'Ai Pono Cafe

this place is superb!!! we’ve tried the ahi poke, OG beef, katsu, and the garlic butter mahi mahi. they were all soooo delicious. I love the sides of macaroni salad and slaw. highly recommend!

Came in and place was very nice and I Got a side of the guava chili chicken and the dirty lickin Korean chicken in a plate and everything was Ono! Came with rice slaw and Mac salad and The slaw was top notch, Mac was really good and so was the rice but the chicken was really tender and had so much flavor, and I got a couple of sauces on the side and I forgot the names but the white one was the best! Also added a POG and a Rice Krispie treat as well, so much good stuff they got here, definitely worth it and I’ll be back to try more items on the menu

The restaurant has a nice vibe to it. Cheeky wall art & staff clothing. The menu is extensive and out of the ordinary Hawaiian. The Crackhead chicken with coconut rice and a good macaroni salad was my favorite meal.

Great find before I needed to head to SNA airport. Very friendly staff, great food and atmosphere. Next time I’m in town I will definitely visit again. Thank you!

Went here to check the hype I had heard about the food. So I Just got into California from texas. Texas has a few spots claiming to be Hawaiian food yet are actually far from hitting the mark. So being from Hawaii and local food addict I had to stop and try Ai pono in high hopes. The staff was great the pictures of the food looked great. I ordered the zombie plate because it had some of my hawaii favorites all in one. Meat Jun, Kalbi short ribs & Chicken. Presentation was nice but the plate over all lacked what I expected as hawaiian plate lunch flair & flavors. The meat jun was as if it was a lightly breaded price of meat, slightly tough to chew no egg batter consistency really no flavor and no type of sauce for it, fyi meat jun needs a sauce. The short ribs and chicken was okay but not really hawaiian food, maybe more a fusion and seemed as if both had the same taste. The most shocking part was missing Mac salad, it did not come with my plate! No hawaii plate lunch would dare leave Mac salad as something you pay extra on the side for. I purchased a side of the salad found that the mac salad was okay, but again not the Hawaii flavor I went there expecting. I was taken back that just two plate lunches and two Hawaiian sun drinks cost over $60. I realize its California but think for what you get, its slightly over priced.. Over all experience, the food had a good flavor and was cooked well. It just didn't give me that back home Hawaii flavor or satisfaction I went looking for. Ive read the other reviews, it seems like those that left a review commenting that this was the perfect Hawaiian food, may need to actually taste some real Hawaiian food so n they can make an informed decision. This was not really Hawaii food lol. My mainland search for Hawaii plate lunch food continues. I have been all over the 49 states and have ate at many spots serving Hawaii favorites. I found its few & far between spots that actually take me home with the food they claim as being Hawaii inspired.. I probably won't return to this place. l had ate at a couple other Hawaii food places in LA, that I won't mention here that did alot better with doing Hawaii food justice. Honestly my ventures with hawaiian food here on the mainland US have been more disappointments then satisfaction. I will keep searching for that one, Ai pono just didn't hit the mark.

My son took us there for dinner as he found out and it's an amazing place for Hawaiian food. Very authentic. The chicken bowls to die for. It's fantastic large portions fulfilling. I recommend it

Wow…the Crackhead Chicken w/ Red Beards Hot Sauce…that’s crazy. Ordered another to take home for later. Was told to drive outta the way for this, and glad I did. Amazing, never had anything like it.

Food was amazing and the staff was very friendly! It was my first time eating here and the staff helped guide me to make a decision! Would definitely be coming back and try more from the menu!

A place I go to when I miss Hawaii. Best Hawaiian food I've found in OC. Counter service but staff very friendly and helpful. Ambiance feels like you are in Hawaii with the decorations and music. Our go to order is "Da' Spicy Plate" and "Da'Chef Plate". Their signature ponzu sauce is to die for!!

I try to eat here once a week, it's one of my favorite places to go to! When asked for recommendations I usually tell people to try this place out.

First time here, my wife is from Hawaii and hard to find good local food besides her moms. The Korean chicken, guava chicken, spicy poke are fire. The spam musubi was good too. Will be comin' back. Thank you!!

Ordered take out, even when it's cold, it's amazing! Love this place. Highly recommend this place for the best Hawaiian style food. Very very casual spot but this is the best place for your local Hawaiian food.

I felt it was ok. Decent Hawaiian grub. A little pricey. Got the chicken katsu, Korean short ribs and the Mahi Mahi. The Katsu was ok. Solid Katsu sauce. Mac salad decent. The slaw was a little bland. Same with the short ribs and Mahi Mahi - pretty good. Canned drinks. Made to order, so a bit of a wait. No prob there. Place your order at the counter and the food will be delivered to your table. Inside and outside seating. Good variety on menu. Again, a little pricey, but the food is decent. Nothing spectacular.

First time here and I tried their da "Makai" plate wow, the fish was so good! The poke wasn't bad either just had a slight magnetic taste to it only thing I thought was odd. Service was quick, efficient, and friendly, and the food came out in a timely manner. The ambiance is nice, with hip music playing that really adds to the vibe. They sell interesting snacks and I like that there's plenty of seating indoors. Also they have a student discount deal for all the students!! They have restrooms for customers and plenty of parking in the plaza, which is always a plus for me.

Second time here and we were slightly disappointed that most of their original plates were sold out for the day btw it was only 3pm. Maybe try to come early if you know you want to try a specific item. You can't even be mad at them for being sold out, their food is BOMB!!!

This place is on the pricier end for hawaiian food. the poke bowl was $16 and suuuupppperrrr tiny. da roots plate was also decent but nothing special. overall, not bad but not great.

Wow!! BELIEVE THE HYPE!!! This place is legit!! Best Hawaiian food on the mainland! Been wanting to visit this place since they opened.. but I'm never in the area.. tried the og beef and the crack chicken! Both were so tasty!!! And they only charged an extra ,50 for sub Mac salad instead of rice! The Mac salad was so good. The ambiance made me feel like I was home in Hawaii.. I will definitely be back!!

This is, hands down, the best Hawaiian food in Orange County! We've been going to Ai Pono since they were a pop-up at The Hood Kitchen and every meal seems to be better than the last. The flavor profiles are so complex and everything is absolutely delicious. My go to is "Da Spicy Plate" and I add some Thai Garlic Shrimp on the side. The customer service is always super kind and polite and there's a reasonable amount of seating on the inside. I highly recommend checking this place out but be careful... you will get addicted and make random weekday drives to eat here!

Ai Pono Cafe is a casual Hawaiian restaurant that offers a fusion of Asian items with Hawaiian cuisine. Ordering is done at the front and then one's number is called out. Da Korean Zombie - $25 - This came with Korean short ribs, Korean chicken, meat jun, rice, kimchee and mac bean sprouts. The short ribs were marinated in a teriyaki sauce and were juicy and tender. The fried chicken was actually boneless chicken thighs and not bad. The meat jun consisted of thin beef strips fried in a egg flour batter. The beef was a little tough and this dish was completely tasteless. Overall, the food was just ok, and I had to use some siracha to help salvage the dishes. I did feel that pricing was on the high side, given that this is a casual restaurant.

This place is BOMB!!! If you are the type of person that loves Hawaiian food and you like to try a little of everything then I recommend getting their combo plates. The Guava fried chicken is sooo good, nothing like I have ever tasted, and their poke, garlic shrimp, Mac salad, all of them SMACK!! Highly recommend this place. It get's busy here but there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Wanted to branch out from my usual Hawaiian BBQ spot and came across this plaza! I got the Chicken Katsu while my boyfriend got the "Crackhead" Chicken. We both shared a Mango Lemonade to wash down our food, which we were able to get a refill for! The katsu was crispy and juicy! Paired with the mac salad, I was disappointed how it lacked flavor to it. Definitely tasted more creamy than anything. The crackhead chicken was pretty salty so the mac salad actually balanced that part out. Some pieces were slightly drier than others. The portion for the price was well worth it. I would come back to try their other items!

I got the Costa Mesa Combo omg it was so fire. Better than Waikiki food! I will most definitely be coming back and try other items hopefully they hit as good as this .

Really delicious! Really small spot and draws a lot of traffic. The employees were really kind. The food was really delicious! There was not a single thing that I had that I didn't enjoy! However, the wait is insane. I ordered online an hour earlier than I actually got my food. I'm not sure if online is worse than ordering in person because I saw folks that had ordered there that got their food fairly quick. I would say just be aware of online because it might not be the best option. Other than that no complaints! Highly recommend!

I don't usually leave bad reviews, but this place was really disappointing. The photos of the food looked amazing, so I decided to try it out. I ordered two plates and spent about $40 total, but unfortunately, it just wasn't worth it. The Katsu was soggy and flavorless, the BBQ beef lacked any real taste, and the seared Ahi was bland too. Overall, everything was either soggy, bland, or both. Maybe it was just an off day, but I don't plan on coming back anytime soon.

i tried the chicken potstickers & the makai plate. the chicken potstickers were served nice & crispy! i really enjoyed the poke that came with the makai plate, but wish the blackened mahi mahi had a bit more flavor. a bit pricey for the portion size, but still a solid hawaiian spot to add to your rotation!

Da "Spicy" Plate (7/10): The rice and mac salad and the guava chili pepper chicken was pretty good. I couldn't taste much of the spice or guava in the chicken; it mainly tasted like fried chicken. The crispy Korean chicken was not crispy; it was way too saucy and sweet. The ahi katsu had a nice breading and tasty sauce; it was definitely not too fishy, which I liked. I would not get this plate again, and I recommend getting something else. Overall Thoughts: The service is relatively timely. There was a small line to order even though I went on a Saturday at lunch. The food came out in a decent amount of time. I am definitely disappointed in the portion sizes because, for the price, the plate is definitely not worth it. My girlfriend's sister even mentioned that she was still hungry after eating a plate to herself. There is outdoor seating, which was nice because we had our dog coming along with us. This place was pretty busy indoors as well-most of the tables and chairs were packed with lots of people. The interior vibe gave Hawaiian, which was very on theme with the type of cafe/restaurant it was. If I were to come back again, I would want to try the chicken katsu. If you do end up coming here, just remember that the portion sizes are pretty small, and their Korean marinades don't seem super "authentic."

My husband had an appointment in Newport, and by the time he was done, we were both starving. A quick Yelp search led us to this little hidden gem with rave reviews for Hawaiian street food--and it did not disappoint! It's a tiny spot with limited seating, both indoors and out, but it has a cozy charm. I went with the Mento Bento, kind of like a sampler box with all the meats they're known for--so good! I love being able to try a bit of everything. My husband ordered something with tuna poke (don't ask me the name--I totally forgot), but it was super fresh and packed with flavor. What I really liked was how different it felt from your typical Hawaiian fast food. It had more personality, more soul. You order at the counter, then grab a seat if you're eating in--simple and efficient. Overall, we left full and happy. Definitely planning to come back and explore more of the menu. This spot's a keeper!

Ai Pono Café has been (minor) hit or (major) miss for me on both visits. First visit (dine-in): We wanted to try a little of everything, so we ordered the Chef's Plate, which includes garlic butter mahi mahi, black magic teri beef, and spicy ahi poke, along with the daily special--two-choice chicken plate (we picked Guava Chili Pepper Chicken and Crackhead Chicken). In hindsight, I'd skip the seafood. The mahi mahi was dry, and the ahi poke was overly sauced and didn't taste fresh, and the sauce was terrible. We did not finish this. The guava chicken, though, was fantastic! Juicy and flavorful, I love that it's guava, because you don't see that everywhere. The Crackhead Chicken was also a standout: crispy and addicting signature sob sauce. The plates were slightly salty (which is why you need rice). The mac and slaw were good. I came back with my siblings, who were excited to try it too. And decided to go here since we were starving. Unfortunately, they had already run out of katsu (so go early if that's what you're craving). We ordered the Korean Short Rib and Crackhead Chicken, but they messed up the order and gave us garlic butter mahi mahi instead, forgetting the short rib. We drove back and they just made us the short rib. The Korean BBQ is extremely salty, but has good flavor. The Crackhead Chicken, however, continues to be the one thing I'd come back for. But because they messed up our order, we didn't get to enjoy it hot and fresh. Despite the popularity, the café hasn't impressed me, and it's pretty pricy too. And you might not even be able to get their chicken, which sucks. The space has plenty of tables and really emulates the Hawaiian beach shack vibes. If you go, I'd recommend only getting the chicken.

Best Hawaiian spot in OC. Diverse menu with a lot of options besides the typical bbq'd meats! I got Da "Makai" plate which came with 2 types of ahi tuna poke, Mahi Mahi and rice. The ahi tasted fresh and paired well with the cooked fish. It came with a sweet/spicy/vinegary sauce. It was delicious! I really am looking forward to trying something else next time. This place is clearly popular as it was pretty busy when we came before closing. Service is quick and the staff is friendly. Very Hawaiian vibe with pictures of past leaders like Queen Liliʻuokalani, surf boards, store merch and islander inspired art. They have seating inside and some tables outside. Located right next to Target so there is lots of parking!

The Best Hawaiian food outside of Hawaii! Don't sleep on this treasure. If you love Hawaiian, poke, ribs, katsu, and the works then come here! We had Da Spicy Plate- with Spicy Poke, guava chill pepper chicken, and Korean fried chicken with rice and Mac salad. and the Da Stockton Slap- with Poke, garlic shrimp, and blackened ahi with mixed greens and rice. They were both so delicious! I love a mixed plate to try different items. I can't wait to come back and try more items!

Can't believe I've never been here before. Hawaiian cuisine is one of my favorite comfort food and their menu here is big enough that one can easily find a dish or Hawaiian plate combo that would tickle their fancy. The ones our group got were The Roots, The Zombie, The Stockton, and The Spicy. They all vary from having fresh poke, ahi katsu, shortrib, Korean fried chicken, jin, sweet chili garlic shrimp, etc plus rice and mac salad. A combo plate comes with three set proteins but you can also opt to order single plates if you have one favorite. They were all ono and everyone in our party had their own favorite item. Mine was the Ahi Katsu and Shrimp :) The place is casual with its walls adorned with huge portraits of significant Hawaiian figures. Laid back and friendly service was expected and that's what we got. Until next time!

Wow! This place was ono for sure!! You feel the aloha as soon as you walk in and are greeted by the employees....a sense of ohana. The food was full of flavor down to the last bite. I'm picky about mac salad and theirs didn't disappoint at all. The ambiance was laid back, clean, and relaxing....no rush, just chill. Definitely look forward to coming back!

Wow the vibes inside take me back to Hawaii; staff was welcoming and friendly and the smell of the char grilled meats is intoxicating. Be sure to come early or else there is a high chance of the popular items being sold out if you come near closing like I did. I got the Da Korean Zombie and Da Makai Plate. Both a good deal for around $20 give or take a few dollars. Each order is enough for 2 meals for me. The poke was fresh, tender and seasoned just right. The grilled mahi mahi was on the dry side but I think it's just the nature of such a lean fish. The meats in the Korean zombie all had that charred flavor that you only get off the grill. Such a gem in OC that takes you back to the islands.

We have been wanting to try this place for years but are never in the area. Now that we have tried it, we will drive just to get some AiPono! It was super busy but the line moved quick. They have a decent amount of seating inside and the staff were very friendly and helpful! My sister and I got the OG Beef and Crack Chicken. They were both amazing!! We also substituted rice for extra Mac salad and it was only .50 extra! Some Hawaiian spots will charge $2-$3 to substitute rice for Mac Salad. They had island reggae playing and the wall art painted by Tim Hendricks was amazing! Make sure to give them a try, they are the best Hawaiian here on the mainland.

The vibes in here are immaculate. I went with the Ahi Katsu, which, while tasty, ended up a bit on the dry side. Since it was my first time here, I feel that I didn't order the right thing to try. I originally planned on ordering the poke as a side, so I'll definitely have to give that a try next time. Aside from that, the service was great; the staff was quick and friendly. I really enjoyed the seating inside, especially the bench-style table. I'll be back to explore more of the menu!

I found Ai Pono Cafe through social media. Wanted to show my cousins how Hawaiian food taste like and They love this place. The vibe, the music, the merch, is giving island vibe. We all tried rice dishes because we wanted something fulfilling. My cousin got the Katsu fried chicken, Dirty-licking korean chicken rice and both were really crispy, sauce was good, I like the smashed potatoes that comes with every portion. ( only minus 1 point cause the Korean short ribs bbq was a bit on the sweeter end and my preference is I dont like my bbq to be too sweet. But It is just personal taste) I want to go back to try their Spam musubi Service was excellent If you come here at lunch time on weekend, be expecting to wait for table. Ideally Ai Pono cafe is more for togo.

We got takeout here and it was ready within 5-8 minutes! The service was fast and friendly and the ambiance of the place seemed more of a takeout or quick dining experience. We got the ahi poke and crackhead chicken. The poke was with shoyu sauce and it was light and fresh. The chicken was crispy and the flavor was sweet and had a tiny kick. This place was really solid and perfect for takeout to go on a picnic!

FOOD: Good portions and flavor. The roots combo was ~$21. The kbbq was flavorful (honestly small portion of meat roughly 4-5 cut up pieces). The fish was great, they give you both poke and the seared tuna. That makes the box worth it. The Mac salad is also really good, they could serve a bit extra though. AMBIANCE: plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. They have "lunch table" set up so you'll likely share the table with other patrons. There's a water station and bathroom for guests. It is extremely crowded on the weekends. PARKING: the location shares a lot with target and other small businesses. It took a minute to find a parking spot. (There's a park down the street if there's lack of parking or seating. Def head over there!)

Best Hawaiian food I've ever had. Quick service despite the lunch rush. Lots to choose from, I got the crackhead chicken plate

Usually the food is 10/10 but my meal on Sunday bothered me. I like getting "da spicy plate" but this time the poke was super mushy and had a texture like it was chewed up. When I came they had a bunch of signs that said poke was sold out, so maybe they scraped together this scoop? Then I got an extra side of Mac salad that is $14, and they give me the tiniest amount that doesn't even fill the container half way. They should've charged $5 for this not $14?!?

By far one of the BEST Hawaiian BBQ places I've ever tried. I initially came here just for spam musubi's but I had to order one of their more popular entrees because I couldn't help myself. Everything is cooked fresh to order and I like the vibe inside. The restaurant has some funny signs. You should definitely check it out next time on your next Ulta or Target run, as its in the same plaza. Lots of parking, but can get busy at times.

I always try and stop at this place whenever I'm in Newport. Their plates make for the perfect post beach meal!! Such authentic Hawaiian food and the best mac salad in the OC. This time I got the DA Korean Zombie plate and the DA Makai Plate. The flavor was ever present, but portions were significantly smaller than on my past visits which was a bit disappointing. The galbi was a standout and seasoned to perfection. I'd never tried meat jun before and it was such an interesting texture with the egg. I loved the juxtaposition of these savory, rich meats with the fresh seafood on my second plate. The spicy poke was next level and just as fresh and bright as always. I loved the blacked mahi too but it was a bit dry. I added some hot sauce and kimchi and it definitely saved the day. The staff here are so nice and there is always a line out the door, so you know it's a community favorite. I will be back!

This placed is a newly Hawaiian spot in Costa Mesa. It's not a bad spot. Living in Hawaii for years definitely ruined mainland made Hawaiian food. This place is def popular than i expected it to be. For starters I got the Olive plate which comes with kalbi short ribs, chicken, and meat jun. The overall plating is nice. I still think the price is a bit steep but overall it wasn't bad. The food was actually delicious. I wish I got more. I give it a 4.8/5. I didn't take a picture of the spicy poke because it was terrible. I guess i expected the paste to be like Foodland. I give it a 1/5. Overpriced for such terrible taste. Overall the place is pretty cool and the service is amazing typical to go order type. Ambiance is fast pace.

I've had a lot of Hawaiian plate lunches and dinners. I've enjoyed a number of poke. places. Hands-down, this was the best I have had outside of Hawaii. Spicy poke was incredible. Mac salad was legit. Staff was great, food came out quick and the vibe was awesome. Don't do anything but get in your car and drive straight over. You will not be disappointed.

The beef in the da chef's place was so sweet and the chicken in the crackhead chicken plate was so salty, we drank three cups of water. The garlic mahi mahi and the mac salad were yummy. The space is small but the place clears up fast.

Really enjoyed the food. Will definitely be coming back in the future. The side of poke was perfect as getting a whole poke dish always feels like too much for me. Everything portioned perfectly

Ai Pono had been one of our favorites for Hawaiian food in OC for about 2 years. We've taken family and friends there when they visit, met up with coworkers and recommended to dozens. However, over the years the quality has gone from wow to just ok, while the prices have jumped almost every time we've been. The wait times for food are long even when it's not super packed. We tried the poke bowl for the first time, went with a little cheaper option as the combo plate prices have jumped 4-5 dollars. (normally we get da roots plate because it's delicious). The flavor was fine, but not much fish compared to the amount of rice. Not pictured were the lumpia and a side of Mac salad. The lumpia and side sauce were solid, hard to judge the crispness because we ordered to-go, but I would order again. The Mac salad tasted good as per usual, but the portion was very small considering we ordered a separate side of it by itself and considering the price. All in all, the food is ok, the prices are climbing, and the portions are inconsistent. We'll give it another shot at some point when the craving hits again, but might try some new places in the mean time.

I've been meaning to try this place for so long and I'm glad I finally had the chance to do so. We went on a Friday afternoon and it was relatively busy, but they got through the line fairly quickly. My friend and I shared their crackhead chicken and one of their special boxes of the day. The prices are fair and for those 2 boxes, there was actually a lot of food we weren't able to finish. I really enjoyed the poke that came in the special box. All their foods have a lot of flavor and paired nicely with each other. If I went back, I'd probably get one of their Ai Pono originals to have a little of everything. I highly recommend this spot if you're looking for some good Hawaiian food. The spot is next to a Target, so there's a relatively large parking lot there. There's seating inside and outside, but depending when you go, it could be pretty busy. The staff is really friendly and works quickly to get your food out. Overall, really great place!

I stumbled across this place after exploring and was blown away. It felt like I was back on the island eating at a local spot. I was surprised at how much food we got and how much flavor there was in each bite. I got the spicy chicken plate and wife had the Mento "fricken" bento plate. The Portuguese sausage musubi wasn't really hitting the spot and wasn't like the island. It felt like another spam musubi. The chef was there giving orders to the cooks to help get the orders out faster. There was a line of people coming here and it did not disappoint.

This place really transports its guest to an intimate shack in Hawaii. The atmosphere is very causal and fun with witty signs and goofy decor. The combos are huge and they have a variety of different options. I personally had the Maki with poke and mahi mahi. The poke was so yummy, their spicy poke was my favorite but the shoyu is great option too. The mahi mahi was blackened and I enjoyed it especially with the sauce they provide on the side. My boyfriend ordered their Thai Shrimp and that was so delicious, I would come back again and get that combo plate! If you're missing hawaii the atmosphere and food it's a good place to visit :)

Ai Pono Cafe is serving up some legit and authentic Hawaiian cuisine! This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. Inside, they have about 6-8 tables for seating and are decked out with some awesome Hawaiian inspired decor. As for their menu, they have a great selection of different plate options. Wifey and I opted to get the Korean Short Rib plate and the Da Roots plate. Each plate comes with a side of mac salad and some generous portions. Everything was delicious and hit the spot! Overall, this is definitely a go to spot for some authentic Hawaiian cuisine. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. There is a reason why this spot has over 1,000+ positive reviews!

My boyfriend and I found this restaurant on Instagram and decided to stop by it was 45 minutes away but we decided to give it a shot. Overall we found it to be quite pricey. We both ordered the chicken katsu ($18) but my boyfriend asked the cashier if he could do half beef teriyaki and katsu, she said they couldn't do that, so she offered the side option to us instead which was $11 for two pieces of thinly sliced beef. The whole bill was $47 for the two chicken katsu dishes and the beef side. The chicken katsu itself was really good crispy and crunchy and the homemade sauce was great as-well (we did want another sauce it was 75c)! However we, unlike some people, like eating the coleslaw when we visit various Hawaiian restaurants but honestly it was missing flavor at this location. The Mac and cheese was pretty good, wish they gave a little bit of a bigger portion.

This isn't just the best Hawaiian food in Orange County. This is the best food in Southern California. My wife and I make it a point to try and come here at least once a month.

This is LEGIT Hawaiian street food made by a local from Hawai'i and they did not disappoint! As someone from Hawai'i, I am always excited to find an establishment from a local that I can support! The ambiance can be described as casual Rockabilly-ish beach vibes. The menu was pretty extensive. We thought their shrimp and Korean chicken plates were tasty and would order again. The portions were pretty standard for a plate lunch. The service was quick and the lady who helped us gave us some great recommendations. This place seems to be consistently busy which is always a good sign. We would definitely come back here!

I came to Ai Pono Cafe on a Saturday night and it was packed. Despite the crowd, they got my food out in under 10 minutes, which already impressed me. I ordered the Crackhead Steak, which is battered and fried sirloin. I've never had anything like it before. Crispy, juicy, flavorful, it seriously blew me away. I asked for the sauce on the side since I'm not big on mustard, but the teriyaki sauce they included was insanely good. I ended up dipping everything in it. The sides, rice, mac salad, and slaw, were all legit. You can tell they care about every part of the plate, not just the main. The staff was super friendly, and the cashier was especially pleasant and welcoming. You can feel the good vibes as soon as you walk in. I don't usually write Yelp reviews anymore, but this meal absolutely deserved one. If you're thinking about going, go hungry and get the Crackhead Steak. You'll thank me later.

The Makai was tasty! I enjoyed the shoyu ahi poke and the spicy ahi poke. I recommend Da"Roots" plate.

Food was amazing! The place was packed. I'm looking forward to returning in the future!