Cancel

Open app

Search

Japanese Restaurant Aki

4.0 (287 reviews)
ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
Open • 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

JAPANESE RESTAURANT AKI · YELP ASSISTANT

Ask Yelp Assistant

Japanese Restaurant Aki Photos

Business Info

JAPANESE RESTAURANT AKI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

You might also consider

More like Japanese Restaurant Aki

Recommended Reviews - Japanese Restaurant Aki

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

Yakitori Sticks salt style - chicken, Meatball and Arabiki sausage
Mona C.

Had an appointment nearby and arrived early enough to grab a few bites at this wonderful yakitori and sushi restaurant. The wait staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. They explained the yakitori menu and made sushi recommendation and also informed us it was a good time to order sushi since they weren't super busy. The food came out quickly so I was able to eat a little of almost everything before I had to go on to my appointment but the hubby had no complaints and ordered more to enjoy! The food is soo good!! Like no joke, I wish I had more time to sit and savor each bite! Tuna and Avocado poke appetizer ($15) Yakitori sticks - they have a good selection to choose from, but we ordered things we were already familiar with... chicken thigh ($3), meatball ($3.50), arabiki sausage ($2.50) Sushi Combo A - 11 pc Sushi and Roll (sadly, not pictured) a very nice selection of fish with tobiko, tamago and ebi and ahi maki roll ($32) Deep fried oysters ($10.50) Fried baby octopus in broth ($9.50) It is a smaller restaurant, so unless you go early it's probably best to make a reservation. Can't wait to go back again!

Happy hour!
Jasmine J.

Great happy hour experience here! The happy hour occurs daily in a very short window from 4PM (opening) - 4:30PM. The prices are very very good for the food menu! Ordered 2 sushi combinations (5 pieces each of salmon, ahi, hamachi, ika and ebi), 1 3-kind sashimi plate (3 pieces each of salmon, ahi and hamachi), 2 yakitori 3-kind plate (dark meat chicken, chicken breast and pork belly), the 3-kind oden soup, cucumber tataki, tako wasabi, tamago, and a spicy ahi skinny roll. I would say all the food was fresh and spectacular except for the sashimi plate and the 3-kind oden. Sushi nigiri was a bit more fresh and tasted better than the sashimi platter we had. The 3-kind oden soup had a large chunk of tender braised daikon, a soy braised hard boiled egg and a fishcake (that wasn't fishcake....it tasted home-made but seemed like they put way too much flour instead of fish paste). The oden broth was very nice! The tako wasabi was so so good and paired well with alcohol. Yakitori was good but nothing special. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the spicy ahi skinny roll. Tamago was good. And the cucumber tataki was refreshing! Plum wine was sweeter than I'm used to but very delicious. I would definitely come back again. Total was around $96 but we did order drinks and alot of food.

Alex L.

Great place with excellent service! The omakase may not agree with many westerners' palettes so that's one thing to be careful about. Certain dishes like the fish prepared on the robata and small fish that was fried were certainly subjective pieces. The Kyoto style omakase was a very nice touch to our visit to Oahu sharing the experience with ohana. This made it even more special and certainly a core memory. All the sashimi and nigiri was top notch as the clam soup, tamago, chowanmushi, and the dessert were perfectly timed. Our chef was very down to earth and inviting. Forgot what I said but he thought I spoke Japanese. That's one language I wish I really learned. That's for another story. haha! I would recommend to come here with an open mind and an empty stomach. This place has it all for a classical izakaya style experience. The place only seats seven people so definitely make that reservation! Kampai! (cheers!)

Yakitori set
Kira K.

Came here for lunch for a girls day and wanted to try this place since we've never tried it before. The restaurant is cute and while small, it was nice how it's partially open so the nice breeze comes through. At first I wanted sushi, but the prices of the sushi were too pricey in my opinion. I ended up getting a yakitori lunch set which came with 2 types of chicken, pork, arabiki, and roasted cherry tomato. It also came with a side salad, miso soup,, some tsukemono, and rice. While the yakitori were all good, they were nothing special. As for the sides, I found it odd that chicken salad was one of the sides because it didn't match the rest of the food and just seemed random lol. Salad was okay, but I think the dressing was the sesame dressing from Costco. Service was friendly, but we all thought everything was just "okay". However, if you are in the area, it's worth giving this place a try :)

Andie Hojun L.

Great ambiance, amazing service, filled with regulars! We went in during lunch to celebrate my birthday. Original plan was to go to Sushi Aki next door for their Omakase but we did not get reservations in time. It ended up working out great though because we loved the food!! Their Sushi platters were delicious and also a great deal and their lunch specials looked really good too. My toddler daughter inhaled their udon and their Agedashi Tofu! So delicious. Definitely will be going back to try their Yakitori and other dishes!

Sylvia T.

We used to come here in 2019-2020 before Covid cause I worked in the neighborhood. Today we decided to eat late dinner but alas, the food was not the same. Sushi was small and dry. Yakitori was just ok. Nothing really stood out. Quality and taste went down the hill. Service was ok and ambiance was ok with some loud tourist. Won't be back. The food quality and the price are not worth it.

4/6/25 Fatty (in good way) Negi Toro
Tommie O.

4/6/25 Every dish was tasty... Watched Gyu "Beef" Tongue n Shishito Peppers being grilled by Yakitori chef Fresh Mizu Tako "Octopus" Sashimi so soft Aburi Engawa "Flounder" Nigiri was fatty good Negi Toro "Tuna" Sushi also fatty good There's a trend going on here...Broiled Salmon Belly very fatty good dish w very crispy skin! Order early cause it' takes a while to cook Good service too... made meal even better

peppers, sausage, beef
Kathy C.

This place was an easy 10/10 for me. every item i had was light and hearty yet flavorful. I would come back here in a heartbeat. The service is really good, they're really fast and greet you as you come in and as you go. I sat at the counter and thought it was the best seat because you can watch them grill meats in front of you. The inside was really nice and had a clean aesthetic. Great for indecisive people like me who want to try a bit of everything! Surprised this place isn't talked about more.

11 piece sushi combo and seafood salad
Roya J.

A friend was visiting and wanted fresh and authentic sushi. It was an odd time and most places were closed, except the spot. Though I've been to the shopping area, multiple times, never to this restaurant it is a little hidden, but super cute. Bottom line, service was friendly,, the fish was fresh and prepared dwell. It was a little on the pricey side, but acceptable given the quality.

See all

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 3
Love this 5
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Mona C.
178
128
1941

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Alex L.
274
1435
2197

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Great food. We go for the motsunabe but everything else including the yaki tori was great.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lori M.
69
12
33

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tommie O.
0
102
197

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kathy C.
2
46
135

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lyla D.
862
2094
43692

3 years ago

Helpful 32
Thanks 6
Love this 22
Oh no 4

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Keith T.
12
53
10

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 4
Love this 7
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 43
Thanks 2
Love this 41
Oh no 2

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 2

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 21
Thanks 0
Love this 19
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0
Photo of Stacy S.
1601
1137
6776

5 years ago

Helpful 35
Thanks 0
Love this 28
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of David P.
7
102
72

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

Page 1 of 8

Japanese Restaurant Aki Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Japanese Restaurant Aki

You might also consider

Ginza Sushi - Junior sets, lunch specials, drinks and dessert

Ginza Sushi

4.4(830 reviews)
3.5 mi•Kaka'ako
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Casual dining

Fantastic Sushi, Sizzling Ribeye, and Hospitality That Keeps Us Coming Back!…read more BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Outstanding sushi, delicious Japanese cuisine, exceptional service, and a welcoming atmosphere! Ginza Sushi is a terrific alternative to the crowded restaurants of Waikiki, offering a wonderful dining experience just a short distance away. Our first visit was so memorable that returning for another meal was an easy decision! The Details: During a previous visit to Oahu, we discovered Ginza Sushi and enjoyed such a fantastic meal that I made a mental note to return. Well, here we are again! This time, several colleagues and I decided to revisit this little gem for dinner, and I'm happy to report that Ginza continues to impress! Located at 310 Kamakee Street in Honolulu, Ginza Sushi is conveniently situated outside the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, yet close enough to make the trip worthwhile. If you're looking for excellent Japanese cuisine without fighting the Waikiki crowds, this place deserves your attention! Ginza has relocated within the past year, moving from its former location just down the street into a newer, upgraded space. The new restaurant is a definite improvement, with an inviting atmosphere that complements the quality of the food and attentive service. Tonight, our group decided to share several sushi rolls and appetizers, along with a mixed chirashi bowl served over seasoned sushi rice. First to arrive was the sizzling prime ribeye! What a wonderful presentation! Beautifully seared slices of ribeye arrived on a piping-hot cast-iron platter, resting atop a bed of Maui sweet onions and sautéed mushrooms, with a generous pat of herb butter melting over the beef. The aroma alone was enough to get everyone's attention! A delicious combination of savory beef, sweet onions, and earthy mushrooms. Next came a plate of gyoza, another excellent addition to our shared meal. We also enjoyed a beautifully presented Rainbow Roll, featuring a colorful assortment of seafood and avocado layered over a sushi roll, finished with a generous sprinkling of bright orange fish roe. Fresh, colorful, and every bit as appetizing as it looked! The mixed chirashi was another welcome addition to the table, offering an assortment of seafood served over seasoned sushi rice. Unfortunately, I became so engrossed in the food and conversation that I neglected my usual photographic responsibilities! Somehow, I only managed to capture pictures of the sizzling ribeye and Rainbow Roll. Apparently, my appetite was working considerably faster than my camera! One of Ginza's greatest strengths, however, is its service. The staff are absolutely wonderful! Friendly, attentive, accommodating, and genuinely eager to ensure their guests have an enjoyable experience. You can tell these folks take pride in what they do. That commitment to hospitality is reflected in everything from the food presentation to the restaurant's welcoming ambiance. It's always encouraging to return to a restaurant after a memorable first visit and discover that the experience wasn't a fluke. Ginza Sushi has now impressed me twice, and I fully expect there will be a third visit whenever my travels bring me back to Honolulu! Maybe even a third visit this trip...! Great sushi, delicious food, wonderful people, and a location away from the tourist crowds. What's not to love? Mahalo, Ginza Sushi! Keep doing what you're doing, because you're doing it exceptionally well!

Got there on a Sunday about 5:15 pm for dinner for 2 no problem…read more Kim provided service above extraordinary and very pleasant! Appetizer was fried calamari and an order of uni sushi ala carte. Dinner BBB miso butterfish, sashimi and tonkats, plus sides and dessert. Food was good and ALL the fish was fresh, we will be back!

Photos
Ginza Sushi - Hoso maki, temaki, donburi  & noodles

Hoso maki, temaki, donburi & noodles

Ginza Sushi - Nigiri sushi and sashimi

Nigiri sushi and sashimi

Ginza Sushi - Sushi rolls! This is how we roll!

See all

Sushi rolls! This is how we roll!

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii

Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii

4.1(246 reviews)
1.4 mi
Free parking
Wheelchair accessible

Came for lunch without a reservation on a weekday and was quickly seated in a spacious booth. The…read morerestaurant was not super crowded and our waitress was very attentive. We had two lunch sets- the premium and the tuna. Each came with miso soup and chawanmushi. The fish was uniformly excellent and each piece almost melts in your mouth with a generous portion size. They use seasoned rice which falls apart more easily but I appreciate that I don't really need to use any soy sauce with the pieces. The standouts were the aburi nodogoro and the chu toro. I thought the ama ebi was a tad chewy but it was still good. We also ordered alacart some scallop nigiri, their special (miso salmon nigiri), and engawa nigiri. The scallop was HUGE so definitely worth the price if you like hotate. The miso salmon was just ok, not a huge fan as the miso flavor was too strong. The engawa was perfect, very melt in your mouth. Prices are reasonable for the quality and care. It is definitely a step up from most sushi spots on the island but below an omakase meal, so it's a nice in between if you're in the mood for a little celebration without the formality/time for a full omakase.

Self note: get the Yamayuki Tuna. (chutoro) It's so good…read more The first time I tried sushi from Ginza Onodera was when they were at the Honolulu Fair last year at the Convention center and I remember their tuna was amazing I wanted more. Which led me to come out to town for their Maguro Fest at their store and let me tell you the quality of their fish, so good it melts in your mouth. Now, originally the prices are pretty pricy which you expect from sushi grade fish. The more fatty the tuna the more pricier it is but you know what treat your self, it's an experience. Since it was a limited time event, I get to try their otoro for half the price and you know what I'd come back for it again at its regular price to treat myself. Orders is through an iPad and you can pick through different categories and the amount of rice for your sushi. Wasabi and ginger is free of charge but if you need lemons for your water or fried item it's a $1. The staff was quick and welcoming which reminds of customer service in Japan. Good quality service and quality food. I'll definitely be back.

Photos
Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii
Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii
Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onodera Hawaii

See all

Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo

Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo

4.2(1.2k reviews)
2.6 mi•Waikiki
•$$$

I used to frequent Katsumidori Sushi a lot when my sister used to work at the Prince, and it's…read morestill one of my favorite spots in Honolulu for affordable and delicious sushi sets (feels like it's straight out of Japan!) I'd definitely recommend this spot for more adventurous eaters who enjoy trying different types of seafood and exploring flavors beyond your usual salmon and tuna rolls. It's a great place to step outside your comfort zone and try something new with one of their sets! If you're looking for authentic Japanese-style sushi sets at a reasonable price, Katsumidori is definitely worth checking out.

A nice date spot for sushi! Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo is located on the first floor of the Prince…read moreWaikiki. You can park in the structure attached to the hotel, and parking can be validated with the restaurant host. I made a reservation for 2 on a Monday evening, and I was glad that I did as it was fairly busy. The restaurant was a bright, clean space, and we were seated promptly at the sushi counter. The chef that was serving us was attentive and polite, and our sushi orders came out quickly. I got the salmon sashimi and negitoro sushi, and I overall enjoyed the the fish as it was quite fresh and nicely presented, albeit being on the pricier side. I also ordered the katsu parfait, though I was disappointed as it was primarily composed of corn flakes and chocolate sauce, and overall it wasn't quite satisfying. If you want to treat someone (or yourself) to higher-end sushi, this is a decent place to go to! Would definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time if you do.

Photos
Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo - The Patient Prince

The Patient Prince

Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo - Parfait

Parfait

Katsumidori Sushi Tokyo - Soft Shelled Crab

See all

Soft Shelled Crab

Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar - 10 Piece Sushi おいしい

Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar

4.3(1.5k reviews)
7.8 mi
•$$$$

We walked from the airport (18 minute walk), which felt nice after a very long flight. This place…read moreis really unassuming and honestly looked like a run down spot from the small parking lot. I trusted my friends recommendation and everything I had heard and decided to continue inside. Upon walking in you'll see a pic of Obama with some chefs, so you know it's good. The servers were super friendly and moved us to the izykaya in the back so we had some more space for our luggage. They were getting busy already and it was early afternoon, so the izykaya filled up quickly. Protip- Make sure to have a reservation, even on a week night! I ordered the 6-piece spicy tuna roll. The rice was super sticky and it was so fresh! I then placed another order for a plane tuna roll and it was amazing. The rice was perfectly seasoned and the simple rolls were just SO GOOD.

First time coming here to Mitch Fish Sushi Use to Work Just…read morearound the corner at American Airlines but This place never existed back then lol or I'll be here Every Lunch ‼ Order my Usual Chirashi set Sushi Let's see what happens with this place lol and then I'll be able to see but I've been hearing about this place for a long time now and I'm just now able to find out but by looking over the menu there's a lot of selection and it's dining areas are divided into three 3 area restaurants are able to accommodate large groups for parties staff members are very knowledgeable and cordial great place but the parking might be only problem ‼

Photos
Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar - Dining area toward the bar. Wide walkway or wheelchair space.

Dining area toward the bar. Wide walkway or wheelchair space.

Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar - Miso soup w/ shrimp head

Miso soup w/ shrimp head

Mitch's Fish Market & Sushi Bar - Oysters Raw 6 PC

See all

Oysters Raw 6 PC

Nami Kaze - Dining area

Nami Kaze

4.5(801 reviews)
5.6 mi•Iwilei
•$$

It was so sad this business is closing down by Oct 31st. With rising food costs, inflation and…read morestaffing, it's understandable but I wish best endeavors for Chef Jason Peel and his staff. My fiance won a gift card actually 2 of them (from his coworker whom could not get a reservation secured), we knew we had to make the trip over before they officially close. We had multiple dishes, but staff made Kauai prawns and tomato miso black cod dishes on the house since they ran out the Hokkaido scallops. We ordered the short ribs, lobster appetizer, hamachi crudo and lastly sashimi moriawase to finish food palate. Lukki lemon dessert was great way to end to night. Ordered the Milk tea bouquet cocktail while my better half had water ( either way the food coma knock him out cold the rest of the night lol). To be honest, it was difficult to determine which dish was the best because the staff kept quality there despite it being busy every night since they announce the closure. Sashimi moriawase, fish was so fresh, reminded me of my time spent in Hokkaido and Sapporo. Short ribs was soft and rich in flavor. Both me and my fiance liked the lukki lemon dessert, like lemon meringue pie but broken down version. If you have a chance to dine here before closing and got a reservation, definitely will have a lovely dining experience and your stomach will be full by end of the night.

Husband and I tried Nami Kaze in our recent trip to Hawaii. This place is huge! I was so glad to be…read moreseated in the side room because I found it to be a lot calmer, less people and no TV. The staff were friendly and very helpful with giving us recommendations. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 entrees, and honestly it was too much food for us. We had leftovers for breakfast the next day! - For appetizers we got: Ulu Tots, Japanese Eggplant, and Corn Beignets. The Corn Beignets was the best. - For entree we got: Tomato Miso Black Cod and the Short Rib. Both were delicious and worth a try. Sad to see that this restaurant appears to be closing.

Photos
Nami Kaze - Nami bento

Nami bento

Nami Kaze
Nami Kaze

See all

Sushi Izakaya Gaku

Sushi Izakaya Gaku

4.5(1.1k reviews)
2.9 mi
•$$$$

OH MY GOOSHHHH! This place has got to be the most underrated place on this island. Like why aren't…read moremore people talking about this hidden gem??? I know you guys drive by it and see it but have you dined in? If not, this is your sign. My friends and I walked in around 8pm and got seated right away. The place was packed (as it should be) but we were so lucky. The waiter took us to the back room where we sat on those "floor" tables... it was awesome! I felt like I was in Japan. Service was 10/10. Waiter gave us GREAT recommendations as it was our first time. Let's talk about the food. My top 3 dishes of the night -- 1) Uni charwanmushi - to DIE for. So much flavor, so much protein. 2) the beef skewers - incredibly tender. We ended up ordering another order bc it was so good. 3) sushi- Negitoro, torotaku, spider roll and spicy tuna... the rice and fish texture was just so perfect. The fish tasted fresh and the rice to fish ratio was a 10/10. Ambiance: chill, friendly, not too loud and everyone was so respectful. I'm craving it as I type this. So yeah, check it out. You won't regret it.

Haven't been here in years! Mom and dad celebrated their 67th anniversary so we decided to go and…read moreCELEBRATE! It was 4 of us and I made reservations at the beginning of the week. We go the first seating (5 pm) since we need extra space and time to get around. We had a nice spacious table seating. I can only suggest maybe cushions for the chairs for they're hard wooden seats for elderly especially. Our server was friendly and explained a few items. We ordered the top sushi platter but unfortunately she didn't understand and made the mistake of bringing us a different one. It was fine for I ordered a bunch of side dishes. My parents and friend enjoyed almost everything. I think the three items I enjoyed the most were the yuzu pickled vegetables, the yuzu sorbet and the chicken karaage. Those stood out the most for me. For the whole experience it was rather enjoyable still how I remembered it used to be. There is ample parking in the back if you come early or street parking. It was a little difficult with someone with a walker but slowly we moved in and out so just need patience. Pricing was what I was are used to going out to eat sushi nowadays. I think they were supposed to give us a special dessert for I asked ahead of time and it wasn't brought. I didn't want to bother asking but this was a special day for them which I thought should possibly not be overlooked when people make reservations. Luckily I made a cake which they enjoyed at home. However the place is cozy, the food is fresh and the service is good.

Photos
Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Interior

Interior

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Salmon skin salad

Salmon skin salad

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Warabi Mochi Matcha Ice Cream

See all

Warabi Mochi Matcha Ice Cream

Nori Bar

Nori Bar

4.5(411 reviews)
3.6 mi•Kaka'ako
•$$
Casual dining
Romantic vibe

Second time being here, the food and service are consistently good. We ordered mostly hand rolls…read moreand the quality is just impeccable. My favorites are : Oyster shooter with Sake Unagi roll, Blue crab roll (no truffles) Spicy tuna roll and of course: The chicken thigh skewers. I can't wait to come back!

My friends and I went in for dinner reservations on a Saturday night to celebrate my fiances…read morebirthday. Open table doesn't take reservations for a party more than 4 so I called and was able to make a reservation over the phone. It was great because they synced it with my open table account and I got my points. It's a small restauranted located right next to Tonkatsu Kuro. You can park at Ward or at Whole Foods. It's all counter seating and you order everything through a QR code that takes you to toast tab. There aren't any servers that check on you on a regular basis. Everything came out pretty fast. We order a variety of food: rolls, chicken skewer, nigiri and side dishes. You can choose to have the rolls served all at once or one at a time for freshness. I was so hungry I requested to have my 6 rolls all at once and finished it in less than 5 minutes. They have preset menus for nigiri and rolls so if there are any rolls you want to try you need to order ala carte. The fish tasted fresh and clean. The one roll I wasn't really impressed with is the scallops. Overall, it was a great experience. It was intimate and quiet.

Photos
Nori Bar - Counter very clean

Counter very clean

Nori Bar - Take out set roll box. Available for 4,5 and 6 roll sets.

Take out set roll box. Available for 4,5 and 6 roll sets.

Nori Bar - Try our specialty hand rolls!

See all

Try our specialty hand rolls!

Doraku Sushi Waikiki - Royal Hawaiian Center - Sashimi 8

Doraku Sushi Waikiki - Royal Hawaiian Center

3.8(3.6k reviews)
1.9 mi•Waikiki
•$$$

Doraku has one of my favorite happy hours from 4-6pm everyday. I recently came by with some friends…read moreto catch up and talk story, and Doraku is the perfect spot for that. I love their small shared plates (especially during happy hour)! Craft cocktails are $4 off and my favorite is their lychee martini or the smoky negroni. On the happy hour for food, my favorites are the salmon carpaccio, spicy salmon handroll, agedashi tofu, shishito peppers, and the chicken karaage. Other must-haves are the hamachi garlic roll and misoyaki butterfish. I love the ambiance here and the service is always great too.

Oh man... I'm sorry to say I was not impressed. While we were seated right away service was slow…read moreand though the food was beautiful and fresh it wasn't delicious (we would have rather had delicious sushi at a $ or $$ place instead of mediocre fancy looking sushi at this $$$ place). I also don't understand how Yelp lists this place as a "good for kids". It's not. There wasn't a kids' menu and the dishes were not kid-palate friendly (other than maybe the basic California style hand roll). For example, the fried tofu had shredded ginger on top that permeated the dish and the karaage had a very mild (but present!) note of spice that reminded me a bit of buffalo sauce. Our waiter didn't even give us a heads up or point us in the direction of any dishes to consider for the kids (surely we must not be the only family who has brought kids to this restaurant). Lastly, I understand that the tempura brownie is popular but after tasting the "tempura" on the tofu I'm sure the brownie is just the star that shines through. The "tempura" on the tofu was gummy and not the authentic Japanese tempura we are used to (my husband, who is part Japanese, said to me "What is this?! Cornstarch?"). This is probably a great restaurant for drinks and hanging out with some adult friends but the rolls and appetizers were just not to our tastes. We were also sat outside when the restaurant was near empty inside and out (we went around 4PM) and it was a hot day (though the AC wasn't particularly cool enough for my preference inside either).

Photos
Doraku Sushi Waikiki - Royal Hawaiian Center - Interior + Edamame

Interior + Edamame

Doraku Sushi Waikiki - Royal Hawaiian Center - Green Salad

Green Salad

Doraku Sushi Waikiki - Royal Hawaiian Center - Tokyo sour

See all

Tokyo sour

Japanese Restaurant Aki - japanese - Updated November 2026

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