Reviews for Pono Hawaiian Kitchen and Tap (Capitola) in Santa Cruz, CA

Food was so good and we were so hungry that we forgot to take pictures. Pono seafood combo was great.

Some of the best Hawaiian food I've had outside of Hawaii. Arrived around 4:45 (parking in the back), got a beer and sat down... outside whilst I figured out what I wanted to eat. Finished the "Socks and Sandals" beer and went back to order food. In thatshort time, a line had amassed out the door and around the back towards the parking lot. Took about 12 to 15 minutes to get tothe ordering station (10 feet directly from the main entrance). In hindsight, I would happily wait twice that long in line justto order. Everything was so fantastic I forgot to take pictures of most the items. I ordered a Chicken Katsu, Braddah Timmy'sAhi Bowl with extra Ahi, wings, and Kal-Bi Short ribs. The environment and service were both as equally phenomenal as the food.I ended up going back a few days afterwards to pickup another order of the Kal-Bi short ribs and the "Mama Kathy's Terichicken". Not one thing I saw, smelled, or tasted fell short. Can't recommend this place enough. Must visit ???????? Read more

Super friendly staff, went there for the first time and all their food SMELLED awesome. Ended up getting some Loco Moco and it... was very tasty. Will definitely be going back here in the near future! Read more

So-so, definitely not worth the $100 bill for 5 people. It?s not so much a restaurant, more of an upscale fast food. No wait... service and you have to clean off your own table. Asked the cashier if the burgers come with anything and she told me ?lettuce,tomato and onion?, so I ordered sides of fries, only to realize when the food came that the burgers come with fries. Ordered aglass of wine and never got it. Asked the person who brought our food out about it and was told ?It?s probably at the bar.?. Hadto go in and ask for my wine. Bartender looked at me suspiciously and asked the cashier if she charged me for the wine, whichshe did. Teriyaki chicken bowl was 80% chicken and hardly any vegetables or sauce, lacked flavor. Read more

Can I start with Onolicious ????! Almost everything we had was delicious and just took it to the next level. Literally felt... like I had to just savor each bite. 1. Pono pupu platter: Kalua pork sliders, coconut shrimp, and spam musubi. The flavorsof the kalua pork with the island slaw and pineapple bbq sauce was scrumptious. I'm not a fan of coconut shrimp but this wasdelicious. They do not skimp on the spam in the spam musubi. It's a nice thick slice. 2. Pork Lau Lau plate - So juicy andmouth watering. We were so full but couldn't stop eating it. 3. Pono BBQ combo- I substituted chicken teriyaki for kaluapork. Couldn't finish it but had it for lunch again the next day and it tasted just as good. 4. Keiki- chicken strips (katsu)with fries. I couldn't go without trying the katsu but it was just ok and not a fan of the katsu sauce. They have so many homemade goods like macadamia brownies and ginger snap cookies, or chocolate peanut butter cookies. All so delicious. Couldn'tleave without buying mango jam and hot sauces Read more

What a hidden gem. Delicious food and plenty of open seating in the back next to the parking lot. It took a bit to get our food... but it was definitely worth the wait. The poke salad is amazing as it has all my favorites - seaweed salad, edamame, ahi poke,avocado, mixed greens and miso dressing. Read more

Just stopped by to check out the place and now this will be a normal place I will be eating when I'm in town. Everything was... delicious! The sauce, that's all I need to say. Definitely check it out if you have time!!! Read more

Delicious food and lively atmosphere in the back patio. Food arrived to the table quickly and everything we ordered was... delicious. Poke bowl was full of fresh fish. The live music from inside was a great addition. Will definitely return here to tryother options from the menu. Read more