So, this place is a bit more expensive than I feel it is worth. The kalbi was fine, but the rice is cheap and the salad is basic. They server offered tea and were good about refilling my water, but the price isn't really worth what you get. Also, the tea cup is melamine and had a soapy smell to it. The food is okay, nothing wrong with it, but it isn't anything to write home about. This place is more nostalgic than anything for people who grew up on the windward side. For the windward side and for a mall, it is pretty good japanese food though. I hovered between a 3 and a 4, but since the service was okay, I did a 4. read more

Kiku Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

This was our first time trying this location since the original moved from kahuhipa. Food quality here is horrible! We only ordered 3 dishes and barely touched them. We asked for our check and explained to the waitress what was wrong with each dish and she could clearly see we barely touched each. Still charged us 100%! Never returning to this restaurant! Fried Akule had zero taste, beef sukiyaki was way too salty and they don't even use sukiyaki beef! They use thick tough pieces of beef, fried squid legs were fried in very old/dirty oil. read more

Kiku Ya - Do not order their udon! Way over priced, nothing in it, broth tasted like straight shoyu, any store bought instant udon is way better! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Having been to their restaurant in Kaneohe, & lunch time around 11:30am we stopped in & was blessed to find parking in their lot, which houses a lot of other businesses. Japanese eatery had a few tables full & the lunch crowd was coming in.Wait staff was prompt as we ordered & ice water was served. Did not take long for our food to come, & noticed the butter fish on the 2 choice combination was rather small,may be two bites, Tonkatsu was ample & every bite tasty! The tempura & California roll was tasty as well. A reasonable lunch & a good rest, before heading home! read more

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All I'm gonna say is "Not the worst, but honestly not the best." But The food was fulfilling and I was very thankful for dinner! First time eating here. And I was thinking I would have had the same dining experience. I've tried the Kalihi location. Or are they not like the same?!! Because Kalihi is Kikuya and this one is Kiku ya. ‍ I felt as if this restaurant wasn't authentically Japanese. Maybe it was a Korean-Japanese fusion haha I Don't Know. Anyway, like I said I've been to Kalihi's Kikuya. From what I recall when I went there quite a few times Food and service (even while busy) was great! And that location had sushi! Haha Food was fulfilling. Service was alright. They could have came back to check on us especially as we were a big party and it wasn't busy yet. Ambiance was okay. Nothing too bad about my dining experience. It just could have been better. read more

Kiku Ya - Ten Don; Udon, Chicken Katsu, shrimp Tempura & Fish Misoyaki (Butter Fish) - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

The service is great. Waitress was very attentive. The food was great and the price is worth it!! The restaurant is soft with music . I recommend this place read more

Kiku Ya - I had the lunch special!! Miso Butterfish with shrimp tempura!!! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

"Local style Japanese Cooking now at Windward Mall." A long time favorite has moved to Windward Mall. Because we live town-side, we don't get to go to Windward Mall, all that often. Kiku Ya was always a favorite and the last time we went was when they were still on Kahuhipa street where parking could be a challenge. So on our latest trip to Kaneohe, we decided to dine there and we were not disappointed. Kiku Ya prepares their food not necessarily like fully authentic Japanese cuisine, but rather Japanese with that local style flair. This type of local offering is the type of cooking close to many a local's heart. Kinda like comparing a Saimin stand (Like Jane's Fountain in Liliha) to a ramen restaurant (like Onoya Ramen in Kapahulu). The combo Teishoku meals always hit da spot- my favorite combo is the ahi sashimi, assorted shrimp tempura and teriyaki chicken plate. It came with potato salad, toss salad, rice and miso soup. The sashimi came out not fully thawed, but after it being out a couple of minutes it was fine. Eating tempura "fresh" is always better as it is is for most fried foods, so I focused on that first. The jumbo shrimp were big and cooked just right. Not greasy, done just right. I had leftover Teri chicken, boneless pieces with a just right teri sauce that is one of my favorites. Warming it up the next day made for a great second meal, that along with the salted cabbage and rice, it was a great light lunch. The wife had their yosenabe that she enjoyed although the soup was just a little more shoyu based than she would have liked. The place is spotless and the service is as friendly as ever. The portions are generous as always, as many diners were like us - asking for a takeout container. read more

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We used to go to this restaurant before it relocated to Windward Mall. We used to love it. But, we recently had a bad experience. We ordered take out. When we opened the package, there was a dead, smashed roach right on top of the plate. Roach droppings were along the edges of the plate on both plates. There was also a long hair that was fried into the tempura. I was beyond grossed out. The food is expensive so I would expect better. We won't be coming back. Update: we called and the woman did say she would refund our money. So I can't fault them on service. read more

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Did the food taste good? It was ok. Did my tongue feel tingly as I ate the fried ahi? Yes. Did I get sick after eating it? Unfortunately yes. I usually have an iron stomach so for it to affect me, that means it was pretty toxic. Don't plan on getting the ahi any more from here after researching tingly feeling after eating fish and tuna is highly susceptible of contracting bacteria from improper cold storage. Service was pretty fast and friendly though. I got take out. If it was dine in I would've said something after the first bite. But since I was already gone I ate it anyway against my better judgment. Mistake! read more

Kiku Ya - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Came here tonight with my family. Was pretty empty for dinner time but it was understandable for a weekday The service was super good! Lady at the front was nice and attentive. Pretty much the only reason for the two stars was because of the service. Food was lacking unfortunately. First time here and my mom got the butter fish dinner combo and I got the salmon dinner combo. Sashimi looked pretty fresh, nice red color. But our main entrees we're not very good. Salmon was deep fried and was okay. Miso butter fish came out tasting like it was past the expiration date. They did bring out a remade piece (one small piece) and that one tasted better but still no flavor. Assorted tempura was okay as well. I really wanted to like this place but I don't think it's worth the price. Maybe It was an off day so may try again when I the area read more

Words cannot explain the disappointment and the poor AF customer service this place has currently under new ownership. We were told that they had no room for us at all and told to kick rocks. I didn't understand why because the whole outside of the restaurant was empty. Thus, this caused quite a bit of friction between me and my family which was uncalled for in the first place. Words of caution when visiting this once family owned restaurant such a sad site to see a family run restaurant get ruined like this by the new staff and owners. read more

Welcome to Windward Mall in Kaneohe, Hawaii! Kikuya's new Kaneohe location is way better! They used to be on Kahuhipa Street - in the industrial area of Kaneohe - with very challenging parking. However, as of 2-14-22, Kikuya is on the second floor of Windward Mall - across the hallway from Hawaii USA Credit Union, and next Ninja Sushi. Parking is free at Windward Mall. The best place to park would be the covered parking area near the Straub Clinic side of the Mall. Enter from Alaloa Street. My friend, Donna, told me about Kikuya's move. I think it's a great business decision because there's more foot traffic at Windward Mall - and they will be open daily! The new location looks modern and clean. (I really liked the cool fish and Tako prints on the walls!) They sure were busy when I visited on 2-15-22... I ordered takeout. I was told that it would be about a half hour wait. Sure. For good food, it's worth it to wait. So, I placed my order for Salmon Shioyaki Teishoku, paid, and did some errands. When I returned, my food still wasn't ready (that's how busy they are), so, I played some games on my phone - outside - in the cool air where the outdoor dining will be. (The inside of the restaurant seems a little warm... Maybe because they're almost at full capacity.) After about ten minutes, I checked on my order and it was ready! Yippee! I opened my package at home to find a nicely prepared crisp salmon... ooh, that Salmon skin! The green salad was fresh and crisp! The potato salad was deliciously comforting! Ahhh! I was so hungry that I ate all of the white rice...hee hee! I'm really looking forward to returning to Kikuya at Windward Mall again! Next time, I would like to dine in and enjoy the miso soup! read more

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Checked out Kiku-Ya for lunch located in the Windward Mall. I guess they moved from their original location on Kahuhipa St in the mall. I had their Butterfish Misoyaki w/Shrimp Tempura and my wife had their Beef Teri / Shrimp Tempura. It was ok the Butterfish can use a little more miso taste but other than that is was all good, The Teishoku comes w/miso soup and pickled cabbage on the side. On the plate there was Toss salad , potato salad, and the 2 choices w/ rice. Service was very friendly and fast .We got there at a perfect time because once we were ready to leave the crowd started to come in. Also it was the first time in a long time didn't have to show any vaccination card yay. Support local and be safe. read more

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Ok, I read the reviews and thought ok this will be good. No not good. Maybe because it was Mother's Day? Confusion and waiting ruled this visit. Ordered the lunch plate of butterfish and shrimp tempura. It came with 2 scoops of rice, a scoop of potato salad and some greens. After about 25 minutes food finally came out. I was so surprised and happy about how big my butterfish was. Sadly the size did not make up for the extra charred exterior and the lack of miso taste. I have never had butterfish that tasted like this. It was such a waste of a beautiful cut of fish. The tempura batter was some how off. It wasn't that light crispy batter. It was hard and dull not fluffy at all. Constantly had to flag someone down for water. All in all not a great experience. I hope if you ever try this place you'll have a better experience than I. read more

Kiku Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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First time trying this eatery. They were previously located in the industrial area on Kahukipa St. Past it many times but parking was always hard to find. This location at Windward Mall has a lot of parking. Its located on the second floor at the mall entrance mountainn side. I had the #4 Dinner Special. It included fresh sasihmi, teriyaki beef, assorted tempura. The fish was fresh and top grade. The teriyaki beef had a great taste, but the meat was cut with the grain giving it a tougher chew. The tempura breading was slightly heavy but over all good and tasty. Service was good and friendly. Note,: The are not affiliated with the resturant with a similar name in Kalihi. Stay safe. read more

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Went in a few days prior to Father's Day, to inquire about seating for 8. The waitress was very nice, and suggested coming in ahead of time, with possibly an hour wait for a table. Very reasonable response for Father's Day, so we arrived at 5:30, hoping to get in around 6:30-7pm. The waitress on this day REFUSED to seat us at all. Tried explaining that we came in on Wednesday and spoke to another waitress, and her response was "I'm very busy, I have no time to talk, please go away", and walked off. There were a few other large parties currently in the restaurant, with only 2 servers, so I'm guessing she was overwhelmed. Nevertheless, her attitude and poor customer service is unacceptable. Will definitely not be returning ever. So sad to see the decline of what was such a wonderful long time Kaneohe restaurant. read more

Kiku Ya - Super RUDE waitress! Yes ma'am, we will "go away" forever, as you requested. - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Another location now where the old Pho Factory used to be in Windward Mall. It's open seating with no reservations needed beforehand. When we got there for lunch, we were the only ones there. Then, the space slowly started filling up with a handful of other families and couples. There's not a lot of foot traffic to that area, so I hope that they're able to survive by word of mouth or mall advertisements. As for the food, it was on the pricier side. With plates in the $20-$30 range for lunch. I understand that food costs have gone up and I'm sure that rent in the mall is high. But aside from that, the food was ok. The miso soup was too salty for my liking, and the potato mac salad a little too bland. But there was enough portion wise for me to take home for later. read more

Kiku Ya - Teriyaki Chicken and Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Updated review: March 10, 2022 KIKUYA Kaneohe moved from their original location on kahuhipa street to the Windward Mall located directly across Hawaii USA Credit Union. Their hours are 1030am-900pm, (I think daily). I heard they are planning to have outdoor seating too. We went there las nite, they still offer menu, but they have QR code to upload menus now (hold your camera high - that's the trick - LOL!) They still offer the same food. BUT. Prices gone up. (I think because rent is high at the hall). And sadly, with higher price, the portions got smaller too. So sad. Rice comes on a plate and not in rice bowls. Teas are served and not the pot is not left on the table. BUT. Food is still good! Do support local. read more

Kiku Ya - Tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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A new favorite!! What a food gem! Old-school, local Japanese food. Remember Wisteria or Sekiya's in the 1980's? From the oyako donburi to the teriyaki butterfish and pork sukiyaki - so delicious, good quality, and hearty portions!! Hear the tempura is killer but didn't try. You will not be disappointed! FYI the atmosphere is very down home. And the staff is super friendly. If it's crowded, the food might take a while but it's worth the wait! read more

Kiku Ya - Teriyaki butterfish! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

This is a family favorite! We do miss the old location but love the fact that parking is much easier at the new location! Food is still tasty! I we love their Japanese style potato salad! I always get their butter fish which and mix tempura. My brother got their ramen, which he devoured! Highly recommend this spot! read more

Kiku Ya - Misoyaki butterfish with tempura....so good!!! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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We ordered dinner specials #3 and #6 and were very surprised by the portion sizes and quality of the food. We had dined here before and weren't impressed, but we decided to give it another chance. Although the prices were higher, the portion sizes reflected the saying, "you get what you pay for." read more

I haven't been to Kikuya in years and decided to try them out at their location in Windward mall. I went at about 11am and it was completely empty. After we went in, we got immediately seated and were informed we could sit wherever we wanted. We sat inside the mall side and it felt weird since the windows were clear so people walking in the mall could look at you... I think I would rather sit in the outdoor seating. I got the lunch special. For what it was, I felt it was really overpriced. I got the chicken katsu with tempura. I was expecting at least 2 cutlets of chicken katsu, but only got one tiny piece. The tempura was ok. It was hot inside, but wasn't super crispy. The chicken katsu was crispy and juicy. The potato salad has a good flavor, but their green salad needed a little more of the dressing on it. The waitress was very polite and kind and was very attentive. She took our plates away as we finished them and always kept our water cups filled. Overall, it was just ok. I probably won't return due to it being just ok and the prices being so high. read more

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The younger server / hostess was very attentive, pleasant & helpful. We ordered the butterfish & the fried ika legs appetizer. The fried ika legs were burnt & I wanted to return them but my husband didn't want to complain. The butterfish was hard & cold. It was not tender & moist like their Kalihi location. The miso soup was good. It was probably the best thing in the entire meal. The ahi sashimi did not taste right either. The shrimp tempura was just ok. The batter was hard & did not taste fresh. My stomach & my husband's stomach did not agree with the food at all. After we left, we both had to go to the bathroom badly. We are very fortunate & thankful that we live nearby. We are not going back there again. My digestive system has been traumatized ! Very disappointed that the fiod was not fresh & tasted off. At least we tried it. read more

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This was a small restaurant tucked in a small corner of a building complex off of Kahuhipa in Kaneohe. I've always been a big fan of their food, which is some of the best Japanese food on Oahu but wasn't a big fan of finding parking in their small lot. But moving to Windward Mall was a great idea on their part. We had lunch the other day and the food was excellent from the hot bowl of miso soup to the shrimp tempura with a crispy exterior. I had the unagi don and it was very tasty. We barely had room for mochi ice cream for dessert. LOL! It's a good place for great Japanese food and recommend folks try it out. read more

Kiku Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Favorite Local Japanese Restaurant. We were in Kaneohe and decided to dine in At Kikuya Restaurant on Kahuhipa. Highly recommend if you've never tried this place. Parking: free parking right in front of the restaurant Covid-19: Social distancing being implemented. Staff and customers wear masks in accordance with local mandate. What we ordered: Misoyaki Butterfish Shrimp Tempura Vegetable Tempura Teriyaki Chicken If you've never been to Kikuya and you enjoy old school local Japanese cuisine, this is the place to go. Friendly local service can't be beat. Support this local business. Overall: Five star rating for consistent: Friendly service and good food in a neighborhood restaurant. read more

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First time picking up take-out from their new location in Windward Mall and it was an awesome experience. I called in our order ahead of time and they said it would be 20 minutes, and when I arrived on time, my order was waiting for me! We got the fish tempura plate and the sashimi/saba/tempura combo - both were excellent. I love their tempura! I'll admit - it wasn't super crunchy by the time we ate it, but I like the thickness of the batter and the moistness of the fish. The hubby said the saba was really moist and tasty, and the sashimi was of good quality. The only thing I'm wondering about is that we did not get miso soup - it says it comes with the meal on the menu, but maybe they don't include it in take-out orders? read more

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Grew up in Kaneohe so that used to be my fave place, and even after moving to town, I gladly made the drive for my fave tempura on the island. It used to be flakey and not oily. So when mom asked what I wanted for my bday din, I told her THE USUAL...Kikuya, of course! Well, what a disappointment. I know times are tough but come on...if you're going to raise the prices, at least make sure the quality is good. The shrimps looked a little scrawny...tempura was not flaky and light...it was super oily...and tasted like the oil wasn't clean either. Cooked carrots are not my fave, so I always get it replaced. Usually get zucchini, onions, eggplant and string beans. This time just very oily grean beans and eggplant. Not even 1 onion ring. Mom and hubs got the #6 which has butterfish, tempura and sashimi. They liked it. They never used to give miso soup for take out orders, so nice surprise to see that it was included. I may give it one more try to see if maybe it was an off night...but if they don't improve, I'm outies... Fingers crossed cuz still haven't found tempura that is nearly as flaky! read more

Kiku Ya - Shrimp & Veg Tempura (hold the carrots) - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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The first thing I want to say is that the food is usually very good, but the service here absolutely sucks. They wanted to take our order as soon as we sat down. We didn't even open the menu to look at the dinners. Then our dinners came to us backwards, we got the main dish first in about 5 to 10 minutes, before getting the appetizers, soup, sashimi, ect. Strange. The lady that owns the place and tries to be the server is unorganized and should not be trying to be a server. She needs to hire servers that know what they are doing. The last time we were here the owner had a very good server working and she was extremely good at her job, where did she go? Service has been an issue since coming here when they first opened. I normally leave a 20% tip, but I couldn't even leave a 10% tip. The service was so bad that it was almost like a Saturday Night Live Episode. It will be a long while before we come back here. The food is usually very good! Service Not! The back room is not comfortable and very noisy, you need to separate the back dinning room from the kitchen where all the noise is coming from. Ambianace is not good here, however interesting art work on the walls that helps save the place. read more

Love it food is so good Akule fish is my favorite from here Service was great and it was super clean read more

Kikuyu has moved y'all! No longer on Kahuhipa street with horrible parking... they are now located in Windward Mall!! Now, with tons of parking space! :) Kikuyu used to be a staple when I was growing up. Me and my dad would often dine here for dinner. As I grew older, my friends and I would dine here during college days. But it all kind of suddenly stopped years ago. I'm not too sure if it's due to just having so many other options in Kaneohe or because the cook changed. Either way, for me it was about the parking situation! Hahha. It really pains me to score them so low. So I'm hoping I can change and update this in due time. However, my experience today was not so good. I was excited to hear a couple of months ago that Kikuya was going to move to the mall. I couldn't wait to eat here again since it's been years! So when they finally opened, I quickly noted when I could come grab some grub. I figured they'd be busy being newly opened, so decided to phone order for a take out. So glad I did. New location is next to the second level mall entrance. Where the dental office, then pho takeout place used to be. Also, they'll be adding outside dining area. Sign says it will open in April. Freshly cemented with a new gate surrounding the area. Inside is quite tight. You can literally touch the table next and behind you. As I waited to pay for my food, there was a diner that actually requested to be moved. She said it was due to it being too loud, but it wasn't loud at all! When I looked over to see where she was seated, they were smack in the middle. There is a smaller area on the right when you enter that has much fewer tables, where she requested to be moved. Walls are decorated with frames fish prints, which reminds me of Gyotaku. Hehe. My food was waiting for me as I arrived. Yippee! Everything packed and ready to go. As I got home I was super excited to eat! Quickly took my photos and devoured my meal. One thing I noticed was my katsu was pretty dark. Looked burnt, but it wasn't. Will explain below. Dinner specials come accompanied with miso soup, salad, potato salad, tenpura & sashimi. We went with a salmon shioyaki and chicken katsu. Miso soup was good except it was really cold. Not too sure if it's due to the container or if it was sitting out ready to go for orders ahead of time. My veggie salad was super wet. Which made it pretty gross and made my potato salad wet! Yuck! The tenpura batter was way too thick and chewy! Somebody over mixed and put too much batter on the shrimp and veggies. Now my katsu... what I thought was burnt wasn't. It was due to it being fried twice. How do I know? We'll I noticed I had only 2 middle pieces and a handful of ends. Then I noticed where it was cut was also golden brown. I compared a bitten piece to these cut pieces, which are brown. Hence why it was deep brown colored on the panko side. The salmon was cooked well. Nicely broiled which made it crispy outside but moist inside. Same issues with the tenpura and salad though. So, it was a quite disappointing experience. However, I will come back and try a round 2 in hopes that the food is what I used to remember. read more

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I had to go to Windward Mall to pick up my bib for the Ka Iwi Coast walk anyway. So while we were there, my husband suggested we grab a birthday dinner. I had already had a couple of birthday celebrations with my friends or extended family, but my husband wanted to do a little dinner with just us and the kids. I looked up all the restaurants and Kiku Ya looked great! It was smaller than I expected, and the service was pretty slow. But the one woman working there was super nice and very apologetic for the wait. And the food was delicious! I had my two babies with me, and it's not always easy to dine out with them, but the woman there was super accommodating, and the kids did great. I It was a few days after my birthday, but a nice way to conclude my birthday week. read more

Hell ya. The best of the best in Kaneohe. Service is always great, but the food is winner!! I do my usual teriyaki chicken dinner or lunch combo. Seriously the best! Tempura is on point, salad, all of it. You don't be disappointed. Lol enjoy! read more

Kiku Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Quintessential Japanese restaurant in HAWAII, Kikuya brought back all the feels of dining in with my grandparents. Think old school diner like Likelike with food of Gyotaku, in a tiny hole in the wall like Ethel's and you have this place. Charming but a little rough around the edges, Kikuya is one of those if you know, you know kind of places with families returning for generations. Specializing in local-Japanese food, you'll find everything from udon and saimin to Teri chicken-tempura combos, fish katsu, and grilled salmon. There's something for everyone on the menu here. Generously portioned and packed full of flavor, don't be afraid to loosen up those pants buttons or come wearing your stretchy pants. The service here is just like the business, charming. Prompt, friendly, and all around good fun, it's a good time here. We came for dinner after a long workout so for us, the parking lot was empty. Word on the street is, Kikuya should be moving to Windward Mall soon! read more

So as far back as I can remember, Kikuya was the only Japanese restaurant in Kaneohe. A few more have come along but it has survived all these years in the same location on Kahuhipa Street across from the drive through car wash. There are parking stalls in the warehouse location. Much more now that the jiu-jitsu place is no longer there. You can also park along the street if it's crowded. I called my takeout order and got right through. The lady who answered the phone was very friendly and repeated back my order to make sure it was correct. She said 15-20 minutes and sure enough it was ready when I went to pick it up. The dine in at 530pm on a Sunday which you'd think would be busy was empty. Only had one older couple which during COVID times would make you as a diner feel safe. Staff both taking orders and cooking were wearing masks. The food was good but not great. They gave generous portions for the Tempura teishoku. Had 4 shrimp, 2 eggplant, 2 green bean and 2 carrot plus they gave two containers of sauce! Support this long time Japanese business in Kaneohe! UPDATE...the lady working the counter told me that soon they'll be moving to Windward Mall upstairs on the Sears side where the Vietnamese place was. Thru have both indoor and outdoor dining. read more

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I feel restaurants on the windward side don't get as much love as they should. It's really not that far from town and it's such a beautiful drive no matter which way you choose. The restaurant is located on busy Kahuhipa St. in beautiful Kaneohe. Parking can be tough and stalls are a bit slender. You may need to look for street parking but I've never needed to all the times I've been here. We're always treated warmly and never feel rushed no matter how long we're there. Portions are on the smaller side, prices on the higher side but so worth it. My favorite is the fried akule. I will literally sit at a table, face down, getting every bit of yummy goodness off the bone as I can. The katsu is also delicious, so perfectly cooked and seasoned. The teri beef is another favorite of ours, so moist and soft. I've driven past this place later in the day and have seen scores of people waiting. I've been fortunate to dine in on off peak times so no waiting required. Definitely worth checking this place out. But if you're on a budget and hungry, best to check out another restaurant. read more

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Dear new Owner; Hire the previous tempura chef back or I guarantee, you'll eventually go out of business. Very sad news folks. Ownership changed and so did the quality. We used to come only for the lightest crisp fresh shrimp and vegetable tempura. since it was perfect. We didn't know it changed hands. The new owner is the new cook. The tempura is just awful now. Mushy instead of crisp. Poor quality shrimp, not even butterflied. You could barely tell which was a shrimp vs a vegetable. Just gobs of mushy battered stuff. Poor presentation, not the beautiful tempura tent. Another great eatery bites the dust. So very disappointing. We won't be returning. read more

First of all, let me start off by saying Kiku Ya ain't my favorite Japanese restaurant but their food is pretty good especially their tonkatsu & the mac salad. Although, their service is okay & could probably be better in my opinion. Also, certain seating areas especially where we were seated was super humid. I'd give this place a 7/10. read more

We used to really like Kikuya when I first moved to Kaneohe. Over the years, the food hasn't been as good. I hoped that at their new location in WW mall, they would have a fresh start & it'd be a nice & clean. I was wrong. Maybe they are still in the process of building out? The service was not terrible but not good either. Seemed like our server was still training. No personality whatsoever. He never even followed up to check on us. The sashimi pieces that came with the dinner meal were terrible. Luckily, the teri chicken & tempura were good though. I had the fried akule, which used to be one of my favorites way back when. Now it was kind of mushy. Won't be ordering that again. The potato salad portion is almost half the size it used to be which is unfortunate. Now they serve alcohol so we will give them a try again later. Next time, I will get my other go to entree, the shiyoyaki salmon. read more

Waited over 40 minutes for our food on an average night, the servers couldnt decide if it was being worked on or not after telling my husband 5 mins- 10 mins ago. We left. Good but not worth almost an hour wait on a decently slow night. read more

I hardly eat on the Windward side so I don't know that many places so when my brother asked if we wanted to come here we said yes. So over the hill to Grandma's house we went. Sorry over the hill to Kiku-Ya we went. Stepping into this place is like stepping back into time. Old school restaurant and decor. The staff is friendly and the food is good. I got Dinner Special number 4 ($21.85) which has sashimi, shrimp and vegetable tempura, and choice of teriyaki chicken or beef. I got the teriyaki chicken and everything was good. My better half got the number 1 ($21.45) Dinner Special which had the same as mine but instead of beef or chicken it came with fried Saba. Little disappointed that there was no dessert since I have a sweet tooth but that's ok. My ever expanding waist thanks them for not making it bigger. If you plan on coming I would highly recommend making reservations as I heard it can get packed. Are you a baller on a budget and like to drink alcohol? Then bring your favorite alcoholic drinks as it is BYOB. read more

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Bad food and even worse service. I know I shouldn't expect too much from a restaurant inside of a shopping mall, but I think even with lowered standards, this place is bad. Ordered: 2 x tempura udon, unagi don, katsu and tempura combo. First thing mentioning is that the food here isn't cheap; most entrees were $20+. My unagi don came out and the fish was icy cold. When I told the server, she just nonchalantly took it and came back a few minutes later, obviously after having microwaved the entire bowl. The fish was piping hot, and so was the radish pickle (which isn't supposed to be cooked like that). Then, my toddler broke his plastic fork while eating, so my husband asked for another fork. The server then said "I already gave you one" and when my husband told her our child broke it, she sighed and brought us a fork. The rest of the dishes were also underwhelming. We paid $98.50 for 4 entrees at lunch, and I wish we had just eaten at McDonald's or Panda Express; food quality would've been similar or better, and at least we would've paid half the price. read more