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    Ahi Lovers

    4.2 (166 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Poke, Seafood
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Ahi Lovers Takeout or Delivery

    Ahi Lovers Photos

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    AHI LOVERS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Bento B1 (Ahi and Salmon Nigiri and Spicy Ahi and Salmon Sushi)
    Mark E.

    Clean restaurant and has three tables to use and dine inside. Sushi was not the best but was fresh and can tell it was hand made. It was okay. Price was misleading. It was advertised for $14.99 but was charged for $16.20 with GET. Credit card fee add on? Who knows Hmm.. if craving sushi or don't wanna wait for 30 mins for an order of the half super sub at Storto's next door, eat here instead. Cashiers was nice and they accept credit cards too.

    L to R Sashimi Bowl, Gyoza, add-on Miso Soup and Salad
    C M.

    It was okay, I honestly liked the dipping sauce for the Gyoza the most and the Miso soup & Salad were so bland. I know someone else commented they're similar to Genki but Genki Sushi is way better.

    Thomas R.

    Came here on my lunch break finding something to make me full, man it really hit the spot and got the job done. I ordered the ahi lovers special and it was really yummy. it comes with a miso soup! Will becoming back when I need to order lunch.

    Shrimp Tempura and Gyoza
    Jozlyn H.

    This is a cute takeout sushi spot in the center of downtown. I usually come here while I'm waiting for my car to get detailed. LOCATION: Off of Queen Street (Mauka side) between Bishop St and Alakea St. PARKING: None. This place is accessible by foot. There's some street parking on Bishop Street and most buildings have paid parking. It's downtown, you know how parking goes. SERVICE: The Korean lady that works here is super sweet. I usually eat my order there. They have 2 tables, a single and a 2-top that are available inside. It's a very small takeout counter type of place. FOOD: The quality of their fish is pretty good. Not too fond of their salmon but the rest of their food is pretty fresh as far as takeout sushi places go. They have keto options as well. Overall, it's a cool place to stop by and have your sushi fix.

    Natto Bowl Special, Spicy Ahi Bowl, Ahi Bowl
    Debbie D.

    "Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your right foot in and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around, that's what it's all about!" The lyrics to this classic children's song is how my friends and I felt about this amazing mom-and-pop poke shop. After arriving to Oahu, we immediately sought out a poke place to wash away the memory of our sad plane food. We decided to check this place out based on the high reviews everyone gave it. It is always a good sign when you see more locals than tourists come into the store, which was the case. Based around a business district, there were only parking garages available. There is a garage around the corner to this shop. I forget the rate/hour but I remember it being steep. The shop itself is small but they have a good amount of poke options. However, their vegetarian options are limited, so I chose the natto bowl. You also have the option to choose other rice options, like purple or brown rice. Our bowls came out quickly and we decided to eat in the store. If your party is large, I'd take your order to-go, as the store doesn't have a lot of seating space. My friends gave high praise to their ahi poke bowls and commented how fresh and flavorful the fish was. I generally like natto, but after that meal I actually prefer it not to be the main course. This variety of natto did taste deeper and earthier than the varieties I'm used to. It was good, but eating two big scoops of natto was too much for me. The ahjummas there were really nice and one woman had a great sense of humor! We appreciated her hospitality to combine the tables and clean up our trays, even though we offered to bus it ourselves. We came out of that store stuffed and contented. My friend probably did do the hokey pokey, based on how many times she recalled this place fondly during our trip! Anyway, come check out this place!

    Spicy Ahi & Ikura Combo Bowl
    Marynell K.

    I REALLY love Ahi and was craving some fresh fish so I decided to come here as it's been a while. I've been here a few times previously as it's a close walk in proximity to my job. I was having a hard time deciding between getting a bento or a bowl, but I ended up choosing the $14 spicy ahi & ikura bowl. The really liked their spicy ahi and the ikura tasted fresh. The bowl also came with some miso soup to cleanse your palette after your meal. The portion was big for me so I had a little left over for a late snack before leaving the office. The prices are very reasonable for downtown. The prices listed are the prices you pay out the door.

    Avocado Ahi Poke Salad
    Moana T.

    The person taking our order was friendly and I thought the food came out quickly considering the lunch rush downtown. I ordered the Avacado Ahi Poke Salad and I was happy with the amount of fish I got. I will definitely be going back for lunch another time!

    Inside
    Andy F.

    As a lover of ahi, Ahi Lovers made me love it a little less. Ahi Lovers is your usual sushi spot with rice bowls, rolls, bentos, and etc. It's located Downtown along Queen St in between Alakea and Bishop. Parking? Good luck. I've been meaning to come here for a while, but I never got to or really considered it until I was introduced to it at a going away lunch at the office. I ordered the Bento #10 that comes with 8 different nigiris so I could try a bit of everything (ikura, salmon, ahi, spicy salmon, spicy ahi, Masago, Unagi, and ika. This was decent! The sushi rice was moist, but lacked seasoning if it had any to begin with. Soy sauce saves the day here. The ikura was my favorite for obvious reasons. There was so little Masago to have any meaning. The salmon was good, but the slice was pretty thin to enjoy the richness. Ahi was the typical, average quality. Ika was chewy. Unagi was decent size, but lacked the Unagi sauce! Spicy ahi and spicy salmon were both good. Tasty and not mushy, and the fish wasn't too mutilated. The Bento was solid enough for me to visit Ahi Lovers a 2nd and even a 3rd time. Got the Unagi Maki, and this was HUGE! Very filling and full afterwards. The inside had a nice size shrimp tempura and picked vegetables with thin slices of unagi and tempura flakes. When I opened the box, it was warm, which was very nice. The shrimp tempura maintained its crunchiness and had a nice flavor. The unagi was just too thin and didn't cover the top layer, and there was not enough sauce. It didn't feel like an Unagi maki. Also, the rice was not prepared well. It was bland and mushy. Overall bland and light. During my second visit, I noticed there was a sign with rice choices hidden on the side that's only viewable at the counter. Black rice was a choice too! I always thought it was automatically sushi rice, but the unagi maki I had was mushy white rice. Third visit, I opted for black rice for the Bento #1, 2 pieces each of Ahi and Salmon nigiri, and spicy ahi and salmon nigiri. Also grabbed a fried gyoza since a co-worker suggested that. The Gyoza was good. Crispy wrapping with decent veggie filling. The ahi and salmon were noticeably thin when I could see the black rice through it. It was so thin that you couldn't even taste the fish. The spicy salmon was okay. Lacked taste and flavor, and the salmon was too minced up. The spicy ahi fared better. Bigger pieces, but still lacked taste. Each meal comes with miso soup, but it's not anything to write about. Overall, the food was very light and very thin to really enjoy the fish. Everything was just okay. I don't believe I will return for a 4th time, not for sashimi anyway. It's nice that Ahi Lovers offers different rice choices, including black rice, and there's a nice variety of rolls, bowls, bentos, and salads all ranging from $8-15. It's definitely a healthier option for lunch. I just wish the fish pieces were thicker so you can taste the freshness and natural flavors. The lady at the front is really nice, friendly, courteous, and welcoming with awesome service. Not quite for Ahi Lovers. Probably for Healthy Lovers.

    Spicy salmon bowl
    Starla T.

    I'm a "lover" of Ahi Lovers! Fresh, yummy, and total dealz! How can you not love them? Located across the street from the Pacific Guardian Center, you'll find this cute little shop. Due to COVID, the one table in the shop may or may not be available for use. It's best if you take it back to your office to eat or possibly find some seating across the street on the planter walls. In regard to parking...#gl, it's downtown. Jk. The closest without validation may be the post office..with their metered stalls. Or else there is parking in the building and in the other buildings. Like I mention, the fish is fresh which is something I love. You're also not paying super crazy prices either. They have all types of plates, from bowls (rice or salad) to nigiris. Thank goodness I'm somewhat far away from them...or it'd be so hard to pass them up every week! I'm not sure if they're related, but they also remind me of Ahi and Vegetable on Fort Street Mall. If you're a sushi/fish "lover", be sure to check them out!

    Tsunami Special Bowl
    Liz W.

    Occasionally I come here for lunch. My fav thing to order is the Tsunami Bowl. I order with poke and extra sauce. So delicious and perfect size for lunch. It also comes with a miso soup. They have some decent bentos also with different rolls, nigiri and chicken etc. reasonable prices and the ladies are always friendly.

    Tsunami bowl: spicy ahi on salad Gyoza
    Tara L.

    STILL OPEN FOR TAKEOUT got the tsunami bowl with spicy ahi on salad A lot of different things on here that don't necessarily go together. Sweet pickles were an odd pairing. Spicy ahi was spicy though, so that was good. Came on a large bed of romaine, so a good sized salad. Next time ill get something a little plainer. Their spicy ahi is more like a negitoro where its ground up and not chunks of fish.

    Specials
    Roger L.

    Ahi Lovers is a located on Queen and makes for a quick Poke or Bento fix near the Pacific Guardian towers. A large variety of bowls and bentos, and today I got the Ahi Poke with half salad and half steamed rice. It came with soup, dressing and wasabi neatly packed in to go containers. Only a couple of tables inside so walking acrOss the street to the PG plaza or cafe tables is comfortable on a nice day. The Ahi was fresh and completely free of that white gristle other places forget to trim off. Additionally, the shoyu Ahi was NOT o. Over-marinated and had the right level of salt. All for $10 including tax Perfect quick fix if you're near Queen.

    Hurricane Bowl

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    Totoya

    Totoya

    4.6
    (316 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    While the seating is limited and there is usually a line outside, it's definitely worth it…read more We ordered 2 bowls: one salmon (which came with miso soup so we upgraded to crab miso soup..... YES CRAB MISO SOUP! ) and one with a mix of everything. They were all delicious. They even have recommendations on how to enjoy them best especially if you get the egg yolk shoyu to add to it. I highly suggest you do - absolute game changer! Our little one enjoyed a small bowl of udon as well. The ambiance is chill considering the seating is very limited (15 seats approximately). It's all bar seating arrangement where you can see the staff cook the food. Oh, by the way, we saw Amy Hill here! You know the auntie with the butcher knife who works at the restaurant in 50 First Dates!

    I understand the hype. The best comparison I can make is this: what Ichiran did for ramen, Totoya…read morehas done for seafood bowls. It takes something familiar, strips away the unnecessary decisions and turns it into a process that's incredibly easy to enjoy. The restaurant is tiny, but everything feels deliberate. The staff keeps things moving without making you feel rushed, our waitress was genuinely wonderful with our kids and even the people waiting around us couldn't have been friendlier. It felt like everyone was in on the same little secret. The first surprise wasn't even the fish. It was the cabbage salad. Shredded cabbage, crispy noodles, miso yuzu dressing. That's it. Somehow it's one of the best salads I've had in a long time. It's the kind of dish that makes you wonder why nobody else bothers to do something so simple this well. Then came the negitoro bowl. The ikura shower is absolutely worth the extra ten bucks. Yes, it's a little theatrical with the bell ringing, but if you're going to pour an avalanche of salmon roe over my bowl, you might as well make a show of it. The crab miso soup upgrade is another easy yes. The crab almost feels like they're apologizing in advance for ruining every ordinary bowl of miso soup you'll have afterward. It isn't perfect but nothing is. The rice was a little clumpy and needed to be broken apart. After a while, the flavors begin to blend together more than I expected and those beautiful sheets of nori lose the battle against Hawaii's humidity pretty quickly. They look incredible, but they become soft before you can really enjoy them. I also wish I could order another bowl of that cabbage salad by itself. Our kids demolished the udon. Perfect texture, comforting broth and probably the easiest win of the entire meal. Will we come back? Absolutely. Totoya isn't trying to reinvent Japanese food. It's taking a handful of excellent ingredients, removing the friction and executing the experience with remarkable consistency. Sometimes that's what great restaurants do.

    Photos
    Totoya
    Mixed bowl with crab miso soup and extra nori and salad and shoyu egg on da side
    Mixed bowl with crab miso soup and extra nori and salad and shoyu egg on da side
    Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)

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    Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)
    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3
    (4.2k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$$
    Free parking
    19 years in business

    The best Tonkatsu I ever have in the State. Tender and juicy…read more The portion is big too. I am taking my whole family of 10 to eat there this Friday. J visiting from Boston

    I went here 2 more times this week. It's better than the first time I went…read more Food 5/5 Breading 5/5 The breading is great. I still think tamafuji have the better crust imo (soft, airy, yet crispy bite ). You'll know what I mean if you are able to get a seat. This might be 2nd best breading on island. Gyukatsu 4/5 I really enjoy the Wagyu. It's meaty and buttery at the same time. Some Wagyu tends to be more buttery and fatty but this Wagyu has a good balance of both. I do wish the breading was fried a little more because I think it's not as fried compared to the other meats. You can tell it's lighter. Also compared to the other meats, the breading tends to fall apart. Shrimp 5/5 Great. Juicy. Crispy. Good breading. Chicken 5/5 Tender, juicy for a chicken, and crispy. Good breading. I can tell they put some effort into cooking this. If they did that with white meat, that's pretty good. Kurobata 5/5 Juicy. Good breading. I ordered individually because didn't want to risk getting the fat cuts. Good balance of lean meat and fat now. Service 2.5/5 I feel like they focus on larger parties more so than solo diners. Had to ask to get my water, miso, and rice refilled. Personally, I care more about the quality, effort, and taste of food and don't care too much about service and ambiance so that didn't bother me much.

    Photos
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Special Katsu-don set
    Special Katsu-don set
    Katasu-don

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    Katasu-don
    Marugame Udon

    Marugame Udon

    4.5
    (14.1k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Always fresh made Udon for there soups! Visiting the Honolulu location It can be in the 80's and…read morethese dishes hit the spot!

    It's a rare treat when I fall in love with a place and rave about it so much that I have to have it…read moreagain. Not only that, but I have to bring my significant other along to share in the deliciousness! I don't know how I'm just now talking about Marugame Udon. When I first came here, my friend and I decided to give it a try because we saw the longest line and wanted to see what all the hype was about. There was a couple in front of us who said they come here every time they visit Hawaiʻi and that it's a must-do stop on every trip. When you walk in, it's a small place. You can watch a team member washing the noodles and portioning them into bowls right in front of you. Then you choose your bowl size, small or large, and select your broth. After that, you get to choose from a variety of fried items and other à la carte options displayed on a warmer. Seating can be limited because of how busy this place gets. You line up to get your food, pay for it, grab your condiments, utensils, and a cup of water, then find a seat and enjoy. I've already been here twice, and after writing about my experience, I need to make a third visit happen very soon! There are not enough days off in a week to enjoy all of the amazing food on this island, but I'm going to do my best to experience as many places as I can. This place is totally worth the 45-minute commute from Wahiawa.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Kake Udon
    Kake Udon
    Inside seating

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    Inside seating
    I-NABA

    I-NABA

    4.4
    (800 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

    Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

    Photos
    I-NABA
    Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice
    Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice
    Hana soba

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    Hana soba
    Rinka

    Rinka

    4.1
    (654 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This review is overdue, but I absolutely had to share it because I was so impressed with Rinka's…read moredinner menu! I used to think the dinner menu was a bit too expensive compared to the lunch menu, but after tonight..., I believe it was worth it. The variety of Dinner Sets were all sooo amazing! The portion sizes were awesome, and the flavors/freshness of the food were all outstanding. Did I mention how the portion sizes were amazing? Yup Everything tasted great..., and I really mean everything! It's hard to find a casual/semi-upscale Japanese restaurant like Rinka. Our server was very kind and helpful because it was our first time dining with Rinka during their Dinner service hours. I got to try a piece of the Bluefin Tuna Toro sashimi and it was WOW! WOW! WOW! Appetizers were fantastic as well! Great for sharing and tasting different items. This is a place I'd want to introduce to my friends and family for a great dining experience and a higher quality food selections. Very satisfied with our dinner service on this night!

    Just ate here for dinner, had to use a Resy credit. Had reservations for two at 5:30 pm…read more Service was good, wife and I were seated promptly, given waters, and didn't have to wait too long for orders. Vibes were nice but I agree with prior reviews that tables feel a tad low and close together. I can see this place getting crowded during dinner hours, or if they get a lot of takeout orders. I ordered the blue fin bowl, wife ordered the homemade soba with tempura, and we ordered two sake flights, the "traditional" and the "light." The food was decent--I appreciated that my order included udon, a small salad, and tempura. Sake flights were pretty good. All-in with a 20% tip, it came out to ~$175, not including the Resy credit ($50 with Amex gold). With the Resy credit, I can dig it. Without it, I'm not sure. The food is tasty and portions are good, but it just feels like I've had more impressive sashimi/sushi for comparable prices elsewhere.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Grilled unagi (deluxe)
    Grilled unagi (deluxe)
    Beef sukiyaki

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    Beef sukiyaki
    Izakaya Tenkichi

    Izakaya Tenkichi

    4.6
    (249 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    I went there for lunch. The atmosphere was great and the food even better. I had read some…read morereviews that did not agree with mine, but in general those were for dinners and usually just before closing time. Its no surprise that some of the dishes were not available as they are popular and probably ran out before the Reviewers got there. Small details, like having various salts for your tempura available as condiment on the table makes it an experience close to being in Japan/.

    My brother has been recommending this place so I am glad I finally got to go for dinner! We got a…read moremix of regular and seasonal menu items. The hamachi with sesame sauce was ok, I prefer hamachi cooked though. The negitoro avocado rolls were tiny but decent and fresh tasting. The 5 types of tempura had a light crispy batter and were good. My favorites were the seasonal specials of hamachi kama (huge, meaty piece!), spicy chicken, and sukiyaki tofu. The spicy chicken was not very spicy at all, maybe a 1 or 2 out of 5 stars. It was refreshing and reminded me of Chinese chicken salad with the Chinese parsley and peanuts. The sukiyaki tofu was simple but good and not too sweet. The ambiance made me feel like I was in Japan and the staff were very attentive. Great service! The people preparing the food are right in the center and they are a well oiled machine cranking out dishes without breaking a sweat or raising their voices. The noise level can get a bit loud from diners having a good time.

    Photos
    Steep stairs. Much easier to navigate going up. Going down after some adult beverages? Better use the handrail
    Steep stairs. Much easier to navigate going up. Going down after some adult beverages? Better use the handrail
    Yuzu Cheese Cake ($5.50) - really sweet, especially with the granola. Would recommend getting a different dessert.
    Yuzu Cheese Cake ($5.50) - really sweet, especially with the granola. Would recommend getting a different dessert.
    Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026

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    Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026
    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5
    (5.4k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $

    If you think 5,400 reviews are lying, let this one be the reason you make sure to visit this local…read morebusiness when you're in Honolulu. It was love at first bite for me with musubi and onigiri, so when I saw a spot dedicated to this deliciousness you better believe I made a point to go there! I ran even faster when StaciLei, Yelp Hawaii's amazing Community Manager, told me it's a must and gave me her list of greatest hits and must not miss items as a guide! Now I've had a lot of these in my life, and I must say, Iyasume are easily the best. See musubi and onigiri have humble origins as a quickly made homespun snack or on the go lunch, and when you spot them in the convenience environment they're often a giant ball of rice with a tinge of protein or seasoning for flavor. At Iyasume, these are culinary adventures, stacked with ingredients, all in handheld form, and the variety they offer is IMPRESSIVE! Of course musubi starts with the classic, SPAM. I had to order the kimchi + spam, shiso + spam, and unagi + tamago + spam, all of which were awesome (even the next day!). Onigiri here are actually layered with ingredients, so you get them in every bite, unlike the convenience store versions! They have a HUGE menu, and I went with spicy mentaiko and salmon, spicy mentaiko and ikura, ikura and salmon, and tuna mayo curry, all of which were great. I LOVE that they make these to order. You can see the line in the back hard at work, and they're very fast. You're sure to encounter a line when you arrive, but don't be scared, it moves quickly. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for mine to come up! Well worth it. Reasonably priced. Very filling. A taste of Hawaii and Japan in one place that'll have everyone smiling!

    Friend recommended this spot and I'm grateful she did. There were so many fresh and interesting…read moremusubis to choose from. I bought kimchi spam, eel spam, inari spam, and a furikake rice ball. Didn't really interact with staff as they didn't offer to help while I viewed the items and I selected my items fairly quickly. I found purchasing four musubis very affortable. Finding parking was tough and expensive in the area. Not the restaurant's fault and probably drivers are not the bulk of their business.

    Photos
    Inside the shop
    Inside the shop
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

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    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

    Ahi Lovers - japanese - Updated July 2026

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