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

“ I stumbled upon Ai Pono Cafe and decided to give it a try as there's not many good Hawaiian spots around here. I was surprised to see how busy they were as all the seats and tables were taken with a line forming almost outside of the door. I got the crackhead chicken and added on thai shrimp for $4. The crackhead chicken was AMAZING! It was extremely flavorful and crispy I am obsessed. I also never really like Mac salad but this one was soo good. The shrimp were tasty as well but I prefer just the chicken for next time. My partner got the DA ROOTS plate and he was shook to the core when he took a bite of the fried tuna because it apparently tasted like wasabi. He literally spit it out right away because his mouth started burning. I'm not sure what sauce was used but it should be listed on the menu so that people can be aware before getting it. Also the ube macadamia nut cookie was tooo sweet and didn't really taste like ube to me. ”

“ Second time back and it didn't disappoint! Hawaiian food will always be a bit on the pricier side but that is expected. My plate came out to be around $25. I got the plate with the crispy chicken and it was crunchy and flavorful! All the other plates my friends got were good and full of variety as well. It came out within a reasonable time, would return! They are also dog friendly!! ”

“ Favorite Hawaiian spot!! First tried this place in Vegas and went today to our local one in Costa Mesa and this place is amazing! When there's a line outside already before it even opens, you know it's good. Ahi tastes fresh. Tried two different plates and can't decide which one's my fave. Loved the Hawaiian decor and funny hidden stickers. Definitely coming back. To either location. ”

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

“ The best local hawaiian food in CA! You want traditional? Come here, so tasty! Also love that they work with bands like TRT and help with kids gifts and what not for the holidays. Businesses supporting nonprofits is beautiful! Keep it Aloha! Come to eat in, or order to go because this spot gets busy! ”

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

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

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