No. 1 Chinese Barbecue — Restaurant in Hawaii

EDIT: I'm updating my review. I'm done with this place and so should you be. What a rip off. I wrote below how nobody has the same prices or the same amount of food when I order. Now there's different people behind the counter. I order gravy fries add two fried eggs on top. She doesn't understand and says gravy fries with cheese with two eggs.. fine.. I'll take it with cheese.. no big deal. Then I order a grilled cheese also. She gives me a price.. like $10.50 or something. I pay for it.

After the food is ready she says I'm sorry I forgot to charge you for 2 eggs, that's $5 more. Then why does the receipt say gravy fries with cheese and under it +2 fried eggs and a price next to it? At this point they're just making up prices.

So I normally get a large container of fries.. this is a small container. I drive all the way home and there's no gravy at all.

I understand the chef/s don't speak English, but I'm not sure how even the Hawaiians behind the counter can't get English or orders right also.

The grilled cheese was barely even cooked.

OLDER REVIEW: I only eat a few dishes here, so I can't comment on everything, but depending on which cashier you get the price is different every time.

I get gravy fries with 2 fried eggs on top. During the day I get charged less than $9, which seems right. Large fries I think are $3.99 and 2 eggs are $3.98 I think.

Then I go there at night and pay less than $6 from the other lady.

Today I got there and a different lady is there during the day.. she charges me over $12! She refunded me and tried again and it was over $9 this time.

Also, they should let you know they're out of fries and are substituting McDonald's like fries. I wouldn't have placed an order until they get the regular crinkle fries...

Updated again. Cheehoo - 18 friggen dollars for a 2 item plate. Not sure if the rent went up or what but for that price I'd expect the lid to need a rubber band to stay closed (IYKYN) but I'd swear the portions got smaller.

Update: I used to love this place and have eaten here dozens of not hundreds of times since it opened.

Their prices were pretty good, quality was decent, portions were big.

For the first two years of the pandemic they'd had to close down their hot bar and had only a limited menu. All orders were made through a cut out in the front door.

I was really appreciative they were there and open when all our choices in town were limited. Even though they regularly messed up my order and occasionally had really disappointing mac salad I never complained because the "substitutions" weren't bad.

Unfortunately things haven't been great, or even acceptable, since they've reopened their doors. I was excited to be able to order noodles instead of rice with my meal but after three attempts and getting mushy noodles for an extra buck I just went back to rice.

I know working with the public in Pahoa can be challenging, believe me I know, but given what's been going on with this place in general ... I'm not optimistic for their future and after my last visit I can't in good conscience leave my five...

Hands down the worst and most expensive. Unbelievable! Over $16 for "House Special chow mien" I asked the gal who was nice what kind of protein and lots of veggies? She says shrimp {bay} chicken,charsu and lots of meat and lots of vegetable. Should have looked at it before I came home. I asked if she put the mustard in she said no and asked if I wanted one or 2. I said 2. She put in 3. But when I got home to find NO vegetables and only a few tiny pea sized prices of meat. That had to be searched for..AND when I opened the little mustard container there was literally one drop in each and I mean ONE DROP. I'm not exaggerating! all 3 "containers of mustard was enough for one bite! I had to saute my own vegetables to put into it when I saw there were NONE! Do Not waste your time or throw away your money at this place. I literally spent $16 for noodles period.....I will never forget this experience. and it is the absolute last time I will ever go there. It should not even be allowed to be open And you have to ASK them the prices because they have all the prices crossed off. Its insane. can get a much nicer real meal anywhere else....This place is lowest of the low.....And the prices as if it was a real sit down nicer restaurant.....Not sure how their doors remain...