I was drawn by the "street food" description. Ordered today's lau lau plate special and "Da Roots" and was not disappointed. The lau lau was pleasantly full of meat and steamed perfectly. And "Da Roots" was a fantastic mix of tastes including the kalbi which was our favorite. We will be back. read more

Overpriced and the chicken KATSU tasted fake or processed terrible! Wish I liked this place good idea .

Hands down the best ono grindz this side of the pacific. Never waiting more than 10-15 minute for a family worth, each meal tastes as if was specifically crafted just for you with all the flavor you could ever imagine. The Mac salad tastes just like my favorite spot on Oahu. The Ahi is so fresh and soooo good. The guava chili pepper chicken never disappoints and my kids can't eat the Katsu fast enough. Even the shave ice is the best you can find around. I highly recommend the Ube cap to finish off a most delectable treat. You can't even beat the customer service. Dana always brings the true aloha and has you leaving happy and satisfied. Many mahalos to Chef and all the Ohana at Aipono. You know how to bring that Aloha spirit to our favorite little nook of CA.. read more

small portion.... wow 3.50 for 1 mabsubi how much spam & rice cost ? greedy

On on our mini vacation to Cali we discovered a new Cafe that just recently opened and decided to give it try. First off I'd like to say what amazing service my boyfriend and I had even though they were extremely busy! It was very hard to decide on what to get as the menu looked great. We both finally decided to try the Ghetto bird, which is fried chicken with bacon jam, bacon, provolone and cheddar cheese, aioli on a buttery toasted bun with truffle tater tots and the mento bento. The food was AMAZING! We would definitely come again. Dana who runs the front is always smiling and with it being busy she still managed to give great service! Congratulations and Thank you AI Pono Cafe. And I also heard Gene and Dana does meal preps too! read more

I've been in the Newport Mesa area for about a year and a half now. After discovering this place, I've been coming here at least once maybe twice a week. I've never once been disappointed and it's my go to when nothing else sounds good. The food and service is always right on. The only downside is the weird hours. read more

The Katsu is bomb! Everything tastes super fresh and authentic. Don't sleep on their desserts either! The rice Krispy treats are a must.

I've had my fair share of Hawaiian food, all pretty solid! However I've yet to find any that has stood out quite like Ai Pono! Before arriving a coworker had hyped me up about it saying it would soon become a favorite, so I had to see if it lived up to it! I found myself drawn to the "Da Roots Plate" with the Ahi Tuna Katsu, Short Ribs, Poke & Mac Salad all served over a bed of rice! Every part of this meal stood out and played a unique role in creating a whole masterpiece! The Ahi Katsu was so delightfully tender and having it prepared in the Katsu style with that crunch, finished off with a hint of wasabi for the PERFECT level of heat! The Short Ribs seared to perfection and seasoned to where I just about inhaled them! The star of it all was the Poke, I've had so much poke but this one was truly memorable! Prepared almost in the same style as you would meat and complimented by the toasted sesame, I felt tears of joy coming on! I can't wait to go back for more! read more

Absolutely love this place. I come here multiple times a week on my way home for work, even just for their delicious musubi. I love following their Instagram and trying out the rotating daily specials. So good! Going for dinner tonight!! read more

Can I give this place 10 stars?!? First off, the service was unbelievably amazing! Big shout out to Nicole and team. This was our first visit and they made us feel like their ohana from the start. Everything we ate was excellent! If it's your first visit like it was mine, I'd highly recommend Da Mento Bento. A little bit of everything to try. I'm a bit of a Mac salad snob and this was one of the best I've had! Chef also gave us a plate of the spam fried rice with fried chicken to sample and wowwww, we will return for breakfast! :) read more

In my opinion best restaurant in Costa Mesa! The food is very high quality for the price. I've not been disappointed once, the flavors and taste are always 5/5. I'm going to keep ordering as long as they're in business read more

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

fuck the haters, if you don't know hawaiian street food the sit da fuck down. dummehs the Hype is ALL THE FUCKING HYPE. food is ONO and aloha and love shows in the taste of the cooking, so if you don't like it, take your haole ass to l&l clown! read more

It was a mediocre spot for us it was just too saucy just a little overkill on the flavoring wasn't the super fresh. I like my poke not so sauced up I like it just lightly marinated so the fish isn't over powered by sauces. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Spicy poke and crab salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Makes you feel like home. Leave the mainland and come to the cafe if your feeling like some fire eats yooo

I like the ahi katsu plate and spam musubi. Haven't tried anything else yet. The mac salad reminds me of home. Its really good.

Best Hawaii food spot yet! Very comparable to actual food from Hawaii. Whenever I miss Oahu I come here! Closest thing to it. Prices may seem a teenie bit higher than other places but once you taste the food and see the portions, you'll understand. Totally worth it!!! read more

Absolutely love this place. Stumbled upon them at the old location, and immediately starting telling anyone that would listen that this place is incredible. Everything is delicious. Seriously, everything! The only bummer was the hours but that's solved with this new location! Do yourself a favor and come here for some real deal Hawaii street food. read more

Eugene is an absolute lord, he's bringing authentic Hawaiian food to OC, I've been so let down by all the Hawaiian spots in town I would never eat it unless cooking at home and I'm sure most people probably don't even know what real Hawaiian food is supposed to taste like ( L and L garbage) .... We're all So thankful to have ai pono bringing us the best quality Hawaiian food on the mainland!!! Shoots brotha read more

I loveee this place! Amazing food and you feel so welcomed when you walk through their door. I ordered their furikake chicken along with some poke. The poke was so good that I got back in line to order some to-go. When the food came out, I realized that I ordered the wrong type of chicken (I meant to order the Korean Chicken) so I will definitely be back for that. I definitely think that this place is a bit pricey compared to many places with similar food items, but it's worth a try! read more

There's a lot of good stuff on the menu and I want to try it all. So far I've tried mahi mahi and the short rib and a few other things, It was delicious but there's so much more like pork chops, shrimp and specials. There's always something new to try which I LOVE. Poki bombs and deserts are always a tasty treat. My only wish is that I still lived in Costa Mesa. read more

One of my favorite places to eat period! If you are anywhere near Costa Mesa you have to check this place out. Chef Gene and his team are top notch and treat you like family. I have some favorites on the menu but always try the specials as it's something different everyday. Chef Gene is very creative and a master in the kitchen. Keep it up, we will see you soon read more

Best food hands down! Hate that its not around the block from work anymore! But totally worth the drive to their new location. Id def recommend trying one of their poki bowls, the beed jerk plate they have and also the half pound of poke they sell mixed in with all thay spicy goodness!! Shout out to the chef always welcoming when i come in and as well as hes wife! Sucu nice people and will forever have my business! Thanks ai pono you're the best! read more

dude this place has literally the best food period. If I could eat the spicy plate for every meal, I totally would. This is the closest you can get to a legit plate lunch in Hawaii. Their food is always consistent as far as taste goes. Love the Mac, I normally don't like Mac salad but I will eat a whole container from here. Can't say enough good things about it. Hiiiiighly suggest it. You could try literally anything on the menu and be thoroughly satisfied. Ai Pono gained a loyal customer out of me and my husband. Will be coming in for some bomb a$$ guava chicken on the weekly from now on read more

Oh so delicious ! I've been having solo picnics at different parks in my neighborhood, socially distancing still, and I need to be out in nature .... Ai Pono is the best! The poke is delicious , the macaroni salad is so light and I had the guava chili chicken so good... even the next day cold so good!!! read more

Great food, if you can order something you actually saw and wanted to try. The instagram posts are NOT available to order, EVER. I've tried so hard to get one item on the menu and it's a "special" so i couldn't order it, then when I ordered something else it was once again a "special". They also close twice in the day. LET THE PEOPLE ORDER WHAT THEY WANR. read more

i got freee musubi because they made too many apparently super chill staff and good food too

Let's say I love this place. The favors are amazing and fresh. If you are tired of the same tacos, burgers and pizza give this place a try you will not regret it. read more

Cool place, nice people, nice aloha vibe I so wanted this place to be ono, most reviews were good but maybe I went on a bad day. I had the peppa chix and it was...ok. I have eaten plenty places on the streets of Oahu and I did not taste the flavor here that I taste there. Peppa Chix - ...ok (lower case no caps) Mac salad - small flavor and dry (you forgot to add the secret ingredient tuna) Hapa rice - mo water, mo cook or maybe use calrose like they use on the rock? Slaw - wheres the mayo??? I really want this place to be good since I work nearby, so I will give another chance in a couple of weeks. Hoping for better days, Aloha!!! read more

I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. I picked it up since I was in Newport Beach. The chicken was ok, over terribly cooked rice.

My bf took me to this place the other day and I thought it was very good. I love how everything I got was fresh. The food reminded me I was in Hawaii. 10/10 would recommend this place and I would come back soon read more

My wife and i love this place! Food is awesome and service is great. We eat here a few times a week, fast healthy options!

There was NO reason to inform you of the situation, had it been cosmetic, maybe. However it couldn't be fixed so why bother? As for your hot sauce, We were customers & did NOT love it. In fact it tastes a lot like tobasco sauce with no creativity. Lastly not sure why you would feel threatened by our loyalty to another location but considering your thin skinned reply it makes perfect sense! Stay Pono! As for your food my we suggestNono" read more

Great place and great people! I have been here half-a-dozen times and have loved everything I've tried. Just as important, the owners and staff are truly nice people. I am always warmly greeted and offered help in deciding what I should try next. Definitely recommend, especially during these tough times. Go show them some love and support! read more

Delish!!! The spam musubi is the best I've had, a must try!!! Everyone is super friendly and it's such a good vibe.

This place is so good! The Miso Honi chicken is a must, its crispy and not greasy at all. Delicious with their special spicy sauce. Very fast/friendly service and has a yummy modern/healthy twist to all of you Hawaiian favorites! The decor is pretty sweet too. read more

I spent my "glory days" as a little kid growing up on the north shore of Kaua'i on a small fruit farm eating loco mocos for breakfast, musubis for afternoon snacks, lomi lomi salmon, the works. This is by far the most authentic and best-tasting hawaiian food I've had thus far on the mainland. Took me straight back to my favorite childhood memories, which is one of the best things good food can do. Ordered a loco moco, a side of Mac salad, a few spam musubi's, and a slice of cheesecake with this absolutely fire lilikoi sauce on top, and everything was on point. Couldn't have asked for more. Mahalo for the trip down memory lane!! read more

Best Hawaiian food on the mainland! The Guava chicken is to die for! The staff is so friendly and helpful! Everything we've tried on the menu has been fantastic! You seriously can't choose wrong! Try the guava cheesecake too! Best I've ever had. read more

update- decided to give this place a second chance because all of my coworkers constantly talk about how good it is, and I work in walking distance. I decided I was going to avoid the poke and try something else, and really had my heart set on the ahi katsu. I showed up right at noon and somehow they were already sold out. I had chicken katsu instead, which was not bad.. but for the second time I'm leaving this place unhappy. They're moving apparently to a bigger location so maybe it will get more consistent/reliable.. but this is two strikes for me now. read more

You have to try this place... So good. Poke bowl (all styles) are awesome. Haven't ventured too far onto the menu but plan to when we return! A little weird with Covid - would recommend calling in if you've been before or know what you want... read more

New location is dope! Happy to be supporting local (pacific island) business! Good food, great people!