Ono Hawaiian BBQ

Ono Hawaiian BBQ is a fast-casual restaurant brand based in Southern California and focused on Hawaiian-inspired plate lunches. The chain was established in October 2002 on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, introducing mainland diners to a menu and service format associated with Hawaii's plate-lunch tradition. Its offering generally centers on generously portioned meals combining a main protein, rice, and side dishes, alongside other Hawaiian and Asian-Pacific-influenced comfort foods. The brand developed within the broader growth of Hawaiian barbecue and plate-lunch restaurants in the United States. Rather than operating as a full-service island-themed restaurant, Ono Hawaiian BBQ uses a relatively accessible fast-casual model built around counter service, takeout, and familiar combination meals. Its positioning emphasizes substantial portions, approachable pricing, and flavors associated with Hawaiian local cuisine, including grilled and barbecued meats and island-style sides. Ono expanded from its original Los Angeles location through Southern California and later into Arizona. The company opened its 50th restaurant in July 2015. By 2017, it had grown to more than 65 locations across California and Arizona, demonstrating continued regional development beyond its initial Los Angeles base. By 2025, the chain had more than 100 locations, including seven in the Phoenix metropolitan area. It has also identified Texas as a future expansion market, although the available reference material does not establish the timing or number of planned restaurants there. The brand's cultural positioning became more visible in 2025 through a partnership with Disney centered on cultural celebration and food, using themes associated with Moana and Lilo & Stitch. Ono also supported local first responders through appreciation events held across California. These activities extended the brand's community and family-oriented identity beyond restaurant operations. In 2025, Ono Hawaiian BBQ was ranked No. 179 in Restaurant Business's Top 500 Chains report, a ranking based on Technomic industry data. The listing placed the chain among the larger restaurant businesses tracked in that report, although the available material does not provide revenue, unit-sales, or ownership details. Ono Hawaiian BBQ remains an active regional fast-casual chain, with its core footprint concentrated in California and Arizona and with further geographic growth under consideration.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ was established in October 2002 on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Its concept was built around bringing the Hawaiian plate lunch and related island-style cuisine to the mainland United States through a fast-casual restaurant format. The plate lunch traditionally combines a central entrée with rice and side dishes, making it well suited to counter service, takeout, and value-oriented combination meals. The chain's development formed part of a broader mainland interest in Hawaiian barbecue and plate-lunch restaurants. In this setting, Ono Hawaiian BBQ presented Hawaiian-inspired food in a format designed for routine dining rather than formal table service. Its menu identity has been associated with grilled and barbecued proteins, rice-based meals, and other comfort-food sides influenced by Hawaiian and wider Asian-Pacific culinary traditions. Ono expanded from its original Los Angeles location into a wider Southern California network and subsequently entered Arizona. A significant growth milestone came in July 2015, when the company opened its 50th location. By 2017, the chain had more than 65 restaurants across California and Arizona. These milestones indicate a steady regional expansion strategy rather than an immediately nationwide rollout. By 2025, Ono Hawaiian BBQ had grown to more than 100 locations. Its Arizona presence included seven restaurants in the Phoenix metropolitan area, while California remained central to the brand's operating footprint. The company was also reported to have plans to expand into Texas. The available reference material does not specify whether those plans had resulted in openings or provide a schedule for the proposed expansion. In 2025, the brand broadened its public-facing cultural and community activity. It partnered with Disney on a food-centered cultural celebration using themes from Moana and Lilo & Stitch. It also supported local first responders through appreciation events held across California. These initiatives connected the restaurant chain's Hawaiian-inspired identity with family entertainment and local community engagement. The same year, Ono Hawaiian BBQ was placed at No. 179 in Restaurant Business's Top 500 Chains report, based on Technomic data. The ranking provided an industry benchmark for the chain's scale, although no financial figures or detailed operating metrics are established in the available source material. Ono Hawaiian BBQ is currently active and remains primarily a regional United States restaurant brand, with California and Arizona as its documented markets and Texas as a prospective expansion destination.

• 2025

  Network exceeds 100 restaurants

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  By 2025, the chain had more than 100 locations, including seven in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and was considering expansion into Texas.

• 2025

  Disney cultural promotion

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ partnered with Disney on a cultural celebration through food themed around Moana and Lilo & Stitch.

• 2025

  Restaurant Business Top 500 Chains ranking

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ ranked No. 179 in Restaurant Business's Top 500 Chains report, using Technomic industry data.

• 2017

  More than 65 locations

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  By 2017, Ono Hawaiian BBQ had more than 65 locations across California and Arizona.

• 2015

  50th location opens

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  The chain opened its 50th restaurant in July 2015, marking a major regional expansion milestone.

• 2002

  First restaurant established in Los Angeles

  [1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ was established in October 2002 on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

A regional fast-casual Hawaiian barbecue chain offering filling, accessible plate lunches and island-inspired comfort food, with a strong Southern California identity and growing presence in Arizona.

• Main meals

  Hawaiian plate lunches

  The plate lunch is the central format associated with Ono Hawaiian BBQ. These combination meals pair a grilled or barbecued entrée with rice and accompanying side dishes, reflecting the filling, informal meal structure that became popular in Hawaii and was adapted for mainland fast-casual dining.

• Main meals

  Barbecue and grilled meat meals

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ's menu identity is built around barbecue and grilled meat offerings served as individual meals or combination plates. The available reference material confirms this broad category but does not identify a complete set of named menu items or product-launch dates.

• Side dishes

  Rice and island-style sides

  Rice and side dishes are important components of the brand's plate-lunch format. They support the chain's emphasis on substantial combination meals and Hawaiian-inspired comfort food, although the available sources do not provide a full current side-dish catalog.

• 2025Disney cultural celebration promotion

  California · Arizona

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ partnered with Disney to promote cultural celebration through food, using themes associated with Moana and Lilo & Stitch.

  Source
• 2025First responder appreciation events

  California

  The brand supported local first responders through appreciation events held across California, linking community engagement with its regional restaurant presence.

  Source

• 2025

  Consideration of Texas expansionStrategy

  Background

  After building a footprint of more than 100 restaurants in California and Arizona, Ono Hawaiian BBQ was reported to be planning expansion into Texas.

  Action taken

  The company identified Texas as a prospective market; the available source does not confirm opening dates or completed locations.

  Source

• 2025

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ surpasses 100 locations and plans Texas expansion[1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  By 2025, Ono Hawaiian BBQ had more than 100 restaurants across its California and Arizona footprint, including seven in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The chain was also reported to be planning expansion into Texas.

• 2025

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ partners with Disney for a cultural food promotion[1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ partnered with Disney on a promotion focused on cultural celebration through food and themed around Moana and Lilo & Stitch.

• 2025

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ supports California first responders[1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The brand held appreciation events for local first responders across California as part of its community-support activities.

• 2025

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ appears in Restaurant Business Top 500 Chains ranking[1]Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Ono Hawaiian BBQ was ranked No. 179 in Restaurant Business's Top 500 Chains report, which uses Technomic industry data.

1. 1Ono Hawaiian BBQen.wikipedia.org