The Yummiest Hawaiian in San Francisco

Noelani's Island Grill

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"Loved the chicken teriyaki bowl with brown rice! I am very particular about teriyaki sauce - if it doesn't taste like my mom's - then I'm not having it. So, the sauce was milder than my mom's (not quite as salty/sweet), but I was okay with that because it was absolutely delicious and exactly the right consistency to me (Noelani's knows how to do chicken teriyaki the way I like it!) - excellent dipping sauce - the marinade was also spot on - oh and the chicken was cooked perfectly I might add. Super flavorful, moist and succulent - YUM! The furikake sprinkled on the rice was an epic surprise (I love furikake) and added an additional layer of flavor, I would definitely order it again. The waitstaff were super nice and awesome! We also ordered the ice cream Oreo cookie crust pie - also YUM!!!"

J & J Hawaiian BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.6 (210) • $

"$20 for a big tray of noodles or fried rice. I'm in. No one leaves hungry. Great place for those on a budget! My Hawaiian friend says this place is better than LNL and I agree! It not only has Hawaiian BBQ plate lunch, it also has Chinese classics: orange chicken, Peking ribs, stir fried eggplant, etc etc. I just wouldn't eat in the restaurant itself. There is a bathroom in case you are wondering, but I would definitely order to-go!I also highly suggest them for catering/party orders! Very reasonably priced!"

Ramenwell

★★★★☆ 4.1 (507) • $$

"Very impressed with the ramen here! I came with a group of people around 5 on a Saturday and didn't have to wait too long for a table. However, I recommend checking the wait beforehand cause they don't have much seating. The ramen was really well executed. Good portion sizes and broth flavor was delicious. They ask for spice level and I would recommend airing on the side of higher if you like spicy. Our waiter said a 6 was extremely spicy so I tried a 4 and it wasn't very spicy at all. Good flavors. One note for the company, I thought the placement of the bathroom was a huge oversight. If possible I would recommend doing something about that so the bathroom line for the single bathroom doesn't distractingly line up in the center of the restaurant."

HI City

★★★★☆ 3.6 (43)

"Saw this new spot pop up on my yelp feet and decide to try out since I love Hawaiian food. When trying Hawaiian for the first time I always go with the loco moco and musubi. Also grabbed a poke bowl to try out. Since we are all still in Shelter in Place I ordered via mobile via their website from my car. Very easy to place an order and was done in the 10-15 minutes that was stated on the site. Gave me enough time to pick up a few items I needed at the ranch. The loco moco was pretty good. Gravy was a little congealed since it had to travel back home but they gave a good portion of meat and was spiced well. Mac salad was decent and egg was cooked just right. Bag tipped over in my car but lid held everything in so no biggie. Good take on the Hawaiian classic. Also ordered a Poke bow with 2 scoops. Pretty easy to select toppings via the website. Here's what we got.Build Your Own Poke Bowl - 2 Scoops of PokeVariation: RegularPoke Base: Sushi Rice,Mix GreensBase Toppings: Cucumbers,Garlic Crab MixChoice 1: Salmon FurikakeChoice 2: Sweet Miso SalmonToppings: Corn,Green Onions,Masago,Lomi Lomi Tomatoes,Fried Onions,FurikakeSauce: House Calamansi Ponzu To be honest both types of poke tasted similar. But maybe due to them being mixed together with the sauce. Overall solid poke bowl as well. I also got a couple of the chicken spam musubi. Solid for HI food as well. If in the mood for hawaiian takeout, this was a good choice, would be back if nearby or need to shop inside 99 and have my food ready to go before heading home.TLDR; Solid spot for HI (hawaiian) grub in the mid peninsula."

Unco Frank’s

★★★★★ 4.5 (109) • $$

"Everything, you must try everything! Nestled within a wine bar is Unco Frank's, a fresh, modern take on Hawaiian food. And boy, everything single dish had me saying "Oh my god!" If you want a taste of all their classics, get the Pupu Platter -- it's perfect to share with two people. The coconut shrimp is hot, crispy and tender! The Mac salad has a peppery kick! All in all, a solid place for a quick bite and a glass of wine/beer. The service was stellar as well -- friendly and fast. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a casual place with solid bites and drinks."

William BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.2 (93) • $$

"Nice small restaurant with two tables in side and one out. Food and portions are great! The owners running the place are extremely nice and attentive, definitely a new favorite Hawaiian Plate spot!"

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (272) • $$

"This is seriously the worst L&L I've ever been to. The chicken katsu was almost burnt and also scraggly small little pieces. All the previous L&L I've been to give huge portions with thick nice golden brown katsu. What we got almost looked like leftovers that were out to dry and shrivel. Pretty gross"

Takahashi Market

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"I love the spam musubis at takahashi market! They're all packed with flavor and filling, and they are HUGE so you'll definitely get full. Depending on the protein inside it'll range from 8-10$ I believe. I liked the crawfish one and I've also tried the loco moco, which was ok. Takahashi also sells their own version of a popcorn chicken plate and I really enjoying every bite of it."

Hawaiian Drive Inn

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (173) • $

"I have been getting short ribs for the holidays party. It's been a hit. Their spam musabi is also everyone favorite. I also tried their chicken katsu which was great! I am always hoping for left over so we can bring them home for later. :)"

Poke Life

★★★★☆ 3.5 (71) • $$

"Got this house poke bowl. Ingredients were fresh, didn't even need soy sauce or ponzu. Just a little swirl of the special sauce and good to go. So yummy. Good ratio of rice to salad mix too."

Outer Orbit

★★★★☆ 4.3 (235) • $$

"We walked in for dinner on a weekday and am very happy we did, since there was no wait and restaurant week. The ambiance was lovely inside, with pinball machines and bright neon lighting. The spam musubi was tasty but on the smaller side, the cocktail pairing with it was below average. However, they have an extensive beer and drink menu - I enjoyed the Sour they had on tap. The small rocket salad was plentiful and had a yummy miso ranch dressing. The lamb ribs were delicious too, though one piece was dryer than the other. The Kheer Brûlée was my favorite in the set menu, as I love the rice pudding and could taste hints of the lilikoi."

Big Daddy's Hawaiian BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (7)

"I really love Hawaiian BBQ. This place grills the meat very well but the Mac salad has mustard in it and kinda ruins the whole "Mac salad, rice, BBQ chicken bite. Honestly delicious except for the Mac salad, mustard doesn't traditionally go in Hawaiian Mac Salad. But I won't be back because of the Mac salad.Mac salad, Mac salad, Mac Salad, #macsalad. #mustarddoesntbelong"

Big Daddy's Hawaiian BBQ

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (24)

"Quality is good, had a bit of spicy zing. Ghost kitchen/doordash place with minimal interior/parking. You order ahead and then check in at a kiosk and the food appears on a locker."

Poke Delish

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (73) • $$

"Very decent price for the amount of food and raw fish you got. The line was kinda long because I went during lunch. My dish got too much soy sauce though, and it was a bit salty for me. I couldn't finish everything. I like the place though. Laidback and easy to have a big group hang out"

Da Poke Man

★★★★☆ 4.1 (13)

"Da Poke Man is one of the new food choices at AT&T Park. It's really hard to find, tucked away underneath the Virgin America escalator going up to the Club Level. You have choices of regular and spicy over greens or over rice. $15 . Just basic tuna poke. Portions are decent considering it's at the ball park. No lines since very few people know about it."

Moki's Sushi & Pacific Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (522) • $$

"We've been coming here for years and it's still one of the few places everyone in the family loves. Sushi is always good and fresh (especially love the drum roll with mango and mint), my daughter loves the ramen and chicken karaage and baby back ribs, salads and specials are good too. Service always friendly, and I love the Hawaiian music and ambiance."

SH Hawaiian Barbecue & Donuts

★★★★☆ 3.9 (40)

"Amazing BBQ. Their chicken cutlet and bbq chicken are amazing, and the portion sizes are insanely generous. The mac salad is not too heavy, but still hits the spot. Do not forget to pick up donuts as well! Super fresh and delicious, and they make for the perfect dessert afterwards!"

Pa'ina Lounge & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (902) • $$

"Review #002 - 2025I haven't written too many reviews lately since I feel like--unless a business really warrants a great review or a really poor review then I'm kind of wasting my time.I used to write reviews because I enjoyed the interaction with other Yelpers; but lately, Yelp just doesn't have that same community feel from when I first started.However, that shouldn't stop me from writing an honest review when a business deserves to be commended on their food/service.My two sisters and I showed up with our 3 daughters on Friday, February 21, around 5 PM.We were greeted and seated immediately.The place was pretty slow since it was still early for dinner so we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves.Our waitress was very sweet and accommodating. I didn't ask her name, but she's a cute young Asian girl, who always had a smile on her face.We ordered quite a few items to share.My older sister and two nieces each ordered the wagyu burger, which they all said was made to their liking.We had the pa'ina wings which were really tasty.The salt and pepper wings were a little salty for my preference, but the kids seemed to enjoy them.We had an order of regular fries and garlic fries, which we all enjoyed a little too much, considering we're all suppose to be eating "healthy".We ordered the garlic noodz with seafood and that was pretty tasty as well.The garlic butter shrimps were our least favorite because the shrimp had a weird smell, like it was drenched in lighter fluid, but the kitchen tried to make us a new order and it still came out smelling the same so they were kind enough to just remove it from our bill.The poke nachos arrived late, but we still enjoyed it. My sister ended up taking the rest home for her husband.The manager was very sweet! She brought the kids some complimentary pineapple Dole whip as an apology for the shrimp fiasco and sang "happy birthday" to our 16th year old niece.The whole experience was very memorable! We'll try to return should we ever happen to be in the area.Our waitress took some photos for us with their Instagram-worthy wall :)"

Hana Hawaiian Barbeque

★★★★☆ 4.3 (453) • $$

"Surprised I haven't reviewed this spot yet. Been here a handful of times now and the food is good, service is fast and quantity quality ratio is really good. Staff is friendly when ordering over the phone or in person. At busy times best to call ahead but today decided to come in around 7pm and they got my 3 orders ready in under 10 mins. Sometimes when busy they will tell you 20 mins. Pretty standard seating for a Hawaiian spot. Like a fast casual spot from the 90's and it's still the same as the 90's. One of the better more consistent spots for Hawaiian in the peninsula."

Hawaiian Drive Inn

★★★★☆ 4.2 (302) • $

"Oh my goodness this place has a special place in my heart that started when I moved in down the street and decided to take my baby for a walk over 12 years ago and have never stopped coming here since!!!!It's a hole in the wall that you can't take everyone lol Complaining types! LolIt's dirty it's it's grimy.But it hits every time My order teriyaki steak plate extra well doneAnd the cheeseburger I gave it a nickname Nasty burger!!! It makes sense once you take a bit It's greasy gooey and full of flavor mayo and cheese only with frys"

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

★★★☆☆ 3 (404) • $

"Ordered catering for the past two years (2023, 2024). Worked with the manager, Millie. Millie made the ordering process very easy. In 2023, she even delivered the order herself!The food was great for the large group, yet, there were still alot of left overs.Give them at least 3-4 days advanced notice, so they can prepare for your order.We will order from them again next year."

Hawaiian Drive Inn

★★★★☆ 3.6 (217) • $

"Chicken katsu sandwich, spam musubi & steamed broccoli. This place had 4.3 stars on Google and I was in the neighborhood so I decided to stop. Very polite owners & food was delicious. Definitely recommend :-)"

Aloha BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (193) • $

"3.5 starsI got the chicken katsu mini and spam musubi trio. I'm not giving it 4 stars because the katsu sauce was runny or watered down, which changes the taste and experience a bit."

Lotus Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (587) • $$

"After reading other reviews, we were excited to try this place. Went for dinner on a Thursday evening, and a bit surprised by how empty it was. Interior felt recently renovated, but my daughters said it gave them "nail salon vibes." We all ordered different dinner specials, with fried rice instead of white rice. The substitution was prominently advertised as an option on the menu, but our server seemed very befuddled about the request and tapped away on his device for an awkwardly long time.When entrees showed up, one of us got eggplant instead of the kung pao chicken that we ordered, but we decided to roll with it. I got honey walnut prawns, but there were zero walnuts to be found. Food tasted ok, but everything had goopy, sweet sauces (tons-of-corn-starch-and-sugar) and tasted vaguely like fast-food.It wasn't awful, but we all agreed it just wasn't a place we'd come back to."

Palm House

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$

"If you are looking for a good happy hour in the Marina, Palm House is a good spot to check out.We had some friends visiting from out of town, and we were looking for happy hour spot that was dog friendly, and palm house fit the bill after checking out their HH menu. They run HH Monday-Friday from 4-6PM. The best deal is their famous punch bowls, normally close to $70, it's 50% off during happy hour. While they lean to the sweet side, it's big enough to share with 2-3 people. The HH food was good but a little bit salty, especially their tuna poke taquitos. Good but too salty. They've got a bunch of food items though on their HH menu for under $9. Back to the dog friendly portion, I've never seen a restaurant that welcomes our pups. The staff was so kind providing them water and treats, and they even offer puppy cocktails and food on their menu. Overall,Definitely a spot worth checking out for HH"

Oke Poke

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"Oke poke is just that: Ok poke. I went around 8pm, and I'm not gonna lie, the area was a mess. A bit messy, felt a bit unsafe with a car, so I ran in to grab it quickly and leave. It's not a sit down place, just a kitchen where you can order/pickup from.I quickly left and got home to start the meal. Honestly, it was pretty solid but wasn't as tasty as I would want. The sauce was a bit lacking but the quantity was pretty solid. In reality, I would give 3.5 stars but that's just not how Yelp operates."

Olioli Hawaiian BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (201) • $$

"Fireeeeeeee! The garlic shrimp is a must . Beef and broccoli was good. Good portion. Service was quick to dine in & food was all freshlyCooked. Family friendly. Parking is easy access"

Poke bowl

★★★★☆ 3.6 (39)

"This place really hits the spot for my poke bowl cravings! I stopped by for lunch since it's just a short walk from my office. I opted for the Build Your Own poke bowl in the small size, and it was more than enough to leave me feeling full. I chose salmon and scallops as my proteins, and both were very fresh! I wish they offered more topping options like lotus chips or wonton crisps, but overall, it's a great spot for poke. Also, the service was super fast!"

Kitchen Aloha

★★★★☆ 4.3 (93) • $$

"4.5 rounded up. I like the spam musubi offerings and the handrolls. The pork tonkatsu is a bit greasy but I enjoy the mac salad. For some reason, the sushi doesn't sing as much to me. I tried one of the soups and it was crazy affordable, but now the price has jumped up a few dollars."

Blue Whale Poke Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (189) • $$

"Smallish servings of fish but fresh and tasty Poke bowls for the $15 you pay. In fairness, they have to cover the crazy rents here I suppose, plus inflation these days. The vibe? Clean, casual modern food court vibe in the upscalish all-new (a few years new) food court annex of Hillsdale Mall.Indifferent service but they get the job done. I ordered the 2-scoop Poke bowl with Hawaiian style tuna and salmon with a base of mixed greens and brown rice. The scoop of tuna was small, so perhaps the pro tip here is to just spend the extra $2 for the larger 3-scoop bowl. I did not like the fact that you have to pay $2 extra for seaweed! Uhh.. no.. not this time.I normally go for the Mexican place here in this food court, so this was still an okay alternative for something different."

Da Poke-Man

★★★★★ 4.5 (54) • $$

"I'm a SF Giants season ticket holder and attend a ton of games each year since they open Oracle/AT&T/Pac Bell Park. We patronize Da Poke Man stand located in the corner just under the evaluator to the Club level. Usually, it's a fun positive experience but in the last week of the 2023 season vs Dodgers I encountered the "mean cafeteria lunch lady" from elementary school. Being a season ticket member we get 20% of all souvenirs and concessions at the ballpark with an easy scan of a bar code. The order taker / cashier was that rude nightmarish lunch lady minus just the hairnet. She was mean rude and obviously hates being there. She was all hot and bothered when I was to scan my bar code for the discount. It's too bad because the food is still good. Hopefully, next season they can hire more hospitable staff."

Tuna Kahuna

★★★★★ 4.6 (713) • $$

"Tuna Kahuna is my favorite lunch spot in Burlingame. The owners truly care and are often in the kitchen themselves. Fresh fish, excellent sauces and marinades, and a wide variety of toppings. Their signature bowls are the way to go, as each is thoughtfully composed with ingredients that complement each other. Their new ginger scallion bowl is my current fave. The salmon lover bowl another go-to. Casual ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. I have yet to try their special weekend meals, which is a more elevated dining experience. Another bonus: they have a rewards program which is earns you discounts over time. I'll be back!"

Hawi Hawaiian BBQ

★★★★☆ 4 (282) • $

"We got the family deal tonight , Fish, BBQ beef chicken, rice and Mac salad. Everything was so good ! Found our favorite Hawaiian BBQ restaurant! The BBQ Beef was made perfect , just how we like it ! Highly recommend this restaurant!"

Poke'd Out Fish Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (93) • $$

"Poked out has been my go to spot to get poke this year. Staff is always friendly and I like how generous the fish portions are. It's pretty quick to grab a bowl since there's usually only a short line. The only thing that would call out is that sometimes their rice isn't consistent and can be quite mushy. I also hope they start an online order form instead of having to go through uber eats."

Lilikoi on Broadway

★★★★★ 4.7 (32)

"This is my favorite boba spot. Their boba drinks are so delicious l! I'm thinking about going there today, so I looked on Yelp for their hours. My kids love all their snack items. It's very comforting. We just recently tried their croffles. It's crispy and flaky on the outside and soft on the inside. So yummy!!! The service is great! Everyone is super friendly, especially the owner, Derek!"