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Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I have never been to Hawaii so I can't tell you how authentic the food is.
The food was pretty standard though. Nothing spectacular but not bad, and not too expensive. I tried the spam musubi which everyone talked about. Good to try, but if I had eaten both rolls (I split an order) I think that would have been overkill.
I got the chicken combo, which comes with the chicken bbq and donkatsu. I thought the bbq chicken was thin, not like a full breast portion. In any case, it was still too much food for me and my sister to finish. They should seriously consider not putting fried items on top of cooked cabbage. It makes everything soggier.
The sweet tea was really good and the guy was friendly. Chill atmosphere, cute decorations.
I've been Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ twice and I loved it.
The main reasons why I like it is because it's price point. It's very affordable to eat here and it's good food.
I got the spicy pork and spam ramen.
The spicy pork is very Korean style. It's spicy but flavorful, so if there is any Emory kids craving Korean food, come get the Spicy pork here it will remind you of it. The Spicy pork was about $8. Then I got spam ramen...how can you go wrong with ramen noodles.
Come here if you want cheap eats!
I have been going to Waikikie since it opened because it's just up the street from my house. I am a big fan of casual dining because it is cheaper, and you can linger with friends after you eat without feeling like you are "camping" in a server's station.
I always have a good experience at Waikikie. The staff (including the owner) is always friendly, the food is always fresh and well-prepared, and the portions are perfect. I like going to places where the staff remembers you, and they do here.
I get an Udon Beef Noodle soup that is excellent. (It's on the menu as ramen noodle, but you can substitute udon noodles for a buck.) The broth, meat, veggies and noodles are all delicious, and I am so full afterwards that I slosh home.
I like the chicken Katsu, too, and I often get #16. I don't particularly like macaroni salad (though theirs is excellent), so I get an extra dollop of rice instead.
The fried dumplings are very good, too. And I have never had the shave ice, but the green tea ice cream is lovely.
Don't forget to take your chopsticks!
Great Concept! Very Clean! Service Excellent! Owner was all over the place in a good way! I enjoyed the Hawaiian music and decor! Food was OK! Pork Dumplings were good! Chicken Wings very good! Kimchee was great! BBQ Pork Plate was good not great, not enough meat. Spicy Pork was excellent. Everyone is right about the Macaroni Salad, it was great! This is one of those places where you have 1 or 2 favorites and you stick with them.
GREASY! All the of meats are super greasy. However, sometimes greasy is good. I usually order the beef short ribs because I love Kalbi (Korean marinated beef short ribs), and Waikikie's beef short ribs are kind of similar to Kalbi. It's flavorful, greasy, and super fatty. If you're like me, you'll probably have a pile of fat and bones left on the side of your plate by the end of the meal. It comes with a ball of white rice and a ball of macaroni salad. I love their macaroni salad. I don't usually like macaroni salad, but they must put a lot of love in theirs because I just can't get enough of it when I go there. It's delicious! So good that I can't even describe it.
This place isn't a great eat, and it's probably not worth the money; most dishes are $7-$10. However, it's definitely worth trying just for the macaroni salad. Haha!
I had driven past this place many times and finally decided to try it. I wanted to sample a wide range of items so I got a combo in addition to a teriyaki wings order.
Some people have commented on how small the portion sizes are and I have to agree. In my combo I had like 2 short ribs and 2 thin pieces of Chicken which was a bit weak.
That being said the macaroni salad was good and the wings were my favorite thing that I had here.
For being the only Hawaiian BBQ option in Atlanta its not that bad and Ill be back.
I've been here twice now, and I really like it! I'm not sure who could possibly think the portions are small though. They're not overly huge, but they're a good size. I couldn't even finish my plate the first time I was here, I was too full!
I've had chicken katsu, BBQ beef, spicy pork, and kalua pork. The kalua pork, wow! It's sooo good! It's slow cooked pork, pulled with cabbage, definitely my favorite at Waikiki. Everything else is very good too, the meat is always very tender and well seasoned. I would skip the curry samosas, they're just dough with curry gravy inside. I'm not a huge fan of Spam in general, but even I'm tempted by the Spam musubi. I'll have to try it next time I'm there!
The shave ice isn't my thing, but I don't like snow cones at all so that might have something to do with it! That said, the shave ice is much better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it.
If you frequent this area often, I would definitely check it out. It's very affordable, great for lunch, and it's something new that you don't often see outside of Hawaii or the west coast. I would have loved this place as a kid too, very kitschy decor and fun food, so bring the kids!
Compared to some of the Hawaiian bbq that I've had on the west coast, this place disappoints a bit. First off, I have to say that the portions are much smaller than I am accustomed to. Normally I would be stuffed after eating the main combo plate, but I was still left hungry after eating the three meat plate. A bit pricey for a 10 dollar plus meal if you get a drink.
Second, the meat was definitely lacking in flavor. The BBQ beef and the chicken were decent, but didn't have enough salt or bbq sauce. The beef kalbi was perhaps the most dissapointing part-- way too fatty and no flavor at all.
Now, I'm not sure how many of these places are available in the South-- I come from Los Angeles where this is available almost anywhere. However, a good effort at making this type of food available, and the service was friendly and everything was very clean.
The decor of Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ is a bit cheesy. But secretly I kind of like that and the food is extremely yummy. It's not quite as good as Trader Vic's. But it gets the job done when you're craving some sweet meats and you don't want to pay the $30/meal price tag at Trader Vic's.
I highly suggest the Waikikie Combo. The beef is sweet but a bit greasy and the chicken is delectable. The Spam Musubi is definitely worth a try as well. I've never had Spam before and the musubi left me pleasantly surprised. I can't wait to come back to try more of the items on the rathe extensive menu.
However, I swear they put roofies in the food or something. The husband and I have eaten here twice for lunch. And immediately after we're done eating we have to take a nap.
I was a bit harsh with my earlier review. I would go for 3.5 stars if I could, but I guess if I update it with a 4 it kind of evens out. Anyway, for a Hawaiian restaurant in the Southeast this is an easy 4. A little taste of an island thousands of miles away. I can appreciate that. The flavors are on par and I solved my previously mentioned rice woes by cooking rice and getting the food to-go. Stretched my meal by a full 100%. Good stuff.
Not a bad dining experience... coming straight from SoCal this place strikes me as:
- Very clean
-…
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Where else in Atlanta can you get Spam? The owner and staff are friendly and remember us, and the food is consistently good. No, it's not 100% authentic, but you're in Atlanta! Four stars instead of five for portion size--I agree with other reviewers that they could be more generous, especially when the meat is 50% cabbage (as in the kahlua pork, which is delicious). It's probably a healthy size serving, but we like to order different things and share entrees around the table and we fight over the pork.
Super cheesy decor and they have like 50 items on the menu with spam, but this place started my obsession for Sriracha and for that, I am greatful!
I used to come here for lunch about twice a week (be away they are not open on Mondays) and almost always got the BBQ Beef. It comes with a scoop of white rice, a scoop of pasta salad, and the beef over some cabbage. YUM! I know people hate on rice for not having a flavor, but I love it and when you throw some sriracha and teriyaki sauce on top, boom!
I've had many other dishes from there, but the BBQ beef was the favorite by a mile. The kimchee I remember wasn't very good, though.
Anyhoo, thanks Waikikie for letting me listen to some haiwaiian ukulele as I scarf down anything covered in Sriracha!
Delicious. Outdoor seating is a plus (I'm, you know, building-sized), and I can't complain about the surfing DVDs they play here while you eat. It's fantastic!
Sriracha (which should be available everywhere - it's the world's greatest hot sauce/chili paste) and Hawaiian-style BBQ sauce on every table. Pork, beef, chicken - it's all good. Jazz would've loved it (Father rest his soul).
Get there.
I have a mixed feeling about this place. While some dishes are decent, some are disappointing.
I would give 4 stars for;
- Spam musubi : 2 big rolls for $2.99 is filling and it tastes good, too.
- Kalua pork : Hawaiian-style pulled pork with cabbage. It's moist, tender, and delicious. It tastes like no other kind of BBQ I have tried.
And 2 or 3 stars for ;
- Sweet plantains ; I like the sweet & slightly tangy flavor of these deep-fried bananas but it's way,way,way too oily & greasy.
- Macaroni salad : bland and forgettable.
- Rice : I don't get their tiny small portion of rice. I finished the rice within 2 bites...what the heck.
I would give it 3.5 out of 5 but I round it up to 4 because they're cheap and kalua pork is simply delicious.
My husband begged me to go here after we drove past one day and noticed the enormous fake palm tree out front. I was skeptical about a restaurant that couldn't even spell "Waikiki" correctly, but agreed despite my misgivings. I have now been to Waikikie BBQ twice, and despite its slightly odd appearance, I am not sorry. :)
On my first visit, I tried the Waikikie Combo, which includes BBQ Beef, BBQ Short Ribs, and BBQ Chicken, along with steamed rice and macaroni salad. All three meat items were extremely tasty. The big surprise for me was the macaroni salad. I normally can't stand the stuff, but it was so good that I couldn't stop eating it! We both left happily stuffed.
On my second visit, I tried the Spam Fried Rice. I've never eaten spam before, and it was surprisingly not disgusting.
On both occasions, I was served by an older man who I believe may have been the owner. He seemed a little on the grumpy side, which may have had something to do with the fact that it took me forever to make up my mind (the large selection was a little overwhelming to me). However, my food came out fast, the overall atmosphere was unique, and I generally enjoyed eating there.
I have no real frame of reference for judging Hawaiian lunch counters, but as an experience that's unique in the Atlanta area, Waikikie is worth checking out.
Terrific, really great service.
Ordered:
- Spam Musubi: GIGANTIC!!!
- Waikikie combo with BBQ Short Rib, BBQ Beef, and BBQ Chicken.
- Waikikie super combo with all of the above plus some eggs.
I was super excited to go here, but the food I ordered (regular combo) was straight up Korean-style flavoring! Like, galbi! I'm going to go one more time, but this time I will order from the middle of the menu (huge menu on the wall filled and filled with different kinds of food).
chicken katsu....word
I've driven past this joint so many times, heard mixed reviews, but decided to check it out - mostly b/c they have a nice patio deck and the weather today was too fantastic to eat inside.
They have quite a # of menu selections - you order up front and then the server will bring your food when it's ready. My friend & I both decided to get the $6.99 lunch special which includes a choice of 2 meats, plus rice, macaroni salad, green salad (not iceberg - yay!), & cooked cabbage. I got the BBQ chicken & fried fish. My friend got the BBQ chicken, too, and the kalua pork. She cleaned her plate, I didn't. I really wasn't thrilled about my food - honestly the macaroni salad & green salad were the only things I liked on my plate. The chicken was dark meat and had a "meat" taste to it - the teriyaki sauce thankfully helped, but just a little. The fish was Mahi Mahi which I normally love, but this one tasted like the frozen variety kind (as Kit F pointed out) - I've had better fish at Long John Silver.
But you get what you pay for - everything is under $9 here and you get a lot of food. Perfect for nearby Emory college students. But not good enough for me - I don't think I'll be coming back ... although the spam sushi does intrigue me :)
It is a non duplicated joint in the Atl. Imagine that.
If I could imagine being anywhere in Haw ii at a great five star resort ---this place would be the tourist trap dive next door.Spam(mystery meat) more than three ways-check, budweiser (kona)of the islands- check, cheese burger smaller than the bun(bikini) -check.
I came here for a chef's birthday with a party of like 20--so keep that in mind. Now, the chefs where great people to hang and drink beer with (also some of the best competition chefs in the country),and I really enjoyed my island bbq experience but it just seems like a revamped and similar version (based on flavor of meat) to cheaper Korean BBQ cooking --a little to much sweetness.
Although, during the winter this place could give you some reprieve from the cold weather blues. I will go back because they are one of a kind and the ladies in the kitchen seem really cool and good at what they do.The menu also justifies a few more trips.
Spam Sushi!! hooty hooo
I'm a big fan of this restaurant just because I would have never thought to see a hawaiian restaurant that actually delivers so far away from the highlands. The specials with the macaroni, ribs, chicken, and side of egg is what hit the spot for me!!!
Not a good choice for vegetarians or noodle soup lovers.... Their ramen basically has got to leave the menu, but at least they try.
All in all, good choice if you ever need a hawaiian fixed :)
I like this place. Maybe it's the islander in me even though the island that's made the biggest impact on me isn't Hawaii, but Manhattan. Still, I look like an islander (with my gut, I look more Samoan than anything else) so maybe that's why the owner always seems to perk up when I come in here. Waikikie BBQ, based on what friends actually familiar with Hawaii tell me, is pretty similar to most lunch plate places with its menu choices: kahlua pork, sushi masubi, rice, mac salad. The only info I've got to go one is what friends and Anthony Bourdain have to tell me about lunch plate places because, really, the closest I've come to Hawaii is getting blotto at Trader Vics and that one time I stayed at Disney's Polynesian Resort.
However, the islander food overlaps quite a bit with my mom's Filipino cooking. Makes sense since Hawaii is filled with Filipinos. Waikikie's beef short ribs are exactly like my mom's, only served up with less guilt. The spam? Also like my mom's. (Then again, hard to mess up spam.) I tend to order the Kahlua Pork, an offering of marinated, shredded pork served up with cabbage over a mound of rice. Also, don't neglect the shave ice. Yes, it's true shave ice and not a sno-cone being called shave ice. The difference between the two is like the difference between ice milk and gourmet ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, make sure to order a scoop of ice cream to put into your shave ice . This adds a creamy note that is hard to put down.
So random to find a Hawaiian lunch plate place off of Briarcliff Road of all places. I enjoy random and I enjoy Waikikie BBQ. Three and a half, rounded up to four stars! Mahalo, bra.
I love this place!!! I'm an island girl born on the island of Guam, raised in California.. So my family is ALL about Spam and Rice!! But since we've moved here nearly 11 years ago, we've never tasted anything like this outside our own kitchen!! UMMMM UMMMM GOOODDD =))
And the owner is nice and very pleasant... He makes us all so very comfortable and welcomed!
As they say on the Island of Hawaii... "Mahalo nui loa" (Thanks very much)
Loooove me some Waikikie! You get some awesome, stupendous, etc, etc island-style Hawaiian Asian food. The cross of Hawaiian, Korean, and Japanese food makes my wannabe foodie heart all warm and fuzzy.
I mean, for Christ sakes folks, the place has friggi'n Kimchi. The Spam Mashubi will force you to never think about Spam the same way again.
I recommend the BBQ Beef fried rice for your first dish(add the teriyaki and the red chillie sauce to it). The owner is super nice and the prices are good.
Try a Hawaiian beer while you're there too!
Waikikie is my first and only exposure to Hawaiian bbq so I have no frame of reference. That said it was pretty good. I had a combo plate that was pretty tasty but didn't particularly wow me. Not into that macaroni salad. Their menu is expansive though so I'll probably try something else the next time I'm there. It is certainly a unique offering in Atlanta as I can't think of any other places like this. Definitely give this place a try.
3
Chicken katsu, BBQ chicken, i.e combo #3. How can you go wrong? Course curry katsu is fantastic as well. Fun place, typically quiet which is nice for bringing along someone else. And the staff is always friendly. Usually $10+ for food and drink but well worth it.
Fantastic authentic Hawaiian BBQ like you can get on the West Coast. They've got an extensive menu which covers all the basics. You've got your Kalua Pork, your eggs and gravy, your spam sushi, and of course - homemade macaroni salad. To top it all off, they serve an excellent beer from Hawaii called Kona.
Great atmosphere, VERY family friendly, good prices, healthy food.
Check it out, and make sure to try the Spicy Pork.
Two words: Spam Sushi.
Sushi is supposed to be quite healthy...but this Hawaiian version (musubi) is loaded with extremely high levels of saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. Mmm Mm M! No wonder The Rock is so big...I'm just a Pebble b/c I ate the low rent version called Treet growing up.
This joint is a direct copy of the famous L&L Hawaiian BBQ chain...right down to the 2 golf ball size scoops of rice. What if I just wanted one big scoop of rice huh? The macaroni salad is so bland...I made saliva with more flavor. The meats are hit or miss, it's overcooked most of the time...stick with the pork. The fried seafood is your frozen variety...meh. The ramen is cheap filler...not a thriller.
The double dog dare dish is the Loco Moco or Spam Moco...instant heart burn and a trip to the head. You won't be walking b/c you'll have the runs. All that tasteless gravy is good for one thing...lube. 2 burger patties or 4 pieces of Spam...WHY? Break the egg yolks and it's a Jackson Pollock masterpiece.
Even after all that mess...I still like this place. It's kitschy and always fun to play with canned mystery meat on your plate. Eat your heart out Roy Yamaguchi.
I had heard really great things about this place from co-workers. However, I was pretty disappointed when I tried it for myself. The portions were really small. I had to stop on the way back to work and get a second lunch (and I'm not even one of those big dudes who eats alone). Also, I remember the prices were kinda high.
The food was OK, but not anything too special. Sorta reminded me of the food at mall Food Courts that says its not Asian food (Ex.-Cajun, Hawaiian, etc.), but actually is pretty much identical to the stuff at the Chinesse booth beside it. Luckily, I love that stuff.
Anyway, I would say feel free to give it a try, but it might not make it into your usual rotation.
I LOVE this place! I've been coming here for the past 2 years and it has never let me down. The boyfriend usually orders the #1 combo and I just like anything with spam in it... luckily that's just about half of the menu :) The owner is very friendly and always makes sure to say hello to us when we're visiting. On top of that, the place itself is not very big and it's rarely ever crowded so you've got a good chance at getting a booth if you want it. Basically you have try this place if you haven't already... I don't want to see it closing anytime soon so please go!
Want some island-style Hawaiian Asian food?
This place offers, among other things, Hawaiian BBQ beef, pork, chicken as well as some distinct Japanese and Korean food (Udon and sushi) - all at a surprisingly inexpensive price. With each order (you pay for drinks, but they have free refills), you'll get a couple of cups of rice, and a small macaroni salad. You can take it to go or sit inside and watch the TVs.
This place is situated on La Vista and Briarcliff, along side the Catus Car Wash and across the street from Starbucks. Parking is not a problem (in fact, it never seems to be a problem. . . I'm worried about them).
Overall, if you live in the area (or passing by), try this place out. The people are quite nice and frankly. . . I think they need the business. :/
If you have ever been to Hawaii, then you may know what the locals enjoy for a simple meal - Plate Lunch! (2 scoop rice, 1 scoop macaroni salad, and choice of meat) Oh how I love the Hawaiian plate lunch!!!
The restaurant has a very clean environment; with clean, soft tropical colored walls with quaint island artwork and memorabilia. This fast-casual restaurant is very dear to me. It's the only restaurant that I know of in Atlanta that serves this style of food and is very reminiscent of my years in Hawaii. The restaurant is not huge, but not too small. The menu is simple to understand with pictures of their popular items. If you're feeling adventurous, try #39 SPAM Musubi a delicious Hawaiian treat! I gave this place 5 stars because it makes me proud to have this cuisine in this city. CHEERS!
I don't know why, but I love this place. I go there with the same two guys all the time. We basically order 3 or 4 plates, and split them between the 3 of us. It works out well and is pretty damn cheap. Love the patio seating also.
As for the food, they have a wide selection of typical Hawaiian and Japanese items. I recommend the katsu (Japanese fried pork or chicken cutlet) and the house special fried rice. By the way, spam isn't that bad like this. This is far from gourmet food, but it's a extremely relaxing environment and the owner is really chill. Also has a really good selection of beer for a fast-food type place.
He told us that his restaurant was voted best high food in High Times also lol!
Loved everything but my chicken ...* which i should let you know iam a chicken freak... just breasts.. no grisle or anything* ICK.. but thats exactly what i found on my chicken.. fun experience nice staff working there.. but I'll pass next time...
mmm maybe try the spam next time?...... (ummm Noooo!!!) lol...
Hawaii and Barbecue, what's not to like??
If you're looking for a real taste of the Islands, and to eat like a ka'amaina (local), this is the place for you. Don't be scared by the spam on the menu; try it, and you'll be surprised how good it tastes Hawaiian style. When you see the word bbq, think grilled, not covered in sauce like in the south.
I've yet to see anyone dislike the food, no matter how picky an eater they are. For a safe bet, try the Katsu Chicken (basically fried chicken tenders), which is especially good curry-style, or the Kalua Pork.
If you're feeling more adventurous and have a hearty appetite, go for the Loco Moco or Spam Moco. Enjoy!
Um this place is awesome. Cheesy tiki decor aside, the food is really good and cheap! It's weird-- kind of Asian but not? I believe I got the chicken teriyaki last time, and it was really good! Macaroni salad, also good! I wasn't sure what to expect from a Hawaiian place...Very simple restaurant, reminds me of beachside restaurants in the Pacific Islands (sans beach-- we are in ATL remember!). If I worked closer, I would for sure come here all the time.
*Mouth watering* Oh I miss this place so much! We used to go here all the time when we lived on that side of town...not so, anymore. :( It's delicious food at a great price. There's a lot on the menu to tempt you, and it's all good! If you're a meat lover, you will not be sorry! Even though this place may seem a bit strange at first, you gotta give them a try; I promise you'll be back for more!
YUM! When I worked in the area, it was on our "Magical Lunch List." It's pretty inexpensive, and it boasts a great deal of options for every palate. I love the atmosphere that accompanies the terrific food.
I tried Waikikie to satisfy my curiosity. I couldn't help wondering: Is Hawaiian BBQ different from southern BBQ? Will this be a hidden gem? Is anyone even in there?(the parking lot is endlessly vacant). My answer is the same for all three: yes!
Simply put, the wait staff is excited to have business. My BBQ chicken was fresh, deliciously tangy, and inexpensive. It may not be authentic Hawaiian, but it's tasty nonetheless. You don't have to worry if you are on your lunch break because the food arrives quicky. The small colored lights and fake palm trees are adorable. It seems that Waikikie is trying hard.....give them a chance! Come taste the islands!
I am originally from the beach of Southern California where we have a plethra of Hawaiian or Island cuisine. This is the only place on this side of the country I have come to be reminded of the tastes back west. I've been to Hawaii and sampled first hand its culure and taste. This is very close to that. From the sweet sauces and pork to the beef and macaroni salad. All excellent. I asked them where they got the idea for this place because everything there was so familiar and I was told because of the Hawaiian places the owner had been to in california. There you have it, great and as authentic as you can get over here.
WOW, real kalua pork! It's laid back, inexpensive, and has a small but very nice selection of draft beer. And it reminds me of the little places on Kauai where I had similar food. I'm here on business, will be again, and will be eating here every visit.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Hawaiian
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