Elaine O.

There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try. Also, all the sauces and drizzles. I ended up getting a mini grilled tofu plate with the ginger green onion sauce with one piece of guava chicken and one piece of fried chicken with garlic drizzle on the side. Pretty good deal for $7. The tofu was just alright and what you would imagine. It reminded me of Chinese food. The fried chicken with the garlic drizzle was awesome! I think I liked it better than the garlic chicken. :o Although it was good....like another reviewer....its not even in the same league as mitsuken or sugoi garlic chicken.

Josh A.

Guava Chicken is one of the best things I've had since moving here. I make it a point to come by here at least every other week. The tropical sweet and slightly spicy flavor is on point. I get the mini, because regular would have me miserably full. Even the mini fills me up pretty good. Parking is definitely the part that sucks about coming here, but then again, it sucks throughout most of Honolulu area, so I couldn't dock them points for that.

Anne M.

We got here at 1255 and were told the Ahi and Sesame chicken had been sold out. We ordered steak sandwich which was "Good." Guava chicken was a bit on the harder side.

Jennifer Y.

After reading all the great Yelp reviews, we had to give Pongo's a try. GUAVA CHICKEN Adequate portion of boneless chunks of battered, deep fried skin-on chicken meat coated in a sticky, sweet sauce. Apparently, this dish contains chili pepper even though the description does not indicate this. We wouldn't have ordered it had we known this. In our opinion, the texture of the chicken was a bit overcooked and slightly dry. The batter was fairly crunchy, however it could've been crispier. TOSSED SALAD WITH HOUSE DRESSING As a special request, we asked for all tossed salad to accompany the guava chicken. The mixed greens came in a very generous portion and was very fresh. However, the house dressing which had been dolloped on top was slightly on the bland side lacking in any distinct flavors other than the product they use to give it that white, creamy consistency. At first, it seemed like there wasn't enough dressing, but after a little tossing, it worked out fine. ROAST TURKEY The actual portion of roast turkey itself was a bit conservative, but with the seasoned stuffing underneath the mixture of white and dark meat, one would think it was a big plate. The turkey wasn't anything that left us desiring more, so I guess it worked out. Also, there was just enough gravy to coat and moisten the meat which was absent of any seasonings. On the other hand, the mixed bread stuffing was overpowered by the taste of thyme or some other ready-made poultry seasoning mix sold in stores. This plate was ordered with white rice which was slightly on the dry side, and tossed salad with house dressing. OPAKAPAKA WITH GARLIC SHOYU SAUCE Portion was very fair for the price. Sauce was flavorful and delicious. However, the downside is that the grilled opakapaka was dry and overcooked. The plate was ordered with white rice and tossed salad. SESAME CHICKEN Generous portion of luke warm, boneless, battered, deep fried, crispy chicken pieces. It's unfortunate the chicken meat was extremely dry and beyond overcooked to the point of being hard to chew and difficult to swallow. The plate was ordered with all tossed salad. SERVICE Among some of the worst customer service ever encountered. After waiting behind a customer who was picking up a large order, you would think the girl behind the counter would then ask the next customer something like, "May I take your order" or something along that line? Nope! Stone Faced Sally just stood there staring at me with a look of disdain. So I asked her whenever she was ready to take my order I was ready to order. She then picked up her pencil and notepad and said, "Go ahead." By the way, forget about getting a 'thank you' from her. On the up side, the order came out in the blink of an eye. Maybe that explains why the chicken wasn't quite crispy enough? PARKING Supposedly, the lot next door will allow for cars to pull in to pick up orders, but I can't confirm this as I didn't ask Miss Personality to validate this. However, we did notice cars pulling into the first stall of the lot next door to pick up their takeout orders. It's probably best to have a driver drop you off as pull-over spaces can be extremely limited. BOTTOM LINE We might give them another try. Maybe next time we'll order hamburger steak and ribeye teriyaki beef. After which we'll be able to decide if Pongo's is a keeper or not.

Fran C.

I gotta say, one of the nice things about using YELP - is finding some good GRINDZ places from my fellow Yelp friends........ I was in the mood to try a new place today, so I went over to the Yelp site, & lurked over my Yelp buddy - bruddah Darrel P.'s page. I like looking a bruddah Darrel's page, cuz I get da same kine taste as him as far as da GRINDZ go...........upon scanning his page, low & behold I found da spot today - PONGO"S Kitchen, here I come! I whipped out the phone, turned on the GPS, and off I went to the industrial area of Kalihi. I gotta say..........it's a nightmare to try and find parking here (we actually couldn't find any parking today), so may I suggest the best way to get around this, is to have your friend drive you, then your friend can keep the car running while you run inside to order the food. Upon picking up da Grindz, then you can make your "quick get away!" By the way, the little shop is basically a pick up & go kinda place........there is absolutely no seating inside. One small note - there are two small covered tables outside, if you are lucky enough to get it............but I think I'll pass on eating on a covered table by the sidewalk. Onto the GRINDZ...........upon looking at the pics from here, it appears that they are known for their Guava Chicken, as well as Sesame Chicken, & Fried Chicken. Upon scanning the menu, I decided on a combo plate of Beef Stew, & Guava Chicken. My co-worker just wanted the Guava Chicken. With my combo, I took the brown rice & a toss salad. My co-worker opted for the mac salad & brown rice. I also got two bottled waters, and the total damage was just under $19.00. Not bad, because the amount to food they served to you was very generous! ****Please note, when I had ordered the Guava Chicken, the friendly girl at the counter told me there would be a 15 minute wait***** But in actuality, I probably waited no more than 5 to 10 minutes for my food. May I suggest if you don't want to wait, you should call and place a phone order before heading down to Pongo's, so that way you won't have to deal with the wait. In my case.........I was okay with it. What can I say about the grub? Well, I gotta tell you the Guava Chicken was as advertised! It was really ono! The chicken was really meaty & juicy. The guava sauce was not overpowering, with a slight hint of Guava, with a tangy spiciness to it. NOMS!!!!! As for my beef stew..........that was just okay for me, nothing special about it. It kinda reminded me of a Hawaiian Stew, as the sauce was more on the runny side, verses on the thicker side. I've been on a quest to look for the perfect Beef Stew ever since my favorite beloved H.K. Restaurant closed down back in 2012. If anyone of da bruddah's out there know where I can get a good beef stew - similar like H.K. Restaurant...........let a bruddah know! Okay? Overall, a great little shop that serves onolishes GRINDZ! Although there was no parking, the place was still very busy, as they get a lot of foot traffic from the workers in the industrial area. Check 'em out gang! No can go wrong!

Jenn K.

Since we were in the Kalihi area, we decided to stop by Pongo's and try the mini sesame chicken and the mini guava chicken. We went early and luckily found a parking spot in front. It's more of a takeout place (no dining area inside). Service was so fast! My order was ready before I could even put my wallet back into my purse. The portions are pretty good, as well as the price ($5,75 for each of the mini plates we ordered). Of the two chicken plates we ordered, I prefer the guava one since it was more tasty.

Kenzie K.

**Local Grindz** HAWAII ~!! Shortest review EVER! Not much to say about here except it's a hell of a hole-in-da-wall place to grab a plate lunch to go. Not a place to eat here. They do have a couple of small benches outside to eat if you want to eat here. But it's located in a working industrial area where all the customers usually come here to grab their lunch. The food is ONO to da MAX. Lunches average $7-8. The owners are sisters who can cook some bomb ass food. NO JOKE. If you're in the area, just stop by. Check it out. I only came here because my auntie just picked me up from the airport and she had to stop at cooking supply shop down the road, Y Hata Co.? So she asked me if I'm hungry because she was starving and recommended to come here. I don't usually eat meat anymore but OMG I seen hamburger curry on the menu and could NOT resist. I uploaded a photo and that's just the mini version. It was more than enough for me. I chose toss salad but I think they have the usual famous macaroni salad. You can't sell Hawaiian plate lunches and not have macaroni salad. But I'm on a special diet lol. My auntie said she did not care about any diet hahahaha. There is no parking lot here but we had no problems with street parking at all. It was a Friday early afternoon. Seriously, if you're in the area or even close by, give it a try. If you buy a plate, and you aren't satisfied, I'll give you your money back. Not joking! I'm also confident that the owners would give it back or at least replace your meal if you weren't happy with your meal. Trust me. They are THAT cool!! Happy eating!! :) ~*kenzie*~ Oh the reason why it's 4 stars and not 5 is because it's not a sit in restaurant. Other wise it be 5 stars. Food is ONO 5 stars.

Lori L.

You should be eating takeout from Pongo's Kitchen. Yes, there is no parking, go with a friend to circle with the car. Yes, there are only two outdoor tables, so really no place to sit, don't worry, I said takeout. Yes, they are only open for lunch from 10 am - 2 pm, leave school/work and Figure. It. Out. There's a lotta good happening on Pongo's Menu. If you like seafood dynamite, go for the Baked Ahi which has imitation crab-mayo goodness. The fried chickens--Guava, Sesame, Wasabi or Garlic drizzled are popular and have a dark tempura-like batter that stays nice and cruncy. The Ribeye Teri Beef sets a new standard for teri beef and they always have fish--Salmon, Opakapaka, sometimes Ahi Belly or Onaga, so look for the specials. Prices are reasonable for both mini and regular plates, and you can make combos for a nominal charge. Plates come with a choice of white or brown rice and either toss salad, mac salad or corn--I even really like the buttermilk dressing on the toss salad, damn. Really good lunch option when you're in Kalihi. The food comes out quickly, but you can also call in your order and it'll be ready when you get there. Don't forget to bring me back a plate when you go.

Elizabeth D.

Hole in the wall place by Nimitz, nothing fancy. There is 2 tables outside and parking is street parking but who cares, the food is Ono winnahzzzz. Roast chicken and baked ahi so so tender and flavorful. Call in your order cuz it gets packed, it's in the industrial area so you know all the workers come here. Check out their daily specials, the only thing is they don't have bread pudding daily.

M C.

My boyfriend stumbled into this place by accident and told me that their food is great! Of course, I had to try this place out myself! This place is definitely a hole-in-the-wall. There's only two picnic tables outside and it was hard to find parking. The lady working was very friendly and took our order in a jiffy. But that's not a bad thing coz I had a limited time considering that I was on my lunch break from work. I opted for the grilled ahi with ginger green onion sauce. I tell ya, it was delish! It was a total orgasm in my mouth! Every bite will make you say "mmmm" :) Within a week, I went back to try out their baked ahi and guava chicken because my friend suggested I order that on my next visit. That, too, was awesome!! It's like mitsuken and Sugoi's chicken but it has its own flavor. Their baked ahi was good too but I loved the guava chicken better! It had a little spice to it and it was flavorful! This spot? My new favorite hole-in-the-wall place! :))

Jessica A.

Guava Chicken. OMGEEEE. If you want it though, you need to get there earlier in the day. I have been later in the lunch hour and they have been sold out. Don't expect to have parking near by. I like to take someone with me to go get the food while I circle the block. Super cheap --- I can never finish the mini size.

Arlene A.

I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner! I love plate lunches especially when it's not the normal fare you'll find at L&L's (no diss to Eddie). It's located right next to my old elementary school. It's a small hole-in-the-wall shop but just look for the long line of folks outside during lunchtime. Parking sucks so you may have to make a few rounds, but let me tell ya, it's worth the trouble. I tried the #1 combo plate with the guava chicken and baked stuffed ahi. So ono and all for under $9. That kinda awesomeness is tough to beat. Came back a second time to get the warmed spinach salad with salmon and tofu. Also a great tasting, healthier option. So if you're ever in the Kalihi area anytime from 10-2 Mon-Sat, come check them out. It might be easier to go with someone who can hop out and pick up the orders for you though. Just saying.

Z Z.

No update yet.

Glen R.

Food and service is great been going there for years when I was working at Foremost Dairies , now been stopping there on some Saturday's . It's still the same great food and service , guava chicken and ahi belly with garlic oil is my favorites . Your money's worth..

Keola m.

Was running errands all day on monday and ended up in Kalihi. At about 1-ish. Started getting hungry and did what every smart person would do. Get out your smarter than you phone and yelp a place nearby for lunch. Pongos, I dont know what a Pongo is but it had good reviews and lots of nice red stars. So I hit the "Directions" button and I was on my way. Found the place quickly. Its really easy to spot. Big sign outside "PONGO'S" How easy is that? Now parking is a problem and Im not sure if the space just fronting the entrance is legal parking but, after circling the block (and finding out where OCCC is) I just parked there. The place is small. A counter on the inside for ordering and 2 tables outside for .... what else, eating. There is an extensive menu but, I like to go for the specials. I ordered the Opakapaka with garlic soy sauce. I used my freedom of choice and choose brown rice (healthy) and mac salad (not so healthy) I think they even each other out. Price: $8 Outcome: DELICIOUS!!! In fact some of that garlic soy sauce spilled onto my mac salad and made it even better. Not that it wasnt before. I notice a few other items that I would like to try next time. So, I will be back.

Terrence M.

Their baked ahi and guava chicken is ono! We'll get lunch from here now then when I'm at work to change things up. Never disappointed in the food, price is fair and the quality of food is on point. Only thing that sucks is the parking is pretty much non existent, it's all street parking so you need at least 2 people to get the food or be super lucky to find a parking space anywhere near.

Jomar E.

This place is mean! First time I ever heard of this place was yesterday from a friend after grabbing coffee over at Lion's which is pretty near by! Let me start with parking, I had to circle around the block a couple times for a spot to finally open up. Entered the place with a friendly greeting from the lady working up front who I could tell had a sense that we were first timers. My friend ordered the Opakapaka with garlic shoyu all white rice ($8.75) and I got the baked ahi with guava chicken all brown rice ($8.50). Price was fair and no tax too! Wait was reasonable around 5 minutes for mine and 7 for my friends. There are only two benches outside and luckily we were able to have one. Now the best part, the food. Oh my GOODness! I opened that plate and wow, did I really pay $8.50 for this!? This plate was loaded. The scoops of rice were huge! And the baked ahi, smeeen. The chicken was good too! My friends Opakapaka was great, the shoyu is killer. You really get why you pay for here! Downside to this was while eating I got mean heartburn which totally killed the experience. But other than that this place is worth 5 stars!

Tina H.

HOTTEST NEW LUNCH FIND! Pongo's is superb lunch fare and I didn't even mean to eat here. My office buddy turned me onto Pongo's website because he said their jingle was stuck in his head but I couldn't concentrate on the song all that much because I was too busy being inappropriate over the food porn Pongo's dished out on the internet. After picking my jaw back up from the floor, my coworker and I decided to try this place out. Best decision all week! Granted, Pongo's is smack dab in the middle of Kalihi's industrial area, so it is extremely hard to find parking without looking like you're doing something illegal to the side. But with a quick call-in order and my coworker acting like a bodyguard for my car, it really wasn't all that bad and the food is totally worth the 30 seconds of headaches trying to find a decent spot. Before I get into the food, though, let me back track a bit: Pongos huge selling point is its drizzles. What's a drizzle? Best way to describe is an added "kick" to the meal. I ordered a mini salmon plate with a spicy butter drizzle while my coworker ordered the mahi mahi with lemon caper drizzle. This stuff was chock full of holy grail goodness. I ate ridiculously fresh fish for six bucks! Not bad. I got a chance to snag a bite of my coworker's mahi mahi and I gotta say that the lemon caper drizzle is amazing. If you're in the Kalihi area, you gotta try this place out. It's the quintessential hole in the wall that doesn't leave a hole in your wallet.

Asako O.

Another great take-out establishment which can be found hidden among industrial businesses in Kalihi is Pongo's Kitchen but be aware that this place is very small and can be easily missed. Street parking is scarce and difficult to find especially on weekdays. There is no indoor seating as there are only two wooden benches right out front and do make note during lunch this place gets very busy. I was impressed with their menu as they offer many choices of fresh fish including baked ahi, ahi steak, mahimahi, salmon, shrimp and opakapaka. Other items on the menu include pork medallions, short ribs, teriyaki beef, steak and chicken prepared in several different ways. Or you may want to consider ordering their daily specials or perhaps a combo plate. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am - 2 pm and Saturday 10 am - 2 pm Keep in mind of the 5-step process before ordering. 1. Regular or mini plate 2. Your entree choice 3. White or brown rice 4. Your choice of salad - corn, macaroni salad or toss salad 5. Your choice of drizzle, sauce or seasoned butter (if it applies to your entree) Ordered the baked ahi with brown rice and toss salad and must say it was fantastic. Their baked ahi is by far the best. Perfectly cooked and seasoned very well. I highly recommend this place as you will not be disappointed.

Christine S.

I totally recommend this place for those who love an affordable, tasty combo meal. Family friend recommended this place to me and my cousin's so we thought we'd give it a try. Their regular combo meal portion is good enough to feed 2 people. I loved their ahi guava chicken combo. I couldn't really taste the guava but it was still so good. The parking is a bit of a problem because during lunch hour, it is hard to find parking, so you would need to go looking for a parking space. They have a seating area right outside that fits around 6 to 8 people. Not alot of seating, which is alright because mostly people take it to go.

Kimberly L.

Get ready to eat in your car or pass out drooling. With the Tippr deal, Pongo's rates absolutely amazing. The only cons are that they cook everything in the morning and dish it out instead of making each order from scratch. And the no-parking situation. But if you're judging on ono food for a fast price, look for the green awning above Pongo's lunch counter. I recommend the combo of Baked Ahi and Sesame Chicken. The popular and famous guava chicken gets a bit goopy and mushy if you don't get it when it's freshly tossed out of the fryer. Baked Ahi is a good size chunk of ahi with mayo dynamite sauce, cooked white onion for sweetness, and a few chunks of seafood like scallops and shrimp in the sauce. The chicken comes in big chunks with a mochiko-like batter. All plates come with brown or white rice and tossed or corn. Liiiiike.

Jon R.

I remember the days of their lunch wagon in Kalihi. Now they are too fancy for my taste. Used to just love the interaction with the three beautiful ladies, now....they all out of view in the back. Chicken plates are all winners still yet, guava chix my fave. Come back out of hiding ladies, you are the reason we went there! BTW portions are still HUGE! So a mini would fill you up unless you like "pound" as Bradda Sam used to say!

Olivia D.

3.5 stars because Pongo's is kind of expensive for plate lunch now. Pongo's is a build-it-yourself kind of plate lunch place. It's like ordering a shaved ice at Aoki's or Matsumoto's. You tell them what size plate you want (reg. or mini), then choose your protein--they have lots of fish, like opakapaka, mahi, ahi and salmon, and pork, shrimp, steak, short ribs (thin slices, like kalbi), and tofu--and then you tell them what kind of rice, salad, and sauce you want. They have various sauces, drizzles, and flavored butters. Last time, I had the short ribs with the spicy shoyu vinegar onion sauce and my friend Doug had opakapaka with lemon caper drizzle. It was okay. You can't really screw up kalbi-style shortribs and opakapaka. The sauce on my shortribs was more like a Guam-style finadeni sauce than a ponzu, which surprised me because not too many people make finadeni. I've actually had the shortribs several times here and I would give Pongo's another star if they were a little meatier and less dry and gristly. I wish they used higher quality shortribs, especially for $8 for a few slices. Pongo's has good, straightforward food, but it's not "broke da mouth".

Lin K.

Excellent fresh fish. A hole in the wall that is very clean. Parking is extremely scarce. You can pretty much modify any order to suit your needs. Good place to get a good piece of protein and some good veggies and a healthy starch. Tastes gourmet, with reasonable pricing.

Lofa L.

So Im in the Puuhale/Kalihi/Kapalama area and my boy wants manapua from the spot with the pink box. We go and their closed. Forced to find a second lunch spot and he says "Wheres that other hole in the wall spot?". I dunno. EVERYWHERE I EAT IS A HOLE IN THE WALL SPOT. After driving around through the warehouses and mechanic shops we find it. Pongos. Line outside, check, hard to park, check, big bruddahs eating there, check. Thats all I needed to see before placing my order. I ordered the grilled short ribs with the spicy butter. It was good and tasty. I also ordered the warm spinach salad and that was SUPER KILLERS! I said SALAD! I kinda wish I ordered two salads. I dunno what they put in that dressing besides bacon (maybe CRACK? Jus joke) but that was the highlight of lunch. And they put in grilled tofu and salmon. I wasnt expecting that. Oh thats the thing to order. I still wanna try their guava chicken and their hamburger steak (thats the true measuring stick, hamburger steak). But thats for lunch later. Ill be back for sure.

Eddie K.

Think lil hole in the walls are great? You need to stop by Pongo's. Located in industrial Kalihi just a block mauka from Nimitz Hwy. Drive slow or you'll miss the green Pongo's sign. They offer more than your typical plate lunch fare. Great variety, not just various chicken dishes, but various fish, chicken, or beef dishes. Great choices: sesame chicken, guava chicken, opakapaka, salmon, & mahimahi. You can customize your lunch, so if you want to go healthy stick with the brown rice, nalo greens and hold the drizzle. If you did a serious cardio workout and want to cheat a little, go with the white rice, mac salad and the drizzle. Recommend you call your order in advance since there is really no parking and no seating. Prices are very reasonable and portions are generous, so bust out the pillow after you scarf this thing down cuz you will need it.

Mei-Lan C.

wow , what a great find ! found this little hole in the wall place after watching it being featured on cheap eats. never thought i'll finally find delicious and cheap fish here. ordered the grilled ahi steak with ginger green onion sauce ( 8$ ) and grilled opakapaka with garlic shoyu sauce ( 8$ ) it come with a generous scoop of either brown or white rice and either corn, mac salad or toss salad. the ahi was a little dry for my taste but the sauce that came with it made it still yummy. the highlight was the opakapaka !!! sooooo yummy ! moist , flavorful and really generous portion for 8 $ !!! even my husband , who hardly eats fish , craved it again the next day . look this place up on facebook. you can see almost all the dishes in pictures there !

Lisa T.

My aunty catered from Pongo's last week to feed everyone that was helping my uncle move. All I gotta say is, if they're going to serve food like this when someone needs to move house, sign me up!! Here's a true test of yum-ability: bring the food, but everyone is still busy unloading the truck so it sits for about an hour... So the food gets kind of room temp... Then try eat 'em! If it's like the food from Pongo's, the guava chicken will still have crunch yet still be nice and tender inside, the beef stew will still be gravy-licious, the steak will still be tender and not chewy, and, most surprising of all, the baked ahi casserole will still be moist and not dry! Funny enough, the rice was the worst thing - dry and clumpy. But fixable with a nice scoop of stew gravy... Ohhh yeah, you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!! I will definitely try to get there soon to order off the regular menu. Will update my review when I do!

Max K.

I ate at Pongo's Kitchen on Wednesday, November 26th and let me tell you....I was happy I went there. I haven't eaten at Pongo's for at least a few years and something made me go there that day. I got really lucky and found parking right in front. Yes, lucky because parking really sucks in that area. According to their website ( pongoskitchen.com ), they say parking is available in their neighbors lot. I remember eating at Pongo's when they only had the pink lunchwagon on Moowaa Street. They closed the lunchwagon service and opened the kitchen on Mokauea St. I miss the lunchwagon because there were two cute girls in their everyday. Anyways, back to the food..... I had the Herb Roasted Chicken Thighs and I got lucky again as that normally sells out pretty quickly, so I'm told. There were 4 chicken thighs, brown rice and tossed salad with Ranch dressing. I really enjoyed everything about the food. The chicken was seasoned just right and was very moist. The brown rice was steamed excellent also, not too dry. The Ranch dressing was homemade and not the bottled type. They also included a side dish of Ranch dressing in case you wanted to drizzle it over the chicken. There are two tables outside to eat but it's not likely that you have the leisurely time to eat it there. You'll probably be parked illegally and will have to rush back to the car. The prices were good and I will be back again to try some other items. Too bad they don't have the pink lunchwagon anymore. Those girls were really cute...oops...sorry.

Dustin N.

This is a small hole in the wall place. There is a table and a few chairs outside to sit and eat at. There is only street parking available. The food is made fast and fresh. I always order the opakapaka plate with brown rice and tossed salad. I am still trying the many different sauces that they offer. Price is reasonable and the staff is friendly. This is a great place to come for a plate lunch.

Shelby A.

Do not underestimate this little hole in the wall located in Kalihi. Their food is great, their fish plates are good, and so far I have not been disappointed. Their dressings, sauces, and drizzles make their food so much more yummy, but is just as good without. Even their ranch dressing makes their mixed green salad yummy! My favorite is the baked ahi. My boyfriend loves the opakapaka, and my family likes everything they've had there. I recently catered from them for a luncheon at work. Everyone enjoyed their food, despite not having a delivery service for catering. The prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality. I usually do takeout since their seating is limited and outside. I am definitely a fan and will continue to visit! Very yummy!

Jamieee D.

Love pongos. Very generous with their portions. Their baked ahi is delicious and their shoyu chicken was so tasty. A regular came with three huge chicken breasts! That was a lot of food! Parking sucks though.

Anthony V.

I love this place. I eat here regularly for lunch because of the fresh fish plates. Always cooked to perfection. Reasonable prices too. No great atmosphere but take out always works.

TEE B.

I tried this place since there was a voucher on Tippr. Here's what I had and what I think about it: Grilled ahi: Good, a bit of a funny smell when I opened the container but it tasted good. They should have added a wedge of lemon but they didn't. Grilled short ribs with garlic butter: I've had better, there was no taste to these ribs what so ever and I didn't enjoy them at all. Guava chicken: I tried this because I read a review and someone put that it was "to die for". It wasn't to die for, but it was okay, I've had better tasting chicken before. Over all the food, to me, was not that good especially for the prices. I've been to hole in the walls before and one of the good thing about them is supposed to be taste AND price, this place had neither. Also the parking is nonexistant here. They say you can park in the front of the place where the bus stop is if you're just picking up but then they take their sweet time ringing you up like they don't care if you get a ticket. I wont be returning to this place, it's not worth it.

Stephanie I.

This is a great little hole in the wall fish-specializing plate lunch place. If you're in the mood for something fishy or some really great chicken (sesame, guava, roasted, etc) this is your place. Depending on who's working the grill that day, the fish MAY come out a little overdone, nonetheless, with the addition of house butters, sauces, and drizzles, the flavor is always on point. My favorite thing here is the warm spinach salad. It comes with a salmon steak, tofu steak, and garlic chips. Try it!!

Gopher I.

LOVE Pongo's! The people are great and the food is terrific! They don't offer your "normal" plate lunch fare, but they have a lot of options, from beef stew, roasted chicken, baked ahi (my fave), and lots of other grilled fish and chicken dishes. The mini plates are good enough for me, as the portions are just right! There are daily specials everyday, but be forewarned that they go out quick! The only problem here is the parking, there is a bus stop right in front of the entry way (on Mokauea Street), and people park there all the time but you can park on the streets all around the area. Also of note, there are only two small picnic tables in the front for people to sit on, so Pongo's is a place you'll want to pick up from and take home or to the park or beach, etc.to enjoy. Try it out, you will not be sorry!

Julie H.

I've never had something I didn't love from here. I'm always on the look out for healthier lunch choices and this is one of the places that have brown rice and nalo greens. You can choose between a few different types of fish, pork, steak, shrimp, short ribs and then you choose what sauce to go on top of it. The guava chicken is also amazing! Everything on the menu is between $5-9. Give it a try!

ed k.

I rarely give any eating establishment 5 stars. Pongo's Kitchen definitely deserve 5 stars. Their Hawaiian plate special was fantastic. For $9.00 the plate consisted of kalua pig with spinach (yes, spinach), chicken long rice. a piece of stuff ahi, lomi lomi salmon, rice and a can of soda. I can't wait to eat it again next week. Not only was the food fantastic but the counter help also deserves 5 stars. She had a big smile, called the regulars by their first names and welcomed new comers with a very positive attitude. 6/25/12 Been here every Friday since I initially wrote this review. I just can't get enough of their Hawaiian plate.

Deuces H.

Guava chicken plate with extra drizzle!!! Its the next hole-in-the-wall place, beats out Gulick Delicatessen. Its only a Take Out place. They have two benches outside. This is where you can take your plate back to the office and ENJOY by yourself.

Brian H.

Garlic Butter Short Ribs!!!

Natasha H.

I love Pongos!!! I am so glad they did a Tippr coupon because I would never have found out about this place!!!! This is definitely a testament to when a groupon type offer really does work, because not only am I now a loyal customer but I have also made my coworkers loyal customers. We have our mail room office out on Sand Island and I am always there around lunch time so I was so happy to have found this place which is right around the corner. Also, there really aren't many places to eat around Sand Island that have healthy options but Ponogo's does!!! I love love love the grilled salmon over bed of fresh spinach with the hawaiian salsa on top. I would eat it every day if I was out in the area! Thank you to Ponogo's. It is probably by definition a whole in the wall, but it is a nice, clean, well kept one. Highly recommended.

David G.

Pongos kitchen really deserves 3 & 1/2 stars. I just ate lunch that was catered by them for a co workers retirement party. I was surprised at how good everything was. Usually, the stuff we get catered really sucks, but this time it was a nice change. I won't get into listing everything we had because it would take too long. All I will say is that it was well prepared and tasted great. From the fish to the chicken it was good. I guess the only complaint I had was that too many of their dishes were swimming with garlic butter, mayo or mayo type dressings. For example: they had a Kalbi dish served on spinach drizzled with a wasabi cream something. The mac salad was swimming in mayo, and you could barely see the macaroni. yuk... If Pongo's could relax a little and stop using so much butter, mayo & cream drizzles and let the food stand by its self they would have a much better product. Either way, well done! I will go for lunch in the future.

Love S.

Stopped by today for lunch. Dammit, they were closed. Took me forever to find it. I must've eaten here a dozen times but for some reason, I always think it's on Kalihi street or on the upper part of Dilingham. I guess that's what Navigation is for. Decided to write up a review anyhow. I do like their Top Sirloin steak plate drizzled with garlic aioli. Guava chicken is delish and so is their fresh catch of the day. Prices are extremely reasonable. I think all the plates are under 6 bucks and the mini plates are good portions for under 4 bucks. They give you a choice of mac salad or mesculan greens which is a good option, also great if you're health conscious. A definite must try. Don't go on a Monday, closed. And YES parking is non-existant. Better to have someone run in and out while you wait in the car. Couple tables outside if you can muster up the one parking stall on the street. Definitely do Take-out!

Jason Y.

odd place, difficult to find, no parking...worth it! this small little take out joint packs some flavor! lots of choices, all of it really good. if you like fish, here is really good and fresh! one of the better plate lunch places your going to find. gotta love the drizzles they put on the food. lots of choices, depending on what you eat...i would just ask which they think is best for whatever dish you order. plus instead of the usually mac salad, you can have a choice of tossed salad or corn! but who eats a plate lunch without mac salad? You also get choice between white or brown rice. If i want fish, i like the baked ahi. although, a couple of times i have gotten it later in the day when its dried out a bit, but still tastes good. fried/garlic chicken is what i guess its known for...its good too, but if you want it, go early because they seem to run out of it quickly. They also have other kinds of chicken...roast, guava, etc... I love hamburger curry, and here its pretty darn good. screw it...all the food is good! order whatever you like. i would recommend a mix plate so you can get variety. bonus if you have someone else with you so you can share!

Ashton M.

This place is a great lunch spot especially if you are looking for real local Hawaiian food. They have plenty of different plate lunches but I especially like the grilled seafood dishes they make like: grilled ahi bellies(mmmm yumm, and so fresh!) Mahi Mahi plate is so onolicious!!!, If you ever get a chance try the grilled salmon bellies...mouth watering! There is always a black board special and I recommend that you always check, cuz they get specials like opaka paka, seabass, or Opah. I also enjoy other plates like Kalbi, fried chicken, guava chicken, and shrimp. All plates come with a nice tossed salad,rice, mac salad or sweet corn.. Make sure you get the garlic butter drizzle on top of your goodies. Pongos is inexpensive , the staff is very friendly and they just make great local food! I will always go back and you should try! tell I sent ya!

Amy G.

Just as good as I remembered it! We got 2 regular orders of guava chicken and 1 regular order of opak and it filled the 4 of us!

Sarah K.

Tiffany A.

Ryan S.

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Jozlyn H.

I found this place because they were featured on the news.... I can't remember which channel but they mentioned the sticky guava chicken. Eh! the bugga is delicious! I've ordered here a few times and have not been disappointed yet. I usually order their boneless sticky guava chicken or their opakapaka. yum!!!!! A lot of construction workers and laborers frequent this place..... I would suggest going a little early for lunch to beat the crowd and to avoid getting a sold out item.... yes, they do sell out of some things.

Shani L.

Their steak is on point, the roasted chicken is awesome, the grilled salmon...to die for!!! Their seasoned butter sauces are so ono for the steak, the salmon, the chicken, I can eat here like everyday! Reason to come here for lunch, cuz its worth it!!!

Randy M.

Finally came here & found parking. Street parking. Right in the front!!! It helped that we came on the weekend right after opening. I've passed by here during the week & I could never find parking. It's in a predominately business/warehouse area. So that cuts down on parking spots & they get a lot of customers from the area so you the weekend worked out well. On to the food. Wanted to try the guava chicken but was told it was a 15 minute wait. Oh well. Had the sesame chicken & baked ahi combo instead. The chicken was tasty & good but the baked ahi made me wish I had only ordered that. It was moist & delicious. Broke da mout!! Lol Next time hopefully I'll be able to try the guava chicken.

Marifer S.

Awesome local food for lunch!!! Great price. Great portion simple and god quality at the same time. I love their shoyu ginger sauce!! I've always wanted to try the Guava chicken but they seem to run put almost everyday.

Marisha A.

I'm always open to trying new hole in the wall eateries. My brother said he's heard rave reviews about the guava chicken and baked ahi. Guess what they were sold out of....... the guava chicken and baked ahi. Plan B- Short ribs with a garlic butter drizzle: Finger lickin good! Throw garlic on any type of BBQ meat and you've got a winner with me. Hamburger curry: Home made comfort food. Another good choice. Next time: -get here early, they sell out of the guava chicken and baked ahi first -only street parking -not much places to sit and eat, only 2 tables that each fit 4 people right out front

Chad J.

One of the best plate lunch places there is. The main thing that sets Pongo's apart from the rest is they offer healthy and delicious grilled fresh fish lunches at reasonable prices. Beats the greasy fried plate lunches by miles! Even if fish isn't your thing, the different styles of chicken (sesame, guava, fried, roasted) are all awesome. The beef curry is great, so is the Baked Ahi. Can you tell I eat there a lot? LOL! Like others have said, get there before 12 or a lot of stuff will be gone already. It's worth the effort!

Yvonne M.

LOCAL FOOD WITH A TWIST! A hole in the wall! So hidden, you just might miss it. A great place that offers zestfully flavored, unique food! FOOD ORDERED Guava Chicken & Baked Ahi Combo! The Guava chicken had the right amount of sweetness, sauce, & crunch! Surprisingly Outstanding taste! It was doing a happy dance in my mouth! The Baked Ahi tasted like I was eating a Dynamite sushi! Oohh yeah! yelp.com/user_local_phot… ENVIRONMENT Located in the depths of the industrial area of Kalihi on Mokauea St. Pretty ghetto area though. Street parking is very, very limited! They said you can park at the Ted's shop next door if you have take out or phone order. Benches outside. SERVICE Pretty Good! Although they forgot my chicken in my plate, they apologized and came running out to my car to give me my chicken! (because parking is pretty bad there) CONCLUSION Heck Yah, I'm coming back, I've been craving this lately! I went here twice this week! TIP Brown rice & Salad options available. Be prepared to wait about 10-15 minutes. All fresh. A phone order may be better or tag team with someone, due to parking restraints. They have various drizzles (Garlic, Creamy mild wasabi, Lemon caper, Shoyu Wasabi, Ranch or Hawaiian Salsa) recommended for baked items or sandwiches.

Ryan M.

This place has been on my bookmarks forever and I finally made it. One of the reasons I bookmarked this place because of my curiosity to try their guava chicken. The photos looked great and I believe that if it looks good then it probably is. However, it has been hard to try this place because there are some inconveniences that make it difficult. One reason is their: LOCATION - They are located in Kalihi on the corner of Mokauea and Kalani Street. There is STREET PARKING only so it's always best to get your food with someone else (OOPA Tag Team Style). Street parking can also be a challenge here. I've even seen someone park on the sidewalk to get their food. The second reason is their: HOURS - They are open M-F from 9AM-2PM and Saturdays from 10AM-2PM. This place is pretty much a lunch only and seems to cater the people who work around the area. Kind of like a stationary food truck. Since I work M-F in downtown it's not possible for me to eat them during the weekday. They have been closed on most Saturdays for renovations. Not sure about now though. However, once I finally DID make it here, I thought the: FOOD was FA-BU-LOUS! We were able to order two different plates. First plate was the: Baked Ahi & Guava Chicken - yelp.com/biz_photos/SnhP… This was one of 5 set combos. Also one of their more popular combos. The baked ahi was good but the guava chicken was great! If your a fan of garlic chicken, Korean chicken, or chicken in general then you should definitely give pongos a try. We also ordered the Grilled Salmon & Guava Chicken - yelp.com/biz_photos/SnhP… This was not a combo but you can also make your own combos. They will just adjust your price accordingly. The grilled salmon was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed it a lot. What makes their food even better is their, DRIZZLES. I have said it before and I will say it again. It's all about the sauce. We got to try the garlic this time but I can't wait to go back and try their creamy wasabi. Take a look at all their different drizzles, sauces and seasoned butters that they offer. yelp.com/biz_photos/SnhP… All plates come with white or brown rice and choice of mac salad, toss salad or corn. Yup! corn. Their SERVICE was pretty standard here. You pretty much tell them what you want, they tell you the cost and give you your food. They have a sign yelp.com/biz_photos/SnhP… explaining how to order so you don't need to ask them when its your turn to order. Overall I am a fan and will come again as long as time permits. Solid 4 stars.

Lak M.

Small place, but great food. I had the Mahi Mahi regular and Ahi small for the wife. We were expecting a place where you can sit and eat but this is not that kind of place, although they had a simple wooden chair table outside. We ended up going to the Moanalua Gardens and enjoyed the food under massive tree canopy.

Hien V.

I tried the sesame chicken and guava chicken. Both were good but guava was better. It's covered in a thick crunchy batter, deep fried and smothered in sauce. The chicken was probably reheated or fried for a little too long as it felt dry. Each regular plate came with a scoop or rice and choice of mac salad or green salad. The mac salad was decent a little bland. They do accept credit cards.

Melissa M.

I usually eat the grilled salmon or guava chicken. AWESOME! We call in our orders for lunch and it's easy to pick up and go. Sometimes the food is a little inconsistent in the quality but it's usually good. Only issue is parking during certain times. Plus the way people drive in this area.

TiffanyRose L.

Ive walkd past here for yrs..and theres always a bunch of people in line bt nvr have i thought to try this place out for myslf..untill today.Coworkers suggested the guava chicken&baked ahi combo bt sadly they were out of ahi when we called in our order so decided on jst the guava chicken,mini(3 pcs of boneless chicken) with a scoop of rice(white or brown)and a choice of toss salad,mac salad or corn,which i decided on..It was Sooo GOOD!! the chicken was sweet, tangy, with a little spice to it..So yummy!! Ill be back for sure...

Teddy G.

Omg I'm going to miss this place!!! We tried this place before heading to the airport. Guava chicken and baked ahi are amazing!!!! We arrived around 12. They only had 1 plate of guava chicken left. I'm so happy we were able to try it. Call in advance to see if they have it. Parking sucks but it's worth the walk.

Bethani E.

I am so glad Pongo's decided to do a Crowdsavings deal otherwise I never would've known about this place. The food is fresh, healthy and yummy. I have tried it two times now and I'm a fan. First time around I came around 12pm, and ordered Sesame Chicken and Baked Ahi combo. I wanted to try the Guava Chicken and Grilled Mahi, but they were already sold out. No complaints- everything was flavorful, my combo was excellent and came with brown rice and tossed salad (creamy dressing). The prices are super reasonable too. My second visit was around 1pm, so since all chicken was sold out. I ordered the Grilled Opah with Garlic Butter special. Another winner! They are super fast and the owners/workers are super friendly. Keep the good food and service coming! They gave me a tip to come early. They open at 9am, so I will have to probably come by before 10:30am to try that Guava Chicken. Cons: Parking is very limited- small parking lot next door with a couple stalls and the rest is street parking. Be careful when driving or walking at the cross street intersection. I witnessed a car accident, and apparently it happens often. Limited outdoor seating. More of take out place.

P C.

Good plate lunches here. Guava chicken and baked ahi combo with brown rice and toss salad so winnas. Once in a while they have grilled ahi belly with the ginger garlic sauce. double winnas. Actually, everything is good. Mmm is it lunchtime? other info: parking on the street not the greatest. Call in your order ahead of time to make sure they never run out of what u like eat. Also, they have another number to call for specials of the day. 845-6008.

Jack P.

Back again working in Kalihi, and already been o Pongos twice. Best food i have had in Honolulu by far.

Addie L.

Five stars for value and four stars for taste. Their guava chicken is pretty good and a small pan is only $24, it's a full pan too. The chicken is a little on the sweet side but too overwhelming, you can taste a hint of guava. The restaurant is in the middle of an industrial neighborhood and could be hard to find and parking is tough. My wife and I was commenting how heavy the pan feels, this is a contrast to Sugoi's garlic chicken which is light and slim pickings and sells for $36.50.

Aaron A.

Great food choices. If your first time there get the guava chicken. Its the bomb. One if the best hole in the wall places in Hawaii. A lot to chose from and its all good it just depends what you want that day. If you can't decide they have combo plates. If you are a vegetarian no worry the have something for you too. Staff is great too. Seating is all outside so on hot or rainy days its not a good idea to eat there.

Michelle And Bernard S.

Another great hole in the wall in kalihi. I've been telling my husband that I want to try this place for awhile now and I've finally fulfilled my crave. I ordered the guava chicken and baked ahi plate. The door was amazing but the portion size was minimal. Don't get me wrong the plate was more than enough for my two daughters and I to share and we still had leftovers however the portion size was small! I will definitely be back though because the food was tasty!

Mak L.

Needed a quick lunch so I used yelp. Found this hole in the wall spot. If not for yelp I would of pass this place up. It's small but clean. The cashier n cook were very friendly. The baked ahi & roasted chix were sold out. So I didnt get to try it. I got the mini salmon with spicy garlic sauce, brown rice n mac & fried chicken with garlic sauce for my hub. SO GoOD!!! Best brown rice ive had in a long time! I was stuffed but I felt healthy. Even the fried chix was crunchy without all the grease. I am totally going back to try more items from the menu!

George S.

If you NO TRY dis eatery, den you da LUUZA. I brought home 4 mixed plates to share and EVERYTHING was Ono and I mean Broke da mouth Ono. Restaurant quality 5 STARS! Everything FRESH! Everything like "where have you been hiding all my life?" Soooo gooood! Dressings, sauces, seasonings were all KILLAH. If I had some money, I'd move them to Waikiki and become an instant Billonaire, and start a franchise, and be one, fat, happy camper! Mahalos for the Kanak Attack in Kalihi.

Gail S.

I went to Pongos for the first time today and ordered their grilled salmon with spicy butter sauce, it was delicious! Normally I don't like too much spicy foods but the spice sauce was not too hot it just had the right amount of spice too it and the salmon was cooked perfectly not dry but moist and tender. I found out that their food runs out real fast so best to phone order by 11 and pick up, I think it's what we'll do next time because there's not much street parking around there. But even with the parking situation, the food is excellent and I'd surely go back again to try their other dishes!

Travis D.

If you're ever hungry and want to find someplace new to eat, just go to Yelp and search for "Food" and organize by rating. Then skim through the first couple places and pick one. This simple method hasn't failed me yet and led me to Pongo's. I ordered the baked ahi guava chicken combo with a tossed salad and corn. No extra charge for nixing the rice. Woohoo! This plate was just as good as it looked in the photo on the website and on the menu. The ahi reminded me of the dynamite salmon from Mamaya with a little mayo mixed with a touch of hot sauce and topped with some crab meat. Yummm. The guava chicken had more kick to it than I thought, but still was very tasty. Tasted like Korean chicken with a touch of the red sweet sour sauce that people use to dip spring rolls in. The prices here are great, the food is delicious, and they take credit cards without charging tax. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Kekoa B.

Love the food here. Parking Is street side, but the food is great and definitely better than the low price. Staff is always friendly and food is quick considering it is not a fast food place. They do call in orders too so you don't have to wait.

Lovesto E.

Heard a lot about this place and finally tried it. The guava chicken was sold out so I had to settle for the sesame chicken. The chicken was awesome! Great taste and crispy too! Also tried the beef stew plate and the fresh turkey with gravy. The food there is delicious and homemade, plus very affordable. I think each plate runs between $5.50 to $10. Portions are good too! Parking kind of a problem and the wait was very long. The saving grace there is the guy at the front. This guy works well under pressure and is very professional and patient. Definitely got his act together! Thanks for the great customer service! I will be back!

Kristen K.

Oh my sweet geezus. I just found a place that I wish would relocate to the parking lot outside my work building. ASAP. *This means that they deserved an immediate YELP review!* Coworker suggested phone ordering from here today, so we drove there, paid, picked up order which was packed and ready to go, and left. Within 5 minutes! (time is of the essence on lunch break) Anyway, on to the food. I decided on the regular tofu steak plate (regular portion comes with 2 large pieces, mini comes with one) with brown rice, nalo greens. Opted for the lemon caper drizzle which ended up being creamy and more like an aioli. Got a container of their garlic butter on the side ($0.50) and used that too. DELICIOUS. Drooling just thinking about it now. In fact, I could really eat another plate....and I just ate an hour ago. What makes this place awesome: CHOICES. You choose your dish, then sauce or drizzle, brown or white rice, corn or tossed or mac salad. I love a place with options. Second: very reasonable prices. Third: although I resisted temptation this time, the box of baked goods at the counter looked mighty appealing as well. The only con? This place is in the maze of back roads in Kalihi hidden amongst a million warehouses, hardware/supply stores and small auto body shops. I had NO IDEA where I was, I was just along for the ride. And I didn't pay attention as I should have. =( I'll need REALLY GOOD directions and a detailed map to get myself back there to try more of their food!!!!!!!!

Bernard S.

Very reasonable prices and the food is tasty...

Pamela S.

Ordered over the phone and told cashier I'd be there soon. Waited 10 minutes at the counter while the cashier serviced other customers. All I had to do was pay. If I had ordered upon arrival, food would have arrived at the same time as neither hamburger curry nor guava chicken were special order items. What's the point of calling in orders if not to save time? After all that, not even a thank you. He just turned away like he had better things to do. The hamburger curry was SALTY and literally had a knife in it (inside the curry). Definitely not worth the price. Service was terrible (attitude especially). t only takes one bad experience to lose a customer...forever.

Ken W.

There's a reason this place is called a "kitchen" and not a restaurant. There are 2 tables outside that are essentially on the sidewalk, and there is barely any roof covering. It's also located in the middle of an industrial area. Perfect for a date, if your date was a robot. The Grilled Shrimp was the best, very tasty and pretty good portions. The Guava Chicken was good but the sauce was a bit too sweet. The Grilled Ahi was a bit dry. The Beef Stew was one of the better ones we've had, but Sesame Chicken seemed like the Guava Chicken without sauce.. and they burned it a little bit. Overall I think the food could have 4 star potential, but with the mess ups on the Ahi and the Sesame Chicken, I have to drop it to 3 stars.

Misty P.

I like this hole in the wall place. Great for a nice local home style plate lunch when you're on the go! They're famous for their chicken, but everytime I try it, I am not impressed. It's always dry. The dipping sauces are good and I like their tossed salad. Besides that negative point, the rest of their menu is great! The menu changes here and there daily. Can't go wrong with local favorites like curry beef, beef stew and sometimes they have turkey with gravy and a side of corn. Kind of reminds me of school lunch in a way, but waaaay bettter. Just that old school comfort food kind of feel. Try the place! Parking can be a hassle, but it's reasonably priced, fast and friendly.

Angela R.

Don't eat here(munch, munch, munch). It's horrible (slobber, slobber, slobber)! This place sucks (burp)..... (I write this as I demolish my Pongo's Kitchen opakapaka plate!) Ok I can't lie! It's hella good here. I went 3 weeks in a row because I just couldn't get enough. It's my crack!!! I tried fish (opakapaka), sandwich, kalbi, steak, tofu- and all tasted so good! I gotta go back more and try everything at least once! The choices you get at this place is grrrreat! First you chose mini or regular. For plate lunch options you get beef, chicken, and fish/seafood. After that you get a choice of toss, mac, or corn for your side. THEN, you get to choose your rice: white or brown. The best option you get at this place is the DRIZZLE! They're drizzling baby go 'head baby, They're drizzling baby go 'head baby!! Personally my fav is the garlic drizzle. What ever drizzle you chose its kind of like gravy, it makes everything taste grrrreat! Side notes: 1. things sell out. One time I went for steak they were out. So I asked for kalbi- out. So I ended up getting tofu (pleasant surprise..)! 2. I LOVE that the mini's are actually mini sizes and also at mini prices (like $4.70-$5.75)! 3. Service is ok but eh the food make up for it! 4. no more parking

Anne P.

Roasted Chicken with crispy skin and salt just like my Popo! Awesome dressing/dip. Close to the airport. Go early, it gets packed. Yum!

Aaron W.

The first thing to note about Pongo's is the parking situation. Basically, if you're lucky, you can temporarily park right in front. Otherwise, you may be searching for a while in the sea of industrial businesses. Next, there is no seating at Pongo's (at least that was the case when I went in early December 2011). So it's really only a takeout establishment. Pongo's regular menu may look complex initially, but is fairly simple: (1) choose a size; (2) choose an entree (probably the hardest part of the entire process); (3) ask for white or brown rice, (4) choice of corn, mac salad, or mixed vegetables; and (5) choice of drizzles or sauces if applicable. I got one of Pongo's (changing) daily specials: Grilled Ahi Belly with choice of chicken ($8.25). I went with the guava chicken, boneless dark chicken pieces battered and fried, with a special guava drizzle. The garlic ahi got topped with a ginger green onion sauce. I went with brown rice and mixed vegetables. The ahi was perfectly cooked, very moist. Come on now, this is ahi belly, you *know* you want this part of the fish. The sauce was outstanding here because it elevated a good fish to superstar caliber. Great layers of flavor. The ginger came through front and center. I enjoyed that guava chicken. The glaze lightly coated each chicken piece, adding that bit of sweetness. I found the chicken hard to cut, but then again, I was using a plastic knife (dang those plastic good-for-nothing things....). The rice did not appear to be the real fibrous brown rice; it had more of the white rice (smoother) texture. Thee mixed vegetables were as pedestrian as one can get...dull-looking peas and diced carrots that likely came out of a can. Perhaps I shoulda gotten the mac salad, but oh well, maybe next time. For $8.25, I got what I felt was a lovely portion of food. Great presentation for the fish and chicken. Overall, it was well worth the price and then some. Check out Pongo's Kitchen, and I recommend getting one of the fish/chicken combination plates!

David T.

One of the few places that has roast turkey done right! Easily one of my favorite roast turkey plates on the island, and their opa was also great as well. 6 bucks mini, around 8 for a regular, their prices are awesome. The rice is great, I've had both white and brown. The Mac salad is done perfectly, just the right amount of mayo. The turkey is moist and tender while the gravy is thick and flavorful, I suggest getting it 'all over'. Mainly a takeout joint, there are two small four seater tables outside. The chicken sells out FAST, so get it early if you can, next on my to do list is the famous guava chicken (it sold out by 11 last time I tried to order), I suggest calling in your order or show up before 11 because the line and wait gets longggg. Definitely worth it though ;)