Wow Poki

4.7 (129 reviews)

Hawaiian, Japanese, Seafood

Closed • 11:00 am - 7:50 pm

Updated 2 months ago

Add Review

Call

Directions

Order Wow Poki Takeout or Delivery

Order Takeout or Delivery

Wow Poki Photos

Wow Poki - Poki Bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Wow Poki - a view of a restaurant counter - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Wow Poki - Small bowl with three protein and everything on it - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

+80

Wow Poki - IG: @foodsnoblegacy Menu - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Business Info

Health Information

View Health Score

Wow Poki menu photos

See all

WOW POKI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

Inside

23 Photos

Outside

6 Photos

Casual

Quiet

Dogs allowed

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Wow Poki

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.

Start your review...

Browse more easily on the app

Reviews With Photos

Rice, lettuce, tuna, avo, edamame, onion, cucumber, crunchy onion , SPICY

They DoorDash their police bowls with a bag of ice around it to keep it cold. So appreciated and the quality is amazing. Employees are so nice and generous with toppings if you ask for extra. I go here at least once a week. My new fav spot.

Andy M.

We recently tried WowPoki for a quick bite to share and enjoyed out experience. We ordered a large Poke, which comes with 5 scoops of fish, ( medium comes with 3) and what looks like a very generous amount of toppings at no extra cost. Fish variety is very good - salmon, hamachi looked best out or available selection in my opinion, which is what we ordered. They also had albacore, tuna, shrimp, scallops and vegetarian choices. They recommend mix of sauces for mild, medium and spicy, no wasabi mayo available as option. Food: 4 stars Atmosphere: 3 stars Service: 4 stars Tips: Plenty of parking WowPoki is a chain Located on a strip mall Lots of topping options

Nikki N.

I got a salmon and tuna poke bowl. It was REALLY good! The staff is super nice and they also carried some interesting ice cream bars I haven't seen before which were yummy too. They also have a ramen station which is really nice if you wanted to pair it with your poke which is always great! I'd definitely come back here! There's also a large dining area you can eat at or take it to the beach!

Small bowl with three protein and everything on it

Nam N.

Hands down the best Poke spot I've been to so far. Loved that avocado didn't cost extra. The fish is really fresh, and their seaweed salad doesn't taste like it's been sitting in rotten seawater like a lot of other places do. Definitely recommend. The small bowl was enough to fill me up. They also have a ramen station, which is cute. The owners were also super nice!!

Kim K.

Raw fishes and other ingredients are fresh and of good quality. Employees are attentive and friendly. A good portion of Poki bowl. Highly recommended.

Hien L.

I don't usually write review but I fear this may be the best poke in OC!! AND they have Korean ice cream, an instant ramen bar, and good drinks. If you've ever seen those Korean convenient store videos, this is a dose of that. Staff is super friendly and the food bar and seating areas are super clean. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in SC :D

See all

Danhya A.

6 years ago

This spot hits the spot every time haha the sauces are so tasty! The seafood is fresh tasting. Definitely a place to go if you are in the area. Cheers to poke bowls! Haha read more

Wow Poki - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Cindy Z.

3 years ago

Everything was fresh, they included avocado & only charge if you want extra. They even gave yellow tail, which most poki restaurants in San Clemente don't carry. We'll definitely make this our go-to poki bowl place! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sam T.

134

4 years ago

Fresh poke with more variety than other spots. The tuna and spicy tuna were good as were all the toppings (crab salad, avocado, furikake, and the like). I also tried the octopus for one of my proteins since it was on the menu - I don't know if I'd recommend it but I did appreciate having the option. The medium spice level was hot enough for me even without additional wasabi, which was a pleasant surprise. I'll make a return the next time I'm in San Clemente. After all, I need to try the scallops. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Sandra L.

3 years ago

Great quality ingredients and the staff are friendly. Not to forget to mention, the menu items loom so cute. Wonderful place to go to for Poke! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Noah B.

6 years ago

Very consistent poki. Not the best in my opinion, as I give that edge to another establishment in San Clemente, but this is consistently great. Never had a bad experience here, and the service is friendly as well. Their San Juan location is just as good, but its space isn't as nice. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Erica D.

3 years ago

Hands down the best poke place in Orange County, no contest. Best fish, best selection of add-ins and toppings, best taste, best service, best everything. We try to go here every week if not twice a week. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Anita C.

6 years ago

Got an awesome, fresh and delicious Poke Wrap to go for lunch today! Let's support our local businesses! read more

Wow Poki - Poke Bar - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

David E.

1582

7 years ago

We had REGULAR SALAD POKI BOWLS. The greens are mixed greens which is a lot nicer than those that use romaine only; the fish is very fresh and tender; my standard is 2 salmon scoops and 1 tuna; "mild" sauce (has sesame, spicy mayo and __________); as usual the bowl is tiny so it's hard to stir without food falling to the table so it requires gentle stirring/mixing; pretty standard but nice fresh looking toppings and additions with no up charges; very tasty poki bowl eating The wife also had a MISO SOUP. STAFF are friendly and efficient. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Gigi N.

5 years ago

The AHI was a bit frozen which seemed Very odd. I use to go there once a week, no more. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Piper F.

138

3 years ago

Love getting Poki here. The fish is always fresh and the portions are great. Fast service too!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ralen G.

5 years ago

Best Chinese place hands down it amazed me And also the customer service there was awesome , totally would go back there another time read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jordan M.

147

107

123

7 years ago

This place is great! They DO NOT cheap out on the scoops! Large and good portions. The tuna was BLOOOD RED and very soft! Friendly staff who was attentive and helpful. I wish they were closer to my house!! read more

Wow Poki - Large Bowl. They DON'T cheap out on fish!! $12.50 - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Sean S.

5 years ago

There Poki is great and they keep the place sanitized. It's good to eat in it take out

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Monica L.

128

7 years ago

I have to say I'm a huge fan! I used to go to their other location in San Juan and didn't go as often because it was further from my home and work. Thankfully this new location is right by me and i love that! #1- super clean #2- owners are always nice and smiling #3- the quality is always great and consistent #4- very tasty #5 - great toppings Finally a great place to come where I know I won't get sick!!! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Dan N.

5 years ago

This is the best Poki spot, fresh, fast and delicious. A great addition to San Clemente. You have to try it it wont disappoint you! As a restaurant owner I love good food! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Greg R.

7 years ago

Found this place when picking up pizza at crappy Zpizza, it's right next door. Grabbed a bowl for the wife and she loved it. We went back the following day for lunch. Very fresh and tasty. Great service. And clean! Perfect location, too. Happy to have a healthy alternative in this area. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Karen S.

5 years ago

I used to really love this place because the workers there were super nice and the food was great and you know it's it's still great with great employees BUT! The owner of the this restaurant is a BITCH! I did not know she was the owner I thought it was the male older gentleman that works there so that's why I continued to go there because I wanted to give my business to them but now that I know the bitch is the actual owner I won't go back. She has such a bad attitude and she was irritated because I wanted to pay for some of the orders separate. She is always so rude. I hope she learns something from her employees and appreciates them because they are the ones helping her business. I will take my business elsewhere. Going across the street to Poki Tiki in San Clemente now. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Kelly G.

494

7 years ago

Best poke around!! They also have a location in San Juan Capistrano that I've been going to for over 2 years! I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves poke!! Trust me, you won't be disappointed. With DoorDash offers, they provide cool packs to keep the fish fresh too! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Anne M.

Elite 17

8 years ago

Love it so far! Bar style poki, as in you create your own bowl. Regular bowl is $9.50 and Large for $12.50. Fish tasted nice and fresh as well as all the sides. They gave me a complimentary miso soup and it was delicious. Will be back for more & will update my review if anything comes up. Nice people and great taste so far. Off to a great start read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Heidi S.

3 years ago

Hands down our families favorite poke place. We've tried several others and always come back here! Both the San Clemente and San Juan locations are good. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Krisanna B.

146

158

7 years ago

So excited that my favorite OC pole came to San Clemente! I've tried lots of other places but this place is always the one I return to with love. Fresh and great value! Love the ability to have half salad/rice and add toppings and sauces. I prefer to have only tuna and like having seaweed salad and dried as choices. Always fresh and it's quick and yummy. Give it a try-next to z pizza read more

Wow Poki - My bowl - Hawaiian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jo T.

Elite 24

230

8 years ago

Free rice ball and miso soup? Count meh in! I heard about this place from a local who works like 30 ft away from this place and though I'd check it out as well! All the ingredients are super fresh and you can have a selection of *3* protein sources! I got salmon, tuna, and scallop...yum! If you're walking in for the first time, they'll ask you what size bowl you want to get. They have two sizes. Once you pick a size, look at the glass wall and choose what ingredients you want! I think the only suggestion I would make is to have like sriracha mayo or wasabi mayo (maybe I missed the option?). My bowl was a bit more "sour" for my taste probably because of the cucumbers, so I wish I had a sauce that mellowed it out. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the free rice ball and miso soup which were both delicious! read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Brian V.

5 years ago

Best poke in south oc tbh, big fan of kawamata but to me wow poki takes it home. Super authentic too!

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Wisteria S.

5 years ago

I come here all the time and the staff is extremely friendly. Not only that but their fish is always fresh and they practice great hygiene. best place for this type of dish. Love them!!!! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nicole T.

6 years ago

So good love this place and the portions are good. Love the take orders online. The tuna is the best.

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Matt H.

8 years ago

This is a great addition to San Clemente. I found this place originally in San Juan where my son takes his music lessons. I would go in there, enjoy their fresh poke, chat with the owners and always had wished they would open up a location in San Clemente. Well they did! Great, fresh fish, awesome sides and a very fair price. I've tried every poke place in S OC and I must say this is one of the very best! If you are in Talega/San Clemente, you must check this out! read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Jacqueline A.

6 years ago

WowPoki serves fresh takeout Poki at reasonable prices. Lots of protein and side choices. Friendly service. Clean facility.

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Kat D.

6 years ago

I have ordered from WowPoki a few times and they have been consistent and accurate (used a delivery service). I have ordered the Poke Bowl and the fish and all the ingredients are super fresh and delicious. I highly recommend! read more

Helpful 3

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mandy E.

4 years ago

Been here a number of times to grab lunch. Pick/create your own poke dish- great selection with a reasonable price tag. Definitely recommend this place read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Charity D.

8 years ago

I was so excited today to see Wow Poki's second location is right across the street from my office! I love Wow Poki so much that I would drive to the San Juan location (also super yummy!) which is about a 15 min drive, for lunch. Out of all the Poke places in this area, Wow Poki is by far my favorite! I love that you customize your bowl exactly how you want it. Their seafood is always fresh and tastes amazing. You also get a lot of food for what you pay for. I love Wow Poki! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Guillermo M.

Elite 24

114

832

378

6 years ago

A thousand options, ingredients and decisions. You order in less than 3 min. Small location in mall. But somehow it works. All flavors mix well and end up forming a delicious poke bowl. Do take out and go to San Clemente pier to eat. Perfect plan. read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 1

Kael T.

4 years ago

I've been going here for a while and love the food. I just got a large bowl and I got home to find the tuna fish is frozen... also the prices went up for the same size bowl. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Matt V.

5 years ago

This place has very high quality food and service. The owners/employees are always very friendly and the food is always fresh with a fair portion size. Highly recommend is you're looking for fresh poke. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Christian H.

6 years ago

I've had many poke bowls from other establishments, but I can assure you this one tops the list. They have very fresh fish and a great selection of toppings. The other nice part is the rice is just the right temperature. I would recommend this place to anyone. If your in the area and craving poke look no further. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Alex F.

3 years ago

The best poke in OC! The fish is super fresh and good quality. Priced well for how much you get. Super authentic and delicious :)

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jen C.

124

195

6 years ago

This is hands down my favorite poke place in Orange County! Small, family-run, and fresh, delicious options. Their fish always tastes fresh, tons of great toppings, and generous portions. During these crazy times, it's great to support small businesses we love any which way we can. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Helpful 2

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Lisa D.

6 years ago

I was staying in a hotel in Dana Point and wanted sushi delivered. I found WowPoki in San Clemente. The delivery was on time as scheduled and during this COVID mess I was really happy with that. The Poke Bowl is excellent, and I didn't put anything extra in it except cucumbers. I'll remember them for my next visit for sure! read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Taelor E.

6 years ago

WowPoki NEVER disappoints!! My coworkers and I order from here once a week. That's how good it is. The quality is always spot on and the flavors all mix so well. I've considered trying other places but get discouraged when I see they charge extra for certain things (avocado for example). I actually tried poke from another business pretty recently and ended up getting sick. Never again will I cheat on WowPoki!!! read more

See all

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ava L.

6 years ago

This is the best place, have been to so many places for poke, this one is the best. Fresh seafood and great tasty, my favorite place.

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ellie J.

5 years ago

Very rude service from mostly the guy that works here. Also very few topping options. Won't be back.

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Back

Page 2 of 4

1021 Avenida Pico
Ste B
San Clemente, CA 92673
Directions
(949) 940-5900
Call Now

Full menu

Hours

What time does Wow Poki open?

Wow Poki opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Wow Poki close?

Wow Poki closes at 7:50 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Wow Poki closes at 6:50 PM on Saturday.Wow Poki is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Fri 11:00 AM - 7:50 PMSat 11:00 AM - 6:50 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Wow Poki take credit cards?

Yes, Wow Poki takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Wow Poki have catering options?

No, Wow Poki does not have catering options.

Does Wow Poki serve alcohol?

No, Wow Poki does not serve alcohol.

Indoor Amenities

Does Wow Poki allow dogs?

Yes, Wow Poki allows dogs.

Does Wow Poki have TVs?

No, Wow Poki does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Wow Poki have bike parking?

Yes, Wow Poki has bike parking.

Does Wow Poki have parking?

Yes, Wow Poki has parking options.

Other Amenities

Is Wow Poki wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Wow Poki is wheelchair accessible.

Does Wow Poki have free WiFi?

Yes, Wow Poki has free WiFi.

More Info

Health Score

Ask the Community - Wow Poki

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Wow Poki

“I took my poki bowl to the beach which the owner recommended and had a great time!”

$17 Poki Bowl

You might also consider

Hapa J's

Was in town for a wedding and decided to give this place a try…read more If I could give more stars I would. Delicious! I've never had a Spam tempura and now that's all I want from now on! The bar area was cute and TV's playing sports games. We were seated quick, our food came just as quick and left with full happy bellies. Will comeback when craving a Spam Musubi and in the area!

Went here for date night last week- it has a lot more seating inside than I had expected!…read more Good service- 5/5 The ambience - 3.5/5 - the ambience wasn't my favorite, maybe it's a little better in their main restaurant area but we were seated to the left when you walk in and while there are a few booths in that area it was mostly outdoor chairs and tables and sort of odd lighting. Just very very casual and not totally comfortable. Food- 3.4/4 out of 5 - I got the Luau plate and LOVED the chicken!! Everyone else was right- that chicken thigh deserves its own plate. I also really enjoyed the coconut pudding/jello thing that came with it and the sausage link. The pulled pork was just okay, not very well seasoned but not bad. The side of "dressed greens" was just some lettuce without dressing on it, and I thought the macaroni salad was fine. The last thing that really disappointed me were the sautéed veggies :/ they were just soo oily and had no seasoning to them at all. I didn't eat any of them or the un-dressed 'salad'. My husband got the chicken katsu plate, he said the chicken katsu was fine but the fries on the side were cold and not crispy, they were kind of chalky in the mouth and didn't taste fresh. Some parts were definitely a 3/5 but my chicken thigh was so good and the portions are *huge* so I feel like they deserve a 4/5? All in all, I think I'd come back if I wanted to go out with someone but save some money and we'd split one of the plates (the portions really are huge).

Photos

DA BIG MIXED PLATE

Feeling the Aloha at Hapa J's

See all

OLD SCHOOL MAITAI

Kawamata Seafood

We ordered and took the balls to the nearby park and view which made the experience so much better…read more The food was very tasty and there are a lot of toppings that can be added. My only complaint is that from their topping list nothing is included, even though it's part of the options I did not think that was fair

Wow, I'm pretty impressed by this place! Kawamata is a special spot in Dana Point - I decided to…read morestop by here after the outlets and before a climbing session. I almost felt like I was back in Hawaii for a sec! FAVORITE ITEMS: - #2 Large. Salmon and ahi tuna. Pretty fresh, and mind you, we came just before closing time. I'd probs stick with the rice over the shredded cabbage. The cabbage gave it a bit of a weird texture personally but it wasn't bad. They do charge you for sides which is a slight bummer but the poke bowls are not terribly expensive so it's ok. I tried the seaweed salad and edamame too - pretty standard sides, nothing too crazy. PARKING: There is a small lot but also street parking right next to the spot. SERVICE: they were really nice, and quite fast! PRICE: about $12.99 for a regular and $16.50 for a large. Overall, pretty solid spot to get your poke at! I'd recommend if you are more into Hawaii style type of poke.

Photos

Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

See all

Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

Seasurf Fish

Fresh seafood and casual coastal vibes!…read more I tried Seasurf after a long day at the beach, and it was a filling meal with good quality fish! The poke salad came with a generous amount of vegetables, I ended up finishing the tuna poke and taking home half of the salad. The poke was fresh and well seasoned! The wait was a little long on the weekend, it took roughly 40 minutes to get our food. Street parking is available, and it's around a 15-20 minute walk to the beach!

The tiniest lobster tail with no flavor served with a pound of flavorless rice…read more Oysters were shriveled up and dry as well. This place used to be good.

Photos

Prepped and ready for pick up orders

Poke Nachos and a cold beer for the win!

See all

Motif is the best!

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue

3.3

(48 reviews)

3.1 mi

Really great experience here. The service was super fast and everyone was kind and welcoming. The…read moremanager, Richard, was especially friendly and you could tell he was genuinely proud of the menu and how clean the restaurant was and honestly, the cleanliness really stood out. We tried the curry chicken katsu bowl with curry and the BBQ Mix, and both were delicious. Everything came out hot, flavorful, and really satisfying

After visiting some L&L's while in Hawaii, I was excited they were opening in San Clemente…read more When I arrived, the place is all shiny and new, so very clean. Nice little dining area with various tables. I had to take a moment to read the menu before I decided. The counter clerk was very nice and patient as I figured out what I wanted. The experience with him was 4.5 stars, as the 2 stars shown is purely about the food. I ended up ordering a curry chicken katsu bowl with the curry on the side and then a side of the gravy so I could try both. I went and filled up my ridiculously expensive diet coke and found a seat. The cost was $4.50 for a large (?) diet coke. $4.50! Four dollar bills and two quarters! Don't believe me? Check out the receipt picture. That was half the cost of the food. For Diet Coke! OK, enough... The wait was not too long before my name was called. The bowl was pretty small, but they had other options that would certainly get you more food, but this size was good for me at this point. Key points: Chicken Katsu - very thin, so tasted mostly like crunchy batter Curry Sauce - one of my favorite sauces in the world, and this one had zero, none, zilch taste. I was thinking I had covid, since it just tasted like thick water. I tried some soy sauce to prove I could taste and my taster was working OK. Gravy - hard to believe, but this one may have had less taste, or equally no taste. Again, I thought of thick water. Ponzu Sauce or similar - had taste and ended up being my main source of flavor Steam Vegetables - poor guys, they were steamed to oblivion and the taste with them, softly melted in my mouth (and that's not a compliment) Rice - decent, rice cooker rice. I spruced it up with soy and sriracha My fantasy of having some OK Hawaiian food was dashed. Look, it's fast food Hawaiian and even in HI it does not compare to good, hometown spots with GREAT food but it's OK for a quick bite when touring around the Islands. This version did not compare to what I had experienced in Hawaii. I sometimes go back to check consistency and will do the same here. They are still relatively new, so some slack and another visit to check my review score is the right thing to do. Hand Loose. Try in the future. Wish Them Luck!

Photos

Egg roll- lumpia

See all

Tomo Noodles & Dumplings

Food was excellent and the people were very nice. Service was great and will be going back.read more

Got the tomo fries. Insane amount of fries. Jonathan was very friendly and helped offer to adjust…read morethe spiciness of the seasonings as we wanted something on the lower spice level. He saw that we were attending our baby daughter and brought out the fries and napkins to our table. Thanks Jonathan!

Photos

Fun cool interior

See all

Menu - June 2023

Poke+Roll 808

Awesome sushi and udon at this Amazing place in downtown…read moreSan Clemente. We have a couple of rolls, tempura and a bowl of udon and Sapporo ichiban. All great. Friendly owner. Great ambiane. Dog friendly. We e joyed our Saturday night in the nice ambience. Prices are super reasonable.

Small place off the main down street but good service…read more Ordered some Udon noodles & caterpillar roll. The Baja roll was our favorite! They also have tasty appetizers & listed curry on the menu. I would recommend the this place for your sushi cravings.

Photos

Now serving Fire Rock Pale Ale and Big Wave Golden Ale Beers from Kona Brewery!

Create your own poké bowl! Ahi tuna with Hawaiian style soy sesame sauce with mangos cucumbers and sesame seeds

See all

Tofu poke with a mixed green and kale salad

Dalu Hawaiian BBQ

4.2

(66 reviews)

4.1 mi

Sophia and Alejandro are excellent servers I had an AMAZING experience with them and this fine…read moreestablishment.

First time here and Brandon at the front immediately set the tone for the whole experience. He was…read morewelcoming, knowledgeable, and confidently guided me toward what he felt were the must-try items -- and he absolutely nailed it. I went with the teriyaki ribs, which came out tender, flavorful, and perfectly glazed with that balance of sweet and savory you hope for but don't always get. On his recommendation, I upgraded to the kimchi fried rice, and that was the real game changer. The depth of flavor, the slight heat from the kimchi, and the overall richness elevated the entire meal. It wasn't just a side -- it was a centerpiece. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and the food came out on point. You can tell they take pride in what they're serving. I'm all the way here from Texas for training, and this spot left such an impression that it's already on my list to return before I leave -- and again anytime I'm back in town. Highly recommend if you appreciate great flavor, solid recommendations, and a spot that delivers on the experience.

Photos

10.19.25- menu selection

Katsu Musubi

See all

Outside

Shootz

4.5

(169 reviews)

4.8 mi

Decided to grab Shootz for dinner since I saw they would be opening in The Canopy in Irvine soon!…read moreI'm really glad we tried it because everything tasted great! It was a really cute vibe inside the Rodeo! You have to press the button and order at the register if you want to order a bundle. We decided to get the chicken katsu kimchi butter bundle that comes with 2 spam musubi's and a soda! The bundle comes with 2 katsu cutlets vs. just 1 from the plate. It felt pretty worth it for the price (~$22). The kimchi butter tastes great and makes the katsu feel more nuanced! We got it spicy and it wasn't overwhelming but a nice tingle. The mac also had dehydrated kimchi powder on it! The spam musubi had a sweet sauce on top which made it feel more interesting!

Shootz is a great casual stop in San Juan Capistrano when you're craving Hawaiian-inspired rice…read morebowls. I ordered the Spicy Shrimp Bowl, and overall enjoyed it. The shrimp were cooked well, and the bowl had a nice mix of fresh ingredients with plenty of flavor in every bite. Personally had a bit too much sauce for me, making it a little heavy. I'd definitely order it again, but with light sauce or the sauce on the side. One surprise I wasn't expecting was the mac salad. It seemed to have tuna mixed in, which added another layer of flavor and made it much more interesting than the standard macaroni salad you usually get at Hawaiian-style restaurants. It ended up being one of my favorite parts of the meal.

Photos

Some of the indoor seating directly across from Shootz.

Kimchi Butter Katsu Chicken Sandwich

See all

4 Pc Spam Brulee Musubi

Nalus Hawaiian Fish Grill

After moving here from Hawaii and trying out a bunch around San Clemente, Nalu's is the best, hands…read moredown! Recently, we were in touch with Anthony to help with a small catering order for a celebration. Our family (from Hawaii), friends and neighbours (and us!), were all delighted. The poke and the chicken katsu were polished off in no time, and my husband savoured every bite of his favourite, kalua pig and cabbage. The portions are always super generous, and they included everything we needed for the catering like plates, napkins, serving tongs and also a few surprise cans of Hawaiian Sun, nudging us even closer to the islands. If you haven't been here, yet, you're truly missing out.

Fresh & yummy! Tried…read morethe garlic ahi plate & poke crunch plate & both were good & solid portions. The fish itself was fairly fresh, the slaw was simple but not bad, & the mac salad contrasted well with the freshness of the slaw. The team was nice & restaurant had a surprising amount of seating.

Photos

Cool Picture

Pineapple Chicken and Chicken Katsu Combo

See all

Garlic Shrimp and Noodle .. wow these noodles were delicious! The salad had a nice dressing - great deal for $13.

Breezy

Family-owned & operated

Women-owned & operated

I ordered the adobo bowl with salad, the dressing of the salad saturated the garlic fried rice &…read moremade it soggy. The adobo was soft but pale, did not have the soy glaze I'm used to.

must-try family owned restaurant! cool island vibe, incredibly hospitable, nice, and attentive…read morestaff. food came out quick and everything was cooked perfectly. will 100% be back!

Photos

See all

Asada Cantina + Kitchen

Locally owned & operated

Free parking

This was my first visit, and I will definitely return! I ordered the Asada Grilled Baja Bowl with…read moresteak, which was delicious. The steak was tender and full of flavor, and the bowl featured a great combination of fresh ingredients. I also tried the Mexican Candy cocktail, perfectly blending sweet, spicy, and refreshing flavors. The vibe was lively, the restaurant was spotless, and the staff were friendly and quick. It's an excellent choice for lunch or dinner with family and friends. I can't wait to explore more of their menu on my next visit!

This review for Asada is long overdue. I really love their food and cocktails here (especially the…read moreMexican Candy!) and while I've had some things that weren't my favorite, everything I've tried has been delicious. One of my favorite appetizers here are their bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers served with a blackberry jam and pickled onions...I get this pretty much every time. Lately I've been coming on Tuesdays to take advantage of their all-day Happy Hour, which is one of the best in town. Crispy carnitas tacos and the hibiscus margaritas are my go-to's, and the fresh chips and salsa served gratis are always delicious and hot. I wanted to take a moment to shout out their fantastic team of servers and bussers especially. Luna, Lindsay and Cesar have all been exceptional servers; their knowledge of the menu and their genuine kindness makes our visits that much more memorable. I don't often catch the name of the bussers, but they are extremely good at what they do. There's a few restaurants in town that hire staff and don't seem to train them well, so they struggle and it's apparent... but that's not the case here at Asada, where everyone is professional and really go above and beyond. It's easy to see how well their service flows (although the host stand could benefit from having people who are more outgoing; they seem to have timid people up there a lot, and it can be awkward when they're too timid to properly greet guests--just something I've noticed, having worked in restaurants before I tend to be hyper-aware of such things). My favorite section to get seated is the booths near the back which tend to be quieter, and also offer a nice view of the sky during the sunset and evening hours especially.

Photos

Smoked pineapple & watermelon crush

Crispy Taco Plate

See all

Crab & Shrimp Ceviche

Rare Society

Not sure why some people think this place is just ok or a "steak" version of Olive Garden. But…read morethis place is phenomenal. Came here to celebrate our birthdays. They are a week apart so we combined them. Very sneaky spot because it is not visible like a regular restaurant, but that just adds to the ambiance. Had reservations at 8 PM and our seats were on the second floor where we had a view of the wonderful sunset. We were seated in a both that fits 6, but it was better because the food was spaced out nicely on the table for easy access. My wife tried the Lady Luck cocktail which has vodka and others very a very tasty drink. We ordered the party house dinner rolls that that were ok. We also got the Lobster Crab Mac n Cheese. OMG this was so good. The melt cheese, the chunks of crab and chunks lobster made this an exquisite item to eat. We could not stop talking about how good it was. It also had cheese crated over the top as well. Lastly we got the Executive platter which is a collection of steak that the chef chooses. Our platter had filet mignon, 40 day dry aged New York Strip, and a 35 day dry aged Ribeye. All three were fantastic. We could not stop gushing over the ribeye and how well it was prepared and tasted. The steaks were all seasoned to perfection and did not require anything added to them . They also serve them with 3 sauces, but they are not needed at all. They also brought us small dessert for our birthday which was scoops of ice cream, but we were so full that we could not eat all of them. This place is worth the price and the staff and management were great. Special thanks to Daren. But special thanks to the tall slender gentleman who helped us. We can't remember his name but he made the night so enjoyable. We will be back as we have a few more birthdays to celebrate this year.

Rare Society was a birthday celebration for one of my really close friends, and I was very much…read morelooking forward to this place because I'd heard some good things about the quality of their meat and their food. I ended up getting the Caesar salad, which comes with lemon, fried anchovy, and a ton of pecorino, and they were not kidding about the pecorino. It was literally like a blanket over the whole thing. But this Caesar was probably one of the best I've ever had. It was so good I literally didn't share it with anybody, I was like nope, I'm eating this whole thing by myself. The flavor, the pepper, the anchovies, the lemon, everything was so perfectly balanced. Even the waitress was super sweet and told me if I needed a salad, as basic as it sounds, the Caesar is the go to. She was absolutely right, phenomenal salad. We also got the beef marrow tartare dip thing that came with potato chips. It was good, nothing too crazy to say about it honestly. The Parker House rolls though, those we got as a side and they came out buttery, juicy, and just really good. The truffle came right through, these were phenomenal and absolutely a must have to go along with that Caesar. Then there's the bacon, which sounds crazy, it's literally just called bacon and it's this fat thick four inch slab, one single piece, and it was so so so good. I was absolutely shocked by it. For my main I went with the forty day dry aged bone in New York strip. It was pretty dang good, wouldn't say I was completely blown away, but I have a hard time with steak places in general because I always compare them to how I make a steak at home, and I still think I can make a better one myself. That said, this was very good, great crunch and crisp on the edge, those nice burnt increased edges, seasoned perfectly, and a spot on medium rare, so no complaints there. For sixty bucks though I just have a hard time paying for it, even if it was very good. The one that stole the whole night, hands down and by far, was the dessert. I don't remember what it was called but it was like this pancake ice cream, buttery, gooey, delicious, light and airy heaven. I literally apologized at the table and said I'm going to eat this entire thing, and I did just that. It was awesome. The ambiance and decoration of this place is straight up fine dining, you can feel and see it, and they even have actual dry aged beef ribs on display which is really cool. Not bad at all. I'd recommend it as a high end spot, just not somewhere I'd go consistently since I can do better at home. But that dessert dish, whatever the heck it was, I would go back for that alone. Best dish of the night for sure.

See all

South of Nick's

Sarah, was over the top when delivery customer service at its finest! Normally I am not one to…read moreleave a review. She absolutely made the night for my family and I. Genuinely kind and knowledgeable on everything South Of Nick's can offer. Hopefully she is shown the appreciation she deserves often!

This is my go to place for special occasions. It has a…read moregreat menu and delicious cocktails! I recommend this place to everyone that comes to visit!

Photos

Check In Here Reservations Highly Recommended

Birria tacos

See all

Get the mezcal with smoked pineapple cocktail. It's so drinkable

Coastal Cowboy

We moved to SC in early May and have been wanting to try Coastal Cowboy ever since. No seed oils…read moreand garbage in their food, our kind of food. The first move is you walk in and order at the counter, the line moves quickly and the girl who took our order was very knowledgeable and friendly. You can tell these employees are trained well. They give you a number and you grab a table. We were there on a Saturday night at 6:45 and we had no problems getting a table. Pro tip: Order beers & appetizers at the counter and then hang and have a couple of drinks and order dinner with your waitress. The food: Tallow Fries - Must order, the best fries you'll ever have. With the homemade ketchup good lawd! We got 2 baskets for 4 of us. We should have gotten 3 baskets. Coastal smash - 2 Pattie's, no seed oil sauce, pickles, onions, cheese on a fabulous brioche style bun. My wife LOVED this. Brisket tacos - An absolute winner. Smokey, salty, tangy, plenty of umami with cilantro and pickled onions. Fire! The only thing i would have loved was some sort of salsa. Maybe there was and I missed it. Caesar salad wrap chicken - this was a sleeper hit. My daughter is a Caesar salad conissuer and this was right up her ally. And with avocado oil Caesar dressing, no garbage! Comeon. Grilled fish tacos - very fresh and good. I think there was a sauce but these were dry. It needed more sauce and some salsa. Mind you the quality was there, so I had no problem eating them. But they were a bit bland honestly. 10/10 friendly service 10/10 easability if ordering and seating. 9/10 Food This will become one of our favorite family spots no doubt. Thank you Coastal Cowboy for caring enough to be seed oil free and health conscious with your cuisine.

Great menu and very clean place. Looks new. Ordering at the counter isn't my thing and then…read moreasking for a tip. Ugggg. I don't mind tipping servers however ordering at the counter isn't service. Cool that you can eat at the counter but still having to order in a line rather than a server. Restroom very clean! That's a huge plus. Pricey place however what do you expect from a tourist place. Ahhh. Restroom so clean I had to leave a gift Food was very tasty . Got fish n chips and a side of rice. The rice was A+. Fish and tarter was very good. . Why not give five stars. Well. Service for a 22 buck 2 piece fish n chips could use some help.

Photos

See all

Dinning area

Seasurf Fish

The tiniest lobster tail with no flavor served with a pound of flavorless rice…read more Oysters were shriveled up and dry as well. This place used to be good.

Photos

Prepped and ready for pick up orders

Poke Nachos and a cold beer for the win!

See all

Motif is the best!

The Bagel Shack

We got recommendations from two different people that this was the best local spot for breakfast -…read moreand it was great! We tried about 6 different bagel between all of us and they were all great! They have a very good selection of fresh home made bagels. They have good toppings. They had a full breakfast menu also, but we just did delicious Bagels.

Cute little breakfast spot. We walked from our hotel. Cute decor, like a tiki hut. Service was…read morefriendly. They had a lot of people working on a busy Sunday morning. The bagel sandwich we ordered was very dry. I didn't realize that they don't even put butter on their bagel sandwiches so we bought a side of cream cheese after. That solved the problem. We also had 2 different blended drinks that they didn't label. They looked & tasted exactly the same. Not sure why?! But they were decent. I'd return again.

Photos

Front counter

Lowers Bagel Sandwich

See all

Partial Menu

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

5 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Nick W.

113

3 years ago

Wowpoke, located in the sun-kissed paradise of south Orange County, is the undisputed champion of poke. I mean, seriously, their fish is so fresh it practically winks at you from the bowl, that actually sounds kinda gross... but trust me it's a good thing. The ingredients they use are like a harmonious symphony of deliciousness, and the sauces... Oh boy, they're like the secret potions of flavor wizards! Prepare yourself for a generous portion size that'll make you question if you accidentally stumbled into a feast for giants. And let me tell you, their efficiency is unmatched. They'll have you zipping through the line faster than you can say "white rice"! So grab your appetite, bring your snorkel for all the mouthwatering goodness, and make your way to Wowpoke. It's like a poke paradise that's ready to transport your taste buds straight to flavor island! read more

Jamie M.

5 years ago

The best poki place in the area, hands down. There is a certain finesse they have in quality and flavors that beat any of the other local competition. Generous offering in fish, toppings and sauce. Plus they have hulapena chips which are bomb! Try it. You won't be sorry. read more