Totoya is a Japanese sushi chain and so happy to see it now in Hawaii, with multiple locations in…read moreAiea, Kaimuki, and Piikoi. We went to the Kaimuki location to see what the hype was about. I had their signature negitoro matsu bowl and it was absolutely divine! I was always hesitant to eat negitoro because of the negi or green onions in the name, but it tasted like a finer, soft ahi paste with ikura and uni. Delicious, although can be pricy at $30+ per entree. Highly recommend for authentic, negitoro experience.

Negomi bowl - The salmon and scallop were very fresh. Rice was made very well…read more Service - service was good but they don't seem to remember which one order which. Kinda weird.

The aunties that were running the shop during lunch were so accommodating, welcoming and polite…read more We haven't had authentic katsu like this since Japan and I'm glad we were able to get a taste of that here. While at a high price point, everything included in the sets were refillable so it was filling even if the entree portion itself may not seem like it. From the chicken to pork, shrimp, beef and poke, I didn't think there was anything that was lacking in flavor. If there was a way to order the macaroni salad as a side instead of just with the kid's entree, I totally would have. Even with reservation, it took us a while to get seated. But this was also the aunties ensuring we were going to sit together instead of two groups, so they waited for tables to open up to accommodate us, in addition to allowing us to be seated earlier (~30min), so I couldn't complain. And when another table opened up, without even asking, they pushed the table close to us again to allow for more space while we were already seated before our entrees came. The hospitality was so nice it felt like we were in Japan again. Super small shop but well worth it.

Came in 2024 when it was one small restaurant but now they've opened up a second side next door…read morewith plenty of seating. I would still do a reservation just to be safe. We got the pork katsu deluxe set and recommend getting another side of rice for 2 people. The fried oysters are also a standout dish so I definitely recommend that. Service is quick and portions are big so I also recommend splitting a dish or doing family style.

Tamafuji remains undefeated as the best tonkatsu in town. The breading is impossibly crispy, the…read morepork tender and juicy, and this time I also got the fried oysters which were plump and fresh. This was my first visit to their new location, just downstairs from the old one. The new location is much more spacious and feels brighter than before. It feels a lot less cramped inside. I will say I think the restaurant may be having some growing pains in the new space. It took about an hour from when we were seated until we got our food - I don't really remember having to wait that long before - but all was forgiven when the food arrived. Service was friendly but a little bit absent during the wait, but for whatever reason improved dramatically once the food actually arrived (or maybe just my mood improved!). Like before, you can get free refills of rice and cabbage, and the different types of rice they have are all worth trying.

Not my first time here. We tried to get reservations but I think they had some glitches as they…read morejust recently reopened after expanding/moving to the new space. Since we didn't get reservations we had to do walk in. The waitlist didn't seem bad when we first signed up but it took forever to finally get a table. It was a hot day so we were waiting outside, for nearly an hour. There were only like two or three parties ahead of us on the waitlist. We finally got seated and the people right after us on the list got seated at the same time (they put their name 15 min after us). I would not recommend the waitlist, since it's not consistent. The food itself is always delicious. The new space was nice (and larger). Our server was very nice also. We both got tonkatsu. I got the mizore and my partner got the sizzling one. I appreciate the choices of rice and miso soup. I really enjoyed my Shiso rice and the white miso soup. I think even though I enjoyed the ground daikon but I also think I would've been happy with just a regular tonkatsu, similar for the sizzling platter.

If there's one thing about me, it's that I love an izakaya. Open late and small plates so you can…read moretry a few different things, my favorite! I've been to Mitch's a few times and when I saw that they opened up an Izakaya next door, I knew I had to try it and made a reservation on Yelp. Izakaya Mitch's specializes more in cooked dishes while the other side is more about the fresh / raw fish. But that didn't stop us from ordering the assorted sashimi. All the fish were from Japan and yes you can taste the difference. The fatty tuna was obviously my favorite but even the regular tuna and the hamachi was so buttery, it just melts in your mouth. Plus, it comes with real wasabi. Not horseradish, real wasabi. For the cooked dishes we got the hokkaido crab tempura with a side of matcha salt. One of the best tempuras I've ever had. The kamameshi, a rice dish with their fish of the day. We got the half order and it's kinda like a bibimbap where they mix the rice for you at your table. I saw that people were raving about this on Yelp and put in our order right when we got in because it takes 25-ish minutes to prepare. On special, they had a karei karaage. Karei is a flat fish and I've never had a fish karaage before, it was perfectly fried and dipped in the ponzu sauce it was so good. Ambiance is a no-frills kinda spot but very clean and feels homey and the service is amazing! Attentive and super personable.

So happy there is an izakaya that we don't have to drive to downtown or Waikiki. Izakaya Mitch's is…read moreclose to the airport in the industrial area. I made reservations, so we were seated right away. Luckily, it wasnʻt crowded when we sat, so our waitress was able to answer all our questions about different dishes we were interested in ordering. Our party of 3 got to try different things from the specials and regular menu. The tai karaage was so tender and seasoned really well, the kamameshi is such a comfort dish, and the burrata with chilled tomato was really refreshing. One thing we all liked was that even though there were a lot of people in the restaurant (most came in after we ordered), we still were able to speak to one another without talking loud. The staff mentioned that they will be getting a sushi chef, so I guess we need to try this place again,

this place is fantastic, great staff, delicious food! fast and efficient getting in and out.read more

One of our go to spots when we're in town. Always long lines here, so go either early or late for…read moreyour meal time. If you do end up standing in line when it wraps around the building, don't worry the line goes a bit faster than it looks. The go to here is the nikutama. It's their best seller for a reason. That slightly sweet broth enriched with fresh thick noodles and accoutrement just hits hard.

Me and pookie absolutely love this spot. The caterpillar roll is by far our favorite and we…read moredefinitely recommend!! ;)

The vibe is very welcoming and the service was phenomenal and the food, don't get me startedread more

If you're looking for some delicious Japanese pub food and beer, Aburiya is what you want and what…read moreYOU NEED. Service was excellent, food was excellent and the staff was so fun and eager to hangout with tables :) Ambiance did remind me of Japan, just with American sized portions XD

I just want to add that every time I come here the service is great. I took my good friend from…read morethe mainland here for dinner - it was his first time in Hawaii and he was so impressed with the food - but more than that I was so grateful how well they took care of us. This Izakaya is so chill and it definitely feels more like a homey vibe - definitely something you'd see in Japan. My homie enjoyed the beef flank, jellyfish, and the unagi kamameshi. All wins on his end and he also enjoyed the matcha next door. :) definitely a must-visit spot when you're on the island. If my LA friends loved it then your outer-island friends will love it too.

We went in the with no reservations but they were able to sit us down for a bit to grab some drinks…read moreand a few appetizers. This place took me back to Japan! The employees were awesome and attentive and had good recommendations. I got a calpico grapefruit soda with alcohol. It was delicious, but pretty sweet. Definitely worth a try if you like sweet drinks. My favorite was the calpico shikuwasa soda with Soju! It was so delicious. It was sour and sweet in the perfect way. Tasted like a creamy sour lemonade. I would come back just for this drink! I also really enjoyed their rolls and sushi. I got a few rolls and hand roll and they were all delicious and fresh. I cannot wait to return again!

Overall delicious and good quality…read more I felt the tempura a little bit oily. Hamachi was fresh . The dressing for the salad a bit salty. Service was really good though.

TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

Cozy and friendly restaurant in Manoa. Amazing cocktail menu with lots of unique options…read more They use lots of local vendors and ingredients which I love. Great spot for parties and date nights, with modern decor and table styles. Very relaxing atmosphere with an open kitchen concept. Food was amazing, and easy to share. Definitely recommend!

This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I want to start with the customer service , it…read morewas A++. We went there for dinner and it was busy, but the customer service was A1. The decor was simple yet cute, down to the tables Ave chair arrangement. Let's get to the food, the bao buns were every dish was full of flavor and the combinations were crazy. The churros were soooo good. I highly recommend