Pono Burger

Honestly I wish I could write a better review for this place. The food/flavors are decent and staff is friendly but the price for what you get (especially takeout) is extremely disappointing. The salad was the only thing that was a decent side. The sandwiches and burgers don’t come with any sides so when we paid $12 for a side of chili fries and $6 for a side of sweet potato fries, we expected them to be a solid portion. Both were very disappointing. Sweet potato fries came in a paper bag that was barely half full and the fries were dry/stringy. Chili fries came in a large tin but it was also barely half full. Definitely a rip off on the size especially since sides are sold separately. The chicken wrap flavor was good but also tiny

A great burger place in the heart of Santa Monica. With strong Hawaiian, Asian and Latin influences, this place has among the best burger in town. I personally love their mushroom sandwich, a veggie friendly burger, while my family is really fond of their classic cheeseburger. They have a few ones that I like too (and where the patty can be substituted for a portobello) and special mention to the spicy kuawa crunch, among the best burgers I have ever had. Their chicken bites are also to be mentioned, my son doesn’t stop raving about them. When it comes to the place itself, it’s well located in Santa Monica, their indoor place is a old hangar style attached to a condominium complex, it gives a unique vibe to the place, with also outdoor sitting available. An absolute gem for burger lovers, meat or veggie choice are making it among my favorites ones on the West Coast.

Good clean food with smokey flavors. Cute atmosphere. Good selection of beer. Customer service amazing! Very friendly.

Great burger at Pono! Cant recommend enough this restaurant. Definitely will come back to try others. I got the spicy burger which was excellent and definitely had a kick. Only negative was I felt the sides were priced a bit too high. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a great burger in Santa Monica.

I absolutely love Pono Burger! I was really sad when their Venice Beach location closed, but I’m so grateful they’re still here in Santa Monica. Hands down, some of the best burgers in town! Always fresh, flavorful, and made with care. I’ve had so many great meetings here, both personal and business. It’s one of those places where the vibe just feels right. Highly recommend!

I work often in the Santa Monica area and this is by far my favorite burger place. Great burgers, tasty fries and wonderful service. Jacqueline has been my server the last few times I have been there and she is always polite, personable and attentive. I hope this place continues to thrive.

Nice clean place situated on the corner . Open airy 2 structures friendly helpful staff. 1st time here had classic burger and onion rings and Some sweet potatoe fries. Food was juicy and good tasting, sweet potatoes fried strings not the easiest to eat in shoe strings ,messy. Onion rings were great sadly u get like 5 .. for value so so. This area for a visitor I guess it is priced accordingly. Good atmosphere nice meal choices.

The buffalo chicken wrap was delicious and not dry. The happy hour size beef nachos were really good! The poniolo burger was good if your an onion ring person. The garlic fries and sweet potato fries and good. The Cajun chicken salad was great! I loved the olives 🫒 4 guests. 3adults 1child (2y/o) paid $107 plus tax $11 ($118 for dinner)

My favorite happy hour ever 3-6pm. Any burger as a slider for $5.... come on! Ridiculous deal and a quality burger. And they're all so different and equally delicious. The truffle burger is my favorite. Love their little outdoor shack to sit and eat it. Always love coming here. The girls are so nice that work here and work super hard.

Check in with the host in the building to the right. We were a party of 3. Oreo milkshake 9.6/10 "Can't think of what's wrong with this, -.4 because there should be more. So good" This did not last and was finished before the food arrived. Salted caramel bacon bites "The sweetness and hit of that salt. Aw so good! I wanna go yell at whoever made this milkshake cause it tastes so good. Definitely need to bang out some push ups after this." Truffle fry's were too greasy and not very crunchy. Truffle cheese gives it 7/10. Reminded of in n out fries a little but make it truffle. Panko chicken bites Very dry. Don't recommend personally. Pono and classic burgers. Bomb and could not go wrong The staff left us alone. Didn't check up on us and refill our waters. It was also 59 degrees outside and with the door open the space felt cold.

Pono runs quite the racket -- selling top buns the width of tennis balls is goofy af. I believe all 3-5* reviews are coerced through free item promotions. Right hand to God I keep coming here to give it a third, fourth chance, but they honestly can't make a decent burger. Raw patty, soggy fries, four measly mushrooms -- this is the last time I come to this dystopian eatery. Please refer to the attached pic. Being a "quirky eatery" doesn't give you the right to swindle the working man.

Came back for their happy hour again and happy to say it was still $5 for all the items on their happy hour menu. We tried the seasonal spiced punch and liked it, it's a simple cocktail and mainly taste of apple cider with a nice smell of cinnamon from the topping. We also added the soju shots on again for only $1 which is a killer deal. We also got the nachos again and they're good. Their actual menu and food looked incredible but we loved coming for happy hour. The service was def slower this time but almost all the tables were taken up.

With the meaning behind the Hawaiian word Pono--being in perfect alignment with all things in the universe--it's no wonder that while running errands on a hectic day, I drove past Pono Burger when I was starving. I'm so glad I finally stopped in to try their amazing organic, grass-fed burgers! I arrived just in time for Happy Hour, which was perfect for petite me. I ordered The Classic, allowing me to select from a variety of delicious cheese options. To accompany my burger, I opted for their organic craft Mojito cocktail, which was both refreshing and delightful. Every time I've been in the area, the Pono building has caught my eye with its unique airplane hangar design. The interior is thoughtfully curated to transport you to a little slice of Hawaii without ever leaving LA, with cheerful beach vibes that make your dining experience even more enjoyable. The staff perfectly complements the cheerful décor, being friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. You order in the building right next door on the north side, just off the front door of the hangar seating area. This building also leads to their outdoor patio if you prefer to sit outside. The burger was so delicious that I immediately ordered a second one, and I can't wait to return to explore more of their menu. The prices are reasonable, and who doesn't love taking advantage of a Happy Hour menu that helps your budget? Thank you, Pono Burger--you've secured a spot on my list of new favorite places in LA!

PB is a quirky and fun restaurant with great burgers and service. I also liked the unique dining room shaped like a mini airplane hangar but with comfortable seating. I also had a milkshake that was excellent and side of fried cauliflower. Service was great by Jackie. Recommended.

Such great service. Our waiter was kind and funny. Our group was sat outside and I will note that the tables and chairs could be cleaner. However, their happy hour is an amazing deal. I believe it runs everyday from 3-6 pm and you can get $5 margs as a result.

The Pono Burger has really great food and Services I highly recommend the New grilled chicken Samie Thomasina and Olivia thanks for the recommendation

Love me some Pono Burger. Super cute, chill vibes, and delicious food. The staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Great menu selection and an even better happy hour menu! I usually do the garlic truffle fries to start - YUM! Beware: very addicting. For the main dish, i do the salmon burger. Soo good. Amazing flavor with quality ingredients. Their salmon patty is made in house and is topped with heirloom tomato and ponzu avocado spread. The first time i had it, i was hooked - i came back the next day! LOL.

Went for happy hour and was fully satisfied! The happy hour menu is $5 with drinks, milkshakes, appetizers, and sliders. We ordered the sliders, nachos, 1/2 sized milkshake, and a beer. All for $35 before taxes and tip. What a deal! The nachos were surprisingly good, lol. The ingredients were fresh and spread equally among the chips. The sliders were filling too, 2 is all you'd need. The milkshake was delicious too! I got the strawberry and it tasted fresh and creamy. I'll be back!

Used to come here but won't be back. Bun was burned, burger was underwhelming and tasted burnt. Same goes for the fries. The staff here just dosnt care. It explains the low ratings this place is receiving

Overall rating: 3.5 stars / 5 stars The interior is super cute. You order next door and then walk over to the indoor greenhouse-like tunnel to enjoy your meal. We went on a Tuesday night and to our surprise, each burger came with complimentary French fries! The fries were crispy and delicious. They didn't taste oily. They tasted gourmet and irresistible! Our server was super friendly and helpful. He was patient in explaining all the items on the menu. I got the Piku Burger which came with organic grass-fed beef, fig jam, bacon and baby kale. The burger came out too sweet for me. The fig jam was overpowering and made the flavor of the burger one note. The beef patty however was perfect. I loved the texture of the meat. My partner got the Spicy Kuawa Crunch and it had potato chips inside. That caught him off guard and he didn't really love that surprise. Besides that, he did love his burger. It came with organic grass-fed beef, sharp cheddar, potato chips, coleslaw and spicy guava rum sauce. I also ordered the local-made Diet Coke. It had a strange medicinal taste. I am not sure if I would be returning but I am glad I tried this place once.

I had never been to this spot and my friend suggested it so I was excited to try. I had already had a burger earlier in the day so I decided to get a buffalo wrap. I asked the server if it was very spicy since I'm not a fan and he said no, so I asked for light buffalo sauce just in case. The wrap was prob the worst wrap I've ever had and not because of the spice. The chicken did not taste fresh, I even had my friend try it and she confirmed. We also ordered the tempura green beans and onion rings. The batter on the green beans was very heavy so we ended up removing it and ate just the green beans. We sat in the separate barn area and the tables were all dirty when we came in and when we left. The server kept sitting down with his friends and chatting with him instead of cleaning. It just wasn't a good experience and I don't think I'll be back. (My friend did like her burger though)

super solid spot in santa monica for happy hour!! they now (as of October 2024) have daily happy hour 3-6pm and all day happy hour on Mondays, and it is such a steal for drinks and good food. please don't ever take it away... cocktails were superb and food was great for sharing. we have visited for burgers in the past as well, and I leave feeling satisfied. parking could be better but that is to be expected for santa monica. vibes are cute and chill, especially in the industrial chic dining area. would love to come back with a big group in the future :)

Consistently great food, newly expanded menu is great but the burgers are always the signature. Came here with family and my dog and the staff offered to take a picture of him for the very cute dog wall. The fries and milkshakes are always my favorites

Pono Burger in Santa Monica is a delightful surprise, especially for those seeking a cozy and unique dining experience. The hangar-like structure of the restaurant creates an ambiance that is both airy and chic, offering a comfortable space to relax and enjoy a meal. I visited Pono Burger for a late lunch and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was happy hour. The $5 Buffalo-style wings were a standout, grilled instead of fried, which was a refreshing change. They might have been less crispy than the traditional fried wings, but they were still tangy and hearty, making them a delicious choice. The $5 sweet potato fries were another great pick, and the $10 happy hour rosé was a perfect accompaniment to the meal. While I didn't get a chance to try their burgers this time, the quality of the food I did have has definitely piqued my interest. The ambiance, combined with the tasty offerings and reasonable happy hour prices, makes Pono Burger a must-visit spot. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to try one of their burgers!

Thanks Dillon for your great charm and wonderful service! We came here because they support the Maui fires and a portion of what you spend goes to a great cause. Plus they have a great happy hour! We ordered Burnt Miso Butter Brussel Sprouts, chili beef nachos and some 6% charcoal flavor kombucha. I can really get into this kombucha! It's good for you and I got a great buzz. Ambiance is casual and great vibe!

Stopped by this restaurant on a whim after the beach. Staff is super friendly and in my opinion went above and beyond. I ordered the portobello mushroom sandwich and a side of sweet potato fries. However, I noticed the menu listed the sweet potato fries comes with a sauce containing bacon so I mentioned that I was a vegetarian and asked if it could be omitted. Our server politely suggested an alternative vegetarian sauce, but also went ahead and confirmed that I am vegetarian and not vegan as the sandwich is topped with a dressing that contains egg. I really appreciated this. My husband also had a question about the coffee barbecue sauce on his burger and we were again provided with helpful accurate information to help us order meals we would enjoy. The food came out fast and cooked perfectly. Everything was delicious and the decor is very cute. I have to callout the sweet potato fries - delicious! Such a great find that really hit the spot. Prices are also very reasonable.

Amazing burger and fries. Be very hard to beat. Be very hard to go wrong with a Pono burger

I hadn't eaten here in person in a few years and while the burgers are good when ordered for take out, they are sublime when right out of Pono's always dialed-in kitchen. The light bun and shrewdly-chosen ingredients make any of the options amazing, though it's hard to beat the Posh. All fries are great but the Pono aioli with the sweet fries is a beautiful lemony-infused combination. If they have the cheesecake...get it. So, so fine.

Always happy with this place. For grass fed, the prices are more than reasonable. Came in on a Tuesday evening, staff was welcoming, and suggested the Tuesday Burger Special... Basically you get fries for a buck or two more. Got hot sauce with the sweet potato fries, it was kinda like a salsa, I liked it. The aoili was great, too. The burger was STACKED and you will need a napkin or three, very worth the efforts. Dining area and restroom were clean and uncluttered. A great experience.

Average burger joint. I wasn't too impressed with the posh burger and sweet potato fries. It's not bad but wasn't amazing. I'm willing to give it a second try because I do like the fact that they're organic and pricing is not bad for a sit down burger spot. Service was nothing special, we hardly saw anyone as they seemed to prefer to be in the building where the kitchen is instead. It's an interesting setup as the dining area is separate from the kitchen and where you check in to get a table...

Great Burgers & great Onion Rings & also the Chili Nachos were awesome !!!! One of best burger spots in Santa Monica !!!!! Also very friendly service !!!!!!

Pretty great burgers with a Hawaiian twist and great presentation! Fries were also a strong point. Overall nothing too too special - but always a great pick for lunch! The price is right too!

I came for DineLA 2023 and ordered the piku burger with the sweet potato fries, a great deal for $15! The burger was cooked perfectly medium rare, and topped with brie, bacon, and fig jam. I was excited for the melding of these flavors, but there was too much jam and the sweetness overpowered all the savory elements. The sweet potatoes were shoestring thin and crispy! It came with a bacon aioli, but unfortunately the bacon flavor didn't come through very strongly. The place is dog friendly and I appreciated the water bowl provided. And the decor of their covered outdoor dining space is cute and cozy! There is validated parking underneath the building, the entrance is off Lincoln Ct by sweetfin. Be careful down there, there was a lady unapologetically zooming around tight corners and almost hit me.

Came for DineLA and the deal is pretty good, you're basically getting free fries. But the food and service was just okay, could've been better. Service was very slow. I understand they have a separate building for the kitchen, but they should really at least have one staff member in the building with seating. - the fries were thin and crispy but unevenly cooked. They were mostly fine, but there were many overcooked and basically burnt pieces. Enjoyed the sweet potato fries more than the regular fries. However, they gave us the wrong aioli. The regular and sweet potato fries were supposed to have different aioli but we got the same one for both - Piku burger : enjoyed the fig jam and hazelnuts, but this burger was too sweet. It needed a pickle or something for acidity. Also felt like it wouldve gone well with a sharper cheese than the brie - Paniolo: the onion rings were great - seasonal Pina Colada milkshake : disappointed that I couldn't taste any pineapple flavor. Other than that it was fine, but I don't think they should be serving it or calling it pina colada flavored unless they fix that

Part 2 of this long review continues the documentation of Emily the manager's horrifying attitude towards customers: So you just read the first half of the review, and now you're here for the rest of the gory details. Brace yourself, it gets worse! After this whole negative interaction with Emily and returning home to find missing fries, we're now grumpy and hungry and wondering just how hard it can be to get the order right when it's just two burgers, two fries, one shake. That being said, it's still way understandable because humans make mistakes, so we get it- not the first time in Yelp history that there's a missing item and at least it wasn't one of the burgers because then we'd have been left super hungry lol. Even at this point wre still willing to return to give Pono Burger another chance to become one of our go-to spots. Nope--It's the next day interaction and Emily's incredible customer service skills that seal the deal on this Yelp review rating and us never coming back. So get this- we call the next morning about the missing fries because I really had wanted to try those truffle aioli fries damnit! Nice employee Conor picks up and we let him know the fries were missing- he's super chill and like yea we can definitely refund you for the fries alone; that sounds great; honestly, even offering just to tack on the fries to our next time order would have worked too. Then, we hear Emily the manager in the background asking and lo and behold she has a Grudge with a capital G against us because we apparently committed some mortal sin in her restaurant by asking politely for the Yelp offer to be honored as written. She picks up the phone, then starts off by saying "I remember you guys Very Well...your husband walked out with the food and then immediately came back to ask for the Yelp offer to be honored after you got off the phone with me and he didn't mention any missing fries then." UM, okay? Emily, do you open your stapled bag of food to make sure the restaurant did its job? LOL! You apparently open your stapled bag of food that is insulating the food and keeping it warm so it doesn't get all COLD on the drive home while in store to check your paid-for fries aren't missing? Also??? This is how customer service attitude should be? You accuse a customer of lying over missing fries that literally cost like WHAT, a mere 3? 7? Literally such a petty amount of cash that I would donate in the blink of an eye to someone in need and not even miss? LOL. What does a customer need to do to finally see the fries they bought?? Then she goes on to insinuate that either I lied to Conor the employee in saying on the phone I am a first time customer or that my husband lied for having apparently told her yesterday that we frequently used Yelp coupons at restaurants, which she misinterpreted as frequent customers of PoNo Burger with the coupon. I have to ask, where did Emily the manager get her training? And is there a manager to the manager because Chef M's delicious restaurant is getting a bad look singlehandedly because of Emily the manager. At this point, I call her out and ask her how she dares call my husband (and myself) a liar. I state I will be documenting this very concerning behavior on Yelp and also looking into reporting her on Better Business Bureau or the equivalent. Not even sure where you report Btw, how does this conversation with Emily the manager end? Abruptly. LOL. She says "I don't need to take this harrassment" (LOL she called us liars?? But apparently we're harassing her, and that's not her harassing us over not getting products we paid for) and then HANGS UP. Incredible. Protip: don't call your customers LIARS. Protip 2: really, don't call them a liar over $3 fries. It makes you and your restaurant look real bad, and your restaurant food does not deserve you doing that to it. And don't hold grudges against customers for simply holding to the standup principle that coupons offered by the restaurant should be honored. We're not coupon-hunters for goodness sake, but we've never seen a Yelp check-in deal blatantly denied by management. Yikes! Talk about false advertising. That suggests a whole legal conundrum we kindly won't bring up here. Protip 3: PoNo Burger needs a new non-Emily manager. Like, stat. Save yourself, PoNo Burger!! That's a 1 star for us!

My brother and I came awhile back pre pandemic. We sat outside since it was nice weather and both ordered the paniolo burger, along with some purple chips and guac/avocado dip. Burger was huge and crunchy due to the onion rings. This isn't like Burger King cowboy burger! This is legit giant onion rings. I cut mine in half because I wasn't sure if I could fit a whole bite in my mouth.It was so savory and bbq-y. I was glad I had the avocado dip to be a refresher in between bites. I enjoyed the onion ring crunchiness, not a hard crunch, but crisp like a Funyun! the purple chips were a cool concept, but probably wouldn't order again. I liked the avocado dip, but only good as a "in between" bites type of deal. Service was good. The guy who greeted us and served us had a big belly laugh was great conversationalist. We found parking on the street close by, around residental. It is away from downtown so parking was on the easier side. I like that it was close enough walk so we could take a stroll and visit little shops.

There's there's great burgers service was kind. Great the staff great new staff shake looks amazing. Look forward to coming back. Thanks Carmen Tomasita and Connor. We will be back.

Stumbled upon happy hour here while walking through Santa Monica and waiting for my car to be serviced. Such a chill spot with friendly staff and yummy food!

I've been wanting to come here for a while and I finally had the chance on a Sunday for lunch. The seating is in an area that looks like a hangar for planes but is decorated very nicely with fake plants. There are about 10 or so tables inside and about 2/3 were taken when we arrived around noon. We ordered the piku, paniolo, fries and fried green beans. Everything tasted delicious and I especially liked the paniolo for its flavor and the dips that the sides came with. The fries and the green beans both had a great crisp to them. Service was ok but the waiter forgot to bring out our bill and we had to ask again after about 20 minutes. I would definitely come here again to try the different burgers and other items on their menu! Free parking in the alley behind the restaurant. They currently have a Yelp check in for 10% off.

Pono Burger is nestled in the heart of Santa Monica. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. The food is good here if you're looking for a solid burger. It's not a smash burger which is refreshing. Pono Burger takes pride in using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, and it shows in every bite. Their burgers are juicy and flavorful, with unique twists that set them apart from your average burger joint!

At Pono Burger, flavor meets finesse! Kicking things off with a Hot Fudge Milkshake was like diving into a chocolate dream - absolute bliss in a glass. The star of the show, the Spicy Kuawa Crunch, was a burger masterpiece, bringing the heat and crunch together in perfect harmony. I also ordered the Garlic Parmesan Fries, the perfect crispy, garlicky, cheesy sidekick. Pono Burger is definitely where taste gets its groove on!

Kuawa Crunch Burger (spicy) - it was not spicy for me but waiter said it's very spicy. Good juicy burger ask for medium on the patty. Truffle parm fries also good a little to garlicky but good

Ordered the Piku and honestly didn't care for it! Description Sounded so much better than the burger actually tasted! My stars are actually for the sweet potatoes fries which were delicious. Service was also not very good. One of the ladies was obviously not very happy to be there cuz any time I asked her for anything her face showed pure irritation! And it was only for water, and ketchup! Cold part was I asked for water when I ordered and she never gave to me so I had to ask her for it and when I asked for a refill she never gave it to me..

Great service and onolicious food! Went late last night. I'd definitely go back and try other items from the menu.

Extraordinarily delicious homemade burgers, farm fresh fries, farmer's market salads and yummy craft brews make this a fabulous spot for all occasions. Service is beyond outstanding, thanks to Dillon and team! They are dog friendly with an outside patio, doggie water bowls on request, and they even have a photo wall gallery with Polaroids of their furry friends. Come take a look and try to spot mine! Absolutely love the convenient, quaint location, which is an easy stroll from the bustling promenade and downtown center.

While on vacation my family and I came here for dinner and while the food was great, thus the three stars, this was probably the worst customer service I've ever experienced in my entire life. If I come back here anytime soon I'll be sure to get my food to go so I never have to talk to anyone who works here again. P.S if you get the blonde, female waitress be ready to ask for a new one!

Love the place. Tried to about two weeks ago, I loved the burger. Clean, not greasy, and thin! Went back and tried the grilled chicken sandwich... took off the pineapple and added pickles! outstanding! I ate every single bite. lol. Service is chill and laid back. Prices are realistic, there is so many options! And happy hour everyday?! I will be back!

Nice atmosphere, staff was friendly. I found the lettuce wrap burgers mediocre. Way too greasy. Same with the soaked fries. I guess some people are into that kinda grease. Also they overcharged us $2 for a happy hour chips appetizer, maybe since it was 5 minutes before happy hour started? We didn't address it, just deducted from our tip.

This place is definitely a treat, I was recommended to come here by a friend and I don't regret it. The service is amazing and you feel very welcomed with good vibes. The food is fresh and the ingredients are good quality.

Creative burger varieties in a fun setting, and they'll even cook a burger relatively rare if you ask for it. On the downside, the meat itself, while high quality, was barely seasoned. Most importantly, the service was rough, with *really* long wait times -- both to order and receive food -- despite it not being terribly busy. Worse, the server was brusque from the get-go. There are numerous better burgers in town for similar money.

Pono Burger is a locally-owned restaurant in the heart of Santa Monica that is certified organic, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options! They are also super reasonably priced with great quality ingredients. What we ordered: Paniolo Burger: so satisfying with the bacon, cheddar, Kona coffee bourbon bbq sauce and those thick beer-battered onion rings! If you're a fan of western burgers, this is for you Grilled Chicken Sandwich: a great alternative to the beef burgers on the menu, and I loved the flavor pairing of grilled pineapple with their yakiniku sauce, and crunchy fried onions. I could even do with more pineapple and sauciness in each bite Spring Crispy Chicken Salad: this salad was massive, and I loved the crispy chicken pieces on top and creamy avocado. I personally would have preferred a Caesar dressing over ranch but that's cuz I'm a Caesar gal. Tempura Blue Lake Green Beans: def packed some heat with the cayenne seasoning and were nice and crispy from the tempura and bean itself.

Made a last minute decision to stop and eat here and so glad we did! Food was delicious. Friendly staff. Will be back.

Terrible terrible service on 7/15 2pm by the blonde girl. This place is filthy and the servers are lazy and do not care about customers. Every table was left dirty. Water never came. Check never came. Had to get up and get our own things. Saw the same thing happening with other customers who needed things. Bad attitudes. They should advertise as counter service since that's what we received. You should hire people who actually want to work or at least capable of pretending to like their job. Will not be returning.

Located in Santa Monica, Pono Burgers has a unique layout with select variety of burgers, apps, wraps and salads. I came with a party of 4 for Sunday lunch after a bike ride and we were seated right away. Food: Getting to the core, my review is for their Piku Burger, BBQ chicken wrap and Russet fries. Starting with the fries, it was pretty standard -- although I do wish it would have been more crispier. Served with an aioli, it did it's job to satisfy my fries craving. Next, my bf opted for the BBQ chicken wrap. I personally felt the BBQ sauce was too sweet and drenched the wrap whereas I would prefer a more even ratio between the rest of the ingredients and the sauce. Finally, the Piku burger. I ordered the burger a medium, but I think it came out more medium well as it tipped toward being more dry. The idea of the burger sounded great: fig jam, bacon, kale with brie. However, the fig jam itself seemed almost dried out and there was too much making the burger overly sweet. It was hard to even taste the bacon. I was also disappointed by how the brie was spread as it just seemed like clumps of brie on two areas of the burger, rather than well spread and melted onto the patty. Overall, a bit disappointing experience. Ambience/Service: The servers were really nice, however service was a bit spotty, quite possibly due to the layout of the restaurant as one of the dining areas was located in a separate shed from the kitchen area. It didn't seem overly busy, however it took at least 15 minutes for us to even get waters, then another 30-40 minutes for our order.

PoNo?? PoYes!! Where do I begin...my brother & I have been trying to get-together for my birthday lunch in downtown Santa Monica...and our schedules finally meshed for the BBBBB - belated birthday burger brothers bash. Since my bro has been living in SMO, we've been on a quest for the best & healthiest burgers. Now I know what some of you may be thinking: "hamburgers aren't healthy" and my response to that: "IMO an organic grass-fed burger on a fresh soft brioche bun, like the one I just had from Pono, is healthier than those fake Beyond Meat burgers & their competitors. As an ex vegan, who's now considered a flexitarian...I'm not too fond of fake Frankenmeat and also allergic or have major sensitivities to several plant based ingredients...and IMO lots of fake meats & so called veggie burgers, are filled & loaded with manufactured crap & sodium. I've always loved burgers & fries so when I seized from being a vegan for 10 years, I decided that even though I'm not going to eat & consume a lot of meat & certain animal products, I'm definitely not going to deprive myself of a good solid burger when I'm craving it - no more burger deprivation for me! I've driven by Pono a few times but never thought much about it until I looked them up on Yelp, read a bunch of the reviews and realized they're known for their wood-fire BBQ grilled burgers - sold to the ex vegan in the Nike hat & Nike sneakers! Everything they serve is organic & local and their prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. First of all, a lot of their recent reviews not only rave about the food - they rave about Francis too. And let me just say, I/we were extremely impressed with the former & latter. Francis: 6 stars! He's very charismatic & engaging, knows the menu & their food inside & out, and truly loves working there (it really shows) and if that's not enough, when he found out we were there for my birthday burger, he offered to comp & treat me to one of their organic milkshakes. I kindly declined due to being off dairy products and thanked him for his generosity. And what did customer service-driven Francis do? He offers to comp & treat me to my sweet potato fries. AND. If that's not enough - he discounted our other order of regular fries when I realized I forgot to "checkin through Yelp" to redeem 10% off, to save my bro a little money. Speaking of which - Pono excepts cash; unlike Hi-Ho and Umami! Fries: both types of fries were very good - shoestring style like In & Out but only better. They're served with a citrus aioli, which I can't eat :( but sampled it anyhow with a couple fries and also a couple bites of my burger, and it was outstanding! The Burgers: They offer a few of their gourmet signature burgers, but I went with my simple standard plain burger with just organic romaine lettuce & the bun (yes they let you create your own burger (unlike Hi-Ho) The patty itself is a perfect size - not too thin yet not too thick. Perhaps my plain burger seems boring & bland to you, but not for me. It was delicious - especially how they cook it on that wood-fire BBQ grill...and the brioche bun not only was just right, it held up well and it didn't get soggy, even though the burger patty was extremely tender & juicy. IMO, a quality burger & bun doesn't need to be loaded with condiments & sodium to enjoy. My bro went for The Classic Burger with Cheddar Cheese. He loved it and told me it's worthy of 5 stars. Beverages: they have some craft beers & wine and Francis was really pushing their lemonade & ice tea. But little did he know we're h2o bro's. Loved the atmosphere & layout. We chose to sit on the patio. But next time I'm going to be sure to sit inside that open-spaced indoor hut that has a very cool & tranquil vibe. While there, we had a chance to meet & speak to Emily, the manager who was very sweet & laid back, and said all the right things - like a good manager should. Also, a shoutout to Dillion who served all our food with grace & a smile. I intend to return one day or night or for their Happy Hour with my wife because I really want to try their Brussel Sprouts & Cauliflower appetizers...and indulge in another round of burger & fries. And even though she's not a burger gal, she'll gladly try one of their salads, wraps or sandwiches, which I'm almost certain is pretty-pretty-pretty good too. Go Pono Go! I'm big a fan :)

Great burger Great customer service Good atmosphere Their French fries was great and crunchy It was my first time here but for sure I will come back

Really cool spot. With restaurants everywhere price gouging these days, I barely even go out to eat anymore but the food here was very reasonable priced which I appreciated. And the food was very solid. Im definitely coming back for the fries. This might be my new go to burger spot when I'm in Santa Monica. I don't remember our waiters name but he had long bleached hair. One of the most welcoming waiters I've experienced. Really appreciated his hospitality. Very enjoyable dinner experience. Can't wait to go back ! You should also try the Oreo strawberry milkshake our waiter recommended !