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    Kawamata Seafood

    4.5 (1k reviews)
    ModerateHawaiian, Seafood, Poke
    Closed 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Kawamata Seafood Hawaiian Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    KAWAMATA SEAFOOD ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Kawamata Seafood

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    This is $24 worth of food...rip off. Literal scraps. Not worth it. And no, i did not touch the food when i took this photo.
    Nina N.

    This place used to be good post covid. For the price and the amount i could get better some place else. They charge an arm and a leg for every toppings with how little they give you. i got the regular $12.99 (half rice and salad) and i added a few things on there as well. The total price plus tip came out to be about $24 dollars. When i opened the container, i saw how little rice and salad they gave. Honestly, it looked like scraps or leftovers from someone else. Literally looked like a mini icecream scoop of rice and salad...that's how little it was. The same for the fish and toppings. Everything looked like it was sprinkled on top. I was utterly disappointment because this isn't the first time i noticed the portion size being small. This is the second time im giving it a chance after covid and i can confirm that it is the biggest waste of money for what they give you. They're ripping everyone off. tl;dr, mediocre flavor, portion size poor for the the price. Go somewhere else, there are better ones out there.

    Nicole C.

    Visited from AZ and went looking for good seafood. Kawamata serves up fresh and simple poke that comes standard with rice, sweet onions, shoyu, and then your sauce of choice. Toppings are extra 99 cents each. I ordered the tuna + salmon combo with spicy mayo and avocado. Expect a line and limited seating. We got takeout and ate at Pines Park down the street with a good overlook of the beach.

    Ying L.

    We stopped here for lunch on our way to San Diego. We arrived at 1pm and line was a little long. We waited about 15 mins in line and got our orders with in 10'mins. All of the sudden the line grew so fast. At least 20 people showed up. We got a large and a small to share for 3 people and it was enough. Everything was fresh and well prepared. The add on is about $1.80 each so keep that in mind. It will add up Friendly service. They do have a few tables outside but no dine in. You will need to parking around the area and walk over.

    Wasabi poke (tuna and salmon)
    Liz B.

    A small but authentic poke shop with large chunks of fresh seafood! We decided to come here for a quick bite while on a road trip, as it was a close distance from the 5 freeway. I tried the two scoop poke bowl with tuna and salmon, and while the portion was a little small, it was still an affordable price with fresh fish! It's closer to an authentic Hawaiian poke bowl, focusing more on just fish and rice. I enjoyed the wasabi sauce, I thought it added a nice flavor to the bowl, and I also appreciated the amount of onions. Parking is a little limited, and there is no indoor seating. There's a small window to order from, and a few tables outside to enjoy your poke! I would definitely come back if I was in the area.

    LE F.

    This WAS my favorite Poke spot. I'd drive hours to get my poke from here. I went yesterday for the first time in a long time and I was really disappointed. I got a regular portion and it was so small. Not anything like they used to do. It was so small it only covered half of a regular size container. I remember the first time I went (in the pic I posted from my original post) it filled the entire container. I ordered salmon poke bowl and I counted 4 pieces of salmon total. 4! For a $20 poke bowl? I'm just really disappointed. Looks like I'll need to find myself another poke place. So sad :(

    salmon ahi poke on cabbage and brown rice
    Natalie Y.

    pretty decent sizeable chunks of fish here. they let you pick the base (white rice, brown rice, or cabbage) and the sauce for choice of fish. They have all sorts of combos available like all salmon/tuna/octopus, or mix and match. the poke tasted good but it wasn't outstanding for me. I wouldnt make the trip again bc its far for me but if i lived closer, i would. Service is pretty quick. You order at the front and theyll call your name when its ready. seating is limited. theres only a few tables and chairs to sit. Parking is also tough. There were only 3 spaces to park in so it's better to park elsewhere and walk.

    Tuna + Spicy Tuna in spicy mayo
    Kelley N.

    Solid poke spot in the Capistrano area. The line was quite long midday Saturday. The fish tasted fresh, the flavor was really good as well. The regular portion is smaller than I expected compared to other poke spots. Limited parking and seating at the store. Remember to not park in front of the liquor store as you will get in trouble for that!

    Large bowl with salmon tuna and octopus. Added avocado, seaweed salad and sweet corn
    Win Y.

    Long line on Saturday 1pm but it was worth the wait! Very few seating fyi and smaller portion size than some of the other poke places but everything tasted fresh and good. Line is for ordering and food comes out pretty fast and the guy taking our order was nice.

    Menu
    Shalin E.

    This place is as good as any average poke spot. I really don't understand the allure. Fish I good quality as to be expected, nothing exceptional. Prices are high for small protein portions. Each topping has an additional price, not normal practice in my experience. Small parking lot, approximately 8 spaces. No inside dining, all take out.

    #7 with scallops and furikake added
    Amy B.

    This place is definitely not the best poke spot in OC - that honor would definitely go to North Shore Poke Co in Huntington Beach, not even on the same page in comparison. The food here is not worth the high price. But, fresh fish is not cheap to start with, so the only way around this is for Kawamata Seafood to improve the quality of their fish. It honestly tasted pre-frozen, which I really don't like. The original sauce tasted better on the cabbage base than it did with the poke fish, and that's not a great thing when the main ingredient is the fish and not the cabbage. The toppings were super plentiful and honestly were too much for the bowl as a whole, as in, not well-balanced. Maybe this is because they know their pre-frozen fish doesn't have the greatest taste. The service was honestly terrible. The young male who took my order couldn't be ruder and gave off the impression that he just doesn't care about doing a good job with customer service. The young female who gave me my order when it was ready was also dead to the world and left me with a very bad impression of the staff as a whole at this place. There isn't much to be said about the vibe as it's right next to the road with one picnic table for everyone to share, to the point where I took my food back to my car and ate in there because there was nowhere else to sit. It's probably best described as mismanagement causing a quietly hectic sinking ship. I will not be returning here.

    Maritza P.

    This place feels like home. It's so simple. You order at the door. The menu is simple as well. The fish quality was top knotch. I mean it tastes like it was just caught that same day! I really can't express how yummy this place is. I'm going to come back!! This after paddle boarding is the best!

    Closed for awhile
    Sylvie C.

    I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place after visiting dozens of times already!! This is a wonderful poke place with lightly seasoned fish over rice. I usually bring my own soy sauce and other extra toppings as it seems silly to pay for extras. There are some parking spots onsite but I usually just park on the street. The trip and the long line is definitely worth it as the fish is extremely fresh. I like driving down the street so I can picnic by the Capistrano Beach while enjoying the fresh poke. Life can't get much better than enjoying the beautiful view and eating such delicious, reasonably priced, and super fresh poke. Seriously, unless you're averse to the idea of eating raw fish, the place is definitely worthwhile visiting at least once!

    Outside
    Vince P.

    Kawamata Seafood is serving up some of the best Hawaiian style poke in South OC and beyond! This spot is located right on the corner of a residential neighborhood. They do have a small parking lot with some spots or there is also street parking nearby. They have a couple tables outside for seating, but are mostly known for takeout. Since they are a smaller shop, lines can form quickly but they do move pretty fast. For their menu, they have a solid selection of different bowl options for you to customize. I ended up getting a large bowl with Salmon and Tuna and a scoop of Imitation Crab. Overall, I am glad I was finally able to stop by and check them out. Their fish is super fresh here and the portions are very generous. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming. Come stop by for yourself to see if they have some of the best poke in South OC or not!

    Large bowl with ahi tuna, salmon, & octopus (left) and Small bowl with ahi tuna & salmon (right)

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    Kawamata Seafood Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kawamata Seafood

    Do they have poke by the pound?

    Nope

    Are there onions in all poke? Can you get any without onions?

    You can get without

    Do they pre-marinate their poke overnight?

    No, poke is fresh

    Do they only accept cash as of 6/21?

    No, they are currently accepting both, cash and card.

    Can you call ahead to pick up your order?

    No you can't

    Is this place Cash only?

    no, they accepted credit card.

    View All 15 Questions

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    Breezy

    Breezy

    4.5(803 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    I wish I could give this restaurant more than 5 stars because it was truly a great experience. The…read morerestaurant is based on a Hawaiian/ filipino fusion and everything down to their classic dishes has a flare to it. My favorite part of the dishes had to be the garlic fried rice- it was perfectly crispy, the flavor was on point and not too salty + the rice was cooked just right. I love a savory breakfast and Breezy delivered with the Longganisa breakfast bowl. I would definitely add the vinegar although I normally don't add it to my breakfast it adds a nice tangy touch. They do get very busy and don't take reservations so I would recommend you get there early or put your name down + occupy a few hours because it can take a while to get a table. They do have to go coffee which is nice if you are looking for a quick latte + pastry. There is very limited seating, only two bathrooms so the line can get pretty long and sometimes the bar seating is assigned not first come first serve. My friends and I loved this place so much we went back the next day prior to our road trip!

    Ambiance and aesthetic are lovely. There was a bit of a wait especially since we had a large…read moregroup. After about 30 min we asked the hostess if we were able to let us order coffee while we waited for our table, the answer was yes, absolutely. Baristas never gave us a look of acknowledgment that we were waiting at the register to order (for about 6-7 min), we ended up getting a text for our table before she even looked up at us. The coffees were ok. Not strong, barely a coffee taste, light flavor from toppings. Seemed watered down. We ordered Cali lattes, BBL, coco niu. My niece enjoyed her matcha though, said it was good tho could have had more of a matcha taste. There was variety in menu so we expected them to be pretty good. It's not a coffee shop, so no big deal but I would have probably been better off getting a regular drip coffee. Food was ok. Ribeye bowl was probably the best ribeye was perfectly seasoned, very flavorful. The Filipino inspired dishes were ok, not very authentic and served with spinach... didn't quite go with the adobo bowl in my opinion. Longanisa was standard, garlic rice ok. All the sweet dishes were good - ube French toast and one pancakes. I think the American style items and sweets are safe, but the Filipino/hawaiian/islander inspired dishes were a bit weak. I was really excited for this place, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

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    Breezy
    Breezy
    Breezy

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    Coastal Kitchen

    Coastal Kitchen

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$$

    Love coming here whenever I have a chance. Came with a group and we decided to split the small…read moreplate and three entrees. We came for a birthday and everyone was so kind and wished them a happy birthday. I've been here before and everything I've ever had was delicious. The artichoke and kale dip was perfect. The chips were light and crispy and was the perfect vessel for piling on loads of the dip. Out table inhaled the chips in under five minutes. Out of the baby back ribs, pork chop and rib eye I have to say that the rib eye was so tender, so moist and so flavorful. I might have to order it every time I come back. We were so full we didn't get any dessert but they still have the butter cake on their menu. So I'll definitely have to get it again next time

    I've been here many times and I love everything on their menu. I would recommend making a…read morereservation especially on the busy weekends. Restaurant is nice with some booth seating in the back and even some outdoor seating. Parking itself-there's a small lot next to it but it's almost always full so you can do some street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods. When I last came here, we ordered the red pepper hummus to share and I ordered the French dip! It was excellent as per usual and the service was good. One critique I would have though is that one of the people in my party was a vegetarian and had ordered a veggie burger. The people bringing out the food accidentally swapped the plates of someone else in the party who had ordered a chicken blt when placing the dishes in front of each person. Unfortunately the vegetarian did take a bite of the chicken blt before realizing it was not the veggie burger and spit it out. It is what it is and was an honest mistake. But, maybe confirming the dishes before placing it in front of the person would be good. First time it's happened but we hope it doesn't happen again because we love this place!

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    Coastal Kitchen
    Coastal Kitchen
    Coastal Kitchen

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    Maki Yaki - The Washington Roll. Bland and the overly sweet ponzu sauce didn't help.

    Maki Yaki

    4.3(366 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    If you're in Dana Point and looking for something simple, honest, and actually made with care --…read morethis little spot surprised me in the best way. I ended up here in the middle of the day while working in the area. Never been before. I try to avoid chains when I can and pick something new each time. This place caught my eye, and I'm glad I walked in. It's a small, family-run vibe -- and I mean literally. Looked like a husband and wife running everything themselves. They were both super polite, calm, and you can tell they really care about the food and about every guest who walks in. No rush, no attitude, just warm hospitality. I went with something safe for me -- ramen and salmon sushi. And both were just... really solid. Not overcomplicated, not trying to be something fancy. Just good food made right. The broth had depth, noodles cooked right, and the sushi was fresh with balanced flavor. No complaints there at all. The place itself is small. Not a big dining room. A few tables inside, clean but definitely more of a takeout-focused spot. They don't have a restroom available inside, which kind of confirms that they expect people to grab food and go. And honestly -- I would. Not because it's bad to sit there -- it's fine. But this is the kind of meal that hits even better sitting somewhere by the ocean with the breeze. I'd definitely order takeout from here and eat outside by the water next time. I paid around $30, which is very fair for the quality, especially in California. They do ask about tip at checkout before you get your food -- that part always feels a bit weird to me, but I get it. Overall -- 5 stars for the food and the heart behind the place. I'll remember it. And I'll be back -- probably to pick up a to-go order and take it straight to the beach.

    This quaint location is a mom & pop shop run by the sweetest people ever. Don't expect stellar…read moredine-in service as you will have to order and pay up front before anything. Either way, the staff here will always make sure you have everything you need as long as you ask. You're free to help yourself w/ hot or room temp water at the dispenser in front of the green wall. Plenty of parking and jsyk there is no public restroom. As for the food, everything tastes great! You get a great amount of fresh fish for the most affordable prices in the area. The sushi rice tastes good and I appreciate how the rolls aren't stuffed w/ rice to make up for the lack of fish. I especially like the Aloha roll, Lollipop roll, Crunch (shrimp tempura) hand roll, and the sashimi & carpaccios are all fresh. Love how you can get pickled wasabi (real wasabi) for a reasonable up-charge. All of their salad dressings are made in-house too! Great place for a quick & casual bite to eat. They got treats for dogs and lots of friendly vibes to share. Super accommodating to all, and can confidently say that they treat their regulars so well. Always happy to support a local, family-owned business! Thank you :)

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    Maki Yaki - Excellent

    Excellent

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    Baked Salmon roll

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    Heritage Barbecue

    Heritage Barbecue

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    Swung by San Clemente with couple of friends and went to this cool spot called Heritage barbecue…read more It is right in the heart of their downtown district. As usual, I ordered a little bit of everything and was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the brisket and the sides that came with it. It's also great that they have a little bar on the side where you can order your selections. Don't be fooled by what you see online when they say it's all sold out. There is stuff that's still there when you walk in and is available. First off service was great. They take the time at the cash to explain to you what everything is and you get a chance to see how much you've ordered and if it's not enough, you can add right away. Once that is done there is a person that seats You and gives you a table there's also a bar on the side where you can order your own drinks. I would definitely choose a beer to go along with the barbeque. Once everything arrives and dick in you notice just how good everything is brisket was the number one star for everyone at our table. The decor is nice. You're sitting in an outdoor area with a lot of shade and they also has this kind of rustic look. Next time I'm in San Clemente I would definitely go back and have another bite.

    heritage barbecue has been on my list for FOREVER!! finally…read moremade it out on a saturday morning we made it to the end of the line around 1130am , which prolly had maybe 50 ppl in front of us we waited in line for about 2 hrs . i was there for the sides lol i wanted to try the chicken, but it was sold out literally when it was our turn to order. thanks person in front of me.. the potato salad, spicy cucumbers and classic mac were my favorite. the chili was okay, could have passed on it the food comes out quickly and seating is plentiful and outdoors i believe they are expanding, which is great, bc they need it. service was cool and organized once you ordered parking: street parking (5hrs) and parking lots , i believe its $2/hr

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    Heritage Barbecue - Front of the building and the location to order

    Front of the building and the location to order

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    Kawamata Seafood - hawaiian - Updated June 2026

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