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!“

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

“This is not an eat-in restaurant. It is a great place to grab some local food for lunch, gathering of the clan, or office party. You will probably order too much, because it all looks and smells delicious. Or grab something to eat when you go to the beach.“

“Poke cake Best ever Ever“

“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.“

“Came here on a Thursday at 9:50 AM. They had lots of selections, though there were no sashimi platter or chirashi bowl type of items. Lots of maki, inari, and bento boxes. You can also order poke bowl (shoyu tuna or spicy tuna).

I ordered poke inari set (2 shoyu 1 spicy). The rice was perfectly cooked. Tofu skin was very flavorful. Though I wasn't able to taste the shoyu poke much, because the inari sauce was overpowering.

Overall, the quality of food was good. Price is reasonable. Good grab and go before your adventure day.“

“Good food.. perfect noodle soup..“

“Best food in all the Hawaiian islands. We ate here for my birthday earlier this year and it was so bomb!!!! The Papaya salad, Mango sticky rice, Pad Thai, Tom Kha and the Pineapple curry were elite! The drinks were also so refreshing. We wanna go back to Hilo just so we can eat here once again.
The family/staff were so kind. Thank you for making such a big impression on my family and I.“

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

“Brown rice sushi Intricate sauces Fresh“

“There's not a better place for breakfast burgers on the island. I've been eating here for 20+ years and they have continued to be the best.
Their lunch plates are always delicious and a hardy plate. Can't say enough about how good they are. 🤙“

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

“Enjoyed my meal and service that I've already gone back. Friendly staff, seated right away. Food came quickly and I loved it. Especially the asparagus soup! Price was a nice surprise. Good choice if you're on the fence since there are so many restaurants to choose from.“

“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!“

“Wow! The Miso soup with Snow Crab, Hot and Savory. Then, Appetizers Scallops, Beef Tataki, and Ankimo, Nicely Presented and Delicious. And the Main Course Chef Mitsuru's Special Omakase. Wow! Excellent! If you can get reservations it's worth it.🙂🤙“

“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..“

“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.“

“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!“

“Food comes out on a little service train. We had a larger party and split between 2 tables. Prices were reasonable. Plates are small with reasonable portions. Food was tasty and well done. Other options are available aside from sushi such as eggs, chicken and beef. There was a selection of things unavailable when we went but it could've been timing for us. Service was kind. Restrooms were clean.“