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oChef » Kalei’s Kitchenette – San Diego
Kalei’s Kitchenette - San Diego
Photo from Kalei’s Kitchenette
Kalei’s Kitchenette at a glance
San Diego Rancho Peñasquitos
- 🍍 Hawaiian Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 79 of the guests
#141 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#2 Hawaiian Restaurant out of 10 in San Diego
Excellent
8.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
555
Reviews
84.3%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Friendly service
- Delicious food
- Island atmosphere
Frequently criticized
- Limited seating
- Difficult parking
- High prices
The restaurant Kalei’s Kitchenette is a delightful Hawaiian Restaurant located in San Diego’s vibrant Rancho Peñasquitos neighborhood. You can expect a casual and cozy spot where you can enjoy healthy options.
It’s the perfect place for a quick bite, offering a taste of the islands right here in the city. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing something to go, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere.
Overview: Introducting Kalei’s Kitchenette
Kalei’s Kitchenette offers a taste of the islands with its well-regarded cuisine and genuinely warm hospitality. Many appreciate the generous portions and the overall Aloha spirit that permeates the experience.
However, some guests have noted concerns regarding the price point and the practicalities of the physical space, such as limited seating. It’s a spot with clear strengths and a few areas for improvement.
Excellent
8.3
out of 10
555
Reviews
84.3%
Satisfaction
66
negative
21
neutral
468
positive
Kalei’s Kitchenette earns a solid overall score of 8.3, indicating a generally positive dining experience. Customer satisfaction also stands strong at 84.3%, reflecting that most patrons leave content.
These figures are drawn from a substantial pool of 555 customer remarks, with 468 positive observations outweighing the 66 negative ones. Digging deeper, the Service (9.1) truly shines, often described as professional and friendly.
The Food (8.3) also receives high marks for its flavor and quality. While the Ambience (7.6) contributes positively with its local feel, the Value (5.8) is seen as more average, with some finding it a bit expensive despite good portions.
What people like
- Exceptional, friendly service
- Flavorful Hawaiian cuisine
- Welcoming island atmosphere
What people don't like
- Limited dining space
- Challenging parking situation
- Perceived high prices
Kalei’s Kitchenette stands out for its heartfelt hospitality and consistently well-received Hawaiian dishes. If you prioritize a warm welcome and satisfying flavors, this spot is likely to deliver.
With a strong recommendation score of 8.5, it’s certainly worth considering. Just be mindful of the potentially tight dining space and parking, and manage expectations regarding the pricing.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Kalei’s Kitchenette
Food (8.3 out of 10)
mentioned by 99% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot generally hits the mark! With a solid score of 8.3 and customer satisfaction at a strong 83.6%, it's clear many diners are leaving happy. Out of 360 comments, a whopping 301 rave about the delicious, authentic Hawaiian food, generous portions, and standout dishes like the crispy garlic chicken, often praised for its delicious flavor.
However, not every dish is a perfect ten. About 45 comments noted some areas for improvement, mentioning food that was occasionally lukewarm or even tasteless. Some found the meats dry, and a few felt certain dishes had too much sauce, suggesting a bit more consistency could elevate the experience even further.
Food
360
Reviews
83%
Satisfaction
45
negative
14
neutral
301
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Hawaiian dishes
- Delicious, flavorful food
- Generous portion sizes
What people don't like
- Food served lukewarm
- Some dishes lack flavor
- Meats can be dry
Often praised
- foodMy company experienced an amazing catered lunch. Chef Andy and the team were fantastic – the food was delicious, and the setup was seamless. The Huli Huli Chicken Teriyaki and Teriyaki Beef were recommended dishes.
- garlic chickenHe recommended me the teriyaki beef and the garlic chicken. Both entrées are amazing
- FoodFood:5
- mac saladI especially love the kalua pork, mac salad, and spam musubi. Whenever I'm in the area, I stop by and get a container of mac salad because it's so good! My fiance is a huge fan of the crispy garlic chicken.
- Mac saladgarlic chicken, Teri beef with Mac salad and rice. Tons of food and so delicious.
- Hawaiian foodMy experience at this cute little place was wonderful. I enjoyed some great Hawaiian food, and the Garlic Chicken was very tasty. The service was great, and the restaurant was clean.
- teriyaki beefHe recommended me the teriyaki beef and the garlic chicken. Both entrées are amazing
- Garlic ChickenGarlic Chicken, Lechon , Lumpia , Veggie Medley , Garlic Rice, Pancit - it was all SO GOOD
- huli huli chickenWe had the garlic chicken, Kalua pork and huli huli chicken.
- Kalua PorkThe atmosphere also received a 5-star rating. I particularly enjoyed the Kalua Pork and Crispy Garlic Chicken.
Frequently criticized
- foodI found this place on Instagram, drawn in by photos that made the food look authentic, and the owner's native island background further piqued my interest. However, my experience was far from genuine island food. The food arrived minutes after ordering, but it was cold and did not live up to expectations.
- cucumber saladlooked and tasted a few days old because of the softness of the cucumber
- huli huli chickenhuli huli chicken was cold, tasteless, and basically covered in BBQ sauce
- teriyaki beeffried chicken and teriyaki beef. Food was lukewarm at best
- Huli Huli chickenHuli Huli chicken, and it seemed like it was just grilled chicken
- Huli Hulu ChickenI had Huli Hulu Chicken from this restaurant, got a bad food poisoning from it.
- Kuli Kuli chickenKuli kuli chicken was smothered with bbq sauce which is normally fine, but it was way too much
- Mac salad temperaturebut too cold. Something to be said about food that isn’t so heavily contrasted in temperature
- amount of fatThe amount of fat (skin) on the chicken was easily 1/4 of the weight
- bbq chickenmostly a lot of deep fried shell (tiny chicken inside) under tons of sweet bbq sauce
If you're craving authentic Hawaiian flavors and generous portions, this place is definitely worth a try. While a few dishes might miss the mark on temperature or seasoning, the overall consensus points to a delicious and satisfying meal.
Service (9.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 65% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot truly shines! With an excellent score of 9.1 and an impressive customer satisfaction of 95.8%, its clear guests are consistently delighted. Out of 119 customer remarks, a whopping 114 were positive, frequently praising the friendly service, the amazing team (especially Chef Andy and Khara), and their excellent communication and accommodating nature.
While overwhelmingly positive, there were a mere 3 negative comments. These few remarks touched on minor issues like early delivery times or a specific interaction with a chef. However, these isolated incidents are far outweighed by the consistent praise for the staffs kindness and efficiency, suggesting these are rare exceptions rather than the norm.
Service
119
Reviews
95%
Satisfaction
3
negative
2
neutral
114
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, respectful service
- Excellent communication
- Highly accommodating staff
What people don't like
- Early delivery time
Often praised
- serviceThe food was delicious. Morgan helped us order the exact right amount of food for our rehearsal dinner, which was a great help.
- staffMy experience at this restaurant was truly wonderful. It's an amazing lunch spot with the kindest staff. Being a family-owned establishment, you can feel the chef making the food with love, whether it's a quick spam musubi or a catering order.
- ServiceService:5
- Chef AndyChef Andy dropped the food off for us. He was early, very polite
- KharaMy family and friends told me they were drooling over it like 10 times before we could even give our thank you speech to start the meal - and once eaten, everyone RAVED and also kept asking where the food was from (which of course I raved about back). A huge mahalo to Khara who has been the sweetest soul and rock to lean on when bringing the vision to life, Morgan who stepped in with administrative coordination, Chef Andy of course for the DELICIOUS meal(s), and the whole Kalei’s Kitchenette ohana. ❤️ This will not be the last of me, my family, or my friends, so until next time!
- communicationOn top of the fantastic food, working with Kalei's Kitchentte was easy and stress-free. Their online portal made communication and payment clear and simple, which was greatly appreciated when planning a larger event. We will 100% be ordering from them again and would highly recommend Kalei’s Kitchentte to anyone looking for a delicious catered meal for an event.
- deliveryDelivery was on time and very quick to offload and setup
- friendly servicevery friendly service!!
- processChef Andy & Khara are incredibly kind and caring, they also are great communicators! They make the entire process super easy. Would highly recommend!
- professionalismFrom the very beginning stages of planning to the big day itself, they were nothing short of amazing. Their professionalism, warmth, and flexibility made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. The food was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.
Frequently criticized
- chefcheff asked me what else I ate. ... He said thank you for letting him know then hung up !!
- delivery timearrived with all the food ... 45 minutes before the scheduled delivery time
- servicewhere you have no water or ice
If youre looking for a place where the staff goes above and beyond, youre in for a treat. The service here is consistently excellent, making it a definite go-to for a pleasant and stress-free experience.
Ambience (7.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 43% of the guests
The vibe at this spot really shines, with many guests loving the aloha spirit and island tunes that create a fantastic atmosphere. With a strong 7.6 score and 72.9% customer satisfaction, its clear that the "gorgeous setup" and "cleanliness" contribute to a genuinely good experience. Out of 59 comments, 43 were positive, highlighting a welcoming and authentic feel.
However, its not all sunshine, as some patrons pointed out limited seating both indoors and out, making seating and eating in a challenge. Concerns about parking space and the lack of a restroom were also mentioned in 11 comments, suggesting that while the atmosphere is great, practicalities like space and facilities could use some attention.
Ambience
59
Reviews
72%
Satisfaction
11
negative
5
neutral
43
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Aloha vibe
- Clean, welcoming space
- Island tunes playing
What people don't like
- Limited seating
- Difficult parking
- No restroom available
Often praised
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- atmosphereI'm wondering if they have a smoker in the back because the flavor was so good and it was super fresh. The Hawaiian themed/music atmosphere was also a highlight, contributing to a wonderful dining experience. Eat this brah.
- placeThis is a nice small place, quite clean
- cleanlinessThe place itself is new & clean
- local spotAtmosphere feels like a real local spot on the islands
- restaurantHappened upon this cute cozy Hawaiian restaurant while driving around the area. What a find!
- Aloha spiritMy experience at Kalei's was truly amazing! The spirit of Aloha thrives here. The Hurricane chicken was phenomenal, and the kalua pork was the best I've had on the mainland, possibly even the world.
- Clean placeClean place
- alohaMy experience at Kalei's was a small place with big aloha. We received a warm greeting upon walking in, and the person at the register provided a quick walkthrough of the menu with some recommendations.
- aloha spiritFelt da aloha
Frequently criticized
- Parking spaceSomewhat difficult to find parking
- indoor seatingThe chicken teriyaki had too much sauce, which detracted from the dish. The indoor seating is very limited, accommodating only 4 people, and there isn't much outdoor seating either. Given these limitations, it's best to plan to order to go.
- limited seatingNot many seats if you want to dine in
- outdoor seatingnot much outdoor seating either
- outdoor tablesone of the tables was uneven and rocked back and forth
- parking spaceSomewhat difficult to find parking
- restroomno restroom available in the shop
- seatingVery limited seating
- seating and eating inNot a lot of room for seating and eating in
- tablestwo small tables inside and two wobbly ones outside
If youre looking for a place with a truly authentic island vibe and dont mind potentially grabbing your food to go, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared for potentially limited seating and a bit of a hunt for parking, as those are the main practical hurdles.
Value (5.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 14% of the guests
When it comes to value, many folks appreciate that you can get a lot for your money here. With 10 positive remarks out of 17 total, customers often mention its a cheap way to feed a group, offering portions that are amazing for a fair price and generally being affordable. The customer satisfaction for value is a mixed 58.8%, indicating some positive experiences, while the score for value is an average 5.8.
However, not everyone feels theyre getting a steal. With 7 negative comments, some found the price to be expensive or pricey, even comparing it to New York lunch prices. A few felt it was too expensive for this quality, suggesting that while some find it reasonable, others believe the cost doesn't quite match up.
Value
17
Reviews
58%
Satisfaction
7
negative
0
neutral
10
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Generous portions
- Affordable meals
- Fair pricing
What people don't like
- Can be expensive
- Quality vs. cost
Often praised
- priceI ordered online for pickup for a group of people. My experience was that the Hawaiian food is good and not unreasonably expensive.
- Price per personPrice per person:$10–20
- cheap way to feedIt's a cheap way to feed a lot of people
- fair pricebelieve is fair for SD prices
- musubi price$4.00 each I had 2 and was stuffed
- portionsGood portions for the price
- pricesPrices were reasonable for this amount of food.
Frequently criticized
- pricefelt like the $25 for hua hua chicken with macaroni salad was pricey
- New York lunch pricesnearly New York lunch prices
- expensiveWay too expensive
- pricesExpensive prices
If youre looking for generous portions and an affordable way to feed a group, this spot could be a good fit. However, if youre sensitive to price and expect top-tier quality for every dollar, you might find some items a bit steep. It's a mixed bag, so check the menu carefully before you commit.
How are the prices at Kalei’s Kitchenette?
On average, you’ll spend around 24 per person – from 79 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $21–$30 category. For a Hawaiian Restaurant, that’s comfortably mid-range, maybe slightly above.
While the average is 24, it’s interesting to see that most guests actually spend a bit less, often in the $11–$20 range, suggesting a good mix of options for different budgets.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 79 reviews.
This graph compares the value for money of this restaurant against similar spots in San Diego.
We think the pricing feels pretty fair for a Hawaiian spot, offering good value for a mid-range experience.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Kalei’s Kitchenette
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Colleagues
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Huge Hit! Delicious Food & Easy Planning
We ordered from Kalei's Kitchentte for our company holiday party, hoping to try something new. While we were a little nervous about stepping outside our usual taco comfort zone, it turned out to be a HUGE HIT! Everything was absolutely delicious.
The macaroni salad disappeared so quickly that we should have ordered a large size; people were going back for seconds immediately. The sliders were incredibly flavorful and a personal favorite for me, as they were easy to grab and eat while mingling. The huli huli chicken and kalbi ribs were so tasty, and the vegetable lumpia were a crowd favorite too!
The chicken katsu was crispy and delicious, and the pork lumpia and cucumber salad were also very good. People kept coming up to compliment the food, and we were so happy we chose to try something different this year. On top of the fantastic food, working with Kalei's Kitchentte was easy and stress-free.
Their online portal made communication and payment clear and simple, which was greatly appreciated when planning a larger event. We will 100% be ordering from them again and would highly recommend Kalei’s Kitchentte to anyone looking for a delicious catered meal for an event.
- macaroni salad10
- sliders9
- huli huli chicken9
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
10
Excellent Catering Service and Food!
My experience with Kaleis for a large community event's catering was excellent. The food was superb, and they arrived precisely on time. The entire process was incredibly easy.
- service10
- food10
- process10
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
8
Delicious Food, Minor Mix-up
My experience at the restaurant was largely positive, with the food being a definite highlight. We ordered the Huli Huli chicken, teriyaki beef, and kalua pork, and everything was absolutely delicious. I did have a small mix-up with my order; I requested a side of macaroni but received rice instead.
This means I'll have to come back to try the macaroni, which I'm looking forward to. Overall, a great meal with a minor detail to correct.
- Huli Huli chicken10
- teriyaki beef10
- kalua pork10
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
10
A Local Gem with Delicious Specials
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I visit at least once a week because the atmosphere truly feels like a local spot on the islands. Chef Andy consistently dishes out great specials, so be sure to look out for those.
The food, service, and atmosphere all received a perfect score, making it a highly recommended spot.
- atmosphere10
- local spot10
- great specials10
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
2
No water or ice provided
My experience at this restaurant was quite unusual. I've never been to a place where guests are not provided with water or ice. I had to purchase water separately, even though I had already bought food.
It was a weird experience.
- food5
- water2
- ice2
- service2
What Kalei’s Kitchenette offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Catering
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Delivery
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Curbside pickup
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
Parking
- Free street parking
- Free parking lot
- Usually plenty of parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
FAQs
What dining experience and atmosphere can you expect at Kalei's Kitchenette?
At Kalei’s Kitchenette, you can enjoy a cozy and casual atmosphere perfect for lunch or dinner. The restaurant offers counter service and comfortable seating, making it ideal for a relaxed meal. You can also plan for catering services or grab a delicious dessert.
What convenient service options and parking are available at Kalei's Kitchenette?
Kalei’s Kitchenette provides a range of convenient service options including delivery, takeout, curbside pickup, and onsite dining. You’ll find plenty of parking with free street parking and a free parking lot, ensuring an easy visit. Outdoor seating is also available for you to enjoy.
How does Kalei’s Kitchenette generally rate among customers?
Kalei’s Kitchenette holds a strong overall score of 8.3, with customers particularly praising the Service (9.1) and the quality of the Food (8.3). The Ambience (7.6) is also well-regarded, though Value (5.8) is seen as more average.
What kind of food can I expect at Kalei’s Kitchenette?
You can expect flavorful Hawaiian cuisine, with many positive remarks about dishes like the garlic chicken, kalua pork, and mac salad. Portions are often described as generous.
What should I know about dining in or the pricing at Kalei’s Kitchenette?
While the food is enjoyed, some customers note that the dining space is limited and parking can be challenging. Additionally, some find the prices to be on the higher side.