Cancel

Open app

Search

Currents

4.6 (59 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order Currents Takeout or Delivery

Currents Photos

Business Info

CURRENTS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Currents

Recommended Reviews - Currents

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Shaka Roll (CPB Favorite) and 10 Piece Nigiri Bento
Stephanie L.

Other than the fact that parking will usually be a struggle bus in downtown, I really enjoyed Aloha Bento! One of my girlfriends tasked me with picking up her large order on a random Thursday and aside from the panic of trying to find parking, I was able to located Aloha Bento fairly quickly. They are located inside of the newly renovated CPB in downtown. I felt a little awkward walking past an events area where they were setting up for a conference and loungers in the TidePools area, but got over it as soon as I saw the mini food hall located inside. The first floor is multi-use with desks, a conference room, coffee shop, bar, and lounge. It is NOT meant to be a fine dining atmosphere. Think similar to a college cafeteria. It's bustling and busy. The food was well packed and there was a ton of packaged wasabi and ginger for each individual order. My girlfriend surprised me with a 10 piece bento and Shaka roll. I enjoyed it at home and let me tell you, it was the best take out sushi I've ever had! The 10 piece nigiri was carefully crafted and the Shaka roll was delicious! It was garlicky and a little zesty which paired well with the spicy ahi and hamachi. It's a splurge bento and roll, for sure. But I'm at the point of my life where I no longer want to fill my stomach up with cheap eats just for the sake of being cheap. Life is stressful... Splurge for the sushi and bring your happiness levels up during a chaotic workweek!

Menu
Lori L.

If you are in the downtown area, Aloha Bento is a great spot for takeout. Its dine-in dinner service is still working out the kinks. After 4pm you can get a validation for the CPB building and sit within the Tidepools area. When there is live music, the space is loud with music bouncing off all the smooth surfaces. The security guards are at their station on their walkie talkies and the cleaning crew for the building wants to finish cleaning the lobby so they are emptying building trash cans and cleaning the floors around you as you eat. While you order at the counter, they bring the plates out to your table. Be patient, the kitchen gets backed up, and you might have to ask for everything you want including plates and chopsticks, shoyu and wasabi, and water. The food is very good for the price. The sashimi and raw oysters were fresh and sweet. The baked oysters and lobster, served motoyaki style, were tender and juicy. If you want to check out Aloha Bento, I would suggest lunch takeout as they do run out of items by the end of the night. Order online so your food will be ready when you arrive and then go find a comfortable place to eat.

8 piece omakase set
Melody K.

Best omakase set on island! Chef Cosmo is a long time friend and I can assure you anything he creates always turns out delicious. Some might've seen him previously at Kona Kai and Senyu Sushi. I had the 8 piece omakase set and a few pieces of the house roll. My omakase set came with tuna, salmon, hamachi, ika (squid), ikura, scallop, unagi, and the last one I couldn't quite figure out. The quality of seafood is top notch! You can taste the sweetness and freshness of the seafood. I don't normally like squid or scallop, but it was prepared so well that I was left wanting more. Each piece was seasoned to perfection! No extra wasabi or shoyu needed (that's a good indicator of a good sushi chef) I'm already daydreaming about the next time I eat here! Need to go back Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!

Hamachi bowl with some sort of shoyu/yuzu jelly.
Reid A.

Great quality at a reasonable price. A co-worker was raving about this place and one day we went to downtown for lunch. We parking at the post office metered parking 1 hour max and walked over. I got the Hamachi bowl. Or if you eat at some places they serve you poor man hamachi, which is "kanpachi". lol This was hamachi I'm pretty sure. I wasn't there watching them cut it up...but ya. The bowl comes with sushi rice, green onions, and an awesome shoyu/yuzu jelly that's slightly spicy. It's amazing! They give you shoyu on the side, but you don't need it with the jelly. I was blown away by the bowl. So simple, but very delicious. I just wish there was more of it. Co-workers tried the spicy ahi bowl. They offered me to try it but I didn't. Ordering that is like ordering a teriyaki ribeye. I mean do as you please, but why mask it, you know? I hear they have dinner. I bet its worth a try.

Large sashimi plate
Dathan C.

COVID has not been kind to downtown, with a sizable number of restaurants closing so it's nice to see new stuff open downtown. Restaurateurs are a brave folk. Anyways, Aloha Bento is replacing Aloha Beer, open for lunch and dinner offering high quality sushi, sashimi, and sake for the downtown office crew. They got hand rolls, cut rolls, omakase, sashimi, all super fresh and very tasty. I got four of the hand rolls, which are comparable to Pitch's but just a bit more expensive, which I blame on the downtown rents. Where's that NYC "The Rent is too DARN HIGH" guy when you need him? Anyways, the fish was buttery and I had no complaints. The rest of my office got the large sashimi plate that came with salmon, Hamachi, saba (mackerel), tune, scallops, squid, and other fresh choices, for about $1 per slice of fish. For the quality, that's a deal. It's recommended to make reservations for dinner if you have a large party as they're located in the Central Pacific Plaza lobby and there aren't that many large tables. Parking as of course a mess, but if you come at night, lots of street parking opens up, lunch time, not so much. One thing I did find weird is that some items are served in takeout containers and others in actual black ceramic plates.

Large sashimi
Gillian D.

I'm sooo glad this place opened because I am desperate for a good pau hana deal close to work. Aloha Bento is located inside CPB and they use the Starbucks tables in the evening. I walked over on a Friday and at 5pm it was surprisingly more empty than I expected. The staff told me you can either just sit at a table to be served, or come up to the counter in the corner and order there before sitting down. They have a selection of beer and sake to go with the fish. I ordered a beer and we got raw oysters, the large sashimi platter, and kampachi carpaccio. I was seriously blown away by the sashimi dishes. The large sashimi was such a good deal for the price and included ahi, chu-toro, salmon, hamachi, ika, and scallop. My absolute favorite was the kampachi carpaccio which had an addictive tangy sauce with a hint of truffle. I tried bites of some handrolls which were yummy too. I'd pass on the oysters next time as they were on the small side and nothing special. Aloha Bento will definitely become a staple for pau hana for me. I'm eager to try their sushi options for lunch too!

Mark E.

My first time here. Coworkers and I decided to come here after work for some sushi and beers after a long week at the office. Their sushi, sashimi, and oysters here are awesome! Love the presentation. Fresh, clean, and delicious. Their shoyu is their own (house made) and tastes better than your typical Aloha or Kikoman shoyu. Paying a premium but you're getting the best quality food here. Definitely worth very penny. Service is awesome and great! Attentive and shows that they care for their customers. Restaurant is basically in Central Pacific Building (CPB) where Aloha Beer used to be and shares the dining tables/area with Starbucks. Area is maintained and clean. Parking is also validated by restaurant in CPB. Highly recommended to try this place out during lunch and/or after work. I will definitely wanna come back to take out for lunch for their Chirashi and Nigiri sushi bentos and hopefully their tiramisu. Can preorder online before heading there (previewed website and ordering seems to be a breeze). Or come back here for another pau hana or take a date here (wink).

8 piece nigiri bento
Kira K.

Came here a little after they opened at 11am, but was told they are behind due to their grand opening being today. No problem :) we came back like 45 minutes later, and even though we already ate lunch, I really wanted to try their sushi so I got an 8-piece nigiri bento for later LOL This place is located next to the Starbucks in CPB in downtown all the way towards the back where there's an "aloha beer sign" (I think they are so new that they haven't had a chance to remove this sign yet). Once you get back there, there's a little register and you can order. The menu placement is odd, but it's up on the wall where the sushi is made, so you kind of have to go in closer and peer in to look at the menu. (Pic of the menu is attached!) They didn't have the omakase specials today, so I ordered an 8-piece nigiri bento and a spicy ahi hand roll. Total was like a little over $22, and I ended up waiting like 15-20 min for it. Although I ate it a few hours later, the fish still tasted fresh, and I was pretty impressed by how buttery the salmon was! Also, no stringy pieces of ahi :). I wasn't a fan of the ika as it was super rubbery, but I appreciated how they garnished each piece. The bento came with 2 ahi, 2 ika, 2 salmon, and 2 hamachi. I think the salmon was my favorite, and I also loved the piece of hamachi where they garnished it with some kind of citrus rind (lime maybe?) as it really brightened the dish The spicy ahi hand roll ($5) was good and well-priced. They also had a mini fridge where you can buy bowls, hand rolls, and some drink options. Overall, I am impressed by the quality of fish that they serve for the good prices.. especially In today's world where everything is so expensive. I'll definitely be back to try the omakase :) Also, for parking, I'm not sure if they have a specific area where customers are supposed to park, but iolani palace and the post office both have lots where you can pay to park and easily walk over.

Salmon avocado hand roll
Chris K.

New sushi joint! Came during their soft opening. Don't be confused with the aloha beer sign, they took up that spot in the cpb bank. They have a small refrigerator with premade sushi bentos and bowls or if you want they will make everything in the bento or what not fresh. The menu location is slightly awkward against the wall that you don't face when ordering but all good. We got there a little before lunch rush and during their soft opening they are adding omakase toppings for free. I'm not sure how much it costs extra normally but it definitely elevated the sushi a bit. Service and staff were super friendly. They let us order and then find seating in the lunch area. Good amount of seats and it's AC which is important! The sushi is of good quality and it says a lot to me when the fish fully covers the rice. I also really appreciate sushi spots that have a little bit of wasabi between the rice and fish. I was told the sauce...not quite soy sauce was made by the chef. Also the ginger...I don't normally eat ginger given at sushi spots but this one I did. It doesn't have that super in your face nostral clearing ginger bite! I don't even know how to describe what they did to it, but it was good! They are also open for pau hana which I need to come back and check out one of these days after work.

Russel M.

Great service! Amazing quality! Good price! Clean location Centrally located. Chef Cosmo knows his

Spicy Tuna Bowl
Frankie A.

This review is based on attending Aloha Bento's grand opening event. Aloha Bento is located at Central Pacific Plaza's Tidepools, enter the lobby and is to your right. They have outside seating available, in which I relaxed at (and caught up with a few colleagues) before the reserved table I was assigned to was ready. During the grand opening the interior table were reserved tables as I can recall can seat tables of four to seating up to twelve. You can now either do walk-in or contact via phone or email to make reservation seating. Open floor concept gives way for people to mingle around. Aloha Bento provides quality fresh sushi at affordable prices. I had their hamachi bowl & baked lobster tail (soo bomb!). Other offerings include the cali hand rolls, unagi bento, & spicy tuna bowl. Fish was really fresh and the service was on point. My favorite was the lobster tail, so much so I order a second tail! Check them out the next time you're downtown!

10 piece nigiri!!
Jonathan T.

Hidden gem! 100% recommend tourists visit 10 piece nigiri for $25 is very affordable pricing, especially for this quality, I ate nigiri at multiple other highly rated restaurants and none beat the quality + pricing combo here. Fat slabs of yummy fish To note: Wasabi is in the nigiri Location in the lobby of a bank is tidy and clean, enough trash cans surrounding the area Service is good, not fast not too slow, what's more important is the output stays high quality, which is achieved

Sweet Onion Salmon Skin Salad
Lauren A.

Aloha Bento is my go-to spot whenever I'm downtown and craving some good vibes and delicious food. I've been many times and my favorite dish is their oyster shooters. They're only available on Fridays, but trust me, they're worth the wait. Fresh oysters, ikura, house-made sauce - it's like unreal. On top of that they have an outstanding sake selection. They partner with a local company to bring sake from Japan, so they have a selection often not available in stores. What really sets this place apart is the vibe. The staff is super friendly, and the atmosphere is perfect for many occasions. It's the perfect spot to hang out with coworkers after work or during the work day if you're tired of the office. Plus, having a Starbucks in the shared space is nice to grab coffee if I need it. Highly recommend Aloha Bento. Fresh fish, great prices, & friendly staff!

See all

Photo of Rebecca T.
1039
1631
8561

1 month ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Lori L.
535
738
10827

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 14
Thanks 6
Love this 15
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 24
Thanks 6
Love this 17
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 5
Oh no 2

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Mark E.
135
103
1548

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1
Photo of Joie Y.
1877
376
367

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 22
Thanks 6
Love this 22
Oh no 1
Photo of Frankie A.
113
52
158

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lauren A.
10
81
216

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Nat N.
1241
1452
15370

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Emily L.
146
113
29

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Candace C.
116
82
113

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Very friendly service. Patiently answered all my questions. Good, simple, and fresh sushi to go.

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Fresh fish. Very tasty. Convenient for a visitor to the state Capitol and the palace downtown. Starbucks within the same bank lobby.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Juston M.
272
11
8

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tang S.
0
43
126

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tyler H.

Tyler H.

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Currents

How is the Parking Situation and do you have Delivery?

We offer complimentary validation after 4pm, and we offer takeout via our website, as well as Doordash.… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Totoya

Totoya

4.6
(316 reviews)
4.3 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)

See all

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

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

4.3
(4.2k reviews)
2.7 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

See all

Katasu-don
Marugame Udon

Marugame Udon

4.5
(14.1k reviews)
3.0 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

See all

Inside seating
I-NABA

I-NABA

4.4
(800 reviews)
1.8 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

See all

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

See all

Beef sukiyaki
Izakaya Tenkichi

Izakaya Tenkichi

4.6
(249 reviews)
2.4 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

See all

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

Musubi Cafe Iyasume

4.5
(5.4k reviews)
3.2 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

See all

Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

Currents - sushi - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...