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    Obento Rinka

    4.2 (140 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Obento Rinka Photos

    Business Info

    OBENTO RINKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Storefront
    Nadine C.

    Takeout lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... My friend and I needed to pick up some bentos for our homebound friend. We both hadn't been to Obento Rinka - and we had heard so much about this place - so, it was agreed that we get our lunch here. There's metered street parking. All of the customers run in and out of the shop, so there are sufficient spaces. The woman at the counter is efficient because she probably knows that everyone is parking quickly... My friend chose two vegetable-based bentos while I selected the Salmon one and the Hamburger with shrimp one. I figured that I'd eat the one that no one wanted. The two gals chose to eat the vegetable-based ones. I ate the salmon bento and left the Hamburger one for our homebound friend to eat for dinner. We all enjoyed our bentos. The presentation and quality are excellent. The sides that come with each bento are tasty, too! We also got a container of warabi mochi and a container of candied sweet potato... wow... these were delicious, too! I'd return for the butterfish bento and the Anmitsu dessert! Yum yum!!!

    Beef bento. The beef was absolutely tough to chew. The flavor was decent but the beef so so tough.
    Kim B.

    I wanted to give more stars but the food was rather unimpressive for my taste buds. Maybe I chose the wrong menu items. The service was very considerate and business like. The place is clean and busy with different choice bentos. I think the price for the bento and the flavor didn't make it for me. I will have to return again but for 2 bentos I spent over $30 and I wasn't wowed. I'll make better choices.

    Outside
    StaciLei T.

    I love that Honolulu has so many of these cute little hole-in-the-wall bento spots. Perfect for grabbing a quick, healthy, and hearty meal. I came in around 11 am and there was still a good selection of bentos. The first one I grabbed with the misoyaki butterfish (duh) and one with fried shrimp, fish, and salmon. I also grabbed a side of their hijki, a seaweed salad that was bursting with umami. Picking out my bentos was such a pleasurable experience. The person at the shop was so sweet, kind, and helpful! I had a bit of decision fatigue when I came in and was encouraged to take my time looking around. Be sure to bring your own bag for your bentos! It's 15 cents for a small bag and 50 for a large bag. It is a bit pricey, we paid about $50 for two bentos and a side of hijiki. For the amount of time it takes to make all of the bentos- from the proteins to all the different sides, carefully placed in different sections... it's not hard to understand why.

    Paul M.

    We had a picnic at our daughter's school so we decided to pickup some bentos. Without knowing anything about this place we stopped by and they have some great bentos here! Full on Japanese bentos with nice packaging, everything nicely organized and beautiful in its little space. Food was delicious and the lady there was friendly. I'm so glad we stopped here as I now know a good place to get bentos.

    Ordered five Bentos but got only four  They were willing to take a cab to deliver but we told them no need just get credit for next time
    Mike Y.

    Very Original Japanese Bentos Same as owner as Rinka Restaurant next to Whole Foods in Kakaako we ordered Makunouchi Bento includes 13 items plus ume chiso rice too many to items to mention and changes daily depending what's available on the side we also ordered Koroke another specialty item off the menu you'll need to order ahead for pickup time since they make to order each items of different bento's available each day not a tempura eater but their dipping sauces are exceptional a must try and their teriyaki beef cuts are not a thin cut but very meaty and thick other must is egg roll namasu Fishcake salmon shioyaki I wasn't able to finish the meal too many things to eat Here's pictures from Obento Rinka

    Saba bento
    La L.

    So ono! We bought 3 bentos plus mochi with red bean to take on the plane. The saba was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The mochi was soft and pillowly. The red bean filling was so smooth and tasty. Found our next go-to for quick and healthy takeaway for the plane.

    Warabi mochi
    Monica M.

    First thing I wanted to eat after sitting in a crammed plane: clean light bento. After receiving several messages recommending this place we quickly made our way here, scoring good parking too. It was so difficult choosing just 1 bento for myself. Everything looked amazing. My salmon nori bento was the perfect portion for me, with everything seasoned well and not too salty. My partner's Hamburg bento had karaage chicken, japanese sausage, and hamburg. A little bit of everything. The sides were so good, he actually ate the veggies! I picked up a container of Warabi mochi and it was the perfect snack after checking in to our hotel. Cool, refreshing, slightly sweet, and the matcha flavor was a great palate cleanser. I wouldn't be mad if we ate here every day during our vacation. Lady behind the counter was very kind and helped us narrow down our choices. And plan future eats :)

    Katsu curry rice
    Rachie P.

    After our early Vday couple's massage, Mr G. wanted to refuel with some bento/okazuya type foods. This spot popped up on Yelp when doing my search and it was close enough. Luckily there was street parking right out front, otherwise... no clue where else we'd park. Prob would have to circle around. The spot is tiny. Only 2 people at a time allowed inside. Its nice and clean. Organized and minimal. The simplest thing that caught my eye was the katsu curry plate so I went with that. If I'm ever in the area again I'd prob try the chirashi. Mr G. in his usual style chose 2 diff items. He's a hungry guy and sometimes eats with his eyes! I think he said his soba noodles were green tea? Don't think I caught pics of his food but he might have also gotten some kind of fish plate too. There were samples at the register of their garlic tempura. I'm a huge garlic lover so that was a win for me but at $5 for a small container I passed. After walking out and starting out meal in the car, we were pretty surprised everything came out to about $45. Quite pricey for what we had especially having to dine in our vehicle. My plate was not warm and the katsu was kinda mush, not crispy like it should be... understood that its left out but for the price again, its not desirable. We honestly would rather visit a sit down restaurant for the same food and possibly similar prices.

    Shrimp tempura bento. Onolicious!!!

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    29 days ago

    Not the correct information on Yelp and the restaurant. Prices and items are different.

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    Went in for grab and go. Food was ok but did not have much selection. Will probably go back at an earlier time

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    1 year ago

    Super quality, fresh taste, fair prices, definitely would return. Go early! I think they sell out fast. No place to sit all takeaway.

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    1 year ago

    The Most beautiful and tasty bento ever!!!! Friendly service. Clean store front. Makes Great lunch gifts!

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    Totoya

    Totoya

    4.6(304 reviews)
    3.0 miKaimuki

    Amazing amazing amazing! Service was amazing and everything ran so smoothly. The ambiance is calm,…read morecozy, and intimate as you're sitting at the chef's bar. The food -- amazing. The soup pairing just makes sense and this is such a comforting meal for me since I LOVE sushi and miss Japan.

    The five star rating is two fold. First is that the food was absolutely delicious. The food…read morequality and portions were perfect. The fish was fresh and flavorful. And how do I know that it's fresh? Because as we were at the restaurant, deliveries were being delivered nonstop. My kids devoured the salmon bowl with the salmon roe. My 8 year old's bowl was wiped clean. My 7 year old had only 2 slices of salmon and a few ikuras left. The 5 year old polished off her few pieces of salmon and roe along with her miso soup. And momma's Fukuju? Absolutely demolished. I should have ordered it with extra ikura because the quality and flavor that it provided to the bowl was something that I've never had before. I am usually not a fan of ikura, finding it too salty, but the ikura at Totoya was perfectly balanced. Second, the service was great. I had to give it to the lovely staff who were able to keep it all together when a party of 5 adults and 7 kids (aged between 5 to 11) rolled in, and of course the kids all chose to not sit with their respective parents. The food came fast and kept the peace of very hungry children. The place itself is a small little restaurant with just bar seating, no more than 16 seats, so definitely cozy. My friend sitting all the way on the other side of the bar said she could hear my conversation perfectly well, even though all the kids were loudly chatting. We will definitely be back the next time we make it out to Honolulu. Thanks to the restaurant again for providing such a memorable meal. It was all I could think about on the flight home because it was that good.

    Photos
    Totoya
    Totoya - Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)

    Nagomi (smaller version of the Miyabi)

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3(4.2k reviews)
    1.6 miWaikiki
    $$$
    Free parking
    19 years in business

    I'm not sure what happened to my original review when I tried this spot 2 years ago but this update…read morewas well deserved! During both visits, the employees were so accommodating. Even with a decent amount of seating, there is minimal space so they ask that you leave your strollers outside. When we called the first time saying our daughter was asleep they arranged everything in order to fit the stroller inside. The second visit, I had an even bigger stroller because it was a double stroller for my daughter and son. When I said my son was asleep they again, quickly tried to arrange space for the stroller until we realized he woke up. I truly appreciate them being so welcoming because I've come across many establishments that are not especially towards kids. As for the food, the first time the tonkatsu was a miss for me. I was comparing it to a popular spot on the island that books out months in advance that I tried just before my first visit here and it just seemed a lot more oily and not as tender. We were actually going to eat at the other business again but with two kids and walking non stop on our trip already, I was so happy we had an option closer to us. Both times, we were coming from Hilton Hawaiian Village. They have the cutest car bento boxes for the kids, and they let you choose the car color. My daughter loved the mini umbrella that came with her plate. My son was days before turning 1 year old so a lot of things ended up on the floor and even then, they were so kind about it. The best thing though for my husband and I AND my son, was the loco moco which we were told was limited and a new item for dinner since it was primarily only served as a lunch option? The flavor of the gravy alone was sooo good and rich. My son ended up eating my whole portion of rice and gravy with no crumbs left behind or on the floor lol. The other katsu items we ordered were nice and lightly coated and were not heavily oily at all. The only thing that I felt lacked was their curry especially in comparison to their gravy. I would definitely recommend coming here and I can't wait to come back. That was one of our favorite new dishes this trip and we come every year!

    Such a great tonkatsu experience as if I was in Kyoto on a quick trip. The restaurant flavors felt…read morevery traditional and genuinely Japanese in the best way. I got the pork loin with shrimp combo (the mixed portion instead of the large), and everything was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. One of my favorite parts was grinding the sesame seeds myself in the little ceramic bowl with the wooden grinder, then mixing in the tonkatsu sauce. It made the whole meal feel interactive and intentional, and the sauce was SO good on the pork loin. I also ended up getting a refill of the cabbage because the sesame dressing they served with it was honestly addictive. I went around 8 PM to avoid the dinner rush and was pleasantly surprised I got a table pretty easily. Taking my time with the smaller mixed portion made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable instead of rushed. Overall, really delicious food, great atmosphere, and one of my favorite meals I've had in Waikiki so far. Pictured are the before and after of my dish. Probably a better "go with friends place" than a date.

    Photos
    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Special Katsu-don set

    Special Katsu-don set

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - Katasu-don

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    Katasu-don

    Izakaya Mitch's - Uzaku (unagi, cucumber, vinegar)

    Izakaya Mitch's

    4.8(42 reviews)
    4.9 mi

    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,

    Photos
    Izakaya Mitch's - Hours of operation

    Hours of operation

    Izakaya Mitch's
    Izakaya Mitch's

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    Izakaya Tenkichi - Beef tempura

    Izakaya Tenkichi

    4.6(241 reviews)
    1.1 miMo'ili'ili
    $$

    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!

    The atmosphere was very fun and laid back! It's a great place to get drinks with family and friends…read moreand pick on izakaya and sushi dishes. Fun tip: If you purchase a bottle of sake, you get to randomly draw a prize! Prizes range from a free scallop sashimi to a "hug" from a staff member lol the staff members were all super friendly, but were a bit busy and rushed. The food was good. The dish they're known for, the ikura bowl, was the best standout dish to order. The other items were good but were a bit pricey for the quality and the portion. Overall, a spot I would return to again to try other dishes. My family had a good time there. Tips: the staircase getting up to the restaurant is steep, watch you step and be careful if drinking alcohol lol parking lot is paid and can fill up fast during prime dinner time. Street parking is hit or miss. Reservations are highly recommended.

    Photos
    Izakaya Tenkichi - Storefront

    Storefront

    Izakaya Tenkichi - Seared Mackerel Negi Sesame Oil ($14.50) - really good

    Seared Mackerel Negi Sesame Oil ($14.50) - really good

    Izakaya Tenkichi - Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026

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    Dinner Menu (1 of 12) as of 3/5/2026

    I-NABA - Uni, ikura and hotate don with zaru soba

    I-NABA

    4.4(797 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    I-NABA
    I-NABA - Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice

    Tempura Zaru soba with edamame rice

    I-NABA - Hana soba

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    Hana soba

    Obento Rinka - japanese - Updated May 2026

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