I was having my lunch today at 3 PM, and I basically wanted something fast & cheap.........while driving in the Kalihi area, I decided to pull into Bob's Ba Ba Ba Bar-B-Que! Bob's Bar-B-Que is an old time local grindz institution! If you like the old skool BBQ type of place where they serve local kine grindz........then you've come to the right place! Coming to Bob's, reminds me of the old days of going to Jolly Rodgers in Kahala, or Bea's Drive Inn in Kaimuki......I just love the old skool feel of the place. Nothing fancy at all, but they do serve up some yummy grindz! Just a few things about Bob's - 1. If you need something quick, & don't like freshly made food........don't come here. The food is Not pre-made (so it take a little time), & sitting under a lamp..........you like freshly made food, yes, they serve it here! 2. If you don't like outdoor seating, (where the birds sometime come by and visit your table, or the little flies who decide to do a bomb landing on your food)........don't come here. Yes......gangies.....it's definitely NOT 5 star dining here. It may not even be a 1 star dining experience if you're strictly looking at decor on a place, but hey, this place has long lasted a lot of businesses through the years, and has a strong local following! For the late lunch today, I ordered myself a Fat Boy Burger, GIANT Fries, & to wash all of it down with a medium Ice Tea. All of this for $9.79 (with tax). Oh, by the way.........if you don't know what a Fat Boy Burger is.........that's basically me eating a burger! Lol! Nah, but really.........a Fat Boy Burger is a Teri Burger with a Fried Egg on top of the hamburger, and it is topped with some lettuce, tomato, & some mayonnaise (Yes gang, I ate mayonnaise..........and for you folks that know me, you know how I feel about that). What can I say about the grub-a-dub-dub? Well, I gotta tell you the burger the delicious! It came out piping hot! The bun was so soft, and the meat was so tender. The teri sauce was not overpowering, and it complemented the fried egg on top! As for the GIANT fries...........yes it was GIANT all right! The fries were basically like them steak fries, or Mojo fries..........big chunks of potato wedges deep fried to a crisp on the outside, but soft & meaty on the inside! Ummmmmmm.......noms! I don't know why I took so long to come back here to eat? It's a pretty good local place I tell you! And when I read Dave F. & Catherine F.'s reviews.........or I looked at the pics that Maggie T., Darrell P., Lori I., Ramfis B., & J. Y. had posted at Bob's, I was thinking to myself............hummmmm, "Did I order the wrong stuff?". Cuz I swear, the stuff they ate, looked way better than mines. But of course my eyes are always bigger than my stomach! Chance em' gangies! read more

See all

It was already 9pm by the time our plane landed in Honolulu and after picking up the rental car, leaving the airport, etc. I thought we'd be stuck with nothing but a drive through McD's. Thanks to the trusty yelp app, we found out this place was only 3 miles from HNL and open til 11pm everyday! The prices are dirt cheap for the servings they give you and the rice plates all come with two scoops of rice and macaroni. Bf's hamburger steak rice plate ($8.95) was doused in a light pan gravy sauce and my half order of grilled ahi ($6.95) was a nice healthy option. Lots of locals stopped by for to go orders -- a very comforting sign that we choose well despite the familiar McD's across the street. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Hamburger steak and grilled ahi (mini order) - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Bob's seems more like a local drive-in than a BBQ place. If you are from the mainland (especially the South or other BBQ-centric place), you may be underwhelmed by the BBQ here. On the other hand, if you are looking for a variety of grilled meat, seafood, and burgers, Bob's may be your place. Bob's is located in Kalihi across from a McDonalds and next to a Taco Bell. The parking lot is small. There is some covered picnic bench seating in front of the counter where you order. This place looks like something out of American Graffiti but it's been here forever and clearly, a lot of the customers are regulars. If you are in Kalihi and hungry for some beef ribs or a chocolate malt, check it out. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Beef ribs. - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First time here. Ribs were mostly tender. Chicken was okay. Sauce was okay. Nothing to rave about. Macaroni salad was bland. Most are anyway. Wish I had different sides though. Rice and mac was too boring as sides. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Mixed ribs plate $24 and bbq chicken plate $14 - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Talk about temptation! I was driving like a good girl to my office after my open house and then my spoiled belly started demanding food! I was literally at the stop light and saw this place so made a super fast turn and ended up here! I remember trying this place long long long time ago and i had forgotten how it taste so here we go again! Here the reviews: *Ambience: place is not the cleanest or fanciest but when it comes to food i can eat in the fanciest place or the most ugly place. *Service: girl at the counter was nice and friendly! 10 points! *Parking: plenty right in front: *Food: I was debating between the bbq ribs or BBQ baby back ribs. Decided to try the second one... Honestly it didnt make the cut for me... the sauce was ok and i dont think the meat was the freshest... maybe i got the wrong item? Maybe it was a Sunday and they didnt feel like cooking? I dont know but its hard for me to give a 3 star review but i cant lie :( read more

What a disappointment! Long heard about the To-Die-For BBQ braised short ribs, but they do NOT have it anymore...FOREVER!!!! I wish the cashier would just tell me that when I ordered, but instead, she ringed me up for 2 orders of Korean BBQ short ribs. I feel cheated when I got our plates The Korean BBQ short ribs was Okay, nothing out of the ordinary, sweet & salty, well charred. Given its chewiness, I assume they were frozen?! For a total of $21 dollars, I rather go to a Korean restaurant to have Korean short ribs, with A/C, clean tables, unlimited side dishes and steamed white rice, like at 678 Hawaii. Instead, I am sitting on old, scratched up outdoor tables, that are Never Wiped, topped with bird shit, sauce, scraps of food, and dirtiness, with smokers next to me. The whole experience just screams: unsanitary and over priced! read more

See all

The dirtiest place I've ever been. Food was dry and old . not very friendly people. No a place that I will recommend.

Kalbi tasted great but rice had the taste of the smell of the kitchen. Do not look behind register. It will make you think twice about eating there. read more

Love the seafood platter! Shitty how construction is in the area, can't wait for them to move in gulick closer to home

What do they call Hawaiian BBQ in Hawaii? Wait for it....BBQ! Ha! Reminded me of when I went to England and asked for an English muffin. They had no idea what I meant...learned later in England they call that item a muffin! Ha again. Who knew. Anyways this is about BOB'S BBQ! FIRST STOP RIGHT OUT OF THE AIRPORT! I knew I'd be hungry after that long flight and I really didn't want any food from a national chain etc while on this trip. Bbq is pretty much my favorite food and this place is known for having fantastic pork AND beef ribs! In a word ONO! All their plate lunches are generous and at very good prices! I got the ribs combo. This has both beef and pork ribs. Both were excellent. Beef wasn't exactly fall off the bone but that's normal and the flavor was phenomenal! The mac salad was super homemade-y absolutely delicious. And the rice, well, it was rice. 1 Kid had the katsu chicken. Very non threatening with Panko breadcrumbs. The other had a burger. Super juicy and nicely seasoned too! If you're new to town and just want to eat where the locals do this is a must stop BBQ joint. Outside seating only so keep weather in mind. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Mini katsu chicken! Not just for kids! - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

TLDR: good beef ribs Upon arriving to this place, the storefront wasn't the most appealing but don't be fooled! The food here is great! I ordered the beef rib snack plate and it still came with 2 gigantic meaty ribs plus Mac salad. I couldn't finish it on my own and it was shareable for sure! Come here if you want some good bbq, you won't be disappointed! read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I hesitate to write this but people who know me probably don't know that BBQ and NOT chocolate or sushi is my first love. But it also pains me to make or eat it, I did make it once at David S.'s Whiskey Business UYE to see if I still had it in me. Whenever I go back to the Hawaii I make sure to stop by and thank the place and people that fed me growing up. The BBQ doesn't taste the same now as it did back then but I do enjoy the non BBQ Kahlua. I grew up in Kalihi before moving to Aiea for a couple years but my dad worked at Bob's BBQ. In my adolescent years we were poor, living in a room half the size of my small living room now; we lived in debt until the cost of raising me and my brother wasn't too straining and they were out of it to the point where they could start saving the last couple of years before moving to LV. Other than reusing the same hand-me-down clothes every year, not always having lunch money to bring to school, living with the life of fire than electricity, one of the ways my parents saved money was bringing work food home. Bob's BBQ came through. Going to grandmas was the best. Her old broken down TV captured maybe two channels at best, but on Saturday mornings my brother and I would be able to catch some of the cartoons. And from watching Popeye, I knew vegetables were healthier and would make me stronger but all we could afford (it was free...) was the BBQ meal my dad was able to pack away after the end of his shift. It's been 25 solid years (for me) and this place is still in business, I live a very stress-free life now but enjoy reminiscing how I ate like a King. It may not be the best BBQ out there today (time, richer ingredients, and cuisine evolution have something to do with that) but growing up on Bob's BBQ, I wouldn't have it any other way. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Open from early morning to really late. - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Bob...Bob...Bob... Oh, Bob. Thank you for your large plate lunches at reasonable prices. The kalbi plate with shrimp was ono, and so was the mixed seafood plate. If you're craving fried food, then the mixed seafood plate won't disappoint. The plates are super heavy in rice, so if you're a carb-killer, then you'll love it. The kalbi flavor is on point and I enjoyed the fried shrimp, too. Bob's meal was oh so satisfying. The cheeseburger was simple and exactly what you'd want in one. The fries were crispy and extremely generous in portion size. If you're around the area and want something that won't skimp out in portion size, then look no further. This hole-in-the-wall joint will live up to your expectations. read more

See all

I grabbed a combination bar-b-que plate for lunch over the weekend. It had been a while since my last visit, but it was the same great deal I remember from before the pandemic. Lot's of good tasting food for a very reasonable price. My plate included a large piece of bar-b-que chicken, a large piece of bar-b-que beef and two large pieces of bar-b-que short ribs. It also came with two scoops of rice and a scoop of mac salad. I like that the mac salad came in a separate little container, which helped keep it cold. All for under $14.00... before tax. In addition to the excellent food, there was ample parking and it was easy to maintain social distancing while placing and waiting for my order. I will definitely be back soon. read more

Hibachi chicken is awesome! So is the shrimp burger, giant fries, chocolate malt. May have to wait a bit, but believe me, it's well worth the wait. read more

I really like this overlooked BBQ spot in Kalihi. Their BBQ beef ribs are plentiful and richly flavored. Free parking.

Excellent food and very reasonable prices. Large portions. Looking forward to new location.

Good bbq and good deal. Definitely recommend the super combo for $27. That, in addition to the sausage plate with fried beans was more than enough for two of us. We were craving BBQ after watching Chef's Table BBQ, and this hit the spot. Bonus, they said phone order would be ready in 10 min. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great food. You have to dodge a vagrant or two from time to time but great food. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We ordered a Hibachi chicken plate for dinner it was quite disappointing. Chicken was overcooked and dry. I felt that they should have dredge it and added more sauce to compensate for the dryness. I had called them to inform them of what my concern was. My guess was correct and confirmed that they do precook their chicken and they don't know how long its been sitting in the pan. She mention it would take to long for the patron to wait if it was freshly cooked. We waited 15 minutes for our plate? Only had another patron and us there. So if you folks are craving for a chicken plate ask them to have it cook fresh and not pre cook. read more

Bobs Bar-B-Que, is definitely a Local Favorite. The food and Customer Service is absolutely fabulous. I am sure that many Local Residents feel the same way I do, that this absolutely A MUST STOP BY EATERY TO GET A GREAT MEAL!!!! Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. If you are visiting Oahu, YOU MUST STOP BY AND EAT THERE. Their entire MENU IS DEFINITELY "THE BEST". I am sure they will supersede any expectations. That is the type of reputation they have for many, many years. You have to try it for yourself. read more

I've been to Bob's BBQ countless times over the years and I think every single one of those times was late night after 10pm. To me, this is what they are for. A filling meal of bbq meats slathered in a sweet bbq sauce when you missed dinner and need a meal after restaurant hours. The food is consistently average across the board. Whether you get the kal bi, hibachi chicken, deep fried seafood or any of their other items, it will never be great but it will always be decent enough. My go to items are the pork chops, the beef ribs and the baked beans. Overall, the menu has a large variety and the food is definitely affordable. Combining that with the late hours that they operate until this place is "A-OK". read more

See all

I went to order for a take out. Their menu is good and they have a few selected specials. What I was disappointed about during my last two visits? Have you noticed the carton plates that they use? The plates gets really soft and the rice gets stuck to the carton. They have a few flaws. It's bad for business. I hope when they move to the Tasty's location. they will improve. I mentioned it to the girl at the counter and she acknowledged it but didn't seem a bit concerned. read more

This place is amazingly good. Got the chicken katsu plate which was so big and tasty. You must go here! read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Chicken Katsu plate Soooo good! - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food is very good! Staff is very nice and friendly. We tried loco moco and fried scallop, then came back for BBQ. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Loco moco - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great spot. Love the Kalbi beef and short ribs. Mac salad is done well! Chicken wasn't my favorite but all I have pics of lol. Chocolate malt is the best frosty you'll ever have. A must try! Great spot when you first land, or right before the airport. Very close. Teri sauce is delicious. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Teri chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went to Bob's had heard so much about it on FB. Well it was so good one of the best burgers in Mt.Home.they have billiards also the owner was very friendly will be back a lot read more

It's a hit or miss. Sometimes the food is great but poor quality on portions. I got beef ribs a few times that were almost just bone. read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Beef & Pork ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I went to meet Carla the cookie lady one Friday night outside Waiakamilo Shopping Plaza to pick up my pre-ordered peanut butter cookies. It felt like a drug deal. $90 for 3 gift jars that look like bears or something. Yeah, like those small plastic bottles of honey but without the cone hole at the top. As she dropped the jars in my trunk, I could smell the sweet teriyaki scent wafting through the chill night air. Somehow I knew it wasn't from nearby McDonalds. And it wasn't Carla's perfume, either. So I was lured over to Bob's to try the teri-burger after first ordering the cheeseburger combo. The woman who took my second mumbled order minutes after the first chuckled as if to hide saying to me:"You dumb sh*t, you know you wanted that. Why didn't you order it to begin with?" In Fran C.'s review I saw a while back I also remember seeing photos of giant fries as well. I was hoping my order would include the giants but I was disappointed. But not much. The food was good. But I probably wouldn't order these sandwiches again, not because they weren't good, but because there are so many items on the menu that seem to call me. And the fry cook looks out at the people as they order with that confident look that says: "I can handle anything you order." So of course I had to go back. On wet Thursday, Sean and I were supposed to go to Pieology, but after picking him up, something on the menu at Bob's was calling me. No, not on my phone. Calling like psychically saying "You know you don't want to drive to Aina Haina from downtown. You know you want local food, not sparse tomato cheesy stuff." So I ordered the kal bi and fried shrimp plate. It was pretty good, as plate lunches go. But something there is still calling. I don't know what it is, but I will find it, even if I have to try everything on the menu to find it. read more

This spot was a gem! Tons of selection and bang for your buck! I ordered an all meat plate which came with 4 types of meats a side of rice and mac salad. Come here if you are ready to feast! read more

I do not recommend the mixed ribs plate. In terms of price it is a good value for the ribs you get. However, the low meat quality is quickly apparent. Maybe other things are good here, just don't waste money on the ribs. read more

Went to pick up some food from Bobs on 7/29/20 in the evening hours before it closed. I was very disappointed to see the male cook who was the only male working with an older Korean looking lady next to him. The male was eating something and cooking without a mask on. It had a total of 3 females and 1 male working this evening. It was bad enough that he was eating and handling food, but to not wear a mask when it is mandatory due to the corona virus is extremely dangerous. They better get with the program and protect their customers. read more

Delicious bbq. Large portions. We couldn't finish it all and ended up taking some home. No indoor seating but the tables outside were just fine. Great prices too. read more

Wow wow wow. The bbq flavor really hits you in each bite! Would HIGHLY recommend. I'm definitely going back and going to support them in their upcoming relocation. read more

If you're driving by you'll most likely want to pass! Let me just say, you will regret it!! This is an amazing hole in the wall that you'll enjoy! I ordered the Teri beef sandwich (super simple) but sooooo good! I also added curly fries (can't ever go wrong with curlys) and a small drink. If you're around the area it's a must go! read more

Bob's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Not crazy about location! Parking is def weird! Food is good menu is huge! I went at dinner n was super crowed.

The quality of the food is top notch. 2 scoop rice, protein, and side salad (mac/greens/Kim Chee/slaw). When we come the food is delicious and usually quick for made when ordered. Parking is usually available and if no more in front. There is some on the side. Great food, great service and plenty of room for parking and eating on site. With a lot of covered tables to grind, enjoy the spot with the family. Aloha! And enjoy....we do. read more

See all

There is no charm about this place. It just is what it is. We came by for a pitstop before heading to the airport, knowing we were going to have a long day ahead of us. Ordered a combo plate and teriyaki beef plate, which came with scoops of rice and mac salad. Overall, delicious! A cheap meal for two and easy in-and-out since it's not overhyped like all the spots in Waikiki. read more

Great lil local spot in Kalihi. Food is affordable and filling. I had crispy pork sand and a bbq chicken sandwich, both under 5 bucks each! Good kine grindz read more

Local style bbq joint with affordable options. My go to for that plate lunch special!