Me and my family came here for Mother's Day! We loved the food here! Service was great and the food came out faster than we thought! The crispy coconut shrimp was delicious! And we also got the banana crepes with cream was 100000/10!! Oh and the shaved ice was BOMB! Everyone was so nice here we'll definitely be coming back! read more

Still getting the Korean Chicken. Portions aren't as big now. But still plenty of food. Maybe it was just today, but the chicken was dry today. Maybe overcooked? I think it needs a side of sauce. Or maybe dipped again in the sauce after its been cut. Asked for it to go. Completely forgot to ask for it, but wish they would give you silverware when ask for it to go. read more

The moment you walk, you are greeted right away by pleasant employees. I used to go to their Tierrasanta location before moving out of San Diego. I was in the area and my god-daughter was craving musibi. They have delicious, authentic Hawaiian food. I ordered the Korean chicken with kalbi ribs. The chicken was tender and flavorful. The kalbi was so good. The musubi was definitely on point. I would definitely check this place out if you are in the area for some yummy Hawaiian food. read more

Island Style Cafe - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Can't believe it's been so long since I've been back. This place is still incredible. Delicious ribs, chicken, garlic shrimp, musubi and incredible, friendly service. The only thing I'd pass on is their mac salad as it's a bit bland. Once again my family overwhelmed the restaurant and they were able to accommodate all 9 of us. Just like last time, well known regulars and to go orders flew out the door. read more

See all

First time eating here and we were seriously impressed. The customer service was amazing--the young man helping us took his time and gave great recommendations. We went with the Korean fried chicken (pictured), served with rice and a salad. He also suggested the mango dressing, and it was a great call--so good. We came in hungry and left extremely full. The portions are generous, and being from the islands, we definitely appreciated the portion of rice. We'll absolutely be back! read more

Island Style Cafe - Korean Chicken, Kalbi w/ katsu plate - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Stumbled on this place by accident. Turned out to be a happy accident! The service was very good everyone was pleasant to talk to and very helpful. The food was good. I was craving loco moco for a while and this place hit the spot and more! They have a nice fat beef patty on rice and the gravy on top was tasty! I'll have to come here again to try what else they have on the menu, but this is definitely the place to go if you're Looking for loco moco! read more

Island Style Cafe - Loco moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

This is a nice clean place.  They have indoor and outdoor seating.  I loved the pineapple light decorations.  The vibe when you enter is inviting and chill.  Rachel, who took my order, was super nice and helpful.     After placing my order,  I couldn't help but look at the pictures and the little sayings decor they had.   The restroom was super clean.     I ordered: 1.  Coconut shrimp:  Crunchy,  delicious, and not too sweet from the coconut.  Sweet chili sauce perfect dipping sauce. 2.  Kalua gau gee:  It's so cute they look like mini empanadas.  The first bite was crunchy,  meaty, and flavorful.  Tried the dipping sauce with it.   It was a match made in heaven.  I couldn't pinpoint what the dipping sauce was, but it was so familiar and comforting. 3.  Loco moco w/ over medium egg:  This was a meaty hamburger patty and well seasoned.  Plating was pretty.  4.  Char siu spam scramble:  This easily reminded me of the egg and beef with oyster sauce that I order sometimes at Chinese restaurants 5.  Lilikoi (arnold palmer) :  I had asked the lady who helped me to make lilikoi tea with regular lemonade.  This was amazing and not overly sweet.     This was a nice find.   It's not the traditional Hawaiian food I'm used to, but it had a nice elevated twist.  I want to say it has a fusion twist, but my husband disagrees.   I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks. read more

See all

Excellent! The food was great, the inside was nice and clean, and the service was also really good. We've been here 1 time before and we plan to come back again. Pros: * Delicious food; we recommend the musubi * Clean dining area * Friendly service Cons: * N/A Extra: * Plenty of parking * It seems that they do a lot of to go orders and they were staying in top of it * They serve Coke products (Coke Zero specifically) read more

See all

PARKING: Huge, shared parking lot. SERVICE (5/5): They have a decently-sized dining area, but so far I've only gotten takeout here. They have always been friendly and prompt! FOOD (4/5): Portions here are plenty, especially when it comes to meat! Taste-wise, most of the items I've had so far have been pretty good. Below are my recommendations: 1) Island Style Plate Lunch: Comes with your choice of protein and two sides. Personally, I like to get one of the kalbi mixes with a side of green salad (w/ creamy papaya dressing) and herby potatoes! 2) Spam Musubi: Tastes pretty standard -- it's one of those foods that is hard to mess up. For those who aren't familiar, it's a hand-sized wrap that consists of a slice of spam and a slab of sushi rice -- all wrapped in seaweed. It's a classic Hawaii staple that makes for a good, quick snack. Kid-friendly too! 3) Saimin: A very popular dish in Hawaii that is difficult to find here in the mainland. It's a noodle soup that consists of dashi broth, wheat-based egg noodles, kamaboko (Japanese-style fish cake), char siu (Cantonese-style BBQ pork), spam, and egg omelette shreds. Not the best I've had, but it definitely satisfies the nostalgia. 4) Lilikoi (Passionfruit) Iced Tea: This one is an ABSOLUTE MUST. So refreshing and it tastes like it came from the fruit!! 5) Kalua Pig Gau Gee: Fried dumplings filled w/ smoky, succulent shredded pork. Great with the house-made dipping sauce! 6) Fried Saimin: Love this dish! It's similar to chow mein, but it's still its own thing. The noodles are stir-fried in julienned carrots, kamaboko (Japanese-style fish cake), spam, and char siu (Cantonese-style BBQ pork). The flavors are sweet-savory and the dish overall isn't too greasy. To level it up, I recommend adding two fried eggs on top. OVERALL: Whenever I'm missing Hawaii a little extra, this is one of the few places in town I like to hit up. It's no-frills comfort food made with aloha :) read more

Their food is so incredibly tasty! I first tasted their Hawaiian delights at a work event and saved the name because it was so good. Glad I did, because we catered a party at our house and ordered trays of all the goodies. It did not disappoint, everyone loved it!! I'll definitely be back. Cute little restaurant, too! read more

I saw Mr Magnificent review this restaurant so I had to try it! It's a small location here in Santee, but had awesome food. We had the Korean fried chicken & the teriyaki beef plates. Including the Hawaiian style macaroni salad, one with the pork fried rice & red potatoes. Everything we had was terrific. The staff working were very nice and personable. Restaurant was clean. I would definitely go back. read more

Island Style Cafe - Korean fried chicken, macaroni salad & red potatoes - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

See all

I was craving some Hawaiian food and found myself traveling to Santee to this family owned and operated eatery! And I'm glad I did! The ginormous loko moko wen broke da mouf. So much food on one plate I had enough for lunch the next day. Service was fast, aloha friendly, and efficient. And of course get the jammin tunes putting me in my happy place! Thanks for the food and the food. LOL read more

I'm not in Santee often and was very happy to find Island Style Cafe. It's located in a strip mall with lots of parking. The restaurant is on the simpler side with touches of island decor, where you order food at the front register before sitting down. All of the staff were friendly and thought they had a pretty good selection on their menu. One of the items we tried was the curry loco which I have never had, only with regular gravy and was very tasty! The other item ordered was the kalua pork plate that came with a heaping portion of meat and my favorite Mac salad. I was hoping for a little more cabbage but hey, you come for the meat, right. I thought it was rather interesting that they use paper plates, and my only comment is that it made it hard to pack my leftovers to go. Nonetheless everything was good and if I'm in the area again, will definitely stop by. read more

Island Style Cafe - Curry loco - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

See all

Quick service with generous portions! We had the mixed plate with Korean chicken and Teri beef, plus a banana nut crepe (Mauna Kea). There was plenty of seating when we came in for lunch, looking forward to coming back for some more island food! read more

See all

This is our favorite spot for Hawaiian food in SD. In fact, we even had their food catered recently for my boyfriend's birthday! We typically order a plate with either the Korean Chicken, Galbi, or Kalua Pork. If you get the green salad, their mango dressing is a must-try - I'd buy a whole bottle if they sold it. 10/10 will always keep coming back to support this small family business! read more

We had Char Siu Spam Scramble Kalbi Plate Garlic Shrimp Plate Hamburger Steak It was my first time ordering and getting take out food here. I was asking about the plates regarding what combinations can be had. The lady at the counter kept talking over me and I informed her that I cannot hear or understand what she's saying if she keeps speaking while I am asking a question. She then walked away abruptly to help other customers in the restaurant. Out of frustration and lack of clear answers, I ended up with four different meals when I was only intending to get two. The taste is just okay. It's not reminiscent of Oahu or Kauai. read more

See all

Used to love this place. Would even drive from mission valley to get it. Their upcharge price of 1.95 for a different side is 2.25 because its "premium." That is what the 1.95 is so they just want to nickle and dime it. I can accep the posted price but if you cant explain it for the exta . 30 or its not posted your business model is severely lacking. 1/2 a potato isnt worth an extra 2.25 sorry! And it was undercooked... Pork and rice is good but I am going to look elsewhere because I can get just as tasty food closer to home. They do a "military discount" of 5% but then ask for an 18%+ tip. Customer service was severely lacking. Couldn't understand our person taking our order and they wanted a tip when NO SERVICE WAS PROVIDED! read more

See all

Island Style Cafe has been my favorite Hawaiian spot for years. I first discovered them when they opened in Tierrasanta, and I still happily drive to their current location because they're that good. The Char Siu Spam Scramble is pure comfort - salty, sweet, and ridiculously satisfying - and the Korean Chicken never disappoints. Everything tastes homemade, portions are generous, and service is always friendly and consistent. Consistently delicious, warm, and worth the drive every single time. read more

I wish I would of found this delicious restaurant a lot sooner because I am obsessed . The Korean chicken is perfection. It's very flavorful and you get a great portion . I really enjoyed the pork fried rice, it's delicious and so is the macaroni salad. As soon as you walk to the restaurant you smell the most delicious smelling aromas . It brings a smile to my face . I was also impressed with the service. They are very friendly and welcoming . I highly recommend eating here. read more

Island Style Cafe - Korean chicken, pork, fried rice and macaroni salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

The food is amazing! Our plates came out quickly and I was surprised by the large portions. Overall, it is a cozy and family friendly spot to enjoy some delicious food. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

See all

I thought I reviewed this place but I guess I forgot. It's good! A little pricey for what you're getting I think, but good. I liked the bbq chicken and of course the musubi was yummy. Service was good, and the people working there were nice. I like the relaxed atmosphere, almost made me feel like I'm in Hawaii :) read more

Santee comes here for island food. Came on a Saturday evening and it got packed. The loco moco mini and spam masubi were on point. I did wish the egg was slightly bigger but I realized I ordered the mini. So next time I will go with an extra egg or just go bigger on the order. Everything comes on paper plates if you eat at the restaurant. Total tab for two meals and an appetizer and with tip ran $50. I did enjoy the meal. read more

Island Style Cafe - Spam masubi - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

See all

Meal was good. I'd recommend this place if you are in the area and want some food from Hawaii. read more

Island Style Cafe - Chicken Katsu and Teriyaki Steak w/white rice and Mac salad (fyi - has little potatoes and tuna in the Mac salad mix ). - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

So just a week before, we had returned from Waikiki, missing the Aloha Spirit and delicious food we ate there all week. We Yelped "Hawaiian restaurants" and lo and behold, Island Style Cafe appeared. I still remember their old location at Tierrasanta and used to get their Spicky Korean Chicken and Loco Moco there. I was hoping this new location would measure up and it exceeded my expections. The gal that assisted us was super sweet and had our food out in record time. Portions are HUGE and the co-habby and I could've easily shared one plate. But of course, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, per usual. We left there stuffed but still wanting something sweet after. Butter Mochi fit the bill and was the perfect finish to an awesome lunch. Lots of flavor and plenty of food for lunch the next day. So happy that they are back in business as I truly missed their cafe. Can't wait to return to fill our bellies again! read more

Island Style Cafe - Spicy Korean Chicken with Fried Rice - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Updating my review, I think it was at their old location when I reviewed this place. I have been going here consistently, I have to say that I quite enjoy everything. Every now and then Kalbi is a bit dry but it happens so we just keep coming back of course. I usually call ahead of time and have no problem getting the food hot and ready for me. We have never sat and ate there so no comment on that but overall it's nice to have quick delicious Hawaiian food . read more

Food was great! The portions were on point. Service was good. Definitely had the island vibes. Ate the Kanak Attack Loco Moco, it was ono! Would I go back? Yes! read more

Island Style Cafe - Kanak Attack Loco Moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Food was really good. If we are in the area again, we will most definitely come back! We had some seafood & burgers & a stir fry....all really good! read more

So I just got back from home and feeling really homesick for Hawaiian food. Island Style is so worth the long drive! Since I can't get up here as easily as their old location, I'll come up when I really need homestyle comfort food. I ordered the locomoco, BBQ chicken with fried rice, chicken katsu, and kalua pig. All with mac salad. We had a buffet that covered three days of meals. The kalua was sooooo ono over white rice!!! The locomoco was large enough for three people! Oh, and pork gau gee!!! Everything was delicious! Island Style is one of the best places for Hawaiian food and made with Aloha! Mahalo! read more

See all

Had a taste for some good Hawaiian food, and I hadn't been to ISC for a few years, so I decided to give it a try while in the area. Food was still pretty good, but I wouldn't say exceptional. The Kalbi grilled mix had a lot of fat on the ribs, and the portions were kind smaller than I remember. It's a nice and clean restaurant and service was good, just don't forget to ask for utensils and/or soy or teriyaki sauce. I arrived home with none in the bag. read more

THEE best Hawaiian food I've had! tastes like homecooked bbq you have a family party. the mac salad is super fire and I love that they add potato/tuna in it for extra texture and taste. I recommend getting a 2 entree plate lunch- teri beef, bbq chicken, and korean chicken are super yum! the workers are super kind and attentive as well which is a bonus on top of the amazing food read more

Island Style Cafe - bbq chicken and teriyaki beef, mac salad - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

This was my first time trying Hawaiian food, and I loved it! I ordered a combo plate which had fried rice, Korean fried chicken, and Island BBQ chicken. Highly recommend this, I honestly didn't know what my favorite part of the plate was, it was all soooo flavorful and the chicken was so juicy. My husband ordered the moco loco - also incredibly flavorful and delicious. We ordered the passion fruit iced tea, which was refreshing and not overly sweet. Both plates were large portions, and we appreciated that. The orders come on paper plates, which threw me off at first but I quickly enjoyed since it made it feel less like a restaurant and more like cooking at home. The ambiance is casual and with a mix of tables and booths. It's conveniently located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. read more

Island Style Cafe - Combo plate Korean fried chicken and Island BBQ chicken. In the back is moco loco - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Clean place and friendly enough staff. I had really high hopes for this place and while the food is decent, it's not mind blowing either. The katsu and Korean chicken were soggy and not at all crispy; the Mac salad needed a little more salt and pepper. Didn't remind me of home enough to return but it's good for the area since Santee doesn't have much. read more

Island Style Cafe - Chicken katsu, teri beef, Korean chicken, bbq chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

We came here in between my kids soccer games and let me tell you... this place is bomb. The people are so super nice. The food is excellent. We had the katsu chicken and Korean chicken and loco moco. All of it was so so good. I've been thinking about that chicken ever since and even though it's not close I would make the trip out to eat there again! read more

I gave this small but flavorful place 5 stars because of the following reasons below. Service: 5/5 Friendly, attentive and welcoming. Food: 5/5 If you looking to get an island style BBQ meal this place hits the spot. They have friend coconut shrimp, teriyaki chicken, beef, pork dishes with comes with fried or steamed rice. Quality: 5/5 This place hits the mark for tasty dishes and their portions are filling. I've been to many Pacific islander, Filipino, Hawaii style themed, corporate, back-yard/homemade parties and this place hits the mark! Repeat business: 5/5 I've been coming here since they opened and they have not lost a beat on delivering tasty and quality food from the salad to their main entries. It's a laid back restaurant with surfing videos on the TV to add a positive distraction while you wait for your delicious meal to be delivered to your seat by the helpful staff. Price point: 5/5 Affordable and you get good sized portions to fill your belly and satisfy your taste buds. They serve the standard drinks to wash down your tasty meal. They have some tables in the middle to accommodate a group outing but get here before the lunch or dinner rush it can get crowded occasionally. On busy days, I recommend you call your order in for pickup, or take your patient pill, it's worth the wait. I highly recommend this place, from the outside it may not look much but they make up for it in taste and quality. Enjoy, Mahalo! read more

See all

This food is delicious! Staff is very friendly, ambiance is great. I love the island music being played. Definitely will be back :) read more

See all

We tried this restaurant last weekend and I have to say we really enjoyed it! The atmosphere was nice and the service was good. The food was amazing. The coconut shrimp was amazing and we also had the teriyaki chicken really good. The portions are good. read more

Looks good right?!? It was pretty mid i was craving loco moco and thought this would be better than L&L . Ive had the teri chicken plate before it was good. The patty of the loco tasted like a frozen burger patty. Craving not satisfied. read more

Island Style Cafe - Regular Loco Moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Island style is a family owned restaurant that puts their money into the quality of their food and doesn't try to sell you on fancy decorations or Trying to keep up with the Jones's. It has that welcoming feeling as soon as you walk in. It's a good place for families and medium size parties, but not dog friendly. However, you can always call ahead and pick it up and enjoy it with your pup somewhere else. If you're new to the Hawaiian and polynesian food scene, ask the server for the top choices but I always always ALWAYS recommend getting the Mac Salad. Fair warning that this does contain Manny's and tuna unlike some of the more commercialized Hawaiian restaurants in San Diego... this one is the best! Whether you're feeling like a noodle bowl chicken beef or Spam, this place has it all for you and I guarantee you'll leave feeling full, happy, and a ready to be a loyal customer. Just a heads up that they are closed on Mondays which always coincides with the day I want Mac salad the most! read more

See all

Almost didn't come to this gem because of a recent Yelp review. Glad I did. I like to hit up the family owned spots when I can and this was worth it. Prices were reasonable for what you got and the food was good. Customer service was good and food came out in a reasonable time. Small place but plenty of seating (booths & tables). My only suggestion would to have the background music lowered just a bit. read more

Island Style Cafe - Mixed plate teriyaki beef & chicken katsu w/ mac salad and rice. Side over of coconut shrimp. - Hawaiian Near Me - Santee, California

Eaten here a few times lately, most recently last night. My wife got the Kona Pork plate with rice and pasta and I got the BBQ chicken with same sides. Both dishes are delicious and plentiful (my wife even brought home leftovers). The service is always top notch and the ambience very Hawaiian. Definitely recommend! read more