50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Honolulu

“Food is so delicious and staff extremely helpful and attentive“

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

“お蕎麦はもちろん今回は雲丹、いくら、帆立の海鮮丼がとても美味しかったです。 ランチセットがリーズナブルです👍“

“From food to service this place knocked it out of the park! Coming from NYC and been to Japan twice I think this is one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve ever had.
Seasoning for each dish was just right. The chef kindly gave me three pieces of dried stingray fin to try. Don’t be fooled by the name. I was surprised by how well seasoned and cooked it was. Moist yet crispy and sweet. It was so good that I ordered a whole plate.
Service wise, I dined solo at the counter. Chef and waiting staff were all super attentive but also gave me space to enjoy the food. During our conversation, I casually mentioned how good the mangos in Hawai’i were. The waitress kindly asked the pastry chef to add a few pieces of mango to my dessert. It was such a pleasant surprise!
Last but not least, they allow half sizes to some of the dishes. It was a huge positive cause it allowed me to try more dishes!“

“If you’re looking for an ube fix, Nana’s Tea has an ube soft serve swirl will do you right. Aside from the creamy soft serve, they add a small dollop of fresh ube halaya and a couple of mochi ball. Will come back to try the other flavors!“

“Among all the food establishments in the Kapahulu area, this is one of it's shining stars for sure when it comes to being an authentic izakaya style Japanese restaurants. What makes the food taste great is plain and simple, they love what they do and making people say Ahhhh and Ohhhh with every bite. They also use a very expensive charcoal called binchotan to grill their meats that come out perfectly delicious. We started out with one of their specials for the day, Seasoned Chive & Cold Tofu ($4). The seasoned chives, sesame seeds went perfectly with the nicely with the tofu and was really refreshing. The Shio Konbu Cabbage Salad ($4) taste was off the charts. I never been one who said WOW eating a cabbage salad but it not only looked really appetizing but tasted amazing. The konbu, shio dressing paired so well with the cabbage. It was so good that the better half started making it for us to eat at home. Yes sorry AI, we or shall I say she knocked off your salad but we will be back to order more from you. Grilled Spicy Yodara Chicken ($15) was another special they had. The chicken was grilled, sliced and platted. Once again their platting was on point and the flavor of the chicken just popped in our mouths. I had to force myself to stop eating it as our main dishes didn't even come out yet. The better half got the Prime Ribeye with Chimichurrih and Soy Sauce ($38). Although I was permitted to have one small piece of her ribeye, my eyes rolled to the back of my head and was begging for more. Unfortunately she said no. So back to reality I went and like a little boy I just crossed my arms and pouted until my order of Kalbi ($19) came out and then I found myself in my happy place (I love kalbi!). It's not your traditional flavor that you would find at a Korean place or even the local Palehu style but a unique mixture of both but with a ume flavor type profile that gave it a signature taste. We were a little bummed out that they are NOT BYOB anymore, however they have a nice selection to choose from. They have beer, wine, Sho-chu, sake, whiskey to name a few. This place can get really crowded and busy so i recommend making reservations as your taste buds will thank you!“

“Absolutely incredible Japanese restaurant in downtown Honolulu. I had the Karaage and Udon and was beyond impressed.

We had a party of four and spent $154 before tip. We mostly ate from the A La Carte menu. Two of us had deserts.“

“Amazing dining experience.“

“Great tasty food. seating of patrons is suspect. be aware if you order a lot, all the dishes come out at once. my only complaint that they should either have the kitchen fix this process or have the server communicate this. we ordered 6 dishes and they came out all at once on a tiny table.“

“I had the unexpected pleasure of enjoying drinks and snacks at Obake. We were early for reservations at Skull and Crown. The hostess recommended Obake, which is their sister bar and restaurant, just around the corner. We were seated at the counter across from chef Christian and watched him craft all the handrolls served during our visit. First, the drinks: we had the Momiji, the Will o' the Whisp, the Fallen Angel, and the Feels like Summer. This isn't your everyday bar. The cocktails took some time to craft, but they did not disappoint . The Momiji was their nod to fall, while the Feels like Summer, well, you get it. While each drink was light and enjoyable, my favorite was the FLS. A nod to the Old Fashioned, but light and bright.

The house pickles and Yukari Fries were perfect sharing plates. We also tried the Hamachi, Summer Toro, Ho Hayn, and Bangsilog rolls. The Summer Toro had strawberries in it that paired beautifully with the spicy Toro. The Ho Hayn was served with a small dish of Hawaiian chili pepper water, either dipped in the water or followed by a chaser sip of the water. The Ho Hayn left me wanting more. The Bangsilog was probably my favorite just because it brought me back to breakfast in my Filipino mother's kitchen. It was all the flavors of my childhood in one roll.

Our server, whose name slips my memory, was a delight. She was attentive and explained the concepts behind the drinks she brought us.

Christian was a joy to watch and a joy to speak with.

Thank you for an enjoyable evening.“

“First experience here and it was for my 4 year wedding anniversary and it was a GREAT experience. We got the bar experience where they prepared each dish in front of us and got the package with the sake pairing.

Each piece was delightful and the chefs were very pleasant to talk to.

You get the option to add to your omakase before and after it begins.

It is a pretty penny so definitely a place to go for special occasions.“

“Great appetizers and drinks!“

“Great service! Nick was really attentive to all the details to the meal as well as giving us recommendations on what to order and how everything was made!

Food is amazing and the tempura was delicious. The udon is on another level when combined with the sauce!“

“This place deserves 5 stars. They've probably gotten over $100 from me from the past week. l've been coming in here everyday for breakfast and the highlight is the pork kakuni & egg. Think of a braised taiwanese braised pork and a marinated egg ontop. They even stuff the masubi center with more meat! The pork melts in your mouth and you cant just eat one. I order 3 a day!! Service was amazing and always greets upon entry. Ambiance is welcoming a small area where there are trays of masubis and Bento boxes. Highly recommend for this is the best masubi place on the island.“

“My favorite restaurant for lunch. Cost performance, service, cleanliness and most of all taste are wonderful. Nothing compares to other restaurants in Honolulu. They never make me dissatisfied. I highly recommend this restaurant. I hope they keep this way.“

“Great service😊 Friendly staff ❤️“

“We had a lovely experience during our visit. The food is amazing, the sushi was very fresh and the fried rice was also very good. And the service was spectacular! Highly recommended!!

If you are a Korean and are traveling to Waikiki, definitely stop by!! It's really delicious and the owner is very kindㅜㅜ“

“One of top places I miss being able to walk to for lunch when I worked in downtown. The noodles are bouncy and delicious and definitely fill you up. They’re quick, courteous, and very affordable for the quality of food. So thankful they’re open weekends even in the downtown location. Strongly recommend!!“

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“High quality sushi you can order by pieces, price point is on the higher end but food quality well justified it. All pieces we ordered didn’t have tendon parts you can’t chew, they were very fresh, decent sized. Their wasabi’s freshly grounded version. Would definitely come back again!

The decor looked a bit cheap tho and the lighting of the restaurant didn’t offer any ambiance, didn’t create a feeling that we’d like to stay for a long time and enjoy our food, but rather, let’s eat then leave. Efficiency seems to run in all aspects of the restaurant. You order food on a iPad and pieces delivered directly from kitchen via a conveyor belt.“

“Came here for the $32 lunch special, what a great deal! High quality meats and unlimited sides, soda, curry and Dave's ice cream!!! Nice atmosphere, comfortable and great music. Alex our server was exceptional as usual. Love everything about this place! Our new go to!“

“This place was delicious! The Churry (curry/chili) was an interesting innovation that works out very well. The chicken katsu was sold out when we got there (only an hour after opening), so we got the Spam Katsu. If you order an extra side of small Churry you can share one plate with two people if you want to save money.“

“I was ono for some sushi and soki soup combo. So good.. just like baban used to make.?“

“**edit 10/20** been here 2 more times now, its my go to lunch place when im in the area for authentic Japanese food? Tried their Tonkotsu ramen with side rice and gyoza, and also the Daily Special which was the Aimori bento (chicken karaage and ginger pork). Friendly service and food that is made to order??**

Legit little authentic Japanese diner/take out place that I stumbled upon looking for another restaurant in Honolulu. Located in the building with restaurants on King Street and Keeaumoku, where Sushi Sasabune is located. This place is at the end to the left.

There was a late lunch crowd when i walked in so took a little while to be seated. Note that this place is run by two people so if youre in a rush, this isnt the place for you as the food is prepared on order so it takes some time.

They were running a promotion the day i went, which was Niku no hi, or Meat Day where if you ordered a specific meal, you would get 150% more. Since it was my first time here, the waitress suggested the popular Karaage Fried Chicken Plate, which I gladly ordered.

Took a while for the meal to arrive since there were two parties seated in front of me, and their meals looked great too... Especially the ramen. When my meal arrived it was piping hot, the way I like it. Squeeze the lemon on and it came with a shoyu dipping sauce that I felt didnt need. The chicken was crisp, not oily and already marinated before fried just like you would eat in Japan.

There was more chicken than I could eat in one sitting so I took half of it home. Would recommend if in the area, Im sure their other dishes are excellent too?5 stars.

Parking: Free parking lot in the back of restaurant and street metered parking in front (free if on Sundays)“

“Please support your local businesses! This is a hidden gem and the food is delicious. The lady that waited on me was wonderful and informative. I had the Salmon Donburi (poke bowl) with the Miso soup (about 1/2 cup). For those of you who like the aesthetics of a meal, it was prepared in a delightful and beautiful manner. I felt bad that I had to eat the beautifully prepared dish. The soup was good and the Salmon donburi was salted to a perfection and the rest of the bowl (avocado, cabbage, greens) complemented it well.“

“These rice balls took me straight back to Japan. I’ve stopped here multiple times, one because they taste really good, two because I don’t want to pay $100 for every meal in a tourist trap. I’ve just grabbed more for my morning flight tomorrow. The kelp and pickle/pickle leaves can last a little over a day without being in the fridge. Love it! 🥰 🍙“

“There's not enough space to right the good things about this place. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted and acknowledged by everyone, including the sushi chefs. Water and drink order is perfectly timed. Whether you order teishoku complete meals or sushi, the flavor and and portions are spot on. If you choose to sit at the sushi counter, the spread is just amazing. From white fish, tuna, to shellfish and sometimes even a fruit or plant to cleanse the pallet. I would recommend reservations as this place is always busy. Takeout is also very good!“

“Nice atmosphere and tasty food 🍱“

“お蕎麦はもちろん今回は雲丹、いくら、帆立の海鮮丼がとても美味しかったです。 ランチセットがリーズナブルです👍“

“Take and go musubi !! Second location both close by!!“

“Best tsukamem! Large portion of noodles with excellent dipping sauce. Neighbors eating fried chicken and fries which looked delicious. One wait staff took care of the entire place with great efficiency. Would go back again.“

“small but very mighty. delicious food, friendly staff..... awesome“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“Swung in just ten minutes or so before closing and snagged a 9 buck bento. The staff are so friendly and it truly is a little hole in the wall quick takeout spot. I tried the shrimp Tempura bento which was the perfect size for me and I loved the variety of vegetables and sides! Their sweet potato mochi is also phenomenal even at end-of-day. Looking forward to trying other daily bentos! :)“

“So delicious“

“Wow! What a find! The food was delicious! I had the kimchee pork bowl with Japanese potato salad and tossed salad. The portion sizes are perfect. Our food arrived hot and served quickly. I've never had Japanese potato salad and this one did not disappoint. Give this spot a try and you will have leftovers worth eating later! Definitely recommend this spot!“

“Sushi is so fresh and Good service“

“Finally got back to this place on a lunch run in Kalihi. When you want a hearty local style brekkie plate with the famous garlic chicken that will leave a lasting reminder when you burp all day this is the place yessa?

The place moved a couple years ago to a newer shopping plaza with ample parking across New City Nissan, and now accepts credit card and they also answer the phone to take phone orders so that helps make the lines here shorter... Iykyk.

I always get the Breakfast Combo special deluxe with garlic chicken, 2 bacon, scrambled eggs and fried rice. A classic local brekkie when youre hungry. Prices have gone up so its around $13 bucks plus tax but its comfort food. Support local.... 5 stars??“

“They had GOOD WAIT Services , FOOD WAS AUTHENTIC & DELICIOUS!!!I WILL RECOMMEND TO ALL MY FAMILY & FRIENDS TO DINE THERE!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏AWESOME COOKS & RECIPES!!!“

“The courses were expertly prepared, and each bite was incredible. Standouts were the eggplant with bonito/ginger, and the nori wrapped Hokkaido uni. The fish and shrimp tempura were expectedly amazing as well.

The staff was warm and sincere from beginning to end, including chef Kiyoshi Chikano, who greeted us as we walked in, and came over to say goodbye to us on our way out.

By no means do I consider myself a food expert, but I've had the pleasure of dining at a modest assortment of one to three star Michelin restaurants. I consider Tempura Ichikawa among the best experiences I've had. Can't wait to come again.“

“Everything was great from entering the restaurant till we left stuffed. Ventilation is great knowing how the cooking is table side. Though as entertaining as it was throughout dinner, set up leaves little opportunities for conversations cross table, but that's not you go there for. Larger parties should definitely consider the private dining area available. Overall very nice dining experience.“

“ono grindz...a must when go Oahu“

“Had a good time at mr ojisans neo bar and sushi. Ordered the tempura udon.....it was very delicious. I would recommend this place again. Just a side note last seating at 130 pm for lunch. They open at 5 for dinner. Great tasting food and nice portions.“

“Kokoro-tei used to be my favorite bento place for the Nori Kara, the Nori Kara Deluxe and Nori Salmon Deluxe costing really cheap and containing lots of food for the price. Before and during covid, they closed their waikiki location and became exclusively a take out place. After covid, you can only step inside a few feet, order and wait outside.

My advice, check their website for daily specials and call it in. I've called my order in and also ordered in person. I have to say, the wait outside...is of significant time, roughly 20 to 30 mins for your food (my orders are typical one item). That's because they get lots of orders per day, so the wait can be very long.

In general service is typically slow.

For atmosphere, I wish they allowed space inside their shop to wait. During the day, and waiting outside, it's hot and often smells/stinks. Some hang out in their cars and come back when its ready.

Anyways, good bento place. Best to call in and pick up. There is no sit down place to eat, take out only.

Parking: Parking in front of the restaurant on beretania street. Also available, parking on the ongrade lot. Parking sign, i believe says 1 hr in parking stalls 1 through 20.“

“I'm a regular customer here and come often because the food is amazing and the staff are always friendly and welcoming. I went there tonight and there was group of rude people saying they re going to leave a bad review and ruin the restaurant reputation @Yang Xu, but if you're going to leave a review at least be honest about what happened. The person writing that review skipped everyone in the line waiting outside then sat themselves down at a table I'm guessing was reserved because they got asked to wait outside like everyone else. I got sat right before them and when they sat down the older man in the group threw a menu across the restaurant (in his review he said they gently moved it to another table, LIES), and demanded priority over everyone else who was also waiting patiently. The staff asked them to be mindful of the other guests and they started being disrespectful and giving attitude to the waitress who then refused service to them. That's when they left saying they're going to leave a bad review. The staff deserve credit, not unfair criticism !
You guys handled that situation amazingly!!!“

“Authentic Okinawa food. Friendly attentive servers. Hot delicious food. . Option for complete meal. Daily Specials. Generous servings. Affordable prices. Can make reservations.“

“Food options and quality here is great. Good variety to choose from if not everyone in your party wants to eat sushi. Only two issues, the first being the menu is printed over several sheets. Need to consolidate so don’t spend a lot of time looking at each. They also don’t give each person a menu but just leave all the menus on the table for people to share. This makes it difficult to pass around. Second issue is that waitress does not give a lot of time to look over menu before coming over to start to take orders, serving staff also cannot remember where each item goes to on the table. Work on the small issues and everything would be perfect.“

“I have never had SPAM before and I’m not a fan of nori. This was a huge leap of faith from me. We got 2 of the teriyaki original musubi, 1 black pepper musubi, and 1 plum musubi. We then had to come back after we finished and grab another of the original teriyaki musubi. It was so good! My nose was bothered by the smell of nori from the place, but the taste wasn’t as heavy. I was really surprised. Definitely made fresh daily. The cost was obviously great and the rice portion was perfect for the spam slice. I’m shocked I enjoyed it as much as I did. Come hungry and leave happy for sure.“

“Had the fried fish namban mini, which was excellent, cooked to perfection. The menu here is similar to what you’d find in an L&L with some additional options from Kyushu. Essentially, it’s Japanese higher quality with smaller portion size, relative to a typical L&L. Definitely repeatable. Cash Only.

5/1/25 Update: Had the fried fish curry mini for $9.25. Excellent! Curry has genuine Japanese taste and fish was fried just right. Later, I’ll have to try Chicken Katsu Don, Tan Tan Mian, the Tempura Mix. You can taste the chef’s pride in cooking it just right.“

“I took my parents to Fukurou for their first omakase experience, and everyone loved it so much. The food was delicious with amazing presentation.
Tako with shiso leaves and katsuobushi was a great starter, followed by tuna with quail egg yolk, which was so savory and creamy. All of the nigiri were perfectly made with fresh fish and perfectly seasoned shari. Crispy sushi rice with tuna and wasabi avocado was super delicious. The noodle served in an ice bowl was unexpected, but also great. Wagyu pieces melted in the mouth, and the churros and the ice cream at the end were a perfect way to end the meal.
The chefs were so professional and also friendly, and the atmosphere was perfect to focus on food and family. Thoroughly enjoyed everything we were served and left with a full stomach.
Highly recommend Fukurou to anyone wanting a nice family dinner, date night, or a solo dinner! 🦉“