15 Best Hawaiian Restaurants in San Diego: 15 Places to Try

At 8th & B Poke, flavorful combinations such as spicy garlic tuna, miso garlic salmon, salmon ahi limu, and shrimp tempura make the menu easy to tailor to a poke craving. Portions are satisfying, ingredients taste fresh, and the set rice, imitation crab, and seaweed base gives the bowls a distinctive starting point.

This is a compact San Diego shop with limited indoor seating and some outdoor space, best approached as a focused dine-in or takeaway stop. The line generally moves efficiently, and the patient, friendly team helps keep ordering organized even when the small room is busy.

Say Aloha creates a laid-back island escape in San Diego, with a tropical patio, cozy island-inspired interior, and a relaxed sit-down format. The menu leans into flavorful Hawaiian BBQ: teriyaki chicken, ribs, chicken katsu, mixed plates, lumpia, poke bowls, light macaroni salad, and refreshing pineapple-accented sides.

Service is warm and attentive, while generous portions and a calm atmosphere suit both first-time Hawaiian food diners and returning fans. Beer and cocktails add to the evening appeal. For weddings, birthdays, corporate gatherings, and other celebrations, the restaurant also provides full-service catering, custom menus, and private-event options.

PB Poke House brings Hawaiian-style poke to San Diego with fresh-tasting fish, generous portions, balanced marinades, and lively toppings such as serrano peppers. Signature bowls including the Maui, Spicy Garlic, and 51/50 stand out, alongside poke plates, Spam musubi, kimchi, and mango lemonade.

Located near Pacific Beach’s boardwalk, it has a relaxed neighborhood feel with indoor and outdoor seating. The team is welcoming and patient when explaining the menu or helping guests compare sauces, while quick organization and careful cleanliness make it practical for dine-in, takeaway, delivery, lunch, or dinner. Solo diners and visitors looking for a healthy, flavorful quick meal will find plenty to explore.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue serves made-to-order plate lunches with the hearty, comforting character associated with Hawaiian BBQ. Garlic shrimp arrives with sticky rice, cabbage, and macaroni salad, while the menu also covers BBQ chicken, beef bowls, chicken katsu, musubi, and other filling combinations.

The San Diego location offers indoor and outdoor seating, with a straightforward format that works for lunch, dinner, takeaway, quick bites, and solo dining. Portions are generous, food is prepared fresh to order, and the staff brings a warm, welcoming manner. Its campus setting makes it a convenient stop when a substantial island-style meal is the goal.

Hawaiian Fresh Seafood at Centerpark Labs brings Hawaiian-style poke and fresh seafood to San Diego’s Mira Mesa area. The menu rotates through poke varieties and island-inspired dishes, with ahi tuna, salmon, calamari, bao, plates, and poke nachos appearing among the appealing choices.

The market-style setting is clean and organized, with indoor and outdoor seating for a quick lunch, solo meal, or casual dinner. Takeaway and dine-in service make it easy to fit into a busy day, while the direct seafood focus gives the restaurant a stronger connection to Hawaiian tuna and sashimi-style preparation than a typical fast-casual stop.

Chris' Ono Grinds Island Grill brings Hawaiian comfort food to San Diego with a relaxed, down-to-earth feel. Its menu includes Huli Huli chicken, char siu chicken, kalua pork, poke, spam musubi, rice plates, pineapple pico, house salsas and coconut custard. The Huli Huli chicken stands out for its tender texture and distinctive glaze, while the guava pork is especially appealing for its soft, pulled-pork style.

Dine-in, takeaway and delivery make it easy to choose between a casual meal, a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner. Outdoor seating, beer and happy-hour drinks add flexibility, while careful cleanliness and accessible pricing reinforce its everyday appeal.

Island Style Cafe brings Big Island-inspired Hawaiian BBQ to the San Diego area in a relaxed, inviting setting. The menu covers familiar plate-lunch favorites such as kalua pork, teriyaki beef, BBQ chicken, Korean chicken, kalbi ribs, chicken katsu, coconut shrimp, and macaroni salad, with lilikoi iced tea adding a refreshing island touch.

Indoor and outdoor seating, a clean dining room, and friendly, helpful service suit everything from breakfast and brunch to lunch or dinner. The casual format also works well for takeaway, quick bites, solo meals, and catered gatherings, while the colorful pineapple décor and island music create an easygoing atmosphere.

Duke’s La Jolla channels the relaxed spirit of Hawaii in a spacious beachfront setting, with outdoor seating and broad ocean and coastline views. The atmosphere stays easygoing, making it a natural fit for a sunset meal, a casual drink after the beach, or a family gathering.

The menu leans into Hawaiian favorites, including smoky huli huli chicken, mango pork ribs, plate lunches, and the oversized Hula Pie. Tropical drinks, beer, and a patio equipped with table heaters add comfort when coastal evenings turn cool. Reservations are a sensible choice for prime viewing times, particularly around sunset.

Homestyle Hawaiian Pub & Eatery pairs familiar island comfort food with a relaxed pub setting. Kalua pig, kalbi, Korean chicken, fried chicken, Spam musubi, malasadas, and other generous plates give the menu a broad, satisfying range.

Table service, friendly recommendations, beer, cocktails, and plenty of seating make it a natural choice for an unhurried lunch or dinner. The dining room can carry a noticeable grilling aroma, adding to its casual cookout character.

Homestyle Hawaiian brings traditional, home-cooked island dishes from Maui to San Diego. The menu is broad enough for familiar favorites and more adventurous orders, from teriyaki chicken, katsu, kalua pig, Spam musubi, poke nachos, and furikake salmon to customizable loco moco plates and two-meat combinations with rice and macaroni or green salad.

Generous portions, fresh lemonades, a comfortable dining room, and outdoor seating make it suitable for relaxed meals, takeaway, or delivery. The restaurant’s homestyle emphasis comes through in filling plates and family-friendly flavors, while the variety works well when a group wants to sample different Hawaiian specialties.

Homestyle Hawaiian serves traditional island favorites with the substantial, home-cooked character its name suggests. The menu includes furikake salmon, teriyaki chicken, Spam and build-your-own musubi, poke nachos, loco moco, and two-meat combo plates pairing rice with macaroni or green salad. Freshly made lemonades add a bright counterpoint to the savory plates.

It works for dine-in, takeaway, delivery, brunch, or catering, with portions that make it easy to order a varied spread for a group. The format is casual and comfortable, while the menu’s mix of classics and customizable combinations suits both familiar Hawaiian-food diners and newcomers.