Photo Credit: Russell Gurman

One is a longstanding restaurant known for its Hawaiian Barbecue. The other is a brand new restaurant run by the formers chef. This is: Battle of the Hawaiian Barbecue!

The Players:

J&J’s Hawaiian Barbecue

Phil’s Treasure Pot

The Meal:

From J&J’s, 5 Flavor Chicken and House Chicken, with a side of Fried Rice.

From Phil’s, Sesame Chicken and House Chicken, with a side of Fried Rice.

The Judge:

Junior Noah Stid, connoisseur of food.

The Challenge:

Which is the better Hawaiian Barbecue restaurant?

The Game:

Noah sat down on a Sunday afternoon at J&J’s Hawaiian Barbecue in Menlo Park with a serving of two different chicken combos with fried rice from J&J’s and Phil’s. He began with the House Chicken from J&J’s, and switched between the similar meals from each restaurant. After eating the majority of the large platter, Stid concluded that in his “expert” opinion that overall, Phil’s food surpassed J&J’s.

The Winner:

Phil’s Treasure Pot.

Although J&J’s is closer and more convenient for M-A students for an after-school snack, Phil’s customer service is far superior to J&J’s. The location of Phil’s is less than superb, but the restaurant has a better overall atmosphere. Owner Phil Lam, along with his mother, Diana, treat their customers like family, getting to know the clientele while serving their food. Phil’s is more of a gourmet restaurant than J&J’s, which is more of a fast food eatery. The prices at both restaurants are very similar as both are relatively cheap. If you are just looking for a quick Hawaiian meal, J&J’s is a good choice. But if you want a place to sit down and enjoy a nice gourmet Hawaiian meal with your family, Phil’s is the place for you. Overall, Phil’s far outstrips its competition.