Top pick1$$Diamond Head Market & Grill
Popular window-serve grill offering American eats, plus a market for prepared foods & baked goods.
Waikiki has more BBQ than you might expect, from sizzling Korean table grills to island-style plate lunches and guava-smoked goodness just down the road in Kapahulu. I pulled together the 8 spots worth knowing — a mix of my verified picks and the area's highest-rated BBQ joints — so you don't have to guess.

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Whether you're after a casual counter-serve meal like Me Bar-B-Que, known for generous portions of kalbi and bibimbap right in Waikiki, or a sit-down experience at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ where you cook over a table grill, there's something here for every BBQ craving and budget.
Spots I recommend carry the NateEatsHawaii badge on the page — look out for it as you browse. The rest are ranked by reputation and what they're best known for, so you can eat with confidence wherever you end up.
FAQ
It depends on what style you're after — Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is a popular choice for interactive table-grill dining, while Me Bar-B-Que and Ginza Won Restaurant are well-regarded for Korean BBQ. Check the NateEatsHawaii badges on the page to see which spots have my personal stamp of approval.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is a well-known island-themed fast-food chain offering traditional Hawaiian plate lunches at budget-friendly prices, and Me Bar-B-Que is a counter-serve spot praised for its large portions of Korean BBQ fare without breaking the bank.
This guide is regularly reviewed to reflect the current restaurant landscape in and around Waikiki, drawing from real visitor activity across the roughly 1,900 Oahu restaurants cataloged on NateEatsHawaii.
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