No. 1 Chinese & BBQ Restaurant

No. 1 Chinese & BBQ Restaurant is a straightforward, budget-friendly stop on Farrington Highway that does exactly what many Waiʻanae Coast diners need: it serves filling Chinese-American comfort food and Hawaiian-style BBQ plates with minimal fuss. It stands out less for polish than for usefulness—long hours, low prices, and portions that are built for people who want a hearty meal without detouring far from the road.

What It Does Best

The kitchen leans into familiar, crowd-pleasing food: plate lunches, BBQ combinations, noodle dishes, and fried favorites. Expect the menu to favor satisfaction over novelty, with dishes such as char siu pork, orange chicken, chow fun, spam saimin, salt and pepper fish, and other dependable staples. This is the kind of place that works well when the goal is simple: get a lot of food, get it quickly, and keep the bill modest.

The strongest appeal is value. The restaurant has the feel of an established neighborhood takeout spot, and that practicality is a big part of its charm. For travelers crossing the Leeward Coast, it can be a smart refuel point between beach time, errands, and longer drives.

The Experience

This is a casual counter-service operation rather than a destination dining room. The setting is functional, roadside, and unpretentious, with the emphasis firmly on the food and the convenience of ordering in or taking out. Long daily hours make it useful beyond the usual lunch window, which is especially helpful on the Waiʻanae Coast where options can be limited compared with central Oʻahu.

The atmosphere matches the concept: local, no-nonsense, and built for regular use rather than lingering. That makes it an easy fit for families, solo diners, and anyone who wants an affordable meal without ceremony.

Tradeoffs to Know

The tradeoff for all that practicality is that this is not the place to come for refined cooking or a curated chef-driven experience. The menu is broad and comfort-focused, and the food is best approached as dependable everyday fare. Service can also be variable, and during busy times there may be delays or occasional order mix-ups.

There is some name confusion online with other No. 1 Chinese BBQ locations elsewhere in Hawaiʻi, so Waiʻanae travelers should make sure they are headed to the Farrington Highway address.

Who It’s Best For

No. 1 Chinese & BBQ Restaurant is a good match for travelers who want inexpensive, filling plates and a quick, low-key meal on the Waiʻanae Coast. It is especially practical for families and road-trippers who value convenience. Diners looking for a more polished room, a tighter menu, or more elevated cooking may want to keep moving.