Ai Pono Café

Hawaiian restaurant · Rhodes Ranch

Ai Pono Café

Hawaiian restaurant · Rhodes Ranch

5

6915 S Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89148

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Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null
Ai Pono Café by null

Highlights

Hawaiian street food featuring crackhead chicken & short ribs  

6915 S Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89148 Get directions

durangoresort.com
@aiponocafelasvegas

$20–30 · Menu

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6915 S Durango Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89148 Get directions

+1 702 567 7842
durangoresort.com
@aiponocafelasvegas
𝕏
@durangoresortlv

$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Oct 24, 2025

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@afar

The 11 Best Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada to Book in 2025 - AFAR

"A vendor in a resort food hall serving Hawaiian-inspired dishes, including garlic-butter mahi-mahi and ahi tuna katsu, notable for bringing island flavors to a fast-casual setting." - Matt Villano

https://www.afar.com/hotels/best-hotels-las-vegas
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@eater

19 Best Lunch Spots in Las Vegas

"Ai Pono Cafe’s owner, chef Gene Villiatora, is nearly as recognizable for his vibrantly dyed buzz cut as he is for his Hawaiian street food. Here, he branches out from Ai Pono’s roots in Orange County to the Durango Casino, with dishes that have earned something of a cult following. There’s crackhead chicken — fried boneless thighs tossed in sauce and topped with coconut garlic miso glaze, da “roots” plate of Korean short ribs with ahi katsu shoyu ahi poke, and garlic butter mahi mahi." - Janna Karel

https://vegas.eater.com/maps/best-lunch-las-vegas
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@eater

19 Essential Lunch Spots in Las Vegas

"Ai Pono Cafe’s owner, chef Gene Villiatora, is nearly as recognizable for his vibrantly dyed buzz cut as he is for his Hawaiian street food. Here, he branches out from Ai Pono’s roots in Orange County to the Durango Casino, with dishes that have earned something of a cult following. There’s crackhead chicken — fried boneless thighs tossed in sauce and topped with coconut garlic miso glaze, da “roots” plate of Korean short ribs with ahi katsu shoyu ahi poke, and garlic butter mahi mahi." - Janna Karel

https://vegas.eater.com/maps/essential-lunch-las-vegas
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@eater

6 Things to Know About Las Vegas’s New Durango Casino | Eater Vegas

"Chef Gene Villiatora expands his California restaurant to Las Vegas with Ai Pono Cafe in the Durango food hall, where he serves Hawaiian street food plates." - Janna Karel

https://vegas.eater.com/2023/12/5/23987379/las-vegas-newest-casino-open-durango-restaurants-sportsbook-george-sportsmens-lounge
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@eater

Another Food Hall Opens in Las Vegas - Eater Vegas

"Chef Gene Villiatora is expanding his Orange County, California restaurant, Ai Pono Cafe, to Las Vegas, where he will serve his Hawaiian street food-style plates of ahi tuna katsu, crackhead chicken — battered and fried boneless dark meat tossed in sauce and coconut garlic glaze, and garlic butter mahi." - Janna Karel

https://vegas.eater.com/2023/2/8/23591541/another-food-hall-las-vegas-durango-casino
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Derek Ting

Google
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.

Gustavo Rivera

Google
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.

Thai Bui

Google
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.

The Laughing Lion

Google
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.

Becky A.

Google
This spot was the most unique out of the other options in eat your heart out so I decided to give it a try. Ordered the guava chili chicken because it sounded interesting and I was told it’s the most popular item on their menu. I paired it with a can of passionfruit Hawaiian Sun. Overall I thought the meal was okay. For the chicken, I unfortunately didn’t get any of the guava flavor and it was not spicy. It tasted more like a salty teriyaki sauce. The chicken was nice and crispy although there were some bits of chicken that were a bit dry and chewy. The meal came with rice, Mac salad, and slaw. I thought the meal had too much rice and could’ve done well with some type of sauce to make the plain white rice easier to enjoy. The Mac salad was bland and all you got was the mayo flavor. The slaw was also bland and was essentially plain coleslaw without any dressing. On a positive note, I liked the decor of the space which paid homage to Hawaiian and notable people of Hawaiian descent. The space was clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. My order also came out quickly which I appreciated.

JOE THOMAS

Google
Great food! Great service! Very tasty and fresh chicken! We all ordered the crack chicken!! Will def be coming back for more.

Maria Conklin

Google
Service was good, it's a walk up and order/pay with open seating and a server providing your food. The staff is friendly but only gave 4 stars on service and atmosphere because service is staggered, meaning your friend will receive their food before you. (Just an observation not a knock because that's expected at a walk up, order and pay) The rice was over cooked , I typically like my rice soft but this was not right. The meat was too salty. The mac salad was good.

Nick Constantin

Google
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.
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Michael P.

Yelp
Got a bunch of food to go. Mac salad Guava Chile chicken Crack chicken Their Mac salad is perfect! The guava Chile chicken has the addicting sweet and spicy flavors going on and the crunch is so satisfying. The Crackhead chicken, so good. The unique combination of flavors is delicious. And the best part, the chicken was still crispy!
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Angela L.

Yelp
Ate here tonight for the second time. I LOVE Hawaiian food and I eat it as much as possible to take me back to the island. I was disappointed our last visit, but I'm glad we gave it another try. Aside from the rice being extra crispy, EVERYTHING was delicious! The Crackhead chicken and Muay Thai shrimp was the bomb! I could eat that everyday. My husband loved his loco moco. The staff were very friendly. Definitely give this place a try!
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Hector M.

Yelp
It takes a minute to get to Ai Pono Café... as you come into the food court you have to read and find all options and walk towards the corner of the Aloha kitchen and dinning vibes.... Let the music draw you into the 8th Island... something very ironic that I noticed the "low-rider" bike is the detail of the polished chrome spokes, rails and handlebars with finite detail nice and clean...that my friend is not for show.... It is a true testament on how this Culinary Gangster keeps his dinning tables, floors, kitchen and ordering area!! Bella at the front register takes your order and she is not afraid to make recommendations about anything on the menu- "First time, here! What you recommend?", I asked. " Da Zombie"- she explained. "Yeah, lessss go!!"" The plate comes with 8 elements- Cucs, sprouts, Kim-chi, Mac-salad, rice, short rib, jun, and crispy (juicy)chicken... it is like you invited your 8 aunties to make the aforementioned recipes and they bring it Sunday for the park party... The Cullinary Gangsta- strikes again!!!! This dude has a team, system, recipes, and flavors that will awaken your dull and boring taste buds and give you a "Chhheeeeewwwww". I left super happy and the only disappointing complaint is not to have met him in his element! But all seriousness, thank you for sharing your aloha with "us" Mahalo
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Eugene B.

Yelp
3 stars for now. I was there with some friends who had a late night crave for "plate lunches". From what I saw, mix plate looked good. There are community table seating along with some bar stool seating and a few tables in the back. There's also a section for some Ai Pono merch. What really caught my eye from afar was the beautiful printed images of a few local Hawaiian musicians. Don Ho caught my attention first. Then Gabby Pahinui.
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Kellie D.

Yelp
Of course I love watching the IG posts of this chef and his non-fans. It really does make good content and entertainment. As much as his non-fans talk down I still like eating here. This prime rib loco was amazing. It's the gravy I think I really enjoyed. The chef's special was yummy. I also enjoyed the guava lemonade and I think it was called Filipino fruit punch. The staff were nice and friendly. They were quick to clean up the mess grown adults left so more customers could sit and eat in the packed restaurant.
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Christian V.

Yelp
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.
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Rainier F.

Yelp
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.
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Michael V.

Yelp
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.
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Derek T.

Yelp
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.
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Clydelle J.

Yelp
5/5 for the chicken alone! I came here for the first time and was blown away by how good the crispy spicy chicken was -- perfectly cooked with a rich, flavorful sauce that hits just right. Honestly, I'd come back just for that. The portion sizes were generous, which I really appreciated. The seasoned rice was solid, but I actually wish they had gone all the way with the flavor -- the seasoning was good, but I could tell it had potential to be even better with just a bit more boldness. The slaw and macaroni salad didn't do much for me -- they felt like an afterthought compared to how great the chicken was. Still, the ambiance of the restaurant is really nice, and the service was excellent -- friendly, fast, and attentive without being overbearing. Would definitely return -- but next time, I might just double up on the chicken
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Alett B.

Yelp
My sister took me here to check out the Durango Casino/Resort and to try the Hawaiian Restaurant in the Casino called Ai Pono Cafe. If your looking for a traditional Hawaiian restaurant this is not it. With that said, this has more local type food and what we had was Ono (Delicious). The food was made with fresh ingredients. A little pricey, but you do expect that eating in Casinos. The Staff was very nice and the interior of the restaurant was modern, clean & inviting. Piping in some Hawaiian Reggae music as you ate. The menu items had some interesting & funny names. I would definitely eat here again.

William F.

Yelp
Walked into a completely empty restaurant that was blaring some crappy emo TikTok music. No island vibes here..... The girl at the counter couldn't give a recommendation and wasn't really friendly or outgoing. It took about 20 minutes for my plates to come out. There was a sloppy wrapped foil pack that had the worst made Musubi I have ever seen inside. We got 2 plates in order to get a taste of everything. The 2 things that were good were the Poke and the Furikaki Ahi. The chicken was so over cooked the meat inside wasn't edible, the short ribs weren't cooked enough so they were chewy and full of non edible fat. Even the red hotdog and spam were overcooked and dry. The fried noodles were good in flavor, but the noodles were chewy and they were extremely salty. This place has the potential to be good, but the people running it obviously do not care about the restaurant. It's really sad and now I understand why it gets such lows reviews and there is so much trash talked online.
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Antonio W.

Yelp
I had high hopes for this place. I decided to check it out with some friends who were visiting. This was the only place in the food hall I had not tried yet so we decided to go for it. The food was okay for the most part but not really memorable. The worst part this was my friend's chicken katsu came out undercooked which is really not okay. The staff was nice and offered to make us another dish. There were also dirty tables in the dining room when we were looking for places to sit. The Hawaiian food / plate lunch scene in Vegas is very competitive and with that I would expect a higher standard for this place especially given the prime location inside the Durango.
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Racquel E.

Yelp
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.
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Lorri P.

Yelp
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.
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Brian R.

Yelp
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.
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Raymond L.

Yelp
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.
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Jeff S.

Yelp
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.
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Clint B.

Yelp
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.
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jairo b.

Yelp
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.
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Raina M.

Yelp
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.
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Jayne Y.

Yelp
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! :)
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Ray G.

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

Yelp
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
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Maile K.

Yelp
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!
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Rhonelee S.

Yelp
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!
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Kristin C.

Yelp
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.
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Nadine C.

Yelp
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!
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Mavenice B.

Yelp
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
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Angela W.

Yelp
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.
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Marissa L.

Yelp
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.
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Jasmine D.

Yelp
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.

Fonz S.

Yelp
Service was chill, place is clean, they had cool music playing, the spot is a vibe for sure. And the food, the food was amazing, great portion relative to what you pay for and great flavor. The shrimp were outta this world, sweet but not crazy and with an amazing crunch. Would definitely come back.
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Morgan M.

Yelp
Huge portions, delicious food and very friendly staff. Get the Korean Short Rib! Amazing place.
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Nancy Z.

Yelp
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
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Sydney H.

Yelp
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.
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Liz D.

Yelp
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.
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Jon B.

Yelp
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.
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Shelby-Ann B.

Yelp
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.
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Brad D.

Yelp
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.
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Lia H.

Yelp
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
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Jonnie D.

Yelp
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.
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Breanna S.

Yelp
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!
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Victoria K.

Yelp
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.
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Jasmin H.

Yelp
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.
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Jedrick M.

Yelp
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.
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Olivia J.

Yelp
Horrible service, we ordered two items and one came out 20 minutes before the other. By the time the other food got to the table, the other plate was cold. Shrimp wasn't shelled all the way, greens were getting moldy and the rice tasted like it was from the day before. Would not recommend coming here, especially with so many other amazing options being in the same food court. Save your money, it's expensive for how bad the food is.
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H H.

Yelp
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!!!
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Alex D.

Yelp
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.