommend going to Haiku instead.

We love the food here the service is always great. It's one of our favorite places. And I chose this place to eat for our 6 year anniversary because they give you what you pay for. Never been disappointed. We will drive from Marina just to eat here. read more

It Doesn't look like much from the outside in a strip shopping center. However once you step inside you feel transported into a small tropical get away. The menu has plenty of options for anyone's taste buds. I have tried several of the dishes, the Volcano chicken is my main selection and vary it up with the bbq chicken (teriyaki chicken) each meal comes with nice portion of macaroni salad and rice. The food is always fresh and hot. We love this place for a quick bite or Togo. read more

I wish I would have discovered this place sooner! It meets the mark for Hawaiian foods for me. I used to visit a Hawaiian restaurant religiously when I lived outside California. And glad I visited this. I had the #1 Hawaiian bbq combo My fiancé had the #9 chicken volcano #1 was the better of the two the bbq short ribs were delicious and just made everything taste better when you combined the rice and macaroni salad. I can see this is why their favorite dish. The chicken volcano was good I'm a big fan of fried food so it didn't disappoint, but if you're trying this spot out for the first time go for the bbq it's delicious and it won't let you down. I'll definitely be back. read more

Called to place a lunch order and was told they had a catering order so thst took priority. I was still asked what I wanted only to be told no again. I asked the girl, "so basically individual orders don't matter if you have a catering order" and she straight out said, "Yup". Used to go there all the time. Will NEVER go again. I'll go to the Hawaiian BBQ place by Petsmart instead. So sad to lose business by being so careless. read more