Izakaya Danji Honolulu

There's something magical about finally visiting a restaurant that's been on your list for ages, and Izakaya Danji did not disappoint. A friend raved about this spot, known for its authentic Hakata Fukuoka-style cuisine, and from the moment I walked in, I felt transported straight to Japan.The ambiance? Warm, cozy, and buzzing with that unmistakable izakaya energy. The service? Attentive yet relaxed--just as you'd expect in a true Japanese gastropub.Now, let's talk about the food. I wish I had taken more photos, but honestly, everything was so good I barely had time! We started with fresh sashimi, perfectly crisp tempura, and juicy gyoza--all executed to perfection. Of course, no izakaya experience is complete without a spread of classic small plates, and each bite delivered on flavor and nostalgia.But the highlight? The motsu nabe with tonkotsu broth--a rich, comforting hot pot that was both indulgent and soul-warming. Every spoonful was packed with deep umami flavors that had me savoring every last drop.If you're craving an authentic Japanese izakaya experience, this is the place to be. Highly recommend, and I'll definitely be back for more!

2/8/25 Izakaya Style RSVP ahead Friendly Service Good tasting dishes Hot Pots too$Cold Heinies EZ on the pocket$

Starting off, I would give 1 star but that would be unfair to the chef because food was good. The server was not really paying attention to us at all, and they were not busy. I worked in customer service so I know how is a good customer service look like. Service would be 5/10 at least, nothing really special. I had to physical get their attention for water refill.We ordered 6 dish total between 3 people, the total came out to be $99 with some change, we decided to tip $10. After we left and walk into our car, one of the waitress ran to us and asked "Was the service not good or the food is not good?" We said "No it was good" which she responded "Oh but how come *she pointed at the tips* then she proceeded to say "never mind" then walked away. Absolutely ridiculous, was she expected 25% or 30%? To be fair the food is good but not fantastic and the service is meh okay, but the audacity to ran after and asked why the tips low is blowing my fking mind. We always tips 15% or more when eating out but this is the first time we tipped below because it was not that great. Running after a customer questioning why the tips are low is wild, I never in my life had a waiter do that to me. Sometime you gotta accepted it, some people tip more and some people tip less, its not always more, it's our first time and will also be the last!

Shabushabu was excellent. Waitress was wonderful. Authentic old fashioned style and feel. They stack the caps of iichiko sochu bottles one atop the other for regulars who keep a personal supply at the bar. Some stacks are so tall and curved they look like sheathed samurai swords.

Open late, this spot specializes in Japanese small plates -- think tapas but Japanese. Plus, they have a small dedicated parking lot - a major plus in this area!I tried the Gingerade Highball, a mix of whiskey, soda water, and gingerade. It was light, refreshing, and not too alcoholic. Food:Chicken Karaage: Absolutely delicious, crispy, and flavorful.Chicken Nanban: Similar to the karaage but with a tangy tartar sauce that adds an extra layer of yum.Kampachi Carpaccio: Fresh and delicate, a must-try for sashimi lovers.Danji Salad: A refreshing mix of radish, tomatoes, cucumbers, and crispy wontons.The gyoza was the only dish that fell short. It was crazy burnt, and we were pretty confused about how something that charred made it to our table. We ate it anyway, but it definitely stood out in the wrong way.

So besides sashimi and sushi I think I've found my favorite izakaya place! Everything we've tried here was yummy! The list is long and we've tried a lot of different dishes our first 2 visits...... Kana was our waitress the first time and recommended a couple of dishes and they were amazing. She remembered what we drank and ordered over 3 weeks later! Now that's awesome customer service and shes very knowledgeable of their menu, friendly, and attentive! She deserves a raise! I highly recommend Danji and will be back to try their ramen and other dishes. If Kana is working!

This place is one of my favorite izakayas on the island! It's pretty small inside with a couple tables, booths, and bar seating so make sure to call ahead for a reservation. They have a small lot with 5-6 spots and street parking as well. The many times I've been here, their food quality and taste has always been consistent. My all time favorites are the cream croquettes, ankimo (monkfish liver), eihire (dried stingray fin), chicken nanban, egg omelette, and gyoza! Everything is simple, yet flavorful. Drinks are also pretty good. Service is excellent and staff are friendly.

Been here twice and they have some great food!Everything we ate the most recent time was delicious.Tako wasabi was perfect wasabi amount.Scallop sashimi was fresh and good texture.The shishamo was good and enjoyed it with the kewpie mayo.The best thing was the motsunabe. The motsu was good quality and we enjoyed the wafu dashi broth. Would like to try it with the tonkotsu broth next time. The nabe also had chives, gobo, tofu, and slices of mochi.Can't wait to come back here !

Our local friend told us to come here for their chicken wings, so we did. Their salt & pepper chicken wings were served piping hot and super fresh. It's served in 3 or 10 pieces - it's a MUST!Another item I was pretty surprised with the deliciousness is the Motsu Nabe (beef intestine hot pot) with Wahu Dashi broth, that serves 3 people easily, but we did add extra motsu, cabbage and chives. This was our meal finisher, and it was perfection. Everything we ordered (see pics I posted) was so bomb, and authentic Japanese cuisine. The staff were all Japanese, which was good to see, and the service was impeccable, as expected at a Japanese restaurant like this. We stayed for hours and never felt rushed, and they made sure to check in on us with water/beverages. I LOVE this place!Lastly, there is very minimal onsite parking, and you'll most likely have to park on the street, down the street towards McDonalds - pretty easy street parking.

My boyfriend and I's go-to place when we want something yummy for a casual date. Our favorites/non-negotiables are the gyoza and the salt and pepper chicken wings. Some of our other favorites are the half chicken, the wahu hotpot, and the shishamo. They also always have some good things on the specials menu that we try to order. They are usually pretty busy so I recommend calling for a reservation. They always try to accommodate us even when it's last minute, which I really appreciate.