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Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

4.4 (113 reviews)
Open 10:30 am - 8:30 pm

Ipo Hawaiian BBQ Photos

IPO HAWAIIAN BBQ ATMOSPHERE

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

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Reviews With Photos

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.

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!

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!

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
Christina A.

A little hidden gem. Pass by this place on a daily. I would've never tried this place if it wasn't for others recommendations. Sour: the mahi mahi was very good. The fish was light and the breading was very crisp. I just prefer LL Hawaiians more. I wish it had more flavor. Sweet: Good size portions. The chicken katsu was very good. The macaroni was flavorful. I like how they sprinkle furikake on the rice. I definitely will be back to try other items.

Teriyaki chicken

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The food here is excellent! Big portions and very flavorful. Service was friendly and fast. I will definitely be coming back!

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Ask the Community - Ipo Hawaiian BBQ

Brigantine

Brigantine

3.7
(680 reviews)
1.3 mi
$$

I had a great experience at The Brigantine on Poway Road The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and…read morethe restaurant was exceptionally clean. From the moment we walked in, the host staff greeted us with a smile and seated us right away. Our server, Alyssa, was outstanding. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever making us feel rushed. I ordered the fish tacos, and they were absolutely delicious. To finish the meal, we had the creme brulee, and it was prepared perfectly with a crisp caramelized top. I definitely recommend saving room for dessert. If you're in the Poway area and looking for great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend checking out The Brigantine.

This Brigantine is close to the Poway AMC. A perfect spot before or after the movies. We missed…read morehappy but decided to go as a large group after a movie. 8 of us found a long table in the bar area. We split some appetizers which were are delicious. We were very disappointed in the kids meals. They were inedible. Unfortunately the kids didn't tell us until the end of the meal. The chicken strips were noticeably Burt when they first came to the table. We sent it back, but apparently they were still inedible the second time as well. The noodles with butter were also inedible. So bad the child didn't want to eat them there or take them home. The fried artichoke, Brussels sprouts, salads and fish tacos were up to our usual standards. Very happy about that. A few cocktails were order as well. One thing our large group appreciated was being able to pay with the QR code and pay by item. It made it easy for us to all pay for ourselves and kids if we had any with us as well as our individual drinks, alcoholic or non alcoholic. Thank you for making that an option. No one wants to do the math or be left paying for someone else's cocktail.

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Very cozy & clean interior
Very cozy & clean interior
Brig Shrimp Cocktail
Brig Shrimp Cocktail
Stuffed shrimp

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Stuffed shrimp
Fish Delights & European Food Market

Fish Delights & European Food Market

4.1
(78 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$
Family-owned & operated
7 years in business

Teeeny tiny store but so much stuff to look at. Found a few items that I cant find elsewhere. I…read morewill be back

I was in Poway and somehow this place caught my eye when I was looking on Google maps in the area…read moreso decided to give this place a try! I love going to supermarkets and especially ones that I am not familiar with and like to explore and discover new things to try. This market is fairly small and it had basically two aisles but its filled from floor to ceiling with Russian and Eastern European goods. The front deli case has all the smoked fish you want and also plenty of different kinds of sausages too. And since its the holidays, there are also plenty of fun chocolates and gift items! I chose to buy some rusk bread crisps (salmon and cheese flavored) and Russian style egg salad. Both were good! I didnt know what to expect with Russian style egg salad as it has cheese and fresh garlic in it, so I was a little worried if I didnt like it, but good thing is that I definitely liked it and can definitely pair them with some Carr crackers as a snack! Almost everyone in here was speaking Russian and I definitely felt like a weirdo in there but everyone was nice to me and welcoming. My only gripe is that the rusk crisp was labeled as $1.99 and I was charged $2.50. Id come back here again and try other things too next time.

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Smoked Chilean Seabass
Smoked Chilean Seabass
Smoked Halibut so delicious this season,  stop by to try it
Smoked Halibut so delicious this season, stop by to try it
Pastas

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Pastas
Mama's Bowl

Mama's Bowl

4.7
(24 reviews)
2.1 mi

The noodle dishes were tasty, and they live up to their name as it does taste like home cooking. I…read morewas most impressed that they were able to modify my lamb dish to have chow fun rice noodles vs. wheat noodles. I really appreciate the accomodation because I've been trying to cut back on gluten. I would eat lunch here again if I am in the area.

I stumbled upon Mama's Bowl while searching for another restaurant, and it turned out to be a true…read morehidden gem. Since Korean food options are scarce in the Poway area, I visited with equal parts curiosity and hope. Tucked away in an industrial corner near Costco in Poway, this spot operates alongside a poke restaurant -- separate, yet sharing the same space. Because the menu is impressively long and diverse, I highly recommend checking it online before visiting. Despite the extensive menu, the restaurant itself is simple, casual, clean, and surprisingly spacious. It reminded me a lot of a Korean food court -- relaxed, practical, and full of variety. The menu reflects that same food-court spirit, offering many different dishes as if several vendors were gathered under one roof. We wanted to try a range of items, so we ordered kimbap, tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake dumpling soup), spicy shrimp sauté, bulgogi, and tonkatsu. All dishes were served in to-go style containers, which honestly matched the casual atmosphere quite well. The tteok-mandu-guk was especially comforting and flavorful. The spicy shrimp dish had a generous portion, and the sauce carried a pleasant level of heat without being overwhelming. The bulgogi was tender with well-balanced seasoning. The kimbap tasted good, though it felt slightly cold, and the pieces were quite large -- a bit difficult to eat comfortably. The tonkatsu was ordered for my son, and he enjoyed both the flavor and the generous portion. Overall, the food had a warm, homemade feel that I really appreciated. With such a large menu, this is definitely a place worth revisiting multiple times just to explore more dishes. The owner was incredibly kind and welcoming, adding an extra layer of warmth to the experience. Flavor, portion size, and service were all strong, and the prices are consistent with typical San Diego dining -- nothing surprising there. The location is convenient enough that whenever I'm craving Korean comfort food in Poway, this will be an easy choice. I'm already thinking about what to try next. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Korean food -- especially if you love discovering low-key neighborhood gems.

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Poke bar
Poke bar
Regular Kimbap, Spam Kimbap, and Bulgolgi Kimbap Tteokguk - Ricecake Soup (No Spicy) Jap Chae (No Spicy / Spicy) Banchan to boot!
Regular Kimbap, Spam Kimbap, and Bulgolgi Kimbap Tteokguk - Ricecake Soup (No Spicy) Jap Chae (No Spicy / Spicy) Banchan to boot!
Mama's Bowl

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The Boiling Crab

The Boiling Crab

3.9
(1.7k reviews)
4.8 mi
$$$

Get here as early as you can because it gets super busy…read more I've been to other seafood boil places and it never tastes as fresh as this location. The prices are outrageous, I wish they came in combos and not having to pay everything à la carte, a mini corn shouldn't be $2. Prices aside, the staff was super friendly and professional and they play really good music ( r&b and hip hop throwbacks ) . I definitely would recommend, your wallet will hate you but you have to spoil yourself here and there . Also worth mentioning, I had a lot of leftovers, ate my king crab 3 days later and it still tasted scrumptious!!! I got the medium spice and it did the trick.

It's crawfish season so come enjoy it at The Boiling Crab because I was honestly so surprised by…read morethe quality. I'll be real, I used to be a Boiling Crab skeptic and would go to other seafood boil spots because of some bad experiences here a few years ago. It seems like a lot has changed since then, especially the quality. There was a short wait but nothing crazy. We were seated within about 15 minutes, which is pretty good considering how big and busy the restaurant is. There's both patio and indoor seating and this is probably one of the largest seafood boil spots I've been to. Once seated, the host walked us through the digital menu and got us started. Our server came by quickly, took our order, and brought out bibs, gloves, and the usual setup with lemon, salt, and pepper. Food came out in about 10-15 minutes which felt pretty fast. We started with the Cajun fries to share. They were okay, nothing spectacular. Some fries weren't as crispy and the Cajun seasoning felt a little flat. The crawfish though... that was the star. I got a pound of the seasonal crawfish with corn and potatoes and they did not disappoint. The crawfish were big, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The meat was tender and I was even able to pull out claw meat which usually doesn't happen with lower quality crawfish. The who-shabang sauce (mild) was so good, a perfect mix of Cajun and garlic. The corn was super sweet and the potatoes soaked up all that sauce. Overall, my opinion has completely changed. This visit turned me around and I'll definitely be coming back more often.

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The Boiling Crab
The Boiling Crab
The Boiling Crab

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Ipo Hawaiian BBQ - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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