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Hukilau in San Jose

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4.4 (649)

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Hukilau is a bar in San Jose, CA.

Hukilau Review Summary

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4.4

(649 Reviews)

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Lynn Eglan -Google user

a year ago

This place is a hidden gem. We don't often eat in San Jose, but this one you can NOT miss!! They have authentic Hawaiian food. It reminded me of being back in Hawaii. It looks small on the outside, but it's pretty big on the inside. When you enter the first room, it has a typical bar and seating area. They have a bigger room in the back for parties or just additional seating area. When we went, they had a party going on in the front and the back. I think it was a bday party, they were definitely having fun. We decided to place our order to go. We ordered: 1. Hukilau pupu platter - spam musubi, garlic wings, and fried shrimp. The spam musubi was your standard that we all know. Nothing special. Garlic wings were ok, I kinda felt like it had the adobo kind of taste to it. The fried shrimp was tasty and huge. 2. Hukilau ribeye steak (medium)- Cooked perfectly and is well seasoned. It was a thick slice and so juicy. Rice was perfectly cooked, and the mac salad was smacking. 3. Da Hawaiian Luau plate - You can never go wrong with the classic pork lau lau, kalua pork, and an added bonus lomi lomi salmon. The portion was massive but delicious. I had ordered all rice, and we still managed to run out of rice. 4. Loco moco - huge burger patties but were well seasoned. It was moist and flavorful. Next time, I'm going to ask for extra gravy. For that extra smothering comfort food goodness. Iykyk. 5. Hukilau fried rice - very rare, do you go to a Hawaiian restaurant, and they serve fried rice. We had to try, and it was amazing. They had huge chunks of Portuguese sausage and lots of aloha. This could definitely be a meal on its own. 6. Fried Saimin - The noodles were good, but the dish was salty, IMO. I'm not sure if it's from the Portuguese sausage and spam or what. This was one dish I would skip next time. 7. Mac salad - I ordered extra, and it was definitely worth it. 8. " Big Island Candies" Macadamia Nut Brownie Sundae - I was looking forward to this, but I guess with my huge order, it was missed. 9. Hukilau Tea - This is tasty and refreshing, definitely a creeper. You gotta take it easy with this one. 10. Hukilau punch - This was a little sweet for me but good. I like that it was blue. This was a lot of food for two people, but I had to create my little sampler so I know what to get next time and what to avoid. Surprisingly, the food was still amazing the next day. Even the rice is rare. It was still soft and wasn't hard the next day like other places. The drinks were amazing. The people who helped me showed a lot of aloha and made me feel so welcome. Even if they were busy with the party, they took the time to answer my questions. My order was cooked fresh and was ready in no time. I can't wait to come back soon. Hopefully, try the dessert as well... It was hard to double-check my order with the massive heavy-duty bag I was handed and with the crowd... I figured everything was there.

Take outDinner$20–30Atmosphere: 5Somewhat difficult to find parkingPaid street parking

An Pham -Google user

2 years ago

Fantastic food, fantastic service, and an atmosphere that left a little to be desired. The building was easily missable, and the dimly entryway made it seem like it was closed. However, the food and service more than made up for an underwhelming dining area. The...Read More

Dine inLunch$20–30Atmosphere: 3

Sean Nguyen -Google user

3 years ago

I love Hawaiian food and I have been craving it lately. My cousins @jedijoey10 @hello_xtine invited their friend @alesandnails and Mr to enjoy a meal at @hukilau_sanjose. We got the Kalua Pork Cheese Fries to share, it was so yummy! The pork was...Read More

1 Hot_Potato -Google user

7 years ago

Amazingly quick service, friendly staff and awesome food! Place looks small on the outside but is quite big inside. Wish we had one of these in the Midwest! Fresh poke.....yummy! Fried saimin was amazing!!!

Jennifer Dixon -Google user

7 years ago

My husband loves their salmon poke, that he got an appetizer portion and as an entree. I got beef Teriyaki and kahlua fries. Everything was generous and delicious.

Chelle T -Google user

Edited 4 months ago

A favorite place for Hawaiian food vibes, the music is calming. Loco moco is fun with ground beef or kalua pork over rice and under gravy with 2 eggs over easy. Poke dinner (can order ahi, salmon, tako) with musubi, rice and mac salad. Garlic...Read More

Dine inLunch$10–20Atmosphere: 5No wait

Gabby Sausele -Google user

7 years ago

Great service, super friendly and welcoming! We came in about a half hour before the posted closing time but the bartender/servers were friendly and didn't rush us at all. The inside of this place is pretty small but has a lot of …

Kevin Renner -Google user

2 years ago

Authentic Hawaiian comfort food. The luau plate has a great combination of classic Hawaiian barbecue dishes. Portions are pretty big so come hungry or prepare to take home some leftovers.

Dine inDinner$10–20Atmosphere: 3Da Hawaiian Luau Plate, Ahi Tuna Poke

Jennifer Biggerstaff -Google user

2 years ago

Glad we found out this place open for Christmas Eve dinner! Short rib combo with chicken katsu was super tender! My whole family enjoyed their combo meals. Mai Tai’s were in big glasses and super tasty! My second time here & can’t wait to come...Read More

Dine inDinner$20–30

LORI J VIERNES -Google user

a year ago

Very good food...loved their Fried Saimin( noodles) good stuff!..🌺😎🤙Aloha

Dine inBrunch$10–20Atmosphere: 5Chicken Adobo and Loco Moco

SpenDoe -Google user

4 years ago

California Hip Hop Artist SpenDoe speaks on Hukilau in Japantown, San Jose, CA: I love Hukilau! This is one of my favorite restaurants. Due to Covid restrictions, I haven't been able to enjoy a sit-down meal in any restaurant. I used to …

ruben guerrero -Google user

a month ago

This place is a little known spot that you've either never heard of, have been to but for whatever reason haven't been back, or you're a regular. The fried rice burrito was amazing! The misubi was perfect and the staff and ownership are incredibly friendly...Read More

Dine in$30–50Atmosphere: 5Quiet, easy to talkSuitable for all group sizes

Brady Sullivan -Google user

a year ago

Place loves to spread the Aloha. Garlic chicken was on point! No way I could finish it. But made a great late night snack! Coworker got loco moco. Which in island style.. was massive and looked amazing!

Dine inLunchAtmosphere: 5

larissa waltower -Google user

9 months ago

Picked up to go order and I was skeptical because I have not been to one Hawaiian spot in California so far that is beat Hawaii itself and I used to live in Hawaii and it’s very hard to find like real authentic Hawaiian food...Read More

Kristynn Sarmiento -Google user

a year ago

We love coming to Hukilau. I tried something new for dinner - spicy chicken katsu and fried oysters w fried rice. Spicy sauce was basically sriracha. I would prefer the plain ole katsu sauce for next time. Fried rice was delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Jaime Felix -Google user

2 years ago

We went to Nikkei Matsuri in SJ, Japantown over the weekend (4/23/23). For lunch, it was my time going to Hukilai and I was very satisfied with the generous portions and awesome service. I have missed good Hawaiian food since I went to Hawaii last...Read More

Diana Munro -Google user

3 years ago

We built our own combos so we could try a few different entree items. The Katsu is one of the best we’ve ever had - perfectly crispy but juicy and tender inside. The chicken adobo is wonderfully braised and falls off the bone. And, the...Read More

Dinner$20–30

MQ Lee -Google user

a year ago

Ordered takeout - spam musubi & loco moco Spam musubi looks deceptively simple but is very tasty and moreish! Loco moco was just bursting with flavour. Smothered in a savoury gravy that tied the whole dish together. The side of macaroni salad (I think?) was also a...Read More

Take outBrunchService: 5Spam Musubi, Chicken Adobo and Loco Moco

Du Nguyen -Google user

3 years ago

I met employees here since Covid-19’s,, all them are very cool and friendly. Garlic chicken is so delicious and juicy.. every bite I can feel the garlic and chicken yummy. Thanks all for being nicer 👍

Take outDinner$10–20

Renee T -Google user

3 years ago

So good for ono grind home style Hawaiian comfort food. Order the spam fried rice!!! One of our go to places for Mom and Son lunch!! Staff is so welcoming. Plenty of parking, but sometimes there's a short walk through JapanTown. It is WORTH...Read More

Nate B -Google user

3 years ago

Great place with tasty Hawaiian style offerings. 1000x better than most cheap “Hawaiian” bbq restaurants you’ll find everywhere. Great service too!

Eric Wong -Google user

3 years ago

Super friendly staff in the heart of San Jose's quaint & historic Japan Town. Hawaiian ambience, flavor, and hospitality. Food is wonderful yet still affordable. Stop in to enjoy the food in a place where people are still courteous and inviting. Wash your delicious meal...Read More

Moon Berrii -Google user

Edited 7 years ago

Delish! The salsa is legit! #texasnative First time having real Hawaiian food, loved it! The burrito was awesome! 👌 …

Khristine Quibilan -Google user

2 years ago

Great strong drinks. Big food portions. Awesome service and surprisingly quick. I was craving a loco moco and it did not disappoint. No pictures of said meal bc I devoured it.

Tibor -Google user

6 years ago

Went on a Friday night for the first time and enjoyed the setting of live music which perfectly accompanied perfectly the utterly indulgent flavors of food! The no-frills poke had us already planning our next trip and the (lomi lomi?) …

Manuel Salazar -Google user

6 years ago

I've been going here since they opened it. There have been a few changes over the years, and I don't "feel" Hawaii as much as I used to here, but it's still a great spot that I look forward to visiting.

Tamekia Chinn -Google user

6 years ago

We have live near Japan town for almost 6 years and love this place. We rarely dine in because of our busy lives but I took my sister here and I had to snap a photo for my finance because the way its played is...Read More

R. Madness -Google user

6 years ago

Stellar customer service! Ordered the garlic popcorn chicken and it never disappoints. I ordered tiramisu for the first time and I have to say, you're better off getting something else from the dessert menu.

Ryan Cummings -Google user

2 months ago

Wonderful experience here. Got a poke bowl and my partner got the Loco Moco, both of which were delicious and reasonably priced. The food came out quick, and our server Corey was so friendly and on it!

Atmosphere: 5

Honda -Google user

4 months ago

Just straight up Hawaiian food done well. I had the adobo and it was as good as homemade, Mac salad was also killer.

Dine in$20–30Atmosphere: 4Chicken Adobo and Loco Moco

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Wheelchair accessible entrance

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College students

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Accepts reservations

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Free street parking

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Hukilau in San Jose

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Hukilau Review Summary

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Features

Service options

Highlights

Popular for

Accessibility

Offerings

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Amenities

Atmosphere

Crowd

Planning

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Children

Parking

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Hukilau in San Jose

Contact

About

Hukilau Review Summary

Reviews & Ratings

Leave a Review

Features

Service options

Highlights

Popular for

Accessibility

Offerings

Dining options

Amenities

Atmosphere

Crowd

Planning

Payments

Children

Parking

People Also Search

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