Wow I honestly wasn't expecting such a small mom and pop shop to be probably my new favorite Hawaiian spot, but here we are. TK Cafe has thoroughly impressed me off first impression, and if I was closer, I'd probably be a regular here. For how much we ordered, the food didn't take too long to come out and genuinely, was so good. We got a lot here, from the garlic shrimp to the popcorn chicken, and so much more. The popcorn chicken was, without a doubt, my favorite item. We originally came here because a friend said they had the best popcorn chicken, and I'd honestly agree. It was crispy but also still a bit juicy and I feel like most places go heavily into the crisp aspect and it ends up just seeming overcooked. But it was a 10/10 here. The proportions are huge, so it's easy to over order. The crab rangoons were good on the portions and crispness and not overly filled with cream cheese which is nice. The noodles were good, pretty average, same with the Mac salad. The garlic shrimp was a bit overly garlic-y, but it was still good. If you're looking for a new Hawaiian spot, definitely check out TK Cafe. The proportions are huge and the taste is amazing. If I'm ever in Monrovia again, I'd definitely be stopping by! read more

TK Cafe - Popcorn chicken Mac salad Crab rangoon Noodles Garlic shrimp - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

Not too many Hawaiian spots in the SGV, but I'm glad I came across this one. It sits in a corner of a large strip mall with plenty of parking. All the familiar Hawaiian items are here, and then some. They offer A LOT of different dishes, including a whole bunch of dim sum. And their beverage menu is extensive as well, from your basic teas to milk tea boba and slushies. It's pretty impressive how these folks are able to squeeze all this food in this tiny little restaurant. Decided to go with the dish that everyone who has been to Hawaii has eaten at some point: the loco moco. I thought it might be a good way to gauge how authentic their food is. Ordered a side of Portuguese sausage musubi as well. Yeah, I'm a pig. Loco Moco - 5/10: so yeah. This definitely isn't your traditional loco moco, or at least the dish that I grew up eating (808 born and raised). Two patties, mounds of rice, eggs (unfortunately served over hard...should always be over easy so the yolk comes out) side mac salad - check, check, check and check. But then they bury on the bottom of this dish a bunch of stir-fried veggies, which threw me off a bit. This dish ain't supposed to be somewhat healthy. And then they throw a very light brown sauce on it that definitely isn't gravy. More like a brown sauce you'd mix in with pan-fried noodles. Yeah, just not the way this dish is supposed to made. But at least they give you a lot of it! - Portuguese Spam Musubi - 7.5/10: this one was much better. All the elements were there, and yes, they used Portuguese sausages. Hard to screw up musubi, but believe me, it can be done. Two pieces come in an order and they're on the larger side. So yeah, a little disappointed. I will say though that if I'm in the area again, I might order some dim sum. Happy feasting! read more

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Craving Hawaiian comfort food, we stopped by TK Cafe. I was torn between my go-to kalua pork and the mahi mahi, but since we were already getting poke (and my friend isn't into kalua), I went with my second favorite: loco moco. The portion was beyond generous -- two heaping scoops of rice, a scoop of mac salad, two juicy, peppery patties, and two sunny-side-up eggs, all sitting on a bed of steamed veggies. It's flavorful, balanced, and seriously filling. What really makes TK Cafe stand out is their homemade sauces. The teriyaki is smoky, sweet, and savory, while the katsu sauce has a light tang. Both were served warm, which just elevated the entire plate. Comfort food done right! read more

TK Cafe - Loco Moco - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

Been hearing good things about TK Cafe and finally made it here. I ordered Hawaiian BBQ mix. It comes with kalbi, sliced beef and grilled chicken. It's served with rice, Mac salad and some cabbage under the meat. The food tastes great when I first got it. The meat is tender and has a good teriyaki flavor. I like the rice and Mac salad are not mushy. However, I later found a hair in the food... and the kalbi tasted like it's been marinated for a long time to the point it's on the verge of going bad. I went on a Sunday 3:15pm and there was no one else in the restaurant. The staff who took my order was friendly. The other staff also greeted me as I was walking out of the food. I love the pleasant encounter. The place is a hole in the wall kind of place but it's clean. I'd like to support small business but I'm a bit disappointed with my food today. read more

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TK Cafe is a total hole-in-the-wall mom and pop restaurant in the Vons plaza. Gotta love the Saran wrapped table in the dining area - so Asian! It's been here a long time as I came here years ago when I worked in Monrovia, and I'm glad it's still here especially with the all the turnover in restaurants and shops in the area. They serve Hawaiian food and some dim sum as well as some boba drinks. I got the BBQ chicken and shrimp lunch special and the Hawaiian BBQ mixed plate. Food was good and portions are generous! Food was fresh as it was made to order. Prices for their drinks are pretty good but I didn't try the drinks so I can't say if they were any good. read more

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I was looking for a local Hawaiian spot and found TK Cafe. From the reviews, it seemed like a good place to try. And the fact they had chicken katsu, I was all in. TK Cafe is a small mom and pop restaurant that serves Hawaiian inspired dishes and also dim sum. I didn't get it at first either, but the owners and chef look like they have some dim sum experience. I was tempted to try their dim sum, but their overall menu prices are very pricey. Dim sum was over $12 an order, while everything else was between $12-$20+ an order. I ordered the Chicken Katsu Bowl and it was a good portion. The Chicken itself was nice and crispy. I got some katsu sauce from their sauce station and it paired okay with that bowl. But the bowl itself was a little too dry for me. There was some fresh vegetables and rice. I think if there was an added scoop of macaroni, it would've made it less dry and a really good bowl. So it really just needed more sauce. I'm glad I tried this spot, the food is definitely fresh. If I come back, I'd like to try their regular BBQ plate. Hopefully that would be saucier. Lots of parking upfront or around the shopping plaza. read more

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This is the first time I've tried this place, and it did not disappoint. The eatery is located in a strip mall, and parking may be tricky during lunch hours. The place is small with three small tables and one longer table. Since most of the orders are for takeout, it was fine. I tried its spam masubi and fish and chips (or should I say fries). Both items are delicious. The fish was fried just about right, and the sauces that came with it were tasty as well. The spam masubi was huge, and I wish it were a bit thicker. I also ordered a green tea, and the owner upgraded it to a larger size for free. read more

TK Cafe - Fish and chips - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

I love this business!! Reliably good for all Hawaiian cravings I have. I love the self-serve sauce bar. This is my go-to spot for Hawaiian food in the area & when I don't want to make it myself. Workers are consistently nice and friendly. Parking available in a big shared lot. read more

TK Cafe - Mac salad, spam musubi, sauce - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

I came back to TK Cafe, this time during a weekday lunch. The experience was a bit different from the first, but nonetheless still fantastic. I tried the chicken and beef combo. The chicken it comes with is a Hawaiian-grilled style. Apparently I can substitute the beef for another chicken protein, so I choose the Katsu chicken. The service isn't the quickest because there were a lot of customers in line, waiting for their order, or had ordered via the phone. The interior hasn't changed much, with only 4 tables. Some folks waited for their order outside the restaurant. I got my food after 15-20 minutes, but it was worth it. The portion was HUGE! The amount of Katsu and grilled chicken I had made me so happy (it was also delicious). The macaroni salad was solid as usual, and the amount of rice provided was perfect. I also grew to love the katsu and teriyaki sauce that's self-serve. You know it's fresh because it comes out hot when dispensed. Overall, I'm still very impressed by TK Cafe and its food. I'll definitely be back. read more

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First time here and to be honest, I chose this place because it was next to shop where my wife was getting her nails done and it had a big TV on the wall. It is in a huge shopping center with lots of different shops and lots of parking. The place is small with a few tables inside. Many of the customers were coming in to pick up their to-go orders. And they had a steady flow of customers coming into the restaurant. Even the local law enforcement officer's came in to pick up lunch. Luckily they do have a decent size TV on the wall for me to watch while waiting. We ordered the Chicken Katsu and the Mixed Hawaiian BBQ. Both with steamed white rice and macaroni salad. Ok first thing... WOW! to the portions. The chicken Katsu is nice and tender and crunchy. The BBQ mix has Kalbi, sliced beef with onions, chicken, all on top of a bed of steamed vegetables. See mom! I did get my vegetables! Lol. The macaroni salad is spot on delicious! I went back to the counter and ordered just a small side macaroni salad. No way to finish everything in one sitting, unless you're the Rock or some huge football player! Nice meal for later. I am not sure if it's a franchise or just a mom and pop restaurant. The food is pretty good and the staff is very friendly and nice. They get a lot of take out orders and they now have smoothies and milk drinks with Boba (and not for me. Lol.) But nice to have a choice. They also have Hawaiian Sun drinks in the can! Come by if you're interested in Hawaiian BBQ. Thanks for your interest and always remember to be kind to others. read more

TK Cafe - Chicken Katsu plate with white steamed rice and macaroni salad. - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

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We wanted Hawaiian bbq but not Ono so we came to this Mom and pop place in Monrovia and they also have dim sum as well! I got the combo plate with a side of katsu (amazing) and an order of spam musubi! Since it's a small business the wait was about 15-20 minutes and the portion is amazing, we ordered a combo per person and honestly it was a lot of food that was had leftovers that I ate for the next two days. Shareable combos! read more

TK Cafe - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

Small family owned restaurant serving up delicious Hawaiian bbq chicken! There's limited seating in this place. Only one 4 top, a couple of 2 tops and a large community table. We usually order takeout. I love the large portion of chicken with each order. Plenty of food for one person and some leftover for another meal. I've also tried their dim sum menu. Their popcorn chicken is huge and has a good kick for medium spicy. The Shumai and bbq pork buns seem to be homemade. The black bean sesame balls are so good! My kids always fight over who gets the last one. read more

Been coming here for years, and although their prices have gone up since I first started going here, they never disappoint! They're very generous with their portion sizes as well! read more

TK Cafe - 16. Hawaiian BBQ Mix 18. Chicken Combo - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

i can't believe i've just discovered this spot! TK cafe is a family owned and operated restaurant serving hawaiian cuisine and surprisingly ... even dim sum! tucked in the corner of a busy plaza, the space is pretty small with seating of 3-4 tables. given so, it can feel quite stuffy inside as the kitchen is pretty much directly in front of you -- probably why most of the orders were takeout. food is made to order, so be prepared to wait a bit (20 mins more or less but well worth it!!) guys, the plates were both HEAVY and HUGE!! both dishes came to about $35 which is so good considering the generous portions and how delicious everything was! hawaiian bbq mix: came with 3 types of meat, so flavorful! 1/2 a star was knocked off bc the galbi was hard to eat and really chewy :( but everything else was so juicy, hot & fresh -- paired really nicely with the rice and macaroni salad chicken katsu : i am a katsu girlie! love love LOVED the katsu! the cuts were thick, juicy, and of course extremely crispy. a very classic plate you could never go wrong with but this one just knocks all other places i've been to out of the park! will definitely be returning!! read more

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Great portions for the price! I really like their bbq chicken and chicken Katsu (fried well!). The macaroni salad is also very solid. If I lived closer to this place I'd eat here over Ono any day. Overall 8.5/10! read more

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TK Cafe offers an interesting menu of both Hawaiian BBQ and dim sum. I have only tried their Hawaiian BBQ. I easily placed my order online and the food was ready within 15-20 minutes. Spam Masubi (5/5) - classic delicious comfort Hawaiian food that had a balanced ratio of spam, rice, and teriyaki sauce Shrimp & Chicken Katsu Combo (4/5) - This combo plate was packed with food- rice, protein, mac salad, and steamed vegetables. The shrimp and the chicken katsu were perfectly crispy and were great with the side of katsu and teriyaki sauces. read more

TK Cafe - Spam Masubi - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

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I really wanted to love this place but it was a little disappointing. Even though the flavors were good, the popcorn chicken and chicken katsu was over fried and too salty. Most places would put Katsu sauce in there to go order, but they didn't put any in there. Also, the mix Hawaiian plate only had a few piece of beef and one thin piece of Kalbi, it was mostly chicken. They do have generous portions, but I don't think we'll be coming back. read more

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So I've been here 4-5 times now. They don't miss. The people hear are so nice and there store has room so you can eat there for lunch and enjoy yourself. First this small little place has great Hawaiian Bbq Mix and Spam Musubi! I would definitely come here to try that. They also have dim sum! What's really cool is they keep their sauces heated and I haven't seen that before ever at any Hawaiian bbq place. I'm sauce guy and I will come here just for the katsu and teriyaki sauce! Also, ask for chili oil and try it with the Spam Musubi and Katsu sauce combined. Thank me later.,,, read more

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I wanted to love it because the reviews are so good, but it just wasn't on par with other Hawaiian food in the SGV. Portions were generous, food was fresh, but taste was mid (don't order the loco moco), tables were dirty and sticky, and there were flies in the cafe that wouldn't leave your food alone. read more

TK Cafe - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

Was in the plaza and looking for dinner options. It was at the edge of the plaza and easy to miss. Inside, it is pretty small with limited seating. There was only one group inside chatting at the time. Menu was easy to read and everywhere. Staff and service was good. We got the Hawaiian BBQ chicken ($13.78) and chicken katsu ($12.98). Portions were very generous- lots of meat. The BBQ chicken was flavorful and very tender. The chicken katsu was more disappointing as there was mostly batter and a thin piece of chicken inside. It was also too hard so maybe overfried which made it taste greasy in my mouth. It came with two scoops of white rice, Mac salad, and some steamed veggies. read more

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My co workers and I decided to order a few items from this place and their portions are HUGE! I ordered their popcorn chicken and the box was large and the breading was flavorful along with the sauces they pair it with. The pieces weren't small or mostly breading either the chicken pieces were good chunks also. My colleague ordered one of their plates and it looked for 2 people to share. I would love to try more of their other items in the future!! read more

I enjoyed the food. Salmon plate and Chicken Combo (Katsu/Bbq). For the price, you get a lot of food. Great customer service. Just keep it mind, not a lot of seating inside. read more

TK Cafe - Chicken Combo - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

OMG THE BIGGEST PORTIONS EVER Most popular is the "Hawaiian mix" combo plate. Had a great workout nearby and came here for lots of protein and white rice Obviously it hit the spotttt read more

The Hawaiian bbq combos here are filling and reasonably priced. My daughters really enjoyed the spam masubi which had a decent rice to spam ratio. The dim was a bit pricey and underwhelming. I recommend sticking to the bbq options. Several small tables inside, self serve sauces and water. Accepts cards including Amex. read more

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The shumai were pretty big, flavorful and juicy. They tasted freshly made. The hargow were on the small side but were definitely tasty and shrimpy flavored. The combo plate was huge and worth the price as you can share with two people for sure. The mahi mahi was fried perfectly and the BBQ chicken was tasty and cooked well...crispy but not over fried. I would definitely come back and try some of their other dishes. I had to deduct a stat due to them being very slow and staff arguing in front of us. It was uncomfortable for me and very unprofessional of them. read more

TK Cafe - Shumai and hargow - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

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We ordered the spam musubi and the chicken katsu plate with a medium side of macaroni salad for two. Their food was delicious in taste and generous in portion. We ordered through a delivery app but are looking forward to trying more of their dishes and specials. read more

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Writing a 3-star review to hopefully get the owner's attention on this. Overall, the food I've had here has been excellent quality. Good flavor whether it's teriyaki chicken or the chicken katsu. Katsu is always fried to perfection and not seasoned too heavily. Today I ordered a chicken katsu plate and added a side order of curry. The curry was not Japanese style like I expected, and that is ok. The problem is that it tasted like it was made from a powder mix which lacked flavor and was salty, and it was thickened to the point where it looked like jello even while it was still hot. read more

TK Cafe - Side order of curry. It was overly thickened and looked like this after stirring. - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

This place located in a shopping center . Went after lunch time . Order the Kalbi ribs ,I enjoyed my plate comes w/rice ,macaroni and veggies. The ribs didn't have a lot of fat so I found that enjoyable to eat good flavor. Served a good portion,just took a long time to get my food ,maybe that a good thing . Spam masubi was traditional and tasty. This place has a lot of choices on the menu not just Hawaiian fusion Inside a bit small ,I did notice alot of to go orders. read more

Portions are larger and the restaurant caters! Food was not too impressive but the portions were HUGE! I am definitely see the appeal of this restaurant. The meat was plenty for To Go and a whole Family. read more

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TJ Café Hawaiian is remarkably authentic -- people I know who've been to Hawaii say it nails the flavors many times over. From the moment you bite into a plate, you can tell they're honoring Hawaiian tradition without dialing back on quality or flavor. The aloha is in every dish: succulent proteins, rich sauces, proper sides, and that signature harmony of sweet, savory, and umami. It's one of the few spots where locals say "this tastes like home." Highly recommended if you crave true Hawaiian vibes close to home. Service is fast. Food is great. Price is under what's expected. read more

This little Hawaiian place caught my eye when I was at the Sanrio store next door and I decided to give it a try since it had great reviews. I ordered the family meal (2 BBQ beef and teriyaki chicken), sesame balls, and spam musubi. The price I paid for everything was so worth it. The family meal was only $50 and it came with 3 different choices of meat entrees, steamed rice, and macaroni salad. As you can see in my photos, it's a lot of food. All of the food tasted pretty good too! The meat is a little tough though which would be my only complaint. Service is great and there's plenty of parking as well. There is not a lot of seating inside so take out would be best in my opinion. read more

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New price for family meal ($65) as of 7/28/25. Kalbi and bbq beef extra ($15, $8). Still huge portions. However, the bbq beef is not as tender as before. read more

TK Cafe - Family meal menu as of 7/28/25. - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

This is such a secret spot it should be well known by everyone!! The galbi was so good and the loco moco was delicious, they have fresh teriyaki and katsu sauce on the side. The service was great and it was quiet when we came in for the evening. The prices are good for what they give you. read more

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Friendly service. I love their chicken katsu. Big and juicy pieces. The katsu plate can easily feed 2 people. I decided to give their popcorn chicken a try. Wow!!!! So flavorful. Was shocked at the $12 price tag, but honestly for the portion size and tasty chunks..well worth it. So every Tues its T pumps and then drive by TK to pickup chicken. Popcorn chicken and chicken katsu..they make it the best! read more

Food is easily 4 stars; flavorful and plentiful. Everything I have tried here has been good. While I don't normally include other conditions in my rating, I do think this one is important. They had a "cleaning bathroom", but it clearly didn't look like they were cleaning anything. Unlucky for me, I had to go to the bathroom and had to go to Vons; it took me at least 10 minutes. I understand that perhaps bathroom maintenance requires a lot of time and effort. However, if their bathroom is always being cleaned/out of service, this will definitely make me think twice about eating here. Maybe I would stop by for takeout, but I'm honestly not close enough to make that worth it. read more

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They do not skimp out on the portions that they give here. Most places will give you a lot of food but it doesn't taste as good. But TK gives you the quality and quantity. The prices are very fair compare to the amount that you get here. Their Hawaiian chicken plate and chicken katsu plate is my go to here. You can get the katsu and teriyaki sauce in the counter on the side. Solid place to grab a quick bite or to get take out. read more

TK Cafe - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

Mixed review here. Here's what we ordered and how we rate it Spam musubi yes we'd order this again Katsu never again. Tasted like it was fried in the same oil as shrimp. BBQ mixed plate yes we'd order this again. Big portions of the beef, kalbi and chicken. Mac salad was okay. Sesame ball this was exactly what I was hoping for. It was freshly fried, crunchy on the outside and chewy inside with the perfect amount of red bean paste. This comes with a dipping sauce but I prefer it without. Mango tea yes order I'd order again. Place is clean, service is courteous and quick. read more

Very flavorful popcorn chicken, nice big pieces and good katau sauce, hidden gem for me read more

TK Cafe - Popcorn chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Monrovia, California

The food is good and they have big portions. Get the bbq plate 5/5 star but I did not like the drinks that's just a personal preference though read more

I love this place because their portions are very generous so i always have left overs for the next day and the food is delicious and very authentic to each culture it comes from. Very hard to do but they do it well. Prices are super affordable and quality is top. Bonus: they make milk teas and several Other delicious drinks with boba and smoothies! So i can get a nice drink and a great meal from the same place. Can't beat that read more