50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Kailua

“breakfast of Champs! go get some!“

“best ramen ever. You wont regret it.“

“Very convenient after a haircut. Tasty, nice people, fast service.“

“Omakase was very good! There was a variety of sushi pieces and presentation was simple but carefully created! Atmosphere was quaint but roomy enough to the person sitting next to you. Domo Arigato Chef!!“

“Great family owned place with I love to support small family businesses. The tuna was fresh as well as good cuts. Eel was super delicious 😋! I would recommend this place to anyone here or visiting. I should have taken pictures but the sushi was to good for me to slow down. Parking is very easy at this location. Staff was very friendly and they give their own suggestions on what dishes to try.“

“been eating here for over 20 years and they are friendly and consistent with everything. best pad thai n cashew nut chicken ever!!!“

“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!“

“Absolutely one of the best dinners my boyfriend and I have ever had in our lives. We travel and love experiencing good food, this was beyond that. This exceeds 5 stars and is a must try. Maki is an amazing server. What a pleasure you all were. Thank you so much. MAHALO“

“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.“

“It was onigiri—nothing particularly special. That said, most onigiri in the U.S. tend to be lower quality due to cheaper rice, so this place stands out for using better-quality rice. It’s definitely above average by U.S. standards, but not amazing. Best not to expect too much.“

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

“So delicious“

“We've been island hopping during our time in Hawaii, and this has proven to be our favorite sushi spot so far!

We ordered the Phoenix, Kaiser Futomaki, and Sushi Spot signature rolls. Hands down all top tier rolls, you won't be disappointed by any of them. And dont count out the hot cheeto dust on the sushi spot signature roll, it actually works really well!“

“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 downtown is a dependable spot for a quick, satisfying Japanese meal. I got the Premium Tendon with crispy tempura over rice: zucchini, sweet potato, shrimp, and chicken, finished with rich dashi sauce and a seasoned egg. The tempura was light, golden, and crisp, and the rice soaked up the savory sauce perfectly.

I also added tamagoyaki, extra shrimp tempura, and zucchini tempura on the side, plus a large Asahi beer, which was a perfect cold pairing with the warm fried tempura. The service was amazing, and the ambiance is incredible for a casual downtown restaurant: bright, energetic, clean, and modern. Great spot for a filling and delicious meal in downtown Honolulu.“

“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👍“

“Great AYCE in town. Service was fast and we were pretty satisfied with the quality of the sushi. Unfortunately when we came, their AC wasn’t working so our dine in wasn’t a good experience. We got the regular price which is about $37 and the menu has good selection of sushi, soup and tempuras. Come when they open bc the waitlist does fill up fast and they will only seat you if your full party is present.“

“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!!“

“Just Wow. We are a week and half into our honeymoon and this is what he best food we have had on the island, and honestly some of the best seafood I have ever had. The fish tasted like it was caught this morning. Will definitely be coming back. The prices were also very reasonable.“

“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!“

“This place is an absolute gem. If this were in any other west coast city it would be impossible to get in, but being just off the overly beaten path in Waikiki, Gyoza studio Kubota maintains some character and isn’t pulverized by tourists. Fantastic and creative gyoza and other delicious Japanese bar treats, plus legit culinary thoughtfulness going into their menu items with ingredients that show innovation with Hawaiian influence - oyster/gyoza ramen, etc. The staff couldn’t vibe any harder - awesome people. Not to mention, they let you scribble on the walls. I would be very proud if this were one of my neighborhood joints. Do yourself a favor and go get some gyoza and sake or Asahi on draft. Big mahalo for a great meal. Aloha from Alaska.“

“The beef curry is on point. They have a great variety of musubis to choose from and some very cool deserts as well.💯👏👏“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“Came here from a local’s recommendation on their shrimp katsu burger. It was outstanding! The cashier was super sweet and friendly and I love the quaint decor — felt very authentic and Japanese. There’s even an honor system to paying for the candies and snacks inside the store too. We took the one burger to-go to try on our way to our other destinations and man it hit the spot! Freshly warm and crispy! Once you bite into it, the cheese starts melting with the heat inside; just yum☺️ watch out though, if you eat right after you get it, it can be a bit hot. It’s $10.99 not including tips. Highly recommend!“

“An izakaya is a casual Japanese pub-style restaurant designed for socializing over drinks and shared small plates, acting as a staple of Japanese dining culture.

Last meal on Oahu. An excellent offering suggested by my cycle buddy, Randy S. Randy had told us that they were the 2022 James Beard Best Restaurant semi-finalist is deserving recognition.

I really can't tell you all we had because Randy took charge. Every bite worked well with the bottle of sake we had. I do know that one of the bites included firefly squid, those cute, small, bioluminescent cephalopods famous for their brilliant blue light.

Regardless, it was a fun way to cap off the trip. Loved the food, love the company... what a great place!“

“Tried the rice balls from Nana Musubi and they were so good—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The rice was soft and fluffy, and the fillings were generous and delicious. Such a simple snack done really well. Definitely coming back for more!“

“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.“

“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👍“

“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! 🇯🇵✨“

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

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

“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.“

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

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 ❤.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“great food reasonable price will go back“

“Overall a great experience.

Watch the chef, before your eyes, prepare your sushi. Fresh fish, sharp knife and skills on full display.

The salmon nigiri was out of this world. Tender, fresh, not fishy and delicious.

Good noodles, the soba, hot is the way to go.

Excellent tempura.

The space is small and it’s byob for alcohol.“

“Sushi is so fresh and Good service“