We actually came by for lunch to try their chili crisp chicken, which had possibly some of the crispiest skin I've ever had, but I was also craving some of their spicy ahi poke. Is this some of the most flavorful Hawaiian I've had in awhile? Yes. Are you going to be paying for it? Yes. Still worth a try, but maybe not a "get it everyday" type stop read more

Great variety plate style Hawaiian Foods. Service is fast and friendly. Decent amount of seating inside and even some outside. Great for outdoor dining on a nice day. Galbi was a little salty and tough. I did enjoy the shoyu poke. Katsu also seemed a little dry. Wish they had sriracha. read more

Came in with my girlfriend for dinner on a Sunday night. Ordered at the counter and paid for the food. Grabbed a table and our drinks and food were brought to us by staff. Food was tasty. The only thing that missed for me was that the poke had way too much sauce for my taste. It tasted good and fresh but the ahi tuna was overpowered by the sauce keeping the flavor from coming through. The chicken was fried well, not over cooked. The sauce was tasty with some bite but not too hot for my girlfriend's mouth. The shrimp lollipops were good but the dipping sauce was a show stopper imo. Hawaiian theme throughout wit surf boards and island motif decorating the interior. Prices were reasonable and the portion sizes were good for meals. We will be back read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Chicken with rice, poke, and macaroni salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This has been on my list since forever! We were leaving Fashion Island and was getting hungry and decided to drop by on a Sunday afternoon! Plenty of seating inside and outside. They have picnic style tables that's divided with sauces so sharing table is pretty normal here. They also have a wall lined table so those were huge seating. Follow the marked signs to order inside. It was our first time so we asked what's good and she recommended the original plates. We decided to get Da Spicy plate that had 2 styles of fried chicken (guava chili pepper so flavorful and crispy Korean chicken- not horribly dry) and Da Roots that had ahi katsu shoyu tuna and Korean short ribs. Both were really good and came with macaroni salad and poke! Honestly it's what you crave for the day to mix and match which protein you want with the 2 sides of poke and macaroni salad. Lots of food. Delicious flavor. Will come back again! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Spicy Plate and Da Roots plate. YUM - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Second time here and it hits just the same! I loved the ahi poke from my last visit so I tried the Makai Plate with the shoyu and spicy poke. The shoyu poke was gingery while the spicy poke had a decent kick, and the sauce was to die for. The garlic shrimp was also a hit from the Stockton Slap plate, juicy and zingy. It was universally agreed that the Korean Short Ribs were top tier- sweet and salty and full of saucy goodness. Though the line was long, it went quickly, and we got our meals within 10 minutes of ordering. read more

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My favorite place to eat in Orange County, PERIOD. Hawaiian street food at its best known for its hearty and flavorful grub! : Da Spicy Plate: Guava Chili Pepper Chicken, Korean Fried Chicken and Spicy Ahi Poke read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Solid Hawaiian spots that I def recommend trying at least once. I've def seen the line here get pretty long before so I would keep that in mind. The parking lot for this spot is usually pretty packed too but it's decently big so it's not too much of a hassle. I shared some stuff with two other friends and we were all super full and had leftovers Ahi poke nachos (spicy and shoyu sauce aka chef's way): 4/5 I think this might have been a special for the day or something so I'm not sure if they have it every day. I liked the wonton chips and they definitely give a good amount of fish. We didn't realize at first because a lot of it was at the very bottom but I think it was very much worth the price. Didn't realize there was something with wasabi in this though so that caught us off guard Da zombies plate: 4/5 the galbi was super soft and good. After that, I think my next favorite meat was the pork belly then the chicken. This came with very very tiny portions of sides and normal sized sauce. Overall liked it but would prob try something else next time Macaroni salad: 3/5 it was ok but I didn't personally like how much black pepper was in it Spam musubi: 4/5 pretty standard I liked it Note: if you're looking for poke, they only have ahi here and no salmon read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Macaroni Salad, da zombies plate, ahi poke nachos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ordered online because the wait was 45 min at around 1pm on a Friday afternoon Parking lot is shared with Target and other businesses. Was a little busy but found spots in the back rows Not a ton of seating inside and it was stuffy with no AC. But they offer 4 tables outside which was nicer with a breeze Was able to share 2 plates with 2 people total and had some leftovers Rice was a bit mooshy The guava chicken came with Mac salad and Cole slaw. Cole slaw was more like a pickled slaw. The flavoring for the guava chicken didn't have much guava flavor to it at all. And the chicken was dry The original plate came with teeny tiny banchans-kimchi, cucumber salad and Mac salad. Generous portions of meat on this plate! I was wanting to like this place more but the flavoring of the meats were a little off I give it a 3.5 stars I would want to come back to try their poke read more

Ai Pono Cafe - 8 Pieces Guava Chili Pepper Fried Chicken and Korean plate original - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Dis place was onolicious and not your typical Hawaiian plate lunch menu. Da Ahi Katsu was freakin unreal and worth every penny. Definately gonna be back soon! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - In CW order....Da "Stockton" Slap, Ahi Katsu, "Crackhead" chicken. All broke da mouth good cuz! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Service was good the girl working greeted me right away . The menu was limited due to no poke which was fine I was looking for a plate lunch with teri beef/chicken so I ordered the teri plate. The beef slice i got on the plate was super thin so that was a bummer. Chicken lacked flavor honestly and the pork was dry maybe i have to order something else. This plate did not hit. The mac was the star of the show good flavor and texture. The teri sauce was on the bottom of the rice I would of preferred it over everything overall just okay. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love this place! I love the barbecue chicken! I've had the Katsu as well and that was delicious, but I'm on a low-carb diet and so the barbecue chicken is perfect for that! read more

Ai Pono Cafe has some of the best hawaiian food I've tried and it's definitely worth the hype! We stopped by on a Saturday evening and the place was packed, but we only waited about 5-10 minutes for our food to be ready. The girl working the register was super kind and patient, taking the time to explain certain items on the menu. We ended up ordering two combo plates and two dishes to share. Right off the bat, we noticed that the portion sizes were huge and amazing for the price. Da Spicy Plate: 5/5 We had ordered two Da Spicy Plates and added thai chili garlic shrimp to one of them. It came with the guava chili pepper chicken and crispy korean chicken as well as sides of mac salad, spicy ahi poke, and rice. The star of the show was the guava chili pepper chicken, which was so tender, and each bite was sweet and tangy with a hint of spice. As for the korean chicken, it was crispy, flavorful, juicy, and a delight in every bite. The sides also elevate the plate to the next level! The mac salad was so creamy yet still packed with lots of flavor, and the spicy poke was marinated to perfection with a great umami and buttery taste. Muay Thai Chili Garlic Shrimp: 5/5 The muay thai chili shrimp was super crispy in every bite and was tossed in a delicious tangy chili sauce that gave the shrimp a burst of flavor. Garlicky, bright, and spicy, this is the perfect unique take on hawaiian garlic shrimp. Spam Musubi: 3/5 The spam musubi wasn't anything special. While the rice to spam ratio was decent, the spam didn't have enough sauce/glaze and therefore made it a little dry. Poke Nachos: 4/5 With the recent poke nachos hype, we had to try Ai Pono's version. The dish consisted of beef tallow fried wonton crisps with fresh shoyu and spicy ahi poke on top, as well as generous drizzles of sweet soy and wasabi garlic aioli. While it was delicious overall and the sauces elevated the flavor, I had hoped for the wonton chips to be fried to a more golden brown. The chips were a little thin, so it broke more easily and wasn't as crispy as I had expected. It also felt as if the dish were missing something, as there weren't other toppings other than the poke and scatter of masago and green onions. Ai Pono Cafe is a definite must-try if you're looking for some mouthwatering hawaiian street food in the OC area. The staff are very friendly and the space has a welcoming yet lively atmosphere. I would highly recommend ordering their combo plates, as you really get to try a little bit of everything from the flavorful proteins to the fresh poke. Each dish truly brings a delicious and modern yet authentic take to hawaiian food. read more

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Stopped by for lunch the other day, it was towards the end of lunch hour and dang were they still packed. Good to see. Great interior with good traditional Hawaiian photos and decor. Open kitchen to watch them make the food. Boy are they hustling getting that oh so delicious food out. Tried the Da Costa Mesa Crackhead Combo. What a name ha! Crackhead chicken, Korean beef short rib, musubi and mac salad. Everything about it was delicious, good crispy saucy chicken, well cooked beef with a slight perfect char. Delicious musubi . I got so full eating that plate but I couldn't stop it was so good. I'd for sure get this combo again. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Costa Mesa crackhead combo - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Vibe-10 Food-AMAZING Service-Wonderful Jureena was so charming and full of Aloha. She made some great recommendations and let me tell you everything we ate was so full of flavor and absolutely delicious. The Culinary Gangster for sure lives up to his name. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Chef's Plate-that mahi mahi!!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I had the Chefs beef noodles with chopped up kamaboko (fish cake). It took a little longer but not too bad wait. Good music has history with the Queen on the wall and the local style feel. One word to describe it? Tough. While the flavor was good, the beef was tough, the noodles was tough, the guys is tough. Give em a three. read more

Little disappointed with two items Fried Chicken was very dry and not spicy as menu points out Mac Salad very dry and dark color I would go back Galbi ribs Ono Fried fish and seared Ahi where good read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Fried chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really great spot in Costa Mesa with a relaxed Hawaiian vibe. I got the Crack Head Chicken and it was super flavorful, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with just the right kick. My husband had the garlic noodles and they were rich, buttery, and packed with garlic--so good. Portions were solid, everything came out fresh, and the staff was friendly even when it got busy. Definitely a great place for comforting Hawaiian-style food. We'll be coming back to try more! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Crackhead Chicken and Garlic Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wow, I am highly impressed with everything this business is. I know I have never been in this cute little shopping plaza before because I have never been in the Target at this plaza. Anyways, back to the food at Ai Pono Cafe: I chose the Hawaiian Short Rib plate and it was the BEST Short Ribs I have ever had!!! The actual restaurant had all the necessities. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Best of both worlds! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Delicious!! Guava Chili Chicken was delicious and not overly spicy. Place fills up quickly with customers. Even cops came to dine here, so obviously the food is yummy. I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

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My favorite Hawaiian spot in the OC I love Hawaiian barbecue, but this place just hits different their sauce the tenderness of the meat the portions as well as my favorite. Their Mac salad is super super incredible. It was crowded today when we went around Saturday at 1 PM, but we got our food within 1015 minutes and it was really nice to still be able to sit there and enjoy it and not feel overwhelmed or rushed out highly recommend this place. Everything smells so good when you walk in and every dish you get here cannot go wrong special shout out to their guava cheesecake read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ordered take out, even when it's cold, it's amazing! Love this place. Highly recommend this place for the best Hawaiian style food. Very very casual spot but this is the best place for your local Hawaiian food. read more

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Happened to be in the neighborhood and had to stop by to check out this spot (my Instagram feed has been full of the Exit 8 Bodega ads). Lots of colorful signage to get you to the cash register to order your food plus a big menu to choose from. Today I thought I'd try "Da Chef's Plate" and I'm so glad I did. Every item had its own unique flavor and nothing was over seasoned. The Ahi, bbq, and mac salad were excellent! Not a single item was too greasy, too seasoned, too anything - just the right amount to get the flavor of each separate dish. This is definitely not your typical fast food cafeteria style spot! There is definitely time and care put into the seasoning and flavors of the items I tried. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The picnic style tables lend to the laid back vibe :) plus the super cute picnic table condiments holders were a nice touch. Hope to come back next time to try their desserts! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Server's station - it's a bit of a tight squeeze, but they make it work :) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Rounded down from a 3.5 - I had high expectations based on the ratings and overall, I found this place to be just fine. Definitely loved the vibe of the place and it's a popular spot as it was pretty busy during lunch on a weekday, despite being tucked away in a shopping plaza. Super friendly service and the gal recommended the crack chicken, which we ordered. Also had a combo plate of katsu ahi, kalbi and poke. Compared to other Hawaiian food joints, the portion sizes were on the smaller side. Food was fine - the crack chicken didn't make me feel like I needed another hit of it. read more

After coming back from Hawaii a few weeks ago, we were craving some good Hawaiian food. This place is very authentic tasting and it was very delicious. Service is quick and easy. We are looking forward to coming back! Very good! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Fresh Ahi Poke Bowl (Shoyu) and Portuguese Sausage Masubi - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The "crackhead" chicken is a must order! The crunchy, sweet and coconuty chicken, it's worth the hype. Was not in love with the garlic mahi, being a bit dry and not a fan of the mahi dipped in egg. And the restaurant- what great vibes! I was seriously transported back to the islands with the music and decor, love it. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I always see this place when I go to the lagree studio next door and it has been on my list to try for months; somehow it's always closed when I want to try it (they open at 11, and are closed on Mondays) but I was finally able to swing by for lunch. I ordered the Chef's Plate which had blackened mahi mahi, ahi poke and teri beef. The beef was pretty salty but came with rice which balanced it out. The mahi mahi had a really good flavor, and the ahi poke was my favorite. Only thing I was not a fan of was the mac salad - it was a little bland to me. The decor inside this place is also very cute, it looks like a place you would find in Hawaii. It was pretty crowded when we came, on a weekend afternoon but they have some limited eating outside as well. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Good food, good people, and nothing but good vibes. I love seeing places like this bring the community together. You can tell there's a welcoming atmosphere from the moment you walk in, making it easy to relax and enjoy your time. It's the kind of spot you want to come back to, whether you're catching up with friends or just grabbing a bite. Wishing this business continued success because it's always great to see local places thrive and create such a positive experience for everyone. read more

This place is one of the best Hawaiian food spots in OC. We did the triple teriyaki plate which comes with beef, chicken, and pork over rice with Cole slaw and Mac salad. The Mac salad was surprisingly delicious, I usually don't care for it but I ate the whole thing. The pork was a little tough honestly so I didn't eat more than a bite of that. The beef is super thin and tender, you can cut it with a fork. Chicken was nicely grilled and the teriyaki sauce had great flavor. Nice fluffy white rice underneath it all soaking up the teriyaki sauce. Good vibes inside, and good service. We will return! read more

Guava Chili chicken has become one of my favorites. Absolutely Delicious! I Enjoyed every bite of this meal read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Spicy Plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. They are closed on Mondays and between 4-6 pm Friday and Saturday. Hawaiin street food and it delivers on that note. I went for lunch and there was a steady stream of customers. I had the Da "Korean Zombie" plate. 3 types of meat, the best was the Korean short rib. They were tasty but a bit tough. The crispy chicken was missing the crisp, but breaded well. Small sides of macaroni salad, kimchi and pickles were very tasty. It comes with a sweet sauce that was nice as well. It is a small restaurant in a strip mall setting. There are a few tables inside and a small area outside along the sidewalk to sit. It has island music and decor. Staff pleasant. Food came out hot and quickly. Also had the Spam Musubi. This was a bit bland. The spam was salty and tasty as expected, rolled tightly in seaweed with white rice. Adding the available hot sauce made this better. This place has affordable and good food, I recommend it for an introduction to Hawaiin street food. read more

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Ai Pono Cafe is a casual Hawaiian restaurant that offers a fusion of Asian items with Hawaiian cuisine. Ordering is done at the front and then one's number is called out. Da Korean Zombie - $25 - This came with Korean short ribs, Korean chicken, meat jun, rice, kimchee and mac bean sprouts. The short ribs were marinated in a teriyaki sauce and were juicy and tender. The fried chicken was actually boneless chicken thighs and not bad. The meat jun consisted of thin beef strips fried in a egg flour batter. The beef was a little tough and this dish was completely tasteless. Overall, the food was just ok, and I had to use some siracha to help salvage the dishes. I did feel that pricing was on the high side, given that this is a casual restaurant. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Korean Zombie $25 - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

AI PONO IS MY GOAT. I couldn't tell you a better Hawaiian food spot in the area. The crackhead chicken is my go to. The portion sizes are good and I almost always have leftovers. The sauce they put on top is fantastic! I wish they would add more. For a while, I avoided taking my parents here because there are some cartoon topless women and swear words on stickers, and they're particular about that kind of thing. They complained the first time about it, and said to us that they didn't want to come back, but the food is so incredible that they don't care anymore. They request it almost every Sunday. read more

For me Hawaiian food typically only tastes good in Hawaii, but Ai Pono changes the game! It's more on the fusion side but the flavor is all there. I enjoy their guava chicken, katsu, short ribs and poke. Their combo plates are a good value to try everything they offer. I usually order ahead online since it's pretty busy on the weekends. There's a few tables if you decide to dine in. read more

As a transplant this is hard to write cause i love supporting other transplants... i only wanna warn other transplants or visitors from home cause this is one of the only places you can find meat jun. Atmoshere... hella busy Service... small kine attitude but matches the "fuckin order" vibe but if youre gonna be tantaran make sure the food is consistent Food... mixed *Noodles are bomb!! Def would get again mo doubts about it. Comes with teri beef, would love a spam option since you have spam inventory. *Hamburger steak all rice, my sons order. I think someone forgot this was hamburger steak cause had essence of gravy. AND mushrooms was M.I.A. Patties are tasty but next time imma make sure theres gravy gravy. *Korean zombie... you know why its korean zombie because the meat jun was as dead as a zombie. Im sorry but if you go pearls, yoonyson, any of the kim chees all of their meat jun beef get flavor and is not missing half the egg. Its a good thing comes with suace cause it needed it badly. The kal bi was good, the korean chicken was ono but i mainly got it for the meat jun so thats that. *Side 2pc guava chicken... nice big thighs but one was a little pink/red for my daughter and I so we put it on the side. Flavor was sooo good and id be promoting this but yahh. *Plates come with an itty bitty manini size kimchee, cucumber and salad. Brahhh can you get more chang. Like i said mixed reviews but we didnt think it was worth the 105$. Would i go there again? doubt it, but im open to try the vegas location and see if they are better. read more

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This is, hands down, the best Hawaiian food in Orange County! We've been going to Ai Pono since they were a pop-up at The Hood Kitchen and every meal seems to be better than the last. The flavor profiles are so complex and everything is absolutely delicious. My go to is "Da Spicy Plate" and I add some Thai Garlic Shrimp on the side. The customer service is always super kind and polite and there's a reasonable amount of seating on the inside. I highly recommend checking this place out but be careful... you will get addicted and make random weekday drives to eat here! read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ai Pono Cafe strikes a nice balance between casual comfort and thoughtful preparation. The ahi katsu I tried was impressive. The fish was fresh and tender, cooked just right so it stayed moist inside while the coating stayed crisp. The seasoning was subtle but effective, letting the natural flavor of the ahi shine through, and the accompanying sides added texture and variety without feeling overdone. Each bite felt deliberate and well thought out, which is something I appreciate in a dish that could easily be rushed in a casual setting. Service matched the quality of the food. The staff was attentive without hovering, checking in at the right moments and responding to questions with genuine helpfulness. Even during a steady lunch rush, everything ran smoothly, which made the experience feel relaxed rather than hectic. The ambience complements the food and service nicely. The space is bright and open, with a casual, welcoming energy that makes it easy to focus on the meal. There's a sense of thought put into the layout and design without it feeling overly styled or trying too hard. Background noise is present but manageable, giving the place a lively vibe without it being uncomfortable. Overall, Ai Pono Cafe delivers a solid experience from start to finish. The food is flavorful and carefully prepared, the staff is friendly and efficient, and the space is comfortable and inviting. It's the kind of spot where the combination of those elements makes the meal feel enjoyable on multiple levels. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I felt it was ok. Decent Hawaiian grub. A little pricey. Got the chicken katsu, Korean short ribs and the Mahi Mahi. The Katsu was ok. Solid Katsu sauce. Mac salad decent. The slaw was a little bland. Same with the short ribs and Mahi Mahi - pretty good. Canned drinks. Made to order, so a bit of a wait. No prob there. Place your order at the counter and the food will be delivered to your table. Inside and outside seating. Good variety on menu. Again, a little pricey, but the food is decent. Nothing spectacular. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Chicken Katsu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I am almost ALWAYS craving poke when I'm in OC but then I can't decide on where to eat cause I know there are so many great cooked meat options too... but here I truly get the best of both worlds. Perfect portions of Korean short ribs - super delicious, not too fatty, well seasoned. Perfect portion of poke- marinated with green onions and so much more. And don't even get me started on the katsu AHI, are you kidding?!?! I don't get that enough- it was my favorite part. Everything was so delicious & I had a great amount of rice. I personally don't like Mac salad (or coleslaw tbh), but I replaced the Mac salad for coleslaw, and the coleslaw was so YUMMY!!! I like it when it's not heavily saucey, it's a nice balance with all the meat/fish/ rice/ sauces already. It's a little above $20 but it's sooooo worth it for what you're getting. The workers were super kind and helpful. A great place to hang out & socialize too. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da "roots" plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wanted to branch out from my usual Hawaiian BBQ spot and came across this plaza! I got the Chicken Katsu while my boyfriend got the "Crackhead" Chicken. We both shared a Mango Lemonade to wash down our food, which we were able to get a refill for! The katsu was crispy and juicy! Paired with the mac salad, I was disappointed how it lacked flavor to it. Definitely tasted more creamy than anything. The crackhead chicken was pretty salty so the mac salad actually balanced that part out. Some pieces were slightly drier than others. The portion for the price was well worth it. I would come back to try their other items! read more

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The owner is amazing and helped me with my catering for my MBA graduation and it was a hit! My friends and family all loved it. Everything was fairly priced and I was very happy. I recommend for à la carte or catering. Either way the food is always consistently good. read more