We were in the area looking for a dinner spot and wanted to see if we can do a walk-in at Imanas Tei since we didn't have a reservation. Luckily, they were able to seat us right away at the bar! We ordered quite a few dishes, including the chicken karaage, fried squid legs, tempura udon, dragon roll, and an assorted sashimi platter for my boyfriend. Everything was delicious! The fried dishes were perfectly crispy, the tempura udon was warm and comforting, especially since it was raining that night, and the dragon roll had a generous portion with a flavorful filling. My boyfriend was very impressed with the sashimi platter because it came with a great variety of fish and a lot of it for the price. The service was quick and efficient, and all of our dishes came out at a nice pace without feeling rushed. We were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this spot, and it ended up being such a wonderful dining experience. Definitely a place we'd come back to! read more

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After not going for a while, I went back to Imanas Tei. I found it a mixture of good and not so good. Some stand outs were the spider roll and soft shell crab tempura. It was great! Overall the sushi was good. What was not so good was the okonomiyaki. Although it mentioned cabbage, I felt like there was way too little and it was more like a bready dish than anything else. Of course I am jaded because I have been to Japan and eaten at some of the best okonomiyaki places, but I was hoping it would be closer. It's not expensive at $10, but it was a disappointment. I ordered tako wasa and was given tako wasabi - which for them is cooked octopus instead of raw. It was also more expensive - it was ok - my fault in not pointing it out. The other dishes I ordered were fine. I went early and was surprised that there were so little people in there - the other place that used to be Kohnotori had a line waiting for them to open. There is very little parking in the lot so go early. I will say that their lighting is incredible. I got some of the best pictures I have ever taken from my iPhone! The service was good and it was a nice experience overall. I felt like the food was a little overpriced and it ended with the one thing I dislike the most. The portable payment device that start with 25% tip. Is this where we are - 1/4 of the entire bill is tip? To make matters worse, the receipt has a bunch of tip amounts - ridiculous amounts actually starting from really low amounts like 2% to the highest which is 7%. It's the opposite from the payment device. The main I issue I have (and it's not only with Imanas Tei) is that the food is expensive and I still had to go somewhere else to eat! (See my Tanto review) Overall still a great place to go. read more

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My party of six and I were not too thrilled about our experience as a whole. Granted it was Mother's Day so they were busy, but we were seated 20min after our reservation with no apology. The food was okay, but service was not great especially towards the end. We ordered special dishes for our grandparents, and had to remind the waitress after we waited 40min for it to come out, after which she said it would be 5 min... but we ended up waiting 20min and it was clear they had just forgot. No apology or service after this. For the price the food was good, but the service just didn't meet the level that we expected especially for a special occasion. read more

Amazing place. At first I had some doubts when I was told there was no sushi chef and sushi wasn't available, but I don't regret a single minute. The oysters were phenomenal, the baby octopus was out of this world, and the beef tongue... OMFG. One of the best spots of this whole trip. read more

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Imanas Tei delivers an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. The sashimi is outstandingly fresh with melt-in-your-mouth quality, showcasing the top-tier care in their kitchen. Beyond the superb food, the service is truly amazing--attentive, warm, and welcoming--making the overall cozy atmosphere feel like home. We will definitely be back! Highly recommended! read more

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Imanas Tei lunch edition. I believe they started doing lunch on the weekends last year and I just so happen to try it recently. It is Japanese style teishoku and seafood bowls. Portion sizes are definitely filling as all the sets come with a side of udon as well. I thought the udon lacked flavor but my favorite order was the omakase sushi set or the tempura and sashimi. Both had a good variety and tasty for the price point. Service had one person serving and one or two people cooking so it does take some time for a larger group. But luckily at lunch hour it was very empty so it's great for a last minute spot. read more

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I could close my eyes and point to something random on the menu and guarantee that it would be delicious.

This is my kid's dads favorite spot. The #46 that he loves got discontinued lol. We still found a ton of good stuff and this place remains a favorite. It's a 45 min walk from our resort in Waikiki, so we always uber up and walk back. It's really vegetarian friendly and the quality is so high and our server was a super sweet, young girl who was very friendly, patient and helpful! The prices are reasonable and it's really authentic- reminded me of being at my bachan and jiichans house growing up, esp that potato salad and the tofu dishes. read more

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Really good and such a solid sushi spot I've always seen this place popping off with a line out the door so it peaked my interest. This was my first time and I got the wagyu nigiri which was good, but not the star. But the seafood?! Hello?! Delicious. I tried the 5-piece chef's choice + sake which consisted of amberjack, mackerel, scallop, hamachi, uni nigiri and some of the fish literally melted in my mouth. Also got salmon, roe, and hamachi nigiri and all of them were delicious (imo hamachi was outstanding)! The karaage was hot and juicy on the inside, and crispy on outside. What I liked about this place is that they had great promos, a good sake selection, and super kind staff. Definitely try this place if you get a chance! read more

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Went to Imanas Tei for lunch on a weekend. Nice and spacious inside with a large sushi counter. I got the sashimi and tempura set and husband got the karaage set, both were great! Lots of food, freshly made for really reasonable prices. The hamachi sashimi was soooo good. About 4 other tables were filled, everyone looked like they were getting the lunch sets too. Service was quick and friendly, a great place for a filling lunch. read more

Imanas Tei - Karaage lunch set and sashimi/tempura lunch set. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place has been around for many many years. I was always curious as it is tucked away almost intimidatingly so. I have come here at least three times within a couple years. You definitely need to make reservations. I have come each time for dinner on different days usually the weekend. They are always busy. I will agree with the service that it is really slow. There is not a lot of help usually 1-2 staff. If you are going in hungry you will be sorely disappointed. This is the place to sit and relax. We have sat at the counter twice and table once. There is no difference in service. This last time we did not make a reservation but quickly got seated at the bar as requested. We waited approximately 30 minutes for food to arrive. I would say 99% of the people here were Asian and did not appear to be distraught over the slow service. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves. With that being said, the food is exceptional. The staff work extremely hard considering there is very few of them. One is working super hard at the grill and the other making sushi. All the fish is fresh. I had assorted sushi A $26 which comes with salad and soup. I will say my squid tasted slimy and I was worried I would get sick afterwards but I did not. That was my only negative from the platter I received. The Mr had a spicy tuna volcano roll which he said was excellent. They actually gave him an extra beer which he couldn't finish since we waited so long. That was very kind of them. Will we return again? Absolutely. But I know not to go in starving. My only regret is not taking pictures of the food from earlier visits as we have ordered quite a bit and everything is delicious. read more

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Hawaii's top class sushi for sure. The freshness is just so amazing. Our server was also amazing giving us chiller to keep the drinks cold. Go and feel the authentic Izakaya vibe. read more

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Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Came here with my friends on a Friday night because we wanted Sukiyaki. They said that this their go to spot for Japanese food on the island. This restaurant was very cozy, love the vibes. Kenzo was a great server! Sukiyaki with American Wagyu: 5/5 Honestly the highlight of the meal. I would 100% order this again. Sukiyaki was perfectly seasoned. Not too sweet and it was perfectly savory. All the toppings that the dish came with were really fresh. LOVE IT. Chicken Karaage: 5/5 The pieces were HUGEEEE. Karaage was lightly battered, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Btw Honey Mustard pairs perfectly with the chicken! Oysters: 4/5 These oysters were PHATTTTTT. I like my oysters skinny doe... Kaibashira Scallop Nigiri: 4/5 Scallop was smaller than I expected but it tasted fresh. Hamachi Crudo: 4/5 Normal. "Ika Mentaiko": 3/5 This dish was just literally Ika (Squid) + Mentaiko. Honestly if I was having more sushi this would have been a great app to order. This dish was a little too simple for me. read more

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Great food, but parking is kind of difficult. Worth it though. Great way to spend Father's Day Lunch with the family. read more

Imanas Tei - Wagyu Beef Bowl Set - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Honestly, I'm giving this place 3 stars only because the food was good--otherwise, the service really brought the experience down. I had a reservation, but we weren't seated on time. Once we finally sat down, it took nearly 15 minutes just to get water. The food itself was great--no complaints there--but the service was a letdown from start to finish. I asked for a water refill three times, and no one came, so I ended up walking to the front to get it myself. No one checked on us throughout the meal. When it was time to leave, we asked for the bill and again, no one came. At that point, I was just frustrated and ready to go. As much as I enjoyed the food, the service makes it hard to justify coming back. Maybe for takeout--but sushi really doesn't hit the same that way. So yeah, probably won't be returning. read more

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I randomly stopped here for lunch mostly because I saw they had parking lol. Really lucked out because apparently recently started serving lunch soecials on Fri-Sun. I ordered the sashimi/tempura combo and wow so delicious and fresh. Nice portions, also came with miso soup and cold udon plus pickled veggies etc. Service was fine, very few people at the time. Can't wait to go back and try other menu options. read more

Imanas Tei - Delicious and good value at $28 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Imanas Tei haven't been here a while usually they are always crowded but tonight after UH Baseball beat CSUN with ten games winning streak UH Won 5-0 on Abshier one hitter strikeout five in seven innings on Saturday night amazing pitching was lucky to get table on Saturday night with no reservations Imanas have an awesome extensive menu with food choices available over 150 ! Choices you'll be Overwhelmed making your choices on top of amazing prices! My choice wherever I go as usual Sushi Soba set hot or cold soba here you won't be disappointed and the price just $18 bucks for both what the Hell ! Usually just one item can run you $18 and the staff is very courteous helping making sure of your order and ambiance of the place very comforting You'll just have to come and look for yourself Sorry found this on my unfinished site but Since this writing they have stopped late night happy hour but still great place for meals with friends if you can get in read more

I've been coming here with my husband and sometimes friends ever since they started their happy hour from 5-6 and 8 to last call. It's a great deal! They also allow dogs if you're okay eating outside, which is a huge plus. I love ordering their happy hour combo--udon soup with sushi. It's such a great value! I also usually get the sashimi and edamame, and their salmon skin hand roll is really good too. The portions are satisfying, and the prices are reasonable. The only downside is the service. There were times I had to wait up to 30 minutes just to get a server's attention, which was frustrating. That's the main reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5. Still, the food and happy hour deals keep me coming back! read more

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Sushi chef was attentive while processing orders from the dining room. Apps from their kitchen was very complementary to the sushi we ordered. Wait staff was friendly and accommodating. We won't wait as long as before in returning. Please play the sumo tourney live or delayed service on your flat-screen. read more

First off I love coming here it's nice for dates, family dinners. The service here is always on point as far as I can tell. I'm keeping it simple with saying the food is YUMMY. And it's great bites to eat if everyone happens to be talking a lot at your table. This is why I forgot to take more pictures because I was digging in lol read more

Imanas Tei - Chicken kaarage - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place was recommended to me by my friend who knows Japanese dining and we decided to come for lunch. My pet peeve is when you arrive and there isn't one other person there and the hostess seats you on the worst table in the tiny restaurant when she could easily give you a better location. We moved ourselves and she objected. That started the lunch off poorly. The food is good, but the service is not. I had read that repeatedly in the Yelp reviews, but it is true. She didn't come by once to ask if we needed anything and didn't thank us for coming. We still left her 20% for dropping off our dish. Won't return. We will get our Japanese food fixes from Izakaya Tenkichi and Udon Yonpachi where not only is the food better but the customer experience is far, far superior. read more

I recall the last time I was here that this restaurant has new owners. I couldn't really see the difference during that visit but I do notice it now. Not bad changes, this is my favorite Japanese izakaya restaurant for years and years so I can tell with the servers and taste of dishes. Little tweaks in the menu but it is still the same portions and selections. I will definitely come back again and again as I'm still happy dining here!! read more

Met up with a couple of Yeeps for a neighborhood izakaya dinner. Even though our neighborhood has more than a normal amount of izakayas, this was only my third visit to one. Unlike most of the others, Imanas Tei takes reservations on-line. Located at 2626 South King Street, Imanas Tei is located in a building with several other businesses next door to a 7-Eleven. There is a small parking lot of about 10 stalls. As the other two were running a few minutes late, I checked in for the reservation. There was a sushi bar when you first walk into the retaurant. As it was a slow Thursday evening, they-quickly took me to the table in a half-filled restaurant. There is one long table for a big group, a good number of 4-person tables, and 2 traditional Japanese dining rooms. In a few minutes my friends joined me. There was a confusing array of menus- standard, specials, drinks, and happy hour. We ended picking our selection of drinks and dinner items. I got the Chirashi Set B bowl & Nori Chazuke (forgetting that the chirashi already came with rice). All three of us got 2 drinks. The food came out in a good pace. I was able to sample my friends dishes- beef & tofu stew, okonomiyaki pancake, butterfish w/cucumber roll, and (not tried) sushi set B. But I wanted to save my appetite for my dishes. The Chirashi Set B was very generous- 6 different proteins and a big bowl of sushi rice. Out of all the items ordered, to my surprise my favorite was the nori chazuke. I forgot how much I enjoyed that simple tea rice with seaweed! With tax and tip, the total came out to about $65/person- average. Imanas Tei has great service, a wide selection, and the taste was very satisfying. It was a very good night out to eat with friends. Will repeat and recommend! read more

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Imanas Tei Traditional Japanese izakaya with a cozy, stylish, and bamboo-accented space. There is a small parking lot with around 8 stalls in front of the restaurant. We came on a Friday night and there was plenty of seating available. Food: 9.1/10 The dishes served here are amazing. We ordered the spicy tuna roll special, ika-geso karaage, okonomiyaki, chicken karaage, soft shell crab karaage, misoyaki butterfish, grilled chicken thigh, salmon skin roll, gobo kakiage, yamaimo/mentaiko roll, stewed beef and tofu w/ white miso, and salmon chazuke. Practically all the dishes were amazing; my highlights were the ika-geso karaage which reminded me of fried tako (tender and flavorful), chicken karaage w/ spicy teri mayo sauce which earned the gold medal in the Japan Chicken Karaage Grand Prix for 7 consecutive years (juicy and tender), and the yamaimo/mentaiko roll, which was perfectly balanced and had a hint of shisho leaf inside. The only dish we weren't the biggest fan of was the salmon skin roll, which wasn't too flavorful and a bit dry. Overall amazing food, and with over 150 items we'll be sure to be back to try more. Service: 8/10 Staff were friendly and attentive and we were seated quickly. They even provided us with our own water pitcher (great for us heavy water drinkers). Ambiance: 9/10 The restaurant had beautiful japanese decor and a sleek wooden table running across the center of the restaurant. There is a small sushi bar/counter as well. Restroom is clean and shared with the yakitori restaurant next door. Value: 9/10 Price is good for the amount of food they give and the quality of dishes served compared to other izakayas on the island. They also have a happy hour from 5-6pm that we will have to go back for. read more

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The food is always great and the service is pretty fast. The vibe of the restaurant is casual and seems well throughout. Parking is difficult, especially when it gets busy. read more

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How is it I have lived here for over 32 years and did not know about this gem in the heart of Moilili?? Possibly because it is hidden unsuspectingly behind a 7-Eleven, not visible from a main street like Beretania St. I loved everything we ate especially the fried burdock with seafood. I have never tasted anything like it and for this dish alone I will return repeatedly! read more

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Food was quite delicious here! Japanese izakaya type foods. Portions were a little small for the prices, but liked the variety of options. Parking outside is so tough, the lot is small and always full. Would recommend street parking or puck's alley. Good service. read more

After seeing Yelp Elites Terry K and Allen N's photos of the shrimp tempura it was etched on my mind to find this place. Leaving Waikiki, as the chauffeur, I told hubs let's find Imanas Tei. Yelp said 10 minutes away, let's go! Called for a 6:30 pm reservation. Luckily an Uber pulled out, I took the first stall by the trash bin. A man jumped out of his car and asked me if he could double park in front of me. Sure, since the lot was Full. I reversed the car all the way to the back to tandem. Both of us never heard of this place so it was great! As we entered I peered to the right, cool- there were long communal tables as well as individual tables plus I saw a tiny private room which looked like sit on the floor dining. The food arrived amazingly fast. First the gesso karaage them my shrimp tempura, hubs' raw sushi platter, miso soup and salad. My two piece unagi came last and so delicious! I put the whole triangular mound of grated daikon in my tempura sauce. Perhaps I should have added to taste. Our server was sweet and efficient. She asked permission every time she cleared the used dishes. I ordered a can of sprite then asked it they have gift certificates. I told hubs we should get his surgeon's thank you gift from here. I thought the atmosphere and ambiance was really "Japanese-esque." The server asked is 4 $25 certificates okay? Yes. I opened the envelope to check - very nice rustic looking certificates. I don't know if there was background music as the two young females drinking beer diagonal to us, one dominated he conversation quite loud and emphatically the entire time we were there. Other tables were quiet and considerate of others. Would I come again? For sure! read more

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Dinner in Honolulu, Hawaii... It's hard to believe that I haven't been to this old-school izakaya by the University of Hawaii... Imanas Tei It's a cozy nook where we felt like we were in Japan. We had 8pm reservations, but got there early because the parking is tight and limited, but free. We were greeted politely right away! We were seated at the sushi bar, so we got a chance to watch meals being prepared! I ordered Chirashi Bowl, which was perfect! The fish was fresh, and the unagi was nicely broiled. My meal came with a fresh green salad and a comforting miso soup! Thanks to Irene for always going to my Bucket List places with me! read more

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Cool little Izakaya style restaurant serving a wide variety of Japanese foods. Sushi was great. I recommend the Hamachi Collar as a great app choice. If you're feeling wild try the raw quail egg oyster shooter. Staff is very attentive and polite. read more

Imanas Tei - Quail egg oyster shooters. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Being honest Imanas was great then for a while it went down hill for some reason and now it is good again. The sushi and food items have the great taste of the good old times. The ambiance is the same except for an open kitchen setup, which I like much better. The service it seems like they have a bunch of new workers who are nice but need to be a little more attentive, which will come with time. Definitely would recommend this place again. read more

Imanas Tei - Bunch of the menu items - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Forgive me Imanas Tei for I have been neglectful. It has been at least 15 years since I visited you. Yet, the food is as delicious as I remember it to be. The interior of the Establishment is exactly how I remember it to be; with the exception maybe of new and updated flooring and carpet. They layout and footprint has not changed. About the food. We ordered and ate family style (that means we ordered more appetizer dishes than full and complete teishoku. From fried (tempura, gobo chips) to baked (mushroom dynamite, hamachi kama) to raw (sashimi appetizer), we ate our way through scrumptious food. Happy Hour menu and pricing available until 6 pm and then again from 9 pm onwards. Parking might be a problem as the evening moves on such that you may have to hunt for street parking stalls. I have one piece of advice for you and that is don't dilly dally like I did. You are definitely missing out on some delicacies at pretty decent prices Go there soon! read more

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A wonderful izakaya tucked away on S King Street! This restaurant is located in a little plaza, and parking is pretty limited to several spaces within the private lot, so you may have to hunt around for a parking space in a nearby lot or on the street. The interior has plenty of seating featuring a communal table, individual tables, and a tatami room, but it can get quite busy in the evening -- it's best to make a reservation ahead of time if you want a guaranteed spot! You may have to flag down the waiter during busier hours, but otherwise service was good. I arrived during happy hour and ordered the assorted sushi with soba, as well as a lemon chu-hi. I thought my sushi was very tender and fresh, and I loved the soba on the side. Prices are a bit on the steeper side but I do think you're paying for a good quality meal. I would love to come back to try their other menu items! read more

Imanas Tei - assorted sushi with soba - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This review is from when I visited awhile back. For those looking to do solo walk in, you should be prepared to sit at the sushi bar. That wasn't an issue for me since I got to watch the chefs make sashimi. Katsu was great but was quite disappointed in the sashimi quality. It honestly didn't have much flavor but I felt rude if I were to spit it out in front of the staff at the bar so I finished the whole platter dissatisfied. The reason for the 1-star rating is because where I was sitting (close to the cash register), i didn't realize until after I ordered that there was a whole cluster of at least 7 cockroaches (large adults and small babies) nestled in the sushi bar crevices. I flagged this to the waitress when one of them decided to march towards my delivered plate of food and all she did was kill it with a napkin with no offer to have me sit somewhere else. Needless to say, it killed my appetite and definitely won't be returning back. I'm sure with the sashimi meat sitting out, it understandably can attract pests but hope management has gotten better about doing routine checks to ensure future customers don't experience the same experience I did. read more

The hidden gem... Itadakimasu!! With 8pm reservations in hand we arrived early and yes the parking is just something to behold and is golden when you get a stall though just having free spots dedicated to any particular biz is greatly appreciated Imanas Tei is the greatest struggle to getting there. Divided in two on the right is the standard dining tables and sushi bar is on the left which is where we were seated as the tables were all full though having the entire sushi bar to ourselves isn't quite so bad either though glancing at the various menus quickly illuminated was the alcohol which left us with the Happy hour (5pm-6pm and 8pm to close) which is pretty good though we were here at 7:30 for our 8pm reservations lol...shrug! Upon arrival you're given a oshibori which is a hot towel and it was "steaming" hot as I tried to take a pic of it lol but what a "Omotenashi" traditional Japanese hospitality that absolutely help wipe the exhaust from me with this simple service strange enough was one of the most memorable part of the night. Prices are great I can't argue that though didn't want anything fried as I was so tired and ordered their "Mozuku" which is a seaweed that's seasoned in a vinegar sauce and what a bowl of yumminess but wished it had more vinegary tang along with their "Hiyashi Udon" topped with katsuobushi, green onion and daikon oroshi with a dab of grated ginger the classic Japanese way to enjoy this dish and how even my mom would make for me. Though this restaurant is quite cozy the vibe here is very comfy and minimalistic yet zen-like decor and with priced friendly items along with huge menu offerings Imanas Tea is the place that everyone will enjoy...gochisousama! Thank you! read more

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First of all the happy hour is not available. New ownership and maybe February 2026 it will come back but if you plan to go only for happy hour I would call first. We didn't call and decided to stay. The place was clean and inviting. I didn't have a visitor on our table. We had our menu picked out before we came and without the happy hour we had to look at so many options. We decided to get the Wagyu beef sukiyaki for two with sashimi. That was 114.00 for two. It was very tasty but I don't think it is with the 114.00 if we come back we will get the sashimi or hopefully they have happy hour. They say you have a choice of rice or udon. I asked for the rice and hubby asked for udon. We had to get only rice or udon. I told them okay just rice then. I think the felt bad we came for happy hour that they said they would give us one rice and udon. You're paying for a meal for two why couldn't we get an option. See my photos. We also got the shrimp tempura that was yummy yum yum. The sashimi that came with the sukiyaki was almost like Japan minus the price we paid. We would definitely get the sushi and sashimi if we come back. The people around us came do happy hour too I understand they don't make any money on happy hour alone and it is their slow season. The service was good for us but they only have two servers for the entire place. It is yummy but is it worth the money. read more

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The food, service, and ambiance are all great! The staff is friendly, food is tasty, and comfortable atmosphere

A cute small plate Japanese restaurant. Parking can be a problem as there's a very small and unique space for parking. There are several large tables and a small tatami room. If you come between 5-6, there's a nice selection of sake for $10. We came with a party of 8 so had a great selection of dishes. They were delicious but didn't really stand out except for the salmon and hamachi collars were outstanding. read more

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Went in to Imani's Tei after calling to see if they had any availability. They said to come in. When we got there we stood at the door for 5 minutes and got NO greeting or any acknowledgment "we will be right with you". We ended up leaving more that likely will not be back. read more

The food was so yummy, and it was my first time coming here for lunch time. I know they recently just started their lunch menus on the weekend, just found out today !!! Such amazing price for the Teishoku sets and everything was so fresh. Always love coming here for the freshness of the fish and great service !! Will definitely be coming back, because the pricing is amazing for all of this food ! read more

Imanas Tei - Sashimi Teishoku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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