Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Island Style Cafe in Santee

4.6 (199) 9828 Magnolia Ave, Santee, CA 92071, United States

Categories

Hawaiian restaurant
Caterer

Location on the map

Santee, San Diego County, California, US

Phone: +1 619-456-4577
Site: https://islandstylecafe.com/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Wednesday:10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Thursday:10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Friday:10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday:10:30 AM–7:30 PM
Sunday:10:30 AM–5 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.6

199 Reviews for Island Style Cafe 2024:

Review №1

2023-07-19 02:25:23

Visited here at 6 pm weekdays, and we are the only ones sitting down at a table.Rice is great, but all meat is super salty for me, and there are several flies 🪰 around our sitting area and food, so we have to go for our food.

Review №2

2023-01-30 22:43:26

Absolutely awesome food! Authentic, fresh, tender, and tasty, let me say. The food is served on paper plates, which I actually love, as it makes me feel that I just showed up to a luau! Made my wife and I feel like we were back in Hawall when we spent our 10 year anniversary there a couple of years ago. And eating the food at Island Style Cafe makes us want to go back even more! This place, wow, nothing but island love as you can taste the love and care in the food they serve. ❤

Review №3

2023-02-12 07:18:37

Wow, this place is great for everyone! Meat eaters, veggie eaters, sweets, breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, they got it all!I actually came here two days in a row after I found it, because I had to try more of their food and see if it was just a one time thing. Nope, its amazing everytime. The first bite is always magical. The meat is perfectly cooked. I had the Spicy Korean Chicken moco the first day... Wow! So I tried the loco Moco the next day, amazing... My friend got the Island BBQ Chicken Salad, that was incredible as well.This is legit Hawaiian food and just great food in general for any time of day. Oh yeah, the Spam Musubi and the California Musubi were great as well. The Lilikoi Tea, idk what it is, but I am ordering it everytime now lol. I tried a lot here already haha.Super friendly staff, very helpful and nice. Im coming back here a lot more often. I found my new go-to spot. Thank you!

Review №4

2023-04-15 16:29:16

No frills diner with welcoming staff and fast, efficient service. Clean dining area. The food Is served on paper plates and is delicious.I had the kalua pork with fried rice and green salad. The generous portions of both rice and pork were perfect and the pork is so tender it falls apart. I highly recommend this establishment if you are looking for authentic Hawaiian style food.

Review №5

2023-10-08 18:46:54

Wanted to give this place a try today and we were pretty disappointed. Service was good but we were thrown off by the paper plates that our food was served on. Our eggs had hair in it. Halfway in our meal and to top it off, we saw a baby cockroach crawling on the floor. I would definitely stick to L&L’s, Homestyle Hawaiian or Poke Etc. if you want authentic Polynesian food. This place is not there yet. Fix the paper plate issue, hair nets for your cooks, and make sure there’s not a roach problem.

Review №6

2023-10-01 20:34:33

If you like a certain other Hawaiian bbq chain.... youll likely love this place more. If I heard right, the owner(s?) are straight off Big Island! I got the bbq mix and literally every bite was phenomenal!!!! Cant wait to go back!

Review №7

2023-10-14 18:34:15

Relaxed welcoming atmosphere and delicious food! Highly recommend the korean chicken and the beef teriyaki with the pork fried rice and macaroni salad. The banana crepe was delicious too. The serving of the food on paper plates gives a homey vibe & is reminiscent of a good islander party, iykyk

Review №8

2023-01-05 22:26:04

Pretty solid. Chicken and ribs were flavorful a bit on the salty side. The fried rice is different not chinese style. The papaya dressing was not my favorite seemed like a mayo based dressing. Friendly service.

Review №9

2018-08-23 21:17:37

I had a delicious kalbi ribs & chicken katsu mix plate for lunch. My friend had the Korean and Hawaiian chicken mix plate. The price was outstanding, the portions were generous and the food was very good. The fried rice was on hit, I think it was cooked with a little bit of ti leaves. The service also was great. Authentic Hawaiian and islander food.

Review №10

2021-08-11 23:03:30

Absolutely amazing food!! Puts L&L to shame. Seriously this is going to be my new go to. I’m super impressed. The chicken Is very tender and juicy. The teriyaki beef was tender and flavorful…not overly salty like L&L.The food didn’t have a chance. I should have taken a before pic.

Review №11

2023-08-09 00:45:08

Love the food here. Anything on the menu is yummy. My favorite would be the Kailua pork.The only thing I would change is longer hours and the staff are sometimes rude. We arrived an hour before close and they had cleaned the staff said we were not allowed to sit down (we had two kids under 2 with us). Several adult couples arrived after us and they were able to sit and eat and the staff said nothing. So sad.

Review №12

2023-06-09 20:57:55

Super good food for a good price. All the meat was soooooo tender I will definitely be coming back with the whole family next time. The service is really great, and the people working there were really helpful about the menu and everything. Also a super homey environment it just felt really nice and casual. A great spot to consider if youre in the area!

Review №13

2023-08-11 08:46:39

SO happy to find this restaurant! Super friendly employees R.A. And Jocelyn waited on us and filled us in on how the staff at the former Island Style Café on Santo Road. We ordered our usual favorites (Spam musubi, Poke and loco moco). The Lilikoi Iced Tea is amazing! Love it! We’ll be regulars, for sure! Very clean restaurant and restroom!

Review №14

2022-08-12 21:02:25

If someone ever asks Hows it? You gotta say its da best! Really great food and friendly service. Completely worth the drive from Tierrasanta where they were formerly located. The Korean chicken is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Review №15

2023-10-01 19:08:44

Food was great, staff was very friendly, and the restaurant looked very clean. Food came out quickly, and staff helped make recommendations. Will be back!

Review №16

2017-01-08 22:25:25

I have been coming here for years, always friendly service and consistently amazing food! Interior dining room is small, but very cozy and has an aloha feel to it. Extremely reasonably priced and generous portions.

Review №17

2022-03-18 17:32:15

Very generous serving size for the Loco Moco (just like youd get on the islands). Beef patty was very flavorful and the gravy was delicious.

Review №18

2018-10-24 01:48:48

Good Hawaiian comfort food.I tend to order their traditional loco moco while my wife and her family have their own favorites. Some of them will even drive over a hundred miles just to get their Hawaiian food fix from Island Style Cafe.Give them a try!:)

Review №19

2023-11-13 22:12:29

Generous portions and absolutely delicious. So much better than any of the chain restaurants around town.

Review №20

2023-09-02 01:00:08

Ordered food on the phone with my coworkers. Arrived there and were were told we were NOT ALLOWED TO EAT THERE. The lady working pointed to a sign saying you must notify them if you are eating there yet nothing about that policy was communicated on the phone. Despite the almost all seats being open!!! Our food was SOGGY AND COLD. Very very disappointed.

Review №21

2017-12-12 04:07:28

It’s not bad and a good substitute for Hawaiian food if you need a fix of it. I went for a dinner and my plate wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t as tasty as my tried and true go-to place of L&L. The place was also kinda dingy with yellow lighting and it was poorly lit. Not like the pictures of a well lit and clean restaurant. This would be a good substitute if my favorite place was close or if I lived right down the street in the neighborhood. The plates were priced fairly.

Review №22

2023-09-14 01:37:44

If I could give no stars I would do it for this place.This place is horrible for everything I did regret to come and try it out and this is my first time.Bad customer service,bad foods and extra charge when you just want to have the gravy on the side cause your kid didn’t like it.The foods are burnt and cold and not good at all.I forgot take a picture of my plate the food wasn’t hot and a lot of burnt black pieces in the fried rice,the eggs had burnt stuffs under and the meat patty was cold inside,the spam is salty at hell and the sausage tasted like rubber.I can see they didn’t take time to cook it good and they used the old pan to cook for the next customers without washing it.It’s so bad.And specially I never see any place that the owner didn’t care about the customers and be rude straight to their face without think about it.I hope the customers think twice or don’t even try out this place at all that’s how bad it was I’m telling you.Very bad and horrible place.Please don’t come here.

Review №23

2023-05-16 04:05:14

Cant say enough good things about Island Style Cafe! Great food made by a warm and welcoming Hawaiian family. Cool to see the Aloha spirit alive and well all the way in Santee.

Review №24

2021-08-21 21:45:39

Sooooo good! Drove all the way from San Marcos just to come here for lunch. The Korean chicken and Kalbi mix are the business!

Review №25

2017-09-08 05:22:10

Really tiny place but the food was really good. I had teriyaki beef with steamed rice and garden salad. The mango dressing was delicious!

Review №26

2023-11-18 19:55:06

Delicious food, damn good service with a smile, try delicious mango tea!(Its crack!!!)I highly reccommend!!!

Review №27

2020-02-09 19:53:56

A tasty place for brunch. The coconut shrimp was delicious, and it was surprising how good eggs and spam were.

Review №28

2022-10-12 04:58:31

The food is always fresh. Their house-made papaya and mango dressings are delicious! They serve authentic Hawaiian plate lunches so you dont have to fly all the way to the islands. Their breakfasts are scrumptious too!

Review №29

2019-09-12 21:37:00

Great food and great service. The waitress who took my to go order was very nice 😊 I ordered the grilled chicken and beef plate with the fried rice, very good flavor !!

Review №30

2021-04-02 05:04:33

Staff was very friendly. They offer a nice variety of Hawaiian favorites at reasonable prices.

Review №31

2023-06-23 10:42:40

I loved the charbroiled taste on the ground beefsteak and gravy. That was excellent.The fried rice was tasty and tender. I love tender rice. I hate when rice is dry, not fluffy, undercooked and crumbly. Asian food places that cant cook rice correctly is sad because they dont bother to make sure it is nice and fluffy. Instead, they just serve it. It cools off into a crumbly undercooked mess. This place has good rice so far.The macaroni salad was a huge disappointment. 🤮 Why is there tuna in there? Its no longer a refreshing Hawaiian macaroni salad. In the middle is a random potato. Whats that doing there.? This was not the macaroni salad from Hawaii that I know of. I looked up the recipe on the internet. Ill be making it myself from now on. L&L has great macaroni salad with no tuna.. but its too pricey. This is not the kind of macaroni salad that youd say wow this is awesome.! Instead its like. I wasted my money. Ill never have this again. Not satisfying. It should just be called macaroni with tuna salad! Dont be hiding fish in there when there are people allergic to it! This is serious. Its supposed to be a fun party like salad. Instead, its like mom put it in there because she doesnt know how to make it kind of salad.Ill be trying other dishes but the macaroni, never again . If I wanted tuna in my macaroni? I would have made it myself and save some money. 😓

Review №32

2023-03-17 22:54:38

WOW!! I had no idea this place was so highly acclaimed! Went here after work and decided to give a local restaurant some business. After having a delicious meal (Chicken Katsu) and also an incredible conversation with Teresa I am so glad to be working close to this place! Highly recommend the food and overall experience here! A++

Review №33

2023-04-23 05:38:21

One of my go-to places to eat. I always have the island chicken bbq plate with macaroni salad and green salad with mango dressing. Its really delicious 😋.

Review №34

2021-05-10 14:13:30

Love love their Island and Hopia pancakes 🥞 and the fried rice too

Review №35

2021-03-19 01:18:48

Best Hawaiian food spot in town, hands down!!! Get the Korean Chicken, spicy or regular. You cant go wrong.

Review №36

2023-08-11 01:07:25

Really great tasting food! Different than most other laces around

Review №37

2021-12-08 02:25:37

I am in love with this place. tried it for the first time last week 11/23/21. I’m getting it again tonight for dinner, It’s so good. With all honestly I think it’s better than L&L BBQ and I’ve been eating at L&L my whole life. Their food is amazing! Staff is super friendly and fast. I love that they have a wide variety of menu options. If you’re thinking about getting Hawaiian food I definitely recommend going here. You won’t regret it.

Review №38

2022-06-29 21:29:40

Some of the best Hawaiian food Ive ever had, and takes the crown from Homestyle Hawaiian for best Hawaiian food in San Diego. The fried rice is some of the best, most flavorful well cooked fried rice Ive ever tasted, and the mac salad is always delicious. I usually get the chicken katsu but Ive had their ribs and theyre delicious. Highly recommended!

Review №39

2022-12-17 10:08:40

Fun to get some Island grinds in San Diego. The katsu chicken was great, mac salad was totally island style, kalua pork just ok - but probably hard to Imu in downtown San Diego. The staff was nice, a couple of college kids. Dont expect Sam Choys, but its a great place if your jonesing for some local food.

Review №40

2023-08-23 16:06:41

Great food and great service. Definitely will be coming back :)

Review №41

2021-07-20 13:32:05

They have not missed a step with this new to me location. Friendly service, generous portions of food at a great price. I took an old friend (18 years ago), who has become an excellent chef and he was very pleased with his plate. So, if youre in the mood for the taste of the Islands, chart a course, and enjoy.

Review №42

2022-11-07 06:39:01

I used to be obsessed with this place, like every week my girlfriend and I would come here and always sit and eat here. the food was great, Amazing, and satisfying....... Just a few days ago my girlfriend and I come in as usual and order the same things, their Kanak attack and their omelets. weve noticed there was a Natt on our rice. So we returned the food and they gave us another meal. then another Natt was found on my rice. So I returned it and they got me another one. then we got new rice so we poured the soy sauce on our rice then another FREAKING NATT!!!!. there was bugs in our food people. I am not lying. I never complain until theres actually something serious and this was just gross. Im sorry but you guys lost two customers and we loved eating here!

Review №43

2023-09-04 01:59:10

Great food at fair price. Highly recommend it

Review №44

2020-07-01 16:36:25

I meant to write this review so much sooner. At the time I was visiting San Diego and it was only my second time eating Hawaiian food. I wish I could erase my first memory and make the experience I had here my first time. The food was fresh, authentic, and I feel it was prepared with something extraordinary you dont get from any of these chain Hawaiian BBQ places. The love from a family owned and operated business. The customer service was phenomenal all the way from the kitchen staff in the back to the wonderful server who took my order and brought me my delicious meal. Definitely anytime I come back to visit the San Diego area. I will be stopping in for another great meal and experience.

Review №45

2021-10-14 19:26:56

I totally teared up within 2 minutes of walking in. The music, the artwork, the total vibe of the place took me back to my “spiritual home” and the emotion of it was heartwarming. This was our first time eating here and we loved the food and the service! I had the spam loco moco and my husband had the mix grill, and we both had the lilikoi iced tea. Everything was delicious and the portions were very generous. The owners (?) were so friendly and made us feel very welcome. We are excited to have found Island Style Cafe and will definitely be back! :-)

Review №46

2022-04-24 17:25:21

I never leave reviews... only if something was the absolute worst or the very best. Island Style Cafe is the latter! This place has some of the most delicious food Ive eaten since moving to SD 2yrs ago. A hidden gem in a strip mall, the flavors they are able to infuse into their meats and sides are devine.Skip the drive-thru and come here instead. The prices are comparable and the portions are large. The katsu is better than any chicken fingers Ive ever had. The pork filled podsticker appetizer changed my life. The ribs and teriyaki beef were cooked perfectly and just melted in my mouth.It was an amazing dinner and I cant wait to come back for breakfast!

Review №47

2022-07-09 16:46:10

Best Hawaiian food in San Diego! I’ve been looking for a spot with loco moco similar to Hawaii and have been let down every time, until I found Island Style Cafe. The loco moco is comparable to any found on the island and I haven’t tried anything that I haven’t loved here. BTW island pancakes are amazing and the shaved ice is enormous!!!

Review №48

2020-07-19 20:44:56

Kaloko moco was a hit! Will likely substitute burger patty with kahlua pork next time. :)

Review №49

2021-08-27 05:47:16

Didnt feel like cooking, but didnt want fast food so decided to pop in for some Katsu Chicken...decided on the two entree meal and got Kalua pork also...paired with fried rice and macaroni salad. Was not disappointed. Generous portions, fresh and tasty. Had enough left over for lunch the next day and was just as good. The price point for portion received was very reasonable. The fact that its a family run business is a bonus.

Review №50

2016-11-12 09:14:56

Love this place! Their Korean Chicken is always great. The Spam Loco Moco is delicious as well!

Review №51

2022-05-07 02:51:13

Born and raised in hawaii, was looking to scratch the loco moco itch but this place was a let down. First thing, i ordered the eggs Sunnyside up and both of them were cooked hard. It just aint a loco moco to me without that yolk to seep out and mix with the rice and gravy. Second, the patty was dry and tough, was overcooked probably. The gravy was decent. It was pushing twenty bucks on this order and it should be on point for that kind of price.The saving grace was the side of mac I ordered because it didnt come on the plate. It was pretty tasty but the hunt for a decent loco moco in san diego continues.

Review №52

2022-07-11 14:08:10

Our favorite breakfast spot in Santee! Nice people and great food. The char siu scramble over fried rice is on point and the kids love going for snow cones when they’re hot after their soccer games.

Review №53

2022-04-03 04:16:46

We just got back from our first Hawaii vacation and craved for authentic Polynesian Hawaiian food and found this gem!!!!! The Kalua pork was awesome and way better than the food we ate in ka Moana luau. Cant wait to try the whole menu. Love at first sight! What a blessing.

Review №54

2018-11-14 05:53:37

Best Hawaiian food in San Diego hands down! Love going to this place for the great service and friendly atmosphere. By far my favorite thing to get is the Korean mix plate which has a combo or short ribs and Loren friend chicken, along with a side of fried rice and either a side salad or Mac salad. You can’t go wrong with the house dressing on the salad. And I’ve also really enjoyed ordering the açaí bowl! Great portion sizes for the price.

Review №55

2021-10-01 02:16:40

Absolutely the BEST Hawaiian food I have ever had! My family loves the coconut shrimp, kalbi, and korean spicy chicken. I honestly dont think you can go wrong with anything from this restaurant. We will never eat at L&L again! THIS is real Hawaiian food! Highly recommend!

Review №56

2021-09-10 20:09:10

Every time we get food here, the whole family loves it. Everything has been great. Our friends go once a week. This is a cant miss spot for Hawaiian food in Santee.

Review №57

2023-04-21 21:16:22

Teriyaki beef was great!

Review №58

2022-09-10 20:38:58

AMAZING. Great portions, well seasoned, tasty food. It really feels like they care about what they put on a plate. I will be coming here again, we loved it

Review №59

2021-07-04 16:46:03

Its a bit higher priced for lunch, but its also very large portions, so its worth it. Very good food. If getting to go, call the order in as it take about 10 or 15 minutes to prep it (guess that means its nice and fresh).

Review №60

2021-07-01 15:20:50

Being born and raised in Hawaii its hard to find good Hawaiian food out here in California. So its wonderful when a new island Style Cafe opens up. Thats the one thing I really miss not being in Hawaii for! The food!

Review №61

2023-03-26 23:54:57

Amazing food for a great price. Super friendly and welcoming. A SD county gem.

Review №62

2021-06-10 20:48:17

This place is now one of my favorite restaurants. They have really good Hamburger Steak I highly recommend it. I just tried the Coconut Chicken Curry it’s very good also. The owners and employees provide wonderful service.

Review №63

2022-03-13 03:26:44

Chicken was good, a little disappointed in the mac salad. It doesnt mention anywhere on the menu that the mac salad contains fish. Not great if you cant eat seafood.

Review №64

2015-11-18 08:54:32

Love this little hidden oasis tucked away in Tierrasanta. Found this place through a friend and I have to say its really good Hawaiian food. I enjoy all their options and everything is cooked really well. Also love how great their portions are. If youre hungry for something better than the traditional L&L offerings, come here for a escape.

Review №65

2018-09-27 15:26:13

The food is good, but the owner lady was really short tempered and rude to my friend who was having a hard time deciding what to order. Then, she asked the kids in the group for their ages to make sure they were eligible to order from the kid menu. Um, theyre children, so ask the parents how old they are. She made a small 11 yr old order a large meal. Service is horrible! Im never spending my money there again. Homestyle Hawaiian is down the street with better food and excellent service!UPDATE 9/27After seeing my review, the owner Terri contacted me, so I responded. Her apology was sincere and heartfelt that I have to give Island Style another chance, because the food is truly delicious. I dont expect a response from any of my reviews, so I appreciate her reaching out to make things right. And the fact that she remembered our particular visit made it even more sincere. Sometimes people have bad days...I originally gave her a 2 star review because we were treated poorly during our visit, but she went above and beyond to make it right. I am updating my review because:The food did come out in a timely manner, it was well priced, we did get refills, and the food was so ONO, especially the Kalua Loco Moco during breakfast/brunch! Delicious! It is a small, family owned and operated business, so Im all about supporting them, especially if their food is really good!Thank you, Island Style Cafe, for the aloha!

Review №66

2019-03-24 05:36:15

I ordered takeout here and realized that they forgot to put mango dressing on my salad after I drove home.No big deal, the food is always good here and still is, but...When I drove back to Island Style Cafe I was given a small container of dressing and requested another small container. An older lady (whom I assume is the owner) immediately jumped into the conversation and said that they charge 50¢ for extra dressing.Really? Its your mistake! Ivealready drove here twice. This is just poor customer service, but really just about the principle.

Review №67

2018-03-25 01:26:28

The BEST Hawaiian food I’ve ever had. Huge portions, great selection, and owned by a really cool Hawaiian family. Everything I have eaten here is amazing, but I absolutely recommend the bbq chicken or teriyaki beef, and the fried rice is sooooo good. If you order salad, the made from scratch Mango dressing is a must. And the flavored iced teas are delicious. We live in Tierrasanta so it’s a regular spot for us and now that they know us as regulars they treat us like family. Just a warning: they do close between lunch and dinner and they don’t take customers about 20 minutes before closing. But if you haven’t tried this place yet, you have to!!

Review №68

2020-05-17 22:28:28

Me and my husband checked this place out for the first time and man, they don’t disappoint!!!! I felt like I was back at home (Big Island). Thank goodness I found this place, I will be back more often and highly suggest to anyone who loves authentic local grinds from Hawaii! This is the place😁 oh btw we bought a few to try out, and we loved it all!!! Kalua pork is so Ono!!! (Delicious) kaloko moco and Hamburg steak was my fav!!! Kids had spam musubi. They loved how big it was. Delicious desserts and treats!!! Must try!! Will definitely be back to try the others🙂

Review №69

2015-09-08 00:01:29

We were looking for somewhere easy, relatively quick and inexpensive for dinner. The staff was very friendly and helped us with the menu items. I had furikake encrusted salmon with vegetables and rice, and hubby had shrimp and chicken with vegetables and fried rice. The food was delicious - nicely prepared, flavored just perfectly. Portions were good - we had some leftovers and enjoyed the next day.

Review №70

2021-06-19 22:43:44

By far and away the best island food in San Diego! I first started going to eat here when i worked in Clairemont and they were located in Tierra Santa. I recently rediscovered them in Santee. Thank God!! The food is better then ever!

Review №71

2022-05-02 15:53:21

Really great food, and friendly staff. Honestly, best to order take out. The inside is clean, but there isnt table service if you dine in.

Review №72

2017-06-30 01:27:12

Everything Ive had here is excellent. Kalbi ribs, Korean chicken and kalua pig to die for (only on Fridays). The fried rice is awesome with little pieces of spam. Macaroni salad is great too. Even the salad dressing is good! Its a small place, family run. We go for lunch regularly, go early, it gets busy!

Review №73

2019-08-12 20:11:45

This place is amazing! Ive been going here with my wife for the last few years and every time we go we have had an amazing experience. The food is spectacular and I havent had anything I didnt enjoy. We used to live in Hawaii a few years back and eating here is almost like we never left. The service is always great and they are always attentive and accommodating. The place is a little small so be prepared to wait a bit if your going during a busy time of day. My wifes favorite: The Kaloko Moco. A breakfast spin on the classic locco moco. My go-tos: The Kamaaina combo - your classic Hawaiian breakfast with Spam, Portuguese sausage and vienna sausage served with pork fried rice and your choice of eggs and toast. Also the Char Siu Spam Scramble is always a favorite. Its just as good as it sounds. Honorable mentions: The Waikola Omelette - Kalua Pork omelette covered in BBQ sauce and the Kalbi lunch plate is good too. We just had the Island Pancakes for the first time our last visit and will definitely be getting them every time we go now.

Review №74

2022-08-26 21:02:15

So disappointed today...service has gone way down, first was hung up on &...no one in my family likes steamed rice, why would I order it...girl tried arguing that that’s what I ordered...I LOVE their food!!! Service not so customer friendly these days!

Review №75

2019-04-12 18:16:29

Excellent food. The best teriyaki beef and kalbi of the Hawaiian restaurants. The kalbi actually has meat and not just bones-shocking, I know. The one complaint and something to watch out for is that their Mac salad has potato and tuna in it. I like it - gives it an interesting flavor - but some of my friends didnt.

Review №76

2018-06-07 16:56:11

This restaurant in Tierrasanta is a delight to visit for a quick food order. Eating there in the booth with the Hawaiian music is also a great way to take time out from the typical American Cuisine. I asked what was most popular and went with that. It is nice to have foods that I have never shopped for prepared and cooked at home. It was nice to be served quickly with a friendly smile.

Review №77

2016-08-28 21:46:13

My boyfriend, his mother, and I are regulars at this restaurant and probably enjoy their food once a month for lunch on a Sunday. The food is always cooked great and to our liking and they have this great passion fruit tea we love as well! But much to our dismay, our service today was less than acceptable. We arrived shortly after 1130am and ordered our drinks/food about 15min later...not a problem, they were busy. We were served our food by 1215pm and it was at that point we seemed to no longer exist to our server except for the 0.2 sec she spent dropping the check. None of us received refills on our drinks throughout the entire meal, even though we saw our server glance at our table full of empty drinks several times. We eventually had to ask another tables server for our refills...disappointing. By 1235pm our check was paid and we were finishing our drinks but the server insisted to say to us, Can I get you guys anything else...because theres a lot of people waiting outside in the sun for a table. All of our jaws dropped, never have we been treated that way in an establishment where we are PAYING CUSTOMERS. All in all, food is great, but Ill never eat inside this restaurant again...nobody purchasing your food should feel rushed to leave your restaurant, EVER. Shame on you!

Review №78

2016-07-16 23:03:28

Ive had Hawaiian food at a few different places, and this ranks highly. From looking at reviews, I thought it was a little expensive, but the servings are generous. The service was quick, even for a busy Friday lunch rush. People were all very friendly too.

Review №79

2016-11-12 04:46:25

We came here tonight because thats what the husband was in the mood for. I dont recall they doing a military discount, but being it was Vet Day, husband asked if they did..and what do you know, they do.... its always nice to see an established who acknowledge and support their military community. Husband loves it here its as close to what we get back home sweet home. Thank you Island Style Cafe, we always leave full and satisfied.

Review №80

2019-04-11 12:20:25

Now that Im back in San Diego Im excited that I can go back to this place no whenever I want good, flavorful.hawaiian food. Everything tastes homemade and my family gets excited whenever we come here. Its located in a smaller strip mall area and parking isnt plentiful but doable. Love this place much better than L&L. Family-owned establishment and you can tell they have pride in their food. My favorite is the kalbi Ribs, teriyaki beef, with a huge scoop of Mac salad and fried rice on the side..yuuum!!!

Review №81

2021-07-15 04:43:19

Wanted Kamaaina Hawaiian catering because I wanted the team to try food made with authentic Aloha Spirit. So glad I drove all the way out to Santee for the food. Made me miss the Islands SO much. Will definitely order again soon because the food was so ono! Mahalo plenty, Auntie Teri & ISC Team! Coming back for try da kine Loco Moco!!!

Review №82

2019-11-13 05:46:25

OMG. Most unique tasting island food. Highly recommended.

Review №83

2019-06-10 15:01:46

We came below on a Sunday around 11am and also there was no delay for a table. We were depriving so we ordered the complying with:1. Kalua Loco Moco- This was so yummy with lots of pork! The eggs were prepared flawlessly and the sauce had not been salted. Its unusual to discover a loco moco that doesnt really feel heavy. 2. Chicken Katsu w\/ Fried Rice- The poultry was flawlessly crunchy as well as juicy and also the katsu sauce was much more tangy than pleasant! 3. Spam Musubi- Classic 4. Mauna Loa Crepe- Wow, this was following degree. I had actually been craving a nutella crepe for some time but the nuts, legit whipped cream as well as chocolate chips made it amazing. The rates are wonderful as well as the team are incredibly friendly. Strong area for Hawaiian.

Review №84

2018-12-31 01:31:59

Fantastic food. Great service. I loved the island salad & my nieces and nephews all loved their food. We were a group of 8 family members (6 of whom were from out of state). When can you ever find a place everyone wants to eat? The father of the party was dying for Tri-Tip because its not a cut you can get in Chicago. Island Style Cafe need to put a sign in the window asking guests to not bring in food from outside because its apparently not allowed...even when 7 guests are eating at the restaurant. Or perhaps they need to request people leave in a different way...? The Island Style food was excellent. Savory. My brother--the Chicago transplant--enjoyed his Tri-Tip from next door in the car while paying for the entire family to enjoy Island Style yumminess. Too bad we couldnt convince him the Island style cuisine was better--he didnt get to stay long enough to try it.

Review №85

2020-02-29 03:49:28

Great food, great portions, lovely establishment

Review №86

2019-06-19 18:17:33

I had been stationed in Oahu for 3+ years and grew to love the local dishes. Eating here brought me back. The food is simple, but onolicious and a total comfort. Couldnt help but get nostalgic about the island. I ordered their Saimin special and it hit the spot. Will definitely come back and bring the fam for this hidden jewel.

Review №87

2019-03-06 19:41:27

Excellent FRESH Breakfast, Puna Omlet, Pancakes, Eggs and Bacon. Hot Coffee and and the Waitress returns to refill Coffee. Felt the Hawaiian Vibes. Quiet Calm Atmosphere. The Waitress is Nice and Friendly. We have since returned a second time and enjoyed it as well. Nice Breakfast Gem is this Neighborhood!

Review №88

2017-06-14 14:34:43

The place is fairly small but there was no wait on a Sunday morning. The food was so good! My friend had the Island Bennie with salmon which she enjoyed and I had what I thought was the Kaloko Moco, but it doesnt match the current menus description. What is was is a traditional Moco Loco (rice, hamburger patty, eggs and gravy) served on a crepe. The hamburger was well done, which is not my preference, but everything was so tasty it didnt matter. The crepe was the best - normally I dont like sweet food for breakfast, but I think I will be back to try out some of the crepe options on the menu. This place gets great reviews, and its for a reason. Check it out!

Review №89

2017-11-29 13:16:28

Came here for my first Hawaiian food experience and this place definitely disappoint!The place is owned and run by a family from Hawaii so they know what theyre doing! I got the chicken katsu which was just average. my boyfriend got the korean chicken plate which was bomb highly recommend this !We got the plate specials which comes with your choice of meat and then 2 sides either rice or potatoes and then salad or mac salad. The mac salad is a combo of mac, potato and tuna salad in one and if you like mac salad its good! However i think the frked rice was the best part of the meal ... a twist on typical fried rice, theirs is sweet and savory.Definitely good spot!

Review №90

2016-11-01 15:24:43

Great mom and pop shop for amazing Hawaiian dishes that are made super fresh. I had the salmon and Kalua pork dumpling appetizer which was really good and they also have traditional Hawaiian food too (think teriyaki beef or chicken and rice and mac salad)

Review №91

2021-08-24 15:19:13

We have been eating here for years and loved it when they moved closer to us in Santee!! Havent had one bad thing on the menu. Definitely worth the try for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Review №92

2015-05-10 22:49:49

We went on Mothers Day. We were looking for good crepes as mom had been wanting some. We found this Hawaiian place on yelp and thought it sounded good, though odd to be under crepes. They did have some though both savory and sweet. There about the size of a medium to large pizza.The portions are huge for all dishes. The entire staff was friendly and helpful. I had the Mauna Kea Crepe with bananas, whip cream, & sweet cream drizzle from the Sweet Island Crepes section of the menu. My wife had the Waimea Omelet sauteed mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, spinach & cheese with potatoes. She lived there for awhile and said it was awesome especially the potatoes. She loves garlic though, and I found the garlic too much on the potatoes. She also indicated the items on the menu were definitely Hawaiian favorites she remembered and missed. I know well be going back. It was packed due to the day Im sure. There are not a lot of big tables. Id call ahead for 5+.This was our first time of course. The best way there is from the Santo Road exit on SR52. Its at the back of the complex towards the south end so take the south entrance at the 2nd signal. Its between The Market and Coldwell Bankers before you get to the Valero upfront.

Review №93

2014-07-15 20:46:19

If you like good Hawaiian food this is the place to go to. Two words - Korean Chicken! Definitely my regular go to meal here. I order the fried rice with the mac salad. Their mac salad is not as mayonaisey as some others and the put potatoes in there too. Their spamusubis come either deep fried or regular. I must say, the deep fried is different and I personally prefer this over the regular one. They also have Hawaiian shaved ice with the sweet cream, ice cream and red beans if you are so inclined to have dessert too. They do offer breakfast here, I have yet to try them out for breakfast.

Review №94

2021-05-03 18:13:39

Its great that you reopened close to my work. I really enjoy your ono grinds. Unfortunately my ohana and I feel that your hamburger steak and patty in the loco moco is a bit tough. Reminds us of L&L hamburger steak. What happened to hamburger steak of old?

Review №95

2021-09-21 12:25:09

Absolutely one of my favorites here in Santee! I love the Korean BBQ, and the Fried Rice & Macaroni Salad! It’s so refreshing & close!

Review №96

2019-09-22 20:56:46

At PIFA the food was not that good. There was no rice for about 1/2 hour, the teriyaki beef was dry. The teriyaki chicken hardly had flavor. After waiting half an hour I ended up with fries( no rice available) and no Mac salad, which I didn’t realize until we left to eat elsewhere. The malasadas were grease balls. Waste of money.

Review №97

2018-03-31 15:17:44

Picture speaks volumes. Love the food and aloha spirit.

Review №98

2016-12-01 19:33:14

Best local Hawaiian food I have had in San Diego. I was born and raised on Oahu so Im no stranger to plate lunches. Great quality food for a good price.

Review №99

2019-01-19 19:14:53

Excellent island style cooking. The pork fried rice is delicious and you cant go wrong with the Kamaaina combo. Also the pancakes looked amazing.

Review №100

2020-02-09 21:48:45

Tried one of the loko moko options for breakfast. 😂👍 service and food was on point. Thank you.

Review №101

2017-08-10 02:45:36

I tried to order a pulled pork bowl, and the lady that answered said we only have it on fridays, which i understand. so i looked on their menu, called again and the same lady answered so i asked for steak and eggs and she replied we dont have any more steak. if you dont have any more steak then you shouldnt even be selling it.

Review №102

2017-11-18 20:57:31

Ordered the tradition and kalua Loco moco and Im just torned. I cant decide which one is better!! Their Loco Mocos are the best! I love this place with their yummy food and the generous portion! I also ordered the coconut banana pancakes, and the coconut syrup goes so well with the banana! Heavy in my mouth.

Review №103

2022-11-11 19:59:47

They have the best chicken and rice in town !They are very nice and friendly, the place is clean and the food is clean too !

Review №104

2021-08-10 00:43:50

Best Hawaiian food you’re going to get in San Diego and I’ve been to many across the area. Amazing caring staff with exceptional service and experience

Review №105

2016-12-11 17:06:08

Kahlua Loco Moco is the best. Family run business serving delicious island food with a friendly vibe. The lava flow smoothie is also delicious. Great little spot, looking forward to going back.

Review №106

2018-02-28 23:25:38

Cool spot with friendly service and great food. They did deliver the food at an, as done pace but the food was properly prepared and delicious. Its a small place so hope for the best when it comes to seating.

Review №107

2015-01-30 04:17:23

Just found this place today and me and my friend, who grew up in Hawaii were very happy with the food. nice place, good service, good prices and great food. Korean chicken was ONO!.

Review №108

2022-02-01 19:23:00

Im 36 bra. This is first time in my life Ive ever been served a musubi without sauce. This is your typical white washed ethnic food in santee.

Review №109

2017-02-08 05:46:50

Local-sized portions that will break the mouth but not the bank. Had the puupuu platter (the kalbi fell off the bone) and a teri-beef and chicken katsu lunch plate.But the Mac salad had tuna??!!I love guava cake (they only have strawberry guava cake) but they were out of cake...Or so I was told.Apparently mom makes the cakes once a week and when they are gone they are gone... But they should warn customers before they sit down or when they mention dessert that they are out of every dessert item except island crepes (which are the furthest thing from local).

Review №110

2021-04-23 20:10:08

Really tasty plate lunch with large servings. The coconut shrimp are super yummy. Friendly, fast service.

Review №111

2019-11-03 18:41:46

Always amazing... This place never fails if you want to grind and want good tasting Hawaiian food. Moved from Hawaii 8 years ago, and have not found a place as good as this place.

Review №112

2022-05-27 14:04:19

This place is like being in Hawaii! The owners are so friendly and the food is beyond amazing! Definitely try it!

Review №113

2015-11-12 13:08:21

Breakfast, lunch or dinner, you cant go wrong. Authentic Hawaiian food with nice sized portions. Ive tried at least half the menu and everything has been great!

Review №114

2018-09-08 18:48:51

After living on Oahu for three years, I miss that Hawaiian lifestyle. This is authentic Hawaiian food. Cozy little restaurant and great staff. This is one of my go to spots.

Review №115

2017-11-04 23:31:14

Mom and Pop home atmosphere. The fancy island restos with their schooled Poke chefs have a lot to learn from this down to earth family Resto. 5 stars everyday any day of the week 😎

Review №116

2018-05-20 18:45:04

Love this place. If your are looking for local grinds, its the place to go. Go early for breakfast. Haupia pancakes are ono. Lunch and dinner are just as good. Price is fair and the service is excellent! Aloha

Review №117

2019-11-24 19:42:37

Always a scrumptious reminder is the islands. Husband actually craves his fav = Korean chicken. I enjoy the fish dinner very much.

Review №118

2016-05-02 04:03:16

Nice employees, yet very rude manager, with condescending attitude towards her customers. Implied for us to leave the café while a friend and I were having a conversation 10 minutes after we paid for the check. Extremely discontent. Unhappy. Unless you tip them, expect impoliteness. I would love to rank it lower but I cant.

Review №119

2015-09-25 02:28:56

So good, great service. I Got the coconut curry mahi with fried rice and veggies. Best flavor! Cant wait to come back (:

Review №120

2021-10-24 21:21:24

Your next must Go There, & Treat Yourself Too!! Delicious!! I go there once or twice a week ..simply enjoy.. bone appetit

Review №121

2019-06-21 23:52:24

Best Hawaiian joint in San Diego. I know, Im from Nanakuli. Dont let these wanna be locals from the 48 states tell you otherwise. Real locals cooking. Cheehoo

Review №122

2022-12-18 18:10:33

Food is delicious. Great service. Will definitely be back.

Review №123

2018-07-07 17:43:35

Fantastic food, great service. Me and my girl got off the wrong exit and decided to stop here and eat breakfast.. Big portions and very tasty.. Will be back here....

Review №124

2018-07-29 07:12:43

Enjoyed my loco moco & my daughter loved her chicken katsu! Looking forward to going back, see u soon, Island Style Cafe!!

Review №125

2023-03-05 07:06:19

Great hidden spot for authentic Hawaiian food, must try...

Review №126

2021-07-25 00:31:10

Priced right. Shaved ice looked so good. The trio sample was really good. Macaroni salad outstanding

Review №127

2019-12-25 19:58:07

Food is amazing and large portions. Really enjoyed my food each time I ate here. Highly recommend.

Review №128

2022-10-16 20:53:17

The only place to be going in Santee if you want some good Hawaiian food

Review №129

2018-03-26 13:43:38

Chicken Katsu was very good, friendly staff. Small, so if a big group or at peak, you may need to wait a little bit.

Review №130

2018-08-11 11:25:59

This little hidden gem was great! Loved the traditional Hawaiian food. The service was wonderful.

Review №131

2022-08-09 20:31:29

The food here is delicious!! Big portions, friendly service.

Review №132

2021-08-28 20:01:24

The moco loco and spam musubi was very tasty! -Winners! I’ll be back to try more of your menu.

Review №133

2022-10-04 08:44:55

Biggest, heaviest shave ice Ive ever had. So good!

Review №134

2021-12-18 01:45:31

BEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN!!! EXCELLENT COSTUMER SERVICE I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU TO BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY HERE THEY MAKE YOU FEEL RIGHT AT HOME ❤️❤️❤️

Review №135

2021-05-03 04:30:17

Had the Hilo omelette with the fried rice and it was phenomenal with the island pancakes it was so good will be getting this at least once a week.

Review №136

2018-04-11 22:39:54

Food tasted great, they were able to handle my party of 10 with no problems. Price were reasonable, generous with serving size

Review №137

2019-02-21 06:19:52

Great place for breakfast. Great service nice size portions. The pancake was crazy good. The place gets busy so be early.

Review №138

2021-09-04 23:53:08

I will definitely be returning here.I had a pleasant experience with staff, the food was good and exactly what I ordered

Review №139

2016-07-15 21:02:05

This place has always been an all time favorite and always will be. I will come back here over and over. Everything here is bomb. If I could give 10 stars I would. Ran into Manti Teo, Danny Woodhead & Eric Weddle (when he was still with SD) few times already

Review №140

2019-05-29 22:29:33

The food is good its Hardy its homie its nice the staff is friendly its just you know sort of a okay restaurant if I could give it 3 and 3/4 Stars I would and I do recommend it get the loco Moco!

Review №141

2016-09-21 16:56:34

Hawaiian Restaurants are hard to come by these days and this one is totally original. I love their style plus their musubi was really good.

Review №142

2017-10-30 23:56:28

Food was good except I literally found a metal washer in my food. Just go down the street to Home style Hawaiian for a less risk and tastier dining experience

Review №143

2019-02-14 22:29:56

Wonderful mom and pop place with great food and great service. Korean chicken, kalua pork, and their fried rice is da kine!

Review №144

2016-05-02 03:23:37

The service was absolutely a disgrace. They act like as if they want to punch their customers in the face just because they asked for water. This restaurant is not worth eating at.

Review №145

2019-02-06 06:12:54

The banana nut pancakes with coconut syrup were 🔥

Review №146

2017-06-14 18:42:35

Amazing Hawaiian food. Affordable price. A little bit on the not so clean side. Small place.

Review №147

2019-02-09 06:39:01

Went with my son for my birthday and it was ok at best. Slow and unfriendly service was frustrating. The food was good but not great enough to make up for the service

Review №148

2017-09-24 16:24:32

I love this restaurant, they have great Hawaiian BBQ chicken and the best Kalua Pork around.

Review №149

2016-02-01 03:31:29

Love this place. Most authentic Island style food in SD. Hands down the best mac salad out there.

Review №150

2017-11-03 17:58:32

Best place for breakfast in town, all the favorites eggs, rice, spam, Portuguese sausage, Loco Moco. Lunch and dinner are good too.

Review №151

2018-06-05 18:11:40

This place has great portions and great Hawaiian food. The ladies working there are very nice

Review №152

2018-03-02 03:42:46

Refused to serve us at 7:40pm on a ThursdayOnly one table seated otherwise. They stop serving 30min before 8pm. Must not need the business.

Review №153

2018-06-03 05:53:29

Best authentic Hawaiian BBQ around! Portions were so big I only ate once that day.

Review №154

2018-03-06 23:48:13

Love the Loco Moco, perfect cook eggs creamy gravy and really really soft hamburger patty it was great mahalo.

Review №155

2017-06-08 12:28:23

Very good Hawaiian food. Highly recommend the fried rice as a side dish.

Review №156

2019-06-23 02:00:59

The food is delicious, and the service is excellent. You must try the Strawberry and guava Cake.

Review №157

2018-12-07 21:35:12

Came here on a lunch break. Food portions were really good. Food tastes amazing. Service was great as well.

Review №158

2015-04-18 22:03:12

Always, always great! Big, tasty portions; great family hands-on service; friendly atmosphere. Mahalo!

Review №159

2021-11-25 01:16:24

The food was delicious and very good the people here are also very nice.

Review №160

2018-08-14 16:03:16

The food was awesome!! It also came out in a very timely manner during the lunch time frame.

Review №161

2018-03-07 22:12:39

Food is amazing. The coffee and loco Moco are my go to. Staff is always warm and welcoming.

Review №162

2021-07-12 21:49:47

By far the best Hawaiian food restaurant Ive been to in California.

Review №163

2017-01-07 17:33:46

Love this place. Been going here for 5+ years and have seen it grow but always remain amazing and delicious.

Review №164

2021-05-03 04:40:22

Great place! Food and service was excellent! Will definitely come back again!

Review №165

2018-06-11 03:34:57

Huge portions and decent flavors. Service was a tad slow but was worth the wait.

Review №166

2019-03-23 06:55:11

Food is really good, felt like a nice mama and papa shop.

Review №167

2017-05-11 17:01:35

Lived in Hawaii for 8 years. This is the best I have seen in San Diego or surrounding area! I love it!

Review №168

2019-04-07 02:51:07

OMG the food is unbelievably savory, desserts are decadent, and the service awesome a must try

Review №169

2017-01-21 02:35:20

Here again, and this plce never disappoints. Stuck in a small strip mall off Santo between a small grocery store and a real estate office. Find this hidden gem and get some original Hawiian.

Review №170

2019-11-22 03:26:26

Wonderful first Hawaiian food experience service was excellent food was awesome!!

Review №171

2017-09-16 17:59:50

Best HI food restaurant (quality, menu, value) in San Diego...(and Ive been to alot.)

Review №172

2019-08-24 04:09:37

What an amazing experince. Lovely environment, great service, food is terrific and mouth watering.

Review №173

2021-10-24 21:02:49

Its ok... no laulau though... hopefully they add it to their menu

Review №174

2017-01-15 03:11:15

Great Hawaiian food, relaxing atmosphere and the spam musubi is delicious.

Review №175

2018-04-22 00:59:58

Great customer service, food is fabulous LARGE portions, price is right!

Review №176

2021-10-06 02:30:26

Food was wonderful and the service was great ! Will definitely be back !

Review №177

2021-02-28 17:55:06

Amazing food, very nice family, highly recomended!

Review №178

2022-07-27 21:47:18

Best Hawaiian food in San Diego.

Review №179

2018-03-29 01:11:29

Overall good. The kalbi ribs would be better if cooked more. Too chewy.

Review №180

2017-06-29 12:30:45

I go every Wednesday for their katsu chicken and curry special. So good!

Review №181

2018-12-06 22:34:34

Nice food! Not a fan of the Mac n cheese with tuna though

Review №182

2019-08-16 18:49:47

Good Hawaiian bbq

Review №183

2016-10-29 02:27:50

Good food good price great service. Will come back fried rice is very 👍!

Review №184

2017-01-07 17:41:58

We love coming here for breakfast with the kiddo. Delicious and fast, friendly service.

Review №185

2018-10-26 09:42:00

Great Hawaiian food. Nice place to stop and have lunch.

Review №186

2023-04-27 06:32:07

The grilled veggies are fabulous 😍

Review №187

2017-10-26 00:29:15

Great place for family to have Sunday brunch. Always leave satisfied.

Review №188

2017-03-04 00:12:14

Probably the best food Ive ever had. Korean chicken is to die for.

Review №189

2022-05-29 02:18:09

Great food and service every time!

Review №190

2022-02-25 15:22:47

They have the closest thing to real Hawaiian shave ice.

Review №191

2021-05-28 23:16:12

It was love lost then found is how my experience was finding them again. Love this place 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Review №192

2019-09-01 02:09:04

Nice place,great service the food was delicious in special the dessert

Review №193

2019-05-02 21:11:45

Fried rice is delish as well af the teriyaki beef!

Review №194

2022-04-10 23:09:24

The food was amazing and so was the service!

Review №195

2021-03-07 05:10:18

Roberts Frozen Yogurt is amazing. I am a weekly customer

Review №196

2015-09-27 21:31:19

They have spam loco moco on the menu! Along with chicken katsu curry, yum

Review №197

2021-09-06 21:42:28

The best Hawaiian food . L&L sucks

Review №198

2017-03-23 00:30:58

Very friendly service and great food with big portions.

Review №199

2017-03-02 02:59:45

Love this place. Good food and the portions are huge.