Love the food here, and love the owner. She works so hard! quality food for a very affordable price. I will definitely be back to support her! Everyone in Mission viejo should come and support! It's very good! read more

Lava Island BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Super great mom and pop shop. Gives a great island vibe and there is plenty of seating. You can order at the counter or use their self-order station. The menu is pretty big with lots of different combinations. You can also build your own combo. The food is made as soon as you order - which I truly appreciate. The food is hot and served in a togo container in case you want to take it to go. I got the short-ribs which were perfectly marinated and tasted great. I added a side of yokisaba noodles with mine, honestly, I could have done without. My husband got the chicken katsu and it was delicious - perfectly cooked with a great crunch in every bite. He got white and brown rice and both were perfect. I would definitely come again to try some other parts of the menu :) read more

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This little center is low key packed with some of the best food and no one talks about it! Lava Island being one of them -- this spot is perfect for a Hawaiian street food craving. I got the bao tacos and my husband got chicken katsu. I could see myself ordering this takeout style for a comfy cozy day in, binge watching my favorite shows. It's pure comfort food and very well made. Not many Hawaiian spots that are this accessible! I will be returning soon. read more

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Was craving a chicken bowl, and I thought I would try Lava Island BBQ. This is an above average chicken bowl (3.5 of 5). Service was nice and the decor has a nice island style. I also tried the bbq chicken Bao and thought that was better than the bowl (4 of 5). I would try it again. read more

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We ordered a large catering order from Lava Island BBQ for my grandma's 90th birthday. She's from Hawai'i, so the stakes were high - it had to be good and authentic. The service was incredible, the people who worked there were so helpful, kind, and accommodating, and the food was exceptional. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Side Of Chicken Katsu 3PO Side Of BBQ Chicken 3PO Small Side of Mixed Veggies 3PO Side Of Kalua Pork 3PO Side Of Mac-Tato Salad 3PO - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

I went over to my boyfriend's house, and his mother and him ordered from Lava. The food looked incredible, that i told my mom and said we need to go try. The service inside is incredible, the workers are so sweet, friendly, greet-able,and talkative. They were very efficient. The food was to die for!!! Not overacting. I ordered an egg role and it was so fresh as well as the veggies. They said they were making the fried rice fresh as well as everything else so it was going to take a bit. And we sat inside at the very cute tables. The set up inside was very clean and tropical. Highly recommend trying. read more

We heard about this place from my daughters boyfriend's family and had to try it for ourselves. They were not lying. Everything is fresh upon ordering and the food is incredible! You seriously have to try for yourself. We ordered the barbecue chicken and the Angus steak with fried rice and veggies, Yum. read more

Been here a few times and it was OK, today I had the worst meal of my life and never going back. Chicken barley had grill marks on it and was rubbery as can be, beef was somehow undercooked as well with strings and strings of unmelted fat....after a few bites of spitting out my food it went in the trash....never going back read more

My favorite Hawaiian food in the area. Plenty of space to eat inside or out. Service was friendly and wait time to me was good. I usually order the 2 entree plate. It comes with a base, 2 proteins, and 2 sides. I ordered white rice, chicken katsu, and the beef. For sides I went with double order of the Mac-Tato salad. Portion size is huge and honestly I make two meals out of it. The chicken was nice and crunchy and the beef was very flavorful. Even though the price is up there (what isn't nowadays), for the portion size I think it's worth it and comparable to other Hawaiian places. read more

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I absolutely love this place. It's changed over time, we've been coming since they first opened... BUT PLEASE GET RID OF THE OLD WHITE MAN AT THE REGISTER- such a rude individual. He does not belong in a customer facing role as he lacks the essential qualities for good customer service. Was super disappointed having to deal with him this evening. He gets ZERO stars. Food is 10/10! Chicken Katsu is our fav but it sells out sometimes- shows how excellent it is. The yaki-soba used to be better- it had more flavor, but they're more bland now. Obsessed with their Mac-tato salad! The absolute best! Despite that rude person- 5 stars! This is a wonderful restaurant and I highly recommend it. read more

Great spot for protein and carbs. Good portions good price. The potstickers and sauce were so good. Katsu was good and the musubi were fresh. In another review, someone said the guy who takes your order is rude and shouldn't be in customer service. I disagree, he's just soft spoken and it's a little hard to hear at the register. Customer service was fine and he was definitely not rude at all. Thanks. read more

Lava Island BBQ - 2 meat combo - chicken katsu and bbq beef - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

First off let me say the employees/owner of this restaurant are all amazing; whether I order for pickup in person or get it on DoorDash, they always pay attention to detail. The food is fresh, they have huge portions and a very reasonable price. Very clean inside the restaurant. Additionally, I am obsessed with their Mac-Tato salad so I always make sure to order extra. I recommend this place to all of my friends and no one has been disappointed. I'd give this place 15 stars out of 5 if I could. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Build Your Plate + Mac-tato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

My husband and I love this place the bbq giblets the Kat's chicken teriyaki is so good

I first tried this place when it first opened and have gone repeatedly over the last couple of years. I loved all the food, especially the mac salad. Then the last few times I've gone the macaroni in the salad is very al dente to the point that it is hard to eat. The salad was awesome the way it was, please stop undercooking the macaroni. My husband and I use to come here often but since the last 3 times I couldn't eat the macaroni salad we have stopped. read more

I waited 10 min before anyone acknowledged I was there. I asked for my on line order and was told " it will be a while" "we are really busy". There were 3 other customers there. Will never go back. I waited 20 min past the time the order was to be ready!! Plus over $30 for a tiny box of food. Avoid this place. Try Aloha or Ono read more

I went here based on reviews. Very disappointed in the food quality and atmosphere. 1. There was no ac, if there was it wasn't working. They had a floor fan on top of a barstool facing the kitchen from the dining room. 2. The prices are very high. $20 for a combo plate was very extremely expensive. 3. The chicken bowl was $9.95. 4. They had too many signs with QR codes to order food and the cash register had a plexiglass and I couldn't understand the cashier . 5. Their teriyaki sauce was not sweet enough for my taste. 6. Their macaroni and potato salad combo was not chilled or good. It was bland and mushed. I couldn't even eat it after the first bite. 7. Dining space is limited as one table area was for employee / restaurant documents , computers cups and bags. 8. Lots of food storage in the dining area near the beverage area. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Chicken combo plate with pot sticker and an egg roll and Mac/potato salad . This was $20 !!!!! Totally not worth it , - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Got the combo plate. The vegetables were hard, the mac was not special. The barbecue pork was very fatty and chewy. Very unimpressed. Definitely not worth $18. read more

Cheapest and most effective packed protein bowls. They treat you like family, I go here almost 2x a week

I came by for lunch yesterday and got a bbq pork bowl with brown rice and it was good. Service was friendly and helpful and my food came out pretty fast in about 5-10 minutes. The bowl was tasty and flavorful but I will say the pork was a little dry but it was still tasty and the portion size was good for the price. Condiments and utensils are available on the side and the interior was relatively clean when I came in and it got quite busy after I ordered my food with people coming in constantly so I seemingly beat the lunch rush! They have plenty of items to choose from and I liked how reasonably priced the bowls were since you can get most for around $7-$9 along with the build your own plates which cost mainly around $11-$13 and a bit extra if you got the bbq kalbi or 2/3 meat combo plates. I had a decent meal here and Lava Island is a good spot to drop by if you are craving some Hawaiian food and you are in the area. It's a step above your typical chain like Ono or L&L. read more

Lava Island BBQ - BBQ Pork Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

I purchased a salmon bowl and teriyaki bowl to-go the other options I wanted were unavailable like a lot of items on the menu. The bowls were really fresh and flavored well. The interior could use some tidying up - not sure if I came right after a lunch rush - but it was a little wild in there for being empty. Good food for the price! read more

Lava Island BBQ - Grilled Wild Salmon Bowl - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Amazing food and amazing people.!!! Portions are generous. I got a chicken plate with two sides. Chicken was juicy, tender and so tasty. read more

I was on my way to get an oil change and was hungry for something new. This restaurant caught my attention a few years ago and I was finally able to try their food. They have a kiosk that you can place your order from which is a great way to get exactly what you want. I ordered their barbecue chicken bowl with white rice. Since they were busy I had to wait a while and that was a good sign of how popular the food is. Once they called my name I immediately grabbed my food and started to indulge in a delicious bowl of barbecue teriyaki chicken with white rice that was generously served next to the chicken instead of on top. I have never eaten a chicken bowl served that way but it was delicious and the sauce was also generously served on the chicken. As I slowly chewed my delicious bowl people kept coming in to grab their to-go orders and to place orders. My recommendation is to sit and enjoy your meal from this establishment slowly and savor every bite because they don't disappoint. read more

Food was great and I enjoyed it with some friends yet it took quite a while to receive the food. There wasn't too many people so I think it took a little longer then it should've. Ambiance was nice with some good workers throughout. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Combo Plates with the chicken and chicken katsu - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

The best Hawaiian plate in the area. Their Mac-tato salad is so good! My kids like their katsu chicken. Their new spicy onion sauce is very good. Prices are great and the staff is friendly. One star off because the bbq chicken is hit or miss. Most times it's perfect and juicy but sometimes it's burnt or has too much inedible fat pieces read more

Picked up my food today and saw the katsu sauce spilled all over the place. Careless workers cannot even do a simple task. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

We came here on a Thursday afternoon, and there were a few people inside. My sisters ordered. We got 2 galbi and chicken plates with rice. The chicken was very smokey, which I enjoyed, and the galbi was very tasty. It was a little thin, but their portion was definitely big. The rice was a little dry, but after adding the sauce, it was BOMB! My wife got the Asian salad, and that was pretty good. She said it was really refreshing. We talked with the owner a bit and he was very nice. He even let us use the restroom and get our drinks refilled after they closed. They have a few tables and chairs outside, so that's where we ate since it was close to closing time. Overall I had a great experience and it definitely hit the spot. I'd come back and try other things. read more

Lava Island BBQ is a delicious Mom and Pop restaurant owned by Michael and Lee Ming. Richard and the chef cook delicious food and give great service. The combo plates are tasty and you can pick one, two, or 3 proteins. There is a wide variety of meals, bowls, and sides. Lava Island BBQ has wifi for guests. The ambiance is beachy Hawaiian and super casual to dine in or take out. There is indoor and outdoor seating. If you like Hawaiian plate lunch cruise on over for some Aloha! read more

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After ordering in-store, I waited a little over 15 mins to receive the made-to-order three meat combo bowl with brown rice. Kalua Pork: couldn't wait to dig into this! Loved how tender and savory this shredded pork was. Came with cooked cabbage. BBQ Chicken: chunky and delicious. Not as juicy as I'd like, but luckily it wasn't dry. BBQ Angus Beef: evenly cooked beef that was more on the thinner and sweeter side but still tasted good. Mac-tato Salad: I was so glad this wasn't the sweet kind. It's creamy, rich, not too salty. Nice ratio of ingredients. Pork Eggroll (2): super skinny and crunchy with a small, yummy bite of pork. The bomb food costed close to $20 and fed three people, so I was impressed. It had additional sauce on the side, but they were not needed since everything was already tasty. I'm definitely coming back here to try their sandwiches and other proteins. read more

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Bao Bun is my go to! Soooooo yummy! Been to their location before - fast and friendly service. Clean as well. Def come back for more.

Great Hawaiian restaurant in Mission Viejo, located in a strip mall near the 5 and Mission Viejo Mall. They have bowls and combo plates, where you can get meat such as pork or bbq chicken along with sides like rice, veggies and potato mac salad. They also serve buns with a choice of meat and either Cole slaw or pickled carrots + radish. Everything I've had here has been very good, but I especially like the buns, as they're quite unique. The service is always quick and friendly. It's a small restaurant, with a few tables inside and a few more outside, but I've never had an issue finding a table; it seems they do a big takeout business. read more

Lava Island BBQ - BBQ chicken with brown rice and steamed vegetables + bao buns - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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awesome food, awesome price, super nice people. love supporting places like this! I don't know anywhere I can get this good of food that's healthy and affordable anymore. read more

Friendly service. Not inedible but I wouldn't choose to eat there again. Chicken was a bit dry. Rice was undercooked. Noodles were better. Mac potato salad was plain and dry. Galbi was meh. I don't know man I just have high expectations for Hawaiian bbq.... Sauces were good tho. Again, not terrible, I just wouldn't come again or recommend my friends. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Lava Island BBQ is a new casual Hawaiian restaurant that opened up near Mission Viejo Mall. They offer grilled meats basted with a lightly sweetened teriyaki sauce. Items on the menu include bowls, plates, baos, musubis and sides. I ordered some baos and a 3 meat plate. 3 meat plate ($15) - I got chicken, beef and kalbi beef for my plate, served over some rice. The plates come with 2 sides so I got the mac-tato salad and chicken egg rolls (2 thin rolls). All the meats weren't bad taste wise, however I didn't care for the charred/burnt meat pieces. The beef was a little dry unfortunately, however the kalbi beef wasn't dry. The mac-tato salad was a major let down and not as good as L&L's Hawaiian BBQ. In fact I thought the portion size of the 3 meat plate for the price was much smaller than the one at L&L. The crispy chicken egg rolls tasted amazing! They are thin though, so I would recommending getting a double order as one's 2 sides. Bao ($5 for 2) - This was the best thing I ate here! It came with a delicious bao bun with teriyaki chicken, topped with some daikon radish and julienned carrot's. Overall I think they need to improve on how they grill their meats, because their is a lot of charred/burnt meat. The 1 meat plate option maybe a better deal, because I believe it's served in the same size plate as the 3 meat one and is about half the price. The chicken egg rolls and teriyaki chicken baos really stood out for me and would be something I would get here. read more

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I ask a guy for a extra sauce and he basically said no i didn't understand why it was a big deal. He said it was extra for hot sauce if that's the case. That's fine but the tone and to be disrespectful then i ask if i could speak to someone else and get his name and he denied me of that and basically said next time you order we will add it to the cost of your food. Also he claims he is the owner but if that's how the owner talks to people i am shocked i hope no one has an experience like i had as a regular customer. Will not be getting food for a place that cant at least respect a person. read more

I don't find many places that are small that have good quality meat. I loved Lava because I got a lot of food for a decent price and the meat was tender. I tried a lot of items and wasn't disappointed with anything! A great sauce bar too if you need anything else with your meal. The service was fast and they were friendly. Good for a quick lunch or dinner pick up or dine in. Small place but very clean. read more

I've been here a couple times now and I am a fan! Specially if you haven't tried out their pork buns, they are absolutely delicious. I always tend to over eat here because I get the BBQ pork buns and the combination plate with either ribs, bbq chicken or katsu. Their teriyaki sauce is bold and nice as well. The seating over here may be limited but there is ample outside seating area. The bbq chicken here has a nice char flavor to it that makes it really hard to pass up on. It's a counter pick up restaurant not a table service in case any one wondered. Definitely recommended if you live in this part of south OC. O read more

Lava Island BBQ - Build Your Plate with BBQ chicken and Chicken Katsu - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Just ate there yesterday. For less than 12 bucks I got a chicken plate, veggies, rice a vegetable roll...it was almost too much chicken to finish. Really good flavor. I would not order the plate unless you haven't eaten in days, in which case a bowl is probably more reasonable/cheaper. 1 star off for the out-of-the-blue "Service Fee" of $1.24. I didn't have this delivered, I picked it up and didn't expect a random 10% fee tacked on like a car dealer does. I will be back but will pay cash and see how to avoid the dreaded "Service Fee". read more

Lava Island BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

First time here and definitely will not be my last. Let me start off by saying how amazing the staff was with me, it was my first time and they recommended me the perfect food to definitely want to come back.! They're were so kind. Food is delicious So much flavor! Noodles were soft and very tasty read more

Lava Island BBQ - I got the yakisoba noodles with bbqkalbi - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

The food was really delicious. We had the combo chicken and kalbi. The chicken was so flavorful and the kalbi was nicely grilled and did not have that heavy soy taste you sometimes get with kalbi. The vegetable spring rolls were also really good ,and having the Hawaiian Sun pineapple orange drink to wash everything down was the icing on the cake. The service was very nice as well. read more

Lava Island BBQ - Two meat combo - chicken and kalbi - Barbeque Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Delicious food and great prices. I personally prefer this musabi over the majority of main island chains. The Katsu is too damn good