Cancel

Open app

Search

Gyotaku

3.8 (780 reviews)
ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Gyotaku Takeout or Delivery

Gyotaku Photos

Business Info

GYOTAKU ATMOSPHERE

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

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Gyotaku

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

Tonkatsu and Tempura from the Take Out Menu
Kevin W.

Attended a business meeting at Gyotaku today. In addition to serving lunch and dinner, they are able to accommodate businesses having meetings or short seminars. We've also attended travel event planning meetings there. The bentos they serve during those meetings are really good. Today we had Shrimp tempura with some assorted vegetable tempura, Teriyaki chicken, Sushi . Salad, miso soup, drink, and dessert . We learned a lot at our meeting and had some great Japanese food . The main dining room is for their regular patrons and the meetings are held in the private dining rooms upstairs.

Lunch menu
Roya J.

Came with a large group and they were very accommodating. Of course made reservations and good to note. They have a 90 minute seating as the place is popular and gets busy. The inside is quaint and the service is fast and friendly. They have some good lunch specials. I love that the tempura was crispy, but not oily. An overall positive experience for all of us.

Spicy Tuna Roll Pack
Ash V.

We went here on our holiday because we wanted to get away from our hotel area. This restaurant is super casual and the food was good. Ambience: The ambience is super casual (don't expect fancy-- it is OK not great). Service: The service was good and courteous Food: the food was good quality and well priced. Here is what we ordered. - Spicy Tuna Roll: These were tasty -- okay to order - Midori Roll: My wife got this and it looked very pretty and she said it was good. - Tempura Combo: My younger son got this with with the salmon and he said it was good. - Chicken Katsu with rice: My older son got this and finished it -- this is a high bar as he is super picky! We all got the miso soup and salad an that was good -- the ginger dressing was tasty! I would recommend this if you want Japanese food on the cheaper side and no frills.

Chicken katsu curry and rice
Nick W.

I came here with some friends last minute. We shared some sushi rolls for appetizer. They were made quick and tasted great. Then I got some chicken katsu curry and it was great. It had just the right amount of spice. There's a good bit of parking and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely eat here again.

The holiday special, Christmas eve 2025.
Ric C.

"The Mccully location experience" This location has been a long standing location for good Japanese style grinds. We most recently went Christmas eve to enjoy a holiday dinner this year. On that night they had a special quadruple combo entree that included tempura, teri- short ribs, butterfish and ahi sashimi . Along with rice and a salad as well as tea, it was a lot tasty food. We enjoyed it and it made for a great holiday feast. As busy as it was eating in the restaurant, the staff were friendly and efficient as always. Always worth considering.

Attending tour orientation luncheon
Gail U.

A good casual place to meet friends during the holiday or anytime. We had the first sectioned off area upstairs for our get together with hub's credit union board of directors from years ago. Nice reunion during the holiday season. We had a really sharp and efficient server who took care of our table of 11. One came down with COVID visiting Japan. She handled the bill distribution and collection well. Everyone chose what they wanted to eat, no preset menu which was nice. Those with left overs were given take home containers. My udon and tempura were delicious and just the right size. Beware the green pepper I thought it was a shishito pepper- surprise- it wasn't. Napkin to the rescue. It's okay to say Merry Christmas now.

Late night specials menu
Lisa T.

Saturday early Dinner. Got seated upstairs. 430pm. Not busy. Server Choon Han. Water, utensils, order taken. Tossed salad and miso soup came fast. Ordered the weekly special shrimp tempura teishoku 20% off. Good deal $23.16+tax. Includes 4 shrimp and vegetable tempura, toss salad, miso soup and choice of white or brown rice. Regular price $27.95. Food also came out fast. Tea was not offered. Asked for hot tea, which is complimentary. Had to ask for hot tea and water refills. When were asked for refills, Server seemed to question us about the refills of water and tea. Upstairs wasn't busy. Only few tables. Note: There are Restrooms located on 2nd floor. Due to the service, left a minimum tip. Could hear Server complaining to other coworkers in back room. Note: Rewards program. Download Hearland Guest appl. Need to register online. Give your phone number to Server for points. Also sign up for emails on Gyotaku website.

Chirashi with tempura
Wayne I.

Gyotaku is a great go-to spot for Japanese food. If you're looking for a deal then checkout their Senior or Happy Hour menu. We ate their agadashi tofu and sushi roll to start. Tonkatsu and Chirashi bowl as entrée. We had tempura as a add-on too. Too much food so we passed on dessert this time. No frill interior. Lots of free parking. Friendly service. Best to make reservations because they always seem busy.

Upstairs
Craig T.

Update on Gyotaku attended a retirement party today and it was upstairs. I didn't realize upstairs is all for private parties and catering . Our event was held way in the back where there's a private room that can hold about 18 people comfortably. There's also a Japanese door that can open to have a bigger party . Restroom is also located upstairs.

Specials 10/30/25
Jo Y.

Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form of "fish rubbing" that uses an inked fish and rice paper to create a detailed, life-like print. Originally developed by fishermen in the 1800's to document their catches, it is now a popular art form used to record the size, type, and beauty of aquatic life. Gyo = "fish" and taku = "stone impression." Hence, the meaning of Gyotaku Japanese Restaurants on Oahu, with this art form displayed on their walls. Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant, known for authentic Japanese cuisine, first opened in McCully in 2001 by owners Tom Jones and Nobutaka "Tony" Sato. Tom Jones has been in the restaurant industry from a young age, trained as a sushi chef in Japan, worked for one of the largest sushi restaurants in Japan, and sent to HI to be Exec Chef at their Waikiki restaurants. The owners opened a 2nd location in Pearl City around 2005, followed by a 3rd location in Niu Valley in 2008. While all 3 locations have similar menus, this review is for the Gyotaku location in McCully. Gyotaku is a casual, family-friendly restaurant that offers an extensive menu of Japanese specialties, such as appetizers, salads, sushi rolls, nigiri, noodles, curries, steaks, katsu, teishoku, and desserts and appear to be pricey from $20 to $40. They do offer discounted meals; however, many of the specials are for certain days of the week, so pay attention to the days of the week and times. Their discounted meals include: * Senior menu of teri chicken, tempura, nishime, sashimi, teri salmon, teri short rib and butterfish from $13 to $17. Portions appear to be smaller to adapt to seniors' reduced appetite. * Weekday lunch specials. Available Mon to Fri from 11a to 2p only. They include oyako, tempura, and yakitori donburis with choice of tempura, and tempura udon from $15 to $20. * Daily lunch specials. Available from 11a to 2p weekdays and weekends. CA delight, lunch box, combo bento from $16 to $23. * Dine-in weekly deals. Usually a % off of certain dishes that are posted in the restaurant. * Happy hour appetizers. 20% off of liquor and up to 40% off of appetizers available daily from 2p to 4:30p. * Dinner early bird specials from Wed to Fri only 4p to 6p for bento box with choices for $19.95. * Kids eat free on Mon and Tues nights only from 4p. * Keiki menu of teri or karaage chicken, tempura, sushi, and tempura udon at $11. We ordered the following from the weekday lunch specials: * Tempura udon. Udon in a piping hot broth topped with kamaboko, wakame, and green onions. Served with shrimp and vegetable tempura (eggplant, sweet potato, nori, shishito pepper, fishcake) on the side. The tempura was light and crunchy, while the udon appeared to be a little mushy in a flavorful broth. * Oyako donburi. Hubby's order of chicken simmered with round onions in sweet shoyu broth and steamed with lightly beaten eggs over rice and topped with green onions and nori, which was delicious! Served with miso soup that was piping hot with wakame and tofu, the miso soup was flavorful. Also served with tossed salad that had shredded carrots, cucumber slices, a large chunk of imitation crab and served with a tart and delicious wafu dressing. At one time, Gyotaku used to offer a delicious katsudon, but is no longer on the menu and wish that they would bring it back. Our server promptly took our orders and was not very friendly. Other staff members who refilled our water glasses and cleared our dishes were much friendlier than our server, who appeared to be doing her job via memorization and rote rather than serving us on a personal basis. At the end of our meal, I saw other diners being served hot tea and had forgotten that it was complimentary and on request, but our server did not offer this to us. There are 2 levels of spacious dining areas. The first level is primarily used for senior citizens and those who have mobility issues using a walker or wheelchair, as the 2nd level is accessible by a stairway only. The 2nd level is normally used by larger groups or for special events and parties. Japanese décor and gyotaku art adorn the walls. As we arrived when the restaurant opened for lunch, there was a lot of available parking in its private lot, but they were quickly taken as it got closer to noon. Spaces are tight. Metered street parking is also available. Located next to Times Supermarket in McCully. Hours of operation are daily from 11a to 8p. Great restaurant for locals of all ages with excellent food quality and prompt efficient service make this a popular place for authentic Japanese cuisine!

Family dinners or business lunches orders are available here! 4/25/25
Jackie K.

Today's lunch was an enjoyable one. 4/26/25. We were seated quickly for our late lunch @1:45 pm. Our server promptly came to our table and asked us if we wanted anything to drink. We were quickly provided iced water and later hot tea. Our order was timely taken by our server. Our bill was given to us timely. We didn't feel rushed or abandoned lol. We ordered the shrimp tempura lunch (4 pieces of Shrimp, 1 piece eggplant, 2 pieces sweet potato, 2 string green beans) and Ninja Don (Spicy tuna, sushi rice, avocado and green onions). Both meals included a salad, miso soup with kelp, brown rice or sushi rice). The portions of food are ample. My shrimp tempura was served hot and fresh. The Ninja Don sauce and sushi rice were way too sweet for my taste buds. The salad is my favorite. The dressing is tasty and flavorful. The imitation crab piece is a nice touch. The miso and kelp soup is comforting and simple in taste. Overall food today: 4/5 stars. Overall Service: 5/5. Our server checked on us consistently and another server refilled our water and tea. Both had the perfect personalities. Table cleared promptly of empty and used dishes. Overall Ambiance: 3.5/5 stars: The restaurant decor, as previously noted in an older review, is dated. The booths and furniture are also dated. But in the current times, such costs would probably not be worth it.

Udon, tempura, and sushi combo
Chris Y.

Expect well prepared Japanese food and gracious service at Gyotaku! Located on South King Street past Times McCully, Gyotaku is a dining experience appreciated by many friends. It certainly helps that parking is readily available in their dedicated lot. At the most recent visit for a birthday celebration, server Mikey was very helpful to my dining mates. There's an extensive menu which can make choosing difficult because everything so enticing. Just note there is a 90 minute dining limit. This is sufficient time to enjoy your meal.

Dub C.

Got food poisoning there with some really fishy salmon. Offered to make something else that was about it. Called to and spoke to the manager. Got an apology.

One of the lunch specials so Onolicious!

See all

29 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

28 days 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 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ric C.
324
585
8203

10 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 3
Love this 10
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa T.
516
293
4405

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tom J.

Tom J.

Helpful 23
Thanks 6
Love this 20
Oh no 8

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 11
Thanks 2
Love this 9
Oh no 0
Photo of Jo Y.
448
637
32998

11 months ago

Helpful 24
Thanks 11
Love this 27
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 21
Thanks 13
Love this 33
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 13
Thanks 5
Love this 13
Oh no 1
Photo of Dub C.
88
241
925

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mikey K.
20
19
73

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Kyra H.
0
22
44

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joy P.
1
26
14

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 7
Thanks 1
Love this 4
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Tom J.

Tom J.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Tod K.
114
281
1790

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Thomas J.

Thomas J.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 20

Gyotaku Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Gyotaku

Do they take reservations?

They will take reservations for 6 or more people otherwise Walk in only.

Do you have outdoor dining? We have family members that are 85+ years old. Please let me know. Thank you

Do they take reservations

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

4.3(4.3k reviews)
1.1 mi•Waikiki
•$$$
Free parking
19 years in business

This is my favorite tonkatsu place by far, and we love this place for it's Kurobota katsu, but you…read morehave to get here early to try it. They only have about 20 orders available daily, so we always make sure to make early reservations for dinner. It's a small place, so seating can be limited, and although they do take walk ins, you really should make a reservation. Free validated parking is available next door in the parking garage beneath the Bank of Hawaii building. I really like how light and crispy their tonkatsu is here. And the Kurobota katsu just melts in your mouth! If they don't have that available their Bairin Pork Tenderloin Katsu is always excellent too! My girlfriend also likes their Katsu-Dons. Sets come with free refills of rice, miso soup, cabbage, and pickles. Last night they also had several new wagyu additions to the menu that we haven't seen before, along with a wagyu beef nigiri that we had to try and thoroughly enjoyed. Service here is fast and very friendly! We have always enjoyed coming here and the staff take great care of their customers. They also offer a Kamaaina discount for locals with a Hawaii ID, which is really fantastic for people like us who live here and enjoy this place!

The highlight of our Hawaii trip! We loved Ginza Bairin so much that we went TWICE during our trip…read more We visited on our previous trip to Hawaii, and it was an absolute must-revisit this time around. If you're visiting Honolulu and love Japanese tonkatsu, do yourself a favor and put this place on your list! The absolute star of the show is the Specialty Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu. Out of this world! Kurobuta pork is basically the Waygu of the pork world. This pork comes from the Berkshire pig which produces more flavorful, more tender pork. The pork is perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and coated in a beautifully crispy breading. Every bite is exactly what you want from a great tonkatsu. And PLEASE, don't sleep on the unlimited refills of cabbage, miso soup, and rice! The rice deserves its own shoutout. Ginza Bairin serves premium Tsuyahime white rice from Yamagata, Japan, and it is hands down the best rice I've ever had. The grains are plump, fluffy, and delicious, with that wonderful texture that makes you keep reaching for another bowl. Shamelessly admitting that I ate THREE bowls of rice, and I have absolutely zero regrets. My husband doesn't eat pork or beef, so he ordered the chicken katsu and said it was the best chicken katsu he's ever had. That's a pretty impressive endorsement, especially from someone who eats chicken katsu regularly. Families with little ones, this place is fantastic! They're incredibly kid-friendly, with child-sized cups, forks, spoons, and plates. Even better, the kids' meals come in the cutest little blue or pink car-shaped trays that my son absolutely loved. You can choose chicken katsu or shrimp tempura, served with rice, cabbage salad, macaroni salad, and a kids' juice box. It's thoughtful touches like these that make dining out with a toddler so much more enjoyable. The service was amazing, too. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making the whole experience even better. A few helpful tips: - Make a reservation ahead of time if you can, but walk-ins are welcome, too. - There are two "restaurants": the main dining room primarily accommodates reservations, while the other side is mainly for walk-ins. Don't worry, the food is impeccable on both sides! - Free validated parking for up to 1.5 hours is available at the Bank of Hawaii Waikiki Business Center underground garage, which is a huge plus in Waikiki. Ginza Bairin checks all the boxes: exceptional food, premium ingredients, generous refills, warm service, and a genuinely family-friendly atmosphere. The fact that we went twice in one trip says everything. This is one of those restaurants that stays on your must-visit list every time you return to Hawaii. Already dreaming about that pork katsu and another three bowls of rice!

Photos
Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Special Katsu-don set

Special Katsu-don set

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Katasu-don

See all

Katasu-don

Tonkatsu Tamafuji - Jyukusei pork tenderloin katsu teishoku

Tonkatsu Tamafuji

4.6(2.5k reviews)
1.8 mi•Kaimuki
•$$$

I've eaten at a lot of Japanese restaurants over the years, and Tonkatsu Tamafuji is definitely one…read moreof my favorites. The tonkatsu is consistently excellent, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. You can really taste the difference in the quality of the pork and the care they put into preparing it. I also love the little details, like grinding your own sesame seeds for the sauce and having different rice options. Even the cabbage, miso soup, and sides are really good. Everything works together to make a great meal. The service has always been friendly and attentive, and I've never walked out disappointed. It's not easy getting a reservation, but there's a reason this place is always busy. One of the few restaurants where I feel the food actually lives up to the hype. Definitely worth the wait!

TLDR: Highly anticipated and successfully delivered, with incredibly fresh food and that comes to…read moreyour table with a little extra touch I booked this place extraordinarily last minute but seeing that I was going solo I was able to get a space open during my ideal time! Best believe I would not be late. Food: Shrimp Tempura: 5/5 - I think this is the best shrimp I've had, ever. The tempura was fried to quintessential perfection. Seasoned, light, not greasy and a decent size? My god Experience: 5/5 I'm calling this experience because they do something different here which is you get to grind your sesame with mortar and pestle to create your sauce which I think is a genius interactive element that not only adds to food knowledge but also makes you present. You are partially eating what you create and I like that immersiveness. Part of what also makes it cool is the open kitchen concept. Being seated in the middle of the bar i was able to watch the chefs' process from start to finish which is always such fun to see. Otherwise the service was really good! Ambiance It was what I would call an elevated casual. Not too loud or feeling like you need to be very quiet. I think the price was fair for what I got and all its fixings but its definitely not cheap. With that being said though I do think its extremely worth it if you can get a seat!

Photos
Tonkatsu Tamafuji - Battering the Pork

Battering the Pork

Tonkatsu Tamafuji - Making the sauce

Making the sauce

Tonkatsu Tamafuji - Mix Katsu Set

See all

Mix Katsu Set

Izakaya Tenkichi - Beef tempura

Izakaya Tenkichi

4.6(273 reviews)
0.4 mi•Mo'ili'ili
•$$

A little taste of Japan I almost don't want to share…read more I would love to gatekeep Tenkichi because I already know it will get busier and harder to get into as more people discover it. But here I am, doing my Yelp Elite duty and telling you about it. Tenkichi has some great lunch specials to satisfy anything from a light lunch to a full-on feast. Delicious food, quality ingredients, friendly staff, and great service. The ambiance completes the experience. From the food to the surroundings, you almost feel like you have taken a little trip to Japan. Honestly, I will let the pictures speak for themselves. Go enjoy Tenkichi. Just do me a favor and do not tell too many people. I am already regretting this review.

We walked in for lunch on a Saturday right at opening (11am), no reservations, but were seated…read moreimmediately. The hostess and wait staff were all friendly and very accommodating. We went in hoping to order a bunch of stuff, unfortunately, the lunch menu is more limited than the dinner menu. No matter, this was a blessing in disguise We ordered the deluxe teishoku set and the premium trio bowl. We initially wanted to get the uni/ikura bowl (dinner menu only) so we ordered a separate uni sashimi since the deluxe teishoku set came with an ikura bowl. This was definitely a splurge. The deluxe teishoku set is one of the best deals I think you can get for the price and quality. It gives you a little taste of everything and the quality was superb. Definitely would come back for lunch and dinner!

Photos
Izakaya Tenkichi - 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

Izakaya Tenkichi - 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.

Izakaya Tenkichi - Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026

See all

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

Gyotaku - japanese - Updated October 2026

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