New SLO County restaurant serves up seafood, sake with an ‘ocean-inspired vibe’

The Pacific Rim is the inspiration behind a new San Luis Obispo County restaurant.

Pono Pacific Kitchen, which opened July 7 at 228 West Grand Ave. in Grover Beach, features the food and flavors of California, Hawaii, Asia and Mexico — “anything that touches the Pacific Ocean,” co-owner Ashlee Alewine explained.

Alewine and her partner, executive chef Preston Tripp, drew on their love of seaside cuisine to create the menu, she said.

“We’ve had over 30 plus years of restaurant experience,” Alewine said. “We wanted something that was not necessarily just for tourists, but also (something) to keep the local community coming in.”

Popular appetizers at Pono Pacific Kitchen include duck confit spring rolls and beef tartare with sea urchin sourced directly from Santa Barbara, according to Alewine.

The main part of the menu is divided into Swimmers and Mainlanders — featuring dishes for seafood lovers, including shicimi-crusted ahi and macademia nut mahi mahi, as well as options such as braised short rib, fried chicken and caviar and miso mushroom risotto.

“People are really pleased about is coming into a space that has such an ocean-inspired vibe,” restaurant marketing and floor manager Annie Steil said, “but we are really big on serving our meats as well.”

“There’s a little bit for everybody here,” Steil said.

The restaurant has indoor seating and a pet-friendly patio area, as well as bar seating where patrons can sip beer, wine and saketinis — specialty cocktails made with sake instead of gin or vodka..

Pono Pacific Kitchen currently has a staff of 20.

While Alewine and Tripp focus on Pono Pacific Kitchen, their popular San Luis Obispo County food truck business, Beachwalk BBQ, is on hold.

“As of right now, the food truck business is halted in order for us to focus solely on Pono,” Steil said. “It’s a well-loved treasure and we’d love to have it back out in the community eventually!”

Pono Pacific Kitchen is open 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant hosts a pau hana — a Hawaiian-style happy hour — from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with $2 off wine by the glass and draft beers.

For more information, call at 805-202-8115, go to ponopacifickitchen.com or follow the restaurant on Instagram or Facebook.

This story was originally published July 27, 2022 at 5:00 AM.