Big Kahuna’s

Great place! Fast and service and delicious food! Out waitress is not only really good but very pretty!

They are always very friendly and profecinal
The food is always very delicious
I love come here for lunch

«I hear they got some tasty burgers.» I have driven past this place for years and yes, it makes me chuckle because of the movie. Decided to finally give it a try for a late lunch as I wanted loco moco.
Once seated though I decided to actually try the Big Kahuna Burger and get the loco moco to go. The burger was huge… at first glance. The meat was about a third smaller than the bun. I left a large portion of it on the plate. It was alright. Nothing about it blew me away. It was a burger.
The loco moco I had for breakfast the next day. It was pretty decent. Probably better if I had eaten it the day of. Good old comfort food to be sure. Reminds me of my Mom who grew up on the islands and used to make this for us. It was huge and I split it for two meals. Good sticky rice. The mac salad was delish and I am NOT a mac salad person. Mayo… eww!
Service was excellent. The girl was very sweet and I was promptly seated and helped. Overall, not bad. Not super fabulous. I will probably stick to their Hawaiian dishes though.

Awesome atmosphere, and delicious burgers! What more can you ask for? One of my favorite places to eat in SD.

I tried the chicken teriyaki — and I think it’s absolutely delicious!
They put soy sauce in the bag for my takeout so I put it on the white sticky rice… The two flavors of the soy sauce mixing with their teriyaki sauce — not sure how I felt about it. It was pretty good but the flavors clashed a bit.
The price seems a bit high (paid $ 12), but it did include one takeout box of chicken teriyaki with white rice and a small side container of traditional Hawaiian macaroni salad. The salad was yummy and the portion of chicken was huge.
UPDATE: came in today to actually dine in… Great experience. The owner, Paul, is SO NICE! Definitely personable and you can tell how much he cares about his restaurant. He is very down to earth and did an awesome job checking on me to make sure I was alright the whole time I ate. The food was also awesome (again!). However, I will say that the food does not heat up well later. It’s absolutely incredible hot and fresh, but mediocre if it sits and you reheat it later the same day.
Would recommend to my friends and coworkers in the area!

We have gone back several times recently. Both times the burgers were cooked perfectly. Best burgers in IB, the fresh buns are on point.

This little spot is a couple of miles off the beach. Perfect location in what appears to be fairly new shopping strip.
Funny, thing: it is right across from a fitness spot. How do you stay in beast mode when there’s all kinds of smells from delicious flavors wafting out the door and across the parking lot?
If you’re heading for the beach and want to take a lunch to go, this is a good spot.
It has the staples: Burgers and fries. Soups. Salads. Rice bowls. Ribs. Grilled chicken. Pork dishes. Loco Moco, of course.
I went for the mahi-​mahi sandwich, which is served on a plump, soft bun with lettuce and tomatoes. It was substantial. The sandwich itself was huge! Big kahuna, eh? Certainly enough for two people who aren’t too-​too ravenous.
But with all the lettuce and tomatoes, the flavor from the fish — which was lightly seasoned — was drowned out. That’s too bad, because everything was so fresh and light.
The sandwich came with a massive order of fries, which were very good. Also quite fresh, with the perfect amount of salt.
I do recommend the coconut shrimp appetizer. It was a tad bit on the greasy side, but the flavor was perfect. And the shrimps are fairly plump.
As for the ambience, it really feels like a casual bar. But folks do show up with their younglings. It does have a nice family feel to it.
As for outdoor seating — there is one round table with shade situated right at the entryway. I got a chuckle. Seemed as though the owner was like — welp, that’s good enough for outdoor seating.
I would definitely give this place another go.

Have eaten here a few times and the food is marginal at best. This place cuts corners on ingredients and over charges for what you receive. My last and final experience with this place comes after placing a to go order, only to get home and discover my 10 year old’s burger is raw and my other child’s burger is under cooked. Additionally, this place advertises itself as having one of the best burgers in town, yet uses frozen pre-​formed patties. I believe everything here is either prepared frozen or from a bag. We will never be back here again.

I have to start by saying I’m a little bias toward L&L HB because I tried theirs first!
The food here is good! I had the Kailua pork and cabbage which was just okay for me. I do prefer L&L’s but my husband really enjoyed their teriyaki chicken plate! I tried it and it was really tasty! I will try something else on the menu next time. And they had great service!

Delicious! This place is so good! I had the teriyaki chicken and was completely happy with my meal! I thought the food was a little pricey but not bad for the amount of food you get. Will be back when I’m in the area

This is one of my family’s favorite resturant. The Teriyaki Chicken is really good! love the macaroni salad.
I like the big shark addition.
Also the service was excellent, Alyx was fast and very accommodating.
The price is very fair.
See you guys soon!

How can you hate this place? I totally don’t get the folks who dump on it. It’s a basic local burger and Hawaiian food joint that got its start in Hawaii, and is the origin of the actual «Big Kahuna Burger» from the film Pulp Fiction. And yup, the «Big Kahuna Burger» is on the menu!
As I’ve been told, the owner’s dad, who started the business years back on Oahu, also had a limo service. One night he gave some guys who happened to be screen writers (or something like that) a ride. From there, conversation ensued between everyone, and the rest of the story writes itself… and write itself it does, into the script of Pulp Fiction.
The portions are large and the service is great. I’m totally a fan of the Mahi Mahi sandwich and Shrimp, with the Big Kahuna Burger being my primary go-​to. And if you’re a fan of traditional Hawaiian plates, they have a good selection of some classic items (ie: Loco Moco, Kalua Pork and Cabbage, and others). The sandwich buns are fresh baked daily, and the fries are seriously friggin’ excellent. I know that sounds funny to say about something as simple as fries, but I’m not kidding… they are *super crunchy* and super-​mega good. That brings me to my biggest recommendation: If you get take-​out, make sure you leave the top of your box open as you head home. If you don’t, your food will steam and you’ll lose the crispness on your fries (and other crunchy items, like onion rings or whatever). I’m telling you, the crispness of those fries!
Also, THEY HAVE HAWAIIAN SUN CANNED DRINKS. I’ve NEVER seen these off the islands before! Not even at any other «Hawaiian» places on the mainland that I’ve been to! They also have an awesome selection of Kona Brewing beers. The ever-​so-​awesome Big Wave, anyway?
With every other joint in IB being run down, divey, dirty and half-​arsed, Big Kahuna’s is more than appreciated. The clean, fun, family-​friendly, Hawaiian themed interior is a great place for kids and adults alike who are looking for good food at a good value in a chill, non-​rowdy atmosphere. Anytime we’re in IB and hungry we hit it up. It’s reflexive for us now. «Fries, honey?» «HELL YEAH FRIES!»
Bottom line: It’s a local burger joint and Hawaiian place that’s actually from Hawaii, and it’s an actual restaurant (in IB). The food is good, the service is good, and the quantities are hearty. If you’re looking for some overpriced phony «gourmet» place with bizarre toppings, or if your idea of quality is validated simply by eating at a tattered «hold in the wall», this is not your place.
Big Kahuna’s? thumbs up!

After 2 visits, this is an ok local place to have a burger and have a beer. I would not go out of my way to eat here. Service is decent and friendly. The burger is ok. The Big Kahuna is a good size but the bread to beef ratio is off. To much bread. It was not bad but could have been a lot better. The vibe inside is hawaiin. They have a decent beer selection and some hawaiin drinks. The Big Kahuna does not come with fries. They are extra. My server told me the burger is usually enough for 1 person. I prabably could have ordered a side of fries and finished them off but I did good with the burger alone. I have not tried anything else on the menu, maybed next time I am in the area.

This place has amazing food. It really does have one tasty burger. Love the service, scenery and again the food. I cannot emphasize enough how delicious this place is. Alyx is an amazing server and such a delight. Between service like hers and the food they just created a new regular.

Very disappointed in the overall experience. Will not come again.
The food was okay and very little for the amount of money you paid.
I had a Teriyaki Steak Plate and the price was over $ 10. It was a single thin piece of meat. I don’t even know if it was steak. It had no teriyaki sauce either.
It had came with mac salad also. The mac salad was not bad.
It came with 3 scoops of rice also. The rice was normal.
Plz compare this to L n L and you compare the price and the food and you make your own decision. Would spend $ 10 for a thinly slice of meat with rice and some mac salad. Sorry over pay.

April! April is the awesome waitress! Finally updating my review with a name!
Still great food, still great beer
Mahalo

Well well well
We meet again San Diego…
And yet again you’ve not left me unsatisfied or surprised
MANY THANK YOUS TO THIS PLACE
*sorry no picture this time my fatass was too hungry to snap anything until it was too late :’)
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty shall we?
Today after spending yet another few hours basking in the ambiance of the beautiful weather Imperial Beach gives
I found myself starving
*what a surprise right? Me hungry? Pffft*
I really had a craving for Phở but of course my friend wasn’t feeling it *sad face Royal Phở I’ll see you tomorrow Bby it’s been too long!
He suggested we try Big Kahunas bc they are sooo known for their juicy big burgers
Of course me being a skeptical foodie was like what? Nah I don’t want that. And then I realized I had book marked it prior to my last visit out here
And OMG YUM YUM YUM!
the burger was soooo delicious
*The Big Kahuna that is
The meat is sooo tender and juicy and the Hawaiian bread OMG THE HAWAIIAN BREAD! It stands without breaking and turning to mush
Oh! And the fries and ranch HOLY CRAP YES
The fries were a golden crunchy goodness I just wanted to stuff my face with
they took it completely in my books
So why 4 stars?
Well I was disappointed with the size of the burger and fries
I expected more…
I mean you said huge I WANT HUGE
and it took forever to be addressed to take our order or to get extra ranch…
Although don’t get me wrong when our waitress did approach us she was attentive and sweet so go her
All in all I probably won’t come back bc burger joint aren’t my thing BUT I’d totally tell people to try them out
THIS PLACE IS A GEM! Just watch out they leave the doors open while you eat and flies venture in a lot :(lol

Found this place via Unilocal.Read some of the reviews, but didn’t base my order on what I read. Went on a Tuesday evening. It wasn’t busy. Our server was friendly and helpful by answering all of my questions. I shared a combo plate with my friend, extra $ 1.50 charge. We ordered teriyaki chicken and kalua pork with rice and mac salad. I’m very picky when it comes to mac salad. The mayo consistency and ingredients have to balance my taste buds. I enjoyed their mac salad. You can tell it was home-​made. I like to think that it was made with Aloha! Good place to share a meal. Check ‘em out, if like ono kine grinds!

I lived in Hawaii for a few year and always get nostalgic about the food. I got the teriyaki chicken, and my boyfriend got the Kahlua pork and cabbage– a classic. As far as the food goes, it will satisfy your ono grindz craving, it’s not the most amazing food ever, but as far as the mainland goes and not having an imu, the underground pit to cook the pork in, they are doing a great job.
Everything else is great, laid back atmosphere, our waitress was really friendly and the food came out quickly, although not so quickly that you wonder if it was already made sitting int he back. Give it a try!

Came here for dinner tonight. I have been here many times before I started Unilocaling. I’ve had almost everything on their menu since there’s not too much of a variety. My all time favorite is the teriyaki chicken which comes with two scoops of rice and Mac salad. Very delicious! I’ve also had the loco moco here and it’s not that great. I have had better. Hell, I can make that at home easily. The food hasn’t changed. There are times when the rice is cold and dense and times where the Mac salad tastes different. I guess it depends on the food. It has been consistent most of the times I have been here.
Tonight, I didn’t want to fill up on carbs and feel that full feeling I get before going to bed. I had the Big Kahuna salad which came with chopped up red onions, tomatoes, bits of bacon, and got ranch with my salad. If I keep loading up on carbs, I will just gain more weight. I hate it when my belly feels like it’s going to expand. Getting older and can’t handle too much rice. I really enjoyed my salad!
The owner of Big Kahuna’s saw us and remembered us because we used to come in all the time before. Not so anymore. My hubby and the owner would talk about Hawaii a lot. He remembered when my daughter was just a baby. Even before I had my daughter, we came in here all the time. Super nice guy.
I love the décor of the place. There are several flat screen televisions. One had surfing and the other had news. There’s a bar at the front. See my photo. They now have tables in their restaurant rather than the old sunken booths they had. No air conditioning in here as I was sweating part of the time. They left the doors open. There were only two waitresses working this restaurant so I understand how busy they were. They were still new and in training.