I-NABA

cute and small restaurant in an unassuming strip mall, with an ambiance just like japan. the menu is extensive, with soba and udon options, build your own option, and a long tempura list. we opted for the kake soba so it was a hot broth with the soba inside. next time i'd love a cold soba. it is pricy. the tempura combo is like $30 and looks like a sizable meal but definitely a lot to spend for one person. parking was not hard to find. service was fast and the restaurant is small so I would recommended sticking to groups of 4 or less.

Hosoi Family you have done it again; have created a memorably quality meal for myself and friend, one that I will look forward to returning for again soon. Japanese breakfast now served on the weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and worth the wait til the end of the week.On this visit, not knowing what time breakfast service started, we arrived at 7:45. Not open until 8am? No problem as we visited the also popular musubi shop next door. In no time we were in the door and quickly followed by enough persons to fill the front room. Set breakfasts starting at $25 include your choice of fish, rice, miso soup, three daily side dishes, and tea (upon request). Without fish, one can still get a satisfying tamago kake gohan meal for only $10. Additional sides available with cost. I was so happy I added a seasoned mentai for only $2.00. Service, as expected from an excellent Japanese restaurant was meticulous without being intrusive. And the visit by one of the owners was so very interesting and informative. Thank you Sho for letting us know about the other two restaurants your family owns... "Inaba Hanalei" just down the street and "Smoke Door" in Lake Tahoe; both overseen by Chef Tyler Burges. Chef Burges, a San Diego native has extensive background in San Francisco and Japan including a season as the Executive Sous Chef of a three Michelin starred restaurant. Looking forward to another memorable meal at I-naba or one of their sister restaurants soon!

wow. literally excellent. just came back from Japan and was craving that authentic Japanese food again and I-NABA DELIVERED.It's a bit pricy but that's understandable. The vibes were so lovely and the meal set options are so fun and offer a lot of variety. Wait staff was so sweet and also brought us tea free of charge. Would go again!

I have been coming to I-Naba for their soba which is one of the best in town. You can customize your own soba or order one of the many on their menu. I love their uni soba, which is served in a cold broth. If you like uni try the uni with shiso leaf tempura. Order from a long list of tempura items to any of your meals. The service staff here is always welcoming, friendly, and attentive. They are family owed with 3 locations on island. I prefer coming to this location. Parking out front that is shared with other surrounding businesses.

Two things I learned after returning from Kyōto: I don't need to be in Japan to see Japanese giant salamanders or have authentic Nishin (mackerel) Soba. If you're slinking along South King Street and craving authentic Japanese soba, I-NABA is the spot to leap into. With handmade noodles, tempura fried to crispy perfection, and a zen ambiance, this restaurant will have you coming out of winter hibernation for more. The Soba:I-NABA's handmade soba is the star of the show, served with a flavor so rich and delicate it could make a salamander slurp with satisfaction. Whether you go for the chilled zaru soba or the comforting hot kake soba, the noodles have that perfect chewy texture that screams authenticity. Pair them with their perfectly balanced dipping sauces or broths, and you've got a dish that will make your taste buds hop for joy.Natto lovers, give the natto + yama imo topping a try on the kake (hot) soba. It's easier to eat than it sounds. The soup keeps the smell in so your party won't be drama and complain about the sticky strings from the natto. The Nishin Soba hits the spot. This dish was the first thing I tried during my most recent stay in Kyōto, so it came with the nostalgia. Nishin Soba is a tough dish to replicate outside of Japan, but I-NABA has this figured out. Ambiance:Walking into I-NABA feels like entering a quiet pond, serene and calming. The minimalist decor is understated but inviting, and the warm service makes you feel like you've been welcomed into a gecko's carefully curated den. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a peaceful meal--no cold-blooded rush here.Service: The wait staff is bilingual and provides an atmosphere that reminds me of dining in soba restaurants in Japan. The staff is attentive and patient when explaining the menu. Thankfully, I-NABA allows walk-ins. I'm still triggered from restaurants in Japan frowning down upon walk-ins even during quite times. Parking:Ah, parking--the eternal lily pad hop of South King Street. The small lot fills up fast, so you might need to try your luck with street parking. It's a bit of a challenge, but once you're inside, the meal will make you forget all the scaly details of finding a spot. But seriously, the parking is quite tight, so carpooling is recommended. Unique Features:What sets I-NABA apart is their attention to craft and authentic Japanese flavors. It's my new favorite spot - better quality, lower prices, and less snobby than the aesthetically pleasing, but slightly off restaurant across the way in Ward. Final Thoughts:I-NABA isn't just a restaurant; it's a sanctuary for soba enthusiasts. Whether you're a local lizard or just passing through, this place offers a meal that's simple, elegant, and utterly satisfying. Come for the noodles, stay for the tempura, and leave with a smile as wide as a salamander spotting a sunny rock.Hop on over and treat yourself--you'll be glad you did!

I came here for a late lunch today before they closed for the Christmas holiday.Nondescript restaurant is in a mini mall and judging from the silent slurping sounds from people eating their soba, it's a legit place! I had the Tempura Soba Set (2 shrimp, 1 white fish, 1 pumpkin, 1 eggplant) with zaru soba. I saw that I was able to downgrade to a half size option and it was the perfect size for me! The tempura was perfectly fried and the zaru soba was al dente and perfect for dipping in the sauce.I loved this so much - I was able to finish everything and I usually don't finish everything because portions are so big.A big thank you to my friend who recommended this place. This will be on rotation for every time I go to Hawaii!

Update on I- Naba wanted to eat some cold Soba so decided to check out I-Naba located on King St. Been here before but not lately sat on the bar seating service was fast and friendly. I ordered my meal and it came out very shortly after .I ordered their cold Soba Tempura, comes with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura, 1 string bean, 1 egg plant , 1 white fish, 2 sweet potato and of course cold Soba noodles w/ sauce . Very tasty will be back in the near future

We had passed by I-NABA plenty of times but never knew of it because we always went to Manu Bu's for their musubis whenever we were in the area. Also, I think we went to BR once. The last time we're were in Oahu, we noticed a huge line of people at this restaurant, so we thought the next time we got a chance, we would try this restaurant. It also helped that some Yelp Locals (Irene, Nadine, & Craig T) enjoyed this place also.The parking lot is small, so you need to get here early. We were fortunate to arrive here at 6:30pm on a Tuesday and there were a few tables filled. But, right after we sat down, about 4-5 parties came in.The ambiance is very simple, clean, with traditional Japanese decor. One restroom only with a Japanese toilet.The service was awesome - The two young ladies were attentive, polite, and helpful in recommending dishes. Uni, Ikura, & Hotate Bowl (mini) & Soba (Regular size): Uni, Ikura, & Hotate, served over rice. Also comes with regular size zaru or kake soba (5/5). I went with the zaru (cold soba with dipping sauce). You could taste the freshness of the seafood like the sweetness of the scallop and uni. The soba was nicely thin but had a lot of flavor and was fun to dip and eat. Tempura Soba: 2 shrimps, 1 whitefish, veggie tempura, and zaru or kake soba (4/5). My wife chose the kake (soba in hot broth). The tempura was lightly battered and you could tell the delicacy of the batter, which was not heavy nor oily. The kake broth was so flavorful and the soba was enjoyable.A very enjoyable meal and experience. Support your local business and come here!

Desperately seeking cold soba on a warm day brought me here to I-naba on South King Street (on left side past Punahou Street).There's an extensive menu which offered many enticing choices.Finally decided on the gomadore cold soba in a sesame based broth topped with shiso, wakame, shaved bonito, nori, and sesame seeds. Delicious and good to the last drop! I'd order this again!!My lunch mate chose the kakiage soba in hot broth. You may request the kakiage to be served on the side (instead of in the broth) so it will stay crispy.For parking, there are two small lots (including the Baskin-Robbins lot), as well as on-street parking.

Location: Across Washington Middle School. Corner of Punahou Street and King Street. Same area as BR and Manabu.Service: Efficient and Friendly -5/5Ambiance: Japanese Casual -4/5Food: Typical Sushi & Soba. 5/5