50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Honolulu

“Great service😊 Friendly staff ❤️“

“Visiting from Texas we were looking for some authentic Asian food and came across this gem! We absolutely loved the food. The service was superb with them spoiling us. The tempura was light, but with great flavor, including the various salt options. The food was filling and worth the stop! Great place to visit and go back again!“

“Absolutely one of the best dinners my boyfriend and I have ever had in our lives. We travel and love experiencing good food, this was beyond that. This exceeds 5 stars and is a must try. Maki is an amazing server. What a pleasure you all were. Thank you so much. MAHALO“

“Hands down the best sushi place I have ever been too! From the beginning we walked in with my family. We were greeted with a huge smile and got seated in a private booth. The service, the staff and atmosphere there is really nice and kid friendly! After we payed our meal. The host/server gave my son a free toy. Thank you so much for not rushing him because he couldn’t decide what to pick. We had a great time here and we can’t wait to be back again!!“

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

“So delicious“

“It was onigiri—nothing particularly special. That said, most onigiri in the U.S. tend to be lower quality due to cheaper rice, so this place stands out for using better-quality rice. It’s definitely above average by U.S. standards, but not amazing. Best not to expect too much.“

“We've been island hopping during our time in Hawaii, and this has proven to be our favorite sushi spot so far!

We ordered the Phoenix, Kaiser Futomaki, and Sushi Spot signature rolls. Hands down all top tier rolls, you won't be disappointed by any of them. And dont count out the hot cheeto dust on the sushi spot signature roll, it actually works really well!“

“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.“

“We went to Marugame twice on this trip.
Best qualify udon and broth.
Loved assortment of tempura.
This location had lunch special under $10 for small udon with one tempura.
Very busy but efficiently running.
Can’t wait to go back!“

“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👍“

“Authentic Japanese food! It was great to be able to have it while vacationing in Hawaii. Brought back so many memories of living in Japan!“

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

“Great AYCE in town. Service was fast and we were pretty satisfied with the quality of the sushi. Unfortunately when we came, their AC wasn’t working so our dine in wasn’t a good experience. We got the regular price which is about $37 and the menu has good selection of sushi, soup and tempuras. Come when they open bc the waitlist does fill up fast and they will only seat you if your full party is present.“

“The food was to die for! We ordered so many things odd the menu from karage chicken, shishitos tempura, poke and yukari fries. I would return just for the hamachi shashimi and the ichibo steak as it melts in your mouth! Loved the great ambiance and service. The greeter welcomed us and sat us quick even said happy birthday. Our servicer Emily was so friendly and so was the rest of the staff that brought out the amazing food!“

“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!“

“This place is an absolute gem. If this were in any other west coast city it would be impossible to get in, but being just off the overly beaten path in Waikiki, Gyoza studio Kubota maintains some character and isn’t pulverized by tourists. Fantastic and creative gyoza and other delicious Japanese bar treats, plus legit culinary thoughtfulness going into their menu items with ingredients that show innovation with Hawaiian influence - oyster/gyoza ramen, etc. The staff couldn’t vibe any harder - awesome people. Not to mention, they let you scribble on the walls. I would be very proud if this were one of my neighborhood joints. Do yourself a favor and go get some gyoza and sake or Asahi on draft. Big mahalo for a great meal. Aloha from Alaska.“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“Came here from a local’s recommendation on their shrimp katsu burger. It was outstanding! The cashier was super sweet and friendly and I love the quaint decor — felt very authentic and Japanese. There’s even an honor system to paying for the candies and snacks inside the store too. We took the one burger to-go to try on our way to our other destinations and man it hit the spot! Freshly warm and crispy! Once you bite into it, the cheese starts melting with the heat inside; just yum☺️ watch out though, if you eat right after you get it, it can be a bit hot. It’s $10.99 not including tips. Highly recommend!“

“The overall experience and vibe at the sushi counter is excellent here - highly recommend going for that specifically. I got a walk-in spot when they opened, but since it's a fairly small space, it's probably best to make a reservation.

I like the way they do omakase here - your nigiri comes out one piece at a time until you say stop, whether that's only a handful of pieces along with other stuff you order, or a large course.

Bearing in mind that this is more of a casual-ish spot it's not going to be the fanciest preparations, but generally good and quality fish. Great variety of what they have on hand; definitely significantly above and beyond what you'd typically find back on the mainland! Variety goes a long way toward a good experience.

Easily recommended.“

“Tried the rice balls from Nana Musubi and they were so good—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The rice was soft and fluffy, and the fillings were generous and delicious. Such a simple snack done really well. Definitely coming back for more!“

“A superb omakase experience awaited us at Tempura Ichiku. While my expectations were high, the staff and kitchen blew us away with unbelievably delicate, yet crispy and flavorful tempura selections. The shrimp (crispy heads, then the bodies) were sublime. The lotus root and potato selections were memorable. I must also rave about the gentle and attentive professionalism of the staff, who patiently answered all of of questions and provided impeccable service. About my only gripe was the relative lack of nearby parking.“

“Visited Udon Yama and enjoyed a simple but satisfying meal 🍜✨
The udon was smooth, chewy, and very comforting, especially with the soft egg on top.
The tempura and inari sushi were also tasty and matched perfectly with the noodles 😊

I also liked the relaxed atmosphere inside the shop, and there were many celebrity signatures displayed on the wall ✍️✨
It made the place feel popular and well-loved by many visitors.

A nice place to stop by when you want classic Japanese udon at a reasonable price! 🇯🇵✨“

“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👍“

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

“Nice atmosphere and tasty food 🍱“

“Nice restaurant. We will definitely be back, bringing friends and family.“

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“It was the perfect rainy day to have shabu-shabu, and Mikiya did not disappoint. We chose the Silver Wagyu set, and the quality of the meat was really impressive. We tried all the different wagyu selections included, and every single one was so good, tender, flavorful, and high quality.

We also ordered the wagyu nigiri and wagyu tartare. The wagyu nigiri was my favorite, it literally melts in your mouth. So rich and buttery.

The set also comes with vegetables and seafood. Unfortunately, the oyster wasn’t available that day, which made me a little sad, but overall everything else was great.

As for the service, I understand they had just opened when we came in, but it did take quite a while for someone to assist us. It wasn’t busy, and we had to stand up just to get their attention since most of the staff were in the kitchen. I hope service improves over time because the food quality is definitely there.

This spot is definitely on the fancier side for shabu-shabu.“

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

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

“完璧な This is a favorite restaurant!“

“Intimate 9 seat only omakase, each course was delicious and well executed. Great Service and very attentive. We came as a party of 6 last year, all agreed one of best meals we had visiting Hawaii. Came back this year and we felt the omakase was even better!“

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

“This place is a staple for my family. Always excellent food. And even more so they are super kind. Aunty behind the counter helped me out by providing me with a bandaid and first aid for a stubbed finger. Super sweet, just makes them that much more awesome.“

“What a lovely, small, and quaint spot! Every time I crave Japanese food, this place transports me right back to Japan. The food is consistently excellent; it truly never disappoints. My favorite items for a to-go plate are the incredible chicken karaage and the flavorful ginger pork. While I haven't had a chance to dine in yet, I feel confident giving it a strong rating. The staff is always so welcoming and friendly during every takeout experience.“

“We used Teruya's Andagi for my father's service in Feb 2026 and ordered 130 bentos (karaage, garlic chicken, assorted large roll, veggie) and andagi and sweet potato mochi, and all were a hit! The shrimp tempura and garlic chicken large bento roll was the most popular by far! Albert was super-responsive and very professional in my email communications with him and the bentos were delivered on time. I will definitely use Teruya's Andagi in the future and you should, too! Thank you and your staff so much, Albert!“

“I’m grinding their tripe stew.Generous portion with big scoop rice and creamy Mac salad. Sooooo Ono!!! Foodies who like eating this know how hard it is to find. Tender, Tasty, Soft to chew! Modest price. They got plenty other selections. What you doing? Hurry up, get it before run out! Aunty Josie D.“

“Sushi is so fresh and Good service“

“great food reasonable price will go back“

“Love the variety of noodles n the texture n flavors yum!“

“日本料理が恋しくなって 連チャンで伺いました。 奥さんはカレー蕎麦 御汁がたまらなく美味かった 自分は納豆ぶっかけご飯 店員さんも可愛い日本人で 愛想もとても良かったですよ“

“Popped in yesterday for a quick and light lunch for a few friends and myself.

The order for each of us: 1 ea side garlic chicken (3 pieces) with extra sauce and a spam musubi

What I thought would be a nice and small lunch, ended up being a TUMMY full haha. If you been here you know the pieces of chicken are massive and the music packs a wallop of rice. It’s a perfect meal for just $8 50 or so. I could have stopped short of eating all the rice and still been full.

The chicken was on point - crunchy and soft and moist on the inside with that sweet garlic blast of sauce.

The staff is always so friendly and serving with a smile. The food came out quick.“

“Overall a great experience.

Watch the chef, before your eyes, prepare your sushi. Fresh fish, sharp knife and skills on full display.

The salmon nigiri was out of this world. Tender, fresh, not fishy and delicious.

Good noodles, the soba, hot is the way to go.

Excellent tempura.

The space is small and it’s byob for alcohol.“

“Food was super flavorful and excellent in both presentation and portions! The small hole in the wall atmosphere really makes eating here very intimate and personal, which really adds to the experience. The chef was very skilled in his cooking and made sure everyone knew what the courses were and how each course was set up for eating! Definitely recommend for a one of a kind meal!“

“チキン🍗好き❤️におすすめ。 チキン南蛮・もちこチキン・ チキンカツ、みんな安くて 大盛り大満足。オーナー宮崎都城市から日本人シェフ。場所はカリヒの海側 Nimitz の7-elevenとMcDonald の間1763Hoe St.9am〜1pm ランチしかやってないから急いでください。“

“I am a first time visitor from New Zealand. I called into Chinatown because I wanted to have a look at it. I came across this hidden gem of a place. The lazy idea was absolutely lovely and the food was absolutely fantastic. Best garlic chicken ever. Best rice. Best little macsalad wowza. Big tips for these ladies thank you !!!!!“

“everything about this is place is phenomenal...“

“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.“

“The best ramen in Oahu! The spicy Dan Dan ramen can’t be missed..“