Me and my husband had such a wonderful experience at Matiki BBQ, and we truly have to highlight the exceptional service provided by Casie. From the moment we walked in, she stood out for all the right reasons. Her customer service skills are genuinely top-tier--she greeted us with a warm, sincere smile that instantly made us feel welcome and comfortable. Casie has such a pleasant and approachable demeanor. She took the time to really engage with us, making sure we felt taken care of without ever seeming rushed or distracted. What impressed us most is how attentive she is--she listened carefully and offered thoughtful recommendations based on what we might enjoy. If you're unsure what to order, she's the perfect person to guide you. Her suggestions were spot-on and made the whole dining experience even better. Beyond her professionalism, Casie has a wonderful personality that shines through in every interaction. She brings such positive energy to the environment--it's clear she enjoys what she does, and it reflects in how she treats people. On top of that, her beautiful complexion and confident presence add to her overall charm, making her truly memorable. It's rare to come across someone who combines efficiency, friendliness, and genuine care so effortlessly. Casie goes above and beyond to make sure every guest leaves satisfied, and that level of service deserves recognition. Because of her, we'll definitely be returning to Matiki BBQ and recommending it to others. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Delicious beef ribs!!! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

The ribs were genuinely good (if you like fat). But that barely matters when the staff single-handedly destroys any reason to return. One woman in particular (presumably a manager or long-time employee) was shockingly, aggressively rude in a way that's hard to overstate. She barked orders and accusations at customers with zero patience, yelling over trivial things that no reasonable person could possibly know or control. Her tone was dripping with contempt, her attitude unapologetically hostile, and her behavior screamed ignorance wrapped in unearned entitlement. Zero warmth, zero professionalism--just pure, unfiltered disdain for the very people paying her bills. No one should have to endure being treated like an inconvenience or an idiot just to eat decent barbecue. The food might be worth a try if you're willing to stomach verbal abuse, but for most of us, it's not. Her complete lack of basic decency and customer service skills makes this place actively unpleasant. I won't be back, and I can't in good conscience recommend it to anyone who values being treated like a human being. One star only because the ribs themselves don't deserve zero--but she absolutely does. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - The very rude and uncivilized staff - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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We came here because we are hosting a 40 person party and wanted Hawaiian food. This was a taste test. I order their three meat platter and asked if I could taste their Kalua pig. I was told no. When I said I wanted to try it before I ordered for my party. The woman said "no, they only cook it by the plate". I changed the order to two plates and missed out on the steak. Here is the run down. Spam musubi was delicious- warm, with furikake and a healthy portion is spam. Kalua pig had way more cabbage than pork and on bland side. Teriyaki chicken was good. The rice was sticky. The short rib kalbi was really tasty until the last rib which was charred on the outside and raw on the inside. The Mac salad was average. After my encounter with the women taking my order I got picky. I ordered two cans of diet soda. When I got cups for a fountain drink I went with it. While I was sitting I noticed the price. $1.75 for a can. $2.00 for a fountain drink. They make so much more money off the fountain drink. I went back for a refill just to try and recoup my money. It wasn't busy when wee were there, yet the trash can was overflowing. read more

Matiki Island BBQ is a total gem. The ribs are the star, smoky and tender. Paired with their signature sauce. Mac salad and rice were just ok. Coming back for the ribs. Good price too read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef rib plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Plenty of parking in the plaza. There is a good amount of seating inside but a lot of people were ordering to go. It was very cold inside and the lady taking our order was rude and stand offish. Customer service was severely lacking but the food itself was a 7.5 for me. The ribs had a good amount of fat on it. Short ribs were better in my opinion. read more

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Well back and front Fullerton and I just moved to Stanton it's really delicious and I think it's better than anything you've seen on these menus here I recommend it highly of o read more

Maybe we came on a bad day, but the food was not good. We had one good thing, and that was the short ribs. We walked in, and the location looked really clean. It was slow because all the staff was watching the football game and did not realize their menu screens were not on. It took literally 5 minutes to get them back on. We looked at the menu online, and even though we had been waiting over 5-10 minutes and knew what we wanted, the cashier was too busy on the phone to take our order. She would not let the call ring or put it on hold to take care of the line of 8 people. Seems like customer service to the customer in front of them is not prioritized. We were a group of 5 people, so we tried many things. Short rib plate was good, could have used a little more seasoning, but good overall. I had the chicken and steak plate. The beef was the driest beef I have ever had--literally had to drown it in their teriyaki sauce, and even that did not help. The chicken was ok but still needed sauce. My kids had the chicken rice kids bowl, and the portion was a joke. We ended up giving them food from our plates. Someone in our party did try their famous rib plate. It looked great, but he said there was more fat than meat. We had to eat again shortly after. Someone recommended this place to me, so I had high expectations, but they were not met. As always, another place that looks good only on Instagram. read more

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Chill spot to enjoy great, authentic Hawaiian food. Most people get take out, but a handful of folks were dining in. The food is fresh, hot & delicious. They even have warm, easy to pick up goodies like spam musubi, manapua & pani popo. We got the #7 plate - steak & short ribs, which comes w/ 2 scoops of rice & either green or mac salad. These are our fave meats, & we always go w/ their mac salad! Another terrific meat choice here is their ribs! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - #7 - Steak & Short Ribs Plate: comes w/ 2 scoops of rice & mac or green salad. Be sure to add their teriyaki sauce! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Very good meal, and imo a good value. We will be back for sure tk eat again. Wish they had a place in San Diego read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef ribs plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Some of the best hawaiian bbq ive ever had. Super fast service, friendliest people ever, they were so nice to us!! Gave us a couple extra pieces just because they were so nice. Busy bit fast! The ambiance was so warm and cozy!! read more

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Their macaroni salad is real tasty. The place is always packed so it must not be just me that think they are good. I tried both stores they had and the one on fullerton has tougher meat. read more

Came back and n 1/3/26 since my son had a volleyball tournament in Irvine. Sadly, they still don't have the warm welcoming. I even tried to make a friendly "local kine" talk story but maybe the lady at the front doesn't get it. No emotion, no smile, nothing! Anyway, we ordered the Kahuna plate, kalbi plates, chicken and beef plate and side of ribs. The beef was not as tender as we would like, kalbi had a lot of fat and chicken was a bit dry. The star of the show are the beef ribs. They were tender and flavorful. The mac salad was good. The place is clean and roomy. I think the place lacks the friendly staff. I am away from the islands so when I come to a place that sells local food, I also expect the people to have that friendly, warm that you experience when you're on the island. read more

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So delicious I was recommended by 2 of my sisters, both love it Way better than the chain Hawaiian BBQ places I have previously tried The first time I go their steak and ribs, but I think I like the ribs the best. So flavorful and food came out pretty quickly read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Kalbi short Ribs - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Not all meats are equally good. It's quick and easy to get food especially with online ordering. I should have trusted the consensus and got more ribs. The beef ribs have such tender succulent meat and crispy edges. The kalbi is okay albeit fatty. The minus 2 stars is for the steak--tremendously overcooked and tough. Additionally, the macaroni salad recipe is a disaster. They add potatoes which makes the side starchy and unappealing. Please remove the potatoes from the macaroni salad. The salad is a contrast the meat and should be slick from the pasta and creamy/fatty with the mayo. Surprisingly, the steak was a bit more palatable as leftovers when I added water. read more

Best Hawaiian food I've had. Portions are big enough to share. Good quality food, the ambiance is nice and the service is quick. I will be back for sure. In photo #1 beef ribs and the chicken bowl with a side of macaroni. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

10 STARS we placed a pickup order online. Hands DOWN, BEST Beef Ribs I've EVER HAD! Perfectly cooked with amazing flavor! Meaty with the right amount of fat ratio. Pasta Salad was excellent too. Along with perfectly cooked rice with the sauce poured on top (don't know name of it) make sure you get it for your rice Salad was a very fresh mix of greens with a lite vinaigrette, glad I asked for extra as they only toss it lightly. I can't wait to go back! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - 1. Beef Rib Plate (Sam's Plate) - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

The food was amazing! Ordered the beef rib plate; I love that there were pieces of meat that were crispy and big chunks that melt in your mouth. A large plate that can be shared between two people. The macaroni salad was more of a potato salad, had pieces of potatoes; it was not the sweet creamy mac salad that usually comes with hawaiian food. Large seating area, some tables were dirty but nothing excessive. The only downside was the customer service. The woman at the register presented as rude and short. Come for the food not so much the customer service read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - 1. Beef Rib Plate (Sam's Plate) - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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Matiki Island BBQ is located at the south end of the Ralphs shopping center on Harbor and Berkeley in Fullerton right behind Black Bear Diner. There is extra parking at the end of the center where Matiki is and finding a spot is rarely a problem. If you are anywhere within a hundred feet of the restaurant, you will not be able to miss the wonderful aroma of Hawaiian BBQ in the air. There are probably about ten tables inside with a mix of two seat and four seat tables. They have a patio at the end of the building but I have never seen tables out there. If you want to eat outside, there are some shared tables for the various food places if you walk towards Ralphs a short way. You go up to the register to order and they will call your name when your food is ready. Right next to the register is the grill where all the magic happens. There is usually a good amount of meat on the grill with a lot of flames and huge plumes of smoke going up and out the chimney. I ordered the #2 short ribs (Kalbi) plate. It comes with two scoops of white rice and I selected the green salad instead of the macaroni salad to make the meal a little more healthy. About ten minutes later my food was ready. I opened the container and was happy to see a pretty good stack of short ribs. Forget about a fork and knife, with short ribs it's easier to just grab the bones and dig in. There were probably a good ten to twelve pieces of short rib. The short ribs were cooked perfectly and were absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, there were two pieces that were 100% fat, and there were also two or three pieces that were all bone with just a tiny quarter inch or so of meat around the bone. The rice was good and I drizzled some sriracha on top to spice it up. The salad was good and was tossed in a great vinaigrette which had a little sweetness as well as a little tang. Overall, it was a very satisfying plate. However, it is not cheap at $19. All of the plate meals except for the chicken plate are going to set you back over $20 after tax. I took off half of a star for the price and a few bum pieces of short rib, but rounded up to five stars for the great flavor. I will continue to return periodically. read more

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Everything is consistently good! I always get the chicken and the short rib plate. The chicken is always perfectly cooked and juicy and the short ribs are fire! The service is also great :) chill vibes inside but its super fast for to-go orders! read more

HANDS DOWN BEST HAWAIIAN BBQ IVE HAD OUTSIDE OF HAWAII!!! Im yelling it to anyone who wants to hear it! Service... phenomenal! Really friendly and helpful! The food was amazingly tender and flavorful and they aren't stingy on their portions! Amen to that! Haha Would easily go back! I want it now as I type this. read more

Craving a familiar taste, a flavor , an aroma of the islands draws draws me back to Matiki for an order of ribs - Sam's plate. The mahogany colored soy-garlic marinated beef with smoky perfume makes my mouth water. So much goodness for satisfying my craving in a pile of bbq bones. Mahalo. I'm happy again. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Sam's plate - 5/21/25 - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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I love this place and food is top tier. I recently stopped by on a Saturday night at about 8:40, I know kinda cutting it close, but they specifically state that they close at 9pm. I also tried to call before I got off the freeway to go out of my way to make my way over there. So like I said I get there about 8:40 and the doors were locked and one worker shook his head no. So my thing is if you say you close at 9pm you shouldn't close earlier. Now I'm gonna have to go over there all the way from Azusa when I was literally in the area and it was convenient for me to stop. read more

So delicious. I get no salad double macaroni salad with short rib and chicken combo and add protein (beef ribs) in the side. Friendly staff large clean dining area. Delicious read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Side of Beef Rib - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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The lovely folks at Matiki Island BBQ did not disappoint. The wonderful service and delicious island food was just what the doctor ordered. I got the beef and short ribs combo with a side of some beef ribs! The combo comes with rice and mac . The servings were plentiful leaving me with leftovers for lunch the next day. The restaurant interior gives off a real Hawaiian vibe. Aloha and mahalo! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Beef and short ribs plate and a Side of Beef Rib - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

1 Star I hate that I have to write this because I used to love Matiki BBQ, and my family has always enjoyed eating here. I spent about $150 to treat my family to dinner, mainly for the ribs, and I honestly could not believe the quality of the food we were served. The beef ribs were extremely burnt, hard, and almost impossible to eat. Unfortunately, it wasn't just my plate -- all of our meals were overcooked, including the chicken. I previously left a review mentioning concerns about the declining quality and still gave this place 3 stars because I believed things could improve. Sadly, it feels like nothing has changed. This place has gone downhill so fast, and I don't know why. Is it the success? Lower quality ingredients? Burnt out employees? Whatever the issue is, something needs to change because this place used to feel world class. It genuinely disappoints me to write this because I wanted to keep supporting this business. I'll give it another try in a few months and hope things improve. read more

Top Tier! Now my full on FAVORITE Hawaiian spot ever. Whoever the chefs are, I give the most massive kudos to you guys ever! This food is so damn delicious. I ordered a #1 Beef Ribs and a #5 Chicken/Beef Plate and good lord they were fantastic! The meat was cooked to perfection and the sauce on the tables kicked it up to a perfect 10 for me. Spam music was good, great rice to meat ratio and subtly sweet and savory. The Mac salad was some of the most hearty and tasty I've experienced and trust me I've been to every Hawaiian island multiple times. I will be adding this to my constant rotation because I can't get enough, came back with my lady just so I could have the excuse to order more hahaha. Thank you guys for a phenomenal meal! read more

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Once my husband introduced me to Matiki, I instantly understood why he kept talking about it--there was no going back. The beef ribs are everything you'd want: meaty, smoky, fatty, sweet, and so flavorful. He had passed by this place for over 10 years before finally trying it, and now we both wish we had discovered it sooner. I've only tried their #1 Sam's plate so far, but I'm confident the other dishes are just as good. The ribs are grilled over charcoal to perfection, and that sweet sauce they serve on the side makes every bite even better. Eating here feels like stepping into a true Hawaiian spot. The ordering process is simple--place your order with the cashier, wait for your name to be called, and then enjoy your food. The restaurant itself is very clean and surprisingly well-ventilated, so you don't walk out smelling like smoke. I can't wait to come back with him again! read more

FOOD IS AMAZING HERE! The 6. Chicken & Short Ribs Plate is divine. The Side of Beef Rib is perfectly sweet and charred. Love this spot. The dull soft serve is perfect! Must try spot!!! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Matiki Island Barbecue is located off of Berkeley Ave and Harbor Blvd. If it's your first time here, be sure to follow your GPS directions or you'll drive right past it. Once you find it, it's easy to access and parking is plentiful. Be aware that if you come during peak lunch or dinner hours the parking lot fills up because this place is hoppin'!! Orders are placed at the counter and your name is called for you to claim it once it's ready. The dining room is a nice size with lots of table & chair seating, but remember, during peak hours, Matiki's gets packed. Simple, tasteful Hawaiian decor graces the walls and a front corner. Service is usually friendly but always efficient. (They sometimes get frazzled during the rush). Spam musubi and Manapua are in a "self-serve" case on the counter. Drinks have the option of self-serve fountain or individual single cans. Coke lovers rejoice, because it is served here!! We originally discovered Matiki's at the original location in Anaheim. It's no exaggeration when I tell you that EVERYTHING on the menu is amazing ~ we've tried it all!! Combo plate portions are huge and can easily be shared by two people (unless you're extra hungry, then you can definitely chow down!). The Mac salad is so good, we usually order extra scoops on the side. And definitely try the Matiki's sauce. Another crave-worthy offering! Have I made you hungry yet?? Go give them a try. Your taste buds will thank you! read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Current menu and pricing as of January 2025 - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

Delicious! Not the most happy or helpful people working there but the food is great! Big portions. Esp the beef rib plate. Depending on how much meat is in the bone and how big they are is the amount of ribs you get. Two people that eat normal portions can prob share. They don't have katsu. Only chicken that's brushed with the same sauce as the ribs. Highly suggest getting the rib plate! If you try to order over the phone.... The DO NOT answer. read more

It's our first time here.   Typically, we go to the Anaheim location when we're in the area.  This place is a lot bigger and more modern.  When you walk in, it is bright and beautifully decorated.  You get instant islander vibes with the smell of the bbq cooking.   You can even watch them cooking.     I placed my order and walked around.  I was happy that this location had pani popo.  They have restrooms for customers and it was nice and clean.     I ordered : 1.  Sam's plate -  you can never go wrong with the beef ribs.  It's flavorful, yummy, messy goodness, and follow it with the mac/potato salad.  Heaven, you can hear going "aah" 2.  Steak & short ribs - I always order this but always forget that the steak is like think pieces of steak, not like a juicy chunky piece of steak, you know?  If that's what you're expecting, don't get it.  Short ribs are deliciously messy 3.  Kalua pork & cabbage  -  my husband loves this and be careful with this.  When handling it, be careful of the juicy goodness spilling. 4.  Pani popo - I've been wanting to try this for a while now, but the other location never has it in stock.  I think I built this up so much that by the time I had it,  I was disappointed.   It was basically a pan de sal with coconut milk/saucy thing.  It's like a bread pudding.      Overall, the food was delicious.   Service was fast, and they are efficient.   Price wasn't too bad.  I think it is affordable. Portions were a good size. This location had plenty of parking and was a little more inviting. read more

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Ordered some food for company lunch, and was very disappointed with the quality of the food. Kalbi was burnt and can not even eat it. Knowing that the kalbi was crisp burnt they decided to give it to us. Will not come back. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Burnt - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

I don't know what has changed , but this place has just turned horrible. Our last visit there, our food was great but the front counter lady must have lost her dog because she never greeted anyone and would just take an order and turn away without any greeting whatsoever. And Tonight, our meals were horrible. Chicken and steak were dry, no flavor, the Mac tasted like Albertsons Mac, horrible. They have lost our business after years of enjoying the restaurant and food. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Dry overcooked unseasoned chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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I was not going to leave a review but decided to after reading another persons experience. I walked in at 11:01am and ordered 2 kids steak bowl and a regular steak bowl. By the way, when I asked what the size difference was between the two, the employee said "the kids are smaller" I guess I should have been more specific. I'll give the first employee the benefit of doubt, the second employee which seemed to be the owner or manager was not having it. There was no one at the restaurant, my food was ready, I asked if I could have separate bags for the order, she replied by telling me that there are door dash orders before me. And continued working on packing other orders. That could be true, I don't know. What I know, is no one is at the restaurant, and there are no DoorDash people to pick up anything, so why can't you just give me my order??? read more

This place here is THE SPOT for this kind of food. my wife found it and we decided to try it while we were in the area. It literally is one of the top places for Hawaiian BBQ. The highlight for me were the ribs... I mean, WOW!!! there are a lot of places that sell Hawaiian BBQ, and most have pretty good short ribs... But this place has beef ribs... do I need to say more... okay, i will the whole experience was great. the place is nice and clean, it's pretty open and has a lot of room, if a big party comes in, I am sure you can move tables together. I will say, I have read some comment where it talks about a lady employee who seems to be rude or bossy... Honestly, I had thought the same thing. when things slowed down a little bit, she was walking around checking on the costumers, she sat with us and was just very genuine. We definitely recommend this place, it has good people, great food and good prices. We will return and make this a must whenever we're in the area read more

Da best ribs!! Always get a Sam's plate here with huge beef ribs and had an extra kalbi plate. They grill up their meats right here, and expect it to get a little smokey when they fire it up to reheat for you. They have a little self serve area with utensils and condiments too. Definitely try if you love Hawaiian, beef ribs, and good food! read more

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I will update my review from 2023, since this time I finally dined in. The chicken was better than I remembered. The chicken and sauce reminded me of a church in Hilo that I visited where we had homemade lunch after. It was great. The potato/ mac salad was also better this time than the last time I bought food from here. The steak was my favorite part of the meal. It's still not my favorite island spot, but the location is so convenient and the food is delicious, so I will be back. read more

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Their beef ribs are spectacular!!!! I always skip out on the rice and Mac and get extra single ribs. The meat is so juicy and falls right off the bone sometimes. Service is not so friendly but definitely fast and efficient. Tons of seating inside read more

Service was terrible! The lady working the register seem like she hated that she was there. No greeting , nothing. Considering it's a small family business you would thing the service would be good. The food is just not there anymore. I use to love the original location when I first started going over 10 yrs ago. The portions are terrible. The food has gone up almost to double and the portions have gone down to about 1/3 of what they would originally service you. read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - Look at the portion difference. Sad ! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

I came across this place on TT and honestly was skeptical. ALL Hawaiian BBQ tastes the same. WRONG! Holy heck this place is amazing! Portions are huge and the taste beats NOTHING I've ever tasted. It's never really busy and the efficiency is top tier! But I really want to touch on the service. I read the reviews and I was hesitant to come. As a food industry person hospitality is HUGE for me as you see in most of my reviews. I came regardless and honestly I walked away with one thing. We all go through things. We know nothing about this woman or the things she has to go through at the end of the day. Our first time visiting she randomly dropped off a pineapple whip for our son and it was absolutely delicious and very kind on her part. I came back two days later and she remembered me and greeted me with a warm smile. Do we ever stop and think maybe she is so serious because of all the things she reads about herself? The world is chaotic as it is let's be kind and you'll be surprised how people really open up to you. Give this place a chance, meet everyone with kindness and you will NOT be disappointed. To the woman who works here with the beautiful in your hair and amazing jewelry, I hope you know I appreciate your warmth and kindness girl. You are loved read more

Matiki Island Barbecue - This is the beef and chicken plate, I don't care much for the chicken here it's on the drier side but the meat is amazing! - Hawaiian Near Me - Fullerton, California

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