Amazing food Great service Wow on all levels Cocktails were fun. We had the tower, halibut, butterfish. Everything was so good! Super special food. read more

Pono was the first of our SLO weekend reservations and it was SO GOOD! We started by sharing the brussel sprouts which were deep fried then tossed with a sweetened fish sauce and adorned with pomelo segments. The flavor pairings on this plate were so good! While we felt like the fish sauce dressing was still a tad too salty, the mint and pomelo were excellent foils and the bites where you get all of it together were just heavenly! For mains, I opted for the scallops massachussett while boyfriend got the swordfish. The scallops were dreeeeeamy. They were perfectly seared and the purple yam puree underneath only accentuated the sweetness and the freshness of the scallops. No exaggeration, this was one of the best scallop dishes I've ever had! Boyfriend's swordfish was much more meaty but he also really enjoyed his dish. For drinks, I got the golden hour cocktail which featured passion fruit liqueur and other citrusy notes. It had the perfect beach vibes and I enjoyed it. Boyfriend tried a cab from the central coast. It's notably sweeter than our Napa varieties but it was still quite good. I'd definitely welcome a return whenever we're back in town for a visit! read more

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An amazing happy hour and cocktails. Thank you Sarah C for our cocktails. You are a true artist! read more

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We have visited Pono Pacific Kitchen a few times and the food is always delicious! This last visit, we decided to sit on their outdoor patio, which has heaters and is perfect to catch the sunset. They are also very dog friendly which is always a plus. They have a wide variety of delicious appetizers, and we ended up ordering the calamari and crab cakes. For entrees, my husband ordered the sea bass and I ordered the filet mignon which were both absolutely delicious. Keep in mind that this place is quite pricey but the food is fresh and high quality. The service is always super friendly and helpful, and we cannot wait to come back again soon. read more

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Really cute restaurant low key and casual excellent service! Known for their sweet succulent Butter Fish-we recommend highly. Excellent wine/beer menu. Bright happy experience, read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Butter Fish - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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Crabcakes appetizer was delicious! Exactly what I was expecting with a light creamy mustard sauce. All of the fish were cooked perfectly. You can't go wrong. That being said, I preferred my Misoyaki Butterfish over my mother-in-law's White Seabass even though both were absolutely excellent!! My husband's Mahi Mahi was NOT dry nor too firm. The mahi-mahi was also paired with an exquisite peanut vinaigrette. My least favorite dish of the evening was the Seafood Salad with Louie dressing. Bear in mind, there was actually nothing wrong with this dish. It's just that the seafood salad was very common place compared to the rest of the exquisite tasting fish entrees and crab cake appetizer. We also had a friendly, knowledgeable waiter. read more

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You might want to have something to eat before you go to this restaurant because the portions are very very small It's a high-end very expensive restaurant, but it doesn't look like it by the decor. It looks simple but nice.Our waitress was amazing. Very knowledgeable and kind. The food was great. It really was but the portions were Ridiculously small. $45 for halibut. You didn't get anything with it it was à la carte and it was about a 3 inches by 3 inches...an inch high, but it was delicious. The crab cakes were very small you got two of them and we were told they were small so it wasn't a surprise, but it did look really small on the plate like 2 inches wide but they were delicious with the sauce that was about $20. The dessert was very miniature. It came with ice cream. The ice cream was like a melon scooper size. The drinks are miniature. The glasses are taller and very narrow. You even had to pay for bread like $10 for four pieces of bread and their savory butter bread should've come with the meal at this prices. Everything is a la cart... so if you don't mind small portions, the food was very good but it's really way out of my budget to come here again. read more

My husband and I go to Pono every now and then. They have a new menu, plus full bar offering their own Gin and Vodka. I was so glad to see most of the tables full. The owner always says hi to us, she is very friendly. Our server was Sarah and she was training someone. They both were great and our water glasses were kept full. We always get the bread, toasted, and butter. So good and if you are drinking, helps suck up the liqueur (Ha). I had two Gin and Tonics, quite good and reasonable $11 each. I tried the halibut, my favorite fish, with macadamia nuts, black rice and snow peas. Just wish I could get just a little more of the snow peas. My husband had the Ahi Tuna, baby carrots and very thing fries. Great meal and wasn't too loud. Talked to the couple next to us who were celebrating their 33rd year anniversary. read more

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Ambiance is nice. Nice spacing between tables. Chef and team does an excellent presentation. Flavors are delicious. Treat yourself! read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Butterfish - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

A fun little spot for dinner. We initially came for the butterfish but they ran out by the time we got there so definitely book an earlier dinner if that's what you're wanting to eat! We opted for some appetizers instead. Out of everything we ordered, the crab soup was SUPERB. The flavor of the soup had so much depth, lots of crab meat and it was definitely the highlight of the dinner. Service was so attentive and helpful. I'm definitely coming back for the butterfish! read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Crab soup - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

The food is upscale and beautifully presented. Very tasty Halibut and Butterfish. Noteworthy preparation for our area. As locals, we've dined everywhere across the central coast. This restaurant offers an opportunity to try elevated food but the ambiance doesn't support the price point and the experience overall. Super friendly staff however who deserve the tip on the stunning prices. So, if Pono could have it all, it might be redesigned for a somewhat intimate setting, or a location with a view. I do not understand a $23 salad in any setting. $48-80 entrees suggest a visit from the chef. read more

Enjoyed dining at Pono Pacific Kitchen. Comfortable seating, easy parking. Food was superb! Everyone ordered something different (Trout, Halibut, Scallops, Salad, Oysters, Bread) and everyone raved about their selection. Beautifully presented as well. Service was attentive without being oppressive. Sorry I can't remember the pleasant young server's name. Timing between drinks, appetizers and entrees was spot on. Able to enjoy our conversation without needing to shout, like some places. Never felt rushed. Will definitely be back. read more

LOVED IT! Our first visit. Ambiance is refined and yet casual. We liked the brightness of the room, and the fact it wasn't too noisy even after it filled up. We sat at the bar and so glad we did. Dylan, the bartender knew his stuff! (They make their own Pono Gin) and Dylan's two gin cocktails were well-balanced and tasty. Service was great! Food was OUTSTANDING! The Japanese Hamachi was a tender fish and delicate with a complex sauce. In fact, all the sauces were like that. The Scallops + Risotto was delish with lots of sophisticated, nuanced flavors. The star of the show was the local Butterfish with Miso glaze. OMG! It was delicious. This miso had a nicely caramelized top and yet the fish was perfectly cooked, and just melted in our mouths! We ate every bite, but saved room for the dessert: Chocolate Mousse w/ coffee ice cream. Great depth of chocolate with added texture of crisp cookie on the bottom. Overall YUM! We will definitely come again. No wonder why they were just awarded best restaurant in GB! Highly recommended read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Dylan Mixologist! - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Service was great. Food was very yummy. Atmosphere was nice and clean. Was an overall great experience. Would definitely come back.

Come on a good day, example: Father's Day, like today and celebrate a special occasion here is so worth it! They were accommodating towards a family member who has allergies and food intolerances and it made the experience much more memorable. I got the usual butterfish. My spouse and older son got the scallops and my little one got the chicken tenders and fries (off menu for kids). We shared the crab cakes and fried calamari and 2 desserts. All were delicious! I like how there was a clear sign to not park on the West side of the parking area for the shopping plaza for Pono. Parking is always easy here, anyway. We'll come back again. read more

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Returned a year later and still incredible. The mahi mahi is out of this world!!! Perfect crispy edges mixed with the peanut sauce, be still my heart. Service is prompt and very friendly and the interior is chic and comfortable. read more

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It has been years since we dined at Grover Beach, but when we discovered Chef and owner had island ties, had to stop by before leaving. Through word of mouth, they have been consistently busy even during off peak days and it's no wonder after having their mac crusted mahi mahi and fried chicken and trout caviar roe for a bit of mauka meets makai. Just be aware that this is not sturgeon caviar but caviar roe which is fine for the price point. Did check out their HH menu for next time as a few of the items is reminiscent of what I've had in Maui. Couple that with the excellent service thanks to our server and I hope to return soon to check it out. read more

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Great ambiance, taste and service! Perfect for a date night. Will definitely come back

The food was amazing, so many flavors nicely plated. The staff was wonderful and the place is so nice. I recommend this place, we loved it and will definitely be back. We went for Valentine's Dinner and had a great experience greeted with champagne and a lovely rose. Thank you guys read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Swordfish - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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Their Misoyaki Butterfish is better than Roy Yamaguchi's and Nobu's. We indulged with the Japanese Hamachi, Chips and Caviar Dip, Massachusetts Scallops with a delectable creamy lemon and fresh pea risotto, the Misoyaki Butterfish, and the Lilokoi Tart with passion fruit curd and coconut gelato with toasted coconut. Everything was 10/10. Great selection of wines by the glass including a local Stephen Ross Albariño. My husband had both mocktails and couldn't decide which one he liked more. We're locals and can't believe we finally have an offering like Pono on the coast. This place deserves a Michelin Star! read more

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My favorite she crab soup. And the butter fish you have to get there early cause they sell out quickly. Pricing is perfect. Love the ambiance with their modern decor and the chef comes by to make sure everything is good. Close to the beach too. Heck, you can get off the train, pick up your order and get back on and enjoy it. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - She Crab Soup with Chard Bread - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Understaffed? My wife and I along with another couple went to Pono for dinner on a late Thursday afternoon in April. The meal was almost like our earlier 5 star experiences. Food was great. Service (Craig B) was fine. Ambiance (upscale yet casual) was just right. So what was off? It took 2 1/2 hours. We had reservations for 530 PM, but got seated at 525 PM and ordered fairly promptly. Drinks...appetizers/soup...entrees and a dessert. I'm all for a leisurely pace, but 45 minutes from my crab soup to swordfish was a bit much...even for good food and friends. We didn't dawdle after dessert and left at 8 PM. Why so long? The restaurant was about 2/3's full at its peak between 6 and 7 PM. Not bad for a Thursday! Our server paid attention to us (and his other tables) and the manager walked around a bit to ask how things were doing. My guess? Pono was understaffed.....either in the kitchen or staff on the floor. Otherwise, it was a very good meal and we plan to return. read more

Ok. Straight up.... the most INCREDIBLE food I have EVER tasted IN MY LIFE! Hands down. I'm from Los Angeles, where great restaurants and great chefs are on every street corner...Pono in Grover, CA., puts every single Michelin star restaurant in Los Angeles TO SHAME. I would drive the 160 miles North from LA, just to eat here. The chef is a GOD! PONO deserves 10 *********** And Krystal, our server, another 10 stars. And Hunter, our busboy, another 10 stars. read more

The butterfish, that's all I have to say, hands down one of the best fish dishes I have ever had anywhere. Food and service were great, strong drinks, excellent choice for seafood if you are in the area. read more

Everything all the time is absolutely amazing. You just have to try this place. They also have a happy hour. This is a fusion of Hawaiian and the freshest fish in the sea. How they get it. I have no idea. I think they have to fly to Hawaii everyday lol. It's amazing. Please try it read more

What a perfect recommendation for a special dinner at an adorable little restaurant in Grover! Celebrated my parents 68th anniversary with a warm greeting, congratulating them on 68 years, seated immediately and server was super pleasant and apologetic that their butter fish was out for the night. Dinner was spectacular, great portions and tasted great! We'll be back read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Had a wonderful time here the other night with a friend who introduced me to the place. She had the butterfish which was absolutely amazing and I had the scallops which were marvelous, but a tad undercooked, but still great flavor. I'm not sure what all it had in it, but their take on the Caesar salad was phenomenal! One of the best I've ever had! Oh, and the crab cakes were thick with juicy crab and not so much breading, as they should be! I was in heaven. And to finish the evening, the crème brûlée was perfect with two butter cookies! We sat on the outdoor patio which was so refreshing and quaint. There were heaters which kept her warm and allowed us to enjoy our time as we chatted and enjoyed the beautiful meal and great service. Our sweet little waitress did such an amazing job taking care of us and making recommendations. I look forward to coming back soon. read more

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Food and service is awesome. One of our favorite restaurants .. we save for special occasions.

Magnificent food. The poivre sauce was incredible. Great service. A knockout. And now a full bar

Superb all around and without a doubt 5 stars! We do have a complaint which is the size of the tables for 2. The way we ordered, our plates were almost on our laps, and we felt the way we were set up, my husband couldn't even stretch because he would be touching or moving onto the other patron's table. But having said that, it is not enough to take away the 5 stars. We will come back and perhaps sit at the bar, which we enjoy. Pono is definitely on our list of best seafood places on the central coast now. Truly spectacular! read more

Last Sunday, I met a date here for a 4:00 p.m. dinner. The place was mostly empty. Nice look / ambience. They were out of halibut, so I ordered the mahi-mahi. The preparation was beautiful, but the fish was cold. The plate and the sauce at the bottom were warm but really not hot. I didn't say anything because I was on a date. The flavors were excellent, but I did find the sauce a bit sweet for my taste. Bread is not free, which is typical for an upscale meal. The bread with the lovely butter and honey spread was excellent. Service was excellent, and the lovely hostess visited. Despite all the good stuff, the cold fish was a deal-breaker at their prices. I probably won't go back. read more

So pleased! Party of three celebrating a birthday. First visit and we were all hungry. . Expectations were high on the recommendation of a friend. Visually inviting and upscale. Love the bar. Our server was Lydia who got us informed on selections and parings. She explained the local sourcing of ingredients. We chose butterfish and scallops. Both were sumptuous. Looking forward to exploring their menu again. Environment. Menu and and price (for the quality was reasonable. They do offer outdoor seating. The owner visited our table to check on wants also. Extra touch. read more

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last night at Pono. We were originally planning on being at Mala Tavern on Maui for this momentous occasion, but we had a change in plans several months ago so decided to try this instead. We were pleasantly surprised, although we had read good things and we have planned on visiting here for quite some time. I had the Channel Islands white sea bass and my husband had the macadamia encrusted halibut that was substituted for the mahi-mahi. Both dishes were incredibly flavorful and rarely do we find a kitchen that properly cooks fish. Both these dishes were cooked perfectly. And the portions were more than generous. I actually have enough to eat for my dinner tonight as well. They have my favorite Brander Sauvignon Blanc and it's always a treat to find that on the wine list. The bar is beautiful. The space is well designed and aesthetically pleasing. Lots of thought went into small details, which I always appreciate. The service was excellent, owner greeted us on our arrival and told us goodbye and thanks on our departure, and Anna was an excellent server. We plan to return. read more

7:00 Thursday night. Walked in - no wait for a table. Inside and outside dining. Not a large restaurant. Nice feel. Short wait for waiter to come to table. Order: She Crab Soup, Scallops, Misoyaki Butterfish. Soup - creamy, pieces of crab, slight spicy bite - delicious. Scallops - the first bite was heavenly. Cooked perfectly. Brussel sprouts browned just right not burnt to a crisp. The pomegranate gastricate added a nice crisp pop. Butterfish - beautifully presented atop bok choi that still had fresh crunch, not soggy and limp. Fish had light miso flavor, soft texture that went well w hidden rice which was firmer and nutty. read more

5 stars for the food. Happy hour menu is great. Oysters were fresh and that Yuzu Kosho mignonette was delicious. Mahi mahi tacos were good, truffles fries, charbroiled oysters...all good. Soup was the star though. Great flavor and paired with a nice piece of bread. Interested in enjoying a real dinner here eventually. Seems like a nice place for a casual date. This was our first time, Ponos had been recommended to me by a few people. We live up north, so it's not easy to get to Grover for dinner, especially with a baby. The hostess (the owner I'm assuming) wasn't the warmest welcome for us. Hence 4 stars. Made my husband and I both feel like we should just turn around and go somewhere else. Good thing we didn't because the food was great. Thought maybe it was just me but he confirmed he felt the same. SO regardless if you were meaning to be rude or not, that's how it came off. read more

Stopped by for dinner with reservations. Nice spot with easy parking. Very warm and inviting, somewhat modern with very home like feel. Service was excellent. Server knew the menu and we too a couple recommendations from him. We started with the bread and (quite subtle) Brie butter, which was surprisingly good. Also had crab cakes, mussels and the "butter" fish, which was actually cod. All dishes were perfectly executed. The crab cakes were all crab, no filler, which I appreciated. The mussels were good size and portion and the chorizo forward broth went perfectly with the bread, which was grilled..perfect! The fish, which was apparently marinated for a couple days was so delicate, and flaked apart nicely. The marinade wasn't too overpowering. Fish was still the star. And the dessert, a mochi chocolate cake was decadent. Fresh ice cream, bananas foster and loved the mochi texture of the cake. Will definitely return. read more

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Cute place, friendly people but just didn't live up to its reviews especially for the prices. Took my friend out for her bday expecting a high end meal and got below standard seafood. The calamari's was fried and didn't say that on the menu lacked flavor in the sauce and batter. The seafood salad had too much salad dressing and the seafood was very fishy. ( they did give us a credit for that) but at $35. It should have been fresh and vibrant. Ahi steak the sauce was too salty and the mushroom gnocchi tasted like canned mushroom soup. Service was slow. Disappointing. read more

Dining experience was terrific as always. The Massachusetts Scallop large plate was amazing. The sides took the Scallops over the top. Please Pono do not change a thing on this one, its that good. Love the new full bar menu as well since my wife and I are not Wine drinkers. Would of gave 5 stars but our waitress left us without an drink order for an extended period upon being seated. read more

Best fish restaurant around! I had the swordfish it was absolutely wonderful. Everyone else had the same reaction.

Ambiance was nice, several people spoke to us and a complete stranger gave us a shot of their sake. Super friendly vibe. Food was delicious I had the butterfish. Appetizer was the hamachi and it was very good. read more

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