Exit 8 Bodega Brings a Taste of Hawaiʻi to Costa Mesa

A little piece of Hawaiʻi has arrived in Costa Mesa.

Newly opened along East 17th Street, Exit 8 Bodega brings the flavors and familiar finds of the islands together under one roof. Created by the team behind local favorite ‘Ai Pono Café, the new concept is part poke counter, part neighborhood market, with a distinctly Hawaiʻi-inspired point of view.

Located at 270 E. 17th Street, Exit 8 takes its cues from the casual markets found throughout Hawaiʻi, where freshly prepared food sits alongside snacks, drinks and everyday favorites. The shelves are stocked with island staples and hard-to-find treats, while the food counter has quickly become a draw of its own.

Poke takes center stage, with selections including ahi preparations and spicy crab, served by weight or combined into bowls. Spam musubi and other Hawaiʻi favorites round out the offerings, while colorful cans of Hawaiian Sun and imported snacks make it just as easy to stop in for something to take home.

The concept feels intentionally unfussy. Rather than recreating Hawaiʻi through polished resort imagery, Exit 8 draws inspiration from the everyday food culture of the islands: a quick stop for poke, something cold to drink and a few favorites tucked into a bag for later. It is a fitting extension of ‘Ai Pono Café, whose team described the project ahead of its opening as a Hawaiʻi-inspired bodega “built for the culture, not the trend.”

That approach has already attracted attention. Early visitors have shared lines forming before the poke counter opens, with the fresh selection proving particularly popular.

For Costa Mesa, Exit 8 adds another independent food concept to a stretch of East 17th Street already known for its eclectic collection of restaurants, cafés and neighborhood businesses. Small, casual and full of personality, it offers something a little different: the feeling of an island market stop without leaving Orange County.

Exit 8 Bodega
270 E. 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627