Cancel

Open app

Search

HIGOTO Japanese Eatery

4.6 (272 reviews)
ModerateJapanese
Closed • Closed

HIGOTO Japanese Eatery Photos

Business Info

HIGOTO JAPANESE EATERY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed

You might also consider

More like HIGOTO Japanese Eatery

Recommended Reviews - HIGOTO Japanese Eatery

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

Dan A.

Higoto is a Japanese takeaway bento and onigiri eatery in Kaimuki Shopping Center. I went maybe once but I don't recall. Went in the afternoon this weekend and they were almost cleared out. I got a couple of Konbu Onigiri and a Strawberry Purin. Onigiri was too salty...Konbu paste was overwhelming. The purin...excellent...served as a palate cleanser. I shall go again whem they have more of a selection. Open from 1100a till 400p, Wednesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cheese Burger on multi grain rice
Glenn N.

Looking for fresh and tasty Japanese bentos? Higoto has got you covered. This small hole in the wall Japanese eatery as some of the best quality bentos on this island. Located next to Time supermarket in Kaimuki with plenty of parking. The shop is so small. They only allow three patrons at a time depending on what time you go. They may be a line, but it goes quickly. The staff there is so friendly you can get handmade onigiri with all kinds of stuffing. One of my favorites is the cheeseburger believe it or not hamburger patty with cheese wrapped in a riceball. The mentaiko and egg is also a good one. You can also find Poke bowls like spicy ahi, salmon with ikura and many more. Definitely recommend this place.

Noriben Bento - A feast for the senses. As pretty as it is tasty!!
Dawn K.

Good things come in small packages...and the best bentos come from this small shop. I'm especially fond of the fact that their fish bentos are all fish. This very much pleases my pescatarian preferences. I can enjoy every bite of the bento without having to pass a piece of chicken or beef to the hubby. And, I enjoy every bite down to the last kernel of multigrain rice. So far (because we're still working our way through the menu), we've enjoyed the noriben bento and the butterfish bentos (more than once). Both are worthy of a dine-in restaurant. The high-quality rice (trust me, you can tell) is a perfectly-cooked pillow for the assortment of bento toppings. They offer both white and multigrain rice. Hubby likes white. I enjoy the pleasant nutty, sweetness of the multigrain. The noriben bento includes a piece of salmon, ahi katsu, and a tempura-furikake fish cake. A generous portion of shredded nori covers the rice and an assortment of pickled veggies compliments the sweet corn. Not only is this bento pretty, it is amazingly balanced in taste and texture. A feast for the eyes and the palate! But, the butterfish bento is the real showstopper. A very generous serving of carefully sliced, richly marinated butterfish tops your choice of rice. The hubby said it's probably the BEST butterfish he's ever had. And, I totally agree with him! Because of the way they slice the fish, the marinade saturates the filets and then it's grilled so the sauce caramelizes just enough to give a sweet and smoky flavor. SO ONO! Like I mentioned, the shop is small but if you get there early, it's full of bentos (fish, chicken, katsu pork, and hamburger steak), assorted musubis and inari, as well as sushi cups. They even offer desserts by Malu Honolulu. What a great collab! Every nook and cranny of this little shop is full of food prepared with thought and care. Only three people are allowed in the shop at a time, so there is sometimes a line outside. Don't worry! It goes fast, and it's SO WORTH the wait. Not surprisingly, they sell out. But if you don't think you're going to make it there early, you can call to order and schedule a pick up. Service is always very friendly and accommodating. Higoto is located on the first floor of Kaimuki Shopping Center on Waialae Avenue (by Times Supermarket next to Sacred Hearts). Parking is free and ample. Really, there is NO good reason to not give Higoto Japanese Eatery a try. You definitely won't be disappointed.

Crab and ikura bowl. Delicious!
Faye Y.

We stopped by pretty late 1pm so expected no selection but we were wrong! Sure they were out of some things like butterfish bento & chicken katsu but they had a good assortment still there. We chose the fish lovers bento sand crab & ikura bowl! Husband loved the crab bowl and I loved the fish bento. There was edamame, lotus root and corn in mine. I couldn't finish it all. It had salmon, Saba, shrimp tempura, butterfish and ika(?). It came with a Japanese tartar sauce but honestly not sure what I would use it on because all the fish was flavorful

miso butterfish bento // salmon ikura bowl
Kacie S.

Food tasted so yummy and fresh! The salmon ikura bowl was huge and loaded with fish, veggies, and rice! Bentos were also hefty portions. Great service, decent prices for quality and amount of food! Can park in the shopping center. Went 10 mins before open and there was already a small line. Would recommend pre-order if you dont want to worry about things running out.

miso butterfish
Samantha L.

This is hands down one of the best grab-and-go bento spots, especially if you love miso butterfish. The miso butterfish was absolutely delicious, perfectly cooked, flavorful, and super tender. It also came with rice and veggies on the side, which made it such a satisfying meal. Definitely come early though because the best items sell out fast and you'll want the full selection!

Fish Lovers Bento and a sushi roll.
Steve L.

It's a small place and there will be a line because it's got great bentos. Not only did the fish lovers bento taste great with the wonder variety of fish and seafood, it is attractively presented. Nicely set up over the purple rice, it's one of the best bento I've had outside of Japan. Friendly, small place. They pack a lot of variety in a small shop. Well worth a visit if you are in the area and want something to go.

Yakitori Chicken Bento
Nikki U.

I have heard so much hype about this place ever since they opened 5 years ago. I just never got the chance to try it until now. If I am being honest, it is ok. I went with my family and got three bentos: pork katsu, yakitori chicken, and grilled pork. They were all fine nothing special. The meat was moist. The katsu, however, was soggy which was to be expected as it had been sitting out for a while. Also the chicken had five pieces in it. The store is tucked away near Kaimuki Times and is super small. No where to sit and they only allow 3 people in the store at a time. Their musubi looked tasty but we didn't try them. Perhaps the hype around this place has to do with the musubi and not the bentos. Unfortunately, I will not be coming back as it is on the pricy side for bento and has similar flavor to the bentos you can get from Times right next door.

(Top) miso butterfish bento (bottom) salmon/ikura sushi cup
Kira K.

I've always been curious about this place but keep forgetting to check it out. Well, today, my schedule aligned with their opening time so it was the perfect opportunity! 10 minutes past opening, and there was already a line outside. They only allow 3 people at a time inside, but luckily the line moved pretty quickly :) I ended up getting a miso butterfish bento, spicy ahi avocado hand roll, and a salmon ikura sushi cup. In total, it came out to about $34 SPICY AHI AVOCADO HAND ROLL: really filling and a decent amount of avocado inside. Spicy ahi was not a creamy type of spicy, but it was still spicy SALMON IKURA SUSHI CUP: good portions and beautifully/thoughtfully layered with rice, pickled cabbage, and I think some egg? The fish tasted fresh and there were no chewy pieces! It was enough for me to share with my husband, so it was very filling MISO BUTTERFISH: the amount of butterfish they give for a little under $18 was surprising! The butterfish was tender, flavorful, and I didn't come across any bones. With the multigrain rice and the mini sides that accompanied the bento, it was also very filling! Overall, if you are looking for delicious Japanese food on the go, THIS is the place! I can't wait to come back and try other items as well :)

fish lovers bento, so ono!
Doug T.

Definitely 5 plus stars for this WONDERFUL bento and musubi shop. Yummy bentos, musubi, sushi cups, inari, salads, & desserts. My favorite is the fish lovers bento (see photo). The last one I had included miso butterfish, salmon, shrimp tempura (yummy and plump), fried white fish, saba, and chikuwa (fishcake) tempura. It includes shelled edamame, hijiki (seaweed salad), corn, tsukemono, cherry tomato, and rice (white or multigrain). Right now the price is $22.80, which is a great price for all the fish included. You have to order ahead (recommend 2 days ahead) -- call at 9:30 a.m. or a bit after. They open at 11 am. - 4 p.m. Wed - Sun but take orders after 9:30 a.m. Their musubi are really great also. My favorites are the mentaiko & egg and kombu & harihari. Try 'um, so ono!

Unagi Bento
Sara L.

Great small Japanese bento spot tucked behind the parking lot, to the right of Kaimuki Times Supermarket. Location and Parking: ample parking available outside Kaimuki Times. Location is a bit difficult to find. I would recommend walking toward Times, turn right, take the walkway behind the railing toward Higoto. Food: Ordered the miso butterfish bento and the unagi bento. The fish and unagi were soft and tender, flaky, and covered in a light layer of umami sauce. The unagi even included a side of extra sauce. Bento also included veggies and a choice of white or multigrain rice. We also ordered some desserts made by Malu; chocolate panna cotta which was rich and creamy; matcha panna cotta which was light, airy, and delicate, but didn't have a very strong matcha flavor; and the cookie cream puff. The cream puff was light and sweet, but didn't distinctly resemble or taste like a cookie. Value: the price at $17.50 per bento was very reasonable and the servings were very generous. Each bento included 3 large pieces of fish or unagi. Service: I ordered ahead for a 3:30pm pickup and they were very accommodating. I was also so thankful they waited for me when I got lost and was 15minutes late. Great service. Would recommend to anyone.

Best Japanese food ever!
Noelani C.

This cute sweet little bento spot is a gem in Kaimuki. Nestled below next to Times Supermarket Kaimuki, they always have the best quality Japanese food & desserts! The employees are so nice! Friendly and helpful staff! I absolutely love the crab & Ikura cup with purple rice! The side containers of Ikura too, I take home to freeze and thaw when I want to eat it on hot rice! The fish bentos, chicken bentos, yummy vegetarian options too like the tofu soybean salad is so delish with sesame dressing! Absolutely love their musubi selection! They have the highest quality ingredients and make all their side dishes from scratch! The sauces are all home made too! Oh the tartar sauce! I am so beyond happy they made a large container of their homemade tartar sauce for sale now too! I love it! It's the best tartar sauce on the island! Thank you Higoto for finding a little cute home here in Kaimuki!

Ami C.

We came here after 2 pm and most of the food were out already. It's buy whatever is left on the shelf. You have to get here early to get your choice of bento. I got the Kama bento and it was delicious. Hubby got the chicken bento and liked it. Service was great.

Chicken yakitori bento

See all

3 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Neal N.
1
42
73

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 2

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 days ago

Inconsistent hours, often closed when it's regular hours. Waste of time, energy, and gas to go there.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Doug T.
1
67
24

8 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 3
Love this 3
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 2

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Kim S.
309
865
1112

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 4
Love this 5
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 27
Thanks 14
Love this 23
Oh no 2

11 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 1
Love this 6
Oh no 0
Photo of Vi Y.
561
2531
776

10 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Bentos are really good especially the miso butterfish! Come early cuz lines do get long but move fast just like Hawaii time! Haha

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jo Y.
448
637
32998

3 years ago

Helpful 40
Thanks 10
Love this 44
Oh no 2

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 3
Love this 2
Oh no 1
Photo of Cate T.
515
25
11

9 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 7

HIGOTO Japanese Eatery Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - HIGOTO Japanese Eatery

Is it wheel chair accessible?

Yes park on the bottom by times

Someone mentioned that Higoto has a Happy Hour. Anyone knows about a Happy Hour there?

Their happy hour (20% off) is towards closing time and it is to help them sell out their food that day. You have to follow their Instagram page and they will post when they will have it. If they are super busy, they probably won't have it that day.… 

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Japanese 39,331 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Totoya

Totoya

4.6(335 reviews)
0.7 mi•Kaimuki
•$$

Food and service is great! But their new AI-generated graphics made it seem like the restaurant…read moreserves lower-quality food, which is misleading. I know they have better graphics than that! Hope their marketing reflects how good their food and service actually is.

Wife and I truly enjoyed this cozy little place in Hawaii. The atmosphere was quaint and cozy with…read morebar seating only and a reservation list you need to get on to ensure a spot. There is walk-ins but I wouldn't risk it The food was incredibly fresh. As it goes without saying, when you're in Hawaii you're as close to eating the freshest seafood as you can without being in Japan. We both ended up getting their Signature Negitoro Bowl but the Tokujo version which has Salmon Roe + Snow Crab + Uni and added a fresh Yolk Soy Sauce. Because why not have the Lamborghini of Negitoro bowls while you're visiting here. Along with that I ended up with a half sized udon miso soup and my wife a crab miso soup. As you can see in the pictures the food came out looking just like it did on the menu, no false advertising there. The egg soy sauce was a perfect creaminess that complimented the saltiness of the Uni and Salmon Roe. Once you mix everything together there's even added house made soy sauce on the side of your want more saltiness back but add some yuzu ginger with each bite and you get that perfect blend of flavor. There's fish was insanely fresh and had zero fishy smell or taste. The rice underneath was cooked well and the side squares of nori was perfect to make our own hand rolls. There's no alcohol served but they allow you walk 15 steps outside to the nearby convenience store where they have the cutest little dog and bring in your own beer or sake. There's miso soup was good and warms you up, but will say the corner we sat on had the AC blasting (which we're not complaining) but it did cool down our soups a little faster than we could enjoy so in the end my wife's crab miso did get a little salty. But overall the food was amazing, service was friendly and vibes were warm. Absolutely will come back the next time we're in Oahu.

Photos
Totoya
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

Totoya - Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)

See all

Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

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

You have never really tasted Tonkatsu until you've Ginza Bairin. The pork is juicy. The crust is…read morelight and coupled with the sesame /Katsu sauce-absolutely phenomenal.

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!

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)
1.0 mi•Kaimuki
•$$$

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!

The food is still good and just as busy as ever. Since the move, they have a much nicer and bigger…read morespace, which is definitely an upgrade. That said, the prices seem to have gone up since they moved, and I'm not sure the food stands out as much as it used to. There are more tonkatsu spots opening up that are just as good, if not better for the price, so I'm not sure how often I'll be coming back. Still a solid spot if you're craving tonkatsu, but with more competition around, it's becoming harder to justify the higher prices.

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

HIGOTO Japanese Eatery - japanese - Updated October 2026

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