50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Honolulu

“Great service😊 Friendly staff ❤️“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“Went down to Styx Asia to see if there was anything I hadn’t tried yet and noticed a premium tempura unagi set. It was limited to 10 available servings per day so I wanted to give it a try; plus it’s not too common to see unagi being tempura fried.

Bowl was full to the brim with fried veggies and some fish plus the unagi. If I remember right the price was right around $50 so it might be expensive to some for a tempura bowl but I felt like it was worth it. I was definitely full after the meal. Everything was steaming hot but also tasted clean and fresh. The main draw for me however was the unagi tempura. Usually unagi is served on its own with rice and grilled and covered in sauce. Having it tempura fried was interesting in a good way but I think I still prefer classic grilled unagi more for now.“

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

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“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👍“

“So delicious“

“Very impressive, from the salads (Seaweed and also the Spicy, not too hot, but delicious), down to all of the Miyazaki A5 meats... Upper echelon and just Heavenly! Chateau Briand is "other worldly"! Soooo Delicious, and reasonably priced for what your getting as a set of your choosing, plus Ala carte options make it fun to venture into... (I loved the tongue)! ! The Marscapone Icecream with the Corn tea will become your new favorite dessert! Han no Daidokoro is simply OUTSTANDING!!!“

“A great Japanese spot!

Overall: 4.5/5

Food - 4.5/5

Spicy Tuna Don - 5/5 - Loved this! One of my favourite Donburis I’ve ever had. Really flavourful and a nice kick with the spice too.

Sobu - 4/5 - First time trying Sobu! It’s like a cold ramen. It was great but my preference is warm noodles. My friend absolutely loved it though.

Chicken Karage - 4/5 - Fresh and tasty! Oil wasn’t too much either.

Ambiance - 5/5 - Reminded me of being in Japan. Loved it!

Service - 5/5 - Everyone was super friendly and food came out really fast.“

“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!“

“Absolutely phenomenal food and service. Ordered the Goodbye Dracula roll, the ahi was so fresh. The chicken stir fry has the best oyster sauce I’ve ever had, cooked to perfection tonight. The FOH service by Yuko, she’s a super woman!“

“Fancy kaiten sushi place. Pretty pricey but at a time when everywhere getting expensive, it feels comparable to genki, but quality over quantity. We like to go for their maguro event and today's was great. Chutoro was great and tasty along with other dishes like tekka maki and their mixed maguro handroll.“

“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!“

“My family ate at 4 different poke bowls places during our stay and this place was the Best. There’s a little spicy kick to it that makes it stand out. The Musubi are also excellent, I highly recommend you add this eatery to your trip, you won’t be disappointed. There’s relaxing koi ponds outside the place the kids would really enjoy too.“

“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.“

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

“I've been to Gyoza Studio Kubota a few times since it opened, and it's become one of my favorite ramen shops in Honolulu!

Their chicken paitan ramen is hands down one of the best. I love a broth that isn't overly rich or heavy but is still packed with that deep chicken flavor. It's so easy to eat while being super satisfying. Honestly, it's the perfect ramen for a rainy day... or any day for that matter.

And obviously, you HAVE to get the gyoza. It is Gyoza Studio after all! The gyoza was delicious, with perfectly thin wrappers and a great meat-to-skin ratio.

The staff is super nice, and the whole restaurant has such a chill, laid-back atmosphere. One of the fun things I love is that they let you draw on the walls, so naturally we had to add a masterpiece of our own.

Overall, one of my favorite spots in Honolulu. Great ramen, great gyoza, great vibes. Can't wait to come back again!“

“The food is good and I would say the best cocktails in town. You can tell they care how they mix the drinks. Usually, places have either one or two really great cocktails and the rest are just okay, but out of the four drinks I tasted, all of them were well balanced and mixed with flavors that work.“

“We went to this branch instead of the Waikiki one because there's a better chance here to get a seat. You do have to queue during lunchtime but the line does move fast. We came here om a rainy day and the udon soup was heavenly. You can kinda customize your plate and add some fried extras. Friendly and efficient service. It was all in all, excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant!“

“Our awesome neighbors bought us bentos from here and they were absolutely delicious!! My husband especially gobbled it up in a flash! The savory flavors and seasoning were perfection. It’s been a long time since I last had Teruya’s so it was very nostalgic! I very rarely go to town anymore but the next time I have an appointment, we will definitely be stopping by to grab a bunch of stuff. Looking forward to the sweets especially! Always nice to support our longtime local establishments 👍“

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

“We came in around 1030-ish. We ordered a couple of breakfast specials, a hawaiian plate and pancakes. Everything was ono. Cute little shop, food was ono and the Uncle was really kind and friendly. Love the old-school mom & pop kind of shops and being able to take my kids to experience the nostalgic Hawaii. Tiny sitting area, 3 tables can seat up to 6.

Before we left the Uncle gave my kids some cookies...ONO-LICIOUS!

We will definitely be back...hopefully earlier in the day so we can try more items on the menu!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“You guys, the food is incredible and the vibes are immaculate. Come check it out.

I got the pork katsu bento for lunch. It was much larger than I anticipated (a good thing) and all items were fantastic. The pork katsu was a complete knockout - so tender, juicy, and flavorful. Rice was cooked perfect and the salad with dressing was wonderful too.

Service was great - the lady working the counter was so sweet. Restaurant was clean and cute with the records and Japanese decorations. They even had a little toy shop for the kids.

Food took about 20min, but well worth it! I’ll be 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👍“

“The best old skool saimin joint on the planet...the broth just brings back alot of memories of enjoying saimin with your parents and grandparents...its just so rich in flavor and the noodles are second to none...then its time to sink your teeth in the smoky flava of their bbq stick,omg doesn't get any better..my go to is the wonton min and bbq sticks, if you haven't already visited this place, do yourselves a favor and check them out soon.. 🤙🤙🤙“

“You will not find better service on island. Their attentiveness, conversation, and knowledge of the dishes with the chef's recommendations are unmatched.

This is the best tempura in Honolulu and they keep all the ingredients fresh depending on yhe season.

Highly recommend the tempura omakasa for a completely different omakse experience. The oil and cooking timing was perfect. Excellent drink pairings and options.

Limited parking, but getting there early in the evening and with their validation is helpful.“

“This place is inside the Stix Asia food hall and the food is delicious. You went into the line similar to merugame udon and pick you side dishes and paid at the end with your udon order. We ordered the Bestseller #3 beef and hot spring egg hot udon and #7 hot beef udon. We also ordered the mixed vegetables, soft boiled egg and zucchini tempura as side dishes

The price is decent and the taste of the food is good. If you want tasty udon with shorter lines, you should try this. It's our first time here and will definitely come back if we are around next time.“

“Amazing dining experience.“

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

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

“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.“

“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 ❤.“

“7 of us got together for Happy hour. We ordered 3 pitchers of Beer, Pupus & assorted plates. I also ordered Katsu Don, for my wife and a Sushi Boat for all to share. Katsu was thick like Hirikatsu in Japan. We could not finish. Sushi Boat was Fair, but not outstanding. Also ordered Oyaku Don to take out for Daughter at home. Spent $160 including Boat. Think Mr Ojisan is great. Gotta go back & try other dishes.“

“Reasonable price, quality food and good atmosphere“

“The best garlic mochiko chicken in the island! Great local spot for breakfast and lunch with great local pricing. You will see locals lining up in the mornings to get bentos, spam egg and rice, variety of musubis and local finds. The aunties are so friendly. Real local Aloha here.“

“We had such a wonderful experience here! We chose the mid-tier all-you-can-eat option, and the quality of the Wagyu beef was excellent—tender, flavorful, and definitely worth it.

The Tom Yum soup was also delicious. It wasn’t too spicy, but it was incredibly fragrant and full of flavor, with a wonderful coconut aroma.

Our kids absolutely loved the udon noodles and the Dole pineapple ice cream—it was definitely their favorite part of the meal!

The owner was incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. We truly enjoyed our meal and would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Hawaii. We’ll be back for sure!“

“Excellent food. Friendly staff“

“I was surprised that this business is only a few years old, it has so much character! I think the menu is awesome. I tried their lunch special today, chicken katsu and karaage. I love their karaage, reminds me of my mom's delicious cooking. The friendly staff provided me with a small katsu sauce bottle to use. I needed some food for later, so I ordered Hokkaido curry to go 😁 They do ramen and many noodle dishes as well. The space is bright, families or solo diners can feel comfortable. Try them out - they are open every day!“

“Nice atmosphere and tasty food 🍱“

“great food reasonable price will go back“

“The matcha here is earthy, strong, and nutty. It is the perfect sweet treat after a meal. I got the matcha with soft serve with 50% sugar, and it was perfectly balanced - sweetness wise. The people are friendly and very patient in explaining the different toppings in each parfait. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for some good matcha! (Did not have the chance to try to hojicha.)“

“This was one of the most fun and interesting Omakase experiences I've ever had. You have to want to interact with the chef and other customers for this to be for you, but if you are, the chef is funny, informative, and very good at emceeing your experience in a way that makes interacting with the other customers fun.“

“It’s always a great experience at Tanaka of Tokyo East location! We had a table to ourselves this time which was lovely! We’ve seen the show many times so this was actually a nice change to just enjoy a nice meal. Joe and Eddie were great! Loved Eduard, the manager. Had a nice conversation about the old days when this was located at Kings Village. Thanks again!!“

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

“Love the broth selections and the meat items are always fresh. I enjoy going here 😋“

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

“We needed 130 bento for my aunt's memorial service. The owners patiently helped us decide which bentos to buy. We decided on 40 Nori Shrimp Kara, 40 Nori Salmon Deluxe, 35 Teriyaki Beef, and 15 Healthy Vegetable. They were all so delicious. Next time you have a big order, call them!“