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👍“

“Everything we ordered (we forgot to take some photos) tasted very good.

Fried chicken was very popular among us and others at the restaurant. It ran out early. Nevertheless there are other fried food such as squid legs we enjoyed.

Friendly service staffs. Lively atmosphere, you do have to speak loud to hear each other type of a place.

Since it was weeknight, plenty parking space at the paid parking lot. We all enjoyed the evening at this restaurant.“

“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!“

“Amazing dining experience.“

“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.“

“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!“

“This matcha ice cream was super refreshing and well needed!! While waiting, my bf & I decided to take pictures in the red box Photo Booth that’s right along the wall. The combo of this matcha ice cream was perfect. They have so many different combos! Go give them a try!“

“My all itme favirite restaurant. Excellent food and service. Reknown for their chirashi.“

“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!“

“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“

“In the 3 years we spent on island, Han no Daidokoro was our go to spot for celebrations and just to treat ourselves. I have told everyone I worked with that this is the place to go for wagyu and it’s worth the money. EVERY ITEM IS AMAZING! Down to the fresh wasabi, which I could literally eat by the spoonful. The best wagyu, service, and atmosphere! Our last dinner on Oahu was spent here. We let our server (I wish I could remember his name) know how often we had been here and how much we love it, and then they brought us a complimentary dessert with a sparkler to thank us! It was such a nice end to our meal and our time on the island! If we ever go back to Oahu, Han no Daidokoro will be a must visit spot! We miss it dearly!“

“Great service😊 Friendly staff ❤️“

“Greeted and seated right away without reservations. The staff from beginning to end were very friendly and helpful.
They have choices of booths and counter style seats. We sat in a booth. We found out they had a lunch special so that's what we ordered. Hamachi Teishoku set, hamachi jalapeño ponzu, Castella Tamago and Tempura Teishoku.
The food was good quality and delicious! They have stamp cards too so don't forget to stamp it before you leave!“

“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.“

“The udon here is incredibly fresh and delicious — perfectly chewy and flavorful. The fried chicken is super crispy and juicy, definitely a must-try! The service is quick, and even though the line can get long, it moves fast. Great food, great value, and always satisfying! 🍜🍗✨“

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“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.“

“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.“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“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!“

“Amazing experience! Great food and even better service! It was our first time here and we just walked in. Even without a reservation, Randy and the rest of the Mikiya Team really went above and beyond in terms of customer service! It is all you can eat Shabu Shabu and there are different tiers. Higher tiers give you more options such as A5 wagyu and can even be unlimited depending on the tier. We got the silver tier and it came with American and Australian Wagyu. Don’t skip out on the fried mini bun, you will regret not getting it! We will definitely come back here again! If dining with a big group of people, make a reservation. Also, they validate parking. Just be sure to show the host at the front, and do not end your parking time or else you will not be able to validate it.“

“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.“

“Nice atmosphere and tasty food 🍱“

“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! 🥰 🍙“

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

“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👍“

“Perfect little place hidden downstairs at Asia stix, I went with Nikatama udon, and was not let down. The broth was rich and sweet, with the egg yolk decadent on the noodles I wanted a second serving, but knew I couldn’t finish for how filling it was. Overall staff and restaurant was very clean and the flow of process well organized. Going to hit up this place more!“

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

“完璧な This is a favorite restaurant!“

“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!“

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

“So delicious“

“Tempura Omakase in heart of Honolulu.
Everything was freshly fried as it is the best to eat when it’s hot and crispy.

The the quality ingredients and friendly service. I have never eaten so many variety tempura. Enjoyed the each piece but I could not help thinking it would have been nice to eat fresh or cooked in a different way especially the ingredients were fresh and good quality.

The restaurant was very spacious plenty of space in between the guests, however, it made difficult to talk to friends as we sat apart from each other facing the counter. We were party of four talking to a friend who sat end made it difficult to have a conversation.“

“Sushi is so fresh and Good service“

“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.“

“Fabulous presentation, reasonable price and amazing flavor combinations. Definite must try. Located in a former storage closet of a large nightclub so try to skip the Tuesday late seating The club has Taco Tuesdays with extremely loud music which starts just as the late seating starts. The noise is well muffled at the restaurant except for the thumping bass and the wall of noise that comes when the door to the restaurant is opened. It's still an amazing experience, but the artistry of the food deserves more respect“

“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??“

“**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)“

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

“very healthy for lunch and dinner. if you love sashimi with your salad check this place out. The white dressing is killahs.“

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

“This restaurant is a small 9 table dining area with some tasty options and good costumer service. It was busy when we went that a few ppl had to wait for a table. I recommend the tan tan ramen and the sashimi platter. Street parking available. It is free after 6pm.“

“It feels like a bar with lots of floor space. I had the impression that they were missing a billiard table or 2 in the middle of the restaurant, or perhaps a low height stage for karaoke. We went for lunch and sat at a table near the bar counter where 2 other patrons popped up onto stools and ordered wine with their sushi lunches. We chose the chirashi sushi. The quantity of food is unbelievable. I can see why local people love this place. The reason why I give this a 4 vs. a 5 is that the sashimi was of variable quality.“

“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.“

“Ah what a gem. Just randomly found this place on my way back to Waikiki.

I got the Hawaiian plate. The Lau Lau was so tender and flavorful. It’s probably one of the best ones I’ve had.

The saimin was also perfectly flavorful and comforting.

I want to go back try other dishes now!

It’s a small place but there are about 2-3 tables that you can also sit and eat. It’s cash only.“

“October 2025, update. I wish they would allow sitting or waiting space inside the restaurant. It's hot and stink outside with many flys bothering everyone who is waiting.

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.“