A Generous Hawaiian BBQ Stop Near Waikiki

A plate at Trydis BBQ arrives with the reassuring heft that Hawaiian plate lunches are known for: barbecue meat, a generous mound of white rice and mac salad or another pasta accompaniment. The operation is casual—a food truck among several in a shared gathering—but the food is made to order and built for a proper meal rather than a quick snack.

Near Waikiki, it makes an easy stop when a sit-down dining room is not what you want. Order at the counter, carry your plate to the picnic tables in the center of the food-truck area, or take it along for later. The setting is outdoors and communal, with the pleasant, low-key bustle of several food vendors nearby.

The counter interaction is a notable part of a visit. Staff may offer samples before an order is placed, giving newcomers a chance to taste the food instead of trying to decode a lineup of meats from names alone.

There is room to ask questions, look over the available choices and get a recommendation without being hurried along. That is especially useful with a menu that offers more than one route through Hawaiian barbecue: chicken, kalbi, pork, smoked meat, rib-eye steak and assorted combinations can all enter the conversation.

The welcome extends beyond the plate. The service has a personable, conversational quality, and staff are known to help visitors get oriented not only to the menu but also to the surrounding area.

Lilikoi smoked meat is the order that keeps surfacing as a house specialty. Its sauce and balance of flavor give it a different personality from a standard barbecue plate, while the smoked meat itself brings the tender, substantial character diners expect from the truck.

It is a good choice for someone who wants one distinct item rather than simply a familiar barbecue combination. The plate format still supplies the comforting essentials—rice and a savory side—but the lilikoi smoked meat gives the meal its own memorable lane.

Barbecue chicken is a dependable counterpoint to the richer meats. It is moist, tender and well seasoned, the sort of protein that works especially well when paired with rice and a scoop of mac salad.

Kalbi brings a more robust, beef-forward option. The meat has been described as tender and satisfyingly meaty, with a balanced amount of fat rather than an overly greasy finish. A mixed kalbi-and-chicken plate is available for diners who would rather split the decision than make one.

Rib-eye steak also appears in the plate lineup, often paired in mixed orders with barbecue chicken or lilikoi smoked meat. That variety matters when a table wants to try several things; these are not plates designed around a lone signature protein.

Meat may dominate the menu, but garlic shrimp is another standout worth noting. A creamy garlic-shrimp preparation has enough substance to be a serious main dish, not a small side order tucked beside the barbecue.

The portion can be generous enough to stretch further than expected. For a couple sharing a few orders at the picnic tables, it gives the meal a welcome seafood turn alongside the grilled and smoked choices.

The mac salad has a reputation of its own: savory, distinctive and sturdy enough to hold up beside boldly flavored meat. It is not filler on the edge of the tray.

Rice portions are generous as well, and the rice is carefully cooked. One appealing way to build a plate is white rice with double mac salad, turning the familiar Hawaiian plate-lunch framework into a full comfort-food spread.

Portion size is a practical advantage here. These plates commonly produce enough food for a later meal, which can be handy after a beach day, between sightseeing stops or on a drive when one substantial order is more useful than two small ones.

The food truck also works well as a repeat stop rather than a one-time curiosity. With several proteins, combination plates and shrimp in the mix, a return visit does not have to mean repeating the same tray.

The shared picnic tables are the place to settle in if you are eating on site. There is no enclosed dining room and no attempt to make the setup more formal than it is; this is counter service, outdoor seating and a meal that arrives ready to dig into.

The truck and the surrounding food area are notably clean, which helps the informal setting feel comfortable. It also suits a mixed group: one person can order barbecue while another wanders among the neighboring trucks before everyone reconvenes at the tables.

The menu is centered heavily on meat and seafood plates, so it is not a natural choice for vegetarians. Parking has been available in a nearby free lot, though conditions can change. Hours should also be checked before heading over, particularly since the truck has been closed on Sundays and Mondays.