Photography by Jane Kortright
Running a small business takes a lot of hard work, and it takes even more work when it involves unique cuisine.
When Hawaiian Style BBQ opened on Gordon Highway, it was a new concept in a part of town that didn’t get much traffic, but what makes a restaurant like that survive is great service and really good food.
“That’s why I’m here — for those two things. We serve really good food but, for us, the service comes first. We complement [our service] with great food,” says General Manager Matt Miskelly. “The big part for me — or why we’re here — is that we’re going to make customers feel at home or like they just came back from vacation on the islands. We have a ‘whatever it takes’ mentality and everybody here believes in what we’re doing.”
For those who have never tasted Hawaiian barbecue, it is similar to Southern barbecue with juicy meat and filling sides. Everything is made fresh daily — the kitchen staff starts at 5 a.m. There is a minimum 24-hour marinade on classic Hawaiian meats like slow-roasted pork, grilled chicken and short ribs. Hawaii, a state with Asian-American influences on native islander dishes, can be recognized in fusion items like Spam Musubi or Poke Nachos. There is also a Filipino section of the menu with Chicken Adobo, Chicken Pancit Bihon and more.
As a testament to the quality of the service and food, Hawaiian Style BBQ moved to Washington Road (behind World of Beer) several years ago to serve a wider population. To further expand their culinary goals, they opened a food truck!
With the Hawaiian Style BBQ On Wheels menus, they continue to offer favorites in the same generous portions along with several food truck exclusives like the Hawaiian Crunchwrap Supreme (made with their 16-hour slow-roasted pork) and a sweet Lumpia dessert filled with brown sugar, bananas and deep-fried, similar to the traditional appetizer.
“We’re keeping the tradition alive and growing from there,” says Miskelly. The welcoming staff and delicious food keep people coming back.
To check out more of the menu or for food truck locations, visit hawaiianbbqaugusta.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Seen in the 2025 February/March issue of Augusta magazine.
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