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 ❤️“

“The food was absolutely delicious! Top notch tempura that is fried fresh. It was served in 2 courses ensuring fresh frying. I ordered shrimp and vegetables. The dipping sauce was light but my fav part with the additional dipping salts/powders that added more flavor depth.
The service was excellent. The staff were kind. The Resturant was clean.“

“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!“

“Lots of attention from wait staff as set course require their attention and some of the cooking! Meat was incredible and having even a small amount of veggies helped with digestion; enjoyed the extra richness of the avocado kimchi. Prepare for it to be slightly smoky and more well lit than other kbbq type of places but very much appreciated the service and the touches of mascarpone ice cream and roasted corn tea.“

“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.“

“This little place packs an amazing punch for some great sushi. It was the best sushi I have had. I got the shrimp crunch and we tried several others that I can’t recall the name of but was all excellent. Service was good. The atmosphere was quiet. Would definitely eat there again if I ever come back to Waikiki.“

“So delicious“

“We arrived before 11am. Super small place. The food was amazing. Lots of options. We purchased and ate outside where there was plenty of seating. There is only street paid parking. My husband had to drop us off and circle around a few times before he found parking.“

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

“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.“

“Marugame Udon is one of my favorite spots whenever I’m craving fresh, affordable comfort food. The food is always made fresh, the line moves quickly, and everything tastes consistently great.

My go-to order is the Nikutama Udon with shrimp tempura and chicken tempura. It’s the perfect combo every time. The portions are generous, the prices are hard to beat, and it’s easy to see why this place is always busy.

The only downside is the parking—it can definitely be a challenge. But honestly, the food is worth it. If you’re looking for a quick, delicious, and budget-friendly meal, Marugame Udon never disappoints.“

“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👍“

“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!“

“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!“

“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 was recommended this spot and it did not disappoint one bit! I’ve been on a pesto craze lately so the pesto gyoza was perfect. Just know I left this place full🙌🏽 I love gyoza; it’s one of my favorite things to eat so once I heard about it was only a matter of time! 10/10 recommend:)“

“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!“

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

“Got the shrimp burger and the katsu. Katsu is legit super tasty. They do the layering of thin slices of gourmet pork then deep fry it. Super tasty. The shrimp burger patty was good but the bread was definitely microwaved too long so it has this oddly outside moist hard inside and was so tough to chew. I only know this because I freeze lots of buns and thaw in the microwave. What should be done is quick microwave and toast the buns the rest of the wa. If it wasn't for the tasty patty I would not recommend it. Overall decent and worth a trip for the katsu bento!“

“Love the food. Delicious. Fresh and hot“

“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.“

“My udon was absolutely delicious and very affordable! 100% would recommend. Plus, if anyone in your group doesn't want anything from their menu, it's surrounded by many other Asian restaurants that they could order from, so you could all order from different places but eat together.“

“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👍“

“日本料理が恋しくなって 連チャンで伺いました。 奥さんはカレー蕎麦 御汁がたまらなく美味かった 自分は納豆ぶっかけご飯 店員さんも可愛い日本人で 愛想もとても良かったですよ“

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

“People seem to come here for matcha but their EARL GREY GELATO is the best EVER. I have tried so many earl grey desserts. This is one of the best. I tried earl grey, hojicha, lilikoi, matcha, black sesame and ube. They are all amazing. Loved the rich flavors.

FYI, there is a sitting area if you want to eat inside the building :)“

“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.“

“Fresh made to order Masubi“

“完璧な This is a favorite restaurant!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“ono grindz...a must when go Oahu“

“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 ❤.“

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

“I visited Koko i-naba a little while ago during a trip to Hawaii, and I’m still thinking about how comforting the food was. Coming from California, I’m lucky to have access to a lot of good Japanese restaurants, but this place had such a calm, authentic, neighborhood feel.

The soba was light and refreshing, and the sushi tasted fresh and carefully prepared. I also loved that you can enjoy both soba and sushi together without the restaurant feeling overly formal or touristy. The service was friendly, and the whole experience felt relaxed and genuinely Japanese.

Definitely a nice hidden gem in Hawaii Kai, especially when you want something a little lighter and more traditional than the usual vacation food. I would happily come back on my next trip to Oahu“

“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!“

“great food reasonable price will go back“

“🍽️ Bara chirashi (x2) for takeout
💵 $80

Fantastic bara chirashi using freshest of quality seafood (includes uni, toro, ikura, tamago, octopus, mackerel, and more), cooked with authentic Japanese methods and the restaurant’s unique twist on the dish.

Beyond excellent for the price and a must-have if you are a sushi lover in Waikiki. One box is a perfect amount for one diner.

Note that this must be booked several days if not weeks in advance (can be checked through their booking platform). Pick up is strictly at 4:30pm at the Sushi Sho storefront inside the Ritz-Carlton. Food is recommended to be consumed within the same day.“