Overview
Smash Daddy’s 808 is a burger-focused casual restaurant in Waikoloa Village on the Big Island. The identity is fairly well anchored: the Google record, official location page, and Toast ordering page all point to the same Waikoloa address and the same phone number, and they all describe it as an operational burger spot. (smashdaddys808.com)
For a traveler, the main appeal is straightforward: this is a compact, specialized stop for smash burgers, fries, shakes, and beer rather than a broad all-purpose restaurant. The review pattern suggests it is the kind of place people seek out for a quick, satisfying meal with strong flavor and relatively good value for Hawaii, especially if they want an easy burger stop in the Waikoloa area. (smashdaddys808.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
This place sits squarely in the smash-burger lane. The official site says it serves smash burgers with shakes and brews, and the Toast menu shows a focused American-style lineup rather than a wide-ranging menu. Reviewers repeatedly mention burgers, fries, onion rings, and milkshakes as the core draw. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Overall menu style: focused burger joint, with a limited menu built around smash burgers, sides, shakes, and beer. The overall impression is “specialized comfort food” rather than a full-service dining room with many categories. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Notable items / specialties: the site highlights a limited-time venison burger; reviewers repeatedly call out the 50/50 Smoker / 50 50 Smoker, Four Bangah / 4 banger meal, juicy burgers, fries, onion rings, and milkshakes. Toast also shows sides like Side Fries, Side Onion Rings, and Side Smash Sauce. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Price range / spend expectations: Google does not provide a price level, but traveler reviews consistently describe it as reasonably priced for Hawaii or “cheaper than expected,” while one firsthand review notes burgers around $20 each with fries included. That suggests a mid-range casual spend, not a bargain fast-food stop. (tripadvisor.com)
- Dietary usefulness or limits: Restaurantji labels it Vegetarian and Pet Friendly, which suggests some accommodation, but the core identity is still meat-heavy burger food. On the evidence here, it looks more useful for mixed groups than for a vegetarian- or vegan-specific meal. (restaurantji.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
The setting seems to be a newer, casual shopping-center type location in Waikoloa Village, with both indoor and outdoor seating mentioned in traveler reviews. The experience reads as relaxed and informal rather than polished or destination-dining. (tripadvisor.com)
- Service model and seating style: counter-style ordering with pickup/table delivery appears likely; Toast lists pickup only for online orders, while reviews mention indoor and outdoor seating and food brought to the table in a few minutes. (toasttab.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: recurring descriptions point to a clean, friendly, easygoing room with music, an open-kitchen feel, and a “great vibe.” One firsthand review specifically mentions skateboard decks and ceiling lights as part of the decor. (restaurantji.com)
- Amenities or practical features: reviews mention plenty of parking and clean bathrooms; the Restaurantji listing also notes outdoor seating. Those are meaningful convenience signals for travelers. (tripadvisor.com)
- Best fit: a good stop for lunch, an easy casual dinner, or a post-beach burger run. It seems especially suited to travelers who want a focused, quick, satisfying meal without a long sit-down experience. (tripadvisor.com)
- Weaker fit: travelers looking for an extensive menu, fine-dining ambiance, or a quieter, lingering meal may find the concept too narrow or too casual. That is an inference from the limited-menu, burger-first positioning. (smashdaddys808.com)
History & Background
The official About page says Smash Daddy’s 808 was founded by Shawn O’Shaughnessy, Nakoa Pabre, and Soren Arvidson, and that the concept began on the brewery block in Kona before expanding. The same page frames Waikoloa as the flagship restaurant and says the team trained on the mainland to learn smash-burger technique. (smashdaddys808.com)
That background matters because it helps explain the concept: this is not a generic chain burger outlet, but a locally rooted Big Island brand built around a specific burger style, local expansion plans, and a simple food identity. The site also signals broader island growth plans, though those claims are brand positioning and should be read as the company’s own ambition rather than a guarantee of future openings. (smashdaddys808.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Reviewers repeatedly praise the burgers themselves: crisp edges, juicy interiors, and a focused smash-burger execution. Fries and onion rings also get strong mention, and milkshakes—especially creamy or boozy shakes—show up as a highlight. Many guests describe the staff as friendly and the food as coming out quickly, with some saying the value felt better than expected for Hawaii. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The downside evidence is relatively mild and not strongly recurring. The most concrete complaint is price: at least one firsthand review says burgers are not cheap, though that same reviewer still liked the food. The other soft caution is that the menu is intentionally narrow, so anyone wanting variety will not find much here. Overall, the negative signal is light rather than a pattern of serious service or quality problems. (smashdaddys808.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- Hours: the official site and Google both show a steady lunch-to-dinner schedule, with later closing on Friday and Saturday. Official location pages currently list 11 AM–8 PM most days and 11 AM–9 PM Fri/Sat. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Best time to go: based on the casual format and quick-service reviews, it should work well for lunch or an early dinner; going outside peak meal times may be easier if you want less crowding. That is an inference from the review pattern, not a documented wait-time study. (tripadvisor.com)
- Reservations: no reservation system is evident in the sources reviewed; Toast indicates online ordering and pickup, which suggests a walk-in/casual model. (toasttab.com)
- Parking/location: several reviews note plenty of parking and place it in a new shopping complex in Waikoloa Village, which should make it relatively convenient for self-driving visitors. (tripadvisor.com)
- Ordering strategy: if you want the most “signature” experience, the recurring review favorites are the 50/50 Smoker, Four Bangah/4 banger, fries, onion rings, and a shake. (tripadvisor.com)
- Dietary planning: the menu is burger-centric and meat-forward, so it is a better fit for mixed groups than for strictly plant-based diners. (smashdaddys808.com)
Verification Notes
- Official name, phone, website, and Waikoloa address are consistent across Google, the official location page, the contact page, and Toast. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Google Places shows the restaurant as OPERATIONAL; the official site also presents it as open. (smashdaddys808.com)
- Address formatting has a small suite-style drift: Google shows e505 while the official site uses #505 / E505 in different places, but these appear to refer to the same location. (smashdaddys808.com)
Sources
- Smash Daddy’s 808 official Waikoloa location page —
https://www.smashdaddys808.com/locations/waikoloa-village/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for the official address, hours, phone number, and the restaurant’s own description of burgers, shakes, brews, and the limited-time venison burger. - Smash Daddy’s 808 official locations page —
https://www.smashdaddys808.com/locations/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for confirming the Waikoloa location and hours in a shorter, location-index format. - Smash Daddy’s 808 official contact page —
https://www.smashdaddys808.com/contact/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for confirming the Waikoloa phone number. - Toast ordering page for Smash Daddy’s —
https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/smashdaddys808— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for confirming the business name variant, the address formatting, pickup-only ordering posture, menu fragments, and hours. - Smash Daddy’s 808 official About page —
https://www.smashdaddys808.com/about/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Most useful for founder names, the Kona origin story, mainland training claim, and expansion framing. - Smash Daddy’s 808 official restaurant page —
https://www.smashdaddys808.com/restaurant/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for the company’s own framing of smash burgers, 808 sauce, and Big Island expansion ambitions. - Tripadvisor listing for Smash Daddy’s Waikoloa —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60608-d30702567-Reviews-Smash_Daddy_s_Waikaloa-Waikoloa_Kohala_Coast_Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for traveler-facing pattern signals: burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes, local beer, parking, and the generally positive value/service sentiment. - Restaurantji listing for Smash Daddy’s 808 —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/waikoloa-village/smash-daddy-s-808-/— Retrieved 2026-04-02. Useful for secondary signals on menu favorites, outdoor seating, pet-friendly/vegetarian labels, and the overall positive review pattern.
