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Big Kahuna is the best! Consistent high quality! I'd love it if they had some lau lau one day! I can't find it anywhere!
Didn't expect to find Hawaiian comfort food here, but Big Kahuna came through. Food: Pork katsu was good, a little saucier than I'm used to, but still pretty tasty. The Big Kahuna burger was the star here. It had charred pineapple, BBQ sauce, and melted cheese... sheeesh, I didn't stand a chance. Fries were fire too - crispy and saucy. Mac salad was different and okay. Service/Ambiance: The place has that hole in the wall vibe. It looks like it used to be a house. Parking is a little funky (a couple spots out front, more in back). The Staff was super friendly. This place was poppin' with all the to go orders coming through. I'd come back here if I'm in the area! Mahalo braddah!
We were looking for a birthday celebration destination for a buddy - and there are a lot of bougie options in Lexington. I came across Big Kahuna and thought - oh, this looks interesting - let's give it a whirl. SO GLAD WE DID. There are generous portion sizes for good prices. There is parking behind the restaurant, and another lot about a block down. If you get there and you can't find parking - don't freak out. Just drive next door. There isn't much seating down on the main level, but a lot of room up above. We took a group both times (8-12 people) and it had more than enough space for us. I've gotten the panko-fried pork and the teriyaki chicken - and I think I would go with the pork again. But pay attention to their daily special - they have some really cool stuff. Whatever sauce they're throwing on their rice - it's bomb diggity. Ask for extra! Also (sorry, long review), try the Avocado fries! Golllllllllly. Slap ya mama good.
I've now eaten my way through the menu at Big Kahuna. I sat outside and enjoyed the coconut shrimp, with mac salad and sticky rice. It's Ono (delicious in Hawaiian)! If you still haven't been to Big Kahuna, you're missing some amazing food. Go! 86
This place is so good. So, so good! Very limited parking out back. I do think I saw some adjacent parking next door, but that could be lies. You encounter stairs at both entrances, at least. There's no ADA accessibility at this location. Seating is limited. A handful of tables on the kitchen floor were filled up at lunch time. Another area of seating is upstairs via two flights of stairs. We got the last open table upstairs. There are a few tables on an outside upper level deck. Seating is only backless metal barstools at high top tables. It's loud, as the rooms are small and there's nothing to absorb sound. Brightly colored murals decorate the walls. It's a vibe, for sure. The service was helpful and gracious. The food is just so flavorful! I loved it! I don't like macaroni salad and they let me sub Hawaiian fries. Excellent choice! Portions are generous.
Great authentic food. We lived in Hawaii for 4 years and the food was almost exactly like the islands. The spam and eggs was so good Staff is very nice, and the cost is very fair
My husband and I love this hole in the wall Hawaiian restaurant. Staff is always friendly, food is always delicious, and it inspired us to go to Hawaii last summer. Highly recommend to all!!
Incredible food, with a friendly staff! Food dishes you can't get anywhere else, and they are consistently great every time. Ordered 3 different entrees last time just to have leftovers. Can't wait to go back!
We were driving from Ohio to Atlanta & needed a great lunch spot to get a break from our long drive. Yelp did not let us down, the service was fast and friendly in an upbeat setting. The food was absolutely delicious; I had the Mahi Mahi & my husband had the Loco Moco. Both dishes were seasoned perfectly & I could eat a full plate of the sticky rice, it was next level good! We were there at 12:30, so no parking in the small lot behind the restaurant, but if you go 3 buildings down from the restaurant, there is a huge gravel parking lot on the same side. The next time we are driving through, we will definitely stop again & being only 3 miles off 75, and next to a gas station, it made for an efficient stop for us!
This place never disappoints. They stay busy because they are so good. Since Covid I have noticed that they just get busier every year. The word is out.
This place is so cute, a little fun vibe that fits a college town. We tried the chicken teriyaki, Hawaiian burger, chicken katsu sandwich. Somehow an extra box had been made and we were given it, which had spam, eggs and sushi rice. I really like the sticky rice with the sauce that tastes like spicy mayo and eel sauce. Everything was great and prices were excellent. High Yelp reviews led me here and I agree!
My husband and I stopped in for a bite to eat on our way to a comedy show. I had been wanting to try this place so much for about a year now. Tip: park in the back, it's easier. The front door is heavy and you go up the steps to the left in order to enter the restaurant, order at the counter, the menu is right there. They have seating inside (bar stools and counter height tables), as well as outside. Our food was ready quickly, it was a lot of meat for our sandwiches, I thoroughly enjoyed the fries which were saucy but crunchy and fresh! Honestly this place deserves some hype, it really is good food! We will be back, want to try the burger next! Thanks!!
Born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu, with those bona fides, the Big Kahuna completely surpassed my expectations. I've been to other "Hawaiian" BBQ restaurants on the mainland and have been completely disappointed when wanting a taste of home and so I was a little suspect of the Big Kahuna. It's a small restaurant but there is additional seating upstairs. On the day we went it was pretty crowded but most were getting takeaway so we didn't have any trouble finding seats. The parking lot is small but I noticed people walking from up the street so there's probably additional parking elsewhere, and I'd tell you the lack of parking in the back should not dissuade you from going in because the food is great. The staff greeted us with smile and the decor is very bright and airy just as if you were a couple blocks off the beach. We ordered at the counter and found a seat. It was a bit of a wait, as I said there were a lot of people getting takeaway, and the food is freshly prepared and absolutely worth the longer wait. The menu is small but they hit all the classics. Their Mac salad was a home run, yeah it looks like a simple dish and it is but it's very difficult to get it perfect. The noodles have to the right consistency, the mayonnaise has to be the right kind (Hellmans or Best Foods) and the ratio of noodles to mayo has to be exact. Big Kahuna was spot on. The katsu was crispy and juicy tender. I got the sauce (a trio) on the side, back home it's ketchup based and so it's a little different as I remember. I will add that I was home in Hawaii recently and saw that some places had a similar trio of sauces so maybe that's spot on too. The loco moco was also very good. The burger was well seasoned, tender and juicy. The key ingredient is the gravy, if it came out of a package or a jar, Big Kahuna fooled me cause it tasted homemade. Their savory gravy tied the rice, egg and burger all together. Big Kahuna is a great place when you're hungry for the taste of some Hawaiian plate lunches.
Wanting to try something new my husband suggested we try Big Kahuna after seeing good reviews on Yelp. We arrived around 5:30 on a weekend night and were able to get a parking spot right out front. Be careful where you park though because they have signs posted that you will be towed by the surrounding businesses if you park in their spaces. Patrons order at the counter, take a number, and find a table. There are a lot of menu options to choose from- I chose the mahi sandwich and my husband got he coconut shrimp plate. We split a side of edamame and that was more than enough food for both of us and our toddler (who really enjoyed the macaroni salad!). The food was delicious and the portion size was generous. The restaurant itself is very clean and kept up nicely. My only complaint was that the music was a little too loud - but granted our table was underneath the speaker. We will be back! read more
2 years ago
We still love coming to Big Kahuna! Not once have we ever been disappointed! Today we had the blackened mahi. Definitely has some bite! Absolutely delicious and a huge portion of food. You can easily get two meals out of an order. The staff is always friendly and hopping around the restaurant getting food out quickly. Everyone always looks happy when they are there too! read more
9 months ago
First off, I lived in Hawaii for 7 years so I know Hawaiian plate lunch! This is authentic Hawaiian food that's elevated a bit. We had the Kailua pork and Teriyaki chicken plates along with a Spam masubi and avocado fries. It was all very good. The port sizes are huge. The way they dress the sticky rice with the sauces is amazing! The pork and chicken were perfect and the Mac salad was spot on! If you want some "ono grindz" this is the place! read more
We came to get some grub before stopping at our air bnb in Lexington. Such an awesome atmosphere. I loved the art work. Food was amazing. We took it to go but it was so good! My wife and I shared the katsu. Made me miss the islands so much. I even grabbed a few Hawaiian suns to go! Aloha! read more
2 years ago
What a great place in the heart of Lexington. Big Kahuna did not disappoint. Their portion size and prices were amazing. The flavors were spot on in all the dishes we tried. Big Kahuna burger was so good. The Swiss cheese with the grilled pineapple, bacon, and sauce made for one tasty burger. Fries were coated and had flavor and crunch. Macaroni salad was creamy and delicious. Maui Mahi sandwich had at least 6 ounces of fish and was spectacular. Pork barbecue sandwich was huge and so good. All of it was cooked well and service was fast and easy. It was clean and easy to find seating. Parking area is a bit small, be prepared to maneuver around a little. We can't wait to come back! This is our go to for great, fast, and affordable food with an Hawaiian flair in Lexington, KY! read more
The place is at an odd angle intersection with limited parking (signs pointed me to a gravel lot a bit farther down). They've tricked out the inside going for atmosphere however. While the average barbecue doesn't offer much for me, they do have a grilled tofu dish that I thought was worth trying. And indeed, it delivered the freshly blackened taste with a mix of sweet and spicy flavors that I might have hoped. The platter came with a ton of rice and macaroni; the substitution options were quite carb-heavy as well. The only fruit or vegetable I got was a couple of pieces of pineapple on top. The drink options seemed quite sugary and would have been a bit much for me. But was my platter tasty? It certainly was. read more
1 year ago
BIG shout out to all of the Yelpers that previously reviewed this hidden gem. We found Big Kahuna while searching Yelp during an impromptu day trip to Lexington, and we had an absolutely incredible lunch! I would give them six stars if I could. Don't be dissuaded by the awkward entrance/parking situation - everyone knows some of the best food is found at these small, no-frills spots on the edge of town. There's a limited amount of indoor seating, and a patio for folks to enjoy when the weather is nice. The decor is so fun - complete with artsy murals and random surfing/snowboarding memorabilia. My husband and I both ordered the Big Kahuna Burger, along with an extra side of Hawaiian Fries, and some Spam Musubi. The burger was truly out of bounds - expertly grilled patties topped with bacon, cheese, and pineapple. This was truthfully the best burger I've had in a longggg time. The Hawaiian Fries were also spectacular - crisped to perfection, and topped with sweet and spicy sauces. I didn't partake in the Spam Musubi, but this was my husband's first time trying it anywhere, and he's now a huge fan. All of these five star reviews don't lie. Stop by Big Kahuna the next time you're in Lexington ... or if you're in the mood for a little foodie road trip, make the drive just to try their showstopping burger. read more
Short on ambiance and big on EVERYTHING else :) The food is really good. Plenty of parking, good prices, acceptable unisex restroom and friendly staff. Spam musubi is hard to find and delicious for $3! Very filling and large portions of everything. Hubby got the Kahuna burger with pineapple - delicious. Daughter got the shredded pork sandwich and ate every bite. Great slaw and macaroni salad. Beware that there's a half flight of stairs. I have a knee injury, but otherwise this wouldn't have been a problem. Reminded us of Hawaii cuisine. Craft & local beer offered. Not fancy, but we will be back. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Food was beyond fantastic!! Why we waited so long to go? Service was quick and this place gets busy.. and for good reason!! Remember.. parking is behind the building read more
2 years ago
Food was amazing! I came in already tempted to get 2 plates when a worker told me I can get a side of protein of choice which is awesome! read more
2 years ago
I was working in Lexington for a month and discovered Big Kahuna during my last week in town. This place was an incredible and unexpected find! I came here twice and ordered the mahi mahi and pork katsu lunch plates, both were excellent value for the price. The mahi mahi was my favorite of the two, very well seasoned and tasty. I'll definitely be stopping in again next time I'm in town! read more
After having this place saved for a while, I finally was able to stop here for lunch on the way home from a trip. I've been trying to find a Hawaiian BBQ spot around Louisville/Ky since I moved here and this was legit the only one I've found. They have some west coast swag and LA dodger gear on the walls so it felt just like home! Overall, it definitely itched the spot I had been craving for Hawaiian BBQ...Particularly katsu and Mac salad, both of which were very solid here. My girlfriend had never tried it and even she loved it and wants me to make some at home. They have all the traditional stuff I want to see like spam musubi, kalua pork and loco moco too. The fries had a nice Hawaiian spin on them but nothing to write home about in my book. They were still good but not something I'd crave or need to get again. The katu was super tasty, crunchy and still juicy too which was great. Mac salad hit the spot and I could eat a whole bucket of that. Rice was average but that's fine no issues there. I'm definitely looking forward to go back and try a few of the other plates! PS: I'm waiting and hoping for one of these to open up in Louisville at some point....Or any other Hawaiian BBQ spot that wants to fill that void here.. read more
8 months ago
8 months ago
8 months ago
7/28: I kept my word and returned the next time I came to Lexington. This time I got the Loco Moco and it was good, but not as good as the Katsu plate that I had last time. I got a Spam Musabi this time and it was an interesting treat. I will be back again and probably try something different again or I may just make the Katsu plate my go to. read more
10 months ago
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3 years ago
Super good food. Really reasonable prices. Friendly people. Nice little place. Makes me glad I live close to this place because I'll definitely be back. read more
11 months ago
10 months ago
A great deal on plate lunch. I was totally psyched to check out Big Kahuna since the food looked so good on Yelp. However just as I was to head out, I checked the date and realize that it was a Monday. But I came back later in the week to check it out and it was worth the wait. I was not expecting it to be at a converted house, but I pulled up, saw the yellow back door. The menu was not too large so I knew I was in the right place. Classics like loco moco, katsu, spam, teriyaki. I chose the katsu and the loco moco. The katsu was really pretty with sauce covering everything - the katsu was crispy and the sauce slightly sweet and spicy. The portions were awesome - definitely filling. The loco moco was very savory a bit more on salty side but not overly salty. Very tasty and that gravy was all over the place. The griddle cooked beef patties had a great crispness as well. I never had loco moco before but it's really good. Mac salad and rice were good compliments to the flavor packed food. At about $10 a plate it was a deal especially because of the portions. There is parking for about 10 cars in the back of the restaurant. I'm not in Lexington often but if I'm passing thru, I'll make a stop again at Big Kahuna. read more
Randomly decided to try after a friend told me about it. Got the Big Kahuna Burger with sticky rice and the special of the day, Lumpia (pork, cabbage, carrot spring roll). Big Kahuna Burger (8/10) was good and had some crisp on the edges that I enjoyed but the burger patty itself was small in comparison to the bun. I'm not a fan of the mayo based sauce they put on the sticky rice. The Lumpia (7.5/10) pretty standard spring rolls. I would recommend going and trying yourself but fair warning parking is horrific. Either go in off hours or park on the street. read more
1 year ago
11 months ago
1 year ago
5 years ago
I have heard such great things about this place so today I decided to give it a try. First off on their Facebook page they have a "order now" link that takes you straight to a very user friendly site to place your order. I was able to browse their menu and place it all within minutes. When I arrived at the time they told me the order would be ready it was there and waiting for me! The staff was amazing and chatting with me about the process to order online. The food was amazing, katsu was perfectly cooked and the rice was a nice compliment to it. A personal preference is a little less of the spicy Mayo but other than that it was pretty perfect plate for me. BUT to me the star was the spam musubi, but I'm a lover of spam! It has perfectly cooked rice, seared spam, wrapped in seaweed. I'm probably going to attempt to make this at home from now on. read more
2 years ago
This place has top tier service, amazing prices, and even better food!! I was able to get teriyaki chicken and three scoops of the sticky rice for only $10. It's also super cheap to add additional sides. I've been here 4 times now and every time the food has not only been fresh but comes out super quick. The staff is extra friendly!!! I will say parking can be an issue during busier periods BUT there is extra parking just 2 or 3 driveways down. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
It has taken me forever to get to this fantastic spot. The pork Katsu with macaroni and sticky rice was everything I had heard and more. They are open through the day so I popped in during a slow time and service was spectacularly fast and perfect. They have plenty of space and it's well kept and fun to be there. It may have been my first visit, but it certainly won't be my last. This is the kind of place we need to have a concerted effort to keep alive and well for years to come. read more
More info about Big Kahuna
904 Liberty Rd
Lexington, KY 40505
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(859) 317-9179
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http://www.bigkahunalex.com
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