Let's start with the service. We went with a large party, we had one main waitress. She was clearly overwhelmed and not the brightest or friendliest. We had 1 side order menu for the whole table of 10+ people. She wouldn't give us another paper, so we all had to remember who wanted what dish when it was delivered. At the end, the leftovers we asked them to pack came back in a brown paper bag where she just crumpled the top of the bag rather than fold it down nicely. Her helper gave her brown bag nicely folded to another one of us. Although it might seem like small things, bad service for me is a deal breaker, doesn't matter how good the food is. They were also rushing us out at the end because they were closing for the lunch portion to prep for dinner...this was not cool, especially when they still had several other patrons still eating and drinking in the restaurant. Food was okay for Japanese food, but the sushi chef wouldn't make a simple natto roll for one of our us even though they had the ingredients on their menu! I mean, it isn't difficult to make that. We were even willing to take it nigiri style, hand roll or maki sushi style. They wouldn't do it. Unless someone else is making us go here, we won't be going back. read more

On the bottom of the Whole Foods Kaka'ako building, you can park in the garage and take the elevator down. Spare Japanese minimalist style tables and chairs and it looks like you can dine outside if you want. The food is much more interesting than the decor! I love the array of interesting options on their menu a number of which are not commonly found at Japanese restaurants here. The menu is more Izakaya style though Rinka does not have an Izakaya feel because of the high ceilings, lighhting and space. We ate family style and I really enjoyed everything but everyone's overall favorite was the Stingray with mayo shoyu chili sauce. Aunty said it was the best stingray she's had! I love seafood so I was in my element! Out of the Seafood trio (an appetizer) which included ume shiso jellyfish and wasabi whelk , the firefly squid was my fave! Good flavor and not as intense as aki. The Grilled overnight dry flying Squid was cooked nicely, not too hard or soft and came with the same mayo sauce. Grilled garlic Scallops were plump, moist and had lots of garlic that can enjoyed with rice. The Seafood natto was a lovely mixture that you scoop into delicious sheets of nori. I was also excited to see a section on hotpots. We got the seasonal Oyster hot pot which was good for two. Oysters were nice and fresh. My bro did not think the Kamameshi was all that but I enjoyed the wagyu gobo flavors that got soaked up by the rice. The blackthroat seaperch was tasty but more difficult to eat with the small bones. Much of the food we ordered would have been great with beer but it was a school night so I refrained. Our waiter Sean was knowledgeable, helpful, down to earth, and gave good suggestions. So nice to have great service especially in today's labor market. I'd love to go back to explore more of the menu and try their omakase which looked so good on the table next to us. read more

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This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. Located along Queen St in the building west of Whole Foods. You can park at the Whole Foods Parking Structure and walk over to the restaurant. There were lots of open seating at opening around 5:30PM on a weekday. We had Salmon and Ikura Chazuke which had nice light salmon flavor and texture was just right. Great appetizer to start. Had the Tempura and Miso Butter Fish Dinner Sets both with generous portions. Every dish had great flavor such as the side salad with salmon pieces, pickled vegetables. All dishes came with a small bowl of Udon which was good and filling. The butter fish was a decent portion and also came with a small portion of tempura. The Tempura Set came with a good portion of tempura pieces with large size prawn or shrimp pieces. The interior is beautifully decorated as well. For drinks, did have a Toki Highball which was on the lighter side and ok but the food and ambience stood out. Will definitely come back again. read more

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The service was very good. Everything came quickly. The location and parking was also super easy to get to. read more

Rinka - Front Entrance - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I highly recommend coming here for their lunch specials! The sets are reasonably priced for how much food you get. I'd recommend making a reservation since the restaurant is small and you might end up waiting for a bit. I went with my family and we all enjoyed the ambiance and service we received. Our server forgot our sides since she accidentally threw our paper away and gave us free dessert. She was repeatedly apologetic and so kind! The restaurant was busy so we completely understood and figured she had forgot about our sides. I'll be bringing my family and friends here for the lunch specials! What a great deal! read more

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The food was amazing, the service welcoming and the semi-private room so special! Thank you for making this a memorable birthday celebration! read more

Rinka - Part of my lunch So so yummy!! Lots of ikura too! Does not even include the udon (onolicious!), two sides, or the chawanmushi! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The ambiance and menu is not the same as their original location. We went for serene elegance and itzakaya style menu. The food was OK. The waitress should have described each of the condiments and what it was for. We guessed. The ambiance and menu prices were out of synch. read more

Food at this upscale Japanese restaurant in Kakaako was excellent. We ordered wagyu sukiyaki teishoku and miso butterfish teishoku. Dishes included sashimi, shrimp tempura, various tsukemono (pickled veggies) and dipping sauces for tempura and sukiyaki. Wait staff was helpful but tentative. We had a large party although staff wasn't extremely happy to see us. Dont know why. Perhaps, the fancy setting could be upgraded by fixing the wood siding in the private dining area and also the wall in one of the bathrooms. read more

Rinka - Wagyu beef teishoku - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great bento served at lunch time. Most Japanese restaurants will only include some miso soup, steamed vegetables and pickles as part of the package. But Rinka includes chawanmushi and your choice of 2 vegetable sides with your bento. We especially like the lotus root and eggplant sides. Having tried many bento meals at other restaurants in Hawaii and Southern California, the quality of the food is excellent. And the service is top notch. read more

Rinka - Chicken karaage and cream crab croquettes. - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came back here for my friend's birthday lunch. She ordered a Jewelry box set and noticed a beetle crawling around. The staff immediately took it away and came out saying they would make a new one. At this point we were turned off by the food, and felt that they should've asked if she wanted something else. They didn't even give a discount or comp the meal. I get that bugs sometimes happen. But this was a beetle that was burrow inside the fish, and rice. Just casually crawling around and up. Thankfully she saw it before she ate it. Also highly suggest they clean the mold off the AC vents, a little bleach can help the walls. read more

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Located in ward village. Casual dining. My wife and I made reservations here for her birthday. We came early and were seated right away. We ordered the agedashi tofu, cucumber rolls, sashimi and chirashi set along with two miller lites. You can tell the quality of the sashimi is fresh just by the texture. Delicious. It came with a bowl of udon with the choice of cold or hot. We were so full by the end of the night! Definitely worth giving this place a try. It will not disappoint! read more

Rinka - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My friend had to postpone a birthday party because of everyone's availability and unforeseen circumstances, I mean we are still going through a pandemic, right? Luckily, the birthday girl kept the same restaurant in mind. It was for a party of 10, so for the most of our group it was our first time here. Located in the Ae'o Tower, those of you who are more familiar and shop at Whole Foods in Kakaako, it's on the Ewa corner of the Condominium. An entire room was reserved with a long table for our group to enjoy as it's tucked away out back. Rinka is a Japanese Cuisine Restaurant with a very extensive large menu both lunch and dinner. My friend's birthday was a dinner gathering. Besides the alcohol that we ordered, our party enjoyed dishes including Stingray Fin, Chicken Karaage, Spicy Salmon, Agedashi Tofu, Sardine with Tofu Salad, California Roll, Chawanmushi, Garlic Scallop, Hamachi, Fish Cake Tempura with mentai mayo, Fried Tofu with 4 kinds of Miso, Tempura Combo, Sushi Combo, Sea Urchin, Chicken Tsukene Hot Pot, Special Sashimi bowls, and Japanese Omelet w/ Pork, did I forget something? Hehe All of our food, appetizers, and drinks were extremely delicious, prepared and delivered quickly, fresh and appetizing, each with beautiful presentation. There were no leftovers to take home, and everyone shared as much as possible, no dessert was ordered as we all went elsewhere. Restaurant is fairly new, bright, with high ceilings, both men's and women's restrooms and a co-ed restroom which I thought there would be a Toto Japanese-style toilet but there wasn't. Customer service is excellent, it almost reminds me of being in an Izakaya in Japan when travel was more accessible pre-pandemic. Upon checking out, there was confusion with the server and all of our split bills. Because multiple cards were used with some cash payment, a small mix up had to be clarified and was quickly fixed with the server. I would for sure come back again on a future visit and have to experience their lunch menu too. Parking is validated in the parking structure that has multiple levels I believe it goes up to 8 floors, with two elevator sets on each side of the tower. read more

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Always always good to be here time after time. Best dinner ever, especially the nabe hot pot. Service is always top notch, inside the restaurant had a cool holiday season feel. We love coming here on every occasion read more

Rinka - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place was fantastic. The service was excellent. The dining area is clean, open and modern. Our lunches came fairly quickly. We waited no more than 10 minutes. I chose the Jewelry Box (Lunch Set) The main dish included: Cubed Ahi, Hamachi, Salmon & Tamago, with Uni on Shisho leaf & topped with Ikura. Ginger and seaweed on a bed of sushi rice. This set came with a bowl of Udon. Crab & Salmon Roe Chawanmushi and a choice of 2 small sides. I opted for: Agedashi Tofu and Fried tofu with green beans. The food was so tasty and filling. The fish was fresh. I would definitely come back to try a different set. Side note: there is tons of free parking in the area as well! A rare gem when dining in this area of Honolulu. read more

Rinka - Jewelry Box (lunch set) - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went there to celebrate friends birthday. She wanted authentic Japanese sukiyaki( not local style) , and was happy, after ordering that dish. Service was good, and Tempura, that I had ordered was a generous portion read more

Rinka restaurant situated in Kaka'ako in the same high rise building as The Whole Foods never disappoint for their food and service. The ambiance of their highly brightly decor and food choices are extremely appealing. May I say that in Honolulu the air conditioning outlets are very cold that many times our food gets cold in no time as we eat but this Resturant with their high ceiling décor our side dishes we ordered didn't get cold as I thought. In my reviews we were so hungry I've not taken any photos plus we were among friends chatting about. We ordered hot pot two different orders one is Chanko nabe and Motsu nabe. Side orders was Rinka Hokkaido sushi roll and beef tongue with thinly sliced onions comes with ponzu. The beef tongue was not as soft as I thought maybe it was cooked too well done for its texture was a bit rubbery but edible. Our hot pot or nabe we were told by our server that due to the amount of hot pot and heat prevention, (our friends ordered the same nabe as well) they can prepared it in the kitchen. We didn't mind having it prepared in the kitchen. The Chanko nabe with the remaining soup either noodle or rice added which was extremely good great to warm up after a hearty meal. For my dessert I ordered their homemade custard pudding with strawberry topping perfectly made not too sweet delicious made. I recommend making reservations ahead of time during the holiday seasons call ahead if walk-in on that day okay or not. They do have counter top seating fronting the kitchen as well that I've noticed for couples. read more

Always pleasant,warm ,and so inviting. If you're into a pleasant thoughtful and tasty evening. You've found it !!!

My niece invited us to join them for dinner here one night. She called to make reservations 2 weeks ahead but I'm not sure if it's recommended. This place is located in the structure as Whole Foods and Urgent Care so ample parking. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a staff member and immediately seated. I ordered the Hokkaido roll which was spicy tuna topped with seared scallops and tobiko, deep fried scallops topped with uni (sea urchin), black Sesame tofu, and grilled salmon belly. The Hokkaido roll was really good, lots of different textures and flavors, the deep fried scallops topped with uni was good but it was four small pieces, the black Sesame tofu was interesting, it tasted like tofu but not sure if I liked the black Sesame to it, and the grilled salmon which was my least favorite was super salty. I think it's kind of overpriced with the quality and portion of the foods. read more

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Friendly staff that answered all our questions! Order the black sesame tofu - refreshing appetizer, really unique. Cold soba also delicious. Comfortable vibe! read more

Rinka's lunch set menu is much more filling than I thought! We got the CoLd Soba and Chicken Karaage lunch sets and was not disappointed. The cold soba came with a 3pcs nigiri, 1pc inari, and 2 side choices. The soba was plentiful and filling! The chicken karaage was fried perfectly and was crunchy on the outside, but juicy inside! The staff was very accommodating and got us seating without a reservation (it was busy at the time when we arrived). They also was very attentive with our waters and hot teas. The place is modern, yet has an old-fashion Japanese vibe. There is an open sushi bar where you can see the chefs making the sushi's and the kitchen behind them. Overall, the lunch was worth it and the food was excellent! read more

Rinka - Cold So a Lunch Set and Chicken Karaage Lunch Set - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

For how expensive this was, it was pretty disappointing. Little to no gluten free options (or the server just didn't know much about it), and they ran out of almost everything shortly after we got there, so we couldn't even order more of what we did find. We overheard greeters telling new walk ins that they were out of essentially everything, despite it not being very late. Maybe just an odd night but kind of a let down read more

First time here at Rinka's. We arrived as a group with reservations. We utilized one of the party rooms since there was about 10 of us. I wish I knew about this restaurant. It's located in the Ae'o Tower that shares the same building as Straub and Whole Foods Market. Parking is convenient and free. I ordered a chicken karaage lunch set that came nicely on a tray with white rice, miso soup, chawanmushi, pickled vegetables, and two more small sides of choice. So good, and definitely worth the price! It was my first time to experience the chawanmushi, it was delicious. Customer service was excellent. We will be back to dine in again. read more

Rinka - Chicken Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came here expecting a solid Japanese dining experience but left disappointed. The food was fine, but nothing stood out enough to justify the high prices. Portions felt small compared to what you pay, and the flavors were pretty standard, not remarkable. The vibe inside is just okay--mid at best--neither cozy nor lively, more like a place that can't decide what it wants to be. For the cost, I expected much better quality and atmosphere. Wouldn't recommend unless convenience is your priority. read more

Rinka's sushi/sashimi sets are superb. The amount of food they serve & that cup of chawanmushi to top it off, yesss. Great lunch spot, especially if you're hungry. They even have a few Sake drink flights you can choose from! Chirashi & tempura we're my fave. I came here twice in a month. They have back private rooms also for larger groups, reserve in advance. read more

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My Uncle is visiting from Vegas, and he invited us to lunch at Rinka. We had a party of 9 and were seated in the back area in a semi-private room. Upon being seated, the table was set with chopsticks and menus. Our server greeted us, along with another employee. The lunch menu was limited, but we were all able to find something to order. Some of the sets give you a choice of 2 sides, which we later learned were ordered via a sheet of paper placed in the middle of the table. This would later add to the confusion for the food runners, but I'll get to that shortly. The server came around the table and took our order diligently, writing every order on his notepad. Each time someone ordered their sides, he would ask us to write our choice on the paper provided. The food arrived expeditiously; however, neither the server nor the other employee was there to tell the food runners where each order went. I'm not a fan of having our conversations interrupted continuously while people are trying to figure out who ordered what. It was worse when the side dishes came. Overall, the food was good, but service left something to be improved upon. I also found the lunch menu on the smaller side, so people may not find something they'd like if they haven't looked at the menu in advance. I really liked the chawanmushi. The unagi was of decent quality, moist and tender. read more

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Rinka is always among the first of my suggestions whenever a friend asks where we should meet up for lunch. The food is so delicious here and the value is hard to beat for the quality and presentation of the food. I also love how it's so conveniently located next to Whole Foods in Kakaako. You can park in the Whole Foods parking garage or in the Ward theatre parking garage. I love the lunch sets here. I always go for their chicken karaage set ($17.75). The karaage is so perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. All sets come with rice (white or multigrain), miso soup, chawan mushi, pickled vegetables, and two small sides (you can choose from the daily selection). I love everything about the sets and leave incredibly satisified every time. You can also order from their regular menu if you prefer something on that. Rinka also offers takeout. I recommend making reservations if you plan to go! read more

Yes, the food was authentic. Yes, the food was tasty. And yes, the service was second to none. We will be coming back. I definitely recommend. read more

It's like being in Japan without actually traveling there. Great interior, wonderful service and yummy food. Highly recommend Rinka. Nabeyaki Udon Seafood Jewelery Box with Chirashi and Udon Agedashi Tofu Simmered Eggplant Kinako Chiffon Cake Tofu Cheesecake Last week, there was a long line to get in so we made a reservation for today. Today, no line at all. Best to make a reservation because you don't know how busy it will be. Easy parking across the street in the Ward Village garage. We will be back again and again! read more

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We usually go to Rinka for dinner but yesterday I had a wonderful lunch with a friend. Food is always delicious. Great choices for lunch sets and ala carte selections. Service is excellent! Hostess very graciously explained the 90 minute time limitation by kindly asking me if we could be done by a certain time instead of telling me there's a 90 minute time limit. Food comes out right away so the time limit is totally workable. The day was pretty warm but there were people who took advantage of their outside seating. One women's restroom is often challenging but workable. read more

We almost didn't go here because of the one-star reviews, but we decided to give it a try for lunch and was soooo glad we did! We had the seafood jewelry box, seafood chirashi, and cold soba with nigiri and inari. None of us had any complaints about the food, ambiance, or service: All were 5-star! Lots of food for the price, including chawanmushi and a choice of 2 small side dishes. We loved it and we're going back! Highly recommended! read more

Menu offers a large selection--some items are not often seen in Hawaii. The wait staff are very attentive. They politely and efficiently guide their diners throughout their sitting. Our dinner parties have been large so both times we were fortunate to have reserved an enclosed room. (Your results may vary) I look forward to dining there again! read more

Hidden in Ward Village in the back of consolidated theater is Restaurant Rinka! I tried their dinner a while back, but today I went to lunch with my family! Pretty pricy, but very yummy!! ***What I ordered ~ **Regular Chirashi Set (8/10) The main thing about this set is the chirashi bowl, and it comes with; Chutoro, Tuna, Hamachi, Salmon, Ebi, Ikura, and Tamago! In addition, it also comes with a small bowl of udon, chawanmushi, and two small sides. The fish was fresh and tasted amazing. My favorite fish that was in the chirashi bowl was the salmon! It was tender and fatty! The next thing that I loved was the chawanmushi! It is served to you piping hot, and it tasted delicious. I believe the chawanmushi had chicken broth inside, and it gave the steamed egg a light savory flavor. On the bottom of the steamed egg were a few chicken pieces, and they were cooked to perfection! The udon tasted okay it wasn't anything special. Honestly, the set was super filling, and I enjoyed it! **Homemade Strawberry Pudding (10/10) I hope you have room in your belly after eating a big set because this is 1000% worth getting after your meal. The pudding has a similar consistency to panna cotta. It wasn't really firm, but it was soft and bouncy! The strawberry syrup that they pour over your pudding is sweet and tart. I love that the syrup had strawberry pulp in it too! I would eat this again (clearly, I love a good panna cotta or pudding)! Overall, Service was fast, the staff was friendly, and the food wasn't that bad! Although, Rinka is a little pricy! The set was $30, but they have a few sides you can nibble on! I wouldn't mind coming back every now and then. But I would come back again for the pudding!! read more

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Enjoyed Rinka's tempura lunch set; my friend had the pork katsu lunch. Both were tasty and well presented. We shared 4 small sides which were also very good. Free parking was plentiful at Whole Foods or at the theater parking across the street. Restaurant was bright, appeared clean but somewhat crowded. Service was attentive. read more

Rinka is my "go to place" for family, friends, and out of town guests. The food is excellent, particularly their sukiyaki for me, and their courteous service is unmatched. They are first in line for my choice of restaurants. read more

No reservation, no service-even if there's a few tables open. I would have loved to try their food/service. It just seemed like they don't entertain any walk-in business. read more

Stopped in for lunch after the movies at Ward. Definitely enjoyed eating here because of the ambiance. It was pretty quiet during lunch time, which was good because we didn't have to wait to get a table. The staff was pretty attentive and quick. We didn't have to wait long for our food to come out which was also a plus in my book. The portion sizes were pretty filling and easy to share. The Gozen dishes give you a nice variety, as they come with rice, miso soup, and additional sides for you to choose from. read more

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Food is good. Service is good except this one Japanese female server. Middle aged lady with a short brown hair. I'm not gonna write the whole review because I don't wanna waste a minute to explain what happened to me and my family but she was just racist towards Japanese speaking customers. I don't know what's wrong with her. I searched on google and other yelp reviews, and some ppl mentioned the same thing about her. The restaurant needs to work on her attitude. I live upstairs in the same building so I might see her again. I'll update my review after my next visit. read more

Reading an article before leaving the mainland, I read about this relatively new eatery near Ward Center, keeping a mental bookmark as a possible lunch spot during our visit. When a friend asked about meeting for a Saturday lunch after being drenched at the KCC market, we agreed to meet here for lunch. After a busy morning on a stormy Saturday, at the advice of local friend Li Y. (https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=fWJok1wljTdXP7VyIDBYoA), we parked in the parking structure across the street and struggled to find the restaurant. We walked to the theater side of the parking area before learning we were on the wrong side, making our way through the Whole Foods Market in finding this street corner restaurant. Li secured a center table as all booth tables were already occupied. As we studied the menu, she shared her menu favorites with us, paring down the choices for us in deciding. It was further pared down as our waiter told us everything was available with the exception of the Nabeyaki udon because, with the dining room pretty much full, all of their iron pots were being used. I opted for the seafood jewelry box, which includes udon, chawanmushi, and two small sides of our choice (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xajvtSZKdUnc_utcTQytrQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); the rice bowl includes tuna, hamachi, salmon, ikura (salmon roe), tamago, and sea urchin (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Q9LS6oUV5aotgXTfFU1YrA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). All ingredients were served in bite sized portions which made this easy to eat. The food amount is generous and good quality for the price. For the seafood snob, you may consider the chirashi instead as the sashimi pieces were average quality with some veiny pieces (difficult to chew, not melt-in-mouth tender). I enjoyed both accompaniments which made this a filling and interesting meal. For sides, our gracious host gave me free rein in selecting six to try, (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=VTMXCSOJL5UXagvqr5WWQA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) and (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ninpJi-er8IcC1lObFaNjg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). We tried the agedashi tofu, fishcake with seaweed tempura, okra with sesame seasoning, simmered eggplant, deep fried tofu with vegetables, and Renkon Kinpira (lotus root). My favorite sides were the lotus root and eggplant mainly for their different textures and flavors. Big props to our friendly and helpful waiter Jae-Hoon for being patient with us as we studied the menu carefully. He was efficient, helpful, and had a sense of humor. Given the popularity of the Nabeyaki udon, I would likely try that on my next visit or perhaps what our gracious host had, the beef sukiyaki. In any case, I know that I'll likely enjoy whatever I have. read more

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Good service and ok food but dang...$74 before tip for two set lunches . We went once before so tried again and the food was mid. We had the sashimi and waygu lunch sets with four total sides(2/plate). The sashimi was nothing crazy. The sauce for the waygu was tasty and the tempura was very good!! Overall we would come back if the price weren't so expensive. Cool tip tho if you have the AMEX gold card, this restaurant is on RESY so you can get your $50 credit here read more

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We were meeting our friend here for lunch and parked at the Ward structure and walked across to where the restaurant was located at the corner of Robinson and Halekauwila. When we arrived, our friend was seated already in this modern, spacious, high ceiling and bright restaurant. We looked over the beautiful menu with a large picture for each special sushi and sashimi sets and lunch sets with description of the dish what comes with it. For those not wanting a set lunch, there's a page of a la carte choices as well. Each of us opted for a set lunch item which came with two side dishes each from twelve choices. We ordered six different ones so that we could get a variety to try. My Seafood Jewelry Box set came on a nicely presented tray. The jewelry box had cubed pieces of tuna, hamachi, salmon, tamago topped with unagi. Ginger and seaweed were in the bowl as well. The set also came with a bowl of udon and Chawanmushi. The seafood in the box was fresh, but the fish cut into cubes was different. The udon was very good and the broth was tasty. The Chawanmushi was smooth and light and was surprised when I dug into it that there was a scallop, a shrimp and a slice of fish cake in it. Rinka is a nice place for a Japanese meal with menu choices with varying price points so there are options for diners. read more

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