Texas Brisket Is Coming to Kapolei

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Hickory-smoked, Texas-style barbecue is coming to the west side in September, thanks to barbecue fan and Makakilo resident Danny Mabalot.

Mabalot is pit master and franchise owner of the new Kapolei Dickey’s Barbecue Pit—the first Hawaiʻi location for this popular chain that’s in 44 other states.

What: The first Dickey’s Texas-style BBQ in Hawaii.

Where: Kealanani Plaza, 91-0710 Farrington Hwy (near Walmart).

When: Opens September 7.

You Gotta Know: Beef brisket is their specialty.

Before Mabalot agreed to open, he had to make one important request. To the leaders of Dickey’s, it was a pretty unusual one.

“I told them: ‘For the sides, we want to serve rice.’”

Mabalot says his contact at Dickey’s was a little skeptical. “He said: ‘Lemme get back to you. Gotta see if I can get approval.’”

Approval came through, a big relief to Mabalot. “The locals gotta have rice, right?”

Mabalot met us for a quick chat at the restaurant, which is under construction in the small shopping center on Farrington Highway across from Walmart. He is a friendly, busy, high-energy guy. He served in Iraq with the US Army, and since returning has helped manage two other franchise restaurants—his family owns a Subway in Waiʻanae and another in Wahiawā.

Dickey’s fits more with Mabalot’s interests. “I’ve been doing smoked barbecue for a while-backyard kine,” he says. “I’ve been doing my own rubs. Sometimes I make friends with barbecue pit masters, they send me their rub recipes.”

At Dickey’s, Mabalot will serve pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, chicken, and sausage. But the specialty will be the king of Texas barbeque-beef brisket.