Holiday countdown: Santa Cruz County foodie shopping guide part 2 – gift card discounts

Hope you enjoyed Part 1 of the guide a couple days ago. Here is the next installment with more last-minute gift ideas; these are restaurant gift cards currently discounted for holiday shopping.  

Poke salad at Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap (ordered with “no tomatoes or wontons”)
photo by Tara Fatemi Walker

Downtown Santa Cruz’s Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar is offering $50 of gift cards for $40. The offer ends Dec. 24. Customers need to purchase in person at the restaurant, not online. Gift cards cannot be used the same day they are purchased. I always enjoy dining at Kianti’s; they celebrated their 20th anniversary this year and continue to offer consistently delicious food.  
Contact info: 1100 Pacific Ave., 831-469-4400, kiantis.com, Instagram @kiantis.

Wonderful seafood restaurant Johnny’s Harborside has the following promotion: Buy a $50 gift card for a friend, you get a $10 card for yourself. Buy one at $100 for a friend, you get a $20 card for yourself. Call or stop by the restaurant. The offer is valid through Christmas.
Contact info: 493 Lake Ave., 831-479-3430, johnnysharborside.com, IG @johnnysharborside.

I have been a fan of Pono for many years; these days I go to the newer of the two locations, Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap in Capitola, because that’s closer to my home. I love having poke bowls or poke salads, and the menu is so broad there is something for everyone, like Hawaiian-style tacos, burgers, coconut shrimp, and teriyaki tofu. For the Pono gift card deal, you need to visit Costco. Our local warehouse (220 Sylvania Ave.) currently has Pono gift cards at a huge discount: only $69.99 for two $50 cards. The regular Costco price is $74.99, but there is a $5 manufacturer’s instant rebate (the rebate portion expires Dec. 22). Cards are valid at both locations.
Contact info:
Pono Hawaiian Kitchen & Tap, 3744 Capitola Rd., 831-476-7458. Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union St., 831-621-7448, ponohawaiiangrill.com, IG @ponokitchenandtap and @ogponohawaiian.

Fantastic local business Living Swell Kombucha is offering a 10% discount on gift cards through the end of December. You can find them at these farmers markets: Saturday Westside Santa Cruz (Dec. 21), Saturday Cabrillo (Dec. 21 and Dec. 28) and Sunday Live Oak (Dec. 22 and Dec. 29). I always love tasting their new seasonal flavors before deciding which ones to buy; the staff are friendly and generous when handing out samples to customers.
Contact info: livingswellkombucha.com, IG @livingswellkombucha.

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