Ai Pono Café

Was not impressed. Service was not good (didn't feel like they wanted to be there) every question I asked was met with "no" with no follow up and it was questions like "do you have a menu we can take a look at?" Since the only menu they had was the one that rotated on the screen. All of the meats we got were dry but flavors were okay. Poke wasn't bad either but for those prices just go mom and pop, there are so many better options outside and close by.

The food was absolutely delicious. Somewhat of a fast pace environment but still able to sit down and enjoy your food. The staff is very friendly as well, they had brought me the wrong plate initially and without hesitation corrected the mistake and gave me a free item.

Wide selection for average tasting food. They offer combination plates to try different meats and each plate comes with Mac salad and veggies. Portions were large but there was too much rice and not enough meat. Mac salad lacked in flavor. “Crackhead” Chicken: The most unique plate I tried – a chicken karaage with a sweet mayo-like sauce. Chicken Katsu – average, slightly dry in my opinion. Wish they gave more pieces and sauce because I was left with a lot of rice. Dirty Lickin Chicken: 2 pieces of battered chicken with a sweet Korean sauce. Nothing out of the ordinary. Korean Short Rib: Riblet meat coated with an overly sweet Korean sauce. Some pieces were majority fat with little meat. There are better selections for Hawaiian food in Vegas, but if you’re looking for food within Durango hotel, this is one of the better choices.

Ate here for the first time a week ago and the service was great, the staff was super friendly , the food was delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was on point. The mac salad has some seasoning on it that i have never had but it set it apart from other places. The chicken teriyaki was also great and it was moist and not dry. Definitely worth coming back for.

Above average flavors with above average prices for Hawaiian style food. My only real complaint is that the beef was too salty. Luckily, the white rice kind of neutralizes the saltiness. I loved the spicy poke. The mahi mahi fish was decent. There's no free water available anymore. So they sell all kinds of drinks and bottled water. The sandwich place across the way, had free water and plastic cups. The dining area is spacious, but I can see how it can get busy with nowhere to sit. The decor was fun and the music was a bit too loud. I think if they made the price 20%-30% less, then I wouldn't have any complaints at all. We didn't interact much with the staff except for the ordertaker/cashier and she was pleasant. There's a tip option when you pay by card and also a tip jar if you are paying by cash. I don't know if I'm coming back here. I like Shang Noodles next door for a more satisfying meal.

Ai Pono has sparked quite a bit of debate in the food community, with some critics claiming it doesn't serve authentic Hawaiian cuisine. Honestly, I had my doubts, especially after seeing a guy on Instagram vehemently dispute its authenticity. However, when my family and I arrived in Durango, we were in desperate need of a satisfying meal and decided to give it a shot. After all, what could be more comforting than a taste of home? There were three of us, and we opted to share a couple of dishes, starting with the Da “Korean Zombie,” which was a delightful medley of flavors. It featured tender Korean short ribs, crispy Korean chicken, meat jun, rice, kimchee, and a side of mac salad with bean sprouts. We also ordered the classic katsu, served with mac salad, rice, and katsu sauce. Although the restaurant was bustling and the service was a bit slow, we understood it was a busy time—good things come to those who wait! I can’t say if it was the warm company of my cousins or simply the fact that we were starving, but we moped it! Overall, the food was genuinely good and brought a taste of aloha to our table. The Ambiance was cute, while the service could use a little polish, the vibrant dishes made the wait worthwhile. I recommend giving Ai Pono a try, regardless of the controversies—sometimes, you just have to taste for yourself!

Crackhead Chicken. That’s all you need. It has a blend of so many delicious flavors in one bite but is somehow not overwhelming. It comes with a heaping amount of rice and Mac salad. I came on a Monday early afternoon so the wait was not bad and there was ample seating. I did come during a peak time months ago and had a different experience. The wait was very long for my food. During this last visit though, the staff was very nice and fun and they were recording content which made it a more interesting experience. Verdict? Come during non peak hours. Food is yummy and the music playlist had me dancing while I was chowing down.

Would I drive all the way to Ai Pono just for this food? Probably not. But if you’re here and looking for a place to eat, I’d recommend giving it a try. Like most reviews, make sure you have time. There is always a line even during the week. When I was there, even hotel staff were in line. The atmosphere is my favorite part of this restaurant. Local music, the wood, the pictures, it makes you feel like you’re back home. The food is delicious. Typical plate lunch portion sizes but with Vegas prices so be warned it’s not a cheap place to eat. Employee attitude, I typically don’t base my reviews off of service because that can change dramatically depending on the day and hour you go but for some reason, no one seemed happy there. When you think about the Aloha spirit, you immediately think of a smile. It’s easy to bring local Hawaiian food off the island but the Aloha Spirit can’t be manufactured.

10/10 nothing else Poke bowls are so good, the Loco Moco is also very fire. And the korean short rib plate is 10/10!!! so much food foe the price definitely a fire spot in durango

After passing by the store front for so long we finally decided to come in, immediately fell in love with the vibe of the restaurant inside and the really cool t shirts! The staff is really nice and the dude that took our order was helpful recommending his top hits and what was most popular. We decided to get the bahn mi and da Korean zombie plate along with a Portuguese sausage masubi to wet our whistles. Again the service here is excellent and fast...... butttttt I was disappointed to say the food didn't stand up to match the vibe. The bahn mi felt like it was missing something that traditional bahn mi sandwiches usually have. Given that this isn't traditional Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich territory I hoped it would somewhat give that flavor. The bun was soggy immediately and the meat was overpowering all the tie in ingredients like the pickled cucumbers and cilantro. I was hoping for that same crunch I normally get. The zombie plate was packed & beautifully presented but the meat jun didn't have much flavor and was soggy. The short rib was very flavorful and cooked well. the chicken was delicious and perfectly seasoned with a kick of flavor! I would have just ordered the chicken for that flavor. Kimchi had the same taste as pre packaged grocery store kimchi. Mac salad was not the best I've tried but not bad either. The masubi was good and had no complaints. The pickled mango lemonade was pretty sweet I added some water and then it was perfect and refreshing. I really wanted to love this spot but it fell short to so many other smaller mom and pops around the area.

We are big fans of the Durango Casino food hall, Eat your heart out. Every time we are in town, we try to eat at a new spot at the food hall. The latest restaurant we tried is Ai Pono Cafe which is a Hawaiian street food spot located at the Durango Casino food hall. We arrived for late dinner on a Saturday night due to our late flight arrival. Thank god the cafe closed at 11:00pm. The casino has a large parking lot all around so parking is always easy and accessible. The cafe has its' own dining space with a few picnic tables inside. We chose to eat in the food hall tables area as friends in our party grabbed other food. We ordered the Crackhead Chicken, Ahi Poke Bowl, 2 Spamusubis, and the Dirty licking Korean Chicken. Everything was delicious. My Crackhead Chicken was so flavorful and tasty. The portions was big which is always a plus. The staff was very friendly and helpful with the menu. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Ai Pono Cafe. I've been wanting to try this spot since the last time we were at Durango Casino. Glad we got to finally try it.

I really enjoyed their take on the chicken teriyaki bowl, featuring crispy boneless chicken thighs served over rice with their signature "OG" Black Magic Teriyaki sauce. My hubby liked their special mixed plate, which included mahi mahi, chicken teriyaki, and short ribs, served with mac salad, Asian slaw, and rice.

This place is awesome... First, the decor is simple, modern and clean... a small space in the food court at Durango, but with its own dining space so you're away from the hustle and bustle of the food court 'proper'. The service was friendly... not sure what the bitching is about in the other reviews... it's a quick serve casual restaurant. The folks were friendly and helpful... all you can ask for and then some. The food itself... delicious. Big bold Hawaiian flavors in huge portions. What's not to like.

Was not impressed. Service was not good (didn't feel like they wanted to be there) every question I asked was met with "no" with no follow up and it was questions like "do you have a menu we can take a look at?" Since the only menu they had was the one that rotated on the screen. All of the meats we got were dry but flavors were okay. Poke wasn't bad either but for those prices just go mom and pop, there are so many better options outside and close by.

Got the kalbi plate. Mac was not soft enough Rice needed teriyaki sauce Kalbi was spot on. !

So I walk into this spot, all hyped up and ready to grind some ono grinds. I LOVE Hawaiian food and have been wanting to try this place for a while now. I asked the cashier what's good, and she hits me with the ultimate recommendation: "You gotta try the Crackhead Chicken." Sounded perfect and right up my alley. I decided I'll ride that wave. But bruh... the wave crashed hard. The chicken comes out lookin' like it got into a fight with a box of breading--and lost. I'm talkin' THICK armor of breading, like the chicken was prepping for battle on the North Shore or something. I bite in and instantly regret it. Dry. Like, Las Vegas in the summer desert-dry. For the price I paid, I thought I'd be in chicken heaven. Instead, I was in a deep-fried disappointment spiral. The only thing crackhead about this chicken is how crazy I'd have to be to order it again. Staff was friendly though--aloha spirit strong with them! But sadly, the food? Not so much. Was really disappointed.

Friday night and feeling right! Drove over to my old hood looking for a bite. I decided to stop in Durango Station since I always hear about the food court. The food court was PACKED! I was like wow! I walked around first to see the options prior to making a decision. After a walk thru, I decided on Ai Pono Cafe. It looked cool, nice design and decor. It wasn't busy either like the other spots so I thought, cool I can get in and out. I Ordered the Bahn Mi, Korean Chicken Musubi and sausage musubi. New place for me so I like to order multiple things to try it out. I ordered it for dine in. My number was called and when I went to pick up, it was packed to go. I told the lady, I ordered for dine in. She said sorry and proceeded to continue packing my food to go. I was annoyed but ok. I asked if napkins and silverware were inside the bag because I looked and didn't see a station that had silverware and napkins in the restaurant but she confirmed that those items were in the bag. Why couldn't she just put my food on a plate? I asked for a cup of water, I don't drink any soda or soft drinks. She said they don't have comp water, only bottled water and I could walk across to the sandwich shop for water. What in tarnation?? I just dropped $30 on food and I can't get water? So bizarre. I just looked at her like really? So I grabbed my food and ate at the counter. The sandwich was good flavor, a lot of bread though. Garlic fries were good. The musubi pieces were too much rice! I was like omg so on the Korean chicken one, I peeled the top off and ate just the meat and seaweed. It was literally a half of cup of rice on it, too much. The sausage one was pure rice. The sausage was a paper thin 1 slice of meat with a cup of rice wrapped in seaweed. I peeled all that rice off. Overall the food was good, I've had better Hawaiian food in town so I wouldn't return for that reason. The experience is why I rated a 3 star due to the service experience. I read the reviews and I agreed with a lot of it because I personally experienced it.

We were hungry and wanted to see what food was available at "eat your heart out" food hall inside Durango casino. I had been scouting this place for a little while. We settle on Ai pono cafe. After looking at the menu for a few minutes we ordered two Da "Korean zombie" plates. It comes with short rib, crispy chicken breast and meat jun. it's all served on a bed of rice, with kimchi, macaroni salad, bean sprouts, and some cucumber salad. Everything was flavorful. I also ordered two spam musubis and demolished those instantly. Good price for good food.

Got the chicken katsu plate for $18. Only had one piece of chicken yup just ONE piece. One mini from L&L had more taste and chicken. No waste your money get way better local spots. One and done for me.

Real good, but more of a three and a half star. First of all, the brown gravy was killer! It was a little cooler, we tend to like our food piping hot. I ordered the daily special consisting of teriyaki pork chop, chicken thigh and beef, and of course rice, macaroni salad and it came with coleslaw(yuck) too, The serving size was definitely shy of true Hawaiian serving size. The poor Hawaiian's sure would be on a diet with those serving sizes(lol). It's quite adequate for normal people but normal people tend to not eat very much. I slathered the brown gravy all over the rice, probably not the most healthy but I don't carr, it was so darn good.

My wife and I were in Vegas this past weekend to help my dad move so we went with my him to check out the Durango hotel and casino. Plenty of eateries to choose from, but something about this place drew us in. We each got an entree and drinks. We bought some desserts for the night and for the next morning. My dad went with a Chicken Teriyaki bowl and a Coconut Water, and he loved them both. I ordered an Ai Pono Moko which is described as "'Ai Pono Made Angus Patty, 2 Eggs Over Rice Covered in 'Ai Pono Made Brown Gravy" and is as delicious as it sounds. I also got a fruit punch. Ordered my wife a spicy chicken plate which she absolutely loved. She had a Guava Lemonade. Portions were enough for leftovers the next morning. The dessert was fantastic at our table and the next morning as well. Great atmosphere in the restaurant with Hawaiian pictures and decor everywhere. Love that you can see into the kitchen and watch meals being prepared also. Everyone working there was friendly and helpful, and we are looking to go back this week for a return visit.

Wow 1 hour and 15 mins to get my food. I've never waited so long. They couldn't explain why. I understand there were a lot of orders but c'mon. So many people complaining. I would never come back. It was not worth the wait.

Been here a few times, and I've always been satisfied. When I walk in, I like that they play all the local hits I remember from living back in Hawaii. The decor of the walls are also cool showcasing different artists - was immediately captivated by the huge Bruno Mars picture. As for the food, I usually get the Korean zombie which is the meat jun and short rib plate. So Ono!

Quick review for take out. I ordered this beautiful combo plate ("Da Roots"). Delicious kalbi, ahi katsu shoyu, ahi poke, rice & mac salad. The whole menu sounded ono, so I had to get a combination to try a few things. While it was my first visit, I feel like you can't go wrong here. Ambiance - music feels like you're in the 808, and service for take out was good. Reasonable wait time, and worth the wait. Food disappeared before my eyes.

Love the interior and just the whole surrounding area of Durango's food hall. This cafe, in particular, has a cool facade that gives you island vibes from the start. Order at the counter, then they'll bring the food out to you. There are a few picnic tables along with some normal two and four top tables along the back wall. The food was pretty good. The ahi katsu was big. I loved the crispy, crunchy coating. The ahi was a little more cooked than I would have liked, but still fork tender. It came with two scoops of rice topped with furikake and a scoop of mac salad. The mango lemonade was fantastic. I would come back just for that. One of the workers said that you can get refills of the lemonade for half the price of the original drink. There are so many great Hawaiian places in town and while this isn't my favorite, I'd come back to try other dishes.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the mixed reviews, but overall I'm impressed with this Hawaiian street food! Crackhead Chicken: cooked perfectly with the right amount of crisp. However, it was a notch too salty and I could not eat more than half of it. Non-fried Noodles with Korean Short Rib: the short rib was tender with good flavor. I just wish they would put more of it on the plate! The noodles were cooked well and not soggy. If this is on the menu, I believe they only have it on Fridays? Also, I would only order this as dine-in since the noodles will definitely stick together by the time you get home. Da Mento "Fuckin" Bento: This one is my favorite so far, although it is a lot of food! The Guava chili pepper chicken, lollipop shrimp and fish jun were all crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The beef was tasty, easy to cut and had a good amount of glaze on top of it. Lastly, you can't have a bento without a slice of spam and hot dog! On Fridays they sell Butter Mochi, Stuffed Mochi, and other desserts from kksweets. Sometimes this place is a full house, but you can always order to-go and eat in the food court. I also noticed the music is kind of loud in the restaurant. We couldn't hear them call out our number from the pick up area when sitting at the tables closer to the register. Just keep in mind that yes, it is expensive because of casino pricing.

Ai Pono Cafe is one of the dining spots in the 'Eat Your Heart out' Food Hall at the Durango Casino & Resort. After a quick tour of the Food Hall, I decided to eat here (I torn between Sushi and Hawaiian food). The pics looked ono, so I went for it. [Ambiance] The tropical vibes are spot-on with lush plants, wooden tables, and photos of popular musicians (e.g., Bruno Mars, Braddah IZ). Hawaiian/Reggae music played throughout, adding to the relaxing atmosphere. We were the second group in line, and I tried a few dishes: * Ahi Katsu (my choice) - it was served with an Asian slaw, macaroni salad, and rice. The ahi was seared and prepared katsu-style. The drizzled sauce added a lot of flavor, and the fish wasn't too greasy. The Mac salad was okay, but the slaw was bland (little to no dressing). * Spicy poke - pretty good. It'll definitely satisfy your craving. * Fried Chicken - It was okay, though I'm not a huge fried chicken fan. [Customer Service] Fantastic! The cashier and server were very friendly and welcoming to my family. Overall: 3.5-stars. We enjoyed our meals, and we left feeling overly satisfied with the portion sizes they gave us. Mahalo! :)

Music too loud. Turn it down! Our food sat on the counter waiting for someone to notice it. Pay attention!! Cramped dining area. Get rid of the plants taking up dining real estate! Super oily shrimp and lumpia. Check your oil temp before frying!

Amazing food and service! I told the cashier to surprise me. I didn't want to know the item until it hit the table. She gave me "Da Korean Zombie" It was amazing. Definitely coming back soon.

We were excited to see this local Hawaiian style eatery in Durango Casino. If course we had to make it a point to eat here! So happy to see they were busy. Mister and I split the Korean Zombie, which includes, kalbi, Korean chicken and meat chun, all of our favorite Korean foods in one. The marinate for the kalbi is so delicious, the food so tasty! This restaurant is so nice, very clean. Workers are fast and on it. Looking forward to returning to support Ai Pono Cafe! Please check them out.

Located in the Durango hotel and casino food court. Honestly the quality is maybe on par to an L&L or outside Hawaiian grill. Unless you're too lazy to leave the hotel, then I'd recommend going elsewhere for some island grub, especially for the price. Still solid quantities in the food, I got the shrimp plate and it's not bad at all. But wouldn't make a trip out to eat here is all.

The food was delicious. I was a bit apprehensive with the polarizing reviews, but I'm glad we gave it a try despite. Two full plates and drinks for 47$ didn't seem too pricey to me. The ambiance was nice, the music was for the culture which I enjoyed. It didn't seem too loud to me, however I could see it may be overwhelming if it was crowded and busy. We went on a Thursday afternoon and the vibes were immaculate. Service was swift and the lady who helped us and brought our food was very kind. I'll be back for sure. Oh and the rice was not dry and Mac salad has a good flavor to balance out the flavors of the meat. I will say though; the shrimp was friends and tossed in sauce with the shell on so I may have ate a little bit of shell. Taste was on point, but hard to eat in a way.

Lunch in Las Vegas, Nevada... Instagram led me to Ai Pono Café at the Durango Casino. Located on the ground level in the Food Hall, Ai Pono is serving up some authentic Hawaiian grinds! The set-up is order at the counter, have a seat, and your meal will be brought to you, even if it's takeout. Look at the cool decor... especially portraits of famous entertainers! I had the Ham "Buggah" Steak plate. The Hamburger patty was on the thick side. The gravy was good, and the Sautéed onions were delicious! The coleslaw needed some flavoring, but the Mac salad was winners! Check out this place for a yummy dinner/snack!

The food was a little too salty, but I end up eating the others food which was Korean chicken...I think lol that was yummy lol The service was fine and I love the interior design, it felt like Hawaii lol

My family and I came here for a visit to Durango Resort and we were looking around at the multiple food options they had. While we did have dinner reservations for that night and it was already the afternoon, we were still down for a snack. When we saw Ai Pono Cafe we knew we had to have some Spam Musubi. The atmosphere reminded me of being back on Hawaii with a laid back island vibe. I loved the t-shirts they were selling, especially the 1 star Yelp Shirt, very funny. We ordered 5 Spam Musubi's for the 4 of us. We watched as they made them and brought them back to our hotel room to eat them. They stayed fresh during the commute and were still warm when we ate them. They were delicious, with the marinated spam there was no need to add any soy sauce. The Musubi's held their shape and did not fall apart when you ate them which made for some mess free eating. It was a great snack.

I've been to the location in California and loved it soooo much, but sadly the meal I had in Vegas was not the same. I had da "roots" plate: KOREAN SHORT RIB, AHI KATSU, SHOYU AHI POKE, RICE & MAC. The rice seemed old, with dry crunchy grains mixed throughout (so much that I didn't eat the two scoops of rice at all); the short rib was tender but very salty; the poke and mac salad were ok but was expecting more flavor, and if I had to choose - the ahi katsu was the best thing on my plate. Decor is beautiful, there is ample seating inside, and the cashier was very friendly & even brought out my order to my table.

Such a cute island atmosphere! The interior alone caught my eye. The staff was very attentive and friendly. Service was extremely quick. I ordered the teriyaki chicken bowl. The serving sizes are big. The chicken is fried but skin can easily be removed if you want more of a grilled chicken. The rice was cooked well. The pricing is expensive. I wanted to get the coconut water but it cost $7 for a can which I couldn't justify paying. It is located inside a casino so increased prices should be expected though. Overall a solid food choice if you are looking for Hawaii food and around the area

My wife and I were looking for something like home, hnl. And a friend suggested Ai Pono. We went there on Sunday, the 11th, and ordered Da Mento "fuckin" Bento! And it was just what we needed. lol. The service was awesome and the ambiance, design, music, the whole experience just made us feel at home. Much mahalos Ai Pono Café, chee!!

Location is conveniently in Durango casino, and close to elevator from the parking structure. I loved that lol. But getting to the food. We walked in and it was beautiful inside. Honestly if we lived in Vegas, this would be the spot. Definitely feels like home from the music and decor. Employee at the counter was friendly, and welcoming. We took a bit to narrow down our options but we ended up with the chili pepper chicken, the Korean chicken and chicken katsu. We decided to dine in, but we didn't think. The employee was going to bring our food to us. Just expected to grab it from the window and sit down. So really appreciated that. Although it was getting busy, she would come over check on us and bring our food I actually enjoyed the Korean chicken and chili pepper chicken a lot. I wasn't able to try the chicken katsu. And we ended up ordering the moko to go haha. If Ai Pono was on Oahu, my husband and I agreed it would be a popular place to grab food! And If you're thinking of trying Ai Pono, you might as well. Definitely will be back next time we're in town mahalo for the tasty food and amazing customer service.

This is not a huge place. Think of it as an indoor food truck. order the sit and wait. Really have not experienced the long waits people claim even on a busy Friday night. First visit I got the spicy plate and it was decent. I think the poke might have been better not spicy but it still tastes good The Mac salad is okay, nothing to write home to your ohana about. Now Friday was bomb! Oxtail curry. That's all I should have to say. So delicious and tender. Flavorful curry without being overwhelming. I put the rice in the curry as the ramen came out late and I forgot about it to be honest. Put it in after the meat was gone and enjoyed that. Came with Mac salad, rice, ramen, and tomato salad. There are common tables outside the small dining room if others in your party want to dine at the other Durango restaurants.

Location:inside Durango casino! Been wanting to go inside since it's been built & just didn't have the time. Finally went. It's in the "food court" area.not too far from the elevators Service:excellent! Friendly, timely service. Reasonable prices. They offer discounts for certain groups also. Vibes: Casual with cute decor! Food:delicious! I've had Hawaiian food. It's my first time trying "street" Hawaiian food. By far, one of best Hawaiian food spots I've tasted in Vegas. Recommend? Yes, yes, yes Definitely my to go to spot if I'm craving Hawaiian food

First time coming here, and my honest opinion dis place get action!! Not da best but hard to beat if u know wat i mean!! Better den Zippy's but hard to beat BAR B QUE KAI baby!! Good food, fast service, clean restaurant and overall a good experience. I'll be back for sure

Awesome food, plenty rice Service was great but we wished they put the specials on the board earlier Wish they sold caps or shirts, ambiance was relaxed vibe Much Mahalo's will visit again for sure!!!

We decided to try this place when we were at the Durango. We met up with some friends and we love Hawaiian food because our friends are from Hawaii so we decided to try this place. It's pretty authentic the menu is really fun the ambience inside the seating area is really cute even though we didn't sit inside there we went out into the regular food court. This place is kind of hidden in the back of the food court so unless you walk into the back you wouldn't know it was there. We ordered two plates and shared them both all the food was good and the only thing I did not try was the Katsu.

My bf & I decided to give this place a shot after initially planning on eating at the noodle shop. Boy, were we in for a TREAT! We ordered the muay thai garlic shrimp, crackhead chicken, and 1/4 pound spicy ahi poke. Between the shrimp & chicken, the shrimp was definitely the winner! The flavor of the glaze was so delicious and the shrimp were cooked perfectly. We couldn't stop saying "Omg this is so good." The chicken was still good too! It was *slightly* dry, like it had been overcooked just a little bit, but not enough that I didn't enjoy it. The coconut soy glaze on it was a nice touch. I also REALLY enjoyed the ahi poke! I'm glad we got the spicy version, as I absolutely love spicy mayo. To me, the sauce wasn't overpowering, just enough flavor, and the tuna itself was good quality. The portion sizes were huge (for me) and the amount you get for what you pay seemed fair. It wasn't too busy when we went & it did take a while to get our food so just something to note. My bf & I will definitely be back!! If anything, just to get the shrimp & poke again!

This always has a long line, but I think its because they are a bit slow. The ambiance has a cafe feel, not really restaurant. Sat at the bar and food was brought to us. Da Spicy Plate was a great mix. My favorite was the guava pepper chicken. The poke was good, but not very flavorful, just mayo-ex The Banh Mi was smaller than a traditional one and for the price I wouldnt get again. The fries are basic and plain, add salt The lemonade was delish and has a nice tart after taste.

Finally eaten at Ai Pono Café. It's clean, nicely decorated, and it smells nice inside. They're busy so go in during non-rush hours/normal eating time. Excitedly ordered the Guava Chili Chicken, the Korean Short Rib, the Shrimp Lollipops, and the 1/4 pound Ahi Poke. The Poke tasted fresh and well seasoned. It's delicious. I didn't care much about the shrimp lollipops because they're overly greasy. The Korean Short Rib and Guava Chili Chicken both have A LOT OF rice and macaronis plus a little slaw. I was hoping to taste some guava flavor but there was none. It tasted extremely salty so I took it home to add lemon juice to it. The Korean Prime Rib was ok but also a little salty. The service was good.

I placed my order, then started a side hustle, learned to crochet, and emotionally bonded with the table. At one point, I forgot what I even ordered--it'd been that long. When the food finally arrived, I half expected it to come with an apology note from Father Time. Okay flavor, but next time I'll pack a sleeping bag and a snack.

Ordered the fresh Lau Lau's. The entire thing was undercooked. The meat was rubbah and the leaf was scratchy. Braddah Gene needed to steam for another 2-3hrs. Overall was trash, just like the owners attitude. Gotta stop believing his own hype and maybe live up to the pono part of the name.

Part of Durangos little food hall they have. Place hits the spot when you're craving a bit of Hawaiian food. Portion sizes are huge and worth what you're paying, got the Crackhead chicken, really crispy and is exactly what comfort food. Musubis are huge and the spam slice is pretty thick recommend getting them if you're looking for a snack. Staff are friendly and seem super chill, and restaurant is clean but not big so if it's busy you might have to share a table or end up eating in the main food hall.

I had a really unfortunate experience at the location in the Durango a few days ago. I looked to find a means to contact customer support but it does not seem to exist. The food quality was no where near how they normally are and customer service was sub par. I am hoping to speak with someone in management if you could please provide your information. Thanks so much.

Yelp Review 2024 #49: I came here on a Friday at dinner time. The tables were all occupied but I was going to get my food to-go anyway so I can try other places at the food hall. I placed my order but was undecided between the guava lemonade and the pickled mango lemonade. The lady at the counter recommended the pickled mango lemonade so that's what I got. I wasn't sure how their to-go vs dine-in worked and I just assumed somebody will call out your number or somebody will hand you your food. There's a server walking around to deliver food. I was sitting by a counter in the back and a man that was dining in noticed that I've been waiting for over 20 minutes and that the people behind me at the line already got their food. So, I went up to the counter to check on my order. It has been ready! It was just sitting on their window either other orders. It would have been nice to get notified when my food is ready. So, that was the biggest negative about this place. The food, however, was seriously good! I know I wanted to try their Garlic Mahi-Mahi and maybe their Ahi Poke. Good thing they have plates with different combinations of proteins. I went with Da Chef's Plate which has Garlic Mahi-Mahi, Ahi Poke, and Teri Beef with rice and mac salad. Garlic Mahi-Mahi: Lightly battered and fried with a garlicky butter flavor. It comes with tartar sauce but I didn't even need it. I really enjoyed this. I'd definitely come back to Ai Pono for this. 5/5 Ahi Poke: Mildly spicy and generous portion of ahi. Simple, fresh and good quality fish. 4/5 Teri Beef: Thin slices of teriyaki beef sprinkled with green onions and sesame seeds. This was ok. 3/5 Pickled Mango Lemonade: Definitely sweet and tart at the same time. I couldn't taste mango but still a delicious drink. It's $7 though for a 10oz cup. 3.5/5 I'll probably try a chicken dish or Banh mi plus an order of Garlic Mahi-Mahi on my next visit. They play island music and the decor gives beach house vibes. Laidback and casual with community tables.

Place is absolutely fire first time here and if I'm ever at the Durango casino I'll be back. Just a 40 minute drive for me I'm on the complete opposite side of Vegas. Everything in the box was cooked to perfection and made with love I can tell and I could taste it. The staff was very friendly. They treated me well and gave me complimentary lemon water while I waited. I did wait about 20 minutes it's for my plate and I was building up the hype. I got my food and tore into that thing the chicken was seasoned to perfection it was crunchy and juicy the Mac salad nice and creamy I think it had crab or something in it. They put that furakake spice or powder ontop it was mouth watering. Everything was perfect I also had a spam musubi. Very clean inside it was busy they have island music or reggae playing the interior decor is cool and they have merch for sale . If you around the Durango and was some good comfort food give this place a shot!! Price is a bit more that you pay outside at L&l or Ross jays that's the only con. I pair maybe 25 dollars for the box and musubi.

I love any restaurant that reminds me of Hawaii, so my children and I stopped by for a pre Mother's Day dinner. The boys both had chicken katsu and my daughter and I both chose the ahi bowl, hers was the spicy, mine was the shoyu. We also had a side of shoyu poke and 4 drinks. Total was just under $100. The restaurant itself was nicely decorated, bright and overall well put together. The food was just okay. Way too much rice on the dishes and not enough katsu or toppings for the ahi poke bowl. There's too many other places within a few minutes drive that does it better and it pains me to say that. I had such high hopes but feel let down. The katsu had macaroni salad and raw cabbage for garnish and a ton of rice. The ahi poke bowl had ahi poke maybe a 1/4 lb, seaweed salad, a tiny portion of crab salad, maybe 1/8 lb and a ton of rice. I felt like it was all that was left and they didn't want to make more since they were two hours from closing. It makes my hopes for other restaurants to try within Durango drop. We will see...

Recent Vegas Trip! Made sure to swing by the Durango Station and tried out Ai Pono Cafe for some Hawaiian cuisine. Their Guava Chili Pepper Chicken was a delightful mix of crispy, savory, sweet, with just the right kick of spice. It definitely lived up to the hype! Along with their Korean Short Ribs, tender and perfectly seasoned. The island-style decor and welcoming Aloha vibes added to the experience. Plus, the staff was super friendly and the food was so tasty.

Eat your heart out is where Ai Pono Cafe is located and it deserves to be there. First, it's not Hawaiian food, it is Hawaii Street Food and the Chef makes it very clear. There was nothing on the menu that wasn't good.

Coming from Costa Mesa, CA, Ai Pono Cafe's second location opened up in the new Durango Casino & Resort. I've heard some good things about the original location so I was excited for some delicious Hawaiian food. There's not much indoor seating and it's first-come-first serve. The line is just to order and once you get your food, you can try looking for a table outside in the food court area too. The food comes out really quick but I thought it was odd that the line to order moved so slowly. Guava Chili Pepper Chicken: I'm a huge fan of guava so this caught my eye. It comes with three small chicken thighs on a bed of rice, with sides of mac salad and asian slaw. I was concerned about the chili but it's less spicy than Hot Cheetos. The skin was crispy and had a lot of flavor but, despite being dark meat, the thighs were pretty dry. Overall, I wasn't very impressed with what I ordered. Their menu is very extensive though so I'm interested in coming back and giving something else a shot.