Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Popolo Boi's

    4.5 (122 reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 6:00 pm

    Popolo Boi's Photos

    POPOLO BOI'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Popolo Boi's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cyndee C.

    I usually see this huli huli chicken van on my way to Pearl City Walmart. Today was the first time I stopped. Popolo Boi is only there 4 days a week and I'm glad I caught him. He does everything: set up the equipment, prepare the chicken, cook the chicken, pack the chicken, sell the chicken. It's a cash only operation with 4 choices: half chicken, whole chicken, half chicken plate, whole chicken plate. Plates come with rice and tossed salad. Oh, he has soft drinks too. The chicken is good. Seasoned nicely, charred perfectly, moist and tender. Enough said.

    Truck & trailer setup in the park, great mobile setup!
    Gerald P.

    Driving over from Kaneohe to go to Sam's Club & Walmart we pass the park & always see Popolo Boi's truck. The smells from the Cooker as you pass , smells so good! Decided to stop to bring some dinner home. The owner is a busy one man operation, doing everything efficiently. The menu is simple & the chicken is so good , moist & flavorful. Great local style Huli Huli chicken. Stop by & try his chicken out! You will love it!

    Juicy chicken lots of favor. 2nd chicken for dinner because lunch chicken was demolished by the kiddos & still good w/lots of flavor

    Best huli huli chicken on the island. Lots of flavor gotta eat with rice. Better than raising canes, popeyes, kfc, costco, & sams! Friendly, speedy customer service. Wood grilled makes a difference & I love the side salad because I'd like to think I'm trying to eat healthy while sharing the chicken with my KIDS, who also LOVE his chicken. After baseball game grindz. I recommend to all the teams, must try! This is fast food, fresh fire grilled chicken but get it while it lasts because it sells out fast!

    Menu
    Sach T.

    After my first review, I did pick up huli huli chicken quite a few times after that because this chicken tastes just like the old days when students would sell tickets for fundraisers...sooo good! During those several times we picked up, the owner was very pleasant...totally different from the first time. I might've caught him on a bad day. Will come back often!

    Ana C.

    Today I had Popolo Boi's huli huli chicken. The chicken was seasoned well and very tasty. The salad with ranch dressing was fresh, and crisp. The food is simple but delicious.

    Whole Chicken Plate
    Akemi O.

    Leaving my friend's house and just so happened to be stuck at the light where the Huli Huli Chicken sign was. Stuck my head out the window and couldn't smell anything...but decided it was lunch time and we now wanted chicken. Saw the Popolo Boi's truck and the Popolo working his magic. Grabbed a whole chicken plate, went to the park to have a picnic. YUM. Buggah still so moist, and pretty tasty. Not huli huli kine sauce, but little cajuny? Whatevs, was good enough we decided we had to go back and get a chicken for the freezer. The chicken fed me, hubs, and baby, with a little leftover. 3 scoops rice...little bit dry some places, mochi rice some places. Not the best rice but good enough and more than enough for us. Rather get more salad...maybe can? I'll ask next time. Went back for 2nd chicken, and told him the plan for this 2nd one...so he gave me tips on how best to reheat so taste just like fresh. Nice of him! Hubs claims, best in town since most of them taste like cooked in oven nowadays. I'm not sure if best in town but definitely one of the tops. We'll even venture out to PC just to get some chicken...

    Ramfis B.

    Finally got my hands on the Popolo Boi's Huli Huli Chicken Truck located in Pearl City next to the Bus Facility and I'm gonna say this Huli Huli Chicken was one of Best Tasting Huli Huli Chicken i have had on the island. I had the Whole Chicken Plate all Salad for $18 and the only thing I wish he could do was cut the Chicken up in Bite Size Pieces so I can just go to town and pound this Plate. But the Popolo Boy looked too serious as if I took his Lunch Money so I didn't even wanna bother to ask but maybe that's just his personality. Buggah looks like he's locked in and he's all business. When i ordered my Whole Chicken Plate All Salad he put the Salad in a Small Box and had put my Whole Chicken in a Plastic Bag but I wanted to eat that Whole Chicken in a Large Take Out Box and finally had the courage to ask for a Large Take Out Container so I can put my Chicken in it and he gave me one . My heart was beating fast and I offered to give him a dollar for it but he said No Need so that was nice of him. As for the Chicken, this Huli Huli Chicken was Seasoned to perfection and this Chicken was so so Juicy. Each and every bite was magical and I whacked that Huli Huli Chicken like it was my last meal. Love how his Huli Huli Chicken doesn't sit around. He's plucks his Chicken straight from the Kiawe Wood Grill and serves it. Still can't believe I haven't been here all this time but now I know where to go for some seriously Ono Huli Huli Chicken. His prices aren't too bad as well.His Half Chicken is $7 for Half a Chicken and $14 for a Whole Chicken. As for the Plate Lunch it's $9 for a Half Chicken Plate and $17 for a Whole Chicken Plate which comes with Rice and Tossed Salad. Much Mahalo to Da Popolo Boy. He may look rough around the edges but i will still be brave enough to get more Huli Huli Chicken from him because it was that damn Ono

    Menu. Nice and simple.
    Crystal K.

    I stopped by on a Saturday morning, just before 11am. There were two other cars parked ordering food as well. I ordered two whole chickens, which costed $28. My order came up quickly, he took it ststraight off the huli- huli grill! I like the straight forward menu, half chicken, whole chicken, half chicken plate, whole chicken plate. Super fast and friendly! Amazing, amazing chicken! Fresh and juicy, and so flavorful! Totally recommend! There isn't any seating at the food truck, but there is a huge park right next that you could eat at if you didn't plan to take your food home.

    Food truck
    Jo Y.

    I hadn't realized how much I missed my huli huli chicken prior to Covid days when students would be selling these freshly grilled chickens as fundraisers for their schools. With the pandemic, much of the huli huli chicken disappeared from dinner tables that locals enjoyed eating. Note that the term "huli huli" chicken is a trademark of the Pacific Poultry Company since 1967, as this company coordinated and assisted the organizations with their fundraisers (they are now located on the Mainland). "Huli" is a cooking method that means to "turn" in Hawaiian, with the chicken being prepared by barbecuing it over kiawe wood to give it a smoky flavor and basting it with a sweet "huli huli" sauce. Lots of sweating manpower were needed to place the chickens between two wire racks and in unison, turning or "huling" the rack over so that the other side of the chickens get cooked via the smoky kiawe wood underneath it. And not to mention putting the cooked chicken into individual bags for those purchasing the chickens. Enter Popolo Bois, as owner Stuart set up his food truck more than six years ago at the Breene Harimoto Manana County Park on Kuala St in Pearl City, next to 7-11. Its business name and color of his food wagon are a story by itself. "Popolo" means black ethnicity and "bois" is a slang for an alternate spelling of "boy." Stuart plays homage to his roots by painting his food truck and marker stone in the park, red, yellow and green. The colors signify the following: red = blood of people who died for freedom from slavery; yellow = color of gold that signifies wealth, love, and power; and green = natural beauty of the land in Africa. No need for lots of manpower, as Stuart is a one-man operation. He built his own portable contraption of skewing whole chickens on rods that huli on its own (pretty sure it's battery operated?). Stuart seasons his own chickens, skewers them, cooks and hulis them over kiawe wood, takes them off the heat once done, packages them, prepares rice and salad on the side, takes your orders and payments, and gives change. How is that all possible? Well, it is, because it's Stuart. For those who say that he appears to be unfriendly, he has a lot on his mind. He's multi-tasking, so I don't blame him if he doesn't feel like chatting with you, as he knows his chickens need to be tended to before they burn. When he has some free time in between or after all the cooking is done, he is very friendly and will talk up a storm. And he is amazing that he can do it all! But aside from that, his chickens are deliciously juicy, charred, and smoky just off the hot fire...and call it huli huli chicken if you wish, as that's what they are. You can get half or whole chickens as a plate lunch with 2 scoops rice and tossed salad or the chickens by themselves. I usually get the whole chickens to eat at home (ask for a discount if buying two or more), as usually have fresh rice at home. Yes, the juices of the chicken will coat the plastic bag which you can lick off or let it run into the chicken. The food truck is at the park on Sun, Wed, Thurs, and Sat from 10:30a to 6:00p; however, keep in mind that as sports games are played at the park, these chickens are a great draw for lunch and dinner for these families, and hence, the chickens may sell out sooner than expected. Lots of spaces to park on the side without blocking anyone. Cash only. In these post-Covid days, one has yet to see the recovery of huli huli chickens as fundraising events. In the meantime, Popolo Bois fills that void. So, when I'm in the Pearl City area, huli huli chicken it is! Support local!

    Recent menu.
    G E.

    If like me, you've driven by this truck for YEARS and kept telling yourself that "one day I'll have to try that chicken"...well, I finally pulled into the parking lot and got some! The proprietor is super friendly and the service and chicken were GREAT! Take that turn into the parking lot and give it a try! DELICIOUS, doneness was spot on, and as I mentioned, service was great...(June 2025).

    Whole huli huli chicken
    Mo W.

    We came on a random morning around 11:00am. There was no line, and our order was ready within a few minutes. Delicious huli huli chicken! It has a wonderful smokey flavor. A bit salty, but seasoned well. It's not the fall-off-the-bone saucy type, but very delicious in its own way. I'll be back!

    Current menu as of 04/13/2025
    Patricia I.

    First time trying. Got a whole chicken plate with all rice. His chicken is pretty good and tasty. Would go back again.

    The awesome set up...

    See all

    7 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Best Huli-huli chicken on the westside. I don't need to go anywhere else to get some ono huli huli chicken.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    If I could I'd give him zero stars. Chicken was burnt as fck!!!! Couldn't even eat it

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rod U.
    592
    1725
    5659

    8 months ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 10
    Love this 18
    Oh no 15

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ramfis B.
    3884
    485
    16740

    1 year ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 29
    Thanks 13
    Love this 22
    Oh no 2
    Photo of G E.
    78
    48
    96

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T S.
    1
    68
    475

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ric C.
    323
    584
    8177

    4 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 1
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Really yummy chicken. Just the right amount of seasoning, cooked just right. Pleasant service. Go early, he sells out!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen C.
    101
    406
    1827

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Popolo boi's in pearl city has some pretty good huli huli chicken always try and get some chicken when I can

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of CC A.
    176
    40
    2

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 23
    Thanks 1
    Love this 20
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Popolo Boi's

    What time are you guys open?

    He starts around 11 am and stays till he seeks out or 4 pm

    Anyone know where he is on Sunday's and the time?

    He told me today 11/11/21 that he was in Pearl City on Saturdays and Sundays. I didn't ask the time but I assumed from about 11 or when he normally sets up.

    Does anyone know his current days and hours during this pandemic?

    He’s available on Wednesday & Thursday..Off Friday Then back work Saturday & Sunday HuliHuli #808-218-1886… Read more

    Does anyone know the days and location and times?

    We live near his location, this answer isn't 100% for sure. But from observation, he's usually there on weekends setting up about 9/10 and leaves around late afternoon depending when he sells out.

    Does anyone know Stu's (Popolo Boi) contact number? Was wondering if we could call and make takeout orders. Mahalo!

    218-1886

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Chicken & Brisket

    Chicken & Brisket

    4.1
    (507 reviews)
    1.0 km
    $$

    Food is good! Came out pipping HOT! The outdoor seating can…read moremake for some combat dinning but considering the recent rain, that's to be expected. Service was ok. The server took our order and brought out our drink order right away. The wait for food was close to 25 minutes, we went to dine in around 1230 so peak lunch hour. I've been here to enjoy their food and it's great. I will probably do take out next time. The staff seemed very nonchalant with no sense of urgency. It was like they all received some bad news and were just going through the motions. Overall, I'll still visit when I have a craving for some great

    It's been over a year since we've come to this place- maybe two years from our last experience…read more Located at the Pearl city Mall that has 24hour fitness in it & Sam's Club. It's on the top floor in the food court. Parking assured with the mall. They have escalators if you park on the lower levels. Sometimes the elevators are.Operational. Have to say the food is not salty like it used to be. We had the mushroom truffle prime brisket burger. With substitute truffle fries.- ask for the sauce to be put on the side. The cook misunderstood and did make a new set of fries for us. I personally prefer light sauce. My husband had the chicken and brisket plate with his substituted with the Yum chicken. Besides include rice and the cheese bread. The location was clean and ice water was offered. We did take out as well

    Photos
    Jonah (he gave me his permission to post his picture).
    Jonah (he gave me his permission to post his picture).
    Truffle Mushroom Burger with Truffle Garlic Fries
    Truffle Mushroom Burger with Truffle Garlic Fries
    Li Hing Lemonade and Tropical Ice tea

    See all

    Li Hing Lemonade and Tropical Ice tea
    Stadium Giant Malts & Bar-B-Que

    Stadium Giant Malts & Bar-B-Que

    4.0
    (252 reviews)
    5.9 km
    $$

    I used to eat here often, while I was growing up, and only recently started coming back. The food…read moreis always consistent; my "go to" items are the garlic chicken and hibachi chicken. The place isn't the cleanest, but this place has been here since I was a child, so what's can you expect. The lady isn't the most friendly person, but she always says, "thank you. "

    Super Bowl Sunday main eats were ordered from here and the whole family was happy with what we…read morechose;)! Ordered by phone the day prior, and just gave them my phone number as usual (it's how they identify you when you pick up, with no worries about duplicate or misspelled names.). Every time I've ordered in advance, our order has always been packed neatly and ready in a box for takeout. (My brother had brought a box just in case, and smoothly offered it to their staff for someone else's future order.) The restaurant has several tables for dining in, and markings on the floor for those waiting in line. It's brightly lit and clean as well. I appreciate their staff, food, service, and generous servings. They make us look so good with our potluck contributions! So what did we order? Half chicken katsu, half chicken wings, a small platter ($45 for the small pan, but picture a much loaded tray) - it's a great value deal! It was the same order our cousins loved when we brought it on Christmas Day (they especially love the wings, but we love the katsu-so this year we asked for half-half instead of all katsu, and they were so happy, ha ha!) Oh, and they give you a nice big container of yummy katsu sauce;)! I like their panko and cooking method, as whatever they do, the chicken is nice and crisp, and tasty - with, or without the sauce, actually. First time that I actually tried the wings, as I'm not a wing person. (I didn't even try it at Christmas, lol.). But, it was nice and crisp, lightly seasoned, and the wings had lots of meat on them. Easy finger food, and they were not dripping in oil, either, which I appreciated! Also ordered (for the first time) a small platter of chicken chow mein (a little over $30?). It was based on a good recommendation by an admittedly biased family member of the owners, and we were pleasantly surprised! The small pan was covered in wrap and then foil, because the mound of noodles was seriously kinda big! My brother was like, quick, go tell mom to come look before we open it (as she's picky, so it's hard to impress her). It was filled with lots of veggies (sliced carrots, cabbage, onions, etc) and bbq chicken pieces, tossed with great flavor (I want to say it was a nice sauce, but this wasn't a wet noodle dish.). My dad added Chinese mustard soy sauce, but my mom and I thought it was perfect the way it was. Oh, don't laugh, we're only a family of four, so yes, we ate two meals - lunch and dinner - and still packed a ton of leftovers! As we watched the game, we commented to each other what great choices we had made. (We also had sushi trays and other treats, and of course, chips, and my brother's dip. My brother said we may not have had a favorite team to cheer on today, but it was a great excuse for a party, ha ha!) I know we're doing a repeat for our next occasion, for sure! We'll gradually try some of their other foods, and it's farther away than we'd like to drive (I know, it's not that far, but we live on the other side, ok?). My brother agrees it's worth the drive - it's across Aloha Stadium and literally in the same spot as Ice Palace; and we saw quite the line at the Taco Bell drive through when we were looking for parking;). He also compared it to the cost and serving size of what we ordered on New Year's, from a restaurant much closer to where we live. Hands down, it was not even a close comparison, his emphasis added. So go here, it's perfect for family dinners and potlucks and I hope you agree with my assessment;)! Oops, I didn't take any pictures, aiya!!!

    Photos
    Order and pay at the counter
    Order and pay at the counter
    The Spread...
    The Spread...
    One dozen yummy chicken wings

    See all

    One dozen yummy chicken wings

    Popolo Boi's - foodtrucks - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...