Pono Bowl Co.

I first tried Pono Bowl back in 2020 and absolutely loved the product—but after a disappointing customer service issue, we hadn’t been back since. With their new storefront opening in Albany, we decided to give them another shot—and I’m so glad we did! At first, the grand opening was a little chaotic. There were people standing in line “holding spots” for friends to show up for the first 50 free mini bowl giveaway, which was frustrating and felt unfair. Thankfully, we still made the cut—and that completely turned the experience around. Not only were there more free bowls available than expected, but we were shocked (in a good way!) that we got to choose our bowl rather than just being handed a base option. The customer service has definitely improved since our visit years ago, which was refreshing. The staff was friendly, helpful, and organized despite the crowd. Price-wise, Pono Bowl is definitely on the higher-end side for smoothie and acai bowls—but they do fill the bowls generously and use fresh, quality ingredients. It's more of a luxe treat, but a really good one. The new space is stunning. The open garage doors let in so much light and breeze, and the interior design feels tropical, modern, and super calming. Tons of seating inside and even more out back—it’s a place you’ll actually want to hang out. So happy we gave them another chance. Looking forward to more visits!

Delicious smoothies, drinks, and variations on avocado toast. Prices were reasonable. Portion sizes were perfect. Service was quick and friendly. Order at the counter, pick a seat, and they bring the food to you. Variety of seating, indoor and outdoor. The only challenging element was how loud it was with all the blenders, but that’s a personal preference, and with the outdoor seating, we were able to enjoy our food in a peaceful atmosphere.

The food is really good, but sitting inside is very noisy. With music playing and blenders running it makes for a uncomfortable atmosphere. It would be nice if the owners of the establishment would invest in some sound deadening panels for the walls and ceiling to help reduce the echoe and brightness of sound in the building. Sitting outside is a good option when the weather is nice.

Delicious and fresh açaí bowl. Bought a whole bunch for a group presentation I was doing. Everyone loved them and had no leftovers. Will definitely be going back soon!

This place feels like the ultimate hang out spot to relax and spend time with friends while enjoying a refreshing and delicious smoothie bowl and avocado toast. They’re all quite delicious. The place has so much room and you’re able to sit inside or under cover outside, if you’d like, in a nice area. I would like to see some small improvements but I am highly recommending this place as is as they’re quite fantastic. One is that they provide water in two places but it would be so much nicer to keep it cold or provide ice too. The other is to ask to provide the avocado toast slices as smashed and covering the whole toast versus only sliced onto the bread. Third, my daughter was really hoping to find a foosball table. She’s been to some places around the USA that did smoothie bowls and there was something just extra awesome to her about having that perk. There was a nice sitting area with magazines. Might be nice to have some puzzle games too. The cheerful attitude of all of the staff is a huge bonus! It’s a very inviting and fun atmosphere to be there.

Incredible aesthetics and design of the whole interior. Even the exterior sign has a great amount of pop and is naturally pleasing to the eye. We got two bowls and two avocado toasts. Both bowls were really good. Never had açaí before and really enjoyed it. Whatever almond butter they are using is better than I have ever had. Avocado toasts served on sourdough. One of the toasts we got had balsamic vinegar. The flavor combination of the the balsamic, avocado and sourdough was shockingly good. Service was outstanding, super pleasant and attentive staff. Overall a great experience. 5 stars all the way.