Pono Hawaiian Grill
$$ • Hawaiian, Poke, Bar & Grill
Hours:
120 Union St, Santa Cruz
(831) 621-7448
About Pono Hawaiian Grill
Customers' Favorites
Pono Hawaiian Grill Reviews
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We were there for a music event late Jan 2025. HH drink specials were tasty but was disappointed on how cold it was inside the restaurant. Both doors, front & back, were wide open during the entire evening show (48 degrees outside). Even the band mentioned how cold it was before beginning their set. All the customers wore jackets. Also, the harsh lighting was way too bright throughout the restaurant. I wanted my sunglasses on. Please read the room & tone down the lighting & warm...read full review
Outstanding food and Hawaiian music playing! Had a fantastic evening!
Friday night.. at pono’s …I was very disappointed! The food was bad . Cold . Hamburger patties was cooked so done i couldn’t even cut it with a knife. , rice and egg was cold. And it just wasn’t mine that was that way .
The band was disappointing as well I was expecting some Hawaiian and mix rock music but what they played was a little reggae , rock that sounded all the same . The 1 blues song was ok. But I have heard it played before by other bands that played...read full review
Menu
Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Wednesday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Thursday | 11AM - 9:30PM |
| Friday | 11AM - 10PM |
| Saturday | 11AM - 10PM |
| Sunday | 11AM - 9PM |
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Pono Hawaiian Grill offers a fun spot with an amazing vibe, featuring live music, colorful murals, and a chill, friendly staff. The space includes indoor seating with TVs and barstools and a lovely outdoor patio with tons of vegetation. The menu has all the Hawaiian favorites, from poke and seafood to grill items, plus a beverage fridge with canned fruity drinks and a good selection of soft drinks, including Hawaiian Sun flavors.
The food receives mixed reviews. Some find it quite good, flavorful, and tasty, with large portions. Specific dishes like the Hawaiian Fish & Chips, furikake fries, cheesy mac and cheese, and the surprisingly big Kalua pork quesadilla with its excellent pineapple salsa are noted. The pupu platter is perfect for a light meal. However, other items like the garlic lemon shrimp fitbowl, classic poke bowl, kalua pork fries, and Kal-bi Korean short ribs can be inconsistent, with issues like blandness, uneven saucing, or being too spicy or salty. The service is consistently described as very friendly and good, with food coming out quick. The place is very busy on Fridays and can get loud, but it is very chill otherwise, offering a good experience with clean bathrooms and even a play area for kids outside.