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3- Parking/Entrance/1st visit service/bathroom 5-THE FOOD!!! The food is phenomenal and it's really designed well for a diner. The parking can be ATROCIOUS. Holy Hunger Games. The bathroom location bothers me and its cleanliness needs attending to on a regular basis. My sit down experience was just ok. It can get crowded by the door and my server wasn't that attentive. It took a while to even put my order in. I'm talking 10 minutes before my server even came to my table to order drinks. The food comes pretty fast and everything I've tried has been packed with flavor. That is the saving grace that has me coming back. I typically do take out due to my initial dine in experience. I typically order: -The Mix Plate: Shoyu Chicken, Kalua Pork, Spam Fried Rice, Garlic Fried Noodles -Ube Haupia Pie -Lychee Lemonade
Visited for brunch and loved the lunch plate! The mac salad was a standout for me, along with the kalua pork and KFC. The ube espresso martini was a great pick-me-up. The staff were attentive, friendly, and helpful. An Orlando gem if you're in the area!
Food and service was great! Huge portions with great flavor. Got the poke and garlic noodles which were phenomenal Down side-- No changing tables 3% kitchen service fee seems odd High chair seat belts broken Broken faucet in women's bathroom with tap on the handle with opposite direction if hot/cold
This is definitely the best Hawaiian food around! Went for our first time today & we absolutely loved it. The staff were wonderful & friendly, they were great to chat with & have great recommendations. The space was warm & cozy, but the food & drinks were definitely the highlights. Everything we had was a 10/10 & we cannot wait to go again.
This was such a random find. I'm so glad that I found this place. The food taste so fresh and flavorful. I would give the service a 10 out of 10 because it didn't take long to prepare my order. I hope to come back and dine in because the ambience looks so elegant, especially for a diner.
I love Hawaiian cuisine, and this place was spot on from the spam musubi to the kalua pork! The staff were incredibly nice, and since it's a diner service was incredibly quick. It was super packed when we came in for dinner on a Friday night, but the bar area had all open seating so we sat there. We started off with our cocktails and some spam musubi. The regular spam musubi is delicious, but the fried spam musubi is out of this world! The Hō'āhi Rita was deliciously spicy and perfect for my fiancé's taste. The Koa & Kane was a very spirit forward rum drink that was right up my alley! I honestly would try every cocktail if I could. Another beverage I got was the POG juice with vodka added for $12. It was dangerously good. My fiancé and I both order a Mix Plate with varying options (pick 2 proteins and 2 sides). Collectively, we tried the kalua pork, shoyu chicken, shoyu ahi, and spicy ahi proteins with mac salad and spam fried rice. The spam fried rice and the shoyu chicken was our fav combo! The chicken was so soft and deliciously marinated. The ahi tuna tasted like any other ahi tuna you would get at any nearby poke spot, but the chicken and pork were out fantastic! I would have the kalua pork in their sandwich next time instead of as a protein in their mix plate. I absolutely do want to come back here! They have brunch on Sundays, but this menu has a couple all day breakfast items so you could really have brunch whenever. There is no happy hour here (yet) unfortunately.
Another fantastic experience at Moa Kai! We came in for a work lunch and had a wonderful experience! The restaurant is beautiful. I love how the music sets the vibe but isn't too loud. The menu is fantastic. I got the garlic shrimp with rice and fries. The shrimp were so hot and fresh. They were perfectly fried! The garlic sauce was so rich and flavorful. We enjoyed the smoked meat platter, kalua pork, musubi, and chicken as well. We also loved the haupia pie and lychee lemonade. Service was attentive and kind. All the food came out so fast. This is the best spot!
Service was great but they don't disclose the automatic 3% "kitchen appreciation" surcharge to your meal. That's new. Felt like we were cheated. Also $3 for extra gravy was an extreme up-charge given it already comes with the meal. Food was delicious but the hidden charge was malicious.
Went to Moa Kai while visiting Orlando for the weekend and it was absolutely amazing! The food was so flavorful and we tried a ton of things on the menu, everything was surprisingly delicious. The ambiance is so fun and makes you feel like you are in the tropics and the wait staff and managers were all great. You can tell that they care about attention to detail in everything they do. Absolutely wonderful!
Expect to walk into a packed restaurant, but I implore you to wait for a table or grab a seat at the bar because the food is hands down excellent! From the pictures alone, I knew it would be good, but my expectations were blown! The flavor and portions are max! We did decide to sit up the bar because we were really hungry and the place was definitely packed and remained so well beyond lunchtime. The servers were present and friendly and helped us navigate some of our options. We shared a smoked meat plate as an appetizer and that was actually the highlight. My favorite dish! So much so, that I would most likely make that my entree next time. For entrees we ordered shoyu chicken and kalbi ribs. Both were solid. The ribs especially. I loved whatever marinade mixture they soaked in. A nice touch of sweetness! And the Mac salad was creamy and delicious. The portion blew me away! One plate is generous enough for sharing! An absolute must visit and dare I say, a hidden gem of the Orlando food scene. Very unique too because there aren't an abundance of Hawaiian BBQs around. The interior definitely had a fun diner meets Hawaii vibe. Adding this to my regular rotation and list of spots to bring out of town guests!
Moa Kai Diner is such a gem! My friend and I had heard so much about this place and we absolutely loved it! The inside is a diner feel with the Hawaiian touch. The service was so nice and helpful for it being our first time there. We both got the POG juice which was so fresh. We also got the mixed plates I got the pork and shoyu chicken and she got the pork and Korean chicken. Everything was incredible the pork was flavorful and the chicken was tender and delightful. We cannot wait to come back and try more!
I really love Moa Kai, and I still come here pretty regularly. But I will say they do charge a "restaurant appreciation tip" that they don't really mention unless you're paying attention to your itemized bill (we even asked our server about it and she said they didn't charge any tip prior to us paying). It's fine to charge these things but I would rather you be transparent about it. The last few times we've been here we've had the same server, she's not the friendliest or most attentive but I guess we're here for the food and drinks.
We finally made it to Moa Kai and were thrilled that it lived up to the hype! It's definitely busy so it can get a little loud but the service is super quick and servers are very helpful. The garlic shrimp is very good but my only feedback is that it could use a little extra sauce. I did ask for extra that we were charged for when the bill arrived. Noodles are also excellent - highly recommend as a side! Fair warning that portions are on the larger side, which is awesome. Highly recommend the ube cocktail, which they can also make as a mocktail that's delicious!
3 months ago
The food was so rich in flavor and fresh! If you're looking for a meal that feels homemade, this is the place. The portions are very reasonable and great prices. You are greeted from the moment you step in. The restaurant is well designed and decorated with large windows. Loved the vibe of the place. There's also Hawaiian music playing throughout. They have been open for 6 about months. Plenty of bar seating available as well. The parking lot is small, free, and didn't have issues finding a parking slot. They do have a handheld POS device, and I really liked that they leave it with you at the table without needing to hold it themselves. There is a Kitchen Appreciation charge added of (3.00%). If you opt to have the receipt texted to you at the end, you'll be able to receive the itemized breakdown. Would totally come back to try other menu items that they offer. read more
What a cute diner. I love the feel of Hawaiian food. I like the fried chicken and pork dish I had. There is an upcharge for spam fried rice and noodles if you don't want white rice and macaroni salad. The lunch portion was large and enough for another meal. The service was quick and friendly staff. Lots of parking and easy to go in and out. Will definitely try something else next time. read more
Food: The food was great! My husband and I loved the garlic spicy shrimp (it wasn't too spicy for me). The Korean chicken seemed popular from hearing others order it but I wasn't a fan due to the sauce but that's me and my husband. We would totally go back for the garlic shrimp. Next time, I want to try their shrimp po boy sandwich. The musubi was so yummy that I want to make my own but not the fried version (I'm not that good of a cook). The CHAR SIU MANAPUA reminds me of a bun Bao (Vietnamese) and it was very fluffy and nice. The portion sizes are great for the price! Service: it was okay service. We felt very rushed. It was our first time so we needed a moment and yes, I looked at the menu prior to going. I think that place is a grab and go for us. We don't really order cocktails and such. Ambiance: it's a small area with some bar seating. It can be busy so you might have to wait for a big group. I don't recommend going if you are 4+ as most tables sit 2 to 4. You can do the bar if you have a bigger group. read more
10 months ago
My husband & I went on a lunch date here and had a great experience. We shared the Char Siu Manapua appetizer (pretty large) which we got after our main dish, but we were told that as we were ordering so not an issue. I went for the Shoyu Poke Bowl and my husband ordered the Mix Plate pick 2 with the spicy ahi and shoyu chicken. The chicken was incredible! Definitely recommend. Such a cute and tasty spot! read more
I'm all one for second chances and I'm really glad I came back! First time I went here I was not too moved on the flavors, but since opening I think they improved a lot! Everything in the pictures tasted amazing and as always, the service was great and interior design is beautiful with a modern diner vibe. Definitely recommend checking them out if you are in the area read more
LOCAL REVIEW: Visiting Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner will leave you with a peaked curiosity to visit Hawaii! As someone that has visited Oahu, Hawaii a few times, I really enjoyed the mac salad and the Loco Moco. Moa Kai is yet another reason to be visiting the Mills / East Colonial area. It's the perfect addition. Moa Kai also has a dedicated parking lot which is something that I love for a more convenient outing! The ambience is definitely trending for Hawaii meets classic diner. I didn't feel a need to lower my rating, but I would say that the decor clashes a bit considering the modern bar and lighting fixtures. If you aren't looking for something with an immersive aesthetic, then I don't see this impacting your visit. We were greeted upon walking in which is also a great way to feel the aloha vibes. Our server was lovely and happy to make recommendations and answer questions. The food is what drew me in and has left me wanting more! Truth be told, within a week I ordered their takeout online - which was very easy! Their plates offer generous portions. I personally love making multiple meals out of one. Here is a deeper review on the food I have tried: 1. Appetizer - Fried Spam Musubi - Delicious! It was a perfect shareable. The classic spam musubi is something I've had in Hawaii, but I honestly liked this better. I loved the flavor of the panko. I didn't find it greasy like the combo of spam and frying could be. The spicy sauce was a great flavor to break up the saltiness of the spam. 2. Pick 2 Plate Lunch - Shoyu Chicken & Kalua Pork with spam fried rice and mac salad - WOW! There is a reason these options are among the House Favorites. The Shoyu Chicken had a phenomenal grill flavor. The Kalua Pork was shredded and had a wonderful smokiness. The spam fried rice was tasty, and the mac salad was chilled and refreshing. 3. Plate Lunch - Smoked Meat with white rice and mac salad - The flavors of the sweet onion, guava and smokiness were so much better together than I even imagined. The meat was juicy and definitely ono (delicious)! 4. Plate Lunch - Loco Moco - A Hawaiian dish that I had forgotten about until reading the menu! It was a flavorful and rich brunch item. Also, props to the chef for perfect fried eggs with a little bit of runny yolk. 5. Plate Lunch - Hawaiian Breakfast - I can't resist a brunch option that's served all day! The only thing I would do differently next time is request only Portuguese Sausage and foresake the spam. The sausage also had a great grill flavor and a little heat. 6. Desserts - Malasadas - Another well-known Hawaiian item that we were so eager to try! We couldn't resist trying almost every flavor. If you're eating them fresh out of the oven, you can't go wrong original sugar coated. We took some home and really enjoyed the fruit flavors (guava and lilikoi) at room temp. Lilikoi is in the passion fruit family and has a sweet - tart flavor. Opinions were mixed in my group about that one. 7. Beverages - Don't skip the fun drinks! We didn't have any, but POG is a popular drink I saw (at least in tourist areas) in Oahu, HI. We tried their Ube Espresso Martini which had a delicious ube-flavored foam on top. The espresso flavor was strong. We also tried their sangria which was also an enjoyable beverage. Even after trying this assortment of menu items, we were looking forward to visiting or ordering takeout again soon! read more
What's cute spot for brunch! Hours weren't the most clear but from a insta post in Nov they are only open on Sundays for brunch 10:30-3pm. Inside was very cute and themed. Bathrooms were clean, no changing table. Ube pancakes were a hit. Sweet but not too sweet! Fluffy, buttery, and a nice portion of shaved coconut. The fries for the po boy were seasoned and double fried. The shrimp had the option of being spicy, but I was still liking for more heat! The breakfast was a good portion. I wish I would have looked more closely at the sides to switch it up. The Mac salad was standard, rice was good balance to spam and sausage. Service was great and attentive. Would recommend! Only issue was our high chair seatbelt was broken! read more
SUCH a cute hidden gem. Sweet servers and delicious and filling food. Me and my partner got a you pick two for 16$ and a spam appetizer and holy moly it filled us up+ leftovers. Everything was SO good and SO juicy. Side of rice and macaroni salad was BOMB. read more
4 months ago
Learned about this place on Instagram and immediately knew we had to try. It did not dissapoint. Wife had the loko moko and it was fantastic! I had the mix plate with a spam fried rice upgrade. The flavor on everything was great. The right saltines from the spam and soy sauce and the pork marinate was tasty without being over bearing, the Korean chicken had a nice spicy sweetness to it and a hint of kimchi flavor. This place has ties to nearby Chikn which has great sauces so its in good company. The Mac salad was good, not a show stopper it just blended in to the background. We also tried the fried musubi and let me tel ya, I could eat that daily! Salty, crunchy, spicy creamy, checkes all the comfort food boxes. The portions are enough to make 2 meals out of it. We will be back! Next time we'll start with dessert cause those look awesome but we were stuffed. Shout out to the staff, they were warm and kind and quick to greet, serve and ask if we needed anything else. No preasure on checkout, he left the machine on the table so we checked out at our own pace. Overall a great experience. We will be back with friends! read more
9 months ago
Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner is a must-try spot for anyone craving fresh island flavors in Orlando. I highly recommend any dish that has their fried shrimp. The staff is warm and welcoming making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. The laid-back chill atmosphere adds to the overall experience as well. I always have a good time coming here with friends. read more
One of my new favorite places in Orlando. Love how quick and simply delicious it is. Perfect for lunch or dinner, and honestly breakfast if you get their egg and spam platter! Leans casual with its diner aesthetic but you can grab a few drinks here as well since it's open late and has a cool open bar kitchen. Welcoming staff and big portions for the price. What takes it for me though is they probably have the best mac salad I've ever had. read more
Very exciting to have new restaurants coming into our area. We stopped in with high hopes and it definitely delivered. Decor is very nice and clean. We were not starving so we chose to try many smaller things. We got the two meat platter with the Korean chicken and kalua pork with the sides of rice and Mac salad. The Mac salad was wonderfully dressed, the chicken was crispy and very well coated, and the pork was very tender. The garlic noodles were just that, garlicky and little crisp pieces- they reminded me of the pf changs garlic noodles which were my absolute favorite- so happy to have that back in my life. The Ube pie was exceptional. If you're simply wanting a delicious dessert, try this out. Give them a try you will be very pleased. Can't wait to be back. read more
11 months ago
Felt like I was in Hawaii again! The pork hash is huge and the best I've had outside of Hawaii. The amount of chicken you get for the Korean fried chicken at $14 is amazing and it's super flavorful! Lost a star for the Mac salad. It just didn't taste like traditional Mac salad in Hawaii and was too wet. Otherwise, portions and food is ono! read more
This place absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. The food was unreal -- I shared a meal with my wife and still ended up in a full food coma. The P.O.G. juice? Sent me to another dimension and spiritually refreshed me. Tried the fried spam musubi which was gnarly, not a fan of fried taste usually but if you are these will sing to you. We got a plate lunch with shoyu chicken and pulled pork. The chicken was straight up godly, no notes. The pulled pork was fine, but I'd probably skip it next time and double down on the chicken or something else. Staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the interior is such a vibe -- modern diner energy with clear Hawaiian island inspiration. 100% a must-stop, just make sure you show up with serious tummy room. Would fight someone to get a table here. read more
Such a unique and new spot right off Mills! It's has an open and beautiful diner concept yet still modern and aesthetic. The server was very attentive and came to check on me to make sure I had a great dining experience. The Ube cocktail was so unique and presented beautifully. The spam masubi was delicious and the chicken was so tender. Parking lot is a bit small! read more
1 month ago
My friends and I came here one week day, and it was pretty busy! It was my first time stepping into Hawaiian cuisine so I didn't know what to expect. We all enjoyed what we got. I got the musubi that was deep fried and that was perhaps too intense for me, I would like to try it without the deep fried part next time. Our waitress was super nice and attentive, and helpful to answer questions. The restaurant looks like a diner and it's super cute inside. I would definitely come back and try a few more items. My friends acai bowl looks very enticing! read more
We stopped by Moa Kai Hawaiian Dinner and had a pretty good experience overall. The portions were generous and the service was great -- everyone was friendly and quick to help. We tried the shoyu chicken, pulled pork, Korean fried chicken, and spicy tuna. The Korean fried chicken and spicy tuna were our favorites -- both had great flavor and were well cooked. My wife really enjoyed the shoyu chicken too. Overall, it was a solid meal with big portions and good service. Nothing too special, but definitely worth stopping by again if we're in the area. read more
8 months ago
From the moment we walked in, Moa Kai delivered classic diner energy with a Hawaiian twist. Retro stools lined the bar, the open kitchen buzzed, patrons were animated, and the staff, dressed in vibrant floral shirts, were attentive and welcoming. It immediately felt lively and inviting. We grabbed seats at the bar and were promptly greeted and guided through some of the standout dishes, which I appreciated. I ordered the mix plate with spicy ahi and tender pork, served over what I believe was steamed cabbage. For sides, I chose the edamame and the Spam fried rice. The proteins were excellent, flavorful and well-prepared. And while Spam may not win any nutritional awards, it's a guilty pleasure I will happily revisit. The fried rice absolutely hit the spot. If I'm being nitpicky, the edamame was a bit underwhelming. I would have liked it slightly warmer and with a touch more seasoning. That said, it wasn't a deal breaker. The menu is packed with items that caught my eye, and since I can only manage one plate per visit, I already have a reason to return. read more
1 year ago
Everything here is great! My favorite was the Korean chicken. The drinks were delicious and strong. The pupu platter was really good. Service here was great and I liked the upscale diner ambiance. read more
5 months ago
This place hits EVERY TIME! Cute, comfy and always delicious with friendly service. They have amazing cocktails and their food is perfect when you are in the mood for some tasty comfort food. The poke bowls are also a 10/10. 2 meat plate is a fav with the shoyu chicken and Korean chicken always hits the spot. The garlic noodles are very good. Try the premium side meats and loco moco too! Everything is SO good! I crave their food once a week.. We've become regulars! read more
11 months ago
I went here for a work lunch and I was honestly not expecting a sit down restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised. The service was great. I immediately was served as I sat down and it wasn't too busy I was able to be sat immediately. The menu has a lot of options and you definitely get a lot of food. I love the theme of the restaurant and I would definitely come here again. read more
Finally came tonight for the first time for dinner. There was plenty of parking and it was decorated all in theme and even had some Santas for the holiday season. They don't take reservations but there was ample seating when we visited and they have barstools set up like a typical diner as well. Our server was very friendly, made great recommendations, and checked on us often. The portions were large and all the food was tasty. Some of the meats had some very fatty pieces but otherwise we enjoyed everything we had. We will definitely be back. read more
11 months ago
I am beyond ecstatic that we finally have an amazing restaurant serving up Hawaiian classics! The dishes were very reminiscent of the big island and I was very impressed. The garlic shrimp and kalua were deliciousssss! I wish the fried fish was a bit more seasoned in addition to the yummy lemon garlic aioli. The Mahi fish dip was literally so good but disappointingly small for $14. I expected the malasadas to be bigger, but I did like their fillings and texture. Definitely go with the guava! And you can't have a Hawaiian meal without the POG juice, which also super refreshing. I surprisingly liked the tuna poke (because I'm a salmon lover), but was hoping to have more fish in the bowl. The service was so helpful and friendly, just like Hawaiian locals, and the restautant's decor was spot-on! I will definitely be back to satisfy my cravings! read more
4 months ago
Great service , welcoming atmosphere leaning into the theme, and authentic food. Where else in Orlando can you get Ube Haupia pie?? read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
Delicious food and generous portions, but the service was really what made it a memorable experience. Have never had so many staff trying to bring me drinks and checking on our table. Everyone was so friendly and the ambiance and setting are a great addition to the Colonial / Mills area. Drinks were so tasty as well: the Margarita was my favorite. For entree I ordered the pick two plate with fried fish and Korean fried chicken. The upgrade to Spam Fried Rice is worth it, and the mac salad was tasty. Excited to come back to try the brunch soon. read more
First visit to Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner and we enjoyed it. Seating is all indoors and we did have about a 20 -30 min wait time to be seated as all tables were full mid afternoon on a Saturday. We experienced several staff members stopping by to take our order, deliver food and to check on us and everyone was really nice. We ordered Masubi's for appetizer ($5 each) which are sticky rice with a slice of spam on top wrapped in a seaweed wrapper. These we found pretty common when we visited Oa'hu but these were a bit larger. For lunch, we ordered a Teri Burger ($14) that is served with a slice of pineapple on it with a side of perfectly prepared thick French fries, Grilled Shoyu Chicken($15) served with two scoops of white sticky rice and macaroni salad and a Mix Plate- Pick Two ($16) with Shoyu Chicken and Kalua Pork with two scoops of white sticky rice and macaroni salad. For dessert we ordered two orders of Masalas ($8 each order of 2) described as Portuguese Donuts and we asked that each be a different flavor filling including Guava, Likikoi, Haupia and Custard. When we visited Oa'hu almost two years ago we experienced similar foods and we were not disappointed with our experience at Moa Kai. We ordered one alcoholic drink called Lilikoi Tini ($13)which is made with Sobieski Vanilla, Chinola, Fresh Lime Juice, Giffard Vanilla and Prosecco. This drink was subtle tasting and the effects were pretty strong....but not strong tasting. Everything tasted great and there isn't anything that we ordered that I wouldn't order again. These foods can be best described as typical Hawaiian comfort foods prepared just right. The Grilled Shoyu Chicken seems to be a mixture of light and dark meat and it had a nice taste in the sweet side. The Kalua Pork was less sweet and served with cabbage. The dining room isn't really small but they could probably use a little more room for more tables. Service was attentive and it did take a little time for the food to be served as they are preparing things fresh and the restaurant was packed. We will be back and we look forward to selecting some of the other items on the menu. We typically do not order appetizers and dessert, however we were excited to taste some of the flavors of Hawaii reminiscent of our time visiting Oa'hu. We will visit this restaurant again and will bring friends. read more
1 year ago
Traveled from Tampa to try this place and it was TOTALLY worth the drive! If you didn't know what you were looking for you'd miss it and we totally did just that. Quick trip around the block and we snagged the last spot in the parking lot. With counter and table seating any wait goes quickly. The food was fresh, delicious, and exceeded expectations. This was my first experience with Hawaii Mac salad and I am hooked! read more
More info about Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner
Ask the Community - Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner
What time are they open on Sundays?
Sunday 10:30 AM–3 PM (Google says) Website says Sun: Brunch Only so it might be different.
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