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Located off Kapahulu Ave, on the right side heading into Waikiki. They have only 2 parking spaces in front the restaurant and after that only street parking or public pay parking. I had the soup combo which I ordered spareribs soup and sushi, the spareribs soup was very good and the broth was very tasty the variety of sushi was good. My wife had the pig feet soup with a bowl of rice, which she enjoyed very much the portions are good size. Our friend had the sushi & soup combo which he enjoyed pig feet soup and sushi. We also shared the fried gesso which came out hot and crispy with a light miso dip, which was also good. Also we ordered Pork & Bitter Melon which was very tasty and delicious, which we shared . The service was great and you feel like you are visiting a friends house for dinner They have a restroom
Had the pig's feet soup w/sushi, very ONO and filling. Whenever I crave for Okinawan food, this is the place to be, will definitely be back. Parking sucks
A very nice local mom and pop restaurant. Service was extremely slow, took 45 minutes to get served our meals. 8 people were in the restaurant when we got there at 5:30 so didn't expect such a long wait. The food was good, just home cooking. The special sushi and soup was the best deal with a good portion of sushi and choice of soup (had pigs feet). Soba broth was very tasty and pork spareribs delicious. Mackerel was good but only ok, the side salad was very tasty a refreshing. The fried noodles were interesting with pickled ginger and spam. Overall a good meal but not that inspiring.
Sunrise Restaurant is in the Kapahulu area and they have a small lot that can fit up to two cars out in front. Otherwise it's residential parking, metered parking on Kapahulu or the paid lot across the street next to Side Street Inn. The restaurant looks a little run down outside and inside is cozy but dated. It feels sort of nostalgic though. They offer Okinawan food and IMO, their cuisine is a little bland for my personal tastes but it's still good nonetheless. Healthy food and Sunrise Restaurant offers a good selection of items. I was super lucky because on the day I came, someone was just leaving that was parked right in front of the restaurant. We entered and were greeted immediately. Within moments we received our menus, napkin, chopsticks and water. We ordered their Combination: Sushi & Soup. One with Pig Feet Soup and one with Spare Rib Soup. I got my sushi with no salmon so they subbed it with tako. The kitchen was quick and we ate in no time. We did share a piece of each of the pig feet and spare rib so we could both try it. Both were super tender and the portion size of the meal was just right. The hot sauce in the golden tube is amazing! Paul C raved about it so I had to try it for myself. It was delicious and the perfect condiment for me with Okinawan food. I feel bad because I think I used about 1/3-1/2 the tube lol. It was a nice addition to the Spare Rib and Pig Feet but it was phenomenal in the soup. My soup was red! Don't worry, I drank it all so I wouldn't waste a drop. I don't want to write a whole paragraph just on the hot sauce so...customer service was friendly from entry to exit of the restaurant. Great Okinawan restaurant in the Kapahulu area with legit hot sauce!
Yes, an authentic Okinawa restaurant in Kapahulu, Honolulu named Sunrise Restaurant! Present husband-wife owners, Chokatsu & Tomoko Tamayose, both from Okinawa, opened this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in 1999, which has been in operation for the past 25 years! Chokatsu's aunty, Kiyo Irei, formerly owned this shop called Sunrise Coffee Shop and cooked home-style Okinawan dishes for the community. The restaurant offered many Okinawan immigrants, their kids, & students a place that reminded them of their homes in Okinawa. After she retired in 1998, diners missed her cooking. Chokatsu told her that he had wanted to open his own sushi restaurant, but Kiyo suggested that he combine Okinawan food with sushi, as she promised to teach him her Okinawan recipes & help him run the restaurant. And this began Sunrise Restaurant. The owners embody the spirit of "icharibe-choda," which is an Okinawan phrase that is a secret to happiness in promoting brotherhood & teamwork that makes people help each other, i.e., treating everyone like family, even if you've never met them before. Thus, Sunrise Restaurant became a gathering place for HI's Okinawan community with its generous hospitality. After the pandemic, Sunrise Restaurant was faced when challenging financial problems as to whether they could continue operations, as with other small local mom-&-pop restaurants. Fortunately, close friends of the owners came to the aid in contacting professionals to provide social media, legal, financial, marketing and food industry assistance in keeping the restaurant afloat. Even students that the owners had helped years before, came back to help out! Menu offerings include: sushi; sushi & soup combo; sashimi; soba; soup (pig's feet, spare rib, miso, oxtail); pork bittermelon; pork tofu; yakisoba; fish (salmon, mackerel, Hamachi kama, salmon dynamite); pork cutlet; tempura; fried squid; poke. An additional $3 will get you rice, miso soup, & takuan. Certain dishes are served on specific days of the week or may be sold out, so if you're set on a dish, call ahead to ensure that they will have it available. And it's BYOB! We had the following: * Sushi & pig's feet soup special. Freshly made sushi includes 3 pcs maguro, 2 pcs hamachi, 1 pc ika, 2 pcs CA roll, 1 tamago with ginger & wasabi; great presentation & not fishy. Served temperature hot, the clear soup had a huge piece of pig's feet, mustard cabbage, daikon, konbu; it was very flavorful & not overpowering. * Salmon dynamite. Delicious salmon topped with onions & mushrooms in a special mayo sauce. Very tasty salmon that was excellent with hot rice. Loved the presentation with the top somewhat charred & accompanied with about a dozen half slices of fresh cucumbers. * Miso soup, rice, takuan. The flavorful miso soup was loaded with mustard cabbage, wakame, tofu, egg, daikon. Rice was temperature hot & fluffy; takuawan was bright yellow & very crunchy. Chokatsu & Tomoko are very welcoming, friendly & will make the diners feel comfortable by interacting with their customers. Chokatsu runs the sushi counter & cooks in the kitchen, while Tomoko works in the front in taking/serving your order & takes your payment. After Chokatsu is done cooking dinner on a Sat. night, he provides entertainment for all! He will play the sanshin, a 3-string Okinawan banjo covered with snakeskin, with a Japanese soup spoon. He will start singing, & diners will join him in traditional Okinawan singing & dancing. So, once you're seated, there are no time limits as to how long you can stay there, so prepare to have a good time! Reservations, even for just 2 people, are necessary, as you would be turned away if seats are not available. Note that even for a weekday lunch when I called about whether reservations were required for the 2 of us, Tomoko made a reservation, as the last hour of the lunch hour had people trickling in for a meal. The restaurant exterior certainly does not reflect the ambiance & décor of the interior. With seating for only about 20 people, the interior gives you a feeling that you're in your aunty's home, with the décor of pictures, trinkets, origami cranes, Japanese beer bottles, posters, photos, & more. Hours of operation are Mon to Fri 11:30a to 2 for lunch, Sat 5:30p to 9p for dinner, Sun closed. However, large private parties with minimum 15 people may reserve the restaurant on Sundays. Restaurant front is on Herbert St, which is off of Kapahulu Ave & about a block from Rainbow Drive In. Parking can be challenging, as there are only 3 free parking stalls fronting the restaurant. Otherwise, there is a public parking lot nearby, metered parking on Kapahulu Ave, & street parking in the neighborhood. What a great restaurant for homestyle & old-school Okinawan cuisine with a friendly ambiance! We look forward in returning to try their other menu offerings, & to know more of the colorful Okinawan backgrounds of the owners! Support local!
Lunch in Kapahulu, Honolulu, Hawaii... A few months ago, my cousin was visiting from Indonesia and told me that he was going to have dinner with his friends at Sunrise Restaurant. I had never heard of this establishment before, so I wanted to check it out. My friends and I tried to dine here last holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.), but I didn't make reservations, and they were closed. Knowing that parking is challenging in the area, we made plans for the next holiday (President's Day), so that metered street parking would be free. This time, I made a reservation for 11:30am (opening time). It worked! I arrived early to get one of the 3 parking stalls right in front of the entrance on the Herbert Street side. A couple of other people parked on nearby streets. Inside, the cozy, old-school restaurant felt like grandma's house. Even the restroom had knick knacks like someone's home. I especially liked the Ohtani jerseys hanging at the entrance. Our server said she went to LA to get them!!! Service was super polite, cheerful, and friendly! We were checked on and welcomed in a friendly manner! Food was tasty and had beautiful presentation! I got the combo sushi and soup meal. I chose Okinawan Soba for my soup and it was delicious! The meat was so tender and flavorful... it almost fell off the bone! Noodles were springy and not mushy. The fish on the sushi was fresh and smooth - not dry nor stringy! We were really impressed with this 25 year old Mom and Pop type of place! Prices and portions were great! I'll be back soon!
Second time is a charm. Our previous attempt to dine at Sunrise Restaurant (SR) was a failure as they were closed that day. We were disappointed and ended up eating elsewhere. On this President's Day, Auntie (aka Nadine C.) did her homework to ensure they would be open and made reservations for our group. Located on the lower half of Kapahulu Ave with iconic Rainbow Drive Inn a block away, SR has been in business since 1999 which explains their 25 years of existence displayed on their wall with gold balloons. SR boasts Okinawan food with popular dishes of Okinawa Soba, pork bittermelon (champuru), shoyu pork and pig's feet soup. SR is a very homey type of restaurant with a festive decor displaying many artifacts and decorations representing Okinawa, including the shamisen with reptile skins. They also had Japanese news/television playing in the background. I usually order bittermelon when I patronize Okinawan themed restaurants but this time I decided to get the sushi and soup combo where I selected spare rib soup. I really wanted to try the pig's feet soup but the Chinese in me told me to eat spare ribs after fracturing my rib last week. We used the waiting time discussing recent food finds and the Lunar New Year. I like dining with foodie friends because the conversation cannot be boring. Our foods were delivered to our table and after we snapped away, it was time to dig in. THE VERDICT: To be frank, the food quality exceeded my expectations. I've had Okinawan food before and even traveled to Okinawa but I could taste the passion and dedication. Indeed it tasted homey but at a higher level as we are at a restaurant. I loved the spare rib soup as clearly it was cooked for a long time. The meat was fall off the bone tender and served with freshly grated ginger that woke up your palate. The broth was rich but not greasy or oily. I also loved the fresh greens inside that contrasted the slowly cooked daikon that just absorbed the broth. The sushi that came with it was equally delicious. It was made by the chef and could taste the chef's dedication that made it special. It had a smear of wasabi in each nigiri that was just right for the slices of raw fish. So delicious. The highlight of the lunch was this Japanese chili paste that came in a squeezable gold colored tube that resembles toothpaste. It was delicious. Do I dare say better than Sriracha? I kept on squeezing chili sauce multiple times as it paired well with the spare ribs. Service was above average as the waitress came to our noisy table multiple time to ensure our water glasses were filled and didn't rush us despite other tables leaving before us, regardless we were the first to arrive at 1130am opening. Overall, a delightful surprise and appreciation of Okinawan food at SR where I yearn for a return visit. Perhaps I can corral the family on coming here for dinner one day. This way I can order more food off the menu and try other offerings.
The food was delicious especially, the spare ribs soup was so delicious. I'm thinking of going back and just ordering that. And the owner was very entertaining with playing music and singing. This place is a little hole in the wall but surprisingly it was really good.
This is a hole in the wall Okinawa Cuisine. It's a family restaurant with female, name Tomoko taking yorder and delivering your meal. She knows we are new customers. Of course I'm taking pictures. Then, she noticed me watching Japanese women golfers on her tv. She asked if I like golf. I said,"Yes." It's very Okinawa culture conscious and love their music, gentle atmosphere. Mostly, it's somewhat low key most of the time! Their signature dish is that dynamite salmon...and the best one of most salmon that I've taste. This is what brings me back. Learn to eat bitter melon...biggest health benefits, Ciao!!!
On my list for some times and finally got to go due to a family member mentioning it and wanting to go. Located just down the street from Rainbiw drive inn. Small little hole in the wall literally. Parking can be hard but there are 2 small tiny stalls just in front of the store. Food is Okinawan style so don't get confused with regular japanese food so no teriyaki here lol. So we had Pig feet soup, spare rib soup, okinawan soba soup, bittermelon, and squid tempura. Overall all the broth was very simple but tasty. Meats fell off the bone. Bittermelon was good with pork egg and tofu. Tempura is a batter mix of squid and mixed veggies in a Pancake style batter, think of okazuya style. Sushi with the combos were also really good and fresh, rice to fish portions were good too. Small inside maybe can accommodate 20 people. Inside almost reminds me of Japan and the small izukaya or yokocho feel
I truly had pretty limited expectations with a place like Sunrise Restaurant in the Kapahulu area. Sure enough, they delivered. For a very small Japanese restaurant, I thought the ambiance really delivered. I ended up ordering their Pig's Feet Soup, and boy, for the amount of food you get for the price, it was totally worth it. Really filling and flavorful. 10/10 I definitely will consider coming back there again if given the opportunity. read more
3 days ago
Sunrise is like going to your friend's grandparents' place. The hospitality, the decor, the tables and chairs. One of the few places you can find legit Okinawan food. Okinawan soba, goya champuru. You can also get sushi or sashimi. A few parking stalls in front or street parking. BYOB: another bonus. read more
Good old school Okinawan restaurants. There is not too many places in Honolulu that have traditional Okinawan food. We were super hungry and ordered a good amount of food. We forgot to take pictures of our pig feet soups and miso soup. The place is pretty small so best to call or small groups. Free parking along Kapahulu St after 6pm. Service was good and friendly. Mom and pop store so it can get back up if busy. read more
Located off Kapahulu Ave, on the right side heading into Waikiki. They have only 2 parking spaces in front the restaurant and after that only street parking or public pay parking. I had the soup combo which I ordered spareribs soup and sushi, the spareribs soup was very good and the broth was very tasty the variety of sushi was good. My wife had the pig feet soup with a bowl of rice, which she enjoyed very much the portions are good size. Our friend had the sushi & soup combo which he enjoyed pig feet soup and sushi. We also shared the fried gesso which came out hot and crispy with a light miso dip, which was also good. Also we ordered Pork & Bitter Melon which was very tasty and delicious, which we shared . The service was great and you feel like you are visiting a friends house for dinner They have a restroom read more
1 month ago
8 months ago
7 months ago
Had the pig's feet soup w/sushi, very ONO and filling. Whenever I crave for Okinawan food, this is the place to be, will definitely be back. Parking sucks read more
2 months ago
A very nice local mom and pop restaurant. Service was extremely slow, took 45 minutes to get served our meals. 8 people were in the restaurant when we got there at 5:30 so didn't expect such a long wait. The food was good, just home cooking. The special sushi and soup was the best deal with a good portion of sushi and choice of soup (had pigs feet). Soba broth was very tasty and pork spareribs delicious. Mackerel was good but only ok, the side salad was very tasty a refreshing. The fried noodles were interesting with pickled ginger and spam. Overall a good meal but not that inspiring. read more
Sunrise Restaurant is in the Kapahulu area and they have a small lot that can fit up to two cars out in front. Otherwise it's residential parking, metered parking on Kapahulu or the paid lot across the street next to Side Street Inn. The restaurant looks a little run down outside and inside is cozy but dated. It feels sort of nostalgic though. They offer Okinawan food and IMO, their cuisine is a little bland for my personal tastes but it's still good nonetheless. Healthy food and Sunrise Restaurant offers a good selection of items. I was super lucky because on the day I came, someone was just leaving that was parked right in front of the restaurant. We entered and were greeted immediately. Within moments we received our menus, napkin, chopsticks and water. We ordered their Combination: Sushi & Soup. One with Pig Feet Soup and one with Spare Rib Soup. I got my sushi with no salmon so they subbed it with tako. The kitchen was quick and we ate in no time. We did share a piece of each of the pig feet and spare rib so we could both try it. Both were super tender and the portion size of the meal was just right. The hot sauce in the golden tube is amazing! Paul C raved about it so I had to try it for myself. It was delicious and the perfect condiment for me with Okinawan food. I feel bad because I think I used about 1/3-1/2 the tube lol. It was a nice addition to the Spare Rib and Pig Feet but it was phenomenal in the soup. My soup was red! Don't worry, I drank it all so I wouldn't waste a drop. I don't want to write a whole paragraph just on the hot sauce so...customer service was friendly from entry to exit of the restaurant. Great Okinawan restaurant in the Kapahulu area with legit hot sauce! read more
Yes, an authentic Okinawa restaurant in Kapahulu, Honolulu named Sunrise Restaurant! Present husband-wife owners, Chokatsu & Tomoko Tamayose, both from Okinawa, opened this hole-in-the-wall restaurant in 1999, which has been in operation for the past 25 years! Chokatsu's aunty, Kiyo Irei, formerly owned this shop called Sunrise Coffee Shop and cooked home-style Okinawan dishes for the community. The restaurant offered many Okinawan immigrants, their kids, & students a place that reminded them of their homes in Okinawa. After she retired in 1998, diners missed her cooking. Chokatsu told her that he had wanted to open his own sushi restaurant, but Kiyo suggested that he combine Okinawan food with sushi, as she promised to teach him her Okinawan recipes & help him run the restaurant. And this began Sunrise Restaurant. The owners embody the spirit of "icharibe-choda," which is an Okinawan phrase that is a secret to happiness in promoting brotherhood & teamwork that makes people help each other, i.e., treating everyone like family, even if you've never met them before. Thus, Sunrise Restaurant became a gathering place for HI's Okinawan community with its generous hospitality. After the pandemic, Sunrise Restaurant was faced when challenging financial problems as to whether they could continue operations, as with other small local mom-&-pop restaurants. Fortunately, close friends of the owners came to the aid in contacting professionals to provide social media, legal, financial, marketing and food industry assistance in keeping the restaurant afloat. Even students that the owners had helped years before, came back to help out! Menu offerings include: sushi; sushi & soup combo; sashimi; soba; soup (pig's feet, spare rib, miso, oxtail); pork bittermelon; pork tofu; yakisoba; fish (salmon, mackerel, Hamachi kama, salmon dynamite); pork cutlet; tempura; fried squid; poke. An additional $3 will get you rice, miso soup, & takuan. Certain dishes are served on specific days of the week or may be sold out, so if you're set on a dish, call ahead to ensure that they will have it available. And it's BYOB! We had the following: * Sushi & pig's feet soup special. Freshly made sushi includes 3 pcs maguro, 2 pcs hamachi, 1 pc ika, 2 pcs CA roll, 1 tamago with ginger & wasabi; great presentation & not fishy. Served temperature hot, the clear soup had a huge piece of pig's feet, mustard cabbage, daikon, konbu; it was very flavorful & not overpowering. * Salmon dynamite. Delicious salmon topped with onions & mushrooms in a special mayo sauce. Very tasty salmon that was excellent with hot rice. Loved the presentation with the top somewhat charred & accompanied with about a dozen half slices of fresh cucumbers. * Miso soup, rice, takuan. The flavorful miso soup was loaded with mustard cabbage, wakame, tofu, egg, daikon. Rice was temperature hot & fluffy; takuawan was bright yellow & very crunchy. Chokatsu & Tomoko are very welcoming, friendly & will make the diners feel comfortable by interacting with their customers. Chokatsu runs the sushi counter & cooks in the kitchen, while Tomoko works in the front in taking/serving your order & takes your payment. After Chokatsu is done cooking dinner on a Sat. night, he provides entertainment for all! He will play the sanshin, a 3-string Okinawan banjo covered with snakeskin, with a Japanese soup spoon. He will start singing, & diners will join him in traditional Okinawan singing & dancing. So, once you're seated, there are no time limits as to how long you can stay there, so prepare to have a good time! Reservations, even for just 2 people, are necessary, as you would be turned away if seats are not available. Note that even for a weekday lunch when I called about whether reservations were required for the 2 of us, Tomoko made a reservation, as the last hour of the lunch hour had people trickling in for a meal. The restaurant exterior certainly does not reflect the ambiance & décor of the interior. With seating for only about 20 people, the interior gives you a feeling that you're in your aunty's home, with the décor of pictures, trinkets, origami cranes, Japanese beer bottles, posters, photos, & more. Hours of operation are Mon to Fri 11:30a to 2 for lunch, Sat 5:30p to 9p for dinner, Sun closed. However, large private parties with minimum 15 people may reserve the restaurant on Sundays. Restaurant front is on Herbert St, which is off of Kapahulu Ave & about a block from Rainbow Drive In. Parking can be challenging, as there are only 3 free parking stalls fronting the restaurant. Otherwise, there is a public parking lot nearby, metered parking on Kapahulu Ave, & street parking in the neighborhood. What a great restaurant for homestyle & old-school Okinawan cuisine with a friendly ambiance! We look forward in returning to try their other menu offerings, & to know more of the colorful Okinawan backgrounds of the owners! Support local! read more
Lunch in Kapahulu, Honolulu, Hawaii... A few months ago, my cousin was visiting from Indonesia and told me that he was going to have dinner with his friends at Sunrise Restaurant. I had never heard of this establishment before, so I wanted to check it out. My friends and I tried to dine here last holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.), but I didn't make reservations, and they were closed. Knowing that parking is challenging in the area, we made plans for the next holiday (President's Day), so that metered street parking would be free. This time, I made a reservation for 11:30am (opening time). It worked! I arrived early to get one of the 3 parking stalls right in front of the entrance on the Herbert Street side. A couple of other people parked on nearby streets. Inside, the cozy, old-school restaurant felt like grandma's house. Even the restroom had knick knacks like someone's home. I especially liked the Ohtani jerseys hanging at the entrance. Our server said she went to LA to get them!!! Service was super polite, cheerful, and friendly! We were checked on and welcomed in a friendly manner! Food was tasty and had beautiful presentation! I got the combo sushi and soup meal. I chose Okinawan Soba for my soup and it was delicious! The meat was so tender and flavorful... it almost fell off the bone! Noodles were springy and not mushy. The fish on the sushi was fresh and smooth - not dry nor stringy! We were really impressed with this 25 year old Mom and Pop type of place! Prices and portions were great! I'll be back soon! read more
Second time is a charm. Our previous attempt to dine at Sunrise Restaurant (SR) was a failure as they were closed that day. We were disappointed and ended up eating elsewhere. On this President's Day, Auntie (aka Nadine C.) did her homework to ensure they would be open and made reservations for our group. Located on the lower half of Kapahulu Ave with iconic Rainbow Drive Inn a block away, SR has been in business since 1999 which explains their 25 years of existence displayed on their wall with gold balloons. SR boasts Okinawan food with popular dishes of Okinawa Soba, pork bittermelon (champuru), shoyu pork and pig's feet soup. SR is a very homey type of restaurant with a festive decor displaying many artifacts and decorations representing Okinawa, including the shamisen with reptile skins. They also had Japanese news/television playing in the background. I usually order bittermelon when I patronize Okinawan themed restaurants but this time I decided to get the sushi and soup combo where I selected spare rib soup. I really wanted to try the pig's feet soup but the Chinese in me told me to eat spare ribs after fracturing my rib last week. We used the waiting time discussing recent food finds and the Lunar New Year. I like dining with foodie friends because the conversation cannot be boring. Our foods were delivered to our table and after we snapped away, it was time to dig in. THE VERDICT: To be frank, the food quality exceeded my expectations. I've had Okinawan food before and even traveled to Okinawa but I could taste the passion and dedication. Indeed it tasted homey but at a higher level as we are at a restaurant. I loved the spare rib soup as clearly it was cooked for a long time. The meat was fall off the bone tender and served with freshly grated ginger that woke up your palate. The broth was rich but not greasy or oily. I also loved the fresh greens inside that contrasted the slowly cooked daikon that just absorbed the broth. The sushi that came with it was equally delicious. It was made by the chef and could taste the chef's dedication that made it special. It had a smear of wasabi in each nigiri that was just right for the slices of raw fish. So delicious. The highlight of the lunch was this Japanese chili paste that came in a squeezable gold colored tube that resembles toothpaste. It was delicious. Do I dare say better than Sriracha? I kept on squeezing chili sauce multiple times as it paired well with the spare ribs. Service was above average as the waitress came to our noisy table multiple time to ensure our water glasses were filled and didn't rush us despite other tables leaving before us, regardless we were the first to arrive at 1130am opening. Overall, a delightful surprise and appreciation of Okinawan food at SR where I yearn for a return visit. Perhaps I can corral the family on coming here for dinner one day. This way I can order more food off the menu and try other offerings. read more
1 year ago
The food was delicious especially, the spare ribs soup was so delicious. I'm thinking of going back and just ordering that. And the owner was very entertaining with playing music and singing. This place is a little hole in the wall but surprisingly it was really good. read more
This is a hole in the wall Okinawa Cuisine. It's a family restaurant with female, name Tomoko taking yorder and delivering your meal. She knows we are new customers. Of course I'm taking pictures. Then, she noticed me watching Japanese women golfers on her tv. She asked if I like golf. I said,"Yes." It's very Okinawa culture conscious and love their music, gentle atmosphere. Mostly, it's somewhat low key most of the time! Their signature dish is that dynamite salmon...and the best one of most salmon that I've taste. This is what brings me back. Learn to eat bitter melon...biggest health benefits, Ciao!!! read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
4 months ago
On my list for some times and finally got to go due to a family member mentioning it and wanting to go. Located just down the street from Rainbiw drive inn. Small little hole in the wall literally. Parking can be hard but there are 2 small tiny stalls just in front of the store. Food is Okinawan style so don't get confused with regular japanese food so no teriyaki here lol. So we had Pig feet soup, spare rib soup, okinawan soba soup, bittermelon, and squid tempura. Overall all the broth was very simple but tasty. Meats fell off the bone. Bittermelon was good with pork egg and tofu. Tempura is a batter mix of squid and mixed veggies in a Pancake style batter, think of okazuya style. Sushi with the combos were also really good and fresh, rice to fish portions were good too. Small inside maybe can accommodate 20 people. Inside almost reminds me of Japan and the small izukaya or yokocho feel read more
Sunrise Restaurant is owned by a local Japanese couple who specializes in authentic Okinawan cuisine since 1999! Hole in the wall spot, It's kind of like walking into your Aunty's living room. The decorations are definitely old-school and has not been renovated in a long time. Two small tight parking spots located in the front, otherwise find street parking. It is open for takeout or dine in with reservations only. A small spot with only about 5 tables inside so reservations are needed. We saw walk in customers get turned away since they didn't have reservations. Very popular among local Japanese and native language spoken here. The best part: BYOB no corkage fee! Onto the foodie items: *Combination Sushi and Pig's Feet Soup Set ($18) *Combination Sushi and Okinawan Soba Soup Set *Dynamite Salmon ($14) The sushi was surprisingly fresh and tasty. A great value for the money considering the quality of fish. Dynamite salmon was very creamy and delicious! If you're feeling adventurous, try the Pig's Feet soup which was very tender and soup was flavorful. Okinawan soba soup was decent, but needed some extra flavor. Would come back to try other dishes! read more
1 year ago
Really cozy spot with authentic Okinawan food! Everything was so good but my favorites were the pig's feet soup, bittermelon stirfry, and butterfish. Great service as well, really feels like you're eating with family at home :) read more
Be sure to make reservations, as it is a small place. Friendly service from a local couple. As others have said in reviews, it feels like eating as an honored guest within their living room home. Food was delicious. Very good value for money if you get the sushi and Okinawan soba combo. I believe it was $20 or so and fresh rolls and soup. Good pairing. FOr 2 people with an entree each and a large appetizer, was $52. Not bad for filling eats and seafood. Only two parking spaces out front, otherwise must park in the local neighborhood or across the street at paid parking. read more
Great hole in the wall spot. Mostly Okinawan dishes. We had the combination that came with a good sized platter of sushi and a perfect sized bowl of pigs feet soup. The soup was pretty good. They had one piece of squash, some konbu, several mustard cabbage leaves, and a lot of pigs feet. The broth was delicious. You can tell that the pigs feet is simmered for a long time in the broth---good umami. The sushi was fresh and the rice lightly seasoned--which I prefer. Service was good and the vibe was like being at your Okinawan aunty's house. I'd come back but I'd try a couple of other Okinawan restaurants first. read more
The food was simple, not overdone. Simple fresh Okinawan family food. The service was excellent and very friendly. Open to conversations. The ambiance was like visiting someone's home. Olympics were showing on the television . read more
3 years ago
Local okinowa food. Only Japanese diners here. Feels like back to Japan. No tourists here. No English spoken here except my family. Sushi and soup combo is $17 and a steal. Skip the soup then it is $13. BYOB with no corkage fee. About 16 min walk from Waikiki beach or driving for 3 min. The bill came and I was surprised by Joe cheap it was. Price is like you'd find in Japan not in United States. Best part is not just the price but also service is excellent. Sushi reminded us the quality you would get in the Tokyo fish market. Unbelievably fresh. Local Japanese is eating squid. I am so beyond stuffed that I need to skip food until lunch time tomorrow. Definitely one of my favorite Japanese places inside of Japan and outside of it. read more
This restaurant was an amazingly nice surprise! I was searching for Japanese restaurants and this little gem popped up. They offer Okinawan food in a home-like setting. They're located in Kapahulu with just 2 parking spots available in front of their restaurant! I was one of the lucky two who got a spot. Everyone else was SOL with street parking. I had made reservations in advance, as I had read that it's a small hole-in-the-wall. That description was very accurate! There are probably 7 tables total inside. It appeared to be run by a couple - the lady was serving the customers and the man was making sushi. I believe they also had a cook in the back making the other dishes. I ordered the #1 Combination: Sushi & Soup for $17. What a deal! I selected the Special Miso for my soup, and let me tell you, it isn't your typical miso soup with just a few tofu inside. This soup had lots of goodies and the broth was amazing! The sushi plate came with 7 nigiri and 2 California roll pieces. The sushi is similar to what you'd find at an expensive sushi restaurant. The sushi rice was authentic and the fish/toppings were all fresh! They allow BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite drinks! I will return soon! read more
3 years ago
Since today was a holiday our Aunty Nadine C asked us if we wanted to try again to go to this restaurant since the last time we tried to go it was closed. So we were game to go. She made reservations for 11:30 and they were open today on this holiday. First time I came here and it was all Okinawan type of food. I ordered their nigiri combo sushi with Okinawa soba. My husband ordered their pork with bittermelon. They scramble the egg into the bittermelon and pork. He said it was different in taste and so was he's miso soup. Peter Y. ordered pork tofu, Nadine ordered the same thing with me nigiri sushi combo with Okinawa soba. Paul C ordered their pork rib soup combo with nigiri sushi. We all said it was good something different I think the place is run by a husband and wife. Husband does the sushi and I think the wife is in the kitchen and serving the customers. Come down if you want to eat some type of Okinawan food. read more
2 years ago
1st time here, found street parking! Passed by this place many times. Saw "Food Fiend" vlog about this place. So ono!! Thank you read more
11 months ago
Delicious home style Okinawan / sushi comfort food served in a cozy little restaurant. Kinda feels like you are in someone's kitchen. I had the combo sushi/ hot Okinawan soba. Sushi was fresh & the broth was so tasty. Loved the texture of the soba noodles. The owners were so nice. Parking is very limited- 2 stalls, but there is some parking on Kapahulu Ave. They do take out. Support small local business like this place. read more
1 year ago
best traditional Okinawan dishes. limited parking space though. inside is authentic Okinawan ambiance. call ahead if you want to get the Oxtail soup. service was very prompt and friendly. read more
We came here on a Saturday night and it was packed. We made a reservation since we had a large party and it is a really small space. The restaurant itself has a really homey feel and all the food was prepared quickly. The parking can be tough on Kapahulu but I ended up just parking across the street and walking over. The menu is small and full of lots of Okinawan dishes. I got the combo with the soba and sushi set. The sushi was super fresh and the soba was very unique and super light. The pork rib was very tender and I would definitely get it again. We also tried the fried noodles, bittermelon and fried squid. All of it was great and I'm not a huge fan of bittermelon. The restaurant is BYOB which is convenient too! The prices are super affordable and the service is nice and friendly. Will definitely stop by again! read more
1 year ago
I was recommended this restaurant by a friend of mine, who told me it is a nice, quaint family-run Okinawan restaurant. This establishment did not disappoint. The female partner of the couple who owns the restaurant was very kind to my family and me. I appreciated the atmosphere of this place too. It was a great interdiction to Okinawan food. Aloha! read more
Sunrise Restaurant was truly a hidden gem. It was a convenient walk if you are staying on the strip. It offered an authentic Japanese dining experience at lower prices compared to many other restaurants in Waikiki, Hawaii. It appears to be a longstanding establishment. The food was delicious, with a variety of soup options available. The service was good, and my order arrived promptly. The cozy atmosphere with old photos, added to the charm of the place. Additionally, the fact that they accepted credit cards was convenient. Overall, I had a great experience and I will certainly be returning. read more
2 years ago
The food here is so home style and cozy! The sushi is handmade and you can taste the traditional flavors :) Recommend the Okinawan stir fried noodles! read more
Chanpuru is an Okinawan stir fry dish commonly made with pork, egg and bitter melon (goya). Sunrise Restaurant's Chanpuru is a nice balance of flavors, especially if you sprinkle some shoyu (soy sauce) on top. It comes with shrimp miso soup, rice and takuan (pickled daikon radish). Ono! Bitter melon is actually not too bitter, and it has many nutritional benefits like it can reduce abdominal obesity, enhance immunity, promote heart health, prevent cellular damage and protect vision. So good and good for you! Sunrise Restaurant (525 Kapahulu Ave) also serves sushi, soba, spare rib soup, stir-fried noodles, grilled fish, tempura and poke - all at reasonable prices! Explore Okinawan cuisine and give it a try! read more
Always happy to come here so I can try a different soup to go with my sushi combo. Tonight I had pig's feet soup which was delish! The owner Chokatsu said he boils the broth for several hours to get that good flavor. Can't beat the value! Also if you want to watch Japanese tv while you're eating this is the place! Feels like home but with someone to cook for you! read more
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More info about Sunrise Restaurant
525 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Kaimuki
Directions
(808) 737-4118
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http://www.thesunriserestaurant.com
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Ask the Community - Sunrise Restaurant
What are the hours for this place? A few times I walked in when the open sign is on and when I walk they tell me they are closed but there is clearly people in there.
Are they still offering the $35 sushi deal?
Aloha, they were offering the $35 sushi platter for those using the Restaurant Card. For everyone else, the cost is $40.
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9 reviews that are not currently recommended
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