This is my go spot after a long golf day. Lol Super good lunch sets here. Be sure to have reservations or come early. Line is off the hook , wait can be long. Inside of this restaurant has an old Japanese style, which fits this restaurant really Japanese authentic style. There other lunch sets on the menu. But this shrimp soda is my favorite. read more

I-NABA - Shrimp tempura soba - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We spent a lot of time researching where to take my Mother for her 85th birthday, and we are so grateful we went to I-Naba! The food, service, and atmosphere were perfect! Because we were a large party -- 11 people -- they asked us to provide our orders in advance, which worked out well, because our food was well-timed! Everything arrived once our party was seated, but it didn't feel rushed at all. All of our guests raved about the food, and the staff took really great care of all of us. In fact, they even helped cut my Mother's birthday cake. Can't thank I-Naba enough for such a memorable night, and very much looking forward to coming back again. Thank you!!! read more

wow. literally excellent. just came back from Japan and was craving that authentic Japanese food again and I-NABA DELIVERED. It's a bit pricy but that's understandable. The vibes were so lovely and the meal set options are so fun and offer a lot of variety. Wait staff was so sweet and also brought us tea free of charge. Would go again! read more

I-NABA - Zaru Soba and Tempera Set - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This was my first meal upon landing in Honolulu and I loved it! I was planning my trip three months in advance and I called them knowing they might not take my reservation...but they did! My sister and I got the same set but she got the cold soba and I got the hot one. The soup in mine tasted good but I think I should have also gotten the cold one, texture of the cold one was better. Still yummy though! For dessert we had the yuzu sorbet, tempura ice cream, and kinako mochi. The yuzu sorbet was my favorite, very cold and very sour but not too sour, super refreshing! I would probably pass on the tempura ice cream next time. The kinako mochi was pretty standard. Considering their quick service, authentic Japanese ambiance, and great food, I highly recommend you eat here when in Honolulu! You won't regret it! read more

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Be prepared to wait if you're a big party. It's not that big here and they get busy! I came as a party of one and luckily didn't wait long. By far one of the best soba I've had! I had the soba with uni/ikura combo set. Soba, loved and with the broth at the end to turn it into the soup. I was honestly eyeing the tempura one and wish I had gotten it on the side too! The uni/ikura was okay. Uni was not as sweet as I had hoped. If you like ikura, there's LARGE amount. The ratio to rice basically felt like 1:1. You can have the option for soba or udon and hot or cold. I went with cold soba and no regrets! Good sized portion. Definitely left full and not heavy since it's such a simple (yet delicious) dish. read more

I-NABA - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I came back and this time for some reason, I wasn't impressed. I The egg in the pork belly dish tasted like regular eggs this time. The dipping sauce for the soba is too strong of soy sauce flavor. So it's on the salty side. This was the case last time too. The new sausage item was too salty and nothing special. read more

Delicious soba, authentic experience! I love how they have uni soba! But personally I'm not a huge fan of soba. I prefer udon or ramen. But if you like soba noodles, this spot is legit and it's authentic. Make sure you make reservations ahead of time, like a lot of Japanese restaurants in town. Their mochi dessert was delicious! Parking can get a little tricky. There's a small private lot but it's hard to get a spot but there's street parking. read more

This place is very authentic. I just came back from Japan and the soba here tasted identical. The service is fast and you can call to make reservations which I highly recommend because it's a small restaurant. I really enjoyed the cold soba that I got, it was very unique with yam that had a very interesting slimy and creamy texture that I really love. The uni tasted really good on top. read more

I-NABA - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If it's a hot day and you're looking for something cool and refreshing to eat, this will be your spot! My friends and I attempted to make reservations the same day for around 6:30pm on a Friday and the worker advised that they weren't accepting any reservations and only walk-ins. When we arrived, we were lucky to be seated right away. The servers here are so nice and very attentive. Their green tea here is also free so we were able to have all the green tea we wanted, which was perfect with the cold noodles. Now onto the food, I went for the tempura set where you had the option of either cold/hot soba/udon and opted for the cold soba. The tempura included fish, 2 shrimps, sweet potato, zucchini and one more vegetable I can't remember, but everything was so perfectly and lightly breaded! Having a bite of tempura alongside the cold soba was so delicious. I asked for extra wasabi to ensure that my sauce was extra flavored and it made it perfect! My boyfriend ordered the tempura eel set that came with rice and a half order of soba noodles. I was able to have a bit and that was so delicious! If you love eel, I would definitely suggest this item. My friend also mentioned that their uni was so fresh and well worth the money. Overall, the food and service were amazing! Will definitely be back for a soba craving and possibly try their udon as well. read more

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Casual spot with authentic Japanese cuisine. Healthy eats so you don't feel guilty stuffing your face. read more

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I-Naba was a recommendation from a friend so I made it a point to visit this restaurant for some authentic soba and I was not impressed. There's a small lot in the strip mall. Parking is kinda difficult if you don't get there early. As for food, I got the Uni Soba, which is a cold broth soba with uni and ikura. Presentation was great, but the uni was fishy and the ikura was very salty - Both of which were signs that quality and freshness were lacking. The mushroom rice is supposedly the most popular, but it was barely lukewarm, and had no distinct mushroom flavor. I finished my food but it was not enjoyable. Sadly, I-Naba is not worth the hype for me. read more

I-NABA - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We are back at I-Naba for their famed soba noodles. No waiting lines! Four of us were seated upon arrival. We ordered a large assorted Tempura and each ordered a set of Zsari Soba and accompanied Chirashi, Tuna Zuke bowl, Battera & soba. We all enjoyed the food and was able to leisurely enjoy. Sobayu came out toward the end of the meal to drink for your health and warmth. This is a quaint restaurant where the outside does not do a justice to what you will discover. read more

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During Covid era, I-Naba has continued to reinvent themselves to survive. Post-Covid, I-Naba has become my go-to lunch spot. They offer various lunch sets with soba (hot or cold), prices range from $18 to $26. read more

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Got the tempura platter, uni/ikura soba, and green tea cheese cake Food was delicious and brought out quickly despite the restaurant being pretty busy. Friendly service and convenient parking as well. Would definitely come here again. read more

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Stopped by I-Naba about 90 min before closing. I had called ahead to see if there was a line, and staff mentioned no line to sit at the counter so we head over real quick! They have a small parking lot out front which we were lucky enough to snag a spot. Otherwise, you would need to find street parking. We were sat immediately at the edge of the counter. First thing...it is super cold in I-Naba. And I guarantee it is the coldest at the edge of the counter. I never complain about too strong of AC, but at this seat, the AC felt like freezer air non stop blowing. There weren't any other seats available, otherwise, I would have said something. Just in general, if you get cold easily, bring a jacket here. We ordered the hot tsukimi udon, dx tempura box and soba, and a salmon & ikura oshi sushi. Hot tsukimi udon was ok. Tempura box was really good. The party next to us ordered sashimi and it looked quite appetizing as well. Salmon & ikura oshi sushi was a bit underwhelming. Rice ratio was a bit too much. Overall, good meal. Their combo boxes are very good! Follow the adventure @shoyuthebest on IG! read more

Came highly recommended. Ordered the octopus with a side of miso for appetizers and a bento box consisting of shrimp and assorted vegetable tempura, hamachi/tuna/salmon sashimi, edamame, tamagoyaki (egg), and cold soba noodles. I was surprised it was not as good as originally recommended to me. Service was good. Reasonably priced. The dining area seems clean, but from where I was sitting I could see the ground floor tiles of the kitchen. Very dirty. I'm certain it didn't make it to the food. But I lost my appetite after seeing that. read more

I-NABA - Bento box - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I got the scallop/salmon roe/sea urchin bowl with kake soba. We also got Hana soba and a whole eel tempura. Everything was delicious and service was great. Will be returning! read more

I-NABA - Uni ikura scallop bowl combo - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Must visit when in Oahu. Hana soba is out of this world! Not all handmade sobas are the same. Hana soba's toppings include uni, ikura, tamago, daikon, wakame, and comes with a magical sauce that makes a one of a kind dreamy dish. The tempura and rice on the side is unnecessary. Despite all the accolades this restaurant receives from Honolulu magazine time and time again, its humility is evident in the food, service, and sheer amount of quality ingredients in each dish. Ambiance is rather quaint and all the servers speak fluent Japanese. I got all the usual nigiris that I'd order from a japanese restaurant: hotate, uni, ikura, amaebi, unagi, all the belly nigiris.. but their hana soba was truly unique and best of all. I'd come back to the island just to have this star soba again. read more

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Craving soba? Definitely head out to I-Naba! Soba is toothsome and seafood is fresh. I tried the duck nanban soba and the broth was delicious. Savory with lots of umami but not fatty. Tempura was crispy and eased that fried food craving I had. I also tried the gyudon which was also flavorful and not too salty. (Not in the same visit!) I did like the duck better. They also serve the hot water the soba was boiled in to add to your leftover dipping sauce from your zaru soba (the cold one). Apparently it has a lot of nutrients and is a healthful drink. Ice cream tempura are three cute little balls. I must admit, I did want a bigger serving. Next time I'm not sharing. Heh. The yuzu sorbet was tart and refreshing. The adzuki ice cream was very subtly flavored. It tasted good, but if you want a strong adzuki taste you may be disappointed. They have a tiny parking lot that is shared by the other businesses, which includes Baskin & Robins. So go for an early or late lunch/dinner unless you have the parking mojo. Small but comfortable space. It has that casual neighborhood restaurant feel to it. Service is quick and the servers are really nice and patient when you need them to explain things. Bonus is they have their own bathroom in the restaurant so it's not a shared strip mall bathroom. read more

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Thanks to fellow YELPERS like Emi H., Nadene C. and Peter Y. for sharing their experience here. The food was delicious. The tempura had that light crispy crust. The squid tempura was super tender. I ordered my meal with udon noodles rather then soba. The broth was light, made with seaweed and niboshi. The service wes excellent.I suggest you make reservations. We got there fifteen minutes before they opened. The line had just started. When we left the line was eight deep.Enjoy. read more

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Pretty good and filling too! I think is a bit more expensive than I expected but overall pretty good experience. There was a short waiting line when we got there but nothing too crazy. I def will come back when I am craving for soba noodle. read more

I-NABA - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Small Japanese restaurant right on King Street. Food is exceptional with tons of traditional Japanese flavors in every bite. Soba is served hot or cold and service is quick and efficient. read more

I-NABA - Zuke tuna bowl and soba - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Overall Experience: 5 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Value: 4 Pros: the soba here is delicious and the servers are very sweet and polite. The tempura was freshly cooked and the big assortment came with shrimp, sweet potato, asparagus, zucchini, lotus root, and more! The yuzu sorbet was also one of my favorite parts of the meal! I have nothing bad to say about this wonderful restaurant! read more

I-NABA - Tsukimi soba - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Walk in for a party of 5. Waited a few minutes before being seated where the sushi chef would be but nobody was set up for it. Our server was attentive and informative especially when we wanted 2 orders of the salted squid but recommended we only try 1 because not many people like it. She was right and a friend of ours told us it's her favorite paired with sake. Personal preference i should have gotten kake (hot) soba vs Zuru (cold) or udon. My rice bowl was tasty and nice portions but nothing spectacular. Overall the food was decent for the price. read more

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Walking inside really feels like being transported to another very Japanese place (Which is fun, because I was visiting Hawaii, to be transported to a tropical place). Service is excellent and very attentive; please be kind if it can be a bit slow. You can clearly see all the servers hustling non-stop. One server was kind enough to just give me a large glass with water, instead of having to keep refilling my small cup (Hydration is where it's at!) Food is delicious and funny enough, the menu lists them as connected to Ichimi Ann in Torrance California; so if you've been to Ichimi Ann, you can expect the same great food. Notes: There parking lot is a bit of a hot mess; few spaces and cramped. You may have to street park. read more

This place has been on my bucket list for a while and I'm so happy that I finally got to try it. The people here are so nice and friendly, and the atmosphere is also great. I didn't see the pictures of the interior on Yelp beforehand, so I was very shocked when I opened the door and saw how small the restaurant was. Small but cute. We were seated in the second seating area on the left, which I think I preferred over the main seating area you see right as you walk in. The food was so delicious! I had the chirashi and cold soba combination, which wasn't what I was planning on ordering, but in the end, I was very happy with my decision. The sashimi was thickly cut and so fresh, and the cold soba noodles and broth were delicious. This place will definitely be in our repertoire! read more

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best soba noodles i've ever had in a restaurant, and such an authentic, unassuming spot! Very fresh ikura, radish and leaves; the soba noodles over iced broth was extremely refreshing, especially after koko crater stairs hike. Long wait for lunch; we got seated near closing time. Warm staff and cute interior space! read more

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The bento boxes had just the right amount of food, the soba had perfect chewy texture and the tempura was light and crispy. Overall, one of our favorite meals, but a little pricy (seems most restaurants charge approx $30+ per entree). read more

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Cute cozy spot. Parking a little tight, street parking available. Good selections and quality of foods. Pretty affordable for what they offer on their menu. Good service. read more

This is a great spot if you're looking for soba dinner. I opted for a couple appetizers and a hot duck soba. The salmon skin salad could have used a bit more salmon skin, but it was still tasty. The tako was good, but be careful-- the sauce is a bit spicy (horse radish)! The duck was tender, and the soup was flavorful without being too salty. This warmed my stomach and definitely hit the spot. Perfect spot for a quick yet delicious meal. read more

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This company no longer offer take out request during dinner time. I'm told this was in effective 2 months ago

Food Amazing selection of Japanese foods. Portion sizes are big for the price, and the tastes are immaculate. Seriously, I would die for I-NABA's food. My family likes the mango cheesecake and the cold zaru soba the most. :) Service Servers are kinder and more accommodating than most other places I have been to not only in Hawai'i, but in Japan as well (a country famous for their overly polite staff). Just treat them nicely and don't be a Karen. Ambiance Very homey. I don't exactly know how to describe it, but it almost feels like a mom and pop shop in the way that you walk in not knowing what to expect, and walk out with the whole trajectory of your life changed. In a good way, ofc. read more

My 100th review!!! My boyfriend found this place online originally because I-NABA used to have a traditional breakfast in the mornings but it seems that they discontinued it. We still wanted to try out their soba nonetheless because it's hard to come by back home in California. It's a gem and a hole in the wall location. At the entrance they have a sliding door. For starters, my boyfriend and I ordered the Aburi Shimesaba. It was deliciously oily and fresh, mackerel is one of my favorite fish. The fish felt like it melted in our mouths. For the main dish, I ordered the hana soba, and my boyfriend ordered the zaru soba with tempura on the side. My soba came with cold broth and was very refreshing. It was also topped with tororo, uni and ikura. The combination of all flavors blended well together. My boyfriend also enjoyed his soba dish, the dipping sauce was delicious. To end the meal, we ordered the tempura ice cream and the abekawa mochi. The mochi was my favorite, it was fresh and warm. The servers are very friendly and polite, we accidentally left a shopping bag here and our waitress ran out to hand it back to us. read more

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This spot is my favorite hidden gem that always reminds me of Japan. There's a few share parking stalls and ample street parking on South King St. As soon as you step into the restaurant you'll instantly feel transported back to Japan with the simple wooden interior. The menu has a variety of options like sushi, bentos, and various appetizers, but they're known for their handmade soba, udon and amazing tempura that you can get as sets or ala carte. I'd suggest going for lunch because the sets come with a free bowl of white or edamame rice for the same price as dinner, although the dinner menu has a few more options. The Tempura Zaru Soba [20] is my go-to because it comes with cold zaru soba and a variety of vegetable, shrimp and/or fish tempura (with the lunch set it comes with rice). I recently learned that you can get half udon and half soba with any of the sets, and the udon is just as delicious as the soba! They're on the thinner side and just as al dente as the soba. I took a bite of my friend's Gomadara Soba [16] which had a nice thick nuttiness to it. Service is usually very attentive but it can get very busy at times so make sure to make reservations ahead of time! read more

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I've never been to Japan but I'm sure this is how restaurants would feel like over there. Small, cramped, intimate restrooms that smell like flowers with self-clean your buttock feature. Oh yea, the food is great here. I guess people come here for the fresh soba. Service was a bit hectic. We asked for the edamame refill about 4 times while waiting for our food. read more

Best soba place or tempura place in Honolulu or the island of Oahu hands down !!! Few years ago before covid ..was i-naba vs jimbos, sadly jimbos closed down ! Yes my picture shows udon , I just have to order hot udon sometimes, but you literally coming here for their cold soba ! only crappy thing about this place is the parking . It's byob ! They offer some good Japanese deserts, if that not your cup of tea , next door is 31 flavors baskin robins lol read more

I-NABA - Jumbo shrimp tempura with hot udon $22 - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A friend who planned a trip out to Oahu a month earlier posted pics of having soba here. The pics looked pretty amazing that we made reservations shortly after. As others have stated, there is limited parking out front and along the street. We were seated quickly in the sushi bar room off to the left. Was a bit chilly in that room as the AC seemed to be on full blast. Would've been perfect for a summer day. Decided on ordering the tori nanban soba and the kamo jiru seiro soba. Both sobas came out fairly quickly. I'll agree with others that the consistency of the soba noodles were very good but did think the broths were a bit bland for my taste buds. Pieces of the chicken and duck were a bit tough. The tempura on the other hand was pretty awesome. Both the shrimp and scallop were fried perfectly. Loved the kakiage tempura so much that I did consider ordering another one. Did notice that they offer tempura bar seats and will definitely check that out next trip. read more

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Soba was excellent the best texture and flavor. It was a little crowded,inside but it had a lot of parking. read more

I was living a few buildings away from I-naba for 18 years and never once been to this restaurant until recently because I missed Japan. The place was awesome food was great tasted like the mom and pop restaurant that you would find along side in Tokyo neighborhoods. The dining area was clean and big and minimal. The ladies who waited on our tables was awesome! Great service and I was able to speak Japanese. read more

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Extremely underrated gem that makes you feel like you just stepped into Japan. The interior has a very sleek wooden feel, and is just so cozy! The staff speaks Japanese, and everything about this restaurant feels so authentic and warm. I-NABA's specialty is their handmade soba noodles! Most dishes will come with a side of hot or cold soba, and the quantity is no joke! I ordered the Ikura, Scallop, and Uni rice dish, and it came with a giant serving of soba. I love that they bring you the soba water afterwards to drink as well, such a lovely subtle flavor. I also tried some of my friend's tempura, and it was so crunchy and fresh, I'm still thinking about it even now! Every ingredient was bursting with flavor and the meticulous quality of the dish was very apparent. We ended our meal with some kinako mochi, which to my surprise, was warm!! I don't think I've ever had this dessert warm, but it tasted so freshly made and I enjoyed it heartily!!! The kinako was sweeter than what I was used to, but in a good way. Overall, everything was amazing. The staff is so nice, and the restaurant has such an adorable cozy feel. Try coming here early for dinner, as the parking lot is small and it can get busy! read more

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