Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    El Chino Loco

    4.6 (14 reviews)

    El Chino Loco Barbeque Restaurant Photos

    EL CHINO LOCO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - El Chino Loco

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Taylor H.

    First time hearing about and trying this. The taste was amazing. Had the brisket and the ribs. The ribs was soft and fell off the bone. Both items had a tasty Asian fusion taste.

    a person holding a plate of food
    GREG S.

    Found El Chino Loco food truck at the Honolulu "Eat the Street" April 2018 and hands down was some of the best BBQ ribs and brisket I've eaten ... they handed out a small tasting sample of the brisket and I was sold. The BBQ meats had a sweet salt Asian bent on traditional southern BBQ, but was smoked so tender that I didn't need a knife. Their $14.99 Super combo included a pulled pork taco, two big ribs, big portion of brisket, rice, potato salad and their unique take on cole slaw. Ate every bit!

    a tortilla with meat and onions
    Michael W.

    The owner of this truck is super cool and friendly. Comes from SF, so it's nice to see someone from the bay. The place has some ups and downs. He just started this food truck so go give it a try. Here is my breakdown/suggestions: Pulled pork taco: My favorite thing on the menu! This was the best taco I've had since moving from California. The pork was really flavorful, the tortilla was thin and crispy, and the pickled veggies was a nice balance to the rich pork. Some salsa would definitely elevate this further. Brisket: Not sure how he prepared it, but some parts were a bit chewy (possibly the tendon/fatty areas?). The flavor from the marinade (bourbon misoyaki) didn't really get through all the way, but the idea is definitely novel. Smoking it in a smoker would be fantastic! It'll be worth the investment. Ribs: The flavor was definitely there. It was a bit too salty at times. The plum sauce or whatever was the base was overpowering. Ribs were tender though. Potato salad: It was good, especially on a hot day. However, it could use more seasoning. Coleslaw: Great flavor, but too much dressing. Literally swimming in it. Lost in the sauce. Overall, I feel like it is a promising food truck. Just hearing the names of the food sounds super appealing. It just needs to make some adjustments, execute, and it'll be great!

    Bourbon miso brisket

    See all

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy M.
    351
    733
    3440

    7 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of GREG S.
    0
    270
    513

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jesse C.
    99
    31
    36

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S L.
    0
    44
    1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jon C.
    0
    68
    27

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chad W.
    112
    4
    2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - El Chino Loco

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Barbeque 18,517 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Roy's Waikiki - Crab cakes

    Roy's Waikiki

    4.3(3.6k reviews)
    1.7 kmWaikiki
    $$$$

    Roy was a solid choice for celebrating a wedding anniversary. Dimmed lights in a warm colored room…read moremade it romantic but there was an array of people here, from families with kids and couples from varying ages. We had Erik S as our server and he was stellar. We took his recommendations on the specials with fish and tried both the codfish with butter and swordfish with macaroni. Both great. We also really enjoyed the ribs and bao bun. Thanks Erik for being so mindful of my allergies and also sending a cake for us to celebrate the occasion.

    Brought a friend from out of town to Roy's for her birthday. And it's a great place for that kind…read moreof celebration. I always say Roy's isn't going to blow you away with their food but it's always solid and never disappoints. I prefer the Hawaii Kai location but this one isn't bad at all. Very easy to get a reservation on open table. Protip: use your sapphire reserve card if you have one to make the reservation in open table (as of 2026) & pay for the meal. Iykyk It's located on the first floor of the embassy suites in Waikiki--right across from Dennys. Protip: if you're driving, just do valet. It's $8 with validation. I got the tasting menu with some sort of Zucchini Bao Bun with a bit of a salad & Brussels sprouts. It was tasty but they served this fried thing -- maybe zucchini? with sauce on top of a half of a bao bun. So the bun itself was dry and lacked flavor but the thing on top was great. The dish seemed disjointed and not well integrated in that regard. Why even give me a bao bun? For the main I had the salmon which was delicious. It came with a wonderful shoyu sauce and a cool rice croquette thing. Fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce brought everything together. There was also a refreshing salad on the side with a really sweet tasting dressing that was great. And the 3rd course was the Roy's chocolate soufflé which was awesome as always. If you get nothing else at Roy's, try the soufflé. The acid in the raspberry sauce cuts through the decadent chocolate beautifully. My friend had the macadamia nut crusted fish with asparagus and she said it was wonderful. Since it was her birthday, they brought out a little something for her as well. Very nice touch. Great service as always at Roy's. If you're in Waikiki and want a fancy meal, give Roy's a go. It's a hair on the pricey side for what you actually get in terms of food quality but the service and the soufflé are worth it.

    Photos
    Roy's Waikiki - Bar area happy hour

    Bar area happy hour

    Roy's Waikiki - The all time classic here and still one of the best

    The all time classic here and still one of the best

    Roy's Waikiki - Pineapple martini

    See all

    Pineapple martini

    Carte Blanche

    Carte Blanche

    4.5(80 reviews)
    2.3 kmKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Luxury

    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

    Photos
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche

    See all

    Miro Kaimuki - MIRO Sourdough. Furikake butter.

    Miro Kaimuki

    4.5(416 reviews)
    2.3 km
    $$$$

    5 stars Our…read moreanniversary tradition is trying Michelin-star restaurants everywhere we travel, and Miro Kaimuki may have honestly been our favorite dining experience yet. From the second we sat down, the entire evening felt personal, intimate, and genuinely thoughtful. The staff acknowledged our anniversary multiple times, brought out a signed card from the team, and made the experience feel special without being overly formal or forced. It felt like they truly cared that we were there celebrating together. Every course was beautifully executed, but more importantly, every dish actually delivered on flavor. The wine pairing was phenomenal -- probably one of the best pairings we've ever done. Each pour genuinely elevated the dish it came with and felt intentional instead of just "here's another glass of wine." And the brioche starter... absolutely unreal. DO NOT skip it. That might sound dramatic, but it was one of those bites where both of us immediately stopped talking after the first bite. Perfect texture, rich without being heavy, and worth every extra dollar. The scallop dish was bright and refreshing, the cod chowder course was comforting and elegant at the same time, and the lamb was cooked perfectly. Dessert was also incredible and balanced instead of overly sweet. The pacing of the meal was spot on, the atmosphere felt warm and intimate, and the whole experience somehow managed to feel both high-end and relaxed at the same time. Yes, it's expensive. But unlike some fine dining experiences where you leave wondering if you paid mostly for presentation, this felt worth every penny to us. This wasn't just one of the best meals we've had in Hawaii -- it may have been our favorite dining experience ever.

    Being a fan of this restaurants prix fixe, we were excited to try the à la carte menu. That way you…read moreget exactly what you want. We were seated right away, but it was kind of loud. I think it's where we were sitting, but still a surprise given the cozy vibe. Food was solid, but we were slightly disappointed with the caviar as it was explained that it was going to be like an egg salad Sammie. But it was just the caviar on a toast. Perhaps the server wasn't really sure how to explain it, but since caviar are essentially eggs, I guess it was a non traditional egg salad. We had finished almost finished our starters by the time I got my wine so that was disappointing. It was packed and it didn't seem like there was enough servers, but certain tables got extra attention. Like they didn't wait long for food or drinks. We ordered everything all at once but had to reorder the dessert because the server forgot to put in it. I wanted to end with some tea, but the server forgot. Overall, the food is solid, but the service leaves something to be desired.

    Photos
    Miro Kaimuki
    Miro Kaimuki - WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).

    WESTHOLME RIBEYE (16 oz).

    Miro Kaimuki - Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

    See all

    Hamachi. Sun-Dried Tomato. Cucumber.

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - grilled miso black cod

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    0.7 kmWaikiki
    $$$

    I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE STARS!!!! WORTH THE PRICE! FOOD AND SERVICE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!…read more Okay seriously, I've been to a ton of expensive high end restaurants and none have impressed me like this Morimoto's. When I tell you everything that came out was amazing.... Holy moly it was SO TASTY. EVERYTHING! I was even impressed with the fried rice with how much they served and how much was in it. I personally loved the fish carpaccio, rib eye, hamachi kama, wok vegetables and malasadas for dessert. The orange chicken was my least favorite but it was still good. Oh and the STICKY RIBS...... you HAVE to get them. So crispy yet tender.... I loved how everything we had bursted in my mouth with flavor and was something I couldn't make to that level at home. Service was amazing like any other fine dining restaurant, but for the first time, I felt like this one was worth the money for how good the food was. I will definitely be back!

    My bad review is entirely based on how terrible the food was. For context, we ordered Tonkatsu…read moreramen and Tsukemen dipping ramen. Ramen, according to the server, was the most popular thing on the menu, so how likely could it get messed up? Tonkatsu: Rich, but lacked any salt or had very little. We requested some salt and that instantly made the ramen better. The noodles had enough salt to carry it, but the broth was not great. It tasted like the broth was watered down or reconstituted, however no seasoning was added to re-adjust the broth. Broth: Had little salt and lacked punch, umami, and was brown instead of white. Noodles: Had enough salt to taste good, but was slightly overcooked Pork: Extremely bland. Tasted like zero salt was added during cooking. Toppings: Greatly lacking in toppings Tsukemen: The Tsukemen had a lot of the same issues. Now being a dipping ramen, the broth should be even richer and more flavorful than any normal ramen. Tsukemen -- no matter where you have it in Japan, should be richer and saltier than most broths, but the broth here was severely lacking. For $26 a bowl this was worse than your DIY frozen ramen packs. Now I'm not asking for Japan-level of ramen mastery here, this is after all, just a tourist spot -- but if your Tonkatsu is the best selling item, you have to step it up. Our server did mention that some people complained about the amount of salt in ramen, so they adjusted it. But dare I say, instead of diluting the normal salt/seasoning amount for everyone, couldn't you just add a separate, flavor-light version for people inexperienced with ramen, instead of diluting the original for everyone else? If you're reading this Mr. Morimoto, I would highly encourage you to fly here and order the ramen. I think you and I would share the same opinions. P.S. I've also been to your other Morimoto spots and it was not this bad.

    Photos
    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Interior

    Interior

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Black pepper beef

    Black pepper beef

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki - Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

    See all

    Morimoto Asia Waikiki Ocean Front Lanai Dining

    El Chino Loco - bbq - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...