It is easy to drive by Yagura Restaurant without noticing it but if you take the time to stop by and take a look you will not be disappointed. Basically a "hole in the wall" on Liliha St. Yagura has served people in Honolulu for over 60 years and despite 3 owners the food and service is as good as ever. Fast attentive service, knowledgeable descriptions of the cuisine that is served, and awesome comfort food makes Yagura a place you need to experience.
Karin Kawamoto
Great home style Japanese. Not for tourists.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pabs G.
Definitely a hole in the wall serving Japanese cuisine. Parking outside and on the street. Food selection reminds me of an old mom and pop shop. Tasty and reminiscent of the old days.
Taryn ..
Our family has been coming to this restaurant since our sons were little. Now they are grown with families of their own and we still come here!...If you want a good friendly family restaurant- this little hole in the wall is a hidden gem! the food here is delicious , service is prompt and friendly. The prices are comparable with other Japanese restaurants.The only problem is the small amount of parking spaces available. But that problem has never stopped us before because the food is definitely worth it! (There is ample street parking ). Our boys grew up eating the BBQ chicken on the sizzling platter - they said its the best! My hubby usually likes to eat the Yosenabe. Over the years the ingredients have changed but it is still plentiful with lots of goodies and the broth is oishi! Of course we have tried various other dishes throughout the years and all the dishes are tasty and relatively generous! You cannot go wrong with eating anything on their menu! If you don't want to eat in, their takeout bentos are reasonable and give you a good assortment of food.
Eugene E.
Not many Japanese restaurants left but this place is awesome. Only problem is parking. But yagura is the place to go for Japanese food. Tobkatsu IA awesome. The donbori is aeoeme as well. I hear the miso Butterfish is great too. Go try it. You won't regret it
John “JLoo” Loo
This place is the old fashion family restaurant that I like to support.Very good food and calm place to eat Japanese dishes.
I've been here twice. Its a neighborhood Japanese restaurant. Personally I like these old school family owned restaurants. I don't really like change, and this restaurant hasn't changed much in decades likely except for pricing with has to adapt to the modern world. The food is decent. It's not phenomenal. You will get better food at places like Yanagi or Imanas Tei. But this place fills the niche for very reasonably priced Japanese food for its neighborhood. So to be clear, I really support this restaurant as it is an integral part of the community its in. The problem i have with this place is last night after eating I got sick. And the person I was dining with has the same issues. I suspect it was the mac salad which was really the only raw thing eaten we both ate. Luckily it wasn't bad. Had to use the bathroom 4 times in 2 hours, and that was it. So I would avoid the mac salad. As such I am giving it 3 stars because I do not want to hurt the business. I would go there again, but I would not eat the mac salad.
Nelson Lagadon
Authentic Japanese Food. Prices are reasonable. Food is good and tasty. Friendly staff
My family and I eat here or order take out about once a month especially since it's in our area. I've also ordered bentos for a family gathering which everyone enjoyed! The staff are nice and the food is so good. We like to order our usual: My husbands favorite are the miso butter fish with Teri beef teishoku, our kids enjoy the crispy chicken katsu kids meal with a side of sashimi, and tempura udon, while I like to try different foods off their menu which have all satisfied my hunger and taste buds: the deep fried oysters, shrimp and vegetable tempura, fried ahi, steak, to name a few. Support our local restaurants!
Tia M.
The food was delicious and the customer service was awesome. I had the butterfish and it just melts in your mouth .
This mom and pops has been in business for a long time. Last came here over 20 years ago and I've completely forgotten what it was like. The food is above average. The price is on point. The hours are limited. But then again traditional Japanese restaurants like these have gone the way of the DODO. Wanted to order the steak, mixed tempura and sashimi but the waitress said that the sashimi had not yet been delivered that morning. It was almost noon. Everything else served was good. They don't season the steaks so you have to season it yourself and they provide the salt and pepper along with A1 and Tabasco. Let me know what you guys think.
Stacy S.
Finally discovered our favorite Japanese restaurant on Oahu, and of course it happens to be a little hole-in-the-wall on Liliha Street!I happened to be craving nabeyaki udon, and after calling several places and being told that we needed reservations, I finally stumbled upon this place and they said, "come on in", no reservations needed. This appears to be a family-owned restaurant who takes pride in making good authentic Japanese food at a reasonable price! Their place is so unassuming that you could easily drive right past it if you're not looking for it. They only have a few parking spaces out front, so get there early!I ordered the nabeyaki udon for $16.50 and it came out piping hot! It had all of the usual suspects, including egg, chicken, shrimp, spinach, kamaboko, etc. It was delicious and definitely a winner! Hubby ordered tempura soba for $13.95 and kept saying how yummy it was. I wish we had more of an appetite so we could try more things.The restaurant is on the small side, with one long table down the middle and booths on the side. They also have an additional room that appeared to be a party room. No one was seated in there when we arrived. Lots of people came in for take-out orders.Service was outstanding, as if they were your family, and the food came out really fast. Their menu is extensive, offering everything from curries to noods, teishoku dinners, sukiyaki, donburi and specials. You really can't go wrong.Definitely check this place out if you're in the area and craving authentic Japanese food. You won't regret it!
Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Old school Hawaii kine Japanese restaurant+4 parking stalls in front otherwise street parking+Parking is challenging +No reservations, Walk in+Take out available +Credit cards accepted 50 years in business and it shows. The food is so onolicious! The one waitress does it all. Friendly, quick and efficient.The menu includes a wide selection of dishesfrom beef teriyaki, tonkatsu, BBQ chicken, pork tofu, chicken tofu, saba shioyaki, shrimp tempura, and ahi sashimi. There is nabemono, donburi, and hot or cold noodles (udon, soba, somen) and curry dishes too.In addition, there is selection of (3) bentos that are available for take out.Bento A: saba shiitake, beef teriyaki, chicken katsuBento B: shrimp tempura, beef teriyaki, BBQ chickenBento C: salmon shioyaki, BBQ chicken, beef teriyakiHighly recommend.
Hope Y.
Recently moved to a new area, and Yagura is nearby. I decided to give it a try, and shared the menu with hubs. He ordered the combo with shrimp and vegetable tempura, and I got a combo with shrimp tempura and sashimi. I ordered take out, as I didn't want to worry about parking. It's a cute little spot, definitely one of those ol' school joints where when you are a regular, they know your name and your order. The tempura were nice and crispy, and hubs was a little jealous of my sashimi (he missed it on the menu) but I shared. Happy to find one of these small spots with ono food.
Carrie G.
This place is a humble gem! Very old school local Hawaii Japanese vibes. Inside is clean, the air conditioner is cranking and the service is fast and friendly.The food is awesome. Honestly, I've liked everything a lot and the portion sizes are good. The food comes out hot and fresh and their sashimi melts in your mouth. The veggie tempura has a lot of variety. The tonkatsu is crispy and hot. Teriyaki chicken is sweet but has a complexity that tastes like there's a bit of sake and mirin in the marinade. The salmon Kama is a little small for my taste but the miso butterfish is one of the best I've had. I can't wait to go back and try more things. Bonus- I appreciate the hot miso soup, side salad and hot green tea that are served with pretty much everything. It'd be fun to have a small group dinner there bc there's a side room and it's BYOB ;)The only downside is their parking lot is tiny. Good luck with street parking. Walk or bus it there if you can!
It is easy to drive by Yagura Restaurant without noticing it but if you take the time to stop by and take a look you will not be disappointed. Basically a "hole in the wall" on Liliha St. Yagura has served people in Honolulu for over 60 years and despite 3 owners the food and service is as good as ever. Fast attentive service, knowledgeable descriptions of the cuisine that is served, and awesome comfort food makes Yagura a place you need to experience.
Great home style Japanese. Not for tourists.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Definitely a hole in the wall serving Japanese cuisine. Parking outside and on the street. Food selection reminds me of an old mom and pop shop. Tasty and reminiscent of the old days.
Our family has been coming to this restaurant since our sons were little. Now they are grown with families of their own and we still come here!...If you want a good friendly family restaurant- this little hole in the wall is a hidden gem! the food here is delicious , service is prompt and friendly. The prices are comparable with other Japanese restaurants.The only problem is the small amount of parking spaces available. But that problem has never stopped us before because the food is definitely worth it! (There is ample street parking ). Our boys grew up eating the BBQ chicken on the sizzling platter - they said its the best! My hubby usually likes to eat the Yosenabe. Over the years the ingredients have changed but it is still plentiful with lots of goodies and the broth is oishi! Of course we have tried various other dishes throughout the years and all the dishes are tasty and relatively generous! You cannot go wrong with eating anything on their menu! If you don't want to eat in, their takeout bentos are reasonable and give you a good assortment of food.
Not many Japanese restaurants left but this place is awesome. Only problem is parking. But yagura is the place to go for Japanese food. Tobkatsu IA awesome. The donbori is aeoeme as well. I hear the miso Butterfish is great too. Go try it. You won't regret it
This place is the old fashion family restaurant that I like to support.Very good food and calm place to eat Japanese dishes.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Dinner Teishoku Teriyaki Chicken Shrimp Tempura
I've been here twice. Its a neighborhood Japanese restaurant. Personally I like these old school family owned restaurants. I don't really like change, and this restaurant hasn't changed much in decades likely except for pricing with has to adapt to the modern world. The food is decent. It's not phenomenal. You will get better food at places like Yanagi or Imanas Tei. But this place fills the niche for very reasonably priced Japanese food for its neighborhood. So to be clear, I really support this restaurant as it is an integral part of the community its in. The problem i have with this place is last night after eating I got sick. And the person I was dining with has the same issues. I suspect it was the mac salad which was really the only raw thing eaten we both ate. Luckily it wasn't bad. Had to use the bathroom 4 times in 2 hours, and that was it. So I would avoid the mac salad. As such I am giving it 3 stars because I do not want to hurt the business. I would go there again, but I would not eat the mac salad.
Authentic Japanese Food. Prices are reasonable. Food is good and tasty. Friendly staff
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Misoyaki Butterfish, BBQ Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken
My family and I eat here or order take out about once a month especially since it's in our area. I've also ordered bentos for a family gathering which everyone enjoyed! The staff are nice and the food is so good. We like to order our usual: My husbands favorite are the miso butter fish with Teri beef teishoku, our kids enjoy the crispy chicken katsu kids meal with a side of sashimi, and tempura udon, while I like to try different foods off their menu which have all satisfied my hunger and taste buds: the deep fried oysters, shrimp and vegetable tempura, fried ahi, steak, to name a few. Support our local restaurants!
The food was delicious and the customer service was awesome. I had the butterfish and it just melts in your mouth .
Restaurantji Recommends
This mom and pops has been in business for a long time. Last came here over 20 years ago and I've completely forgotten what it was like. The food is above average. The price is on point. The hours are limited. But then again traditional Japanese restaurants like these have gone the way of the DODO. Wanted to order the steak, mixed tempura and sashimi but the waitress said that the sashimi had not yet been delivered that morning. It was almost noon. Everything else served was good. They don't season the steaks so you have to season it yourself and they provide the salt and pepper along with A1 and Tabasco. Let me know what you guys think.
Finally discovered our favorite Japanese restaurant on Oahu, and of course it happens to be a little hole-in-the-wall on Liliha Street!I happened to be craving nabeyaki udon, and after calling several places and being told that we needed reservations, I finally stumbled upon this place and they said, "come on in", no reservations needed. This appears to be a family-owned restaurant who takes pride in making good authentic Japanese food at a reasonable price! Their place is so unassuming that you could easily drive right past it if you're not looking for it. They only have a few parking spaces out front, so get there early!I ordered the nabeyaki udon for $16.50 and it came out piping hot! It had all of the usual suspects, including egg, chicken, shrimp, spinach, kamaboko, etc. It was delicious and definitely a winner! Hubby ordered tempura soba for $13.95 and kept saying how yummy it was. I wish we had more of an appetite so we could try more things.The restaurant is on the small side, with one long table down the middle and booths on the side. They also have an additional room that appeared to be a party room. No one was seated in there when we arrived. Lots of people came in for take-out orders.Service was outstanding, as if they were your family, and the food came out really fast. Their menu is extensive, offering everything from curries to noods, teishoku dinners, sukiyaki, donburi and specials. You really can't go wrong.Definitely check this place out if you're in the area and craving authentic Japanese food. You won't regret it!
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Old school Hawaii kine Japanese restaurant+4 parking stalls in front otherwise street parking+Parking is challenging +No reservations, Walk in+Take out available +Credit cards accepted 50 years in business and it shows. The food is so onolicious! The one waitress does it all. Friendly, quick and efficient.The menu includes a wide selection of dishesfrom beef teriyaki, tonkatsu, BBQ chicken, pork tofu, chicken tofu, saba shioyaki, shrimp tempura, and ahi sashimi. There is nabemono, donburi, and hot or cold noodles (udon, soba, somen) and curry dishes too.In addition, there is selection of (3) bentos that are available for take out.Bento A: saba shiitake, beef teriyaki, chicken katsuBento B: shrimp tempura, beef teriyaki, BBQ chickenBento C: salmon shioyaki, BBQ chicken, beef teriyakiHighly recommend.
Recently moved to a new area, and Yagura is nearby. I decided to give it a try, and shared the menu with hubs. He ordered the combo with shrimp and vegetable tempura, and I got a combo with shrimp tempura and sashimi. I ordered take out, as I didn't want to worry about parking. It's a cute little spot, definitely one of those ol' school joints where when you are a regular, they know your name and your order. The tempura were nice and crispy, and hubs was a little jealous of my sashimi (he missed it on the menu) but I shared. Happy to find one of these small spots with ono food.
This place is a humble gem! Very old school local Hawaii Japanese vibes. Inside is clean, the air conditioner is cranking and the service is fast and friendly.The food is awesome. Honestly, I've liked everything a lot and the portion sizes are good. The food comes out hot and fresh and their sashimi melts in your mouth. The veggie tempura has a lot of variety. The tonkatsu is crispy and hot. Teriyaki chicken is sweet but has a complexity that tastes like there's a bit of sake and mirin in the marinade. The salmon Kama is a little small for my taste but the miso butterfish is one of the best I've had. I can't wait to go back and try more things. Bonus- I appreciate the hot miso soup, side salad and hot green tea that are served with pretty much everything. It'd be fun to have a small group dinner there bc there's a side room and it's BYOB ;)The only downside is their parking lot is tiny. Good luck with street parking. Walk or bus it there if you can!