12 Best Japanese Restaurants near Makawao

“We came here with relatives who live in the area. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, plenty of easy parking. Wait staff is terrific. But honestly the food is easily the best reason to come. We had mostly nigiri and some rolls plus the takoyaki and a green salad with tofu. Every piece of nigiri was high quality, fresh and made with care. The maguro and the hamachi were especially nice. The salad greens were excellent and extremely fresh. So many sushi restaurants slop out wilted greens on a plate but my salad was beautifully composed and lovely. This is great sushi at fair prices. I would absolutely come here again. And again.“

“We have heard from many people this is a great restaurant and were able to finally pay a visit. It is small, and so getting here early is key to a short wait time. The service and food was delicious. Between the four of us, we were able to sample several different rolls and shared some of the homemade ice cream for desert. Unique combinations, very fresh and wonderful taste. We’ll be back.“

“I can have their soba everyday!!It’s a very calming and beautiful space. My auntie and I had a warm soba with Kamo, the duck. The meat was so tender and flavorful. We finished our lunch with a Soba Cream Brûlée. So good!!Wabisabi is a must try while you are on Maui!!“

“The meal I just had at Miso Phat was simply wonderful and the highlight of my day. The nigiri was great but it was the chef’s butterfish and rice that made the meal. By far the best sushi and fish dish I’ve had anywhere on Maui. The atmosphere is nice, just limited space.Dietary restrictions: GF is no problem here.Parking: Shopping center parking“

“Stop here on Christmas eve, place was full and staff still handle it with grace. Super friendly, from waiter to kitchen, everyone had a smile and accommodating, food came out at a reasonable time. Had spicy tantan ramen, garlic shrimp and bread pupus, nice cold orion beer, and the pineapple creme brulee was to die for!The random menu threw me off at the beginning, pasta, ramen, pizza, what? I guess when you are a chef you are a chef :)Mahalos for being open, friendly and a delicious meal.“

“BEST SUSHI ON MAUI ? not only is the place super cute (tons of snoopys everywhere and beach decor!) it’s just one couple that do everything themselves! and the food is AMAZING. super soft rice and fish, and super flavorful! not even super expensive! i got two rolls and the total was $40 including tip :) i think it’s the best food i’ve had here in my two week stay ?“

“The most authentic sushi on the island and better than almost all of the 100+ places I've been to worldwide. Get the omakase and you will not be disappointed. Hiro-san has a wide variety of high quality fish that he presents very artistically. Call the first day of the month for reservations that month. If you don't, you'll probably miss out. Oishi! Highly recommended.“

“Wow! Oao certainly lives up to its name! I was just gifted their Firecracker roll (mahalo Christian! So very kind of you) and it was AMAZING! Highly, highly recommend. It was so fresh and had such great flavors! I will definitely be back :)“

“Hooray for another Japanese food option on Maui! This one serving probably 50% sushi, which I don't think I've seen anyone do besides just having 1 or 2 rolls on their menu. Located on the food truck lot across Costco. We tried the unagi donburi & gyoza. The donburi is served with an avocado salad. Unagi was well seasoned with a tasty sauce. The gyoza was nice & crispy & served with a sweeter sauce. Filling was good & pretty generous. Pricing was reasonable. There was a bit of a wait, which is understandable for this type of food, so plan accordingly. Definitely need to come back & try the sushi!“

“Izakaya Genbe is an excellent Japanese restaurant in Kihei. The service is excellent and the food exceptional. The restaurant is located in the Azeka shopping center in Kihei and open for lunch and dinner. This great spot is one of our go to places for a night out. The ramen is excellent and we are big fans of spice so we always add a side of the spicy red bomb. If you are a local make this a spot on your night out rotation and if you are a tourist make this a must stop on your trip to Maui.“

“What a lovely gem in Paia. Great location and very warm and inviting. Services was really good and very friendly. The sushi was really tasty, my husband had that and me as a vegetarian had the Blackend Tofu. I realize food is pricey in Maui however charging the same for the tofu dish as fresh fish was a bit much. But it was and excellent dish.“

“The food is above average for the price. The food arrives piping hot and quickly from the kitchen. We enjoy the variety of menu items. We enjoy the different self serve spices, sauces, and toppings that are provided at no additional cost. The seating feels a little cramped because it is a small dining area. Most of the workers are friendly.“