Every Monday evening, a line wraps around the turf at Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewers Street. Tourists stop and stare. Locals already know what's happening. The smell of caramelized onions and sizzling beef drifts through the palm trees, and at the center of it all stands one man behind a massive flat-top griddle — Unk (Jason), the classically trained chef and co-founder of JOJA Smash Burger.
I've walked past this line more times than I can count. At the Kaka'ako Farmers Market on Saturdays, the line is even longer. Every single time, I told myself: next time. But this Monday at the Waikiki Makers Market, I finally committed. And I'm glad I did — because this might be the best burger I've ever eaten on O'ahu.
This guide covers everything from my visit — the full menu with prices, all three locations with hours, what the wait is really like, and whether JOJA lives up to three years of Best of Honolulu hype.
