Very nice laid-back Japanese restaurant. We had the Shrimp Tempura which was absolutely wonderful. Probably the best we've ever had.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tempura
Ryan McCann
Our family likes to support local spots and picked this amazing restaurant out of the blue. We had an absolute amazing dinner. The udon was my youngest daughter’s favorite. My older daughter almost finished her giant cali roll. My father in law really enjoyed the chicken. Thank you again! Overall such an amazing meal. This restaurant has been open since the 70’s y’all! Congrats and mahalo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pueo Pata
I had been to Kiibo a few times before their recent remodel. The food and service were always great, especially since authentic Japanese food is hard to find when we visit Kauaʻi (from Maui).
I was back on Kauaʻi last week, and I remembered that their social media said they were now open for lunch. So, we decided to go...
...EXCELLENT CHOICE! The remodel is absolutely stunning—well-lit, chic, with an authentic and welcoming feeling. Something you'd expect to see in Honolulu or even Japan.
The food was also excellent. Something as seemingly simple as good zaru soba and tempura are amazingly difficult to find in Hawaiʻi in general (the soba is often mushy, and the tempura is more thickly battered okazu style). But, at Kiibo, the soba was perfectly chewy...it, along with the tempura, was basically identical to what I often eat in Japan.
My dining partner ordered the katsu and said it was basically the same what he has gotten in Japan...just a little larger.
If you're on Kauaʻi, and you're craving delicious authentic Japanese food, I highly recommend Kiibo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hana Cho
The staff are very friendly and the interior is clean. It seems to be a popular spot for locals. Most dishes are reasonably priced, but the one I ordered felt a bit expensive. Unlike many places in Hawaii, they only offer white rice (no brown rice option). Parking is limited, but you can usually find free parking nearby. Food can be a little salty, but overall a good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Katsu Don, Vegetable Tempura
Denise Robinson
Kevin rocks!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ramen
Ramone777
Food was good but…. I felt like I was being nickeled and dimed to death with all the added fees. Let me know when the extra fee for the kitchen workers is gone and I’ll be back.
Bernadette Paraniaque
Great service and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rhett Jordan
Really good and authentic Japanese food. Really enjoyed everything from the miso soup to the main dish. Even the side plate fries were delicious. It's a little funny that beer is cheaper than a soda, but I'm not going to complain haha. Recommend checking this place out. There was about a 30 minute wait, but it was well worth it. Also, I had left something behind and they were closed. But the dishwasher grabbed it and saved the day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Daniel Mercier
Fantastic meal! My wife our our three kids ages 11,9 and 8 enjoyed chicken katso, honey shrimp, sobu noodles and a wonderful ice cream desert. Thanks so much!!!
This is probably our favorite restaurant in Lihue and definitely one of the best sit-downs on the island. My family came for dinner after looking for a meal a little different from Hawaiian BBQ and sushi.
Our Katsu and Tonkatsu were tender with a light, flaky, well-seasoned crust. Butterfish was just flaky enough and rich; it was simmered in a light sweet soy-based sukiyaki sauce that was a tasty change from the typical miso marinaded black cod. I've had Tofu Agedashi plenty before, but here I tried their concept of a Katsu Agedashi as part of the two dish combination with Butterfish -- dashi broth is sweet, lightly salted, and a nice light alternative to ordering Katsu curry or Tonkatsu.
Both the authentic food, portions, and friendliness of our table service impressed us a ton. Might just be back for a second visit this trip.
Both sushi and hamachi was good but other side dishes and entrees were okay
ruiyan zhu
Absolute gem of a place. First of all, the restaurant was spotlessly clean, beautiful wall deco and nice music. Service fast and with care.
Agedashi tofu - (4/5) Brothy savory sauce. The tofu itself was delicately fried and had a great texture. Wish there was more though.
Katsu curry - (5/5) BEST katsu curry I've ever had. The katsu was fried with fine panko and just had such a refreshing crispness to it. The curry itself was rich and the perfect addition to the rice.
Ramen - (5/5) The chicken broth was balanced and delicious; ramen noodles were cooked to perfection as well.
Side note: their napkins are of such good quality.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace Dai
The food is good and the soup base is a bit salty for me. The wait time is a bit long though. Over all, it is a good dinning experience. Especially first meal after the flight, something comforting and warm is nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Nicole
Service was fast and friendly and the curry ramen was absolutely beautiful. Loved it!
Very nice laid-back Japanese restaurant. We had the Shrimp Tempura which was absolutely wonderful. Probably the best we've ever had.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tempura
Our family likes to support local spots and picked this amazing restaurant out of the blue. We had an absolute amazing dinner. The udon was my youngest daughter’s favorite. My older daughter almost finished her giant cali roll. My father in law really enjoyed the chicken. Thank you again! Overall such an amazing meal. This restaurant has been open since the 70’s y’all! Congrats and mahalo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had been to Kiibo a few times before their recent remodel. The food and service were always great, especially since authentic Japanese food is hard to find when we visit Kauaʻi (from Maui).
I was back on Kauaʻi last week, and I remembered that their social media said they were now open for lunch. So, we decided to go...
...EXCELLENT CHOICE! The remodel is absolutely stunning—well-lit, chic, with an authentic and welcoming feeling. Something you'd expect to see in Honolulu or even Japan.
The food was also excellent. Something as seemingly simple as good zaru soba and tempura are amazingly difficult to find in Hawaiʻi in general (the soba is often mushy, and the tempura is more thickly battered okazu style). But, at Kiibo, the soba was perfectly chewy...it, along with the tempura, was basically identical to what I often eat in Japan.
My dining partner ordered the katsu and said it was basically the same what he has gotten in Japan...just a little larger.
If you're on Kauaʻi, and you're craving delicious authentic Japanese food, I highly recommend Kiibo!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The staff are very friendly and the interior is clean. It seems to be a popular spot for locals. Most dishes are reasonably priced, but the one I ordered felt a bit expensive. Unlike many places in Hawaii, they only offer white rice (no brown rice option). Parking is limited, but you can usually find free parking nearby. Food can be a little salty, but overall a good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Katsu Don, Vegetable Tempura
Kevin rocks!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ramen
Food was good but…. I felt like I was being nickeled and dimed to death with all the added fees. Let me know when the extra fee for the kitchen workers is gone and I’ll be back.
Great service and good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really good and authentic Japanese food. Really enjoyed everything from the miso soup to the main dish. Even the side plate fries were delicious. It's a little funny that beer is cheaper than a soda, but I'm not going to complain haha. Recommend checking this place out. There was about a 30 minute wait, but it was well worth it. Also, I had left something behind and they were closed. But the dishwasher grabbed it and saved the day.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic meal! My wife our our three kids ages 11,9 and 8 enjoyed chicken katso, honey shrimp, sobu noodles and a wonderful ice cream desert. Thanks so much!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tempura, Salad, Katsu Curry
This is probably our favorite restaurant in Lihue and definitely one of the best sit-downs on the island. My family came for dinner after looking for a meal a little different from Hawaiian BBQ and sushi.
Our Katsu and Tonkatsu were tender with a light, flaky, well-seasoned crust. Butterfish was just flaky enough and rich; it was simmered in a light sweet soy-based sukiyaki sauce that was a tasty change from the typical miso marinaded black cod. I've had Tofu Agedashi plenty before, but here I tried their concept of a Katsu Agedashi as part of the two dish combination with Butterfish -- dashi broth is sweet, lightly salted, and a nice light alternative to ordering Katsu curry or Tonkatsu.
Both the authentic food, portions, and friendliness of our table service impressed us a ton. Might just be back for a second visit this trip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Katsu Don
Restaurantji Recommends
Hidden gem! Great food. Friendly service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Both sushi and hamachi was good but other side dishes and entrees were okay
Absolute gem of a place. First of all, the restaurant was spotlessly clean, beautiful wall deco and nice music. Service fast and with care.
Agedashi tofu - (4/5)
Brothy savory sauce. The tofu itself was delicately fried and had a great texture. Wish there was more though.
Katsu curry - (5/5)
BEST katsu curry I've ever had. The katsu was fried with fine panko and just had such a refreshing crispness to it. The curry itself was rich and the perfect addition to the rice.
Ramen - (5/5)
The chicken broth was balanced and delicious; ramen noodles were cooked to perfection as well.
Side note: their napkins are of such good quality.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is good and the soup base is a bit salty for me. The wait time is a bit long though. Over all, it is a good dinning experience. Especially first meal after the flight, something comforting and warm is nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Service was fast and friendly and the curry ramen was absolutely beautiful. Loved it!
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