Overview
Whiskey Smoke 808 is a barbecue restaurant in Kāneʻohe on Oʻahu’s Windward Coast, at 45-1118 Kamehameha Hwy. The Google record marks it operational, with a 4.6 rating from 371 reviews and hours that are currently Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. (restaurantji.com)
For a traveler, this looks like a casual, value-conscious BBQ stop rather than a formal sit-down destination. The strongest signal is a smoked-meat menu with island-friendly additions, and the place appears to draw both locals and visitors looking for brisket, ribs, and hearty plate-style meals. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
Whiskey Smoke 808’s menu lane is barbecue with a Hawaiian/local comfort-food angle. The official site frames it as Southern BBQ “with a Hawaiian twist,” and the shop listings plus traveler reviews show a focus on smoked meats, burger plates, and hearty sides rather than a broad, all-purpose menu. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Overall menu style: BBQ-centric, with smoked meats, burgers, plate lunches, and a few island-leaning comfort dishes.
- Notable dishes / specialties with support:
- Whiskey Smoke Burger — a house burger with cheese, onions, and whiskey BBQ sauce. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Loco Moco Bowl — available with beef patty, smoked brisket, meatloaf, or pulled pork. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Seasoned Fries — a prominent side, repeatedly called out in the site and review summaries. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, BBQ chicken, burnt ends — these appear across the official marketing copy and third-party review summaries. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Smoked mac and cheese / coleslaw / beans — frequent side choices in traveler reviews and review aggregation. (tripadvisor.com)
- Lamb chops / brisket fries / brisket nachos — mentioned in traveler-review snippets and the restaurant’s own testimonial section. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Price range or spend expectations: Google places it at price level 2, and Tripadvisor lists it as $$–$$$, so a traveler should expect moderate pricing rather than budget-fast-food pricing. (restaurantji.com)
- Dietary usefulness or limitations: The menu seems meat-forward. There are side dishes and at least one salad mention, but the strongest evidence points to barbecue and rich comfort food, so this is better for meat-eaters than for vegetarians or people needing a wide plant-based menu. That limitation is an inference from the menu pattern, not a direct claim from the sources. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
This looks like a casual, easy-to-visit local barbecue spot rather than a polished destination restaurant. The site and review summaries suggest counter-service or quick casual ordering, with a friendly, informal feel and an emphasis on takeout or simple dine-in meals. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Service model and seating style: The sources point to a casual restaurant setup; Tripadvisor shows lunch and dinner service and mentions parking, while the website promotes catering and “Book a Table,” though there is no strong evidence of a reservation-heavy model. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: Restaurantji describes Hawaiian country music and paniolo/country decor, and the official site uses language about “island hospitality.” That suggests a themed, laid-back barbecue vibe rather than minimalist or upscale design. (restaurantji.com)
- Amenities or practical features: Parking is explicitly mentioned on Tripadvisor and Restaurantji. The official site also promotes catering, which may matter for group orders or events. (restaurantji.com)
- Best fit: This seems best for a casual lunch or dinner when the goal is smoky, filling food and a relaxed stop on the Windward side. (restaurantji.com)
- Weaker fit: It may be less appealing for travelers seeking a light meal, a broad vegetarian menu, or a refined sit-down setting. That is an inference from the menu and review pattern. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
History & Background
There is limited independent historical background available in the sources I found. The official site presents Whiskey Smoke 808 as a barbecue concept “born from smoke” and says it was started to bring Southern BBQ to the islands with a Hawaiian twist, but I did not find a separate founder biography or fuller origin story from an independent source. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Review patterns are strongly positive around the smoked meats and the value of the plates. Travelers repeatedly mention brisket, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, fries, mac and cheese, and lamb chops as standouts, with several comments praising seasoning, tenderness, and generous portions. Overall sentiment looks solidly favorable, and the Google/Tripadvisor ratings support that. (restaurantji.com)
Common Gripes
The main recurring downside is wait time and occasional sellouts, especially later in the day. One Tripadvisor review says items were sold out by 5 p.m., and Restaurantji’s summary includes a complaint about an hour-long wait. There is also a smaller, more mixed complaint that some non-core items, like a salad, were underwhelming compared with the barbecue. These negatives are supported, but they look narrower than the praise around the core BBQ items. (restaurantji.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Current listed hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed. If you want the widest menu choice, earlier in the day is probably safer because sellouts are mentioned in traveler reviews. (restaurantji.com)
- Expect a casual walk-in experience more than a formal reservation flow. The website mentions booking and catering, but third-party listings and reviews read like a regular casual barbecue stop. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Parking is available, which is a useful practical advantage in Kāneʻohe. (tripadvisor.com)
- If you want the safest bet, focus on the brisket, ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, fries, and mac and cheese, since those are the items most consistently praised. (restaurantji.com)
- If you are hoping for a broad menu or light fare, this may not be the best match; the strongest evidence points to a meat-centric BBQ place. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
Verification Notes
- Official and Google-anchored identity is consistent: Whiskey Smoke 808, 45-1118 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744, (808) 861-7683. (whiskeysmoke808.com)
- Google currently marks the business OPERATIONAL; Tripadvisor also shows it as open in its listing snapshot. (tripadvisor.com)
- No major verification issues found.
Sources
- Official site — Whiskey Smoke 808 —
https://www.whiskeysmoke808.com/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for the restaurant’s self-described concept, address/phone, and menu examples. Includes the claim that it brings Southern BBQ to the islands with a Hawaiian twist. - Official shop page — Whiskey Smoke 808 (Whiskey Smoke Burger) —
https://www.whiskeysmoke808.com/shop/26— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for a specific signature item and its ingredients/style. - Official shop page — Whiskey Smoke 808 (Loco Moco Bowl) —
https://www.whiskeysmoke808.com/shop/20— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for understanding the local-comfort-food side of the menu. - Official shop page — Whiskey Smoke 808 (Seasoned Fries) —
https://www.whiskeysmoke808.com/shop/1— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for side-dish style and a sense of the casual, approachable menu. - Restaurantji listing — Whiskey Smoke 808 —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/kailua/whiskey-smoke-808-/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for review-pattern summaries, listed popular items, parking mention, and the casual atmosphere notes. The site’s own summary is an inference based on its aggregated reviews, not a direct quote from one reviewer. - Tripadvisor listing — Whiskey Smoke 808 —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60653-d27144534-Reviews-Whiskey_Smoke_808-Kaneohe_Oahu_Hawaii.html— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for traveler-style sentiment, hours, price band, parking mention, and a mixed-review example showing both strong BBQ praise and a weaker salad experience.
