We got to try this restaurant out for lunch. I always love a good Japanese Teishoku, and everything checked out in terms of quality--fresh ingredients, well-balanced flavors, and cute presented dishes... but something was missing. It wasn't that anything was bad--just that it lacked that extra touch of warmth or soul that makes a meal memorable. An okay spot overall, but not one I'd go out of my way for. Our server, however, was very accommodating and took the time to explain the menu to us in detail, which we appreciated. While there were open seats in the dining room, we were told they were reserved, so we ended up at the counter--which gave us a clear view of the kitchen and let us watch the whole operation in action. To test the quality, we ordered a few extras on the side--amaebi, otoro, and uni. The quality was there, but still felt underwhelming. Maybe it was the high ceilings and the cafeteria-style dining room, maybe it was the view into the kitchen from our counter seats, or maybe we're just spoiled by so many other amazing Japanese spots on Oahu. Whatever the reason, the food didn't feel hearty--it was giving mall Teishoku. Perfectly fine--just lacking soul. Line production vibes, if you will. Actually, the restaurant matches the high-rise, corporate energy of Kaka'ako alongside Amazon's Whole Foods--so in that sense, it's very on trend with the neighborhood. All in all, the location is convenient, Japanese set meals are fun, and it's probably a good option for people with children. read more

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Decided to come here for my birthday because I wanted to accommodate my pregnant friend who does not really eat seafood. Overall: 5/5!! Only con about this place is that it's a little expensive. Food: Very delicious, and well presented. The teishoku actually has a fair amount of food despite how expensive it is. I had the Eel and tempura set and I honestly almost couldn't finish it. Service: servers were very attentive and came by to fill waters multiple times, and made sure to check in on us. I accidentally dropped my cardigan without realizing it and the server picked it up so carefully. read more

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The BTS trio enjoyed lunch at Rinka before seeing the Blackpink Born Pink World Tour movie at Ward Theater. We chose the Nabeyaki Udon, Cold Soba with Nigiri and Inari and the Seafood Jewelry Box. Our tablemate that ordered the udon asked our server to omit the clams while another asked for a replacement for the shrimp / ika nigiri as she has a shellfish / seafood allergy. I didn't want the udon that came with the jewelry box so our server substituted a green salad. The lunches come with a choice of sides ... We chose Agedashi tofu, Hijiki, Renkon Kinpira and something else. Alas, my memory is fading ... fast. Each dish was attractive in appearance. The seafood jewelry box is like chirashi sushi except the ahi, Hamachi, salmon and tamago are cut into small cubes and topped with ikura and uni. There was a large heaping of soba, but the noodles were thin and stuck together ... Perhaps it needed more rinsing in cold water. I sampled the soba; IMO it was lacking in taste due to the thinness of the noodles. I enjoyed my sides (hijiki and renkon kinpira), they were visual and taste treats. Two of the lunches came with chawanmushi ... I'm not a fan of this dish but it was fine. The bar didn't have any gin, so I opted for a couple of bottles of Sapporo beer. The last time we came, we enjoyed two bottles of Kenzo Estate wines. I was glad to see they still offer all of Kenzo's wines. All in all, the meal and service were fine; nothing exceptional and the only disappointment was the soba. The restaurant was busy; nice to see. read more

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Rinka is tucked away in the inner streets of the new Kakaako. It's surrounded by free parking options - I recommend the Ward Theatres parking structure. Like most everything in this area, the restaurant is stylish and trendy. Windows are large, ceilings are high, and tables are pretty far apart. It's a comfortable space for dining. I'm not sure if they're known for any dishes in particular but the two of us ordered two sushi rolls and two small dishes to share. It was about right for two hungry people. Spicy Tuna roll, Dragon roll, and chicken karaage were solid. Mozuku with grated imo was really tasty but somewhat hard to eat due to the dashi. Not first date food, for sure. Sake samplers (several to choose from) are fun and come with descriptive table cards so that you can follow along. A good dining experience and reliable option when you're in the area. read more

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We came here for my aunty's birthday for lunch and I definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu. During lunch, they have these lunch sets that comes with your main dish, steamed egg, rice, miso soup, and 2 sides of your choice, so you definitely get your moneys worth here. I got the crab cream croquette set and they were super yummy with the crunchy breading and creamy inside. We got a semi-private room since there was 8 of us. My sister who made the reservation thinks that it comes automatically with larger groups, but I'm not a hundred percent certain of that. Other dishes we got were the chiraishi set, unagi bowl set, beef sukiyaki set, and the seafood jewelry box set (this one actually came with a small udon instead of the miso soup). They were all amazing and we ended up with plenty of leftovers to take home. read more

I return because my friend has credit card reward if dining at a selected restaurant before end of the month. Rinka is one of them. This would never be on my list of suggestion, but I will come if my friend wants to. Unagi Don - good, filling. But spinach side dish amount was so little. Service - same, discriminatory. The Japanese waitress is more attentive to the local customers than us (we made reservation so got seated in a room with another party) she never refill our water unless we ask her to. She only ask us how was the food once and nothing much after. But the table next to us, she always refill their water and attentive to them more. Final word - don't do dine in. Food is mediocre, you can find at any place. Nothing special. read more

We had the pleasure to re-visit one of our old favorites recently. Rinka has been a Kakaako area staple for 5 or 6 years now, and we love coming here, as well as their take-out only Bento Rinka location on Beretania street. The restaurant is open and brightly lit, and service is prompt and polite. They have a variety of beer, sake and a selection of cocktail and hard liquor as well. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are also available. We particularly like their lunch specials, which consist of a choice of entree with miso soup and chawanmushi (a savory Japanese custard) plus a choice of two small sides. Prices for the lunch specials range from $18-20 for croquette or tonkatsu with most in the $30 up to $40-plus for more extravagant choices like sushi and sashimi entrees. Alternately, if you really feel like going over the top, the chef's selection sushi set meal can reach $60 or more for the deluxe assortment. The dinner menu includes most (if not all) of the lunch entrees as well as an expansive selection of other items for both teishoku sets and a la carte items. Additional selections like hamburger steak, yakiniku, various hot pots, sukiyaki or assorted teishoku sets. For dinner, the more modest sets start in the $35-$45 range, topping out in the $65-$75 area for the top tier sushi and sashimi selections. They also have an extensive a la carte menu of sushi, sashimi and more; I'd say that almost every entree choice from the dinner set menu is available as an a la carte selection as well. The food quality is always top notch, and I would say they're amongst the best Japanese restaurants on Oahu in terms of bang for the buck. You could easily pay more for this qualify of food, but there are few places in this place range that are as good. read more

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Considering I just came back from two weeks in Japan, I was pleasantly surprised by Rinka's tempura lunch set! I've come here for dinner time and felt it was a bit pricy, the amount of food and the quality provided for this set at a price of $27 was definitely worth it. I was a bit shocked they had no indoor tables at the time we arrived at opening (11 am), but I'll know to book a reservation ahead of time next time - their patio is unfortunately way too hot for the middle of the day. read more

Rinka - Tempura lunch set - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great service and food. Love that they are on Resy so can use my $100 quarterly Amex dining credit with them. Parking is easy at the Whole Foods structure with elevators that lead down to the walkway to the restaurant. Dining at a different restaurant on Resy made me appreciate Rinka even more. read more

Rinka is a wonderful hidden away restaurant. There are many sets to choose from. Staff is pleasant and efficient. The food is fresh and delicious. Serene decorations add to having a peaceful lunch or dinner. Ample parking in the parking structure shared with Whole Foods. read more

A super huge and fancy looking dinner spot, Rinka offers plenty of Japanese food that ranges from hot to cold, and they also have amazing desserts like Matcha Ice Cream! I got the Japanese Style Omelette and I loved all the sauces and toppings used on it, very much like Takoyaki. Great recommendation for a night out with friends and family for a dinner for all tastes - Miguel Morales Photography read more

Rinka - Japanese Style Omelette (w/ Pork) (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My family had another epic gourmet dinner at Rinka in one of their private dining rooms. Wagyu beef teishokus, wagyu sukiyaki, buri kama and unagi teishoku were terrific. The tempuras were the complimentary stars of each dish and our sashimi deluxe were excellent. But what made it was the service from Shaun. He has been the long time senior waiter at Rinka. Ask for Shaun and you won't be disappointed. read more

We came here to celebrate milestones on a special lunch date and left extremely disappointed. This was made-to-order sushi, yet the quality was nowhere near acceptable. The fish tasted and felt previously frozen, and the ikura sushi was slimy, which is a major red flag when it comes to freshness and food safety. That alone ruined the trust we had in the meal. The udon was overcooked and mushy, lacking any care or proper texture. Overall, the food felt rushed, careless, and nothing like what you expect when spending real money on Japanese cuisine. Between the two of us, the bill was over $100, and in this economy, where you spend your money matters. What makes this even more disappointing is that my family and I had a great experience here a few years ago, which is the only reason we chose this place. Something has clearly changed, and not for the better. We honestly should have gone to Suntory. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but this experience warranted it. This was not good food, not good value, and not worthy of a repeat visit. read more

Rinka - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We came for lunch time, the sujiyaki set was the perfect portion, flavor, and variety. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Chawanmushi, so having this as part of the set was the best part! The service was quick and the servers were really nice. It was a really nice experience and I am excited to bring other friends with me. I love how convenient the location is, with Ward parking right there, this is perfect location. The ambiance is clean, neat, and homely. It makes eating there feel comfortable, like you're at home. Can't wait to come again! read more

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The food here was great. Amazing quality in fish & good portions to where you can have a little taste of everything. The server was great & always checked on our table. The only con I have about the space of the restaurant is that it's not really kid friendly... they don't have high chairs only booster seats; but thankfully I was able to ask for a private room so I could enjoy with my toddler read more

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Rinka is not what it used to be. First time to this location and the mediocre food is not on par with how much they charge. The bento spot on king st was better, but even back ordering there they were always picky about substituting and the like. At least the food was good though. Service is rude, and the ambiance stuffy and full of themselves. So so soooooo many other choices to go to. Won't be back seems they like to delete negative reviews according to another reviewer we shall see what happens here. read more

I love their lunch specials--great value and their restaurant is always clean and comfortable. The chawanmushi is a standout, silky and full of flavor. I really enjoy how you can choose your sides, and there's always something new to try. The nabeyaki udon is my go-to, but the sukiyaki set is also a favorite. read more

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The food is amazing and the service excellent. Highly recommend Rinka for a special occasion meal.

Happy to report Rinka is doing well and everything was very good. Some of the best tempura in Honolulu for sure. Service is always good. Lunch time can be e busy so beware. read more

Rinka, Rinka, Rinka. My sisters enjoy eating here and now I know why. A simple yet modernly decorated restaurant with private rooms located in the back of the restaurant. Nice and clean restrooms within the restaurant. Large glass windows and great lighting inside. We were in a semi private room in the back of the restaurant. Ambiance 4 out of 5 stars. Japanese cuisine, specializing in sushi, sashimi, seafood chirashi dishes. We ordered the Rinka special sets, which comes with a small udon, chawanmushi, and two very small sides of your choice. We also ordered extra nigiri. Tea and a dessert. 4 out of 5 stars. The sets were good and the restaurant allows you to substitute some of the choices. But you may be charged for your substitution. The sashimi set was good. A little pricey for the serving size. The orders for nigiri sushi may increase your tab quickly. Service was attentive and professional. Refilled our tea and water consistently. Dishes removed from our table. 5 out of 5 stars. read more

I came for a quick bite solo and was seated at the bar. Everyone was very kind and attentive. I ordered the tempura meal and it came with a bowl of hot udon. The meal came out quickly and the tempura was perfect. The rice was super tasty so I had to have it all. The food was a lot and I took the udon soup home to reheat another day. Looking forward to it. read more

Rinka - Tempura with hot Udon. - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great authentic Japanese food! Although a bit on the pricey side, you get what you pay for and portions and quality is really great at Rinka. I have been going to Rinka even before they were in ward and they are always a great spot for a nice teishoku meal. I will say lunch is a way better value and they have a wide selection from sushi to sukiyaki to other cooked dishes. However, I most recently went for dinner and it was still very good! They had a beer special going on where Coedo beers were $3 all day Monday - Thursday which is such a steal! Meals range from $30-80. I chose the hot pot chicken tsukune set which comes with tempura, nigiri sushi, sashimi, tsukemono, and a huge hot stone hot pot. It was so filling I could barely eat half of it! Although it was around $50, it was a lot of food for at least two meals so I think it's really worth it. I love that there is so much variety with this teishoku set - you get veggies, fried foods, sushi - so much to enjoy! My only complaint would be that my dish did come a little bit later than all the other meals so I was waiting while everyone was eating. Also, we dined at 7 and they were sold out of a few things, so you might want to come early if you're set on something in particular. Other than that, food was delicious and if you're looking for great japanese food, this is a spot to go to! read more

Everything is good - food was delicious, service - the wait staff are friendly and helpful and the ambience is conducive to an enjoyable dining experience. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for a while. Finally made my way here with a couple other friends on a weekday lunch. We didn't make reservation so only had either sushi bar seating or outside. We sat outside. The lunch prices are reasonable and it was a lot of food! Everything was delicious. Will be back again! read more

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Service and ambiance are good. Comfortable seating and nice workers. Food was definitely a let down though. Mediocre taste and quality, especially for price that was paid. Maybe I showed up on an off day but would not return. read more

Rinka - sashimi set $50 - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The sets were a little pricey but everything was excellent. Highly recommend this place

This Resturant charges $1.00 for lemon slices in the tap water!!!!!! I'm not going to this place! My husband went there and told me!!! read more

I've dined here a few times, most recently for a surprise birthday dinner for my mom the other week. If you're looking for a Teishoku-style dinner, this is one of the better places in Oahu. The menu isn't extensive, but it offers enough options to satisfy everyone. Teishoku options range from their chirashi and sushi sets to hot pots and tempura. Service here was excellent. The waitress was very kind and friendly and did a great job hosting a larger party. The food was excellent as well. You don't get skimped on portion sizes, and again, since it's Teishoku style, you get a good variety of dishes to try out with your main entree. I had the Washugyu Motsu hot pot, and it was a massive portion. The broth for the hot pot was very flavorful with a nice kick. It was generously filled with various vegetables, tofu, and the Washugyu Motsu. The sides were great as well. Some may think the Teishoku sets are pricey, but you have to remember that at a typical restaurant, you typically order appetizers in addition to your main entree. However, at Rinka, they're bundled into your main course. Therefore, you're getting the same deal, or even better, since the quality of the food here is excellent. Something to think about. Overall, Rinka is a solid option for satisfying your Japanese food cravings. I will be back whenever visiting Oahu. read more

I specifically came here at dinner time because the server at lunch told me you're not able to cook your own hot pot at lunch - only at dinner. So here I am, at dinner, and they cooked it in the back WITHOUT TELLING ME! The pork is completely overcooked & rubbery. There are ingredients in the pot that are not listed on the menu & I have no clue what they are. Lying to your customers is a good way to get 1-star on Yelp. read more

Rinka - Light & Sophisticated Sake Flight - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Lunch special was amazing and delicious. Everyone one was friendly and very tentative. Meal presentation was very detailed and you get to choose yummy sides with a your meals. Good for family of four. Best to have reservations. read more

The broth was delicious but the udon was on the soft side today. Ingrid was was attentive and checked on us regularly. We had our own dining room so it was very nice to be away from the main dining room which tends to be busy and a little bit noisy. read more

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The food was nice, a lot of variety on the menu. A nice spacious place, not too loud but still lively. Service was a little slow, but not bad...it was pretty busy at the time, but it gave us a little time to relax. I would definitely go again. read more

Rinka - Pork Cutlet Combo - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Always a great place to come for either lunch or dinner for Japanese food. Came for lunch. We had reservations and was seated promptly. Every table filled during lunch. Service is always good. Food is always excellent. Ordered my usual crab cream croquette set. Son ordered the tonkatsu set. read more

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Came for their lunch sets which was super good quality and quantity wise. I got the chirashi set which came with assorted fish, a small udon, chawamushi, and 2 sides you could pick. The udon noodles were cooked perfectly and the chawamushi was perfect for the rainy day we came on. The fish it came with was good quality nothing spectacular though. The sides I picked was the agashi tofu and squid tempura which both were excellent. The set is a lot of food but I like that you can try a little of everything and definitely worth the price of $34. I would come back again to try their other lunch sets for sure! read more

Rinka - Chirashi bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I came here for lunch on 5/24 and typically have a good experience at Rinka. Although, I found a partial body of a roach in my nabeyaki udon after I have eaten half of my meal. The server was quick to take it away and offered to give me a new meal which I declined. They made it right by comping my meal in the end. I searched up from their health inspection that they had a roach problem back in April 2025 which was supposedly solved this month. I also read someone else's review posted recently that he had the same issue... I'm just shocked that I'm not the only customer this happened to and hope Rinka can resolve their pest problem soon :( read more

Rinka - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Really great location near Ward which means plenty of parking! The food was delicious, good quality, and the atmosphere was nice. Had a nice meal with family friends who invited us. The service is good and the menu is quite extensive so there's a lot to choose from. We got the set menus to allow us to try more things. A few things to note, if you're one of those that ask for lemons in water they will charge you. If your burner goes out more than once they will also let you know they will charge you. The extras charges are a little excessive given the price of the food itself. Overall the food including the meat and sushi quality is really good. The wagyu was so tender and soft and really just great quality. I would recommend maybe for lunch or dinner as a special treat! read more

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Food was spectacular and the service was first class. I really enjoyed the ambiance and the host really took care of our family. It was an experience we will never forget! read more

I made a previous review and the restaurant is still such an amazing restaurant. Valentines is around the corner and this is a MUST TRY lunch or dinner. They do such an amazing job with presentation, portion, and service. They are quick to notice the littlest detail (napkins, water, empty dishes) even during rush hour and are just so wonderful and their positive attitude and kindness is truly my favorite Japanese restaurant. The sukiyaki had a nice sweet soy sauce base flavor with a cold poached egg on the side. I love dipping my beef into the egg coating the beef so it cording burn my mouth and makes the beef so silky smooth. The chuwanmushi is so delicious, soft, fluffy. I could honestly go on and be hype for every single dish on their menu (the ikura is my FAVORITE and is so unique with a sweet rather than salty flavor) but it'll just become a fangirl lol... Its an awesome way to set the bars high with anyone for any occasion. I love their simplicity, flavor, and their entire staff. Truly an experience you must try. read more

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Rinka has been our go to restaurant for delicious authentic Japanese cuisine for many years! Our daughter, who was visiting from the Mainland, wanted to get together with her aunty and uncle before leaving for home. It didn't surprise us when she selected Rinka as the place to go. After being seated in a quaint, semi-private dining room, I quickly ordered my favorite Seafood Jewelry Box, which featured a bowl of rice covered with fresh cubes of raw fish, fish eggs, etc as well as a udon, steamed egg custard, and 2 sides. My daughter ordered her favorite sukiyaki set and everyone else ordered shrimp and vegetable tempura, which came with hot rice, miso soup, and egg custard. So delectable! With its friendly, courteous staff...delicious traditional comfort food...and ample parking near Whole Foods Market in Kakaako, it's a perfect place to relax with family and friends....a true local favorite! read more

We made reservation for lunch on a Saturday. I'm glad we did because it gets really busy. It seems quite hidden on the side of Whole Foods. It's a spacious restaurant with a bar as well. They have very good lunch specials and that's what we are here for. We all ordered a lunch special set which comes with the main dish, sides, and chawanmushi. I had the regular unagi set. The unagi was soft and flavorful. Chawanmushi was smooth and soft. Decent amount of seafood and chicken pieces in it. Also came with miso soup. My two side dish I picked were tempura chikuwa and agedashi tofu. Both sides were very good. Food was great. Excellent service. Love to come back for the sets. Was very full eating all of that. read more

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