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    Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi

    3.9 (187 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi Photos

    Business Info

    UNCLE LANI'S POI MOCHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi

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    Kim C.

    I have been obsessed with Poi Mochi from this place for over 2 decades. Whenever I come back home I'm all over this place. I get a whole box for myself and get a box to share. A bit of a background story: 15 year old self: "Dad, we need cleaning stuff so we can do our chores." Dad: "Okay, why didn't you say anything when we were at Longs." 15 year old self: "slipped my mind" Heading out of Walmart. 15 year old self: "Dad, can we please get some poi mochi? Please....Please....Please.... Plleeeaasssseee!!!" My dad looks at me and I could see it. The wheels turning and it clicked that I have been planning my all of sudden must need now to align when Uncle Lani mochi would be there. What should I do to not hear a mouthful? 1. Should I run? 2. Should I say, "no, worries I'll pay." 3. Should I apologize? Somehow I managed to do all three and I still got a mouthful outside of Walmart. I got lectured all the way home. I didn't hear the end of it and had to do my siblings chores. Was it worth it? Yes, I got away with it 3 times...lol. Back when I was a teenager they had a pop up spot in Waipio Walmart. Kamakana Location: Awesome Sauce! - free parking - area to sit - they offer different toppings - workers in the store show the love * usually a winner to bring to a potluck The saddest thing is flying from the mainland going straight to Uncle Lani and your met with the sign "sold out." You know what's even sadder? You try again and boom "sold out!!!!!!" 3rd try I checked their Instagram page and went during opening hour and got my sweet tooth satisfied. I can't get enough of this place!

    What The Truck @ Waikele shopping center
    Venice D.

    Its honestly too oily and a little tough side almost too chewy to eat(but maybe thats a good thing for other people). The line went super quick though so thats a plus!

    Adam S.

    We've waited so long to try this place. I'm talking several years! I'm happy to report that today was the day! After several failed attempts over the last several years (combination of early close due to selling out, incorrect hours advertised on the mall website vs Yelp, etc.), we decided to try just one more time on our way out of the Kapolei area. Success! The lady who helped us was so kind and patient. She took the time to not only share recommendations, but also explain the different drizzle flavors to complement the poi mochi. Our poi mochi came out hot and fresh. We opted for half kulolo half poi drizzle. Both flavors were pretty great on their own, but even better together in combination. The texture reminded me of the crunch yet chewiness of a Chinese sesame ball. Hard to eat just one! Overall, really happy we finally got to try this local shop. I think time and unavailability may have over hyped it just a tad, but definitely a solid and unique choice dessert/snack!

    Poi Mochi 12PCS
    Xin L.

    I love me some fried mochi so after lingering around their truck at the Kailua Fall Festival, I eventually decided to pull the trigger and get a dozen. The lady that we ordered from was decently nice. However, she gave off a strong "i'm over it" vibe. I got the half poi and half kulolo. It was delicious. The crispy exterior of the mochi combined with the chewiness is just perfection. It's my two favorite textures combined. It's also similar to a cascaron if you ever had those before. In my opinion though, I feel like there should be a bit more sauce given as they are charging $1 per a few seconds of drizzling of the sauce? Otherwise, I'm content with my experience.

    Donuts
    Nell C.

    Wow! Fresh, chewy, spectacular Poi Mochi mini donut holes. Drizzle Poi, Haupia, and Kulolo add flavor but original plain is just as good! Friendly staff and food truck is decorative and you can spot them from the intersection. Price point is good. Location is within a parking lot which is okay for getting Togo. Roll on up and go!

    Haupia drizzle
    Nica L.

    So happy that they came to the Pure Aloha festival in Las Vegas. We've been huge fans of theirs since they were in Wai'anae decades ago. Line was long but anything this good is soooo worth waiting for! Tried all the drizzles-- kulolo, haupia & poi, and they're all delicious. Must have dessert. A big plus is that supporting Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi means you are supporting a Native Hawaiian owned small business. Always good to support small businesses! Try it, guarantee you will love it. Ho'ono keia mea 'ono!

    Marissa K.

    I'm happy that they have an actual store here in Ka Makana. This time ordered dozen of their yummy poi mochi with mix of Haupia and Kulolo drizzles. I realize I prefer the poi mochi with no drizzles. Next time I'll get just that.

    one dozen with haupia drizzle
    Angel H.

    I was at the Walmart in Pearl City about two weeks ago and spotted the pink truck in the parking lot. I was in luck and could spot this pink truck a mile away. This meant I'm getting my poi mochi fix and Uncle Lani makes the best poi mochi. A box of twelve is now $10 and comes with your choice of poi or haupia drizzle. I purchased a box and got it with haupia drizzle. Omg...it was so good. It just came out of the fryer; so it was hot, crispy and chewy. They also have a brick and mortar location at Ka Makana Ali'i. If not, just be on the lookout for this pink truck.

    Virgilynn B.

    This was such a yummy treat to snack on while walking around inside Walmart. I found it hard to find in the beginning because I was looking for a pink truck but it was actually a stand right outside the entrance of Walmart. A light and crunchy poi mochi dessert with a haupia drizzle on top. You get a dozen pieces for $10. Service was quick and made to order. I can finally check this place off my yelp list.

    Poi Mochi
    Kevin W.

    We always see the truck at Kamakani Ali'i and the kiosk at Kapolei Walmart. Both locations have lots of parking. Locally owned and operated. They always greet you with a friendly smile. Crispy on the outside soft and chewy on the inside. Our favorite is the original (plain). But they have a very tasty assortment of drizzles that we seen a lot of people order. Definitely a cravable dessert.

    Sold out :(
    Jazlene T.

    This place never disappoints, except for when they're sold out! I finally grabbed a fresh batch before I went back to the mainland. I came 2x prior for the shop to be closed but this time I came about 30 minutes after they opened! (11:30-11:45) These were everything I remember and it hasn't changed. I used to come to the mall and see the small booth they had before they expanded into this location, with an actual store. Amazing and love to see how far they've grown throughout the years. 10/10 service :) I got the OG poi drizzle and half Haupia with an extra $1 charge since it's 2 drizzles. I can't really tell which is my favorite because they're both addictive. Once you eat one you can't have enough! Every time I come to Ka Makana I have to check if they're open. Support this family!!

    Crista P.

    By far BEST Poi Mochi EVER! My family and I have been customers since DAY 1! I'm not sure if it's new owners but when they opened there first food truck YEARS ago when we all lived in Red Hill, we always bought poi Mochi from them! It's good to see that YEARS later the uncle lani's poi Mochi is still the same but now with a twist! It's a MUST get if you see the Food truck! You will not regret it! The haupia frosted poi Mochi is my favorite!

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    7 months ago

    When in the mood for mochi go see these guys. There are outside of Walmart most of the time. Delish! Snack.

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    1 year ago

    Always the best poi mochi! We love the haupia drizzle the best! Anytime we're at Ka Makana Ali'i we pass by to see if they are open!

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi

    What time does Uncle open?

    I don't think they know what time they open!

    Does anyone know if they're open during this lockdown?

    They have a drive thru in the parking lot if Ka Makana Alii in Kapolei. Call first, but they are usually there by 12 noon most days during the lockdiwn!

    Does anyone know how much they are?

    Regular poi mochi is $8/dozen

    Do they accept card, or they only do cash transactions?

    I believe they only accept cards @ The kapolei location (Kamakana Ali’i). Pop ups are cash :)

    Anybody know the hours? Seems to always be closed?

    10-6 in kapolei. I've had times where they arrived late and I cancelled ordering. Never really an issue though.

    What is there hours?

    10am - 6pm

    View All 8 Questions

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    Oohhh these guys…read more.. I just love how they bougie up our beloved mochi the classic treat that's not too sweet but does give you the freedom to enjoy it plain, stuffed or dusted with various coatings. Da Mochi Guys does that and more as I found them at Makana Mkt in Ka Makana Ali'i Sunday market from 11a-3p it's just so hard to resist peeking in to see the load they have made for the day with one table with the classic mochi stuffed with Oreo, cookie butter, brownie and kulolo while another table had the butter mochi OMG! Biscoff, Biko and OG that was it for me as I got the OG but noticed a jar of Dubai spread a jar that was a great way to turn any treat to Dubai yumminess which is so smart. The staff there was a trooper in the torrential rain pouring down as it got pretty intense at times but happy to support these great local small biz and share a bit of that happy vibe along the way. Thank you!

    I used to come here to get my stuffed mochi when they first started selling but when I came back to…read morebuy the mochi was spoiled and being sold in the sun and smell omg I did not dare to touch another piece after that first bite and I bought 3 packs all in the dumpster I got sick the next day please if your gonna sell mochi or any desserts please be honest and make sure you are selling quality fresh or you will loose customers I now buy from another seller who sells on marketplace very fresh same day

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    I've passed by this restaurant so many times thinking it was just a regular place, maybe a food…read moretruck, I was very wrong. The service was quick and to the point. Location is a very cute spot. Yes it's connected to the hotel but the poolside area is very pretty. And I really enjoyed my garlic shrimp plate. 10 out of 10 experience will be coming back and recommending this place!

    Hawaiian garlic shrimp is a iconic local dish, not technically traditional Hawaiian food, featuring…read moreshell-on shrimp tossed in a pungent garlic-butter sauce, heavily popularized by North Shore, Oahu food trucks since the mid-1970s. With the recent flood happening at the end of March, and our trip being in early April, going to North Shore wasn't advised. While we have some great Hawaiian garlic shrimp spots in Arizona, we had to at least try to get some garlic shrimp while on Oahu. We gave this place a try just because we were already in the building. It wasn't a choice we made prior because honestly, I would have suggested trying a more well-known spot like two miles away, haha! We shared a $14 Shrimp with Original Garlic sauce on it and made it a combo with rice, a scoop of potato mac salad, and regular salad, $14 + $6. Sam's Kitchen was okay. I would have loved to have the shell-on but this place does not offer shell-on shrimp. Still, they make a decent garlic shrimp.

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    View of the pool from our table.
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    Orig garlic shrmp & tery-garlic steak
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    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck

    3.9
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    Literally the best shrimp I ever had. Absolutely delicious!!…read more I don't say that lightly either. It was otherworldly!! The staff was great too!!!! I'll be back!

    Giovanni's is one of those places where memory does a remarkable amount of the seasoning. I've been…read moreeating here across decades. Enough visits that this is no longer about catching them on a bad afternoon, ordering the wrong thing or failing to understand what the place is supposed to be. I've tried the different shrimp, stood in the lines, eaten at the tables, navigated the parking, brought people here and returned because, for a very long time, Giovanni's was simply one of those places you went when you were on this side of the island. At some point, repetition becomes evidence. The truck itself has become an artifact. Covered in signatures, battered by time, photographed millions of times. There was probably a period when all of that felt charming. Now it mostly feels tired. There is a difference between patina and neglect and the surrounding experience has increasingly crossed that line for me. Flies, crowded tables, overflowing activity, rough parking, heat, trash nearby. You can romanticize rustic only so far before rustic starts asking for a pressure washer. Then there is the service, which has consistently been the hardest part for me to understand. I don't need anyone performing hospitality like they're auditioning for a resort commercial, but basic warmth costs nothing. Too often the interaction here feels impatient and transactional, as though the customer is somehow inconveniencing the operation by showing up to buy the food. After enough visits, you stop calling that an off day. And then there is the plate. The shrimp itself is actually the least offensive part. It is generally cooked reasonably well. Tender enough, rarely destroyed and when you get a good batch you can understand why this formula became so popular. Everything around it drags it down. The rice has repeatedly been soft, clumped and bordering on mushy. I am annoyingly particular about rice, but rice is not some decorative substance placed beneath the main event. It matters. When half the plate is rice, screwing it up is not a minor detail. The garlic is abundant, certainly, but abundance and care are different things. It often arrives more like a wet mass of processed garlic than the fragrance and texture you get from properly chopped fresh cloves. Add the butter and oil and you certainly get intensity, but after several bites the whole thing becomes heavy rather than interesting. The little salad on the side generally feels like an afterthought that has been waiting for someone to remember it. And that is ultimately my problem with Giovanni's. The entire experience feels as though its reputation arrived at the destination years before the restaurant did and everyone decided there was no longer much reason to keep improving. People will continue coming. Of course they will. The name is famous, the truck is recognizable, the photographs are practically mandatory and nostalgia is one hell of a business model. I understand it because it worked on me for years. But strip away the mythology and ask a brutally simple question: If this exact plate came from an unknown truck with no history, no signatures and no reputation, would you still wait in line for it? I wouldn't. Two stars. The shrimp can still be decent and I have too many memories here to pretend the place means nothing to me. But nostalgia should bring you back to a restaurant. It shouldn't be responsible for making the food taste better. I kept returning because tradition can turn habit into taste. I'm done confusing the two.

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    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck order wait line
    Garlic Shrimp Scampi
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