Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Pono Pacific Kitchen

    4.6 (297 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Pono Pacific Kitchen Photos

    PONO PACIFIC KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

    You might also consider

    More like Pono Pacific Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Pono Pacific Kitchen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Dylan Mixologist!
    Tony S.

    LOVED IT! Our first visit. Ambiance is refined and yet casual. We liked the brightness of the room, and the fact it wasn't too noisy even after it filled up. We sat at the bar and so glad we did. Dylan, the bartender knew his stuff! (They make their own Pono Gin) and Dylan's two gin cocktails were well-balanced and tasty. Service was great! Food was OUTSTANDING! The Japanese Hamachi was a tender fish and delicate with a complex sauce. In fact, all the sauces were like that. The Scallops + Risotto was delish with lots of sophisticated, nuanced flavors. The star of the show was the local Butterfish with Miso glaze. OMG! It was delicious. This miso had a nicely caramelized top and yet the fish was perfectly cooked, and just melted in our mouths! We ate every bite, but saved room for the dessert: Chocolate Mousse w/ coffee ice cream. Great depth of chocolate with added texture of crisp cookie on the bottom. Overall YUM! We will definitely come again. No wonder why they were just awarded best restaurant in GB! Highly recommended

    Alex H.

    We have visited Pono Pacific Kitchen a few times and the food is always delicious! This last visit, we decided to sit on their outdoor patio, which has heaters and is perfect to catch the sunset. They are also very dog friendly which is always a plus. They have a wide variety of delicious appetizers, and we ended up ordering the calamari and crab cakes. For entrees, my husband ordered the sea bass and I ordered the filet mignon which were both absolutely delicious. Keep in mind that this place is quite pricey but the food is fresh and high quality. The service is always super friendly and helpful, and we cannot wait to come back again soon.

    Butter Fish
    Susan S.

    Really cute restaurant low key and casual excellent service! Known for their sweet succulent Butter Fish-we recommend highly. Excellent wine/beer menu. Bright happy experience,

    White Sea Bass
    Angela C.

    Crabcakes appetizer was delicious! Exactly what I was expecting with a light creamy mustard sauce. All of the fish were cooked perfectly. You can't go wrong. That being said, I preferred my Misoyaki Butterfish over my mother-in-law's White Seabass even though both were absolutely excellent!! My husband's Mahi Mahi was NOT dry nor too firm. The mahi-mahi was also paired with an exquisite peanut vinaigrette. My least favorite dish of the evening was the Seafood Salad with Louie dressing. Bear in mind, there was actually nothing wrong with this dish. It's just that the seafood salad was very common place compared to the rest of the exquisite tasting fish entrees and crab cake appetizer. We also had a friendly, knowledgeable waiter.

    Seared Ahi
    Nancy T.

    My husband and I go to Pono every now and then. They have a new menu, plus full bar offering their own Gin and Vodka. I was so glad to see most of the tables full. The owner always says hi to us, she is very friendly. Our server was Sarah and she was training someone. They both were great and our water glasses were kept full. We always get the bread, toasted, and butter. So good and if you are drinking, helps suck up the liqueur (Ha). I had two Gin and Tonics, quite good and reasonable $11 each. I tried the halibut, my favorite fish, with macadamia nuts, black rice and snow peas. Just wish I could get just a little more of the snow peas. My husband had the Ahi Tuna, baby carrots and very thing fries. Great meal and wasn't too loud. Talked to the couple next to us who were celebrating their 33rd year anniversary.

    Butterfish
    Sheryl S.

    Ambiance is nice. Nice spacing between tables. Chef and team does an excellent presentation. Flavors are delicious. Treat yourself!

    Crab soup
    Elena J.

    A fun little spot for dinner. We initially came for the butterfish but they ran out by the time we got there so definitely book an earlier dinner if that's what you're wanting to eat! We opted for some appetizers instead. Out of everything we ordered, the crab soup was SUPERB. The flavor of the soup had so much depth, lots of crab meat and it was definitely the highlight of the dinner. Service was so attentive and helpful. I'm definitely coming back for the butterfish!

    Their Misoyaki Butterfish is better than Roy Yamaguchi's and Nobu's. We indulged with the Japanese Hamachi, Chips and Caviar Dip, Massachusetts Scallops with a delectable creamy lemon and fresh pea risotto, the Misoyaki Butterfish, and the Lilokoi Tart with passion fruit curd and coconut gelato with toasted coconut. Everything was 10/10. Great selection of wines by the glass including a local Stephen Ross Albariño. My husband had both mocktails and couldn't decide which one he liked more. We're locals and can't believe we finally have an offering like Pono on the coast. This place deserves a Michelin Star!

    Swordfish
    Yuri V.

    The food was amazing, so many flavors nicely plated. The staff was wonderful and the place is so nice. I recommend this place, we loved it and will definitely be back. We went for Valentine's Dinner and had a great experience greeted with champagne and a lovely rose. Thank you guys

    Short Rib
    Till W.

    Come on a good day, example: Father's Day, like today and celebrate a special occasion here is so worth it! They were accommodating towards a family member who has allergies and food intolerances and it made the experience much more memorable. I got the usual butterfish. My spouse and older son got the scallops and my little one got the chicken tenders and fries (off menu for kids). We shared the crab cakes and fried calamari and 2 desserts. All were delicious! I like how there was a clear sign to not park on the West side of the parking area for the shopping plaza for Pono. Parking is always easy here, anyway. We'll come back again.

    Mushroom gnocchi
    Sarah U.

    Returned a year later and still incredible. The mahi mahi is out of this world!!! Perfect crispy edges mixed with the peanut sauce, be still my heart. Service is prompt and very friendly and the interior is chic and comfortable.

    Mac nut crusted mahi
    Joyce Z.

    It has been years since we dined at Grover Beach, but when we discovered Chef and owner had island ties, had to stop by before leaving. Through word of mouth, they have been consistently busy even during off peak days and it's no wonder after having their mac crusted mahi mahi and fried chicken and trout caviar roe for a bit of mauka meets makai. Just be aware that this is not sturgeon caviar but caviar roe which is fine for the price point. Did check out their HH menu for next time as a few of the items is reminiscent of what I've had in Maui. Couple that with the excellent service thanks to our server and I hope to return soon to check it out.

    She Crab Soup with Chard Bread
    LaTonya F.

    My favorite she crab soup. And the butter fish you have to get there early cause they sell out quickly. Pricing is perfect. Love the ambiance with their modern decor and the chef comes by to make sure everything is good. Close to the beach too. Heck, you can get off the train, pick up your order and get back on and enjoy it.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Best fish restaurant around! I had the swordfish it was absolutely wonderful. Everyone else had the same reaction.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elaine Y.
    1044
    1666
    4551

    1 month ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    20 hours ago

    Great ambiance, taste and service! Perfect for a date night. Will definitely come back

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony S.
    0
    19
    11

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex H.
    1803
    473
    7931

    8 months ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 4
    Love this 13
    Oh no 1

    10 days ago

    Service was great. Food was very yummy. Atmosphere was nice and clean. Was an overall great experience. Would definitely come back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cheri R.
    104
    19
    85

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob M.
    0
    22
    0

    6 days ago

    Food and service is awesome. One of our favorite restaurants .. we save for special occasions.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ashlee A.

    Ashlee A.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joyce Z.
    363
    1404
    22576

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ashlee A.

    Ashlee A.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Magnificent food. The poivre sauce was incredible. Great service. A knockout. And now a full bar

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike V.
    717
    1443
    5473

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Robert C.
    3
    133
    101

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dee P.
    13
    7
    0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sarah S.
    229
    32
    10

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lori W.
    3
    35
    10

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Pono Pacific Kitchen

    Where does one park? On Grand?

    There is street parking available on Grand Ave, as well as, any available Beach Place parking spot and the public parking lot behind the Grand Junction building parking lot. Please do not park in the Grand Junction/Grover Station Grill parking lot… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Hapy Bistro - Half rack of ribs with a skewer of grilled shrimp topped with pineapple relish, served with sweet potato fries. #hapybistro #hapyspecials

    Hapy Bistro

    4.5(698 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Was in Pismo Beach for a medical appointment and was a bit early so I drove around the office and…read morediscovered this yummy restaurant. They had JUST opened for the day but were very happy to seat me. I ordered the Chicken Kabob and it was fantastic!! I will definitely return here the next time I am in the area!!

    A pretty decent restaurant in the Pismo beach area if you are looking for a chill, slow-paced,…read morewell-decorated place to eat at. As soon as I walked in, I was mesmerized by the refrigerator row of wine/champaign bottles. The bar area is well decorated with a dark background and small lights to emulate a dark starry night. Their service was not good in our L.A.-opinionated minds. Yes, we were greeted and seated immediately upon arrival. We waited maybe 20 minutes before someone eventually came to take our order. Mind you, the whole time we were ready to order, the waitress who seated us was walking back and forth, setting up tables around us. She clearly saw that we were ready to order but didn't even offer to take our orders or get another staff who could. This is a place to come to if you are NOT in a hurry and are here to simply chill and take life SLOCAL style. The food here seems like a fusion between American and Mediterranean style. 1. Octopus Appetizer (4.5/5) Large octopus tentacles served with a combination of vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, roasted peppers) toasted with garlic and olive oil. The vegetables and octopus were all cooked very well. The octopus was fresh and melts in your mouth. 2. Grilled Asparagus (2.5/5) Large asparagus that's seasoned lightly, but it was not cooked correctly. It had a very stringy-fibery texture. 3. Philly cheesesteak (2/5) The hoagie bread was grocery store quality at best. We were sad that it wasn't even toasted or warmed up, so ended up ditching the bread/bun and just ate the inside. The cheese was at least nicely melted. The onion and bell peppers were fresh, but the steak was "meh." Definitely not quality beef. The beef itself was also not seasoned enough, so was bland and dry. 4. Onion rings (5/5) Fried to perfection. Loved that the onions were fresh and it was easy to pull apart with each bite. The aioli sauce that its served with is plain and bland though. 5. Crab cake (4/5): Crabby patty anyone? All I tasted was fried Panko batter. Wish the patty itself had more flavor and spice. The garlic aioli sauce that came with it though was good. 6. Dr. Marquis Salad (4/5): Fresh spring mix lettuce topped with ground beef and crispy bacon, tomato, sliced avocado and tossed with their house-made olive oil, salt and pepper dressing. Overall, it was a hearty salad with plentiful flavor. It was just a bit weird to have ground beef in salad, but I guess that's what makes this salad dish unique

    Photos
    Hapy Bistro
    Hapy Bistro - Pan Seared Salmon

    Pan Seared Salmon

    Hapy Bistro - Lamb chops

    See all

    Lamb chops

    SeaVenture Restaurant

    SeaVenture Restaurant

    4.1(716 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    First time at this restaurant. It's hidden above the hotel, or in the hotel? Super fancy. I wasn't…read morea fan of parking, they didn't seem to have a lot of spaces, or maybe I didn't see that they had more. I'm not sure. I ended up parking on the street. The restaurant has outdoor seating, a bar, and an amazing view. Unfortunately it was a foggy evening. My boyfriend's uncle is a regular there and knows the waiter so we had excellent service. The price is high but the food looked good. Small portions, but it is a fancy restaurant so that's expected. If you're a bougie seafood loving person, then this is the place to go.

    You go to a place like SeaVenture Beach Hotel in Pismo Beach with a certain level of trust…read more It's the kind of spot that usually delivers. Ocean out front, solid food, no real surprises. You walk in expecting a good time and most of the time, that's exactly what you get. Which is why this one stings a little. Mother's Day brunch. Prix fixe. Three courses. The kind of setup that should feel special but sometimes ends up feeling like a well-dressed assembly line. We went all in. Party of four, one of everything to start. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella bruschetta was fine. Fresh enough, pleasant enough. But it didn't feel like a celebration. It felt like something you've had before, somewhere else, done the same way. Safe. The ceviche tostadas were the high point early on. Bright, clean, refreshing. Exactly what you expect sitting on the Central Coast with the ocean a few steps away. No complaints there. The Cali deviled eggs were smooth, almost too easy to eat. Avocado mousse, a little jalapeño kick. Thoughtful, balanced. A small win. Then the fried pork belly tacos show up, and on paper, this is the one. This is the dish you circle before you even get there. But the promise doesn't quite land. The pickled onions, carrots, cabbage, all the things that are supposed to cut through that richness, barely show up. You're left wanting more contrast, more intention. Then the mains. My mom gets the shrimp and lobster risotto and suddenly things feel right again. Rich, comforting, the kind of dish that keeps you going back for another bite even when you're full. She loved it, and that matters. My dad goes with the stuffed baked eggplant and is completely happy. No notes, no complaints. Just quietly enjoying his plate, which honestly says a lot. I order the seared salmon, trying to be responsible, maybe even a little healthy. And it shows. Too much. It's clean, sure. But it's also forgettable. Somewhere along the way, someone decided that healthy means dialing everything back. It doesn't have to. It shouldn't. My fiancée gets the braised short rib, and this is where the kitchen reminds you what it can do. Tender meat, crispy potato, creamy polenta. Thought-out, satisfying, the kind of plate that feels finished. Dessert rolls in, and by now you're hoping for a strong close. Chocolate avocado mousse. Interesting idea, lands somewhere in the middle. Then, a huge slice of strawberry cheesecake that does exactly what it's supposed to do. Sweet, familiar, comforting. No risks, no regrets. And that's kind of the story of the whole meal. Nothing terrible. Plenty that's enjoyable. But for a place you trust, on a day that's supposed to feel a little more special, it never quite gets there. You leave full. You leave fine. But for the first time in a while, you also leave thinking you might have been happier somewhere else. And that's not something you expect to feel walking out of Sea Venture

    Photos
    SeaVenture Restaurant - Feel like your on a cruise ship without the water legs.

    Feel like your on a cruise ship without the water legs.

    SeaVenture Restaurant - Pan-Seared Half Chicken*

    Pan-Seared Half Chicken*

    SeaVenture Restaurant - Beautiful view from the restaurant

    See all

    Beautiful view from the restaurant

    Pono Pacific Kitchen - seafood - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...