Hopper's Bbq & Smoke House

Where to start? I've tried most of thier non-fish offerings so far. And must say it's some of the best BBQ I've had. Not just on the island, but in general. The brisket is fall apart tender, very juicy and spiced perfectly. The ribs do fall apart, and are also quite flavorful. When you add in your choices of sauces... be prepared for an exquisite combination of flavors.

Food is fabulous! Melt in your mouth Brisket. Service with a smile. Atmosphere is typical of a smoker with an outdoor smoke house.

Only open on Thursdays through the local farmers market. If you can time it out, Hawaiian BBQ will make your stay in volcano village much better. With very few exceptions, Other food options in this area are not exactly to the quality some tourists expect.

I had ordered a week ahead of time and was stoked to try the briskett. When i showed up they sold my plate already and were very rude as if i’ve been there before and should’ve known they were gonna just sell my plate. Ended up with an okay pulled pork sandwich, was pretty dry and small for the price. Also got 2 smoked ahi dips, that were completely bland and overpriced. We didn’t end up finishing the one we opened and gave the dogs the other one. WILL NEVER COME BACK!!

Just finished hiking at Volcano national park and this was our first stop back. Picked up the brisket sandwich and a side of cornbread. Brisket was some of the juiciest I've ever had and I travel everywhere. Place is only open once a week so I felt incredibly lucky to have it.

We drove from Hilo, all the way out to Volcano just to try Hopper’s BBQ. Let me tell you, it was so worth it! We got the brisket and ribs and OMG it was so soft and tender. And the sauces are MUWAH chefs kiss. We were recommended the crack sauce & the BBQ sauce, it was also delicious, but honestly the meat is so good it doesn’t even need sauce. The 3 ladies working were so sweet and very helpful. 10/10 recommend. PS it is worth the drive! 🤙🏽

We visited this food truck right after checking out the community market on Thursday afternoon. Absolutely blown away. I shared a pulled pork plate with one of my kids, and the pork was tender and moist with a wonderful smoked flavor. My wife tried the mahi mahi sandwich and liked it, too.

Hopper's BBQ & Smokehouse is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I have never had anything from Hopper's that has been less than superb and I've have most of their menu offerings. I think that their ribs and brisket are my favorites and are perfect comfort foods! They are ALWAYS juicy and perfectly flavorful. The combo plate is unreal and a fantastic deal as it's so big that it is multiple meals for me. The meats reheat well too - I don't add any fat and just reheat in the oven in parchment paper. Even with reheating, the meat was amazingly juicy. I can't understand the review that said otherwise. I've had consistent quality of meals from Hopper's and never once had anything that didn't meet my high standards. And baby back ribs are pork. If someone doesn't know or realize this, they can find out in any number of ways, such as asking or doing a web search. Their side dishes are amazing too. The lilikoi dressing for the salad is so good and a perfect balance of sweet and savory. I actually like a little bit of it on rice too and it's almost like a not-too-sweet dessert. And I think I'll need to buy extra next time corn casserole is on the menu. The regular cornbread is always a winner too. Hopper's is always easy to find - just follow the smoke! And there is usually a line, which the Hopper's team manages well while consistently delivering their high quality plates. The team is great too - friendly and always smiling. It's easy to place an order in advance, which is always a good idea since, in keeping with fresh foods, they can run out of food by the end of the day. Hopper's also offers fish and chicken (both of which are delicious) if you are in the mood for something that's not beef or pork. The fish offering also gives pescatarian's a fantastic food option. Hopper's also offers vegan and vegetarian options as specials sometimes. And if you ever see a tamales special - get it!!

We had a BBQ brisket sandwich and did it hit the spot! We are originally from the heart of Texas BBQ country and it did not disappoint. Best bbq we have had on Big Island. Sauces and condiments good also, especially the pickled onions and Lilikoi bbq sauce. Be sure and give them a visit at the Cooper Center if you are visiting Volcano National park on a Thursday from 3:00-6:00 Bonnie and Tom Pahoa

Best food truck on island. Their smoked ribs are so good that I've brought a whole rack of their ribs back from Hawaii in my suitcase multiple times over the years. Recently, I tried their smoked ahi for the first time, and it was AMAZING. They are culinary geniuses who coax subtle, complex flavors from their dishes, and the smoked ahi was a perfect example of this. It was unlike any ahi/tuna preparation I've seen elsewhere. This is now my favorite menu item, and also my way to eat ahi -- even better than poke, which is saying a lot! Sometimes at different events, they will have specials, like tamales. Their specials are all top-notch, too. I haven't tried anything from them that wasn't excellent. I always like to support local small family businesses, and this one is a real gem. They are generous people who give back a lot to their local community, too. Highly recommend.