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!“

“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!“

“Lots of attention from wait staff as set course require their attention and some of the cooking! Meat was incredible and having even a small amount of veggies helped with digestion; enjoyed the extra richness of the avocado kimchi. Prepare for it to be slightly smoky and more well lit than other kbbq type of places but very much appreciated the service and the touches of mascarpone ice cream and roasted corn tea.“

“Best kaiten place I've been to, by a mile (be it in Japan or the US). A bit different in a few ways.

All orders are placed a la carte on the tablet in front of you and then sent to you by conveyor, rather than having plates of various price points circling the restaurant. Nice that you get everything right after it's made! Good sushi preparation; very good nigiri.

This does all come at a noticeably higher price point though - you get what you pay for.

Easily recommendable, just worth noting that this is more like genuinely good stuff sent by conveyor, rather than a cheap bite.“

“This little place packs an amazing punch for some great sushi. It was the best sushi I have had. I got the shrimp crunch and we tried several others that I can’t recall the name of but was all excellent. Service was good. The atmosphere was quiet. Would definitely eat there again if I ever come back to Waikiki.“

“So delicious“

“We arrived before 11am. Super small place. The food was amazing. Lots of options. We purchased and ate outside where there was plenty of seating. There is only street paid parking. My husband had to drop us off and circle around a few times before he found parking.“

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

“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.“

“Marugame Udon is one of my favorite spots whenever I’m craving fresh, affordable comfort food. The food is always made fresh, the line moves quickly, and everything tastes consistently great.

My go-to order is the Nikutama Udon with shrimp tempura and chicken tempura. It’s the perfect combo every time. The portions are generous, the prices are hard to beat, and it’s easy to see why this place is always busy.

The only downside is the parking—it can definitely be a challenge. But honestly, the food is worth it. If you’re looking for a quick, delicious, and budget-friendly meal, Marugame Udon never disappoints.“

“The food was good and the AYCE style is definitely fitting for sushi and small Japanese appetizers. The restaurant is small, but this works in its favor as sushi can take some time to prepare. I give a four-star rating only because I disagree with the concept of mandatory gratuities as a rule. This only applies to parties of six or more, however.“

“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👍“

“Celebrated our engagement here... been here a few times since living here and even after leaving and the vibes and food here are always excellent! We sat at the sushi bar this time which I think made the experience more fun since it basically felt like an omakase style meal despite us also ordering a la carte. We're more into the casual but excellent fish quality vibe anyway... thanks jeff and to the staff for being welcoming!“

“WOW! Found this place from a ‘food near me’ search on Google Maps. I was genuinely blown away by the quality, service, and love put into every single bite. Drinks were absolutely amazing and our server suggested some great options that were so good! Tried the lychee lemon mojito, and the drop as well as a light beer can’t quite remember the name but all drinks were amazing. 🤩
The food was on a different level and every bite was delicious. We tried the fries, spicy tuna don, miso pork chop, and some of the incredibly fresh tuna!“

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

“I was recommended this spot and it did not disappoint one bit! I’ve been on a pesto craze lately so the pesto gyoza was perfect. Just know I left this place full🙌🏽 I love gyoza; it’s one of my favorite things to eat so once I heard about it was only a matter of time! 10/10 recommend:)“

“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!“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“Got the shrimp burger and the katsu. Katsu is legit super tasty. They do the layering of thin slices of gourmet pork then deep fry it. Super tasty. The shrimp burger patty was good but the bread was definitely microwaved too long so it has this oddly outside moist hard inside and was so tough to chew. I only know this because I freeze lots of buns and thaw in the microwave. What should be done is quick microwave and toast the buns the rest of the wa. If it wasn't for the tasty patty I would not recommend it. Overall decent and worth a trip for the katsu bento!“

“We got Mentaiko, Miso pork, and salmon with black rice. They were so delicious! We got them as an afternoon snack before dinner, and they hit the spot. The only wish is that they would open earlier. Would love to eat their musubi for breakfast.“

“Tempura Ichika was an amazing experience. It is one of the few places in the USA to get an exceptional omakase tempura experience. Chef expertly fries each morsel to perfection - to the point that no oil comes off the food onto the tempura paper. All the ingredients are all fresh and seasonal - the highlight was a fried abalone dish with a side of abalone liver, which is my favorite dish of the year, but you cover a wide range of dishes on the omakase and it felt like the right amount of food, even without the couple of extra dishes we ordered. The restaurant is beautiful, cozy, and quiet, which made for a great date night out. The servers were very friendly and always making sure that you are enjoying your meal and getting your feedback. Going here was the highlight of our trip to Honolulu and was a true gem to visit.“

“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! 🇯🇵✨“

“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“

“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 🍱“

“Mikiya is my go-to all-you-can-eat shabu shabu spot in Honolulu.

Yes, it can be a little pricey, but if you’re someone who can really eat, it’s absolutely worth it. I highly recommend getting the membership. Not only do you get a discount for yourself, but you can also bring a friend and they receive the discount as well, which makes it a great value.

What really sets Mikiya apart is the service. A lot of all-you-can-eat restaurants tend to slow down service once you start ordering, but Mikiya is the complete opposite. The staff is incredibly fast, attentive, patient, and friendly. Refills and additional orders come out quickly, and we’ve always felt well taken care of.

The quality of the meat is excellent, and I love the sauce bar. Everything is always fresh, well-stocked, and there are so many options to customize your meal exactly how you like it.

If you’re thinking about trying Mikiya, definitely come hungry! Great food, great service, and consistently a great experience every time. It’s easily one of my favorite restaurants on the island.“

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

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

“Good not great, matcha is pretty solid quality but the hojicha is just okay. It feels like more of an afterthought as it’s the less popular of the two. I do think the desserts are something I’d like to come back for though. I hope they source a better hojicha powder in the future for their lattes. Plenty of seating as well.“

“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.“

“After our last trip to the Kansai region of Japan, I have found a new appreciation and respect for the “ryori” this establishment prepares for its customers. Fort Street Mall is not famous for its cuisine but this place is the best, period. I could see Ohana Dish operating a small stall along Osaka’s Dotombori shopping district. I really love their food. It’s authentic and delicious 😋.
Anyone who loves simple meals will be amazed…try the Chicken Namban!! Oyako-don is my favorite ❤.“

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

“Sushi is so fresh and Good service“

“great food reasonable price will go back“

“I visited Koko i-naba a little while ago during a trip to Hawaii, and I’m still thinking about how comforting the food was. Coming from California, I’m lucky to have access to a lot of good Japanese restaurants, but this place had such a calm, authentic, neighborhood feel.

The soba was light and refreshing, and the sushi tasted fresh and carefully prepared. I also loved that you can enjoy both soba and sushi together without the restaurant feeling overly formal or touristy. The service was friendly, and the whole experience felt relaxed and genuinely Japanese.

Definitely a nice hidden gem in Hawaii Kai, especially when you want something a little lighter and more traditional than the usual vacation food. I would happily come back on my next trip to Oahu“

“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.“

“So tasty and so cheap. I'm so glad I found this spot which doesn't seem to be very commercialised or touristy (yet...). Everybody in the restaurant seemed to be from the local Asian population; it's maybe the first time that I walk into a packed restaurant in the USA and I'm literally noticeably the only person who is not Asian in the entire place. The portions are just big enough and it's that K-BBQ grill-it-yourself style tables. Ordering on the phone is easy and convenient and tables are set out in a way that allows high density of customers while still keeping privacy for your own table. A great experience and I'd be thrilled to come back here often if I were a local.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Reasonable price, quality food and good atmosphere“

“ono grindz...a must when go Oahu“

“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!“

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

“🍽️ Bara chirashi (x2) for takeout
💵 $80

Fantastic bara chirashi using freshest of quality seafood (includes uni, toro, ikura, tamago, octopus, mackerel, and more), cooked with authentic Japanese methods and the restaurant’s unique twist on the dish.

Beyond excellent for the price and a must-have if you are a sushi lover in Waikiki. One box is a perfect amount for one diner.

Note that this must be booked several days if not weeks in advance (can be checked through their booking platform). Pick up is strictly at 4:30pm at the Sushi Sho storefront inside the Ritz-Carlton. Food is recommended to be consumed within the same day.“