Good entree options! Corporate feel which isn't bad, but self order kiosks rather than ordering at a counter. I'd prefer some more side options as well. But I would return again later so i could try more dishes. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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A different place to go to get out of the fast food rut. Hawaiian Bros has very simple food: chicken and pork. Everything looks to be dairy free as I looked on their allergen list. Definitely a no-frills type of meal. I ordered the pork Luau "dish" and Mr W ordered the Huli Huli chicken. The Luau is very mushy as if it was sitting in juices for a long time. The Huli Huli was ok. Tasted like teriyaki chicken. Everything came out within 5 minutes. I guess it was already prepared and not cooked to order. I wasn't impressed. Presentation was lacking. Food tasted fine. It wasn't anything extraordinary or different. It's not the type of flavors I was expecting or really craving like when I was in Hawaii. The restaurant was clean. Service was nice. Quick. It would be an inviting place in the summer with all the Hawaiian decor. Coming out on a winter day, it didn't feel Hawaiian-like. read more

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There's potential here! Some great aspects, some areas for improvement. We wanted a fast casual spot to take my grandpa nearby, and found this. Here's our experience: DRIVE-THRU: 5/5 They have a drive through! I was shocked to see this. Great for leaning into the fast casual crowd. INSTORE ORDERING: 4/5 We opted to eat inside, and they had 4 kiosks for ordering on there, or you could order at the front with the staff member. We opted for that and were glad we did: we had a few questions about the menu. MENU: 3/5 I don't love that they don't have their prices listed on the paper menu. I'm sure you would see it on the kiosk. They offer three main things: Plates (meat and rice with two sides - more rice, vegs, mac salad, or pineapple) Wraps (meat and rice/mac salad mostly) Salad (with meat) Meat options were mostly chicken with different seasoning / sauces / spice levels, or pork. The menu was a bit confusing: there were two sizes for some but not all of the plates, and it wasn't clear that you get your meat on a bed of rice, but then you can pick two other sides. Again, would have liked to see pricing for adding a drink, or having a drink included in the meal/plates. SERVICE: 5/5 Was wonderful! The order taking team member was very patient and welcoming. They also bring your food out to you - more than I was expecting for how casual it is. I also saw either the owner or manager walking around connecting with folks and introducing himself to check on if they needed anything. SEATING: 5/5 Loved the mix of seating options: high tops, booths, tables, and pretty plentiful for a fast casual spot. They also had several benches outside. FOOD: 4/5 We all got a plate, then two spam musubis to share and a Dole Whip. I loved the flavor of my Molokai chicken! The veggies were very meh - undercooked, underseasoned, and very underwhelming. The mac salad was delish and classic Hawaii vibes. I would have gotten pineapple as a second side if I'd have known the meat came on a bed of rice. The spam musubi was a bit dry but still fun to get. Loved the Dole whip - soooo light! I'd order differently next time, but a great service experience and fun way to enjoy Hawaiian food in Iowa. read more

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Full disclosure, hubby is from Hawaii and I lived there for a few years, as well. This place is good but not as good as the islands. Still, at least we have a place to get some local grindz if we are craving it. Service: they still need to teach some of their employees the pronunciation of some of these items, but service is always served with Aloha, so Mahalo for that Food: Dole Whip- 5/5 can't go wrong Mixed plates- 3/5 you can sub the rice ball and get veggies, pineapple, or something else if you want because rice still comes served under the chicken The 3/5 is because none of the chicken dishes taste different. The Huli Huli tastes like the Honolulu, but Honolulu just has green onions added. The Molokai and Kilauea is basically the Huli Huli and Honolulu with a dash of spice or three dashes of spice. The dishes aren't bad, just not different. Andddd the portions are never the same. I could order five of the same dishes and never get the same amount of meat in each one. One could be loaded, one could barely have half a scoop. Just not consistent. Mac Salad- 4/5 legit, not sweet, ono I'm glad we have one here and I hope they continue to improve since they just opened not too long ago. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Classic Mixed Plate - No rice ball sub pineapple Huli Huli Chicken & Honolulu Chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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I was excited to try Hawaiian Bros as I had seen it in the QC but never had a chance to try it. I've only tried the drive thru but inside looks nice and inviting. Both times I have tried it, my food has not been hot. It's been just warm. I've tried the KILAUEA CHICKEN and the MOLOKAI CHICKEN, they both tasted the same. They have good flavor and the macaroni salad is the best I've had and I'm not usually a fan of it. Service was good, they moved the line quickly. Seems like adequate parking but pricing could be better. I may go back but not in the near future. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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Is this Hawaiian food in Iowa? Yes! Is this decent Hawaiian food in Iowa? Also, yes! I wouldn't normally review a place I later discovered was a chain, but this was such an unexpected find that I feel an obligation to make sure everyone knows this is here. We tried Hawaiian Bros on a night we wanted to order in and it was a delight. Our delivery app had a BOGO deal, so we ordered two combo platter with Hulli chicken and luau pig. They came with macaroni salad, more than ample rice, and lots of sauce on the side. Adding the pineapple skewer on the side was an excellent decision and you can't beat two giant meals of decent food for $17. And, it arrived hot. I can't speak to their dining location, but for take out in the greater Des Moines area, this is a solid offering. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Combo Classic - Mixed Plate with hulli chicken and luau pig - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

My husband and I went here for dinner tonight. It was really busy. The place has a fun beach vibe. You can order with a person at the counter or you can skip the line by ordering at one of the three kiosks there. You can order the plate lunches which consists of meat, rice and a macaroni salad individually or save a few dollars and get two for $20. And that includes a fountain drink. They had a cream soda and root beer that were really good. They also had two agua frescas. The melon one was my favorite it tasted just like a cantaloupe. They have three different sizes of the plate lunches which is great. They also have bowls if you just want meat and rice and no side. They also have wraps. We both got the Kilauea Chicken plate lunch. The chicken was tender and cooked perfectly with a sweet and slightly spicy sauce. My husband didn't want the macaroni salad so he substituted pineapple for it. I didn't care for the macaroni salad because it was bland and had no flavor. It just tasted like macaroni mixed with mayonnaise with no spices whatsoever. They also gave us extra teriyaki sauce and pineapple barbecue sauce packets. My husband liked the teriyaki and I liked the barbecue sauce. While the dishes were tasty, there wasn't anything special about them. I wasn't wowed by it. The food kind of has a fast food quality about it, which is fine if that's what you're after. I was hoping for something a little more special and unique. I feel like this is more of a lunc read more

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We finally got to try the new Hawaiian Bro's Island Grill in Waukee on Grand Prairie Parkway. While we thought it was very good, I have to say that, although both of our meals were labeled differently, I'm awfully sure they were the EXACT same thing. Huli Huli and Molokai chicken. They tasted exactly the same, same sauce, same heat. We might have to go back and try something different, but that was a little disappointing. However, the food was appropriate temperature, it was fast and, best of all, close to home. All wins! Chicken was nice and tender, loved the macaroni salad. ps. Iced tea is not the greatest (if you like fresh brewed iced tea that is)...this one was blah. $30 or so for the 2 meals plus iced tea. -- at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

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I've tried Hawaiian Bros before in Chicago, except in Chicago the food was made in a commercial kitchen and delivered via grub hub. So I was happy to see that a brick and mortar location for Hawaiian Bros opened up in Waukee. We walked in for lunch on Saturday and the place was completely full. We are going to dine in but ended up taking our food to go. There are two or three kiosks where you can order to help expedite the process. I asked for a printed receipt but the kiosk never gave me one so I had to repeat my order number over and over in my head in case they called out my number. Thankfully they called out my name instead so it was easy to know when my order was ready. There is a lot of staff working inside the kitchen and three people working on delivering the food orders (for dine-in and take out orders). Although the line was long I didn't feel like we waited long for our order. They were pretty expedient in getting food out the door. This location has drive through, dine in and take out. I'm impressed with how they keep up with the food order tickets! In comparing the Chicago location with the Waukee location, I can confidently say the Waukee location was better. The chicken was tender and marinaded well. I ordered the Huli chicken and Molokai chicken. My boyfriend ordered the Honolulu chicken and Molokai chicken. Although the chicken tasted good, there was not a lot of variety in taste. The green onion and sesame seeds on the Honolulu chicken gave the chicken a different taste from the rest of our order and broke up the monotony. We were given extra teriyaki sauce with our order but we never used it. The white rice and macaroni salad tasted good. For dessert I ordered the twisted dole whip. I have no idea what flavor the pink whip was because all I tasted was the pineapple flavor. It does not taste as authentic as the Dole Whip from Hawaii's Dole Plantation but it satisfies the craving that I've had for a while of pineapple sorbet. I'd give this place a 3.5 and rounding up to 4. I hope this place does well! read more

Was a bit taken back when I ent the door. They had 3 computers to place your order, no one greeted us so it was up to us to figure it out. The only reason we knew what to order was it was suggested by my daughter who had been there previously. I ordered a bowl, sister ordered a wrap and my other sister ordered a meat with a side, whip and pineapple. All tasted good but the meats tasted the same, teriyaki based. The pineapple was delicious. I ordered the veggies(optional) for the bowl. They were dry and al dente. I tried to mix the bowl but the only sauce was on the meat, so it left everything else very dry. My sister really enjoyed her wrap and whip read more

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Finally got to try HB's and it did not disappoint. Sunday evening and it was busy but not slammed. Ordering was easy and we enjoyed the 2 for $20 plate special that includes drinks. Huli Huli chicken was delicious. Love the dark meat cuts and the smoke/teriyaki balance was really good. The Luau Pig was moist and had good flavor but I'd order the Huli Huli over the Luau. Nicely decorated and staff was helpful and polite. Dole whip was not quite like Disney's but thankful for a lot of gluten free and dairy free options. Only negative for me was Pepsi vs Coke products as we prefer Coke. Ha. read more

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We are traveling from San Diego, California, to Iowa State University for a campus visit and football camp. My son has a strong preference for homegrown food, especially Hawaiian cuisine! While planning our trip, we decided to explore some dining options, and we found a highly-rated place on Yelp that caught our interest. After a scenic 40-minute drive, we were warmly welcomed in true island style, which instantly set a positive tone for our visit. The food exceeded our expectations; it was fresh and bursting with flavor, making it a memorable culinary experience. I can confidently say that we will return to this restaurant every time we visit Iowa State in the future. It truly is a must-visit spot! Let's keep that island vibe alive! read more

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Staff was very friendly. Inside was on the smaller side. Drive thru available. Food was alright. Chicken was flavorful & tender. Mac salad didn't have much flavor other than some pepper maybe? Just didn't love the flavor of the mac salad. Wanted to see what the hype was since it's new. My girlfriend tried the sweet & spicy chicken (Molokai) & didn't taste much spice at all. Spam masubi didn't have any sauce & barely any seaweed wrapped. Not what we were used to when it comes to that. Not sure we would go back but was worth trying at least once. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Classic - Honolulu Chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

If you are looking for a perfectly marinated chicken entree try any of the entrees from Huli Huli to Kilauea Chicken or mix it up with any of their two entrees-- simply delicious. The staff renders a warm welcome adding Kiosk help and assistance with an after thought to try their soft serve. The atmosphere plays serene Hawaiian Music that helps you shake off the blustery outdoor cool wind, and the exhausting remains of winter. read more

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The food is quite tasteless. The service is quick and the place looks clean. I had a combo platter with the Hulu Hulu chicken and the Honolulu chicken and they both were pretty tasteless. I was not a fan of the island flavor if it is so tasteless. The meat was tender albeit bland. I will not be rushing back anytime soon. read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

I had to check out this place. I have heard about Hawaiian Brothers for years. I was excited that one opened close to home. Every time i have driven by the lines have been many cars long. So I went at 2:30. The person working the drive thru was very friendly. I ordered the Huli Huli. You can choose between 3 sizes. Small, classic and large. I did the classic. The meal come with rice, the protein is served over rice as well, and macaroni salad. The forks come in interesting packaging. On the fork tines. My food came in a thicker plastic bag. They also through in a teriyaki sauce. Im happy for that as I didnt not know to ask for sauce. I live super close, but when I got home my food wasn't very warm. I get there is cold macaroni salad in the container, but usually when I get food home from that area it is a lot warmer. The food was decent. Im happy I have been there, but it will probably be awhile before I go back. read more

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I'm leaving this review literally 30 minutes after this happened. Tonight, after 10 hours of driving and passing through West Des Moines, we finally got to our hotel and ordered dinner for 5 people from Hawaiian Bros thru Uber Eats. 2 out of the 5 orders were delivered and when I contacted the delivery driver, his response was pretty much "sorry... don't know what to tell you, you have to call the restaurant". So that's what I did... honestly, it was the best thing I did all day long. I was put in touch with the manager whose name I believe is Taryn. (I was a bit flustered and panicky about half of my order missing and hungry people to feed, so if I misheard your name or got it wrong, my sincerest apologies!). Let's say, for the story's sake, her name actually IS Taryn... this woman is the salt of the earth. Not only did she make it right by remaking the whole order, she personally delivered it to our hotel. That kind of kindness and customer service is so incredibly rare, that I had to leave a review immediately. I've never been to Des Moines, and I didn't know what to expect... but after an incredibly long day on the road and all of the shenanigans and tomfoolery that comes with driving across the country - and not for a leisurely road trip - this was the most incredible surprise. An awesome ending to a rough day. Taryn - if that's your name - may everything beautiful in this world come your way. Please know that you made all the difference in the world today. Thank you for your customer service and your kindness. You should be celebrated. P.S. the food was amazing too read more

Meat dishes are great and the dole whip. Pineapple is nice add on! The sides are not all that but ok. read more

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Good stuff. They forgot my boto sauce but it was still really good w out. Would recommend

I've gone to Hawaiian bros twice since the opening. I wanted to try all of the entrees but the luau pork is so smoky and delicious I couldn't not order it both times. Also tried Molokai chicken, Kilauea chicken, and the spam masubi. All were fantastic as well. I can't stop thinking about this place and literally want to eat there for every meal. read more

Super friendly place. There is a thing where you can't tell the difference between portions, like there was rice under our chicken which I was a little disappointed because I wanted more of what I paid for. Little sad as there wasn't any Dole whip for us to try either. The flavors of the chicken were pretty good too. read more

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So I lived on the island of Oahu for over 26 years. I was very excited for another one restaurant and I was very disappointed today. Long story short all the chicken dishes we got tasted the same like a teriyaki sauce on everything couldn't tell the difference spam Musubi was half the size I'm used to and luau combo plate was the best thing I had if they add cabbage to it it would be phenomenal and Lomi salmon read more

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill - I lived in the island for 26 years and I love ankeny's Hawaiian food but very disappointed of this new location everything tasted the same. - Hawaiian Near Me - Waukee, Iowa

They made sure I was taken care of. One of the owners went out of his way to make sure my first time there was great. Food is great also

We went here for dinner tonight. They were having their grand opening event and all the food and drinks were completely free. They fed our family of 8. I met two of the owners who were directing traffic in the street. I can't believe how well organized this event was. The service was spectacular. All the people working here so respectful and nice. They got our order completed so fast and the food was absolutely amazing. We will be going back for sure. What a great way to meet our newest restaurant in the neighborhood. Thank you for the complimentary dinner. You guys are going to do great here in Waukee. read more

Food was better than fast food. Choices for sides so you can get vegetables or pineapple if you don't want more rice or pasta salad. Decent choiifir quick meal. read more

Incredible flavors and twists on food. Would highly recommend this to anybody. Pick up or delivery available.

The Honolulu Chicken bowl in phenomenal!! This place opened 2 weeks ago and it's quickly becoming one of my go to lunch/dinner places. It's nice being order through the drive through, front of house or the kiosks up front depending on my mood that day lol. I can't wait to go back again this week! read more

Long overdue for a review. First, I have eaten at this location multiple times since they have opened and have experienced consistently great food and service! I usually order ahead online, and the separate online pickup window makes it very convenient if you are looking for a quick dinner or lunch option. Recently, I placed and ordered and had an issue at work that prevented me from picking up my order before close. I messaged the restaurant and apologized, hoping that they would get the message before the food was made. I was very surprised when I received a message and a refund from them the next day. Definitely will continue to be a regular. My only complaint is I wish they would open a location closer to me. read more

We have been 4 times so far and all have been a great experience. It has a fun Hawaiian vibe inside. They even say "mahalo", which is Hawaiian for gratitude. I have a gluten allergy and they substituted the Macaroni salad with steamed vegetables which were so fresh and tasty. I have always ordered the pork, but my family members have picked a different chicken dish each time. Everything has been delicious. I love the brewed unsweetened ice tea, but they also have fruity juice drinks that are sweet and flavorful. Friendly staff delivers your meal. read more

New place and is very busy. Great service and staff are friendly and helpful. Fun island vibe and delicious options to choose from. Will be back again! read more

A friend and I met here for lunch on a Saturday. The place was busy, but we were able to order from the kiosk and luckily find a place to sit. The server at the counter was helpful. I ordered a small Molokai chicken and swapped my side of rice for pineapple for an extra dollar. I assumed I would still get the rice under my chicken but didn't. So for $10 I got maybe a third of a cup of chicken with sauce, 3 pieces of pineapple on a stick, and half a cup of macaroni salad. The chicken was supposed to be sweet and spicy- I got zero spice but plenty of sweet and oddly quite a bit of salt. It tasted fine- kind of like Hyvee Chinese, honestly. The macaroni salad was very bland; the only real flavor was black pepper. The best part was the 3 small cubes of pineapple- fresh and tasty. I decided to try the twist flavor of Dole whip. I ordered it on my phone for in store pickup so I wouldn't have to get in the kiosk line. It said it was ready on my phone, so I asked one of the guys delivering orders if they would just yell my name when it was ready. He said they would. After 5 minutes or so, I checked again. He said it would be coming, so I just stood by the window and waited. After another 5 minutes or so, the guy from the counter asked if I needed help- I explained the situation, he said it should be coming. Another 5 minutes, a different guy asks if I need help. I told him he's the 3rd person I've talked to, and I'm just trying to get the Doke whip I ordered. He said he'd bring it. I went back to sit down. 11 minutes later, he brought it out. So sadly, I waited 26 minutes and paid $4 for a cup of Dole whip that was about half full because it had been only put around the outside of the cup, leaving a big hole through the middle. It was also more sour than sweet, so maybe only getting half the amount wasn't a bad thing. The interior was clean and bright, a little loud with so many people but still enjoyable. Other than the snafu with the whip, the service was attentive. The food was fine but nothing special. I don't plan to try it again anytime soon. read more

If I could do 3 1/2 stars I would. Staff were friendly and helpful with ordering. The store was clean. The food was served hot and seemed fresh. The pineapple was tasty too. Overall, We found the food to lack flavor overall. read more