Dining choices at the new Ka Makana Ali‘i mall in Kapolei are many and growing. Familiar national names like Cheesecake Factory, Applebee’s and Johnny Rockets are opening soon, and a food court is filled with local, national and international choices.

A unique aspect of the mall is in the Macy’s wing, where there are food tents one might find at a community event, and communal tables. As a bonus, coin-operated massage chairs also are available.

The vendors originally were near California Pizza Kitchen, but were moved to make way for the upcoming Rascal Flatts restaurant, according to mall spokeswoman Antonia Agbannawag. “As these food vendors move into new spaces, other vendors, food or other (types), will be able to lease the kiosks,” she said.

HI Cravings (561-9386)

Owners Jess and Kalani Kamana‘o are operating in the food tent area while awaiting completion of HI Cravings’ second brick-and-mortar location, in the corridor near Applebee’s.

HI Cravings serves fruit-, honey- and granola-topped bowls of pitaya (dragonfruit), a green fruit and vegetable mix, and acai or mango sorbet, at prices from $6.50 to $10.50. Toppings for basic bowls include the top-selling cookie dough, chocolate chips, li hing mui powder, almond slices, chia seeds, drizzles of Nutella or condensed milk.

Jess said she wanted a permanent spot close to the parking lot where it would be easy for customers to park, grab a bowl and go, as well as give catering customers easy access for pickups, especially once the company’s app gets fired up, enabling preorders and prepayment.

She says the temporary tent site has provided the vendors with “amazing exposure, a really good venue to set up and get their product out there and let the customers know who they are.”

HI Cravings has another location, at 1102 Bishop St., across from Walgreens downtown.

Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi (551-9961)

Perhaps the best known of the bunch due to its longevity, Uncle Lani’s Poi Mochi is a favorite isle fixture. Charmaine Na‘auao-Ocasek started the business on the Waianae Coast 25 years ago, naming it for her father. “Everyone knew him as Uncle Lani,” she said. Poi mochi is Na‘auao-Ocasek’s invention, immortalized in the song “Fish and Poi” by her musician-brother Sean Na‘auao.

In the beginning the mochi was sold as a way to raise money for local kids’ programs. Na‘auao-Ocasek got a break when retailers allowed her to set up shop outside places like Wal-Mart in Kunia, and the old Don Quijote in Kailua.

Uncle Lani’s has a single product, the spherical orbs of fried dough that it calls “pudding balls.” They can be topped with a drizzle of sweet poi icing. A dozen made-to-order poi mochi balls is $5.

Uncle Lani’s shares its space with Tea Girls Hawaii in the “gazebo,” as she calls it, and has long appeared at events alongside both Tea Girls and HI Cravings. “We call ourselves the triple threat. … It’s like a little family thing we have here.”

All three businesses have loyal followings and a robust social media presence.

“We go to most of the high school food-truck events and tons of fundraisers,” she said. Talks are underway for a more permanent space at Ka Makana Ali‘i for Uncle Lani’s, “but if not, we’re all over, every weekend,” she said. “People can always find us.”

Alyssandra’s Lumpia Express (389-1522)

Freshly fried lumpia in vegetable-and-pork, banana or pork Shanghai options are the top sellers here, served with a vinegar sauce or a slightly tangy sweet chili sauce. An order of six is $5.50, and they can be mixed and matched.

It’s not just about lumpia, though. You’ll also find bentos of pork guisantes, pork adobo or chicken adobo ($7.75) and pancit (stir-fried noodles, $3.75). The lumpia is hot and fresh, cooked on-site, while bentos are delivered daily from Alyssandra’s mother ship in Pearl Kai Shopping Center.

The Kapolei spot makes five locations for Alyssandra’s, established by Robinson and Eva Baniqued in the 1990s and named for their daughter, who runs the Kapolei operation. Other Alyssandra’s are at the Kapolei Kmart and Waikele Premium Outlets. A location at the Aloha Stadium Marketplace Kmart closed with Kmart at the end of March.

The Ka Makana Ali‘i operation is moving to a kiosk across from Thinker Toys in a few weeks, Alyssandra Baniqued said.

Tea Girls Hawaii (216-9623)

Vaifala is a Samoan drink that is both slightly creamy and very refreshing. Traditionally made with milk and pineapple, it is usually served at special occasions, but Tea Girls Hawaii has made the treat accessible every day. The flavor profile of the beverage has also been expanded with the addition of different fruits, such as strawberry, to the base.

Ekepati Niko owns the business with his wife, Vale. They named it after their daughters, whose names all begin with T, he said.

A variety of iced teas is on the menu, but the big sellers are the vaifala drinks, starting from $5 for a plastic cup. Previously purchased yard containers or 32-ounce Mason jars may be refilled for $5.

Older Samoans seldom consider a nonpineapple vaifala, Niko said, “but the kids will.” A drink called Waikalo comprises the vaifala base with fresh poi. “We wanted to make a drink for Hawaiians as well as Samoans,” he said.

Tea Girls Hawaii can also be found from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Wahiawa Hongwanji farmers market, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at the HMSA farmers markets in town, and at other pop-up and private events.

Grab and Go focuses on takeout food, convenience meals and other quick bites. Email ideas to crave@staradvertiser.com.