Izakaya Restaurants near Aiea, HI

“best ramen ever. You wont regret it.“

“Authentic Japanese food! It was great to be able to have it while vacationing in Hawaii. Brought back so many memories of living in Japan!“

“Low key casual but trendy vibe. Food was good, had a little too much going on for our liking but still good. Had avocado sushi — pieces too big, ceasar salad — was good— then had a ribeye skewer (too fatty) carbonara pasta that was good. Staff was great and quality was superb, just a lot going on for us personally“

“Unique and delicious Yakitori Omakase (when we went, Chef Ando finished the meal with a nabe hot pot!). Friendly chef (he used to be a sumo wrestler in Japan) and staff. BYOB. Beloved by locals. Street parking or park in the lot across from the restaurant in spots #15 to #28 and when you sit down, they have a QR code for you to scan to pay for parking.“

“food was very good will definitely come back“

“海外でこのぐらいの味を出せれば最高なんじゃないかな“

“Good food and cold beer. Tina was great 👍🏼😎“

“Very good and great staff.“

“Delicious selection of warm skewers, brought out as they are ready!

We made a reservation for 2 as the seating inside of the store was very limited, but the atmosphere and decor reminded me a lot of shops back in Japan! There were many different chicken skewers, and other flavors, all with the choice of either rare (teriyaki sauce) or shio (salt) which we were able to customize for each individual skewer. Each order came in a pair of 2 skewers, so we were able to try many flavors!

My personal favorite skewers were the kawa (chicken skin), gyukushi (beef), and the Tsukune cheese (chicken patty with melted cheese). I also really liked the yaki onigiri (rice ball) as it was grilled well and stayed together, with the sauce evenly distributed in the center. And the miso soup it came with really tied it together!

Overall a great meal and I’d highly recommend for anyone seeking a fun izakaya experience ?“

“From the warm greeting everyone receives when walking through the door to the attentive and super friendly service, this place is amazing! The sushi was outstanding… hands down the best sushi I’ve ever had! The texture, taste and presentation was top notch. Wish there was a location on the east coast!“

“Food is ALWAYS delicious and the staff is so kind and attentive! Katsu-san creates the most beautiful sashimi platters and omakase sushi!“

“Friendly service and very tasty dishes.“

“Nice atmosphere and tasty food 🍱“

“Surprisingly good ..down this short ally it’s located in the back.. Very mysterious“

“everything is handmade, the ingredients are fresh and high quality, staff are friendly. this place is so unique and a great date spot!♡“

“This little ramen place has the best broth! We got kimchi and cucumber appetizers, and two kinds of ramen. The meat, we had both pork and chicken, was so so but the broth was absolutely delicious and made this absolutely worth it. Would definitely go back.“

“Izakaya Gaku is absolutely wonderful. Tucked just north of Ala Moana, it’s got that city energy without the rush of Waikiki — a perfect balance. This is a high-tier spot. Not Michelin, sure, but it’s not about that — it’s about enjoying the experience, and they've got plenty of that! And as someone just recently stepping into this level of dining, I get now that there’s a whole world above the usual places — and Gaku is a strong entry into that world.

The oyster shooters were a standout, and the o-toro? Some of the best I’ve had, hands down.

The staff were fantastic — super attentive, and the vibe from the sushi chefs and kitchen crew greeting you with full energy as you walk in or out adds to the whole atmosphere. It’s vibrant, thoughtful, and every detail feels intentional. A real gem.“

“Vandaag geweest met een vriendin We werden geholpen door bas Wat een aanwinst En het brood carpaccio ...heerlijk“

“Heard from friends on Oahu it is the best on the island“

“This is a bit of a hidden gem along the Waikiki Beach area; small, intimate, but fantastic food and service. So much so that my wife and I went there twice while we were visiting O'ahu! Oyster Shooters are a must; the sashimi was excellent and well prepared; and the garlic butter shrimp was outstanding. Highly recommended!“

“Big enjoyer of this place. Sometimes hard to find seating on the fly, but they make up for it with exquisite dishes. The Uni Truffle Butter Egg Yolk Rice is a must. Great selection of nigiri as well some excellent mid-weight plates (I recommend the beef tongue). My wife and I love to come down here often, keep up the great work, Uosan!“

“タクシーを使ってもワイキキから来る価値あり。 ハワイの定番フードに飽きて日本食が恋しくなったら、是非行ってみてください。 お酒の種類も豊富です。 予約も日本語でOKです！“

“While on vacation I was wanting to listen to some Jazz. When I looked it up on the Internet it gave me the name of Heart Moon. I got dressed and went. This was a cozy place tucked away. I ordered food and the Chef made me some shrimp that was fantastic. Thanks Chef. The band was GREAT. I enjoyed myself so well. I plan to return. I told a few friends about this hidden Gem and they too have made plans to attend.“

“Great cozy Japanese izakaya at McCully Street Shopping Centre. The food menu was good and had a variety.

Drinks menu were good too. Overall, service was friendly and the servers would help make recommendations for food and drinks. Worth a visit if one has hunger pangs at night as it closes at 1am.“

“best ramen ever. You wont regret it.“

“Izakaya Naru is one of my most favorite Izakaya! The authentic Okinawan and Japanese dishes are amazing! And all staffs are super friendly! Also, the Koubashicha-wari, the Phiten Mulberry Leaf Tea mixed with Shochu, is THE Drink! Cannot stop drinking it knowing getting healthier 😁👍 Izakaya Naru is highly recommended!“

“best ramen ever. You wont regret it.“