Our favorite local katsu place. You can't go wrong with either tonkatsu or the shrimp katsu. The tonkatsu is layers and layers of tender pork. The shrimp katsu is chunks of shrimp in a patty, then coated with panko. The shrimp is always tender and never rubbery. The bentos come with rice, a small scoop of potato salad on a bed onf lettuce, hasu, edemame, takuwan, katsu sauce and toasted sesame seeds. The katsu comes on abed of finely shredded cabbage. Shrimp katsu comes with a remoulade type sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tommy Lim
Loved our experience at Nana Ai Katsu. I had so much heard about this place and finally got to eat there. The ton katsu was delicious, we ordered the kasane "layers" tonkatsu bento and the uzumaki shiso roll bento. This is the best ton katsu I have ever eaten in my life, and I have eaten a lot. Next time I want to try the chicken katsu, which I heard was the best on the island. We even met the owner, Mike.
We will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kasane Tonkatsu Bento, Uzumaki Shiso Roll Bento
Paradise Walker
It's located on the corner of Waialae Avenue, which is the chain of restaurants in Kaimuki. There is a public parking lot behind the store for a fee. You won't have to worry about not being able to park your car in a large space. The rate was $1.50 for two hours on weekdays.
The restaurant is dine-in and has some seating, but you order at the counter and pick up your order yourself. Even when I ate at the restaurant, it was in a bento box in a disposable container, and I had to drink my own water. I didn't know this, so I ended up tipping too much, but with this type of service, I think you don't need to tip, or you can just leave it at your discretion.
The pork cutlet is juicy and crispy! I'm glad it was delicious, but as I'm a rice fan, I was left dissatisfied with the small amount of rice and not enough sauce. Next time I'll take it home and eat it at home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Ryan Y
Whether it's the shrimp katsu burger or the tonkatsu bento, the food is really good. Filling and favorable, the shrimp katsu burger is my go to lunch. The katsu is crispy, shrimp is moist and tender. The pork tonkatsu is like kimukatsu, where it's layered, not dry, and crispy. I'm still going through the menu so hopefully I'll add more. The service is not your typical restaurant. Order from the cashier, it's self pick up, kind of self service. Don't expect to sit down and wait till they come to you. The atmosphere is similar...mostly people sitting down, looking at the cashier in hopes your name is called so you can grab your food.
Parking: Street metered parking or park in the city on grade lot in the back. Either way, you can enter the restaurant from both sides.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: EBI Katsu Burger
Wong Ohana
Take out katsu bentos. so delicious! Dine in for the best experience. 100% Kurobuta with Nama panko.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Papa Size Kurobuta Kasane Tonkatsu Bento
Ryan Yee
Whether it's the shrimp katsu burger or the tonkatsu bento, the food is really good. Filling and favorable, the shrimp katsu burger is my go to lunch. The katsu is crispy, shrimp is moist and tender. The pork tonkatsu is like kimukatsu, where it's layered, not dry, and crispy. I'm still going through the menu so hopefully I'll add more. The service is not your typical restaurant. Order from the cashier, it's self pick up, kind of self service. Don't expect to sit down and wait till they come to you. The atmosphere is similar...mostly people sitting down, looking at the cashier in hopes your name is called so you can grab your food.
Parking: Street metered parking or park in the city on grade lot in the back. Either way, you can enter the restaurant from both sides.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: EBI Katsu Burger
Ryan S. (Scale Model Carz)
Extremely delicious Tonkatsu!!! The layers of the paper thin pork and panko breading make this Japanese dish a must try. But, definitely call ahead because your order will take 20-30 minutes to prepare. I will without a doubt be back. ?
Parking: You do have a grace period to get in and out of the parking lot for free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pork Cutlet
Miguel Morales Media
One of my favorite places to stop by! I love takoyaki and I love katsu, so imagine my surprise to find a place that not only combines both, but other katsu combinations as well? It was amazing, crunchy, and full of flavor - I genuinely recommend visiting them in Kaimuki if you have a chance to! It's a small cozy spot with friendly staff!
- Miguel Morales Photography
Ken Lim
Ordered the uzumaki shiso, kasane tonkatsu papa size and shrimp katsu, all were amazing! Fried to perfection and juicy and flavorful on the inside, very reminiscent of tonkatsu shops in Japan. Will definitely go back
Got the Katsu Bento. Interesting that it had 7+ layers of kurobuta pork. It was pretty tender, but overall it was just ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Rick Nakama
Delicate and delicious tonkatsu. Shiso Uzumaki is my favorite and it's often sold out.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Papa Size Tonkatsu Bento
Michael Opalinski
Absolutely fantastic tonkatsu vendor. You order at the counter and can choose to take out or dine in. There are a few tables but it is small. The tonkatsu is extremely crispy and flavorful. They even give you sesame seeds with the katsu sauce like the really high end katsu places. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyler H
A true gem in the Kaimuki community. This place has the love and touch of a family run eatery. The service is so kind and welcoming. The interior is well lit and always super clean. The prices are fair and competitive for the island. The food is amazing. Seriously transports me right back to Japan. The pork is juicy and crispy. The rice is fluffy. The sauce is tasty and has depth of flavor. Just incredible. The hours are a bit different than your normal restaurant but trust me the food is worth adjusting your schedule. Check Instagram for their specials and hours. There is parking behind and street parking out front. Seriously if you get even the small chance to eat here take it. It’s not to be missed!
Recommended dishes: Spam Katsu Musubi
Lauren Fujimoto
We love Nana Ai Katsu!!! Thin layers of pork layered and deep fried to perfection ? it’s such a treat when we are in the area. They have limited supply of their Kasane Tonkatsu Bento but they make it easy with their pre-order option!! You can text them ahead of time to place your order :) the staff is always very kind and welcoming.
Parking: Parking is easy with metered parking along Waialae or lots of stalls in the gated lot that connects to their back entrance next to the bank! There is a grace period of about 15 minutes in the gated lot so no need to pay if you’re just picking up a take out order :)
Our favorite local katsu place. You can't go wrong with either tonkatsu or the shrimp katsu. The tonkatsu is layers and layers of tender pork. The shrimp katsu is chunks of shrimp in a patty, then coated with panko. The shrimp is always tender and never rubbery. The bentos come with rice, a small scoop of potato salad on a bed onf lettuce, hasu, edemame, takuwan, katsu sauce and toasted sesame seeds. The katsu comes on abed of finely shredded cabbage. Shrimp katsu comes with a remoulade type sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved our experience at Nana Ai Katsu. I had so much heard about this place and finally got to eat there. The ton katsu was delicious, we ordered the kasane "layers" tonkatsu bento and the uzumaki shiso roll bento. This is the best ton katsu I have ever eaten in my life, and I have eaten a lot. Next time I want to try the chicken katsu, which I heard was the best on the island. We even met the owner, Mike.
We will definitely be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Kasane Tonkatsu Bento, Uzumaki Shiso Roll Bento
It's located on the corner of Waialae Avenue, which is the chain of restaurants in Kaimuki. There is a public parking lot behind the store for a fee. You won't have to worry about not being able to park your car in a large space. The rate was $1.50 for two hours on weekdays.
The restaurant is dine-in and has some seating, but you order at the counter and pick up your order yourself. Even when I ate at the restaurant, it was in a bento box in a disposable container, and I had to drink my own water. I didn't know this, so I ended up tipping too much, but with this type of service, I think you don't need to tip, or you can just leave it at your discretion.
The pork cutlet is juicy and crispy! I'm glad it was delicious, but as I'm a rice fan, I was left dissatisfied with the small amount of rice and not enough sauce. Next time I'll take it home and eat it at home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Whether it's the shrimp katsu burger or the tonkatsu bento, the food is really good. Filling and favorable, the shrimp katsu burger is my go to lunch. The katsu is crispy, shrimp is moist and tender. The pork tonkatsu is like kimukatsu, where it's layered, not dry, and crispy. I'm still going through the menu so hopefully I'll add more.
The service is not your typical restaurant. Order from the cashier, it's self pick up, kind of self service. Don't expect to sit down and wait till they come to you.
The atmosphere is similar...mostly people sitting down, looking at the cashier in hopes your name is called so you can grab your food.
Parking: Street metered parking or park in the city on grade lot in the back. Either way, you can enter the restaurant from both sides.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: EBI Katsu Burger
Take out katsu bentos. so delicious! Dine in for the best experience. 100% Kurobuta with Nama panko.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Papa Size Kurobuta Kasane Tonkatsu Bento
Whether it's the shrimp katsu burger or the tonkatsu bento, the food is really good. Filling and favorable, the shrimp katsu burger is my go to lunch. The katsu is crispy, shrimp is moist and tender. The pork tonkatsu is like kimukatsu, where it's layered, not dry, and crispy. I'm still going through the menu so hopefully I'll add more.
The service is not your typical restaurant. Order from the cashier, it's self pick up, kind of self service. Don't expect to sit down and wait till they come to you.
The atmosphere is similar...mostly people sitting down, looking at the cashier in hopes your name is called so you can grab your food.
Parking: Street metered parking or park in the city on grade lot in the back. Either way, you can enter the restaurant from both sides.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: EBI Katsu Burger
Extremely delicious Tonkatsu!!! The layers of the paper thin pork and panko breading make this Japanese dish a must try. But, definitely call ahead because your order will take 20-30 minutes to prepare. I will without a doubt be back. ?
Parking: You do have a grace period to get in and out of the parking lot for free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pork Cutlet
One of my favorite places to stop by! I love takoyaki and I love katsu, so imagine my surprise to find a place that not only combines both, but other katsu combinations as well? It was amazing, crunchy, and full of flavor - I genuinely recommend visiting them in Kaimuki if you have a chance to! It's a small cozy spot with friendly staff!
- Miguel Morales Photography
Ordered the uzumaki shiso, kasane tonkatsu papa size and shrimp katsu, all were amazing! Fried to perfection and juicy and flavorful on the inside, very reminiscent of tonkatsu shops in Japan. Will definitely go back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Papa Size Kurobuta Kasane Tonkatsu Bento, EBI Shrimp, Pork Cutlet
WOW! This place is really good. I love the decor, the lady in there is so nice, and the food is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spam Katsu Musubi
Restaurantji Recommends
Got the Katsu Bento. Interesting that it had 7+ layers of kurobuta pork. It was pretty tender, but overall it was just ok.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Delicate and delicious tonkatsu. Shiso Uzumaki is my favorite and it's often sold out.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Papa Size Tonkatsu Bento
Absolutely fantastic tonkatsu vendor. You order at the counter and can choose to take out or dine in. There are a few tables but it is small. The tonkatsu is extremely crispy and flavorful. They even give you sesame seeds with the katsu sauce like the really high end katsu places. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
A true gem in the Kaimuki community. This place has the love and touch of a family run eatery. The service is so kind and welcoming. The interior is well lit and always super clean. The prices are fair and competitive for the island. The food is amazing. Seriously transports me right back to Japan. The pork is juicy and crispy. The rice is fluffy. The sauce is tasty and has depth of flavor. Just incredible. The hours are a bit different than your normal restaurant but trust me the food is worth adjusting your schedule. Check Instagram for their specials and hours. There is parking behind and street parking out front. Seriously if you get even the small chance to eat here take it. It’s not to be missed!
Recommended dishes: Spam Katsu Musubi
We love Nana Ai Katsu!!! Thin layers of pork layered and deep fried to perfection ? it’s such a treat when we are in the area. They have limited supply of their Kasane Tonkatsu Bento but they make it easy with their pre-order option!! You can text them ahead of time to place your order :) the staff is always very kind and welcoming.
Parking: Parking is easy with metered parking along Waialae or lots of stalls in the gated lot that connects to their back entrance next to the bank! There is a grace period of about 15 minutes in the gated lot so no need to pay if you’re just picking up a take out order :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...