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    Makai Island

    4.0 (64 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 7:30 pm

    Makai Island Photos

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    MAKAI ISLAND ATMOSPHERE

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    Mix plate plus optional beef and pork ribs;  chicken inahaw 3pcs
    Cate K.

    So far this place serves pretty good food. It was much better than the food at the luau in Waikiki a few weeks ago. The portions were huge. Price range, I would say, about average, though the portions are huge-I think I just said that lol. A single order can feed 2people, and maybe a kid. The sauce over the meat, well, it's like your typical bbq sauce. No, not "my typical". I don't smother it with sauce for flavor, I marinate my meat. However, with that said, the meat was tender and the chicken was done just right so it had some flavor and it wasn't dry, like what I had at the luau. Dessert drinks are more than enough to share. If you like mango, ube, coconut flavors with tapioca pearls, it might be a drink or two you might enjoy. They also have an assortment of desserts that I may want to try one day. The place gets busy. As busy as it was with customers coming in, there wasn't a line out the door. Prob just 2-3 people in line at a time yet customers kept coming in. The seating area isn't very big but a decent amount of tables. Families come here so it's if you come at dinner time, you may need to think of optB, of where to enjoy your meal instead. Hopefully the next visit, the food will be just as good or better and maybe I'll try ordering something different . Mahalo to the friendly staff and especially the guy taking the orders. Serves with aloha.

    Garlic noodles
    Tori L.

    We were surprised they weren't busy on Saturday afternoon & was wondering what happened. After I had tasted all the food we ordered, I understood why they weren't busy anymore. All the food tasted mediocre except for the Ube pancakes. I also liked the lumpia bc it had less fillings but my hubby didn't. The garlic fried noodles were just salty & did not taste any garlic. I asked for no parm but they forgot & added it. We ordered 2 loco moco & both eggs were cooked well done. Sadly, it was not worth $100 for lunch.

    Cindy H.

    The food is worth the wait, but heads up it gets crowded fast and theres not alot of tables. We ordered the loco moco and 808 mix plate. Our favorite was definitely the loco moco, with the savory gravy and eggs cooked perfeclty it just made everything *chefs kiss. And btw the portions are huge!

    Thuy N.

    I drove across here all the time but never had the chance to stop by, my son was craving some spam musubi and we happen to be in the area. I bought the 808 mixed plate and the portion was huge for the both of us. It was really flavorful and good. The sauce was okay, probably didn't need that. Service was nice and friendly. There were some seats that you can sit inside to dine in at. My son seems to enjoy their drinks as well. A great addition to the area.

    Inihaw plate
    Vinh M.

    I came here for two reasons: one, because this place closes early at 7:30pm on Fridays and it was already 6pm when this review is taking place; and two, because I haven't gotten to try here before yet and my foodie friend - who came with me and another friend for our group of three - already has and highly recommended their foods and we were all close to the area! Okay, that's three reasons but still. This location shares deceptively limited parking in a plaza it shares with places like Candor Coffee and Flavor Lao & Thai Bowl in the Renton area not far from Great Wall Shopping Mall and IKEA. At around 6pm when we got here, only a couple of seats were filled; it wasn't until much closer to closing time that this Hawaiian-Filipino restaurant nearly became a full house, so I was pretty happy with the time we actually came. Pictures of their plates and island faves are displayed near the front counter, with more details on each dish shown on the TV monitors behind that counter. There's also a display case full of ingredients that seem to be for some of the beverages they provide and my foodie friend was unable to get due to the ice machine not working when he went. Seating inside consists of many tables that line the perimeter and reaching the restrooms in the back. I got myself the 808 Mix Plate, which has a lot of stuff in one sitting. One of my friends got their inihaw plate, and we all split a side of lumpia. Now for the breakdown of these dishes: - The 808 Mix Plate has chicken as my choice of protein, crispy shrimp, lumpia, spam, macaroni salad, green salad, rice and two dipping sauces. This comes in a plastic box, which already means the portions are gonna be hugeeeeee here! Chicken is piping hot, tender and braised with a sauce I could only describe as tangy and sweet at the same time. Crispy shrimp was another fave of mine in that there was a lot of shrimp and not a ton of excess tempura covering. Spam and green salad were average. The macaroni salad was sadly not my favorite; texture of the macaroni was a little off, and the dressing tasted slightly sour. - My friend chose pulehu short ribs as the protein for his inihaw plate. The beef was cut into smaller, edible pieces and didn't take up too much of the smaller portion of this dish. Flavoring is all right on the short ribs; taste was just slightly off like the sauce used was too thick for its tangy taste. - The lumpias - both in my 808 Mix Plate and the appetizer we got - are crispy and delicious. The portions are huge and the food is so delicious with some exceptions, but I loved my experience here and would come back for something else along with their drinks!

    Desserts
    Maggie L.

    This small restaurant offers delicious Hawaiian food and beverages. The staff is super friendly. There are mostly small tables, so we combined 3 of them to fit 4 adults and 3 kids. We ordered the 808 Mixed Plate, Garlic Noodle, Lechon Crunch, Mango Cream Shake and Ube Flan Cake. Food is solid - my favorite is the pork ribs - tender and slightly spicy; lechon is cut into small pieces and the skin is crispy. The drinks are particularly popular - I see lots of people order the cream shakes with tapioca; also lots of flavors for the refresher. I was disappointed by the Ube Flan Cake - too dense and overly sweet.

    Ube Pancake
    Helen P.

    We came in after walking around IKEA for three hours and we were so hungry and Makai was the perfect place for us to get food! The food was so yummy and they gave us so much. I ordered the hurricane chicken and my sister ordered the mix plate with chicken. The chicken was perfectly moist, the rice and Mac salad were very good. Highly recommend both those plates. We also got a mango refresher and the ube pancake. The mango refresher was just what we needed after a long day at IKEA and there were real mango chunks in it! The ube pancake is huge but not too sweet. We had to take that one home because we were too full from the food. The staff were all amazing and very kind to us. We were sat outside and they had no problem getting our food to us. The ambiance was also great they were playing chill music the whole time. We were sat outside so many the experience is different inside but we were so focused on the food no one was really talking lol Anyway I would take the drive down here again just for the food it was so good. If you live in the area you are very lucky. Highly recommend!

    Christian-Immanuel C.

    Located in Renton with plenty of parking in the complex. The past few times I've came, the line has been out the door so expect a good wait time for your food. There are a few spots for indoor seating and a few spots for outdoor as well but have only gotten lucky once with available sitting with how busy they usually are. Staff is super friendly and they have a Tres Leches display for dessert. Highly suggest doing the Ube, it is sooooo good! The portions are great; it was really filling and you could taste the marinade used on the meat. Beef short ribs were tender but a bit fatty, the pork ribs were cooked nicely, and the chicken was flavorful but a bit on the dryer side. The sauce helps complement the dish and brings another layer of flavor to the dish. Lumpia was nice and crispy while still maintaining a flavorful filling. The drinks were good, but definitely suggest ordering it and asking them to cut it with water because it's definitely on the sweeter side. Overall a really good experience and someplace I've visited more than once and will continue to come eat at.

    Loco moco
    Kathy N.

    Overall thought this place was ok but not standout to me. Cream in ube pancakes was good, but it almost looks like a bowl of soup lol. Pancakes themselves were okay, but I think the ones from West Hill Deli are better. Comes with 2 pancakes. IMO not worth it to add the macadamia nuts for $1.50. Loco moco was ok. Mango refresher was also not particularly special as it sort of just tasted like mango juice mixed with a bit of coconut milk. Service was nice. I liked that their water dispenser was a brita filter. Ambiance was very casual, played Hawaiian music

    Lechon crunch bowl
    Lilly O.

    It's more like a 2.5 rating for me. The lechon crunch bowl was good enough and the spam musubis were ok as well, the seaweed would just keep sticking to our lips/ teeth. Lol. The loco moco was pretty bad, I wouldn't suggest anyone get it. It was very tough and difficult to cut through! The calamansi juice didn't taste like calamansi at all, not even a little bit. It tasted more like a jelly syrup, like from a gulaman, if that makes sense. Service was ok. The overall interior vibe felt fresh and lively. The restrooms were kinda dirty. I didn't expect that from a place the just opened. I haven't tried their ube pancakes though so might come back for that!

    ube sweet cream coffee and mango refresher
    Annie C.

    I have finally got to try this place after several attempts getting in. We came on a weekend for lunch and there was already a line out the door. No surprise, this restaurant just opened last month. Menu wasn't too extensive and there were pictures, which is a huge plus. The inside of the restaurant was small, with a few tables on one side of the restaurant. We were able to snag a table after waiting for a party to finish. Here are some dishes we've ordered: For drinks we got the ube sweet cream coffee and mango refresher. Coffee wasn't strong but you can taste the ube cream in the coffee. It's more of a dessert rather than a coffee. The main highlight was the mango refresher, which they make in house. One of the best drinks we've had. Definitely a must order! 808 Hawaiian plate: This dish had fried shrimp, spam, lumpia, rice, mac salad and side salad. We got the beef ribs for additional cost. This plate served in a big portion that is easily shareable. Love that the meats were smoked and juicy like you're in a Hawaiian bbq restaurant. They give you this green chimichurri sauce to dip it in. Will order this again. Garlic noodles with shrimp: We thought this dish was delicious! The garlic flavor was strong and goes so well with the noodles. Shrimp was plump and marinated well. I like how this dish wasn't drenched in sauce, which I like. Hurricane chicken: This was one of my favorite dishes especially with the creamy sauce drizzled over the fried chicken. Each plate came with rice, mac salad and side salad. I actually enjoyed the mac salad despite having peas in it. Overall, the food was spot-on! Very similar to Hawaiian bbq food that you get from Hawaii. I do wish there were more seatings inside but takeouts seem to be an option for now to avoid fighting for tables. I will for sure come back to try their other dishes.

    Jessilyn C.

    Our daughters took us here for my hubby's 62nd birthday. When we arrived the line wasn't long but hardly any tables available. We were able to squeeze 4 of us plus my grandfur in a stroller at a small table near the restrooms. It was cozy but it worked. After we ordered the line was getting longer. Since they are newish they did t have everything on the menu yet. I guess I'll have to come back just for the halo halo. The food we ordered was good. It's not like our fave places to eat on the islands, but it's sufficient. Our favorite was the ube pancakes. Not sure I'll go on a weekend, but I'll sure come on a weekday, probably bring some of my friends with me. My friends and I just came back from a foodie road trip from Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Mainly ethnic food. Mostly Chinese. So most of us are picky when it comes to good food and service. My foodie friends came to Makai a few days before we did. We all felt that we would come back, and the price point is not bad. Have we had better? Sure. But we like to support small businesses especially when it comes to our people. I'm sure they'll get better as they work out the kinks since they're still the new kids on the block.

    Spam musubi
    Jordan O.

    4.8/5 I've been wanting to try this place since they opened. So when it was time for a cheat day I knew exactly what I wanted. Being from Hawaii I've got some high standards lol. Ambiance - nice little restaurant that's channeling the Hawaii vibes. They had great island music playing the whole time which was great. Service - service was awesome, the people were so sweet. There were a couple issues with some items not coming out that we had to ask for but we didn't hold it against them because they were SLAMMED. They also made good by giving us a cookie! Food - Trust me, you will not leave hungry. Hawaii is known for big portions and they follow through. I had the fried rice loco moco and it was a literal mountain of fried rice. I coulda saved half of it for another meal lol. You'll definitely want to add on another egg with it, one won't do the job. But very good, I cleaned the bowl. The musubi was ok, you can tell they make it fresh which is cool BUT when the rice is hot like that the musubi doesn't hold its structure that well so it ended up falling apart after the first bite but either way it was good. I tried my fiancés chicken which was so juicy and so flavorful. Lumpia's were solid, but the ube pancakes.... Let me tell you. I was full and was only going to have a bite so I could try it fresh and get the rest to go, but after the first bite I couldn't stop. The pancakes were so nice and fluffy and massive. But the ube topping, definitely the best I've had. I was worried when it came drowned in the ube cream but it wasnt too sweet! It was perfectly balanced and the Ube flavor came through. These are a must if you come. Ended up finishing them off and felt lethargic the rest of the day lol. This has definitely risen to my go to and favorite spot for Hawaiian food in Washington. I understand why they were so busy and this is definitely worth making a trip out for. If you're from the islands and needing a taste of home, this will scratch that itch!

    Coco mango

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    Huge portion and the price was decent. It was busy inside but we were able to grab some outdoor seating area. It is near Ikea.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Makai Island

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    Wood Shop BBQ

    Wood Shop BBQ

    4.4
    (824 reviews)
    11.5 mi
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    Dining at this distinguished barbecue establishment is nothing short of a gastronomic reverie--an…read moreexperience where rustic tradition meets culinary sophistication with effortless grace. From the moment one crosses the threshold, the air itself seems perfumed with a slow‑smoked promise of delight, beckoning diners into a realm where time-honored craft reigns supreme. The brisket, a veritable masterpiece, arrives with a bark so exquisitely rendered it borders on the poetic. Each slice yields with gentle persuasion, revealing marbling that melts into a silken whisper upon the tongue. The ribs, lacquered in a glaze of subtle sweetness and smoky depth, cling tenderly to the bone, surrendering with an elegance that speaks to hours of meticulous tending over smoldering embers. Even the sides--often relegated to mere accompaniment--command admiration. The cornbread is a golden triumph, delicately crumbed yet luxuriously moist, while the collard greens possess a soulful richness that lingers like a cherished memory. And the house-made sauces, presented with almost ceremonial reverence, offer a spectrum of flavor that elevates each bite without ever overshadowing the meat's inherent artistry. Service is attentive without intrusion, delivered with a warmth that mirrors the glowing hearth at the heart of the kitchen. One leaves not merely satisfied, but genuinely moved by the harmony of craft, care, and culinary passion. In a world crowded with pretenders, this BBQ sanctuary stands as a beacon of authenticity and refinement--a place where smoke becomes symphony and every plate tells a story worth savoring.

    Wood Shop has been my go-to bbq spot in Seattle…read more Whether we've ordered a pound of brisket with some sides or a smoked chicken sandwich, I've rarely had a bad experience (on occasion, we'll open the brisket to find it's a little more fatty than we bargained for). The counter staff are always friendly, and helpful in trying to make some decisions on what to order. My favorites include: the brisket, smoked chicken, pulled pork, mac-n-cheese, and an occasional salad. We often get our food to go, but when we've eaten in, there is generally plenty of space to sit, and if you sit outside, you can see the folks hard at work smoking the various meat.

    Photos
    Front area - this is where you enter and order before grabbing a seat.
    Front area - this is where you enter and order before grabbing a seat.
    Potato Salad real style.. homemade like, no mustard
    Potato Salad real style.. homemade like, no mustard
    Brisket Chili Mac

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    Southern Grill

    Southern Grill

    4.6
    (125 reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    Been waiting to give them a try and had an appointment in tukwila so I stopped in for lunch. This…read moreis a no frills, southern home cooked food spot with rotating specials. I stopped in about 30 mins after they opened on a friday and they had a lunch rush, everything is cooked to order so be prepared to wait at least 20mins. I ordered the 6oz catfish and chips which came with 3 catfish strips, fries, 1 hush puppy, chips and a drink ($16.99) I also got a side of mac&cheese. The positives: staff was kind, pastor at the counter would make jokes with customers and you could tell they had regulars during lunch time. Fries were well seasoned, hush puppy was good and Mac was acceptable. My only issue with the catfish was that it was overcooked and became a bit chewy (see photo). Sitting in there it seems like the wings were a customer favorite so I would love to go back and try their wings and other sides. Since my order took longer (there was a large order right before mines) the pastor at the counter thanked me for my patience and threw in a dessert.

    This small & locally owned restaurant is only open a few days a week. It's run by a Pastor and…read moreyou'll catch him running the front of the house. The place is quaint and the people are friendly. And the food here delivers in every possible way. If you appreciate Soul Food and/or Southern Food then this is the place for you. The cabbage here was everything I could ever ask for. I wanted more when I was done. The Mac & cheese didn't look like much to me but man did it serve on tastes. It was cheesy, seasoned and cooked just right. The fried chicken was cooked fresh and seasoned to perfection. My breast was still juicy and piping hot. Call ahead for to go orders or you'll spend your time waiting for the chicken to be fried. The peach cobbler here is not my preferred way to have as I like a pie crust with mine but oh my goodness, I took one bite and couldn't stop savoring this dessert. Do yourself and get you some. Open Fridays & Saturdays, and the menu slightly rotates weekly so check their website ( southerngrill1.com ) to check menu and confirm hours. This place is everything and more that I could ever ask for when it comes to good ole soul food.

    Photos
    Bacon Burger
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    Fried catfish, hushpuppies, housemade tartar, macaroni & cheese, and corn muffin.
    Fried catfish, hushpuppies, housemade tartar, macaroni & cheese, and corn muffin.
    Fall off the bone oxtails and gravy over white rice.

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    Jack's BBQ - SoDo

    Jack's BBQ - SoDo

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    10.0 mi
    $$

    Pretty damn good. In the last few months I've had barbecue in Memphis, Kansas City, Texas and…read morenow...Seattle: certainly an outlier on the barbecue spectrum. At least for this style- Texas style...sort of a combo with both dry rub (Memphis style) and a kick ass sauce ala KC. It was excellent. We both wanted the ribs and brisket so we each got the 'double trouble' and got different sides...greens, cornbread, corn pudding and mashed potatoes. Oh yeah, we also got the fried pickle appetizer. The meat was perfectly done...tender and smoky. Each side was big, and flavorful. I especially liked the greens, my son said it was the best he'd had. Then they brought out the banana pudding. When the server put it on the table my son made a reference to a vampire movie we'd recently watched where the vampires could see the arteries in the necks of their victims and he made a motion to show that the banana pudding was almost pulsating on the table before us. We descended on that poor pudding like crazed nosferatu just awakening from a centuries long nap. Blood lust. It was so good. Gone in about 1 minute. Our evil souls were barely sated. Our thirst for banana pudding only temporarily slaked. The server joked that he's always wanted to bring in a boba straw for the stuff. It's good. Anyway- put this place on your list. Best bbq in Seattle? Maybe? This is a food genre that's important to me and I haven't yet seen better. $130 for two people with tip, wine and a take-home pudding.

    Amazing , amazing , amazinggg! I wanted to start off with…read morejust wow, the customer service and experience I had at this location was absolutely amazing. Every single worker in this restaurant was so friendly so sweet & so respectful! The energy was just great! Me and my boyfriend went earlier today, food was soooooo tasty, juicy & seasoned to perfection! I had the NEW YORK STEAK!! As a New Yorker missing home I decided to get that steak , I got my steak medium well! Best choice I made than my sides were the garlicky mash potatoes & Mac and cheese! When I tasted the food my mouth instantly started watering , I truly loved the food I received today! And my boyfriend had the ribs , Mac and cheese with chili , he loved it so much! Our waiter taking our order his name I hope I remember correctly, his name is Jake ! I know it started with a J , he provided phenomenal service, just so genuine and real! He completely loves what he does and I truly respect and appreciate everything he done for us today. Deserts and my manhattan drink was great! I even loved how the chef came out checking up on everyone making sure everyone was loving the food he cooked! That's a true chef right there. PROPS TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS LOCATION ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS LOCATION! I will DEFINITELY BE COMING BACK TO THIS LOCATION! I hope each and every worker reads this review knows they are the best and keep being you guys and each and everyone of you deserve a raise! Keep being amazing !

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    Jack's BBQ - SoDo
    RibEye cooked perfectly
    RibEye cooked perfectly
    RibEye with greens and garlic mash

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    RibEye with greens and garlic mash

    Makai Island - bbq - Updated August 2026

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