Honolulu and Oahu Restaurants

Guidebooks

Keneke's Plate Lunch & BBQ

Keneke's Plate Lunch & BBQ Review

When you're sightseeing between Hanauma Bay and Makapuu, the food pickings are slim. But every day, 365 days a year, there's Keneke's in Waimanalo town. It's the home of inexpensive plate lunches, shave ice, and Scriptural graffiti on the walls (Keith "Keneke" Ward, the burly, weight-lifting, second-generation owner of the place, is a born-again Christian). The food is diet busting, piled high, and mostly pretty good, particularly the Asian-style barbecue (including teriyaki chicken or beef and Korean kal bi (barbecue), and Filipino guisantes (pork and peas in tomato gravy) and adobo (piquant pork stew). If you want a treat, try the shave ice with ice cream.

Contact Information

Address: 41-855 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo, HI, 96795 | Map It
Phone: 808/259--9800
Website: www.kenekes.net
Location: Windward Oahu

Member Reviews

Clapril, from Texas

9/15/07

We read about Keneke's in Fodor's. It is an unassuming food stand next to 7-11 in Kailua. We ordered Kalua Pig sandwiches and they were really fantastic.
Our only gripe was the counter girl who was horrifically rude. Besides her surly demeanor, she was mocking and snide when answering a question about which sandwich was her favorite.
The thing is, you probably won't eat at Keneke's (the only seating is outside and reminiscent of a rest stop picnic area) so you only have to deal with the rude help when you're ordering your food.
Overall, fantastic plate lunch. Worth the stop if you're in the area.

Ratings details: Food: 5 | Atmosphere: 2 | Service: 1 | Value: 5