We came here for my mom's birthday dinner We sat towards the back of the restaurant where it wasn't crowded for a Wednesday night. When we walked in, there was a private party in the room to the right and the patrons sitting through the rest of the restaurant. What I liked about it was that the staff seems to have sit people strategically apart to reduce the noise as we really didn't hear any other party which was nice. My friends and I arrived a little later than the rest of the party as it was a surprise to my parents that we were coming, as I live in California. We ordered the calamari and sashimi plate as appetizers. We ordered the wafu steak (2x), the combination (x3) and tempura udon. I am allergic to shellfish and asked only for vegetable tempura with my udon. And they made the accommodations. Which was very much appreciated. The service was fast and friendly and I would recommend coming here on any day to eat their food. read more

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It's always surprising when you enjoy an unexpectedly pleasant dinner! But even more of a surprise when it feels like home. This unassuming Japanese restaurant is buried in the back of shopping center, but it is a hidden gem. Buried in the deepest corner of the shopping center, this restaurant is the gold at the end of the rainbow. We dined a little later in the evening, on a rainy Sunday night...and there were still people coming in to eat! All the waitstaff were so nice. They helped us with the menu and always kept our tea and water filled. The service was top notch. We were hungry and ended up ordering a lot of food. We had... Asparagus tempura Hamachi Kama Negi-hama maki Futomaki California roll Dinner combination with sashimi, tempura, and pork shogayaki Mud pie ice cream Everything was delicious, but the hamachi kama, negi-hama maki, futomaki, and the pork shogayaki were exceptional. We would definitely order the mud pie ice cream again as well. We will be back for more Japanese food for sure...this is such a cozy home away from home! read more

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Food is highly overpriced. Specifically, portions are anything but generous and are expensive. read more

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Service and ambiance good. Food is a little bit overpriced. I have ordered nabeyaki udon. Authentic Japanese nabeyaki udon is more stuff in the pot. I'm little bit disappointed but they have various of menu so I should go back again! read more

Restaurant Miwa - Nabeyaki udon - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Haven't been here in a while, and the team wanted to enjoy Japanese food after the conference today. ICalled for reservations and the earliest possible was 7pm. OK there's time to run to KTA! Shucks, found out KTA already sold out of Kelly Boy's, so got to Miwa's early. Ha ha, we got seated half hour early! Right on! The sashimi and sushi were delightful, they went well with the beer some enjoyed. My co worker wanted whiskey/scotch options so the young waiter went to check with the bar. Came back with a long list, neatly printed, by the way (!) for her to choose from. Then came back to check her preference with water or on the rocks. Then made sure to get his list back for future reference. (Such meticulous service, right?) The restaurant was busy as usual, and based on staff availability. The semi private room was not in use, but as we were leaving, a small family was seated there for ample child space. One co worker had Chicken Teri, I had chicken katsu curry, another had chicken tofu, and two had shrimp and veg tempura. We enjoyed everything! (Well, we couldn't finish two pieces of maki sushi, so that was saved for snack later on;). Everyone successfully satiated their Japanese food and sushi fix. Small drizzles on the way out, but we're glad you were blessed by the needed rain, Hilo! PS Frequent tea and water checks kept us happily hydrated. Oops, we must have been hungry, I forgot to take pictures!!! read more

It looked like a nice, family-owned restaurant, and I always enjoy supporting local businesses. Unfortunately, I was truly disappointed with the service. The staff was not welcoming at all. We ordered a bento box that was supposed to come with tea. When we asked about it, the staff simply stared at us, walked away, and never came back. The food was just okay. We also ordered the sweet and sour short ribs, but there was hardly any meat, mostly bone and cartilage. I'm not usually one to leave reviews, but when you're paying for a meal, good service is just as important as the food. Sadly, this experience fell short of expectations. read more

Classic Japanese style restaurant and food. You can expect to pay a little more, but the food is worth it. This restaurant has been around for so long. Owners are getting older and I hope that someone will be able to continue on with this business if they decide to retire or sell. read more

Located in the Hilo Shopping Center towards the backside of the building. Lots of parking shared with many other businesses in the center. I had the Special Ox Tali soup which was on the bland side and the vegetables were over cooked and mushy, the oxtail meat was fall off the bone. The niigiri uni and tataki aki was not that good the uni wasn't sweet and fresh and the Ahi lacked the texture. The pork tofu was okay. The service was good and friendly and the restroom was clean, inside decor was nice. You can charge read more

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Everything. They need to update the restaurant . Tired and not very inviting for a Japanese restaurant. Food was bland and portions were small. It was my 2nd and last time to eat here. Disappointed. Still looking for a good Japanese restaurant. read more

Good sushi, great service, and good atmosphere to enjoy conversation with a friend. Really like the family owned environment. Need to go back to try the teshoko style meal read more

I've eaten there a few times and was very satisfied. My friends also loved the food there.

My favorite Japanese restaurant in Hilo! Top notch service with servers wearing happi coats, have never been dissapointed with the food, even trying different dishes and clean nice atmosphere. Always end with my favorite dessert that no other restaurant serves ... Zenzai! read more

Food is good....service is good....ambiance is ok at least they don't have piled boxes or stuff around the restaurant except for a table used by staff. Is it a local thing that restaurants and take out places are cluttered with boxes? ‍ The prices are high for the portions they serve ‍ and why is it that they do not give separate checks. We had 3 couples but had to have one check why is that? read more

As far as food goes, the quality was very good for the items we got - Alaska roll, sashimi, chicken katsu, and teriyaki beef. The fish tasted especially good quality. The only thing I'm taking a star off for are the portions. They could stand to be a bit larger. Our service was amazing - water/drinks came quickly and our server was extremely friendly and prompt. read more

The food was very good and the portions were good. First time for my wife and she was very happy. Our waitress was very friendly and accommodating. My wife was surprised by the dessert menu and can't wait to return. read more

We continue to dine st Restaurant Miwa because everything is wonderful: delicious food, relaxing atmosphere, quiet-friendly-helpful service, menu choices that address a wide range of appetites and preferences. read more

Had a wonderful lunch the other day celebrating a friend's birthday. I had the special fresh Atlantic salmon misoyaki. It came with all different sides and didn't break the bank. read more

Great service and solid food! Food came out quick and was tasty! Definitely a great place to get a quick and calm eat! read more

Restaurant Miwa - Homemade Pie (Haupia Cheesecake) - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Cute little restaurant that's a little hidden! Different types of combos, plates, and sushi to choose from. Combo plate also came with miso soup and seaweed. read more

Restaurant Miwa - Triple combo plate: Chicken katsu. Veggie tempura. Sashimi. - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Had dinner at this Japanese restaurant located in the Hilo Shopping center. Restaurant Miwa nice small Japanese dinning room with a sushi bar . Prices are reasonable and the taste was good and the portions not too bad. I had their 3 choice Shrimp Tempura, Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Katsu. It came with Miso soup and cabbage. I also ordered their Shrimp Roll a little small compared to most sushi bars . Overall 4 star review next time I'm in Hilo I'll be back . Support local read more

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It's hard to compare their fish to Japan, but I thought their fish was pretty fresh. I'm not sure if it was just flown in, but it was fresh enough for me. The uni was really fresh. I believe Hilo has a lot of uni so I think it's local uni. Their other fish wasn't the freshest I've eaten. The restaurant is clean, but not modern. The service was good. Their coconut pie was delicious! read more

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We were looking for some comfort food on a Sunday evening and stumbled upon Restaurant Miwa. The service is a little laid back which can be nice but since we were hungry, it was a little frustrating. We ordered the spicy ahi roll, Philadelphia roll, and 2 combo plates. The vegetable tempura was tasty as was the miso soup and pickled cabbage. I was a little disappointed at the size of the sushi rolls. Since they were $12 each, I anticipated them being a little larger. The Philadelphia roll was exactly as I expected, delicious. The spicy ahi wasn't very spicy, as the name had suggested. It may be assumed that another sushi chef may be needed since we over heard our server informing customers that they were not taking any more sushi orders because the chef was backed up The customer service was on point, glasses were constantly filled and hot tea served right on time! Workers were very friendly read more

Restaurant Miwa - Philadelphia roll and Spicy Ahi roll (after we had a taste ) - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Saba shiiyoyaki 4 Was tasty a hood bite for lunch today Service zzz no complaints Just a quiet place read more

First time at Miwa. It is one of the best local Japanese restaurants in Hilo. Extremely friendly staff. All the options you would like is familiar with Japanese cuisine. Nice simple decorations and layout. My new favorite when in Hilo. read more

Came here on a Friday around 6pm. Luckily we made a reservation because the wait was near an hour. Service was really good and they let us know that sushi orders would take a while so get it in early before and cooked items. Sushi order took about 30 minutes to fill and the pieces were fresh (salmon, toro, hamachi). Also got the three item combo which could have come with bigger proportions but the food was good. Service throughout the night was solid. Ambiance is quiet but very busy between 6-7pm then it got empty real quick. read more

Average Japanese restaurant in Hilo Shopping Center. Tempura teishoku was pretty generous and breading was thin but crunchy. My daughter really enjoyed her tempura soba too. However, the hamachi kama was a HUGE disappointment. Instead of grilling or broiling a fresh portion, it tasted like they boiled a frozen fish collar. It was bland and chewy on the outside, and still raw on the inside. And they didn't take time to scale the fish, so we spit out some of the parts closer to the skin. Worst part was the price...I know it says market price, but I can't believe that tasteless piece of rubber cost $51! Ridiculous! read more

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The sushi is amazing! Small portions but sushi & food is really good. The service is also great!

We went recently with a larger party of people -- we like it because it's a nice, quiet atmosphere to enjoy each other's company. I ordered the 2-choice combination plate with chicken katsu and tempura. I love their hijiki that comes with the meal. The chicken katsu was just ok -- pounded thin so it was a little on the drier side. Adding to the dryness, they also forgot to bring out more than one katsu sauce (even after asking twice) so we had to share one sauce dish for two people's chicken katsu. The chicken katsu portion is also verrry small...even smaller than I remember. The tempura is always a favorite of mine and always so light and fried to perfection. I know it's tough in this economy, but I feel like each time I revisit this restaurant the portions are smaller and the prices are higher. We also had a larger party, so it's a little more excusable, but the service could have been better. The waiters did completely forget many of our requests (e.g. never bringing out a second serving of katsu sauce for the second chicken katsu dish, never bringing a soup spoon for a bowl of yosenabe, etc.). Overall, it was a pleasant lunch, but not sure how often I'd return. read more

Just had dinner here for my Brother's Birthday (02/05/22)... Great Choice!! They have a nice selection of items for their 3 choice combo dinner. I had the sashimi, tempura and chicken teriyaki. The food was fresh and hot. We also ordered the calamari and 3 item sashimi platter, tuna, salmon and mackerel. Talk about fresh and tender! I love their blueberry cream cheese pie. That's to die for... read more

Restaurant Miwa - Blueberry cream cheese pie - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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The best Japanese food in Hilo. Very friendly staff. Never had a bad experience in the 30 plus years I've been coming here. Love this place! read more

For a little while, I thought I'd found a food that had replaced my love for sushi.... alas, it was only tempurary... However, being that I'm back on that sushi train, there are few better places around Hilo that you can go to for sushi than Restaurant Miwa! Restaurant Miwa resides deep in the bowels of Hilo Shopping Center. Well, not that deep, but it is all the way at the end of a hallway, so if at first you don't see its entrance, don't give up! It'll be worth the search. Miwa functions as both a sushi bar and a regular restaurant, where you can get both your favorite rolls, nigiri, etc. on top of a bomb plate of chicken katsu curry. At least, that's my go-to when I'm here. The fish always tastes fresh and I've never been disappointed by the quality of any food served here. Honestly, I wish I'd been able to try more of the menu by now, because so much of it looks good. I will say, it can definitely be a little pricey, but as a once in a while thing when you're getting together with family, it's a really nice place to indulge. And you do typically have to shell out a little for good sushi, so that's kind of to be expected. The staff are always friendly and helpful. Very accommodating when you do come with a larger group, even when you bring folks from out of town who may not understand what everything on the menu is and have a penchant for asking lots of questions... So yeah, good people! If by chance you haven't been able to hit up Miwa in the past and in the future are feeling a hankering for good sushi and Japanese food, give Miwa a shot. read more

Should've checked yelp before coming. It is extremely overpriced for what it is. $19 for soba noodles and they were overcooked. $24 for chef's special poke and it doesn't come with any rice, it was very very salty and clearly has been sitting in soy sauce for a while. To the point where it was uneatable. Very disappointing. Also at this price point, the bathroom was scary, zero decorations with a mop and some flickering lights. read more

Good food, but very pricey. I guess they want to squeeze every last shekel out of you. Don't leave a tip. Just like in Japan!!! Regards Beau Toichi read more

Even though it's tucked in the back of a simple mall, it's really nice inside and you get the feeling that this is going to be some authentic food. Which it was. I had the spicy tuna roll, which had an unusual flavor because they use chili oil. Really tasty. I also had the chargrilled salmon which was a special of the day. It was slightly crunchy on the outside and so moist on the inside. It was the best fish I had during my time in Hilo. Everyone else in my group really enjoyed their food, which included the oxtail soup and the curry pork if you can't decide the combination, Bento boxes are a great way to go. That's what most of the people in my group had. read more

Sevices and Meals are the best in Japanese cuisine. It's Aloha from the time you get there until you leave. Great variety for prices these days. Highly recommend and appreciation for their business. read more

Great option if you need a sit-down restaurant during a busy day of errands in downtown Hilo. Solid food. Not the most textured. But juicy and not disappointing. Put it on your places to try for lunch for downtown workers. read more

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I love miwa! Always like coming here when we visit family in Hilo. Food is always so so delicious and staff is so nice

Very poor service. I called to at 5pm to ask questions and as I was dining with 5 ppl. They said no need reservations just come. Arrive at 6pm to be told that they not taking anyone because it's reservations only. SMH. I then try to explain that I just spoke to someone( which was the lady talking to me) as she realizes that it's me she starts slamming her shit around. Everyone in our party was feeling uncomfortable watching this elder throw a tantrum. She then roughly say" well I'm short staffed so you would have a long wait anyway!!!! Whoa that was crazy! I have been here before with my kids and wanted to give it another try. Bad idea. read more

Restaurant Miwa looks like a low key reasonably priced restaurant when you look at the plain exterior shop in a strip mall and when you peruse the menu, but it can get very pricey when you order seafood or sushi marked M/P on the menu. That's what happened to me. There were four of us plus my 3 year old granddaughter on a Sunday evening at 6:45. It wasn't too busy and the service was actually pretty good. The two women ordered the soba tempura combination which they enjoyed. I tasted the tempura and it was hotbed crispy. My son ordered a hamachi Kama and some assorted sushi, both marked at M/P. He said that he wished they had roasted it longer to achieve a crispier skin but he was satisfied with the sushi. I ordered the fried oysters and assorted nigiri sushi. I've had better oysters, these were a little small and and not as moist and juicy as I'd like them to be. We had a total of three beers and the check came out to $245, a little pricey especially when you add a 20% tip on top of that. When I saw the bill the one thing that caught my eye was the $16 kid's tonkatsu. The portion was very small. Don't know if I will be back because I don't think the quality of the food matches the prices. read more

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Service and food was exceptional, had a business dinner and food was authentic and delicious. Fish selection and preparation of meals was done professionally. Chef came by to our table and I was able to ask him questions on preparation for specific dish he prepared, he was very detailed explaining and was passionate how he prepared the meals. Reservations recommended. Would definitely visit again and indulge in other selection. Keep up the amazing dishes. read more