One of the few family Japanese restaurants in the island that has the authentic local and authentic Japanese flavors I've grown up with. Every dish they offer and I've had over the decades of visits are 5 ⭐s. Very friendly staff. Sometimes it does get very busy, so order ahead for takeout. Well worth the wait. I'm getting hungry for their 3 item combination of shrimp tempura, butterfish and chicken karaage or maybe the Saba, spare ribs and vegetable tempura or maybe just the ribeye with shrimp tempura. I can't decide - everything is soooo good!Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly.Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor. Just roll right in from parking lot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Unagi, Mini Tempura Don, Okazu Choice, Minato Box, Chicken Katsu Curry, Minato Dinner Plate with Sashimi & Butterfish, Bento, Furikake Salmon Combo Plate, Shrimp Tempura, Oyako Donburi, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Tonkatsu and Tempura Combo, Curry Udon with Chicken Katsu, Miso Butter Fish, Donburi Katsu Currydon Lunch, Shrimp Katsu, Chicken Kebab, Lunch Special Tonkotsu Ramen Tempura, Tempura, Saba
Rochelle Rehfeldt
I’ve been passing this restaurant for the last month, very interested. Because I had a little time before my ride arrived, I decided to get some takeout. Cute place, dark and moody atmosphere. The salmon nigiri wasn’t fresh and it was slimy and the uni had begun to turn bad. I prefer natto on the side but was encouraged to get the roll. Lesson learned, only eat at the sushi bar where I can see the quality and send back nearly spoiled dish. For the price, I will not return. Also, I may have stayed for a beer as I waited for my takeout but the cashier was quick to ask me to wait outside, offering to text me when my order was ready.Sorry readers, this is not the Minato I ate from.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Lawren Lavatai
It's a quiet little place. I'm so glad we found it by chance. The service was great, and the food was tasty. The atmosphere was very peaceful with soft music. Excellent choice ? ? ?Parking: Ample spaces.Wheelchair accessibility: Easy accessible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Minato Box
Mary Jeanne Dorsey
Parking: No problem parkingWheelchair accessibility: Easy in and out
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tempura
Tomoko R.
Comfort foods !!! Chicken karaage and saba were perfectly seasoned and just done right. Small place. Kinda tucked in from busy street. Their service is quick and friendly
Marissa K.
This place doesn't get the love that it deserves! Their take out lunch menu is great! Prices are great! I ordered tonkatsu and salmon plate and karaage chicken and shrimp tempura plate. Both plates come with side salad and rice. Legit spot! Definitely will be back!
Yeonjin Jeong
I plan to go often.It also suited the tastes of Koreans well.In particular, the children loved the pork cutlet and udon set.I think the price is also very reasonable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Asheville Bruce Hensley
#Grateful best food ? Love ❤️ the amazing atmosphere with best
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Johnny G.
Hidden gem off King St. Nothing flashy, just simple. Asahi on tap always a plus. Cant beat the prices, food & service good make it an awesome value. One of our go to places.
Janee C.
Food is always delicious "Oishi" I had Salmon, rice, salad, soup; I also had butter fish, salad, rice, soup; I change to Ramen noodles with shrimp tempura on side, salad, soup . Thanks to my dearest friend, Lance, and who introduced this restaurant to me.
This place is great and a "go to" option for me! Decent size parking lot, service is great, staff is friendly and attentive, good food, drinks, decent prices, very easy going atmosphere.
Mrs. M.
I have been eating at Minato's for the past 20 years and they've never disappoint. Their food is always delicious and although, like everywhere else, prices are going up, their prices are still reasonable. They have started charging a nominal amount if you pay with a credit card. I love their salad dressing which I buy from Don Quijote. Some of my favorites are the furikake salmon, tempuras, spareribs, miso butterfish, salads and their nabeyaki with soba. Since the pandemic, I've only ordered take out and at times it can be a 40 minute wait. Their estimate wait time is usually on time or within five minutes but never more than ten minutes. They are located on the first street (turn right on Hauoli) past McCully Zippys and they are on the right side of the very short block. I highly recommend you try this restaurant.
Liz S.
The ambience is relaxing with colorful string of lights and music. The service is slow but probably because the kitchen is slow. The taste is ok, on the lighter side. I ordered pork sukiyaki and had to remind server for rice and egg. He was apologetic but took a while so my broth got cold. However, the egg came in a hot broth. I wanted to scramble it but got it more like poached. The teishoku looked a bit sparse but tasted ok. We ended with a homemade dessert, an azuki bean with haupia ice cream. I wish it was creamier. I had ice crystals when I scooped but others liked it. Overall, not bad but not great to want to return. The best part was the price was decent!
Clarissa T.
Friendly staff and good Japanese food, you can take out as well. I usually order from their daily specials or combo choices. All is good!!
Dale K.
Great food at unbeatable prices, local style service. Kinda the perfect place. Just dreading it making it into mainland tourist guides, like Rainbows or Waiola shave ice there'll be a gigantic line of tourists looking for "authentic Hawaiian style oriental cuisine".
One of the few family Japanese restaurants in the island that has the authentic local and authentic Japanese flavors I've grown up with. Every dish they offer and I've had over the decades of visits are 5 ⭐s. Very friendly staff. Sometimes it does get very busy, so order ahead for takeout. Well worth the wait. I'm getting hungry for their 3 item combination of shrimp tempura, butterfish and chicken karaage or maybe the Saba, spare ribs and vegetable tempura or maybe just the ribeye with shrimp tempura. I can't decide - everything is soooo good!Kid-friendliness: Very kid friendly.Wheelchair accessibility: Ground floor. Just roll right in from parking lot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Unagi, Mini Tempura Don, Okazu Choice, Minato Box, Chicken Katsu Curry, Minato Dinner Plate with Sashimi & Butterfish, Bento, Furikake Salmon Combo Plate, Shrimp Tempura, Oyako Donburi, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Tonkatsu and Tempura Combo, Curry Udon with Chicken Katsu, Miso Butter Fish, Donburi Katsu Currydon Lunch, Shrimp Katsu, Chicken Kebab, Lunch Special Tonkotsu Ramen Tempura, Tempura, Saba
I’ve been passing this restaurant for the last month, very interested. Because I had a little time before my ride arrived, I decided to get some takeout. Cute place, dark and moody atmosphere. The salmon nigiri wasn’t fresh and it was slimy and the uni had begun to turn bad. I prefer natto on the side but was encouraged to get the roll. Lesson learned, only eat at the sushi bar where I can see the quality and send back nearly spoiled dish. For the price, I will not return. Also, I may have stayed for a beer as I waited for my takeout but the cashier was quick to ask me to wait outside, offering to text me when my order was ready.Sorry readers, this is not the Minato I ate from.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
It's a quiet little place. I'm so glad we found it by chance. The service was great, and the food was tasty. The atmosphere was very peaceful with soft music. Excellent choice ? ? ?Parking: Ample spaces.Wheelchair accessibility: Easy accessible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Minato Box
Parking: No problem parkingWheelchair accessibility: Easy in and out
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tempura
Comfort foods !!! Chicken karaage and saba were perfectly seasoned and just done right. Small place. Kinda tucked in from busy street. Their service is quick and friendly
This place doesn't get the love that it deserves! Their take out lunch menu is great! Prices are great! I ordered tonkatsu and salmon plate and karaage chicken and shrimp tempura plate. Both plates come with side salad and rice. Legit spot! Definitely will be back!
I plan to go often.It also suited the tastes of Koreans well.In particular, the children loved the pork cutlet and udon set.I think the price is also very reasonable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
#Grateful best food ? Love ❤️ the amazing atmosphere with best
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hidden gem off King St. Nothing flashy, just simple. Asahi on tap always a plus. Cant beat the prices, food & service good make it an awesome value. One of our go to places.
Food is always delicious "Oishi" I had Salmon, rice, salad, soup; I also had butter fish, salad, rice, soup; I change to Ramen noodles with shrimp tempura on side, salad, soup . Thanks to my dearest friend, Lance, and who introduced this restaurant to me.
Restaurantji Recommends
This place is great and a "go to" option for me! Decent size parking lot, service is great, staff is friendly and attentive, good food, drinks, decent prices, very easy going atmosphere.
I have been eating at Minato's for the past 20 years and they've never disappoint. Their food is always delicious and although, like everywhere else, prices are going up, their prices are still reasonable. They have started charging a nominal amount if you pay with a credit card. I love their salad dressing which I buy from Don Quijote. Some of my favorites are the furikake salmon, tempuras, spareribs, miso butterfish, salads and their nabeyaki with soba. Since the pandemic, I've only ordered take out and at times it can be a 40 minute wait. Their estimate wait time is usually on time or within five minutes but never more than ten minutes. They are located on the first street (turn right on Hauoli) past McCully Zippys and they are on the right side of the very short block. I highly recommend you try this restaurant.
The ambience is relaxing with colorful string of lights and music. The service is slow but probably because the kitchen is slow. The taste is ok, on the lighter side. I ordered pork sukiyaki and had to remind server for rice and egg. He was apologetic but took a while so my broth got cold. However, the egg came in a hot broth. I wanted to scramble it but got it more like poached. The teishoku looked a bit sparse but tasted ok. We ended with a homemade dessert, an azuki bean with haupia ice cream. I wish it was creamier. I had ice crystals when I scooped but others liked it. Overall, not bad but not great to want to return. The best part was the price was decent!
Friendly staff and good Japanese food, you can take out as well. I usually order from their daily specials or combo choices. All is good!!
Great food at unbeatable prices, local style service. Kinda the perfect place. Just dreading it making it into mainland tourist guides, like Rainbows or Waiola shave ice there'll be a gigantic line of tourists looking for "authentic Hawaiian style oriental cuisine".