Moa Kai Diner | Our Story
A love letter to Hawaii, served on Colonial Drive
Moa Kai isn’t just a diner. It’s our love letter to Hawaii, wrapped up in a plate lunch and served with a smile.
If you think we look familiar, you’re probably right. We’re the crew behind Poke Hana, Chi-Kin, and Side Chik, feeding Orlando’s cravings for over 10 years (and counting).
This time, we wanted to mix things up: an island diner where the vibes are chill, the food is ono (that’s “delicious” in Hawaiian), and everyone who walks in the door is treated like ‘ohana, or family
Why the name Moa Kai?
In Hawaiian, moa means chicken and kai means ocean. If you’ve ever set foot on the islands, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Chickens rule Hawaii. They’re on the beaches, they’re crossing the roads, they’re living their best life at the gas station. Wild, free, and impossible to forget, just like the islands themselves. Moa Kai is our nod to that everyday island magic: land and sea, old school and new, all served up with aloha.
At Moa Kai, we keep it simple: good food, good vibes, made with aloha — from our family to yours.
The crew behind it all
Moa Kai comes from the team behind Poke Hana, Chi-Kin, and Side Chik — a group that has been feeding Orlando's cravings for over ten years. As founder Hoi Nguyen puts it: "We make food that makes people happy."
What's in a name
In Hawaiian, moa means chicken and kai means ocean — a nod to the wild chickens that freely roam Hawaii's beaches and roads like they own the place. Land, sea, and aloha, all in one name.
The food, from land and sea
Hot bowls of saimin, hearty plate lunches, fresh poke bowls, handhelds, pupus, açaí bowls, desserts, and island-inspired cocktails — the menu covers all the classics and then some. You're on island time now.
Come in, you're ohana
The staff show up in festive aloha shirts, the energy is busy and warm, and the goal has never changed: good food, good vibes, made with aloha — from our family to yours.
