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    Hapa J's

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Order Hapa J's Takeout or Delivery

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    HAPA J'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Hapa J's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spam Tempura
    Emmanuel T.

    We stayed close to this Hawaiian restaurant which was conveniently within walking distance. It's nice clean restaurant the ambiance was nice but I think it needed a little more of the Hawaiian feel in the decor but the music kept the vibe going. We ordered the luau plate was more than enough food for both my wife and I to share!. The food was great we weren't fans of whatever white sauce they brought but the BBQ sauce went well with the pulled pork!. We also ordered the spam tempura which was pretty good & to drink a new school Mai Tai that was delicious!. The coconut dessert on the luau plate was just the right thing to finish things off!. The service was great & super friendly. I would definitely come back when in the area!.

    Teriyaki Beef bowl
    Jus E.

    The service was amazing and fast!!! Siana was friendly and nice! The food was delicious though the ambiance was okay the music was too loud. Overall food was delicious! We will be back and we highly recommend it!

    Chicken Katsu Plate double Mac salad & fries
    Maddison H.

    Went here for date night last week- it has a lot more seating inside than I had expected! Good service- 5/5 The ambience - 3.5/5 - the ambience wasn't my favorite, maybe it's a little better in their main restaurant area but we were seated to the left when you walk in and while there are a few booths in that area it was mostly outdoor chairs and tables and sort of odd lighting. Just very very casual and not totally comfortable. Food- 3.4/4 out of 5 - I got the Luau plate and LOVED the chicken!! Everyone else was right- that chicken thigh deserves its own plate. I also really enjoyed the coconut pudding/jello thing that came with it and the sausage link. The pulled pork was just okay, not very well seasoned but not bad. The side of "dressed greens" was just some lettuce without dressing on it, and I thought the macaroni salad was fine. The last thing that really disappointed me were the sautéed veggies :/ they were just soo oily and had no seasoning to them at all. I didn't eat any of them or the un-dressed 'salad'. My husband got the chicken katsu plate, he said the chicken katsu was fine but the fries on the side were cold and not crispy, they were kind of chalky in the mouth and didn't taste fresh. Some parts were definitely a 3/5 but my chicken thigh was so good and the portions are *huge* so I feel like they deserve a 4/5? All in all, I think I'd come back if I wanted to go out with someone but save some money and we'd split one of the plates (the portions really are huge).

    Shirley S.

    Good size portions, all your faves on one plate, fast and friendly service 7 of us arriving on a late Saturday evening and we all ordered the Da Biggest Mixed Plate (6 of us splitting 3 plates). So good and more than enough for all. The of the evening was the Ono Poke Nachos SO ONO So much more to come back and explore Added bonus is when they let us split the bill

    Laura S.

    Good food, service and atmosphere. For a tasty Hawaiian meal, Hapa J's hits the spot. It's located in San Clemente and keeps with the laid back, casual feel of the beach city.

    Mac n Cheese w Macadamia Nuts
    Rebecca W.

    The only thing I'd change about this place is it's location!! I wish they would come to LA!!!! Hapa J's is a GEM of a restaurant located in San Diego/Clemente area, specializing in Hawaiian food with enormous portions. Seriously, if you think you know big portions, this place will make you think again. We ordered: LOCO MOCO - Heavenly. Came with 3 side dishes, we opted for the mac salad, the pineapple fried rice, and greens! Seriously could serve like 3-4 people to share. The pineapple rice surprised me - I wasn't expecting such a sweet and satisfying texture! Highly recommend getting that as one of your sides! CHILI MOCO - Yes we doubled up on the moco. This came with 2 eggs on top. It was a little too spicy for my sensitive acid reflux prone tummy, but I enjoyed it! MAC n CHEESE - This came with Macadamia Nuts sprinkled on top! It was rich and heavenly, I had to eat this in multiple sittings because it was so rich! We also asked for a side of haupia for dessert, even though it wasn't on the menu. But nothing like some fragrant coconut putting to top of the meal. Our server was an absolute joy. She was very attentive and friendly to us throughout the evening, and made it all the more enjoyable!! I love that there are windows all around the main foyer area, so that you can feel the ocean breeze and it never gets too stuffy. The restaurant itself is actually deceptively large, as they have various seating areas deeper into the space. Parking is located across the street where Stewart's Surf shop is. There is signage for Hapa J's! If I ever find myself in this part of town again, I would LOVE to come back!

    Da Luau Plate
    Edward S.

    If you're passing thorough San Clemente, make sure to stop at Hapa J's for great Hawaiian cooking. Da Luau Plate: The plate is massive, possibly enough for two meals. Their kalua pig is really juicy, flavorful, and tender - the best item on the menu. The shoyu chicken is really tender, and it should have its own plate on the menu again. The Portuguese sausage is savory and well seasoned. For a little sweet treat, there's a square of coconut milk haupia pudding and pickled mango slices. You can add three sides. The correct answer is one scoop of rice and two scoops of mac salad. Parking: The restaurant has a large parking lot on the side street.

    Hapa Nachos - Big enough to feed the fam!
    Scott B.

    So much goodness from this spot! Great Happy Hour discounts. The service was attentive but not intrusive or invisible. The food was super fresh and flavorful! The atmosphere was nice, clean but pretty loud. Seems like a great family or event spot as well! We hadn't been in a few years and were very happy about the experience! We'll be back!

    Loco moco. Huge portions!
    David W.

    TL:DR - Huge portions for a good price. Super friendly After we spent a day at San Clemente beach we just wanted something quick and tasty. Hapa Just looked ono so we dropped by. There is parking across the street in Stewart's surf shop parking. We came on a Thursday evening at 730 and it was chill. Not too crowded. But that was perfect because our food came out super quick and the waitress was super friendly. We got the loco moco, chili moco fries, and mac nut mac n cheese! They were all incredibly delicious and the portions were huge!!! We could barely finish the loco moco and had to take the rest home in carry out boxes. Overall I would definitely come back for another round of food!

    Da Biggest Mixed Plate
    Joe M.

    Stopped by this Hawaiian spot on the way back from San Diego and enjoyed the island-style vibe and friendly service. We ordered the big mixed plate to sample a bit of everything, plus a cup of chili. The chicken katsu was the clear standout--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The teri-beef was good, but the rest of the plate fell short. The shoyu chicken was my least favorite, and the kalbi beef short ribs were sliced so thin they didn't add much. It doesn't taste like authentic Hawaiian flavors, but it's a decent spot if you're craving something different and want to try a variety of dishes.

    Loco Moco Bowl
    Chelsea H.

    Parking: there's a small parking lot across from Hapa J's (on W Avenida Cornelio). Otherwise there's street parking, but that can definitely be tough. Service: they were very attentive and kind. Quickly took our order and brought everything out. Ambiance: we enjoyed the island reggae music they were playing. Loved the chill vibes inside the restaurant, felt like we were really on the island. The restaurant was huge and had tons of indoor seating. There was also bar seating. Food: Ahi Poke Trio (8/10)- the first one was a crusted ahi, probably my least favorite. I really enjoyed the spicy mayo poke on chips, it was really good. I also liked the marinated tuna with the sesame oil! Delicious! Hapa Fries (8.5/10)- the French fries were delicious, so crispy! Fresh out of the fryer. The sauces were ketchup, honey mustard, garlic aioli, and thousand island. My faves were the garlic aioli and honey mustard. Mini Loco Bowl (with two sides: white rice and kimchi) (6/10)- not my favorite, the meat was a little too well done so the patty was a bit dry. Kalbi Plate (with three sides: white rice, Mac salad, and kimchi (on the spicier side)) (8/10)- the kalbi meat were super flavorful! Absolutely delicious. Definitely on the pricier side though.

    Outside
    Vince P.

    Hapa J's is serving some of the best and authentic Hawaiian food in all of South OC! To get here, there is a parking lot across the street from the restaurant with some spots or street parking around the area as well. Inside, they have a pretty spacious setup with a good amount of seating. Wifey and I stopped by for dinner around 6:30pm and were seated right away. For their menu, they have a variety of starters, soups, salads, sandwiches, plates, and bowls to choose from. We opted to get the Spicy Poke Plate and Da Big Mixed Plate along with a Fruit Punch and a Plantation Tea for our bevs. Everything we had was delicious and the portions were very generous! Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here. All of the staff are very friendly and accommodating. Pro tip: make sure you ask for togo box after because you will definitely have leftovers. There is a reason why this spot has over 1,000+ positive reviews!

    Combination platter
    David Z.

    We wanted to grab a nice homely dinner near San Juan Capistrano. Saw this spot and decided to try it out. We were seated promptly and service was very good. The inside is very large. There are tons of tables for dinner service. We ordered the combo, and there was probably enough food for two of me! Would definitely come back.

    Hapa J's, San Clemente

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    2 months ago

    Good food at a reasonable price. Extensive menu with choices for a wide variety of palates.

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    The Poke nachos were amazing! Love the wonton chips with it! Service was great. Good vibes and will be going back

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    Page 1 of 36

    Hapa J's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hapa J's

    Any outdoor dining set up?

    no outdoor dining

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes I have brought my dogs to sit on their outside patio. The seating is like sitting at a bar, though.

    View All 6 Questions

    Kawamata Seafood - Large, ahi tuna/salmon,  original blend and spicy mayo with spicy tuna and furikaki topping.

    Kawamata Seafood

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    4.2 mi
    •$$

    I had heard so many great things about Kawamata Seafood, so I was really excited to finally get the…read morechance to try it. We arrived around 12:30 pm on a Sunday and there was already a line of people waiting to order. Despite this, it only took us 10 minutes to receive our food, including the time waiting in line. The parking lot is extremely small, but there's plenty of street parking nearby, so we had no trouble finding a spot. Kawamata is a tiny operation where you order at the window and find a spot outside to eat. We ordered Salmon and Ahi bowls with various toppings, and I really liked how many options they give you. I enjoy poke both the simpler, more Hawaiian-style way and loaded with extra textures and flavors, and Kawamata gives you the option to do either. The poke itself was delicious, and the portions were very generous. I especially liked how all the toppings came together without taking away from the fish. Just keep in mind that the extras are individually priced, so your bowl can get a little expensive depending on how many you add. Overall, I really enjoyed Kawamata Seafood and can see why it gets so much love. The poke was fresh, filling, and flavorful, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I can come back.

    The best poke in town and probably the closest you'll get to Hawaii-style poke!…read more We love coming here and grabbing poke bowls to take to Pines Park to enjoy the beautiful ocean views and sunset. There's usually a line, but it moves quickly. You order and pay at the door, and they call your name when your order is ready. The staff are always so friendly and helpful. It's a little more expensive than some other poke spots, but we think it's worth it. You can really taste the freshness of the fish, and the flavors are delicious. You can build your own bowl or choose from one of their preset options. It's a cute little hole-in-the-wall spot with a few picnic tables if you want to eat there, but we love taking ours to the park. If you're craving fresh, Hawaiian-style poke in Dana Point, definitely give this place a try!

    Photos
    Kawamata Seafood
    Kawamata Seafood - Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Kawamata Seafood - Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

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    Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

    3.2(50 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    Not sure how people rate this place only 3 star. It is super clean, has very nice workers and the…read morefood it plentiful and delish. We got the katsu and bbq chicken mini plates. There is nothing mini about it!! So much food and so good. We Will be back!

    After visiting some L&L's while in Hawaii, I was excited they were opening in San Clemente…read more When I arrived, the place is all shiny and new, so very clean. Nice little dining area with various tables. I had to take a moment to read the menu before I decided. The counter clerk was very nice and patient as I figured out what I wanted. The experience with him was 4.5 stars, as the 2 stars shown is purely about the food. I ended up ordering a curry chicken katsu bowl with the curry on the side and then a side of the gravy so I could try both. I went and filled up my ridiculously expensive diet coke and found a seat. The cost was $4.50 for a large (?) diet coke. $4.50! Four dollar bills and two quarters! Don't believe me? Check out the receipt picture. That was half the cost of the food. For Diet Coke! OK, enough... The wait was not too long before my name was called. The bowl was pretty small, but they had other options that would certainly get you more food, but this size was good for me at this point. Key points: Chicken Katsu - very thin, so tasted mostly like crunchy batter Curry Sauce - one of my favorite sauces in the world, and this one had zero, none, zilch taste. I was thinking I had covid, since it just tasted like thick water. I tried some soy sauce to prove I could taste and my taster was working OK. Gravy - hard to believe, but this one may have had less taste, or equally no taste. Again, I thought of thick water. Ponzu Sauce or similar - had taste and ended up being my main source of flavor Steam Vegetables - poor guys, they were steamed to oblivion and the taste with them, softly melted in my mouth (and that's not a compliment) Rice - decent, rice cooker rice. I spruced it up with soy and sriracha My fantasy of having some OK Hawaiian food was dashed. Look, it's fast food Hawaiian and even in HI it does not compare to good, hometown spots with GREAT food but it's OK for a quick bite when touring around the Islands. This version did not compare to what I had experienced in Hawaii. I sometimes go back to check consistency and will do the same here. They are still relatively new, so some slack and another visit to check my review score is the right thing to do. Hand Loose. Try in the future. Wish Them Luck!

    Photos
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue - Egg roll- lumpia

    Egg roll- lumpia

    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
    L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

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    Shootz - The Shootz spread! Can't get any better than a Kimchi butter Katsu Chicken Plate, Chicken Sandwich, and Refresher!

    Shootz

    4.4(176 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    Got the shrimp and chicken katsu mixed plate. I loved the chicken more but my toddler killed all…read morethe shrimp! Can't wait to go back again. The indoor and outdoor seating options are nice and perfect for kids. We ordered at the kiosk, picked up our food, and ate outside on the tables.

    The strawberry lemonade and mint peach drinks contain dairy. When standing in front of the main…read morekiosk and menu, it does not indicate that these drinks contain dairy. This is a dangerous for people who have severe dairy allergies because milk is not a common ingredient in lemonade. I ordered this for my 4 year old who previously had an anaphylactic reaction to milk. I only realized that it contained milk when I approached the food stand from the other side of the kiosk and happened to see the allergen menu while waiting for the ube beignets that they forgot in my order. When I brought it up to the cashier, she was dismissive and stated that dairy is noted at the drink dispensers and that she does not know what kind of dairy is in it because it comes from the distributor/manufacturer. I told her that there are two ways to approach the kiosk, from the drink dispenser side (where it is barely notable because of the font color choice. Picture included) or from the side through the entrance coming from River Street Ranch. From this entrance, neither the allergen sign or the drink dispenser sign is visible. The lack of proper signage in the menu and the careless attitude of the cashier is so upsetting. I told them calmly so she can bring it up to the manager to change the menu wording but she didn't even seem to care.

    Photos
    Shootz - Some of the indoor seating directly across from Shootz.

    Some of the indoor seating directly across from Shootz.

    Shootz - Kimchi Butter Katsu Chicken Sandwich

    Kimchi Butter Katsu Chicken Sandwich

    Shootz - 4 Pc Spam Brulee Musubi

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    4 Pc Spam Brulee Musubi

    LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - usion of traditional noodle soup with rich smoked BBQ in our 12-Hour Smoked Short Rib Pho. Enjoy tender, smoky perfection served with blanch

    LUA Asian Fusion Eatery

    4.7(516 reviews)
    8.5 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Pure "platinum" chowder on display here…read more.. I was still recovering from an illness but my palate was returning so I wanted soup. SMOKED PHO: -- this may be my only way to have pho moving forward -- the beef broth is delectable -- the crimson red in the rib tender delicious rib meat is perfectly cooked accounting for more cooking in the warm broth -- light on smoke -- ample sprouts, greens and noodles -- not too salty -- utterly fantastic -- nice portion of meat -- nice large portion but not jumbo RATING = A+ GARLIC BUTTER NOODLES: -- one marinated egg -- very creamy -- light towards medium garlic I feel but I will judge again when my palate and sniffer our fully back -- ample arugala -- medium portion size RATING = A STAFF are kind and efficient.

    Came by on a Sunday afternoon. Not too busy so our party was sat down quickly. Menu had some good…read moreVietnamese classics and some unique twists on some. Ended up going with the crispy wings, garlic butter noodles, yellow curry, and smoked pho. Food came out in decent time and we enjoyed each dish. The smoked pho broth was some of the best I've had. Deep rich flavor mixed with the smoked rib made for a memorable bowl. Curry was well done and paired well with the baguette. Wings were juicy and crispy; noodles would be a pass for next time though. Wouldn't hesitate to come back for another round.

    Photos
    LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Bo Kho Sizzling Plate

    Bo Kho Sizzling Plate

    LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Garlic Butter Noodles: 
Okinawa soba noodles featuring garlic butter sauce, marinated egg, arugula, and Pecorino cheese.

    Garlic Butter Noodles: Okinawa soba noodles featuring garlic butter sauce, marinated egg, arugula, and Pecorino cheese.

    LUA Asian Fusion Eatery - Brisket Phở Dip: Brisket pho in a baguette: braised brisket, bean sprouts, picked onions, Thai basil, pickled red onion, hoisin, and Srirach

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    Brisket Phở Dip: Brisket pho in a baguette: braised brisket, bean sprouts, picked onions, Thai basil, pickled red onion, hoisin, and Srirach

    Hapa J's - hawaiian - Updated September 2026

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