We come here today on Wednesday for the sizzling steak 50% off. Can't go wrong with it. Along with the 2 choice meal, teri steak n shrimp tempura. Top it off with strawberry mochi ice cream n green tea ice cream The food here is always great n tasty. Our server Bailey is awesome n she was on top of it with great customer service and very polite and friendly with a smile. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was packed n busy as well.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking was still good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is clean n bathroom are clean too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] One of our favorite place to eat like home cooked meals. Thanks again for the great service n food. read more

See all

Local Japanese spot over in Waipahu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lots of parking out front and plent of seating inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is good. As for the prices, expensive. I think their specialties are the sizzling plates, as nearly everyone here was ordering them. That should've been my first clue to do the same. But, as stated, pricey. I was hungry, but not that hungry. Ordered the following: - Special saimin - 5/10: this looked a lot better than it tasted and it was on the cheaper side of the menu. The broth was good, but the noodles were lukewarm and a bit mushy. And they give you a really small portion for what you're paying for. The meats (pork and chicken) were especially tough and chewy. At any rate, people seem to love it here and maybe it's because of the sizzling plates. So, if you do come here, get them. read more

See all

Before ordering, don't check the website as the prices have all changed. Certain combinations of bentos have higher prices-but that's not clearly laid out. They do offer a discount to "senior citizens"- but you have to dine in, this is not disclosed in their website as well. There is no apology for their oversight, just attitude. Unless there are no other options-keep this in mind read more

Totally LOVED THIS PLACE! If I ever want to eat Japanese style or Korean Style (which is mostly all the time) imma come here FOR SURE! They served delicious food and the birthday meal was worth it! You can choose from the TEISHOKU section of a 1, 2 or 3 choice and receive a birthday discount! That's their free meal. BUT... it's MUST BE ON THE DAY OF YOUR BIRTHDAY! They will ask for ID so be sure to come here for that $24 discount on your meal. And BRING SOMEONE to eat with because it has to have purchase to receive the discount! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a great COUPLES outing or date night![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They close @ 9pm but open at 11am so you have some time to make it. They do reservations ONLINE ONLY and hold the spot for you with a credit card. You can have more than 6+ but it will cost you to hold and DONT cancel because you may get charged for cancellation fee. But as I said... THEY ARE SO WORTH COMING HERE! The workers were so friendly and nice and kind! James and Keala both were considerate and our food came pretty quick too! OH! And their MOCHI ICE CREAM is ONO! Tastes like the mold school FOREMOST NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM. The half gallon that came in the 1980's green box. Remember those??! So yeah... they are a BIT PRICEY for the meals but very worth it! Especially if you love watching those Korean dramas and get hungry for food during their meal scenes. Now I'll be thinking of KUNI's. lol Ok thanks for reading and ENJOY! James. Keala. Kaya read more

See all

It was my first time there so didn't know what to expect but the waitstaff was so kind and the food was so good! Portions were huge too! [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you're in a wheelchair, you can sit at the end of the table[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Kuni Restaurant - We enjoyed ourselves We enjoyed ourselves - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Service definitely calls for more work, had reservations but wasn't seated until 15 min after and the food I ordered didn't come, it was as if they forgotten about it but I will give them their accountability as they graciously took it off the bill, supposedly. However checking out, there are 2 other parties who stood up, also waiting to pay and close out on their tab. Looked at our tab, the entree was still charged. At this point it was about service and communication, being that there was already a long wait, husband left it as is and just paid. read more

Haven't been back here in a while. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the renovated interior. Clean but basic[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wooden bench style seats are a bit uncomfortable for those with bony okoles.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food still the same as the original owner. One of the best miso butterfish on island. Appears to be the same recipe as the original owner. Ono miso sauce and the butterfish was flaky tender. Unagi and tempura shrimp were also good but not excellent. The tempura batter was ok but I prefer a lighter and crispier batter. Service was a bit slow probably because it was unusually busy for a Tuesday afternoon especially 2 days after Father's Day. Overall, was good and will be back soon. read more

See all

2nd time here. 2nd time they forgot to bring out the sashimi. Sodas didn't come out until I asked and by then we finished the meat with room temp water. I would've asked for the sashimi and sodas earlier but none of the staff would be out long enough. Only once did a worker come out, but it was just to clear some dishes in the beginning. It wasn't busy and the workers look young, late teens, early 20s maybe. The food was amazing, but service, or the lack of it, determines if a place gets another chance and It was supposed to be a special birthday outing, and the no-service service really killed the mood. My ppl were thirsty yo! Washing down steak with water?? No bueno! lol and no one in sight to say hey, can we get our sodas?? read more

This was always one of my favorites to eat at When it's the time of your birthday take your ID and get your free food [[HIGHLIGHT]]the remodeling is great[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is good but sometimes slow I like the bar style steak always get that and the sashimi to salad is good if you haven't already been there then you need to go read more

See all

First time trying Kuni! I've been discovering a lot of places since my mom moved back to this side of the island. I love variety in my meals so teishoku is always a must for me! In our group of three, we ordered a miso butterfish, miso butterfish/shoyu pork, and sizzling steak set respectively. The miso butterfish was nice and crispy with a sweet and salty miso sauce. I was surprised that it was fried because I'm so used to the broiled version. Honestly, I didn't look at the picture too closely so that was my fault. I still enjoyed it nonetheless! Shoyu pork was served in thick fatty cuts and was surprisingly pretty tender. Definitely had a lighter sweeter flavor that didn't over power the flavor of the pork. The sauce was very similar to a teriyaki sauce. The sizzling steak was well-seasoned, served with mushrooms and onions. Although, I will say some mushrooms were a little too salty for me but not much of an issue since I eat a lot of rice with each bite. Service was quick and friendly! We were sat almost immediately and food didn't take too long. I think we beat the dinner rush since we came around 3pm so it was really good timing for us. We definitely had lots of leftovers to take home but no complaints! For the amount of food, I thought that the teishoku was pretty reasonable for the price. I'm so used to paying $30 for a small single piece of butterfish so I left happy. Will return again soon! read more

See all

Kuni Restaurant an island favorite for Japanese food . Good thing we made reservations for lunch. They were very busy for lunch today. We took our long time friends out for lunch. They have a "Special " on Wednesdays. Sizzling Ribeye Steak, served either Bar Style or Teriyaki (sides not included). We ordered the Special, Kuni's Special Saimin, a Teishoku with Teriyaki Pork and their famous Tofu Steak, and the Chicken Sukiyaki. The steak was perfectly prepared and came on a sizzling platter. The sauce for the Tofu steak was amazing . Loved the Chicken Sukiyaki lots Konyaku, Tofu, and Napa Cabbage. The sauce was delicious . Highly recommended. read more

See all

Made a reservation for a party of 8 for tonite 2/13/2026 @730pm. It was easy and actually we were seated about 3 mins after we checked in. I didnt get the guys name (so sorry) but upon seating us he did mention that it will be a little slower tonite as they were short staff (someone didnt come in). I appreciated that because he did tell us ahead of time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was crowded, we were seated near the back by the bar, actually liked it back there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only problem was, it was HOT, like the heater was on or something, but there was no air back there and felt like we were suffocating :(. My toddler was sweating just by being in her high chair.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We braved through it. Now let me say, when he told us things were going to be a little slower, I didnt actually think like us having to wait over half an hour before we could even ask for water, as none was brought to us when we sat. It was so slow, that when we checked in we asked for a high chair, he said he would grab it, we waited about 20 mins till the baby was getting restless, so I just grabbed it myself, wasnt an issue. Let me just say tho, it was no fault to the workers for our experience tonite as they were working hard with a full house. I must say tho, towards the end of the evening they was just about done with dealing with people and you could tell, ill get to that towards the end. They arent able to accommodate large parties, so we were split on two different table. 2 of the 8 people got the Birthday deal of $21 off a Teishoku meal (they do verify its your bday, so be prepared to show them your id). The rest of us ordered everything as a side. Sorry I wasnt able to get all the pictures of what everyone ordered, like I mentioned we were sitting apart. The fried butterfish was so soft, it couldve used a little salt, but it was good. The shrimp tempura was nice and thick, not just batter, that was delicious. We ordered (2) 20 piece sashimi, but they only had enough for one so that was fine. We did have to wait about 30 mins for our tempura sauce to come out and had to ask MULITPLE times, with each person saying they are bringing it. The kids meal was nice, it was supposed to come with a juice and dessert. We never got the juice, only when we checked out and said something, as well as the dessert, they were out of pretty much everything and had ube ice cream left (i believe thats what the waiter said. We declined it as we were already leaving. The sad thing was you could tell the two workers were working so hard, I just felt bad asking for things we were waiting for that never came :(. We asked for xtra rice, we already ordered 4 scoops, they came back to let us know that they also ran out of rice. So we basically just ate everything like Pupu, lol... At this point, what were going to do, lol. At least the food came out quick. Mid dinner the waitress came up to us to let us know it was last call for food and drinks. I was surprised because I cant remember the last time I went to a restaurant and they told us they were taking last call for food, mid way. It wasnt even 830 and they close at 9 when they let us know. At the end, we were the last party to leave as we were in the back and honestly was waiting half the time for things to actually finish eating, but we went to the restroom, to come back to the table and literally they were just cleaning off our things, didnt even ask if we wanted a box for the little left over food we had left, nothing. You could tell they just wanted out already and I dont blame them. The sad thing is, these kids now days, no one wants to work and it makes the establishment look bad, because now you got over worked staff that you can clearly tell are trying their best to have a smile but they bussing their butts off. One of the aunties from the back was bringing food to our table was pretty much over it and while still talking to her she was walking away. I literally just had to brush it off and continue to enjoy our dinner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]As were were leaving the front of the restaurant was cold and the ac felt great, what I didnt know was one of the staff told my husband that someone was complaining earlier that it was too cold in there, so they turned the ac down.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When he told me that I was trippin. Ummmm you have a restaurant full with people and you turn the ac down for 1 person while the rest are pretty much dying like there is no air it was so hot. I mean it was nice of them to accommodate I guess?! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We will be back, just hoping next time they are staffed and the ac is on, because honestly if the place feels like that all the time, I wouldnt return back. I am NOT exaggerating when I say it felt like we were in a sauna.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When you have a full house like that it is NOT a good thing to turn the air off because it was the most uncomfortable way to eat dinner. With the waiting, the running out of items and the no air on, we just smiled thru it. read more

See all

So this was a gem but be sure to make reservations. We decided to go on a Sunday thinking before 6pm we'd be safe. Well turns out this place is popular with the locals and there was a line out the door. We put our names in and were told about 40min because of reservations. We decided to wait it out and luckily didn't wait the full 40. We were called when our table was ready and sat promptly. Our hostess ended up being our server as well and she was great. Drinks and food came out shortly after ordering. We couldn't believe how fast they were. Our daughters both wanted saimin but it wasn't the star of the show and probably could've skipped it. My husband got the 3 choice, sashimi, tempura and teriyaki ribeye. I got the 2 choice, tempura and chicken katsu. We loved every bite! It came with a side salad, miso soup, and other veggies. We'd definitely go back again but maybe just the hubby and I. read more

See all

This is definitely my favorite local Japanese restaurant! Came here to splurge and that we did. The food here is top notch, the workers feel like family, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place has such a vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I absolutely love it! I believe the owner was walking around being so friendly to us and everyone else in this busy restaurant. They even gave us free concert tickets with our receipt. I come here often enough to say that everything you order here will be outstanding. 2 of us got the Ohana Style Meal and somehow finished everything it was so good. read more

See all

Brah when you find a good deal you have to rave about it. Dropped in to this spot right near opening, there were multiple groups ahead of me which perked my interest even more. Scrolled thru the menu to find 50% off ribeye steak on hot plate on Wednesdays sold! Combo appetizers was a healthy amount. 20 piece sashimi fresh cuts hit the spot. Teriyaki chicken we took to go but covered in yummy sauce. The Tempura shrimp and vegetables were battered heavy which was very tasty. Good drink selection if you want to get your drink drink on. [[HIGHLIGHT]]To add to this great meal an older gentleman asked if we wanted to see a surprise and all I can say is we both shouted Wow!!!! Lunch and a show.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Check out this place for your next lunch date. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Tempura shrimp and vegetablez - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Big shout out to Kuni Restaurant for my complimentary birthday meal. Not many restaurants do this anymore... so an entire meal for your birthday is a huge treat. Went on the day of my birthday (show proof/ID) and enjoyed a misoyaki butterfish teishoku on the house ($21 credit towards a teishoku of your choice). My family really enjoyed lunch here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Tried going back 2wks later for my son's birthday (his choice) but it was packed on a Thursday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Reservations highly recommended. read more

Kuni Restaurant - My Teishoku meal... waiting for the main dish. - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

See all

This is an old time restaurant that has been in waipahu for a long time. Located right in front Carquest (now napa) in a free standing building. The entrance is real old school with a covered entry way protruding from outside building. The insides looks to have been renovated but still maintaining a japanese modern bar feel with a few wall mounted Tvs. There are two sections one is the restaurant the other is the bar part of restaurant. They also have an in house clean bathroom in the bar. The staff is real attentive and cool. The menu is all japanese cuisine. The prices are reasonable and portions are okay (not chinzy but not abundant either) They even have a free one choice teshoku if its your birthday no purchase necessary. A really generious offering. A cool place that has been around a long time with reasonable portions and fair prices. read more

See all

Kunis Japanese Restaurant and Bar has been part of Waipahu's identity for years, and the new ownership under Ray Jr. has only strengthened its legacy. The menu still delivers the generous portions locals love, and the quality has stayed top‑tier. Whether you're a longtime regular or a first‑timer, this spot is absolutely worth checking out. Reservations are recommended because it fills up fast. I'll definitely be returning. Marie read more

See all

Kuni Restaurant used to be very good when Mr. Sato was the manager, but he might have retired. The service has declined. One of the new employees is very rude. We'll find somewhere else to go. read more

First time that I have been back to Kuni's since the current owner took over. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the Modern upgraded look.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Came for lunch on a weekday. It wasn't very busy. Food was good. The Sashimi was Fresh Frozen. The Tofu Steak was delicious. My lunch partner enjoyed her Steak. Servers are young, unexperienced, and need to be retrained. Took order, dropped food, never saw them again. Que Sera Sera read more

See all

I've been here several times and I really like the food. Went to lunch with 2 other seniors. Ordered our food at 3:45. Told them we were all kupuna. When it came time to pay they would not give us the senior discount because we didn't pay by 4 pm! Like I said I been here several times and I have never had this problem. Next time bring me the check as soon as I order then! No love for kupuna read more

We had the best time celebrating my dad's birthday here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The new renovation looks great and gives the place a really nice, refreshed vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Honestly, the service was so fast, and the staff was super attentive without being overwhelming. A huge plus--they gave my dad a free meal just for showing his ID, which was such a cool birthday perk. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a really great spot for families too; the kids loved everything they ordered[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and I'm still thinking about that miso butterfish. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Look at how much dishes they gave!! - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Kuni was really good before when run by Mr. Sato . Disappointed by quality of food . Not the same . Won't be returning. Not worth the price . read more

First time eating here since the turnover in ownership/management. It use to be a real dive, no offense to all the Kupuna regulars, but it was run down. Not now... it has been completely refurbished and is much improved, although sitting on hardwood benches is not good for my okole. The interior has a new look, although it's really not authentic Japanese, more like a plain L&L. Also, they have a bar in the back and several drunks were very loud, making the initial part of our early dinner unpleasant. Fortunately they left after happy hour concluded. They staggered out of the bar and jumped in their truck and drove away, yikes! Anyhow, the food acceptable, nothing special, but okay. Service was friendly and prompt, although I had to remind our server to bring my beer. I also had to ask for the dipping sauce for my Tempera. Small stuff, but not acceptable. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Butterfish. - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

See all

Menu was great to order a variety of dishes! We got to try the butterfish, chicken yakitori, and the chicken katsu. The butterfish was a star! It was so well seasoned with miso, and it was plentiful. The set came with a miso soup, lettuce, and rice. This menu is a bit pricy though. Lots of parking! Decent service, waiters were a little bit slow to check in but the restaurant was busy. read more

See all

Came to celebrate my birthday and redeem my free birthday meal, and of course the food was delicious and the service was amazing as always. My friend was shocked at how fast we were seated and helped right away. I made sure to bring my driver's license to prove it was my birthday--don't forget yours if you go--because sure enough, my birthday meal was free. We had shrimp tempura, and Sato even treated us to poke and andagi, which was such a nice surprise. Such a good meal and an even better experience. You can always depend on getting great food and excellent service at Kuni's read more

Kuni Restaurant - Chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

See all

Kunis Restaurant in Waipahu is a gem. We started with sashimi and tempura for pupu -- incredibly fresh and flavorful -- and had a perfectly cooked steak and melt-in-your-mouth butterfish for dinner. Everything was delicious. The restaurant was clean, the staff attentive, and drinks were kept coming throughout the meal. Service was excellent from start to finish. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food and friendly service. read more

Kuni Restaurant - They had a cute backdrop wall for this holiday season - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

See all

A recent IG post found us dining here on a Saturday night. It was my husband that had seen it and said "I wouldn't mind trying this place...it doesn't look bougie." I recall coming here as a child with my family decades ago. I also remember driving by and seeing the "Kuni Lounge", "Restaurant Kuni" on drives in and out of Waipahu. This has been a mainstay in that small strip of businesses. I learned that it had come under new ownership in 2023 and that the local owner did their best to stay true to the spirit of the establishment while also making changes to stay successful and competitive in a tough market. Seating/Reservations - I reserved a table through Open Table. We arrived about 15 minutes before and were quickly greeted and seated. It was almost 6PM and it seemed like dinner service was already underway. They also use an electronic sign in service if you did not have reservations. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance - The interior set up is minimal, tasteful, and clean without the bougie vibes that a lot of places desperately give off these days. This place felt like a casual, friendly neighborhood restaurant - filled with chatter, music, and the occasional "Happy Birthday" being sung. It was loud but you could still hold a conversation without feeling like you have to raise your voice to be heard[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Service - The service was attentive. We had a main server. She was good about letting us know how we can get more bang for our buck if we wanted to change two of our one choice meals that we ordered into complete meals since we also ordered two sodas. (We opted not to since we didn't think we'd have room for dessert.) There were other servers that would also check in as they walked by and noticed if a refill was needed or if empties needed to be cleared. One of them even entertained us with a cup flipping trick and joked with us before serving complimentary andagi after clearing our last plates. While service was attentive, there were some staff members that were very stoic in expression and speech. It could be because they were just focused on getting through the tasks of a busy shift but these things matter in a service and hosptitality environment where repeat patronage is often relied upon. Food - Tasty comfort food, simply seasoned and plated, and good portions. We ordered miso butterfish, grilled salmon, teri beef rib eye and sashimi, tonkatsu don, and a small order of shrimp tempura. It came with servings of miso soup, salad, steamed rice, and vegetables. The only criticism I have is that the salad had a bit too much dressing for my liking. Price/Value - Reasonably priced especially at a time when shrinkflation and gentrification food is everywhere, this was not the case here. The overall dining experience was pleasant and gave a hint of nostalgia that added to the value. Will definitely come again. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Grilled salmon and a side order of shrimp tempura. - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

See all

Since I moved away I Haven't been here in over 20 years and was happily surprised.. very nice and clean and busy.. the food was was delicious .. the menu plentiful and the portion was just right.. the wait time to get a table wasn't to long .. the food came fast and hot! It was so good we went back a couple more times after that.. read more

See all

Sato-san! Arigatoo for another great dinner! Excellent service by ALL the wait staff ALL the time! Make reservations online bcuz they get busy! We like beating the crowd by going around 5:00 pm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Booth style seating but I believe if you have reservations for a larger party, the bar section seating might be more flexible. Just ask![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] After being seated right away, the order is taken and within minutes, salad, miso soup, tsukemono, moyashi (bean sprouts), hot rice were brought with our drinks (beer and cold sake). Seriously, within minutes.... Then about 5 minutes later, or main course comes out... My favorite is the miso Butterfish.... Best ever! Hubby ordered the miso pork tofu which was piping hot and sooooo good! They were busy tonight... Many of us had lei on bcuz we were celebrating Mothers Day a week early. Sorry, they are booked already for Mothers Day next weekend .... So go another day but make reservations... Its so easy to do! Consistent - Best miso Butterfish... Fast service, sooooo reasonable for what you get... Oh, Dave's green tea ice cream... Cold sake in the blue bottle. And if it's your birthday, show your ID and you get free entree (up to $19) that day only. No one does that anymore! So generous! Mahalo! We will be back!!! read more

See all

The food was was okay [[HIGHLIGHT]]the establishment was clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] the staff was very friendly and helpful it was more on the expensive side for the quality of food I would recommend you try it but expect much read more

We've seen Kuni Restaurant in passing before, but tonight was the first time we've tried this place. My husband and I chose the teishoku. His was the teri beef, and I selected the chicken katsu. We also did a side order of shrimp tempura. For an additional $9, with your choice of teishoku, you can get a complete meal with a drink and ice cream. The teri beef was very flavorful. The chicken katsu was crispy but not dry. The shrimp tempura also tasted pretty good. The service was wonderful! The servers were very polite and helpful, and they always checked in on us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall, the restaurant was very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It has an old gem feel to it, and it felt comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are also high chairs provided if you have a child with you.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would definitely recommend. read more

So a few days back, I was a little stress because I didn't have any idea where to bring my wife to celebrate her birthday. But then, I saw an ad for Kuni Restaurant that advertised that birthday person eats free. So kuni it was. When we got there, we were about 1/2 hr early from our reservation time. The restaurant was quite busy but they still was able to seat us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is pretty cozy, a lot of wooden furniture makes it unique.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our waiter came pretty quick and took our orders. Because it was our first time, we were a little confused regarding our order but our waiter took the time to kinda went through with us the choices of food. Any2ay, our food came along pretty quickly except one of my wife's main dish. I had almost finished my food and her main dish still wasn't served. We alerted a server and he explained they had a little confusion and apologized profusely. I have to say, the food was excellent. I had their Teri beef and the meat was super tender. The chicken katsu was delicious too, crispy yet not oily like some plate lunch places. My wife's miso butterfish and shrimp tempura were excellent. I was really glad because the wife is a picky eater. When it came for us to pay, we actually discovered some discrepancy for our bill. I guess we had misunderstood our waiter and ordered what was considered outside our set dinner. However he was really quick to remove that from our bill right away which surprised me. He told us he wanted our first impression of their restaurant to be a good one. And for that we were very grateful. Again, excellent restaurant. For was delicious, and the price was reasonable (I have paid more at some plate lunch places) for a sit-down restaurant. I think they also run a 10% discount for seniors for lunch. Though they do charge a 3.5% credit card fee. I guess pay in cash and avoid the credit card fee? Let's just say this won't be our last time there. read more

See all

Been here a million times, the original and current ownership. Renovated to a more modern look, simple, chic and very welcoming. Staff is very attentive, friendly, and fast! Lots of parking, clean, and close to home in Waipahu. Food is always flavorful, hot, and oh so good! Beer is cold, always . If it's your birthday, you eat for free . They still offer catering. So glad another classic restaurant did not close down. When in Waipahu, check it out, see you there ! read more

See all

Haven't been here in ages! 5 years maybe . Went shopping at Sketchers and Saks 5th Avenue. My sisters & Mom spent the day together .. which is very rare! . Must the 4 of us, being that Kuni was across the street at Waikele shopping Mall . We decided to go for it. A 20 minute wait . Was totally worth it! Our waitress was so helpful, quick friendly and on it!! When needed a fork..tonkatsu sause, reorder is sushi . She was on it!! read more

See all

Overall, the restaurant was pretty decent. I went on a Saturday late afternoon and they were a little dead, but the staff was attentive and friendly. The food was good. I got the chicken teriyaki. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And then when I went to the bathroom, they have a room in the back half of the restaurant that is set up like a bar and it's super cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It would be nice for small group gatherings to hang out and things go along those lines.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The next time I go back, I would love to order more to try some additional dishes. The place is also reasonably priced. read more

Food was good. Tasty enough but nothing remarkable. Service was pretty bad. No greeting when we got sat, not even a hello-- straight to our orders. Towards the end of the meal, we couldn't even find our server to get boxes or the check. We wanted to order dessert but decided against it because of how long it took to find our server. We had to get up and wait at the host check in to get someone to help us get the check and pay for our bill. Will most likely not come here again. read more

For a birthday celebration, decided to try Kuni Restaurant for our first time. We had a good experience with making a reservation and being seated once we got there. And that was about it. For reference, this is dinner at 6pm on a Sunday for a party of 8. It felt like once they took our order and figured out what to charge us, that was all they needed to do. Everyone ordered either a 2-choice or 3-choice teishoku dinner. So for our whole party, that ended up being about 22 individual items plus all the sides that come with the meal. Every item comes on its own little plate and they didn't come all at once. They brought some of the sides and then some of the main entrees and then a few more sides and then more entrees.. and after doing our counts we noticed some things were missing but decided to wait because it might still be on its way. We were wrong. Turns out they were done with our table and moved on to running food to another table. We couldn't find our server so I had to stand up and ask the hostess to check on our food order for us. Then the food runner brought us our missing sides. We then noticed that two people who ordered tempura didn't have tempura sauce. So again we had to flag someone down to get that. And that wasn't it.. someone one was missing an entree! So again we had to ask for that. My whole point is that the service wasn't great as far keeping track of what we were supposed to get and making sure that it got served to us. And like I said, we did make sure to wait before asking because we thought maybe they were still coming with the food. But once you see the table next to you getting food that you were missing on your table, you kind of get the feeling that you were missed. And then to top it off, the food wasn't even that great. The miso butterfish seemed like it was just fried fish with some cheap miso sauce slapped on top. The sashimi tasted low grade. The tempura batter wasn't the best. For a bill close to $500, it just wasn't worth it at all. After we made sure we got all that we ordered, they checked on us maybe once or twice before we were done eating. But we just told them we were fine, ate our food, paid the tab (that unfortunately included gratuity), and then left. We gave this place a shot and that was it. With so many other places that serve great food that is either at or below these prices, we will not be returning here. read more

Our first visit here left us pretty underwhelmed. While it seems to be a popular local spot, we struggled to understand the hype. The food was overpriced for small portions and average quality, especially for Japanese cuisine. Here's what we tried: - Shrimp Tempura Set: Just two shrimp and a few veggies for $21. We were shocked by how small the portion was for the price. - Shrimp Tempura Udon: The broth was overwhelmingly shiitake-heavy, and the udon noodles were overcooked. While the tempura was good, it was the same portion as the entrée set for the same price--might as well get the udon. - Chicken Katsu & Teriyaki: Both were standard and unremarkable. - Misoyaki Butterfish: Easily the best dish. The fish was fresh, tender, and perfectly fried. The side dishes and salad were fine, but they didn't elevate the meal enough to justify the cost. My dad upgraded to a complete meal for $7, which included watered-down root beer (with no refills despite multiple requests) and two tiny pieces of mochi ice cream... definitely not worth it. While we're glad we gave it a try, we won't be coming back. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Shrimp Tempura Udon - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

Not a great rating because it has been one of the worst service I have ever experienced. Our waiter was great and did his best. However, the place is understaff and the bartender did not even show up, which is a same for a place known for their cocktails. So no cocktail unfortunately. The food though was really good and tasty. It was nice to share several dishes and enjoyed different flavors. Not sure I will go back. Will see if they can solve their staff issue. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Butter chicken katsu Hainan Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii