23 Best Japanese Restaurants in Hilo

“Great food. Iconic establishment. Pre-order the nori chicken. That wooden case is going into a museum one day, but hopefully not anytime soon! #supportlocal“

“This is my new favorite eats in Hilo. I’m mostly vegan but the chicken was so good with the honey lilikoi sauce. We also got a tofu salad and it was the best tofu I ever had! I keep thinking about how good it was! The staff was very friendly which is a plus. We’ll be back!“

“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“

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

“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..“

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

“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.“

“Kitchen Umeko is a take out restaurant, serving Japanese bento, sushi rolls, poke bowls and sides. Will take orders for large amounts or for party platters.
After hours, they will remain open to sell what is left for the day.
Sorry you came in after they were closed and only got what was left. (They close at 2:30pm)“

“The food here is excellent. This was the first time I've had truly great Thai food on the Big Island, and I highly recommend it. The prices are very reasonable. We ordered the Panang curry with tofu, Kra Pao with minced chicken, and a Thai iced tea—everything tasted wonderful. For parking, we found a free street spot right across the road and walked over.“

“Food 4/5 - Ordered a sakura boat and unagi don. The sashimi/nigiri in the sakura boat was high quality and fresh, as the texture was soft with no hints of being frozen. The roll was good, nothing to write home about. Unagi don was good, although slices for the unagi were on the thinner side. Miso soup was nice and hot.

Service 3/5 - Service is average, they did make a round to refill our drinks.

Atmosphere 4/5 - Interior is good with Japanese themed decor.

Overall - Had a pleasant experience and would visit again.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Brown rice sushi Intricate sauces Fresh“

“Finally stopped in at this great little drive-in. First off Miko (sp) at the counter is super friendly and made some great recommendations including the lasagna and she was not wrong! Garlic toasts, big piece of lasagna and fresh salad. Also got two breakfast burgers with ham, 2 for $8 on Monday, and everyday they have an $8 special! They also have an afternoon fry and burger special for $3.99.“

“No dine in which is fine. But this place is a gem. Dont go waiting in line somewhere when you can get some of the most delicious food on the island right here and the prices are insane. Loco Moco is up there with the best and the Hilo style siamin was so good. Healthy portions as well.“

“Very good food. Well sized portions too.

There were some Japanese food options that are less common than what we always see in the menus.

I also think it is great option for groups with different tastes, because they have Korean, Japanese, local dishes and American cuisine. They also have a kids menu.“

“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..“

“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 eatery is in a nondescript food court but the AC keeps it comfortable while you wait for the food. The prices are rather high but to make up for it the portions are generous. The meat is well seasoned. The sides (bean sprouts, kimchi...) disappointingly are rather bland, lacking punch to cut the richness of the meats. Overall, would I eat here again? the answer is yes!“

“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!“

“Fun and delicious for a quick meal - the sushi is all made to order and delivered directly to your seat on a little boat that rides on a track like a train but it is definitely supposed to be a boat. I was glad to have the wide variety of roll shapes.“