Just moved to Columbia, SC, and just randomly decided to see if there were any Hawaiian restaurants in the area. To my surprise, Surfin Aloha popped up in my Yelp search! Being from O'ahu, I was so excited about the plate lunches on their menu! I was warmly greeted, and my bf and I ordered the chicken katsu and the kalua pig. The gentleman at the counter spread the Aloha spirit by having giving us a spam musubi and our Hawaiian Suns on the house! I must say, that the food was soooo ono grinz!! Reminded me of back home! Will definitely be coming back here instead of having to drive to Augusta, GA for local grinz! Amazing food and customer service. A hoi hou Surfin Aloha!! read more

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I was really disappointed with this meal and the overall experience. As someone who comes from a large Samoan and Polynesian family, I have a strong appreciation and understanding of what Hawaiian-inspired food should taste like, and unfortunately, this missed the mark. The macaroni salad was incredibly bland and tasted like it had little to no dressing. A good Hawaiian-style mac salad should be creamy, flavorful, and properly seasoned. This one lacked the texture and taste that make it a staple of the cuisine. The steak was overcooked, under-seasoned, and seemed to rely mostly on sauce for flavor instead of having the seasoning and preparation built into the meat. Hawaiian-style food should be about balance, flavor, and proper technique not just adding sauce at the end to compensate. The drink situation also added to the disappointment. None of the fountain drink machines were working, and we were only offered canned soda. When I asked if there were any alternatives, such as lemonade or iced tea, for customers who don't drink soda, I was told no options were available. Having a few non-soda choices is a basic expectation, especially when the main beverage system is unavailable. The cleanliness of the restaurant was another concern. Several tables and chairs appeared not to have been wiped down, and the windowsills needed attention as well. These may seem like small details, but they are the things customers notice when they walk into an establishment. Cleanliness and attention to detail are a big part of the overall dining experience. If a restaurant is going to offer Hawaiian-style cuisine, it should take the time to learn authentic recipes and techniques or work with people who have genuine cultural knowledge and experience preparing these dishes. Hawaiian and Polynesian food has a rich history and deserves to be represented with care and respect. I hope they take this feedback as an opportunity to improve, because the concept has potential, but the execution needs significant work. The food, cleanliness, and overall customer experience need more attention before I could recommend this place. read more

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Our ROMEO group of five went here for our first time today. We ordered 3 Mini Katsu Chicken plates, a Khlua Pork Mini Plate with kimchee, 1 Garlic Shrimp, an order Spam Musubi and a Katsu Spam Musubi. The chicken comes with a side of Katsu Sauce, serve on a bed of sliced plain cabbage. I found the Katsu chicken to be very good, crispy and was very good dipped in the Katsu sauce (sort of like a yum yum sauce at the Japanese places). Two of us really liked the chicken, the third said it was just okay, nothing special. The Hawaiian Mac Salad was very good. The rice was just plain white rice, no sauce unless you were to dip it in the small plastic holder of Katsu Sauce (which I thought was for the chicken). The cabbage was just shredded raw cabbage, very plain. I ordered the Spam Musubi and it was spam on top of a bed of rice, wrapped in seaweed. The spam was okay, but again, the rice was just plain. Seems like it should've been served with a sauce (now that I look at the menu it says it is serve with a Musubi sauce. I guess they forgot to give me that. The shrimp was said to be just okay, nothing great. The music playiing seemed to be more reggae than Hawaiian, maybe that was just while we were there. Two of the guys said the bathroom was dirty and weren't impressed with it. I was hoping it would be worthy of a better review from our group but was disappointed with the outcome. Average rating was a 3.0 read more

Surfin Aloha - Katsu Chicken, Hawaiian Mac, Spam Musubi - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Always on the lookout for a new cuisine or something different to try wherever I go, and they did not disappoint! The atmosphere was laid-back and relaxing, with friendly service. The Chicken Katsu was so tender and crispy, and I have no clue what's in the macaroni salad, but it's the best I've ever had! read more

Surfin Aloha - Chicken Katsu Katsu Chicken Mini Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Extremely disappointing experience. I drove 40 minutes specifically to eat here and arrived 45 minutes before the posted closing time, only to be told they weren't serving anyone else for the day. If a restaurant posts that it's open until a certain time, customers should reasonably expect to be served when they arrive 45 minutes before closing. If the kitchen stops taking orders earlier, that needs to be clearly posted so people don't waste their time driving across town. I went out of my way to support this place and never even got the opportunity to try the food. An 80-minute round trip for absolutely nothing. Based on this experience, I definitely would not recommend making a special trip here. read more

Still thinking about how good lunch was at Surfin Aloha in Columbia. After seeing so many mouthwatering posts from Columbia foodies, we knew this spot had to make the list -- and it absolutely delivered. I went with the mini Chicken Katsu, and honestly it's the perfect portion. One scoop of fluffy white rice, mac salad, and that chicken... perfectly crisp on the outside while staying juicy inside. Exactly what you want every single bite to be. My husband ordered the Aloha plate, and if you're indecisive (or just want it all), this is the move. I truly couldn't pick a favorite -- the Kahlua Pork was rich and flavorful, the Teriyaki Steak was cooked beautifully, and the marinade on the chicken was straight up divine. We also shared the Spam Musubi (mandatory order in my opinion), and whatever you do -- save room for the cinnamon cake. It might look simple, but it's the perfect sweet little mic drop to end the meal. read more

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I've been hearing some good things about this new Hawaiian spot and my coworkers and I decided to give it a try. Nice cozy location in the downtown area with parking available. Varied Hawaiian menu with choices that should tempt everyone in your crew. The portions are large and the dishes are delicious. They have special sauces for the dishes and they go very well together. Loved it. Will be back. Highly recommend. read more

Surfin Aloha - 2 choice combo plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I'm a big fan of Hawaiian food and was able to stop by Saturday. I ordered the Aloha plate, which had Hawaiian chicken, kalua pork and beef teriyaki. The chicken is outstanding - well seasoned and full of flavor. The beef was thin and the teriyaki flavor is outstanding - a MUST try! The kalua pork was fantastic. It was shredded and well seasoned. The kimchi provides a nice touch to the 3 proteins. The macaroni salad is great - not too think and not too think. I also tried the spam musabi. I like spam musabi in general, but this is definitely my favorite spam musabi. The meal is also very reasonly priced for the volume and quality of food you receive. I highly recommend Surfing Aloha and plan to return soon read more

Surfin Aloha - Aloha plate - chicken, kalua pork and beef teriyaki - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Good food, quick service. I got the garlic shrimp mini plate. Good sized portion for lunch and great price. read more

Surfin Aloha - Garlic Shrimp Mini Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Decided to visit this location for a quick lunch. Service was great. The atmosphere was OK but it was a little warm in the inside for only 84° out. The food was pretty decent however a little salty for my pallet, but my favorite item was the Crispy Garlic chicken read more

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I rarely give 5 star reviews. This one is well deserved! I was born and raised in Hawaiʻi and spent the first 40 years of my life there. Since moving to the mainland, finding real Hawaiian food--the kind that actually tastes like home--has been tough. Until now. When I found out Surfin' Aloha opened in downtown Columbia, I couldn't wait to try it. We went on a Saturday shortly after they opened and met the owner, Maui. He spent several years in Hawaiʻi and clearly fell in love with the culture and the food--and it shows. We ordered the three-combo plate: white fish, chicken katsu, and kalua pig, all with rice, plus spam musubi. Everything was excellent. The chicken katsu was crispy, the white fish (crispy as well) was spot on, the sauces were great, and the kalua pig brought me right back home. Simple, done right, and full of flavor. The staff was friendly, the vibe felt like Hawaiʻi, and by the time we left the place was packed with people waiting--which tells you everything you need to know. Parking is limited, but it's absolutely worth the walk, if you don't get a close parking spot, and the wait, if crowded. If you're anywhere near downtown Columbia or not, make the trip! This is legit Hawaiian food. Ono-licious food!!! Mahalo, Maui, for bringing a true taste of Hawaiʻi to Columbia. read more

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Tried the garlic shrimp it was a tad too salty. Rice was better after I added sauce to it for my lunch. The food is served in to go containers. Service was great I will return to try other items. They have a lot time to improve on everything. Just opened up in area. read more

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Local spot with out of town flavor!! The mini plates are good to taste multiple things. Definitely a must try!! read more

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We had gone to Soda City and wanted to sit down and eat and read great reviews of this place. The door was unlocked and we walked in and a man running around said "Sorry folks we are closed.". Ok to which we asked when they would be open. To that he said, "whenever the cooks arrive.". Off day I am sure. Need to review customer service even when things aren't great. read more

Good service, tasty food. we tried the salmon and teriyaki chicken hibachi plate. They also have burgers which are great in general but especially helpful for kids. read more

the only thing worse than the food was the service. The restroom looked like a storm hit it. no toilet paper, no hand soap. also, they had no ice. I told the guy at the counter he could keep the pennies if he needed to just because I know there's a shortage and he made a sarcastic comment about thanks for the tip. I hadn't even gotten my chain back to give him a tip yet. Just an overall terrible experience I'll never be back. read more

This place is phenomenal and a timely addition to Columbia. Authentic Hawaiian food and always hot and fresh! The BBQ chicken, Katsu chicken, and teriyaki steak are absolutely delicious. The macaroni salad and the kimchi are tasty sides that stand out and enhance the combo plates. I usually build my own combo plate but you can't go wrong with any on the menu. The musubis are a delicious grab-n-go snack and they've got great options for those. Service is great - Shout out to Yoshi holding it down in the front and in the kitchen! The ambiance is warm and welcoming with island tunes and floral decor in the background. Highly recommend! read more

Second time visit, It's never enough to say how tasty the food is! It is very close to the Taylor St. Parking Deck, great spot for lunch and dinner! read more

Surfin Aloha - Garlic Chicken Mini Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food, with SPAM dishes, you can get anywhere in the area, cheaper and just as good Spam the national dish of Hawaiʻi read more

Decided to try something new tonight and went to Surfin Aloha. Everyone loved it, even the picky kids! My 3 year old barely made a dent in the huge cheeseburger, and we ended up having basically 2 meals as leftovers. Definitely recommend! read more

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Loved this place! Sadly took no photos because was super hungry when I arrived however got there right as they opened and got food pretty fast. Food was nice and hot, and the staff was so friendly. Even randomly gifted us cake! Cake was 10/10!! A super soft lemon cake, that wasn't too lemony! Overall recommend! read more

I just moved here from California and this place has amazing service and delicious food. It's a hidden gem that's definitely worth checking out, you'll leave with a full and happy stomach! The men who work there were wonderful and very helpful in helping me pick the right meal to order. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Surfin Aloha - Chicken katsu - Hawaiian Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food is really yummy! Helpful staff. Cool merchandise. Yummy sandwiches with a good blend and sauce

I was so excited to find out about this place since I'd missed having a Hawaiian food place nearby. The food was great but I had a very disturbing experience with the cashier. The guy behind the counter was a middle aged white guy, maybe 5'5, heavier set. Immediately before I started ordering he was eyeballing me. As I proceeded to order he begins to talk about random things and I kinda played along. After he rang up my order and gave me my drink cup I noticed they had no lids and asked to which he said no. I proceed to fill my drink when I look over he is standing right next to me. He then pulls out his phone and showed me a nasty YouTube short video including sexual language. Now I was caught off guard, I did not invite him to show me any video let alone call him over to me. This made me extremely uncomfortable. I proceeded to wait for my food, took 10 minutes which he kept staring at me uncomfortably. I didn't say anything because I was still in shock and just wanted my chicken katsu. Overall the food was good but I will not be returning due to this service experience. read more

The food was great! I got a loco moco, katsu spam, and a crispy garlic chicken plate. Each was fantastic. The service was just as good as the food. The staff are friendly and very welcoming! There was music playing but not loud enough not to be able to hear and its smells great inside. read more

Great food and environment if you're in the Columbia area, shout out tfue and hamz.

The owner is super nice. saw him on Tfues stream. great guy. great restaurant. If i were visiting columbia I'd go here for sure

Dylan's recommendations did not disappoint. Thank you for the great food and exceptional service. We'll definitely return.

We stopped in as we were in town for a concert. My wife lived in Hawaii for several years and this is as close as you'll get to being there. Spam musubi was great must try. read more

Food tastes great. Ordered sesame chicken. Very friendly. Cool mural. Close to office.

Service was good. I really appreciated the food. It came out quick and tasted great. Unique food for the area. I'll be happy to bring others up here to try the food read more

Food was fantastic. Rice was crunchy and a little under cooked. But highly recommend!

the food and service was great, the curly haired server was very funny and nice, we loved him and his jokes.