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!

Tasty and healthy food. I could eat here every day. Highly recommend Ahi katsu and the açai with the "liquid gold"

Food quality is amazing, and the flavor is on point every visit! And the cheesecake dessert is great as well!

Healthy local eats at great prices! Great place to hang out especially after training.

Best food in Costa Mesa. Have yet to have something I don't like. Food is amazing and the people there are amazing.

Chef Gene and Dana are what Aloha is all about, great people making great food! The only place in California that has Ahi Katsu, I'm talking the real deal Ahi Katsu. They have healthy options as well as your traditional Hawaiian style plate lunch food. Everything on their menu is delicious, you can't choose wrong! They have daily specials that are out of this world. If your looking for delicious food, make sure you check these guys out. read more

This is the best Hawaiian food in Southern California by far. Highly recommend da spicy plate. Poki is so good the best I've ever had.

I have eaten here now several times and let me say the food is great! Not only that, the owners and staff go out of their way to make sure that you enjoy your time there. I am always warmly greeted when I walk in. When I stop to review the menu,I am always asked if I have questions and they are willing to offer suggestions or explain the menu. I will continue to visit here to eat to support them as a small business during these crazy times and hopefully for many years to come. I definitely recommend this place! read more

It's my fav poke spot in oc right now. Their poke is tasty and I keep trying other places only to be disappointed and come running back. So yeah, definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Also the employees are super awesome and friendly. read more

Discovered this restaurant yesterday and came with my brother and sister-in-law for lunch. We ordered the Bento A plate (Ahi katsu special), Makai Special, and the Spicy Plate. All three plates were tasty, large in portion, and definitely filling. We would recommend these to anyone who hasn't tried them. While we had a good experience with the food, we had quite an unpleasant racist experience while in their outdoor dining area (not the fault of Ai-Pono staff at all). We seated ourselves at the only open bench table next to the register and we waited for our food while wearing our masks. A couple then came up to the register with no masks and after they ordered, the male customer unprovoked, made a comment directed at my family that we "looked like a bunch of communists". Then as they were about to seat themselves behind our table and as the server was about to sanitize it, he made a point to loudly say: "Don't sanitize it, I would really prefer that you don't sanitize this table". He then continued to make antagonizing comments about our masks. It takes a really uneducated person to deliberately try to make that point for other people to hear, and because he seemed so dumb, we had no desire to even entertain his whiny little baby tantrum. A takeaway here is that if you're going to be racist to Asians, you look extra stupid going to an "Asian fusion" establishment and ordering Chicken Katsu's for you and your girl. I wonder if they know KFC's exists. read more

Ai Pono Cafe is an experience in itself. Truly a great atmosphere with an incredible Chef who cares about his product, and you can taste it in his food. My favorite is the Ahi Katsu, but I kid you not you won't go wrong with anything on the menu. Make sure to get there early because it sells out. read more

New favorite Hawaiian place in OC. Being from Hawaii, it's hard to find anything on the mainland that comes close. Shoutout to the lovely owner who's from Maui and the chef from Oahu that are absolutely killin it. read more

Within walking distance of my office, delicious and healthy! Nice outdoor seating, too!

Being from Maui, I can honestly say that this place hits home for me. It reminds me so much of the food I grew up with. I'm so happy that there's finally a place in Costa Mesa that serves good Hawaiian food. My boyfriend and I eat here at least once or twice a week. Ai Pono doesn't just serve traditional "Hawaiian" food; they offer dishes that are inspired by other cultures that make up the islands. I love that they incorporate these cultures, a true take on "mixed plate". The flavors that Chef uses to make his dishes are true to Hawaii. The poke is the closest thing to genuine Hawaiian poke I've found in the area; however, I anticipate limited specials offered throughout the week, like jerk pork belly nachos (absolutely mind blowing)! DEFINITELY recommend Ai Pono. You have my support forever. read more

So good!!! Everyone is so friendly and the ahi katsu is amazing. Come here if you want the best Hawaiian food! The owner also gave me a free guava juice. read more

This spot was amazing!! I lived on the North Shore of Oahu for 4 years and craaaave authentic plate lunches, and had yet to find a place that matched anything I had out there. We came across 'Ai Pono Cafe and I have to say we struck gold!! Awesome aloha vibes that take you right back to the island, and amazing service. Not to mention the food is unbelievably fresh and so flavorful. I ordered the madras chicken curry, and it just so happened to be acai bowl day, so we tried those as well, and they were both phenomenal!! Will definitely be headed back their way as soon as possible. Can't wait for the Grand Opening if this was only the soft opening, I can hardly wrap my head around more deliciousness!! read more

We've been looking forward to try this restaurant for a while now & we were not let down! Our food was delicious & we will definitely be back. read more

Absolutely delicious food! Great customer service Amazing vibes and great music Calming and clean environment Will be back soon with the entire fam!! read more

Mann this place was packed and I know why... the food was excellent! Also, heard today was was their "Soft opening" at this new location... can't image how everything turns out once they get dialed in. Keep it up. See you guys soon. read more

Ai pono without a doubt is the best Hawaiian Street food in Orange County. The team there is top notch and welcoming. The food will take you back to paradise keep up the great work !!! Yewww read more

Outstanding flavor I visited Costa Mesa three times and each time is a wonderful experience the food will speak for itself outstanding thank you read more

Very tasty authentic Hawaiian Food with something for everyone including my young kids. The owners are great, mucho aloha. Worth the extra few bucks you might spend to eat here read more

Got the Spicy Ahi Poke Bowl. Was fresh, tasty & felt healthy Will definitely return. read more

Just stopped in randomly for lunch and it's now become one of my favorites. Had the Mento Bento, Hawaiian fried chicken, spam musabi - AWESOME! Small place and only been open a month or two so still new - definitely worth a try! read more

Really really good. I tried the korean bbq with poke plate. This place is like L&L bbq on steroids. The only down side is they only open for a few hours 11-2pm, but still giving them 5 stars. read more

Had the poke bowl and definitely delicious. Worth coming back for because it tasted as close to authentic poke as you can get on the mainland. read more

I would eat the Guava Fried Chicken every day. I have tried almost everything on the menu and everything I have ever had was incredible. The specials are always on point. I try to bring anyone I know here to experience the food, everyone I do is always pleased. It is all great food and the best part, I never have that heavy full type of feel afterwards just feel great because it's quality stuff. This is my favorite restaurant in Costa Mesa if you can't tell. Best staff and owners ever also. You can feel the aloha and care. Highly recommend. read more

way too overpriced for such small portions. was disappointed and taste/flavor were just average for Hawaiian food.

Absolutely amazing! Similar level to the poke and Hawaiian food you can find in Hawaii

I was'nt planning on eating here, but passing by the food looked really good! Everything is outside, no indoor service. You can order your food outside and pick up your food outside as well. This is a great place for those looking for a hawaiian plate lunch. I got their "bento" box which came with spam musubi, teri beef, chicken katsu, noodles and macaroni salad. It was very filling and delicious! read more

Staff is nice but the food is underwhelming for the price. Quality was just ok and the portion was small for the premium price tag. Wouldn't go back. read more

This place is amazing! Love the Guava and Dirty chicken. Best and most unique Hawaiian food we've ever had. Highly recommend it!

I love Ai Pono Cafe! The food is amazing :)

I came here with a coworker for lunch. The service is friendly and helpful. I ordered Da Ghetto Bird (special for today) and it's delicious! My coworker got the Mento Bento and likes it as well. There are also gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and paleo options. read more

My order at a nearby restaurant was cancelled, saw this place and decided to give it a shot. What a serendipitous situation! As a fellow Hawaiian transplant, I can attest that this place is legit! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Cheers! read more

I was once a HUGE fan of this place, but after I signed up for the meal prep things went downhill quickly! I have been trying to reach Gene "Chef" since December 16 due to unfilled meals from the meal prep that he offered. I showed up to pick up meals as usual before 8pm as agreed upon and the restaurant was closed. When I reached out to Gene he said they closed early for their Christmas party and that he would refund me for the meals since I told him we live over 30 minutes away and it would not be worth it to drive that far again for 1 days worth of meals...not to mention we were never informed the meal prep was ending....he just stopped communicating and when asked about the continuation multiple times he just ignored the question. I know that this was probably a side job for him, but when you're connected to a restaurant with partners I'm sure they expect a better representation from their partner. After 3 e-mail and 1 instagram follow ups since December 16th I still have not heard a peep back. Gene owes us $72 for 1 day of meals for 2 people. $72 is not going to break the bank, but it is just principal now. It is unethical and disappointing that someone we supported would act so poorly. We have raved about this restaurant and have referred a lot of people, but I am very disheartened. read more

Great food with lots of flavor. Best place for a quick lunch on 17th that hits the spot! Got all the good Hawaiian treats and drinks too

I found my way here by recommendation of a client who grew up on Oahu. After discussing his recent trip to the islands (and living vicariously through his adventures!), I asked him what his favorite local mixed plate was and without hesitation he suggested Ai Pono Cafe. He raved about it for quite some time so I knew I was in for a treat. My husband and I ordered our plate lunches (guava chili pepper fried chicken and hurricane chicken) and we were told they'd be ready in 20 minutes. Our order was fresh and ready right on time upon arrival. OMG Y'ALL. This place is the real deal. Both the guava chicken and hurricane chicken were amazing, although I was slightly biased towards the guava chicken. The Mac salad, rice, and slaw were all delicious as well; the Mac salad had a unique spice to it which I really enjoyed. YUM. I'm already dreaming of the next meal and trying the rest of the meal. Needless to say Ai Pono cafe will be filling our plate lunch needs from now on out!!! read more

Awesome spot! The food is incredible and you need to follow them on social media to check out their Friday specials. The vibe is amazing and the quality of food is spot on. read more