Flew in for work at 11:15am, was starving and craved something uniquely Californian. I was doing a restaurant install at the mall across the street, and this place sounded perfect. Tried it out, and as starving as I was, I couldn't even eat this crap. Normally anything would've tasted good with how hungry I was. But this was dog food grade meat that was barely edible. The Mac salad was decent at best, but the rice was dried out and hard, the katsu sauce was too sweet and chemically tasting, and the meat was just chewy, sinewy, garbage. No idea how a restaurant could serve this and expect repeat customers. read more

I can't believe I've never done a review of this place. My family has been coming here for years! For starters, the portions they give you are huge! You can either share a plate or have seconds for later and to me, the prices are great. With tip it was about $35 for two plates. I always get the bbq chicken with double mac and rice. Their mac salad is truly my favorite and I can never seem to get enough of it. It's absolutely delicious. The chicken katsu is always crispy and with the help of an air fryer - reheats nicely. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I've never personally eaten there as we've always just got it to go but the inside probably has 10 tables and I've always found parking, no problem.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If you're wanting delicious Hawaiian food, check this place out! read more

Ordered: Hawaiian bbq mix plate The service was quick, ordered at the county and the food came out quickly in a to go box regardless if you are dining in or out. There are teriyaki and katsu sauce that you self serve on the counter. The box overflowed with the amount of protein they serve you! The chicken, bbq beef and kalbi were all extremely flavorful and well marinated. The cabbage and Mac salad are refreshing sides. One box is enough for 2 people/ meals. Not only is it a great value, it is filling and delicious too! read more

First of all, amazing Hawaiian bbq spot! Been to many different stores and none offer to replace the bed of cabbage for a bed of rice. When you're trying to feed your family on a budget, it really helps. Their macaroni salad is also the best I'm ever tasted and remains that way. The flavor of it is just so tasty and addicting for being a side that seems so simple. Their Hawaiian bbq chicken is juicy, fresh, and flavorful. They offer huge portions in-store. I noticed for delivery, they give a more even portion of that makes sense lol not huge but not to where I'd be upset over it. Their service is pretty quick for food that's made to order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There're lots of tables to choose from inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall I've been a loyal customer of them for YEARS and have had no better. Oh and don't forget your freteriyaki sauce while you wait for your order ;D read more

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This place always hits! Service is fast and food is so good. I love the bbq beef and chicken here. Always so flavorful and fresh. The rice and mac salad is always a 10/10 too. The cabbage underneath the meat is a treat. Honestly, I don't know how this place can mess up. Food is bomb and price is right. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's also a cute tot claw machine by the front lol.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I wanted the Pooh bear, but we just ate and left instead. We had a lot of things to do that day. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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I usually don't count service for fast food/casual places but the guy (Brian?) working today provided excellent service. He was able to take the order quickly with customizations, got it perfect. He also went out of his way after the order to give a bag for sauces without even asking. Food hit the spot too. I don't know if it's new but they give a 3.8% discount for paying cash. Otherwise, the normal price is the price you're charged. (just reading the other reviews) read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Mini Chicken Katsu, Hawaiian BBQ mix, xtra cabbage, xtra Mac - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

It's good. We enjoyed the food. Huge portions! Even the mini plates are big enough to share. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside is clean and casual.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But it is expensive, but in this economy, I say the price is fair for the amount of food they give. They do charge extra to use card. read more

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I forgot to take pictures because it was a quick decision last minute dinner choice. But all you need to know, is if you're wanting good Hawaiian BBQ that gives you so much food, a rubber band has to be used to keep the container closed! This is the spot! Their Katsu chicken is one of the best ones I've tried with the best chicken to breading ration. The chicken is thick and tastes amazing I definitely recommend this spot. And I've tried all the Hawaiian spots. This one is a favorite. The cashier guy is really easy going and courteous. And this is a casual spot where you can order and be served quick. Great for to go orders as well. read more

If you know these types of Hawaiian restaurants, you KNOW they're highly value-oriented. Aloha Hawaiian BBQ is no different. You've got value up the wazoo. I came here on a random Thursday after a long day, and this hit the spot. It's a simple restaurant, just like any other, but don't let it's regular appearance lead you astray; this is a wonderfully tasty meal, just waiting to appear in its classic to-go box form! I ordered the regular ol' BBQ Chicken plate, which comes with marinated grilled chicken thighs on top of a bed of steamed cabbage, a couple scoops of rice, and the classic mac salad. There's nothing you haven't tasted before, but this place does it perfect. I got some incredibly juicy protein, and the rice was done really well! The mac salad was as expected, and the meal itself was wonderful. Something a little different I saw here, in addition to the katsu, teriyaki, and sriracha self-serve sauces, was the sambal in a squeeze bottle. If you guys haven't had sambal, it's like the chili paste fresher cousin of sriracha, and it's great with your Hawaiian meal! The food came out very quickly, and the FOH staff was very nice and quick. Will come back! Go get some BBQ y'all, and mahalo for reading! read more

I had always driven past this spot and decided to finally try it out for lunch. Their "mini meal" is honestly more than enough (see pic). The food is ok, loved the macaroni salad. They give huge portions, so a good bang for your buck. The quality of the meat isn't the best to be honest. I think for that reason alone I might not go back. Though, you get a huge portion of meat. I had enough chicken for 2 meals. Wasn't terrible but also you can tell it just wasn't the best quality. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Casual spot with limited indoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Easy parking. read more

It 's our go-to when we need comfort and ono grindz Or when I need some chocolate macnuts and Aloha Maid drinks read more

So glad they were open on New Years Day! I always order the Hawaiian BBQ Mix plate here. Comes chicken, beef, and a little bit of short rib, rice and mac salad. You get a lot too! It feels like it weighs a few pounds. They even have to use a rubber band to close the lid on the container cuz it's so stuffed with food that it won't close otherwise. And don't forget to get a can of the Hawaiian drinks. Everything is so good! read more

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This is probably my favorite Hawaiian bbq in the area. Chicken katsu is super consistent and they give a huge portion. Service is very fast.

Brian is amazing! Excellent service and even better food! 20/10 love this place!!!!!!!

It was okay. I got the mix bbq plate. The chicken was great, but the short ribs were very fatty. But what I'm disappointed about were the chicken egg rolls. VERY upset about them. They were frozen egg rolls......... coming from a restaurant like this, it's just pretty unacceptable. I threw them away. SMH read more

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Always fast, very large portions, and delicious as hell. They are always super nice too. I Love this place

Been going here on and off for years. Food is okayish. But the times I do order through a delivery app, for some reason they give you a lot less food... I'm talking about 1/4 of the chicken they normally give. Totally not worth it read more

Plenty of choices to pick from,tried their Hawaiian bbq & chicke, both were good and were def big plates. We got it to go and it was plenty of food for 2 days. read more

I have a new favorite Hawaiian BBQ joint. Too bad that they are not located in my hometown, though. Aloha Hawaiian BBQ is located in Santa Ana next to Plato's Closet on Bristol St. This spot was not on our radar when we were looking for a restaurant to dine at with my parents. My Mom saw them as we were driving by and said "Let's eat there!" So I did as Mom instructed, and were all happy that we did. The restaurant is not very large, and it is not fancy. Go to the counter to place your order, and then find a table to dine at. We were there mid afternoon so there were not too many folks dining in. Although, they did have plenty of take out orders. They are not a fast food joint so don't expect to get your food quickly. We waited about 20 minutes for our order, and it was worth the wait!! Each one of us was extremely happy with our choices! Portion sizes ranged from good to generous, and prices are very reasonable. We shared the food, and I had my favorites. Spam Musubi was delicious! Chicken Katsu was yummy!!! I Highly recommend Aloha Hawaiian Bbq!! Terrific place with delectable food! read more

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Good quality food and great price. Come here so often. Always delievers with no bad experiences

I go to this location often. Big portion and the food is always hot. Seafood combo is my go to.

Generous portions, juicy chicken, and fast service BUT the food is really bland. I ordered the chicken katsu mini meal and was super bummed at the lack of flavor in the entire meal and even the katsu sauce. I even tried making a concoction out of their katsu sauce, teriyaki, and ketchup but nothing was bringing the flavor out. On the plus side the chicken was notably juicy. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Generous portions! Chicken Katsu Mini Meal - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

If you're looking to BULK this is where you go. In a world of excess, there are so many people in OC looking to optimize their macros and use food as fuel to become their best selves. I don't know if Aloha Hawaiian BBQ fits the criteria of becoming your best self, but if you're looking for no frills Hawaiian plate lunches to put on MASS, this is where you go. I've been coming here for years whenever I want to get 2 meals in 1 and although I sometimes feel some self-loathing after the fact, it always hits the spot. I typically get either the Half & Half BBQ Chicken and Chicken Katsu plate or the Hawaiian BBQ Mix... they both cost about $20 including tax. When I talk about mass I mean MASS: they use a rubber band to tie down the container and each order is easily enough for 2 meals, maybe even 3. Now the food itself is about the same style and quality you'd get at just about any Hawaiian plate lunch spot, but if you're looking to gorge on a plate of protein, fats, and carbs without paying attention to how others think of you, THIS IS THE SPOT. Added bonus: they're always playing the sports event of the moment in here, whether it's football, basketball, or soccer, and the A/C is always CRANKING. read more

The food here is truly great fresh and flavorful! However, my first experience was a bit uncomfortable. Since I'm new to eating here, I didn't realize you needed to keep your receipt to know when your order is ready. When I asked about it, the woman at the counter (who seemed to be working with her daughter) rolled her eyes and passed me off to someone else. Later, when my number was called, my food was tossed into the bag, which caused the boxes to collapse. That said, the food itself was amazing, and I would come back for the quality. I just hope the service can be friendlier and more welcoming, especially to new customers. read more

This place saved my sanity when the kids didn't like what we actually had for lunch. The kids quieted down and scarfed down the chicken katsu. The meat was white, thick, and tender. The batter was lightly covered with crispy panko. There was plenty of rice for the two little kids to share. The mac salad was not as creamy as I am used to because it had canned tuna in it, but it was nice to have something a little different from other places. The seating area was spacious, and there was a self-service soda fountain with fresh tasting water. This restaurant was the perfect find for my tired kids. read more

Likes: + Ample parking. Located near the freeway. + Ton of good food. + Polite cashier. Non-likes: - Food comes out much slower here than the one in Irvine on Tustin Ranch Rd (they bring your food out within 2min). Here they took 13min, long enough for me to write this whole review. - I ordered he same thing here: the Hawaiian BBQ mix. The total came out to be about another $1 because of a 3.8% service charge. - [Ambiance] Two and a Half Men on TV. Not my cup of tea. read more

Let me tell you about my FAVORITE Hawaiian BBQ spot -- Aloha Hawaiian BBQ! It's in Santa Ana but you gotta be careful because there's 2 locations in Santa Ana with the same name and they're both on Bristol Street! This is my favorite location -- the one right next to Plato's Closet and TJ Max -- 3814 S Bristol St Suite B! I LOVE this location because their service is awesome, their food is always hot, fresh and delicious, AND they're so generous with their portions I they can't even close the box! Seriously it can take Martin and I at least 2 full meals each to finish an entire box -- so you're essentially getting 4 meals under $20. They also let you customize your order -- I get a combination of their chicken katsu and mahi mahi and I substitute the bed of cabbage for an extra scoop of rice or macaroni salad! I love this spot so much! If you love Hawaiian BBQ be sure to show your support and check them out! read more

Nasty food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Play smells like a wet dog, and the food tastes even worse.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Told the guy behind the counter about it. He didn't seem to really care. I would stay away from this place. read more

Rating is totally based on the cleanliness of the establishment I don't usually write reviews, but Aloha Hawaiian BBQ has earned this one. Let's start with the food: not bad. Edible. Decent flavor. But it's hard to enjoy anything when the rest of the experience makes you question your life choices. They charge a ridiculous fee just to use a card -- which in 2025 is laughable. It's a tacky, cash-grab surcharge that feels like a slap in the face. If you're going to nickel-and-dime customers for simply paying, at least reinvest that money into basic cleanliness. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Which brings me to the bathroom and I use that word lightly. It is an absolute horror show. I've seen cleaner porta-potties at Cochella. I sincerely hope the employees aren't using the same facility, because it's a full-blown health hazard.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The smell alone makes you wonder if something died in there... or worse, if someone was murdered and no one noticed. I wouldn't be surprised if the Health Department hasn't visited in years, and they need to. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had no problem stuffing some janky arcade machine in the corner, but apparently cleaning the bathroom or maintaining hygiene isn't on the priority list.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Let that sink in. Bottom line: decent food, completely ruined by disgusting conditions, shameless card fees, and an overall lack of care. Aloha, but never again. read more

so good! i recommend the mini plates since the portion is not too much food ;) katsu is good but bbq chicken is my favorite

I have been here many times over the years but was not impressed with my to-go order yesterday. I ordered the BBQ chicken and shrimp meal. Don't get me wrong, you get a lot of food for your money but the chicken was SO fatty, it wasn't pleasant to eat. I probably won't ever return unfortunately. read more

I love coming here , the food always hits so good! Plus the people working are always so so nice and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place is always clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . I've realized I haven't given them a review and immediately got on yelp to give them the praise they deserve . 10/10 if you craving bbq this is the spot! read more

Massive massive massive portions. If you're hungry hungry. This is def the place to eat at. I had their chicken and beef bbq plate and the plate itself was about 5 pounds (not kidding) The meat was tasty, but a bit burnt ( may not be preference of some people). The service was really good. The cashier offered forks/ knifes and extra Sauces. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Chicken & Beef Combo - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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best hawaiian bbq and they pack ur food fat!!! dont ever ever go to the other one in costa mesa , this ones the best. i go all the time!! great service too. read more

It's good Hawaiian food that will satisfy that craving! I ordered a Chicken Katsu Plate and Beef Short Rib Plate with macaroni salad and white rice. Both of the meats tasted exactly how I wanted it to! Tastes like any of your other standard Hawaiian food places and I like that. The chicken katsu was super crispy and juicy (some places katsu are dry and not as crunchy). The short rib was fatty and marinated in a great sauce that was salty and sweet. The sauces were also great! The mac salad was fine. It was a little too creamy for me and I wish it was seasoned a bit more, but I still happily ate it. Compared to the other Hawaiian food chains, I'd have to say Aloha Hawaiian BBQ is one of the better ones! If you get hit with a random craving for Hawaiian food, Aloha Hawaiian BBQ can definitely help you out with that! read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Chicken Katsu - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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After I got the bad order of chicken from next door, I sat in the car and starting to read Yelp reviews for Aloha Hawaiian BBQ. Called the place and asked if their katsu chicken is made of white meat or dark meat. The guy said "white meat". So I walked into the store and confirmed with the lady at the register again before ordering, that their katsu chicken is made with white meat chicken. She appeared to be the boss/owner. She said "no, dark meat". And pointed at the menu above her saying "if you want chicken breast, order that". Okay, I'll try that then. It was really late already for lunch since I had to wait so long next door for the bad fried chicken, I decided to sit down and eat here. They definitely give you a huge portion here. Plenty of chicken but unfortunately, it didn't even taste good. Chicken didn't have much flavor. Very salty and full of garlic taste. That's it. And worse, they left little pieces of fat dangling on the sliced chicken. Lots of it. So disgusting. Bad day for me. Bad luck with lunch at both places in one day = no lunch. :( Never be back again. 2 stars for the huge portion. 0 star for the taste/flavor(less). read more

Huge portions of quality Hawaiian BBQ. There are several locations but this one tastes the best for some reason. One of their combos is enough to feed two hungry guys. There is absolutely no need to buy one combo per person. Each combo comes on a bed of cabbage, with a side of macaroni salad and a side of rice. They pile on the meat and they can barely close the container. It's great! Don't forget to grab a side of their homemade teriyaki sauce to dip everything in! I highly recommend combo #4 because it comes with chicken, beef, and a large slice of kalbi ribs. read more

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Food was old and dry. Burnt as well. Ordered through door dash and was extremely disappointed. Tried to finish the food as we did not want to waste it but the only thing edible was the macaroni salad. read more

Honestly for what you get at the price point it's not bad. $11 for basically 3-4 servings of adequate taste and hawaiian fast food in 2020 is kinda good. Do keep in mind there are two on Bristol: the one that serves large meals like the one I had is 3814 S Bristol St, while the offbrand one that's completely different is 3001 S Bristol. Confusing, and it's likely due to different owners, but they use the same name. Outside looks like a boomer strip mall but once you enter it's.. also basically the same aesthetic. Still quite large though. The cashier and chefs were masked up. Sides were teriyaki, sriracha, katsu sauce that you self served, and the menu had options of a mini plate or regular, with meat options such as chicken katsu, beef, shrimp, etc. The regular gave three sides, though I opted for more Mac salad over boiled lettuce. Even still, the overflowing chicken/meat you get will have a layer of boiled cabbage to give the illusion that there's more meat, but still a lot overall even with a height cheat. Got the chicken Combo of half katsu and half bbq grilled chicken. For a cheap meal it was good. I'm surprised how crunchy the katsu was even after a 30 minute trip back home, and definitely one of the highlights here. The softer BBQ chicken was more standard. Mac salad was decent. 5pm was a good time to show up. No lines and right before a small crowd showed up so that was nice. For takeout it was a decent experience. Only thing I was iffy about was the boiled cabbage being kinda meh but that's just nitpicking since it's still a cheap meal overall. read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - Front - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Came here because the last time I was here the food was off the chain!! Love me Hawaiian BBQ, came here after work and I'm starving.. Google said they close at 09:30, Yelp says 09:30p.. but in reality (see picture).. It's simple... free advertising you would think in the Bidenflation days, you would want business... but seeing that the GM doesn't care, I'm off to Westminster L&L that's open till 09:30p... sucks but they get my money tonight, plus L&L is better in my opinion.. Pros? Not this trip Cons They close early read more

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ - UPDATE YELP AND GOOGLE - Barbeque Near Me - Santa Ana, California