Kiawe Grill Bbq & Burgers

They are now located on Makaloa St. next to Rajun Cajun and across from Walgreens. The place is quite small and only sits maybe only a dozen people. If I remember correctly there are only about 3 – 4 small tables. Only had a cheesburger so cant really tell you about the rest of the food. Cheeseburger was okay not broke da mouth ono. I would come back and order a plate lunch or bento for take out.

I like their food, good deal good taste.
Although I was shocked to see how small SABA became. Is it quarter the size as last time?
I remember a few years ago, to stay or to go, we used to get a takeout lunch box, but now we get a small plate to stay that we can serve half the size… although I can pile up food so good, it is still a good deal for me.
My favorite is SABA and KOBE burger! And a lot of Veggies!
Unilocal 365 −112÷365

Um. It doesn’t taste like anything. I got the buffalo patty plate, and it looked like they slapped a frozen patty on the grill, put some pepper on and served it on a heaping plate of half-​congealed rice. In keeping with what I’ve come to expect from Hawaiian food, there are no flavors of any kind besides salt.
The self-​serve side dish bar does o.k. with vegetables, but the long rice isn’t nearly as good as Gina’s. And the serving plate they give you is tiny! Like, tea-​saucer tiny! There’s a scale and you can’t exceed 14 oz or 10oz if you get a mini plate. Yes, I kid you not, you have to serve yourself AND weigh the food to make sure you don’t exceed your limit. But really, good luck getting that much on your itty bitty cute little plate!
This isn’t a restaurant you sit in for fun. Fluorescent lights. Large, handwritten posters («HAMBURGER COMBO $ 8.99») are on every wall. Torn seat cushions. Smells like a crematorium.
I’m not sure how Kiawe Grill stays in business. Not good enough to warrant the prices. Not cheap enough to have the hole-​in-​the-​wall excuse for being so ghetto.
On the bright side, the woman who took our order was friendly and even thanked us on the way out. And, yeah, the service was fast. But so is McDonald’s — and they at least give you some ranch to help with that whole flavor issue.

If there is anything that is grilled on Kiawe, my thought would be. how can it not be good? Just have thing that smoked flavor of the kiawe would make it all good!
I tried the burger here, and YES it was delicious! The burger was nice and moist, and the bun held everything together without breaking apart. That should be a requirement for all burgers. make sure it hold everything!
I thought their fries were good too! I am so used to the regular french fries like the ones at Mcdonald, so the potato wedges were a nice change! My husband got the plate with Bulkogi, chicken and Kalbi. It seems like at this location, the only serve Brown Rice, you dont have the selection of a white rice. I dont mind too much since i like brown rice and It is healthier for you, however it didnt sit too well my husband. he didnt really care for brown rice.
However everything else was pretty, since cooking in Kiawe, the meats were nicely cooked and flavored well!

If you can deal with limited parking which is often clogged by people going to Sweet Home Café, come to Kiawe Grill (South King location — also street parking. This is not a place for vegetarians, and you really want to be in a meat and/​or seafood mood to when you eat here. They are the stars.
Kiawe Grill has a wide range of meats, including some lesser-​seen (e.g., buffalo, ostrich, venison), and fish and shellfish. You receive ample servings of everything and can have a side order if you don’t care to have rice or fries or any of the other sides. You can have teriyaki or pulehu (great for those of us on low carbohydrate diets). The kalbi is delicious, whether you get teri or pulehu. My friend really like the Kobe burger. The BBQ chicken gets two thumbs-​up.
Your order is cooked fresh and comes off the grill hot, juicy, flavorful, and sizzling. If they have many orders, it may take awhile. Definitely worth the wait, though. While they have a varied menu, the trick is keeping it simple by having only one method of preparation. The dining room is small, but we have never had a problem.
It’s a dive, but what a wonderful dive! Go the next time you really need a hit of protein.

The best meat jun! This was one of my first stop when I visited home. The meat jun thickness is just right. There is no fat on the meat so you can actually chew it. The sauce is good too.
I love the vegetable sides and you can pick them yourself. A good selection.
Also the kalbi is delicious.

After a 5 year hiatus of no Kiawe Grill, I finally went back!
Prior to my visit I always thought Kiawe Grill was awesome! But my most recent experience sort of changed my perspective. I just came in to grab a kobe burger and it took them 15 minutes to make! Seriously? Where they catching a cow?! But when it did come it, it tasted great and was cooked perfectly just the way I asked!
When I think about it… I’ve never dined in. Before My father use to just take out and we would usually get their chuck burgers or their mix plate which has a little bit of everything (bbq chicken, bbq beef, mandoo, spam, and some other stuff). I feel that Kiawe Grill is good for call in orders only. I would certainly eat their food again but I wouldn’t eat in due to the time it takes to cook something. If I wanted a burger I would probably be better off ordering from Teddy’s. I think phone orders are going to be it from here on out.
On a side note, parking is really bad around 5 due all the other eateries around Kiawe Grill (Sweet Home, Kozo, etc). So I would recommend going during lunch when the parking lot is still fairly empty.
At least they accept credit card! I don’t know what some of the posts below are talking about… for as long as I could remember they always accepted card.

Always good eats here.
Their prices are good for the amount of food they load on.
All of their meats are really flavorful. Like their Kalbi and BBQ chicken. Yummm, I can just smell it right now…
Their fries are really yummy too, and its a BUTTLOAD of fries too.
They also give you a plate for the sides you can choose, and you get to load them on the plate yourself. My bf and I load the little plate up like crazy. They have the sides like potato, bean sprouts, mac sald, kimchee, cucumber kimchee, corn, and other things. I suggest you load up that side order plate too! :)

There’s not many places to get real kiawe grilled food, which has a flavor unlike any other. So this is a definite must-​try.
The kiawe makes everything taste better. So all the dishes are good to some extent.
Try the fried chicken skins with the special sauce. Absolutely delicious.
Just keep in mind, since everything is grilled to order on a small grill, it does take a little longer to get your order.

Although burgers are a bit pricey, they are usually great! Choose from kobe, venison, ostrich, buffalo burgers, all cooked over kiawe coals. One sniff when you are in the plaza, and you will be hooked.
They have a kim chee bar too.
I try to call in my order to reduce wait time.

I ate here about two years ago. The burgers were one of the best I ate. I believe I ate the prime burger. It was perfectly cooked with a little pink in the middle. I was flavored well and so juicy. The big cut fries were okay, but prefer the thin kind.
So why 2 stars… well when picking up my order from the counter, I saw a big olé roach running on the top of the side dish section. I know the worker saw it and she didnt even flinch, so this must be a common occurrence. I took out my food and ate at home. Luckily by the time I got home, the nausea that I felt kind of dissipated and I was able to enjoy my burger. But ewwww never could get over it and never went back since. Even though they opened a new location near ala moana, I still can get over it.

Good, but a bit pricey. Cash only.
This place smells wonderful when you walk in the door — all that wood smoke. meat, and sizzling fat on the grill smell.
Prices are on the higer end. Around $ 9 for a plain chuck burger (no cheese, bacon or anything besides lettuce and tomato) — price is burger only, no sides. This is not a gourmet burger. But it is 10 oz. and nicely grilled (I ordered medium rare and it came out medium).
At $ 3.55, the garlic fries are very good steak fries (thick cut) and more than enough for two.
Will definately go back and try more items.

The exotic meats is why we decided to give this place a taste test. I had the lamb chop (shoulders) plate with 3 banchan sides and my husband ordered the 8oz. venison burger.
This stuff is cooked over kiawe grill and the wait was about a good 20 minutes. No complaints, fresh food is always worth the wait.
Let’s talk about the good before we get to the bad. My husband burger came out first, and he nearly finished half of it before my meal came out. I don’t blame him, because the venison was juicy with excellent to perfect seasoning. It was a mouthwatering experience and of course the added mayo didn’t hurt either. Naturally I had a bite or two…
I wasn’t a fan of their simple buns, it wasn’t even sesame for crying out loud.
Oh yes! and here comes my plate. Over a large bed of white rice, my lamb is thinly sliced, cooked fairly well, but this meat is tough. I’ve never had the shoulder, but this sucker is filled with bones and it’s a hands on, get down kind of meal. No knife and fork can do the trick and by all means you must use their bbq sauce to flavor it up.
I was given a to-​go box to fill up my choice of sides. And here it comes, a little roach walking on the plexy glass that is suppose to protect the food. Yuck– freakin’ O! If I had two senses, 1 star is it, but because the venison was truly delicious it’s now a 3 star. I brought it to the waitress’s attention, my husband kills the roach and she just says, «oh sorry». I guess what can one say in that kind of situation.
If the roaches don’t bother you, I say order over the phone because most of their customers are doing pick up and it’ll save you some time. As for me, I’m not that adventurous and will not be a returning customer.

omg! kiawe grill, where have you been all my life??? I have salivated for years to find a place with such a tantalizing aroma such as the one that envelopes you with such smokey goodness.
I was starving, just having finished class at kcc, and was hunkering for something filling to eat. so, the hubby and I figured we’ll try somewhere new to eat. hallelujah! I could not ask for somewhere better.
I ordered the grilled pork belly which came with your choice of 4 Korean style sides (i got shoyu potato, long rice, choi sum, and tofu) and hapa rice. the hub opted for their grilled pork chops. let me tell you, their portions are HUGE! perfectly seasoned, juicy and tender. we also got a side of fries which were super massive. I kept referring to them as «brontosaurus» fries! throw in 2 drinks and our grand total came out to around $ 30… a little pricey, but soooo worth it. ended up taking home half our plates which doubled as our dinner.
customer service was decent. I was happy once the counter lady dropped off our plates. filled our tummies… and left there reeking of smoke. awesome. :)

The buffalo burger was excellent. Unfortunately I had the lamb chops and I would not order again, too thinly cut and over cooked. I asked for rare and got well if not medium well cooked meat.
The lady taking the orders was… Interesting, she asked us «Eat in or take out?» After a quick discussion I reply, «We will eat here» My girlfriend orders first. As she takes our orders one at a time, First she turns around and yells the order to the cook. «Buffalo Burger, medium rare. TO GO!».
I reply «wait, we will eat here, I’ll have the lamb chops rare please».
She punches the order into the register, turns around and a little more loudly than the first time says «Lamb chop plate, TAKE OUT!»
«Take out? I don’t care, it will work itself out.
«Prime Burger well, TO GO!»
I get it, she is using the Kiawe BBQ mind trick on me, the force is strong with this one, but stronger with us! We have a seat with our drinks and my sides and wait.
First the Buffalo Burger comes out, wrapped up in a virginal white plastic bag ready for the long trip out the door. Immediately its contents are displaced and feeding of the girlfriend commences. The next order up is the Prime Burger it the amount of fries is staggering! She looks at me «Sir, are you going to eat here too?» I look at my companions, their chins deep in burger goodness and decided, why not. «Yes»
Overall it was ok. The serve yourself side dish bar is sketchy considering no one is able to wash their hands before access to food shared with all patron of the establishment. The lady working the counter was a character. If I go back I’m going to try the pipikaula.

Wow! I literally stumbled into this place on a rainy day at 10:00am amidst delivery trucks and closed Chinese Jewelry Shops (I was there to haul away/​buy the good Chinese quality jewelry showcases). I definitely had an «ohhh so this is where the Unilocalfamous sweet home café is!» moment for a sec. This place is next door. MAN when you are expecting something, anything, for breakfast, this places kicks ass! I had no idea what this was, but in the window they advertise «ostrich,» «venison burger,» «buffalo» (are those extinct?)” «lamb,» and other meats from lands I rarely frolick.
It looked kind of run down and unshiny and all that, so I was a little dubious, but when I walked in they just closed a phone-​in order for like $ 400 so I guess it must be good? I asked for reccs and got 2 «special plates» to feed 3 people. Now, when you get a plate here, you get a serious MEATBOX of food. Feed 2 per plate if you’re hungry, 4 if you’re birdy girl. And choose your own 14 oz of korean pan chan side dish things and «honor system» weigh it yourself. Niiiiice.
When the food came out, I was literally slobbering and slurping it up like a dog. Guy was a little dubious about such strong garlicky smells for breakfast, but this is hands down the Awwwsomest takeout fast Korean BBQ joint I’ve been to! Beats Yummy, Gina’s, and whatever else for succulent tender perfectly cooked delicious sauce flavors by a long shot! When I leave Hawaii, it is food like Kiawe grill that I will miss. You can really taste the yummy grilled flavor under the yummy sauce and on top of the yummy meat. Oh, and each FREAKING HUGE plate was under $ 10 (9.97 or something). Yes! Take-​out FEAST for BEASTS!
How to find it? Go into the large alley-​looking parking lot just past Longs, McCully Bicycle. Same complex as … kozo sushi? and sweet home café.

BURGER LOVERS READ THIS:
Prime burger with bacon and cheese is where it’s at! Yes, it’s pricey, but it will leave you very satisfied as the burger is juicy and the addition of cheese and bacon only make it exponentially better. This is arguably one of better burgers I’ve eaten as well.

I’ve reviewed their Aiea location and still give this place *4 STARS* for both quality and quantity of food. This place is awesome! And I’ve been a fan of their Korean marinade (sold in local grocery stores) even before they opened their chain of restaurants. However, today I am here to review their chicken katsu, saba and venison burger.
I love venison and used to eat it often as my hunter cousins from Lana‘i always sent us deer meat. Though in a burger at Kiawe, it was quite gross. Very dry and gamy. And having to drop three dollars extra to have fries with a $ 10 burger is freekin’ unforgivable! Next!
The chicken katsu here was overly seasoned and dry. They also give you that same thin sweet n’ sour-​style dipping sauce you get at L n’ L. «Real» tonkatsu sauce would’ve saved it but nope! I’d pass on getting chicken katsu here guys. This coming from a person who is easily impressed with most of the places I’ve ordered it at.
The kiawe-​style saba here is quite good though. Smokey and seasoned just right. Not overly salty and also comes with lime wedges. Though, like I mentioned about the other two, this entrée is also quite dry. If you order saba here, I recommend you get it with marinated meat dish to balance it out. Another thing to consider is the saba pieces are small. About 2×3.5″. You only get two pieces with a combination and 4 with a full order ($ 9.95). Agreed, they’re a bit stingy with their fish, despite how much they pack it on with their other stuff.
Since first coming here during the summer, I eat here at least 3 times a month. That said, I say stick to their Korean-​style beef, chicken and kalbi. Cept for their saba, everything else I’ve tried here was less that stellar. Also, unless you really like your food crusted on with Hawaiian salt, I mean CRUSTED on (like the way packers preserve shark meat), try their pulehu menu. Actually, don’t.
2 stars (again based on katsu, venison burger and kiawe saba)
Kiawe Grill Korean BBQ on King Street

I came here a couple times when I lived on Oahu for lunch. My friend introduced me to this place back in 2007. He’s a huge fan of Kiawe Grill.
I only ordered the Kalbi & chicken from here! It was pretty tasty. If anything, I did think they put too much hawaiian salt on the meat. Other then that good size portions.
Now coming back to Hawaii to visit… Kiawe Grill is not on my list to hit up. So i guess it’s not that fabulous.
If you plan on eating here, try the kalbi for lunch!

I came here on a food excursion with my sidekick, my little sister.
I told her about how this place has «exotic» meats, such as ostrich and deer, etc and we both wanted to try it.
I got an ostrich burger and she got some other one that I forgot but the point is:
1) Both of our burgers were so dry that it didn’t matter what meat we got. It sucked.
2) There was no difference in any way between the two different meats, not by texture, taste — nadda. It sucked.
3) It sucked.