I come here for the Specials teriyaki beef, shrimp and tempura, chicken katsu combo! Big enough to share. They have good sushi too. Staff is friendly and casual seating indoors. Come before half hour before closing if you want to sit and eat. read more

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Second time here! Will be back First time trying their sashimi- omg! Came here when they opened and it's a great weekend place, excited to try it during the week. read more

About late summer in 2025, we were saddened to learn that the Ichiban Restaurant was closing. We had eaten there regularly since 2012 as it served local-style Japanese food at an affordable price and as it was one of the better Japanese restaurants in Kahului where you could drop in, sit down and have a beer or two before dining. So, last week we wondered what became of The Ichiban and so we just went by to see what was happening. To our surprise, the former owner's daughter decided to try her hand at running the restaurant. Yesterday evening, we had dinner at the Ichiban. We were not disappointed. Mary had the Special A teishoku, while I had the pork katsu entree. The tempura and katsu were cooked to perfection (not greasy at all). The portions were so huge that we had more than enough food for a dinner at home the next night. As we understand it, the Ichiban serves dinners on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and sushi on Friday and Saturday nights. Whether you like a teishoku, bento style dinner or sushi, the Ichiban is a nice, laid-back affordable restaurant in Kahului for everyone. read more

Food, family, fun.... This spot is a nice Friday night treat... Restaurant wasn't super busy last weekend. The food was done perfectly and their staff were super family-oriented! It was a bit underwhelming on the outside, but definitely gives off "hole-in-the-wall" feels. You could make reservations through phone, but it wasn't necessary especially since I just called and we were like 2 mins away. At this point, I'm going to claim myself as a poke nacho connoisseur because this is something i need to try anywhere that has it! This spot did not disappoint with their poke nachos... fresh fish and light chips that hold the fish perfectly. Their sushi rolls were fire!!! The 69 is very basically a cali because it has Crab, Avocado, Cucumber, Unagi, Unagi Sauce drizzle, Tobiko garnish. Who wouldn't like a deep fried california roll? I had to!!! Let me not forget to mention, they had THE BEST of the BEST teriyaki beef, which is typically not my first choice for bentos... but I was beyond impressed!!! I used to go to Tokyo Tei (another favorite of mine in Maui), but this may have taken the cake!!! Shrimp tempura and veggies were lightly battered and the chicken katsu had the perfect crunch! Sauces were nothing more than a simple tempura sauce and katsu sauce... Overall, don't judge a book by it's cover... it's a bit outdated on the outside, but the food is nothing less than ordinary! A new spot for me to go everytime I am in Maui! Sushi and family.... I'll be back again for sure!!! read more

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This is a good little lunch/dinner place with sushi and teishoku boxes beer & wine. My hubby loves the korean chicken here. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - teishoku combo katsu bbq beef - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

Two Stars - ONLY because the waitresses here are SO friendly! I always try to give this place chance after chance, because I love supporting small local businesses! However, tonight's dinner was horrible. The chicken katsu was rock hard and so dry. The spareribs had no flavor - at all. The sushi here is horrible. It seems like everytime we come & order sushi, the rice is always hard and falls apart. We ordered a caterpillar roll. I don't think they know what a caterpillar roll is. A caterpillar roll is supposed to have unagi in it (which is why we ordered it). However, this roll (pictured) is just shredded imitation crab. Nothing else. They also raised the prices since the past owner, which is obviously OK since inflation and prices rise. HOWEVER, if you're going to charge more, you should at least serve quality food. The tables are sticky and feels oily, and the bathroom is just gross and seems so sketchy in the back. Overall, I really do hope this restaurant can improve and stay open for a long time. They definitely have the potential. I'd hate to see another local business shut down. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Caterpillar roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

We've eaten here several times but i never posted a review so here goes. FAVORITES/Go-tos: I used to get their bento boxes/specials but this past week we went after my doctors appointment when they opened for brunch and we had their saimin, miso butterfish and steamed opakapaka. Everything was great. LOCATION: Kahului shopping center in the corner next to the CPB building. SERVICE: Service is always fantastic. OVERALL: Prices have gone up since before the pandemic but their food and service is still good. Support local and check them out! read more

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I've always passed by this restaurant over the years, but it wasn't until the pandemic hit that I actually decided to stop by one night, mostly because I wanted to try something new. The restaurant changed ownership in late 2018, but they kept the same team and the menu has remained the same as well. On our first visit, I got the seafood dynamite and the udon. I always try to order dynamite when I see it on the menu, but do keep in mind it takes time to prepare (it's baked). Their udon was pretty standard and overall everything was just ok, nothing mind blowing. My husband agreed, but we thought it was good to check out and support a local business. We decided to give them a try again a couple of months ago and noticed that prices on some of the menu items had gone up - not surprising given the times. I went ahead and ordered the miso fish and the seafood dynamite. My husband went with the fried fish and got miso soup and rice for the kiddo. I was expecting a miso glazed fish, but was pleasantly surprised to receive misoyaki butterfish and it was then I understood why it was on the pricier side. Haha. The fish was flavorful, BUTTERY, and cooked absolutely perfectly. I love misoyaki butterfish and this totally hit the spot. The seafood dynamite was also delicious and always fun to watch the bonito flakes dancing in the steam. My husband also really enjoyed his fried fish, which I believe was akule. The dipping sauce paired well with the fish and he kept commenting how this was probably one of the best meals we've had in a while. I agreed and was glad we gave them another chance. Their menu is on the pricier side, but their portions are pretty generous and their service is always friendly and accomodating. I would recommend a stop here, especially if you're hankering for some tasty fish! They also have sushi available, but best to go sooner than later as they had sold out of sushi on our last visit. read more

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This restaurant was nice, great ambiance. The staff were quick and very courteous. Potstickers we're flavorful with the right texture. My son enjoyed the Calamari, but said it was "too crunchy" for him. He also loved the Hamburger Steak, thought the flavors were fantastic and felt the meat was perfectly cooked. I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and it was flavorful with a great texture. I initially was going to give this restaurant 4 stars because my chicken came cold, but honestly it was so delicious I didn't want to send it back. After a couple bites I forgot about the temperature and just delved into the flavor. Overall the meal was good. read more

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Been here a few times and finally made it in when the sushi was available and am happy to report my sushi was yummy. The wait was worth it. Unfortunately prices have continued to go up but that's with anywhere you go nowadays. On the plus side, service is still quick and food meets my expectations. The workers are all friendly and an overall chill vibe. My go to is always the Tempura Udon. It's super filling! The teishoku platters also have a little bit of everything to fill you up. There's lots of parking and they're open pretty late compared to other spots in the area. Stop in and support this local spot! read more

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We have been wanting to try this place for some time. I'm so glad we finally stopped in for lunch. The menu was has your typical Japanese food like Tempura, Donburi, etc. We were happy to see tempura on the menu because it's kind of hard to find here. Most Japanese restaurants here have sushi rolls but no tempura. Today I decided to order the Hamachi Kama. It came with rice which is unusual because everywhere else I have had to order a side of rice. I also usually ask for extra grate daikon but this restaurant does not have it. All in all, I had a great experience dining here. We will return for the tempura. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Hamachi Kama $19.95 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

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4:58pm had the closed sign , which was understandable since they open at 5pm so my family waited outside. Old couples went ahead and open the door at 5pm since they might've forgotten to change their open sign. We did follow them in too, we were not greeted, first thing a young lady (might be the owner) said was, please give us that 1 minute of our time so we can fix the menus, Ohkay understandable, but a welcome would've been nice. Food was ok, not the best, not that bad either. Waitress were nice and fast! She would come and check on us too and Water was refilled throughout. What we ordered! Boise Roll (Yelpers liked this one) but I didn't. Eel avocado Roll (our favorite so far) California Roll (same as other restaurants) Shrimp Dynamite (lots and lots of onions! But it was still good) Tempura Udon (pricey!) Overall I would still recommend coming here. A bad first impression can ruin a whole visit! But they did good throughout! read more

Food was good. Service was good. Old school restaurant from the '80s? Very dark inside and a very long wait for food. read more

Do yourself a favor and stop by this place. Their sushi is super fresh and really close to the hotels across the street. I got the Boise, California, and vegetable rolls..all came out delicious. Finished it off with their green tea ice cream which was also really good. Not only was the food good, but the service was excellent. They kept stopping by the table making sure we were ok, filling out drinks, etc. Very nice group of folks working here!! read more

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The Korean chicken is bussin! Best I've had. Calamari is good! Nice and soft with the perfect crunch. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Korean chicken half gone in 1 minute - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

I love this place! The portions are huge and the staff are friendly and so is the owner. My favorite meal to get here is the fried Akule. *chefs kiss* Whenever I'm craving fried fish, this is my go-to spot. The fish is big. I usually am able to eat half of my food when I get it and then save the other half for later on in the day/night. However, I must admit when I come here I don't just get only one entree. I get multiple. This is what my order usually looks like- 1 fried Akule. Which comes with 2 scoops of rice and sauce. 1 NY steak plate. It comes with vegetables on top (my absolute favorite!!), 2 scoops of rice, and salted cabbage (Also my favorite!!). 1 hurricane poke nacho. The portion is massive. You can definitely share this with 4 people. And 1 combo A. Every now and then I'll order sushi. Just know they don't skimp out on port I usually take it to go bc I like to pig out in privacy LOL, but every once in awhile I'll dine in. 10/10 recommend. read more

Haven't been here for years and I heard that there are new owners now. We made reservations and was helped by Thea. Upon arriving to the restaurant Thea also served our table and she is so awesome & nice. Thea made sure we were doing okay by checking up on us from time to time. We also met the sushi chef, Jaba, and she also so talented behind the bar! Jaba explained to us what was included in each dish and she even told us a story behind the "Boise roll". Jaba is so talented & creative behind the sushi bar. The staff here are great and amazing conversationalists, it's obvious that everyone here works really well together. The customer service here is amazing! We got the special A, special B, Boise roll, shrimp honey togarashi, poke nachos, ahi nigiri, and a special which was a panko seared ahi with roasted sesame sauce. Every single dish was delicious! I would definitely recommend getting the Boise roll and my bf really loved the poke nachos. The atmosphere here is very welcoming and have a sense of comfort. It is a guaranteed that we will be coming back! We had such a great time, I would recommend everyone to come here!! read more

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Long wait for food, tables was sticky and server said that's how the tables are. The food was super bad! I don know what's going on with this restaurant but will NEVER return. You're better off going to Ramen Bones or Tiffany's. Panda would be amazing compared to the food at this place. The worst Miso soup! The worst pork, chicken, etc, I EVER ATE!! I heard there's new owners and that's why it's so bad. Whats going on Nothing was good!! Don't waste your money!! read more

What a hidden gem. Only had a couple of rolls, and wow. The Boise roll was fantastic and very unique, never had one like it and I've tried a lot of sushi around the world. Was fortunate enough to chat with a few of the folks that work there and they were so friendly, I could tell they enjoyed what they do and appreciate providing a welcoming atmosphere. And they play good music. Don't judge this book by its cover, the heart of this place will turn you into a repeat fan. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Boise Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

Located in the Kahului Shopping Center with ample amount of parking right in the front. There was a recent change of ownership so I was a little worried that there would be a lot of changes. However, the only minor changes were that they got rid of the platform in the middle and they offer some specials on a piece of paper. It's still the same local joint it used to be. My favorites here are the combo sets or the sushi. Honestly, the sushi is pretty good here. I'm impressed with the quality. My favorite is the spicy ahi. I have yet to try the other rolls. Miso soup comes with certain meals and I'm not that fond of it. It's a bit too watery for me. I would definitely pick the salad instead of the soup if I had the choice. The salad is actually a good amount. Staff here are friendly. Don't forget to pay your bill at the front. read more

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Talk about fresh, high quality food every time! Never a disappointment, absolutely a must have when you're in town craving for sushi. My wife and I loveee their poke nachos and appreciate how full the serving is compared to other places who also have their version of poke nachos. It's not overpowering, the wontons are still hot when it's served and the sometimes we have left overs. Another must have is their Korean chicken, so perfectly cooked and a big portion as well. read more

Amazing food! Definitely recommend when coming to Maui. Service was very chill. Ambiance is quaint.

VIBE: 10/10 FOOD: 10/10 SERVICE: 10/10 Very nice ambiance and service. Homey feeling water was filled through our whole dinner. Got there about 7:15 ordered 2 rolls of sushi & the shrimp dynamite and left about 8pm. Dragon roll - amazing not too spicy but a little kick Baked rice Crunchy California roll - I don't remember what it was called but it was deep fired and had spicy Mayo on top so A+! Shrimp Dynamite - greaat! A little greasy but not bad at all! Very fresh fish/ingredients. Went on a Tuesday night :) I didn't get a picture of the Dynamite - sorry. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Dragon Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

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Not a local but a tourist visiting. Visited Ichiban Restaurant and they were very accommodating with a party of 18+ on short notice on a busy night. Me and my sister tried special A and C. The teriyaki beef was super yummy, slightly sweet, but very beefy and pronounced. I enjoyed the tempura also, the battering was really soft and also slightly sweet which complemented the grilled veggies and shrimp pretty well. Cant say anything about the sushi but it looked very delicious. Food was simple and delicious the only thing I can say I wasn't a fan of was the pork it could have used a tad bit more seasoning. Also, they serve it with ketchup which doesn't pair nicely in my opinion. Service: 10/10 Food: 9.5/10 read more

Hidden, side street, secret Gem good local Japanese food. new owners who acquired over a year ago! Today was there anniversary so they offered all customers free desert- cake vanilla or chocolate. The food menu reminded me of small Japanese restaurant in Oahu called Kabuki. Great selection, fresh fish, tempura, deep fried items that were all traditional style. Decided to go with Combo Set E. Food was authentic, sashimi fresh, prepared quickly with good service from waitress who brought water and refreshments quick. A staple on Maui- would definitely recommend. read more

Sushi is OK. Not the best, not the worst. The reason for the one star review is for how filthy this restaurant is. My table was sticky with old food. The floors are grimy. The men's restroom in the back had me walking through part of the kitchen and food storage areas, and they were greasy and smelly and hadn't been swept in ages. I can only imagine how unhygienic the food preparation surfaces are. The whole place is just shabby and dirty. It's not about Maui being expensive, it's not about COVID, it's not about anything other than management just not caring. read more

Vegetarian option that I got: Veggie roll (highly recommended. Comes with tempura vegetables in the roll that gives a nice crunch for a vegetarian roll) Avocado roll (gotta get an avocado roll) Food was delicious! All the staff members were very friendly and created a happy environment. read more

Can't make rice; terrible sushi, water flavor tempura sauce, tonkatsu was dried out, teriyaki chicken inedible. Kind servers. read more

My hubby and I went to dinner here as we haven't been in about 10 or more years. They have new owners so we decided to try it out. My review is based on only eating a few items. I'll definitely try more on the menu and update my review if I need too. They are open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner. There is quite a bit to choose from on the menu plus they had about 10 specials for the day. They also have a separate menu for sushi. We shared what we ordered. We had a the Bento "C" which consisted of teriyaki chicken and beef and tonkatsu (pork katsu). The pork was fried to my husbands liking but was a little over cooked for me. The Double 06 & 1/2 Roll was spicy tuna sushi roll topped with seared ahi and avocado which was pretty tasty. The last thing we ordered was a spicy tuna wrapped in shiso and nori and deep fried in tempura batter, that was really delicious as I love shiso. The staff was very friendly. We will definitely be back to bring our girls. The bentos are very filling as they give a lot. read more

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2016 update: FOOD: Ichiban Special (B) Combo Plate - $17.95 got me a meal set consisting of shrimp, zucchini, and sweet potato tempura, tonkatsu, teriyaki chicken, and sides of kim chee, salted cabbage, steamed rice, and miso soup. The tonkatsu was moist and crunchy, and was the best part of the meal. They mistakingly gave me ketchup instead of katsu sauce, which they changed out after I flagged one of the workers. Their katsu sauce was too sweet to my liking, as how most places are. The teriyaki chicken were boneless skin-on thighs and were pretty dry. The tempura were homemade, crunchy for the most part but soggy in some areas. The miso soup was average. The kim chee was tasty and not too spicy, and the salted cabbage was overly salty. Meh, pass. Chicken Tofu - This $13.95 dish falls under their "hot pot soup dishes" category, so it was almost ramen-like but without any noodles. A searing cast iron pot came filled to the brim with chunks of tofu, onions, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, won bok, bamboo shoots and pieces of chicken in a mildly sweet sukiyaki broth. A swish of shoyu gave it a better, more savory flavor, with a side of steamed rice to balance out the flavors. SERVICE: Food service was a bit slow, but then again the restaurant was fairly busy. Table service was friendly and professional. OVERALL: Pricey, big portions, dry teriyaki chicken, katsu sauce too sweet. I'm slowly narrowing down my favorites. read more

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The food is ono and excellent service. New favorite restaurant. Highly recommend if your in Maui. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Ryu roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

I was running around on Maui yesterday, and upon finishing a job at a credit union I asked one of the girls (Aliyah) at the branch if she knew where "Archie's" was, as I remembered seeing a review from my Yelp buddy - Michelle S. After talking with Aliyah, she convinced me on going to Ichiban Restaurant instead of Archie's for lunch, so I guess Archie's will have to wait until the next time. The Ichiban Restaurant was very easy to find, as it is located in the old Kaahumanu Shopping Center (the same place where the Ah Fooks Super Market is located). Upon walking in early for lunch (around 11 AM), I noticed I am the only customer there, besides two elderly gentlemen that were sitting at the bar drinking. A waitress comes up right away, greets me, & drops off a menu and water. Upon scanning the menu, I decided on a set lunch menu - Ichiban Special "B", which include two scopes white rice, teri chicken, tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlet), shrimp tempura, vegetable tempura, & some tsukemono (Japanese preserved vegetables) What can I say about the grub........wonderful lunch meal! The shrimp used in the tempura was HUGE! Don't you just hate when you go to Japanese restaurants where they serve you a shrimp tempura, it looks so big, but all you get is batter? This was not the case here......the shrimp was huge, and lightly battered. The teri chicken was all so plump, and the teri sauce on the chicken was the perfect item to dip some of my rice into. The tonkatsu was a wee bit fatty, but of course it was also deep fried so I knew what I was eating wasn't healthy, but on the other side of the coin, it was very tasty. Over all a wonderful lunch! The décor of the restaurant was a little on the dark side, and as I was eating.........slowly the elderly local came trickling into the restaurant for lunch. There is free parking in the large private parking lot, which is shared by other businesses like Ah Fooks. Check 'em out gang, if you like the old time mom & pop restaurants. Kinda reminds me of a old time Wisteria Restaurant. read more

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This local hot spot features daily specials and sushi! They have aesthetically pleasing cherry blossom dividers as oppose to clear plexiglass which provides more privacy as well as safety. The service was really great and everyone was wearing proper PPE. read more

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It has been 5 years since we last ate at this great local Japanese restaurant in the heart of Kahului and was so happy that it still is there and hasn't changed a bit. They have a board menu that will is appealing to any mood whether you want something heavy or light. Everything is very good and affordable. The portions are generous as well, so you defiantly won't leave hungry. My personal favorite is their Oyaku Donburi. A lot of Japanese places don't do this right and use dry tough chicken and very little sauce to moisten up the rice. At Ichiban, you get a generous bowl with tasty chicken and onions well cooked into the egg along with a good amount of broth to moisten up the rice to make for a very good comfort food type of dish. Unfortunately, they were out of the salmon skin salad which we had before and so enjoyed. We had ordered it as an appetizer and liked it very much. If you want something soupy, the Sukiyaki is a hearty yet brothy dish with lots of healthy veggies, tofu, and lean beef. It does come with a side of rice if you need something fill you up more, but there is a lot going on in this dish, so it really isn't necessary. If you feel like noodle soup, try the Nabeyaki Udon. It is loaded as well, but the broth is on the sweeter side of savory, so something to consider depending on your taste buds. There I a happy hour menu if you make it before 7pm. Try the Fried Ahi Roll. It is very good. The outside is crispy and the inside soft. Very tasty and a great starter that is perfect to pair up with beer. The service there is very friendly. From time of order to being served is very quick, but there is no feeling of being rushed. I can't wait till our next trip to Maui to enjoy this great place again. I do highly recommend it to all. Couples or families, this is a perfect place for anyone that like Japanese food. read more

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It was my 1st time eating at this establishment.So I was excited!.The 1st thing I noticed was of course the atmosphere.It looked out dated ac Units all over ,old tables n chair's n also they had hand written sushi menu n special menu.But it's miner things.As far as the food?.It was good!!!.The Ichiban special was quite a big plate.I ordered the shrimp tempura roll,Big boy roll,salmon nigiri n the fried tempura California roll.We weren't disappointed.Good taste.We would go back again.Also the customer service was good.Thank you read more

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The staff at this restaurant is awesome. All tables were spread out and very clean, it made me feel very safe! The food was really good. Like I said staff super awesome. Friendly and professional!!I would recommend this restaurant and I will return. read more

Great sushi we great customer service. Definitely a great place to enjoy a meal. Have some drinks and try there special sushi Ryu. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Ryu special ......super tasty - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

We came in on Thursday night. Open seating & fast customer service. Within seconds of sitting down, we were provided hot misco soup. After I ordered Option A which includes shrimp/veggie tempura with chicken katsu & teriyaki beef. Food was hot and fresh off the grill! Good taste too! Price about $25.99. This might be pricey to some but in Maui this is about the usual. Small hidden spot in town away from all the crowded tourist area. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - Option A - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

They weren't open, drove 35 mins to eat there and the door was locked! Also looks sketchy from the outside.

Oh boy, I just had the pork chops and it was good. I forgot to take a picture but here is what's left. Good portion and nice air conditioning. Bring a jacket for yourself and your kids. read more

Ichiban Restaurant - What's left of the pork chop. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii