As previously reported, Ono Hawaiian BBQ is opening in Escondido at 555 West Mission Avenue, in Carmel Mountain at 11846 Carmel Mountain Road, and in Clairemont at 5604 Balboa Avenue Suite B107. The brand has also confirmed a Vista restaurant at 1711 University Drive Suite 110, further cementing its entry into North County. Two additional San Diego County locations are in active development, although specific addresses have not yet been made public.
According to the company, the San Diego expansion will feature a mix of three end cap locations and three freestanding restaurants with drive thru service. This combination is designed to serve dine in guests while also catering to the growing demand for takeout and drive thru orders. Leadership describes the county as a long targeted growth market that offers dense residential neighborhoods, strong daytime traffic, and a well established appetite for island style cuisine.
Chief executive Joshua Liang said in a recent statement that San Diego had been on the company radar for years and that the team is excited to finally bring its plates to the region. He emphasized that Ono aims to share what it calls the Aloha spirit with new communities while serving food that is prepared fresh to order every day.
Director of marketing Christine Jan added that entering San Diego represents an important milestone in the brand growth strategy. She noted that each local restaurant is being designed to balance convenience and quality, whether guests choose to eat inside, grab takeout, or use the drive thru lane.
The push into San Diego comes as Hawaiian style food continues to trend nationally. Industry observers point to growing searches for Hawaiian barbecue plates and island comfort dishes, with diners increasingly seeking out grilled meats, rice, macaroni salad, and poke as everyday staples. Ono Hawaiian BBQ, founded in 2002, operates more than one hundred twenty locations across California and Arizona and continues to focus on steady regional growth rather than rapid franchising.
At the upcoming San Diego County locations, guests can expect the same core menu that has fueled the brand rise. Signature plates typically include barbecue chicken, kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu, short ribs, and crispy shrimp, served with rice, vegetables, and creamy macaroni salad. The chain also offers family meals, keiki meals for younger diners, fresh salads, and a range of house sauces, all prepared daily in each restaurant.
Buildouts for the Escondido, Carmel Mountain, Clairemont, and Vista locations are in various stages of permitting and construction. Opening timelines have not yet been formally announced, but the company expansion messaging suggests that the first San Diego County restaurant could arrive in 2025 with others to follow soon after. Once all six locations are operational, Ono Hawaiian BBQ will have a sizable footprint across the county, bringing island inspired comfort food to multiple corners of the region.
For more information, visit onohawaiianbbq.com.
Originally published on December 3, 2025. Information first reported by Joey Reams of What Now.