Tokemoana's

Tokemoana's is a must-visit for any fan of Polynesian cuisine. I recently had the pleasure of trying their loco moco, and it did not disappoint. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium, and the sunny side eggs on top were a delicious addition. The mac salad was also noteworthy, with a great balance of flavors and textures. But what really set this dish apart was the luscious gravy, which was infused with mushroom and grilled onion. The banana macadamia nut pancakes were also really great. Fluffy on the inside and nice crispy edges. The attentive staff made the dining experience all the more enjoyable, and despite the Sunday brunch rush, we were seated within 10-15 mins. Overall, I highly recommend Tokemoana's for anyone looking for a taste of Hawaii in their next meal.

Influenced by IG and decided to come on a free afternoon. Located on el camino with a decent sized parking lot next door (just be sure not to pass by it). Inside is a simple cafe with spacious seating with big windows that let in a lot of natural light. Even for a weekday brunch time, we noticed a significant amount of people coming in. While not exactly busy and crowded, it was still a lot for what we expected. We ordered the loco moco, macadamia nut pancake combo, and tuk fries. I loved the loco moco. The gravy went great with the rice. The beef patty was cooked a bit more rare than I expected, but still tasted really good. There were also some mushrooms in the sauce. I got over medium eggs, but they came a bit closer to over easy, but honestly the runny yolks were much more suited for this dish. It also came with a small side of mac salad. It was a little watery, but was refreshing as a side. I would highly highly recommend the macadamia pancakes if you prefer sweet items for breakfast. I usually don’t prefer macadamia nuts but I loved how it was in the pancakes. The pancakes were super fluffy and honestly were impressive even for a simple dish. You can order the combo with a type of meat., bacon, sausage patty, spam. We got the sausage patty which was pretty tasty. The tuk fries were okay. The sauce was good, reminds me of sriracha mayo. The steak pieces were a bit tough. Can pass on this. Service was a bit slow. We noticed it took a long time for some peoples food to come out, as mentioned in other reviews as well. While it didn’t take a very long time for our food, it was still a noticeable wait when there weren’t that many people inside either. However the food was really good and I would def come again for those pancakes.

Been wanting to try this place, finally got a chance to. I ordered loco moco, my friend got the abc omlet, the kid got the cheeseburger, my sister also got loco moco, we also got an order of Tuk fries to share. The staff is friendly and helpful. It took a bit for our orders to come out but they were busy. Our food arrived, and healthy portions they are. The Tuk fries were amazing with yes real steak and it had great char flavor, this thing is a monster and I wouldn't consider this an appetizer (maybe for 6 people, but 3 of us we still had half left). By the looks of it they chopped up an entire steak for it. The loco moco was flavorful and very filling. The ABC omlet had a ton of bacon in it, and we asked for the hash browns to be crunchy and they cooked it to perfection. I definitely will be back to try some other stuff.

Saw this place on TikTok/Instagram and couldn’t wait to drive up from the South Bay and try it. We ordered the Hawaiian bbq plate, Sinaloa fries and a stack of the banana macadamia pancakes. Everything was so good, we wanted to try so many things! We can’t wait to come back!

Weekday breakfast: Just opened and we were the first ones in. There's a neat little parking lot too but I could see it getting filled up during busy hours. Breakfast was amazing! The Polynesian cornbread was excellent, with all the meat and sauce. It can pretty decadent and maybe a little salty but as long as you eat it with enough rice it's perfect. The loco moco was equally as tasty and satisfying. The portions were huge too. Also got the mango "smoothie-like" drink and a PSL and both solid options. Food: 8/10 Service: 6/10 Vibes: 6/10 Value: 7/10

Hearty food at a very reasonable price. I have no idea whether Tokemoana is authentic Polynesian but at least I can say the Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes are not up to snuff as those I've had in Hawaii. Don't get me wrong - tasty and made homestyle. However if you expected those from O'ahu, you'll be a bit disappointed. The interior has a clean diner feel... you see the kitchen and there are booths alongside. But the high ceilings and large windows give you a very different vibe. The staff was super friendly. We want to give Tokemoana another shot for something other than breakfast. There seems to be a lot of great sounding dishes we just couldn't try during breakfast.

Good place for breakfast and some interesting Polynesian dishes. The highlight of the meal was the coconut curry octopus and for the kids the banana Mac nut pancakes. The service is friendly and efficient and you can pay with QR code.

They had a sign at the front that displayed wait to be seated. So we waited to to be seated as we assumed by the sign was the implied thing to do. 2 people at the front just looked as us and said nothing. Then someone else came out and invited us to just walk in an sit wherever. That was weird. Our waitress was polite and quickly took our order. Food was good not the best though.

Tried this place out for lunch, but ordered a breakfast item. There is plenty of seating and had no wait as we arrived. The staff were really nice and attentive throughout our lunch experience. They have traditional breakfast as well as Hawaiian food options. Everything we tried was really good and would highly recommend this place.

Expect a wait on the weekends because this delicious spot was packed on Sunday- but its totally worth it!! They have designated parking right next to the restaurant. It has a chill diner feel to it which I love. We were seated at the counter so we got to watch the yummy food come out The service was the best, Agnes was literally the best server! We ordered the Loco Moco and the Panipopo pancakes which are some of their popular items. I felt like i was in heaven the entire time honestly! It is a must try in the area

"... we don't need that much to have a wonderful life. I learned that from animals." -Carrie Ann Inaba Polynesian cuisine in the Bay Area? Hmm but is it legit? As a child growing up, I was raised in California and in Hawaii, so you could say I know what authenticity is all about with this unique cuisine. One morning my IRL friend from San Jose asked me if I wanted to meet her for breakfast. Driving down from San Francisco we decided on Tokemoana! And yes, Carrie Ann is best known for her Dancing with the Stars fame, but did you also know she was an original Flygirl and born and raised in Hawaii? Tokemoana is located in San Mateo, childhood home of yours truly and someone named Tom Brady. It's easy to find as it's right on El Camino Real and they have their own private lot as well. It was a Sunday so I parked immediately up front on the main El-Real. I heard about Tokemoana serendipitously by word of mouth before finding their page on Yelp. Reviews high and a few friends reviewed it made it a curious stop for me. I was most intrigued by the morning Kava drinks, Poly cuisine, and breakfast dishes. My friend and I arrive almost at the same time and we were greeted by the hostess with other customers arriving as the doors opened. We are led to a spacious booth that comfortably sat us and her girl (not mine lol). Menus in hand at first glance it's obviously this ain't your typical breakfast menu. A nice selection of Pacific Fusion dishes and American for breakfast. The Poly lunch offerings have more authentic Polynesian cuisine. I start off with the Kava-Lada: Kava infused Piña Colada cocktail. My friend chose the Mango Otai (fruit drink). For breakfast I order the Lulu's Banana Macadamia Nut Pancake Combo (I chose Bacon/Eggs). Vege Omelette for my friend shared with her girl. Service was okay. They just opened the doors when we, along with a dozen others, strolled in, so staff seemed to be a step slow, however once settled they were fine and friendly. My breakfast was a just okay. The Pancakes were on the denser/dryer side and the skimp of bananas and macadamia nuts was obvious to me. The maple syrup fixed the dryness, but more should be available at the table. I needed more but had to wait some to have that request filled. The Kava-Lada was refreshing, but failed to blow my mind like I was expecting. My friend enjoyed her Vege Omelette. In the end, I am glad I met my friend at Tokemoana in San Mateo. A casual spot unique from the rest. If I do return I'd skip the American dishes and try Poly. I've known my friend for years and the good vibes and chat we had was like I saw her just yesterday. In reality it's been years since we last chatted, we've simply gone separate ways, true friendship can fade, but it will never die. It's just who I am, it's my mantra. Follow me on IG: @eric_travel_guru

While I'm not Polynesian, this place feels like home. You're greeted with warm smiles and beautiful faces. Everyone is friendly and on their stuff, no one is lagging around and constantly making sure guests have what they need. The music is great, it's very authentic. The mango Otai had my eyes rolling to the back of my head, that's how good it is. The coconut is subtle but its a very fruity drink with mango and pineapple- simply delicious. The loco moco was very good, two of us split it because we knew we wouldn't be able to eat it alone but looking back we shouldn't gotten our own to enjoy as leftovers later. The patty was cooked well done and seasoned well, the egg was fried over medium and the gravy was flavorful. My only wish was that we got more gravy The TUK fries were really good, cheesy, had a little heat to it from the sauce but was sooooo delicious. The steak was pretty good and the fries were also perfectly cooked and didn't get soggy from the sauce which was a plus. We've definitely found a new favorite spot and will check it out the next time we're in the area.

I've never had Polynesian food before and didn't know there was one in the Bay Area, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I went for a weekend brunch and there was a 30 minute wait, so I was waiting in the parking lot since there's not much around the area. The estimate was pretty accurate though and we were seated right around the 30 minute mark. I tried Lulu's Pancake Combo, which actually comes with a choice of either spam or bacon (I chose spam), a Corned Beef Special, and a Mango Otai. The pancakes had a strong banana taste which I liked, but it was also extremely crumbly and dry. The corned beef was decent, although a bit heavy. I would honestly come just for the Mango Otai, which tastes like a refreshing combination of mango and coconut. Overall would give them a 3.5/5, rounding up to 4 stars. Prices are a bit high and there's a long wait, and of all the popular items I tried, I would not get the pancakes. But otherwise I think it's interesting to try Polynesian food.

This place gets super busy on the weekend, so I suggest getting here early. Our group of 4 arrived here around 11:30am on a Sunday and there was about an hour wait. The servers and staff were all very friendly. They offered us the counter but we wanted to catch up so waited for a booth. When we were finally able to order they were out of a few items, possibly since it was later in the day. The food was had good flavors. We ordered pancakes and the 3 piece plate. That was ok, but the two people that ordered the plate complained about all the small bones they had to pick out of the meat, so it became unenjoyable to eat. I ordered the corned beef based on all the great reviews and that was definitely a hit with the table. Of all the items, I would definitely recommend that.

Comfort brunch food! This was our first time at a Polynesian restaurant and my friend and I both loved it. They did get very busy on a Saturday afternoon, so expect a wait if you don't come early. I loooooved my corn beef plate, the meat was delicious and cooked well, as opposed to the canned, corned beef hash that you get at a regular diner. I also ordered a 2-combo plate of corned beef and lamb curry to go and it was also delicious. They do not skimp on the meat and everything was so flavorful. The combo plate also comes with cassava and taro root. My friend ordered the french toast which I found to be just okay, it tasted more egg-y than anything. Service was nice and friendly but it does get a little hard to flag someone down once they get busy. Will return again!

We came here for Sunday brunch before an event nearby and it hit the spot! I love finding unique diner places and this one is no exception. While they have lots of traditional breakfast options such as pancakes, French toast, and scrambles, they also have a whole entire menu devoted to Polynesian dishes that I haven't seen anywhere else. I will need to come back to try the mussels - one of my favorites! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a friendly server who seated us at the counter (there was a slightly longer wait if you wanted a booth). Service was fast, and the restaurant has a nice buzz to it - lively without being loud. We ordered French toast, the corned beef hash, and a mango Otai (sort of similar to a mango lassi) drink to share. Everything tasted great, including the syrup used to coat the toast - slightly different from maple syrup, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Portion size was great, and we were very full and satisfied when we left the restaurant. Note that the restaurant shares a parking lot with an apartment building behind it, with certain spots designated for patrons. We couldn't find a spot in the main parking area, so parked behind the restaurant instead. Will be coming back here the next time I'm in the Peninsula - and will probably bring some friends with me as well!

I came here for lunch with a friend and we sat at the counter because there was a wait for booths. I ordered the Polynesian Style Corned Beef Hash with roasted potatoes and sunny-side eggs. They potatoes were salted and the corned beef chunks were really tasty! I felt like the portion was on the smaller side. My friend really liked his Loco Moco and fountain Crush soda. He mentioned that their fountain soda tasted noticeably better. And I noticed their fountain sodas looked 'brighter' than how fountain soda normally looks like. FYI: Apparently, Polynesian style hash includes a big piece of fat.

An event was taken place at Tokemoana and the ambiance was so inviting. Staff was welcoming and respectful. Host lead our group to a separate room. My husband ordered the chicken eggs and rice with mac salad. I ordered the Corned beef special and banana macadamia pancakes on the side. Bananas macadamia was It was definelty worth the drive to attend and have their scrumptious food. The yum sauce on top of my over hard eggs and corned beef was tasteful and yummy. I love corn beef especially with eggs. The event was a buisness mixer so we were pleased to meet the owner of Tokemoana Fusi. Her humble beginnings and journey of Tokemoana was a pleasure to hear the backside of their buisness. Loved the food and the location.

We stumbled upon Tokemoana's when we wanted to find some places to eat in the area and weren't disappointed. This Polynesian restaurant offers a wide range of dishes, from classic breakfast favorites to traditional Polynesian dishes. We came on a Saturday and were seated after a few minutes. We ordered the Corned Beef Special, Lulu's Pancake Combo, and Mango Otai. The Corned Beef Special was really tasty; the TUK sauce added a lot of flavor to the dish, and it was a really filling, hearty dish. I also really enjoyed the banana macadamia pancakes. I would've appreciated some more macadamia nuts on the pancakes since they felt more like banana pancakes, but they were really fluffy and light. I liked that you can choose bacon, sausage, or spam! The Mango Otai was phenomenal. It was the perfect drink on a hot day! I loved how refreshing and fresh it tasted. The mango and coconut flavors were very distinct, and it was perfectly not too sweet. The ambiance felt like a modern take of a retro diner. They have the classic diner bar and booths, in addition to normal tables, but the white and black color scheme felt more classy. The service was average; they ticked all the boxes but didn't go above and beyond in any way. In terms of parking, they have a huge lot. I enjoyed my experience here and would love to come back to try the Polynesian options.

I recently dined at Tokemoana with high hopes, considering the positive reviews I had read. Unfortunately, my experience fell short of expectations. The only positive thing I recall was the black and white decor. Has a nice modern diner vibe. I ordered the Loco moco, no onions and a medium-well meat. Plate arrived with onions and meat was cooked well-done. The dish was also under-seasoned. It was a rather ordinary rendition, nothing special to write home about. ABC omelette - advertised to come with potatoes and toast. Regrettably, the potatoes were missing from the dish. Tery steak & eggs - The steak was disappointingly thin, overcooked, and lacking in seasoning. It felt like an afterthought rather than a standout component of the dish. It failed to leave a positive impression. Corned beef special and the Hawaiian BBQ plate, both of which were unremarkable. They lacked any distinctive flavors or unique touches that would set them apart from similar offerings at other establishments. After placing our initial order, I requested the addition of a mango Otai drink and berry French toast. Unfortunately, neither item made its way to our table, and our waiter failed to return to check on us. We were left with no choice but to ask a bus boy for a to-go box when we were ready to leave and had to walk over to the register to pay. Overall, the experience at Tokemoana was mediocre at best. The food was unimpressive, lacking in flavor and execution. The service was subpar, with our waiter failing to fulfill our additional order and neglecting to check on our satisfaction. It's disappointing when a restaurant with positive reviews fails to live up to the hype. Given my experience, I would not consider returning to Tokemoana, nor would I recommend it to others seeking a memorable dining experience.

Man when I walked in it took me back to Hawaii. I placed my order via phone and arrived 30 minutes later. I walked in but no one acknowledged me as I stood by the cashier. Finally I flagged a waiter down so I could pay. Grabbed the food and headed to my friend's for lunch. We ordered: Loco moco: 5/5 great flavor! Highly recommend this one. Corned beef special: 5/5 great flavor too and I loved all the melted cheese. This would have definitely been better eaten on the spot. Chicken tery: 3/5 this was ok, kids didn't complain. Highly recommend this spot for great Polynesian food!

Came back to try this place again, and though the food was just as delicious and memorable, the service had gotten worse. I thought it was a one-off situation the first time, but this time around, the bad service confirmed for me that it's part of the experience. The food is amazing so I would just order for pick up and skip the service entirely. For starters, the wait for a table was super long. We tried to get there about 2 hours before closing, but by the time we got seated, we had an hour until closing. So when we ordered, they kept saying they were out of anything we initially were interested in. Sucks to wait for an hour only to order food that's your third or fourth choice from the menu. We waited some more for our food, and this time, we were seated at the counter. And my server from my first visit (see my original review), was working, and I had a front-seat view of him literally waiting by the food warmer for 5-10 minutes at a time to pick up plate orders while he stared at the ground or chatted with coworkers. Not once did I see him check in with customers. As a former waitress, it blows my mind that he would literally spend time like 5-10 mins standing around waiting for orders when it was so busy. It also wasn't clear who was our server. We just assumed the person who took our order would be our server, but he didn't even check on us again except for when he gave us our plates. When we got our plates, they gave us condiments like ketchup, and when I squeezed the ketchup bottle, the cap opened and fell off, delivering a huge wallop of ketchup on my plate and table. That same server saw and didn't do anything! Eventually one of the staff who handles cleaning tables and random tasks like toilet paper, came with items to help clean things up. And yes, I know they also handle the toilet paper because their restroom was completely out of it, and I had to ask for that too. Again, the food is the best, but the service is enough for me to stay away or just order for pick up. I literally cannot with the service here.

First time ever eating at a Polynesian restaurant, this place did not disappoint! The food was great and full of flavor! To my surprise all of the flavors worked so well together. Each dish was not greasy despite the red meat combinations within them! The portions are definitely well worth the price. Apparently, the restaurant imports some of their ingredients straight from the homelands! Really gives the authentic Polynesian experience. Our server was Lupita, she was amazing! Very attentive to our table which had an antsy 3 year old. She assisted us with the numerous small requests with a smile on her face. Before providing us the check and leaving she asked if anyone at the table was a father! She then proceeded to greet us, too notch customer service. Will definitely be back to try the rest of their menu!

Wow. I haven't had Tongan food since high school and this was sooo great. Food was incredible. Service was just as incredible -- shoutout to Lupita for taking care of us. Wasn't as busy as I expected it to be on Fathers Day. Idk what it was about their corned beef but it was the best corned beef I've ever had. Loved the music that was playing, coulda swore they were listening to my Apple Music playlist I put together lol. One thing in particular that I pointed out to my family is that I appreciated that none of the food we ate was hella greasy! Plenty of parking, whether it's in their lot or across the street next to Yumi Yogurt. They take reservations!! I will be coming back for sure.

I came here around noon and was seated within 10mins. There's a booth waiting area so you're not standing outside in the cold. Everyone was super friendly with nice diner vibes. It was a bit unfortunate that the food came out at different times so my husband and I couldn't really eat together without one dish getting cold. The loco moco came first and was good piping hot but the taste was deteriorated as it cooled down where the patty was pretty hard, a sign of being over cooked. I was also not quite impressed by the macadamia nut pancake as the pancake itself was pretty dry. We used all of the syrup and it was still dry. It was good to try, but definitely could not be compared to what we had in Hawaii.

The perfect breakfast/brunch spot! Took a chance on here cause of the strong Yelp reviews. Happy to report they check out! Came on a Friday, around noon and the host greeted us with a smile and let us choose our table (not too busy when we were there). The waitress was friendly and checked on our tables regularly. The food was delicious. I ordered the corned beef special with the eggs over medium. Corned beef with eggs over rice you really can't go wrong. Top that off with a nice blend of sauces, yum! We also ordered the macadamia pancakes which quickly reminded me of the times I've ordered this in Hawaii! So good! Only knock I have is the music was really loud. I'm all for good vibes and music can definitely help set a good vibe. But, in this case it was a bit much. Also, the base seemed to be cranked up on max setting which also wasn't really necessary IMO. Still, nonetheless I'll definitely be back as the food was THAT good!

Wanted to try this place cuz everyone was saying how crowded and fantastic it was. Came on a rainy Wednesday around 11:30am and was surprised to find it empty. First off the fact that it has a small parking lot was awesome (although I almost zipped right past it!). There was plenty of street parking in front so I could have just parked there. Maybe it was because it was a weekday but I was disappointed they ran out of the specialty of Corned Beef Special. They seemed to have a limited menu but wasn't sure if it was because it was a rainy weekday or post Covid they just don't have as many options as back in the day. I ordered the Loco Moco and my friend had a side of banana macadamia pancakes and an omelette. The loco moco was was large and heavy, and the omelette was all right but nothing special. But I have to say, the banana macadamia nut pancake is worth coming back for. Would love to stop by again to try the pancake and see if I was imagining it's goodness or is consistently that good. Stop by and try it!

I ordered things I had never tried before, trying to be adventurous. It turned out to not be my kind of food, unfortunately. Service was super polite and you get a good value for the money in terms of sheer amount. But I was bummed that I didn't enjoy ANY of my three items. I don't like mayo and the root vegetables were covered in it, but very plain and starchy underneath the coating. The turkey tail was super hard to eat and very fatty. The mackerel kind of tasted like a very fishy tuna chowder and, tbh, no one at my table enjoyed it. FWIW, I'm probably just not familiar with the cuisine style of the items I ordered. I think if I had ordered, like, the teriyaki chicken, I would feel differently. It's a super popular restaurant, so clearly my experience is not the norm. I wouldn't be against coming back and trying different dishes.

I was looking for a brunch place in San Mateo having tried many in the area, and found Tokemoana's through Yelp. My interest was piqued because there aren't many Polynesian restaurants (there are Hawaiian ones), let alone Polynesian breakfast/brunch places. Tokemoana's focuses more on Tongan and Samoan cuisines. It is definitely comfort food! Expect a short wait when you come in, but it goes by quickly. I love the booths--feels like a very welcoming, homey, old-timey diner. Because it is the suburbs, there's a nice parking lot so parking is a breeze. It's also located on El Camino slightly past the Hillsdale Mall so you could take the bus to get here, or even Caltrain to the Hillsdale stop! The portions are HUGE! Expect to take some food home or share. My friend and I enjoyed the Corned beef special with eggs over easy ($17.99) and Corned beef omelette ($18.99). The menu is extensive and also said corned beef was popular and a special. Both dishes did not disappoint. They were hearty, warm, and had complex flavors from the spices and sauces.

This place is comfort at another level. Love their coffee that they source from Equator Coffee. It's so delicious! I try to get sweet and savory options. We got the macadamia and banana pancakes and the loco moco . The loco moco was soo savory and yummy. Umami from the mushroom gravy brought this to another level. Get this! Comes with rice and eggs and macaroni salad. Everything was great and staff are very nice. J highly recommend! They also have other traditional Polynesian dishes as well.

First time here and my wife and I loved it. We were able to go when they first opened up. There was no line, so we were seated right away. Macadamia Nut pancakes: Pancake were mmm had a crispy outside layer and was soft inside. Just the right amount of fluffiness. My eggs were cooked perfectly and the bacon ... well can't go wrong with bacon. I liked their.m bacon because it was not salty. Corned Beef Special: WOW! Over easy eggs over rice with corned beef and melted cheese. It was delicious Plenty of rice which we didn't finish. Of course I ordered the extra bacon as well The only thing I was "ok" with was the coffee, but I wouldn't come here for coffee but would DEFINITELY come back here for some more delicious food!

I was excited to try Tokemoana because there aren't many diners to my knowledge serving a mix of Polynesian food with a twist of traditional breakfast diner food. The interior definitely gives a very comfortable feel and the service was also excellent. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive which left a more pleasant experience. When it comes to the food; however, I had mixed feelings about it. We came about 40 minutes before closing time which turned out being a mistake because a ton of their items ended up being sold out by that time which was a downside for me. I wanted to try their corn beef which was sold out. A bunch of other unique items were sold out too. I opted for the Lulu's Pancake Combo ($14.49) and I originally opted for bacon, but they were sold out of that too. If I wanted sausage instead, well that was sold out too. So I ended up with spam which is fine because I do like spam a lot. The macadamia nut pancakes were promising, but personally I was pretty underwhelmed. The pancake overall was very dry especially around the edges. When cutting into it with my knife I had to put a little bit more strength into it because it felt almost rubbery. They were generous with the nuts, but I wish there was more banana. Flavor and texture wise I didn't love the pancakes, but everything else was solid. My family also ordered Pompano and Kale Sipi which is curry lamb. They were a bit under seasoned, but they were flavorful. For me it might be unfair to fully judge this diner until I try other items on their menu, but food wise I was expecting more. The service and the atmosphere was outstanding which were some of the most notable parts of my experience dining here. I would definitely give this place another shot in the future.

Finally came to check out Tokemoana's for brunch. We had to wait a little for our table before being seated. I was super excited to try their macadamia nut pancakes, but when we went to order, I was told they were out of macadamia nuts. Our waitress suggested I substitute the macadamia nut pancakes for banana chocolate chip pancakes instead, which I agreed to. A little later, she came to tell me that they were also out of bananas and asked if she could just give me chocolate chip pancakes; not my first choice but I agreed, albeit a bit confused about how they ran out of bananas, particularly considering it was still pretty early in the morning. Worst part was when the bill came, we were charged extra for both bananas and chocolate chips. My pancakes were fine, nothing special and not particularly flavorful or soft, fluffy, and light. My friend's food was also not outstanding.

The food was good and the portions were large. I would not recommend going with a large (12+) group. They just completely fail at managing a large group. From the time we arrived to the restaurant to the time we were served took over 80 minutes mid morning on a Saturday. The Polynesian plate which is 3 items plus sides of tarp and yuca was really good. My favorite was the raw fish in coconut milk. I wouldn't have ordered this but because I shared 2 plates with another person, we were able to try 6 different entrees. The octopus was really good as well. My favorite was actually the more American banana pancakes. Those were nearly perfect. So overall good food but never ever go with a large group here!

Baby friendly?: - Stroller access: Not really. They do not have a ramp for strollers and I believe the lift has been out of order for quite some time! Once inside, the area with booths have a narrow walkway so the stroller would definitely be obstructing. Luckily, I got to sit in the very back booth so it was out of the way! - Changing table: No, but there is a bench outside the bathroom which I used to change my baby's diaper. YOLO Food: My friend and I got the Corned beef special & the Lulu's pancake combo with spam. We absolutely LOVEEEDD the Corned beef special! the portion was huge and the meat was so flavorful. We definitely killed it quickly! When it came to the pancakes, it was good but not extraordinary or special. I wish I could've skipped that and ordered 2 corned beef specials instead. Service: Quick and friendly service!! Overall, I would go back for the Corned Beef special and to try the Polynesian food as well!

Although the reviews are a mixed bags, I thought let's give it a try as it does look interesting. Upon arrival, the restaurant looks fairly busy as it's Sat at noon. There is a short line to see the hostess. We stood there for a solid 3 mins. The hostess (bald guy) will not make eye contact at all with the gal at the front of the line. He looked at the paper, walked around, went to the kitchen counter, came back to look at the cashier, etc. The line got longer and everyone is puzzled as to what's going on? He finally looked at the gal and said, "have you been helped?" What?? Did he not see the line of people right in front of you? It's bizarre. Anyhow, he finally took down the name and party size of everyone on his piece of paper. For some reason, he sat the party of 4 behind us immediately but not the 3 groups before us. Don't really understand his logic? Other than the weird check-in process, all of the servers are friendly. Maybe they are short on staff as there are definitely open tables around. They are just not seating people immediately. Other yelper reviews are spot on. - coffee - 1/5 sour coffee - pancake - 1/5 super dry pancakes - corn beef special - 3/5 too many fatty bits - octopus- 4/5 interesting. Glad I try it - turkey tail - 3/5 interesting. Glad I try it - taro leaves lamb bone-in - 3/5 interesting. Glad I try it Overall, it's just okay meal. Glad I try it. But, it's not a place I would want to come back again for the food.

the food was pretty good! this is not my type of food so i won't personally be coming back here, it's just my personal taste! I was still very happy to try this type of food tho :) My stepdad loved it tho and he will be coming back again! the service was great!!

Weekday breakfast: Just opened and we were the first ones in. There's a neat little parking lot too but I could see it getting filled up during busy hours. Breakfast was amazing! The Polynesian cornbread was excellent, with all the meat and sauce. It can pretty decadent and maybe a little salty but as long as you eat it with enough rice it's perfect. The loco moco was equally as tasty and satisfying. The portions were huge too. Also got the mango "smoothie-like" drink and a PSL and both solid options. Food: 8/10 Service: 6/10 Vibes: 6/10 Value: 7/10

Refreshing, Finally a family place to eat. Friendly service with healthy tasty portions, you do not leave the table hungry . You are satisfied. We came with a party of 6. Not to big of a group. But we came in about 1:00 on a Sunday. They make special dishes on the weekends. Another reason to come. But come early because they run out of food. Well certain dishes they sell out of. We ordered off the Polynesian menu. We order one of each item including the weekend only specials. None of the items was a disappointment. Each and every item had a distinct flavor profile. We all shared as a family does. Each of us trying a little off of each other's plate. We even had the macadamia pancakes, with maple syrup, no coconut syrup but life goes on. Delicious. This is a must try. Will be coming back soon to try the waffles

HEART ATTACK LOVE: FATTY CORNED BEEF AND TURKEY TAILS There are certain items you shouldn't eat every day. However there are certain items you crave. Having both corned beef and turkey tails served at a restaurant is rare. That's why I came to eat at Takemoana's. The first time I came to Takemoana's was a week after Saint Patrick's Day. Usually on Saint Patrick's Day I get the Irish American dish corned beef and cabbage, but Saint Patrick's Day this year was on a Friday during Lent. A week later on a Saturday I came here to order corned beef. The other item was really interested in was the turkey tail. From the Polynesian menu I ordered a 2-item plate of pulumasima/ povi masima, which is corned beef brisket, and teriyaki turkey tails. The corned beef brisket at Takemoana's wasn't the shredded pieces like corned beef hash but chunky slices. The corned beef brisket at Takemoana's is two of the best corned beef dishes I've ate at a restaurant as it was fatty, moist, and thick just how I like women (I'm kidding). I love turkey tails, but they can be too fatty. At Takemoana's the fat on the turkey tails were rendered well you don't feel nauseous when eating. I came back to Takemoana's a couple weeks later. This time I took a risk as I ordered a 3-item Polynesian plate that included feke/ fe'e (octopus in coconut cream). I never ate fe'e before. When you take risks at a restaurant the item you order can be really great or really bad. The fe'e was worth the risk because it was delicious. The only dish that can be similar to fe'e is clam chowder, which I don't like. The fe'e is more delicious than the clam chowder. The coconut cream in the fe'e is smoother than the cream in the clam chowder that tastes floury. Instead of the same type of corned beef as last time I ordered the lu pulu/ luau povi, which corned beef steamed in taro leaves. I'm glad I ordered it as the taro leaves provided a different flavor, but I did prefer the corned beef brisket. As last time I ordered the teriyaki turkey tails. Last Sunday I came to Takemoana's because only on Sundays does this restaurant serves BBQ sipi/ mamoe, which is teriyaki braised bone-in lamb flap. A couple of years ago I ordered lamb ribs from another Polynesian restaurant. That was the worst lamb I ever ate as it was not only fatty, but also gamey. I wanted to find out how these lamb ribs at Takemoana's tasted. They weren't gamey nor fatty but delicious. The lamb ribs were part of the 3-item that included the corned beef brisket and turkey tails. When you order the item plate from the Polynesian section of the menu you get these root vegetables. They're starchy like potatoes, but have a lighter texture. I really enjoyed eating the root vegetables at Takemoana's. I never tried any of the items on the Corned Beef Corner section of the menu because from the pictures I've seen the corned beef is shredded. I don't like my corned beef shredded as it reminds me of the Hormel canned corned beef I ate growing up. This place can be packed. I recommend sitting at the diner bar instead of waiting for a table if you want a quicker service. Also if you select items from the Polynesian section of the menu your order will come quicker as these items have been prepared for the day's service. I didn't drive from the East Bay and cross the bridge to go to Takemoana's for omelets, pancakes, and waffles. As Takemoana's is a Polynesian restaurant I came here to order items from the Polynesian menu. I know for St. Patrick's Day if I am craving for corned beef instead of going to an Irish pub I'm coming to Takemoana's.

Wow! The cheese steak omlette here is good! And the Loco Moco is pretty nice too. The steak was cooked very well. The tuk sauce on the fries were great as well. Wasnt much of a wait to be seated, but we probably sat for about 30-45 minutes to be served. The inside of the restaurant is like a diner. I really wished they served cocktails or something, as this is a place I would go for brunch.

Really really wanted to love this place. Came on a rainy Saturday right before noon. No wait to be seated. Did we hit the jackpot!?!?! Ya.... but no. While there was no wait for the seats, we must've waited 40+ minutes for the food. Looks like they do a lot of pick up orders. Ordered the hot poly fries, corn beef special, and banana Mac pancakes. Though the idea of the hot Cheetos in our fries sounded excellent, we had a challenging forking the full pieces with the fries. I'd recommend it be crushed on the top instead. If you opt to take left overs home, please note, the Cheetos will get soggy. The tuk sauce went well with the fries. Corn beef special was alright, but think I'm going to try the corn beef with potatoes next time rather than the rice. Banana mac pancakes came out more on the burnt/dry side. Unfortunately, was not impressed. However, I did enjoy the bacon very much that came on the side. Hope they just had an off day. Will be back to give it another try.

Service is soooo slow, we waited 30 mins for someone to take our order, and close to an hour for food to come. The food is mid, my bread is burnt. :(

It's been a while since I last had some really good Poly food. In fact, the last time I had some was from Tokemoana themselves (This was before they had their restaurant of course) otherwise visiting home was the last time I had it and it's been a while. It was nice to visit when I was in the general area because restaurant was beautifully laid out, old vintage style with a view of the kitchen and large booths and bar seating. I ordered the meals via phone for pick up and ordered two 3 item Poly plates, mango otai, and a pineapple half moon pie. Ordering meals that are a little larger requires a payment through phone so be sure to keep that in mind. Also, let them know if you want to add tip as well. I had to purchase another pineapple moon pie to add tip. Plate 1: Lu Sippi (Taro leaves with lamb in coconut milk), Kale moa (curry chicken), and Feke (octopus in coconut) Plate 2: Pompano, turkey tails, and Pulumasima All plates were served with Taro If I had to explain the taro, think of it as potato. It's a root vegie that's been cooked in coconut milk so it's easy to smash with a fork and eat with your items. I see a lot of people unaware of it and often not eat it but when you think of it that way, hopefully more people can enjoy it. Upon arrival I double checked my order and noticed that the kale moa and feke was missing but the waitress was able to help get me those items after checking my receipt. Understandable since it was a lunch rush on a Saturday but be sure to check before you leave. Otherwise, the food was as delicious as I remembered it. I wish I was in that area more often because I know they'd definitely be the place to dine.

I want to start off by saying the service here was exceptional and it's really apparent how well they're running their establishment. However I do have to base my rating on the food we tried and maybe Polynesian isn't our kinda food. I was very intrigued by how different everything looked and we tried a little bit of everything: *Feke -- octopus in coconut cream *Kalesipi -- curry lamb *Kalemoa -- curry chicken Lusipi -- taro leaves wrapped lamb w/coconut *Ota -- raw mahimahi with veggies &coconut annnnnnddd ... TURKEY TAIL! Why aren't more people serving up turkey tail??! Everything is very stewy and reminds me of Filipino food. They use A LOT of taro, which felt very heavy. I'm used to having rice or something to soak up all the saucy stuff. The best was definitely the turkey tail and for the first time ever, I was wishing that turkeys had a bigger ass!!! Price is 2 entrees for $20, and each entree you add on is plus $3. This price point is a little expensive considering you don't get a lot of actual meat per entree. We didn't eat the taro at all. They're a very busy restaurant, even arriving on a Saturday around 1:30pm, the wait was about 20minutes for a table so we decided to sit at the counter. They also offer regular American diner food if that's something you're interested. They share a private parking lot with the apartment complex they're adjacent to. Just look for the parking spaces marked for Tokemoana.

TLDR: Lots of food. Lots of interesting options. Hit or miss. Worth a try. Friday 6/2/23: ~10:00am, takeout order. ~~~~~ 3-choice plate ~~~~~~ The 3-choice plate gives you the most opportunity to sample all the interesting Polynesian dishes. Its worth trying, though some of the options are hit/miss. (7.2/10) Turkey Tail: Tender, fatty, braised tails. The tail-part of the turkey is like an extremely large and fatty chicken-thigh piece of meat. Some bites were almost 90% fat, but that's just a makeup of that particular park of the bird. The braised sweet-salty flavor was similar to a well-executed teriyaki style marinade. The meat was fall-apart tender. Good. Worth getting. (6.5/10) Feke/Fe'e - Octopus in coconut cream sauce: Very rich and creamy curry-like octopus. Huge, impressive chunks of octopus mixed in with the heavy sauce. At first glance, its looks like a bowl of Indian-style curry. The octopus chunks, while large, weren't overly chewy. They definitely had a bouncy texture, but if you're used to octopus then you know what to expect. Good. Interesting. Worth trying. (4.9/10) Kale Moa - Curry chicken: Standard curry-spiced chicken and vegetables. Pretty standard. Feels like a recipes pulled straight from the box. The chicken was cooked fine, the vegetables tasted exactly how you'd expect. Nothing tough or overcooked, but it tasted like a box-recipe. (1.8/10) Root Vegetables: Each plate comes with huge rounds of these white root vegetables. Completely unseasoned, flavorless, with a odd texture. Image a flavorless, under cooked Russet potato. I can't imagine someone eating all of it. Seems unnecessary. You just end up eating the rice. Other: - Service: Ordered a takeout in-person at the counter. The people were friendly, but service was slow. The sit-down diners were all waiting to be served, ordered, or get the check. The takeout items are all pre-made, and just require someone to scoop the choices into the plate. It wasn't particularly busy, but still took 20+ minutes before I got the plate. - Bathrooms were clean. - Nice seating area. Lots of seats.

The husband and I are always looking for a good breakfast spot, especially now that are beloved place closed. We had heard of Tokemoana before but just hadn't made it out to San Mateo from San Jose. So worth the drive. It's in a spot that looks like an old diner, super retro with convenient parking well marked. It was a busy Sunday morning but we were seated quickly at the bar and had a hard time choosing what to get and what to share. I went with Lulu's pancake combo...such delicious banana and macadamia pancakes! My husband could not decide what to get so he got a combo plate with the fe'e (octopus), curry chicken, bbq mamoe (lamb), and sosisi (Polynesian style pork sausage). Comes with taro and ufi. He loved the fe'e so much he got a second order. We got the berry french toast to split. We loved everything and had a bunch to bring home because our eyes were bigger than our stomachs Great, friendly service. Making a list of people we want to bring. Much love, alofa, and aloha to all!!

The food was decent, and affordable, but the menu is pretty limited and lacks helpful descriptions. The server couldn't tell us what the difference is between Irish corned beef and Polynesian corned beef. The diner ambiance feels like a scene out of Pulp Fiction - very '70s. The pancakes were great, but the spam serving was minuscule for I don't know why, and the eggs were over-fried. My partner had the banana macadamia pancakes, which were just regular pancakes with about half a banana sliced on top - not what we expected. We didn't have coffee, but they serve Equator, so there's that in their favor. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back, but they were open mid-afternoon and parking was easy. If I do go back, I'd like to try something from the Polynesian menu.

Wow! They warned they had few Polynesian items at the time - fair - So we ordered what they had: Turkey tails with a side of cassava, corned beef in taro leaf with a side of fries, mango otai- all delicious with island music in the background, very pleasant- Their Polynesian selection is slim right now, but what they have is delicious! (They also have your ol' favorites for breakfast and lunch if you wish) You should go!

100000/10 Y'all...... when I tell you this is a MUST eat in the peninsula, I mean it! The corn beef special is plate licking good. It has such a nice crisp to it from the griddle and so cheesy! The portion of corn beef over rice is the right amount. The lulu pancakes are not overly sweet,fluffy, and buttery. Coffee is great for dark roast lovers very strong! Berry French toast is a little on the dry side but not to bad. Overall supper happy we walked in. I'm my sons words "mom this food is bussin" Loved the customer service!

This was our first time trying authentic Polynesian food and we can't wait to come back! The staff here is so friendly and they make the atmosphere feel super comfortable and laid back. We ordered the Lua Mamoe and Sosisi plate + Lulu's pancake combo (banana mac nut pancakes.) Everything was so delicious! The Lua Mamoe was so creamy from the coconut milk and the lamb was extremely tender. I wish the sosisi was grilled a bit longer to give it some char but it had amazing flavor! The taro it was served with was a great accompaniment. The banana mac nut pancakes reminded me of the ones I had in Hawaii. They were so thick and flavorful. The portions here are huge so definitely come with an empty stomach! Parking is easy - they have their own private lot but we were able to find plenty of street parking on El Camino right in front of their restaurant. We'll definitely be back to try the rest of their Polynesian offerings!

My first time having Polynesian food and it was such a cool experience to try out! As we were about to be seated, we were welcomed by many friendly employees and our waitress had full of personality. When we first stepped inside, you can tell the place used to be an American diner just with how the layout of the place looks, and I heard that Tokemoana relocated from Redwood City to San Mateo, which was great for me cause it's closer to where I live. We ended up ordering a couple of things, such as the Kale Moa + Lu Pulu, Feke, Sapasui, and Sinaloa Fries. Our starter was the Sinaloa Fries. For sure it was definitely a flavor bomb! It was really good with the sauces added and the corn beef as the topping really made it delicious. The Kale Moa was pretty good, it was basically like a comforting curry-based stew with rice. It also comes with a steamed taro with a white sauce. I thought the chicken was very tender, but personally it wasn't anything to rave about. We had the dish come paired with Lu Pulu which was a cooked taro leaf with fatty corn beef and potatoes inside. My was that delicious and creamy. It was so fatty and tender and the meat just melts in your mouth. I highly recommend this one. Next, we got the Sapasui. Honestly, I thought it was a little too salty. Definitely eat it with rice because it was overwhelming on its own and personally, I wouldn't get it again. And lastly, the star of the show was the Feke! It's basically octopus in a coconut curry sauce and it was truly delicious! The octopus was not overcooked, and the soup packed a lot of good flavor. Definitely recommend this one if you ever stop by this restaurant. Overall, my experience here was a positive one. It was definitely cool to try something new and I really liked the food overall! Our waitress had such a cheerful, fun vibe, and personality so it really added to our experience.

Pass by this spot on El Camino weekly, I was able to sample there offerings today and let me just say the options are several the taste is amazing. Let me break down what I sampled with the family and how everything faired The littles tery chicken bowl with rice, broccoli and kale? Per my son everything was good, chicken was semi sweet and tender The littles breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes, eggs standard, the bacon slightly crunchy, the pancakes supposedly standard but the taste hints at something different, slight crisp bite, not dense even when topped with whip cream, butter and syrup still crisp bite, order this for your kids The Teriyaki steak and eggs with white rice, the teriyaki steak was medium very flavorful, with standard overeasy eggs and white rice definitely order this The 3 item plate came with these 3 choices, the turkey tail, the lamb curry and the lamb bbq ribs. The Turkey tail had a crisp bite on each piece I sampled, if you like chicken tails, turkey tail is way better lol sample this. The lamb curry was delicious and tender, a tad oily but that taste is all there I recommend ordering this dish. The last item was the lamb bbq ribs, slight crisp on every bite, not tough, flavorful slighty sweet, each of these items I would order this again, most of these options are only offered during the weekends only I will have to come back and sample the fries plates, 4 different kinds that we saw other people ordered all looked good, the loco moco looked delicious, bbq plate looked good, again I will be back for more of their options food ***** legit poly food, definitely recommend it price $$ legit service **** true to nature on island time, food took awhile but it was well worth the wait ambiance *** older diner spot that was not renovated, slightly dark, bench seating in front, and in back large group seating, across the left easily sits groups of 4

A hidden gem! Authentic Polynesian/Hawaiian diner. We got the corned beef hash and the loco moco. Both were delicious! Definitely reminded me of the loco mocos on the island. The orange sauce on the corned beef hash was too good. Generous portions and price is fair. Service was really warm and welcoming. We will def be back again!!

I just moved from Dallas Texas to Cali and I wanted to explore my neighborhood! This restaurant was a great start! I love the restaurant concept. The interior was beautiful, clean kitchen, attentive staff, very comfortable chairs, and delicious and fresh food. I spoke to one of the owner...such a wonderful lady. I told her I'll be coming often as my family from out of town visits me. I can't wait to try the other food items on their menu.

Being Polynesian, you get excited when you see your people represented in any industry. It was so cool to see a sit in diner/restaurant selling food I've been enjoying my whole life. Our party consisted of about 10 people & of all of them it was my first time. I was visiting from out of town. It was a big order so there was more grace for our severs. I didn't expect it to be perfect & it was not. Our servers were kind & pleasant but some of our orders came out wrong & late. The orders that came out wrong were the poly plates. Our servers weren't Polynesian so I'm sure it was just the fact that we didn't order in English. I ordered Lu Sipi the server brought Sapasui in its place so I had to ask for it lol that kind of sounds the same right? We also found out it was one of the server's 3rd day, so no biggie. After the first few orders came out incorrect the server seem flustered & I believe that's how our two other plates were forgotten about. It's definitely situational so I won't judge the service off of one incident. I studied this yelp page before I ordered so I was ready lol to order for me & two other people so I could try everything at one time haha. I ordered otai & the 3 item poly plate. I got Fe'e , Lu Sipi , & Turkey Tail. I ordered a side of kale mamoe which never came so I just gave up on it. Turkey Tail- 3/5 I only say this because I went in expecting it to be more sticky & crunchy than dry & crunchy. The flavor was there that's why it's a 3. It's just from the picture i seen on yelp I expected it to be prepared differently. Fe'e (octopus) -2/5 I'm guessing maybe they allow us to add salt as we see fit, it didn't hit the tastebuds how I expected it too. Lu Sipi - 2/5 The biggest debate in the poly community is if there should be meat in luau or not hahah jk. I guess I like it without the meat because the fat from the meat & the fat from the coconut makes it too fatty/oily for me? & I see luau as a side & adding meat makes it more a main dish. I love lamb but I wish the coconut was more present in this dish. Otai- 3/5 is it just me or does everyone else expect the Otai to be like the poly version of a Mexican Fresca? I don't expect a smoothie is what I'm trying to say. I expect like a milky drink. I also like mine cold. This was not cold, & more a smoothie. But the flavor was there! I had someone order Oka & this!!! 5/5 all the stars!!!! I killed it lol. So freaking good! I left satisfied because of that haha. I cannot speak for everyone else but I will say the only leftover box we took home were the fries & that's more so because the serving size was big. I couldn't get pictures of everyone's plates but here are some. All in all worth a try! I will always stop by when in town!

Being half Tongan I admit I may be completely biased but the food will speak for itself. I decided to come to this establishment with a friend and we both were excited to try the yummy Polynesian cuisine. I ordered a two item plate the corn beef lou and the raw fish (ota) it was so good! The food came out quickly and everything was hot ready and fresh. The meal was perfectly made and instantly brought me back to memories as a child at family luaus. I can't wait to be back and try more of their menu. They have a parking lot adjacent that's great for parking and the establishment is spacious with lots of seating. Definitely will be back soon to get some home cooked Polynesian cooking!