23 Best Japanese Restaurants in Hilo

“Saw a review of this place on YouTube and thought it would be worth checking out and I was blown away with the quality of the food. The fish was some of the best mahi I have ever had and the spam masubi tasted fresh as if it were just pressed. The chicken was crispy and had an excellent flavor.

The staff here were filled with aloha and I felt very welcomed despite it clearly being my first time visiting.“

“Okonomiyaki and sashimi omakase and miso salmon are my favs! Miso ramen is yummy.“

“If you are japanese food lover, you definitely need to stop by here. I tried the Karaage Bento, it worth the price. One thing I am a little bit disappointed is that we need to buy sauces separately and it quite expensive(around 2USD per tiny sauce)“

“I must be perfectly honest with everyone. I've been inside Hilo Lunch Shop but i have not eaten their food. However, if you like local food, you'll love this place. I've, never heard a negative thing about this place except they might run out of certain favorites if you don't get there early enough.

My fiance was picking up food for her work and I went with her. There was a long line which moved quickly. I observed those waiting in line as well as the staff. EVERYBODY in the establishment were upbeat and there was just a positive vibe flowing throughout. I could tell the customers were eagerly anticipating and being excited about getting there favorite dishes. Totally cool vibe in there. Im going back to get what I missed out on. Check it out“

“This place is fast and the service and taste are consistently good. Some of my favorites are the fried tofu curry, spicy ramen, teriyaki chicken, mushroom skewers, miso eggplant, and potstickers. They make a pretty brownie sundae for dessert. There is an ice cream place next door that is open during the day too. They are open on Mondays which is notable in Hilo. We like to make reservations here for family parties, but there are usually tables available for walk-ins. You can definitely eat here during your lunch hour. This place is very clean and quiet with pleasant instrumental music.“

“Good food.. perfect noodle soup..“

“Poke cake Best ever Ever“

“One of the best places in Hilo to dine. Loved coming here in my childhood and I intend to keep going.“

“Just tried for the first time. I expected it to be like store bought sushi since it was already made and packaged up, but I was wrong and it was absolutely incredible! I was so happy from the first bite to the last bite. Will be coming back 100%.“

“The food is always excellent - the ceviche is amazing! Reservations are a must - staff is friendly and knowledgeable.“

“We checked in as a family of four and were seated, but ended up waiting almost an hour—50 minutes to be exact—without anyone coming by to take our order. We even saw another family who arrived 10–15 minutes after us get served and receive their food before us. My other half finally had to go up and ask a worker at the check-in area, and thankfully he came over, took our order, and got everything out right away. 🙄 By then, we were definitely frustrated and hangry! 😠
But huge thanks to the server (I wish I remembered his name 🫤) who turned the night around—he was quick, kind, and made sure we were taken care of. 🙌🏽🙂 The food ended up being great, and we tipped him very well 🤗. After all, everyone’s in a good mood after a good meal! 👌🏽👍🏽“

“Drinks and everything we got were soo delicious!! Husband got the chinese fish which is the snapper as of right now and I got the pan seared duck. Also got the soup of the day which is the potato soup and got a sushi roll. Will definitely be back here if we ever come back to The Big Island!“

“i have tried a lot of thai food but nothing comes close to this place. the red thai curry is so yummy! amazing food, amazing service and the people who run the restaurant are some of the nicest people you will meet! this is a not to miss place in the big island :)“

“This is the best sushi I have ever had in my life. The staff was so nice. they recommended me squid to try which i never had before, but it was awesome. Atmosphere is so nice because you get to go out and joy the fresh air. If you are in Hilo, I recommend stopping here.“

“Brown rice sushi Intricate sauces Fresh“

“Me and my wife ate here a few days ago. She ordered and then I said I will have the same. There was a mistake and I was given saimin. The way the mistake was handled was very professional and friendly I was impressed. I give my thanks to the crew. The only complaint I can give is make sure you have cash as that is all they will take“

“Delicious 😋 & generous portions of entre, salad & rice served. Friendly, patient, & helpful waitress. Short wait time for food & waitress checks, & replenishs water without requesting.
Prices above average, would recommend to family & friends.“

“Amazing food. Had the chirashi chefs choice. Great service. Tea was tastey. Only eight spots to sit around in a sushi bar set up. Reservations required. Had a ring a bell to get in.

Parking: Parking stalls directly in front. Lots of stalls in the lots bit it is a bit chaotic.“

“The bentos and staff are excellent
update: May 2025
OMG. lick ur plate action. I ate a one choice (blk belt chicken (my daughter's name for it), aka Nori Chicken with fried rice from the line. the food was yummy (ONO) the amount of food I wasnt able to finish (picture is left over - sorry should have taken b4 i ate).. this place is awesome for a quick bite..“

“We decided to go here as one of the only Saimin places near Hilo. We were not disappointed. We were greeted with a kind woman who spent time taking our order and explaining things to us. After ordering, we spent some time talking with her, to which she discovered we had driven 2 hours to visit her restaurant. She happily provided us with sushi and dessert in addition to our meals, and some delicious elderberry tea. The food was delicious!! We recommend the garlic Saimin and Mochi cake!

Things to note:
- You cannot eat in, only carryout.
- Note the hours before going.
- Paying for the local cuisine, not the design of the place...“

“I found my favorite restaurant in Hilo on the Big Island.I recommend the ribs & spice chicken combo. Of the 4 side dishes, I don't recommend the japchae because it's too spicy.Noodles are also good when you're craving hot soup.You can order without tip and eat in the common area or To Go.“

“On June 16, 2021, my mom, husband, and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner at Izakaya Miyo after a long, stressful year. It's a prix fixe menu ($99 per person at the time). I highly recommend this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or just to treat yourself. Chef Louis Pauole is very warm and friendly and explains each dish to you. This is not just a meal, but it is a memorable experience for the senses. Every dish is both beautiful and delicious! Standing ovation!“

“My first time eating at Genki Sushi by myself. There was a 20% dine in promotion happening. Service was quick, efficient, and friendly. Atmosphere was enjoyable, quiet enough where you could have a conversation with someone. I appreciated the menu since there were photos of each of the dishes-no guessing required. Ordered four dishes and enjoyed every one.“