'Ai Pono Cafe

Chef Ogasawara

★★★★★

5

a year ago

Food: As a chef 9/10 As a non chef 10/10 Shrimp Special 8/10 Crispy Shrimp, Garlic Rice, Mac Salad, Cole Slaw - Great flavors, fresh shrimp, good acid, girlfriend loves it. Crackhead Chicken 10/10 Chicken, Rice, Cole Slaw, Mac Salad - Chicken was cherry. Crispy, good flavor, love the Mac Salad, solid flavors all around. Ube / Regular Rice Crispies 9/10 Can't complain... Service:10/10 Aloha all around. Engaging knowledgeable staff. Auntie made me feel like I was at home. Never felt uncomfortable, always attended to. Ambiance: 9/10 Love the local art, colors, design and decor. Cleanliness: 8/10 Restaurant was clean. Bathrooms were a little dirty. Price: 9/10 Summary: Should you go? Absolutely. I would drive back to OC just to eat some more ono kine grindz. Reminds me of being back on the big island. Big hype, but big flavors to back it up. Mahalo!