Team C&J
This Restaurant Is Permanently Closed.
Restaurant Rating
Cost Rating
Food Type
Hawaiian
215 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
No Ka Oi is located in a vibrant, restaurant-packed part of downtown Huntington Beach on busy Main Street. There are so many food choices here and a lot of foot traffic. On the
weekend, we dined at No Ka Oi. Many of the other restaurants on Main were pretty empty, but No Ka Oi was bustling and full of happy patrons, which is always a good sign.
If you’re staying at the Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Hotel, or you’re looking for a nice casual restaurant that’s close to the famous Huntington Beach Pier, No Ka Oi is a great option. The restaurant is also a short drive from Pasea Hotel and Spa, where we stayed on our trip to Huntington. It’s also close to the Waterfront Beach Resort and the Huntington Beach Inn if you happen to be staying there.
The restaurant really leans into the island vibes with the decor, and they do so well. There are two dining areas at No Ka Oi, one inside and a few patio tables outside. The inside of the restaurant has two old-school surfboards hanging above the bar, several televisions (great for Saturday college football and Sunday NFL football), and sunny yellow and blue walls.
The patio is shaded and is draped with quaint bulb lights, so we imagine No Ka Oi is a great spot if you’re looking for an outdoor brunch restaurant in Huntington Beach and don’t want to risk getting a sunburn. Main Street is also a prime people-watching area, which is always fun on the weekend.
No Ka Oi serves Hawaiin-infusion food, with a nod towards classic California favorites. We tried the breakfast/brunch menu when we dined, but we also want to note that No Ka Oi is open for lunch and dinner. Many other reviews mention killer fish tacos, big, tasty burgers, poke bowls, and crab enchiladas, so it looks like the lunch and dinner options are pretty good too.
The breakfast and brunch menu at No Ka Oi is two pages long and filled with tons of great items. It’s hard to say no to fresh cinnamon rolls in the morning, and we were not disappointed by the one we had that morning. Unlike some rolls that have the cinnamon swirled throughout the dough, this one had a nice pocket of sweet cinnamon and sugar baked right into the center. And that’s to say nothing of the mountain of cream cheese frosting on top and the crunchy macadamia nuts.
We also ordered the Waikiki Waffle, which is a fluffy, golden brown waffle with a layer of powdered sugar-dusted strawberries and blueberries. The waffle is served hot off the iron with an ample amount of whipped cream and maple syrup. If you’re in the mood for a Hawaiin twist, the waffle can also be served with coconut syrup. All of you waffle lovers out there will absolutely love No Ka Oi’s Waikiki Waffle.
To balance out the meal, we added Lori’s AM Grinds, which consists of two egg whites with fresh sauteed spinach and onions. This wholesome brunch item was served with hearty black beans, creamy avocado, and vibrant red salsa. If you’re looking for a lighter start to your morning, then this is the way to go.
Brunch isn’t brunch without mimosas. If you’re like us and you love a good mimosa with your weekend brunch, then you will be happy to know that the mimosas at No Ka Oi are generously poured. No dainty, half-filled glasses here.
Because at its heart, No Ka Oi is a Hawaiian-influenced restaurant, they also have island dishes like Loco Moco, Kalua Pua’a Benedict (made with Hawaii’s famous Kalua pork), and Hawaiian French toast made with indulgent Hawaiian sweet bread. There are so many choices on this menu; we simply cannot name them all!
While there are many places to have brunch in Huntington Beach, this one is a winner. As we walked down the street to find this gem, we noticed that there were hardly any people in the other restaurants while No Ka Oi was totally packed. We will definitely be back.
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