Leilani's Cafe

5 STARS ALL AROUND!! My mom and I came to SD for a trip and we got food and drinks here at least 4 different times! The food (JR Boy and BLT Bagel on Jalapeño Cheddar) is so AMAZING! I will miss it as I am on my way back. Also amazing customer service! Had two amazing people who took our order, one being claire, and they are absolutely angels!! Will definitely come back when i go back on a trip!

Best Hawaiian food in San Diego. All their dishes are good. My favorites are the Hilo Style Loco Moco and their Spam Musubi. I love how their Musubi is cut like a normal sushi roll and comes with spicy mayo for dipping.

This is a charming outdoor dining only Cafe. Hawaiian food and smoothies. Open until 2:00. Weekends often have lines of people waiting for their delishous food.

I love this gem. We’re here at least once a month. Good food, fast and friendly service.

+1

This place makes good comfort food when you're homesick. Sure I could have made it at home, but the atmosphere and Leilani's Attic with general island and a handful of Guam goods makes it worth the drive :) (I got the Loco Moco ♡)

The staff and food was great. They have outdoor dining and it's perfect for Sunny San Diego. Love this place

+3

Ohhhh bruddah!!!! We enjoy this place everytime we're in San Diego visiting family!!!! Wife always has to get the kalua pork quesedilla which she loves, granddaughter got the jr boy n she loved it, I got my kalani with a side of gravy...... we enjoyed our food very much. We'll keep coming back as long as they put out the grinds like back on the islands!!!!

Good food, nice folks and a small, low-key seating set up. Bring a jacket, coz it's all outdoors. Tasty Hawaiian-influenced fare and strong coffee make for a powerful morning. I still don't understand the cafe asking for tips, but it's so baked into all of the systems that I guess no one is embarrassed about it anymore, but let me be clear: if I'm standing when I order and have to pick up my food at a window when you yell out a number, there will be no tip.

This place BROKE DA MOUTH!!! 😋 The Hilo Loco Moco is bomb, so was the Jr Boy breakfast. Gotta try their cold brew, the “Nut Buzz” was absolutely delicious!

My friend highly recommended this place and omg it did not disappoint. We got their spam musubi, loco moco, french toast, iced coffee, and strawberry smoothie. Since it was my first time, the lady working was really patient with me and helped with what we should order. The portions were huge and prices were fair. We definitely had leftovers to bring home. Cash only!! You order at a counter and find your own seating. Luckily it was a nice day, so we could sit outside. The place didn't seem that big, but there was a good amount of outdoor seating. I would totally come back.

I am attending a conference and they hired a couple food trucks to provide lunch. Lots of options but I choose the seared ahi salad with honey sesame dressing. It was fabulous. A good amount of ahi, too!

East coast girl here- can’t leave San Diego without getting the Loco Moco Hilo style and a blended iced coffee. Great atmosphere, huge portions and friendly service

the food is so good here ! i highly recommend the coconut latte and the spicy rice , i will be going back the next time I'm in San Diego

Wonderful chill atmosphere and excellent service. Food was delicious.

We went for breakfast and greatly enjoyed it. The spam musubi is a must try! The Jr boy was delish and my husband greatly enjoyed their spicy pork omelette. It is only outdoor seating and no restrooms available.

There’s no place like Leilani’s. Leilani’s was a regular go-to for me and my Ohana when we lived in the area. I still crave not just the food, but also the beautiful and welcoming aloha of everyone here. I’ll always come get my ultimate comfort dish loco moco when I’m in town. Much love and aloha from the other side of the country. I’ll be back!

So I actually got take out from their food truck. I have the teriyaki plate with macaroni salad. All was fresh and delicious and the price matched to quality and quantity of food. The staff were nice looking forward to checking out the cafe. I hope their food truck comes back to our complex again soon.

Absolutely love this place. Atmosphere is laid back but it was so busy the air was still filled with energy. Awesome selection of items. I got the My Kalani and French Toast!! French toast was fresh and on point. The My Kalani was a huge portion of fantastically cooked eggs, delicious kaluha pork and sausage. I always make a point to come back when I am in town.

Huge fan of Leilani's! Good food, good value, and friendly staff! I went twice on my most recent trip to San Diego. We ordered: -loco moco $12 -mango tea refresher $4.50 -haffle $9.75 -acai smoothie $7 -musubi $7 Everything is really great! Seating outside only. Street parking only. I'll be back soon!

Fun little spot a little off the beaten path in PB. Great options for breakfast that aren't the norm. The loco moco was great, but the Ha-affles and the French toast were amazing.

I think this is the one and only place that I can come every day for lunch. Staff are super friendly. Foods are soooo good, my favorites are Hilo loco moco, Aloha plate, Jr, boy. They can't go wrong with a cup of mango tea 😋.

If U like my comment click the ❤️ & show some love Yes I recommend this spot to anyone. U feeling Hawaiian food, this is the Spot! Great food, great atmosphere, feel the Aloha alive here.

We visited SD for a week, we went 4 days in a row 😅 It’s a really lovely atmosphere, quiet and peaceful but a good amount of people around! The food though — that’s what makes this place. There is so much variety on their menu, with special items and amazing staples. We had breakfast bagel sandwiches with crispy eggs and great fluffy bagels (da original and a spicy pork), noodle dishes (Yaki soba and Saimen), and great drinks (Jane’s green juice smoothie, a mango smoothie, and the Malaki). We highly highly highly recommend this place, you will not regret it! Thank you for an amazing experience, you were a highlight of our entire trip :)

delicious food, generous portions, and beautiful outdoor seating area :)

Great place to get islander dishes like musubi (meat wrapped in seaweed and rice) or Loco Moco = 2 eggs, generous meatloaf portion topped with gravy, on top of white rice but I recommend the Hilo style which is spicy fried rice. Worthy spot to visit in San Diego!

Leilani’s Cafe catered our Opening Day for the Navy Yacht Club San Diego on March 6th and did an AMAZING job! Working with Lelani prior to the event went smoothly, she provided guidance on the menu, which ended up being spot on for our guests. She and her team, Monique and Melia were on time and surprised us with beautiful flower leis. We set up tables and they took care of the rest, dressed the tables, beautifully decorated with flowers. The food presentation was well done, both looking appetizing and tasted delicious! A menu was located by the plates, napkins and utensils, each food item was clearly labeled; buffet style servicing went smoothing and efficiently for 150 people. Many of our guests raved about the food and the service Leliani, Monique and Melia provided. We could not have been more pleased with everything, all went as planned with no issues. We were all extremely satisfied and full. We highly recommend Leilani’s Cafe and will be using them again. Lelaini and her staff thought of everything, well planned and well executed, exceptional service and food was amazing!

Gladis Medina

We went for breakfast and greatly enjoyed it. The spam musubi is a must try! The Jr boy was delish and my husband greatly enjoyed their spicy pork omelette. It is only outdoor seating and no restrooms available.

Christina DLP

So I actually got take out from their food truck. I have the teriyaki plate with macaroni salad. All was fresh and delicious and the price matched to quality and quantity of food. The staff were nice looking forward to checking out the cafe. I hope their food truck comes back to our complex again soon.

Alice Kong

There’s no place like Leilani’s. Leilani’s was a regular go-to for me and my Ohana when we lived in the area. I still crave not just the food, but also the beautiful and welcoming aloha of everyone here. I’ll always come get my ultimate comfort dish loco moco when I’m in town. Much love and aloha from the other side of the country. I’ll be back!

Jason Kline

Absolutely love this place. Atmosphere is laid back but it was so busy the air was still filled with energy. Awesome selection of items. I got the My Kalani and French Toast!! French toast was fresh and on point. The My Kalani was a huge portion of fantastically cooked eggs, delicious kaluha pork and sausage. I always make a point to come back when I am in town.

Arthur T

Huge fan of Leilani's! Good food, good value, and friendly staff! I went twice on my most recent trip to San Diego. We ordered: -loco moco $12 -mango tea refresher $4.50 -haffle $9.75 -acai smoothie $7 -musubi $7 Everything is really great! Seating outside only. Street parking only. I'll be back soon!

Victor Bilgen

Fun little spot a little off the beaten path in PB. Great options for breakfast that aren't the norm. The loco moco was great, but the Ha-affles and the French toast were amazing.

Robin Nguyễn

I think this is the one and only place that I can come every day for lunch. Staff are super friendly. Foods are soooo good, my favorites are Hilo loco moco, Aloha plate, Jr, boy. They can't go wrong with a cup of mango tea 😋.

Gabrielle Stoddard

delicious food, generous portions, and beautiful outdoor seating area :)

Christopher Hueghs

If U like my comment click the ❤️ & show some love Yes I recommend this spot to anyone. U feeling Hawaiian food, this is the Spot! Great food, great atmosphere, feel the Aloha alive here.

Bianca D'Agostino

We visited SD for a week, we went 4 days in a row 😅 It’s a really lovely atmosphere, quiet and peaceful but a good amount of people around! The food though — that’s what makes this place. There is so much variety on their menu, with special items and amazing staples. We had breakfast bagel sandwiches with crispy eggs and great fluffy bagels (da original and a spicy pork), noodle dishes (Yaki soba and Saimen), and great drinks (Jane’s green juice smoothie, a mango smoothie, and the Malaki). We highly highly highly recommend this place, you will not regret it! Thank you for an amazing experience, you were a highlight of our entire trip :)

Bose Bustamante

Great place to get islander dishes like musubi (meat wrapped in seaweed and rice) or Loco Moco = 2 eggs, generous meatloaf portion topped with gravy, on top of white rice but I recommend the Hilo style which is spicy fried rice. Worthy spot to visit in San Diego!

Penni McNicholl

Leilani’s Cafe catered our Opening Day for the Navy Yacht Club San Diego on March 6th and did an AMAZING job! Working with Lelani prior to the event went smoothly, she provided guidance on the menu, which ended up being spot on for our guests. She and her team, Monique and Melia were on time and surprised us with beautiful flower leis. We set up tables and they took care of the rest, dressed the tables, beautifully decorated with flowers. The food presentation was well done, both looking appetizing and tasted delicious! A menu was located by the plates, napkins and utensils, each food item was clearly labeled; buffet style servicing went smoothing and efficiently for 150 people. Many of our guests raved about the food and the service Leliani, Monique and Melia provided. We could not have been more pleased with everything, all went as planned with no issues. We were all extremely satisfied and full. We highly recommend Leilani’s Cafe and will be using them again. Lelaini and her staff thought of everything, well planned and well executed, exceptional service and food was amazing!

Vincent D

Best Hawaiian food in San Diego. All their dishes are good. My favorites are the Hilo Style Loco Moco and their Spam Musubi. I love how their Musubi is cut like a normal sushi roll and comes with spicy mayo for dipping.

Leilani's is one of my favorite go to places and I go several times a week. I love there Huapia Latte....so good. The Leilani Team is so awesome including Leilani, Kim, Zeek, Lexi, etc. They all brighten up my day when I come by. Thank you Team Leilani. See you soon. 🌞💛🌺

Leilani’s feels like someone picked up a little local shack from Hawai‘i and dropped it right into San Diego. Being from Mililani, walking up to their window instantly brings me home, the vibe, the food, even the feeling in the air. The Junior Boy is my go-to every time, and somehow my daughter, born and raised in SD, is completely ride-or-die for their loco moco. So yeah… it passes the local-girl test and the next-gen one.

Leilani’s is an absolute gem—one of those hidden spots you feel lucky to stumble upon. Tucked away in northern PB, it’s easy to miss, but once you find it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Everything I’ve ordered here has been a hit—zero misses. Their fried rice is hands-down my favorite in San Diego (and I don’t say that lightly). And the French toast? The syrup and coconut butter combo is chef’s kiss perfection. It’s comfort food at its finest. The setup is super laid back—outdoor seating only, with just a few tables and some bar stools. But that’s part of the charm. It honestly feels like you’re hanging out at a friend’s house and his mom just threw down in the kitchen. No frills, just great food and good vibes. Lived in PB for years and never knew it existed until a buddy from SD brought me. Now it’s a regular go-to. Can’t recommend it enough.

Nalu Healing Arts

Leilani’s feels like someone picked up a little local shack from Hawai‘i and dropped it right into San Diego. Being from Mililani, walking up to their window instantly brings me home, the vibe, the food, even the feeling in the air. The Junior Boy is my go-to every time, and somehow my daughter, born and raised in SD, is completely ride-or-die for their loco moco. So yeah… it passes the local-girl test and the next-gen one.

Jordan Graham

Leilani’s is an absolute gem—one of those hidden spots you feel lucky to stumble upon. Tucked away in northern PB, it’s easy to miss, but once you find it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Everything I’ve ordered here has been a hit—zero misses. Their fried rice is hands-down my favorite in San Diego (and I don’t say that lightly). And the French toast? The syrup and coconut butter combo is chef’s kiss perfection. It’s comfort food at its finest. The setup is super laid back—outdoor seating only, with just a few tables and some bar stools. But that’s part of the charm. It honestly feels like you’re hanging out at a friend’s house and his mom just threw down in the kitchen. No frills, just great food and good vibes. Lived in PB for years and never knew it existed until a buddy from SD brought me. Now it’s a regular go-to. Can’t recommend it enough.

If you're in San Diego and craving some Hawaiian food you can find some at Leilani's Cafe on Cass St. They have an extensive menu offering a variety of food options. You'll find breakfast items, plate lunches, saimin, and island local favorites like loco moco, malasadas, and poke. It's right next door to their Hawaiian shop Leilani's Attic so you can pick up some island snacks, apparel, accessories, and fresh flower lei's while you're there.

Small, cozy place serving traditional Hawaiian dishes and many different coffee drinks.

Cool spot location not a lot of seating but I liked the French toast with fruit. Will come back to try more food. Thank you

Kimchi fried rice was so bomb !!!im pictire person ask for it for here they gave me 2 plates togo but everything else was good

+2

Great authentic Hawaiian food. Great outdoor space. Very accommodating for pets. Good vibes!

A breakfast place with very little place to sit. Also a lot of flies. Food was good and came quickly. It is pick up at counter so I can’t comment on service

An Pan

A breakfast place with very little place to sit. Also a lot of flies. Food was good and came quickly. It is pick up at counter so I can’t comment on service

Tommy

Cool spot with outdoor seating. Hours are limited. Food: - Spicy teriyaki - 5/5, great flavor - Yakisoba - 2/5, thin noodles, underwhelming

Cute place, I think the food is average. Got the teriyaki plate, and the chicken was overcooked and under seasoned. I also tried a friend’s shredded pork that had the same issues. To their credit the ahi poke was tasty, but overall I was a bit let down.

Brandon Nolte

Cute place, I think the food is average. Got the teriyaki plate, and the chicken was overcooked and under seasoned. I also tried a friend’s shredded pork that had the same issues. To their credit the ahi poke was tasty, but overall I was a bit let down.

Food was good ,however, we arrived 30 mins before cafe closed. As we were still eating an employee (young Caucasian girl with glasses) , very rudely asked my family to leave because they were cleaning up and closing. She also did not allow my husband to throw away our trash because she just changed the trash bag in the area we were sitting. Mind you , she was still throwing out the trash. It also smelled like sewage. Never have I ever eaten anywhere where they kick you out while you're still eating because of this I won't be coming here again. Very disappointing as we drove over an hour to eat here. This is no way to treat your customers. The Owner should really take into consideration who they have working for them, as I see others have had a similar experience. Do better, Aloha

We arrived 25 minutes before close at 135. They told us we couldn't eat there as they were closing at 2 pm, this is on the deck as it's an outdoor cafe. The kid cleaning the tables was staring at a phone while slowly wiping down the same table for 5 minutes. They served us a cappuccino that was actually cold, which is hard to do and still steam milk. The breakfast sandwich was okay, but the teriyaki chicken I ordered was both way over cooked and also barely warm, which means it was cooked earlier way too long and then reheated. You have to really overcook chicken thighs to make it taste dried out and tough! It was a weird experience. We felt like the staff were dead set on not just closing the doors at 2 pm, but being physically gone. I worked in hospitality and I get the impulse, but I would never go there again. No one there seemed to care about the place or the food like at all. Maybe we caught an off day, but I was laughing at how little they cared about the customers because it was that bad.

Jan 1. 2025 - Outrageous greed has taken over a longstanding neighborhood haven for reasonably priced food, good service, and a calming atmosphere. The overnight 40% increase in a simple bacon, (one!) egg, and cheese on a bagel from $10 to $14(!!!!!) is the most recent example of extraordinary greed creeping into the neighborhood. $14 for an egg, 3 pieces of bacon, a slice of cheese, and a bagel is truly out of control. For addtl context - California minimum wage is $15 - meaning Leilani’s is insisting that their clients should trade one hour of work for a breakfast sandwich - how did they come to this conclusion? There is clearly a lack of consideration for the people they serve, which is truly sad to see here. For market reference - a bacon egg and cheese burrito with guac and potatoes(!) is $8 at Oscar’s, a few streets over. Almost double the price, overnight, and no sense of understanding or regret from the (seeming) owner. The kind person at the cash register was genuine and understanding of my shock - but when I showed the menu reflecting $10, and the owner sternly repeated “fourteen dollars” before turning and walking away, I had to voice feedback. The only way this to stop the excessive greed is if people do not subscribe to these greed-stricken eateries. Truly saddened to have this be the last time I ever go to a former neighborhood favorite. RIP to the beloved Leilani’s we once knew.

We went there on Sunday morning for breakfast for the first time after reading amazing reviews about this place. It is a cute cafe and the staff was nice, but their food was very disappointing. We ordered a plate (don't remember which one) and an acai bowl. The chicken was very dry and tasteless like it was cooked a long time ago and got reheated. The fruits on the side were soaked in the sauce. The acai bowl was melting and it had acai and honey all over the outside of the container. I understand they were busy. But I was excited to get some real Hawaii local food (which is different from Hawaiian food of course) and they were nothing like what I know of. If you are looking for authentic local food, look elsewhere because this isn't one.

L

Jan 1. 2025 - Outrageous greed has taken over a longstanding neighborhood haven for reasonably priced food, good service, and a calming atmosphere. The overnight 40% increase in a simple bacon, (one!) egg, and cheese on a bagel from $10 to $14(!!!!!) is the most recent example of extraordinary greed creeping into the neighborhood. $14 for an egg, 3 pieces of bacon, a slice of cheese, and a bagel is truly out of control. For addtl context - California minimum wage is $15 - meaning Leilani’s is insisting that their clients should trade one hour of work for a breakfast sandwich - how did they come to this conclusion? There is clearly a lack of consideration for the people they serve, which is truly sad to see here. For market reference - a bacon egg and cheese burrito with guac and potatoes(!) is $8 at Oscar’s, a few streets over. Almost double the price, overnight, and no sense of understanding or regret from the (seeming) owner. The kind person at the cash register was genuine and understanding of my shock - but when I showed the menu reflecting $10, and the owner sternly repeated “fourteen dollars” before turning and walking away, I had to voice feedback. The only way this to stop the excessive greed is if people do not subscribe to these greed-stricken eateries. Truly saddened to have this be the last time I ever go to a former neighborhood favorite. RIP to the beloved Leilani’s we once knew.

Mariko Ladrillono

We went there on Sunday morning for breakfast for the first time after reading amazing reviews about this place. It is a cute cafe and the staff was nice, but their food was very disappointing. We ordered a plate (don't remember which one) and an acai bowl. The chicken was very dry and tasteless like it was cooked a long time ago and got reheated. The fruits on the side were soaked in the sauce. The acai bowl was melting and it had acai and honey all over the outside of the container. I understand they were busy. But I was excited to get some real Hawaii local food (which is different from Hawaiian food of course) and they were nothing like what I know of. If you are looking for authentic local food, look elsewhere because this isn't one.