Pono Pacific Kitchen is an absolute gem! The four of us had a wonderful, early dinner after an afternoon of laughs at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano. Settle in for the best not just "bread and butter", but grilled local sourdough with whipped brie butter and honey! Then the new fried green tomatoes appetizer! And, because the MISOYAKI BUTTERFISH is the most wonderful dish on the planet... we each had the butterfish! We don't usually order desserts, but the "Lilikoi Tart" is a killer! A warm, inviting vibe with management and staff that are the best. You'll love it! read more

Ambience was good. Service was great. Food was delicious. Felt very welcome as soon as we walked in. It's pricey I guess, but the food was worth the price. I had sea bass and my husband had the butter fish, which he said was some of the best fish he's ever had. Mussels came with my sea bass and they were great. I highly recommend. I would say everyone in there was very pleasant and the service was excellent. read more

Our first time at Pono, despite not having a full bar, the food was delicious. The atmosphere is nice. But there were a couple of odd things. We were told they cannot remove the cucumbers from an entree because the "produce/protien" calculations would be off for the rest of the week. Also, a salad was served on a place that was cracked and chipped in many places and we were told "if we got rid of all our cracked plates, we would be out of plates", and "if the chef plates it and sends it out, we cannot take it back". Interesting. From what I can see it is a food hazard to serve food on a cracked plate according to the State of California. Anyway, enjoyed the food and the time with our friends, but for the money we will return to the Oyster Loft next time. read more

After hearing all the buzz in town about the new Pono Pacific close to the Grover Beach train station, it was time to give the restaurant a try. We were able to easily make a reservation online, and were shown to our table promptly by a friendly hostess. We ordered several appetizers, outstanding was the ahi crudo and the crab cake, which was perfectly flaky and filled to the brim with fresh crab. For the entrees we decided to go with the butterfish and mahi mahi which were both absolutely wonderful, fresh and tasteful with the perfect blend of spices without overpowering the fish. The table service was outstanding, our waiter was knowledgeable, courteous and professional. The ambiance and decoration is stunning, modern and a perfect fit for the high-end cuisine. I could imagine this to be a great venue for a romantic date or intimate dinner with friends. We were too full for desserts but will definitely be back for Happy Hour or another delightful dinner. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Mahi mahi - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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My family and I recently dined here and we were in love! Right when you enter, the interior design is colorful and the restaurant is very welcoming. The hostesses and owner were so sweet and attentive, and the service was wonderful. The butter fish was our favorite dish and the fish was so tender, served with a rich miso dressing. It was clear all of their fish was fresh and prepared perfectly. Overall, I definitely recommend this restaurant and plan on coming again if in the area! read more

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So glad we were able to score a table on New Year's Eve! We had an outstanding meal. Great service. The proud owner, Ashlee Alewine, came by to check on us after our meal. We chatted briefly about our shared love of Hawaii and my excitement at the island inspiration of the menu. The rainy night made it all the more cozy. We started with the beef tartar w/ uni. Because of course we did! We also got a dozen oysters because there were 3 of us and the math worked out. I chose the ahi crudo as my main because I was nibbling on so many other things. Excellent choice. They really took it to the next level. My people got the short rib and the filet. Everything was perfectly cooked and presented. There were 3 deserts - cheesecake, creme brulee, and the Pono Parfait. So we got one of each. I don't know what I was thinking choosing the parfait. I'm not a huge "peanut butter for dessert" fan and so it was a little too rich for me but my dining companions happily finished it off for me. Congratulations, Preston and Ashlee on your beautiful restaurant! I'm so glad there's a new nice restaurant in the area and I'm looking forward to eating here for years to come! read more

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This is my new go to for delightful seafood. The food is fresh, inspired, light and just delectable. We have had: butterfish, swordfish, mahi, lamb chops, tomato soup, ahi crudo, and crème brûlée. The sauces are unique and don't disguise or overpower the flavor of the entree, they highlight and enhance. Each dish is perfect! My absolute favorite side is the black rice, best I've ever had. Mandarin crème brûlée, scrumptious. Ambient noise level is perfect. No music assault here, if there is music it is a background white noise. Our favorite way to have a meal, with quiet conversation we don't have to struggle to compete with loud music. Service is excellent. Each server is versed on the dishes, with great descriptions and input. Attentive without being overbearing, and great at refilling water, big plus! I recommend highly, you won't be disappointed. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Mandarin crème brûlée with fresh flowers. - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Amazing food, beer, wine and ambiance. Had the butterfish after trying the delicious lobster ceviche. I tried the swordfish too, super juicy and meaty. G re at staff as we were served by Heidi, knowledgeable and gracious. On point on serving us. Kudos to chefs on bringing great flavors to our palate. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Butterfish with Hayashi bok choy - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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First time here tonight for a Mother's Day dinner, very comfortable beautiful setting. From the moment we sat down what an amazing time we had from our server LJ who was very knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive and friendly. The food experience was absolutely fantastic from the beginning with starter of bread and honey butter and the bbq oysters (I will go back just for those) but then our dinners of mahi mahi, filet mignon, scallops which we all shared bites of were perfection, one of the most memorable meals I've had in the Pismo area and I've eaten at many restaurants here, the Chef absolutely knows flavors and how to cook fish perfectly. If you're in the area I highly recommend it ! read more

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Excellent Asian / Hawaiian / Californian fusion place. All we've had was seafood (but they also have short ribs, filet mignon, etc.), so this review focuses on the fish. And what fish! This is the second time we've eaten there, and we came away impressed both times. Between both visits my wife and I have had the special scallops with pork belly, macadamia nut ahi ahi, and the shichimi crusted ahi - all wonderful. Every entrée has a beautiful sauce and is plated like a Michelin-starred restaurant. The fish is fresh, cooked to perfection, and utterly delicious. Plus, the portions are just right, no "two bites and you're done" here. Last night we started with an excellent ceviche, very different than what you're used to (no chips). On our earlier visit we had the duck confit spring rolls, which were rich with duck, yet overall pretty light due to the impressively light crunchy exterior. We finished with chocolate cake with a scoop of banana ice cream. Just right. I'm sort of hesitant to write such a glowing review because it would be a shame if the place became so popular we couldn't get a reservation. But Preston Tripp (Chef) and partner Ashlee Alewine (front of the house) deserve all the praise we can give them. They've created a light airy space that serves outstanding seafood dishes right here in San Luis Obispo County. And that's pretty remarkable. read more

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Best food and service we've had in a long time! The filet was to die for and I haven't stopped thinking about the chocolate mochi cake! Service could not have been better! It was a cold evening and we sat on the patio as we had our dog with us. They lit every heater on the patio for just us, moved them so we were comfortable, and brought us blankets. They also brought a bowl of water for our pup. Our waiter was so great explaining the ingredients in each dish, was prompt and could not have done a better job! With service and food quality taking a hit post Covid at so many restaurants, Pono Pacific is truly a standout! read more

This was our second visit, our first was 3 months ago. Overall our experiences were similar. Pono offers a primarily seafood-centric menu with a Hawaiian flare. On the first visit we had crab cakes, ahi crudo, scallops, and a slow-cooked short beef rib. Tonight we had crab cakes, Manila clams in a broth, and butterfish. On both occasions we finished with their yuzu tart. Overall service was competent. The atmosphere is open and accommodating, but tilts a little more toward fast-casual than fine dining. We found their star dish, the butterfish, to be over-sauced. As my wife said, the star of the dish should have been the fish, and instead it was the sauce. Otherwise we found everything to be tasty and well prepared, Unfortunately on our last visit my wife didn't like her main dish, and mentioned that to the server. He immediately offered to bring her an alternative dish but she declined. A little later the owner/manager stopped by, offered her apologies, and said she was taking my wife's main course and our desert off the bill. We protested but she wouldn't budge, so we made it up in our tip. It's hard not to love a well managed restaurant where staff are well trained and customer satisfaction is a priority. We'll be back, though I'll likely stay away from the butterfish. read more

It's me.... back again. Wanted to give my 2 cents about our recent dining experience with a large group. The staff at Pono handled our group of 12 fantastically, even considering how extremely busy they were on a Friday night. Sandy our server was engaging & informative. Having such a big party we were able to sample multiple appetizers on the menu and let me tell you, all plates/bowls were practically licked clean! Fresh local bread with whipped Brie butter & Rosemary honey butter (get outta here so good!), tuna tartare (incredible...please make this a larger entree), Hamachi ceviche (they shave the fish - so clever, so incredibly bright & fresh), Hayashi Brussels sprouts, and the surprise favorite Winter Squash (delish!). The entrees were all amazing. The stars of the show did not disappoint as usual: Misoyaki Butterfish, Macadamia Mahi Mahi (I want to buy that sauce to take home and pour it on everything!) but I have to mention that my husband (who is very critical of restaurant dining) said that the filet mignon was done perfectly. Great crust for medium rare, and extremely tender & flavorful. He raved about the very thinly sliced potato Au gratin and commented that he would like to sneak in the kitchen and steal a whole sheet of them. He didn't, but seriously considered asking for an extra side next time. Side note: That would be a great option to add sides to your menu for big eaters. Ps. Don't skip on the dessert. The Pono parfait is one of my favorite desserts I have ever had and the mochi cake was delicious as well. Thank you for being amazing hosts for our group's 3 birthdays and wedding anniversary celebrations. Please give the chef our compliments, as well as your entire staff for an amazing dining experience. Can't wait to come back. read more

Love the decor and atmosphere and the food was equally amazing . We will definitely be back we are here for parents weekend at Cal Poly and wanted a nice dinner out this place did not disappoint . The poke was so good and the short rib was too . read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Parker with the Poke appetizer . - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

Expensive! Very unique menu, so I would highly recommend viewing it before making reservations or walking to eat. Creatively put together items, I had almost every appetizer on their menu and a few of their entrées. They have a chocolate, mochi banana dessert that is absolutely amazing! Love that they have wine specials and also encourage you to bring in your own bottle of wine. There are some creative cocktails made with Saky which is fun to try. read more

I could not love this place more. The ambiance and styling is on point, the service is great and the food is delicious!

Great dinner at Pono, the best restaurant we've been to when visiting Pismo area. Had the oysters , scallops, and sorbet . All amazing. Highly recommend this restaurant. Clay was great as a server. Will definitely return read more

Amazing everything at this restaurant is 5 stars. The service very kind and attentive. The room is comfortable and not loud. The manager is really nice and friendly but the star is the food so good I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Butterfish so nice - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

I had a great first impression with PPK! Great flavors and modifications to typical food (i. e. Mahi, Lobster in pasta, soup). I had the Ahi Crudo Appetizer, Butternut Squash Soup, and Shrimp and Lobster Tagliatelle. They were all excellent, But the Shrimp and Lobster was especially delicious! I will be coming back soon to try some other options. Cheers! read more

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Delicious!!! It was definitely refreshing to see some American/Hawaiian/Asian fusion cuisine in the area. The staff was super friendly and Dominic was a very attentive server. The food: A-mazing! Loved the food combinations. Everything we ate was paired so well and unique! We truly enjoyed everything we ordered! I kept telling my son and husband that I'm totally coming back again when we come to visit the area! The ambiance was very nice and modern! Plus- A real beautiful monstera plant sat in the clean bathroom. ;) Can't wait to eat here again! read more

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Agree with others that this place has good service. My caviar fried chicken came up fast. I could've been fine without the caviar as it was a bit too fishy. The kids' mini corn dogs were good even for adult standard. Their fries are nice and crisp. My wife got the soup of the day and it came with this toasted bread that is buttery good with the soup. The pano parfait was the big winner of the weekend. What a decadent dessert with a balance of chocolate, peanut and yogurt flavor that blend so well together. read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Fried chicken with garlic rice and caviar is good - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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The food scene on the Central Coast is pretty amazing. Most places source locally grown produce, meat, and seafood, which I'm totally here for. The highlight of our trip was visiting Pono Kitchen for dinner. The service was exceptional, and the staff was very knowledgeable when it came to my allergy. We started with the Ahi Crudo that was so luscious, and a visual work of art. The freshness of the fish was notable on the palette. I ordered the Channel Island White Seabass which was one of many entree options clearly labeled (GF) on the menu. The Seabass itself was seared beautifully, so succulent and flavorful. The soft herb and mussel billi bi sauce elevated the Seabass and to say this was incredible would be an understatement. The sauce paired with the mussels, the Seabass, the asparagus, and shoestring potatoes was hands down one of the most amazing dishes I have ever eaten. My dinner date ordered the she crab soup and the Macadamia Mexican Mahi Mahi which is raved about. Chef Preston Tripp is a culinary mastermind. Everything we ordered was just delicious. Also, don't skip on the GF dessert, the Pono Parfait was a layered dream. read more

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I've been to dinner and Happy Hour several times and I can't say enough good things about Pono! The service is excellent and the food is outstanding. I especially enjoyed the crab cakes and the decor and ambiance are very inviting. read more

Mahalo Pono Pacific Kitchen for a taste of home and for the creative twist of classics with Pacific Rim cuisine flare. Pono is for happy hour 4 to 6 and dinner nightly. They hope to do brunch and then lunch if the business continues to grow. Nice setting with outside, dog friendly dining but, not too casual as the decors nice so business casual with an aloha shirt fits right into this place. Nice visit with owner talking about life on Oahu where they lived. Service was on point too. Mahalo Nui, Aloha till next time! read more

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So happy we stopped here on our recent trip to the Central Coast. We had reservations, but it was a quiet Thursday. Service was wonderful. The food was delicious and beautifully plated. We had the butterfish and Mahi Mahi; both amazing and cooked perfectly. Will definitely be back on our next trip! read more

Pono Pacific Kitchen - Macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi - Seafood Near Me - Grover Beach, California

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Tonight we had reservations that we had to unexpectedly cancel. I called the host before the restaurant opened hoping to reach someone before advertised business hours. I explained we were unable to make our reservation and her mood immediately changed stating along the lines of "for future reference we are a small restaurant and we would appreciate a 24 hour notice for cancellations as I have turned down multiple parties." Completely understandable. When I went to apologize "I'm sor..." the line went dead. Hung up on me. Found it extremely unprofessional. Hoping that host keeps in mind she may have no idea what kind of business a person can be bringing to the table.. won't be recommending this establishment based off of first hand experience of first impressions. Do better read more

We visited this place and were blown away by the food. We were shocked how great the food tasted and look forward to going back again when we are in the area. read more

This place is now my go-to seafood place in SLO county, I went twice to ensure consistency and both times it was fabulous. Standouts are the scallops, the miso butterfish, the crusted Mahi Mahi and of course that crazy delicious bread and butter! The restaurant is small, modern decor and the service was terrific. read more

Pono is a newer spot with great friendly staff. Food comes out fast and drinks are good. Not super strong but taste like they are well mixed. Food was a little salty overall. We ordered the barbecue oysters and we were a bit overwhelmed by everything on top so we couldn't actually taste the actual oysters. We ordered the filet and ahi. Both choices were good but again-salty. Both the hostess and our server were great. The atmosphere is modern and great for a date night. We probably wouldn't bring our kids-more like and adults night out. read more

The owners here did an amazing job remodeling this place. Good is fantastic! Had the Seafood tower, very reasonably priced and the shrimp were HUGE! They have a happy hour that I am for sure coming back for. read more

The food is the best on the Central Coast. I had the swordfish atop potatoes au gratin. It was absolutely spectacular. The shishito peppers are to die for. Their passion fruit tart was amazing. Clay, our server, could not have been better. His attentiveness was perfect. His timing was spot-on. I highly recommend this gem of a restaurant. read more

As it was our first time here, we ordered a bunch of small plates, to taste as many dishes as possible. Overall, we were impressed. I think a great chef is marked by their creativity and balance of flavors, especially with sauces and this one gets my kudos. Crab soup - nice flavors with plenty of chunks of real crab. A bit salty for my taste but I'm a low-salt gal; my hubby thought it was perfect and would order it again. Ahi nachos - okay. Sauces were poured a bit heavy and over-powered the ahi. Next time I'll try the furikake ahi. Chargrilled oysters- oysters were very fresh but sauce was too rich for my taste. I should have ordered raw oysters instead. Mahi-mahi tacos - best among our appetizers! Fish was cooked perfectly. Easy to have the fish turn dry and rubbery but this was juicy and flavorful, and the garnishes were just right in texture and flavor. I would definitely order this again. Mussels in broth with lemon grass, chives, Thai basil and other amazing flavors - Mussels were cooked to perfection and came with two slices of grilled sourdough. Someone in the kitchen watched them carefully to get the char without burning the bread. Yum yum! Our favorite dish of the evening. read more

It was a very wonderful experience! Food great, menu was exciting. Great wines. Went for my birthday and they tested me like a honored guest. read more

Everything was excellent! We were able to get a reservation 20 minutes from our hotel and sat down in the stylish dining room. The food was fresh, light tasting but still fulfilling. The butterfish was flaky, tender and spiced perfectly. The California swordfish was exceptionally well cooked with the bordelaise sauce that made it feel like eating a well prepared beef steak even though it was fish. The waitstaff were courteous and kept our drinks topped off. All in all, it was a very good dining experience and we'll be coming back the next time we're in Pismo. read more

Everyone will enjoy their meal. Visually stunning plating and a taste bud success! While on the expensive side, it's well worth the trip read more

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Food is great. Service is super sweet. And you're so close to the beach! For filet and short ribs. So delicious! Only thing I wish they had is hard alcohol cocktails, they only have wine, beer and sake based cocktails. But still delicious!! read more

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Had a great meal of Sea-bass with fries and mussels last night. Cooked perfectly. I had eaten there before and thought it was ok. But, the local Seabass was outstanding! Can't wait to go back. Very fresh! read more

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It took me months+months to finally write this review because the experience was beyond awful. We decided to try this restaurant because of the write-up in San Luis Obispo News in January 2023. Terrible chairs (they looked good but are/were unbelievably uncomfortable). Then, the service was unacceptable. What was shocking is this was WITH one of the owners being present. In fact, we left soon after being served wine because the female server ignored us so I can't tell you if the food was good or not. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to my worst enemy. read more

We happened to stop by here during Happy Hour after a day of ATV'ing. Good food for seafood lovers. Taking 1 star away because the truffle fries my friend ordered were not warm she got them, and there isn't too many options for non-seafood lovers. Service was great, we sat in the patio since it was a beautiful day, but the indoor decor is very chic. read more

Wow, the food is delicious, thank you Yelp! This might be the best food in San Luis Obispo county. The fish ranks up there with the freshest I've had. We ordered the Seasonal Poke appetizer, Albacore Special, and Misoyaki Butterfish. The poke appetizer was perfectly flavored. The seared albacore fish special was out of this world. The albacore was so fresh it melted in your mouth. The wild rice and sugar snap peas just added to the perfection of this dish. The misoyaki butterfish was excellent but a bit on the sweet side. We finished with the creme brûlée which was a bit too citrusy for me but still yummy. We will definitely be back! read more

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