The Kalbi is off the hook! So much aloha in their food. When I'm in the area , it's a must stop for me.

I'm not sure what the hype about this place is but apparently got great reviews on Yelp so we went for lunch today. Most items are $18+ maybe it's the location. I got Da root combo which had ahi katsu, ahi poke and kalbi with rice and macaroni. The food tasted ok nothing too special for that higher price. Portion wasn't a lot so I ate all of my combo. The kalbi was extremely salty. We also got the guava cheesecake that was delicious, not too sweet. Overall food was mediocre and be prepared to spend over $20 for lunch. read more

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Food is great but your food is made to order so make sure you have time when you go. I always order the crack head chicken and share with a friend. read more

delicious Hawaiian food in southwest OC! You can never go wrong with any of their plates and their poke is marinated well and consistent. I love "da spicy" plate as it has good heat to it without being too spicy! It read more

Omg I love it here! Food is amazing as well as service. The have many type of combos for you to try different things.

Went here twice. First time was AMAZING. Literally GAS. Second time, was disappointing because they gave less food and the quality was subpar and not it. While keeping in mind that Sunday was far busier than Thursday, the inconsistency here left me feeling like this was a 5 star experience to a 3 star. Here's my review of both experiences: 1st time: Ordered Online for PickUp - 05/04/23 (Thurs) Service: I can't eat raw fish. I asked to sub out Poke with Shrimp ($3) over the phone b/c they didn't have that option online. The person who took my call was really understanding and immediately updated my order. 10/10 Ordered: Da Spicy Plate $18.50 Shrimp: SO BOMB. Better than half the shrimp I had in hawaii from those famous food trucks. Shell was crazy crispy, hot, fresh, plump, and juicy. The sauce packs mad flavor-- pairs perfectly with rice. 10/10 Mac Salad: not the best I ever had but real decent. Pairs really well with the rest of the dish. It's well flavored and not too salty which is perf because the other meat items have salt. Great addition/balance to the meal. 7/10 Rice: pillowy and soft. Well cooked. Loved the sauced that got absorbed into the rice!! So well flavored and not salty at all. 9/10 Guava chili pepper chicken: Gas. Crispy, great guava chili flavor-- bit peppery taste. Exactly as advertised and is well cooked. Not the juiciest chicken I've ever had but it's solid. I got two pieces of this amazing chicken. 9/10 Korean Crispy Chicken: delicious. The skin was perfectly charred and the chicken was juicy. First bite of chicken literally melted in your mouth. Textures and flavor was fantastic. This piece literally covered half my plate! 9/10 _____________ _____________ _____________ 2nd time: Ordered In Store for Togo 05/07 (Sun) Disclosure: asked to switch out poke for extra mac but was told I wasn't allowed to for the mix plates. Only original plates. She made an exception for me and said only this time. Ordered: Da Spicy Plate $18.50 Mac Salad: consistent taste/quality with the first time. 7/10 Rice: kind of hard and undercooked. I received less rice/sauce this time around. 5/10 Guava chili pepper chicken: Consistent flavor with the first time I tried this but they only gave me one piece of chicken as opposed to before. 8/10 Korean Crispy Chicken: wasn't as decadent this time. Received half the size (refer to pictures for comparison). Chicken "ok". Flavor was the same but tasted drier/not as tender to me compared to my first time. 6.8/10 My Boyfriend got the loco moco ($14-15) with 2 eggs-- no photos. The hamburger was flavorful, and eggs were cooked with a slightly runny yolk (which is how he prefers it) and gravy was flavorful but overall, nothing outstanding. Rice was also undercooked and disappointing. In our opinion, Aloha Hawaiian BBQ seems to be the better choice in terms of quantity, quality and value for loco moco. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - 1st Time : Da 'spicy' plate - replaced poke for shrimp. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Been here more than a handful of times at this point and it's one of the few places I can go to and feel confident hopping around the menu! Today I had the beef bowl and it was so good that I forgot to take a photo until I was halfway through it. Parking is super easy since you have the whole lot to search and the staff are always so incredibly nice. It's got a bathroom and indoor/outdoor seating. Always a good vibe here and don't skip out on the passionfruit cheesecake! I'm gluten free so I can't eat the crust so I just go for the filling and incredible tart passion fruit syrup they put on top. read more

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I had been hesitant to try Ai pono due to a few reviews I saw that weren't pleasant but of course I will always try something myself to give the business the benefit of the doubt. Needless to say I should have been going here sooner! We live in South Orange County but drive out here just to grab their food. My husband was born and raised in Waipahu Hawaii and he can only eat so much L&L here in our little boring town of mission viejo lol. He absolutely loves all the food here and especially likes the vibe of the restaurant. I'm a huge fan of their chili pepper chicken and Korean chicken and it's a breath of fresh air to get poke the way it's supposed to be sold. Whenever you go here remember to also grab some of the rice crispy treats because omfg these are addicting. Ai pono is definitely worth the drive and the wait because there will be a line, it's that good! read more

We have been meaning to try this place for a while and a coworker of mine has raved about it. It did not disappoint. Everything was really flavorful and the staff was so nice. We went for lunch with our son and a staff member brought a plate and extra napkins. It was a Hawaiian eatery but in Costa Mesa. We don't make it out this way often unless it's sidecar but now I have a new spot to get some food to go. read more

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

Happened to be in the area and stopped in for lunch. I follow Ai Pono on IG so I was pretty excited to try it out. So first things first, the menu (forgot to take a pic) is on the wall, in printed pages so it was a little overwhelming to try and read every page and description... I kinda just skipped all of it and ordered what was right in front of me. 1-Ahi poke bowl and 1-teriyaki chicken bowl. It's a little pricey and fairly basic... you can get a typical poke bowl with all the toppings for around the same price or less. Or something like Waba Grill/Flame broiler with veggies. Ahi poke bowl was a small scoop of poke over white sticky rice, with a couple cucumbers, and onion. I opted to not add the crab salad due to allergies. Teriyaki chicken was just that, grilled/charred chicken over white rice. No veg besides scallions. Best part of the meal was the spam musubi. It was semi-expensive for the simple items. $36 for 2 bowls, 2 spam musubi & 2 cokes If I were nearby, I'd come back for the spam musubi. read more

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The food is definitely Onolicious here! Hawaii's mix culture food all in one place and in Costa Mesa. The variety of plate lunches here all look sooo...good. I tried 3 different plates. My favorite so far... Da "Roots" plate and the Makai plate. Employees are full of Aloha and da owner is as real as is. All Pono here! A definite stop over when I fly frequently from Hawaii- Cali. Highly recommend anyone to eat here, you'll never regret it! read more

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

The food was very good! It tasted like authentic traditional Hawaiian food. The service and ambiance were wonderful--the staff were so kind, attentive, and supportive of every guest. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Hawaiian restaurant! read more

I tried Ai Pono after seeing it ranked as the best restaurant this week on Yelp. I ordered the guava chili pepper bone-in chicken, hoping for something special, but it tasted more like sweet and sour sauce. The chicken itself was hit-or-miss--some parts were tender, others dry and salty. The rice was soggy, possibly from the sauce or heat, and the coleslaw was bland and unappetizing. However, the mac salad was good, similar to L&L Hawaiian BBQ. Honestly, the flavors reminded me of *Mama Hieu's on Bolsa Street*, but at $19.34, the portion felt a bit pricey. Decent, but not quite worth the hype. read more

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

This place is located along the side where Jamba Juice and other adjacent businesses. The place is small but very welcoming. It gives great vibes and most importantly sticks with the theme. The food is great and very flavorful. There are a plethora of options on the menu but I only have gotten a chance to eat the Beef Bowl. It is super delicious, the beef is very tender, rice is good and the sauce is something to die for lol. I only get chance to come by during my lunch break when I'm in the area but this is my first go to spot when I'm in the area. read more

I really don't get the hype. Saw this place on social media and thought we'd try it out. The line was quite long when we got there, so I really had high expectations. The food was ok. Maybe a little bit above your average hawaiian food. But it wasn't exceptional or anything. I thought the serving was pretty small, and I don't even eat much. The prices were a little too much for what you get, in my opinion. Overall, it was an ok experience. I mean, some people might like this place, but it's not for me. read more

Born and raised in Hawaii and have eaten many loco moco meals. First time here at Ai Pono and glad we went! I had the Ai Pono Moco and it was Ono.. brown gravy is the key and they have done it right! . We all enjoyed the choice of decor and detail of it. Will be back for sure!!! read more

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

tldr: a hidden gem with flavorful, hot Hawaiian food with great variety Came here on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed! Super great sign. Ended up going with da spicy plate for a combo of poke and chicken. Came out with a lot of food for the price and it looked so picturesque. The plate came with spicy ahi poke, mac salad, rice, a crispy Korean fried chicken, and guava chili chicken thigh. My favorite of the entrees was the spicy ahi poke - fresh and flavorful. The skin on the fried chicken was unlike anything I've had before - super crispy but not oily at all. Mac salad was the only thing that was a bit lacking - could have used more flavor but I wasn't mad. Also got a Hawaiian sun drink to wash it all down and was a happy camper Looking forward to coming again and trying other dishes when I'm in the area read more

Ai Pono Cafe - Da Spicy Plate: Spicy Ahi Poke, Mac Salad, Korean fried chicken, guava chili pepper fried chicken - so good - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great Hawaiian style street food love this place Chef and crew are Amazing plus the pictures on the wall with Hawaiian history and information read more

Braddah wasn't here today and we drove all da way from Chula Vista. But, we met Emily and Brittany and they were "aloha!" GinaBee had da Roots plate and I chose da Mento Fuckin' Bento. Ho sooo ono! Might be lilabit salty or spicy for some, but not fo me. Da seared ahi and poke wuz fresh! Teriyaki beef and Kalbi wuz soopah! Da fried chicken was "crack!" Mac salad was smooth! Love da mahi too! Da interior made me feel at home wid da photos of Kamehameha Fa Great, Wueen Emma, Queen Liliuokalani and Duke! You gotta see the murals in da hallway of da awesome Koi. Cannot wait to fuckin come back again and read da menu title. Tanx, heh! read more

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Honestly I'm not a fan of these Hawaiian food chain restaurants, just my preference. Enter Ai Pono Cafe-- located on 17th street, the location doesn't face the street, FYI. What I like is their variety of Hawaiian food, and they incorporate their 'flair' on their dishes. I have eaten here a few times, and have tried their chicken, and their poke, each time was amazing! Check out their IG for some of their various dishes. And what makes APC they are located across the street from Sidecar Donuts-- winning! read more

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

Rip off for what you get. The only thing that I've had here that's decent is the loco moco but messing up a loco moco is pretty hard to do. My friend got the firecracker chicken, only for it to be dry, overcooked, and underwhelming. Rice was hard, mac salad was OK. Definitely should work on consistency. Seems like the owner is on social media too much instead of actually working on his staple menu items. read more

A perfect Katsu ahi tuna plate. With really nice slaw and Mac salad. 10/10 Looking forward to trying their other items read more

MEH. They sure have impressive social media presence & hype up other influencers... not sure if their friends get different food.... I've been psyching to try them & finally got a recommended to-go plate to share with my wife today. She took 2 bites & said I could finish the rest. It was ok, but about same as Trader Joe's. read more

What a complete disappointment this place is. I've spent a good portion of my life living on the Big Island and Maui and I guess you could try to attempt to call this Hawaiian food, but that's a stretch for anyone that knows better. First horrible service by people working here that seem.bothered that you've come here to spend money and eat. Small portions and some of the fish tasted off and not fresh. Most of our group had mix plates and they all literally had a couple of teaspoons of potatomac salad. A couple people had teriyaki bowls with a couple dribbles of teriyaki sauce on the chicken and when my daughter asked for a some more teriyaki sauce they told her they would charge her $2 for a tablespoon sized portion. Don't waste your time or money at Ai Pono there are too many better options to find better Hawaiian food with better service and prices. No Hawaiiana spirit here. read more

Overall a pretty disappointing experience and overpriced, no better than any of the generic Hawaiian BBQ chains. Teri chicken combo - very average, but the best thing we had. Short rib & ahi katsu combo - overly salty, small portions. Guava chilli fried chicken - by far the worst thing we had, bone dry, felt like it was twice fried bc the surface of the meat itself felt like leather. Passion fruit cheesecake - the cake itself was no better than store bought, the passion fruit sauce they drizzled on top is way too tart, and it's a tiny slice for $6. Def not coming back. read more

Honestly, I had high hopes for this place. I love Hawaiian food but this was extremely disappointing. My guava chili chicken was overcooked as you can see in my picture. The Mac salad was more like Cole slaw with macaroni mixed into it. For $41, I would rather go to L&L. read more

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

I've been craving "Hawaiian" eats a lot more during this pandemic. Must be the tasty dishes that they offer!? Oh wait, they specialize in Hawaii Street Food!! There is something about Asian street food that always gets to me. Ai Pono has limited hours & days that they are open. They offer take-out & curb side pick-up. Just no delivery. I've ordered online and via phone as well. For online ordering online you have to wait until their opening hour of 11 to place order. As soon as you place order you go pick-up. There is no option to select a later time. When picking up your order, you have to wait outside & check in with a staff who's working the table set up outside their entrance. Mask required! My encounter with their pick-up customer service has been just a-ok & I'm just going to leave it at that. Upon reading what they had to offer & seeing all the food pix -- my mouth was watering! My eyes are always bigger than my stomach & I ordered more than I should have for my very 1st visit. Absolutely no regrets cuz Ai Pono's food is delicious & packed with flavors. I haven't had anything I didn't like from here. It is a tad bit on the pricier end but the freshness, tastiness & generous portions do justify. Bento C** [5.0/5.0] Da Spicy Plate [4.5/5.0] Da Yo Bowl (Shrimp)** [5.0/5.0] -- contains kimchi & rice Guava Chili Pepper Chicken* [4.5/5.0] Hurricane Chicken** [5.0/5.0] Muay Thai Shrimp** [5.0/5.0] Spicy Garlic Ahi Poke [4.0/5.0] ** My absolute FAVs here Ai Pono is pretty active on IG. They post their daily specials that is made for that day only. Take advantage! If you're a fan of Hawaiian eats then you gotta check out Ai Pono. I can't wait to return! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -:: OVERALL RATING ::- 4.5/5.0 :: Venue 4.0/5.0 :: Service 5.0/5.0 :: Food ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: read more

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We decided to try this place after seeing it featured on an instagram reel. At first I was doubtful because of some of the reviews here but I'm so glad I've tried it because soon as I took my first bite I knew I found a new favorite spot. We always go to Hawaii and are fans of mixed plates. This place reminds us of the island but is also a good introduction for those who haven't been. They offer combo plates that have a good variety of protein (shrimp, ahi tuna, mahi mahi, korean ribs, chicken etc). I love how you get to sample everything. Food The food is a bit on the the pricey side ($18-22) but for the quality and the portion of meat, it is well worth the price. The combo plates come with macaroni salad (which was just okay for me), white rice (pretty good), and three protein (YUM!). Da Spicy Plate is a good introduction, it has a very crispy korean fried chicken, a flavorful and tender guava chili pepper chicken and a very fresh and well-seasoned spicy ahi tuna. Despite the name, these weren't spicy at all. We also tried Da Roots which has ahi katsu (medium rare) topped with wasabi mayo sauce, sweet korean galbi and they substituted the spicy ahi tuna with shoyu tuna. Shoyu has a more refreshing flavor, with ginger and sesame oil flavor. It was also very good though I prefer the spicy ahi tuna. If you are into fried chicken, you're gonna love the crackhead chicken. It was a bit on the salty side but a great pairing to rice and topped with sriracha. Service Food came quickly and the servers were friendly. Ambiance Very clean, and you really feel like you're in hawaii with the music and the interiors Parking It's in a plaza where Target is so you can find plenty of parking. read more

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I love Hawaiian food and this is a great spot for it. The atmosphere is chilled and laid back just like the islands. Servers are friendly and food comes out in a reasonable time. Seating can be a bit limited during busy hours. The food here is very flavorful and comes in decent portions. The chicken and Kalbi are always good options. TheyI also have good Ahi poke and sides for their plate options are on point. Definitely give this spot a try! Fun Fact: I learned from a plaque on the wall about the origin of the "shaka" sign. It's a symbol that conveys the "Aloha Spirit" that resides in the Hawaiian culture. It's a concept of friendship, compassion and peace. However according to Polynesian researchers, surprisingly the word shaka does not even have Hawaiian origins. Nevertheless, the start of the shaka sign often comes back to a Hawallan fisherman by the name of Hamana Kalili. Kalili was from the town of Laie and lost his three middle fingers as a result of a work-related accident at an old sugar mill. After the tragedy occurred, Kalili could no longer work at the sugar mill. Instead, he took a job with the sugar mill's train that would run from Sunset Beach to Kaaawa. Children would frequently jump on this train to ride from town to town, and part of Kalili's job while working was to ensure that the kids would keep off the train. When Kalili wasn't looking, the kids would mock his missing fingers and signal to each other with the now known "SHAKA" sign. Although there are a number of origin stories for this hand gesture, the story of Hamana Kalili seems to prevail as being the true origin. read more

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

Stopped in for a quick pick up order at Ai Pono. I had ordered lunch catering previously for work that all of my coworkers loved, but I'm pescatarian and didn't get a chance to order their fish till now. I'm so glad I returned to give them a try! I ordered the ahi tuna bowl with rice and seaweed salad. The bowl was a nice portion and the quality of the fish was excellent along with the sauce/spices they added. Pick up was easy and they have a huge parking lot so it was easy to park. My food was ready and labeled with my name for ease. I will definitely be back to try more and next time will snap some photos. read more

Food was flavorful and delicious. Served promptly after ordered and the atmosphere was nice. This was the first time here and I wasn't disappointed. I had the spicy plate which had a couple pieces of chicken over a bed of rice with a side of tuna poke and macaroni salad. I usually substitute Mac salad for rice or something else, but since this was my first time here, I decided to give it a try. It was surprisingly good. Probably the only place I would eat macaroni salad at. The poke and chicken were very flavorful and the skin on the chicken was really crispy and added a great texture to the chicken, which was juicy. I tried the accompanying hot sauce, but this meal didn't need it. I would definitely recommend this place to others and can't wait to go back and try another dish. read more

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

$15 is outrageous for a tiny scoop of fish. Mostly seaweed salad and shredded imitation crab. Very disappointing. No flavor at all on the tuna. Looks marinated but taste just like frozen tuna. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing but definitely do not order this. Re: I have had authentic poke. I did not want cilantro, edamame, etc. I just wanted some good ahi tuna with rice. Tiny scoop of poke maybe a spoonful that is $15. I do not want sweet-fin type of poke. read more

Ai Pono Cafe - $15 Spicy Garlic Ahi Bowl. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I'm not mad, just disappointed. I was so excited to try out this place, since I hadn't eaten all morning. I took a bite into this delicious looking piece of chicken when all of a sudden, the texture of it was strangely soft. I took a look at it and its PINK?!?!? This is downright appalling. I try to keep my expectations reasonable when trying out a new place, but raw chicken is where i draw the line. I could have gotten food poisoning. Beware. read more

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FOOD WAS SO FIRE. i would come back every week. every other day. i tried the crack plate and it was FIRRREEEE. good service. good ambience, very hawaiian. 10/10. read more

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

The food here is amazing! Stumbled into this place after a day at the beach. Had "Da Spicy Plate" with guava chili fried chicken, Korean fried chicken, poke, Mac salad and rice. Delicious! The fried chicken was seasoned wonderfully with some sweet, savory heat. Also ended the meal with a guava cheesecake and it was so smooth, creamy, with a hint of Tang from the guava on top. Dana the owner is typically walking around checking on everyone. She is uper hardworking and down to earth -- you would never guess she's the owner unless you asked. read more

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

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Fresh food! Perfectly seasoned, best food outside the Hawaiian Islands! Recommended this place above all others... read more

Best Hawaiian food in town. Hawaiian street food ftw. Lots of variety, there's something for everyone. Generally, everything seems to be a little too salty, but still very delicious read more

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

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This place is fantastic! The food is so so good! Flavourful, fresh, and big portions of deliciousness served in a container ready for take out (like they'd be anything left!).. The line was long but the service was quick; we placed our order and unfortunately there was no seating by the time hey called our names, so we had to take it with us. Too bad, cause I would have loved to sit down and take it all in; this place has a fun, laid back vibe and great music.. totally worth a stop if you're in Costa Mesa! read more

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

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Really loved this little gem! Amazing Ono grinds! We had the oxtail stew. Big portions and so tasty! And also experience the sample platter... it had a little bit of everything. This is Greg if you can't decide WhT to eat!! But the star of the dish was the shrimp! Sweet & savory with a kick of garlic! Sooo delish! I'd go back and taste everything else on the menu. Great customer service, friendly and welcoming staff! Definitely will be back! read more

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If you're craving Hawaiian food, then this is the place for you. What I ordered: - The Guava chili pepper fried chicken plate is a crowd pleaser. Pro tip: Add shrimp to any meal to make it a combo. Best decision ever! - Da Roots Plate (bone in short rib, ahi poke, ahi katsu). Another winner right here. Great surf and turf option. Overall, this is my "go to" spot for Hawaiian food in the Costa Mesa area. 10 out of 10 would highly recommend. read more