This place has received so many rave reviews, and last time when we came on the Road to Hana, we were sad to find this place closed. But luckily they didn't take the day off that we went. The one lady operating the stand was from Long Island, a few towns over from my hometown, which was surprising that she somehow settle in the middle of nowhere along the Road to Hana. She was very friendly and nice to chat to, all while she was working fast to get the orders churned out. I got the Kalua Pig Taco ($7.00), slow cooked shredded pork on a large tortilla with cheese, beans, homemade salsa, and shredded cabbage. Part of my concern was that everything was sitting in buffet like-trays. Luckily the food was still fresh. The kalua pig was tender and flavorful. The salsa was not very spicy but they did have bottles of BBQ Sauce, Sweet Chili Pepper, and Hot Chili Garlic by the front counter to squeeze on my taco. I love spicy, so I tried the Hot Chili Garlic that did add some good heat to the taco. But overall, I didn't really feel like all the ingredients really meshed well together. Everything was good on its own, but altogether, it didn't really have that wow factor. I also tried the Shrimp Taco ($8.50). The shrimp was firm and not dried out from sitting in the tray. The rest of the ingredients were the same as the Kalua Pork Taco. Again, it just didn't impress. Average shrimp taco that was easily forgotten. Between the two tacos, I would get the Kalua Pig Taco for its Hawaiian authenticity, but if you're lucky enough, go to Island Chef for some delicious Coconut Shrimp. They are unbelievably good. read more

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The tacos here aren't the kind of tacos you're probably used to, especially due to the fact that they use large flour tortillas. So really, the price you pay is for the size equivalent of two normal tacos. Tried the fish taco and the shrimp taco. I was told that the fish used was Ono, which was very meaty, and near the consistency of chicken. It was a bit bland, but the cabbage, salsa and cheese spruced it up. The shrimp was dry, but the taco itself was just okay. read more

We got a late start on the Road to Hana and didn't have a chance to pack lunches. I figured we'd find something enroute. Our audio tour/app mentioned the options at the Nahiku Marketplace near mile marker 29 and we decided 'what the heck.' (OT: I'd like to know what the tour guide's kickback was for his enthusiastic recommendation!) My wife had what looked to be an amazing pork and rice bowl from these guys for $8.95 and my kids got giant and amazing looking hot dogs for $3.50. After seeing their meals, I immediately regretted my choice. My wife and kids had excellent meals and my wife says their service was top-notch. These are the only reasons this place gets two stars. If it was based on my meal alone, I'd give no stars. So what was my experience and why wasn't it as good as the rest of my family's? I ordered the shrimp taco for $8.50. I was so excited! The taco was huge and loaded with shrimp but they were dry and even through all the seasoning, I could tell that they had an unsettling "fishy" taste. By the time we got to the seven sacred pools, I was feeling very nauseous. My burps smelled worse than some peoples' gas. Finally, as we drove the back way around from Hana, I was swallowing lots of saliva filling my mouth by the second. I was fighting the urge to vomit! I made it back to our condo in Kihei without getting sick, but I had a nearly nonexistent appetite the rest of the evening. After about 8 trips to the toilet, I honestly feel much better. I think I need to stay close for another hour or so and I should be ok. Do not get the shrimp. I feel like I have food poisoning and I learned my lesson. It was very dry/over cooked and smelled fishy and it wasn't a meat that one associates with a BBQ joint so it was probably a bad choice all the way around. Lord knows if it had been in the warmer all day or if it was simply old/spoiled from the beginning. Do what I should've done (and what my wife/kids did). If you eat here, get a huge hotdog or pork dish. From what I saw, you can't go wrong with typical BBQ meats and my wife claims that they were so nice. I just can't give them a positive review after getting food poisoning... read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Menu board as of 7/10/16. - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

Stopped by this tasty pit stop on the road to Hana. It was a welcome rest area, and next to a gift shop too. We were a littl early, about 10am Maui time, but for us it was our lunch time so we opted to get some food. My husband and I shared the kahlua pork and rice and a baked breadfruit. The kahlua pork was good, a bit too smokey flavored, but I am not a huge kahlua pork fan, but if you combine it with the various sauces they have for you to sample, it can be quite tasty. The breadfruit is baked in foil, and is the consistency of yam/sweet potato. It doesn't actually have much flavor so you can douse it with butter and hot sauce, which I did. After that it was not bad, but that's because I like butter and hot sauce. I give this place 4 starts for the experience, and because it's fun to stop on the road to Hana. read more

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My husband and I stumbled upon this place after the app we purchased to listen to while driving on Hana Highway recommended it. We were debating whether to try another place but I'm very pleased we decided to go with Up in Smoke instead. The portion was reasonable for the price (It's a touristy destination, so don't complain about pricey food. I mean come on, what do you expect?) especially with how much meat was piled on top of the rice. I covered my bowl in the hottest hot sauce they had and I swear it was some of the most delicious hawaiian food I had my entire time on the island. I also got a side of homemade mac and cheese that reminded me of how my mother used to make it. The entire meal only cost me $14 which was a lot better than some of the other trucks on the Hana Highway. Great staff too, they recommend my meal. I bet anything else on their menu would be just as delicious! read more

Cute location and convenient stop but the tacos were dry and not that great. I came with my family and we got a slew of different tacos and no one was really satisfied. read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

We were craving tacos so chose this stand over the others. The pork taco was very good. They gave a hearty portion of meat and the sauces to choose from were great. The fish taco was good. Fish was fresh. read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

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Though we picked up some snacks at Halfway to Hana (Mile Marker 18), I of course was famished beyond belief by Mile Marker 29 on the Hana Highway. The road is so twisty and the sights so numerous that a mere 11 miles down the road took like 70 hours to reach. Or maybe it just felt that way. In any case, we'd heard about this BBQ shack before we set out on our journey. We had it circled in our guidebooks. In fact, we were so looking forward to this joint that we willfully embarked on our Hana journery with no foodstuffs at all. After an eternity of endless beautiful vistas (sigh, woe is me...), we made it here. This open-air BBQ joint is nothing more than a smoker, a couple coolers, a table piled with hot sauces, and four folding chairs. In short, a serious sight for sore eyes. (You know, what with all those killer ocean views, bamboo forests, and waterfalls... my eyes! my eyes!) Choices are minimal: Fish taco ($6, mahi-mahi), Pork taco ($6, kalua pig), steamed breadfruit ($3), and jumbo beef frank (don't know, didn't care). We went for everything but the frank, and it was all tasty. The tacos themselves were nothing to rave about if you're used to SF-style fabulousity (and I know you are), because the tortillas were cold and bland. But the kalua pig was fantastic -- supermoist and flavorful. Fish was a little dry, but plentiful and fresh. Breadfruit was simple and good. This is pretty much your only choice for a hot meal on the Hana Highway, and it's worth a stop. I'm usually a fish taco fiend, but the kalua pig here is definitely the way to go. If only because then you can spend the rest of your drive repeating the words "kalua pig!" read more

Was told about this place from a local on our snorkel trip - and boy was it a great recommendation. Had a pork taco and shared a fish one. The pork was absolutely the winner! Add some of the sauces on those things. Really, it was the highlight of the Hana experience. Our tipster also recommended the breadfruit, were it to be in season. It wasn't. But in case you're there when it is, he says to try it out as it's apparently quite outstanding. read more

After going past this place a half dozen or so times we noticed it was finally open. Had the bbq pork taco and it hit the spot. Its rather large as far as tacos go but one of them is the perfect snack after a day at the beach. read more

Stopped here to eat on our drive of the Road to Hana. YUM! -Kalua Pork tacos (some of the most delicious pork I've had!) -fish tacos are delicious! -other stands nearby are fun to look through -friendly staff read more

It's not so much a BBQ as you would expect, they serve mostly tacos and plates. I had the pork taco served on a large flour tortilla, it was good, and a good size for the price. I was expecting fresh meat right off of the bbq, however, everything is pre-cooked, put into serving dishes and served to order. read more

Our tour guide brought us here for lunch during our Road to Hana Tour. There were other food options but they were closed on that day. I opted for the Chili Bowl since I didn't eat breakfast and wanted something filling to last the rest of the tour. They gave just the right portions of chili and rice and with some hot sauce added, it was delicious. Definitely hit the spot! Next door, a local man sells coconut candy and our tour guide knows him apparently. He got me a shot of their Noni Juice which is supposed to be very beneficial for your health. Let's just say it tasted just how the fruit smells...unpleasant. But it was worth the experience! read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Menu (July 2016) - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

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There are some places that are so good that you don't want to review it on Yelp. You don't want it to get so much recognition that it gets so big that it has to change anything about it. I've felt that way about Up In Smoke but I can't keep it to myself anymore...it's AWESOME. That kalua pork taco grande...holy cow. Holy PIG, rather. The perfect food for the perfect drive! read more

Up in smoke is down right delicious. Really really good tacos packed with deliciousness. I special ordered a taco half filled with pork and half with fish. let me tell you it was amazing and super filling. Really well spiced and just delicious. The $7 price tag was a bit much but it is in Hana and it would have been really cool if there was somewhere to wash my hands before chowing down but other than that...yeah, I'm a fan. read more

This is the ONLY reason I would ever consider taking the "Road to Hana" again--definitely the highlight of the very long and winding trip. Of course, the scenery was pretty awesome too. I had the mahi mahi taco and it was incredible. Loaded with fish and a great salsa, it was both huge and delicious (a perfect combo). My wife had the pork taco, which she let me taste. It was also outstanding, perfectly seasoned with a light smokey taste. I've never had anything close to this on the mainland. Definitely plan to get your lunch here, if you ever take the Road to Hell ... I mean Hana. It was worth the trip. Also, be sure to stop at Wai'anapanapa State Park--the black beach, cave, and blow hole were amazing. read more

I had been craving a stop at a roadside food shack since the first time we did the Road to Hana on our trip, but being on everyone else's agenda didn't seem to make that happen. So when my boyfriend and I decided to do the Hana Hwy again (north road all the way past Hana around to Kula - long drive) it was the perfect time for that craving to be fulfilled. We had gone to several waterfalls and the Black Sand Beach at Wai'anapanapa State Park, so we were hungry. Up in Smoke appeared out of nowhere at mile marker 29 in a pretty busy parking lot with at least two other businesses in it. We both got the fish tacos which were large and very good - a little messy - and experimented with the different sauces they had at the counter. My boyfriend loved the sweet chili sauce and I was a fan of the hot pepper sauce (green). Both tasted great on the tacos. It was an inexpensive and very satisfying lunch. Next time (hopefully) I'll have time to walk around a little more and check out the other shops, etc. We were trying to race the sun back to our hotel in West Maui, so we had to eat and run. Good stuff! read more

We stopped here on our "road to Hana" adventure- it was raining and we had a toddler screaming in the back seat. Perhaps it was the rain but the whole mini market area had a "camp" feel to it and not in a good way- big muddy puddles and people hawking homemade goods out of tents. I bought a pork taco and a fish taco. Good amount of filling but nothing amazing. I'd stop here again if I was crazy enough to try Road to Hana again and was desperately hungry. A solid "ok" for the area. read more

The staff was very friendly and welcoming. The pork taco was good, but nothing special. The fish taco was a bit on the bland side. If you're just looking to get something in your stomach on your Road to Hana trip, this isn't a bad place to eat at. read more

Great pork bowl. A little stingy on the rice. But tasty. Docked a star b/c the bathroom/portapotty was a horrific unhygienic nightmare that was days, if not weeks, overdue to be pumped and cleaned. To be fair to Up in Smoke BBQ the facilities appear to be shared by the several roadside food/coffee/gift shacks at this location in which case, shame on them all. read more

Best tacos on Maui! We had fish tacos 4-5 times on the island, and these were - by far - the best! We tried the fish tacos and the shrimp tacos, and both were awesome. You can't beat the price either! After days of $60+ meals, getting two hefty tacos for $15 was so nice. To top it off, the service was super quick and the servers were friendly. Don't skip this stop on the way to Hana! read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - a taco's restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

My husband dreamed about the shrimp tacos and wants to make the 1 hour drive again just to indulge in the greatness! It's a must stop on the road to Hana and the perfect place to satisfy your tastebuds! read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

We stopped by this place to try some kalua taco's on our way to Hana. I layered it with their garlic sauce & bbq sauce, and BOY was it DELICIOUS! It's a good appetizer to share with a partner for $7. read more

its just nice to eat something other than pineapple, coconut candy, shave ice and banana bread :) my partner had the pulled pork taco and said it was amazing. i had the breadfruit, my first...an odd thing but now i crave it. someone else was selling grilled sweet corn which was great too. there is also a separately owned espresso bar and gift shop here with some amazing gem jewelry. definitely worth a stop. big pluses because they also compost and recycle here! read more

Stopped by here on the way to Hana and tried the Kaula pork tacos. Forgot which kinda two hot sauces they had but we put both and it was delicious! Staff was also friendly read more

We came here yesterday for lunch while on the road to hana. my mom and i had the fish tacos. which were superb. my dad had the chili rice bowl. boring but he liked it. and my sis was also boring and got a chili dog. try the sweet chili sauce on the fish taco you wont be sorry. and the lady who owns the shop is a hard worker and very nice. she was very sweet and helpful. but dont gor shopping at the shop next door. TOO EXPENSIVE when a coconut bracelet that is $1 else where is $3 there you know to stay away. read more

Stopped in during a very, very rainy drive to Hana and we were pleasantly surprised. Got a BBQ pork bowl and a fish tao that were tasty and not too overpriced (for Maui). We also got Thai from the shop next door. It took a while, but totally worth it. read more

$8.50 for a pretty bland shrimp taco in a cold tortilla... Eh, it was food. Result was I was less hungry and I had spent $8.50.

Do you want overpriced subpar tacos? Come to this location. Tacos were chewy and soggy with little flavor. The older woman working seemed bothered by my service. $8.50 for a shrimp taco was a complete rip off. I should've eaten the dirt off the ground. The only beings that were satisfied at this taco shack were the mosquitos drinking my blood. read more

The place could have potential if only they serve good food!! On the way back from Hana at around 4ish there are not many options, except for this joint. Stop for a small bite to hold us up until dinner, so a fish Taco sounded good. It wasn't what I expected. The fish was sautéed not grilled as you would guess from the name of the place. The fish was kept in the warming table probably all day so all the juices were drawn out making the meat dry and the taco drippy and the taste wasn't fresh. Afterwards we were surprised by the good reviews and only a couple bad reviews. If you are the kind of person that considers food an experience, even a simple one, this is not the place for you. read more

Wow this is the best pork taco I have ever had. I dont know how she cooks this pork but it is so tendor and has the right amount of juices. I tasted it before putting any sauce on this thing and then decided it really does not need anything. Also shared a fish taco which was nothing in comparison to the pork but the fish went well with the sweet chili sauce. Ordered a smoked breadfruit for dessert. I never had this before and probably would not get again. It was nice to see this as option though. I always love trying new things, even if I dont totally enjoy it. Only place in HI I saw this. So if u come here, get pork! read more

Along the Road to Hana you'll find this little gem of a roadside BBQ/Taco stand. I got the pork taco and it was terrific. Very cool, chill little spot. They have a Thai place there as well but they weren't opened. If you pass by, grab a quick bite. You'll be glad you did. read more

Pretty solid roadside place. Nestled in next to a couple now defunct roadside stands, plus a couple local knick knack places, and a massive stockpile of junk cars. Cash only, so be prepared for that. The pork taco was excellent. Extremely greasy, but it hit the spot at the halfway point of a long day on the road to Hana. read more

Up in Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Hana, Hawaii

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On the road to Hana this was another memorable stop. Up in Smoke is one of the places at the Nahiku Marketplace. We shared a kahula pig sandwich and it was by far the best I have had. Great BBQ sauce and great texture and flavor in the pork. It was one of the highlights of food on our whole trip - stop there on the way to Hana! read more

On the road to Hana, past Nahiku. Consists of a stand with a smoker, a counter of sauces, and a bench to chow down. Great for a quick bite after doing all the short hikes on the way to Hana. Got the hearty kalua pig soft taco for $6. This had a great smoky flavor and was so juicy it was dripping. The meat was packed slighty too dense so when you take a bite it's a little chewy (I tend to like kalua pork more loosely shredded so that it feels more tender), but hey, it's a roadside stand. Kudos to them for making it so good on the road. read more

cheap eats on our drive to hana. i got the chili with rice for 5 bucks and it was really good. i love me some chili that doesnt consist of super ground beef but ground beef chunks. very filling! 3 stars because the lady jipped us 2 bucks but whatever, thatll count towards her tip. the only thing kinda sketchy is the fact that the little stand is "called up in smoke' but EVERYTHING is premade, all the lady does is put it all together when you order, no bbq pit or even an active stove. oh well. read more