Long overdue review. We have eaten here numerous times and have never been disappointed! Special occasions or just a nice relaxing dinner. Patio is great, during the warmer months.Reservations recommended. read more

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Amazing service, amazing food! Will always go back. Their brussels sprouts are my absolute favorite, along with their ceviche. But you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. And the chocolate mochi cake is a must!! read more

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This was my second visit about 1 year after the first and I'm just as impressed with the overall consistency of really good food. I ordered the Mac Nut Halibut this time and all the flavors complimented each other perfectly. What a well thought out menu! I really like how the menu changes slightly from time to time and adding upgrades to the dishes. Well done and will be back again for sure! read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Mac Nut Halibut - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

First time here. Overall a great dining experience. Ordered crab cake to start, nice but nothing stand out. I read recommendations online and ordered a highly praised dish - local butterfish as the entree, oh wow, that's absolutely delicious and now I can understand why so many people loved it, and this is the dish that will make me back! The fish was perfectly cooked, tender, buttery and fresh, the sauce was unique and addicting, the ingredients were nicely complementing each other with the sauce. Service was top notch, and the ambiance was laid back, seems no dress code required. read more

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

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My wife raved about her experience here her first time with a friend of hers weeks ago so we showed up for date night. Wow! Simply the BEST Ahi that I have ever tasted. Incredible, melt-in-your-mouth servings. This place is elegant, the dishes are so flavorful and delicious, the ambiance is perfect for dinner. I was impressed with our service too. Friendly, professional, attentive, informative, and consistent. I hope and think they will do well because they have lots of experience and seem to have a listening culture here. They listen to their customers and to their staff. This place is a must. Try the Ahi Seasonal Poke appetizer The crab cakes too!! Boom. We loved the Ahi Crudo And the Garlic Shrimp. Incredible. I will definitely be coming back. read more

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Tried the Pono Happy Hour (daily from 4-6pm). Their bright patio is a nice spot to take in a sunny afternoon. Plates are very small but tasty, both the Mahi Mahi tacos and Ahi Tuna Nachos were very good. Our server recommended the Furikake fries, and the salty seasoning dressed in creamy aioli was just perfect with a couple of draft beers (the local Blood Orange Haze was really good). Parking is a breeze (lot in the back) and service is super friendly. Overall, a cute but somewhat pricey spot for a casual happy hour. read more

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Food was excellent. We started with the crab cakes and calamari. Flavors and textures were spot on. My husband got the filet cooked medium rare. It was perfectly medium rare. The potatoes, broccolini, and sauce paired with it was a perfect combo. I got the white sea bass that came with a couple mussels. The sauce on it was incredible. They have a very large wine list with local wines from all over this area that went nicely with our meals. I am 7 months pregnant trying this place so the server/bartender whipped up an off-the-menu mocktail that was delicious. My only "complaint" would be the short backed chairs at the table. Us long torso people, the back of the chair hit right on my spine and I felt like I was trying to hold myself up off the back of the chair rather than relaxing in my seat. Otherwise, the meal from start to finish was incredible and very enjoyable. Definitely highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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

We did a weekend on the central coast with a night in Pismo. This was a high rated place about a mile from our hotel. Pro tip - it isn't a good walk from the beach hotels at Pismo. Busy road. Take an Uber. The room was very nice - modern but practical. We arrived at our reservation time and were promptly seated. I really feel a bit bad about 3 stars, but despite some really great food and a lot of potential, that is a fair rating. Food quality was very high. We started with possibly the best soup I've had - tomato coconut crème that was fantastic. For an appetizer, we had the yellowtail poke - with a light sauce and caviar - served with root vegetable crisps - again, unbelievably good. For entrees we had the ahi and the garlic shrimp and grits. The entrees were good, but not great. The ahi was a perfectly prepared filet that was overly masked with a nice sauce and veg. The shrimp was well prepared, the grits were good, but not special. Food quality was great - the entrees being average can be chalked up to preference more than anything. We finished with coffee and an orange crème brûlée - both were fantastic. So here is where the 3 stars come from - it took about 15 minutes from seated to greeted. It took another 10 for drinks and app and entree order to be taken. From there it took another 20 to get soup.....followed a minute later by our app (which we asked about to make sure everything wasn't coming at the same time. We were assured it wasn't and the drag was because of a large table. Sooooo you guessed it, a minute later we got our entrees. The waiter just said "sorry, they fired it all at the same time". Ok, if we were at chili's -'no big deal, but these items are worthy of enjoying - not slamming because you don't want your entree to die before you get to it. At the level they presenting, this is not acceptable, but things happen and the opportunity to make it right (comp desert - or even coffee) would have been ok, or ideally refiring the entrees. We got a half sincere sorry. We didn't complain. We enjoyed our meal and we possibly would return. One drink, one shared soup, one app, 2 entrees, shared dessert and two coffees = $168 pre tip. The food can carry that price. The overall service doesn't. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Yellowtail poke app - fantastic - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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Another wonderful experience at Pono. Ashley is absolutely so sweet and welcoming at every visit as are all the servers. The food is fresh and oh so yummy. The ahi is flavorful as well as the butterfish. I recommend both! read more

Yet another amazing evening with extraordinary Food & Service!!! Started the evening with Oysters, which were mouthwateringly delicious! Dinner was Pono's delectable Misoyaki Butterfish, which is consistently superb; one of three dishes here that are just the best within 300 miles. Special surprise was the bottle of Alban Pinot that made this evening reach an altitude that I didn't want to come down from. Desserts here are outstanding but the way and should not be missed. read more

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

I have been visiting Pismo for the last 3 years and never stumbled upon Pono Pacific Kitchen. All I can say is 4 is the magic number. When I tell you the food was AMAZING, I give them a 10/10. It is a really warm and welcoming restaurant. The staff was responsive and extremely pleasant. The decor reminded me of 1960 meets 2025. It was very chic. There was plenty of parking as well as indoor and outdoor dining option. We had the beet and strawberry salad, BBQ oysters, Butterfish, and the sea bass entrees. It was cooked to perfection and the flavors explode in your mouth. If you are down in the area, you need to stop at Pono Pacific. read more

This is my favorite restaurant on the central coast. Excellent fresh seafood and great entree options. The outside patio was also kid friendly for our 2 year old. Service was excellent. App highlights: bread & honey brie (insane), oysters, and crab cakes Entree Highlights: scallop & prawns, mushroom gnocchi, butter fish, and filet mignon. I tried a bite of each, all excellent. I personally ordered scallop and prawns and would have licked my plate if I was at home lol It's such a wonderful experience when the owners come out and ensure everything is going well. They are so nice and welcoming here. Our family loves coming in. read more

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This place rocks. First, it's got a calm vibe, a warm atmosphere and a modern interior design. Our waiter knew what he was doing and was extremely accommodating to the fact that we were the first guests in and the second to last to leave. The food appeared, and after we finished the plates disappeared. The food is the star of the show. To start, we had the duck confit spring rolls, and they were on a bit of cheese and sauce - crunchy and delicious. My braised short ribs were very good, but they were made even more spectacular because they were on top of this. Amazing mushroom risotto. The desserts were also delicious. My mandarin orange crème brûlée was the perfect note to end the dinner on. read more

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This is hands down my absolute favorite sit down restaurant in Grover Beach and the 5 cities. The seafood is always fresh and the menu changes just enough to keep things interesting. Service is always top notch, staff always pay close attention but they don't hover either. If you haven't been I would suggest checking out happy hour as a good way to try a few things. The inside space is well decorated and very inviting. read more

A great, high end, seafood restaurant close to the beach in Grover Beach. Get the manilla clams!

We made a last minute reservation and were seated on their enclosed outside patio. Other than the street noise, delightfully warm and intimate. Dominic provided service rivaling, that of a Michelin star restaurant. We started with the Duck confit spring rolls. Crispy and delicious. Main courses were the seared ahi and butterfish. I can tell you I'm not a fan of seared Aji, but one bite of my daughters dish may have converted me. My butterfish ranks as one of the top fish meals I've ever eaten. The butter fish was atop a bok choy and black rice in a sauce reduction that was out of this world. We finished with a peanut butter chocolate trifle. Pretty darn rich. They have a nice selection of wines and beer, as well as some sake choices. All of this coupled with some amazing service definitely gives it a five star rating. We can hardly wait to come back and try some of the other menu choices. Thanks again, Dominic for such a great service and attention. read more

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The food is outstanding!!! The servers and owners are friendly and efficient. We always get an amazing meal here.

Wonderful ambiance, friendly and prompt service. In addition to the sea scallops we enjoyed the barbecued oysters and the crab cakes. Each dish was fantastic. Can't wait to visit again read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Massachusetts sea scallops - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

They transformed this place into a beautiful restaurant. My only gripe is that all of their seating is uncomfortable. Still, the elevation of dining in this area is nice to have and I felt like I was in LA at a trendy spot. We dined on a Saturday night and the place was almost full. The service was over the top excellent and this also elevates the experience. And for the food, aaaaaah mazing! We both had fish dishes, shared a salad and had their tiny bread and butter. The butter divine, the bread so good but we needed more. Worth the $9? Not quite but we had to try it. The flavors in our dishes were complex (a little rich) but we ate every last bite. It left no room for dessert. Save your appetite before going in, the portions are on the bigger side. I like that they use locally sourced food when they can and we know the farms in which they buy from so it's like we are supporting our local businesses. Any chance for a liquor license to expand your offerings?? A fantastic mai tai would have hit the mark before dinner. Overall we were blown away. The trifecta (food,service,ambiance) was met. Thank you for bringing such a great restaurant to our area. read more

Pono was an experience that made our whole family feel like we were on a vacation. From the appetizer to the desserts, we did not have a single bite left on any plate. Every bite was beyond exceptional and we made sure to diversify so we could all report how good our dishes were. Once the food arrived, forks were flying in every direction and the phrase, "you have to try this!" could be heard over and over. The restaurant has a very relaxing vibe and a nice bar at the entrance. I could see us sitting outside in the summer with a glass of wine while we enjoy great food! read more

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

Update: This place is just as amazing as the first time I tried it. The food was wonderfully presented and tasted amazing. They were out of a few items because they weren't able to get it fresh. I appreciate that in a restaurant. I recommend getting the shishito peppers, fried chicken with caviar, and all the desserts :). Actually all the dishes have been super tasty. Try it out! read more

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Amazing food. Calming atmosphere. Lovingly dog friendly. Try the butterfish, macadamia crusted mahi mahi, local salad & She crab soup. Wonderful couple (chef & front house) that epitomize hospitality. Do yourself a favor and treat someone you love! read more

It had been awhile since I'd eaten at pono, I live part time in Las Vegas and part time in orcutt and hadn't had the opportunity. Well, let me tell you...I ate here on Wednesday evening and ordered off the regular menu and the Pau Hana menu. Everything was amazing!! We had the crab cakes, fried green tomato's, mahi tacos and truffle fries. Everything we ordered was beautifully plated and tasted incredible. The vibe was fun, servers lovely and the interior gorgeous. I highly recommend an evening spent at pono pacific kitchen. read more

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This restaurant is absolutely beautiful on the inside and the food was delectable. We sat at the bar and service was pretty quick even during dinner rush. Lived up to expectations for sure! read more

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

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Came here for anniversary dinner and wanted more but sadly the entree left a bad lasting impression. Service was 5/5, friendly and constantly checked up on. Smiles and just amazing. Baja oysters- I believe these were specialty and were great. The three "sauces" all worked well and they were fresh and pretty big. A bit of fishy after taste but very good. Duck confit spring rolls- DELICIOUS! The cheese and sauce cut through the richness of the duck and just worked Butterfish- here's where things just went south and left a terrible impression. First time having butterfish but this was crumbly? I believe the texture is supposed to be "buttery" from the fat of the fish? I know fish is usually flaky as well but the texture was very different and not really appetizing, I have to believe the fish was overcooked and rendered all the fat out. The fish was also bland. This wasn't the bad part though, the sauce was ridiculously sweet. I know it said there was a ponzu beurre blanc but I got zero and it was much needed. I hate sending things back and I ate it because of the price but holy I've never had my palate screwed up by sweetness before. I know it's a sweet pepper relish but all I tasted was melted sweet pepper jelly and it was bad. I know my wife's tuna sauce was also sweet but nothing in comparison. With the pricing being "premium" I expect the food to be great and this was just sugar on a plate. Luckily the coconut lime sorbet was indeed coconut AND lime so it was a nice change to get that citrus but that entree just killed the dinner for me. I had the lily tini and that was refreshing and very good. I was tempted to go 4 stars but the entree being that price and coming out like that just kept me from it. I would potentially go back to see if the red meats are any better but unsure at this time. Hopefully the entree was just a fluke because we loved everything else about this place. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Coconut lime sorbet - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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First off, the food was incredible! Everything we've ordered was just excellent. From the tomato soup to the macadamia nut crusted mahi, to the Hokkaido scallops, and the chocolate butter mochi cake for dessert, all were tasty and delicious! Service was also prompt and the food came out in perfect timing. Great ambiance, light and breezy with their doors open to their outside seating letting the sea breeze in. Will definitely go back. read more

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Amazing food, such great service and fun vibe! Went here with friends for a birthday dinner, definitely recommend! Service team checked in just enough, didn't feel rushed. read more

Absolutely loved my experience at Pono Pacific Kitchen! Our waiter was very patient and they really sold us on getting the butterfish. I came here with 8 other people, but they also have bar seating and smaller tables. All of the dishes were amazing. My favorite appetizer was the Seasonal Poke which paired well with the taro chips. The Misoyaki Butterfish is a dish you must order!! Literally everyone at the table loved it. The fish is so soft and it was rich in flavor. I also really enjoyed the risotto from the Braised Short Rib dish. For dessert, I found the crème brûlée and pono parfait a bit too heavy after the entrees. I recommend getting the yuzu cheesecake which was delightful and super light! read more

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Nice, upscale restaurant near the beach. Great mix of seafood with some chicken/beef dishes and a vegetarian option. Service was impeccable. Food came quickly and was all delicious. Entrees will run you $30-$50 a plate. Portions are large and ingredient quality is high. To me, worth the price for a nice dinner out! Started with the duck confit spring rolls. Delicious and different. I had the Mahi Mahi, which was huge, much larger than expected. It was delicious and the sauce was incredible. Husband had the fried chicken and caviar. It was good also. Dessert was decadent as dessert should be. Definitely recommend this spot for a nice night out by the beach. Parking is easy and plentiful. No need to bother with busy Pismo for a tasty dinner! read more

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A restaurant gem of Grover Beach, CA. Great service, nice decor and ambience. The menu is very interesting and the food quality is very high. The grits with shrimp are out of this world - I don't even want to try anything else. read more

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

This place is dreamy! We came during happy hour and had the truffle fries and Katsu chicken bite appetizers. Next, we had the goat cheese and beet salad. It was all delicious! For entree, we shared the special which was scallops over squid ink fettuccine and the butterfish. Honestly, this place was a gem! I thoroughly enjoyed the meal from start to finish. I would get everything again except the Katsu bites. They were good but so many more read more

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Food is good, Service is good. Ambiance is ok. So why only two stars? Not willing to make ANY substitutions from the menu, and I mean NONE Want the shoestring potatoes that come with the sea bass (which they were out of) with your butterfish? Forget about it. How about just a green salad in lieu of black rice and bok choy? Sorry. Bottom line, this was our third and last visit. Good luck surviving another year in this area. read more

We only had the Happy Hour Menu but our server was still attentive. The Brussels Sprouts were elevated with hints of citrus and mint. The truffle fries were good not fabulous but good. Wine selection local and delicious. Too chilly for outside but the inside has a very nouveau yet beachy feel. My bathroom run let me glance subtly at others dishes and they were what do you say? well attended or eaten. Good times. read more

The fish is cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The fish is flavorful inside too. I personally prefer the butterfish to the mahi-mahi. The butterfish texture was so smooth it's like butter! read more

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Our dinner at Pono Pacific Kitchen was a delicious delight. We were welcomed warmly by the host/owner into a clean and inviting, upscale, contemporary dining space with Hawaiian/tropical designs. Our server, Anna F., was gracious, helpful and warm. I find it speaks well of an establishment when the server is personally knowledgeable of each dish on the menu. Anna had positive comment on each offering and let us know which were her favorites. We had a wonderful time interacting with her and the owner. We came because of the seafood focused menu and the many stellar reviews. The four of us ordered three small plates as starters and four different entrees to share and enjoy. We love the sharing aspect as we get to taste a good portion of the menu. Starters were very good, especially the Fried Green Tomato Katsu with fresh burrata. Our four entree choices were Seared Ahi Tuna, the Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi, Shrimp, Scallops & Clam, and the Misoyaki Butterfish. We loved all four entrees and would order them again without reservation. Our two friends especially loved the Butterfish in fact all four of us loved the Butterfish. I think the most flavorful for my preference was the Shrimp, Scallops and Clam on a Corn Risotto. Excellent in my opinion. I believe all four of these entrees would please anyone. We finished the evening sharing the Lilikoi Tart. This was a beautifully presented, well balanced fruit joy. We were very impressed and so pleased to have dined here. I brought a bottle of the 2024 Kazumi Wines Koshu to pair with the seafood dishes. Michelle Sakazaki has crafted a beautiful white wine that is a match made in heaven for seafood. We shared a taste with our server and the owner and both were very impressed. The owner graciously comped the corkage and speaks so well of the warmth and ohana feel of Pono Pacific Kitchen. We will be back! read more

Had the Butterfish dish and I must say it was one of the best fish dishes I have ever eaten. The service was great as well. It is on the pricey side but definitely worth it, at least for the Butterfish. read more

I think this is my third or fourth time going to Pono Pacific kitchen this time I went as takeout. I just got the sheet crab soup. It was delicious and it came with this yummy piece of sourdough toast. I loved it. It was excellent. read more

Outstanding flavors in everything. Everything we ate from small plates to large plates were multi-dimensional in flavors.

the shoestring frites were crispy, just how I like them. sea bass was fresh -- could be a bit more fork tender but was delicious. loved the gnocchi sauce and the mushrooms with the breadcrumbs but wish the gnocchi itself was lighter read more

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

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I went here for the first time a few days ago and I loved the food! The menu had lots of options and the crab cakes were delicious. Would definitely recommended if you are looking for a new restaurant to try! read more