Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap

  4.4 – 227 reviews   • Hawaiian restaurant

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Pono Hawaiian Grill brings you the very best in Hawaiian-style street food! Authentic Island experience and recipes from Braddah Timmy’s home of Maui! All of our food is made to order and prepped daily to bring you the freshest and most ‘ono in Island style plate lunch and poke! We also serve 16 different craft beers, ciders, local wine and non-alcoholic beverages! We put the ‘ono in Pono! -Braddah Timmy

✔️Breakfast ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap 95062

Hours

Friday11:30 AM–9 PM
Saturday11:30 AM–9 PM
Sunday11:30 AM–8 PM
Monday11:30 AM–9 PM
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday11:30 AM–9 PM
Thursday11:30 AM–9 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 3744 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Phone: (831) 476-7458

Website: http://www.ponohawaiiangrill.com/

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Order: Order online

client.waitbusters.com

Photo Gallery

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Reviews

Arul Peter
We visited on a Friday evening in August, and the place was buzzing with activity. The team has done a nice job creating a Hawaiian-inspired atmosphere, though it still felt like a little something was missing. The host and staff were genuinely kind and attentive throughout our visit.
The food, however, really stood out! Since I was dining with two kids, I went with the burger, which was simple but satisfying. The Kalua pork plate and island quesadilla were both delicious, and the Teriyaki chicken was perfectly marinated and grilled.
All in all, it was a wonderful dining experience—something refreshing and different from the usual.
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TinaEh VangLee
Solid Hawaiian restaurant. Food was great. If you’re craving Hawaiian food, this is the spot. If you’re looking for true authentic Hawaiian dishes, it’s great but just nearly there! While our dishes were great, the fish and chips was just a bit hard for the fried fish. The mac salad sides were good. Rice quality was on point and will satisfy anyone that wants rice with their food.

Service was excellent! The employees were very nice and welcoming. We got our waters refilled. The tables were clean and we got seated right away after ordering.

You do have to order and pay first before being seated.

Overall, a great restaurant to fulfill your Hawaiian cravings.
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Tony Simmons
As a native Hawaiian I can say that this is a poor representation of our culture when it came to their service. The customer service is TERRIBLE!!! The girl taking orders at the register with dark hair (she was wearing a black polka dot shirt on 8/31/25) was so rude. didnt seem like she wanted us there or to help us when we asked questions. All of the staff seemed so unfriendly to us. That gave us a bad taste in our mouths when it came to the food. The food is decent. The fish was pretty fresh but I wouldnt call it authentic. Hawaiian poké doesnt have edamame and all the frills. Please don’t use our culture & food if your staff lack an ounce of ALOHA!!!!
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Hannah Downing
Decent Hawaiian restaurant in Santa Cruz county. Plenty of parking in the back (the spaces are quite narrow). Order up at the counter and they’ll bring the food out to you.

Pono has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, along with a seated bar. The majority of outdoor seating is shaded which was a relief. The food was decent. The sauce for the mahi mahi katsu was an unexpected flavor, I don’t think I would order it again. Their poke is good, and I would definitely go back to try something new.

There’s also a small kids play area in the front patio!
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Melissa Keller
Their food is amazing. It was recommended by a friend that when I visited Santa Cruz, I must go to Pono. I’m so glad I did. The seafood was so fresh and fried perfectly. The ribbs were juicy and tender. It’s a walk-up and order ahead sort of place. It has both indoor and outdoor seating. The beer selection is great as well. This place is a gem and a must visit.
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Jessica Karl Rice
Had a great lunch at Pono and loved the poke bowl. The vibe was great and the fish was fresh. Will definitely come back again.
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Asher Crane
This is some of the best food I’ve ever had. The plate I got had a sample of the kalua pork & a serving of the Mac, plus a poké bowl (I chose the ginger chili ahi bowl). Every bite was mouth watering.
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Einna
If you’re down in Santa Cruz and want some Hawaiian food, this place is great! You order from the front, and take a seat indoors or outdoors. They will deliver the food to you. Outdoor patio was beautiful.
I got the combo mix that comes with rice and shredded pork, sided with kimchi and macaroni salad. Along with that comes your choice of poke. I got the traditional poke with ahi tuna. The fish was really fresh and clean. The shredded pork was seasoned well. To me the star of the show was their pickled kimchi! It was sour than the traditional kimchi but helped balanced the dish really well.
If you’re in for a quick stop, one plate tray seemed to be fine for two people. Would love to visit again and try their other dishes!
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Tim Montes (Timothy Montes De Oca)
Very impressed with my visit today! The decor and layout was inviting and very aesthetically pleasing. I ordered the Loco Moco as well as Teriyaki Chicken. The beef patties were full of flavor and the gravy really took it to another level. I loved the smoky taste of the teriyaki chicken as well! It was extremely tender. I genuinely expect to visit this place more in the future!
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Paris Masiel
Awesome vibe, and the best Hawaiian pork I’ve ever had! Went there on a Friday night, and there was a three piece Hawaiian band playing covers of country songs. Great experience
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