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    Hapa J's

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Hapa J's Takeout or Delivery

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    HAPA J'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    Recommended Reviews - Hapa J's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spam Tempura
    Emmanuel T.

    We stayed close to this Hawaiian restaurant which was conveniently within walking distance. It's nice clean restaurant the ambiance was nice but I think it needed a little more of the Hawaiian feel in the decor but the music kept the vibe going. We ordered the luau plate was more than enough food for both my wife and I to share!. The food was great we weren't fans of whatever white sauce they brought but the BBQ sauce went well with the pulled pork!. We also ordered the spam tempura which was pretty good & to drink a new school Mai Tai that was delicious!. The coconut dessert on the luau plate was just the right thing to finish things off!. The service was great & super friendly. I would definitely come back when in the area!.

    Teriyaki Beef bowl
    Jus E.

    The service was amazing and fast!!! Siana was friendly and nice! The food was delicious though the ambiance was okay the music was too loud. Overall food was delicious! We will be back and we highly recommend it!

    Shirley S.

    Good size portions, all your faves on one plate, fast and friendly service 7 of us arriving on a late Saturday evening and we all ordered the Da Biggest Mixed Plate (6 of us splitting 3 plates). So good and more than enough for all. The of the evening was the Ono Poke Nachos SO ONO So much more to come back and explore Added bonus is when they let us split the bill

    Laura S.

    Good food, service and atmosphere. For a tasty Hawaiian meal, Hapa J's hits the spot. It's located in San Clemente and keeps with the laid back, casual feel of the beach city.

    Mac n Cheese w Macadamia Nuts
    Rebecca W.

    The only thing I'd change about this place is it's location!! I wish they would come to LA!!!! Hapa J's is a GEM of a restaurant located in San Diego/Clemente area, specializing in Hawaiian food with enormous portions. Seriously, if you think you know big portions, this place will make you think again. We ordered: LOCO MOCO - Heavenly. Came with 3 side dishes, we opted for the mac salad, the pineapple fried rice, and greens! Seriously could serve like 3-4 people to share. The pineapple rice surprised me - I wasn't expecting such a sweet and satisfying texture! Highly recommend getting that as one of your sides! CHILI MOCO - Yes we doubled up on the moco. This came with 2 eggs on top. It was a little too spicy for my sensitive acid reflux prone tummy, but I enjoyed it! MAC n CHEESE - This came with Macadamia Nuts sprinkled on top! It was rich and heavenly, I had to eat this in multiple sittings because it was so rich! We also asked for a side of haupia for dessert, even though it wasn't on the menu. But nothing like some fragrant coconut putting to top of the meal. Our server was an absolute joy. She was very attentive and friendly to us throughout the evening, and made it all the more enjoyable!! I love that there are windows all around the main foyer area, so that you can feel the ocean breeze and it never gets too stuffy. The restaurant itself is actually deceptively large, as they have various seating areas deeper into the space. Parking is located across the street where Stewart's Surf shop is. There is signage for Hapa J's! If I ever find myself in this part of town again, I would LOVE to come back!

    Da Luau Plate
    Edward S.

    If you're passing thorough San Clemente, make sure to stop at Hapa J's for great Hawaiian cooking. Da Luau Plate: The plate is massive, possibly enough for two meals. Their kalua pig is really juicy, flavorful, and tender - the best item on the menu. The shoyu chicken is really tender, and it should have its own plate on the menu again. The Portuguese sausage is savory and well seasoned. For a little sweet treat, there's a square of coconut milk haupia pudding and pickled mango slices. You can add three sides. The correct answer is one scoop of rice and two scoops of mac salad. Parking: The restaurant has a large parking lot on the side street.

    Hapa Nachos - Big enough to feed the fam!
    Scott B.

    So much goodness from this spot! Great Happy Hour discounts. The service was attentive but not intrusive or invisible. The food was super fresh and flavorful! The atmosphere was nice, clean but pretty loud. Seems like a great family or event spot as well! We hadn't been in a few years and were very happy about the experience! We'll be back!

    Loco moco. Huge portions!
    David W.

    TL:DR - Huge portions for a good price. Super friendly After we spent a day at San Clemente beach we just wanted something quick and tasty. Hapa Just looked ono so we dropped by. There is parking across the street in Stewart's surf shop parking. We came on a Thursday evening at 730 and it was chill. Not too crowded. But that was perfect because our food came out super quick and the waitress was super friendly. We got the loco moco, chili moco fries, and mac nut mac n cheese! They were all incredibly delicious and the portions were huge!!! We could barely finish the loco moco and had to take the rest home in carry out boxes. Overall I would definitely come back for another round of food!

    Da Biggest Mixed Plate
    Joe M.

    Stopped by this Hawaiian spot on the way back from San Diego and enjoyed the island-style vibe and friendly service. We ordered the big mixed plate to sample a bit of everything, plus a cup of chili. The chicken katsu was the clear standout--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The teri-beef was good, but the rest of the plate fell short. The shoyu chicken was my least favorite, and the kalbi beef short ribs were sliced so thin they didn't add much. It doesn't taste like authentic Hawaiian flavors, but it's a decent spot if you're craving something different and want to try a variety of dishes.

    Loco Moco Bowl
    Chelsea H.

    Parking: there's a small parking lot across from Hapa J's (on W Avenida Cornelio). Otherwise there's street parking, but that can definitely be tough. Service: they were very attentive and kind. Quickly took our order and brought everything out. Ambiance: we enjoyed the island reggae music they were playing. Loved the chill vibes inside the restaurant, felt like we were really on the island. The restaurant was huge and had tons of indoor seating. There was also bar seating. Food: Ahi Poke Trio (8/10)- the first one was a crusted ahi, probably my least favorite. I really enjoyed the spicy mayo poke on chips, it was really good. I also liked the marinated tuna with the sesame oil! Delicious! Hapa Fries (8.5/10)- the French fries were delicious, so crispy! Fresh out of the fryer. The sauces were ketchup, honey mustard, garlic aioli, and thousand island. My faves were the garlic aioli and honey mustard. Mini Loco Bowl (with two sides: white rice and kimchi) (6/10)- not my favorite, the meat was a little too well done so the patty was a bit dry. Kalbi Plate (with three sides: white rice, Mac salad, and kimchi (on the spicier side)) (8/10)- the kalbi meat were super flavorful! Absolutely delicious. Definitely on the pricier side though.

    Outside
    Vince P.

    Hapa J's is serving some of the best and authentic Hawaiian food in all of South OC! To get here, there is a parking lot across the street from the restaurant with some spots or street parking around the area as well. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with a good amount of seating. Wifey and I stopped by for dinner around 6:30pm and were seated right away. For their menu, they have a variety of starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, plates, and bowls to choose from. We opted to get the Spicy Poke Plate and Da Big Mixed Plate along with a Fruit Punch and a Plantation Tea for our bevs. Everything we had was delicious and the portions were very generous! Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. All of the staff are very friendly and accommodating. Pro tip: make sure you ask for togo box after because you will definitely have leftovers. There is a reason why this spot has over 1,000+ positive reviews!

    Combination platter
    David Z.

    We wanted to grab a nice homely dinner near San Juan Capistrano. Saw this spot and decided to try it out. We were seated promptly and service was very good. The inside is very large. There are tons of tables for dinner service. We ordered the combo, and there was probably enough food for two of me! Would definitely come back.

    Hapa J's, San Clemente
    John S.

    A fun place that serves large portions at reasonable prices. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. I asked for a low-salt garlic chopped steak and it was served perfectly. This flavorful dish was made of chopped flank steak and came with three sides. I chose papaya, stir fry vegetables and green salad, thus making it a more healthy meal. The tasty Happa Nachos menu item was huge and included a substantial amount of cheese and pork. Unless you have a big appetite, are very hungry or plan to bring much of it home in a "to-go" box, plan to share it. I liked that a variety of beers were offered at prices even more reasonable during their happy hours.

    Luau Plate missing shoyu chicken and haupia (did it melt?)

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    5 years ago

    Went to dinner here for a friend's birthday not too long ago. Amazing nachos! And amazing service. Would recommend to anyone in the area.

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    5 years ago

    Im in a wheelchair, they had a problem with my service dog. Its the law in America. Also rude. Also looked dirty. Not a fan.

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    6 years ago

    Love the food and people here. Traditional Hawaiian food with a very homey feel and great beer!

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    7 years ago

    Happa J's pork is tbe bomb. The man fries will fill you up and leave you smiling all night!

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    6 years ago

    Bar sliders are amazing! Not unlike the Mac salad. The food is outmatched only by the amazing bartenders!

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    Page 12 of 36

    Hapa J's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hapa J's

    Any outdoor dining set up?

    no outdoor dining

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes I have brought my dogs to sit on their outside patio. The seating is like sitting at a bar, though.

    View All 6 Questions

    Coastal Cowboy

    Coastal Cowboy

    4.3(299 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Pet friendly

    We moved to SC in early May and have been wanting to try Coastal Cowboy ever since. No seed oils…read moreand garbage in their food, our kind of food. The first move is you walk in and order at the counter, the line moves quickly and the girl who took our order was very knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell these employees are trained well. They give you a number and you grab a table. We were there on a Saturday night at 6:45 and we had no problems getting a table. Pro tip: Order beers & appetizers at the counter and then hang and have a couple of drinks and order dinner with your waitress. The food: Tallow Fries - Must order, the best fries you'll ever have. With the homemade ketchup good lawd! We got 2 baskets for 4 of us. We should have gotten 3 baskets. Coastal smash - 2 Pattie's, no seed oil sauce, pickles, onions, cheese on a fabulous brioche style bun. My wife LOVED this. Brisket tacos - An absolute winner. Smokey, salty, tangy, plenty of umami with cilantro and pickled onions. Fire! The only thing i would have loved was some sort of salsa. Maybe there was and I missed it. Caesar salad wrap chicken - this was a sleeper hit. My daughter is a Caesar salad conissuer and this was right up her ally. And with avocado oil Caesar dressing, no garbage! Comeon. Grilled fish tacos - very fresh and good. I think there was a sauce but these were dry. It needed more sauce and some salsa. Mind you the quality was there, so I had no problem eating them. But they were a bit bland honestly. 10/10 friendly service 10/10 easability if ordering and seating. 9/10 Food This will become one of our favorite family spots no doubt. Thank you Coastal Cowboy for caring enough to be seed oil free and health conscious with your cuisine.

    Great menu and very clean place. Looks new. Ordering at the counter isn't my thing and then…read moreasking for a tip. Ugggg. I don't mind tipping servers however ordering at the counter isn't service. Cool that you can eat at the counter but still having to order in a line rather than a server. Restroom very clean! That's a huge plus. Pricey place however what do you expect from a tourist place. Ahhh. Restroom so clean I had to leave a gift Food was very tasty . Got fish n chips and a side of rice. The rice was A+. Fish and tarter was very good. . Why not give five stars. Well. Service for a 22 buck 2 piece fish n chips could use some help.

    Photos
    Coastal Cowboy
    Coastal Cowboy
    Coastal Cowboy - Dinning area

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    Dinning area

    Captain Mauri's - Capt. Mauri's menu part I

    Captain Mauri's

    4.1(224 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I love this place. I've been coming here since it was captain culver's.... Over 20 years ago... and…read morethe things I'm obsessed with are: 1. Bombay Melt (curried chicken with secret Bali sauce, tomato, onion, and cheese atop an English muffin) served with soup of the day, green salad, or potato salad 2. POG- passionfruit, orange, guava juice. They also have delicious smoothies. The place is owned by Mauricio but you'll often find his daughters working the restaurant. :) They are lovely people with excellent customer service. You can sit inside or outside. It's a very laid back vibe. You order at the counter, and then they will bring your food out to you or call you when it's ready. The only thing you need to know, is sometimes they close a little early.. even though their hours are usually till 16:00, I've found them closed at 15:00 or 15:30. I suspect it all depends on how busy they are. So, if you want an afternoon snack, I recommend you call ahead to make sure they are still open.

    Only had to removed one star because the paper they wrapped the burrito in was embedded in the…read moretortilla because of the heat and the saran wrapped, so I ate some paper. LOL! Overall it was a very filling breakfast carne asada burrito and less than $15, it was hearty. I would get it again but probably order for dine in; it has onions, eggs, carne asada and bell peppers, the seasonings is alright but I brought my own homemade hot sauce which made it 1000% better. She did offered me salsa but I declined. I would come back and tried other things on the menu like their muffins, I saw a lot of customers getting that. It's a cozy place, had patio tables and such but the day I went it was raining but god, their chicken noodle soup caught my eyes but I was really craving a burrito. (Luna a place a couple of door down was closed due to maintenance issue.)

    Photos
    Captain Mauri's - Capt. Mauri's menu part II

    Capt. Mauri's menu part II

    Captain Mauri's - Capt. Mauri's menu part III

    Capt. Mauri's menu part III

    Captain Mauri's - Capt. Mauri's menu part IV

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    Capt. Mauri's menu part IV

    The Riders Club Cafe

    The Riders Club Cafe

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    This place is so cute!!!…read more The food was really good and the buns are excellent. My only issue, was that the veggie burger made me super gassy, which is not the fault of the restaurant at all- they did what they are supposed to do- make the food I ordered, make good suggestions, and let me enjoy their beautiful patio happily- hence 5 stars... but man... the farts. That was surprising. They had a bunch of housemade sauces. I would not suggest the homemade ketchup. It's more like a homemade tomato sauce, which is a weird thing to dip fries into. As for the rest of the sauces, I would for sure pour them into my mouth. And a hard yes to the strawberry shake. That tasted like it was made from actual strawberries.

    These are the best burgers I've ever had. Everything I could ask for in a burger, and they do it…read moreright, every time. The variety of toppings is also plentiful and perfect to build the burger of your dreams. The best thing though, hands down, their waffle cut sweet potato fries paired with their house ranch. I can't recommend them enough. I love that they both always taste fresh and delicious. I would include a photo, but every time I order them, they are gone in a flash. Service is done with a smile and a friendly energy. As far as ambiance, I'd say it's like a casual beachside kinda joint. (in my opinion anyway, ofc) I've been a loyal diner here for the last 10 years, and I'll keep coming back.

    Photos
    The Riders Club Cafe - Front counter and grill

    Front counter and grill

    The Riders Club Cafe - Two Hot Dogs Meal and Fries

    Two Hot Dogs Meal and Fries

    The Riders Club Cafe - Outside signage.

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    Outside signage.

    Hapa J's - hawaiian - Updated September 2026

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