My friend wanted to try this place for her birthday, and we were greeted right away from the staff. Food was absolutely delicious and was served almost in an instant. All staff went above and beyond to make our dining experience memorable. Thank you Brandon and Janice. The service was outstanding. It is evident why this restaurant has great reviews. I'm glad I made reservations and I'm really looking forward to visiting again. read more

Kuni Restaurant - Miso butterfish - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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My first time here. They had a birthday special going on for a free meal on your birthday. Parking was good. Place is clean n bathroom are clean too. Our waiter was awesome n polite. He always checking up on us. Great customer service n very polite and friendly. The food is good n tasty. I had the sashimi lunch special n the wife had the saimin tempura combo. Love it n will come again. read more

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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 the remodeling is great 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

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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

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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 the place has such a vibe. 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

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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. The place was crowded, we were seated near the back by the bar, actually liked it back there. 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. 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. 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. 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?! 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. 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

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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. 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. 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. Tried going back 2wks later for my son's birthday (his choice) but it was packed on a Thursday night. Reservations highly recommended. read more

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

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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

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First time that I have been back to Kuni's since the current owner took over. I like the Modern upgraded look. 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

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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. Booth style seating but I believe if you have reservations for a larger party, the bar section seating might be more flexible. Just ask! 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

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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

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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. Overall, the restaurant was very clean. It has an old gem feel to it, and it felt comfortable. There are also high chairs provided if you have a child with you. Would definitely recommend. read more

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

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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. The restaurant itself is pretty cozy, a lot of wooden furniture makes it unique. 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

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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

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Visited one of our favorite Japanese restaurants on the West Side of Oahu. Kuni's located in the heart of Waipahu. We had the "Wednesday " night special, 50% off the Sizzling Steak . Also on the menu were the Teriyaki Chicken, Shrimp Tempura, and Sizzling Tofu Steak. Our favorite is still the Sizzling Tofu Steak. That sauce is totally cravable. It was a very busy night, but the service was great. A lot of folks were also ordering the special as the dining room had that awesome Sizzling Steak aroma . Wonderful food casual dining at its finest. read more

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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

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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

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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

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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. 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. It would be nice for small group gatherings to hang out and things go along those lines. 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

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

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We went for lunch on my birthday. The birthday deal is for max $20off a teishoku meal. ( They verify id because people took advantage.) I think the oyako donburi at Kuni's is the best, authentic style that I grew up with. Since I was getting that, my husband got the teriyaki steak teishoku. (There is a extra charge for the premium selections. ) The entrees comes with rice, miso soup, tsukemomo, salad. It was all delicious. read more

So ono da food. Jus get da tempura butter fish. No can go wrong. Everything else on the menu is super good too. Easy parking and quick seating. Go go try um. read more

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

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My mom, fiancé, and I walked in to ask about their catering options because we had some questions before making a big order for my baby shower. We've catered through them before but were uncertain if anything had changed & we didn't want to assume everything was still the same. When we came in it wasn't busy, the only table taken was about to leave when we walked in. But as we were waiting for someone to talk to us and answer our questions, I overheard a worker make a snide remark over us coming in person instead of doing everything online, the attitude we received instantly made me not want to cater through them anymore. Planning for MY baby shower is already stressful ; to add onto my stress I'm a MONTH away from giving birth and this experience completely ruined any hope I had left to make sure my baby shower goes the way I planned. My family and I will NOT be returning or giving our money to this establishment ever again! 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

Love coming here found this place in Waipahu a few months ago and we come every week that's how good the food is read more

Kuni Restaurant - Sashimi sizzling steak - Japanese Near Me - Waipahu, Hawaii

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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

Came on a week night with the family, the parking was good, if you haven't been before it's not the nicest neighborhood. We had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated and since the last time I been here they have remodeled the restaurant, looks newer. For food we kind did family style with the steak and a teishoku combo, tempura and sashimi. We also ordered a bowl of fries. The service was fast and good but to be honest a little all over the place if that makes sense. The steak was good especially the onion and mushrooms. The steak was a little over cooked but it was fine. The sashimi was pretty fresh and it came with 6 pieces so it was worth the price. Overall good experience and we will be back. read more

Thank you so much for the excellent service from all the servers! Vincent was very professional. He went over & beyond to assist me & my husband. Vincent had a positive demeanor while recommending items on the menu. Service was quick, and the food was tasty & delicious!!!! The entire team at this establishment were very friendly & polite! We will definitely be returning to Kuni's, and recommend this location to all my family & friends. read more

The alcohol needed make the drinks we ordered were out of stock. It took forever to get water served. The server was actually the bartender who told us "I just got back today so i don't know..." ~ whatever that meant! Their only saving grace were the 2 pupu dishes, served by a kitchen employee who was very old school (and recommended we go to Red Zone!). Needless to say, we won't be visiting in the near future! read more

We catered from here on our son's 1st bday back in 2021 and again this year for his 4th bday. Their food is delicious AND they offer DELIVERY (as they are in waipahu and we live in town), more on that later. This year's order: Shrimp tempura, chicken katsu, and shoyu pork. The tempura and katsu was still crunchy, moist inside and come with their own great sauces. Shoyu pork in one of my favorites. Soft, savory, sweet, scrumptious, and some FAT (my fav pieces, haha) Back to delivery, it was $60, but well worth it, as it makes it simple and convenient. So we can spend more time with our son for his party ;-) vs slaving away on the stove and grill haha. They always come with a a warmer box and we live in a condo and on both occasions transported all the food up to our party area in the warmer box. The staff on both occasions were friendly and helpful. We'll definitely come back for more and if ever wonder n that part of waipahu stop in for a great meal. read more

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Service: very good Ambience: nice but be aware music little loud depending where you sit Food: So so. The lunch, special rice, not bad but the sushi rice was not up to my expectation. It was kind of. How would you describe the rice, more compact and soft/mushy.. I don't know what quality of rice it was but I definitely have had better. My husband had a three choice bento. The Tonkatsu was a bit dry, but the crust was crunchy , teriyaki beef was also very thin and well done, the butter fish was OK he said. That's all. read more

Lunchtime in Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii... I was going to do takeout and bring lunch to my mom, but decided to dine in... It turned out to be a good decision... Do you know why? Ordering takeout is like listening to a record vs. going to a concert. Dining at the restaurant is like watching a movie at the theater vs. watching it on your phone. It's the total experience. That's what Kuni's Restaurant reminded me of... Because this is an old school kind of place, it might be taken for granted. However, if it's your first encounter, you might be blown away! I didn't expect such a pleasant interior with simple decor and peppy, contemporary local music. From the outside, it doesn't seem like much... especially since it's located in a humble part of town. The free shared parking lot is fine in the daytime. I'm not so sure about this area when the sun goes down... Zaylee was the competent, friendly server! She cheerfully greeted me at the door and showed me to my table. I had made a reservation online. I wasn't sure how popular this place was. There were other customers, but it wasn't crowded. Maybe dinnertime is busier. Zaylee was so kind to warn me about the upcharged for the Beef Teri Ribeye and Miso Butterfish when I ordered the two-choice meal. It came with rice, miso soup, tsukemono, and green salad. I couldn't finish my lunch even though everything was delicious. I was given a takeout box and a paper bag... thank you! This was a great experience! I wouldn't mind returning. I would dine-in... rather than do takeout! Oh... they also have a catering service! read more

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Finally after many years got to Kuni Restaurant in Waipahu for dinner. Hubby got the teri beef teishoku and really enjoyed it. I got the katsu don and enjoyed it. Miso soup was good. Salad was good. It was a Sunday evening and the place started filling up after 6pm. People seemed to be regulars. Drinks from the bar were good. Servers kept asking if everything was ok. Older gentleman who seemed to be the manager or owner came by to ask how everything was, too. He then brought a bowl with two andagi, which were also good. Hubby said he'd come back so that means he enjoyed his food. read more

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Saw ad for sizzling steak. Was surprised with the presentation. Went for the free birthday meal. Because it said reservation required with a $25 per person cancelation charge. We had expected something special. Maybe this was more a dinner requirement. But lunch was empty and quiet. About the same as going to any Japanese restaurant. Nothing special that requires reservation and a cancelation fee. read more

There was a group of 6 of us for lunch. This was the first time we've eaten here since it was renovated. Entire staff were great. Best customer service I've ever experienced. Vincent was our server, he was very friendly, patient & kind. We will definitely return. read more

Absolutely love coming here every time I come ho e service is always the best! I love getting the three portions teishoku and the tofu steak is always a must read more

Lived in Waipahu all my life but never dined in. We were hungry but too tired to drive anywhere and decided to check this place out. The food was good, and the ambiance was nice and chill. I think they renovated the place because it had nice newer feel. The area outside the restaurant is definitely sketchy but if you don't care and just want to eat, then it's a good place to go read more