Food is amazing!!! Tastes just like the good food in the islands. They bring the magic to downtown. One of the best meals I've had in Denver! Service is also great. Very friendly staff. Can't wait to go back again soon. I'll be a regular! read more

Ordered: Combo Plate (~$17): Teriyaki Chicken and Loco Moco with Sunnyside Egg (+$2) with rice & mac salad Lilikoi Lemonade (~$4): housemade passionfruit lemonade Aya's take: I was in the area looking for a quick yet filling lunch and stumbled upon Kealoha's BBQ. It's a food truck right on 16th Street. It seems to be a 2-person operation so unfortunately it was not as fast I was hoping. The lady working there was super friendly! I got the Combo Plate and decided on the Teriyaki Chicken and Loco Moco. The Teriyaki Chicken was smoky, sweet, and savory. The Loco Moco was very satisfying, particularly with the gravy and perfectly cooked Sunnyside Egg! The rice & mac salad were both great classic sides to have with this meal. The Lilikoi Lemonade was described as their passionfruit lemonade but I wasn't getting much passionfruit. It's tangy, sweet, and refreshing and paired well with the meal but it just wasn't passionfruit flavor. Good try and it kept me full for hours! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Combo Plate (~$17) of Teriyaki Chicken and Loco Moco with Sunnyside Egg (+$2) - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We got to Kealoha's BBQ at around 2:15 with 4 people in front of us in line. We got to order at around 2:30 and they let us know that they had limited inventory. We got the sweet and spicy burger combo with mac salad and lychee lemonade which was $13, along with the Lilikoi bbq pork ribs plate which was $15. We finally got our order at 3:30 and the spicy lilikoi bbq pork ribs tasted amazing. The perfect balance of sweet, tangy, smoky, and spicy. The sweet and spicy burger combo was definitely worth it as well, but the ribs were the star of today! They also had a cooler full of water bottles that were free with the purchase. Next time, I would call ahead! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Lilikoi (Lily-koy) BBQ Pork Ribs Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Friendly service and great food! Something out of the ordinary to try rather than going to your normal cookie cutter lunch spot. Also, rather than sitting inside the restaurant you get to sit outside in a courtyard while checking out the city and watching people. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Lilikoi BBQ Chicken Plate with rice and green salad. - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We got here right when it opened and the line built up fast on a Saturday morning but now I see why. Legit Hawaiian from the nicest and welcoming owners. I love that you can taste the meats are served fresh from from the fire 15/10 stars and I'll take 5 more musubis to go read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Spam musubi - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This was the best meal I had in Denver. The service was super friendly and helpful. The space is very cute with tables, space for kids to play, and there was a music group playing. The flavor of all the meat was amazing. The meat was tender and seasoned to perfection. The salad dressing was light and refreshing. I would highly recommend this place. The value for the money was also great. read more

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Amazing food truck in the heart of downtown!!! The people running it are SO FRIENDLY. There's a reason why they always have a huge line of people wanting food!!! We love their teriyaki chicken. I don't think that's the true name of it but that's what it taste like. You get a ton of food for your one price so you can easily split it into 2 meals. Give yourself extra time when you're ordering the food because I did have to wait an hour because of the long line and fresh food takes awhile to make!!! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Huge servings. Great service. Cute table area. Stopped by for a quick lunch though everything is definitely made to order and took a bit of time. Flavors were good though not the best. I wish the meat was less sweet and more rounded in flavor but it was definitely well cooked and executed. Love the free water. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This spot is what Yelp was made for. Best plate lunch I have had in my life and I've had too many to count. The ribs, service, flavor, everything was on point. If you are in the Denver area and like Hawaiian food then this is a MUST visit. You will not be disappointed. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Lilikoi (Lily-koy) BBQ Pork Ribs Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This is the best Hawaiian food that I have had on the mainland. The service is amazing and they are so friendly and kind. I will be coming back 100% read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Combo Plate, Spam Musubi, and Lilikoi BBQ Chicken Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The spicy ribs were fantastic!! The side of pasta salad was also great. Staff was very friendly. Great outdoor seating on a nice day too

I was visiting from Miami yesterday and was only here for 1 day and saw this place was near my hotel if it looked really good, I went a little too late as they were closing up for the day because they'd sold out, the owner and worker there were so nice to me and still offered to make me the food I wanted, I ordered the ribs and white rice because that's what I like and the food was actually so amazing it was my first time visiting Denver ever and this made my experience amazing, they had a sign that showed they won 3rd in a national food competition and I see exactly why, this truly was such an amazing experience coming here and I promised to leave a review because of how great they treated me, it really is great when the people making your food love what they do and have a heart. 10/10 would highly recommend to anyone who is considering coming here, also they have multiple options I just got the ribs and rice because I'm a simple guy. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Best meal I had in Downtown Denver. Definitely the most bang for your buck. Ribs are a must as they fall off the bone paired with Melona lemonade was a 10/10 read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Melona Lemonade and Lilikoi BBQ Pork Rib. So good - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This food stand is a true hidden gem. I tried the chicken salad and spam musubi, and both were delicious. The Lilikoi salad dressing was really good. The owner was incredibly friendly, offering free bottled water from the cooler while I waited. As many others have mentioned, be ready for a wait--there are only two people working in the stand, and it took about 40 minutes from when I ordered to when my food was ready. I'd definitely come back when I know I have time. Pro tip: text their phone number to place your order ahead of time (the lady let me know to do this). read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Kealoha's food is hands down the best Hawaiian BBQ in Denver. The ribs and chicken are so flavorful and tender and the rice is cooked perfect every time. I have been to the 16th St location as well as tried their catering and I cannot recommend them highly enough!! Keep up the great work Bob and Kristie! read more

The service was great -- very friendly and welcoming, which made for a pleasant experience. The food was good overall, but it's just not quite the same as getting it straight from Hawaii. There's definitely room for improvement. It would be nice if they offered classic sides like Hawaiian-style macaroni salad, and the kalua pork could be more authentic. Honestly, my own kalua pork tastes better! With a few tweaks, this place could be much closer to the real island flavors. Still a decent spot with potential! read more

Was visiting Denver and was curious about this spot so we stopped by, and the food was delicious with huge portion sizes. I got the flavorful, chicken salad and that was more than enough for me. Hubs got the BBQ platter and the meat was super flavorful and I loved their mac salad, even though I'm not usually a mac salad fan. It's a little kiosk and the owner was super nice. One of her staff called out sick when we were there so service was slow, but she was very apologetic about it. It's out on the green with picnic table and made for a nice break from work, especially since we also got some live music. read more

maybe spending 3 days in denver and im lucky to have chosen this place for one of my days! wonderfully kind staff; helped me decide my meal and even threw in an extra side and gave me free water!! delicious food and great outdoor atmosphere! made my day. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - a happy customer after their meal - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Hawaiian cuisine is an often overlooked cuisine here in the mainland. It's rich in both history and flavors. True Hawaiian food celebrated its rich history, diverse contributors, unique constraints, and resilience. Nothing is average or bland and no ingredient is overlooked. But for some reason you come to the mainland and it's bland and one dimensional. Hats off to Kealoha's BBQ for finally getting this rich cuisine right. The Kahlua pork is juicy and savory. The pork ribs are cooked to perfection and the BBQ sauce celebrates and honor the flavors of Hawaii, as do all their sauces and fresh juices. The star of the show for me though was the oft overlooked Mac salad. How so many places get this wrong is beyond me. I always go into a Hawaiian restaurant in the mainland expecting a disappointing Mac salad so when I tried Kealoha's my mind was blown. They nail their take on the classic. I cannot wait to keep trying all their dishes here and am already planning on going back to try their burgers. This place is amazing and well deserving of its own brick and mortar. The service is also lovely, attentive, and very helpful with questions. Let's celebrate and uplift this unique gem. read more

I am currently visiting Denver for work and was browsing for a lunch spot when this Hawaii BBQ hut popped up. As someone who visits Hawaii 1-2 times a year, I had to see how the food fared so far away from the islands. After meeting the lovely owners, I got my food and sank my teeth into the BBQ ribs and instantly fell in love. It was the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and umami. Perfectly charred and fall of the bone tender. I never had such tasty ribs, even in Hawaii. Sad that I'm only here for a couple of days but the spur of the moment decision to try Kealoha's BBQ was definitely worth it. read more

Flew into Denver for a Broncos game and did a quick search for something to eat. Kealoha's BBQ popped up. What caught my attention was the Lilikoi bbq ribs and chicken. Took me a while to find it because iI was expecting an actual brick and mortar establishment. Turns out it's a small kiosk type setup with several other restaurants. The owner Krystie, took my order. She was so friendly and gladly answered any questions. Ordered the Likikoi BBQ ribs with Mac salad and white rice with a Lychee lemonade. The bbq glaze on the ribs was nice and sticky, packing a good amount of flavor. The meat was so tender, it literally fell off the bone as I picked it up. Living in southern CA (with its vast array of Hawaiian food) and spending lots of time in HI, I' can honestly say that this place is legit. What is often overlooked is the sides. Too many times over ordered good food with either hard or too soft rice and gross Mac salad. Their rice was spot on cooked to perfection and the Mac salad had just the right amount of mayo and the macaroni noodles were cooked a perfect al dente. Thoroughly enjoy my meal along with the Lychee Lemonade. Definitely hitting up this spot one more time before heading home. Show this small Mom and pop establishment some love and give them a try. You won't be disappointed. . read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Lilikoi BBQ Ribs. So good. - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Try the food you won't regret it! It's been 4 years since I've first had the food here. I still dream about it. This place is THE BEST HAWAIIAN FOOD in all of Colorado! Must visit every time I'm within 100miles of it. If you don't like it send me an invoice! If you do like it, leave a review. read more

Great service and definitely worth the wait! Large portion of food for the price. The park area was great location for lunch. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Large portions and great flavor. I got the combination Combo Plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I was here for a conference, the Food was great but it was almost a 2 hour wait to get my food and there were not that many people in line. these guys need to hire some people because they cant handle any type of flow of people. I wish they would of warned us becuase we missed out afternoon meetings becuase of it. :( read more

This joints line was poppin! Despite the consistent foot traffic, they served an incredibly generous amount of chicken. By first glance, a native islander might think my dish was just teriyaki chicken but the sauce defo got some twang to it-- that good type of twang :P The greens were fresh and the rice was good, not mushy one bit which is typical when there is a sudden lunch rush. Unfortunately there was little to no seating as this joint has 3 other food carts neighboring with only 3-4 tables for seating. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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First of all, 10/10 service- everyone was so sweet and inviting. There was also 0 wait when I went for lunch however I wasn't super impressed with their pork plate. The portion sizes are great but I found the pork to be super salty and I requested spicy and it was not spicy at all. The Mac salad could've used more seasoning and texture too. The lemonade was refreshing but didn't taste like lychee. I've definitely had better Hawaiian food especially coming from Chicago. read more

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The Food is amazing. I had the pulled pork plate since the Moco Loco was not in stock. Only loses a star since more oft than not it is closed, however do try when it is open. Incredibly nice and bang for your buck food in heft and taste (My plate was well over a pound!). I am always checking their hours via google maps to see if it is open. read more

SWEETEST WORKERS EVER!!! They were so sweet and kind! I visited from Austin, TX and they had so much hospitality! They brought us out free coconut hot chocolate because it was cold out & loaded our plates up! I would 10/10 recommend! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Kealoha's bbq was delicious! It's a cute little food truck run by a sweet, friendly couple. I liked the combo plate option since I'm prone to indecisiveness and want to try everything. However, if you come here you must try the lilikoi ribs. My boyfriend got them flavored in spicy teriyaki with rice and mac salad. They really are fall off the bone! I also didn't know how many were gonna come with the spam musubi but we deduced that each order comes with 3 since we got 2 orders. For the combo plate I got the lilikoi bbq chicken and kalua pork with rice and tossed greens with creamy lilikoi dressing. I liked the tossed salad with dressing, very light and nice flavor. Definitely would get again with any entree. I would probably skip on the kalua pork next time based on preference. The spam musubi was also good but maybe just a tiny bit too much rice. Again being super nitpicky. I did feel the Hawaiian vibes with their music and the food. Guess I won't have to travel to hawaii! My top item would be the fall off the bone ribs. Next time we come back we'll have to try more of the menu. I would wanna try the sweet & spicy bbq smash burgers and lemonades. I also saw a couple desserts on other reviews but didn't see it on the menu. Until next time, Denver. read more

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I stayed at the Embassy Suites for work on May 23rd and decided to stop by for lunch. According to the information online, the restaurant was open. However, when I arrived, it was closed. I tried calling the posted number, but it went straight to a recorded message with no helpful information. Unfortunately, this lack of communication and inconvenience means I won't be returning. read more

What a gem this place is! Super fresh and delicious, and they give you a bunch of food for a great price! The owner was extremely nice. The wait is worth it if there is a long line. This is the Spicy BBQ Chicken Plate with White Rice and Salad. This easily could be split into two meals but I couldn't stop eating it! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - 2. Lilikoi BBQ Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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The folks running this little food stand really bring the Aloha! Food was delicious and they were friendly and helpful. Takes a little time, but they had a cooler full of waters to cool down while you waited. The lilikoi salad dressing was so Ono (that means delicious)!! read more

Best bbq in the state of Colorado hands down!!! Amazing portions great service and the atmosphere is 10/10 Also ignore robs bad review 9 days ago obviously he doesn't understand what Memorial Day is read more

I grew up eating local food so I was curious about this spot in Denver. Lots of greens, a yummy dressing and a good amount of protein. Both plates are a great deal with the amount of food you get. I will return here again! Mac salad has a nice little twist on it, I'm a fan. Side note: they do run this out of small stand so be patient if there's lot of people. it's so worth the wait and they are very kind. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Lilikoi Teriyaki Chicken 3. Lilikoi Chicken Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I just happened to stumble upon this hidden gem near the 16th street mall. OMG I'm in love! I got the homemade lilikoi and it tasted way better than the Hawaiian can drink I normally get. Then I got a musabi and that was fresh and homemade. Was absolutely delicious. I got there too late for the real food because they sold out by 1. That's how good this place is. I'll go back soon to get the whole shabang and then I'll give you a better review. But if the drink and musabi was the bomb I could ONLY imagine what their kahlua pork and mad taste like. read more

You need to know before you go that this place operates on island time, meaning that you will wait in line (I waited about 30 minutes) and then wait to get your food (I waited just over 20 minutes). However, if you're not in a hurry and can afford to wait, then it is absolutely worth it. Hey, this is an excellent opportunity to practice patience. The food is cooked fresh to order, and the owners are working hard to ensure that they take care of everyone as quickly as possible. I felt valued, which doesn't happen everywhere you go. I was greeted warmly with a pleasant smile and a "thank you for waiting". The aroma of the place kept luring me in while I was in line, as I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to try. I opted with the combo (Lilikoi BBQ Ribs, Teriyaki Chicken, Pasta Mac Salad, and White Rice). The ribs were falling off the bone as I devoured every bite. The chicken was tender and fresh. Every bite was packed full of flavor. I didn't want to stop, but this meal was big enough for two, so I decided to save some chicken for later. The Lilikoi Hawaiian Lemonade was also fresh and delicious. I love that they use an infinitely recyclable cup for the lemonade. Huge plus in my book. I think it would be really great if they used compostable ECO products instead of styrofoam for their to-go containers, but that's just a personal request and doesn't take away from what's on the inside of the container. There's not a ton of seating and you'll likely be sharing a table with other patrons, or pulling up a spot on the turf, but this didn't bother me. Perhaps bring a portable table and chair if knocking elbows with a stranger is not your idea of a good time. This is definitely a must-try because I guarantee you will enjoy it to the very last bite. read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Front of the truck - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Well worth the wait! We were in town for a tournament and found Kealoha's ahead of time. We knew this was a place we had to try. While at the tournament we ordered online. It was a short distance from our hotel so we picked it up on our way "Home". The area where this food truck was located is nested on a patch of grass with about 3 other places to eat. The owners were super friendly, we got to chat with them for a little. If you're from the islands you know that it's the true aloha spirit that these two have. "Aunty" and "Unko" even sent us off with lilikoi lemonade (it was the bomb) and butter mochi that we'll eat later. Anyway, getting back to our order. We ordered a little of everything but I really wanted to try the teriyaki burger. My husband ordered the chicken and ribs, one daughter got the loco moco, I ordered the chicken and the other child got the spam musubi. I will say that the ribs are a must!!! The sauce on the chicken is to die for and that loco moco is one of the best we've ate. My youngest had the spam musubi and I was afraid she wouldn't eat it because she's picky and the sauce was on it. Anyway, I didn't get to try it but she gobbled that thing down in bites. Safe to say, she loved it. Love the whole vibe of this cute little area. Whenever in the area, we'll be back!! Aloha! read more

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Besides the fact that Kealoha and Krystie are wonderfully friendly people, the food here is fantastic. My wife, Patty, is Hawaiian and knows authentic when she sees/tastes it. The spicy teriyaki burger is delectable and the spam musubi is delish. Whenever we come back to Denver, this is going to be our first stop. Highly recommended!! read more

Kealoha's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Have patience, if you're short on time this isn't the place to go to . Only two people working and it took me 35-40 min to get my food . I enjoyed the lemonade and spam musubi. The lychee lemonade is amazing and the loco moco was okay . Didn't like the mac at all but the gravy is phew , so good read more

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Stopped by for the BBQ ribs a few minutes after the posted opening time. While the ribs were excellent, fall off the bone, the food truck was not open by around 11:15, and even then was not fully set up with all the options available. The local area, 16th St. Mall, also has no public bathrooms, which can be a problem if you're eating at a food truck. That said, if you're in the area, I would recommend the lychee lemonade and Hawaiian BBQ ribs. read more