ALWAYS A GREAT DECISION TO COME HERE!! The food and service is always on point. Really cool locally owned restaurant. We usually get the sizzling steak and/or korean chicken salad. Never disappoints. Mahalo kenichi crew read more

Our high school club chose to eat here to support a local business for our end-of-year celebration, but the experience was unfortunately very stressful for our students and staff. We spent two and a half months planning this event. My club treasurer and I confirmed the price on seven different occasions--five times over the phone and twice in person. Each time, we were quoted just over $600 with about a $110 in tips, which we paid in full two days before the party. However, the day before the event, we were told there was a miscalculation and we needed to pay another $400. Because our students had only fundraised the amount we were originally quoted, we had to remove two people from our party and downgrade our menu which did not include drinks anymore. We requested to bring our own drinks due to the last-minute budget change, but we were told we could "only bring alcohol and no outside sodas and juices." It was disappointing that this was the only accommodation offered to a group of high school students. During the party, we also encountered several cleanliness issues. We found hair in the food and cockroaches in the rice, as well as on the walls and near the buffet area. I am totally not joking about the food; I was shocked by what we saw. The servers were very polite and apologized when we let them know, but it was a major concern for us. I understand that accidents happen, but this was a very difficult situation for our club after so much careful planning. Personally, I will not be eating here again for a long time. read more

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Super local homey vibes here. I feel like this place has great food, but maybe we just ordered the wrong items. I got the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen and my boyfriend got the pork chops. The ramen had two big sliced os pork, half an egg, and fishcake. The broth was nothing amazing and it did lack that rich tonkotsu broth. The pork chop has really good seasoning and was fried which gave it a crispy skin that I really enjoyed. Although it was very flavorful, the pork was overcooked and dry. If I lived in Hilo, I would probably come here again as a nice casual dinner/lunch spot. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I was there for my company Christmas party and was quite surprised great the food was. The bbq Korean chicken had a very tasty sauce and was nice and crispy. The kalbi short ribs were soft and tender and very flavorful. The service was very good. If your looking for ambiance This is not the place you would want to go. If you're looking for a good tasting and fulfilling meal this is it! read more

Soooo there was a minor slip up on my order but the staff accommodated so properly and professionally... portions are generous the wait staff is extremely friendly , gracious, attentive and friendly. read more

Catered lunch for our office party Easy to order and ready on time. Top quality food, always a favorite for special occasions. read more

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Restaurant Kenichi in Hilo is must visit when visiting. Their staff is very friendly, lots of parking and their food is delicious. Check them out next te you're in Hilo. Alooooooha and happy eating. read more

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Huge portions! We were looking for a place to eat and saw the good ratings for this restaurant. When we got there, it was crowded - always a good sign! We ordered some popular dishes - the pork chops, garlic chicken and kimchi fried rice to share. The portions were huge and we were so full - and barely made a dent! The chicken had good flavor and pork chops were perfectly fried - it tasted best hot! Glad we got to try this spot. Service was friendly too! It seems like a popular spot that locals go to - will be back again! read more

Always come here when on a work trip. Food is great, staff is awesome. Came here 4 times, and tried 4 different menu items. Did not disappoint. read more

Food is good, portions are large. Service is good , a little slow but still good. Parking sucks , very limited so if it's busy you won't find parking right away. Bathroom is located outside and has a lock (which is good feels safe) but the bathroom itself needs work. Limited number of stalls so if there is a party going on there will be a line. read more

The Deep-Fried Porkchop was one of the best single bites of pork I've ever had in my life. The breading is crispy but underneath the pork is extremely juicy. It's a huge portion (can share between two people easily) and it comes pre-cut so you don't have to deal with the bone as you regularly would with porkchop. I also ended up dipping the pork into the oriental salad dressing which gave it a nice soy / citrus kick. The chicken and salmon were also great choices!! Will definitely be back. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Deep-Fried Pork Chop, Salmon, and Fried Chicken (Appetizer) - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Super cute family style restaurant serving various plate lunches (yes, we were there for dinner but that's what you call it) & homemade desserts! We've been here twice now and service has always been pretty quick. Fyi, parking is limited to street plus the lot to the left of the restaurant if you're facing it. So far, we've tried, their fried pork chops, Korean chicken, chicken cutlet, roast pork, ten zaru, shoyu ramen, brookie & apple crisp Ala mode. All super homey as expected in a small restaurant as such. Nothing super significant that stood out but overall 8/10. read more

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It was a super cozy and fun dining experience with my friend - got a couple different things throughout the night, but I do remember that the desserts were some of my favorites to see and taste read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The portion sizes are more than enough for two people -- honestly, every dish on the menu could easily feed two. Their desserts are absolutely divine. I had the Apple Crisp Crumble with vanilla ice cream, and it was so good I didn't even get a picture before finishing it -- that's how delicious it was! Definitely worth it. The service was great too. It was crowded, but that's to be expected from a restaurant serving such tasty dishes. The ambiance is just okay -- the building looks a bit old and rough -- but the food more than makes up for it. For me, it's a solid 10/10! read more

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I remember being sad about something, but I wasn't sad about it anymore after eating here. Restaurant is super home-y in a way and it was pretty lively when we were there. It was pretty packed, but the vibes were chill. Don't remember what the plate is called, but definitely get their katsu. Anything with katsu in it will most likely be delicious (and worth it). Juicy cutlet with a nice breaded crunch. We also ordered a bowl of ramen - soup really hit the spot. Would be more than happy to order either again. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Once my go to places, and ordered pork chops, highly recommended by my friend who ordered the same thing, saying it's moist and tasty. Thinking maybe it was just my order that came out overcooked, dry, and bland, but same thing for the person who recommended that dish. Pretty disappointed with the main dish, but the kimchee was good. read more

Delicious! Tried their deep fried shrimp spring roll and dinner options. Service with Aloha was my best explanation of what you very from them. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Appetizer =Deep fried Shrimp Spring Roll=Delicious - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The food so so not excellent. Small pieces of beef, brown rice taste like heated on microwave and few pieces of tonkastu small cut. Overpriced and taste of food mediocre. read more

Whenever you need comforting, local food, Kenichi's never fails to deliver. It's been years since I've eaten here, but nothing has changed. Portion sizes are still huge, food still tastes fantastic, and prices are reasonable. I chose their two-choice combo and got boneless Korean chicken and BBQ beef. Both were stellar. Their boneless Korean chicken isn't drenched in sauce but is still incredibly flavorful. Their BBQ beef is precisely what you'd expect from a staple Hawaiian restaurant. As aforementioned, portion sizes for both were generous. I'll be coming back for the foreseeable future to try their other dishes! read more

So after sight seeing, Merry Monarch festival and some family business it was time to eat. Kenichi came up on my list. So ono and so local. This is da kind I remember growing up on. The Kali marinade was solid. The fried pork chop good. Korean fried chicken was bomb. But da Buttah fish is broke da mouth. So hard to find on the mainland, and when you do it's so small. The buttah fish plate is not only ono but good size. Service was good. Our server was local, polite and informative. Good talk story with. If my travel brings me back to Hilo, I'll see you. Stay pono. Mahalo. read more

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Family favorite, spacious place. The food is ono the desserts are good but a bit overpriced for a slice but still delicious. Servers are friendly. Overall good eats read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Panko salmon and chicken Katsu combo plate with rice and toss salad w/ranch and dipping sauces. - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Excellent service. Pork chops with Kalbi and the steak is awesome. Best fried rice I have eaten in Hilo.

Great local restaurant. Many entrees can be combined to make your own 2 choice mix plate. I got Korean chicken + Furikake salmon which were freshly made and satisfying. The miso butter fish was very flavorful but a tad salty. Reasonably priced. Would like to return to try other dishes like Ramen or Tripe stew. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - a plate of food on a table - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I went as soon as they opened. I was seated and waited on right away. I was told the Pork chop and Kalbi was really good! I did try both. I also had the shrimp spring roll appetizer. The pork chop was very tasty! The Kalbi had great flavor but it wasn't very tender. The spring rolls weren't my favorite but overall this place isn't bad. read more

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My family and I were visiting Hilo and wanted something fried! Of course I went with Tonkatsu while my brother ordered the Chicken Katsu. Both were very hefty portions especially for the price. Very crispy and delicious. Service was very nice and attentive! read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Tonkatsu Dinner - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I can't say enough good things about this place! Kenichi has quickly become one of my favorite spots to go in town. The menu is a fantastic fusion of Japanese and local flavors, and everything I've tried has been delicious. First off, the Korean Chicken is a game changer--crispy, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice. If you're a ramen lover, you absolutely have to try their Spicy Miso Ramen; it's the perfect comfort food. One thing that always impresses me is the portion sizes. You definitely get your money's worth here! The Sizzling Ribeye is a crowd favorite and perfect for sharing (if you're feeling generous). And don't skip the fried pork chops--they're simply mouthwatering! The atmosphere is laid-back and inviting, making it a great spot for families and friends to gather. The staff is super friendly and attentive, which adds to the overall welcoming vibe. Check them out read more

Can't believe that after all my many visits to Hilo I have never been to Kenichi's which is a 4 min walk from my uncle's house! When we went at 6:00 on a Saturday night, it was full. We didn't have to wait in line which was nice, but we did have to wait quite a while to order and get our food. I wasn't hungry so I ordered an appetizer of fried iidako which was good but personally I would have preferred a lighter batter. Uncle got a heaping plate of tonkatsu which I tried it and gave a thumbs up. Aunty got soba with tempura which I didn't see on the menu. Service was friendly. Typical Hilo style feel, popular with the locals. read more

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Be careful when ordering salad here. The Korean chicken salad had bugs. We pointed it out to our server. Unfortunately, they did not offer to redo the salad or give us a discount due to their dangerous negligence. Regards. Beau Toichi read more

Chicken katsu was great and the amount of food was more than I expected Service was fast and efficient Ambiance was kinda drab Doggy bag was big enough for another full meal Would go back read more

I started off with the Miso soup. Very rich and tasty. Perfectly warm. I ordered the Pork Chops and it didn't disappoint. Lightly breaded with enough spice to make it tasty and delicious. Cooked to perfection with detail. I am a big Pork Chop fan and I loved it. The portions are large so bring your appetite. The service is on point and the food came out blazing. Highly recommend this place to Locals and tourists. read more

Server was rude. Rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath. Like damn I'm not blind. His name was Aaron.

I LOVE KENICHIS! one of hilo's top spots for the best local food and more. We ordered the sizzling ribeye steak, fried pork chops, and chicken katsu/ton katsu combo. The food was a 10/10. A tip I learned is if you're getting the ribeye id ask for it rare/medium rare depending on how you want your steak cooked. Since it comes out on the hot pan it's still cooking. I've been here multiple times and would also recommend the korean chicken. The service was exceptional and the food came out fast. The portion sizes are very generous and price is pretty reasonable. If you're looking for good local grinds come to kenichis. read more

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Went possibly just before a lunch rush. Big portions delicious and we had a good service. read more

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6/13/2023 Restaurant Kenichi 684 Kilauea Ave Hilo, HI 96720 I went there for dinner on a Wednesday evening. There is some parking next to the building and I suppose you could also use the lot on the other side after business hours. It's a local Japanese/Fusion style diner and popular with local folks. It used to be Kay's if you're old enough to remember. I was seated promptly and ordered the Grilled Saba which came with rice and a house salad with Oriental dressing. There were two large juicy grilled fillets which I had to use a little salt to enhance the taste. Service was fast and attentive throughout. The prices were a good value with lots of food, many diners were leaving with take home boxes. I give it 5 stars for the value and diner venue. Definitely repeatable. read more

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I did a take out order prior to the hilo parade. Got 2 orders of gyoza, 2 furikake salmon and 1 sizzling NY steak.... one of the gyoza was BURNT and didnt realize until after. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - one order of the gyoza - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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It was a...very...BUSY day...LONG day and TIRING day! Therefore, we were too lazy to go out to dinner, so we decided to pick up from somewhere. My sister in law and my husband mentioned...RESTAURANT KENICHI, so we phoned in our take out order. Ordering and picking up was a breeze. Here is our order: 1. KOREAN BBQ chicken: tasty but not as crispy. Just a tad disappointed because the chicken was kinda' soggy. I like fried chicken...CRISPY. 2. BBQ BEEF: I really enjoyed this dish! The meat was...VERY TASTY and VERY TENDER! It was nicely marinated beef! Yum! 3. SHOYU RAMEN: my niece ordered this so not sure how it tasted? 4. MISO RAMEN: I thought the miso ramen was your typical bowl of noodles. It was good. So, if you looking for home cooked local foods, go to RK! You'll thank me for that! read more

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A friend recommended this place, saying its where locals go, so we decided to try it. When I looked at their yelp page, the dish that kept coming up was their ribeye and butter fish, so we had to try those two. It did not disappoint! The ribeye came in two sizes and I wish I got the bigger one. It comes in a hot sizzling skillet; its one of those dishes that everyone looks at while they bring it out because the sizzling sound is so loud. It was tender, full of flavor and we enjoyed every bite. MUST GET. The butter fish was also tender, flaked off easily with a fork. The portion isn't that big, though it also comes with rice. read more

Not many places are open on Mondays in Hilo, so it was nice to find that Restaurant Kenichi is. We placed a phone order for three plates, and it was ready for pickup when we got there. I ordered the mini furikake salmon plate. It came with white or brown rice and tossed salad, Mac salad, or kimchee. The mini was a good size for me, which came with one piece of salmon. The salmon was flavorful and came with two sauces, which I think were unagi and a sriracha-Mayo one. The salmon was a little on the dry side though. I also had some of the kalbi from a friend, which was very flavorful and a perfectly tender texture. I also liked the kimchee that came with my mini plate. read more

Restaurant Kenichi - Mini Furikake salmon plate with white rice and kimchee. Kalbi from a friend - Desserts Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Delicious local style food from this cozy diner in Hilo Hawaii! Great service, ono grindz, and plenty kine options to choose from! We ordered: : Kimchee fried rice : Sizzling new york steak : Spicy tonkotsu ramen read more

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Great place for fish and other local delights. This was the highlight of our trip. Food was excellent and the service was great. Also got a cup of delicious kona coffee. Yum. read more