Mikes Huli Chicken On Oahu, Hawaii & Why You Have To Try It

UPDATED FEB 2020. Full disclosure, I’m not much of a foodie. I’ll pretty much eat anything and don’t get too fussy when it comes to food. I hate cooking so as long as I don’t have to cook it, I’m happy. For that reason, I don’t really write about food much. But, I want to share this food spot with you because it was such a treat I think you should try when you visit. Here’s a look at Mikes Huli Chicken on Oahu and I hope it inspires you to stop in for a meal.

Mikes Huli Chicken On Oahu, Hawaii & Why You Have To Try It

UPDATE 2019: Mike’s Huli Huli Chicken has moved to Kahuku on the North Shore. The new address is 56-565 Kamehameha Hwy Kahuku.

Disclaimer:

I am an affiliate with Booking.com.

About Mikes Huli Chicken on Oahu

Mike has been enjoying this style of food since he was a child and has been sharing it with others since 2010.

In that short time, he became a local success.

He has an array of international customers raving about his food and he was even featured on the Food Network. He cooks the seasoned chicken over Kiawe wood, turning it until it is cooked to perfection.

The result is tender chicken that falls off the bone with a smooth, smokey flavor.

Despite the name, there is much more than just chicken on offer here including steak, shrimp, pork and fish.

All these choices made the decision making quite difficult. I went back and forth in my mind for a little while before settling on the chicken and shrimp combo.

The staff served the meals quickly and with a smile. Suddenly before me was a generous, drool-worthy plate of chicken, shrimp, mac salad, rice, and pineapple.

We were ready to add our condiments, grab some cutlery and move to a table.  At the condiment area, I used a sauce that was labeled “put it on your rice or whatever.” 

I don’t actually know what the sauce was. I just used it because I got a kick out of the label, and yes I did put it on the rice and whatever.

What I ordered

I visited after an adventure day and was starving.

It was a good place to go after adventuring because the portions were generous and it was very filling.

The chicken with garlic shrimp caught my eye so I ordered that.

I didn’t take the time to soak in the casual, outdoor ambiance at first. Instead, I started eating the garlic shrimp and it was gone in about3.5 seconds! Quite simply, they were amazing.

The melt-in-your-mouth chicken was equally delicious. It really is no wonder that this is one of the most popular food trucks on the island.

Souvenirs

If you really love the meal you can take a bit of Mikes Huli Chicken home with you by getting a bottle of sauce or a t-shirt.

They also sell them online in case you forget or don’t have room in your luggage.

New location on the North Shore

When I wrote this post, Mikes was a food truck on the side of the road in Kaneohe.

Since then, it has moved to Kahuku. The only downside to this is that it is near some amazing food trucks on the North Shore. There is a lot of choice for food and it’s all good.

If you decide against Mikes Huli Chicken, I recommend checking Giovanni’s Shrimp, Romy’s Shrimp or North Shore Tacos.

What else to do in the area

Now that the location has moved to Kahuku, here are a few things you could do before you feast.

If you like to snorkel, I recommend snorkeling at Sharks Cove or Three Tables.

For hikes on the North Shore, I recommend the Ehukai Pillbox trail, Kealia trail or Kaena Point from the North Shore.

You can’t visit the North Shore without hitting the beach and I recommend visiting Waimea Bay where you can also try cliff jumping off the big rock if you are feeling adventurous.

If you like that one, then you’ll probably also like the cliff jump at Laie Point which is the Forgetting Sarah Marshall jump spot.

Sunset beach or the Banzai pipeline are a couple of other good ones to visit while you’re in the area.

I want to also note that the beaches at the North Shore are off-limits during the winter due to dangerous surf conditions.

If you visit during this time you won’t be able to swim or snorkel, but you will be able to watch the huge waves from a safe distance. You might also get to see some of the big surf competitions.

Ehukai Pillbox Hike

Final thoughts on Mikes Huli Chicken

I really enjoyed my meal at Mikes Huli Chicken on Oahu and thought it was a great place to stop after a big adventure day.

I have read the reviews for the new location are they can be a bit up and down.

I’m not sure if something has changed since the move or if those are just fussy eaters and I no longer live there to be able to find out for myself.

I recommend trying some of the famous chicken to decide for yourself and hopefully, your experience is as good as mine was.

Where to stay on Oahu

If you are planning to stay on the north shore, I recommend Turtle Bay Resort. This is an incredible resort to visit on the north shore with a lot of activities, great restaurants and bars on the beach, and a big-time ‘I’m on vacation in Hawaii’ vibe.

For a hotel in Waikiki, I recommend the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is my go-to place for a staycation downtown and it’s always been fantastic.

No matter where you choose to stay, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a good deal there. It’s also a good idea to use their Genius loyalty program because I can usually get an extra 10-15% off with that.

For more information:

Visit Mikes Huli Chicken website

I hope this post has been able to inspire you to eat at Mikes Huli Chicken on Oahu.

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