Friendly staff, yummy Hawaiian food, and now a full bar!…read more After going to Malama Pono the first time, we were so enamored with the food that my husband wanted to celebrate his birthday there. When we went to celebrate his birthday, the general manager, Matthew, heard us talking about a cocktail we liked, and he made it for us on the house. I love when restaurants surprise and delight. We particularly like the salmon tartar, the Uni on crispy rice, the lobster noodles, and the candy bar dessert. It's nice to have an upscale Hawaiian option in town.

According to the restaurant's website, their name comes "from the Hawaiian saying, E Mālama Pono,…read morewhich means to take care of, also until we meet again." Though the staff was gracious and attentive while navigating a small space and a nearly full house, the kitchen still has some things of their own to take care of in order to live up to their full potential. The menu features an interesting and eclectic selection of Asian fusion dishes, and there were far more intriguing items than two of us could try on one visit -- still, nearly everything we ordered was somewhat lacking. We started off strong with drinks: My traditional Mai Tai had a nice flavor without being overly sweet; my wife's Sunset Sangria WAS fairly sweet, but that's how she likes her drinks, and she was very happy. One thing to note: their liquor license has only recently been approved, and their website still says they do not have a full bar -- they'd do themselves a favor by updating the website, as the fun drinks will be a draw. Okay, so drinks were good, but our starter of Garlic Naan with Tzatziki Sauce was disappointing. The bread was really pita, not naan, and there was no presence of garlic whatsoever. Basically, it was warm pita with a touch of salt, so not at all what we were expecting, and not what we would have ordered if we'd known what was coming. Still, the tzatziki sauce was flavorful and fresh. Would have gone well with garlic naan. For an entree, my wife ordered the Horseradish Crusted Mahi Mahi, which is plated with Pineapple Beurre Blanc, Blistered Tomatoes, Roasted Pineapple, Scallion Relish and Shoyu Syrup, and served with a side of white rice. This was a heavily layered dish that was far too sweet for me, but my wife quite liked the flavor. Underneath the many adornments, the fish was fresh and cooked to a very pleasing texture, and I might have enjoyed this in a more savory preparation. My own entree was the Malama Mochiko Chicken: crispy fried thigh meat with a Ponzu Shoyu and Tomato Ginger Sauce. The crispy batter had a pleasing crunch but very little taste; the Ponzu Shoyu had a deep, earthy flavor, but there was just too little of it served on the plate -- there needed to be much more clinging to the chicken, or the batter needed more punch, or both. The other sauce placed to the side, the Tomato Ginger, tasted mostly like a generic sweet chili dipping sauce, and I only used it once. So, yes, the crispy chicken could be great, but really needs a seasoning upgrade. I also ordered a side of the Macaroni Salad, because it's my favorite aspect of a Hawaiian plate lunch. Their version's macaroni was cooked to a spot-on texture, with just the right amount of al dente to hold up to the mayonnaise while still being primarily soft. The salad as a whole had the right creaminess (not too much mayo), but again lacked seasoning. I added some salt, which helped a bit, but it needed something else as well. So, I like the concept of the restaurant and the descriptions of many of the dishes. The creativity and ambition are appealing. But right now, the execution just doesn't bring these ideas to life. Perhaps the chef (described as mostly self-taught) would benefit from consultation with one or two of the many excellent Asian chefs in the city, and I say that without meaning any insult. I'm optimistic they'll goose the flavors if they try, and so to Malama Pono I say, E Malama Pono: until we meet again. PS. Having their valet priced $3 higher than the other restaurants with which they share the service is strange and makes a bad first impression.

Love this chain…read more Usually I always get the BBQ chicken plate. But this is one I got the seafood platter. I am a seafood lover and I was blown away at how good it was. The service is excellent. You get your food in about 10 minutes. So you know it's made to order. The restaurant is always packed so you know it's about the food. My only criticism is that sometimes it is freezing in there. They only have one table that faces the sun. So bring your sweater. No matter what time of year it is. I am a coupon person. Right now they have some two for one and half off specials. So check your mailbox. Two can eat for $17 and the portions are big. I always end up taking some home.

Came here on rainy day to pick up at lunch time and the service was friendly and relatively quick…read moreeven though there were 4 people waiting ahead of me. We got two, two-item aloha plates, both with bbq chicken and one with katsu shrimp and one with chicken katsu. They both came with a fresh salad and had minimal dressing which I really enjoyed. This is my first time at this location and the meats were consistent with the other locations. The shrimp is an extra .50 charge and it only came with three but it was worth it. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked. The inside was clean and had ample tables. Parking is shared in a large lot next to the gym, located across from Zankou.

Food truck, got a loco moco $20 +tax +tip, rice and eggs were ok, but the burger had no flavor and…read morethe gravy was super watery and sad. Food came out super fast tho but I would not recommend

Was in the mood for some musubis & thought I'd give them a try!…read more Food: Aloha Fridays offers a full variety of Hawaiian dishes all from the convenience of their food truck. However, I'd argue their prices are a little too high & could use some work. I ordered the spam musubi ($4) & their poke musubi ($6). The spam musubi was just ok, the rice to meat ratio was off making each bite feel like a mouthful of rice & nothing else. The poke musubi was decent but had the same issue of having too much rice & not enough fish. If you order here make sure to at least try their sauces especially their house Siracha sauce. Without the sauce, the musubis would have been a complete miss. I'd rate my food experience 3/10 The service was at least friendly & the food was ready fast. The truck itself seemed clean. Overall, I probably won't be returning as the price point doesn't match the quality of food.

Hawaiian food for a quick bite…read more The other day wife and I craved for some hawaiian food and came here for the short rib and teriyaki chicken. Both delicious and very convenient for van nuys residence. The food pick was easy, fast, and affordable. Come by if you need a quick hawaii fix.

I thought our meals was extremely delicious!!! There was a bit of a wait for our food, but I'm sure…read moreit was because the food was cooked to order. The wait was definitely worth it!!! The BBQ mix is definitely a meat lover's favorite. I love the galbi rib meat the most, but the flavoring of the chicken and beef is still super delicious. I'm not a big fan of the macaroni but my girlfriend loves it. The rice was plentiful and perfect amount to the meat. I enjoyed the spam musubis as well!!! Not too sweet, and had a mix of salty and sweet. The spam with the rice and seaweed was yummmyy. Very delighted by our experience here and the tables and interior was very clean and modern. Hawaiian versions of pop music played when we ate here. Clean up is easy since our food comes in trays and dealing with leftovers as well because the hot food comes in plastic boxes.

I was in the neighborhood and looked for food to eat, and this place came up. I decided to give it…read morea try. I'm glad I gave it a try, the place is kept clean. The service is friendly and professional, Food was ready in 10-15 minutes, it is comparable to other Hawaiian BBQ place.

I read the reviews about this place, and several say that they seemed to go down in quality and…read moretaste over recent years, possibly due to a change in management. But I went anyway, just in case those were picky reviewers. I have to admit, the prices were very fair compared to other similar establishments. But the taste and quality of their Loco Moco plate was not on the same level as the loco mocos I've had at other Hawaiian BBQ places. The patties were thin, the gravy was very minimal, and the overall taste was not what I was expecting at the minimum. Hopefully, their other dishes make up for this one. But loco moco is nothing gourmet. I cook this myself. So I think I'll just cook it next time I get a craving for it.

Actually good never switching up on this place, there chicken Katsu IS BOMB. Just know it's good…read more Service is good and along with ambiance. Even the employees know me fr since I was a kid

I was in the valley on business, and it was lunch time. I decided to try out this place, since it…read morewas not far from me at the time. Parking was easy, as this place has its own parking lot. The entrance leads you to their covered patio, and another door to the counter and some more seating. I ordered chicken teriyaki, which came with rice and salad. The chicken portions were actually decent. and the food was pretty tasty. It was a well-rounded meal, straight to the point, and fulfilling. The short wait was worth it. In the summer, this place can get pretty hot, but that is expected in the SFV. Aside from that, this place is a good spot for a quick lunch with quality.

If you know, you know…read more We found Corner Grille years ago, and it has been amazing every single time. It's such a unique Korean-Mexican fusion spot -- flavors you truly won't find anywhere else. The combination sounds unexpected, but somehow it works perfectly. We've tried a few different items over the years, but the Chicken Korean Fries are our absolute favorite every time. Nothing like it exists. The flavors are bold, layered, slightly sweet, savory, and just combined so deliciously. It's one of those dishes you crave again and again. It's definitely a hole-in-the-wall spot in a small shopping center -- super unassuming -- but don't let that fool you. It's 100% a must-try. Some of the best, most unique food is always hiding in places like this. If you're looking for something different and seriously delicious, put this on your list. We'll keep coming back.

Came back to Corner Grill to try their Korean Tacos. It was a late-ish lunch on a Saturday, yet…read morethere were still quite a few tables of people eating a variety of foods. Staff was just as friendly as before, and the place still has that lived-in, homey charm. I ordered a pair of tacos: BBQ Beef and Crispy Shrimp. Both come with shredded cabbage, sliced jalapeños, cilantro and a creamy, mayo-based sauce. The shrimp taco worked perfectly, with a crispy, tasty coating giving way to plump, fresh shrimp. The sauce melded into the cabbage, almost making a slaw you might get on a po' boy, and the peppers added a nice heat. I added a squeeze of fresh lemon, and that rounded things out nicely. It was a great bite of seafood. The BBQ Beef was less successful. The mayo and an extra dollop of chipotle mayo were too much for the small taco, and overtook the flavor of the beef. The beef had a nice flavor, but was a bit too dry, and had been chopped a bit too finely -- I would have liked larger pieces to really enjoy the flavor. In fact, others were eating the BBQ Beef plate, and the beef there looked far more appealing. So, I'm not discouraged. I'll come back for the full plate treatment, and see how things stack up. I still think this is a great place that deserves your attention and support. Good people.

Decided I give this place a shot after hearing all the hype. Sadly, I'll be sticking with my local…read moreOno Hawaiian spot. I ordered the Haleiwa plate (beef, chicken and ribs +$4) and it was not worth the extra change. The (4) ribs were a bit chewy, tons of pepper on the meat, almost a full box worth of rice and they give you baby scoops of mac salad, which did not taste fresh. Service was good. And the location is right in the middle of a shopping plaza so good luck with parking during the rush.

They have a lot of korean influence on the cooking. I liked the galbi ribs but with it came with…read moremore meat. It felt like I had a kids plate worth of meat and a heaping portion of rice. I wasn't very happy to see how little meat their was because of how expensive the meal was. The part that is off putting is their price point. Spending nearly $40 (w/ tip) for takeout is a little ridiculous in my opinion. ..Not to mention the fact the parking is awful. Service is pretty standard. I wouldn't say it was friendly but I also wouldn't say its bad. It's very transactional which is fine, I guess. I actually wanted to dine in but I ended up eating in my car because the vibe was off. I don't think I'd come back unless they work on making more affordable options or at least give you a portion that justifies the price tag.

Came here for lunch with a friend…read more The spam egg and rice plate was tasty and their sauces were great compliments. Very friendly and fast service! Place was also nice and clean. It's in a shopping mall that has plenty of parking which is a big plus. All in all a solid lunch.

The food is good. My vote for top dishes are loco moco, hawaiian BBQ chicken, and spam musubi for a…read moresnack. The service is OK. The cashiers and store personnel are nice. The store is clean. And it makes me feel like I'm back in Hawaii with the music. I docked one star because they have a rewards program using an app, which is totally useless. I go here at least 2x weekly, spend about $40 bucks on average, and the clunky app still shows 0 points. Like huh, why, how?!? Please stop with misleading advertising. Either have a rewards program that works, or say you don't have one. Don't be advertising an app where points that are non-existent. Thanks.

Love this place is the best Sushi is amazing…read more Drinks is amazing Food is top tier They have burlesque nights on Wednesday fabulous

The tiki decor is fabulous. I want to like this spot more but after a handful of visits, the food…read moreand drink are just ok. The food menu has a good variety and is well presented but is a bit pricey and just ok. There's a big list of traditional and house tiki cocktails but they don't even use crushed ice, the hallmark of tiki cocktails. They prefer payment in cash but include a 3% service fee on the bill to cover the credit card fee. It's nominal but when paying cash, need to take that into consideration because it's incorporated into the total. Love the decor and wish I could feel the same about everything else.