Was in town for a wedding and decided to give this place a try. If I could give more stars I would. Delicious! I've never had a Spam tempura and now that's all I want from now on! The bar area was cute and TV's playing sports games. We were seated quick, our food came just as quick and left with full happy bellies. Will comeback when craving a Spam Musubi and in the area! read more

Hapa J's - Spam Tempura - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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). read more

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Hapa Js was found by us a whike back. We were traveling from OC to SD & were starving. Looked up restaurants & landed on Hapa Js. Its been at least 2 yeara now that we have revisited Hapa Js during the trek. We have tried different dishes (except my daughter who loves their coconut shrimp) and we are never disappointed with the taste, quality and definitely not quantity. Yesterday, I had the mango lemonade & it was SO good. I usually get the ahi salad which is more than enough but this time I got the shrimp po boy. We got a tuna melt & my son ordered the biggest burger there is. He finished the burger, but couldn't finish the fries (this kid just came off tournaments playing lacrosse all weekend in OC, he was HUNGRY). Quantity. It's there. Haha. We will continue to come over & over again. We look forward to it everytime we travel the beautiful stretch of the I5. read more

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! read more

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WOW! We finally have an authentic Hawaiian spot that tastes amazing! There is a reason the prices are high, the portions are generous. We'll be back! read more

Hapa J's - North Shore Shrimp was honestly better than North Shore's - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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. read more

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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! read more

Hapa J's - Hapa Nachos - Big enough to feed the fam! - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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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! read more

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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. read more

Hapa J's - Da Luau Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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! read more

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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. read more

Hapa J's - Da Biggest Mixed Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The food here was pretty average overall, but the portions were definitely generous. Nothing we ordered was bad, but nothing really stood out either. It's the kind of place where you'll leave full, but probably not overly impressed by the flavor. Service was fine and the value is decent if you're looking for a lot of food for the price. I'd say it's a solid option if you care more about portion size than having a standout meal. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

Hapa J's - Combination platter - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

A fun place that serves large portions at reasonable prices. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. I asked for a low-salt garlic chopped steak and it was served perfectly. This flavorful dish was made of chopped flank steak and came with three sides. I chose papaya, stir fry vegetables and green salad, thus making it a more healthy meal. The tasty Happa Nachos menu item was huge and included a substantial amount of cheese and pork. Unless you have a big appetite, are very hungry or plan to bring much of it home in a "to-go" box, plan to share it. I liked that a variety of beers were offered at prices even more reasonable during their happy hours. read more

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Stopped by to place a to go order after seeing pictures of the food on Yelp. On a Saturday afternoon, it wasn't busy at all but still took awhile to be acknowledged. I kind of knew what I wanted already and ordered the Yokozuna burger, Spam Tempura, and Maui onion soup. I also had a happy hour Mai tai while I waited. The food itself was delicious, with the spam tempura being my favorite. The burger was massive, and a little hard to eat but good. The onion soup would have been better enjoyed at the restaurant. The portion of fried you get is a lot.. but with a 29.99 price tag for the entree, it should be. Fun Fact: there's a nice outdoor patio at the front entrance. read more

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In Feb, on our way back home from SD to LA we needed to find a place to eat to hold us over on the commute home. Found this option in my search. Yummmm We came right around 11am, place was not busy yet but quite spacious. There was a big party that joined after on the side by the bathroom. We ordered a plate and Hapa fries which was honestly enough food for 5-7 people in one sitting. We had so much left over it lasted a other 2 meals for us. And it was tasty, very good flavor on the meats, the fries were crispy and they were loaded. Family friendly. Parking on street or in lot next door. read more

Hapa J's - Da Biggest Mixed Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The man fries are no joke! An absolutely loaded plate of fries, cheese, pulled pork, and bbq sauce. Before I get too deep into the man fries the space is really solid. It's a super clean sport bar vibe with nice decor, a clean interior, and friendly service. And, the prices are insanely fair, I was not prepared to receive that much food when my man fries were delivered. The fries are crispy but do start to get a little soggy. The pork is good, smoky and flavorful. Plus the sauce is perfectly sweet, but not overpowering. When you throw this combo together you find your senses in harmony and your belly satisfied! A messy, delectable eating experience that is meant to be shared in community! I should have never tried this feat alone, lol read more

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

Such a good Hawaiian spot and also great place to grab some drinks, the plates are HUGE my favorite is the Hapa Nachos or man fries you can't go wrong with either of these, the service is great and the seating area is such a cool tropical vibe. Highly recommend to try this place read more

Food: 8/10 Service: 7/10 Ambiance: 7/10 Food was really good. Exceeded my expectations. We got the katsu plate and poke tacos, and both were stellar. I don't live in San Clemente, but if I did, I'd be coming here pretty often! No wonder this place has such good reviews read more

Hapa J's - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Food is great Quick wait Nice service Good music and surf videos Kids menu worked for the kids read more

Met a couple of friends for lunch, and this place did not disappoint. The food was on point, and the brew selection was good. I tried the sliders, and the Kalua pig was not dry which was a win for me. If I was in San Clemente, I'd go back to this place. read more

It has been years since I have been to this spot but I am happy that the quality have food hasn't changed. We got the Man Fries and mini loco plate. The gravy was so good in the loco moco and the fries are savory and filling. Best split amongst a group of 4+ people for sure. Service was great and I look forward to coming back here again read more

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Been a while since I was here last. New owners but the food is still kore or less the same. Pretty good food and reasonable prices as well. Also an extensive bar with great drink options. I got the biggest mixed plate, you can definitely feed an army with it. Nice variety of local favorites. The asian style chicken wings were my favorite, crispy and flavorful. Will definitely be back if im in the area again. Great and friendly service as well. read more

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First time here! I loved my food very much because it was extremely delicious, there was good service, nice ambiance, and great upbeat summertime music, too. read more

Hapa J's - Hapa J's. - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We have been coming here for years and the food is always consistently fresh and tasty! We love the hapa kailua pork nachos and the teriyaki beef plate!! We have had a party catered and the food was just as good. The portions are great and the vibe is laid back. Much Aloha read more

We found this place randomly, and I'm glad that we did. Parking on the street was easy, but there's also a lot across the small street. We ordered the man fries and the mix plate and chose the Portuguese fried rice and mac salad as the sides. The man fries plate was HUGE. I'm pretty sure it weighed 5+ pounds. It was loaded with a bunch of fries, cheese, and kalua pork. It was my boyfriend and I, and we barely made a dent. A great bang for your buck. The service was amazing, everyone had great energy! Thank you for the meal. read more

Hapa J's - Man Fries - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This was a cool Hawaiian/local restaurant to check out. I went at 2p and could sit anywhere. It was really slow, no wait time. The server was great, helpful and checked in on us often to clear dirty plates and refill waters. The portion sizes were big. Very reminiscent of Hawaiian food. They do a good job by being the local dishes of Hawaii to California. read more

I took my BF to this restaurant for his birthday and he LOVED it! We are both big on portion sizes and that burger was MASSIVE and flavorful! Also a huge fan of fries and those fries were extra crispy! Highly recommend read more

Hapa J's - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Was looking for something quick and simple to eat before walking the pier. We don't frequent this area at all but probably will more in the future. The place and experience was alright. You can see from the check we didn't order much, just wanted to go to a beach area we don't frequent. The onion soup was alright can't complain. The chili fries were heavy which is good and filling. They forgot to put the eggs on top which was weird. Considering that's a main part of it. So they took it back and put it on there. All together the food was good and I guess good for the price. Just glad the fries were filling and the chili was good, does say it has a kick but it's slight. The service was meh. Took a while to get our order, they were somewhat busy, but the place looked big but wasn't filled because it wasn't crazy busy. I guess busy enough for the amount of people there for them to take a while to take our order?? Not sure, but our waitress only took our order, checked on us briefly and the bill.. So yeah the service was meh. There were some tvs in there and the ambience was laid back . We got in and got out. The fries were good and filling but more likely won't go back and just check out some other place next time I'm in the area. read more

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We came here without a reservation on a Sunday night when we were staying in San Clemente in July. Hapa J's is a casual restaurant serving Hawaiian cuisine in San Clemente, a little away from the beach. There is street parking available near the restaurant and some outdoor dining available. Hapa J's is a very casual restaurant. The ambiance resembles a sports bar. My husband and I were seated at an indoor table next to one of the windows when we came in. Service was prompt and friendly. We decided to share the hapa fries as an appetizer. For mains, my husband got the local boy plate, while I had the shrimp truck special. Everything was pretty mediocre. Like traditional Hawaiian food, the food was not particularly healthy. I can't say I felt good after eating here. read more

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What a heavenly Hawaiian haven! This restaurant idea was created in the parking lot of a Waikiki hotel. Bringing real Hawaiian roots to South County OC. The menu makes it tough to choose. Everything sounds so good! There is a separate dessert menu, so make sure to save room for that. There are two items that aren't listed but are made in-house. The Hawaiian Bread Pudding, which is made with Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, and the Macadamia Nut Cheesecake. Both sound amazing! Can't wait to try everything! read more

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Food was good and very filling. Huge portions. Loved the mac salad and the chicken katsu. Galbi was a little too sweet and the shoyu chicken was slightly overcooked, but overall still tasty. Service was quick and friendly. Ambiance is casual with plenty of seating. read more

Hapa J's - Mixed Plate - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Food was so delicious and in such huge portions! Everything was really tasty and we had leftovers. Service was super attentive. We came on a Saturday night (veterans day) and was surprised to see the place be really empty and quiet. Our server was great and recommended great drinks and food. Parking was super easy in a lot across the street. Overall a great community spot to chill and get your grub on! read more

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The laid back vibe of this place is perfect for San Clemente. Location right across the street from Stewart Surfboards is perfect. The staff was super friendly and attentive. My husband and I were able to share our meal because the portions are so big. I think we may have found a new favorite place in San Clemente read more

We've been coming here for years with friends, and is well worth the drive from north county for us. They were busy on a Saturday - a great sign, and service was hustling. The apps are on the small side, so order a few for the table, but the entree portions are big, and delicious! It's hard to order the same thing back to back with so many options. I will ALWAYS get the Mac salad! Fun drink options from the bar as well! read more

Hapa J's - Crispy Coconut Shrimp - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The Man Fries were delicious! We ordered one to go for lunch and the massive portion was so big it could feed our family for the rest of the day! The amount of meat in this order was impressive and the staff were very friendly when we picked up our to go order. The Mango lemonade we got was also very tasty, with a refreshing tartness. We will be sure to swing by again next time we're in the area. read more

I used to work in San Clemente and this was one of my favorite spots. Was so excited to eat here for dinner tonight ... food and the service were terrible. What's happened?! So bad. Won't be seeing us again read more