Pineapple Hawaiian, BBQ

closed.
Nooo! NOOOOOO!!! I feel bad for going less often and never reviewing them. The food was good, prices were great. They had turtles. A small family-​run place. Service was slow sometimes, but they were always so nice.
Rest in peace, i will never go to L&L.

I went here recently and got the fried shrimp plate and an order of their crab rangoons. Back home (aka New England,) crab rangoons are de riguer at any Chinese restaurant; I thought it an odd offering from a hawaiian bbq but considering that no one out here seems to believe in them (only one other place I have ever been to had them, and they’re now closed) I was excited that I finally saw them someplace.
The crab rangoons were okay; they didn’t quite hit the mark but I am very particular about mine and honestly didn’t expect them to. It would have been great if they had been awesome, but the fact that they weren’t doesn’t negatively impact my review.
The shrimp plate came with lots of rice, and based on reviews here, I opted for all macaroni salad instead of the half mac/​half green, which I probably would have done anyway. The salad didn’t disappoint — I don’t like mac salad as a rule (which seems to be common amongst consumers at hawaiian bbq joints?) but something about hawaiian macaroni salad is tasty as heck.
The shrimp had a good flavor, but it was *really* crispy — I had to pull off a lot of the breading, especially around the edges. For my personal preference, it was too crispy, but that’s something that’s pretty subjective.
In addition to the tartar sauce for the shrimp, the plate (or maybe the crab rangoons, though I doubt it) also came with a pink sauce. I frankly have no idea what it was supposed to be. It was very thin, and a little tart — it almost tasted like it had grapefruit juice in it. I have never encountered anything like it, and I eat a fair amount of Chinese, Japanese and Thai food — even if I don’t know something by name, I usually remember it. At any rate, I used it on the rice because I didn’t think to get teriyaki (most other places I get a seafood/​meat combo so it usually comes with teriyaki — Pineapple didn’t have a seafood combo that interested me.) I wasn’t a fan. Maybe on something else it would be better, but I ended up throwing most of my rice away because I didn’t like the sauce and the unsauced part was too dry/​bland/​boring.
Ultimately, I prefer other Hawaiian BBQ places for small reasons that add up for me. But the flavor is definitely there at Pineapple, so I can’t give it less than 3 stars — it’s just those little preferences that keep me from going golly gee willikers! This place is pretty close to my apartment (closer than any other) and the portion size was decent, so I will definitely try them one more time before I choose my designated Hawaiian BBQ joint.

I seem to have a love-​hate relationship with this place. I never rate a place based on one experience. I’ll usually give it a second try. This place is right on that border.
The Hawaiian BBQ Mix dinner plate is what I usually order. Chicken and beef, served with macaroni and salad. I don’t know what they do to their macaroni salad but ohmigod I can’t stop eating it. On the other hand, their «salad» is just lettuce with a thin, thin sauce sprayed on top. Half my dinner plate is rice.
Their payment system is a bit odd. They don’t accept credit cards. For «my convenience», they accept Debit Card. They also charge me $ 0.65 to use my Debit Card. I don’t know if they understand how it works but my bank charges me to use my Debit Card and then the restaurant charges me $ 0.65 on top of it? And they only charge in increments of $ 5. It’s weird.
A lot of people must be regulars because they greet the owner by name and he knows them. Last time I went there, the owners were catering a huge event. So there’s proof that people really like this place. I’m just not one of them.

I didn’t think you could mess up teriyaki chicken but I have been wrong before. The chicken was rubbery and looked like it was premade and heated up. I should have suspected since the place was empty and I didn’t hear any grilling sounds coming from the kitchen. Even the terikayi sauce was bland. Seemed like they buy the sauce and add water to it to save on costs.
Maybe other things on the menu are better but I’m not willing to take the risk.
One added star because of the price.

This place is good, especially the beef bowl and Mac salad. The small size is still a pretty good sized portion and for above $ 5, AND it’s so gooood!!! I also love the fact that I can call and place an order on the phone before I get there, so no waiting for my food!!!

so empty, WHY IS THIS PLACE SO EMPTY?!! That’s the impression I got as soon as I walk into the place. There is the old man who served us at the POS counter. He seemed friendly and stern. After he took my order, he yelled something to whom I can only assume is his wife in a distinctively mysterious asian dialect. I’m guessing either khmer or hmong… O_​o” After I got back to my apartment and open up the box. The chicken cutlet looks kind of small. It also smells like fried chicken which I have no complains about. OH and I got the chicken special btw. The chicken cutlet was dark meat, it tasted kinda stale and as if it has been sitting there for a while and all he did was microwaved it. The positive note of that evening was that they let me have the option of choosing only macaroni salad for my sides ;] love me some macaroni salad.
there’s some newspaper on the wall and the wallpapers look rather unkept and dirty. There’s a picture of a middle-​aged couple in the newspaper. i wonder if they are his son or it’s THEM themselves… oh how cruelly has time treated you old man.
overall, I would not go back again… unless I see some positive improvements from this place… it’s cheap for what you get, if you do get the food fresh maybe

I love this place! I always get the chicken katsu which is mmmmm! The bbq mixed meat is good also. They have lunch specials for less than 5 bucks that comes with a drink but the only thing I don’t like is everytime I go and order just one thing it takes forever just to get my order and I can just be the only person there also hate it when they have grandma and grandpa working the shift lol I mean they’re cute but its time for them to retire. They also have random items on the menu and they also cater I order a tray of chicken katsu before it was a small tray but he stacked it up real good.

My family loves this place. Great food and super friendly service…

This place is pretty good. I have a coworker that likes to come here for lunch at least twice a week! It’s a drive for us but it’s work the trip.

Two words to describe this place: PURE AWESOMESAUCE!
It may be a little hole in the wall… a couple doors down from a Factory –2-​U (you do the math), but the owners and employees are the BEST! Not only do you earn points towards an upgrade everytime you go in to eat, BUT… the food is awesome, and I recommend it!
I’d even be willing to have them cater a party, the food’s that good. Regardless what anyone says *ahem…cough cough* the portions are sizeable and I can barely finish a plate (and I can mow down some FOOD)
I’ve only been disappointed with them once… and that was because I got there late on a Sunday and they were closed. :)

Epic fail
I wanted a little snack because I was cruising through the area (and/​or running late.) I got, according to their menu board, a chicken bowl.
Chicken and rice $ 3.
Trust me, I get $ 3 chicken bowls enough to know that a typical potion fills up the single «to go» container. This came no where close (half full) and I was too far away by the time I looked at it.
While I was waiting, I was surprised to see that many of the plates going out were also pretty «lite» — this place isn’t a good value when there are so many Hawai’ian BBQ places around.

they have AWESOME misubis here… its different from other hawaiian bbq restaurants. Instead of having a thing piece of nori (seaweed) wrapped around it, they have it completely wrapped in seaweed like a burritto. NOM NOM NOM!!!
This is also the cheapest u could find, without comprising the quality =D

I was introduced to Hawaiian BBQ a couple of years ago through a friend and have never looked back. So, when I found a place that is literally blocks away from my house, you can imagine my excitement.
The staff has always been very friendly and nice. I usually get the Chicken Katsu, as it is my favorite. The katsu sauce (at least I think that’s what it’s called) is really good. It comes with either macaroni salad or regular salad. I don’t like either one, so I will get the macaroni salad and let my boyfriend have it.
The boyfriend recently tried the spam ramen soup. I’m always very suspicious of spam and was not willing to try it, but he said it was really good. If you like spam (gag).
It’s reasonably priced and a filling, tasty meal, who could ask for more?

Not too shabby, but I would stop by here if I was in the area again. I didn’t get sick from eating the food, so that’s a good thing in my book. But I’ve tasted better elsewhere. But again, I rather go here than the McDonalds thats in the plaza.

There are too many hawaiian restaurants around. Is it really hawaiian when you just grill up some chicken and slather a bunch of teryaki. Then serve it with a side of mac salad. Plate lunch is what they call it. I can get the same teryaki at Jack in the Box. I walked into this place and almost walked out from the heat. No a.c. And it gets hot in those little restaurants. My arms stuck to the table. I guess I won’t be going back to this place. I can get the same PLate lunch elsewhere.

Good spam musubi… yep!
Good Chicken Katsu… yep!
Homemade Kimchi… yep!
Reasonably Priced… yep!
Stopped here with my man and a good friend to grab some lunch. We weren’t expecting much… we thought it would be about L&L quality. We were wrong. This place was good! I ordered the «lunch» sized short ribs with all mac, my bf grabbed the «large» chicken katsu with rice a 2pc spam musubi for us to share, some homemade kimchi and 2 drinks.
My short ribs were sweet and tender, the mac salad was pretty good… not too mayoish like L&L and my spam musubi was good. My bf liked the homemade kimchi but he isn’t like most Koreans and the heat was a bit much for him at times Lol. Our total was about $ 20.
My only complaint was that we waited for a long time… but the place did get slammed right after we walked in so that was understandable.

This is a Golden Nugget of a place. A gem. And I’m a regular.
I first came by when I saw the Shakka sign and it had just opened. It was pretty good from what I remember. The next time I swing by, it’s no longer Shakkas, but it’s Pineapple Hawaiian BBQ. Not the best name to distinguish yourselves from your Rascals, L@L’s, Back Home at Lahaina’s, etc. Kinda generic if you ask me, but that’s not what’s important here.
This food has been consistent for the last 2+ years or so that I’ve been getting lunch here. Everything I’ve ordered has been delicious and in enormous portions. Even when you get the lunch special, which is cheaper than the «Large» size portion, it still looks large to me.
The only dish that disappointed was when I had a hankerin’ for some ramen and received what looked and tasted like they just dropped me a Top Ramen special.
But regardless, EVERYTHING else I’ve ordered has been great!
BBQ chicken, BBQ beef — great marinated flavor.
Chicken Katsu — perfectly cooked, right amount of crispiness on the outside, delicious hot chicken on the inside
Macaroni salad, for being just mac and some carrot, is REALLY good.
I find it hard to stray from these orders because they’re so reliable, but I should try some other things on the menu and see how they stand.
The other day I tried a New item on the menu, Curry Katsu, and it was fantastic. Check out the picture. Once again they pull through. Curry’s got potato, carrot, onion. You can’t mess this up. No frills here. You can get ½ salad and ½ mac salad, but I always go with the FULL mac salad. Tasty.
Family owned, I think it’s the owner who usually rings you up and calls back the order, an older lady (maybe Mom?) is cooking in back with the other cooks and they know what they’re doing. Dad looks like he’s hanging around in back also.
They use a loyalty card to punch and work your way through free drinks and the motherlode, a free plate at the end of 10 punches.
Cost is very reasonable. A lunch special, which is a ton of food, will get you out with a drink for less than $ 6.
If you’re in the area for lunch, check it out!
Support your locals!

The Pineapple Hawaiian BBQ… what can i say about this place. Well my cousin decided to hit up this place with me and his friend after a round of golf at Big Rec Golf Course. It was around 11am so when we got there, it was not very busy. There were two guys in there eating some chicken katsu and it made me crave CHICKEN KATSU! The portions looked small, so i got the large one.
I got the lunch special with the chicken katsu, rice, and macaroni salad. It took a little bit longer than i thought, but i could tell that there were only a couple of workers. I’m glad it was not busy, otherwise i would have been waiting there for a long time i think.
I know this does not apply to everyone, but i just had my braces tighten the day before and my teeth were really sensitive. So the chicken was fried rock hard on the ends. It hurt to chew so i had to eat really slowly. The macaroni salad was good and the rice got cold a little fast. They have a pretty good selection of drinks. You can go fountain, or they have the Hawaiian juices in a can and other bottled drinks.
If i were to go back, i would like to try the short ribs. I’ll probably just go back the next time i go golfing.
Also i think it’s owned by Koreans since they were selling kim chee… Awesome.

«Ah shoot!» the student said to himself.
«This is the second time I’ve locked myself out of the apartment. I better call my roommates.»
«Yello? This is Tony.» the former roommate replied
«Hey Tony, it’s Steve. I uh locked myself out of the apartment again. You still have your set of keys?»
«Yep, but I get out at 10:15 today.»
The student looked at his watch. It was barely 6:50
«Ah okay, I’ll wait, just give me a call when you get off work.»
The student sat there for an hour, contemplating on what to do. He called his mother and father, but they had no clue other than calling the locksmith. Steve wasn’t going to schill out a cool 60 dollars just to pop open the door. He entertained the thought of kicking down the door, but that would probably cost more and warrant an eviction. It took him about another 15 minutes to drop the idea.
He got up and walked out of the apartment complex. It was better to walk around aimlessly than sit there for 3 hours doing nothing. He made his way to the Ralphs shopping center on Redondo and Aneheim and thought he’d give Pineapple BBQ a try. He had barely noticed this restaurant half a year ago and attempted many times to go in, but opted to go to L and L instead. He was a creature of habit but in his current predicament, the student was willing to cross this off his to do list.
The door jingled and the air condition blew just as he stepped in. Talk about a reception. His eyes had to readjust to this sudden change of atmosphere. Back outside was decrepit parking lot with shabby businesses and weather worn paint jobs, but here was vibrant blues and greens accented with straw and tiki motifs. Quite a notch or two compared to the outside. A few patrons were already seated, greedily consuming the menu. It was a good sign. As was the menu; a huge display with mouth watering pictures and arial bold font words.
«A number four please.» It was the BBQ combo. «Actually, make that a number four with seasoned fries.» He thought the fries would kill some time.
«Half and Half? Salad itself or Mac itself?» The middle aged cook asked. He wasn’t hawaiian by the looks of it. Maybe Chinese or Korean.
«Half and Half is fine.»
The clerk started to talk to the cooks whom the student guessed was the clerk’s parents. Yep, definitely Korean.
«That’ll be 11.04 please.»
The student handed his 12 dollars.
The clerk returned a dollar.
«?» The student was puzzled.
«I just gave you four cents. haha.»
That was the first time someone had ever done that. Especially at restaurants. The student was liking this place alot.
«Order 36. Number 4 with seasoned fries.»
«That’s me.» There were two boxes.
«These fries seasoned enough?» The clerk opened one box with nothin but fries piled high.
«A little be more would be great.» The student was won over.
The student returned to his 4 seater table by himself and examined the other box. The first thing he noticed was that the meat completely covered the rice and half and half. This place is a jewel he thought.
Half a combo later and some fries gone, the student gave up. He wondered where had this place been all of his life? So much food, delicious food and great customer service! This place was perfect! No more driving to L and L, pineapple BBQ all the way.
The student asked for a bag for his leftovers, thanked the people and left. It was cold outside, but the he couldn’t feel it. The heat from the food was keeping his body warm.
He looked at the clock. It was barely 8:30. He had no idea where to go next.

I agree with Mary F. on this one.
I ordered the #4 combo because I couldn’t decide between the chicken and beef so I got both.
BBQ meat with sweet sauce on it — yum!
Steamed white rice — I don’t like rice so I tossed it.
Salad — They forgot to include my dressing so I just ate all the cucumbers and tomatoes. They were very fresh!
3 stars.
(I should have tried that canned hawaiian soda)