Two talented chefs have come together in a venture to bring Southern-style chicken and barbecue to Kona … and so much more.
G Que Southern Chicken and BBQ opened in the Alii Plaza on the corner of Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road nearly two weeks ago and owners Charlie Weaver and Gilbert Rose are ready to share their years of experience to bring their styles together for a memorable dining experience.
Weaver and Rose have been cooking nearly all of their lives in venues ranging from food trucks and catering to five-star resort restaurants.
Weaver was born an “Army brat” at Tripler Hospital in Honolulu and moved around the country as a child. He eventually ended up in Alaska, where he honed his skills. His family is from South Carolina, which is where his barbecue style has its roots.
He knew eventually he would return to the land of his birth and moved here with his family 10 years ago, and has been serving barbecue in West Hawaii for years, including as Running Chef of Hawaii Southern BBQ, a stand started in Hawi, later in front of Costco and eventually in the Home Depot parking lot.
Rose grew up in Louisiana and Chicago, where his father owned barbecue restaurants. In 1992, he moved to Hilo, where he completed his culinary education at Hawaii Community College. He’s worked at resorts along the Kona and Kohala coasts and was part of the opening team at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Most recently, he was a partner in G’s Que Bar-B-Que food truck, a regular at Pukalani Stables Farmers Market in Waimea and HPM Food Truck Friday in Kona.
“You are getting the best of both regions,” said Weaver. “We will be selling our sauces here too.”
The coming together of Weaver and Rose to form the restaurant is the culmination of an accidental meeting a few years back at the KTA Super Stores in Waikoloa Village. Oddly enough, people at the store would confuse the two for another, leading Rose curious as to whether they really looked that much alike.
One day, Weaver heard someone call “Hey Charlie” and heard a reply, “No I’m Gilbert.” They met and instantly became friends.
Not long ago, a friend of the two, the owner of Just The 2 Of Us Chicken and Waffles, needed to return to the mainland to take care of an ailing parent, and Rose and Weaver jumped at the chance to take over the space.
“The timing was right,” said Weaver. “Even though we were in the middle of the pandemic, the opportunity was there, and we couldn’t pass it up.”
Beside their signature barbecue and fried chicken, the duo will be serving up daily specials reflecting their culinary versatility.
“I know there are people like me who like to eat breakfast any time of the day, so we are serving breakfast too,” said Weaver.
Rose emphasized customer satisfaction is their top priority.
“When people come here they get value for their money,” said Rose. “I want you to walk away full and happy.”
“If you don’t see it on the menu, I can probably make it for you,” added Weaver.
In addition, they offer catering for parties large and small.
“Whatever you want, we can do,” said Weaver, noting their experience serving up a wide variety of ethnic foods as well as barbecue and American cuisine.
G Que Southern Chicken and BBQ is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday for dine-in or carry-out.
On Saturdays, they are at the Pukalani Stables Farmers Market in Waimea.
“You’ve had the rest, now try the best,” Rose and Weaver said.
