I recently tried Kalai’s Hawaiian Kitchen at 2200 US-98 in Mary Esther, FL 32569, and I have to say it’s hands-down the best Hawaiian food on the entire Florida Panhandle. Just a quick drive from Navarre, this family-owned spot feels like a little slice of the islands—warm, welcoming, and full of real aloha spirit. The owners and staff are super friendly, like you’re part of the ohana from the moment you walk in. I’m obsessed with their mochiko chicken. It’s lightly battered, crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and packed with that perfect garlic-shoyu flavor with green onions. I could eat it every day. The chicken katsu is equally amazing—golden and crunchy with tangy sauce—while the kalua pork is smoky and tender, the BBQ chicken sweet and savory, and their teri beef and Spam musubi taste like they came straight from Hawaii. Every plate is huge, loaded with two scoops of rice, fresh mac salad, and spicy cucumber, so you definitely leave full and happy. It’s all fresh, flavorful, and such a great value. The place is clean and casual, perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or takeout. They’re open Monday through Friday 11am–8pm and Saturday for brunch 8am–12pm (closed Sundays), with delivery options too. If you’re anywhere near Navarre, Mary Esther, or Fort Walton Beach and craving real Hawaiian food, do yourself a favor and go to Kalai’s. It’s the real deal on the Panhandle—I’m already planning my next visit. 5/5, highly recommend! Mahalo 🌺
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bella
Awesome staff and amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shevaun Kahemalani
This place was everything we needed! Been missing home and wanting some garlic shrimp and also got the salmon and it blew me away! The teriyaki sauce was the best I've probably ever had! Everything was cooked perfectly and amazing flavor. Staff was EXTREMELY nice. Felt like I was home for a little bit. They also have aloha drinks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anna Manning
100% recommend! Family of 6 ate here for the first time tonight and we will be back! Everyone ordered a different plate so we could share and we couldn't eat it up fast enough! Clean place and very friendly people! Delicious dinner!!!
Anna Manning
Absolutely delicious!!! First timers tonight(fam of 6) and it won't be our last! We all ordered a different item,shared and we could've ordered more because we just couldn't get enough!! SUPER NICE PEOPLE and clean place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tamara Carreira
We love it here, food is always amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steven oIngold
Plenty of Aloha hands down
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paolo Bingham
Easily the best Hawaiian in the area. Even better than Pounders.
I’ve lived in the island for four years and this restaurant serves authentic and DELICIOUS Hawaiian food. We got the BBQ chicken, katsu curry and lumpia. Personally, this was my favorite restaurant during my vacation in Pensacola.
I love that the owner of the restaurant grew up in Hawaii, moved to Florida to work in the military, raised his family here and opened up this restaurant to share the food from his home. This I learned from his daughter who was working the cashier and served us our food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Randywit8a's
Took some of my coworkers here for lunch and it didn't disappoint. Amazing service and great food felt like I was back on O'ahu!! Thanks for a great lunch!! Mahalo!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tobias Sprague
The whole Menu is Delicious! From the Teri Beef plate to the Furikake Salmon, the service is very friendly and the vibe feels warm when you come to kalai’s! 10/10 highly recommend! The owners go above and beyond to give you a taste of Hawaii and I love it!
Great Hawaiian style plate lunch
I recently tried Kalai’s Hawaiian Kitchen at 2200 US-98 in Mary Esther, FL 32569, and I have to say it’s hands-down the best Hawaiian food on the entire Florida Panhandle. Just a quick drive from Navarre, this family-owned spot feels like a little slice of the islands—warm, welcoming, and full of real aloha spirit. The owners and staff are super friendly, like you’re part of the ohana from the moment you walk in.
I’m obsessed with their mochiko chicken. It’s lightly battered, crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and packed with that perfect garlic-shoyu flavor with green onions. I could eat it every day. The chicken katsu is equally amazing—golden and crunchy with tangy sauce—while the kalua pork is smoky and tender, the BBQ chicken sweet and savory, and their teri beef and Spam musubi taste like they came straight from Hawaii. Every plate is huge, loaded with two scoops of rice, fresh mac salad, and spicy cucumber, so you definitely leave full and happy. It’s all fresh, flavorful, and such a great value.
The place is clean and casual, perfect for a quick lunch, dinner, or takeout. They’re open Monday through Friday 11am–8pm and Saturday for brunch 8am–12pm (closed Sundays), with delivery options too.
If you’re anywhere near Navarre, Mary Esther, or Fort Walton Beach and craving real Hawaiian food, do yourself a favor and go to Kalai’s. It’s the real deal on the Panhandle—I’m already planning my next visit. 5/5, highly recommend! Mahalo 🌺
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome staff and amazing food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was everything we needed! Been missing home and wanting some garlic shrimp and also got the salmon and it blew me away! The teriyaki sauce was the best I've probably ever had! Everything was cooked perfectly and amazing flavor. Staff was EXTREMELY nice. Felt like I was home for a little bit. They also have aloha drinks!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
100% recommend! Family of 6 ate here for the first time tonight and we will be back! Everyone ordered a different plate so we could share and we couldn't eat it up fast enough! Clean place and very friendly people! Delicious dinner!!!
Absolutely delicious!!! First timers tonight(fam of 6) and it won't be our last! We all ordered a different item,shared and we could've ordered more because we just couldn't get enough!! SUPER NICE PEOPLE and clean place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love it here, food is always amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Plenty of Aloha hands down
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Easily the best Hawaiian in the area. Even better than Pounders.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's da kine grindz. Yessah 🤙
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Good food and good prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve lived in the island for four years and this restaurant serves authentic and DELICIOUS Hawaiian food. We got the BBQ chicken, katsu curry and lumpia. Personally, this was my favorite restaurant during my vacation in Pensacola.
I love that the owner of the restaurant grew up in Hawaii, moved to Florida to work in the military, raised his family here and opened up this restaurant to share the food from his home. This I learned from his daughter who was working the cashier and served us our food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Took some of my coworkers here for lunch and it didn't disappoint. Amazing service and great food felt like I was back on O'ahu!! Thanks for a great lunch!! Mahalo!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The whole Menu is Delicious! From the Teri Beef plate to the Furikake Salmon, the service is very friendly and the vibe feels warm when you come to kalai’s! 10/10 highly recommend! The owners go above and beyond to give you a taste of Hawaii and I love it!
Overpriced for the quality
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
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