Me and my husband had such a wonderful experience at Matiki BBQ, and we truly have to highlight the exceptional service provided by Casie. From the moment we walked in, she stood out for all the right reasons. Her customer service skills are genuinely top-tier--she greeted us with a warm, sincere smile that instantly made us feel welcome and comfortable. Casie has such a pleasant and approachable demeanor. She took the time to really engage with us, making sure we felt taken care of without ever seeming rushed or distracted. What impressed us most is how attentive she is--she listened carefully and offered thoughtful recommendations based on what we might enjoy. If you're unsure what to order, she's the perfect person to guide you. Her suggestions were spot-on and made the whole dining experience even better. Beyond her professionalism, Casie has a wonderful personality that shines through in every interaction. She brings such positive energy to the environment--it's clear she enjoys what she does, and it reflects in how she treats people. On top of that, her beautiful complexion and confident presence add to her overall charm, making her truly memorable. It's rare to come across someone who combines efficiency, friendliness, and genuine care so effortlessly. Casie goes above and beyond to make sure every guest leaves satisfied, and that level of service deserves recognition. Because of her, we'll definitely be returning to Matiki BBQ and recommending it to others. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Delicious beef ribs!!! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

The food at Matiki Island BBQ in Fullerton is honestly excellent. The ribs and kalbi are delicious, the portions are big, and the food itself is the reason people come back. Unfortunately, the older cashier's attitude was bad enough to ruin the experience. The younger cashier was very pleasant, nice, and accommodating, so clearly good customer service is possible here. But the older woman at the register acted like customers were an inconvenience instead of the reason the business exists. Customer service goes a long way, and I usually show my appreciation with a tip. Not today. The food earned it, but the attitude lost it. Great ribs, great kalbi, huge portions -- but the rude cashier needs to realize she's not seasoning the food with attitude. *The BBQ is island-style, but the cashier's attitude was DMV-style. read more

The ribs were genuinely good (if you like fat). But that barely matters when the staff single-handedly destroys any reason to return. One woman in particular (presumably a manager or long-time employee) was shockingly, aggressively rude in a way that's hard to overstate. She barked orders and accusations at customers with zero patience, yelling over trivial things that no reasonable person could possibly know or control. Her tone was dripping with contempt, her attitude unapologetically hostile, and her behavior screamed ignorance wrapped in unearned entitlement. Zero warmth, zero professionalism--just pure, unfiltered disdain for the very people paying her bills. No one should have to endure being treated like an inconvenience or an idiot just to eat decent barbecue. The food might be worth a try if you're willing to stomach verbal abuse, but for most of us, it's not. Her complete lack of basic decency and customer service skills makes this place actively unpleasant. I won't be back, and I can't in good conscience recommend it to anyone who values being treated like a human being. One star only because the ribs themselves don't deserve zero--but she absolutely does. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - The very rude and uncivilized staff - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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The food here is very good and fresh and also has a pretty decent price point. The service here is very friendly and very quick to take care of My Order. The cooks are working hard to make your meal an awesome and fresh meal right in front of you. The vibe here seemed very chill. Had a nice little crowd of Family when I walked in. My only complaint was the ribs could've had a little more meat, but the food was actually really good. I would come back because the price and the food was good. read more

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I wish I would have taken a photo! The Mac salad was probably the best I've ever had! The steak plate was perfectly cooked and seasoned well! The spam musubi had furikake in the rice and it was an amazing addition! The vibe seemed like we were on an island! I will definitely be back! read more

Matiki Island BBQ is a total gem. The ribs are the star, smoky and tender. Paired with their signature sauce. Mac salad and rice were just ok. Coming back for the ribs. Good price too read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef rib plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

I placed an order online and went to pick it up around 7:30 PM. Right before it was my turn, the staff member at the front desk--a middle-aged, plus-size Hispanic woman--was smiling and chatting happily with two white customers. However, the moment she turned to serve me (an Asian), her smile instantly vanished. Throughout the entire interaction, she completely ignored what I said and didn't utter a single word to me. Even when I politely said "Thank you" at the end, I received zero response. The contrast in treatment was so stark and uncomfortable. While the food is good, I will definitely not be returning due to this awful and degrading customer service. read more

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Similar experience as others who have left a 1-star review: the woman in front is extremely rude. As you can see, the salad had no dressing on it. When I asked for a little extra, the lady barked back, saying that they need to charge me 50 cents for it. We come here often, but have a similar experience every time. It's surprising how they do so well when the staff is so rude. Go, but don't expect Hawaiian vibes when you go. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Chicken salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

One of my local to go spots. A must try is their beef kalbi and spam masubi they sell out quick.

This place inside is really spacious and fits a large group for sitting, the service was not really the best though I was next in line and was not really greeted and the place wasn't busy to justify it, once the lady did help us though she was kind and took our order. The food was very juicy and fresh! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Menus - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Maybe we came on a bad day, but the food was not good. We had one good thing, and that was the short ribs. We walked in, and the location looked really clean. It was slow because all the staff was watching the football game and did not realize their menu screens were not on. It took literally 5 minutes to get them back on. We looked at the menu online, and even though we had been waiting over 5-10 minutes and knew what we wanted, the cashier was too busy on the phone to take our order. She would not let the call ring or put it on hold to take care of the line of 8 people. Seems like customer service to the customer in front of them is not prioritized. We were a group of 5 people, so we tried many things. Short rib plate was good, could have used a little more seasoning, but good overall. I had the chicken and steak plate. The beef was the driest beef I have ever had--literally had to drown it in their teriyaki sauce, and even that did not help. The chicken was ok but still needed sauce. My kids had the chicken rice kids bowl, and the portion was a joke. We ended up giving them food from our plates. Someone in our party did try their famous rib plate. It looked great, but he said there was more fat than meat. We had to eat again shortly after. Someone recommended this place to me, so I had high expectations, but they were not met. As always, another place that looks good only on Instagram. read more

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Plenty of parking in the plaza. There is a good amount of seating inside but a lot of people were ordering to go. It was very cold inside and the lady taking our order was rude and stand offish. Customer service was severely lacking but the food itself was a 7.5 for me. The ribs had a good amount of fat on it. Short ribs were better in my opinion. read more

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Just stopped in for an iced tea and got snapped at by the cashier .. Bummer.. don't think I want to return for the food now. read more

Chill spot to enjoy great, authentic Hawaiian food. Most people get take out, but a handful of folks were dining in. The food is fresh, hot & delicious. They even have warm, easy to pick up goodies like spam musubi, manapua & pani popo. We got the #7 plate - steak & short ribs, which comes w/ 2 scoops of rice & either green or mac salad. These are our fave meats, & we always go w/ their mac salad! Another terrific meat choice here is their ribs! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - #7 - Steak & Short Ribs Plate: comes w/ 2 scoops of rice & mac or green salad. Be sure to add their teriyaki sauce! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

We came here because we are hosting a 40 person party and wanted Hawaiian food. This was a taste test. I order their three meat platter and asked if I could taste their Kalua pig. I was told no. When I said I wanted to try it before I ordered for my party. The woman said "no, they only cook it by the plate". I changed the order to two plates and missed out on the steak. Here is the run down. Spam musubi was delicious- warm, with furikake and a healthy portion is spam. Kalua pig had way more cabbage than pork and on bland side. Teriyaki chicken was good. The rice was sticky. The short rib kalbi was really tasty until the last rib which was charred on the outside and raw on the inside. The Mac salad was average. After my encounter with the women taking my order I got picky. I ordered two cans of diet soda. When I got cups for a fountain drink I went with it. While I was sitting I noticed the price. $1.75 for a can. $2.00 for a fountain drink. They make so much more money off the fountain drink. I went back for a refill just to try and recoup my money. It wasn't busy when wee were there, yet the trash can was overflowing. read more

Very good meal, and imo a good value. We will be back for sure tk eat again. Wish they had a place in San Diego read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef ribs plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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10 STARS we placed a pickup order online. Hands DOWN, BEST Beef Ribs I've EVER HAD! Perfectly cooked with amazing flavor! Meaty with the right amount of fat ratio. Pasta Salad was excellent too. Along with perfectly cooked rice with the sauce poured on top (don't know name of it) make sure you get it for your rice Salad was a very fresh mix of greens with a lite vinaigrette, glad I asked for extra as they only toss it lightly. I can't wait to go back! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - 1. Beef Rib Plate (Sam's Plate) - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Came back and n 1/3/26 since my son had a volleyball tournament in Irvine. Sadly, they still don't have the warm welcoming. I even tried to make a friendly "local kine" talk story but maybe the lady at the front doesn't get it. No emotion, no smile, nothing! Anyway, we ordered the Kahuna plate, kalbi plates, chicken and beef plate and side of ribs. The beef was not as tender as we would like, kalbi had a lot of fat and chicken was a bit dry. The star of the show are the beef ribs. They were tender and flavorful. The mac salad was good. The place is clean and roomy. I think the place lacks the friendly staff. I am away from the islands so when I come to a place that sells local food, I also expect the people to have that friendly, warm that you experience when you're on the island. read more

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The food was amazing! Ordered the beef rib plate; I love that there were pieces of meat that were crispy and big chunks that melt in your mouth. A large plate that can be shared between two people. The macaroni salad was more of a potato salad, had pieces of potatoes; it was not the sweet creamy mac salad that usually comes with hawaiian food. Large seating area, some tables were dirty but nothing excessive. The only downside was the customer service. The woman at the register presented as rude and short. Come for the food not so much the customer service read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - 1. Beef Rib Plate (Sam's Plate) - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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So delicious I was recommended by 2 of my sisters, both love it Way better than the chain Hawaiian BBQ places I have previously tried The first time I go their steak and ribs, but I think I like the ribs the best. So flavorful and food came out pretty quickly read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Kalbi short Ribs - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Matiki Island BBQ is located at the south end of the Ralphs shopping center on Harbor and Berkeley in Fullerton right behind Black Bear Diner. There is extra parking at the end of the center where Matiki is and finding a spot is rarely a problem. If you are anywhere within a hundred feet of the restaurant, you will not be able to miss the wonderful aroma of Hawaiian BBQ in the air. There are probably about ten tables inside with a mix of two seat and four seat tables. They have a patio at the end of the building but I have never seen tables out there. If you want to eat outside, there are some shared tables for the various food places if you walk towards Ralphs a short way. You go up to the register to order and they will call your name when your food is ready. Right next to the register is the grill where all the magic happens. There is usually a good amount of meat on the grill with a lot of flames and huge plumes of smoke going up and out the chimney. I ordered the #2 short ribs (Kalbi) plate. It comes with two scoops of white rice and I selected the green salad instead of the macaroni salad to make the meal a little more healthy. About ten minutes later my food was ready. I opened the container and was happy to see a pretty good stack of short ribs. Forget about a fork and knife, with short ribs it's easier to just grab the bones and dig in. There were probably a good ten to twelve pieces of short rib. The short ribs were cooked perfectly and were absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, there were two pieces that were 100% fat, and there were also two or three pieces that were all bone with just a tiny quarter inch or so of meat around the bone. The rice was good and I drizzled some sriracha on top to spice it up. The salad was good and was tossed in a great vinaigrette which had a little sweetness as well as a little tang. Overall, it was a very satisfying plate. However, it is not cheap at $19. All of the plate meals except for the chicken plate are going to set you back over $20 after tax. I took off half of a star for the price and a few bum pieces of short rib, but rounded up to five stars for the great flavor. I will continue to return periodically. read more

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Not all meats are equally good. It's quick and easy to get food especially with online ordering. I should have trusted the consensus and got more ribs. The beef ribs have such tender succulent meat and crispy edges. The kalbi is okay albeit fatty. The minus 2 stars is for the steak--tremendously overcooked and tough. Additionally, the macaroni salad recipe is a disaster. They add potatoes which makes the side starchy and unappealing. Please remove the potatoes from the macaroni salad. The salad is a contrast the meat and should be slick from the pasta and creamy/fatty with the mayo. Surprisingly, the steak was a bit more palatable as leftovers when I added water. read more

Best Hawaiian food I've had. Portions are big enough to share. Good quality food, the ambiance is nice and the service is quick. I will be back for sure. In photo #1 beef ribs and the chicken bowl with a side of macaroni. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

HANDS DOWN BEST HAWAIIAN BBQ IVE HAD OUTSIDE OF HAWAII!!! Im yelling it to anyone who wants to hear it! Service... phenomenal! Really friendly and helpful! The food was amazingly tender and flavorful and they aren't stingy on their portions! Amen to that! Haha Would easily go back! I want it now as I type this. read more

Id say the food is good if its not chicken or beef. Their chicken and beef always tastes old and reheated. Might as well microwave it for it to taste good. Their beef ribs have a lot of fat. First rib is good; anything after that makes me sick. Their rice and mac salad is bomb tho I always come back and I have no idea why read more

So delicious. I get no salad double macaroni salad with short rib and chicken combo and add protein (beef ribs) in the side. Friendly staff large clean dining area. Delicious read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Side of Beef Rib - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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The lovely folks at Matiki Island BBQ did not disappoint. The wonderful service and delicious island food was just what the doctor ordered. I got the beef and short ribs combo with a side of some beef ribs! The combo comes with rice and mac . The servings were plentiful leaving me with leftovers for lunch the next day. The restaurant interior gives off a real Hawaiian vibe. Aloha and mahalo! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef and short ribs plate and a Side of Beef Rib - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Craving a familiar taste, a flavor , an aroma of the islands draws draws me back to Matiki for an order of ribs - Sam's plate. The mahogany colored soy-garlic marinated beef with smoky perfume makes my mouth water. So much goodness for satisfying my craving in a pile of bbq bones. Mahalo. I'm happy again. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Sam's plate - 5/21/25 - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Once my husband introduced me to Matiki, I instantly understood why he kept talking about it--there was no going back. The beef ribs are everything you'd want: meaty, smoky, fatty, sweet, and so flavorful. He had passed by this place for over 10 years before finally trying it, and now we both wish we had discovered it sooner. I've only tried their #1 Sam's plate so far, but I'm confident the other dishes are just as good. The ribs are grilled over charcoal to perfection, and that sweet sauce they serve on the side makes every bite even better. Eating here feels like stepping into a true Hawaiian spot. The ordering process is simple--place your order with the cashier, wait for your name to be called, and then enjoy your food. The restaurant itself is very clean and surprisingly well-ventilated, so you don't walk out smelling like smoke. I can't wait to come back with him again! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue is located off of Berkeley Ave and Harbor Blvd. If it's your first time here, be sure to follow your GPS directions or you'll drive right past it. Once you find it, it's easy to access and parking is plentiful. Be aware that if you come during peak lunch or dinner hours the parking lot fills up because this place is hoppin'!! Orders are placed at the counter and your name is called for you to claim it once it's ready. The dining room is a nice size with lots of table & chair seating, but remember, during peak hours, Matiki's gets packed. Simple, tasteful Hawaiian decor graces the walls and a front corner. Service is usually friendly but always efficient. (They sometimes get frazzled during the rush). Spam musubi and Manapua are in a "self-serve" case on the counter. Drinks have the option of self-serve fountain or individual single cans. Coke lovers rejoice, because it is served here!! We originally discovered Matiki's at the original location in Anaheim. It's no exaggeration when I tell you that EVERYTHING on the menu is amazing ~ we've tried it all!! Combo plate portions are huge and can easily be shared by two people (unless you're extra hungry, then you can definitely chow down!). The Mac salad is so good, we usually order extra scoops on the side. And definitely try the Matiki's sauce. Another crave-worthy offering! Have I made you hungry yet?? Go give them a try. Your taste buds will thank you! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Current menu and pricing as of January 2025 - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Delicious! Not the most happy or helpful people working there but the food is great! Big portions. Esp the beef rib plate. Depending on how much meat is in the bone and how big they are is the amount of ribs you get. Two people that eat normal portions can prob share. They don't have katsu. Only chicken that's brushed with the same sauce as the ribs. Highly suggest getting the rib plate! If you try to order over the phone.... The DO NOT answer. read more

Ordered some food for company lunch, and was very disappointed with the quality of the food. Kalbi was burnt and can not even eat it. Knowing that the kalbi was crisp burnt they decided to give it to us. Will not come back. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Burnt - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

It's our first time here.   Typically, we go to the Anaheim location when we're in the area.  This place is a lot bigger and more modern.  When you walk in, it is bright and beautifully decorated.  You get instant islander vibes with the smell of the bbq cooking.   You can even watch them cooking.     I placed my order and walked around.  I was happy that this location had pani popo.  They have restrooms for customers and it was nice and clean.     I ordered : 1.  Sam's plate -  you can never go wrong with the beef ribs.  It's flavorful, yummy, messy goodness, and follow it with the mac/potato salad.  Heaven, you can hear going "aah" 2.  Steak & short ribs - I always order this but always forget that the steak is like think pieces of steak, not like a juicy chunky piece of steak, you know?  If that's what you're expecting, don't get it.  Short ribs are deliciously messy 3.  Kalua pork & cabbage  -  my husband loves this and be careful with this.  When handling it, be careful of the juicy goodness spilling. 4.  Pani popo - I've been wanting to try this for a while now, but the other location never has it in stock.  I think I built this up so much that by the time I had it,  I was disappointed.   It was basically a pan de sal with coconut milk/saucy thing.  It's like a bread pudding.      Overall, the food was delicious.   Service was fast, and they are efficient.   Price wasn't too bad.  I think it is affordable. Portions were a good size. This location had plenty of parking and was a little more inviting. read more

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Really good flavor. You can tell they're a small business because every time I go there's the same people working lol anyways I really like the meats and their flavors here they definitely don't miss. read more

Well back and front Fullerton and I just moved to Stanton it's really delicious and I think it's better than anything you've seen on these menus here I recommend it highly of o read more

Top Tier! Now my full on FAVORITE Hawaiian spot ever. Whoever the chefs are, I give the most massive kudos to you guys ever! This food is so damn delicious. I ordered a #1 Beef Ribs and a #5 Chicken/Beef Plate and good lord they were fantastic! The meat was cooked to perfection and the sauce on the tables kicked it up to a perfect 10 for me. Spam music was good, great rice to meat ratio and subtly sweet and savory. The Mac salad was some of the most hearty and tasty I've experienced and trust me I've been to every Hawaiian island multiple times. I will be adding this to my constant rotation because I can't get enough, came back with my lady just so I could have the excuse to order more hahaha. Thank you guys for a phenomenal meal! read more

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Flavorless food , dry, chewy ribs , chewy dry chicken , portion are so small , and macaroni was not good . Don't come here

Some of the best hawaiian bbq ive ever had. Super fast service, friendliest people ever, they were so nice to us!! Gave us a couple extra pieces just because they were so nice. Busy bit fast! The ambiance was so warm and cozy!! read more

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Their macaroni salad is real tasty. The place is always packed so it must not be just me that think they are good. I tried both stores they had and the one on fullerton has tougher meat. read more

They were mean and food is not good,they make you feel you're not welcome to the restaurant, the ladie was always mean!