Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ

    4.3 (82 reviews)
    ModerateHawaiian, Barbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ Takeout or Delivery

    Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    BE WOK & HAWAIIAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    #1A) Seafood BBQ Chicken Combo with Chow Mein and Fried Rice
    Maria L.

    Came here to get some takeout around 6:30pm on Monday. Plenty of parking outside. They had some tables on both sides of the restaurant, but it appeared that most people were getting takeouts. The setting was very causal, and they're playing some music videos on the big TV. Since someone was in front of us ordering at the only register, we ordered via the ordering kiosk, which was very convenient and straightforward. Our food was ready in less than 15 mins, and was still warm when we got home. I had #1A) Seafood BBQ Chicken Combo with Chow Mein and Fried Rice. It came with 2 big pieces of skin-on chicken thigh, 1 big piece of fish that can be easily cut into two, 3 tail-on butterfly shrimps, 2 scoops of fried rice, plenty of noodles, some raw cabbage, a wedge of lemon and tartar sauce. It's such a good deal at $17.25! I saved half of it for lunch the next day and was still stuffed. Flavor-wise, it was not bad, either. The BBQ chicken was cooked well and favorable, just a bit on the saltier side. The deep-fried seafood and chow mein were not oily. There's a tiny bit of bean sprouts and onion in the chow mein. I didn't care for the raw cabbage, though. It would have been perfect if they cooked the cabbage together with the noodles, or offer an option to have the cabbage cooked. My husband enjoyed his Combination Plate, and had leftovers as well. Would love to go back and try their Chinese dishes.

    Menu
    Diane W.

    We had dinner here tonight and it was so good. We had been here once before when Yelp was featuring Asian-owned business. We lived it so much that we had to return. This is a family run business and they are so kind. We placed our order at the front register with the daughter of the owner. She greeted us with a smile and was so sweet. I ordered the BBQ chicken plate and picked the mac salad and fried rice for my two sides. I also ordered a side of mac salad to take home for tomorrow, because it's so good. My husband ordered the Kung Pao Chicken with steamed rice. He also ordered the fresh watermelon juice that they make fresh. We found a table right by their big screen TV so we could watch Panama vs. Ghana play in the World Cup. They have plenty of seating inside. All the tables were clean and spotless. Our food was delivered to our table quickly. My chicken was so moist and delicious. I love the marinade they use for it. The fried rice and mac salad were delicious. My husband loved the Kung Pao Chicken and enjoyed his refreshing watermelon juice. He said the spice level on the Kung Pao Chicken was a medium spice, which he liked. Their portions are very hefty and generous. We were only able to eat half of our food and we took the rest home for lunch tomorrow. We really enjoyed our meal and excellent customer service. We look forward to returning again soon.

    Sweet & Sour Chicken
    Stacy C.

    A friend raved about Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ in a Yelp review so I was eager to try it. Be Wok offers both Hawaiian and Chinese food. I had a taste for Chinese, so I ordered sweet & sour chicken, white rice, and a small wonton soup via delivery. The sweet & sour chicken was probably the best I've ever tasted. The chicken was tender and the flavor of the sauce was perfection. The portion was huge, too. My delivery arrived piping hot. The wonton soup was also delicious. A small is enough for two people. In addition to wontons, the soup contained pieces of beef, cabbage, broccoli, and more. I would have liked the broth to be more flavorful, but it was still good. Can't wait to try more dishes from Be Wok.

    Henry M.

    As I was thumbing through Yelp trying to figure out where to eat, I happen upon Be Wok and Hawaiian BBQ. And noted that they serve chicken Katsu. Wifey be like... what's that? I be like don't worry about, let's go!, lol! Be Wok is in a shopping center right across the street from Safeway on Hamilton Ave. the parking situation in front of Be wok is not the greatest if you are driving a car that you care about as the spaces are tight, but don't threat because just a 15 second walk, in the shopping center there are plenty of spaces with no cars for Miles. The inside of Be Walk has plenty of tables to dine in and a big screen tv to enjoy, while you are eating. "Everyone that came in while we were there took there's to go" They have a pretty extensive menu and their prices are very reasonable especially considering the amount of food they give you." the plate I ordered was easily enough for the both of us." I ordered the chicken Katsu plate which comes with two sides. I ordered rice and chow mein for my sides. Wifey ordered the teriyaki bowl which comes with rice, teriyaki chicken and broccoli. "Our orders were ready in about 5 minutes!!" The Good & not so good: #1. The amount of chicken Katsu that they gave me was staggering!! 5 stars. #2. The flavor of the chicken Katsu, it's texture, and how it was prepared was IMO top notch 5 stars #3. The fried rice was... well.. lacking 2 stars tops. "Will not order again" #4. The chow mein was also not good and I found it lacking. 2 stars "will not order again" #5. The chicken teriyaki bowl was IMO very, very good as a whole and the portion I felt was perfect. "No complaints, none, zero... 5 stars. #6. The service was fast and friendly 5 stars. Overall conclusion: This is a place that I most assuredly will be coming back too. Next time I will go for the white rice as a side and veggies.

    Close-up of the Musubi with Portuguese Sausage
    Lloyd C.

    I stopped into Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ for a snack. A standalone store in a decent sized shopping center. The parking seemed plentiful. The place is a simple family business that serves Chinese & Hawaiian cuisine. Order via kiosk or cashier. One unisex restroom. The interior has several tables where you can sit and eat. One large LCD TV screen showing professional sports. The owner/cashier was super friendly, helpful, and welcoming. Musubi with Portuguese Sausage. Decent with a flavorful sausage. I look forward to trying some of their other dishes.

    Ordering from the counter
    Craig Y.

    Finally! Good Hawaiian food in San Jose! I've been looking for this for so long. Why there aren't more good Hawaiian food places in the Bay Area I just don't understand. This is good, solid Hawaiian lunch plate food you might find on the islands. Just solid, not greasy, not complicated, and really good tasting food. I'm already planning my next trip back. FOOD: Of course this is why you come here. Great selection of standard Hawaiian staples like lau lau and kalua pork and saimin and staples like BBQ chicken and beef. So thrilled they allow you to choose two sides! Standards like mac salad, rice, and chow mein (three different kinds of rice), but also broccoli, salad, and french fries. Wow. My daughter has been searching for good loco moco and we finally found it here. Yum. Plus they have all these good Chinese dishes too! Now I have to come back for that? SERVICE: So pleased with the service. The woman behind the counter was very helpful and patient. And the food came out relatively quickly. Portion sizes were terrific and well plated. COST: Excellent for what you get. They really pile it on. Definitely coming back! Probably many times.

    Auriana N.

    Definitely above average experience at Be Wok- I did get my meal via delivery app so this review is strictly food based (no atmosphere, parking or vibes which make or break an eatery sometimes). So let's dive in: I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of my meal. I got a 1/2 fried fish and 1/2 bbq beef entree. It came packed with rice, veggies and salad...everything was absolutely amazing. You can select basically anything in the entree meal & won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back.

    Seafood Combo - with Shortrib
    Cathy T.

    The fried fish was crispy and flaky. I opted for my 2 sides to be Mac salad and greens. The combo does not automatically come with rice so make sure you pick rice as a side if that's what you're looking for. The Mac salad has a pleasant creaminess from the mayo. The greens side adds a crunch and freshness. The portions here are very generous! Three butterfly shrimps, two short ribs and a large fish fillet!

    mini chicken katsu with white rice and mac salad
    Aileen L.

    Came with friends who were here for the yelp community event and bought a plate for myself - we came around 6pm on a Friday and there was a decent amount of people there as well. Service was friendly and quick, and they helped answer our questions about the menu, which seems to have both chinese takeout and hawaiian bbq options. The inside is simple with a few tables and chairs and is relatively roomy. I got the mini chicken katsu with 2 sides - I chose white rice and mac salad but really should've opted for a veggie of some sort since I got a little carbed out The chicken katsu was perfectly juicy and tender inside with a nice crispy breading that wasn't too oily, and despite being "mini" had a very generous amount of meat and the sides were pretty large scoops too - this service was definitely more than enough to be a filling dinner for me. The mac salad was tasty and the white rice is white rice. Be Work & Hawaiian BBQ gets the job done when you're craving some hawaiian bbq classics, with solid quality and great value.

    BBQ Mic Plate
    Jennifer V.

    Okay, solid 4 - maybe 4.5 stars. SO - This place is pretty great. I find myself coming back here ordering many times and the food has been great. I've gone back 4 times now. Every time, the service has been amazing. Love her service, she's so attentive. I've since ordered: Honey Walnut Shrimp - they keep the sauce separate when ordering to go so the shrimp can stay crispy. So thoughtful. Beef and Green beans - sooo yummy. I love green beans and I really liked the flavor of the sauce and texture of the beef for this dish. Along with the usual bbq chicken and beef Hawaiian plates. They have the option to choose all Mac or all rice which I LOVE because I just love their Mac. Completely redeemed, they know good flavors. You can't go wrong, and even if it was an off day - give it another chance, they're pretty consistent on a good cook. Plenty of seating inside, but they also make pick up a breeze.

    BBQ mixed plate on left and Bento plate on the right
    Don U.

    Tried the BBQ mixed plate and the Bento plate, both were fresh and delicious. The fried rice and Mac salad sides were great. Wished the side garden salad came with a sesame dressing instead of ranch which didn't fit the flavor profile. Portions are large. Restaurant was very clean and loved watching movies on the giant TV. Service was excellent. Parking was plentiful. Will definitely come back to try the rest of the menu.

    Honey Walnut Prawn and Wonton Soup
    Nathan T.

    The food was very good. Walnut prawns were nice and hot/fresh out the fryer and the portion size was very generous. Just have to order your rice on the side. Wonton soup was your standard wonton but also was pretty good. Service was great the cashier was very helpful because I had a few questions. The inside is nice and clean they had a HUGE tv showing the nba playoffs, bonus for that, and they have a very large selection on their menu so def give this place a try! Chinese food and Hawaiian BBQ

    Chicken Katsu
    Connie C.

    The restaurant was empty but the to go and door dash has busy. The service was pleasant and our food was great. Large portions and we will be back.

    Chicken chow mein

    See all

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 42
    Thanks 14
    Love this 42
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 6
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Connie C.
    94
    44
    56

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nin J.
    138
    787
    2786

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 73
    Thanks 23
    Love this 56
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian D.
    1574
    2372
    2356

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ed S.
    101
    425
    359

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 2

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Great food. A lot of variety and huge portions. Their cashew chicken is delicious. I also love their barbecue chicken and ribs combo.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of T C.
    0
    85
    12

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Dan A.
    21
    51
    7

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Great portions and yummy! Ordered several items for takeout including saimin noodles, katsu, and orange chicken

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Therese J.
    257
    44
    39

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S K.
    0
    50
    38

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B M.
    139
    3
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ

    You might also consider

    Best Hawaiian BBQ - 32. Hawaiian BBQ Beef Bowl

    Best Hawaiian BBQ

    4.2(147 reviews)
    2.2 miDry Creek, Cambrian Park
    $$

    Been going here since the first week it opened, and since it's always good/easy to pick up, I now…read morego at least 4-5 times a week. L&L chains have young workers that don't care while Best Hawaiin is run by the same respectful people who are quick, but still put quality first. Get the 1/2 & 1/2 combo plates. BBQ chicken bowl. Musubi trio. Fried shrimp. Can't go wrong.

    Craving some comfort Hawaiian food? This is the place for you! Let's talk portions: HUGE - honestly…read moreeach portion generally feeds us for at least 2 meals. There are a ton of great choices. My husband always gets the Lau Lau - when we go to Hawaii he always has to get plate lunch, this fits the bill and then some. Chicken katsu is awesome - really tasty, great crunchy outside. The sauce is a bit sweeter than I like it, but I generally just eat it without. I have done both the mixed BBQ chicken and beef - and then I also have done them as single option, always delicious. Again, great portion size. And I get it with broccoli, which is just steamed and super fresh tasting, absolutely love it. We love the appetizers - spring rolls and gyoza - so you get a little bit of everything here. Gyoza appetizer size is so generous - 10 usually? Hubby also gets sesame balls, not my jam, but he loves them! Actually if they had jam, I might like em, ha! I think they are meant to purposely not be too sweet, which they meet that requirement.

    Photos
    Best Hawaiian BBQ - Interior

    Interior

    Best Hawaiian BBQ - Musubi Trio

    Musubi Trio

    Best Hawaiian BBQ - 60. Fried Gyoza

    See all

    60. Fried Gyoza

    Aloha Fresh - Lunch

    Aloha Fresh

    4.4(826 reviews)
    5.5 miDowntown
    $$

    Aloha Fresh has some of the best poke flavors I've tried so far in the Bay Area. Kukui nut, garlic…read moremayo, and Hawaiian flavors are in our regular rotation. We've yet to get stringy fish cuts or smelly seafood. Bonus points for offering black rice as an upgrade. The sides are also reliably good and the portion sizes are filling. Customer service isn't the warmest but they're efficient so even on the days when the line is out the door onto the sidewalk, we get in and out quickly. The salt and vinegar chicken comes out piping hot. Recommended for those who like to douse their fish and chips in malt vinegar or enjoy a bag of salt and vinegar chips. Butter mochi is a nice add-on if you want to make one trip for an entree and dessert. Otherwise if we have the time, we cross the street to Pau Hana Shave Ice after our Aloha Fresh run. Easy meal planning on hot summer days!

    Came here for lunch on a Friday, not much of a wait to order. Staff was all nice and location…read moreseemed clean. Parking was a little limited, parked on the street but I'm not sure if there's more parking nearby. There is also not really any seating indoors but there are a handful of benches and tables outside to sit at. Food tasted alright. I thought that it was a little underwhelming. It was a little on the bland side and I also thought for the price the portion size was on the smaller side.

    Photos
    Aloha Fresh - 20 min wait- but sooooo WORTH IT! Yummm! Poke bowl time!

    20 min wait- but sooooo WORTH IT! Yummm! Poke bowl time!

    Aloha Fresh - Poke Nachos (spicy ahi)

    Poke Nachos (spicy ahi)

    Aloha Fresh - Outside entrance. June 2025

    See all

    Outside entrance. June 2025

    Hukilau - Garlic popcorn chicken

    Hukilau

    3.6(1.3k reviews)
    5.5 miDowntown
    $$

    After the Fantasy Football party at JTown Pizza my husband was hungry so we ventured over here for…read moredinner. I was quite stuffed from eating pizza and wings, but I couldn't let him go hungry so we came to Hukilau for dinner. Soon as you enter there is a seating area right there. High tables and regularly hight tables. The back wall is a full bar. As you approach the cash register you can can see that there is another room in back. We were greeted by a waiter that led us to a table in back. They have sets of tables around the outer edge and tables all pushed together in the center. The menu is pretty extensive. We ordered the Salmon Poke bowl that had rice along with the salmon and a side of macaroni salad. There were other sides to choose from, but all my friends rave about Hawaiian macaroni salad so I order it. The macaroni salad was only ok. I'm just not a macaroni salad type of girl. The poke was good. The salmon was fresh and didn't taste too fishy. We also ordered the Mahi Mahi grilled with rice and macaroni salad. We split both plates. I've never have filets of Mahi Mahi before. They always seem to arrive in square shapes or something that resembles a square. I was really impressed by the Mahi Mahi. It had great flavor without needing the tarter sauce. It wasn't fishy at all and was well salted and peppered. I highly reccomend the Mahi Mahi platter. The ambiance was ok, nothing special. Defiantly not romantic. I guess it's good for families and groups. There were 2 familes of 6 dining with us. The back room was spacious and I don't know how to describe it, but i lacked a Hawaiian flair. We could have been sitting on picnic benches and it would have been given the same flair. If you are looking for Hawaiian food you've come to the right place. Just know there isn't an island feel to it.

    What can I say? I mean WOW! What a great, comfortable place!…read moreTremendous selection of food, and a bartender (Santos) who DOESN'T serve watered-down drinks you'll find everywhere else! (No kidding.) Hukilau is the hidden Tiki bar you've been looking for, with a broad selection of poke pupus, poke, mahi mahi, and other tantalizing choices. Don't miss it. ;-)

    Photos
    Hukilau - Interior

    Interior

    Hukilau - Garlic fries. Avocado poke. Garlic popcorn chicken.

    Garlic fries. Avocado poke. Garlic popcorn chicken.

    Hukilau - Garlic fries

    See all

    Garlic fries

    GOGA Restaurant - Black Truffle Crusted Salmon ( Weekly updated Set Menu on July 15)

    GOGA Restaurant

    4.5(108 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally sourced ingredients

    GOGA is one of those restaurants that reminds you why independent, chef-driven dining is so…read morespecial. We had a 5:30 reservation on a Friday. First tip: it's a little tricky to find! It's tucked behind the buildings just off Saratoga's main strip. Trust Google Maps, head to the rear parking lot, and follow the sign through the alley to the restaurant. Dinner is prix fixe only -- $93 as of August 2026. We mentioned that we had plans afterward and just wanted a lighter dinner and some wine, and they were incredibly gracious about letting us split one prix fixe. Honestly, the portions still felt very generous, and we ended up spending about the same amount on wine anyway. The wine list is small but really thoughtfully curated, and they also allow you to bring your own bottle for a corkage fee. The standout for me was the Hokkaido scallop with crab and caramelized carrot. Genuinely one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. A couple of dishes were liberal with the finishing salt, but the flavors, seasoning, creativity, and technique were top tier. Everything is cooked to order by the chef, and it showed -- every course came out beautifully prepared and cooked to perfection. The whole place feels like a passion project. The chef has spent decades in the industry, including time in Shanghai and Hawaii, and it feels like he and his wife basically said, "This is what we do, this is the food we love -- let's make a place for it." And I love that. There are some rough edges that come with making the space work for them, but the things that actually matter -- food, service, organization, and cleanliness -- were excellent. Even the single restroom was very clean and well kept. It's a small, intimate space, so I definitely recommend making a reservation. That said, they seemed genuinely accommodating to everyone who came through and clearly care about making people feel welcome. More than anything, the restaurant just felt happy. Everyone around us was having a great time, people were ordering liberally from the wine list, and by the time we left around 7, it felt like a room full of people who understood exactly what this place is about. GOGA isn't trying to win you over with a bunch of empty promises and trendy decor. It's about really good food, wine, and hospitality from people who clearly care about what they're doing. I'd love to see the space evolve over time, but never at the expense of the food or the wonderfully unique experience they've created. We'll absolutely be back -- brunch is next.

    To start out, I am a HUGE fan of Hawaiian food and Asian fusion cuisine; thus, I was very excited…read moreabout visiting GOGA to celebrate my birthday with my wife (who shares the same birthday) and my two kids. We found GOGA on Yelp and it seemed like it had just the right vibe (a laid-back atmosphere with the meticulous and intentional attention to detail that only a master chef can bring to a meal). I'll start out with the good. We were seated quickly (as the first reservation of the evening should) and they offered us a burger and fries option for our small children; this is nice since kids are often too picky to appreciate the mixture of flavors/textures on offer. My six-year-old had the burger and he reported that it was good (with one thumb up) but not great (two thumbs up); I think that if he had not removed the tomato and lettuce, it would have been better but he is a much tougher critic than me. On to the areas where improvement is needed. The chef's attitude toward small children is not inviting. For example, my son is small, 36". He does not put his feet on the chair because he wants to but because he needs to in order to prop himself up to a comfortable height. The chef yelled at him from the kitchen, "Tell the young man to put his feet down!" I get it, the chairs are upholstered in a leather material but a better approach would be to send the server over to communicate in a friendlier way, offer a booster, or to ask if he would be willing to remove his shoes if he needs to prop himself up in the chair. The next thing was the smoke. At one point before they decided to turn on the range hood the entire restaurant was filled with smoke that was pretty irritating and a bit alarming. They seemed to get it under control but the whole restaurant stayed musty at all times, it definitely needs more circulation. One idea would be to install a large folding door on the side of the restaurant next to the entry-way to create a sort of indoor/outdoor dining that makes use of the entry-ally way. It would also help to avoid the feeling of claustrophobia from being in such a small space. The prix fixe menu for the evening was a four-course meal at $95 that included the tuna sashimi salad, a lobster roll, American Wagyu, and raspberry tiramisu. The tuna salad was decent, very smooth, rich and well matched to the veggies and avocado. The lobster roll is where things started to fall apart. The bun was butter and overly salted and over-powered the meager bits of lobster that was included within. Last was the Wagyu (which we were highly anticipating due to having to wait 45 minutes after the lobster roll to arrive). Sadly, it was also over-salted, dry on the outside and chewy on the inside with a very gamey flavor (it was the worst steak I have had in a long time and definitely the worst Wagyu I have ever tasted). It was paired with a single spear of broccolini (extremely over-salted) and a large cut of heirloom tomato. Nothing about this pairing brought to mind Hawaii and its unique savory and sweet profiles but then again it just did not taste good. Last was the tiramisu. It was good, perhaps a bit heavy on the cream but overall good. The only other thing to note from this portion of the meal was that their only attempt at helping us celebrate our birthdays was a single heart-shaped candle which is nice but definitely minimal effort. As I was getting ready to sign the bill (around $400 total including a mimosa, three prix fixe, and a burger) the chef visited our table. I thought this was going to be a visit to ask how our meal was but instead he wanted to let us know that there were other guests waiting for our table... wait what?!? We arrived promptly at 5:30, they took 20 minutes to serve our salad, another 30 minutes to bring the lobster roll, 45 minutes to bring Wagyu, and 20 minutes to serve desert and somehow we are the ones holding things up?!? Frankly, I was too impressed by their total lack of self-awareness to get overly angry. Conceptually, I'm OK with the chef not adhering to the Hawaiian theme (regardless of the Hawaiian music playing throughout our visit) as long as they provide food quality that matches the fine dining price. Perhaps I visited on an off-night (since the menu is likely changing frequently) but for nearly $100 per person I expect better. Sadly, it looks like I'll still be waiting for a fine-dining approach to Hawaiian cuisine because GOGA just isn't it.

    Photos
    GOGA Restaurant - Waygu Steak with fresh arugula ( Set menu on July 23)

    Waygu Steak with fresh arugula ( Set menu on July 23)

    GOGA Restaurant - Crab Cake with lemon chili butter

    Crab Cake with lemon chili butter

    GOGA Restaurant - GOGA Crab Cake Egg Benedict -- Weekend Brunch

    See all

    GOGA Crab Cake Egg Benedict -- Weekend Brunch

    Be Wok & Hawaiian BBQ - hawaiian - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...