KAPA‘A — Dine-in or takeout, one of the things you’ll need at Harley’s Tropical Barbecue is lots of napkins.
“Oh-oh, I have to get lots of napkins,” a diner preparing to enjoy a plate of BBQ Beef Ribs, said. “This is going to be good.”
Saddie Watanabe, one of the shift workers at Harley’s Tropical Barbecue in the Coconut Marketplace, said the secret is that owner and head chef Melvin Pacol creates his own sauces, both barbecue and teriyaki.
Tess Pacol, Melvin’s wife, is co-owner of the eatery, which kept its original name after the Pacols bought the business about eight years ago.
The ribs, BBQ Beef and BBQ Pork all feature Pacol’s sauces and headline the main menu of the kiosk facing the stage at the Waipouli shopping stop.
“We have an extra person on shift Wednesday because of the hula show, which starts at 5 p.m.,” Watanabe said. “Otherwise, we’re here from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week.”
Other entries on the main menu, all served with white steamed rice or fries and a tossed salad, include Korean kalbi ribs, teriyaki beef kabob, teriyaki beef plate, a local favorite, New York steak, broiled chicken breast garnished with pineapple,a fried chicken plate, Cajun Shrimp and Shrimp Kabob.
To make things more customer-friendly, a combination of any two can be mixed and ordered as well as a special Dinner for Four featuring the BBQ Pork Ribs.
“We have to keep the customers happy,” Watanabe said. “They get a lof of good food for reasonable prices.”
Other local favorites include chicken and chips, and homemade chili with rice, or fries, or a chili dog with rice.
Kids servings are available with choices being either chicken nuggets, or a corn dog (What happened to pronto pup?).
For the less hungry, sandwiches, headlined by the popular pulled BBQ pork, or beef with sauteed onions, or salads, featuring Harley’s chicken Caesar, are available.
Side orders include japaleno poppers, Buffalo wings, teriyaki beef or chicken, skewers, onion rings, French fries, curley fries, extra rice, corn dogs and a side order of sauce.
“People can call 822-2505 for take-out orders,” Watanabe said. “It usually takes about 10 minutes, but the order is usually ready when customers get here.”
With the full menu to choose from, the other thing diners need besides lots of napkins is a good-sized shade tree to cope with the Hawaiian paralysis which sets in following the meal.
“Let me know what tree you’ll be under,” Watanabe said. “It’ll make a good picture.”
