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    Kalei's Kitchenette

    4.3 (267 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kalei's Kitchenette Photos

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    KALEI'S KITCHENETTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Alan S.

    Solid four stars at a five and I give this rating because the flavors were on point and the Cooley chicken and pork. We're all cooked very well. Spam musubi was just OK and felt like you could definitely make it at home versus the 4.50 you'd spend. Service OK nothing outstanding because it felt more like a café than a restaurant and it makes sense because there was no inside seating. They have outdoor seating which was nice. Love the decor and the story behind this place. I decided to come here for my birthday and it was a nice treat because I was looking for more Hawaiian spots in San Diego. The mac & cheese was great I wish as a side they added more furike seasoning on the rice. Again, these are just small changes but overall the food is great solid and everything tasted delicious.

    Poke plate (half shoyu/half spicy ahi) only available on Saturdays
    Pauline T.

    I'm gonna be honest, I'm not usually a big ahi fan and so I tend to avoid going to poke places that don't have salmon as an option but this place has definitely changed my mindset. I came in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the poke plate with half spicy ahi and shoyu ahi. The price was a bit steep at around $25 but when I tell you, I completely demolished it within 10 mins... I got it to go but it smelled so good that I had to eat it in my car still parked right in front LOL. The ahi doesn't have an irony taste like other ahi I've tried from some other places. I think I definitely prefer the shoyu flavor though! I'm definitely coming back and bringing my boyfriend to try the other plates they offer!

    Hulihuli chicken mini plate - yummy
    Vivian H.

    Met a colleague friend here for lunch and enjoyed my lunch here. I wasnt sure what to order here as poke is only available on Saturday so I tried the hulihuli chicken mini meal. I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a plate in one sitting so I am glad I got a mini meal. I also couldnt resist the butter mochi with coconut and got an oder of that. Also, there is a lower price for cash vs card, so you can save some money by having cash ready. Limited seating here so not the best place to dine in but we got lucky and gor a table inside. Overall, food was good and loved the butter mochi. I'd definitely come back!

    Loco Moco
    Josh M.

    Food was decent. Thought I'd try my luck with a new spot for loco moco. The food/gravy could have used some salt. Also for $22 I should get more than a tiny scoop of rice. $22 is really high for a Loco Moco. I had high hopes but left disappointed. Seating is also very limited inside. The staff was super nice also.

    Kalei's plate: Garlic chicken, kalua pork, 2 Mac salad
    Catherine G.

    My friend recommended this place to me and it is so good! For my Kalei's plate, my two proteins were garlic chicken and Kalua pork and I got two sides of Mac salad. There is very limited indoor seating so I ended up taking it to go. Service was pretty fast and friendly. Overall: 5/5 flavors were very good together, garlic chicken was nice and crunchy, and I love their mac salad

    Hurricane chicken plate, poke, side of Mac salad
    Jetrina M.

    We went here for a late lunch and it was not busy at all. We ordered the hurricane chicken plate, side of Mac salad and poke to share. We loved the flavor of the fried chicken, though I think next time I would just get the fried chicken as I felt like the sauce was a little too much. The cucumber salad was ver refreshing and would definitely get again as well. We enjoyed the poke and it was a pretty large portion. Minimal searing inside and out, probably about 4-6 seats total. Free parking in the shared lot.

    Dana R.

    The last two years we have ordered take out for our day after Christmas lunch with family. We love this place. We usually order the tofu katsu, spam mysabi, teriyaki beef, garlic chicken, and crab salmon dynamite. The best thing by far is the crab salmon dynamite. I'm not a fan of the macaroni salad. They don't take orders over the phone so we went in and ordered then went back and picked it up. Less than ideal. There is no where to eat inside. Everyone working was super friendly. My design daughter really likes their graphics. Parking is in front.

    Garlic chicken plate with white rice and mac salad
    Izabelle Hannah Q.

    Service: [5/5] Friendly and efficient! The kind of spot where you can tell the people running it genuinely care about what they're serving. Price: [4/5] It's on the pricier side, but the portions are large enough that I personally think it's worth every penny. You're getting a lot of food for what you pay. Food/Drinks: [5/5] My favorite Hawaiian food in the area, and it's not close. Garlic Chicken Plate -- My go-to and an easy 5/5. Flavorful, satisfying, and exactly what you want from a Hawaiian plate. I could genuinely eat a whole tub of their mac salad in one sitting. It's that good. Don't sleep on it as a side. And a small detail, but they douse their rice in furikake, which is such a great touch and takes it from a basic side to something you actually look forward to. Hurricane Chicken Plate -- My boyfriend's usual and another standout. If you like a little heat and bold flavor, this is the one for you. Hawaiian Suns -- They sell these too, which is a classic pairing and a nice bonus. Ambience: [4/5] Seating is very limited, so plan accordingly. We ended up taking our food to go and having a picnic at the beach, which honestly turned out to be the move. Even after sitting in the car for 25 minutes, the food was still delicious--a good sign of quality all around. Overall Experience: [5/5] Kalei's Kitchenette is my favorite Hawaiian spot in the area. If you haven't been, put it on your list. Limited seating is really the only downside, but as we found out, a beach picnic makes for a pretty great plan B.

    Crispy chicken combo plate ($15): comes with your choice of two sides (rice, mac salad, or pickled cucumber salad).
    Grace L.

    Right when I entered, I was warmly greeted by the workers. I decided to pick a combo plate, which comes with a protein, and your choice of two sides (rice, mac salad, or pickled cucumber salad). For my protein, I decided on garlic chicken ($15) because it's deep fried and comes with mirin sauce. This was my favorite protein out of all the ones that I tried. I also got the Kalei's Plate which allows you to pick two proteins (excluding loco loco and tofu katsu) so I went with teriyaki beef and kalua pork. In order of my personal favorites for the proteins: 1. Garlic chicken 2. Kalua pork 3. Teriyaki beef For the sides: 1. Mac salad 2. Rice 3. Cucumber salad One of the times that I ordered at Kalei's, I got to meet the owner. She was so warm and welcoming, and really left such a great lasting impression on me. I highly recommend Kalei's the next time that you're craving Hawaiian food! They really embody the aloha spirit in addition to their delicious Hawaiian food.

    Outside
    Rachel G.

    Definitely a favorite for Hawaiian food for me! It's a cute and intimate little place to enjoy some delicious food. The service is usually cheerful & friendly! Never a complaint and I've always been served with a smile. As far as the food goes, I've eaten here a few times, trying the loco moco and kalua pork. The rice is always cooked just right - not too dry but not too wet to the point of being mushy. The egg still has runny yolk and the patty has good flavor for the loco moco. The kalua pork was most & had a smoky flavor! Mac salad is great, but still contending to be my favorite. My parents really enjoyed their garlic chicken as well! Can't wait to visit again

    Combo plate: Teriyaki beef and Kalua pork
    Justin C.

    I was craving Hawaiin food and in the North County area, so I swung by this wonderful Hawaiin establishment. This is a newer eatery and the ownership really strives to bring the Hawaiin hospitality and culture to San Diego. I would say they succeeded! I got a combo "Kalei's Plate" $17 which meant I got to pick my two proteins and a garlic chicken plate: - Garlic chicken + cucumber salad + mac salad - Kalua Pork and Teriyaki beef + mac salad + rice - Two spam Masubis ($4 each) The kalua pork was my favorite, moist and bursting with flavor. The garlic chicken was deliciously crispy on the outside and juicy and on the inside. They do a fantastic job with the Mac salad. The food was very filling and was good for a filling dinner for my wife and I and an extra midnight snack. Service is very friendly and there are some limited seating options. I really enjoyed reading the history of Chef Andy and his team. I really appreciated the owner's wife who came to greet my wife and I warmly and explain the history of some of the dishes. This is a regular rotation in our dinners whenever we are craving Hawaiin!

    Eating da grindz!
    Noni C.

    Mahalo, Kalei's Kitchenette, for catering some onolicious food for a party we had on Saturday! My Brutha Steve Y did a review below but it was under "Clarita" not my local name, Noni! :) Picked up by my other Brutha Derrick! The food was so ono and everyone mopped up! Mahalo again for the ease in ordering and solid packaging! Recommend highly!

    Combo
    Audra H.

    Ordered the kids garlic chicken bowl for my son and the combo one that had the garlic chicken and the teriyaki beef. The chicken was super crispy (almost too hard for my teeth) and the beef was a tad dry. The rice was cooked perfectly. Overall, I felt the food was average. It was ready fast for to go which was a bonus.

    $25 including taxes: Teriyaki Chicken, Garlic Chicken, Mac Salad, and rice.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Kalei's Kitchenette Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kalei's Kitchenette

    Hi Andy, on your website. I'm looking using my phone for itemized or combo dishes, not the party trays. You show a crab Friday combo special. I looked for more info on that plate. Where can I view the info on the plate?

    Aloha Tyler! The best way is to go to our online portal: https://order.spoton.com/so-kaleis-kitchenette-12848/san-diego-ca/63f6a311d8bba0b9b2ee71a2 and change the date to Friday -- pretend that you are about to put an online order.… Read more

    Another vote for malasadas, please?

    Is the Huli Huli chicken sauce made with Sweet baby rays?

    Aloha Albert! we make our own marinade and sauce for all our dishes.

    Will you ever serve lau lau's?

    Do you have malasadas?

    No we don’t. Sorry. Maybe in the future.

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    Homestyle Hawaiian

    Homestyle Hawaiian

    3.9
    (2.3k reviews)
    11.3 mi
    $$

    Homestyle Hawaiian has a lot of really yummy options for food. Not necessarily vegetarian friendly…read morebut as a pescatarian I find options. I really like the Garlic Ahi sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries. The other amazing thing they have is banana pudding, which runs out pretty quickly. Depending on how busy it is, food can take a while to prepare but that means it's fresh upon receiving. There is some seating available for dining in but I mostly get take out, and it seems everyone else does as well. The tables are usually clean and tidy, and the area is a bit small and cramped but still plenty of seating. The only issues I have is that the menu prices don't seem to match across their physical menu, ordering platforms, and what you actually get charged. I believe what I order is listed somewhere around $13 on the physical menu but I always am charged closer to $16. They also do run out of stuff, so have a back up order in mind just in case. Overall a pretty tasty place despite being a bit pricey and unreliable in terms of availability.

    Soooo I came to this place when it first opened . Amazing family from Maui opened it. You walked in…read moreto island music, island vibes and the food took me right back to my Hawaiian vacation. It became a spot we went to often . Over the years I had not been , realized I needed that island vibes today..... It's been a couple years since I have been here... there were two types of music playing when I arrived : today's hits and mariachi playing over eachother at the exact same time. Service : the three ladies working the front were amazing very kind and helpful. I ordered Garlic shrimp with rice and mac salad The shrimp was slightly over cooked but the sauce was pretty good and the garlic sauce was on the rice and the Mac salad was great . Shrimp Gets a 4/5 rice 4/5 and mac salad 4/5 Sausage Masubi No Masubi sauce on it ....rice was fine... sausage was so over cooked it was actually shriveled up little piece not even a big slice of sausage . Basically the texture of pepperoni. No sauce again... dry and tasteless so I tossed it 0/5 Kalbi ribs (picture ) One of my favorite dishes . The picture is how my ribs came (I had not eaten one ounce of meat off them) because there was no meat. The marinade was not what it used to be but it was sweet and savory so that's fine. They were def marinated . The one rib I could get meat off was so hard and chewy and dry... Now In Hawaii they have ribs hanging above the stove that are not always the grill type. they are almost air dried, and heat cooked but they are tender and have meat on the bones . This was not that. I usually never return food it has to be bad but I was not paying for meat that didn't exist and beef jerky . The ladies up front worked their handsets to get me a refund (they had to call their boss to try and figure it out ). I appreciate their great attitude and time . Not sure I actually got a refund In The end of all of it, but that's ok they tried. 0/5 on the ribs I don't know if anyone knows if this place is under different management or ownership since when they opened... but it has taken a huge dive. I'm sad. The average stars for everything is 2.5

    Photos
    Homestyle Hawaiian
    Garlic Shrimp Scampi
    Garlic Shrimp Scampi
    Poke Nachos - fried wantons with 2 styles of ahi poké, avocado, seaweed, and imitation crab.

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    Poke Nachos - fried wantons with 2 styles of ahi poké, avocado, seaweed, and imitation crab.
    Leilani's Cafe

    Leilani's Cafe

    4.3
    (1.3k reviews)
    13.4 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    So delicious!! I got the Jr Boy breakfast and the coconut French toast is great, eggs were fluffy,…read morePortuguese sausage had a nice caramelization. I didn't end up eating the scoop of rice, for me it felt like an afterthought on the plate. The nut latte was delicious as well. Order inside at the counter then take your food to go (saw lots of to go orders places) or snag a seat. They have outdoor bar seating and a few smaller tables, wouldn't rec coming with a big group. Staff was all incredibly friendly. Food came out hot and clearly freshly made.

    The decor was fun, fresh, homey and made you feel like the owners really care about your experience…read morehere. I really enjoyed the ambiance. We ordered the food and drinks with the cashier, and they were helpful with suggestions. Note that they don't do smoothies here anymore. I was really looking forward to a green smoothie. You then take a number and find a seat. There's plenty of seating in the deck or in the indoor section, which felt vibrant and felt like eating in someone's dining room inside of their house. It was lovely. Though the tables weren't cleaned as often it seemed. Outside of ordering and the food being taken to your table, there's no other service. Ordered the ahi plate and the jr boy. The jr boy is perfect for anyone who wants a combo of sweet and savory options. Both orders were delicious! Only thing I noticed was that the salad that came with the ahi had a few browning greens I had to remove. The ahi itself didn't taste fishy, but fresh and cooked very well. The sauce was citrusy and savory and added to the flavor of the meal. The portions were just right. I wasn't immensely full but I felt satisfied. The drinks were also good. The macadamia coffee was good and the dragonfruit matcha was pretty and also tasted great and on the sweet side. I'd come back here again for drinks, brunch/lunch, and overall chill vibes.

    Photos
    Leilani's Cafe
    Leilani's Cafe
    Chocolate haupia espresso w/ whip.

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    Chocolate haupia espresso w/ whip.
    Homestyle Hawaiian

    Homestyle Hawaiian

    3.9
    (794 reviews)
    9.6 mi
    $$

    Delicious Hawaiian food with hefty portions! This is an office favorite, so we sometimes grab food…read morefrom here or come for a group lunch, since it's so close to the Kearny Mesa business area. I LOVE to get a 2 item combo, you can choose from their various fried chicken, teri beef, kalbi, spam, and kalua pig. All options are good but I like the korean chicken! That's my go-to and the combo usually lasts me 2 meals because they give you SO much! I've also tried their ahi poke nachos - tons of crispy fried wonton chips, topped with spicy and original poke, and 2 thick avocado slices, it was a nice creamy mix. I've seen friends get da beast, and the big braddah combo, and loco moco. All very hefty meals! There are tons of fun options for meals, I wanna try more!

    This is my favorite go-to homestyle Hawaiian location. I love getting takeout here. The service is…read morefriendly and quick. Some of my favorites are: -Korean Chicken: crispy juicy chicken with a delicious dipping sauce -Chicken Katsu: crispy breaded chicken pieces with consistently good texture -Garlic Shrimp Scampi: highly recommend, this dish surprised me and gave me flashbacks to North Shore in Oahu -Galbi Ribs: when this dish is good it is easily my favorite -Spam Masubi -Strawberry Lemonade I highly recommend the Mac salad side as a strong complement to the meat. My only complaint is that the consistency of the Galbi ribs ranges from incredible, blow you away 5/5 fall off the bone to 3/5 chewy with a lot of fat. I'll continue to come back to this Homestyle Hawaiian location! When it's a treat yourself weekday after a long day at work I'll often add in a strawberry lemonade and spam masubis.

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Ahi Poke
    Ahi Poke
    Homestyle Hawaiian

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    Dalu Hawaiian BBQ

    Dalu Hawaiian BBQ

    4.3
    (196 reviews)
    18.4 mi
    $$

    We've passed this place countless times, and not sure why I might have written it off, bc typically…read morehawaiian food is expensive and not the best experience. Well we decided to check it out, and we were pleasantly surprised! This place was busy and the vibe was immaculate. You get happily greeted by the people at the register, the menu is right there easy to read, and the place is spacious with plenty of seating. We dined in and really enjoyed getting served on plates, we ordered the bbq mix plate so we could try everything, kalua pork, and spam musubis. Good portions and honestly would probably order for take home. There are plenty of options for those with big appetites, and little appetites. It looks like a lot of nearby workers come here for the lunch specials which is great. If you're in the area and aren't sure of this place, I would definitely give it a try!

    This shop is very cute, lots of decor, staff are very friendly and welcoming. I ordered the katsu…read moreplate and a spam musubi. They do give you a generous helping of food on the mixed plate as well. The good: flavoring on the galbi was good, the katsu had a good crunch to it. Mac salad was flavorful as well. The ehh: the teriyaki beef was dry, and the musubi had way too much rice:spam ratio. I did get some digestive issues the next day as well, so not sure if I'll be back on this one.

    Photos
    Dalu Hawaiian BBQ
    Teriyaki Chicken Plate at Dalu Hawaiian BBQ! Grilled boneless chicken, marinated in our teriyaki sauce, served with macaroni salad and rice
    Teriyaki Chicken Plate at Dalu Hawaiian BBQ! Grilled boneless chicken, marinated in our teriyaki sauce, served with macaroni salad and rice
    Savor the freshness of the sea with our Ahi Tuna Salad at Dalu Hawaiian BBQ! Enjoy tender slices of seared ahi tuna atop a bed of green mix

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    Savor the freshness of the sea with our Ahi Tuna Salad at Dalu Hawaiian BBQ! Enjoy tender slices of seared ahi tuna atop a bed of green mix
    Katsu Cafe

    Katsu Cafe

    3.9
    (911 reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    Casual order-at-the-counter Japanese place that serves dishes like teriyaki chicken, sushi, ramen,…read moreyakisoba, etc. Their menu is massive, and the selection is quite friendly towards those who are new to Japanese food. The specials are a great deal as the portion is massive and enough to share between two people comfortably. If you dine in, most entrees also come with miso soup. The curry chicken katsu was nothing special; the curry was a little lacking in flavor, and I would've appreciated a salad of some sort to add variety and freshness. The macaroni salad is good though. The D2 special is great value and variety. It comes with miso soup, tempura, salad, macaroni salad, and teriyaki chicken on a bed of fried rice. The fried rice has a shockingly good wok flavor, and the teriyaki is quite good. Not a dish that will blow your mind, but definitely hits the spot without breaking the bank. They have some tables outside if you have a dog or prefer to sit there right by the parking lot; your food will still be brought out to you, just let them know when you order.

    One star, and it pains me to write it because we've been a loyal regular customer here for years…read morebut the service has just gone down the hill and the staff was so rude to us. We came in at 7:30 pm and the person at the counter rushed us through our order like we were a nuisance for being there. When the food came out, they brought my 8-year-old son a bowl of raw salmon. We had ordered baked. When I asked them to exchange for baked salmon she refused saying "once it leaves the kitchen, no refunds". I was really startled because the tone and brashness of the refusal was something I have never experienced at any restaurant. I told them I didn't want a refund. I just wanted the baked salmon which I thought we had actually ordered. She still refused but offered to get us a baked salmon plate if we paid for it. To the owner: please take a look at your night staff. Loyal customers shouldn't be treated like a nuisance, and a simple fix shouldn't turn into a standoff over policy.

    Photos
    Part of inside (it's about double the size of this)
    Part of inside (it's about double the size of this)
    Pork katsu and tempura shrimp roll
    Pork katsu and tempura shrimp roll
    Thursday Lunch Special - Mini Teriyaki Chicken with California Rolls

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    Thursday Lunch Special - Mini Teriyaki Chicken with California Rolls

    Kalei's Kitchenette - hawaiian - Updated June 2026

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