Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

    4.4 (117 reviews)
    Open • 10:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Ipo Hawaiian BBQ Photos

    IPO HAWAIIAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

    More like Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

    Recommended Reviews - Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

    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

    Shrimp plate combo
    Ashley N.

    After a long day at work, we decided to grab a quick dinner. We ordered food to go tonight. It was a nice quick and easy option. This is our second time ordering from them. The young man who works there is always pleasant to chat with. He's very friendly and always smiling. We've ordered the chicken & broccoli bowl before, and it was simple yet yummy each time. The shrimp combo and musubi tasted okay. The place is your everyday eatery with casual dining.

    Loco Moco
    Jane A.

    EXPLOSIVE AMOUNT OF FOOD (3.8 stars) - FOOD: good - PRICE: Groupon deal, worth it - SERVICE: excellent customer service - AMBIANCE: simple eatery Craving loco moco after going on a tiki boat tour. Came here with a Groupon deal of $40 worth of food for $22. Deal worthy. It's all the way in Poway in a plaza. The girl at the front taking orders was a rock star, she had stellar customer service regardless how busy it got. Give her a raise! LOCO MOCO ($18.99) - hamburger patties, sunny side eggs. Served with rice and mac salad. Their loco moco was just okay - I can make it better at home. One thing I noticed were the eggs were extra runny, nearly slimy. I wasn't impressed with the eggs and pulled them off of the burger patties. The patties were big but kind of dry and cooked well, might have been cooked a little more than they should as the edges curled. The glaze had a little sweetness to it like the Japanese demi-glace - for me I am more of a savory than sweet when it comes to gravy sauce. I think I liked the Mac salad the most out of this plate. SPECIAL BBQ COMBO ($23.50) - BBQ short ribs, beef, and chicken. served with rice and mac salad. I heard this was a popular item off the menu and I think it's because of the generosity of food given. It came with 2 short ribs, a bounce of beef and chicken. The short rib quality was not the best... a lot of fat parts making it hard to eat the meat. the chicken was average but the flavor on it was good. The beef was I liked most out of this plate. They were in shredded pieces and had really good flavor. This plate was better than my Loco Moco plate. RECOMMEND Overall, I think this is a great Hawaiian (kind of fast food) spot for those in Poway. Not sure if I'll be back because it's a bit far and although the size of the food was amazing the quality was ok. There are other Hawaiian spots to be had. Until the next review....

    6/8/26
    Susie T.

    This is probably the best Hawaiian fast food I've had. I bought a groupon for 22$ for a value of 40$. Totally worth it! When i went it was completely empty, but at least it was very clean. I got a beef platter and a chicken and katsu platter. The chicken was excellent and the bulgogi beef was delicious! The katsu was meaty. Actually, the portions were huge, but they are about 3-5$ more than L&L or ohana and places of the likes. I got the malasadas. You have to eat them fresh. If only these were filled with custard or some kind of jelly, these would be perfect! I just couldnt give this place a 5 bc I really didn't like the mac. It tasted very vinegar- y. The rice also tasted like paste. I loved the meat! Fantastic! But the sides fell short. I would definitely come again. Especially with that coupon! Money worth!

    Garlic Chicken
    Melodee Marie G.

    Hawaiian food in poway! Very tasty and popular based on the amount of online ordering. There are kiosks to order food off of, or you can order with the worker. The restaurant was clean and tidy. Parking is plentiful. I do think the price is a little expensive, but for the quality I do think it is worth it. The rice scoops are the only thing where I really wish they offered more of. I'll be eating here again.

    Interior
    Catherine Z.

    Such an adorable family owned spot! The service was outstanding, our server went above and beyond to help situate us. Love that they have lofi music playing in the background. The katsu was so incredibly crispy, and the mac salad was also refreshing! Will definitely be returning. Huge portion sizes for a good price

    Bbq chicken combo
    Michaela I.

    Came here with family for dinner, it's a small restaurant, but was not busy when we went. We got the mixed bbq plate, bbq chicken and spicy bbq chicken plate, katsu chicken, spam and crispy spam musubis, malasadas, and two of the IPO island breeze teas. We all tried of bit of everything and overall really enjoyed the food, service was quick and restaurant wasn't super busy for 5pm on a weeknight. Highlights: crispy spam musubi and malasadas - the texture on the crispy spam with the sauce and rice was phenomenal. I loved the added crunch it gave the musubi. Malasadas were made fresh to order, they weren't filled with anything but were airy, sweet, and delicious all the same! I really enjoyed the garlic sauce that came with one of the bbq plates as well, added a good depth of flavor. Chicken katsu was fabulous, great crunch and the dark meat inside was tender. Also loved the addition of Furikake on the two scoops of rice for each plate. Cons: the meat on the mixed bbq plate was on the fattier side, making it a bit chewy. I didn't have too much issue with it but I know that can be a turn off for folks. The bbq chicken and spicy chicken tasted virtually the same to me, though flavor was good. Mac salad didn't taste like anything but mayo to me. We had a Groupon so this didn't bother me as much, but the prices can be expensive for those without it. Overall, I would totally come back and try some of the shrimp or other options on the menu, especially with the Groupon! Definitely getting the crispy spam musubi.

    musubi
    Paul Axel C.

    Came by Ipo Hawaiian BBQ in Poway for a quick plate lunch. The food was okay overall -- nothing bad, just didn't really stand out. Service was nice. There was a screen playing with fireworks but it wasn't in Hawaii. Portions were decent and it has that classic Hawaiian plate lunch setup with rice and mac salad. Didn't really care for the locomoco. egg was a bit overdone. not enough gravy. If you're nearby it works for a quick bite, but it didn't quite give that "taste of Hawaii" I was hoping for.

    Counter with kiosk ordering
    Don B.

    Ipo Hawaiian BBQ in Poway is the spot for all your Hawaiian food cravings. From mixed bbq, seafood, musubis and malasadas their menu has it all. I love the simplicity of their offerings from all your meats, sides and desserts. They also do catering for the large party orders. On this lunch visit I ordered my lunch consisting of the Chicken Katsu Plate as well as the Crispy Musubi. Both were fantastic leaving me full and satisfied. The Chicken Katsu plate was very good with crispy breaded katsu, katsu sauce, rice and mac salad. The portion was a good size and by the end I was full. But the standout for me was the crispy musubi, the textured on the crispy fried spam was delicious wrapped in the nori and seated on a bed of rice. Super tasty and I recommend if you love musubis. A great and convenient spot with great service and fantastic meal.

    Chicken Katsu
    Krypton C.

    Coworker and I wanted Hawaiian and found this new (to us) spot in Poway. We ordered the chicken katsu and mahi mahi plates to-go. Service was quick, food was freshly made. The crispy texture was evident and enjoyable, though the seasoning was on the bland side. That could be due to the lack of katsu and tartar sauces. They did provide spicy mayo as a dip, which was much needed. Furikake is a nice touch on the rice, but the macaroni was just okay. In summary, we are likely to select the closer L&L Hawaiian.

    Menu (as of December 2025)
    Jennifer L.

    Haiku: IPO Hawaiian BBQ Large, hearty portions Chicken katsu is crunchy Grabbed a Groupon deal. --- It's nice to see a Hawaiian BBQ spot in the area. Large portions at decent pricing. The combo plates come with rice and mac salad. We ordered: - #2 Chicken Combo: it comes with BBQ chicken & the katsu chicken is where it's at. The breading was thin and crispy. We to-go the order and it was still crunchy when we ate it at home. You must try the garlic sauce with it. - #7 BBQ Short Rib: it was nicely marinated and had a great caramelized char. They were generous with the portions--there were at least 4 or 5 short ribs. The restaurant was decorated so festive for the holidays. The Stitch-themed blue Christmas tree and the candy canes hanging from the walls were such a cute touch. It's sweet that you can grab a candy cane for yourself and ask for a free Polaroid picture to be taken at the tree. Grab a Groupon to save money and try a new place. Service was friendly. There's plenty of seating inside and great for groups.

    Chicken Katsu + Teriyaki Chicken Plate
    John M.

    Hawaiian food done well! Ipo Hawaiian BBQ is a small shop located in Poway that serves some delicious hawaiian dishes! I often doordash from here when I'm craving a hearty meal and they have never disappointed! Chicken katsu is fried to perfection, teriyaki chicken is packed to the brim, and service never disappoints! One of the times I was eating in store, the owner slightly overcooked some katsu and ended up just offering it to us for free alongside our order, doubling our portion. It's clear they care about quality and taste at Ipo BBQ, so come here and give it a try!

    BBQ Chicken Rice Bowl
    Art K.

    Nice and comfy restaurant with nine tables for those who want to dine in, but most orders seem to be take out. You can order at the kiosk or at the counter. I've heard the portions are substantial and I wanted a dish with a smaller serving. I noticed a sign on the door offering a BBQ Chicken rice bowl with broccoli for $7.95 so I went for it. The chicken was tender and with the rice and broccoli it made for a perfect meal. I sat in the restaurant and had a peaceful lunch. Service was fast and friendly. If you're in the mood for "island style" grinds like spam musubi, kalua pork and cabbage or BBQ beef and chicken bowls, this is the place to visit in Poway. Stop in and check out their menu. I guarantee there will be something there you'll like. Aloha!

    Menu
    Myphuong L.

    My first time back since I heard it's under new ownership/management. I ended up getting the Special BBQ Combo #1 and Seafood Combo #3. The BBQ plate came with chicken, pork and beef with a side of rice and Mac salad. The seafood combo came w fried fish and shrimp. I also got 3 spam musubis. I have to say, the food blew me away. The portions are generous. The meats were flavorful and has a char without being burnt. The seafood combo was crispy. The spam musubis were proportional! Most places give too much rice to spam but here it's perfect enough take away from the saltiness. IPO has plenty of parking and lots of dining spaces to eat inside. I wanted to phone in my order but saw no phone number. When I asked, they said check IG. They have drinks that I'll have to try next time.

    Chicken Katsu and Mahi Mahi

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jane A.
    400
    2783
    6464

    4 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Saleen M.
    1067
    2598
    2312

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Art K.
    121
    304
    1605

    6 months ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marissa C.
    41
    483
    226

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 3
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joey B.
    1521
    22
    8

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 54
    Thanks 16
    Love this 49
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

    Kaminski's Sports Lounge and BBQ - Baby back three rib sampler with cold slaw & beans

    Kaminski's Sports Lounge and BBQ

    3.6(822 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    •$$

    We had an office birthday lunch catered from Kaminski's and everything was delicious! All 11 of us…read morewere very satisfied with our meals. We ordered the salmon melt, brisket melts, fried pickles, mac and cheese, potato salad, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, BBQ burgers, fries, and salad. I found the salmon melt to be a generous serving size and the salmon was perfectly cooked. The chipotle mayo paired really well with the melt too. Delivery was excellent as well! Everything arrived fresh, organized, and on time. Definitely recommend for both catering and a great meal!

    We live near Kaminski's and have been coming here regularly over the past six months. After trying…read morea variety of items from both the brunch and regular menus, I can confidently say we really enjoy the food, service, and overall ambiance. The quality of the food is consistently solid, and their breakfast meats stand out compared to other diners. We've also had great experiences with their wings, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and limited-time dinner specials. The desserts never disappoint either. Drinks at the bar are always well-made--I usually go for lemon drops or margaritas, and the balance is spot on. We also love that they have access to pretty much any sports channel, plus weekly entertainment like trivia, karaoke, and bingo. It's a great spot to hang out, grab a drink, and enjoy a good meal. Shout out to the amazing servers as well!

    Photos
    Kaminski's Sports Lounge and BBQ - Beef Ribs

    Beef Ribs

    Kaminski's Sports Lounge and BBQ - Brisket Melt stuffed with our 3 cheese Mac-n-Cheese! Amazing!

    Brisket Melt stuffed with our 3 cheese Mac-n-Cheese! Amazing!

    Kaminski's Sports Lounge and BBQ - Texas Beef Brisket smoked for 13 hours! Yummm

    See all

    Texas Beef Brisket smoked for 13 hours! Yummm

    Phil's BBQ - Full order beef ribs (5) meal with Mac salad and Cole slaw. 2 links on the side

    Phil's BBQ

    4.1(2.2k reviews)
    5.0 mi•Rancho Bernardo
    •$$

    I went to college in SD and this is my happy place when I visit…read more Best BBQ in the world. Jairo and Chase were amazing and made the experience even better than I'd hoped. I'm walking out after eating 2lb of meat with at least the same to go for tomorrow... Check this place out!!

    My husband and I drove almost an hour to try Phil's Barbecue because we were genuinely excited…read moreabout it. He had been there when he was younger, and I had been once before with my dad, so we were really looking forward to finally going together. Unfortunately, almost everything about the experience was frustrating. When we ordered, we specifically asked the employee whether two sides came with the entrees. We were told yes. Based on that information, we each selected two sides. My husband ultimately only wanted one side, so we clarified that he would just get an extra portion of the one he wanted instead. We also clearly explained our sauce preferences. I wanted mine on the side, while my husband specifically wanted his sauce cooked onto his burger. We repeated this because it was important to us. When we saw the receipt, we realized we had been charged separately for all of the sides. Our total was nearly $70 for two people who ordered burgers, a soda, and a beer. Had we been told from the beginning that the sides were not included, we absolutely would not have ordered them. My husband went back to ask about the charge and was told that the sides did not come with those particular entrees. That directly contradicted what we had been told when ordering. Unfortunately, things got even worse when our food came out. Both burgers were cold, my burger was a double when I had specifically ordered a single, and both sauces were put on the side despite us clearly explaining our preferences. My husband didn't receive his burger the way he had specifically requested either. At that point, we hadn't even taken a bite. We brought everything back to the manager and explained what had happened. I do want to make one thing VERY clear: Kristen, the manager, was absolutely wonderful. She was by far the best part of this entire experience. She was incredibly kind, understanding, professional, and genuinely tried to make the situation right. She offered to remake the food and worked with us on the refund. We ultimately decided we didn't want the food anymore after everything that had happened and just wanted to leave. Kristen handled that respectfully and did everything she could to help us. Unfortunately, the problems didn't end when we left. We were told the refund would take 3-5 business days. When the refund finally came through, it was approximately $15 short of what we were supposed to receive. We then had to call the restaurant again to get the issue resolved. We were also still charged the tip, despite the fact that we had received a full refund for the food. The restaurant then had to take the money again, process another refund, and essentially redo the transaction, which meant an even longer wait for our money. At this point, what should have been a fun dinner that we drove nearly an hour for turned into an incredibly frustrating experience involving multiple billing issues, incorrect food, cold food, and several phone calls just to get the refund corrected. The only reason I am giving any credit at all is because of Kristen. She was genuinely amazing and I don't think this review reflects her management at all. She was the one person who made an otherwise terrible experience slightly better. Unfortunately, because of everything that happened before and after dealing with her, we will not be returning. If you're going to charge these prices, the ordering process, food, and billing need to be significantly more accurate and consistent.

    Photos
    Phil's BBQ - Next!

    Next!

    Phil's BBQ - Big sister

    Big sister

    Phil's BBQ - We met THE ONE & ONLY PHIL HIMSELF!!! And he was really nice!!!

    See all

    We met THE ONE & ONLY PHIL HIMSELF!!! And he was really nice!!!

    Swagyu Burger - Poway - El Swagador 1/2LB

    Swagyu Burger - Poway

    4.0(269 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    •$$

    They have a shared parking lot that is small but big enough to accommodate their customers and have…read moreplenty of seating inside and a couple tables outside next to the street. We ordered ahead for pickup, using a third party food delivery app on a Saturday 30minutes before closing time so our order was completed quickly. We ordered the 1/2 lb "OG" burger and the 1/4 lb classic. Both of them came with soft brioche buns and juicy patties. It had a balanced amount of sauces and ingredients without being too overpowering. The meat tasted fresh and not overly salted. However, they are both on a pricier side for a burger that does not come with any sides. They are like fancy burgers without the fancy location. I enjoyed the OG burger's simplicity and its melted cheese but the Classic helped balancing out the greasiness with the lettuce and onions. They used thinly sliced lettuces instead of full leaves. It was before closing so the shop was quiet without music and pretty dark but we were simply ordering pickup so that was not a problem.

    Nice little hidden spot in Poway. A little bit on the pricier side for a burger but it's really…read morefull of flavor. We ordered two meals, one regular hamburger and the other was a western. Service was nice though I realized I got the wrong change later on. Only by a dollar so I didn't make a big deal of it. It's young kids who work here, or at least they looked young. The restaurant itself was clean.

    Photos
    Swagyu Burger - Poway - Refreshed Dining Room!

    Refreshed Dining Room!

    Swagyu Burger - Poway - Swagyu signature 3X3

    Swagyu signature 3X3

    Swagyu Burger - Poway - The Original Swagyu Burger

    See all

    The Original Swagyu Burger

    Ipo Hawaiian BBQ - hawaiian - Updated October 2026

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