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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

Makai Island - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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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 read more

Makai Island - Loco moco - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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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! read more

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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. read more

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Tldr: the best islander food in the area! And the desserts are also so good! Ambiance: just enough seating. There's parking here but sometimes it could be busy. Service: really friendly and helpful. I asked for extra sauce coz it was so good, and the I got the whole lore about how the had to adjust the spice lol. Food: I had hurricane chicken and inihaw chicken so far. I think hurricane is slightly my favorite, just depends on my mood. Looks like most things come with Mac salad, and a green salad and some dressing. My only qualm Is that the scoops of rice are tiny. But I usually never finish my protein, and take the rest home wheretheres more rice. I'd rathe have more chicken anyway. The ube trees leches is bomb too, it was like 8.99? And it's pretty sizable so I shared it. I also got the coco mango another day, for the same price as the ube tres leches tho (8.99), Ill probably pass next time. Evrrything else seems reasonably priced. Really excited they ar win the neighborhood! read more

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Same owners of Enseamada Cafe in Everett which I previously reviewed, became one of my favorite restaurants and I'm so glad they owned a location down south. Previously aloha grill in Renton, Makai has moved in. When we went, it was a weekday and the line was all the way to the back. Very busy but line moved fast, we were able to get our food in about 25 minutes. Their card reader was broken which contributed to the wait, but they were busting out food quick- less than 5 minutes after we ordered. Seating is very limited! The garlic shrimp was very flavorful and came with big pieces of shrimp, - their green sauce is amazing. The mango refresher was a hit for us, and the portion they give is big. They have various Filipino desserts which we loved and can't wait to come back and try the halo halo when they start offering it. Love everything about this place, a perfect twist on Filipino-Hawaiian food! read more

Makai Island - Garlic shrimp, mango refresher, Inihaw (BBQ ribs) - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Came a little before this past Friday. They close 3-4 to prepare for the dinner rush. There was a line already forming. People were patient, the staff was kind and guided us to line up in a way that didn't block the entrance. Their card reader was down so they had to manually input card numbers but they were quick and friendly. We ordered the garlic noodles and garlic shrimp and the Hawaiian fried rice and beef ribs to go. I had heard from a friend about the noodles and reading peoples reviews decided to go with the beef ribs. The food came out fast for how busy they were. The ribs were tender with a sweet sauce. The garlic shrimp come shell on which I liked. Portions I thought were generous. I can see why people have been waiting to go Enseamada is way north so I never had a chance to go but all my north-end friends aren't fans so it's nice to have this in the Renton. Also can we talk about their green sauce that came with the ribs? Love it!! Definitely will be back hopefully to dine in one day. Space is bright, welcoming and full of island vibes from the music to decor. read more

Makai Island - Cute mural inside - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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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.

Best first impression ever--especially for a brand-new spot! Our food came out so fast, and we were seriously impressed with the portions and the value. But let's talk about those beef ribs... WOW. Fall-off-the-bone, flavorful, and absolutely something I'll be coming back for. We ordered the ube pancakes, garlic shrimp, loco moco, and a mango cream shake--and not a single thing disappointed. Everything was packed with flavor. That said, the garlic noodles with beef ribs? Hands down my favorite. Chef's kiss. There were a few small service kinks (totally expected since they just opened), but nothing that took away from the experience. You can tell they're going to smooth it all out in no time. They've got that island music playing, the vibes are on point, and every employee we met was super nice and welcoming. Already counting down the days until we can go back and try everything else on the menu! read more

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I'd rate this place 3.6 for now, but definitely will come back to try the other items as I am highly interested. We ordered the 808 combo which came with beef rib, pork rib, chicken thigh, fried shrimp, spam, macaroni salad, salad, lumpia and rice. The beef rib came out very juicy and tender which was my fave, the pork rib was on the dryer side, the chicken was very very dry that we didn't eat it, the shrimp was surprisingly very tasty it had a corn flavor to it, the spam is just simple and plain, mac salad was ok, on the other hand the salad that came with that green dressing was delicious!, the lumpia was ok but it was a good addition to the meal for some crunch. I guess it just sucked that 2 main proteins were so dry. I was surprised that the ube pancakes were tasty, definitely more so on the dessert side so eating this as an entrée would definitely be a sugar overload, overall I love the cream sauce they put over it and I like the texture of the Ube pancakes, it was kind of bouncy/fluffy but dense like a flour/mochi/tapioca combination (texture wise). I would highly recommend this but definitely share this with a friend or so. I would come back again for sure! Definitely want to try their garlic shrimp next and maybe a different dessert and or drinks. The vibe in there is chill, and I like it. read more

Makai Island - Ube pancake wd sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

New local Hawaiian spot that everyone recommended to try it out We got there right after opening and they have a line out the door, interior has a few small tables for seatings and a little outdoor area with a couple of tables. It was a bit too busy so we ordered for take out and the staff were friendly and service is pretty quick We ordered: Loco Moco: the portion size was on the bigger side, the meat was bland and dry, and mac salad was decent Beef rib mixed plate: they give out 3 pieces of ribs very tender and juicy, I would get this next time Overall: friendly staff, large portion and price is fair, I'll probably go back one to try other items on their menus read more

Sampled a bunch of different items and can't rave enough about each of them. All of them were super flavorful and comforting. My 10yo son (who doesn't usually comment on food) said it felt like his tastebuds were dancing lol. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

Makai Island - Loco moco, ube pancake, hurricane chicken and ube tres leches - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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PEAS. There are peas in the mac salad. After the plate got dropped off at the table and I saw the peas in the watery mac salad, I knew the bar was about to be very low. If you're looking for hawaiian kine local food, you're better off going to L&L. The mac salad had no onion flavor whatsoever, they're using some weird mayo and not best foods mayo, it's watery and HAS PEAS IN IT. Maybe they bought it in the haole section at safeway but it's not local kine mac. Got the 808 plate and the only thing decent was the ribs and the lumpia. Everything else was bland and odd. The lychee refresher has nothing refreshing about it. Tastes like they put 4 cups of sugar in one drink. I had high hopes but I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, especially with L&L right down the street. read more

Makai Island - 808 Plate (junk mac salad) - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Overall, great place to get Hawaiian food in the Renton area. They have a large selection of yummy items that range from drinks to food. We got the 808, but Ube pancakes, the mango sago smoothie. Overall, I would give it a straight, four out of five, presentation was nice, the chicken was a tad dry and not as juicy as I would like, wish there was more sauce. The big pancake texture was good! The mango flavor could be more fresh. Overall, great time, I'll come back. read more

Makai Island - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

We wanted to come and try Makai Island after seeing all the reviews of the restaurant. We ordered take out knowing how busy the place was. I'm glad we did, because there was definitely no where to sit as they were all taken. The inside is not too big. Makai is super busy, where there always a line forming at the register. Even though they're busy, the food was done by the time we arrived and the staff here provided good service. As for our food, I ordered the 808 beef mix plate definitely had lots of food! You can feed at least 2 people if you wanted to. The beef ribs were tender, saucy and tasty. My husband got the Inihaw Chicken Plate. I tried the chicken and that was good too. Saucy just like the ribs and the meat was tender, as well. Oh, we had to get something sweet!!! So glad that we ordered the Ube pancake with macadamia nuts. Pancakes are fluffy and yummy! As for the coco mango cream-shake!!!! My husband and I shared this and we both really enjoyed it! We will be back to try out a something new, but will be ordering the coco mango again! read more

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Stopped for lunch during a weekday and there were a few tables taken, but a lot less busy than what I've read during the weekends. They recommended the 808 Mix Plate but that was just too much food for me so I settled on the Garlic Buttered Shrimp with a side of Spam Musubi and a Mango Refresher - this was also a lot of food lol! The entree comes with salad, macaroni salad and white rice. The green salad was plain, it came with a lemon and no dressing. The macaroni salad, to me, tasted fishy, I think it had tuna mixed in. That's not really my preference but I'm not Hawaiian and I'm unsure of the custom bc I've had Mac salad without fish. The shrimp were very large and cooked well, however they still had the shell. They seasoned them well, though all the seasoning was on the shell that I peeled off, requiring me to rub the shell on the shrimp to get that flavor. Lots of white rice, with sauces at the front if you'd like. The spam Musubi was good but was also thick with rice. The mango refresher was my favorite, it was thicker than I expected though still viscous, not like a smoothie. There were chunks of mango inside, yum. In total I paid $29 and would go back again to try other items. read more

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Shared the mixed plate and good thing we did. Very big portion and the beef ribs were huge! The menu was a little confusing for the mixed plate as we thought it came with chicken, pork, & beef vs one of the protein. Would love to try the locomoco next time. read more

Makai Island - Mixed plate - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

Perfect blend of 2 amazing cultures! We had to make a stop after reels of this place blowing up our phones. It did not disappoint!!! My favorite was the lechon garlic noodles! The line was sooo long but the food came out incredibly fast! The kitchen staff was full and the workers were so efficient! The restaurant had plenty of seating and we did not have a hard time finding a place to sit. Will definitely be back!! read more

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2nd time here and they haven't disappointed. Both times staff were super nice and helpful. First time the ube pancakes and lechon with garlic noodles which were great. The hurricane chicken was good. Nice and crunchy chicken, sauce was so so, but overall good eats. read more

Makai Island - Hurricane chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

I have been seeing TikTok vids of this place for a while and finally got a chance to go. I got the Inahaw plate and chose the pork protein: Mac salad - awesome Leafy salad - good dressing Short ribs- ok. A bit overcooked Pork ribs - fall off the bone good Sauce is great has a little of heat that your mouth tingles and enough sweetness that is not overwhelming. I just added another option of my go to places. Also they have a bunch of desserts will try on the next visit. read more

This place is delicious. I never had a cold plate, food comes out fast, and that staff's provide exceptional service. I love how the beef ribs have a nice crunchy exterior and tender and moist in the inside. Ube pancakes with macadamia was one of the best I've ever had! read more

Makai Island - Pipikaula Rib Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Tried this new Hawaiian‑Filipino spot and it's off to a strong start. The Loco Moco was above average with good flavor, and the Spam Musubi tasted great, though the rice‑to‑spam ratio was a bit heavy. The stars of the meal were the Hurricane Chicken and Lumpia -- both excellent and highly recommended. The Mac Salad was decent, but it includes peas and tuna, which may not be for everyone. For drinks, the Mango Refresher was very good and the Guava Lychee Refresher was also enjoyable. Overall, flavorful food, standout dishes, and definitely worth a visit. read more

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AMAZING quality and taste. My wife and I got the loco moco, the hurricane and shared the ube pancakes. Loco moco gravy was smooth and very tasty. Mac salad was great - not runny or watery. My wife's hurricane looked amazing. I tried one piece of chicken with their sauce and was left speechless. The ube pancakes - where do I start. There are no words to describe the euphoria I felt taking the first bite. 3 fluffy ube pancakes staked high with a creamy but not runny ube sauce. Not overly sweet but just enough for the taste buds to scream with joy. 1,000% recommend. It's a small restaurant so seating is limited read more

Buenass I ran in to order lunch real quick & the service was great, food came out hella fast, that did not affect the quality. The ambiance was great but I had to go back to work. My songs were playin. I got to work & started eating. My coworkers might have heard me moan while I was eating it was soo yummy. I don't usually leave reviews places but this was fiah. Told my coworkers & they'll be going next week! thank youuuu. 10/10 recommend read more

Makai Island - 808 plate w/all the meats - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Good, fast service. Authentic Hawaiian and Filipino food with good portion sizes! Love the local Hawaiian/Reggae music playing. Makes me feel like I'm back in Hawaii. I went 5 other people. Forgot to get pictures of everyone's plates but no complaints on most dishes. The ube pancakes were the best I've had so far in the PNW. The 808 mix plate cannot go wrong with -- the spam, lumpia, mac salad sides go great with anything. My biggest complaint is the rice, and so far everyone that I've talked to that have also tried here have the same complaint. Rice was hard and dry, which was disappointing because I miss Hawaii sticky rice! Also, I like my loco moco with way more gravy, but otherwise it tasted really good! Overall 8/10, I would definitely come again. :) read more

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I ordered the 808 BBQ plate and I'm so glad I did. It came with ribs, spam, shrimp, lumpia, macaroni, rice, vegies, and 2 sauces for under $18.00. The ribs were very juicy. This spot will definitely be a big competitor to Saimins Says nearby! Lunch time is very busy! read more

Makai Island - 808 BBQ Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

Just got food from here for the first time and it was definitely good. The drinks were both delicious, I got the Guava Lychee and my husband got the Plantation. The butter shrimp was pretty good and the noodles had a great flavor the only thing was the noodles were not warm at all. The PipiKaula plate was great, the Mac salad could be better but overall we definitely enjoyed it. read more

Makai Island - Lumpia, butter shrimp with noodles, PipiKaula - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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killahz (peas in the mac salad was new for me tho, never had that before) service also super nice read more

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Great little spot to grab some flavorful food. Their Ube coffee was so good, and the hurricane chicken was really juicy. The mac salad I think has tuna in it. No shade to any family's recipe, I liked it, but just a warning for anyone with seafood allergies. read more

Makai Island - 808 mix plate with ribs and hurricane chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Tried this place for the first time a few days ago. I asked the staff what they think is popular, and ordered it! Loved the hurricane chicken, and I highly recommend the ube tres leches cake. It was soooo good! read more

Food was amazing, also wanted to shout out to Miguel & Aina the manager. Food was delicious, the 808 plate (beef) and the Ube pancakes was once again delicious! read more

Food is amazing and came out quick. As soon as we sat down, 5min later our plates were out. Played lots of good island reggae music. Customer service, top notch!! Definitely going back to try out their other menu. So far I tried mango tres leches, ube tres leches, mango sago, lechon bowl and garlic noodles. All were so darn good!!! Definitely recommend the mango tres leches and garlic noodles so nummy nummy!!! read more

Makai Island - Lechon Bowl and garlic noodles 10/10 - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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My fried rice taste like the rice was not cooked the rib was on point Mac salad it was weaker then L&L overall looks good taste different as in not great but customer service was 100. read more

Makai Island - This fried rice would've been good if the rice was cooked al the way or rice from yesterday - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

Makai Island is my new favorite spot! The food was delicious and authentic. I was impressed by how quickly the food came out. A big plus is the Hawaiian music playing in the background--feels like being at home on the islands. Definitely a local treasure! read more

Makai Island - Garlic Noodles, Hawaiian Fried Rice, Lumpia, Ube Butter Mochi and Lychee Refresher - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

The service was quick for food, but if you got a blended drink then you waited longer. The rice that comes with the plate lunches was kinda dry. The garlic shrimp was really mushy. The ribs felt like it was all fat and no meat. The chicken was good. The lumpia nice and crispy, but very minini. Alot of things were out, which is understandable. The staff is really nice and friendly, but space in the restaurant is really small. read more

inihaw plate with chicken was seasoned to perfect it was so good, would definitely order again. I also got to try the garlic shrimp which were huge and yummy. The ube pancakes weren't very sweet but still tasty! The coffee was perfect for me. Would definitely come again to try a different dish read more

Makai Island - Iced coffee with ube sweet cold foam - Barbeque Near Me - Renton, Washington

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