Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner

The Write-Up

The full story

Moa Kai brings retro diner comfort to Hawaiian cooking on East Colonial Drive, all tropical color and aloha warmth. Plate lunches anchor the menu, loco moco, shoyu chicken, kalua pork and garlic shrimp, and the deep-fried Spam musubi is the plate guests push on first timers. Malasadas and ube haupia pie close things out with a glass of POG, and guests say every bite feels like the islands and a big warm hug.

District Story

The story of Orlando

One cow, twenty acres and a dairy on the edge of town: the neighborhood that grew up around the T.G. Lee plant and took its name from the milk.

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Similar Feel

More places with this feel

Matched by vibe, not by neighborhood: the places across Greater Orlando closest in spirit to Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner.

Aloha Hawaiian Kitchen

Restaurants · Airport Corridor · $$

Laid-back island counter near the airport serving the plate lunch guests call the best Hawaiian food on the mainland.

Aloha Hawaiian Kitchen, 6125 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32822-1500

Kai Asian Street Fare

Noodles & Southeast Asian · Winter Park · $$

Casual, unpretentious spot on State Road 436 serving craveable Asian street food under one roof.

1555 State Rd 436 Ste 1171, Winter Park, FL 32792

Viet-Nomz

Noodles & Southeast Asian · Alahoya/East side · $$

Cute, cozy fast-casual Vietnamese spot on East Colonial Drive with a friendly, welcoming feel.

11798 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817

Mosonori

Japanese & sushi · I-Drive Area · $$

Chef Henry Moso's handroll bar on Sand Lake Road is a calm, minimalist counter where temaki are handed straight to you, crisp.

Mosonori, 7541 W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819-5109

Zaru

Japanese & sushi · Mills 50 · $$

A small, minimal udon room on East Colonial built around one obsession: springy Sanuki-style noodles.

Zaru, 1114 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803-4636

Kaya

Fine dining & steak · Mills 50 · $$$$

Filipino cooking in a cozy house on Thornton Avenue that feels like grandma's house, if grandma cooked at a very high level.

618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL 32803

Keep Going

More in Milk District

Other places in Milk District, Local Picks first, then the closest to Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner.

Iron Cow Local Pick

Japanese & sushi · Sushi · $$

Part hi-fi sushi lounge, part underground club, the Milk District's good contradiction.

2438 E Robinson St, Suite A, Orlando, FL 32803

Chicken Fire

American · $$

No-frills, welcoming hot chicken joint on East Colonial Drive, Nashville style with soul.

Chicken Fire, 2425 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803-5018

Lam's Garden Chinese Restaurant

Chinese · Cantonese Dim Sum · $$

An old-school, family-owned Cantonese room on East Colonial Drive that has served the corridor since 1975.

2505 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

Fluffy Fluffy Dessert Cafe

Sweets · Dessert · $$

Japanese souffle pancakes are made the slow way here, whipped and cooked to order until each one wobbles like a cloud.

2008 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL

Smoke & Donuts BBQ

BBQ · $$

Low and slow barbecue pairs with made-to-order cake donuts in this casual, family-run Milk District room.

601 N Primrose Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

Se7en Bites

Bakeries · Bakery · $

Bustling, homey Southern bakery cafe on Primrose Drive, owner on the floor, running like a well-oiled machine.

617 N Primrose Dr, Orlando, FL 32803