There’s nothing quite like the untamed majesty of Hawaiian barbecue. There are so many elements that shouldn’t work, yet absolutely do. The popular Spam Musibi, for example, is essentially spam on a bed of rice tied together with seaweed. It’s a big old slab of spam sushi, and those who frequent establishments such as this will sing the praises of the dish from the rooftops. Seriously, who else is serving spam nowadays. You have to admire it, truth be told.
“Founded in 2002, Ono Hawaiian BBQ is a family-owned fast casual restaurant known for our Hawaiian-inspired Plate Lunches and other island specialties,” they say online. “Ono Hawaiian uses the freshest ingredients, prepared from scratch daily in each restaurant and grilled fresh to order. With locations in California and Arizona, we aim to combine the culture and ‘Aloha’ spirit of Hawaii into our restaurants to bring a taste of the islands with exceptional service in an inviting atmosphere.”
It is a fairly popular, if localized, chain at this point. There are quite a few Onos all over Southern California, but they’re so good that we felt them worthy of review. We didn’t order the spam though. We admire the gumption but we’re not the biggest fan of the processed meat product.
Thankfully, there are a ton of other items to choose from, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Another popular item on a Hawaiian plate is the macaroni salad which, here, pretty much comes with everything. It’s really good too; tangy and creamy, it generally sits in a little scooped ball alongside the stick rice, and it enhances any meal. The rice is generally bland by itself, but that’s not how you eat it. Allow the barbecue sauce and meat juice (depending on your personal choice) to soak into the grain to get the best effect.
The breaded chicken katsu is amazing, as is the teriyaki chicken and the spicy Fire Island chicken. But we heartily recommend the simple Hawaiian barbecue chicken. Juicy, sweet and delicious.
Even better are the short ribs. The on-the-bone meat is tender and seasoned to perfection. With that in mind, the way to go is the Hawaiian barbecue mix, allowing you to sample a few different meats. There’s also a chicken-only mix, and a seafood mix (their breaded white fish and shrimp is great).
It’s honestly just nice to sit in Culver City and feel like you’re on an island.
Ono Hawaiian BBQ is located at 10814 Jefferson Blvd. M, Culver City 90230. Call 310-202-8688 or visit onohawaiianbbq.com.