Hukilau is one of the more authentic Hawaiian restaurants in the area. One the the easier ways to tell is if they have lomi lomi salmon on the menu, which they do. I went for the "Da Hawaiian Luau Plate" which as the pork lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, kalua pork, rice and mac salad. A good sign is when the lau lau is fat and moist. This one was fat and juicy and ono (delicious). The kalua pork was tasty with a huge portion size. Most of it I had to save for a later meal. Lomi lomi salmon was fresh and delicious. Next time I come back, I need to get a larger serving on the side. Will highly recommend for an authentic Hawaiian experience.

My favorite Hawaiian restaurant in the Bay Area! The service and food is always spot on here. Some of my favorite dishes include the spam and eggs, chicken katsu, sesame chicken, and the pineapple burger. Last time I was here with my boyfriend, there was a mistake when the waitress was inputting our order. Instead of putting in the garlic chicken appetizer that we ordered, she accidentally put it in the computer as an entree. We were surprised when the order came out as a full entree (instead of just garlic chicken, it was garlic chicken, mac salad, and rice). The waitress immediately apologized and said she inputted the order wrong and she would only charge us the appetizer price because that is what we ordered and not the entree price. We weren't upset by this mistake at all. It meant more food for us! 5/5 stars! Fantastic customer service!

Wonderful food, very fresh. And spicy style was delicious. The place was super busy and the back room was pretty noisy because it was packed.

Oh man rum rum and more rum plus the drinks menu is amazing Try skeleton key

Got the Loco Moco with Fried Rice and crispy fish tacos

Love this Hawaiian place in Japan Town. Lovely staff, delicious food. You will not be disappointed!

Hukilau fried rice with spam was SO good. Aloha chicken adobo was SO good too! 🤤🤤

Great experience. Service is blazing fast, got my food (poke) in about 2 minutes. The food and Beer on tap is excellent.

We love hukilau. The staff are so friendly and accommodating. Every thing we get is always sooooo good, but strongly recommend the Teriyaki Chicken, Edamame, chicken katsu, Spam Musubi and the Lava Flow/pina Colada (double blended)

Delicious food served hot and fresh moments after we ordered it. The place was crowded and a bit noisy. The food was great. We got the luau platter. There was plenty of food for the two of us. The dessert menu was short and they were out of everything anyway. The martini was sweet and not strong at all, but otherwise was fine.

Super nice waitstaff and really good food. The Ramen noodles were the perfect texture, and some of the best Ramen I've had in the area. It was our first time visiting, but we will definitely be back to try more of the menu!

Just straight up Hawaiian food done well. I had the adobo and it was as good as homemade, Mac salad was also killer.

I had the most incredible dining experience at Hukilau! The loco moco and salmon poke were nothing short of amazing, capturing the true essence of Hawaiian flavors in every bite. The loco moco was a savory delight with a perfect balance of flavors, and the salmon poke was incredibly fresh and flavorful.However, what truly stood out was the exceptional staff. Their warm hospitality and attentiveness added an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. It's rare to find a place where both the food and the service exceed expectations, but this restaurant managed to do just that. I left with a satisfied stomach, a smile on my face, and a newfound love for Hawaiian cuisine. I can't wait to visit again and explore more of their menu!

This place is really good at Hawaiian food. The Sesame Chickenn is great crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I had the combo with the Korean style ribs and Sesame chicken. I also paid to get the fried rice option which was well worth it. The tables were well spaced and the service was excellent. My wife had the Katsu Chicken which was also excellent. We've eaten here many times and it's always a treat.

The moment we stepped into Hukilau Hawaiian oasis, we were greeted with the warmest smiles and genuine hospitality. The staff's attentiveness and knowledge of the menu made our dining experience truly exceptional. The food here is an absolute tropical delight! Every bite of the fresh poke bowls and succulent grilled mahi-mahi transported us to the shores of Hawaii. The flavors were authentic and utterly delicious. The restaurant's ambiance is like a mini vacation. Tiki torches, Hawaiian music, and the soothing sound of a waterfall create a serene atmosphere. Whether you're on a date or celebrating with friends, this place sets the perfect mood.

I have been going to this place ever since I can remember, The bartenders have always been friendly and is always warm and friendly. My go to are the Laulau pork and their Pokes. They always give a great amount that i would always ask for a to-go box because i couldnt finish my meal. they have been a staple at SJ Japantown and would highly recommend this place if youre craving for some Poke or Hawaiian food! Just dont forget to order some Spam musubi! :)

Lynn’s girls had lunch there on Wednesday and the food was excellent. All nine of had a great time and enjoyed our lunch.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy and casual, making it the perfect spot for a family dinner or a night out with friends. The restaurant specializes in traditional Hawaiian dishes and it is delicious. I recommend trying the fried saimin or my favorite, the loco moco. The portions are generous too. Hukilau is definitely worth a visit.

Went to a 90th Birthday celebration here and had a wonderful time! Loved our Waiter with the great moustache! He was very attentive! He really made sure we were all taken care of! Food was really great! Everyone in our party were very happy with the food!

So good for ono grind home style Hawaiian comfort food. Order the spam fried rice!!! One of our go to places for Mom and Son lunch!! Staff is so welcoming. Plenty of parking, but sometimes there's a short walk through JapanTown. It is WORTH it!

Wonderful experience here. Got a poke bowl and my partner got the Loco Moco, both of which were delicious and reasonably priced. The food came out quick, and our server Corey was so friendly and on it!

Great service, super friendly and welcoming! We came in about a half hour before the posted closing time but the bartender/servers were friendly and didn't rush us at all. The inside of this place is pretty small but has a lot of personality. The food was great, classic Hawaiian-Japanese food (my only complaint is that they were out of spam musubi☹) and there were some fun cocktails - lychee martini was very tasty!

Great place with tasty Hawaiian style offerings. 1000x better than most cheap “Hawaiian” bbq restaurants you’ll find everywhere. Great service too!

California Hip Hop Artist SpenDoe speaks on Hukilau in Japantown, San Jose, CA: I love Hukilau! This is one of my favorite restaurants. Due to Covid restrictions, I haven't been able to enjoy a sit-down meal in any restaurant. I used to always order the Kalua pork and cabbage. I gave up consuming pork, but that's ok, they have other amazing dishes. I always enjoy sitting in the 2nd dining area towards the back. I enjoy the retro art, and the tiki vibe over everything. The food is excellent, and the staff is extremely friendly, and attentive.

Super friendly staff in the heart of San Jose's quaint & historic Japan Town. Hawaiian ambience, flavor, and hospitality. Food is wonderful yet still affordable. Stop in to enjoy the food in a place where people are still courteous and inviting. Wash your delicious meal down with a tasty beverage.

Delish! The salsa is legit! #texasnative First time having real Hawaiian food, loved it! The burrito was awesome! 👌

Great strong drinks. Big food portions. Awesome service and surprisingly quick. I was craving a loco moco and it did not disappoint. No pictures of said meal bc I devoured it.

Very good food...loved their Fried Saimin( noodles) good stuff!..🌺😎🤙Aloha

Went on a Friday night for the first time and enjoyed the setting of live music which perfectly accompanied perfectly the utterly indulgent flavors of food! The no-frills poke had us already planning our next trip and the (lomi lomi?) salmon was a perfect mini side!! They picked the perfect gentleman doing the live music… You could tell he really loved performing and it felt like he performed with all his heart!

Delicious food, extremely quick service, huge portions!

I've been going here since they opened it. There have been a few changes over the years, and I don't "feel" Hawaii as much as I used to here, but it's still a great spot that I look forward to visiting.

We have live near Japan town for almost 6 years and love this place. We rarely dine in because of our busy lives but I took my sister here and I had to snap a photo for my finance because the way its played is beautiful and we never saw it this way before. Spicy ahi poke tuna bowl seared is my favorite. I swear they know its be everytime I call in our order. I love this place, my favorite poke place in san jose. Hands down.

Stellar customer service! Ordered the garlic popcorn chicken and it never disappoints. I ordered tiramisu for the first time and I have to say, you're better off getting something else from the dessert menu.

The food was amazing! I had just landed and wanted something new and tasty. This was the perfect spot and not that far from the airport.

We built our own combos so we could try a few different entree items. The Katsu is one of the best we’ve ever had - perfectly crispy but juicy and tender inside. The chicken adobo is wonderfully braised and falls off the bone. And, the service was superb and was able to accommodate my substitutions. I would eat here all the time if I could!

We love coming to Hukilau. I tried something new for dinner - spicy chicken katsu and fried oysters w fried rice. Spicy sauce was basically sriracha. I would prefer the plain ole katsu sauce for next time. Fried rice was delicious.

Ordered takeout - spam musubi & loco moco Spam musubi looks deceptively simple but is very tasty and moreish! Loco moco was just bursting with flavour. Smothered in a savoury gravy that tied the whole dish together. The side of macaroni salad (I think?) was also a delight. Proteins were also very tasty. Portion is sufficient for 2 pax Great food, way exceeded my expectations. Wish I didn’t live on the other side of the world so I could try more of their stuff.

I met employees here since Covid-19’s,, all them are very cool and friendly. Garlic chicken is so delicious and juicy.. every bite I can feel the garlic and chicken yummy. Thanks all for being nicer 👍

This place is a little known spot that you've either never heard of, have been to but for whatever reason haven't been back, or you're a regular. The fried rice burrito was amazing! The misubi was perfect and the staff and ownership are incredibly friendly (shout out to my server Corey! She was great!) Put this place on your short list!

This place is a hidden gem. We don't often eat in San Jose, but this one you can NOT miss!! They have authentic Hawaiian food. It reminded me of being back in Hawaii. It looks small on the outside, but it's pretty big on the inside. When you enter the first room, it has a typical bar and seating area. They have a bigger room in the back for parties or just additional seating area. When we went, they had a party going on in the front and the back. I think it was a bday party, they were definitely having fun. We decided to place our order to go. We ordered: 1. Hukilau pupu platter - spam musubi, garlic wings, and fried shrimp. The spam musubi was your standard that we all know. Nothing special. Garlic wings were ok, I kinda felt like it had the adobo kind of taste to it. The fried shrimp was tasty and huge. 2. Hukilau ribeye steak (medium)- Cooked perfectly and is well seasoned. It was a thick slice and so juicy. Rice was perfectly cooked, and the mac salad was smacking. 3. Da Hawaiian Luau plate - You can never go wrong with the classic pork lau lau, kalua pork, and an added bonus lomi lomi salmon. The portion was massive but delicious. I had ordered all rice, and we still managed to run out of rice. 4. Loco moco - huge burger patties but were well seasoned. It was moist and flavorful. Next time, I'm going to ask for extra gravy. For that extra smothering comfort food goodness. Iykyk. 5. Hukilau fried rice - very rare, do you go to a Hawaiian restaurant, and they serve fried rice. We had to try, and it was amazing. They had huge chunks of Portuguese sausage and lots of aloha. This could definitely be a meal on its own. 6. Fried Saimin - The noodles were good, but the dish was salty, IMO. I'm not sure if it's from the Portuguese sausage and spam or what. This was one dish I would skip next time. 7. Mac salad - I ordered extra, and it was definitely worth it. 8. " Big Island Candies" Macadamia Nut Brownie Sundae - I was looking forward to this, but I guess with my huge order, it was missed. 9. Hukilau Tea - This is tasty and refreshing, definitely a creeper. You gotta take it easy with this one. 10. Hukilau punch - This was a little sweet for me but good. I like that it was blue. This was a lot of food for two people, but I had to create my little sampler so I know what to get next time and what to avoid. Surprisingly, the food was still amazing the next day. Even the rice is rare. It was still soft and wasn't hard the next day like other places. The drinks were amazing. The people who helped me showed a lot of aloha and made me feel so welcome. Even if they were busy with the party, they took the time to answer my questions. My order was cooked fresh and was ready in no time. I can't wait to come back soon. Hopefully, try the dessert as well... It was hard to double-check my order with the massive heavy-duty bag I was handed and with the crowd... I figured everything was there.

Fantastic food, fantastic service, and an atmosphere that left a little to be desired. The building was easily missable, and the dimly entryway made it seem like it was closed. However, the food and service more than made up for an underwhelming dining area. The waiter was very knowledgeable and gave his own personal recommendations as well as popular choices for things to try - so that we would get the most bang for our buck. We all shared the Hukilau Pupu Platter, and we chose the popcorn chicken, fried shrimp, and Portuguese sausage. We also added some Spam Musubi. By far, the popcorn chicken was the best appetizer that we tried! For my entree, I chose the (grilled) Mahi Mahi plate, and it was delicious! I have also added pictures of what my family ordered: the combo plate with chicken and teriyaki beef, the Hukilau Fried Rice, the Loco Moco, and the Poke Bowl with Ahi Tuna. I highly recommend checking this place out!

I love Hawaiian food and I have been craving it lately. My cousins @jedijoey10 @hello_xtine invited their friend @alesandnails and Mr to enjoy a meal at @hukilau_sanjose. We got the Kalua Pork Cheese Fries to share, it was so yummy! The pork was seasoned perfectly and the fries were extra crispy. I want to say the twice fried it. We all got our own entrée, Hukilau Poke Dinner, Loco Moco with beef patties, Aloha Chicken Adobo, and Spicy Fish Tacos. The food portions were huge and generous! Every thing was tasty and authentic. They also has a Hawaiian Tiki Bar special on drinks for Happy Hour for 50% off. The drinks were strong and sweet, which were really good. Definitely coming back here for more food. 📍Hukilau on Jackson St. in Japantown of San Jose, CA. 🌺🎴 @hukilau_sanjose

A favorite place for Hawaiian food vibes, the music is calming. Loco moco is fun with ground beef or kalua pork over rice and under gravy with 2 eggs over easy. Poke dinner (can order ahi, salmon, tako) with musubi, rice and mac salad. Garlic fries, steak. Whatever you are craving. It is fun to share with friends for the food variety. Their drinks are fun, tasty and colorful as well. The staff are welcoming and helpful.

Authentic Hawaiian comfort food. The luau plate has a great combination of classic Hawaiian barbecue dishes. Portions are pretty big so come hungry or prepare to take home some leftovers.

We went to Nikkei Matsuri in SJ, Japantown over the weekend (4/23/23). For lunch, it was my time going to Hukilai and I was very satisfied with the generous portions and awesome service. I have missed good Hawaiian food since I went to Hawaii last year. This did not disappoint and this was just solid overall because of the freshness and good flavors. Their mai tai is nice and refreshing when it’s hot out. The service was awesome too. I had the combo plate with loco moco and chicken katsu.

Amazingly quick service, friendly staff and awesome food! Place looks small on the outside but is quite big inside. Wish we had one of these in the Midwest! Fresh poke.....yummy! Fried saimin was amazing!!!

Glad we found out this place open for Christmas Eve dinner! Short rib combo with chicken katsu was super tender! My whole family enjoyed their combo meals. Mai Tai’s were in big glasses and super tasty! My second time here & can’t wait to come back. Thanks to all the staff!

Place loves to spread the Aloha. Garlic chicken was on point! No way I could finish it. But made a great late night snack! Coworker got loco moco. Which in island style.. was massive and looked amazing!

My husband loves their salmon poke, that he got an appetizer portion and as an entree. I got beef Teriyaki and kahlua fries. Everything was generous and delicious.

Picked up to go order and I was skeptical because I have not been to one Hawaiian spot in California so far that is beat Hawaii itself and I used to live in Hawaii and it’s very hard to find like real authentic Hawaiian food lotta copycat but they do poor job. Buttttttttt Let me tell you when I took my first bite cuzzzzz bradahhhh broke da mouth!!!!!! And the Islanders know what I’m talking about. It was so good so on point that I ate it with my hands in the car all hands down number one top Hawaiian spot that you’re gonna get on the mainland. I don’t know who’s working in the kitchen, but keep doing what you’re doing!!!! Items I ordered -Da Hawaiian Luau plate with Mac salad double scoop rice and Lomi Lomi 10/10 -Keiki Kalua Cabbage with fried rice 10/10 -of course gotta pair it with Hawaiians sun passs-o-guava. I have not yet been satisfied with anything eaten in California, but this 100% is amazing. I wish I could’ve took a picture of it before I devoured more than half of it.

ruben guerrero

This place is a little known spot that you've either never heard of, have been to but for whatever reason haven't been back, or you're a regular. The fried rice burrito was amazing! The misubi was perfect and the staff and ownership are incredibly friendly (shout out to my server Corey! She was great!) Put this place on your short list!

Lynn Eglan

This place is a hidden gem. We don't often eat in San Jose, but this one you can NOT miss!! They have authentic Hawaiian food. It reminded me of being back in Hawaii. It looks small on the outside, but it's pretty big on the inside. When you enter the first room, it has a typical bar and seating area. They have a bigger room in the back for parties or just additional seating area. When we went, they had a party going on in the front and the back. I think it was a bday party, they were definitely having fun. We decided to place our order to go. We ordered: 1. Hukilau pupu platter - spam musubi, garlic wings, and fried shrimp. The spam musubi was your standard that we all know. Nothing special. Garlic wings were ok, I kinda felt like it had the adobo kind of taste to it. The fried shrimp was tasty and huge. 2. Hukilau ribeye steak (medium)- Cooked perfectly and is well seasoned. It was a thick slice and so juicy. Rice was perfectly cooked, and the mac salad was smacking. 3. Da Hawaiian Luau plate - You can never go wrong with the classic pork lau lau, kalua pork, and an added bonus lomi lomi salmon. The portion was massive but delicious. I had ordered all rice, and we still managed to run out of rice. 4. Loco moco - huge burger patties but were well seasoned. It was moist and flavorful. Next time, I'm going to ask for extra gravy. For that extra smothering comfort food goodness. Iykyk. 5. Hukilau fried rice - very rare, do you go to a Hawaiian restaurant, and they serve fried rice. We had to try, and it was amazing. They had huge chunks of Portuguese sausage and lots of aloha. This could definitely be a meal on its own. 6. Fried Saimin - The noodles were good, but the dish was salty, IMO. I'm not sure if it's from the Portuguese sausage and spam or what. This was one dish I would skip next time. 7. Mac salad - I ordered extra, and it was definitely worth it. 8. " Big Island Candies" Macadamia Nut Brownie Sundae - I was looking forward to this, but I guess with my huge order, it was missed. 9. Hukilau Tea - This is tasty and refreshing, definitely a creeper. You gotta take it easy with this one. 10. Hukilau punch - This was a little sweet for me but good. I like that it was blue. This was a lot of food for two people, but I had to create my little sampler so I know what to get next time and what to avoid. Surprisingly, the food was still amazing the next day. Even the rice is rare. It was still soft and wasn't hard the next day like other places. The drinks were amazing. The people who helped me showed a lot of aloha and made me feel so welcome. Even if they were busy with the party, they took the time to answer my questions. My order was cooked fresh and was ready in no time. I can't wait to come back soon. Hopefully, try the dessert as well... It was hard to double-check my order with the massive heavy-duty bag I was handed and with the crowd... I figured everything was there.

An Pham

Fantastic food, fantastic service, and an atmosphere that left a little to be desired. The building was easily missable, and the dimly entryway made it seem like it was closed. However, the food and service more than made up for an underwhelming dining area. The waiter was very knowledgeable and gave his own personal recommendations as well as popular choices for things to try - so that we would get the most bang for our buck. We all shared the Hukilau Pupu Platter, and we chose the popcorn chicken, fried shrimp, and Portuguese sausage. We also added some Spam Musubi. By far, the popcorn chicken was the best appetizer that we tried! For my entree, I chose the (grilled) Mahi Mahi plate, and it was delicious! I have also added pictures of what my family ordered: the combo plate with chicken and teriyaki beef, the Hukilau Fried Rice, the Loco Moco, and the Poke Bowl with Ahi Tuna. I highly recommend checking this place out!

Sean Nguyen

I love Hawaiian food and I have been craving it lately. My cousins @jedijoey10 @hello_xtine invited their friend @alesandnails and Mr to enjoy a meal at @hukilau_sanjose. We got the Kalua Pork Cheese Fries to share, it was so yummy! The pork was seasoned perfectly and the fries were extra crispy. I want to say the twice fried it. We all got our own entrée, Hukilau Poke Dinner, Loco Moco with beef patties, Aloha Chicken Adobo, and Spicy Fish Tacos. The food portions were huge and generous! Every thing was tasty and authentic. They also has a Hawaiian Tiki Bar special on drinks for Happy Hour for 50% off. The drinks were strong and sweet, which were really good. Definitely coming back here for more food. 📍Hukilau on Jackson St. in Japantown of San Jose, CA. 🌺🎴 @hukilau_sanjose

Chelle T

A favorite place for Hawaiian food vibes, the music is calming. Loco moco is fun with ground beef or kalua pork over rice and under gravy with 2 eggs over easy. Poke dinner (can order ahi, salmon, tako) with musubi, rice and mac salad. Garlic fries, steak. Whatever you are craving. It is fun to share with friends for the food variety. Their drinks are fun, tasty and colorful as well. The staff are welcoming and helpful.

Kevin Renner

Authentic Hawaiian comfort food. The luau plate has a great combination of classic Hawaiian barbecue dishes. Portions are pretty big so come hungry or prepare to take home some leftovers.

Jaime Felix

We went to Nikkei Matsuri in SJ, Japantown over the weekend (4/23/23). For lunch, it was my time going to Hukilai and I was very satisfied with the generous portions and awesome service. I have missed good Hawaiian food since I went to Hawaii last year. This did not disappoint and this was just solid overall because of the freshness and good flavors. Their mai tai is nice and refreshing when it’s hot out. The service was awesome too. I had the combo plate with loco moco and chicken katsu.

1 Hot_Potato

Amazingly quick service, friendly staff and awesome food! Place looks small on the outside but is quite big inside. Wish we had one of these in the Midwest! Fresh poke.....yummy! Fried saimin was amazing!!!

Jennifer Biggerstaff

Glad we found out this place open for Christmas Eve dinner! Short rib combo with chicken katsu was super tender! My whole family enjoyed their combo meals. Mai Tai’s were in big glasses and super tasty! My second time here & can’t wait to come back. Thanks to all the staff!

Brady Sullivan

Place loves to spread the Aloha. Garlic chicken was on point! No way I could finish it. But made a great late night snack! Coworker got loco moco. Which in island style.. was massive and looked amazing!

Jennifer Dixon

My husband loves their salmon poke, that he got an appetizer portion and as an entree. I got beef Teriyaki and kahlua fries. Everything was generous and delicious.

larissa waltower

Picked up to go order and I was skeptical because I have not been to one Hawaiian spot in California so far that is beat Hawaii itself and I used to live in Hawaii and it’s very hard to find like real authentic Hawaiian food lotta copycat but they do poor job. Buttttttttt Let me tell you when I took my first bite cuzzzzz bradahhhh broke da mouth!!!!!! And the Islanders know what I’m talking about. It was so good so on point that I ate it with my hands in the car all hands down number one top Hawaiian spot that you’re gonna get on the mainland. I don’t know who’s working in the kitchen, but keep doing what you’re doing!!!! Items I ordered -Da Hawaiian Luau plate with Mac salad double scoop rice and Lomi Lomi 10/10 -Keiki Kalua Cabbage with fried rice 10/10 -of course gotta pair it with Hawaiians sun passs-o-guava. I have not yet been satisfied with anything eaten in California, but this 100% is amazing. I wish I could’ve took a picture of it before I devoured more than half of it.

It has been a while since I have been to Hukilau. This place is still the same great little place it was the last time I was here. My go to is the Loco Moco with the hamburger patties and an upgrade to the fried rice. This is delicious. The food has always been very good. The service is very good and the prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get.

Ryan Cummings

Wonderful experience here. Got a poke bowl and my partner got the Loco Moco, both of which were delicious and reasonably priced. The food came out quick, and our server Corey was so friendly and on it!

Went to lunch here with a co-worker. This area is very busy and even at 1:00 parking was hard to find. Food was good with generous portions. There are great mixed drinks to choose from. Service was quick so if you're on a time crunch, you can be in and out, within an hour.

Always friendly & efficient personnel with yummy food. It's always a comfortable atmosphere with an island-y vibe. I ordered the poke dinner; could choose from raw fish, avocado, and/or tofu. I just had avocado; not sure why there was an up charge of $1.00 for it though

This place serves refreshing Hawaiian food. I had the poke as the appetizer and the luau plate as the entree. The poke is kinda small, but the luau plate is huge. Plenty of leftovers. Conveniently located near San Jose Tofu and so you can get your awesomely home-made tofu on the same day.

Hukilau is a great place to go for a great time. The environment is usually festive and inviting. They always have interesting cocktails on the menu, and the food is excellent. I've never had a bad meal here, and the service is usually very good. Hukilau is a great place to visit, especially if you have a large group.

This lot has been here for a very long time. My first time today (may 2023). I got the mahi-mahi entre platter. it was worth the bang for my buck. The mahi-mahi was typically battered and deep-fried. Pat along with your typical white rice and mac salad. I was a little disappointed with the serving size of the onion rings. The rings were delicious. Perfectly fried. The Kalua pork was good but a little on the salty side. Definitely needs to be a company with more white rice. Paired these items off with the strawberry and banana daiquiri and hula girl cocktail.

Good poke available. They have a bar counter so it will be nice to come at night to have some drinks. A bit pricy but tastes good.

Nice little place in Japantown to hang out and grab a few drinks. So far there, for food, I've had the sesame chicken and the fish tacos. The glaze on the chicken was good, but a little too sweet for my tastes, and kind of thick. The fish tacos were quite good, and I especially liked the spicy salsa that came with them. It gave the tacos a nice kick without overwhelming the fish itself. The drinks are good, and don't taste watered down, and there are some nice happy hour specials every night. The atmosphere is great; there's always a lot of energy, especially during live sporting events. There are a lot of TVs around so it's really easy to see what's on, and more space than it looks like from the outside. Don't be fooled by the small area you walk into; there's another bar and a large dining room in the back. I will definitely be back.

Updated early August 2023: We finally tried this place after a couple attempts, we got the loco moco with burger, and luau platter. Mostly everything was good and we enjoyed the meal. The steamed pork wrapped in leaf on the luau platter was over cooked, it was dry and not so tender. From july 2023: My family and didn’t have a chance to try the food here. We walked into the dining area in the back and it reeked of fabuloso or some kind of strong floor clean. It was over bearing, we left immediately.

First time to a Hukilau since the Palo Alto & SF restaurants closed. There's a bar at the front of the a long hallway to the dining area. Food was as good as I remember it was but the atmosphere in the dining area wasn't as good as it was at the other restaurants. I'd say the lighting made it feel like an old coffee shop

Not bad food. Very good service, polite and friendly and helpful.

TUES - THURS: 11AM - 2:00PM /5PM - 9:00PM FRI: 11AM - 2:00PM/5PM - 10:00PM SAT: 11AM - 2:30PM /5PM - 10:00PM SUN: 11AM - 2:30PM /5PM - 9:00PM MON-CLOSED Our first visit, we arrived @ 130 pm. They wouldn't seat us. Because they'll close in 30 minutes! It sucked, I've been craving to get my fix of lomi lomi and poke! So we tried again a week later and arrived early @ 1130. Of course, I ordered the ahi poke and the da hawaiian luau plate. The family ordered the grilled teriyaki chicken and aloha chicken adobo. We didn't do much talking while eating, the poke was fresh and full of flavour. The chicken was tender.

Let's start with this - this could be 5 star, but i want them to earn it next time. And there will be a next time. Great service. Seated immediately. Good sized portions. Pork chops were almost as good as my mom's. Gravy a great touch. Mahi mahi very tasty. Pineapple fresh. My wife's drink was strong, so that's good, right? I can't wait to come back for the loco moco with spam and Portuguese sausage fried rice. Large banquet room in back for large groups. Live Entertainment too! If we knew about it sooner we'd be 25 lbs heavier.

Hawaiian and japanese fusion cuisine. No frills old school comfort food.

Came here on a busy Sunday afternoon during Japanese cherry blossom festival, so there was a 30 minute after ordering to receive our food. Beef teriyaki was well seasoned, although the chicken was seared too much. The only suggestion would be to offer some side veggies for a balanced meal.

Food was pretty good and price as well. But the Lomi Lomi wasnt all that good should have got the ahi tuna instead.Dessert was amazingggg!!!

Dishes portion is large. Service is great. Inside Japan town. Highly recommend.

Pretty good teriyaki chicken, came with Mac salad and rice. They put the teriyaki on a bed of noodles which I hadn't seen before and it was too much food for me to finish.

I was craving poke and wanted to give Hukilau a try. The fish itself is quite good, but for $19, I expected toppings. At least the atmosphere and service are great, so maybe I'll come back and try some other menu items.

Ordered on a Thurs early afternoon via Uber Eats, delivery was quick (30 minutes arrival with a 10min drive from house) and food was luke warm. For the price, decent proportion and okay taste. This is the Mahi mahi grilled fish plate. Fish was a little bland as was the white rice (wasn't expecting anything different) but the macaroni salad was pretty darn delicious! Perhaps the dine-in experience would put this at 5 🌟.

Ordered takeout. The portion sizes were great. Spam musubi was good. Mac salad was also pretty good. I like the option of getting fried rice substituted for white rice. The short ribs were great. I did not like the chicken adobo which was a bit too sour for me and the salmon was a bit too salty. Overall, it was a crowd pleaser

They have the nicest poke servings, especially the appetizers that they have. Their fried rice and noodles were good, including fries are the crispy and tasty ones! Service is very neat and attentive. It’s definitely a small restaurant but it’s cozy, despite it being kind of dark but I am wondering if its to set a mood. Overall, this was my want-to-go places and I’m glad to try it out! I forgot to mention, their poke chips are the BEST!! *chef’s kiss*

This is a great food spot with plenty of seating. They also have a bar with delicious cocktail options. I recommend the garlic chicken as it was very tasty and something I would get again. It was fried well so that it has a crunch but it wasn’t hard, and the sauce was sweet and savory and wasn’t overpowering. Portions are a good size too. I was able to have the lunch and have some leftovers for later. I had the lava flow as my drink and it was quite good and def had some alcohol in it. Size was great as well. They have seating in the front and a larger eating area in the back. They close after lunch (2pm) then reopen for dinner service (5pm). I went here with a group of 8 and there was a 30 min wait only because it seemed like there was a soccer team that came here for lunch. Otherwise I think we would’ve gotten seated rather quickly. Parking is only street parking and could be hard to find depending what day and time you go. I went here Saturday 1pm and got parking a block over. The service here was excellent and the waiters were attentive and made sure we were taken care of. We were also able to split the bill 7 ways which was awesome. Vibes are very relaxed and chill. Music wasn’t so loud when we’re eating and bathrooms were clean. I would definitely come back here for the garlic chicken and to try new food!

I ordered their Loco Moco combo where you could choose two meats - I chose loco moco and grilled chicken. It came with rice, gravy, and macaroni salad on the side. My boyfriend ordered the chicken katsu and we shared a Spam musubi. The prices were reasonable and the portion of food was huge, it left us feeling full and satisfied. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the food was quick to arrive. When I asked the waitress questions about some food on the menu, though, she looked unsure.

We had family visiting from out of town who wanted some Hawaiian food and Hukilau did not disappoint! Our service was great from start to finish. We were a group of 6 and everyone left with full bellies and a smile. We tried the chicken katsu, grilled short ribs, poke, moco loco and the popcorn chicken. The fried rice is also a must and can be requested for an additional charge in lieu of white rice. I'm also a fan of the mac salad. Can't wait to visit again soon.

Great Hawaiian food at this establishment. The service was friendly and the food came promptly. The restaurant atmosphere is very casual and their dishes are delicious and the portion sizes are decent. Note to save room for dessert because they have a very nice bread pudding for dessert.

Tasty food, relaxed atmosphere. Would come again! Aloha chicken adobo was a lot “lighter” in flavor profile compared to Filipino adobo. Ginger fried chicken not a favor I would have thought of but very good!

Anne

This is a great food spot with plenty of seating. They also have a bar with delicious cocktail options. I recommend the garlic chicken as it was very tasty and something I would get again. It was fried well so that it has a crunch but it wasn’t hard, and the sauce was sweet and savory and wasn’t overpowering. Portions are a good size too. I was able to have the lunch and have some leftovers for later. I had the lava flow as my drink and it was quite good and def had some alcohol in it. Size was great as well. They have seating in the front and a larger eating area in the back. They close after lunch (2pm) then reopen for dinner service (5pm). I went here with a group of 8 and there was a 30 min wait only because it seemed like there was a soccer team that came here for lunch. Otherwise I think we would’ve gotten seated rather quickly. Parking is only street parking and could be hard to find depending what day and time you go. I went here Saturday 1pm and got parking a block over. The service here was excellent and the waiters were attentive and made sure we were taken care of. We were also able to split the bill 7 ways which was awesome. Vibes are very relaxed and chill. Music wasn’t so loud when we’re eating and bathrooms were clean. I would definitely come back here for the garlic chicken and to try new food!

Amanda Qiu

I ordered their Loco Moco combo where you could choose two meats - I chose loco moco and grilled chicken. It came with rice, gravy, and macaroni salad on the side. My boyfriend ordered the chicken katsu and we shared a Spam musubi. The prices were reasonable and the portion of food was huge, it left us feeling full and satisfied. I liked the decor of the restaurant and the food was quick to arrive. When I asked the waitress questions about some food on the menu, though, she looked unsure.

Andrea Lerma

We had family visiting from out of town who wanted some Hawaiian food and Hukilau did not disappoint! Our service was great from start to finish. We were a group of 6 and everyone left with full bellies and a smile. We tried the chicken katsu, grilled short ribs, poke, moco loco and the popcorn chicken. The fried rice is also a must and can be requested for an additional charge in lieu of white rice. I'm also a fan of the mac salad. Can't wait to visit again soon.

David Ng

Great Hawaiian food at this establishment. The service was friendly and the food came promptly. The restaurant atmosphere is very casual and their dishes are delicious and the portion sizes are decent. Note to save room for dessert because they have a very nice bread pudding for dessert.

Adrienne Cherie Ricker

Tasty food, relaxed atmosphere. Would come again! Aloha chicken adobo was a lot “lighter” in flavor profile compared to Filipino adobo. Ginger fried chicken not a favor I would have thought of but very good!

Haven't been to Hukilau in a long time. Went there with the extended family. Large group. The food was very good. My son wasn't find of the seasoning on their burger but it was what I remember them having it. My wife enjoyed her me. I had the Loco Moco and my wife had sesame chicken. We both enjoyed our food. Still a little pricey but not too bad.

Carlos Munoz

Haven't been to Hukilau in a long time. Went there with the extended family. Large group. The food was very good. My son wasn't find of the seasoning on their burger but it was what I remember them having it. My wife enjoyed her me. I had the Loco Moco and my wife had sesame chicken. We both enjoyed our food. Still a little pricey but not too bad.

Not sure if I have eaten here too much but my last experience was not as good as previous years, Moco Loco is the classic dish but this time the patties were very tough and over salted and the gravy was deficient in volume. Found myself coming off the meal unsatisfied. Service is never a problem and the atmosphere is the same as it had always been but something seems different now. I would still recommend it for a Hawaiian food sit down experience, but I may need to come back after a period and give it another go.

i went on 1/22/23. the order i did was simple and fast. i had the ono special plate, just the steak and also the Portuguese sausage. they were amazing with the savory flavor. i would get it again but im down for the next plate on the next visit. nothing was bad yet it was highly unexpected from the food.

This place is relatively expensive for the quantity you're getting. While you do leave full, the prices so seem a bit high for me.

It was a party. Few dinner choices. Spam musubi 1.5 stars Chicken karaage delicious 4 stars Edamame 3 stars I had ordered grilled mahi mahi dinner. The fish was not fresh. It tasted like defrosted frozen and The “grilled” was not done well. Fish 1.5 stars Rice was short grain sushi style not great 2 stars Mac salad slo very average 2.5 star I have had better at my local Hawaiian bbq

The food gets 4 to 4.5 stars. It was all cooked well and had good seasoning. It felt like eating at a Hawaiian casual restaurant in Hawaii. Coming on a Saturday is nice. They have live entertainment on Satuday nights. The service is what brings down the rating. They were definitely understaffed and had someone who couldn't handle a large crowd serving most of the back room. Drinks frequently were not filled and one drink had to be ordered 3 times. The first 2 times we ordered from the person serving our table. The third time we ordered the drink from someone who was clearing tables and refilling water glasses. If we go back we will be getting the food to go.

Mike Whitright

The food gets 4 to 4.5 stars. It was all cooked well and had good seasoning. It felt like eating at a Hawaiian casual restaurant in Hawaii. Coming on a Saturday is nice. They have live entertainment on Satuday nights. The service is what brings down the rating. They were definitely understaffed and had someone who couldn't handle a large crowd serving most of the back room. Drinks frequently were not filled and one drink had to be ordered 3 times. The first 2 times we ordered from the person serving our table. The third time we ordered the drink from someone who was clearing tables and refilling water glasses. If we go back we will be getting the food to go.

Service was OK, obviously short staffed, our server was working hard so we appreciate him for that. Food had good serving and plated nicely. Meat was tough for the short ribs and dry for my Luau plate. Maybe I won't come back and if I do, I won't order meat entrées.

Cold environment. The service and food are only fine. We were automatically charged with a gratuity fee of 18% of the bill without being noticed in advance. Then we paid another 15% tips! Never go to this place.

Food quality went totally down hill. Poke is not fresh what so ever. Fried rice was mid. Service was terrible and not helpful what so ever. The server and bartender working on July second at 1pm needs to be re trained or get a new job. They look like they don’t give a flying ****

Came here first time around 5PM based on reviews. I ordered 2 separate entrees. Beef and Chicken Katsu. Both orders, was reheated food. Anytime I am served reheated food, the place does not get a second chance. Even worse with the pricing on the higher end. As for taste, well how does food taste to you when its not freshly cooked?

Service is going downhill. Our Hawaiian family have been consumers for at least 20 years. I think this past Friday will be my last time coming. Sad for our Hawaiian family tradition. Service sucks no longer feels like Ohana.

Food and plating was VERY underwhelming. The poke dinner was served with old spam musubi. Wilted nori and soggy spam that sat so long it had time to soak into the rice. My bill was 20 and my two friends with that came to 76. After we asked to split the bill because the waitress didn't ask, we were told she was adding a gratuity fee for it and the bill went up 12 dollars. Don't eat at this place. Horrible food and service. My bill went from 20 to 29.

The food here wasn't the best, to say the least. I ordered the salmon, which was overly salted, mushy, and undercooked, while the potatoes were bland and runny. My other friends who came with me agreed that the food tasted horrible. We weren't able to finish much of the food, so we ended up eating at another restaurant, which I won't list. The service was ok, although the server messed up my friend's drink order and gave him a soda instead of a beer. The ambiance wasn't that good either. The lights were too bright, the walls were tacky, and they did not remind me much of Hawaii. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone with a good taste for food.