ONO HAWAIIAN BBQ
ALOHA IN EVERY BITE

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, not every meal needs to be a four-star event. Sometimes, hardy comfort food is as good as any fine dining meal. And when it comes to hardy comfort food, a favorite of mine is Ono Hawaiian BBQ – a family owned fast, casual restaurant serving authentic Hawaiian Plate Lunches and other island specialties since 2002.

With locations throughout Southern California, it is not difficult to find yourself a nearby Ono Hawaiian BBQ to indulge in an oversized and satisfying meal. At Ono, the marinades are made from scratch. The Katsu is hand rolled in panko bread crumbs. And the addictive Teriyaki and Katsu sauces are also made in-house with a unique blend of spices.

Beloved for its popular Plate Lunch, this dish is a tried and true must-have. The plate lunch started out as street fare for immigrants and sailors arriving on the docks of Honolulu but became a favorite among many on the mainland. The Ono Hawaiian BBQ Plate Lunch consists of two scoops of rice, one scoop of mac salad and your choice of entree (chicken, beef, pork or seafood) over a bed of steamed cabbage.

During our recent visit to the new Monterey Park location, we took our food to-go and enjoyed the perfect picnic at a nearby park. We really couldn’t ask for a better afternoon.

We started our feast with the extremely tasty Crab Rangoon—faux crab meat and cream cheese in crispy wonton skin—along with an order of Crispy Shrimp. Boy, were we off to a great start!

We considered the signature Hawaiian BBQ Chicken plate lunch a must-have as it’s the most popular item on the menu. Here, grilled boneless and skinless chicken is marinated in BBQ sauce. And the dish really hits the spot. Likewise, the Kalbi Short Ribs (tender beef short ribs marinated in Korean style BBQ sauce, then perfectly grilled) and the Kalua Pork (slow roasted pork with a hint of smoky flavor and served shredded over steamed cabbage) and also solid options as Plate Lunch entrees.  You can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

While the concept at Ono Hawaiian BBQ is fast casual, I really loved our picnic in the park experience. Here, the fare is perfect to take home, to eat hatchback style to maintain social distancing or to dine al fresco.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ locations are located throughout the Southland. Click here to find a nearest location near you.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: Ono Hawaiian BBQ