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    Kalei's Kitchenette

    4.3 (276 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Kalei's Kitchenette Photos

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    KALEI'S KITCHENETTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Menu as of June 2026
    Maria H.

    Hidden and very tasty Hawaiian food restaurant in PQ. I never knew this place existed even though I live around the corner, but so glad I discovered it. The cashier was very nice and offered their weekly special. Service was great and my order came out promptly. They are closed on Mondays and Sundays and open till 7pm. Parking can be a bit hectic since the sports bar is right in front of it and plaza is very busy. I ordered the garlic chicken combo plate and that did not disappoint. Perfectly crispy and moist chicken in a sweet and tangy garlic sauce that is not overpowered by the garlic. The combo plate comes with 2 sides, I chose the furikaki rice and macaroni salad, the macaroni salad needed a bit more flavor, but it complemented well with the garlic sauce. Will be back to other dishes and the cucumber salad. They also have some desserts with appeared to be homemade.

    Kalei's plate with garlic and huli huli chicken
    Maynard O.

    My wife and I came here on a Friday morning right when they opened at 11. There was plenty of parking outside on this holiday weekend and we were the first ones in so there wasn't much of an ambience, but it was very nice and organized inside. The girl who greeted us was nice and customer service was about standard. We ordered the Kalei's 2-item plate with garlic and huli huli chicken, Mac salad and rice. The garlic chicken was the star of the show. Crunchy, juicy, and the flavor was there. Huli huli was okay, but was a bit dry for being a chicken thigh and drenched with barbecue sauce so we couldn't taste the char/marinade/dry rub. Overall, I got my plate lunch fix, but I wouldn't drive all the way up here. I'd probably come back just for the garlic chicken, but only if I had business in the area.

    Alan S.

    Solid four stars at a five and I give this rating because the flavors were on point and the Cooley chicken and pork. We're all cooked very well. Spam musubi was just OK and felt like you could definitely make it at home versus the 4.50 you'd spend. Service OK nothing outstanding because it felt more like a café than a restaurant and it makes sense because there was no inside seating. They have outdoor seating which was nice. Love the decor and the story behind this place. I decided to come here for my birthday and it was a nice treat because I was looking for more Hawaiian spots in San Diego. The mac & cheese was great I wish as a side they added more furike seasoning on the rice. Again, these are just small changes but overall the food is great solid and everything tasted delicious.

    Poke plate (half shoyu/half spicy ahi) only available on Saturdays
    Pauline T.

    I'm gonna be honest, I'm not usually a big ahi fan and so I tend to avoid going to poke places that don't have salmon as an option but this place has definitely changed my mindset. I came in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the poke plate with half spicy ahi and shoyu ahi. The price was a bit steep at around $25 but when I tell you, I completely demolished it within 10 mins... I got it to go but it smelled so good that I had to eat it in my car still parked right in front LOL. The ahi doesn't have an irony taste like other ahi I've tried from some other places. I think I definitely prefer the shoyu flavor though! I'm definitely coming back and bringing my boyfriend to try the other plates they offer!

    Hulihuli chicken mini plate - yummy
    Vivian H.

    Met a colleague friend here for lunch and enjoyed my lunch here. I wasnt sure what to order here as poke is only available on Saturday so I tried the hulihuli chicken mini meal. I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a plate in one sitting so I am glad I got a mini meal. I also couldnt resist the butter mochi with coconut and got an oder of that. Also, there is a lower price for cash vs card, so you can save some money by having cash ready. Limited seating here so not the best place to dine in but we got lucky and gor a table inside. Overall, food was good and loved the butter mochi. I'd definitely come back!

    Kalei's plate: Garlic chicken, kalua pork, 2 Mac salad
    Catherine G.

    My friend recommended this place to me and it is so good! For my Kalei's plate, my two proteins were garlic chicken and Kalua pork and I got two sides of Mac salad. There is very limited indoor seating so I ended up taking it to go. Service was pretty fast and friendly. Overall: 5/5 flavors were very good together, garlic chicken was nice and crunchy, and I love their mac salad

    Hurricane chicken plate, poke, side of Mac salad
    Jetrina M.

    We went here for a late lunch and it was not busy at all. We ordered the hurricane chicken plate, side of Mac salad and poke to share. We loved the flavor of the fried chicken, though I think next time I would just get the fried chicken as I felt like the sauce was a little too much. The cucumber salad was ver refreshing and would definitely get again as well. We enjoyed the poke and it was a pretty large portion. Minimal searing inside and out, probably about 4-6 seats total. Free parking in the shared lot.

    Dana R.

    The last two years we have ordered take out for our day after Christmas lunch with family. We love this place. We usually order the tofu katsu, spam mysabi, teriyaki beef, garlic chicken, and crab salmon dynamite. The best thing by far is the crab salmon dynamite. I'm not a fan of the macaroni salad. They don't take orders over the phone so we went in and ordered then went back and picked it up. Less than ideal. There is no where to eat inside. Everyone working was super friendly. My design daughter really likes their graphics. Parking is in front.

    Crispy chicken combo plate ($15): comes with your choice of two sides (rice, mac salad, or pickled cucumber salad).
    Grace L.

    Right when I entered, I was warmly greeted by the workers. I decided to pick a combo plate, which comes with a protein, and your choice of two sides (rice, mac salad, or pickled cucumber salad). For my protein, I decided on garlic chicken ($15) because it's deep fried and comes with mirin sauce. This was my favorite protein out of all the ones that I tried. I also got the Kalei's Plate which allows you to pick two proteins (excluding loco loco and tofu katsu) so I went with teriyaki beef and kalua pork. In order of my personal favorites for the proteins: 1. Garlic chicken 2. Kalua pork 3. Teriyaki beef For the sides: 1. Mac salad 2. Rice 3. Cucumber salad One of the times that I ordered at Kalei's, I got to meet the owner. She was so warm and welcoming, and really left such a great lasting impression on me. I highly recommend Kalei's the next time that you're craving Hawaiian food! They really embody the aloha spirit in addition to their delicious Hawaiian food.

    Loco Moco
    Josh M.

    Food was decent. Thought I'd try my luck with a new spot for loco moco. The food/gravy could have used some salt. Also for $22 I should get more than a tiny scoop of rice. $22 is really high for a Loco Moco. I had high hopes but left disappointed. Seating is also very limited inside. The staff was super nice also.

    Outside
    Rachel G.

    Definitely a favorite for Hawaiian food for me! It's a cute and intimate little place to enjoy some delicious food. The service is usually cheerful & friendly! Never a complaint and I've always been served with a smile. As far as the food goes, I've eaten here a few times, trying the loco moco and kalua pork. The rice is always cooked just right - not too dry but not too wet to the point of being mushy. The egg still has runny yolk and the patty has good flavor for the loco moco. The kalua pork was most & had a smoky flavor! Mac salad is great, but still contending to be my favorite. My parents really enjoyed their garlic chicken as well! Can't wait to visit again

    Combo plate: Teriyaki beef and Kalua pork
    Justin C.

    I was craving Hawaiin food and in the North County area, so I swung by this wonderful Hawaiin establishment. This is a newer eatery and the ownership really strives to bring the Hawaiin hospitality and culture to San Diego. I would say they succeeded! I got a combo "Kalei's Plate" $17 which meant I got to pick my two proteins and a garlic chicken plate: - Garlic chicken + cucumber salad + mac salad - Kalua Pork and Teriyaki beef + mac salad + rice - Two spam Masubis ($4 each) The kalua pork was my favorite, moist and bursting with flavor. The garlic chicken was deliciously crispy on the outside and juicy and on the inside. They do a fantastic job with the Mac salad. The food was very filling and was good for a filling dinner for my wife and I and an extra midnight snack. Service is very friendly and there are some limited seating options. I really enjoyed reading the history of Chef Andy and his team. I really appreciated the owner's wife who came to greet my wife and I warmly and explain the history of some of the dishes. This is a regular rotation in our dinners whenever we are craving Hawaiin!

    $25 including taxes: Teriyaki Chicken, Garlic Chicken, Mac Salad, and rice.

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    2 months ago

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    Page 1 of 7

    Kalei's Kitchenette Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kalei's Kitchenette

    Hi! Do you offer military discount?

    Aloha Jillian, Thank you for your question! At this time, we do not offer a military discount. We… 

    Hi Andy, on your website. I'm looking using my phone for itemized or combo dishes, not the party trays. You show a crab Friday combo special. I looked for more info on that plate. Where can I view the info on the plate?

    Aloha Tyler! The best way is to go to our online portal: https://order.spoton.com/so-kaleis-kitchenette-12848/san-diego-ca/63f6a311d8bba0b9b2ee71a2 and change the date to Friday -- pretend that you are about to put an online order.… 

    Another vote for malasadas, please?

    Is the Huli Huli chicken sauce made with Sweet baby rays?

    Aloha Albert! we make our own marinade and sauce for all our dishes.

    Will you ever serve lau lau's?

    Do you have malasadas?

    No we don’t. Sorry. Maybe in the future.

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    Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill - Seared Ahi Plate

    Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    14.0 mi•University Heights, North Park
    •$$

    Greta authentic Hawaiian food. Flavors were on point and Mac salad is one of the best I've tried…read more We got the beef teriyaki, seared ahi and Kailua pork plate and all were delicious. The beef was a little dry for me but the flavor was good. I highly recommend them for Hawaiian food.

    BEST HAWAIIAN PLATES IN SD (3.5 stars)…read more The food is always legit here! And the serving size is quite generous. So why not use them for catering?! I threw my dog (yes, my dog) a birthday party at Pure Pawsh (about a mile down the street) and needed catering food I like that was close by and can serve ~15 humans. I ordered in advance maybe 10 days before the event on the 27th 1 medium tray of rice ($60) 1 medium tray of Hawaiian Mac salad ($60) 1 medium tray of Huli-Huli Chicken ($120) FYI, they won't deliver if you don't hit the $400 minimum. I got an email on 9/20 that my order for 9/2 (Tuesday) will be ready at Liberty Station. Sorry 9/2 was like 2 weeks ago. I've stated my event is on the 27th Sunday. What was difficult about my catering order? I went to the restaurant and the front staff helped me get everything situated. But that interaction was a little off too. I don't mean to be stereotypical but GenZ customer service is something else. It's 9/27, my pickup was for 11:15 (confirmed it vial email, called the restaurant 2x the day before and made sure all was set for hand off at 11:15). I showed up around 11:15 and called the restaurant (I'm parked illegally because there is no parking and they said it's fine to do because it's just a hand off). Well the hand off didn't get handed off until closer to 11:30. FOOD SIZE the medium trays are good for 12 people. I think I could have fed 15-20 comfortably. I'm going to say the rice and Mac salad were a bit too much in size and wish they had offerings for smaller portions because those sides are just fillers and. Body is eating big servings of each. I had so much left over of those two - I made a lot of fried rice from the left over rice BUT the Mac salad went to waste. Portions great, taste is great, and price is fair.

    Photos
    Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill - Full menu

    Full menu

    Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill - Spam Musubi

    Spam Musubi

    Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill

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    Leilani's Cafe - Leilani's Cafe

    Leilani's Cafe

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    13.4 mi•Pacific Beach
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    So delicious!! I got the Jr Boy breakfast and the coconut French toast is great, eggs were fluffy,…read morePortuguese sausage had a nice caramelization. I didn't end up eating the scoop of rice, for me it felt like an afterthought on the plate. The nut latte was delicious as well. Order inside at the counter then take your food to go (saw lots of to go orders places) or snag a seat. They have outdoor bar seating and a few smaller tables, wouldn't rec coming with a big group. Staff was all incredibly friendly. Food came out hot and clearly freshly made.

    The food was just okay, but the tipping setup is what really left a bad taste…read more This is basically a 95% self-service restaurant. You seat yourself, walk to the counter to order, pay before you even sit down, get your own water, and clean your own table when you're finished. The only real "service" is someone walking your food from the kitchen to the table. Yet before you've received your food or experienced any service whatsoever, the payment screen has the nerve to ask for a 15% to 20% tip. A tip for what exactly? My outstanding performance as my own waiter and busser? I counted roughly seven employees: two working the counter, one bringing out food, one near the water station, possibly two cooks, and maybe one dishwasher. If the restaurant collects thousands in prepaid tips during a busy breakfast and lunch, is all that money actually being divided among those employees? There's absolutely no transparency. It honestly feels less like tipping the staff and more like tipping the owner. If the restaurant needs 15% to 20% more revenue, just raise the menu prices by that amount and be honest about it. Don't advertise one price, provide almost no table service, and then guilt customers into adding another 15% to 20% before they've even taken a bite. Food: okay. Service: mostly provided by me. Suggested tip: apparently still 15% to 20%. Update, the manager sent me a response that I should be happy someone happily took my order. Wow, the expectations at this place is off the chart low. I sent him a response below. It's honestly wild that I'm supposed to be "glad" someone took my order politely, answered a question, and showed me where to tap my card. That is basic counter service, not some extraordinary full-service dining experience deserving 15 to 20 percent of the entire bill. And comparing your tip prompt to Costco asking for a charitable donation might be the dumbest comparison possible. Costco asks whether you'd like to donate a few dollars to charity. They don't suggest handing over 15 to 20 percent of your grocery bill because the cashier smiled and showed you where to insert your card. And just because tip screens are popping up everywhere doesn't make them right. This is the first restaurant I've eaten at where you order and pay at the counter, tip before receiving any service, get your own water, and then clear your own table. Your setup is not the norm. If I took ten people there for lunch and explained the system beforehand, they'd laugh me out of the parking lot. In fact, I posted about your setup on Facebook, and practically every comment agreed it was ridiculous. I tagged you guys btw. Let's recap: I stood in line to order, paid and tipped before eating, got my own water, and cleared my own table. At some point I apparently worked a shift there. Where do I pick up my paycheck? That snide remark backfired quite a bit, don't you think?

    Photos
    Leilani's Cafe
    Leilani's Cafe
    Leilani's Cafe - Chocolate haupia espresso w/ whip.

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    Chocolate haupia espresso w/ whip.

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Poke plate with three scoops (furikake salmon, garlic salmon, and shoyu ahi)

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    5.4 mi•Mira Mesa
    •$$

    Stopped by on a weekday and there was barely a line! So awesome cos usually this place has a long…read moreline for poke. Staff was so nice as always. There is seating inside and plenty more tables outside too. I got a half pound of sesame albacore instead of getting a poke bowl and sat outside to eat it. The albacore is so soft and melts in your mouth. They also had tako, ahi, and salmon poke options if you prefer that along with other delicious items on the menu. I love HFS and will probably come back for this sesame albacore specifically.

    "mmmMM mmmhmmm" was basically the conversation for the first couple of minutes as we were devouring…read moreour poke bowls lol. The portions here are generous! I got a medium bowl with half salad half rice with a scoop of shoyu ahi and spicy ahi. The fish was fresh, soft, and practically melted in my mouth. There were a couple chewier bites but nothing that bothered me. I also got a side of the wasabi ahi and that was my favorite of the 3 flavors. Honestly, everything was yummy but there was just something missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It didn't hit quite the same as the poke I've had in Hawaii but still a solid bowl of poke. Interesting location too. It's tucked into an area surrounded by what seems like mostly offices and warehouses so it feels a little random. I think this place is worth checking out if you are in the area.

    Photos
    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Front counter

    Front counter

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Two scoop poke bowl

    Two scoop poke bowl

    Hawaiian Fresh Seafood - Garlic shrimp

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    Garlic shrimp

    Poke Etc - Chicken Katsu with pork at Poke Etc. SD Hawaiian Restaurant in National City, CA.

    Poke Etc

    4.5(1k reviews)
    19.6 mi
    •$$

    Parking 5/5 -Decent size free plaza parking lot…read more Service 5/5 -Friendly and efficient staff, you order and pay first at the counter then sit where you want. Food 5/5 -Combo plate with wasabi ahi and spicy mayo salmon, I opted for one scoop of rice and seaweed salad instead of two scoops of rice. I always get two scoops of rice and I wish I did this time as well, just overall more bites of rice and poke pairings feel more worth it to me. Poke is cold and fresh and tender in the best way, wasabi ahi is always my favorite, I love the sharp in the nose feel with the crunchy white onions in between, such a good flavor profile. Salmon was not fishy at all, spicy mayo is always a safe option. Strongly recommend as one of the most authentic and diverse poke options in San Diego! Ambiance 5/5 -Interior feels shades and cool, puts you away from the heat. No frills with a decent amount of seating, there are also other non-good goodies in the shop.

    Imagine paying $20 for a combo plate and this is how much poke they give you. When I asked the guy…read moreabout it he literally couldn't explain to me why they put so little. He was trying to get me to pay for more. This was a disappointing first experience. I've heard so many good things about the food. You had a chance to keep a customer for life and you lost it.

    Photos
    Poke Etc - Inside Poke Etc. SD Hawaiian Restaurant in National City, CA.

    Inside Poke Etc. SD Hawaiian Restaurant in National City, CA.

    Poke Etc - Plate with Oyster Flavor & Ginger Ahi

    Plate with Oyster Flavor & Ginger Ahi

    Poke Etc - Chicken Katsu with Poke, Salmon poke 1/2

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    Chicken Katsu with Poke, Salmon poke 1/2

    Katsu Cafe - Jumping Shrimp Roll

    Katsu Cafe

    3.9(921 reviews)
    9.3 mi•Kearny Mesa
    •$$

    Casual order-at-the-counter Japanese place that serves dishes like teriyaki chicken, sushi, ramen,…read moreyakisoba, etc. Their menu is massive, and the selection is quite friendly towards those who are new to Japanese food. The specials are a great deal as the portion is massive and enough to share between two people comfortably. If you dine in, most entrees also come with miso soup. The curry chicken katsu was nothing special; the curry was a little lacking in flavor, and I would've appreciated a salad of some sort to add variety and freshness. The macaroni salad is good though. The D2 special is great value and variety. It comes with miso soup, tempura, salad, macaroni salad, and teriyaki chicken on a bed of fried rice. The fried rice has a shockingly good wok flavor, and the teriyaki is quite good. Not a dish that will blow your mind, but definitely hits the spot without breaking the bank. They have some tables outside if you have a dog or prefer to sit there right by the parking lot; your food will still be brought out to you, just let them know when you order.

    One star, and it pains me to write it because we've been a loyal regular customer here for years…read morebut the service has just gone down the hill and the staff was so rude to us. We came in at 7:30 pm and the person at the counter rushed us through our order like we were a nuisance for being there. When the food came out, they brought my 8-year-old son a bowl of raw salmon. We had ordered baked. When I asked them to exchange for baked salmon she refused saying "once it leaves the kitchen, no refunds". I was really startled because the tone and brashness of the refusal was something I have never experienced at any restaurant. I told them I didn't want a refund. I just wanted the baked salmon which I thought we had actually ordered. She still refused but offered to get us a baked salmon plate if we paid for it. To the owner: please take a look at your night staff. Loyal customers shouldn't be treated like a nuisance, and a simple fix shouldn't turn into a standoff over policy.

    Photos
    Katsu Cafe - Part of inside (it's about double the size of this)

    Part of inside (it's about double the size of this)

    Katsu Cafe - Crunchy roll

    Crunchy roll

    Katsu Cafe - Pork katsu and tempura shrimp roll

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    Pork katsu and tempura shrimp roll

    Kalei's Kitchenette - hawaiian - Updated October 2026

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