Ono Hawaiian BBQ — Restaurant in San Jose

I've been here several times over the years. I really want to like this place, but its a bit too inconstant for my likes. The food here is OK. It's one of the better Hawaiian food chains on the mainland. However, the portions and the servings are inconstant. The first time I went here it was fine, like a true plate lunch back in Hi...they piled it on.

I got the BBQ & Katsu Mix & the Seafood Mix. I totally forgot to get sauce for either combo, good thing I didn't need it because the food tasted good by itself.

#MidOnoEats: ~ BBQ & Katsu Mix Plate - 3.5/5 Nothing special.

~ Seafood Mix Plate - 3.5/5 Also nothing special.

The second time I went back I got Island Fire Chicken Aloha plate and the Kalua Combo & BBQ Chicken.

~ Island Fire Chicken Aloha plate - 3.5/5 This is where is goes all bad...The Island Fire plate is pretty good...a nice little kick to the chicken, but a bit skimpy on the portions, not enough chicken.

~ Kalua Combo & BBQ Chicken - 1.5/5 (2nd visit) The Kalua Combo is a the same story. I think Ive only had good authentic Kalua Pork in one place on the mainland...a mom and pops in Redwood City and they only made it on the weekend...because it takes hours to make. The Kalua Pork was salty, dry and chewy...not moist and soft and did not fall apart or melt in your mouth. To top it off the portions were measly...barley any pork in there. Definitely stay away from this combo! absolutely terrible.

U can't serve da kine...you gonna get cracked, kallin dat a plate lunch!!!

~ Coconut Haupia - 3.5/5 I also got the Coconut Haupia both times before. I though it was good, a bit different, but still good.

~ Kalua Combo - 2.5/5 It got a bit better, not as salty. Still not that good, not as tender or moist either.

~ Chicken Katsu Mini Meal - 2.5/5 What's with the bright Orange breading?! Tastes a bit funky. meh...

Ono is NOT so ono for me, barley mid... I stop here every now and then if they have some sort of promo,...

Decided to try this place out a few days ago. My overall thoughts are that it was decent. It was very standard “Hawaiian” food. I ordered a chicken katsu and kalua pork combo, which came with a side of crab rangoon. The combo had some rice as well. My food took quite awhile to be prepared; I sat there watching people who had ordered ahead of me get their food. An employee came up to me to ask me my order number and told me it took longer to cook what I ordered. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Either way, I was in no rush so it didn’t really matter. As for the food itself, I was extremely unimpressed with the portion sizes of the meat, especially the chicken katsu. There were probably 3 or 4 small pieces of chicken in the entire meal. There was more kalua pork, but the rest was just unseasoned rice. The crab rangoon was decent but also seemed to be quite a small serving. As for the taste of the meat, it was decent. I have had better at L&L. I will probably return to Ono but may order...

I had Hawaiian BBQ before but first time at Ono. Generally, I had a good experience and I'm open to come back.

I got A plate of Hawaiian BBQ mix (which is a mix of beef, pork and chicken). It comes with rice & macaroni salad. It's pretty good. I like the flavors of all the meat. I like pork most, then chicken then beef. I like cabbage too but I wish it has less oil. A side of salad: I like the dressing that comes with the salad, helps balance the meal. Young coconut: decent. You can't use the plastic spoon to scoop out the meat but if you go home and use a silver spoon, you can. It looks thick but it's surprisingly not hard. It's probably still better if it's a little bit thinner though.

My friend got the plate with seafood mix which came with fried shrimps, fried white fish and chicken. I tried it and the plate I got was better.

Service was good. The receptionist was friendly and willing to answer all of...