Big Jake's Island B-B-Q

The nicest gentleman was working there. He was making everything to order. He was also very quick at getting your food even with a large amount of people ordering. His BBQ was amazing. Well seasoned and juicy tender and moist, with a good smokey flavor. The meat was falling off the bone, no exaggeration. His whole operation is local, friendly, and amazing quality BBQ. Definitely worth the trip. Limited seating and parking. Also gets very busy around lunchtime.

Big Jake's Island B-B-Q is smokin' good times and finger-lickin' flavors! 🍖🔥🌴 I chowed down on a combo plate that had me doing a happy BBQ dance. The sausage and ribs are so amazing, they could turn a vegetarian into a carnivore! 🕺🥩 And guess what's on the BBQ buddy list? The neighboring poke shop! 🐟🤝 So whether your taste buds scream "surf" or "turf," this dynamic duo has your cravings covered. It's like a culinary crossover episode, and you're the star! ⭐🎬🍽️

Tri tip was fantastic!! The chicken was also very tender and the pulled pork was tasty but a tad bit dry. The chef has won numerous awards for his BBQ and you can tell he's quite passionate about it. Great value for great food in a very homie atmosphere.

Starving hungry after a great dive at 2-Step, we were SO ready for this amazing place. It ain’t fancy but Oh My the taste and the portions!! My hubby is gluten sensitive so he ordered the chicken/ribs/sausage combo plate with beans, rice and slaw. I ordered the roast chicken with sides. The photo of the “to go” box is what I DIDNT eat!! Enough for dinner tonight!! Fast and friendly service, reasonably priced and truly tasty. So glad we found it!!

Delicious food and friendly roosters and chickens! Great little spot to eat and relax, good for kids, too. The BBQ drew us in from the road after snorkeling at the beach. It was very yummy and the staff were friendly and fun. Highly recommend!

I gotta say, this is some authentic down home BBQ. If you’re just visiting or need a regular BBQ fix, this place has got you covered. Not too Smokey, not too sweet. Just right. The spicy sausage is no joke. Overall, 5 stars. There was something for everyone in the family.

Ordered brisket and ribs! This place was amazing and a hit with the people on our trip who didn’t want to eat Poke next door. (And they’re from the South, so that’s saying a lot!) Fast service. Shares a patio with the Poke place, so we all ate what we wanted and it was perfect!

Really solid BBQ joint. Located in the building attached to the Poke Shop. We ordered a side of Mac & Cheese and the Plate Of The Day, which came with Baby Back Ribs, Chicken, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, and a Sausage. The POTD was a solid value at ~$18.

The nicest gentleman was working there. He was making everything to order. He was also very quick at getting your food even with a large amount of people ordering. His BBQ was amazing. Well seasoned and juicy tender and moist, with a good smokey flavor. The meat was falling off the bone, no exaggeration. His whole operation is local, friendly, and amazing quality BBQ. Definitely worth the trip. Limited seating and parking. Also gets very busy around lunchtime.

Big Jake's Island B-B-Q is smokin' good times and finger-lickin' flavors! 🍖🔥🌴 I chowed down on a combo plate that had me doing a happy BBQ dance. The sausage and ribs are so amazing, they could turn a vegetarian into a carnivore! 🕺🥩 And guess what's on the BBQ buddy list? The neighboring poke shop! 🐟🤝 So whether your taste buds scream "surf" or "turf," this dynamic duo has your cravings covered. It's like a culinary crossover episode, and you're the star! ⭐🎬🍽️

Tri tip was fantastic!! The chicken was also very tender and the pulled pork was tasty but a tad bit dry. The chef has won numerous awards for his BBQ and you can tell he's quite passionate about it. Great value for great food in a very homie atmosphere.

Starving hungry after a great dive at 2-Step, we were SO ready for this amazing place. It ain’t fancy but Oh My the taste and the portions!! My hubby is gluten sensitive so he ordered the chicken/ribs/sausage combo plate with beans, rice and slaw. I ordered the roast chicken with sides. The photo of the “to go” box is what I DIDNT eat!! Enough for dinner tonight!! Fast and friendly service, reasonably priced and truly tasty. So glad we found it!!

Delicious food and friendly roosters and chickens! Great little spot to eat and relax, good for kids, too. The BBQ drew us in from the road after snorkeling at the beach. It was very yummy and the staff were friendly and fun. Highly recommend!

I gotta say, this is some authentic down home BBQ. If you’re just visiting or need a regular BBQ fix, this place has got you covered. Not too Smokey, not too sweet. Just right. The spicy sausage is no joke. Overall, 5 stars. There was something for everyone in the family.

Ordered brisket and ribs! This place was amazing and a hit with the people on our trip who didn’t want to eat Poke next door. (And they’re from the South, so that’s saying a lot!) Fast service. Shares a patio with the Poke place, so we all ate what we wanted and it was perfect!

Really solid BBQ joint. Located in the building attached to the Poke Shop. We ordered a side of Mac & Cheese and the Plate Of The Day, which came with Baby Back Ribs, Chicken, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, and a Sausage. The POTD was a solid value at ~$18.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED UNTIL MARCH 31, 2023. We've been to Big Jake's on a prior trip to the Big Island. Well worth a return visit, but it can be challenging because the hours are subject to change without notice ( hours listed on Yelp are super wrong - normally only Friday, Saturday, Sunday apparently - see pics). Also, when we showed up (March 6, 2023) we found a sign posted that they were closed temporarily due to Jake having knee surgery. Best wishes to Jake. Go get some great BBQ when he opens again. As a backup, there's a poke shop next to Jake's and Keoki's Ono Grindz just across the Highway if you show up and Jake's is closed. Menehuene Coffee and Coffee Shack are both close too and serve food as well as coffee.

No longer in business! We drove 45 minutes to get to this place only for it to be gone.

Fabulous brisket but they closed permanently according to the folks next door. Very sad

If you don't live on island, do yourself a favor and don't come here! Because for all the days you're not on island, you long for this BBQ. It will haunt you as you try to find BBQ this hood anywhere else! PS: BEST BRISKET ON PLANET EARTH!

Soooo good!! Best bbq we have had on the island! Friendly service! A must try! Big Jakes Special was super yummy and a variety of delicious meats.

This is absolutely the most fabulous barbecue I've ever eaten. From the coleslaw to the smoked mac & cheese to the chicken, ribs and sausage. Love the Pepperoncini that comes with the Big Jake combination plate. Absolutely amazing off the chart barbecue.

Tom is a stand up guy. Personable, and informative. I walked in with a Bostonian "Hey, ahh, what's the deal with this that and the other thing?" Kind of questioning and he gave me the answers I was looking for. Gave me a big fat bowl of pulled pork and rice to boot. It was worth every penny and I'll likely make it a regular stop. Good people, good food, no complaints.

Bbq on one side and poke on the other, the bbq was great, sauce was Carolina style to me, ribs and chicken both cooked to perfection

I wish this app had 10 STARS And That Is For This Phenomenal Food This Amazing Place Has.. I Have Visited The Island A Few Times & JAKES Is All Way's A Must On The Visit The Barbecue Chicken Bowl & The Pulled Pork Which Were The Brisket Melts in your mouth Food Is Superior...Generous Portion And I Am All Ways Safisfied W My Meals.... Today I Was Honored To Pass By And See Jake's Window Open. Walked Up To Be Greeted By His Guy Who Works His Window Better Than Most Restaurants I Have Eaten At. Sign Says WE GOT RIBS TODAY We got 2 Half Rack Plates W Beans, Slaw & Potato Mac Salad and all 3 Are A MUST!!! I Swear Not A Word Came Out Of My Mouth Untill I Licked That Last SAUCY FINGER OFF I Am A Jewish Man That Loves PORK And If I Was 1 That Didn't Eat PORK It Would Be A TRAVESTY After Eating Those Today. THANK YOU For Amazing Service & For Being The Most FRIENDLIEST Experience I Have Had On This ISLAND

Wow, what a scrumptious stop for lunch or takeaway for later meals! (See pic for the current hours: 11am-4pm, Fri-Sun) We hadn't planned ahead, but found this listing on Yelp. I got a delicious half-rack of ribs, which comes with rice, delicious coleslaw and some of the best beans I've had (even better than my mom's, shh)! The beans were as flavorful as many other BBQ spots, but had a lighter taste that balanced well with the meat. And order the lemonade--it's so refreshing! My friend got pulled pork for tacos we made at our rental. Yummy! Expected a wait because of the great reviews--there was a reasonable wait since it was just one guy taking & fulfilling orders. He was so nice! Including updated hours and menu pics since the other pics are old.

Food is good, got todays lunch special. Half rack ribs, bbq chicken and sausage. Ribs were a little dry but dip it into the bbq sauce. Yum. Sausage has a good spice to it. Service was easy, order at the window and pick up when ready.

BBQ chicken and brisket were fabulous, love the sauce. Would be nice to have some other sides and it's true, staff isn't as friendly when Jake's not there -- but Jake is very friendly and it's a wonderful choice to take some bbq to the beach. Recommend you give this a try, hours can be challenging but if they're open - you won't be disappointed.

Big Jakes is money. If you're up mauka, make a stop. If you're not up mauka, CALL BEFORE COMING. Do not put much trust into the business hours you see, because they are not always accurate. Luckily, I live about 2 minutes away. However, it has been more than a half dozen times I have driven there very excited to get some ribs, yet pull up and they are closed. And every time, I tell myself "I need to call before coming". That being said, if they're open, you're in for a treat. When you think of Hawai'i, BBQ probably isn't the first or second thing that comes to mind. However, Big Jakes does it right. Featured on one of Bobby Flay's shows years ago, the flavor hasn't changed- it's always been good. Of all of their items, my recommendation would be the ribs. They are fall off the bone tender, and have a really really good sauce, more sweet and tangy than deep or spicy. A half rack should be more than enough to fill you up, but if you're brave and want a shock, order a full rack BBQ aficionados will like the smoke and flavor of the local kiawe wood used. A really good aroma and taste, it's different than what you are used to in the Mainland. Along with the meat, you get a side of white rice (maybe their one thing I don't care for. It's almost always a little too mushy), baked beans (absolutely phenomenal, I sometimes order an extra side), and pineapple coleslaw (heavenly). Service is hit or miss. If you're lucky, you'll get the older gentlemen from the East Coast. His name slips my memory, but he is awesome, always takes care, and is such a nice guy. I have had some very very poor service there as well from the local lady, whom I haven't seen in a while, so hopefully means she is no longer there. Sometimes you're lucky and the owner Jamie is there, who is also really nice, and a true master at what he does.

Our favorite BBQ spot! Their brisket is absolutely amazing! Must try. Their chicken and sausage is also very tasty. If you are in the big island, highly recommend to give this place a try, you won't regret it.

So awesome that this place is conveniently located for a lunch after snorkeling at two step or captain cook. You can order plates, meats by the pound, and there are also special plates. It's extra fun to grab something here and something from the poke place next door for a nice shared meal with a group. The brisket is so tender and the chicken was so juicy. Plenty of seating and you can even ask to take a peek inside the smoker if you ask!

Best BBQ I have ever had! Food was extremely tender, fall off the bone kine! Would recommend to everyone 10/10! Service was amazing also!

Drove down south to check out this BBQ joint. I ordered the brisket sandwich it was tender & delicious served with the coleslaw and beans. Beware of the menu prices posted here are old menus & prices! Current cost of a brisket sandwich is $16.95, additionally they charge $0.50 for a compostable takeout container + tax. Good portions and good food along with typical Hawaii prices for food.

Let's start off by saying this experience was an awakening for what I thought was good BBQ in the past. This guy knows what's he's doing, and I'm pretty sure his blood type is smoky too. My gf and I shared two plates, and a half pound of beef brisket. I've never seen her eat so much but I was damn proud cuz I knew she was being bbq enlightened. If they cancel all flights to Hawaii in the future I think I would swim here just to have some more of this awesomeness. This bbq made my whole foodie trip to kona, so thank you sir and never stop doing your magic please!!!!!

The barbecue here is just ok. No smoke ring, very little smoke taste, dry ribs. None of us were impressed. Add to that a very contentious person at the order window, and it's just not worth the time or money to waste here.

Outstanding BBQ ribs...if they're open! I've driven by many times and seen the closed sign,so usually eat next door at the also ono Poke Shack. But today was good luck Friday and it was worth the stop to taste this joint's outstanding BBQ pork ribs. Tons of smokey, fall-off-the-bone meat. The sauce was perfectly tangy-sweet. I didn't need the beans nor slaw, but enjoyed the saucy rice. If they're open: STOP. And go to the gym or for a hike later!!

I RATE THEM 10/10!!!! Big Jakes is one of our favorite places on the island! We live in Memphis, the BBQ Capital, and Big Jakes is still the BEST!! Pulled pork, the chicken, the brisket, Lau Lau (Big Franks favorite)!! The potato Mac, the Mac n cheese......can't say enough!!! Tommy is AWESOME too!! Stop in....YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!

10/10 service. Food is highly delicious and well priced with friendly staff wish I could rate it higher then 5 stars

The ribs, coleslaw and bean are so ono! My son loves the chicken. The bbq sauce is bomb!

Bummer! Jake is only open Friday - Sunday. OK, everything else about this place is awesome. The bbq?! Shoooey! I have never tasted better! We took it out to eat at home. Prices are reasonable and had I been here on the right days I would have gone back multiple times. DON'T MISS THIS PLACE!!!

The best BBQ I've had in the last year at least. I am not normally a BBQ person, but I'm so happy we stopped here. We had the pulled pork, Mahi, Tri-tip sandwich, and tiramisu. Everything had balanced flavors and good texture. For example, their B-B-Q sauces weren't too sweet and they didn't drown the sandwiches in it. The buns were perfectly toasted and could hold the meat without breaking up and getting soggy. I didn't expect much from the tiramisu - but it was very good!!! Definitely recommend this spot and would go back.

Amazing smoked brisket! Friendly staff. An absolute must try. Their smoked pork was delicious too but it's the brisket that's the real star.

Best barbecue on the west side of the island. Tender ribs with an excellent sauce. Chicken is tender and sauce is amazing. Don't plan on sharing food, you will want it all to yourself.

Delicious bbq. I'd give 5 stars if it was consistent. We picked up platters of brisket & pulled pork with cole slaw and bean and toast. The flavor was wonderful on the meats though some of the brisket was dry and tough. The moist pieces were amazing!! I just wish they all were. We didn't care for the cole slaw but that was just personal preference. I'd definitely return for the pulled pork and the bbq sauce, they had fabulous flavor.

The wife said we had to go here and we were driving to the volcano. The BBQ was closed that day, but that's alright, I love poke. My apologies to Da Poke Shack in Kona and Shisho (pardon my spelling) Fish market in Hilo, these are both 5 star places. But Big Jake's had the best poke I'd ever had. Traditional flavor, friendly service, and chickens wandering around. Spicy shuyo (again with the spelling), creamy and regular... ohhhh dear lord. The fish melted in my mouth and my wife concurred, this was the best poke we have ever had. And chickens meandering around... dang kids hate things with flavor, but they love watching chickens

We drove by this place on the way to South Point and Green Beach and decided to stop on the way back. Unfortunately, they were closed. So when we passed it again on the way to Two Step beach we made sure to get back when they were still open. Don't miss it. Not only is it the only bbq place, it is a really good bbq place. Meat was melting on the bones (chicken and ribs) and the brisket was great. Slaw and beans don't disappoint either.

After a snorkel at 2 step, we had our hearts set on a local BBQ spot. Yelp guided us to Big Jake's Island BBQ. A smoker, a small shack, and a few picnic tables. Boom! That was exactly what we were looking for. I had the combo plate which included spicy sausage, ribs and chicken, along with beans and cole slaw on the side. The spicy sausage was the winner of the meat combo; it was flavorful, juicy and spicy! The chicken and ribs were solid, too. The beans had a really nice flavor, exceeding my expectations for a small side. We chowed down on the picnic table and washed the great BBQ down with a mountain dew. Just another awesome meal and awesome afternoon in Hawaii!

The food was really good! Generous portions, a bit pricey but really when you look at sizes it's a good value for area. There was a continuous line; worth the wait! I love the sign in bathroom.

There are a few negative reviews about this place because the hours can be unpredictable from time to time. I don't think they are fair reviews however, because you are reviewing the hours, and not the food. If you want to make sure they are open, call first. Having said this, the food was great. Get the combo special for a mixture of beans, ribs, sausage, and chicken. You won't be disappointed. The advertisement for this place lists it as Hawaiian BBQ, so I was thinking that we'd be trying something experimental, but don't let that fool you. This place is strictly Kansas style BBQ and a great change of pace after several days of fish. There is no indoor seating however, and there are only a few covered pick nick table, so you may be sharing a conversation with a stranger or too, but that just gives you a chance to make a few new friends, so don't let that scare you off.

Classic side of the road BBQ joint. We got the combo platter and half a pound of tri tip which was more than enough for the 2 of us. Everything in the combo was tasty, but let's just say the ribs and the Portuguese sausage were the first to disappear from the bowl The reason why it's not 5 stars was because the tri tip was dry. Sigh. There was a lot of tasty BBQ sauce (slightly spicy and tart) slathered over the brisket but it didn't cover the fact that it was still dry.

Food is excellent. Generous portions. Outside tables. Casual. Really liked the pulled pork.

Excellent BBQ plate that came with a ton of different meats (ribs, chicken, and sausage) on rice with a side of baked beans and coleslaw. Awesome flavor and I've had my share of BBQ. Jake was super nice and food was quick. Highly recommend.

Loved the. Brisket! Melts in your mouth sauce adds great flavor. Didn't see it at first accidentally ate at the other place Poke. Will be back! Great barbecue!! Yum!

Hole in the wall B-B-Q joint, but definitely a worthy stop if you are in the area. Service was a little slow, but I figured that this place operates on island time. There was once guy behind the counter. He takes an order, rings it up, makes the food, serves it up, then proceeds to the next customer. It's a small place, so you have to cut them some slack. My partner and I ordered a pulled pork sandwich and a beef brisket sandwich. Both items were excellent. The food was reasonably priced and worth the wait.

I have seen this BBQ place on the side of the road every time we go to 2 Steps, when we come to the Big Island. When we go to 2 Steps we always stop on the way back at Super J's to get Lau Lau. After reading some of the reviews I had to make a point to stop to try this place. I love BBQ and was hoping to get something to write home about. The old guy behind the counter was funny and suggested the combo plate as he drank a Heineken beer. He said it was close to the end of the day, even though it was only about 2 pm - close enough I guess. I usually like to judge bbq based on how they do brisket. Unfortunately they didn't have any brisket, so I took his suggestion and ordered the combo plate. The combo plate included baby back ribs, a hot link and a chicken thigh. The sides were white rice, coleslaw and beans. I tried one of the ribs. I thought it was very tasty. The smoke flavor was well infused into the meat. The BBQ sauce was a little sweet and a little spicy and went really well with the ribs. The bbq sauce mixed with the white rice was amazing!!! The chicken was delicious, well seasoned and also had a great mild smokey flavor. The hot link was very good. The coleslaw was so-so, but the beans were delicious. I'm usually not a big fan of baked beans, so I often don't even try it. I don't know if these are home made or from a can, but they were really good. My only criticism was that both my wife and I thought the ribs were a little toothsome. In our opinion they could have cooked a little longer. I personally prefer the meat to come off the bones a little easier. Based on the reviews I'd like to give it a try again. Maybe if we'd have come in earlier it may have been a little better.

Green lunch on highway 11. I ordered catch of the day and it was one of the best fish sandwiches!

Reliable and juicy Meats served with tasty beans and slaw. Wish they did a bbq chicken Caesar! Easy call ahead take out. Sometimes the gal employee doesn't like to go the distance though.

Stopped by this amazing island hole in the wall. Totally worth pulling over. Had the pulled pork sandwich and it was absolutely fantastic.

BBQ is really good, but be prepared to wait! Only one woman working - taking orders and preparing food. It took almost an hour to get my single beef brisket sandwich. (And it wasn't busy). I'm usually cool with island time but this took forever.

Big Jake's must be the only real in the Kona side of the Big Island. This is our first visit thanks to a relative that gave us a head's up! The pork ribs have been cooked low and slow with a nice smoke ring. Added with a sweet bbq sauce touch (probably with pineapple) to finish the ribs. It comes off the bone easy yet still toothsome. I was surprised how tender the tri-tip was. Not to mention that the meat for the sandwich was very plentiful. On the sides I would recommend beans. Flavored with small parts of pineapple and appears to have some red and green ball peppers. This is a real winner! We live in California and may not be back for a while. But when we do come back I'll be sure to head to Big Jake's BBQ

I've had BBQ from Kansas City to Florida and Jake's beats all of them hands down! The baby back ribs are smoked to perfection. Portions are large and you will not leave hungry. This joint is old school authentic. If I could award them a Michelin star, I would most certainly give them one.

Honestly this is some of the best bbq I've had in my life. Super small place but the food quality and flavor is HUGE. Friendly staff and quick service. I would of loved to post a pic but I ate my food to fast. 10/10

Their food is awesome you have to call ahead or text their chicken is awesome but their pork didn't taste fresh. I am not a pork person but my friends said that. There are are times where it gets very busy so call ahead

After driving for almost an hour, location was closed. Disappointing that we wasted time on vacation. Would have loved to try them.

We came across Jake's on the road from Kona to Punalu'u Beach and stopped for lunch. We had a BBQ pork sandwich plate, half a BBQ chicken and a Jake's special, which was ribs, spicy sausage and bbq chicken and sides of beans, coleslaw and potato Mac salad. Every Thank you!! was deee-licious. We met people who had come from the other side of the island just to come to Jake's. Would definitely recommend a stop here.