Read
May 31, 2018
The easiest showstopper in your arsenal.
ChefMakani Carzino
Los Angeles
About Makani Carzino
Makani is the chef/owner of Pono Burger. She didn’t intend to build a gourmet burger empire, but with two successful outposts--Ultimate Burger in Kona, HI and Pono Burger in Santa Monica, CA--she’s on her way. She appreciates the relaxed, casual vibe of a burger but elevates it with her technical training and reliance on local, environmentally conscious ingredients.
My Venues
Accolades
- Best Thing We Ate WinnerZagat
- 15 Criminally Underrated Burgers In Los AngelesLAist
- Top Los Angeles MilkshakesFood GPS
Featured Content
Watch
1:32
May 22, 2018
For chef Makani Carzino of Pono Burger, passion fruit is among her earliest memories of food. It embodies everything she loves about her native Hawaii, with its bright, pure ingredients and meditative preparations. Her simple, stunning dessert, brought to you by our partners at Pacific Sales, is the closest your guests might come to cleansing their palates with an actual cloud. Want more Chef Makani? Check out our illustrated guide to cooking in the spirit of Pono.
Read
May 22, 2018
According to Hawaiian native—and chef of LA's Pono Burger—Makani Carzino.
Where I Go Out
Marrakesh cheesesteak
Outdoor Seating, Butcher, Deli / Bodega, Central La
"The Marrakesh cheesesteak with goat leg, harissa aioli, feta, and arugula makes me salivate like Pavlov's dog."
Cioccolato fondante gelato
$, Ice Cream, Central La
"This is where I get my chocolate fix. The cioccolato fondente gelato cone is my go-to. And the affogato is crazy good, too, after a long stand up paddle on the water."
Moroccan baked eggs
$$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Pizza, Reservations, Wine Bar, Full Bar, New American, Venice
"Having breakfast on the patio next to the fire pit is cozy. Get the Moroccan baked eggs with merguez sausage, chili, tomato sauce, cilantro, and spiced yogurt. It's a good way to wake up the senses on a Sunday morning."
Bone marrow
$$$, Happy Hour, Modern, Full Bar, American, New American, Downtown
"This bone marrow—served with a red onion marmalade and grilled sourdough—is richer than butter. Paired with a glass of Zinfandel, it's perfection!"
At My Venues
Potato chips and avocado dip
$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Burgers, American, Gastropub, Downtown
"Ponzu Avocado Dip 🥑 Made with organic avocado purée alongside Okinawan purple potato chips! These two go hand in hand with each other, come and give them a try! | 📸: @onemaneats | #pono #ponoburger"
Chocolate mousse with berries and maple whipped cream
$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Burgers, American, Gastropub, Downtown
"Who doesn't love dessert? Chocolate Mousse with local berries and maple whipped cream 😍 | #pono #ponoburger #dessert #chocolate"
Burger with onion rings and BBQ sauce
$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Burgers, American, Gastropub, Downtown
"There's nothing better than a nicely stacked burger stuffed with hand-made onion rings and a sweet BBQ sauce! 😍 | 📸: @topfoodnews_burgers | #pono #ponoburger"
Sweet potato fries
$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Burgers, American, Gastropub, Downtown
"These sweet potato fries want to take a dip 👍 | Come on in and try our organic hand-cut sweet potato fries! | #ponoburger"
Fries with garlic aioli
$$, Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Burgers, American, Gastropub, Downtown
"💖🍟💖 Russet Fries with a fresh-made garlic aioli! Make Chef Makani proud and eat 'em two at a time!💖🍟💖"