Jugem is a hidden gem. It's a small hole-in-the-wall spot, and while parking looks impossible at first, there's actually convenient parking behind the shops. My grandma is from Japan, and the moment I walked in, I felt nostalgic. The atmosphere feels just like being at her house, warm and cozy. Even better, the food tastes exactly how she used to make it. I usually order the kids curry, which comes with one dumpling, two pieces of karaage, curry and rice, plus potato salad and sweet corn. The potato salad especially brought me right back to my grandma's kitchen. We also ordered the popcorn chicken, which was perfectly crispy, and my boyfriend had the hamburger cheese curry. The hamburger tasted just like the ones I've had in Japan. Everything here is authentic. The staff are friendly, the food comes out quick, and the whole experience is comforting from start to finish. I can't wait to make Jugem one of our regular spots! read more

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Stop by for lunch today with hubby. Very friendly and welcoming. We had the whole place to ourselves. There was a little toy on the table to keep ourselves busy while waiting for the food. He got the tonkatsu curry and I ordered the hamburger steak with cheese curry. Initially the curry looked little but it was just right amount of curry and rice. We really filled out bellies up. Server mentioned, we can get a free refill of curry (one time only) but we were already happily stuffed. Would definitely be back with our kiddies. read more

Jugem - Tonkstsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came on Fathers' Day for late lunch/early dinner. There was a big group that was wrapping up, and a family who was waiting for their takeout order. We ordered a chicken katsu curry, crab croquette curry, curry udon, and matcha latte. Food came quite quickly. The chicken katsu was really crispy yet tender, my crab croquette was also very crispy outside but creamy inside. The curry is a tad more intense than the other Japanese curries I've had, and the meat looks ground instead of cubed/shredded. The rice is light and fluffy! Perfect for mixing with the curry. The matcha latte was ok. At least it wasn't cloyingly sweet. At first glance the portions don't look big but it was an appropriate size for a person with normal appetite! Given that we had a late breakfast, we were full. Service was prompt and friendly. There were only three working that day; two were in the kitchen and one was serving, bussing, and cashing people out. It's a little cafe, very homey/mom-and-pop. They also sell tshirts! I didn't look very closely but I saw a Crayon Shinchan one. We parked on the street coz it was free and there were plenty open stalls at the time. I want to try their curry pan next! And also their Happy Hour! 2pm-5pm weekdays. read more

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I finally visited Jugem with my boyfriend, sister and brother-in-law. Everyone was a fan! The staff were kind enough to offer us extra curry for free! The free curry was in the cutest gravy boat. This local business on King Street is unassuming from the outside, but feels like home inside. Cute interior, plenty of seating and even fun games while you wait! The menu is rather extensive and the prices are fair. The curry is delicious! Best I've had on island. The food is cooked to order, fresh and hot. Lovely staff. Very welcoming, caring and kind. Be sure to give Jugem a try! I believe they have some sort of rewards program too! read more

Jugem - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love this spot for Japanese curry. Jugem is located along South King Street, right in between an izakaya and a sushi restaurant. Parking is generally available on the street or at the nearby paid lot, and depending on how busy it is, you may have to hunt around the area to park your car. The interior of the shop is cozy and warm, with around 6 tables inside, so seating is somewhat limited. When I visited on a Friday night, I was able to get seating for around 4-5 people immediately. Service is quick, attentive, and friendly, which I appreciated! I got the pork katsu curry, which came out quickly (probably around 15-20 minutes). I overall enjoyed my meal thoroughly! I thought the curry had a good depth of flavor, with a good balance of sweetness and umami. The katsu was delightfully crispy on the outside and juicy inside, which paired well with the hot rice and curry. I also loved how you could request additional curry from the server for no additional charge, which I thought was a nice touch. Jugem is a cozy place to satisfy any cravings for a comforting plate of curry. I would highly recommend visiting! read more

Jugem - Premium Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Consistent delish curry, deal on the kids meal and yes I ate that! Their flavors are amazing. Get the fried chicken you won't regret it! Also trying the vegetable croquettes today, creamy and crispy make sure you order this. Hubs fave is the beef cutlet curry. Fits party of 26 perfectly. We like to come early and beat the rush. Prices are super reasonable too. read more

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One of the best curry spots on the island!!! The restaurant gives an old Japanese family restaurant vibe and i love it! It reminds me of a hole in the wall restaurant i went to in Japan! The Takoyaki fries were a big hit! It is definitely different than a traditional Takoyaki, there is no bonito flakes or kewpie mayo, but the potato filling and octopus inside were soft and fluffy! Definitely try this!!! The aunties working are also so so nice and friendly! read more

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It wasn't a large restaurant, maybe about ten tables. I ordered to go. The rice was delicious and the curry was the perfect texture. The tonkatsu was cooked perfectly however the panko layer was a little thin and it fell off the meat. read more

Jugem - Premium Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

5 stars for the food, service, and ambiance! Fried Oyster Curry ($19) x3 side Chicken Katsu ($10) Fukujinzuke & Rakkyo - free upon request extra Curry - also free Jugem is the true definition of a hole in the wall spot that serves delicious food at a reasonable price! Legit Japanese curry from Kawagoe has a nice depth of flavor! Although their curry is mild only, they offer extra spicy togarashi to kick up the heat! Zoom in on the bottom left dish and you'll see the togarashi. Spicyyy! It elevates the overall experience. Fresh, plump oysters are flown in from Hiroshima! Katsu is freshly fried and crispy, fukujinzuke: also delicious! Just try it... You won't be disappointed! Park on the street or there's also free parking in the lot behind the restaurant (enter from King St). read more

Jugem - Fried Oyster Curry ($19) x3, side Chicken Katsu ($10), complimentary Rakkyo/Fukujinzuke & extra Curry upon request. ごちそうさまでした! - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Finally came back to Jugem after my trip from Japan! I was craving curry and decided to revisit Jugem. I love the curry here, it's very flavorful and has the perfect consistency. However, I docked it one star down because the tonkatsu was SUPER DRY. The panko crust barely stuck onto the meat as well. I was a little disappointed, but the curry was still good. Overall, I would still come back for the curry! If anything I'd probably get the sausage curry instead of the tonkatsu. read more

Jugem - Tonkatsu ( Pork Cutlet) - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This was such a sweet little spot with sweet old ladies holding down the fort. Had a ratatouille moment where it took me back and reminded me the days of no internal struggle, youthful naivety and ignorance, and YouTube all day. I guess I still do that last part The food was honestly just ok but the vibrations I felt there just resonated with my soul. Curry was good, a bit salty for me but I loved the lil chunks of beef and carrots. Pork katsu was kinda dry, I'd stick to the chicken here. read more

Jugem - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a true juGEM outskirts of Waikiki tourist area. The ladies are so sweet here, they also gave us refills of curry as they saw we had more rice than curry left. We basically left here stuffed and so happy because this was the best curry we've had. I'm still dreaming of the oyster curry. We also asked for a side of butter corn and some ? Radish? Forgot the naming but make sure to come here hungry... read more

Jugem - Oyster curry , chicken curry , Corn Butter - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is so cozy and the food is so yummy! Inside is so cute and has a few tables with warm lighting. It's just down the street from the Ala Moana Center so eat here instead! Service was soooo friendly and they were so good about asking how we were and water refills. The food came fairly quick and was piping hot! All the fried components were perfectly fried; the oysters were my favorite!! So good!! Tonkatsu was solid. The curry udon was fantastic. Overall, the curry is perfect and not too heavy. Portions are perfect. Come try this place for a comforting meal! read more

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It has been awhile since I've visited Jugem but I am no longer a vegetarian. I mention that as their curry roux includes minced beef...their Comedo curry is rich with just enough spice. I tried their Omelette Curry for takeout. Eggs were fluffy and curry was good. Also, got a guava soda float...which was okay. Parking lot is in the back and street metered parking is further along South King. Near the corner of Keeamoku and S. King. Open daily: 10a to 10p. read more

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My friend came home for the holidays and took him here a couple years ago and requested to come back again! The staff is always nice and polite even when they are very busy! It's a small restaurant so weekend dinner reservations are recommended. The melona cream soda is so delicious, they also have a handful of other flavors to choose from :-) The curry udon had a nice consistency, not too watery and the noodles were perfectly chewy. There's free parking behind the building; entrance is on S. King st. read more

Jugem - melona cream soda - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Hidden Gem This was too good to keep a secret. Small little mom and pop type shop where you actually see little grandmas in the back cooking and serving each dish with love. Don't expect anything fancy when you go inside. But the food is 12/10. Hot and juicy chicken with crispy thin breading and the perfect spice for the curry. They were even sweet enough to give me a free refill on my curry w my leftover rice. The price wasn't bad but for the portion size it was great. I can't wait to come back again and again Environment: 4.5/5 Food: 5/5 Price: 5/5 Service: 5/5 read more

Jugem - Chicken katsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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When I'm in the mood for chicken katsu curry, this is the place to go. The food is always made fresh to order. Service is always hospitable, fast, and friendly. The ambiance is nothing fancy, but that's not the reason to come here. Big portions, freshly made, fried crispy to perfection. They will never short you on the curry sauce either. read more

Pork tonkatsu had no taste and was heavy. The batter didn't stay on the meat and the meat itself was questionable. There were holes in it, maybe fork holes for the batter to stick to the meat? It so, it didn't work. read more

Uh... this may be theee best Japanese curry I've ever had. A friend suggested this place, and it didn't disappoint. Parking is a bit difficult, and we may have passed the place a couple of times before realizing it. We went for weekday lunch and they were able to accommodate our large party. It was a small, quaint establishment. We were the only ones there. The menu has a great variety, plus cream soda! Our food came out rather quickly and they refilled our waters often. I ordered the Premium Chicken Katsu. The friedness was "Tik Tok video - scrape the fried part for ASMR" typa crunchy. It was delicious and they served a pretty good amount. The two ladies were friendly and efficient. I would definitely return to try other items on the menu! Yelp 2026 Challenge: 04/30 read more

Since my days of solo eating will soon be coming to a close -- at least this time around -- I decided to try someplace I'd never been before. I had just finished my shiatsu session and had Jugem in mind, especially since it's diagonally across the street. It was still before 10:30 a.m. when I entered, so there was just one customer seated at a table. It's a small, cozy little place with just a few tables, so I was glad I came before the lunch crowd. A woman at the counter welcomed me and asked me to take the corner table opposite the door, which was perfect for me. This caught my eye on the menu: "Oyster Curry -- Fried fresh plump oyster from Hiroshima, Japan, served with deep rich Coedo Curry and rice." I also ordered a cold drink to sip on while I waited. More on that later... When the Oyster Curry arrived, it looked a bit different from the photo on the menu. There were still five pieces of fried oyster, as in the photo, but most of the plate appeared empty, except for curry sauce, making it look less substantial than expected. As I continued glancing through the menu, the "Jumbo Cheese Curry Pan" intrigued me. I had first thought of ordering it to go, but after seeing how much room was left on my plate, I decided to eat that one in as well. I walked up to the counter and placed the additional order, figuring it might take time to prepare. The curry dish was flavorful, with the oysters providing a nice contrast. Along with the rice, it left me only partially full. When the curry pan (bread) arrived, I was glad I had decided to eat that one in. It was hot and flavorful, with melted cheese mixed into the curry filling. It would've quickly degraded had I brought it home. The two halves of the fried bread were each about the size of an apple turnover. As I bit into the first one, there was a distinct crunch, and the mixture of curry and cheese spilled out onto the serving paper. I actually enjoyed the curry pan more than the oyster curry -- but oh, my hands became a mess. That's when I realized I should've come prepared with those individually wrapped hand wipes. There didn't appear to be a restroom inside. I usually like to clean my hands before handling my credit card. Fortunately, the napkin under my cold drink was soaked from condensation, so I used that to wipe my hands. Overall, this was a nice change -- I got to try a new place. I don't think my partner would enjoy this type of food, but I'll mention it to her anyway when she gets back. Just one caution: When exiting the restaurant, be aware that you'll be stepping down onto the sidewalk. read more

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@fortunefoodfinds: "A hidden (JU)GEM! Celebrated da hubz bday over onolicious grindz from Jugem off of S King St. Ordered the following: Coedo Curry Udon with added Chicken Katsu, a Jumbo Cheese Curry Pan (fave), Kids Coedo Curry Meal, Fried Spam, Vegetable Croquettes, Potato n' Corn salad, Strawberry Matcha drink, n' a Coedo Curry with Fried Chicken (not pictured). A feast fit for a King, IYKYK the best are da hole in the wall local kine tings!" Staff: super friendly Interior: tiny but mighty, surprisingly was able to fit our stroller Exterior: a hole in the wall Wait time: made reservations, food came out staggered between 5-15 mins Parking: free lot in the back of restaurant Overall comments: absolutely L.O.V.E. the food here! My fave is their Jumbo Cheese Curry Pan, so crispy n' full of flavor, definitely a must try. Everything that was panko breaded was very crispy to perfection. Something so simple as fried spam, but made their way, is just so good. Da hubz loved his birthday udon for long life, which had the rich curry taste. My 4 y/o loves Japanese curry so it was no surprise he ate his meal, but even better he enjoyed his leftovers the next day! Don't sleep on this place bc they are truly a hidden gem worth sharing with your friends n' family. read more

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This is the best quaint little restaurant to get your curry fix! Jugem is pretty small on the inside, usually just a 1-2 person operation with space for roughly 6 tables, but the curry they serve is top notch. It's rich and flavorful and has little bits of beef and vegetables inside - something they call "Coedo curry". You can get it with a number of different meat/seafood sides (many of them fried), including spam, shrimp, chicken, pork, and oysters. They also have curry pan, which is basically curry stuffed between two slices of bread and then the whole thing is deep fried: delicious, but not for the faint of heart. If you're dining in when it's busy, don't be surprised if the food takes a few extra minutes - it is worth the wait! There is pretty large parking lot behind the building (enter on King St) and some street parking nearby. read more

Jugem - Fried chicken curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For a few weeks, for personal reasons, I was just eating in. So my boyfriend offered to bring me some food and he chose Jugem. We had the curry and the karaage. Although karaage would be best eaten fresh, it was still amazing eaten about 30 minutes after picking up. I'd definitely recommend a stop here if you want either curry and/or karaage. It's a small hole in the wall in the strip center near La Pizzarina and Sushi Sasabune. There is parking avaiable behind the building but I believe you had to do that QR code and thing and pay by the hour. read more

Came back here with my dad for lunch and everything is still the same as the first time I came. Food was still yummy and they are still busy as usual. If you haven't tried this place, definitely come. My dad and I both got the curry udon and I love that the curry is nice and thick so it sticks to the udon. Unlike some other places where the curry is soup like and doesn't stick to the udon which loses the flavor cuz you can't taste the curry. So come try Jugem if you like fried everything! read more

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This is an awesome place. The vibe inside gives a home feel. The staff and service were extremely friendly and welcoming. They were very attentive as well. The menu is very simple. I got the pork tonkatsu curry. The curry was very flavorful and I was even provided additional curry in a gravy boat halfway through. This was amazing. The pork was very flavorful, but a little dry. I will definitely be coming back. It was happy hour (2pm-5pm) which means we got 5 gyoza each for free and they were great! read more

Small space with a handful of tables inside. We got takeout. Food was good. Lady that took care of our order was super sweet, Japanese standard. We enjoyed our curry. And the fry on everything was a perfect crunch without being oily. Rich curry that was super tasty. Rice perfectly done. Love when a restaurant does their craft well. Close to Paris Station at the corner of King and Keeaumoku. Street parking or lot in back. read more

If you are craving Japanese curry at Waikiki this is the spot to come! The people are so kind and make you feel right at home! They have so many different types of curry dishes for everyone! The curry had little bits of meat and it was amazing! Usually the curry I have feel a lot lighter but this one was a bit thicker in a good way! Their fried chicken was so crispy and flavorful! Make sure to ask all for some pickles on the side for some extra kick to your curry! read more

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Best curry and katsu on the island on god. Although it's a little small and the ambiance could be better, the food is genuinely so good I'd come back in a heartbeat. read more

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This place is hidden gem energy with a side of heartwarming hospitality. The service was genuinely so kind -- when they noticed we ran out of curry but still had rice left, they literally brought us extra curry in a little pourable cup. Who does that? Angels, apparently. I got the spam curry and it was slay. A little salty (as spam is), but the curry itself was rich, savory, and had a touch of beef in the sauce that took it to another level. It gave comforting, homemade vibes. It's got that mom-and-pop charm, and it kept me full for hours. Easily, easily worth it. read more

Jugem - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Everything here was amazing. Definitely meets the perfect curry craving and everything tastes perfect. Def the place to go read more

Jugem - Premium Chicken Katsu - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came to Jugem a second time in the same month after trying it! It's very cozy and home-like. Staff is very nice and treat you like family. Everything on the menu is great tasting. Side note: if you don't get the Curry Pan then you're doing it wrong! read more

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One of the best curry spots on the island! Small restaurant, but the staff are so friendly and you can tell they really care about their customers and the food they make. Highly recommend and will definitely be back! read more

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I have been wanting to find an alternative for Curry House. Nothing on them but after Indian curry and Thai curry, I love me some Japanese curry! Home made Kim Chee is here also gas! So straight to the point, my friend Des and I agreed that the curry here tastes good, there is veggies and not sure if it's boxed but flavor was Japanese style but also tasted local to Oahu spices from other curry plate lunch spots I have tried in the past. It's rich and savory. Thicker than others so goes well as your main entree dip or with the rice! Portions are good, price point is a little higher than other joints but I sense ingredients are the reason. The Katsu cheese sandwich here and chicken Katsu curry is the way to go. The pork Katsu was good which heavenly crispy panko breading. Some parts of the pork was dry but I am not seeing that as a total loss since I need learner cuts of meat lol. Nothing a little curry dipping won't fix! Signage to Jugem is lacking so Waze to the rescue to make sure I turned in the parking lot from S King St. Ample parking is found in back. Parking is also no charge. Restaurant is small so it's good for an intimate sized party or take out for the whole fam to enjoy. The servers and staff were very friendly and gave good suggestions. read more

Jugem - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great service, good food, price is about right. Little did i know, I could get a refill on curry for my tonkatsu curry dish. It feels like a local Japanese restaurant near the train stations. They greeted us well, got our orders and while it took a bit of time, it has a comfortable cafe feeling that made the wait not so bad. We got the tonkatsu curry, croquette curry, and udon curry. All pretty good! Curry is just spicy enough. My only complaint was that the tonkatsu was tougher than expected. 5 stars goes for the service and refill on curry. Overall, will definitely come back! They also have stamp cards! read more

Jugem - One free refill of curry! - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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GREAT FOOD! Would absolutely come back and tastes something like I would get from Japan and Japan has the best foods with curry. That's a accomplishment read more

Parking lot in the back and enter from king st. They have games to keep kids busy while we wait for food. We all ordered a different katsu: chicken, veggie, spam, tonkatsu, oyster. They were all good. The curry is probably golden curry cause that is what we only eat and everyone ate the whole plate. I also tried the cream soda and it was good. They put a scoop of ice cream in. read more

They specialize in one thing and they do a damn good job at it. The batter on all their katsu's are fried perfectly and it's never too greasy or bready, the panko is light and the oysters in this oyster curry were plump and flavorful! I normally go for their oyster curry because not a lot of place have it, but all their other dishes are delicious as well depending on your preference of protein so you really can't go wrong with anything. The tonkatsu is also a must! The curry is hearty and steaming hot and the rice is fluffy and never overdone so it soaks up the right amount of curry without sogging up They have a nice beverage selection too. I opted for a strawberry cream soda today and they have about a dozen other flavors, along with beers and beer pitchers. The cream soda made for a nice dessert to go! Definitely getting a Sapporo to pair with my curry next time too. The service is very warm and welcoming much like the restaurant itself. Small seating so definitely call ahead if you have a larger party than 4 I think. Classic local mom and pop that I'm always happy to support, much love is put into the food and it's reflected with the service as well read more

Jugem - Oyster Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Best Chicken Katsu Curry I've ever had. I ordered Tonkatsu, others had chicken. When I'm back in Honolulu, I'm definitely coming back! read more

Jugem - Best Chicken Katsu Curry I've ever had. I ordered Tonkatsu, others had chicken. When I'm back in Honolulu, I'm definitely coming back! - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If I could give this quaint little shop 6 stars I would. We came here as a group and it was somewhat busy, but aunty served us with a smile. We ordered different katsu curry sets and my friends ordered extra (they were hungry) and to our surprise, the service size was kind of big. The chicken katsu was lightly fried, but crispy all over, if that makes sense. My friends spam katsu was killer. I would get it again. Aunty noticed we were running low on curry (we dipped the hell out of our food) and quickly ran over an entire saucer to us. I can't wait to come back here again! read more

I've passed this place for years, & never tried this place until today. Can't believe I deprived myself for so long!! I ordered online pickup for lunch, walked in to the small restaurant & was greeted warmly by the 2 sweet lady's working- my order hot, fresh &waiting patiently for me. This was hands down, the best curry I've ever had IN MY WHOLE LIFE!! The portions are plenty, chicken moist & crispy and not over battered. Curry was slightly spicy, savory, flavorful & comforting. It was like someone Gma' cooked it up with all the love & secrets for generations. Lol. I can't stop telling people how good it was! Most definitely ordering from here again. Absolutely worth the $$, the food speaks for itself. Highly recommend! read more

Jugem - Premium Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii