Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken
66-160 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712
Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken Menu
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Address :
66-160 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, HI, 96712 - Phone
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Jonathan R.
When the cooks are away, the flies come and play~ We pick up chicken from here every time we come to Haliewa. All those times were great experiences with great food. However, when we made a stop on 11/15/14 we were greeted by more than just chicken... This time we stopped by there was a horde of flies. Like if you had a mosquito net and tossed it in the air you would catch at least 10 on the first cast. That was not the entire problem... When they let the chicken rest on the table the cooks leave them unattended. Which means the flies do a tap-dance all over the chicken. The chicken itself is really good (we ordered four to take home). A nice smoky flavor to the chicken without being charred. Defiantly order a sauce for $0.50 with your chicken and either pour it over your chicken or dip the pieces in. What we also found entertaining but horrific was when we were walking back to our car, which was across the street by Scoop of Paradise, we had two dozen flies following us. I will update my review on my next visit to Haleiwa. I am hoping there will be either less flies or more effort to keep the flies off the food.
(2)Mista H.
BEST CHICKEN IN THE GAME. Get the plate lunch, unless you're a big boy, then get the whole chicken with sides.
(5)Tee G.
Love their chicken. Its so juicy and moist. Great seasoning on the chicken. Great friendly and fast service. Drive to Haleiwa and pick up some chicken and coleslaw. Head to the beach for lunch or dinner with a beautiful view.
(5)Lon H.
Stopped by here on our last visit to Oahu and I'm so glad we did. This was some of the best chicken I've ever had. Heck, even the white meat was juicy and tender. We devoured a whole chicken in no time. Service was fast and friendly. Just look for the clouds of smoke coming from the BBQ pit and all the cars parked in a little dirt parking lot. You'll know you've found it when you see people licking their fingers from eating the delicious chicken. No doubt I'll be back.
(5)Shelly P.
Not very good quality chicken and very salty. Not very clean space. Lots of flies around. The BBQ seating is in the middle of parking lot. Price should be $ for what you get. Not the best chicken I ever had. In fact there are lots of other places in Hawaii with much better dishes for less.
(3)Inyaface07 0.
Good chicken but a lite too salty. Overall it's okay. Good food and line gets long! Half chicken is their typical combination plate.
(4)Ali E.
Delicious amazing goodness. The chicken is seasoned and cooked perfectly, and while there isn't much to the 'secret sauce' (soy sauce, apple cider vinegar and...maybe sugar?), it's a nice complement. Some stray bone shards here and there due to the chopping of the bird, but this is an occupational hazard. The fine people running the stand are friendly and patient. A nice selection of drinks, though I really had to search for the diet pepsi. NB, it is a little less expensive for two people to share a whole chicken with the add-ons than it is for each person to get a plate.
(5)K T.
Bought 2 whole chickens there , had them cut up when i returned home 2 legs were missing . They cut the chicken behind a blind where you can't see . Talked about it with the guys at the general store in Waialua where they had tons of stories where the same happened to them . Just plain dishonesty , if they do that to locals i am sure tourists have the same experience . The location in Haleiwa is packed with flies and filth , i never saw a green pass inspection sticker . I now live in Wahiawa and refuse to buy anything @ Rays up here .
(1)Ariel C.
Delicious chicken, pineapple coleslaw and special sauce! A must when visiting north shore.
(5)Joseph W.
Best chicken on the island!
(5)Lenna L.
Cheap and reasonably priced chicken. Food was alright. The only down side was that there were a lot of flies when I was there. the flies were flying around, they weren't sitting on the food or anything, but still, I think they should do something about the flies.
(3)Berneta A.
This chicken is so good, you'll not only lick your fingers after your done but also the styrofoam take out container it comes in. Yea, Rays is operating out of a tent in the parking lot of Malama grocery store, but this place is a must to stop at, every time I'm in the north shore. For $9.50 you can get the whole chicken chopped and a few makes a great last minute pot luck dish if you're up there for a beach get together, which is what my boyfriend and I did today. Everyone couldn't stop eating it and said it was the best chicken they've had in a while. I've heard about and seen the ridiculous long lines in the afternoon, you'll have no problem if you go earlier in the AM. Hey who says kiawe smoked chicken can't be breakfast ?!
(5)Latifa S.
Huli huli chicken~ parking lot full of smokes! Argh can someone fedex this to me right about now??? I've been coming to Rays for most of my teenage & adulthood~ think 10 years! Eeek. Sundays usually mean beaching days with rays chicken and some Matsumoto along a few beaches in north shore. The smell, the smoke and that massive tent/canopy where 100 chickens are getting broasted right in front of your eyes. Droooool. You can get an entire chicken (chopped)for $9.50. If you don't think that's enough, you can get their slaw , rice and such. I may need some right about now!! What? Welp. It's a good thing Christmas is right around the corner. I can't wait to go back , wait in line and OD on huli huli chicken on the beach!! Oh and I'll most likely drive down a few blocks for my fav fresh sugar cane juice or go get some Ted's cream pie to have that orgasmic ending. Brok da mout!!
(5)Jun Patrick B.
First time came here today, stopped by during route. Lucky never have line, got in and out. And damn, is this chicken good! I like it better than Koala Moa.
(5)Eva I.
Stumbled upon this stand after having shaved ice at Matsumoto. We actually smelled it a couple blocks down when we were eating our shaved ice. The chicken smells and tastes so ono~ Succulent. Juicy. Moist. Tender. Tasty. Delicious. Perfectly seasoned. *Making it a mandatory stop for every trip now.
(5)Karen S.
Driving up to the North Shore, this was an awesome find. The pineapple coleslaw tastes like candy and the chicken melted on our mouths. Three hungry chica's devoured each bite. 5 star yum!
(5)Mariko K.
It's definitely good rotisserie chicken, I'm not sure why everyone goes crazy for it though. My friend always makes us stop here when we go north shore.
(3)Mel T.
Not bad, not bad at all. Walking past Ray's set up, we couldn't help but stop to take a look - plump, seasoned chickens skewered on a metal rod that rotated above burning coal. Ordered a $6 chopped half chicken for the two of us to have a little taste ($9.50 whole is also available) and was pleasantly surprised how moist the chicken was, despite not appearing very juicy. Tasty tasty. Though I cannot guarantee I'd pass over Costco's $5 whole rotisserie chicken for this one, Ray's is a great North Shore alternative.
(4)Paulson K.
They Close at 5:00....I arrived at 1:30 on Saturday and there was one little problem THEY RAN OUT!!!!...So disappointed.....I drove all the way from town to North Shore to attempt to try some...Supposedly this wasn't the first time too...
(1)Johanna M.
Ray's has kind of become a must-stop for us when we visit the north shore. It is a no-frills huli huli chicken spot with very simple side items. They have some side items as well, but the chicken is the star of the show here. They have a huge grill with a bunch of chickens spinning and cooking. It is actually kind of cool to see. The tourists are always taking photos of the grill. It's kind of an attraction in Haleiwa. It is located parallel to the Malama Market parking lot. You can park right next to the grill and get in line for your chicken. It is cash only, so bring your boodles. We like to take our chicken to go and eat it at the beach. Last time we visited Ray's, we took our pollo over to Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, down the road, so we could enjoy it with some beach views. The chicken is always juicy...it can be greasy, but at least it's not deep fried, right? Hahahaha. I don't like when it's too greasy, and it really just depends on which chicken you get. Some have been greasier than others. You know what I'm talking about, your lips are so greasy, you look like you just applied roll-on lip gloss. I really like when I get one with some crispy skin. The crispy skin sometimes means it's a little less greasy because it's cooked a little longer. The seasoning they use is really good too. So yummy. You can get half a chicken, if you want a smaller portion, but the hubby and I usually split a whole chicken. They will chop it up for you, for easier munching. I don't usually go for the sides, but my hubby has had their pineapple coleslaw, and he thought it was just okay. In short, go for the chicken and maybe grab another something to eat nearby. There are plenty of options for you to try nearby.
(4)Jake ..
My Saturday is not complete unless I make the trek to the Kam swap meet to get this glorious chicken. I've tried nearly every huli huli and/or rotisserie chicken on oahu, and this is by far the best. Try it, your life will change.
(5)Jonathan S.
Seriously some of the best chicken on the island. If you're in Haleiwa or going around the island, you gotta stop by to try some of their keawe grilled huli-huli chicken. They're not always open. I've gone during the week and it's empty. Im guessing they're just open weekends and holidays. A whole chicken is $9.50, and it's so worth it. You can have it whole or cut up into pieces. We always get it chopped up so we can just share right then and there. It's freshly cooked right in the open air. The smoke and smell from the chicken as it roasts is pretty amazing. The flavor is not to salty. The meat is juicy, moist, and flavorful. There's a bit of the smoke flavor, but it is not over-powering by any means. The wait isn't too long, maybe a few minutes. They're constantly cooking and trying to keep up with the demand. The line is constant, usually between 10 and 20 customers. This is not a negative at all because it means you are getting fresh chicken. The only bad thing is there really isn't any seating. Some tourists go and sit at the bus stop, some stand nearby, but most just take it to go or sit in their car to eat. Not a problem at all though. Definitely a place to go if you're not craving the dozens of shrimp places that line the north shore.
(5)Paige S.
My family was in for the holidays and we were touring the north shore as the tourists do. My dad is a chicken fiend so as soon as we drove through haleiwa, he was hungry (hungry+angry) and keen on getting his hands on a bird. Location: Located just to the left of malama market, across from longs drugs and across from the wailua bakery/spaghettini Parking: Shared with all of the above, isn't too hard to find, just be patient its worth the wait. Atmosphere/Seating: Once you get out of your car you smell the air filled with smoke and the smell of sweeeettttt juicy chicken! Rays sets up their broiling station in a dirt area to the left of the malama market parking. There are 2 tables with roughly 12 seats available. You order on the line to the right, and pick up is on the line on the left. What we ordered: 1 whole chicken chopped (split between 4 hungry people) 2 special sauce 3 rice 1 pineapple coleslaw What you should order: Don't be dumb, order a WHOLE chicken, or maybe 3. Buy one for a friend, or a neighbor, spread the chicken love! This stuff is gift worthy! Get it chopped and don't think twice about it! The chicken is a decent size, it is moist, tender, fall off the bone, juicy and doesn't need any sauce or seasoning. The seasoning was perfect and the skin was punch-your-mama good. No seriously, my mom and I basically fought for the skin. When I go back I will just order chicken and a water! I wouldn't waste my time with rice/sauce unless you need something filling to hold you over. The pineapple coleslaw was okay, nothing spectacular, just coleslaw with pineapples. The best part about this place is that it is cheap. For a whole chicken it was just under 10 bucks. I'll be sure to post pictures/prices so check there for the actual menu. Rays has got something special going on with their chicken, and it would be a shame for you to go to north shore and miss out on this gem!
(5)W Q.
Best huli huli chicken I've ever had in my life. It was ridiculously cheap and ridiculously good. Like unbelievably good. $6 half chicken or $8.95 for half chicken w/ rice and amazing pineapple cole slaw. First time I've ever had pineapple cole slaw, they go unbelievably good together. Perfect meal for $9. Cash only. Plenty of parking... I ate in the car.. cause there's flies.... everywhere. I was almost discouraged to buy the food here cause of the flies, but thanks to the amazing ratings, i wanted to give this place a try and it exceeded my expectations. Good find, great huli huli chicken, awesome pineapple slaw. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. Buy the food to go, and eat it elsewhere. :)
(5)Kirk F.
Great food but only giving four stars because there is absolutely no seating near by. Given the number of people eating here it seems they could through up some portable picnic tables.
(4)Brian L.
Wow, the chicken is amazing. My wife ate it off the bone and she never does that! Seasoning is perfect and the meat is juicy all the way through. Pretty short wait. Not much shade. Be ready to eat in your vehicle if you have to. Can get a little messy as they only provide you a fork. So worth it though. We be returning many weekends. Cash only, Only open Saturday and Sunday.
(5)Gary M.
I stay on North Shore over a weekend just to get this chicken. We had it yesterday and we had it today. I guess we liked it a lot yesterday! The system is order on one side and pick up on the other. Yesterday my wife ordered a whole choppped chicken, rice and coleslaw. When she picked up somehow we got half chicken, rice, pineapple slaw and two Pepsi when my wife asked for two chopsticks - lol. Yesterday we thought "dang this whole chicken is some small chicken". Today's box was heaping twice as much chicken - so we're pretty sure we got the half yesterday. Make sure you re-tell your order before pick up, and be careful you may get pepsi instead of chopsticks. g
(4)Kevin F.
This is a must have, if you find yourself cruising the North Shore this is a stop you must make. Great chicken, juicy, priced well. We all shared a lunch plate and a whole cut up chicken. It was amazing.
(5)Stefan H.
Oh my god that is some yummy yummy chicken. And $10 for a whole chicken is the bomb. And it seems it's all for a good cause they have a sign indicating local fundraiser.
(5)Melissa B.
Every time we pass by always smells amazing! Finally we stopped- chicken was perfectly tender with a seasoning rub! Perfect flavoring! The pineapple coleslaw was absolutely amazing- don't usually care for coleslaw- but i wanted seconds! Definitely recommend.
(5)Nette B.
Short and Sweet... When in Hawaii make your way to Haleiwa Town for the best Huli Huli Chicken ever! CASH ONLY Order rice Get the shoyou and chili sauce to dip your chicken in or pour it all over your rice. **as am licking my fingers*** DA BOMB fo reals!
(4)Brent S.
If you're on the North Shore, Ray's is an absolute must. Don't let its humble surroundings (a tent in a parking lot circling with flies). It is one of the best chicken dishes you'll ever have. It is not huli-huli style. So if you're looking to experience that, this is not the place. They use a special rub and slowly cook over hot kiawe coals. The result is incredibly flavorful, unbelievably juicy and terribly addictive.
(5)Melissa M.
When we were on the North Shore I discovered this place on Yelp and knew we had to try it. It was easy to find in Haleiwa - big trailer with chickens roasting, lots of smoke. Fortunately, the line wasn't very long. We ordered a whole chicken, pineapple slaw, some "special" sauce for 50 cents, rice and a can of juice (about $24). There's no seating so we drove down the street to the beach and ate there. The disclaimer as follows ... we were starving, so everything should have tasted better than it was ... I lived on Oahu and have had lots of huli huli chicken. Bottom line, we were all underwhelmed by our meal. The chicken was borderline salty. It's very moist and evident it sits in brine before it's roasted. The meat itself (not skin) was very salty. The hack job on the chicken was a little dangerous (not to mention un-appetizing) - lots of sharp bones and I had to make sure I picked apart all the meat from the bones for my son. It's very saucy chicken and the styrofoam container failed to contain the sauce, which ended up everywhere, just on our short drive down the street. I had really been looking forward to the pineapple slaw and I honestly couldn't stomach more than one bite. Way too saucy (and I love mayonnaise, believe me). Didn't taste very fresh. The 50 cent sauce was totally unnecessary given the saltiness of the chicken and it would have been better sweet than bitter. Had the meal been terribly delicious, I wouldn't mind if the chicken was hacked up, the sauce ended up everywhere, etc., but it really just wasn't that great. I suppose everyone has their own idea of what constitutes delicious rotisserie chicken. For me, it simply wasn't love at first bite.
(3)Food C.
Picked up chicken here on 3/2/14 and 3/8/14 and its great flavored roasted chicken. Fun to see the chickens cooking. My wife is not a chicken fan, but she even commented that this was a great tasting chicken. A half chicken chopped is $6, and $9.5 for a whole. Go for the whole because you will eat it all by yourself or you can share with someone else and have room for a shaved ice right up the road.
(5)Inga S.
THE HULI HULI CHICKEN IS BEYOND DELICIOUS!! I really can't explain it. It's seasoned perfectly and succulent. Please please order the pineapple coleslaw too! mmm Downsides? If you eat there, be prepared to fight for your food with flies. They're only opened on Saturday and sunday and sometimes (because of popularity) they run out earlier.
(5)Kim N.
Ray's is some seriously good chicken. I did not expect to find some random grill off the main drag but there it was. Some makeshift tents, portable grills and a bunch of people cracking away. They didnt have much seating so we took our chicken elsewhere. Let me say that we picked that thing clean. Great flavor, juicy, and just the right amount of smokiness. A great find.
(5)Jodye C.
Absolutely delicious and even when they are busy you never wait too long for food. This is a weekly tradition for us! The smell does not lie- this chicken is yummy! Don't forget a side of the pineapple cole slaw!
(5)Ennie L.
Yummy yummy roast chicken! It's pretty salty so you don't need their sauce, their coleslaw is pretty creamy if that's how you like it. But definitely a great stop if you just want to bring home for dinner.
(4)Whale B.
I read about Ray's somewhere and just happened to see it on a Sunday while heading into the grocery store. We tried the half huli huli chicken and it was excellent, spiced just right and very tasty. You have to take your meal elsewhere; like car, beach or take home, since there are no benches, or tables. You should try it because its part of the culture here and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Sally H.
Yum! It is the real deal here ... the family has been cooking huli huli chicken since the beginning (one of the few who learned from the originator), and it is wonderfully ono-delicious. A definite stop on the North Shore ... and well worth the trip if you want authentic huli huli chicken.
(5)Kannitha M.
We found this place by accident on our first trip to north shore, now it's a must evrytime we're in the area. We tell ourselves to try something else available here but, never fail, we end up in line ordering at least 2whole chickens (no sharing!!!)
(5)Christian G.
Who is this Maui Mike fool and why is he more popular than Ray's? I found Ray's by happy accident while waiting for a safety inspection and his chicken is delicious. This is the closest I've gotten to the mouthgasm that is Peruvian Chicken. The chicken is moist and flavorful. The skin is crispy and delicious. I didn't get any of the sides because I was eating off of DH's plate. The rice and slaw must have been good, because he ate both of them before I got a bite. This place is cash only and worth the money.
(4)Rona C.
I love their Huli Huli chicken. It's a must....every time I'm in north shore/Haleiwa I always have to pick up some chicken for me and the family. If you haven't tried it, you should. Only open on the weekends by Malama market in Haleiwa. If not I believe they're available in Wahiawa on Tuesdays and I think I also seen them at Kam swap meet.
(5)Thu P.
I've been visiting Ray's for over 10 years and I do not share my whole chicken. Hands down juicy and tender chicken ever! Right in the town of Haleiwa you can't miss the smoke and the canopies. The custom design rotisserie expanded thru the years and the 70+ chickens smoking at a time are perfectly seasoned. You can buy a whole chicken for $9.50 (whole or chopped). Add it with the Pineapple Cole Slaw, rice and a nice cold Arizona tea. You'll get messy but who cares its finger lickin' great!!! After Ray's Chicken... walking distance to get shaved ice at Matsumoto Store... or you can drive. Look for the long line.. Its worth the wait! LIVE.LAUGH.ENJOY
(5)Albert L.
Overrated and not worth the long wait!!! I know I'm in the minority here. After waiting for an hour in line for a whole chicken, I've had better elsewhere. They also ran out of the special sauce and after waiting half an hour, they finally said our delivery isn't going to make it. As you can see, service was lacking. Costco's rotisserie chicken is better! I've said it! Don't waste a meal here and visit the nearby shrimp trucks!
(2)Tiff D.
Probably the best chicken I've ever had. Seriously. And I've definitely had my share. 1st time on the island I always saw these stops on the side of the road with rotating chickens so I knew if I ever came back we had to go. So today was the day.. Man I can't believe it took me my 4th time on the island to finally get here. We got a whole chicken with rice and their special sauce. Chicken was plenty and hot and fresh! Skin was crunchy and charred with their marinade and their special sauce is an awesome compliment (shoyu, vinegar, Hawaiian chili). Meat was juicy and tender no matter what part of the bird. The two of us were stuffed and can't beat all that for $10. We probably will be back before we head home. Oh and be warned if you eat outside there will be tons of flies.
(5)Eric B.
Always come here with family on the weekends when passing North Shore The surf capital of the world. Good portions and tasty Huli Huli chicken!!
(5)Charles P.
Freakin amazing food. This place is only open Saturday and Sundays. And be prepared to wait in line. But it's worth it. Very good chicken. Cole slaw was ok, but the Chicken was amazing. Its located in the parking lot of the Grocery store in town. I would recommend this place to anyone. And it's a local favorite. A lady in the Quicksliver told us to check it out. And man she was right. Go and get some good grub.
(5)Michelle G.
So the familia and I were on the North Shore and we wanted an early lunch before hitting Waimea Bay. It was just before 11am and the smell of chicken already permeated the street. There were a few customers but, no wait for the chicken. I'm kinda picky so we ordered a plate and all sampled it to make sure we all liked it. Let's just say we completely devoured the first plate within 2 minutes. The chicken was so flavorful and juicy. The pineapple coleslaw was awesome. Have never had anything like it. We ended up getting a few more plates and returned again the following Saturday before we headed back home. Can't wait to return to Oahu for some Ray's Chicken!
(5)Janice T.
They are located at Malama market's parking lot. There are a couple of tables available and a sink for washing hands. Hubby and I shared a whole chicken. It's normally $9 but we paid an extra $0.50 to have it chopped. We also paid extra for the sauce which on hindsight we should not have ordered because the chicken by itself was already delicious. The sauce just made it saltier. I also highly recommend the pineapple slaw! It's great with the chicken.
(4)Steve F.
Best chicken in all 50 states!!!
(5)Addie D.
I cannot believe they are only open on the weekends! Thank goodness my husband I decided to check out the North Shore on a Sunday! This place is unbelievable. Okay, we ordered 2 lunch plate special. Half chicken, with 1 cup rice. Side of pineapple slaw and their special sauce. We devoured it! The chicken was absolutely the juiciest, most tasteful broiled chicken I have ever had! I can't say anything else but to remember to go on a weekend to try this place out and to stop by this place when cruising the food trucks of the North Shore. Bring cash. Parking is okay, they are located next to a market where I'm sure you can park for a few minutes. But they are located on a gravel lot which has some parking. Enjoy!!
(5)Joe S.
Ray's is an outdoor grill and you know you're there by the smoke from the very large chicken grill. The smell is heavenly. There are always locals and tourists alike taking photos here and it's welcomed. The chicken is worth the cost: $10 a bird. Just get in line, pay cash, and within two minutes you'll have a take away plate with your chicken!! There is nowhere to sit, this is just an outdoor grill, so you'll seep people standing, sitting on nearby rocks, or even on the bus stop bench eating. It is located to the left of the parking lot of the only grocery store in the area (right side of the road coming from Honolulu). Don't try to park in the grocery store lot: it's impossible to find a spot, it's very small, and traffic is impossible. What you do is park across the street at the Bank of Hawaii/Pizza Bob's lot. It's located behind the building and there are many places there to park. The lot is hidden from the street. I believe, if you're a tourist, it's best to sit in your rental car and dine. You'll have air conditioning, a comfortable seat, music, and it's clean. If you want something to drink, just go into Pizza Bob's and order a soda to-go. To the left of the ordering counter is the restrooms. Use them. There are also some small shops at the parking lot, so check them out while you're there. Cheers!
(4)J I.
Had the plate - which was a half chicken combo w rice and pineapple coleslaw. Great picnic choice to take it to Northshore. Don't forget to buy beer at next door mart. I think the price came to $8. Even with the rain, there were 30 people waiting in front of me to pick up food - and did not disappoint. Backyard grilled chicken at its best.
(4)Karen D.
Driving through Haleiwa, my boyfriend found himself hungry and we decided to stop by and try some chicken from a food stand next to the grocery store. Best. Decision. Ever. We got the plate lunch with half chicken, a scoop of rice, pineapple coleslaw, a small side of special sauce, and a can of Aloha Maid for less than $10. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked perfectly, moist and delicious with crispy skin. My boyfriend usually doesn't like coleslaw but he ate that pineapple coleslaw up like candy. I think the biggest mistake we made was sharing a plate, but he promised me that after swimming at the beach, we would return to get the whole chicken (for $10!). Sadly, the food stand was closed when we came back. I am seriously thinking about driving back up to Haleiwa for a whole chicken tomorrow.
(5)Garett D.
So good! Chicken is mouth watering and worth the wait! Really enjoyed the pineapple coleslaw as well, different but delicious! Planning to go back soon!
(5)RJ B.
Amazing. Delicious and simple. Very long wait. Very very long wait but worth every second. Get extra special sauce. And bring cash.
(5)Kevin C.
I found this place due to its high ratings on Yelp, and will add another 5 star review to the mix. The site is not even a food truck like I was expecting; it's a food stand in the corner of a grocery store parking lot. The chicken was really tasty--so good, that I can't recall ever having better chicken, even at fancy restaurants. For a half chicken plate it was about $7.50 or so, fairly priced given its awesome reputation. The people behind the table were really nice.
(5)Alison A.
Hard to get because of limited hours/days but worth the trek to Halaewa/North Shore. A bit pricey but amazingly delicious. No need for sauces or any sides...the chicken is finger-licking delicious with only the seasonings and smoke. Chicken is juicy and cooked perfectly. Eating in the dirt parking lot on the town's main drag street, especially in the humidity and heat is sort of a drag but rustic. A bit pricey ($10) for plain chicken but it's become so novel and a one-of-a-kind delicacy, worth the long waits. Friendly staff work as fast as they can, definitely a must-eat while on this side of the island.
(5)Cat B.
$9.50 for a whole well seasoned chicken? Check! A few blocks ahead is the beach where you can park roadside and have a picnic? Check. Next door is a market where you can buy poke, chips, and some cold drinks with your chicken? Check. Fast, Quick, and Cheap? Check. Nice peeps? Check. This was a no brainer. 5 stars.
(5)Amanda K.
While on a work trip to Honolulu, I had a free day to myself. I hopped on a bus and took a day-trip to the North Shore. The ride took a lot longer than I expected and when I got off the bus I was absolutely starving. The first thing I saw was chicken being cooked in a trailer. Good enough for me. The line was only a few people long (so I must have been there at an off-peak time) and I grabbed a half-chicken and side of pineapple slaw. It was all absolutely delicious! I perched at the shared table seating in the parking lot gobbled up nearly all the chicken by myself. I thought the pineapple slaw was great - super refreshing. The prices were on-point and I was totally satisfied with my no-frills lunch. My only complaint is that there were a TON of flies out there. You had to close the lid of your styrofoam container between bites to stop them from landing all over your food. I know they don't have a ton of control over that, but they were quite the nuisance.
(5)Mick K.
Saturdays and Sundays you can find Ray's at Kam Swap Meet across Pearl Ridge mall and at Haleiwa. Tuesdays and Fridays, they are in Wahiawa. 1011 California Ave Wahiawa Hi They have the best huli huli chicken on the island. However, out of the three different locations, the chickens cooked at the Haleiwa location has better quality control and better taste.
(5)Tiffany Y.
When you think of North Shore, you think of the waves and Matsumoto Shave Ice. However, you need to add Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken. For the past year, each trip to the North Shore resulted in us either eating at Tacos Vicente (see review) or L&L BBQ. But, each time at L&L, the aroma of huli huli chicken would tease me nostrils to where I could just taste it with rice w/ shoyu, potato salad and pepsi. Thus, I vowed "Next trip to North Shore---I am buying Huli Huli chicken!" This past Saturday for lunch and beach outing with the young adults at our church, we headed out to North Shore. I kept telling my honey, "I want Huli Huli chicken!!" He kept looking at me and saying, "I know..you already shared that but what do the others want to eat?" I told him "Park centrally and everyone can walk to where ever they want to go but I want to eat huli huli chicken." As we parked the van, I could barely keep myself from running across the street. I had my daughter come along with me while my sons were with the dad and the rest of the group. For anyone who has not been to Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken, it is right next to Malama Supermarket under a tent. Seriously, only in Hawaii can you get away with something like this but you know...with the way the chicken tastes...who cares. I LOVE IT Whole chicken is $9.00 If you want the whole chicken, chopped into 8-10 pieces, it is $0.50 more. For half-chicken, I believe it is $6 or $6.50 Rice is two-scooped for $1.00 I bought a chicken and half for my honey and I with two sides of rice. You pay and then they bag it up for you. The experience of standing in line under the warm sun and watching them turn the chicken over as well as observing them prep the chicken was interesting. I was kind of alarmed at the flies but they made sure none of it landed on the chicken. Their operations is pretty great because everyone is moving and not standing around. The service is quick and friendly. If you are planning on trying out Ray's. One recommendation...do this as a take-out especially if you are heading home or to the beach. ESPECIALLY to the beach. Although there are chairs and table, it is close to where they are cooking the chicken...that you'll end up smelling like huli huli chicken. Plus, there will be other customers staring at you hungrily as you eat. All in all, I'll definitely come here again.
(4)Jessie P.
Delicious chicken, good for eating right away or perfect for bringing home for dinner!
(5)Halei J.
I love this place! Every time i come to Oahu, which is probably once every two years (I have ohana here) or more. I come here to get my huli huli chicken. It's like 10 bucks for cut up or 9 whole. I always get it whole, walk down the beach and rip it apart and devour it like a cave man..,piping hot, tasty and juicy....just talking about it makes me hungry...can't wait for my next trip! Alohaz!
(5)Gary V.
Excellent chicken and a must try when visiting Halewia. Very tasty. The flies are a problem so take the chicken in the car and drive to a place to enjoy it. Very friendly staff.
(4)Sarah K.
This place is only there on the weekends!! I went to Haleiwa twice before realizing this, silly me. So, you know how you have these cravings for good meat sometimes? And you are reminded of those cartoons of the characters just tearing into meat like it's the most amazing thing ever? And that's how you feel until you get your meat and you just have to knife and fork it? Kind of a disappointment. Well, to get that experience, go here!!! Get a whole or half chicken and just tear the crap out of it. Get it all over your hands and enjoy every bit of the salty-seasoned skin and tender smoked meat. Don't worry, they have a sink! They only take cash, by the way, so don't get all excited and then show up with your Visa. It will be a sad day. Goodddd stuff.
(4)Maria R.
9/7/2013, noon-ish So, we get up from the beach in Waikiki and hit the road to the North Shore. Around noon, we're in Haleiwa and *starving.* Where to eat? Wait. Look at all of that smoke, the rotisserie, and the huge crowd of people - THAT must be the place. And it was. "Ray" is grilling tons of chicken on the most homemade rotisserie you've ever seen, situated on a roadside patch of dirt. Add a massive crowd of people surrounded by thick, billowing smoke, and you've got the picture. Our wait wasn't that bad. Just enough time for me to go into Malama Market next door, get some drinks and pineapple, and prep the car for a chicken picnic. Oh YES *The. Chicken. *The rice (add the special sauce). *The pineapple coleslaw. Oh NOES *No parking. *Little seating (but do you really want eat in a cloud of chicken smoke?) Pro Tip: Get enough for chicken/rice lunch AND dinner. Our only regret was that we split a half chicken for lunch and didn't have any left for dinner. Waaaah! Ray: keep doing you on that forlorn patch of land - your chicken is LEGEND.
(5)robert k.
had a lot of fun here.. finally found them in Haleiwa (they're only there on Saturday and Sunday) and it was well worth the wait! I love chicken, and I especially love a good roasted chicken. While simply seasoned and then spit roasted over kiawe wood, this chicken is super moist and tastes amazing. The skin is delicious.. A little crispy and a little spicy. The sauce you can buy was very good too! The mac salad was fantastic, and overall we just had a great lunch, and even bought some for dinner that night. They have a small eating area and drinks available as well. I like that they sell whole chickens or chopped whole chickens, to eat there or to take home all bagged up. This is a great food to grab and go to the beach, or better yet, send a friend to bring back to your beach spot while hanging out all day. Great stuff, very friendly workers, A+++ :)
(5)Cruz K.
The best road side chicken on the north shore that your going to ever have..Half a chicken.. cheap.. fast..
(5)Laurie B.
My last day in Hawaii I wanted to squeeze in one last really Hawaiian meal and I figured what was more Hawaiian than chicken? I didn't try anything but the chicken but it was cooked to perfection and after a day of snorkeling, it tasted like the most delicious thing I had eaten all day. It's greasy, and they don't throw you any bones by cutting off fat or bones when they chop up the bird, but it's worth a sloppy eating experience to get some of the best hulihuli chicken on Oahu.
(4)Tiffany C.
Driving to North Shore one day in Hawaii, and my cousin couldn't get huli huli chicken off her mind. I'm completely serious. We were driving from Pearl City, and she just kept searching for that smoke which would indicate the huli huli chicken was close by. Me being new to all things Hawaiian, I was intrigued and, after a while, found myself searching for the smoke coming from the grill. And we found it. Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken. Looks like they just set-up shop wherever there's room. All they need is their grill set up and a few tables. And I'm being completely serious, that is all there was. Walk up, give them your order, and your chicken will be out shortly. Need it cut? Sure they'll do it for you, but I kind of liked just ripping apart that whole chicken and digging right in. The chicken was good. Very flavorful, and definitely fresh from the grill. I mean, how can't it be? You can see the chicken cooking. I told you, grill and tables. So good, yes, I even licked my fingers after it all. Oh boy, finger lickin' good? Well, just see for yourself. One tip if you're reading this. One thing they could add to the whole grill and table set up are some citronella candles. I did get a little tired of swatting flies away from my delicious food.
(3)Cindy L.
This is the start of the food tour of Haleiwa and North Shore, Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken. It's located right in the center of Haleiwa Town, you can smell and see the chicken grilling on a parking lot. Which totally gives you the local flava! I am not a big chicken fan, but the seasoning is just exceptional! My husband and I only ordered the half chicken for $6 since we still have many stops to go to as part of our food tour, but we devour that chicken in a few minutes. We also got to people-watch as the Japanese tourist unload from their minivan to try out the chicken. Great Great First Stop!
(4)Travis H.
Hands down best rotisserie chicken on the island and cant beat the price. Get some Hawaiian sweet rolls and bring you own drink :), and see who can eat there's first.
(5)Ramfis B.
After taking a drive down to the North Shore, my fellow foodies have been talking about this Huli Huli Chicken place called Ray's that i have to go to. Now normally, whenever we go to the North Shore, it's always Giovanni's for shrimp, or Matsumoto's Shave Ice, but now i know what all the type is with Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken. This is the way i like to eat Broiled Chicken. No sauce, just salt. This chicken is fall off the bone,juicy,chicken just the way i like it. It's just unfortunate they are only there on the weekends because they would definitely be packing them in if they were there everyday. I will make another trip to Haleiwa just because that Chicken at Ray's is something i am yearning for as we speak....
(4)Charlie B.
Awesome
(5)Megan G.
Found this place just by driving by and seeing the open grill and smelling the chicken. Really moist, tender chicken and delicious pineapple slaw...with only $6 for half a freshly broiled chicken, so the place gets really busy.
(5)Nam N.
I'm embarrassed to admit that after all of this time, I had never had Huli-Huli Chicken..... I've heard how tasty it is and how the stands on the side of the road are the best but I've just never had the chance to get my hands on some. ......Until this past trip to the North Shore. :) On our way up to Matsumoto's, my cousin cried out "Huli-Huli Chicken" as we passed a large cloud of smoke, gi-normous grill, and a crowd of people. Since we were planning on spending the rest of the day at Sunset Beach, what better beach food than fresh chicken! So we pulled over and I jumped out to witness the Huli-Huli. At that time, the grill master was using a large fan to stoke the coals as the chicken rotated on the large skewers: yelp.com/biz_photos/Niqv… Huli-Huli is a popular Hawaiian Barbecued Chicken. The chicken is slow roasted over a bbq, rotisserie style....hence the name "huli huli". The chicken is then slathered with a bbq sauce that is often flavored with pineapple juice, soy sauce, sherry, ginger, and garlic--but every stand has their own recipe. We picked up a whole chicken with two scoops of rice. It was accompanied with a side of their soy-pepper-water. All for under 10 bucks!!! yelp.com/biz_photos/Niqv… Later that day at Sunset Beach, we popped open our container of goodness--still warm and smelled divine! Chicken was juicy and well flavored......YUM! That coupled with a few cold beers, the beautiful Sunset Beach, and my party of 4 were LIVIN' THE DREAM! Note to y'all: Ray's is literally located in a parking lot in Old Town Haleiwa....same street as Matsumoto's Shave Ice and just a few hundred yards away.
(4)Michael M.
There's a bit of a wait, but it's we worth it. Watch out for the flies in the waiting area.
(5)Scott B.
Rocking chicken on the north shore...make sure to get the sauce and pineapple cole slaw....
(5)Sheena C.
Okay, I finally have their CORRECT schedule as of today.... M- Off* T- Wahiawa (by Hongwanji) W- Kam Swap Meet TR- Off F- Off* SAT- Haleiwa (Malama Market parking lot) SUN- Haleiwa (Malama Market parking lot) *If state/federal major holiday, they will be in Haleiwa.
(5)Hanna M.
Soooo yummy! We bought half chicken because we just had lunch before we drove to north shore. Our kids couldn't resist the smell and taste of the chickens and they ate most of it immediately. We bought while chicken on our way back to eat during our flight back. We fell asleep and ate it next day and it was still good ( not as good as the day before of course) we also had pineapple cole slow which was yummy and I think I am going to add pineapple in my slow from now on. We bought extra sauce which was so unnecessary. Chicken tasted so good without it!!
(5)Al W.
Simple, but delicious. It may just be chicken for the most part, but this chicken is better than most other competitors serve, especially on the north shore. I like it more than KFC, that's for sure. Reasonable price. Maybe a little more variety might be nice, but nothing wrong with sticking to what you are good at.
(5)Paige F.
All I can say is go for the chicken. The whole thing. Skip the rice and pineapple slaw. The chicken is balls to the wall good!!!
(5)Chad Y.
There is something to be said about a perfectly roasted chicken. We are talking about well cooked, but not charred skin covering perfectly white and consistently moist meat to the bone that is complemented by its seasonings. Ray's is certainly one of those places that can create such a product that brings tearful emotions with a great product. Located in Haleiwa on weekends, it is hard to miss the large rotisserie and the smoke rising above the town. It is right next door to the Malama Market in town and offers an outdoor grab and go experience that isn't one to miss. The chicken is simply done. It is just salted, peppered, and sprinkled with what I think is a paprika based spiced blend (don't worry, it's not that spicy). It's then roasted over burning keave wood to a perfect completion that is hard to beat. Offered in Half, whole, or Whole chopped sizes, don't be afraid, just get the whole chopped, you'll thank me later. Sides are available as add-ons such as rice and their pretty darn good pineapple cole-slaw. It is certainly different and offers a refreshing bite on a hot day. Also available is their special sauce which is vinegar based and almost reminds me of an adobo flavoring. Check it out, it definitely doesn't disappoint and is a nice complement to the chicken. Don't plan to eat there as seating is VERY limited, however people do come and go, so it is an option if you want. If not, a beach is nearby! It is cash only, so plan on bringing some moolah. Plates are about $9.50 for a whole chopped and sides are about $1-2 along with drinks in that range. If you are on the north shore, definitely hit up Ray's. You'll thank me later.
(4)Liz N.
Great chicken and rice and relatively cheap. Just wish there were more tables to sit at.
(4)K J.
Yeah, pretty good stuff! The pineapple coleslaw is really simple yet so so amazing. I don't know what they do, but keep doing it! Flavor of chicken is good too! They are now next to Malama's Market in the dirt parking lot and I think they are only there on the weekends. Look for the smoke...
(4)Jocelyn L.
My fave eats in the North Shore- yes, even more than Giovanni's and Kua Aina (both of whom i love as well) Super yummy, flavorful kiawe-grilled chicken, right off a parking lot in the middle of Haleiwa town! You won't have a prob finding it; just follow the yummy smell (which you can detect from miles away)
(5)Shane B.
Best chicken ever! You also need to get the pineapple cole slaw. Whenever I'm in the area, I always visit Ray's. Definitely we'll worth the wait!!!
(5)Amy P.
Yummy and delicious chicken. We order the whole chicken-chopped. The side order of rice is a descent size that you could share with someone. The pineapple was ok. Great service and staff.
(4)Leyton T.
The best huli huli chicken on the island. It looks like a pretty simple recipe. Rub some paprika, salt and pepper on the chicken and throw it over the fire but there's something about the Ray's chicken that makes me coming back. It must be the kiawe. I don't know. There's something je ne sais quoi about it. Anyway, if you're on the north shore on the weekend, this is a definitely a place you need to stop by. Service is fast and parking is ample. You can even go walking around Haleiwa town after picking up your chicken. The cashier told me that they usually stop cooking at 4:30pm so plan accordingly. I suggest picking up the whole chicken($9.50) and chopping it up and eating it at home. This is for two reasons. First they charge an extra $1.50 for chopped chicken and if you choose to eat there, there are a lot of horse flies buzzing around the sit-down eating area. There is no bathroom or place to wash your hands but locals know that you can walk over to Kua Aina and use the one in the back.
(4)Wayne S.
Now thats some goooooood chicken! Its so easy and quick to plow through the order right after you get it. I dont know what they do to it or how but its amazing!
(4)Levy O.
There are many Hulu Hulu chicken spots in Oahu but there's only 1 Ray's chicken. It's a good lunch place/take out on your way to surf and sea day. Get a full chopped chicken with a couple sides (rice or pineapple cole slaw-refreshing!) and head out to the beach for the best experience. Make sure you bring plenty of wet wipes and napkins, the chicken is juicy and finger licking good :). Less one star for the amount of unwanted flies that congregate near the raw chicken cooler :(. But as long as you don't think about it too much.. It's all good ! :)
(4)Lily B.
Ray's is located in Haleiwa Town on the North Shore of Hawaii... next to a grocery store. Among the shrimp trucks, other food trucks, hole-in-the-walls, and other restaurants is the chicken truck with "huli huli" rotisserie chicken. They wait at this location can be LOOOOOONG. I mean ridiculously long! The BF and I were in Haleiwa to have lunch at one of the shrimp trucks and on our way home we stopped by to pick up some chicken for his family. His dad loooooves Ray's chicken. We usually pick up at Chevron in Wahiawa (no tourists so not as busy) but they are only around on Tuesdays. You can get a whole chicken, a whole chicken cut up, or a chicken plate. The plates come with rice and salad or coleslaw. The taste of the chicken is... okay. I mean if there's nothing to eat I would eat it. It's not great but it's not crappy. It's just... okay. Although it's grilled over kiawe wood and flames, it does retain its juice. The smokiness flavor is what I'm not too much of a fan of. I much prefer the rotisserie chicken at Costco vs. Ray's, but then again that's just my personal preference. My BF's family would choose Ray's any day. Plate lunch prices are around $7-9; I can't recall exactly as we ordered a whole chicken which will set you back around $13. Fast and friendly service from the staff!
(3)The Food G.
My bf picked up a chicken for lunch. $9 for a whole chicken chopped and $1 for rice. It was bomb.com . The seasonings were spot on and maybe a little too salty for some but perfect for me. It is a must if you are ever on the north shore.
(4)Osvaldo M.
I'm from LA so I know my street food. I moved out to Honolulu a year ago and I kept hearing about this place and this weekend I finally had an opportunity to try it. I'll get to the point, I don't think this place lives up to it's hype. When you look at the chicken while waiting in line to order you see countless chickens cooking and they do look good. However, once I tasted the chicken I was sorely disappointed, especially after friends talked about how good it was. The skin, which is my favorite part of a chicken, was borderline soggy and and extremely salty. Under the skin was meat that was a little dry and lacking overall flavor. The thing I did enjoy was the pineapple coleslaw, it was good. It might be that I don't have a local palate yet but I hardly doubt it, this place didn't live up to expectations.
(2)Ro H.
Phenomenal!! Great value! Delicious chicken. Get there early to avoid lines and ensure they don't run out!
(5)Jamie B.
This is by far my FAVORITE chicken ever!!! I have always been a fan of huli huli chicken, and this is the absolute best. Just smelling the smoke makes me drool!! :) If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you're missing. I don't know what else to say about it... Just go try it!!
(5)Karen R.
OMG chicken is to die for so juicy and savory. The staff is pretty nice too.
(5)William C.
Great chicken tastes great especially after 2 hours of snorkeling! price is reasonable and the pineapple coleslaw is very good as well! only downside is they only offer chicken and sometimes you have to wait for a long time for it depends on how many ppl are in front of you but it is worth the wait. We went in to the market next door to get some seafood salad while we waited.
(5)Judie H.
Da Bomb... My friend told us to stop if we saw BBQ roastin and we did just that...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...he was so right There was a huge amount of smoke because this guy was constantly blowing the chicken with what looked like a leaf blower! Something about that magic leaf blower and the slow turning chicken over charcoal that makes this irresistible! A vegetarian tried the pineapple slaw...didn't look very pineapple...it just looked...slaw =(
(5)S N.
Best hulihuli chicken on island!!
(5)C. S.
Smoky and succulent. Instead of trying to put this -chicken- into words, you should put it into your mouth (I want to say this slogan was stolen from Aidell's sausage ad). My sister and I was strolling the streets of Haleiwa wondering what to eat. I saw a cantina and wanted a drink. Something about Hawaii tingles the drinking bone. As we sat down, I looked out the window and saw a site to behold.. a blue billow of smoke and a crowd of people. I had a weak margarita at Rosie's Cantina and we finished our shots of Cazadores and proceeded to run across the street, making sure not to slip on my puddle of saliva. Upon purchasing a whole chicken chopped ($9.50), we watched the BBQ guy tend to the rotisseries of chicken lined up on the charcoal trailer. First, the raw chickens are set in place into a specialized skewer with a gearhead on one end. Chickens then get a love-rub of Lawry's spice(at least that's what on the label of the bottle; perhaps home prepared spices). Each skewer has about 5 chickens. The skewer is placed over a smoky charcoal heat that gearhead catches onto a running chain that will turn the birds. The nearly cooked ones are on one end and raw ones are on the other. Every few mins, the raw ones would progressively move up the line of doneness and eventually lifted out of the charcoal bed to be chopped by the ladies. It was mesmerizing to stand there watching our food turn and having the smoke waft into the October air. I wished they sold beer at this place. I have a strong association with cooking with fire and having a cold one in my hand. Our plan was to eat a few pieces. As our number was called a few drizzles of spicy soy sauce applied, I took my first bite. My teeth met smoky tender moist flesh. Kiawe is a type of wood that has a flavor similar to mesquite. I am not usually a big fan of chicken skin, but this was some good stuff. It was where all the flavor was swimming! While we were killing most of the portion, I overheard a guy complaining that his chicken wasn't cooked because the vein was still purple. The lady behind the counter kindly explained to him that it's cooked thoroughly, and if he wanted it cooked more, the meat will get dry and tough. Girl knows what she's talking about. It was October and they were posted outside the Malama grocery store's parking lot. A definite stop for people who enjoy smoky flavors and good chicken.
(5)Janet T.
It's amazing how many people will actually wait for hours just to get some of the fresh broiled chicken at this stand. We decided to participate in the waiting game as we perused the town in Haleiwa - north shore. The line for this place was ridiculously long which makes sense because everyone standing in line was waiting for their chicken to be cooked on the open fire pit. It's pretty interesting on how they cook the chicken - imagine an open fire pit on a set of wheels connected to a large truck. The fire pit can fit up to 20 chickens at any one time rotating at a fast speed to ensure even cooking on all sides. The whole chicken which wasn't cheap was around $15 each but it was definitely juicy and tender. My only gripe was it was lacking serious flavor. I'm not sure if I'd recommend you eating here but it's definitely more for the experience but remember to order early since it could take up to an hour for the chicken to be finished.
(3)Tom A.
I don't even like chicken much, but this Huli Huli chicken stand (only on weekends, I think in the grocery store parking lot) is the bomb. I get the full chicken (best deal) and get it cut (cause I'm lazy). The container of special sauce (extra .50) is worth it for when you get down to the big white chunks with no skin left ... the excellent taste of the seasoning from the skin doesn't make it this deep, and once you're in that deep it's just chicken like chicken tastes which is blah. The only bad thing about this place is the incessant flies trying to attack your food... I don't know why they don't put the trash can a little farther away from the park benches, but I guess that's da Hawaiian way brah! Perfect spot for Atkins diet. Give me chiken, nothing else!
(4)Cheryl L.
What happened!?!! The first Huli Huli Chicken experience I had was at Manny's. I couldn't find them last year or this year, so I went to Ray's. Last year's experience at Ray's was pretty good or at least decent, I think. I don't remember it being as disappointing as this year's experience. We stopped by to get some chicken around 10:30 or 11am, on our way to the beach. The chicken we got was not even crisp on the outside (very soggy like) and had absolutely no flavor if we didn't use the sauce that came with it. What the heck happened??? After drooling and dreaming about huli huli chicken for a year, I was SO disappointed. So disappointed we even threw away a quarter of the chicken because we were tired of eating it. (We bought a whole chicken). DId I come too early or something and it didn't have enough time roasting? Big sad face. (Note my stars should be 2.5 stars since I'm averaging at least a 3 star experience last year to my 2 star experience this year)
(3)Josephine L.
How the hell can chicken be this juicy? If it were any juicier, you'd need a bib and a sponge to eat it. Anyway, if you're in the North Shore area and just have to have poultry, definitely come here. The smell of all those juicy birds roasting on a spit would turn make a vegan's mouth water.
(5)Oscar R.
Yet another review based on when I lived here ;) One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday, since I was only 5 minutes up the road, was to drive down to Haleiwa & grab 1 or 2 of these delectable lil birds & just head to the beach or go back home & chow down. The chicken is so moist & flavorful, it is ridiculous! You can get it whole or pay a little extra to have them cut it for you. I like it whole, so I can just revert back to my Caveman roots :P You can smell them roasting all the way down the street & see the smoke & just follow your nose ;) Located between the Malama market & Kua Aina Sandwich shop. You cannot miss it!
(5)Michelle S.
So good! Nearly impossible to pass this by! Get the extra sauce on the side - it's yummy.
(5)Chris B.
OK the chicken is amazing (every bite is juice, I kid u not) and I regret not getting the shoyu sauce everyone is talking about. Instead of focusing on the food, I am going to focusing on the method by which the chicken is cooked. HOLY CRAP IS THERE 32 CHICKENS REALLY BEING COOKED ROTISSERIE STYLE ON THE BACK OF A TRAILER?? Ingenious I tell you. It just mesmerizes me at how clever this idea is. Not only does the chicken roast perfectly on the back of the trailer but it is quickly chopped to manageable pieces for you to devour. A++
(5)Michael K.
I visited Ray's during a trip to Hawaii in early February. It was so good that I went twice and luckily I was able to visit twice since it's only open on Saturday and Sunday afternoon's. I got the whole chicken chopped as well as the pineapple coleslaw. The chicken was some of the best broiled/grilled/rotisserie chicken I have ever tasted and I grew up where this style of chicken is very popular. It had amazing seasoning on the outside and was juicy and succulent on the inside. The pineapple coleslaw was also interesting. I would recommend going a little before noon to avoid the rush and get seating.
(5)Ryan T.
Although the chicken was tasty, I would not drive all the way to Haleiwa just for this. I just decided to give this place a try since I am a sucker for whole chicken cooked over kiawe wood charcoal and thought this would be good to take home for dinner. Oddly enough, the one thing that I remember about this place is that for some reason, all the Japanese tourists were taking pictures of the chicken being cooked. I guess that's to be expected since they probably don't have this sort of thing back in Japan.
(3)Sam K.
Yes, this place is packed w/ tourists and I don't care! I am not a fan of white meat (breast meat) but this Keawe chicken is jawesome! you place your order, ~$10 / chicken, sit and wait, watch Da kine use a blower to increase the heat and get dizzy watchin' the chickens spin faster than normal. Like I said, I am not a fan of white meat (breast meat) because it's always dry, but this place cooks the chicken perfectly and the breast meat is dripping wet w/ it's own juices. I was a kid in heaven since I had rice, chicken and some kimchee at the super market next to the place.
(4)Bethany N.
I was so skeptical seeing what looked like a trailer for hauling ATVs or something, loaded up with burning kiawe and chickens being roasted over top of the coals.. A tarp covering the mess, a plastic sink.. It's a hot mess... but let me tell you, some chopped smokey, juicy chicken, a cob of Kahuku corn, some rice with Aloha shoyu and an Arizona tea later.. I was sold. This is a testament to all the other holes in Hawaii that appear terrifying but their food is so good that you just don't even care. Oh, and that plastic sink is there for a reason. You'll be a mess when you get done devouring that tasty chicken. Mmmm. I'm drooling just thinking about it.
(5)Jerome B.
I guess I love Kiawe Broiled Chicken. (It is not huli huli chicken ok, but for good reason) There are a lot of places to eat at in Haleiwa town, but the one place I get drawn to is the one with the smoke billowing and hazing the scenery, the bbq aroma wafting around and tantalizing noses as they happen to whiff a delicious morsel of it, the not-fancy-at-all eat at the car if you have to broiled chicken. The chicken there is terrific. There are a lot of tourists, but for good reason. You can take a look as the person grills the chicken outside, the natural juices of the chicken help cook it as the kiawe wood infuses its flavors all around. The chicken is spiced just enough so that it doesn't detract from the kiawe wood flavor. Put that on top of some rice and some spicy shoyu and that is the best meal under $10 anybody can have in Haleiwa, or in Honolulu for that matter. This place is not for the person that doesn't like to get "down-and-dirty" with their food. You eat wherever there is a seat. Some eat a a nearby bus stop bench. Some eat at their cars. Some eat if they are lucky to get a seat on the white plastic tables. They provide utensils, but many end up using their hands. Bring some wet naps! They sell canned soda and there is a water tap for people to wash their hands afterwards. Plan on spending your day at the beach lazing around because your belly will be stuffed!
(5)Kimberly L.
I've always seen this chicken stand and the flock of Japanese tourists snapping pictures of it, but I've never tried it. I finally got to try it and it was kind of okay. The skin on the chicken wasn't crispy like I like, the chicken (9.50) didn't have hulihuli sauce like I expected it to (it was more salty and zero sweet), they had run out of drinks, and the pineapple slaw ($1) was gooped and gopped with excessive mayonnaise. I did like that the chicken was a little bit spicy. Luckily, I wasn't really hungry, because I'd just had a sandwich and smoothie from Waialua bakery next door. So I survived on a 4.99 container of strawberries from Malama Market next door. If you want chicken cooked in this style, but GOOD, save yourself a long drive and go to the hulihuli chicken place on Nimitz.
(2)Alec D.
The juiciest and most flavorful chicken I have ever had. Definitely go for the pineapple coleslaw. I'm not a big coleslaw fan but this stuff is delicious. The prices are great and the service is fast.
(5)John R.
Parking lot dining at it's best, 2 chickens 2 rices orders, 2 pineapple slaws and some water...6 adults and two kids...$28. Some very good tasting chicken, not much sit down room so best if you could grab this stuff to take home or on a picnic. yummy
(5)D I.
This chicken is so freakin good I want to shoot it directly into my veins.
(5)M L.
Big bro and sis drove us around to find some food after visiting moms and other big bro. Other big bro had to get ready for work, so he was going to meet us somewhere to eat and have some ice shaved. While we were driving around, all I could smell was the delicious roasting chicken, so without much bugging, we turned in to get some huli huli chicken. The chicken was soooooooooo delicious, and juicy, and tender, and it was right off of the hot coals. Yummmm!! Their pineapple cole slaw is the best! I was craving this place after we left Oahu for Maui. Next time I come back to visit moms and big bro, I'm coming back here.
(5)David X.
After swimming at Waimea all day, me and my friend were starving. My friend suggested this place in Haleiwa and swore they had the best chicken ever. When I first saw what constituted a few men roasting chickens on carts outside, you could say I was more than skeptical. Nevertheless, the prices were reasonable and I was starving so I relented. I'm so glad I did because my friend wasn't lying, this is probably the best chicken ever. The Huli-Huli chicken is barbecued over kiawe wood, which gives it a distinct aroma. The chicken is moist, flavorful, and so tender that it falls off the bone. I'd say it pretty much has everything you'd want from chicken. Chicken is possibly be the plainest type of meat but you'd never be able to tell after eating the chicken here. I'm definitely coming back here next time I'm on Oahu.
(5)Daisy S.
I miss the juice and yummy huli-huli chicken!! Ahhh... there is no such thing here! no kiawe and da haole can't make one of those! Used to sit in my car and enjoy the yummy chicken after sunbathing on the beach on a beach in North Shore or fishing on Haleiwa harbor. I am salivating just writing this review!
(5)B. S.
If its Saturday or Sunday and you're in Haleiwa, head over to the Malama Market parking lot for some of the BEST HULI HULI chicken! Make sure you get some rice though. The juices from the chicken + rice = dessert. Just grab a seat in your car, or outside, and enjoy some delicious chicken after a day spent on north shore.
(5)jacko l.
Not as good as El Pollo Loco in terms of charbroiled chicken, but its the best food option in the area for a quick bite. Juicy Huli-Huli chicken is barbecued over kiawe wood, something you probably won't find on the mainland. Service was good, as they would give you the heads up on wait, if something is running out and where to buy rice and drinks cheaper (market next door). Get the Shoyu sauce. Goes well with the multi-layer flavored chicken. You reallly can taste and smell the smoked woods in it. Follow the smoke and you'll find the stand.
(4)C. L.
I accidentally stumbled across this place about 5 years ago while looking for Matsumoto Shave Ice. There was a long line and lots of traffic in the lot, plus with all the smoke and good smells we had to check it out. I tell you, my wife and I fell in love with the flavor of the chicken that day. Simple, smokey, and flavorful. No sauce. I also really like their pineapple cole slaw. The blend of pineapple juice gives it a nice variance of sweetness. Think KFC cole slaw, a tad less creamy, with a hint of pineapple. For the past 4 years, we have made the drive up to Haleiwa just to find the wagon of rotating chickens. But were always disappointed to find an empty lot. Not knowing the name of the place, we couldn't look it up. It was frustrating. Then earlier this year we drove up on a Saturday and hallelujah, the chickens were rotating and cookin! It was only then we learned they only cooked on the weekends. This past trip I landed in Oahu at 11am on Sunday. Rented a car. And drove up H2 before going to my hotel in Waikiki. And this will be my routine in the foreseeable future.
(5)Michelle C.
Whoaa, this is some chicken! Especially the more burnt ones, taste so good. We even went back for more chicken the next day. Seasoning is great, smokey flavor is nice, and price is ok for a whole chicken. This is definitely one thing I miss from the north shore. I definitely recommend getting the chicken here! By the way, this is one of those stands on the side of the road, so don't be looking for a restaurant. It can get really smokey when you eat there, as well as bugs flying around sometimes, but the chicken is hella good =)
(4)Jennifer D.
The chicken was soooo good. I demolished it in a second. I recommend that you ask them to cut it up. It's easier. Also get the pineapple Cole slaw. It's really good and refreshing!
(5)Pam P.
SUPER juicy and flavorful chicken! The pineapple coleslaw was awesome too, ended up jumping back in line about three times to order seconds/thirds, and to grab a plate to take home. The junk part is if you go during busy time, there isn't really anywhere to sit cuz there's only two picnic benches. Great lunch to pick up before hitting the beach!
(5)Singto K.
Best Huli Huli Chicken on the Island, open only on Saturdays and Sundays, Ray's keeps it nice and juicy!
(4)Mica M.
Never disappointed with Ray's, they always have fresh, hot and generously seasoned chicken. You can get a whole chicken chopped for $11-ish or a whole unchopped for $9-ish plus a side of rice $3-ish or coleslaw which I've never gotten. They have a shoyu chili sauce that I tried only once $.50 or so that I was underwhelmed by but the chicken really doesn't need it as its good all by itself. The tour buses stop there frequently now so you may encounter a line sometimes but even in those cases I've still never had to wait very long as they usually have a good cache of hot off the fire chicken ready to go.
(4)Emi S.
It's pretty good huli huli chicken that has taste. I think its good with beer cuz it has a little bit a salty taste on the outside. They sell it by whole $9.00 and if u want it chopped its $9.50. Half a chicken is $5.00. They only sell side rice/coleslaw.
(4)Roya J.
Inexpensive and da bomb! $9 for a whole chicken, $.50 more for chopped. My suggestion: get the sides, avoid the sauce. The chicken itself is excellent and the sauce ruins it. It's outdoors with flies around ... very old school, but again great food for a great price on the island.
(4)Biggy H.
God created hawaii kiawe wood.Then he told Ray to make huli huli chicken.The taste of this chicken is heavenly to say the least.It's so good you will want to slap yo mama's mama's mouth....a little pricey but worth the trip to the north shore for a picnic lunch at the beach.....p.s. get two chickens the first one will go fast......
(5)Angela T.
My husband has always raved about Huli Huli Chicken off the side of the road. Finally, we both made the trip to Hawaii and enjoyed a plate of chicken at Ray's. It's amazingly good... watching the guy rotate the chicken is pretty cool. I would definitely visit the North Shore if you're in Oahu - possibly one of the most beautiful areas on the island. I look forward to going back to Ray's for more Huli Huli Chicken, and, instead of getting one whole chicken, we'll have to get two whole chickens.
(5)tiffany e.
love huli huli chicken from here!! so good!! FYI, they are only in the malama market parking lot in haleiwa on the weekends! he is also in wahiawa on tues or wed. this place was so delicious! we ordered a whole chicken chopped and 4 scoops of rice for 4 people. it was cheap! under $15 for 4 people! we were so full. the chicken had such great flavor! it's crazy how they make it too. not what you expect unless you see the pics posted on here!! check it out if you are on the north shore on a weekend!
(5)Chris C.
This is just a chicken truck parked next door to Kua Aina Sandwich shop. It's basically a big trailer full of hot coals with about 30 chickens on multiple rotisseries. Even out under the hot sun, the chicken came out moist and tasty. When in season, the van is parked under a Lychee tree and if you're lucky, you get dessert right there and then.
(4)TinaMarie M.
ray'a huli huli was pretty damn good!it was a great deal and a lot of food!we ordered a chopped chicken and 4 scoops of rice for about 15 buckaroos!they are only in haleiwa on the weekends in malama market's parking lot. i wouldve given them 5 stars but the girl that helped us was rude. if you happen to be in haleiwa or waialua check out ray's..its mmm mmm good
(4)Lilo F.
YUM! Ray's broiled chicken was a treat! My bf and I spent 3 days in the North Shore on the tailend of our vacation. We had read about Ray's and drove through Haleiwa everyday to see if he had set up shop, and were disappointed each day not to find him there. Just as we had given up hope, we decided to drive through Haleiwa one last time on our way to the airport on Saturday morning...and to our surprise, Ray was there with chicken ready to be devoured at 9am! Ray, that was one helluva chicken! Juicy and flavorful on the inside, with just the right amount of crisp and spices on the outside. It didn't even need the spicy shoyu sauce, it was delicious all on its own. What a great meal to end our vacation.
(5)