Matsuri on Young St in Honolulu delivers top-tier Japanese izakaya vibes with fresh, high-quality dishes that live up to the hype. Tucked away with easy parking, it's perfect for a lively dinner without the Waikiki crowds. The Hokkaido crab was a standout--sweet, delicate hairy crab meat that melted like butter, served simply to let the premium quality shine (get it early as it sells out). Omakase chirashi packed variety with lush sashimi, ikura, and uni over perfect rice portions--easily the best we've had for value. Chicken karaage hit crispy and juicy with light batter, while the crab salad brought fresh, briny vibes in a generous mix. Ribeye and beef tongue grilled tender with subtle char, and the mixed tempura (shrimp, veggies) stayed crunchy without greasiness--ideal for sharing.[yelp] Cozy spot with friendly service; portions suit 2-4 people easily. Must for Honolulu Japanese cravings--we'll be back! read more

Matsuri - Omakase Chirashi(chef choice) 2 person - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

We made reservations on opentable and they even confirmed it via text the day of. When we got to the restaurant, it was closed! What a fail! PLEASE UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION ON OPENTABLE!! Horrible experience. It was our last night in Hawaii too. What a fail. read more

Izakaya Matsuri is a small, cozy sushi spot that's been around for about 8 years, and this was my first time visiting. If you like Izakaya Gaku, you'll enjoy it here, similar quality but much quieter and more relaxed. The food was excellent. They're known for their hairy crab, which can sell out, so I was glad I got to try it. It came with sauce and rich crab miso absolutely delicious. Other standouts were the otoro, wagyu nigiri topped with uni and caviar, tobiko, anago, fried baby shrimp, beef tongue, and amaebi nigiri. Everything we had was amazing. 10/10 I'll definitely be back. read more

Matsuri - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

OMAKASE CHIRASHI..... is an absolute MUST TRY! There was such a wide variety of quality sashimi pieces included that it was beyond what I expected. The dish presentation was so on-point! I personally think Matsuri has the best Chirashi on Oahu (when weighing the quality and quantity to price) . If you order a couple other small dishes/sushi items along with the chirashi, it is enough to feed two people. The ambiance of the spot is nice and cozy. There aren't too many seats, so going before prime dinner time is recommended. Parking is right in front but limited. read more

Matsuri - Omakase Chirashi(chef choice) - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Finally we returned to one of our favorite sushi places! I spoke to owner Julie on their new phone number 808-745-5858. You can also Text your Take Out Order after reviewing their website. MatsuriHawaii.com They have a New Online Menu! Sadly, they no longer have Happy Hour Menu, but everything was still exceptional quality! Owner / Executive Chef Yoshi always impresses us! He has many years of experience and his creativity and love shows through in his food. We were so happy to see Julie and Yoshi as we picked up our food order. It was Saturday night and they were open for dine-in with limited social distancing tables. Reservations are suggested. We ordered Ikura and Salmon Nigiri, 1 Large Hamachi Kama, 2 Butterfish Misoyaki, 1 Thunder Roll and 1 Kotobuki Roll. The Ikura and Salmon nigiri was super fresh and tasty! My Dad loved the Large Hamachi Kama! He said it was really good and wants to order again. Reuben and I enjoyed our Butterfish Misoyaki - WOW! I have to admit, this is in the Top 3 Best Butterfishes I've ever tried! It all reminds me of when we visited Japan. The Thunder Dynamite Roll was a nice, crunchy shrimp tempura with seared spicy tuna and dynamite sauce. The Kotobuki Roll was seared Ahi (tuna), Ika (squid), and shrimp tempura topped with thinly sliced jalapeños and dynamite sauce. Everything was AMAZING and we look forward to the next time! Mahalo ~ read more

See all

This was an exceptional dining experience, all around winning location, service and sushi. A fantastic date night in a perfect setting. We started with one of my favorites; oyster shooters. They were amazing, I'll take an entire dozen next visit. My husband had a baked lobster roll which he said was out of this world. They were kind to exchange his chop sticks so he would not contaminate our sashimi with shellfish since I am allergic. We ordered the 5 kinds sashimi, chef's choice. King salmon was fresh and delicious. The ahi blue fin was melt in your mouth perfection. Shima aji, was flounder (as my notes say) and I enjoyed this thinly sliced sashimi. Gen saba is high end sushi but it was my least favorite of the bunch. It is thick and meaty, very dense and has exceptional flavor. The texture is just not my personal favorite. The hamachi was out of this world, my favorite of the assortment. The small and intimate restaurant is just what I needed here. I feel like I'm home and this is my local spot. Maybe now it is! Julie our waitress, (who is also an owner and her husband is the chef) was phenomenal. I adore her! If I don't come back for the food I'll come to visit her, just kidding we have to come back here it's a gem and the sushi is top notch. Mrs. Julie's Blue sake recommendation was perfect. The other waitstaff was also attentive and I felt like the dining experience was one of the best I have had in Hawai'i. read more

See all

This was my second time at Matsuri, and once again, they didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is always great, and the service is friendly and attentive! I started with the agedashi tofu, then followed with my favorite crab salad, and it was AMAZING. Super fresh, with a perfect balance of flavors and a dressing that tied it all together. If you're into crab, you have to try this one. Of course, I couldn't miss out on my all-time favorite: the crab tempura hand rolls. These are honestly the best part of the menu for me, and I could eat these every day. To end the meal, I had the tempura ice cream which is crispy and warm on the outside with creamy ice cream inside. Overall, Matsuri remains a top choice for sushi in Oahu. Highly recommend coming here!! read more

See all

So good I am conflicted. This hidden gem is so good i want to keep it hidden. This is the second time I have been here now and it was not a fluke the first time. Great quality food at reasonable prices for what you get. This place is hidden in an office building on a side street so you will not know about it unless you are looking for it. Lived in Japan for 2 years and this is solid food. If you want the westernized rolls they have that too but that is not why you come here. Come for the misoyaki sea bass or the home made tofu dishes like the tofu salad. There are so many Japanese restaurants here but not many good ones. This place is so good i don't know why more people don't know about it. Try it once and you will be back. I promise. read more

See all

Dinner was my first time here! Delicious. Great chef and staff, his son lei our waiter, was on the ball and took good care of us. The food was tasty and enjoyed everything we ordered. Especially the Nodoguro or Deep Throat fish! Haha that's what I call it. Go try this place out call to make a reservation. read more

See all

Food was awesome!! Fish was fresh and melt in your mouth! Service was outstanding. Super friendly. We will definitely be coming back again! read more

See all

Ww had a fabulous dinner here. The quality of the sushi was excellent, the sake selection was wonderful, and the service was fantastic. There was even parking. Wouldn't hesitate to come back again. read more

Matsuri - Sashimi platter - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

After coming here with no expectations, I always come back because it is always up to par. The fish is great quality and honestly the omakase chirashi cannot be beat, it has everything in it that you would want to have. The cooked dishes are good, the crab is special, and the speciality rolls are always fun. I've taken multiple people from out of town here and it always is a hit. I'll be back! read more

See all

Amazing food and service! High quality food with tons of variety. Sushi was fresh! We had oysters, omakase sashimi, hokkaido crab, steak, hamachi kama. The staff were so nice and kind. Great place we were lucky to find!!! read more

Amazing service and food, we're always treated very nice when we come in. Fish is very fresh and every dish i've ordered has been amazing

The food is tasty and fresh. Our server was terrific. This is my go to for awesome Japanese cuisine.

We found this place while searching a sushi spot and we are so glad we did. Very authentic, fresh and everything tasted so delicious They have great service, you can make a reservation but walk-ins are welcome Loved the simple decor, clean and super cute serving dishes It truly satisfies your sushi cravings read more

See all

My other half and I love trying new sushi restaurants and this place was perfect for us to spend an early Valentine's dinner with each other. We made reservations for a Saturday night and it was surprisingly not that busy! Tucked away in what seemed like a random building, we were able to find it with the help of signs. Staff were helpful in sake recommendations and attentive throughout the whole meal. For appetizers, we got the wagyu carpaccio--delicious, but for $38 I do wish it came with more than just 4 pieces (granted, it is *wagyu*), a braised kobucha, and an extra large hamachi kama! Also chose to share the Matsuri nigiri set and omakase chirashi. The sushi/sashimi was super buttery soft and fresh and worth the price in my opinion. My favorite of the night would have to be dessert since I have a huge sweet tooth. We got the sake crème brûlée and added the house-made sake ice cream as recommended. I would definitely come back just for that! read more

See all

Delicious from start to finish! Nigiri sushi pieces were superior quality. Vegetable tempura was light and crispy with a generous portion and good variety of vegetables. Chicken karaage was juicy and crunchy. The wagyu sukiyaki was perfection! Will be coming back for sure to enjoy more from the menu! read more

My wife and I had dinner here for the first time and we loved it. I recommend this place for the seafood. The fish quality for great. Sashimi was so soft and buttery like. I recommend the crab. It's a bit pricey tho but it is really prepared nicely and very easy to eat without any work. We also had the sashimi platter. It was so fresh and soft. We asked the waiter to deep fry the shrimp heads and it was so good eating it. Chrunchy and tasty. I would for sure come here again to treat ourselves. read more

See all

Matsuri has become my favorite place for sashimi & sushi. Their omakase sashimi or nigiri always has my favorites when I'm looking to treat myself. MP but ends up around $110. I love the convenience of being able to make a reservation on Open Table and they even take text messaging 808-745-5858. Some of my favorite things to eat are the oysters, wafu steak, fish is super fresh and high quality. Just tried their deep fried baby shrimp. That was delicious. Save room for dessert. Their creme brulee is divine. Small and quaint place that feels like you are in Japan. Service is always terrific. read more

See all

Quality of food and service here is always stellar. Great options of sushi for individuals or to share with a larger group. Came for a family dinner and everything was so good and presentation was amazing. A must try! read more

See all

Came here for the first time for valentines date night. It was a full house. Seems like only one waitress and another lady who just serves the dishes but not taking orders. Food was ok, but what struck us the most is the length of the wait. We waited 15 minutes before the waitress came to give us water. After ordering, got the first dish quite quick- it was a cold eggplant so probably pre-prepared. But once we got to the sushi and nigiri- 30 minutes between courses. Jesus. I mean, pretty significant. Almost got up and left. Everyone around us too was getting their dishes at the pace of one every 25-30 minutes. I definitely would not recommend. Even if it was totally remarkable food. Which it definitely wasn't read more

First time we tried this place. Here are what we had tonight: Fried small shrimps Omakase chirashi Both dishes are great and exceeded my expectations! read more

Matsuri - Fried Small shrimp - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Matsuri continues to be my favorite pic for sushi on the island. I love going there in the evenings and despite being small it is always a nice quiet, relaxing time. Cozy and comfortable. read more

See all

best meal I had in Hawaii. Had an amazing natto dish, crab, and sushi and it was all spectacular. The staff was the sweetest family in the world! read more

Matsuri - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Well this sushi spot was a well kept secret that I think people should know about. I came here for my birthday because my first 2 sushi spots were closed on Sundays. Let me just say, thank goodness otherwise I would've discovered this gem. It is tucked away in a small area with a small parking lot for customers. Have no worries about finding parking because it's so hidden that not a lot of people know it's there. When we walked it, only a handful of people full of people there.....super quiet and intimate. I had a specialty roll and my husband had the dragon roll with no seaweed. Yes, not much of a sushi person but requested no seaweed in which they accommodated him. My son tasted his and liked it but of course had to order crispy chicken for him. Both rolls were super good but the chicken was the one that caught my attention. Well made crispy chicken at a Japanese sushi spot was amazing. That is a must try. We mention my birthday and ordered a dessert so they put a candle on there for me to make a wish. Everything was fabulous and will definitely come back again. read more

See all

I came here with high hopes and left with a mediocre let down. The sushi was ok, but standing next to the price -not worth it. Don't get me started on their outrageous Saki markups.... But as for fish, not a lot of choices and the staff was very uneducated as to fish cuts or quality. The service was uninformative and extremely slow. The ambiance was nothing special. A tiny room packed full of tables. I normally do not order rolls while out for sushi. Technically, I don't consider them "sushi" quote on quote. When I saw the Toroneido Roll the hook was in lip. Who could resist a spicy tuna roll covered in Chutoro and avocado? Against my good judgment, I ordered and what I received was definitely not Chutoro covered.(See picture) The next wrong was the scallop carpaccio. The waitress seemed to suggest the scallop sashimi came plain and raw. I fought long and hard for a carpaccio. Maybe with yuzu Koshu I said... I never figured with Pesto. (see pic) The rest of the dishes went the same. Some presentations were greater than others, but held nothing to some of my top choices. The Otoro was subpar. I'm not from Hawaii, but will not be back. read more

See all

This quaint little place is a great spot to come for some really good sushi. Came here with some friends and everything was fantastic. Because this is a small place, the parking was sufficient and conveniently located right outside the restaurant. The service was great. They serve omakase here, but this time we just tried many of their other dishes. We all left very full and satisfied. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough room for dessert...but maybe next time. Come check this place out...you won't be disappointed. read more

See all

This Izakaya was so good! The food here is so amazing - everything was fresh and cooked perfectly. It can be a bit pricey, but you're paying for the quality. My favorite dishes were the grilled nodoguro and the Hokkaido live crab. I would definitely recommend trying them. The homemade tofu was also worthy of mention - super soft! I would recommend taking a look at their menu before heading there - there's some dishes that they recommend you order early. The shop is pretty small so I would recommend making a reservation. They're on OpenTable so it's easy to book with them! read more

See all

Come here for high quality and fresh Japanese dishes. Everything was great and I've dined here several times! Splurged on the Hokkaido hairy crab with Kani miso and vinaigrette sauce. It has sweet and delicate meat. Order this early, because they do run out sometimes. Mixed tempura was perfectly battered and fried with flavorful dipping sauce. Karaage chicken was piping hot with a light and slightly crunchy batter. 3-choice sashimi platter includes hamachi, salmon, and ahi. All very lush, fatty, melt in your mouth, non-fishy tasting! Cold kabocha and eggplant apps good to start with. Also recommend the chirashi don, perfect portion and value to share for a couple. All other dishes are pretty easy to share for larger groups. Cozy space with tight tables and lively izakaya atmosphere. Had to flag down the servers a couple times during the rush, but always got what we needed. RSVP recommended and parking provided in a small one-way in and out. read more

Matsuri - Hokkaido hairy crab and mixed tempura - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food was ok lobster dynamite was overcooked small portions for the price garlic ong choy was ok but price was high. The Hokkaido Hairy Crab was served cold we thought it would be served hot and they said it would be a Large Crab but seemed to be on the smaller side and cost $155.00 read more

See all

best meal i've had in a LOOOOONG time! i'm really not sure / don't know where i can have better japanese food in the US than at this restaurant. each dish was just excellent! my favorite is the king salmon skin roll read more

See all

2022 Izakaya Review #5 I am amazed at the number of Izakaya Restaurants that I have never visited or even heard off, well I can remove Matsuri after this last week. Reviews and photos looked good, we needed a Saturday evening Izakaya, and they take reservations on Open Table! We were able to make an early dinner reservation and we scored a parking spot right in front so things were looking solid! Food: Half dozen oysters to start with, super fresh and I love the touch of ikura added to each shell. Next was the in house made Oboro Tofu with of course an add on of Ikura. Washoi Natto next up with grated mountain yam, raw egg, uni, and again ikura..so amazing! Star of the evening was the Chirashi Omakase, piled high with the freshest seafood, we had to dig a little to actually get down to the rice! Finished of this amazing meal with the sake infused Creme Brulee with a scoop of Green Tea Ice cream. Each dish was perfect, freshest and high quality seafood, and generous portions make this a great izakaya option. Service: Everyone was very nice and our service was friendly and efficient. Food didn't take long to hit the table and everything went smoothly. Atmosphere: Located on the ground floor of a building on Young Street, the entrance does not face the busy street so it's a chill setting. We were there on the early side but it's not a large space so I imagine if it's later at night it could get a little on the louder side. Value: Izakayas in general are not the cheapest of restaurants to visit as many of them feature great food and skilled chefs. In my opinion Matsuri was priced right and their value to quality was among the better we've found so far. Not a $20 per head kind of place but we were happy with what we recieved! Overall: We need to return to try a number of other tasty offerings that we saw other tables ordering. So far this was one of my favorite in my 2022 Izakaya visits! read more

See all

I must live under a rock. Thanks to the Meta algorithm for the post. (Did I just write that?) Note: This review is based on a takeaway and will be updated following a dine-in and takeaway omakase sushi experience. Doyo no ushi no hi. Eel day. What better way to celebrate than an unagi bento? The unagi, excellent quality. Large, fatty, well prepared and dressed with a very agreeable kabayaki sauce. Sure, it can't compare to a freshly prepared, steamed and grilled eel from a multigenerational restaurant specializing in only unagi but for takeaway, it is outstanding. The Hokkaido hairy crab, perfect. Cooked from live, the moist, sweet meat trumps almost all other crabs. Low salinity with a smoother texture and less firm than a fresh steamed Dungeness crab. The kani miso, silky smooth and sweet. Richer and creamier than the best uni. The provided yuzu soy sauce pairs well but is not necessary. Lots of pride and care is taken to make for the best possible takeout experience. For example, the crab is placed atop a cling film wrapped tea leaf (aesthetic) to prevent it from shifting in the container and making it easy to remove and plate. Easy takeaway ordering. Online menu. Text order, Pay via Venmo. Pickup and enjoy. Prices are below similar offerings. The eel day bento, $50ea; Hokkaido hairy crab $105ea. So far, it is on par with the top tier of Hawaii's izakaya's. Impressive. read more

See all

Everything is excellent from service to food. Reservations are a must. Small dining area. read more

See all

If I could do 6/5 I would. This is the best sushi place I've ever been to and last year when I came I wanted to try the hairy crab.... They were sold out! This year was so happy to hear they had them and wow this meal didn't disappoint! Also the Otoro was absolutely amazing ! Service was 5/5 a nice family restaurant feel with great fresh fairly priced sushi. Unreal Much love read more

Matsuri - Hokkaido Live Crab - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Fantastic authentic Japanese Izakaya in an intimate/cozy atmosphere. Honestly, there must be no more than 10 tables which lends itself to the "special" feeling of Matsuri. Reservations highly recommended. Matsuri is not inexpensive but I would say a good value considering the high quality of what I'd being offered. We ordered a couple starters.... My favorite being the oboro house made tofu! The Eggplant orondaise is another standout and a delicious bite! We also had the cucumber salad, which I enjoyed but hubby wasn't a fan of. (He doesn't like bonito....which meant more for me!) Chirashi Omakase was spectacular with a generous helping of raw fish over seasoned rice. Hubby enjoyed his maki rolls. I can see this being a special occasion haunt in the future or when I'm willing to splurge a little on some great Japanese cuisine. read more

See all

Service was good and I enjoyed the miso soup and sushi. Was a bit expensive but quality and service was good. read more

Matsuri - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Good food great service! Nigiri sushi was on point, Hiramewith shiso, mirugai, amaebi and ikura fresh! grilled beef toungue with cilantro and scallion sauce read more

This is our second time here and it was just as goo as the first time. We got the Wafu Steak which came out on a hot platter and was cooked to perfection with a tasty teri glaze sauce and onion . We also ordered Uni and a few orders of their otoro and chutoro. The service was great and the vibe is your usual chill izakaya vibe. It's easy to miss the turn into the area but drive slowly and you'll be able to see their sign on the building and one on the sidewalk. read more