Worth the drive over to Waimea! Follow the cloud of smoke past the main part of town. Huge BBQ pits set up with chicken pork and beef bbq cooking. We shared the 3 meat plate and still had leftovers. It looked and smelled so good we grabbed a blanket and ate on the grassy area next to the parking lot. The chicken was super juicy, pork bbq wasn't too fatty, beef rib was huge and meaty. We loved everything dipped in the chili water sauce! Also got the pancit and a couple packs of suman (rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves) They reminded us of the suman in the Philippines - so yummy! Service was friendly and efficient. Super busy with cars coming in and out of the parking area next to the pits and ordering tent. read more

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Really good ribs and chicken!!! O ly thing is it comes with a lil attitude on the side. Lady at the register is not friendly at all, food is da bomb! I'll be back, F her. read more

We weren't even hungry but we were in the area so we stopped and grabbed a chicken plate. The chicken was tender and had good seasoning, but dip the chicken in their seasoned vinegar- oh so good! And we loved their Mac salad. Saw someone's review saying their chicken had no flavor, I think they must have been mistaken! Definitely come by and try the chicken. Can't vouch for the other meat since we didn't get any to try. Note their hours and days because they are a road side operation and not every day! Come early since once they run out they're out for the day. They take tap pay! read more

Have to go to Waimea, but the best chicken on the entire island. The Mac salad has been changed a bit but it too is also the best on the island. Get there fast before they sell out. read more

The chicken and ribs were wonderful with a good flavor and not overdone. They had a good smokey flavor that was not overwhelming. read more

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I only stopped bc we were cruising down the streets with my window down when I got smacked in the face with delicious smelling roasted chicken. We stopped and got 3 orders in the rain. It was soo smokey and juicy. I see a lot of reviews saying that its not flavorful- but i feel like it was very flavorful, just not very salty read more

This place was busy so we decided to give it a try. On the plus side, the chicken was a generous portion, between the two of us we couldn't eat an entire half chicken. The sauce was tasty, though didn't have any of the pineapple flavor that some Huli Huli chicken has and overall the meat was a bit bland. If you just get a half chicken, they put it in a plastic bag so very hard to eat, especially since it is piping hot. Hot food in a plastic bag is also not a good idea as the plasticizers can leach into the food and none of us need more microplastics in our food! If you can plan ahead, bring your own plate and a knife and fork instead. You will also need to take it somewhere to eat if you want to site down, or like we and many others did, eat it off of your tailgate or hood of your car. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - A big chicken leg - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

As soon as we touched down in Hawaii, we drove our rental car directly here because we heard such amazing things about this place. Let me tell you they did not disappoint!!!! You HAVE to get the pork ribs! They were incredibly flavorful and juicy! The chicken was incredible too but if I had to choose one, ribs all the way! We tried Huli Huli chicken from Maui but this place is definitely better and more flavorful!!!! It's a must when visiting the big island! read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Pork ribs, incredible! - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

My girlfriend and I stopped here on our way from Hilo to Waimea. We were looking for something comparable to that huli huli chicken we had in Maui. And it honestly slapped. We got a combo plate with the chicken and beef rib to try. The chicken came apart so easily and was flavorful. It paired well with the selection of sauces they had on the side. The beef rib was also really good but it's a hard second place. I would recommend just getting a whole chicken instead since that's literally the name of the stand. The plate also came with a banana lumpia which was really good - would recommend if you want a sweet treat for the end. We got a chicken lumpia on the side to try and my girlfriend really enjoyed it as well. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - The chickens - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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What a fun little stop in Waimea! We drove out of our way to check this place out and so glad we did because the food was amazing! The huli huli chicken was so moist and flavorful. My husband liked the ribs more. They ran out of rice so we go a lot of Mac salad. They had a lot of other food but the plate lunch was more than filling! They have a lot of parking where they are located and take cash or credit card. No bathrooms but the marketplace nearby has some. If you are in the area or driving from Kona to Hilo I would suggest stopping here! It read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Chicken and ribs - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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Oh m..... Goodness., GJs Huli chicken is broke da mouth kine good, I saw an instagram post on GJs chicken, bookmarked and of course on my list to check it out. Luckily it happened spontaneously. We were on our way to Waimea, from Hilo and my hubby drove past GJs, I noticed the long line, the smoke coming out from road, the pop out is in a parking lot. This searched GJs and then I remembered I had this on my bookmarks, this is the spot I want to try. I asked the hubby to stop but we passed it, we were on our way to the Cherry Blossom festival. After parking at Parker Ranch we walked over to GJs. It was about 1 pm when we arrived, the line was still long but it moved quick. I read it is a father and son duo working together, selling their delicious goods! I am glad we were able to get our goods, as I read they do sell out. Glancing at GJ's menu, besides chicken they have Pork Ribs and Beef Ribs plate also, the all 3 meat plates sounds good too but we had our mind set on the chicken. I got the chicken plate ($20.) which comes with rice and mac salad, and banana lumpia. Also got pack of pancit and 5 more lumpia ( just $1. each) There are great selections of package Filipino desserts. Don't forget to pack your sauce, comes with bottles of vinegar, siracha, bbq sauce, shoyu, chili peeper water, containers are available for sauce. I put together 3 different sauces. Of course, vinegar, shoyu and tabasco for the hubby. We walked back to the festival and enjoyed a picnic lunch on the grass, & the verdict- Wow! the chicken was the best we had, broke da mouth. The hubby kept raving about how good and this is the best Huli chicken he ever had. I agree, so moist, tender, just love the flavor of chicken cooked over Kiawe wood, and I love how the chicken is cooked. Super good! We get to enjoy the chicken hot and fresh off the grill, is such a treat! The only complaint I have is the mac. salad is bland, not the best Ive had, but next time I will skip the salad and get all rice. The pancit goes so great together. Chicken, rice, pancit, along with our sauce we made, then the grand finale, banana lumpia, oooh.. I am so HAPPY! It is far of a drive out to Waimea, the problem for me is I need to go back for more chicken! Thinking of it right now, I need to plan out my Hilo visit to include GJs next time. GJ's is a must visit, you will never know what goodies, you will find out of a parking lot. Pro-tip, check out the liquor store nearby to get some drinks, you know the adult kine healthy drinks to go with your plate. hehe. They take credit cards & they sell out, head straight to GJs but only on Saturday & Sunday- 9-2 pm. read more

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We were returning back to Waikoloa from a farmers market in Honoka'a and our go to spot was closed (closed Sundays). We spotted the smoke and my Huli Huli chicken radar was on high alert. So glad we stopped. Ordered the 2 meat combo plate (chicken and pork ribs). It was plenty of food for two. Meats were delicious and the Mac salad was spot on. This place is only open Saturday and Sunday. Evidenced by the amount of people ordering food, I am certain this place is no secret read more

Hot fresh huli huli chicken. Best to enjoy when it hot off the grill/ rotisserie smoke wagon. Their chili peppa water is tangy vinegary and complement the chicken well. Lines can be long but once you order, service was quick, less than 5 mins for us on this nice sunny Sunday 12:30 on 4/26/2026. Just 30 mins in Waimea from Waikoloa resorts read more

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Huge portions and so delicious! Make the drive to find the truck, it's well worth it! Bring a blanket and sit on the grass and enjoy your lunch! read more

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THE BEST!!! It was so exceptionally wonderful to our tastes buds we went back 5 times before we left the parking lot!! We tried and enjoyed all of their great masterpieces!! Wonderful experience indeed on our first visit to the islands. Other so called good restaurants we went to were major disappointments, glad we stumbled on GJ's Huli Chicken!! The young lady at the register was very pleasant and patient. She was laughing each time I returned to buy more deliciousness!!! Mahalo GJ's!! read more

The service is very fast with the line moving very quickly. The ambiance is just a parking lot outside with a ton of meat cookers out on display. The chicken was deliciously moist with scrumptious, crispy skin. The Pancit had plenty of zesty flavor and perfectly cooked noodles. The Ube Butter Mochi was flavorful and moist with fun, hard textures on the edges. read more

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Hands down the BEST hulihuli chicken on island!! The chicken is so juicy and flavorful all the was through and the chicken plate comes with rice, Mac salad, and banana lumpia for $20. What a good price for such a hefty plate! I will defintely be back the next time I'm in town. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken is hands-down one of the best meals I had on the Big Island! The chicken was not only packed with incredible flavor, but it was also fall-off-the-bone tender--moist, juicy, and perfectly cooked. The ribs were just as amazing--rich, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I was honestly sad I only got to eat here once during my trip. Everything was that good. We also tried the banana lumpia and chicken lumpia, and both were delicious--crispy on the outside and full of flavor inside. If you're in the area, don't miss this spot. GJ's is a true gem, and you'll be dreaming about that huli chicken long after you leave. read more

This chicken place is awesome! Their chicken portions are huge!! We got two chicken plates thinking one plate per person.. but we both couldn't even finish one plate. And each plate had only half chicken. So unless you're a big eater, I recommend you get half chicken for two people. Their chicken was juicy and very flavorful. I could taste that the chicken was grilled well in their special wood smoke! It was located in a parking lot and I believe they are either only open until all chickens are sold out or like at 1pm. So I would get there early. For their sticky rice, it was okay, not that amazing. read more

GJs is an incredible place to eat! No real signage to speak of, but look for the plumes of smoke crossing the street, which will direct you to the Huli Chicken and Beef & Pork Ribs rotating on the grills. The incredible smell of the smoke stopped us in our tracks. We tried the mixed plate with a Huli Chicken leg and thigh, a hefty beef rib, Mac salad, rice, and a banana Lumpia. One of the best meals we had on the big island. When you see the smoke, stop and savor! read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Menu November 2024 - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Wow .. outstanding. I had never had pancit and I loved it. The chicken and macaroni salad were amazing

Stopped by today after smelling and seeing the Huli Huli Chicken being cooked. Although I recall Huli Huli Chicken being $3.50 when I sold tickets for my elementary school (many years ago), it was worth the $24 per chicken to reminisce this delicious meal. We also got some pancit and lumpia to go. $50 later and we are in heaven sharing our lunch with family. There was a line so if you go, plan on waiting. You won't regret it. I'd give you five stars but to be truthful, I couldn't spend $24 for one whole chicken on the average day. read more

Fast service with a smile, and really, really good huli chicken. The meat was juicy, and the flavors were excellent. I asked what they used for spices.. and their answer was that they "made it with lots of love". Highly recommended! read more

This may be the best huli chicken on the island. Definitely the best on the North West side of the island. They sell chicken and ribs. They also sell chicharones and other dessert foods. But people are there for the meats. The line builds up so go early. No place to sit and eat there. Buy your stuff and go. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - You can see the magic happen. - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

Can't remember the last time I ever gave 5 stars or a place that impressed me more...let's just say right off the hype is real...no joke...the huli huli chicken was out of this world AMAZING...crispy flavorful skin...juicy tender meat and the taste...finger licking good...ate right in the car bc the smell was driving me crazy...u need mom fingers to get to the chicken (fingers impervious to heat) PROTIP: CASH ONLY and bring your own containers bc they just put it in a plastic bag that is barely able to withstand the heat... $20 for one whole chicken... Pancit, sweet rice wrapped in banana leaf, and taro filled cookies were all yummy as well... A must go place in Waimea...come early bc the line behind us grew long in a blink of an eye...great job!! read more

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Don't even think about the drive...it's worth every second! Enjoy the drive up to this place and then order the Huli Huli chicken plate! It was so delicious! The chicken is so moist and has a wonderful flavor! Comes with rice, Mac salad (which was the BEST Mac salad we had in 9 days in Hawaii) and even a dessert of a fried banana. So much food for $18! We shared the plate and had left overs! They were so welcoming and nice as well! Great service and hardworking people that know how to cook! I I'll definitely come back and highly recommend!! read more

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The food was excellent--like a better version of Andok's from the Philippines. Our favorites were the BBQ pork and chicken; both were packed with flavor. The service was also top-notch, and the lines moved quickly, so we were in and out in no time. We enjoyed it so much, we went back a second time during our trip. We'll definitely be recommending it to all our friends and family visiting the Big Island. read more

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Went here for the chicken, but ordered a combo with chicken and ribs. The chicken was full of flavor and juicy, but the pork ribs stole the show. These were a seasoned dry rub rib that has a crispy exterior and a healthy bite inside. Not fall-off-the-bone, but slightly chewy. I like either style of ribs, but that crispy exterior was the best, the best, Jerry. The dry rub flavor was very good as well. I wish they had some tables or something to sit outside to eat. We were passing by and ended up eating in the car. Some of the best food I've had comes from these types of roadside stands. This is worth the stop. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Chicken and ribs combo - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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We got a half a chicken and shared it between the 2 of us and we couldn't finish it. We loved the smokey flavor. It was moist, and the mac salad was delicious. I give it 4 stars, but my husband gave an extra star for the great value! read more

Delicious Huli Huli chicken! My dad picked up a few of these for a family dinner in honor of my mom's birthday and they were absolutely amazing. We also enjoyed the rice and the Mac salad! So good!! read more

Chicken was amazing. Perfectly marinated and smoke flavored by cooking over open kiawe wood. Go early! They make so many a day and once sold, they close shop. Says open until 2pm but closed and packed up by 1pm the day we went. Bought the second to last chicken. read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

We love this chicken so much! It is the best Huli chicken. Perfectly flavored and cooked. Still juicy. But the real star here is the chili pepper water. Buy a whole jar because it is my favorite ever. It is just spicy enough, salt enough, vinegary enough! I bring some home every time. Ohh my gosh. I can put it on everything. read more

One day, I passed by the scent of delicious chicken as I drove to find another restaurant. Half a year later, I find out the smell of the chicken was a very very popular spot that even my friends are hyped about. It's located in a random parking lot in Waimea. The scent of the Huli chicken wafts through your car interior as you drive, so you'll know when you've arrived. There is a quite a few parking spaces (even on the grass) to park in. My roommate and I shared a mixed combo plate of pork ribs and Huli chicken and also a pancit. They had already ran out of the beef ribs by the time we arrived (arrived at 12, and opening is at 11!). Saaaad. But the combo plate was STACKED. It came with a scoop of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad with a banana lumpia. The chicken was very juicy and full of flavor! Loved it a lot. We both could tell the skin was soaked in a marinade for a while. The pork ribs had a lot of flavor, but they were kind of dry. The pancit was delicious. It came with calamansi that definitely gave a kick to its flavor. Wasn't too bland and had a good flavor. Our two friends shared a full order of pork ribs and a whole chicken. FYI, They're not cut up nicely like the plate lunches. Highly recommend this place for lunch whenever you're in the area. The chicken here is amazing! And I bet the beef ribs are even more amazing. The price also isn't too bad. It's recommended to come before they open (11am) because there's always a line and food does run out. P.S. they only accept cash! read more

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I was so hungry I forgot to check in! This place is amazing! You know when you read all these five star reviews and you wonder, is it really that good? Well this is a solid five stars! Price. Excellent. $16 for a plate of chicken or pork ribs, rice, and the best macaroni salad we've eaten in Hawaii. $17 for beef ribs. $22 if you want all 3 (which is what we ordered). The chicken was moist and incredibly flavourful. The best chicken breast I've ever eaten. We even ordered the banana lumpia and the one child who hates bananas said it was really good and thoroughly enjoyed it. Roadside joint with a decent sized parking lot. We had a little picnic and ate on the grass. Lovely view of the observatories on Mauna Kea. read more

Delicious grilled meats! No frills, step up to order, and take it away. Order half or a full chicken? It'll get bagged in a clear plastic bag. :) Thé folks rolling up to order seemed to be many locals so that was an indication to me that it's the real deal. There are no seats or tables at this open-air, side-of-the-road, in-a-parking-lot bbq grill shop. They take credit cards albeit they tack on a fee for that choice. read more

OMG!! Chicken melts in your mouth! That is all I can say and the flavors. Juicy and tender. So yummy. Wish I could bring this back to So Cali read more

GJ's Huli Chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

I really shouldn't be giving GJ's a review and giving away any secrets, but here goes. GJ's is the place I tell everyone who comes to the Big Island to try and what I get in a resounding response if they take my advice.. "Best meal we had while we were there." I will go up to Waimea every weekend to do shopping at the farmers markets, I will make a special trip over to GJ's and grab plenty of chicken and whatever else I think I can use later. I make pizzas and other dishes at home using the meat from GJ's, making everything special. We have friends who live on the Hilo side and when they come over, I will serve them the Huli Huli chicken, everyone loves it. I am surprised that the locals over in Hilo haven't known about it sooner. To me.. Gj's is an institution, the crappy little trailer creating the most delicious chicken you will ever have. The locals know and it is always funny watching the expression on their faces when we talk about how good the meat is. This is your one freebie from me on something local that I really don't want to share, I have seen locals show up when the food has run out and GJ's has nothing left for them. I wish I could take back the food from the tourists and give it to those who actually are part of the community. read more

The best huli huli chicken. There were 3 of us and we got (2) chicken plates but looking back, we could've definitely shared one plate for the 3 of us! Portions are huge and filling. Chicken plate consists of: half chicken, 2 scoops of rice, 1 scoop mac salad, 1 banana lumpia. No regrets though. Mom usually isn't a fan of the breast but the chicken breast was juicy and tender! She was licking her fingers after eating it, haha. We did get here a little bit late like around ~1:00pm and they were already cleaning up the grill but still had chicken left! Thank goodness. I would definitely advise you to go early! read more

Great Ono food plus a bonus they have a different variety of goodies to snack on (Delicious)! Everyone is so helpful!

The best ribs and Huli Hulu chicken on the island, hands down! I highly recommend giving them a try if you haven't. If you have then you already know. read more

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