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Tanaka Saimin

3.3 (1.3k reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order Tanaka Saimin Takeout or Delivery

Tanaka Saimin Photos

TANAKA SAIMIN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Reviews With Photos

Fried Rice Omelet with Pork Adobo
Keola K.

We decided to try something new today. Fried Chicken and waffles and Kids Hamburger Steak. The fried chicken are small pieces, prob the same as their crispy shoyu chicken with four fat mini waffles with powdered sugar sprinkled all over. The chicken is super crispy with a great crunch, albeit a few pieces maybe over cooked a bit as they were dry inside. The waffles were fluffy and great dipped in the syrup. The hamburger steak was a big and fat patty. We asked for gravy all over and son son loved it. Some of our other favorites are the Fried rice omelet with pork adobo, oyakodon, and our almost always usual the crispy spicy shoyu chicken. The servers are always polite and friendly, sort of reminds me of aunties. We'll definitely be back for more meals here.

Green Tea
Debra N.

Service is excellent with our exceptional (Hawaiian) waitress. She was very attentive. My teapot was not empty of hot water. Weather has been chilly and cold! The saimin broth was tasty and comforting with five huge wontons, two fish cakes, nori, and big handful of noodles. It helped warm me along with the green tea. The vegetable tempura went great with Chinese mustard and shoyu. I was in heaven!!! The atmosphere was bustling with business with family and friends enjoying their meals in their own deep conversations...good company and food, great combination! Ciao!!!!

Oxtail saimin with wuntun $26
Amy Y.

This restaurant has been here for a very long time serving local Japanese and Hawaiian food. It's a big restaurant and must try! Good portions and good quality of food. I had the oxtail ramen and wuntun. Soup was flavorful and wuntun was chunky. My partner also enjoyed his koreamoco plate. Good food for good price. I'll be back to try out other menu items. There are so many options!

Salad
Ross T.

We went there for dinner and I ordered the special soup & sandwich which was Clam chowder & crab sandwich. The waitress asked if I wanted the clam chowder to come out with my wife's won ton Min, because the crab sandwich will take 15 mins to be served. Which was okay to get the clam chowder soup before the sandwich. The clam chowder soup came out it was just warm and no clams or flavor of clam, I had better clam chowder from the can, but I let the waitress no that the clam chowder wasn't hot, she was very nice and took it back to heat it up. Then she returned after reheating the clam chowder and a little while after brought the carb sandwich, the clam chowder was better on temperature, but the crab sandwich was cold in the center which the top was baked and hardly tasty on French bread slices, decided to not eat it and ordered the old faithful Saimin which I enjoyed. Thank you to the waitress who was very friendly and helpful. Restroom were clean and dinning area well kept. My wife ordered the won ton min which she mentioned it was not the same taste as before, and was disappointed with the flavor.

Mikey H.

I was out here helping my parents and I wanted to go somewhere for dinner that was low key, since I was eating alone, which I like. I decided on Tanaka's because the parking is easy. The hostess was friendly and gave me a booth in the front. My server was great too! He said they had the best custard pie so of course I did that for dessert. I came here three times. I had to have the sizzling steak because it smelled so good when it came out to another table. Poured shoyu and worsteshire on it while it was sizzling. The second time, I had the Tanaka saimin. Came with a fried shrimp, teriyaki beef, and potato mac...sooo ONOOOO! On my third night, I had the combo teribeef and shrimp with fried noodles. I also had a side of potato mac, which my server forgot. I don't think she liked her job that evening...LOL! Someone else also refilled my drink. Oh, I also got the custard pie, which has a mac nut crust. Sooooo good! I had to have the fresh cherry, the owner pits the cherries himself, pie! Delicious! I also had the banana cream too! But if he's made the peanut butter chocolate pie, GET IT! It is sooooooo ONOOO! I love coming here. Lots of friendly locals, no frills, just good homestyle cooking! Mahalo Tanaka!

Tanaka Saimin
Cory P.

Nostalgia. That is what I would use to describe Tanaka Saimin. Granted I grew up eating at Dillingham Saimin (formerly called Boulevard Saimin as I remember it) every Sunday with my dad and brother. And although Dillingham has been closed for a while now, Tanaka more than keeps those nostalgic flavors alive today! We've been here a handful time since our move back to the island and it's always a pleasant experience. Service has always been great even on busy nights. The dining space is pretty spacious having a lot of tables. Chatter fills the restaurant but it isn't loud in the slightest. When it comes to their food; we are never disappointed. I won't describe any particular visit, but more so what we've ordered so far! My wife usually likes to order the Korea Moco and for good reason. Their kalbi short ribs are tender and packed with flavor and dipping it in that shoyu sesame dipping sauce elevates it. The fried mandoo also adds a nice crunchy texture to complete the plate. If you're indecisive like me, then the Tanaka Mixed Plate is always a great option. I always enjoy their hamburger steak because their brown gravy brings that nostalgic factor. Their shrimp tempura also tastes just as how I remember it. It is slightly batter heavy but to be honest, that's how I like theirs. Lastly their saimin is their staple and the light yet flavorful broth brings comfort for all Saimin lovers. It's no surprise that Tanka Saimin is always packed. Their service is great from what we experienced so far and their food never disappoints. Whenever we have visitors from the mainland, we usually take them here and they also enjoy the food. So if you're craving some great local comfort food, make your next stop Tanaka Saimin

Crispy Shoyu chicken plate $12.95 with 2 side choices. Mashed potatoes & fried noodles.
Donna O.

Since Tanaka Saimin moved to the Nimitz location, they serve more dishes than just Saimin, burgers, mushroom tempura and beef sticks. I like it that they offer a variety of dishes to please the palate of many diners. It's a family restaurant with a lot of tables! We usually come after work on a Friday and place can get pretty packed with customers shortly afterwards. I love the crispy shoyu chicken! It's deep fried dipped in shoyu based with a more chili than sweet chili sauce. I like it and the chicken reminds of the dipped chicken I've once made decades ago. Little different from garlic or Korean chicken. They have a variety of sides that you can choose from such as rice, mashed potatoes, fried noodles, & toss greens. I usually take mashed potatoes and fried saimin. Some may like Korea Moco (like a local moco but with Kalbi ribs on Kim chee rice and crispy wun ton) or Hearty Man (Pork chops, crispy shoyu chicken, spam and rice) . Some friends like the oxtail soup which I also liked. Mondays, their baked stuffed chicken was different and yummy. It was stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, spinach, Mac nuts and topped with mushroom gravy. I rarely come on a Tuesdays, but they give Senior discount! Weekends have brunch specials and even Japanese breakfast! Lately we have been having their Friday Hawaiian plate special! It's really good. All housemade except the poi and lomi salmon. I'm not a Hawaiian food lover, but I do love their Hawaiian plate! Their Lau Lau wasn't dry. It's tasty and they use beef short ribs in their Lau Lau. The Haupia was so creamy and delicious. It also comes with pickled onions, chicken long rice, Kalua pig, lomi salmon, poi or rice. It's even better to add the beef stew for few more dollars. It's one of the better beef stew! It tasted like the stew mom used to make. It's not too tomato based stew. Meat was tender. I really like their affordable desserts too! They have those dessert squares with cookie crust! Homemade pies! Not many places make them anymore! If you come on a Saturdays, they have Dinosaur bone (ham shank with cabbage) special! That's one I would get if I dine in on Saturdays! I did tried their prime rib and sizzling steak platter! They have more variety than Zippy's and I'm sure you can find something to eat. Of course some dishes are okay but they are some dishes I come here for. Nice casual place! Not many Family type restaurants around and you receive great service from waiters and waitresses! They are all nice and personable! Tanaka Saimin have more than Saimin!

Pork Cutlet was Terrible
GLENN F.

I was here last in 2012, 14 years ago. I ordered a plate lunch which I didn't like. Of course a friend said it's called Tanaka Saimin. Anyways, I went last week and totally enjoyed my Tanaka Saimin! The broth was delicious and had the taste of my childhood, deep in Unami! For reals. Wow my new go to place for Saimin. To hurry things up since there was a line, I asked to be seated at the counter. We were sat immediately. Anyways I'd like to also try the plate lunches again, and a couple next to use ordered breakfast and it looked good!

Gabrielle V.

We ordered takeout - Tanaka Plate with crispy shoyu chicken, Teri beef and double fried saimin for the sides. Extra side of friend shrimp and potato salad. We found a rubber band in the fried noodles while we were eating. ‍

Hamburger Steak
Kawika V.

Walked into Tanaka Saimin on a whim on a busy Friday night and was immediately impressed. Even though they were packed, we were offered counter seating right away as soon as we stepped inside. The service is what truly stands out. Management and every single server were incredibly attentive. The vibe felt homey and comforting -- almost like eating at a family gathering. Servers were calling regulars by name and chatting about personal updates at different tables, and it felt genuine, not forced. You can tell they've built real relationships with their customers. Food came out extremely fast, hot, and delicious with generous portions. Alina, our server, was especially kind and sweet, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in consistently. We'll definitely be back -- especially to try the dessert they kept encouraging us not to miss.

Welcome display
Andrew B.

Basic ramen and meat restaurant. Good for a simple lunch if you want over-sauced meats or bland noodles and vegetables. They definitely have a busy lunch service that seemed to attract mostly local seniors. Perfect for that kind of pallet. A bit loud but no more than any busy diner. Waitress was friendly and accomodating to our 5 credit card bill. Kept my coffee and water full. What else could I need?

King cut prime rib fat and all
Bob S.

This is a local favorite. Friday's start the PRIME RIB special and they run out before the night is through often. I got there at 7pm and they had some left. I got the king cut. It was smaller than visits prior and a big cut of fat was left on the king cut that couldn't be eaten but fat is part of the deal when eating prime rib. The flavor was still delicious. My wife selected the miso butterfish and was very happy she did. Service is always with a smile and Crystal is a peach. She's always smiling and makes you feel welcomed. My wife and I appreciate the ambiance as it's a reminder of days gone by. It's not outdated, it's diner style or like FLAMINGO's which is timeless in a way.

Miso Butterfish
Sara B.

We love coming here. They are open until 10pm and the prices are reasonable with lots of choices, not just saimin. Although on a rainy day, their saimin really hits the spot! The servers are always fun and friendly. The ambiance is more of a local diner with great local food options. My favorite is the miso butterfish. They also serve a short ribs loco moco with regular or fried rice. Their desserts are Ono with one of our favorites being the lilikoi dessert. We will be back since this is one of our family's late dinner places to eat.

Oxtail stew with 2 sides- mash potato and their awesome fried noodles

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The food was good, our server was very nice and she did her best. The ambiance was great.

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The food was really good, very happy with my find and definitely going back next time

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Good food at good prices. Local nostalgia. Reminds me of childhood memories. Better than Zippy's at almost the same price point.

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Tanaka Saimin Reviews in Other Languages

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I went with my bowling buddies to Kikuya. It's one of the few Japanese restaurants in Kalihi. It's…read morelocated right behind Diners Upscale Hawaii. Lots of parking but there's also a lot of good food places to eat here. We got there about 1 and it was half full. I got the lunch box which comes with 2 choices and a piece of shrimp tempura, tossed salad and rice. I opted for their butterfish which is really good and ahi katsu. There are several choices to choose from. I should have taken a picture of the menu. Oh well. Next time. The lunch box also includes edamame, cabbage and pickled cabbage. Miso soup which is really good. You might say the portion size isn't huge but for me, it was good. For the price and the quality of food it's well worth it. I normally forget to ask what our server's name was but she was so nice that I did this time around. Her name is Cris. She's very nice and always smiling. She kept our water glasses filled as well as our hot Japanese tea. Really nice person. As for the ambiance it's like any other restaurant where everyone is talking story and us just having a good time. If you're in the mood for Japanese food or sushi/ sashimi this is a nice place to go to. My friend Karl had their chirashi bowl and it looks really good. I will get that the next time I'm there.

My last review of Kikuya was 3 years ago. I've been coming here now for years. This restaurant has…read morealways stayed consistent with its food. Yes, prices have gone up like every other place, but the food quality and consistency has never wavered. It's still the same good food. The waitresses here are also friendly and kind. Too many restaurants opens and start off with a bang, but slowly regresses and lowers its quality and service. They can learn from Kikuya who hasn't changed! Kudos to Kikuya! A must try for sure!

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Teishoku - 2 choice combo with spicy ahi and miso salmon

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4.2(698 reviews)
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Good food here and friendly service provided here. It's a smaller place but even on a Sunday night…read moreit can be busy. I've had a few things off the sushi menu and the Tempura Vegetable Udon and am satisfied with the quality and serving size. Plenty of parking but the shopping center can be busy depending on the time of day, luckily there's lots of parking and a 2-story parking structure. The traffic movement requires drivers to respect the arrows and it takes some learning, but this is one of many good places to get food as well as grocery shopping and other things done!

We were lucky to get seating for 8 of us on a Saturday a little after lunch. We just got done with…read morea community event and were famished. I ordered the veggie croquette and the veggie tempura set. The veggie croquette was good but could have used more veggies in it. The outside could have been more light and crispy. The vegetable tempura had a good mix of veggies, but I had hoped for some shave radish for my dipping sauce. The keiki meal was such a deal for ramen, edamame, and the teriyaki chicken with rice. Such a good amount of food for both my kids which they couldn't finish. Service was good and quick. The waitress was attentive to refills of drinks. I got a Diet Coke and was so glad they have Coke products and the fountain drinks there. Parking was packed at lunch time but was opening up as we were looking for parking. The stalls and ways of the parking lot can be confusing if you don't go there often.

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Yohei Sushi Restaurant

Yohei Sushi Restaurant

4.2(515 reviews)
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Yohei Sushi Restaurant opened in 1990 in Kalihi by founder/sushi chef Kazuto Obara and his wife who…read morehad immigrated to Hawaii from Hiroshima in the 1970's. It was his dream to open his own authentic Japanese restaurant using his special omakase experience from Japan and one of the first authentic sushi restaurants in Honolulu. It was a concept of "bringing Japan's finest to Hawaii" with a desire to "build a bridge between the two cultures of Japan and Hawaii." In 2018, operations were taken over by Testsuya Matsuda. A 2nd location was opened in Kahala in Jan 2024 by Hiroshima Mazda, whose specialty is traditional Japanese sushi (or omakase). Yohei Sushi 's menu offerings include: * Teishoku (or set meal). Comes with miso soup, rice, Japanese pickles, cold soba noodles, seasonal side dish. Main entrees are sashimi, tempura, maguro, misoyaki butterfish, ahi steak, saba. Salmon, ahi belly, katsu, and more. * Sushi Bar. With miso soup. Menu offerings are deluxe & standard assorted sushi, maguro don, Chirashi sushi. * Noodles. Choice of udon or soba with various combinations, e.g., nabeyaki, tempura, tororo, tanuki, zaru, kitsune, tori, tukimi, kake, and ojiya udon. Also, combo meals of tendon/noodle, sushi/noodle; and donburi of unaju, oyako don and ten-ju. * Side order & ala carte. Includes sashimi, chawanmushi, ika, shinkomori, murokyu, soft shell crab, miuzuku, Hiyahakko, edamame, tempura. Ahi belly katsu, misoyaki butterfish, saba, seafood tempura, maguro temprta, ahi steak, salmon. We've had the following: * Tendon and Noodle. Deep fried tempura of shrimp and assorted veggies in a rice bowl with sauce & hot udon. Very filling and tasty! * Tempura Teishoku. This teishoku had 3 large pieces of fried tempura shrimp and assorted veggies, e.g., carrot, eggplant, green beans, pumpkin, that were light and non-oily. Our teishoku meals came with pickled veggies, cold soba, rice, and miso soup with lots of wakame and radish sprouts. Very flavorful! They also offered a complimentary birthday scoop of ice cream with a dollop of an as a topping, which was refreshing and paired well! * Maguro Tempura Teishoku. Hubby's choice of fried tempura tuna set, and he noted that there were 8 large tender pieces of maguro that was lightly fried and non-oily. Very delicious and filling! * Unagi nigiri. The unagi was so flaky, tender, and light and had the right amount of sauce. Loved it! The presentation of the meals was beautifully plated with real, authentic Japanese small dish bowls and plates. The food was of good quality and very flavorful! Customer service was excellent! Diners are greeted by staff upon entering and thanked when leaving. The old-time servers were very patient, attentive, welcoming, and gracious! Our food orders came out in a timely manner, and the servers, with smiles, frequently asked if everything was okay and if we needed anything else. Hours of operation are: lunch daily from 11a to 2p, dinner from 5p to 9p, closed Wed. Happy hour is from Thurs to Tues from 1:30p to 5p. Located in Kokea Center that looks like a run-down strip mall at Dillingham Blvd and Kokea St, the restaurant interior has a great ambiance as if you were dining in Japan, as it is comfortable and welcoming. It was amazing to see almost every table was taken by dining customers. Reservations are a must, as people are turned away. Good thing I called for lunch reservations at 12:15p on a weekday, which was tha last table available. And the restaurant was packed the entire time that we were there! Free parking in the private lot shared by other businesses, as well as metered street parking. Yohei Sushi has been successful over the past years in its presentation, flavors, taste, and customer service, and we hope to return to try different menu offerings!

TL;DR A terrific…read moreJapanese restaurant with high-quality set courses. ----- Yohei is a quintessential Japanese restaurant in the heart of Honolulu. The food is delicious, the presentation is on point, and the service is attentive and friendly. There are many great Japanese spots in Honolulu, and Yohei is certainly one of them. During my most recent visit, I ordered the Shrimp and Maguro Tempura Teishoku. I've never had tuna tempura before, so I decided to try it. The teishoku comes with several small side dishes, the tempura, doba, rice, and miso soup. It's a solid amount of food. Everything was oishikatta, and I left the restaurant feeling full. The tempura was airy, crunchy, and cooked to perfection. The soba noodles were chewy and springy, and the side dishes nicely complimented the main courses. I enjoyed it all! There are so many Japanese options in Honolulu, but I will certainly be back to Yohei at some point.

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Natsunoya Tea House - Sashimi Omakase

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4.3(363 reviews)
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Great food and service. Nice location on top of the…read moremountain. Friendly staff and old time atmosphere. The parking was convenient. Looking forward to going again.

Used to be my favorite place for sushi. Felt so at home here and we went all the time. Loved the…read moreBYOB aspect and the sushi chef Sho always served the best fish. They tried to make improvements by renovating the counter which was okay but honestly I liked the other classic look where we could see what kind of fish was available. They also stopped the BYOB because they started to sell alcohol. Actually you can still BYOB but the corkage fee is ridiculously high so not worth paying it. Despite these changes I was still willing to make this our go to place for sushi. My low rating is because they ruined the place by making it MANDATORY to order the omakase. I don't want to be forced to get the omakase when I know what I like to eat and that's what I want to order. I've been going here for so many years and I am truly disappointed that loyal patronage means nothing to this family owned business. Sho is still awesome and I'm sorry that he has to be subjected to these changes too. He seemed so much happier before they made these so called "improvements ". If they change their policy back to allow people to order Ala carte without mandating the omakase I would return. Not sure if that will ever happen. If customer loyalty means anything to them, perhaps they will. We shall see....

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Izakaya Mitch's - Uzaku (unagi, cucumber, vinegar)

Izakaya Mitch's

4.8(44 reviews)
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If there's one thing about me, it's that I love an izakaya. Open late and small plates so you can…read moretry a few different things, my favorite! I've been to Mitch's a few times and when I saw that they opened up an Izakaya next door, I knew I had to try it and made a reservation on Yelp. Izakaya Mitch's specializes more in cooked dishes while the other side is more about the fresh / raw fish. But that didn't stop us from ordering the assorted sashimi. All the fish were from Japan and yes you can taste the difference. The fatty tuna was obviously my favorite but even the regular tuna and the hamachi was so buttery, it just melts in your mouth. Plus, it comes with real wasabi. Not horseradish, real wasabi. For the cooked dishes we got the hokkaido crab tempura with a side of matcha salt. One of the best tempuras I've ever had. The kamameshi, a rice dish with their fish of the day. We got the half order and it's kinda like a bibimbap where they mix the rice for you at your table. I saw that people were raving about this on Yelp and put in our order right when we got in because it takes 25-ish minutes to prepare. On special, they had a karei karaage. Karei is a flat fish and I've never had a fish karaage before, it was perfectly fried and dipped in the ponzu sauce it was so good. Ambiance is a no-frills kinda spot but very clean and feels homey and the service is amazing! Attentive and super personable.

So happy there is an izakaya that we don't have to drive to downtown or Waikiki. Izakaya Mitch's is…read moreclose to the airport in the industrial area. I made reservations, so we were seated right away. Luckily, it wasnʻt crowded when we sat, so our waitress was able to answer all our questions about different dishes we were interested in ordering. Our party of 3 got to try different things from the specials and regular menu. The tai karaage was so tender and seasoned really well, the kamameshi is such a comfort dish, and the burrata with chilled tomato was really refreshing. One thing we all liked was that even though there were a lot of people in the restaurant (most came in after we ordered), we still were able to speak to one another without talking loud. The staff mentioned that they will be getting a sushi chef, so I guess we need to try this place again,

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1.1 miKalihi
$$

I've often wondered about this old skool Japanese restaurant called "Yagura Restaurant"…read more Old skool diners are da BESTEST!!! After seeing my Yelp buddy - Tami C. check into this restaurant numerous times, I figah I go chance 'em!!!! I'm so happy to have tried this old skool Japanese restaurant, as I adore the old skool nostalgia! Walking into this restaurant makes me feel like I was a little kid in the 1970's. My friend & I were greeted right away upon entering the restaurant, and directed to sit into a vinyl seated booth/table. Yagura's menu is simple, offering an array of Teishoku meals. I ended up getting the BBQ Chicken Teishoku meal which included a salad, miso soup, white rice, & tsukemono. My friend - Gary T. ended up getting a combination plate of BBQ Chicken & Shrimp Tempura. What can I say about da grub? Simply O.U.T.S.T.A.N.D.I.N.G!!! My BBQ Chicken came out on a hot sizzling platter, & underneath the BBQ Chicken there was grilled onions. Yum! The chicken skin was crispy, and the sauce was deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelicious! Nicely executed! My friend also enjoyed his meal & mention to me that he was also glad to try this place, as he's never been here before. Service here was on point, as the waitress was friendly & efficient. Parking here is a bit challenging, as there are only 4 parking stalls infront of the restaurant. If you're unlucky to get one of the premium parking stalls, street parking is your only other option. The decor at this restaurant is definitely old skool. If your dig old skool nostalgia like me, then ya gotta check out Yagura Restaurant!

Another one I was able to cross off my list. I've probably driven by this place hundreds of times…read morebut never tried it. I met a friend who works nearby for lunch. This place is definitely a throwback. You can feel that vibe once you walk through the doors. Quickly got seated and served water and tea (which I really appreciated). Some places don't offer it or don't even have it. The menu is quite extensive. I settled on the Teishoku with Sashimi, salmon and teri beef. They brought out the miso soup (not the kind out of a tube) and the rice before the meal arrived. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the salmon, most places that I go to it's pretty small. I could only eat half of it. The portions sizes for all the dishes were good. I actually had to take home some of the teri beef too. Kind of bummed that I hadn't been to this place 20 years ago. I guess like they say, better late than never. I will be back.

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Yagura Restaurant - Inside the restaurant.  Love the old school feel.....

Inside the restaurant. Love the old school feel.....

Yagura Restaurant - BBQ Chicken Teishoku ($23.95) comes with rice, salad, miso soup, & tsukemono.

BBQ Chicken Teishoku ($23.95) comes with rice, salad, miso soup, & tsukemono.

Yagura Restaurant - Entrance area of Yagura Restaurant.

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Entrance area of Yagura Restaurant.

Hiro No Uchi

Hiro No Uchi

4.7(40 reviews)
0.8 miDowntown

Located in the heart of downtown, this place is a hidden gem and gives off underground speakeasy…read morevibes! There is no dedicated parking garage so it's either street parking or any of the open lots nearby. First of all, let's talk about the decor. The entrance and lobby area has concrete walls covered in vintage Japanese movie posters, Japanese decor and artifacts lining the shelves, and illuminated LED blue and hot pink lights hanging from the ceiling. The abstract art and interior decor feels like an underground anime bar and gives off relaxing and chill vibes. You can definitely tell that the owner put a LOT of thought into creating the ambiance he wanted to portray. Walking further into the restaurant is the bar seating area. The menu is izakaya-style, focusing on small flavorful plates. Each dish was explained to us in depth on where the fish came from (flown in), how it was prepared, and what made it so special. Every dish was tasty and filling, though my favorite dish was the toro! It was soft, buttery, and melted in my mouth. This place is pricey ($150 per person) but definitely worth it for the food and the experience. The service is excellent - the owner and the other employees were attentive, personable, and treated us like valued guests.

Cool, funky set-up and delicious omakase…read more INTERIOR/AMBIANCE: Need to buzz in for access, which is nice and feels safer/more exclusive. Sushi counter has 8 seats and there are some additional tables. Hiro is planning to do some pretty cool things with the space-- so fun! FOOD: Amazing. The first course included saba, which Hiro prepared exceptionally well. The other components of the first dish were tasty too. For the nigiri, our favorites were the chutoro and otoro (unsurprisingly). There was also salmon nigiri with pesto which was unique, but not our favorite. We noticed that Hiro adds additional flavoring components to good quality fish/seafood.. the flavors all complemented each other well, without overpowering the fish. SERVICE: Good. Hiro was chef, waiter, dishwasher, everything (he said he does this on certain nights when it's slower). He juggled all the duties well. The courses were presented at a nice pace and our waters were filled regularly. OVERALL: Wonderful experience. We appreciated Hiro's personalization and flair. It was also fun talking story with him! Plus, BYOB! He said he plans to keep the omakase area BYOB too. We definitely plan to return.

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Hiro No Uchi - BYOB, for now. Guests choose their own ochoko cup and a tokkuri if they want one. There are also glasses for whiskey or wine.

BYOB, for now. Guests choose their own ochoko cup and a tokkuri if they want one. There are also glasses for whiskey or wine.

Hiro No Uchi - Ikura Uni Don. Dashi marinated ikura and bafun uni. A little dab of green kizami wasabi and uzura egg yolk.

Ikura Uni Don. Dashi marinated ikura and bafun uni. A little dab of green kizami wasabi and uzura egg yolk.

Hiro No Uchi - A significant part of Hiro No Uchi's shop is set w a lounge atmosphere in anticipation of their liquor license.

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A significant part of Hiro No Uchi's shop is set w a lounge atmosphere in anticipation of their liquor license.

Utage Restaurant & Lounge - Shoyu pork

Utage Restaurant & Lounge

4.3(598 reviews)
0.4 miKalihi
$$

I met an high school friend there and was excited to sit and visit. She had never been to this…read morerestaurant and enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. When we arrived it wasn't busy but the dynamics quickly changed as the lunch crowd arrived. Our choices for lunch made the experience positive. Service is quick, food is fresh and ambiance is comfortable. I've been here a number of times and enjoyed it every time. My friend said she's coming back. Thank you Utage for the great service, fresh food and ambiance of comfort wanting to return again.

It's been a while since I've been here but went recently with my sister and brother-in-law. Despite…read moreHawaii's poor economy, the place is usually busy even on a weekday. Glad we had a reservation (even though we went for an early lunch). The place hasn't changed, the decor is the same What was nice was that there were a lot of wait help so service, even when it was busy,was attentive. Food was plentiful. Previously I had ordered the teishoku tempura but next time I'll order the tempura and side of rice. My sister did this and she had such a large serving of various tempura. I think there was four shrimp tempura (the teishoku didn't have as much. Most of the time I've been here the parking was available. But because there are so many other restaurants and stores the parking lot was usually pretty full but perhaps because we were lucky or early there were many spaces. I keep telling myself I need to order bitter melon. But I never do. Maybe next time

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Utage Restaurant & Lounge - Dinner@Utage Restaurant; 10/11/2024.We're the last one's 2 leave the Restaurant last evening! LOL.Inside of this Utage Restaurant.

Dinner@Utage Restaurant; 10/11/2024.We're the last one's 2 leave the Restaurant last evening! LOL.Inside of this Utage Restaurant.

Utage Restaurant & Lounge - Egg drop soup

Egg drop soup

Utage Restaurant & Lounge - Goya (Bittermelon) with Tofu & Eggs ($22.95) - good tho a bit salty

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Goya (Bittermelon) with Tofu & Eggs ($22.95) - good tho a bit salty

Tanaka Saimin - japanese - Updated May 2026

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