The Most Delectable Japanese in Honolulu

Maguro Brothers Hawaii

★★★★★ 4.6 (957) • $$

"2 words to describe Maguro Brothers (MB): FRESH FISHWhen in Chinatown, my go to place is MB. There are so many options but the freshness of the fish from MB is unlike other places. The poke bowls are made to order and mixed fresh. So be patient as it just makes the poke so much better tasting. As you bite into the pieces of ahi, it just melts in your mouth. You can just taste the freshness!My absolute favorite is the spicy ahi. It is a tad bit spicy for me (yum!) but if spicy is not your thing, I'd recommend something else. If I could, I'd order everything!Seating wise, there's a couple tables in front but you may need to hunt around. It's to be expected though of Chinatown and that marketplace. I hope that MB will consider opening a shop outside of Waikiki or Chinatown..maybe somewhere that has more parking options haha!But if you love poke, you NEED to try Maguro Brothers!"

Ichiriki

★★★★☆ 4.2 (879) • $$

"Came in to take advantage of the lunch specials (see attached pic). It's a pretty good deal all around. Service was however, exceptionally slow. Nothing against our server. He apologized for the wait so I believe it was because of the kitchen getting the plates together. Also this was not the first time where we were seated and the lunch special menu was not handed out to us when we were first seated. The menu is on the front door, but has not been included with the regular menus so check the front to see if it's still being offered. Food is still fresh and plentiful."

Yoshitsune Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (764) • $$$

"Excellent Japanese restaurant in lobby of Park Shore hotel in Waikiki. We were recommended this restaurant and decided to check it out and were pleasantly surprised. It feels very authentically Japanese.There is an extensive menu with many full course meal options. I chose to get the two tier chirashi with uni ($66). The chirashi came with tofu, miso soup and dessert as well. The fish was very fresh and the uni was delicious. I felt very full by the end of the meal. Would love to come back to try more things!"

Sugoi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (751) • $$

"No trip home is complete without making a detour to Sugoi's for their legendary garlic chicken. Seriously, they've perfected the garlic flavor--it's like they've bottled happiness and served it on a plate. Over the years, their spicy garlic chicken has become my undeniable favorite--it's got that perfect kick and flavor that keeps me coming back for more. And the generous portions? Let's just say one plate is a two-for-one deal. Meal now, meal later. Winning. And let me tell you, I never touch mac salad, like, ever. But somehow, Sugoi's managed to convert me. It's tastier, creamier, and just...better. I'll happily fork it down here. Other honorable mentions? Their salmon, mahi, and chicken katsu. It's a buffet of greatness.The only downside? Waging war with the chaos that is Dillingham Boulevard thanks to the rail construction. But hey, for that spicy garlic chicken fix? I'd brave a traffic apocalypse."

Akasaka

★★★★☆ 4 (784) • $$

"Wow! I LOVED this place & I am now going to be a weekly religious follower. Since the closing of Odori-Ko, I have not been able to find the Hamachi Carpaccio dish that I so loved--until now!! The Kampachi Carpaccio is worth the trip to Akasaka!! Fresh from Kona!We also had Kampachi Ngiri & they topped w/ pickled wasabi. Chef's Kiss!It's a small, clean, intimate space, so make a rezzie if you're a big group. Staff was super cool. We also had a few other dishes. The Alaska roll was my fave! See you guys next week!!"

Kazoku Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (703) • $$

"Small sushi restaurant in Kapolei. Very clean. Most of the seats surround the chefs. So of course we were watching them make everyone's food. The soba was refreshing and light. Dipping Sauce was delish! Tempura was crispy and not overcooked. My husband really enjoyed the omakase. We weren't exactly sure what types of fish were used. But he ate um all, so musta been good! Service can get a little slow with a full restaurant. But both servers were very polite. Bench seats, next to the bar, are tight. Ok for 4 SKINNY people or 2 regular people lol"

Restaurant SUNTORY

★★★★☆ 4.2 (620) • $$$$

"Many locals avoid Waikiki because of the crowds and congestion. There are of course, special places that make coming into Waikiki a pleasure. Restaurant Suntory is one of those reasons. They are one of the Japanese restaurants that we would visit on occasion, but what has made them more special is their seasonal luncheon specials that they run from for about two months at a time. The dishes served will be offerings that are not normally served on the regular menu. The restaurant is basically divided into more regular teishoku offerings, teopan yaki or sushi bar dinibg. Three hours of validation is offered to military and Kamaaina who spend a minimum amount for most of the business hours. The parking can get full so it's best to go a little off-center of prime lunch or dinner times."

Aji Limo Truck

★★★★☆ 4.3 (524) • $$

"The colorful food truck is parked in Pupukea next to seven brothers and a shrimp spot. There's lots of free parking in the adjoining lot. They boast Peruvian Japanese fusion from poke bowls and ceviche to healthier salads, but I feel the food misses the mark. I tried the spicy ahi bowl served over sushi rice for $16.50. The presentation was sloppy and underwhelming. The sushi rice is overly vinegar tasting. I'm not sure if the fish is prepared ceviche style? It has a kind of cooked outer texture which surprised me, differing from traditional local poke which is more smooth and fresh. The sauce itself was tasty though. My daughter and husband liked the yakisoba which was very saucy with crisp cabbage and veggies. The seating area has benches and tables and further down is a grass area for kids to run around. We came later toward 7pm so it got dark and the only light on the tables is a dim multicolored changing lamp. You'll be straining to see your food basically but bust out your phone light, it helps!Overall definitely don't recommend the poke here. Perhaps I should have tried ceviche."

Rokaru Shabu Shabu

★★★★☆ 4.2 (540) • $$$

"Attentive service and that's really appreciated at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The AYCE menu has a great selection and variety of appetizers, meat, soups, veggies, rice and noodles and there's even a premium option that increases tour choices. It also comes with dessert. And if you're not looking for a buffet of choices, they have several different sets to choose fromThe quality of meat is stellar and I would pay them another visit in the future. The seating and tables have ample space and you won't feel cramped.Definitely make reservations as they can get busy, but we risked it and were seated right away.Plenty of parking out front in the Waimalu lot."

Rinka

★★★★☆ 4.1 (520) • $$

"We had the pleasure to re-visit one of our old favorites recently. Rinka has been a Kakaako area staple for 5 or 6 years now, and we love coming here, as well as their take-out only Bento Rinka location on Beretania street.The restaurant is open and brightly lit, and service is prompt and polite.They have a variety of beer, sake and a selection of cocktail and hard liquor as well. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are also available.We particularly like their lunch specials, which consist of a choice of entree with miso soup and chawanmushi (a savory Japanese custard) plus a choice of two small sides.Prices for the lunch specials range from $18-20 for croquette or tonkatsu with most in the $30 up to $40-plus for more extravagant choices like sushi and sashimi entrees. Alternately, if you really feel like going over the top, the chef's selection sushi set meal can reach $60 or more for the deluxe assortment.The dinner menu includes most (if not all) of the lunch entrees as well as an expansive selection of other items for both teishoku sets and a la carte items. Additional selections like hamburger steak, yakiniku, various hot pots, sukiyaki or assorted teishoku sets. For dinner, the more modest sets start in the $35-$45 range, topping out in the $65-$75 area for the top tier sushi and sashimi selections. They also have an extensive a la carte menu of sushi, sashimi and more; I'd say that almost every entree choice from the dinner set menu is available as an a la carte selection as well.The food quality is always top notch, and I would say they're amongst the best Japanese restaurants on Oahu in terms of bang for the buck. You could easily pay more for this qualify of food, but there are few places in this place range that are as good."

Hawaii Pot Shabushabu House

★★★★☆ 4 (544) • $$$

"I've been coming here for years, and my picture is still on the wall! Even after moving off the island, I make sure to visit every time I'm back. My family loves making me jealous with photos of their meals here .The hot pot is always amazing , and the service is so kind. I'll definitely be back again! Recommended broth: ThaiTomYum"

Yohei Sushi Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (460) • $$

"I cannot believe I only tried Yohei Sushi Restaurant recently because it's my new favorite place for lunch. I'm sure dinner is just as good but I went for lunch and LOVED everything! I tried the maguro natto don, zaru soba, ika sashimi, and some other nigiri sushi. My maguro natto don was so fresh and delicious. It was also only $18 and a very good size. Everything was so fresh and reasonably priced. Service there is also exceptional. The waitresses are sweet, attentive, and very polite. I cannot wait to go back already and I just went last week! It's a small place but the waitress said they take reservations. We did a walk in on a Monday for lunch and it was about half filled so no wait for us thankfully. I'll definitely be back!"

Local Boy Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (382) • $$

"Walk up window only, no drive through or dining room- no problem at all but good to know! This is an absolute gem of a restaurant. I ordered the lava poke bowl along with the sweet potato pie and WOW. If I were local I would be eating here all the time. Price can't be beat for fresh tuna. Others in my party got the lava sushi roll and loved it too. The crispy shrimp along with the tuna was a perfect combo! I will make sure to come again when I'm back in the area."

Kenko Ya

★★★★☆ 4.1 (450) • $$

"What a pleasant surprise coming down to Kaneohe to have some Japanese food!It was Pau Hana Friday, and I was catching up with my homie - Gary T.. My original plans were to go to Windward Mall to check out Kiku-Ya, but when I let my homie pick the eating place, Kenko-Ya was the choice.I'm so glad that my homie picked Kenko-Ya, as this Japanese restaurant offered a great selection of grub, friendly & attentive service, and pretty reasonable prices.Kenko-Ya is located at a strip mall, where the First Hawaiian Bank (Kaneohe Bay branch) & Safeway is located. Parking here is plentiful, as the strip mall has ample parking spaces.I'm not sure if this restaurant takes reservations, but when my homie & I came here for dinner on a Friday night, we elected to come here at an earlier time (approx. 6:00 PM). I'm so glad we decided to come here for an early dinner, as the restaurant was packed for a Friday night, with many other hungry customers waiting outside of the restaurant for a table to open up.The Grubbige -There were so many good choices on the menu, but I ended up getting the Two choice Combination Dinner ($25.95) - as my choices were a Teriyaki Chicken & Spicy Ahi. The two choice combination meal came with white rice, salad, & miso soup.My friend ended up ordering the Nabeyaki Udon ($18.95) - Thick noodles in a broth, combined with chicken, vegetables, shrimp tempura, & egg.Overall a very satisfying meal, and I can see why this restaurant is so popular on the windward side.On the windward side, and looking for great Japanese food? Give Kenko-Ya a try! You won't regret it!"

Pho H&H Vietnamese & Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (426) • $$

"Beware, this place gets super crowded at lunch and dinner time, so if you're going with a big party I'd come a little before or after the peak times. The food is really good here, and the ladies that work here are always so nice to us.This time I got the lemongrass chicken on vermicelli with spring rolls. I usually get the bahn mi, which is just as good but opted for the noodles this time around. There was more noodles that I cared to eat, but if you like a lot of noodles you'll appreciate this big bowl. My uncle got the pho, and he said it was just what he needed after getting over a cold. He liked the broth and that it came with so much vegetables. I'll get this next time I'm feeling under the weather or on a rainy day. We ordered my kids the chicken fried rice, and it was kind of bland but tasted good with their house chili sauce and a little shoyu. My kids didn't care for it since it had all those vegetables in it but I liked the addition of the corn in it...something I use at home too."

Koromo

★★★★☆ 4.2 (395) • $$

"Here's a TL;DR review of Koromo!Parking: Free, it's at the pearlridge mall next to Gen's BBQ. The GPS took us to the older adjacent mall.Food was awesome. It took some time to come out but they kept us occupied. They let you grind up your own sesame (to pair with the tonkatsu sauce) and it's UNLIMITED CABBAGE! They kept topping us off! Ambiance was a few steps above casual. It's clean and nice in there. Upscale I would say.Just a fair warning it is a little expensive, some dishes pushing $30-$40 per plate. The curry is really savory with a small little spice to it.If you're in the area and are craving something you can trust, I'd totally recommend Koromo."

Matsuzaka-Tei - Pearl City

★★★★☆ 4.1 (413) • $$

"My husband & I's go to when we're in Pearl city. It's a cute little hole in the wall for Japanese food! There's usually only one cashier and one person working the back. Each time we go, the cashiers are always friendly. Our favorites are the beef bowl & pork tonkatsu with curry. I always order the mini beef bowl and it's A LOT. The portion size is very generous. I always get green onions as my topping for an additional ($2), yes it's a bit expensive for green onions but they top it with a lot of green onions! I also get a side of curry. I love dipping my beef with curry, topped with the green onions and the pickled daikon on the side. Delish! They also have pickled ginger which my husband opts for. I recently tried the takoyaki and it was ok. Nothing special about it imo. We usually spend about $50-60 on a meal which can be a little much... but the freshness of the food and quality of the food is superb. I love supporting small businesses and local business! I don't know of any other Oahu business that sells beef gyudon like this. I highly recommend this place to get your gyudon fix."

Up Roll Cafe - Honolulu

★★★★☆ 4.1 (391) • $$

"Super fresh offerings. Love the variety of add ons and sauces! Love that it's fairly affordable here for quality food. Limited indoor and outdoor seating available and a super clean garage attached, if a bit expensive. The staff are very professional and helpful. There are a lot of options so take a moment to view them before ordering!"

Pho Time

★★★★☆ 4.2 (369) • $$

"A true hidden gem!Ate here a few times before because (1) the location is close to home for me and (2) the posted menu pictures outside the restaurant are enticing!Everything on the menu is delicious!Spring rolls, pho, all of it is great. Everything was fresh, made to order. Reasonably priced too.The customer service here is impeccable. So friendly. Locally owned so it pulls my heart strings to support this place.I'll take pictures next time!"

Spicy Ahi & BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.3 (349) • $$

"Spicy Ahi & BBQ in Waimalu is a solid spot for delicious and reasonably priced Japanese food. Their combos are the way to go! I had the Ahi Tempura and Chicken Katsu combo, and both were on point--the ahi tempura was fresh, not dry, and the katsu was crispy and flavorful. Just a heads-up, if you want the ahi tempura, come early because they only make a limited amount and sell out fast. Also, check ahead to make sure they're open and not on vacation. Glad they're still in business--next time, I'm definitely trying the spicy ahi!"

Kokoro-Tei

★★★★☆ 4.4 (327) • $$

"First time trying this place out. It is a little apot across of Moiliili Park next to Little Cesars and Teddy's Biger Burger. They do not have any indoor seating and only have take out. They have a table and register area just as you enter and there is only a small space inside for ordering. They have many bentos and a variety of plates available. I don't know why I have never been here. I love that they they have many fish options. The chicken karage is good along with the white fish and fish cake. This nori kara bento was just under $10 which is a pretty good deal. When we got there, there was no line but shortly after there was a line of about 4 people behind us. I would recommend this place!They are open from 10am-230pm and 4pm-6pm (Mon-Fri) and 10am-2pm on Saturdays."

Irifune Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (351) • $$

"This is takeout place with some outdoor sitting near HGEA office in Mililani Street in downtown. It was probably just me but I was pretty confused reading their menu. I wish that they clarify what entree includes like some side salad and big portion of white rice. Initially I was going to order the bento but changed to tofu stir fry. The counter lady wasn't too happy when I did that. Tofu stir fry came tofu, round onions, and seemed like left over stem from Choy Sum for $11 something. It was an affordable lunch but I rather pay little more for better food."

Sunrise Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 (304) • $$

"So there aren't many vegetarian options but they will make some dishes vegetarian if you ask. And I love bitter melon, so this place gets a big thumbs-up from me.The food is very homey and so is the interior of the restaurant. I mean, you feel like you're eating in your auntie's living room. In a good, nostalgic way. The miso soup tastes like the one my mom used to make (warning...NOT vegetarian). And the bitter melon with egg is delicious. I could eat that every day.Parking is a challenge but luckily, I can walk here."

Akira Japanese Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 (292)

"Tasty Japanese food and great service at Akira.Colleagues chose Akira for a birthday celebration. We all ordered the teishoku set; you may select one or two main entrees. Some entrees have an upcharge. Teishoku set includes a small appetizer, pickles, salad, white rice, and choice of mini udon or miso soup.We all opted for mini udon and tempura, which was crisp and crunchy. Some of my lunch mates ordered teriyaki chicken or karaage chicken. We all enjoyed our teishoku set. Service was excellent.Validated valet only parking is available in the 1150 building, entrance on Young Street near Pensacola. I chose on-street metered parking on South King Street in front of the building."

Tokoname Restaurant & Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (423) • $$$

"Always a great experience here. Food is delicious and sushi fresh. Great and fast service!"

Pioneer Saloon Kaka'ako

★★★★☆ 3.8 (379) • $$

"The fish is top tier for plate lunches, especially the fresh grilled mahi mahi (get the garlic one)! The katsu is so fresh and texture is *chef's kiss*.The sweet chili chicken is also tasty and a little different. I really like that you get a bunch of random veggies with the chicken, like onion, qsparagaus, and I think some green beans. And the serving is so generous!They have a real talent for packing a lot of toss salad with just the right amount of dressing into the small section of the plate lunch container lol. I also like their pasta salad and they usually have a special rice option upgrade for a dollar upcharge, like salmon rice or shio-wakame. I love the options.The only thing I've tried so far that I wouldn't recommend is the shrimp burger. It was not bad and I liked the fries that came with it, but it's just not the best shrimp burger I've had.The menu is extensive so there's lots more I'd still like to try!Service is great and food comes out quickly.Tables inside and outside.They're located in SALT so validate parking there."

Doraku Sushi Kapolei

★★★★☆ 3.9 (355) • $$

"Given the amount and quality of the food / drinks I had here for a total of ~$60 (including the items my mom ordered), I'd say Doraku Sushi is worth it. Here's the food/drinks breakdown:Inaka Yakisoba: The pork belly was super tender and just the right amount of fat within it. I think the eggs had a little too much seasoning on it for my liking so I just mixed it in with the rest of the yakisoba. The yakisoba tasted more like garlic flavored noodles with pork belly on the side. I really liked how it tasted but I'm not sure how authentic this is. It's very filling and can be shared between two people along with another dish.Strawberry Sherbert Martini:One of my favorite drinks ever from any establishment. This drink was like alcoholic strawberry shortcake in a glass. It is on the stronger end (at least, to me it was) but I loved how fruity it and refreshing it tasted.The fried brownie:Has a nice crunch to softness ratio woth the brownie. I think this is something to try just once but I'd personally go for the fried ice cream next time. I can't imagine eating this one by myself after a full meal so definitely share this with someone.Even though my mom and I didn't have a reservation, we were easily seated at a table on a Saturday night. There were a good number of other customers inside but it didn't feel too packed. The ambience reminded me of how Shirokiya once was. It's really cute inside and it feels like you're not in Kapolei anymore!"

Got'z Grindz

★★★★★ 4.6 (240) • $

"A great spot for a quick casual grab! Their food is made fresh every morning and definitely taste like it. Everything is reasonably priced. We got food for 2 for 4-5 meals for $50. + Food: Miso soup: 10/10. So flavorful with plenty of veggies. All the other musubis are great and generous on fillings. My favorite was the unagi avocado. + Atmosphere: Service is great and quick and they're all very nice. They don't have seatings so it's a to-go spot. I saw a microwave that I assume you can heat you food up with."

Okome Bento And Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.5 (390) • $$

"I really like the self serve style here as well as rolls that's made and ready to go for customers. We tired 2 kinds of rolls. Red dragon was good. Spicy shrimpRoll was good. Takiyaki hated it. I was hoping it was crunchy from how it looks but it wasnt. This was not for me. Kabocha tempura was sooo good with tempura dipping sauce!! I had to go back and order 2 more orders!!"

Sekiya's Restaurant & Delicatessen

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (568) • $$

"If you're in Kaimuki and craving Saimin or Japanese food, this is a great place to go. Old-school vibes, and food is great! TBH they got a bit overwhelmed when more customers came through (there was only one server), but made up for it when things calmed down by being extra friendly, and accommodating. We had Saimin, wonton min, burgers, and bbq sticks--all delicious! Prices were great too!"

Sakura Teppanyaki Sushi

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (403) • $$

"We celebrated our coworker's retirement/birthday here. My first time here and when I walked it I said "oh wow, so nice!" out loud. LOLWe had a party of 8 and reserved a table instead of the "grill" area. Our service was great and she was very helpful in helping us choose the most popular sushi rolls. We also got shrimp and veggie tempura. WE DEVOURED EVERYTHING! Well, our side of the table did hahaha! I will definitely be back here with my son and boyfriend!"

Domo Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (259) • $$

"Love Domo Cafe!!!It was my first time to Domo's Kahala location, having been to their Chinatown location many times. Domo was able to accommodate my lunch gang. We all had a hard time deciding as there were so many tempting choices on the menu. Luckily you can customize your poke bowl by substituting sushi rice with salad for $3 extra or adding miso soup for $2.You order at the counter - everything is made to order. Food is brought to your table if dining in.I decided on the Cali Hachi poke bowl E8, after contemplating the Seared Salmon E4 and Seared Scallop E9. So glad I did as there were three thick pieces of hamachi. It was delicious!!!My lunch gang totally loved their selections. Didn't take photos as we were busy munching away lol. We can hardly wait to return!"

Japanese Restaurant Aki

★★★★☆ 4.1 (258) • $$

"Ate lunch there for the first time with some friends recently. Wonderful izakaya ambiance. Friendly and professional staff. I could have sworn I was in Japan! Try the miso butterfish and any or all of the yakitori choices. If you have room for dessert, I would highly recommend the matcha crème brûlée! Yes, it is as heavenly as it sounds!I bet this place is even more wonderful at night with some tasty dishes and a couple of cold beers. Will have to check it out."

Nori Bar Hawaii - Ward

★★★★☆ 4.3 (220)

"Food was delicious definitely get the blue crab hand roll. The hamachi was delicious also. If you like sake then the sake flight is a must!!!!! (And the cups were super cute) . The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is only because you order on your phone so because it's sushi bar and you tend to order multiple times I felt like we were on our phones more than I would have liked ."

Matsuri

★★★★☆ 4.2 (225) • $$$

"Well this sushi spot was a well kept secret that I think people should know about. I came here for my birthday because my first 2 sushi spots were closed on Sundays. Let me just say, thank goodness otherwise I would've discovered this gem. It is tucked away in a small area with a small parking lot for customers. Have no worries about finding parking because it's so hidden that not a lot of people know it's there. When we walked it, only a handful of people full of people there.....super quiet and intimate. I had a specialty roll and my husband had the dragon roll with no seaweed. Yes, not much of a sushi person but requested no seaweed in which they accommodated him. My son tasted his and liked it but of course had to order crispy chicken for him. Both rolls were super good but the chicken was the one that caught my attention. Well made crispy chicken at a Japanese sushi spot was amazing. That is a must try. We mention my birthday and ordered a dessert so they put a candle on there for me to make a wish. Everything was fabulous and will definitely come back again."