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Everything I got here was fantastic! Cashier knew all the items on the menu. Even suggested a few things to try. I think there were two small tables to eat in but to be very honest. This is solely a take out joint. The food is delicious. The wait is not that long. The staff is friendly. Can't ask for much more.
We were assisting my eldest sister, who lives in the lovely Mililani Mauka neighborhood, with preparing travel documents for our family's trip to Australia and New Zealand when she suggested we have lunch at Rice Box Cafe. Although she had been a fan of their generous and tasty takeout plates from Rice Box Cafe since their pop-up days at various farmers' markets, she has continually raved about them and shown her excitement when she discovered the brick-and-mortar location, Rice Box Cafe - Gateway Mililani Mauka, in late 2024. We usually trust her dine-out suggestions in Central O'ahu, so we heartily agreed to call in our lunch orders to-go since we weren't sure if their small dining room would be crowded at the time. Typical of my very organized eldest sister, she whipped out a copy of the Rice Box Cafe's menu before I could even open my Yelp app and suggested several of her favorite local-style Japanese to-go plates. We're omnivores, so everything she recommended sounded delicious to us, and we called in our order, which was ready for pick up within 10 minutes, or just enough time for us to drive down the hill to the restaurant. FOOD: -Miso eggplant w/Agedashi tofu: miso marinated roasted Japanese eggplant and fried tofu topped with kabayaki a.k.a. "Unagi sauce", sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and served with choy sum, steamed rice, and tsukemono. The thick miso-marinated roasted Japanese eggplant slices were "meaty", delicious, sweet, and tender to the bite. Big 1" lightly battered and fried tofu cubes added to this plant-based protein-packed plate. I barely finished half my heaping lunch plate before pushing it aside, my appetite comfortably satiated by its flavors and textures. $17.25 -Salmon Katsu: crispy fried panko-crusted fresh Atlantic salmon topped with masago ponzu, shiso aïoli, sesame seeds, and green onions. My husband declared Rice Box Cafe's salmon katsu the best-tasting locally prepared dish he's ever had. He doesn't usually like having sauce on anything deep-fried, because the crust gets soggy, but NOT so this time. The masago aïoli was thick and savory, enhancing the salmon's flavor. He was also impressed by the tenderness and moistness of the fried salmon fillet, which contrasted nicely with the crisp, yet not mouth-shattering, panko crust. He gobbled down his entire takeout before my sister and I got halfway through our meals. $19.50 -Sake Garlic Shrimp: sautéed (shelled) shrimp in a garlic sake butter sauce with sesame choy sum. My sister also wolfed down her lunch while extolling the flavors and silky texture of the garlic-sake butter sauce. The lunch plate had at least a dozen shelled shrimp, and she also showed me that each was tender-cooked and juicy. She did offer me a taste of her shrimp, but I declined because I was savoring my plant-based meal. $18.75 Walking into the small restaurant, the friendly cashier/counter help greeted us and confirmed our name and order. Although a package sat on her counter, I was relieved it wasn't our order, because she stepped back into their kitchen and brought out our three boxed lunches. She packaged our order while my sister paid and handed the bag to me. The package was a "wrist-bender," and I could tell that the portions would be pretty substantial. The Rice Box Cafe at Mililani Mauka's Gateway is a hidden gem in this neighborhood for its flavors, generosity, and value. We look forward to returning for more.
Wow, what a hidden gem. Saw this place awhile back online but never had a chance to visit here. This place is basically designed for takeout with only 2 sit-in tables. We arrived closer to closing and was able to get a table. It was clean and up lifting modern. The staff were very polite and accommodating. They went over the menu with us. We had the Furikaki Garlic Chicken, Dynamite Ahi Cake, Garlic Ahi, Misoyaki Salmon, and Nishime. I had a taste of all of these dishes and each had a unique taste of it's own. To sum it up, all dishes were incredible, rich in taste, fresh and flavorful. This is my new go to place in Mililani. I would order any dish anytime. I love them all, lol.
We were in the Mililani area and wanted to get some food. I looked up Yelp, and found Rice Box Cafe with good reviews. Figured it was something different than burgers and plate lunch, so we decided to try it out. It was super easy to find, although the parking area was small. We sat in the car for a bit, and noticed how many people were getting food from Rice Box Cafe. Its a small shop with maybe about 20 items on the menu. Its like Japanese style plate lunch. We ordered Miso Salmon and Miso Eggplant with Agedashi Tofu. Both plates came with two scoops of rice, pickled cucumbers (japanese style), and under each entree had hijiki with corn. The miso salmon was pretty good. The fish was dry but the flavor was good. Even though the Miso eggplant with the agedashi tofu was my plate, my husband kept wanting to eat my plate. I recommend that plate. It was so good and so flavorful! The cashier that took our order was awesome. She was very sweet. I waited in the car, while my husband, who is disabled, waited in the store for the food. The cashier was so nice. She opened the door for my husband, and even carried our bag of plates to our car. As I was about to leave, she ran out because apparently my husband forgot his phone and keys on the table. Big kudos to her! I wish and hope they open more locations in town. It'll be good to have a good japanese plate lunch place in town.
I haven't been here in a while and I wanted to eat something different! They're located in Mililani Mauka next to Poke Stop. It's pretty small in there with 2 tables. Each table has 4 seats each. I looked through the menu and what other yelpers reviewed about... my mom and I decided to try their dynamite ahi cakes. I asked for the sauce on the side. Each plate comes with rice, pickles, and edamame. The ahi cakes were a bit overcooked... they tasted good but the texture was like rubbery. I was expecting the texture to be like crab cakes. The sauce was absolutely delicious! I hope it was just a bad day for them. I'll be back though... I want to try other items on their menu :)
The ease of ordering is at your fingertips. Service is always good when I pick up my order also. My favorite item from Rice Box is the Salmon Katsu. The flavor is good and the batter around the salmon is always crispy. I haven't seen the pork chops on the menu, so decided to to get the Yuzu Kosho Pork Chops. Now, if you like spicy you're gonna like their dipping sauce. It was too spicy for me, but I was okay with just eating pork chops as is. It had good flavor and the batter was crisp. Also came with sautéed onions.
Rice Box Cafe is a hidden gem, possibly Millilani's best kept secret. The storefront is inconspicuous and, upon entry, there were only two tables. Everyone seemed to be getting takeout but we opted to sit in and enjoy our food fresh from the kitchen. We didn't want to eat too much so we got the Dynamite Ahi Cakes to share and it was the best decision ever. Rice Box is now my favorite local plate lunch establishment! The ahi cakes were moist and I loved their negi-kabayaki sauce--not too sweet and with a slight (good kine) burnt that added so much depth. When I go back, I definitely want to try the Dynamite Chicken and Salmon Katsu. I saw some rave reviews about the miso eggplant so that may be good to try as well!
Rice Box Cafe is Mililani Mauka's best kept secret!! So much so that I've held off writing a review for a loooong time now. Lol. Located in the Gateway at Mililani Mauka, it's nondescript from the outside and only has a couple tables for dine-in. But it is very neat and nicely lit inside. Mostly everyone does takeout from Rice Box Cafe and I would assume the majority of their business comes from takeout orders. You can also order online which I've done for all the times I've eaten here. The portions are good-sized for the price and the quality of their dishes is 100! Their menu isn't expansive but the items that they do make are just so good. I can appreciate a smaller menu that leads to focusing on the quality of the menu items that they do offer. I quite certain everyone in Mililani already knows about Rice Box Cafe....word of mouth has made it a pretty popular place already and it's probably my favorite takeout spot in all of central Oahu right now!
Came here on a Sunday around noon, and it was definitely busy! Lots of people were picking up phone orders and more people were coming in, but even with the crowd, we got our food pretty quickly which was great. The space is small. There are 2 of tables of four inside, but the food makes it worth it. I ordered the Dynamite Ahi Cakes and it was so delicious and filling! It came with two scoops of rice and three ahi cakes. I couldn't even finish it all and took the leftovers home. My husband had the Furikake Chicken, and my brother-in-law tried the Dynamite Chicken. Both were good, but if I prefer the Dynamite Chicken more. It was crispy that's why. Service was friendly and efficient despite the rush. Definitely a great local spot for comfort food in Mililani!
I was craving fried chicken and came across Rice Box Cafe, a cute, cozy restaurant, at the edge of Millilani Mauka. We were greated with friendly, helpful service and shared the Furikake Garlic Chicken and Dynamite Chicken. Both dishes featured hot, crispy chicken, tsukemono (pickled veggies), edamame, and white rice. The Dynamite Chicken was definitely my favorite of the two. Flavorful and saucy. I'll be back for the Dynamite Ahi Cakes. The restaurant is a bit tight with only two tables. Luckily we were able to get a seat but plan to take-out in case it gets busy.
They have come into their own and with attention to small details have created one heck of a Japanese influenced local "plate lunch". Using a generous amount slaw mix (head cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots) as a base for the hot proteins instead of a few strands of poorly chopped cabbage creates a hot salad when mixed with the castoff green onions, furikake and whatever sauces the protein. Room temp instead of ice cold soy beans and a sweet / sour / spicy thinly sliced namasu that quickly heats up on the hot rice so as not to cause a temp contrast works to cut any oily mouth feel from the proteins. Finally, the option for sauces on the side solved the problem of over seasoning in the past. Perfectly fried chicken with a crisp exterior for the furikake chicken. Dense, chunky, well seasoned from the inside out ahi patties. Stuffed plates average $18. Solid value. Easy, no fee, online ordering with food ready at promised time. Easily a top choice for a takeaway lunch in and around Mililani. a
Ricebox is our go to spot for a quick takeout meal. We picked up a couple plates for a family dinner. They really liked the agedashi tofu and eggplant. This is one of my go to's because it's super flavorful. Their online ordering system is super convenient, and I use it every time we pick up from here. The food is always ready at the designated pickup time, and the workers are friendly. Parking in the lot is easy.
20 days ago
The miso salmon was cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. The dish was served with two scoops of rice, corn hijiki, edamame, and pickled cucumber. The yakisoba or fried noodles is on their side order menu and perfect for sharing (or not if you're super hungry). We placed our order online using their website and our food was ready for pickup within 15 minutes. read more
First time ordering from here. Convenience of ordering online. Love it. Plate comes with so much food!!! Dynamite chicken was good. Sauce is great. Shrimp was so good! Our favorite now. Came with choi sum and rice with sauce all over!! Even the cabbage was good with the sauce! Def going again but gotta remember, couple days a week they close early! read more
2 months ago
On a recent island holoholo, we were hungry around Mililani and decided to try something new. Rice Box Cafe popped up highly recommended, and it was a quick trip from the H2 to this shopping center. They have plenty of free parking outside. The interior is tiny but clean and cozy with a few tables. It seemed like most people were getting their food to go. The host was friendly and enthusiastic to share about the menu, and which dishes were most popular. We opted to split the fried salmon; it was cooked to perfection with a wonderful sauce, pickles, and rice. It was plenty of food for the light lunch we needed, and prices were reasonable for the quality. This is definitely worth your time if you're in the area! read more
Everything I got here was fantastic! Cashier knew all the items on the menu. Even suggested a few things to try. I think there were two small tables to eat in but to be very honest. This is solely a take out joint. The food is delicious. The wait is not that long. The staff is friendly. Can't ask for much more. read more
We were assisting my eldest sister, who lives in the lovely Mililani Mauka neighborhood, with preparing travel documents for our family's trip to Australia and New Zealand when she suggested we have lunch at Rice Box Cafe. Although she had been a fan of their generous and tasty takeout plates from Rice Box Cafe since their pop-up days at various farmers' markets, she has continually raved about them and shown her excitement when she discovered the brick-and-mortar location, Rice Box Cafe - Gateway Mililani Mauka, in late 2024. We usually trust her dine-out suggestions in Central O'ahu, so we heartily agreed to call in our lunch orders to-go since we weren't sure if their small dining room would be crowded at the time. Typical of my very organized eldest sister, she whipped out a copy of the Rice Box Cafe's menu before I could even open my Yelp app and suggested several of her favorite local-style Japanese to-go plates. We're omnivores, so everything she recommended sounded delicious to us, and we called in our order, which was ready for pick up within 10 minutes, or just enough time for us to drive down the hill to the restaurant. FOOD: -Miso eggplant w/Agedashi tofu: miso marinated roasted Japanese eggplant and fried tofu topped with kabayaki a.k.a. "Unagi sauce", sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and served with choy sum, steamed rice, and tsukemono. The thick miso-marinated roasted Japanese eggplant slices were "meaty", delicious, sweet, and tender to the bite. Big 1" lightly battered and fried tofu cubes added to this plant-based protein-packed plate. I barely finished half my heaping lunch plate before pushing it aside, my appetite comfortably satiated by its flavors and textures. $17.25 -Salmon Katsu: crispy fried panko-crusted fresh Atlantic salmon topped with masago ponzu, shiso aïoli, sesame seeds, and green onions. My husband declared Rice Box Cafe's salmon katsu the best-tasting locally prepared dish he's ever had. He doesn't usually like having sauce on anything deep-fried, because the crust gets soggy, but NOT so this time. The masago aïoli was thick and savory, enhancing the salmon's flavor. He was also impressed by the tenderness and moistness of the fried salmon fillet, which contrasted nicely with the crisp, yet not mouth-shattering, panko crust. He gobbled down his entire takeout before my sister and I got halfway through our meals. $19.50 -Sake Garlic Shrimp: sautéed (shelled) shrimp in a garlic sake butter sauce with sesame choy sum. My sister also wolfed down her lunch while extolling the flavors and silky texture of the garlic-sake butter sauce. The lunch plate had at least a dozen shelled shrimp, and she also showed me that each was tender-cooked and juicy. She did offer me a taste of her shrimp, but I declined because I was savoring my plant-based meal. $18.75 Walking into the small restaurant, the friendly cashier/counter help greeted us and confirmed our name and order. Although a package sat on her counter, I was relieved it wasn't our order, because she stepped back into their kitchen and brought out our three boxed lunches. She packaged our order while my sister paid and handed the bag to me. The package was a "wrist-bender," and I could tell that the portions would be pretty substantial. The Rice Box Cafe at Mililani Mauka's Gateway is a hidden gem in this neighborhood for its flavors, generosity, and value. We look forward to returning for more. read more
Wow, what a hidden gem. Saw this place awhile back online but never had a chance to visit here. This place is basically designed for takeout with only 2 sit-in tables. We arrived closer to closing and was able to get a table. It was clean and up lifting modern. The staff were very polite and accommodating. They went over the menu with us. We had the Furikaki Garlic Chicken, Dynamite Ahi Cake, Garlic Ahi, Misoyaki Salmon, and Nishime. I had a taste of all of these dishes and each had a unique taste of it's own. To sum it up, all dishes were incredible, rich in taste, fresh and flavorful. This is my new go to place in Mililani. I would order any dish anytime. I love them all, lol. read more
We were in the Mililani area and wanted to get some food. I looked up Yelp, and found Rice Box Cafe with good reviews. Figured it was something different than burgers and plate lunch, so we decided to try it out. It was super easy to find, although the parking area was small. We sat in the car for a bit, and noticed how many people were getting food from Rice Box Cafe. Its a small shop with maybe about 20 items on the menu. Its like Japanese style plate lunch. We ordered Miso Salmon and Miso Eggplant with Agedashi Tofu. Both plates came with two scoops of rice, pickled cucumbers (japanese style), and under each entree had hijiki with corn. The miso salmon was pretty good. The fish was dry but the flavor was good. Even though the Miso eggplant with the agedashi tofu was my plate, my husband kept wanting to eat my plate. I recommend that plate. It was so good and so flavorful! The cashier that took our order was awesome. She was very sweet. I waited in the car, while my husband, who is disabled, waited in the store for the food. The cashier was so nice. She opened the door for my husband, and even carried our bag of plates to our car. As I was about to leave, she ran out because apparently my husband forgot his phone and keys on the table. Big kudos to her! I wish and hope they open more locations in town. It'll be good to have a good japanese plate lunch place in town. read more
29 days ago
This was awesome. The flavor of the sauce with the meaty pieces of chicken were spot on. Service was great, nice person working the front, food came out fast. The place itself is small but very bright and clean. read more
I haven't been here in a while and I wanted to eat something different! They're located in Mililani Mauka next to Poke Stop. It's pretty small in there with 2 tables. Each table has 4 seats each. I looked through the menu and what other yelpers reviewed about... my mom and I decided to try their dynamite ahi cakes. I asked for the sauce on the side. Each plate comes with rice, pickles, and edamame. The ahi cakes were a bit overcooked... they tasted good but the texture was like rubbery. I was expecting the texture to be like crab cakes. The sauce was absolutely delicious! I hope it was just a bad day for them. I'll be back though... I want to try other items on their menu :) read more
The ease of ordering is at your fingertips. Service is always good when I pick up my order also. My favorite item from Rice Box is the Salmon Katsu. The flavor is good and the batter around the salmon is always crispy. I haven't seen the pork chops on the menu, so decided to to get the Yuzu Kosho Pork Chops. Now, if you like spicy you're gonna like their dipping sauce. It was too spicy for me, but I was okay with just eating pork chops as is. It had good flavor and the batter was crisp. Also came with sautéed onions. read more
6 months ago
Rice Box Cafe is a hidden gem, possibly Millilani's best kept secret. The storefront is inconspicuous and, upon entry, there were only two tables. Everyone seemed to be getting takeout but we opted to sit in and enjoy our food fresh from the kitchen. We didn't want to eat too much so we got the Dynamite Ahi Cakes to share and it was the best decision ever. Rice Box is now my favorite local plate lunch establishment! The ahi cakes were moist and I loved their negi-kabayaki sauce--not too sweet and with a slight (good kine) burnt that added so much depth. When I go back, I definitely want to try the Dynamite Chicken and Salmon Katsu. I saw some rave reviews about the miso eggplant so that may be good to try as well! read more
Rice Box Cafe is Mililani Mauka's best kept secret!! So much so that I've held off writing a review for a loooong time now. Lol. Located in the Gateway at Mililani Mauka, it's nondescript from the outside and only has a couple tables for dine-in. But it is very neat and nicely lit inside. Mostly everyone does takeout from Rice Box Cafe and I would assume the majority of their business comes from takeout orders. You can also order online which I've done for all the times I've eaten here. The portions are good-sized for the price and the quality of their dishes is 100! Their menu isn't expansive but the items that they do make are just so good. I can appreciate a smaller menu that leads to focusing on the quality of the menu items that they do offer. I quite certain everyone in Mililani already knows about Rice Box Cafe....word of mouth has made it a pretty popular place already and it's probably my favorite takeout spot in all of central Oahu right now! read more
8 months ago
Came here on a Sunday around noon, and it was definitely busy! Lots of people were picking up phone orders and more people were coming in, but even with the crowd, we got our food pretty quickly which was great. The space is small. There are 2 of tables of four inside, but the food makes it worth it. I ordered the Dynamite Ahi Cakes and it was so delicious and filling! It came with two scoops of rice and three ahi cakes. I couldn't even finish it all and took the leftovers home. My husband had the Furikake Chicken, and my brother-in-law tried the Dynamite Chicken. Both were good, but if I prefer the Dynamite Chicken more. It was crispy that's why. Service was friendly and efficient despite the rush. Definitely a great local spot for comfort food in Mililani! read more
I was craving fried chicken and came across Rice Box Cafe, a cute, cozy restaurant, at the edge of Millilani Mauka. We were greated with friendly, helpful service and shared the Furikake Garlic Chicken and Dynamite Chicken. Both dishes featured hot, crispy chicken, tsukemono (pickled veggies), edamame, and white rice. The Dynamite Chicken was definitely my favorite of the two. Flavorful and saucy. I'll be back for the Dynamite Ahi Cakes. The restaurant is a bit tight with only two tables. Luckily we were able to get a seat but plan to take-out in case it gets busy. read more
9 days ago
They have come into their own and with attention to small details have created one heck of a Japanese influenced local "plate lunch". Using a generous amount slaw mix (head cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots) as a base for the hot proteins instead of a few strands of poorly chopped cabbage creates a hot salad when mixed with the castoff green onions, furikake and whatever sauces the protein. Room temp instead of ice cold soy beans and a sweet / sour / spicy thinly sliced namasu that quickly heats up on the hot rice so as not to cause a temp contrast works to cut any oily mouth feel from the proteins. Finally, the option for sauces on the side solved the problem of over seasoning in the past. Perfectly fried chicken with a crisp exterior for the furikake chicken. Dense, chunky, well seasoned from the inside out ahi patties. Stuffed plates average $18. Solid value. Easy, no fee, online ordering with food ready at promised time. Easily a top choice for a takeaway lunch in and around Mililani. a read more
Ricebox is our go to spot for a quick takeout meal. We picked up a couple plates for a family dinner. They really liked the agedashi tofu and eggplant. This is one of my go to's because it's super flavorful. Their online ordering system is super convenient, and I use it every time we pick up from here. The food is always ready at the designated pickup time, and the workers are friendly. Parking in the lot is easy. read more
Honestly, I love this place. Everything i order is always fire. First time we went, we had the special of the day which was like yuzu pork cutlet and dynamite chix (see pic). We realized the portion sizes are so huge, we now order one plate and share. We've dined in and taken out. Service is always good. You can do phone orders too. Check their IG for any limited menu items! For dining in, there's 2 tables with like 8 chairs or so but its very small and can feel crowded quick with the influx of ppl coming in and out of the shop. I recommend just order out or phone order and pick up! read more
A really cute spot in Mililani - perfect for lunch or a casual dinner! The food here is solid - well-flavored and good portion size! I got the garlic ahi plate, and my husband got the yakiniku beef plate. I liked that the plates came with veggies and a good portion of protein each. The ahi was tender and so was the beef. My one criticism is that the proteins were served/covered in a good amount of sauce - for us, it was a bit too much (made the proteins a bit too salty). The service was wonderful. The workers were kind and helped us figure out what to order, especially since it was our first time there. We ate there, but keep in mind there is limited seating (I believe only 3 tables). We'll definitely be back if we're ever in the area! read more
14 days ago
1 year ago
My husband is in Hawaii for work right now and has been trying out a lot of different restaurants. Yesterday he went to this restaurant. It's clean and well lit and the staff was very nice. They were polite and gave some great recommendations. My husband ordered the salmon katsu. He said it was very good. The portion was plenty full, and it was very flavorful. If you're looking for something authentic in it, local eatery, he said you should definitely check this place out. read more
After a long time sitting in traffic I decided to get take out. This is our second time ordering from here. I called in the order and was told it will be ready in 10 mins. They greeted me with a smile and friendly hello and my plates were there waiting for me. We ordered the Chicken Katsu, Furikake Garlic Chicken & Dynamite Chicken plates. The chicken was not over cooked and cooked to perfection and we really like the sauces they use! We enjoyed our meals and would definitely go back! read more
Oh my! Thanks to my Yelp buddies - Ruby S., Gail U., Irene M., Kristin C., Elle U., Deborah P., Gabriel P., and Bruddah Rod U. for posting their AWESOME reviews & pics of Rice Box Cafe in Mililani. What really caught my eye about this place was da pic of da Misoyaki Salmon that Rod U. had posted, so yesterday for pau hana Friday I rounded up my Homie - Gary T. to go and check out this joint in Mililani. Located at a stip mall called - "Gateway at Mililani Mauka", this little strip mall has quite a few eateries, a gas and convenience store, Longs Drugs, as well as the Navy Federal Credit Union. Rice Box Cafe is a very small eatery. The cafe is probably geared more for "take-out", but if you do choose to eat onsite, they do have two small tables within the little cafe where you can sit & eat inside. I already knew what I came here for, but it was so tempting to deviate from my original plans when I saw that Furikake Garlic Chicken, & the Dynamite Chicken. Lol! Upon arriving at the cafe, we were greeted right away, and my friend & I both ended up ordering the Misoyaki Salmon. What can I say about the grub??? The Misoyaki Salmon was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S! Nice misoyaki sauce and the soft fluffy rice was the perfect item to soak up the deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious misoyaki sauce. The plate also same with corn, edemame, and some pickled vegetables. What a satisfying meal! As much as I wanna come back here to get the chicken dish, this Misoyaki Salmon is really good, and I would come back here just to eat this plate again. Support local, and check out Rice Box Cafe in Mililani Mauka! read more
5 months ago
Since you're probably already paying $15+ for a plate lunch nowadays, you might as well get one that has more interesting flavors, refined entrees, and contemporary sensibilities than the others - that would be at Rice Box. Compared to the nostalgia-bait legacy eateries and oppressive fast food oasis that comprises Mililani food culture, Rice Box is a breath of fresh air, featuring local Japanese comfort classics with a modern spin. The food here is cooked excellently, balanced surprisingly well for a take-out place, and comes with a good amount of grinds - it is one of the few places where my wife (small Asian woman) and I (stocky local man) can share a plate for dinner and be satisfied in stomach and mind. The establishment itself is fairly small, and the food is probably meant to be taken out and eaten at home. As such, service quality comes down to the cashier(s) taking your order - not much to comment on there. Regardless, the food came out reasonably quickly and tasted great even after the car ride back. The Garlic Ahi is by far my favorite thing here, but I look forward to eventually eating everything on the menu at some point. read more
1 year ago
Rice Box Cafe is a hidden gem in Mililani Mauka! It's a super small spot with only a couple of tables. We came in a little early for the dinner hour so we were able to sit and eat, but there were lots of people coming in with takeaway orders. We ordered the salmon katsu and furikake chicken plates. There is a $2 charge to sub greens for the rice that usually comes with the plate. The food here is phenomenal! The salmon and chicken were crispy, not greasy. The sauces were so flavorful. Plates were complemented with a side of edamame and pickles, and the serving size is great for the price. Looking forward to our next visit! read more
I'm so glad I found this little spot in Mililani! There are a lot of restaurants in Mililani but not as much variety as someplace bigger like in town. But this place offers some special plates that made it fun to try out. I looked up the menu online and ordered through their website so I could just go and pick it up to take home. Ordering was very easy and the menu was clear as to what each plate includes. I tried the dynamite ahi cakes which were flavorful and my dad had the furikake garlic chicken which was also tasty. I will say, they give very large portions so you're getting your money's worth. I ordered and went to pick it up and everything was already ready when I got there. The girls in the front were very friendly and helpful. Overall a great experience and I would try some of their other dishes again another time! read more
Never knew about this hidden gem until we used a gift card we received. We were in the area and decided to check it out. Looking at other Yelp reviews, I was intrigued as there were several dishes I wanted to try like the Miso Eggplant & Agedahi Tofu. The food was delish and I've been there several times already after our first visit. The restaurant itself is located in the Mililani Mauka shopping center closer to the gas station. The restaurant itself isn't big but does have a few tables inside for dining. Once you walk in, the counter is about 4 yards away form the entrance. The restaurant is very clean and all the times and many come especially during lunch. The employees are very friendly. They always greet me and are so nice. We ordered: 1. Yakiniku Beef (Tender and flavor was good and was not strong but you could always add if needed) 2. Dynamite Ahi Patties (Patties were cooked well and the dynamite sauce gave it a little extra flavor) 3. Dynamite Chicken (Great crunch with tenderness on the inside with the dynamite sauce and bonito flakes) 4. Furikake Garlic Chicken 5. Kids Bento - Salmon Katsu w/ a hot dog and edamame (the katsu was really good one of my favs, I will need to get thr regular plate next time) 6. Miso Eggplant and Agedashi Tofu (one of my favs - if you love Eggplant and Tofu you will love this dish. Both cooked well with great flavor. I would suggest to eat it fresh so that the agedahsi doesn't get too soft) 7. Yakisoba (Great great flavor and if you love noodles, it's a great dish to try) Their menu isn't a big one which is good and there are enough items to choose from if you wanted to have different things. I would definitely return and would recommend ordering online or calling in your order to make your pick-up faster. read more
Great tasting Japanese take out food in 'Mauka! P: Went there a few times and really great tasting food! Yesterday I tried the miso eggplant and it is 5 stars! Highly recommended! Nishime is also good. So yay, I'm a fan of this place and will definitely eat from here more often! Have to try other things on their menu! read more
Quality & elevated plate lunches! My hubby raved about this place's katsu sandwich. We were dog sitting in Mililani & had to stop by for lunch. First off, this place is located at the Mililani Mauka town center. It's a small shop where we were able to order in advance and pick up. We got the Katsu Sandwich & Salmon Katsu plate. My hubby loves the Katsu Sandwich ($16) here because the tonkatsu is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It has a good amount of shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce. It also came with a separate container of salad, edamame, & pickled veggies. My Salmon Katsu ($18.50) was honestly the best salmon Katsu I've ever had! First off, it was HUGE!! It had a nice crispy outer coating & was dipped in a sweet and savory ponzu sauce then topped with shiso aioli. It came with 2 scoops of rice, edamame, and pickled veggies. For the quality & amount of food you get, I think this place is priced right. Although we said 12pm pick up, the food wasn't ready which is fine with us because that means our food was super fresh & not sitting out. Overall, this will be our new go to place in Mililani! read more
5 months ago
4 months ago
1 year ago
Found this place through Yelp and I am so glad we did because we really enjoyed it. They serve a variety of plate lunches. I ordered the miso salmon & my husband ordered the furikake garlic chicken. I got all salad which they do charge extra for. They do have a couple tables inside but the space is very small so I would recommend just ordering it to go. The cashier was really nice and friendly. We both enjoyed what we ordered and I will definitely be back to try some of their other menu items. read more
10 months ago
First timers for lunch and we weren't disappointed Their fryer is at the perfect temperature for crunchy outside and soft inside tempura items Good flavors, good texture rice (!), and Japanese picked veggies/edamame instead of macaroni salad is a win Service was friendly & helpful, and our plates came up pretty quick Only 2 small tables if you decide to dine in and even though the air is blowing the cute Sakura decor, it's pretty warm in the small space Definitely a good lunch place! read more
This place is still a great place for takeout food. Just call it in & pickup in a few minutes. This time I ordered our usual Miso Tofu Eggplant plate & for the first time, their two sides - Nishime & Fried Noodles. Both sides were great & I would order them again. read more
1 month ago
DYNAMITE CHICKEN Deep fried boneless chicken thighs, topped with chili aïoli, negi-kabayaki, furikake, katsuo flakes and green onion was amazing!! Served fresh and 10-10 recommend!! YAKISOBA NOODLES Japanese stir fried noodles tossed with bacon, cabbage, carrots, onions in a savory soy sauce was delish!! Listed as a side dish, and it's huge!! Once again recommend!! Restaurant is clean, with several indoor tables. Beverage refrigerator with a variety of drinks. Check them out...we'll definitely return!! *Plenty parking and located next to Poke Stop in Mililani. read more
5 months ago
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Rice Box Cafe - japanese - Updated May 2026
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