From start to finish, Tempura Ichika offers incredible service, experience, and food. The batter was thin and light. The tempura did not taste greasy or oily. My toddler loved the tempura, specifically the fish and sweet potato options. It was a little expensive to order à la carte for her, but we really enjoyed the experience. Can't wait to try their sushi bar! read more

Tempura Ichika - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Tried the omakase at Tempura Ichika recently with friends and left with mixed feelings. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Clean, bright, and modern. The place definitely has an upscale feel to it. One thing I noticed right away was how many Japanese visitors were dining there compared to locals. Honestly, at times it felt more like Waikiki than Ala Moana... Lol. The tempura was prepared well and the ingredients tasted fresh, but for $160 plus tax and automatic gratuity, I was expecting something a little more memorable. The food was good, just not quite at the level I expected considering all the hype and pricing. I will say the service was excellent. Justin took great care of our group and definitely helped make the experience more enjoyable. Overall, I enjoyed the meal, but I'm still undecided if the experience fully justified the overall price. read more

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4th Star for the commaradarie with my dinner partners and the location of this establishment. My Yelp handle and phrase is "I'll try anything once". And once it is. Located at the corner of Piikoi and Queen Street is Tempura Ichika. The space used to be the home of Mixx and long time ago Cheers and Donna's, all three were known as the local bar to hang out at. Today after a bunch of money is a white, bright, clean establishment known as Tempura Ichika. The real issue for me is did I get what I paid for? OK, let's start there. The Omakase prices out at $160 + tax and an automatic 18% gratuity. Therein lies my first issue. Since when did gratuity become mandatory, let alone a mandatory value of 18%? Second, If you're serving Tempura and you pride yourself to be "GREAT" then, make sure your alcohol list fits the role. Nuff said on this Third, Reservations guaranteed with your credit card (SOP at most high ticket places this day and age) Yet, when I got there, they are still shuffling the seats around to accommodate their dinner load (which is not a large load to begin with, I don't get it! In my case, I had 3 seats before they finally assigned me to a seat. About the chef, Other Yelpers have commented on the quality of the food especially since they are "Michelin" star folks.... I have to agree with all their comments and if I were Tempura Ichika, I'd correct some of the marketing statements. Last, the food was good. Not exceptional, but acceptable. Was it worth the $160+ tax and gratuity? Jury is still out! Would I revisit? Ummm??? No photos yet. I'm trying to clean up my pictures for an accurate post. Oh! QR code for the parking! Don't forget. read more

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We enjoyed tempura omakase in Japan and were extremely excited to find this restaurant in Hawaii and were not disappointed. From the moment we stepped into the space we felt an ambiance of Japan! Everything was perfectly set. The hostess was very accommodating and hospitable. Our servers were enthusiastic and very professional in how they explained every dish. Service can only be described as absolutely perfect! The dishes were like works of art. The tempura was very light and delicious. Every single dish was delectable and cooked to perfection. And there were a lot of dishes - we were stuffed. We cannot wait to return! read more

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Three stars? Wow, where is Randy going with this review? First .... On their restaurant website, ichikahawaii.com, they are bragging ... "Michelin-star chef adds sizzle to Honolulu's refined dining scene ...". " -Honolulu's only full-time resident Michelin chef ...". If you're going to name drop Michelin then the food better live up to the expectation. Chef Kiyoshi Chikano did not initially earn the Michelin Star for Tempura Matsui in NYC but he certainly helped maintain that Michelin Star status. But .... Michelin never has covered Honolulu. There are no restaurants or chefs in Honolulu with a hint of current Michelin accolade in it's annual publications. So, "full-time resident Michelin chef ..." on their website is BS to me. And, btw, another full-time chef resident, Chef Ki Chung, at Bar Maze Honolulu, was the Chef de Cuisine who actually led Aubergine, in Carmel, to its initial Michelin Star. So why a three star review? The food and service did not live up to expectations. Service. We had a very good bottle of champagne. When poured, one glass displayed a proper ring of lively fine micro bubbles that lasted a long time. A second glass had large flaccid bubbles that reluctantly rose to the top - a sign of a glass that was not properly wiped clean after washing. The second freshly poured glass of champagne looked DOA. The server(s) and manager never noticed until it was pointed out. We were subsequently given new glasses with each new pour, but again, some glasses were not properly cleaned. Food. The hallmark of a tempura chef is the ability to balance the temperature and mix of oil so each item is sealed in the batter and gets to steam to perfection. The batter must be mixed to the degree that it consistently and evenly coats the entire surface of a piece. The presentation must be consistent from start to finish. It is alright for delicate pieces or cut vegetables with a lot of moisture to show a darker brown on the edges. But an uneven color is telling. Several of the tempura I was served had a shades darker brown color and some specks of dark batter indicating any of - the temperature wasn't consistent, pieces were overcrowded, the batter was over-mixed, the pieces were cooked too long, the oil was breaking down. The first vegetable, renkon, was overcooked. The color was at the edge of dark brown, not pale light. The pieces were not crisp. The final tempura piece, anago, was clearly several shades of dark brown with actual burnt edges. Not only was it a clear sign of the probable problem causes mentioned previously, but it was a direct reflection of the chef's pride in his work. My experience is not out of the ordinary. I looked at the food photos of every Yelp friend I have who has posted a review of Tempura Ichika. I saw the same problems in their photos. If you've never had a tempura omakase before you may not care or notice. And there is no other place in Honolulu to make a comparison. Go if you want to try tempura omakase and start to understand what you should experience in Japan. But skip any upsells or post-meal add-ons here. And stick to the cheap liquor if you need a buzz. read more

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Fascinating! I went here with a group of friends to enjoy a nice omakase tempura dining experience. They serve about 18 courses of tempura. The service was outstanding. Great choice of sake. Go here to get pampered. read more

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We came here to celebrate a special occasion and were so excited to try this place! We made last minute reservations and the restaurant was able to accommodate us. I believe we had to pay ahead but don't quote me on that because I didn't book the reservation. When we arrived the place itself was so well lit with hidden ambient lighting. The place was decorated beautifully with soft neutral wood and it felt like you were brought to Japan. The staff was so welcoming and even congratulated us on our celebration! We were able to chat with the couple next to us who let us know they were so happy when the chef opened up this location after working in New York, so it solidified the fact this place was special. We were given course after course and the pace of the dinner went along very well. It was probably the fastest 2 hours however you never felt like you were waiting too long for your next bite. Some of the pieces were pipping hot so don't make the mistake of eating it right away and let it sit a little to cool down. The staff surprised us with a slice of matcha cake to celebrate our special day and we could not have imagined a better meal. Some of my favorite pieces were: - Shrimp - Snow crab - Scallops - Uni Shiso - Madai - Eel Looking forward to enjoying more tempura omakases on the east coast! Thank you Chef and staff! read more

Excellent service. Good food. Now they have total focus to Tempura, no Sashimi, it will start from Tempura. I love it. The only thing that I prefer is to add more vegetable between the fishes. read more

I think i counted 20 dishes for the tempura omakase. Yes 20 very amazing, light, yummy dishes. Not all were fried, some were clean refreshing in-between tempura dishes. Service was exceptional and staff were themost welcoming and attentive as could be. A wonderful dining experience. read more

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I glad that all theses Japanese chefs are coming to Hawaii to open a restaurant. This is the Best tempura I've had so far. Every dish was incredible. Only sad thing that happened was they ran out of sushi. LOL But the sushi we did get was delicious. Well worth trying. this chef came from a Michelin star restaurant. read more

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A multiple course meal. Sake was served throughout the night. The restaurant is small with limited seating, must make reservations. Everything served was delicious and fulfilling. The night ended with tea and dessert. The service was impeccable. The bathroom was clean with heated seats. read more

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One of our favorite places for celebration dinners! Yoko and staff delivers an excellent dining experience! You'll not only be treated to a unique dining experience, excellent service and fresh hot dishes that delight all your senses. Everything comes out fresh! What an amazing tempura omakase meal from Michelin Chef Kiyoshi Chikano. We will be back!!! Thank you!!! read more

Tempura Ichika - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Exquisite! Truly a delightful omakase experience, worthy of your time and attention. What better way to celebrate or simply enjoy a lovely evening. While this establishment is no longer BYOB, they offer a marvelous selection of beverages. You are allowed to bring in something that they don't sell, for a small corkage fee. As anticipated, all the seafood dishes were succulent and well prepared. We really appreciated the fresh slices and careful presentation. Chef has a superb attention to detail and each of our servers did a remarkable job with information and serving. This establishment takes great pride in using the finest ingredients and fresh oil for each tempura. My friend noted how light and crisp each tempura dish was. He especially liked the Hokkaido crab dish, as did I. We appreciated the delicate seasoning, whether it was sea salt, konbu salt, or my favorite, the curry salt. That paired especially well with the cauliflower tempura. Excellent food and extremely polite customer service. Clean dining area with crisp lighting and decor. We will most certainly return! read more

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My boyfriend made a reservation for two. We arrived on a weekday night for 7:30pm dinner. It was a 2.5 hour course meal. We were fortunate enough to come during their one year anniversary. The Asahi beer was $3 each, which was amazing. I have a crustacean allergy and they were able to accommodate my allergy issue. Overall this was a nice experience, but my boyfriend and I realized that tempura omakase is not for us. We didn't feel too strongly about the tempura pieces they gave us except the uni piece and the vegetable tempura which you had to pay extra to get. Service was excellent, but it felt a bit long. A lot of folks ended up ordering drinks nonstop and getting lit. I was full from eating my food while drinking one beer. It's a nice and clean ambiance inside with limited seating. read more

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We had dinner at Tempura Ichika since it was such a unique experience, and it was wonderful. The staff were amazing and it was great enjoying the tempura courses one piece at a time so everything was fresh and hot. The seasonings provided to use for some of the dishes, such as the curry salt, were also delicious. The experience took just over two hours in total, and we really enjoyed it. read more

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Hands down the best meal of our last trip to HNL! First discovered Ichika from a post on IG. The pictures of the restaurant had me sold and knew we had to make reservations which wasn't too difficult. There is a small lot behind which we luckily scored a spot otherwise, you'll have to find something on Piikoi or the surrounding area. As you enter, you are warmly greeted by the hosts and shown your spot on the 12 person boomerang shaped table. Everyone seated is served the same tempura omakase course which was outstanding. We thoroughly enjoyed every course and left satisfied. Service was perfect and exactly what you'd expect while in Japan. To be honest, I think the meal was almost as good as our meal at Uchitsu in Tokyo. Will definitely be back and may try their sushi restaurant next trip out. read more

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An intimate and unique dining experience for anyone curious about tempura omakase. The food was overall quite good -- each course was thoughtfully prepared, and you could really taste the quality and technique behind the batter and ingredients. The staff were attentive and professional, making the experience feel special from start to finish. That said, it is very pricey. While I appreciated the craft and presentation, I'm not sure the value fully matched the cost. Still, it's definitely worth trying at least once, especially if you've never experienced a tempura-focused omakase before. A refined, memorable meal -- just be prepared for the splurge. read more

The space is really nice. It's small and intimate so you can make friends with your neighbor. We're all there sharing in the same experience and what an experience it was. Before I go further, I must say the wine list and alcohol is priced extremely fairly, with barely any mark up which is really awesome. So you can feel good about buying a bottle of wine or sake to enjoy with your meal and know you weren't price gouged. All the dishes were exceptional. It's hard to make everything eye catching so the pictures really don't do it justice. The servers were sweet and accommodating and really explained everything quite well. The matcha ice cream was a nice finish, but we didn't quite understand why some people got matcha cake as well. It sounded like they were there to celebrate something so next time we know to say you're celebrating something so you get a slice of cake in addition to your ice cream. While it's under stable the price can be a deterrent for some it's an experience worth having. read more

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We were looking for a good sit down for my birthday dinner and found 2 openings for 7:30seating. The omakase course was pretty straight forward in terms of quality to match the environment, service and price. Additional items/special offerings could be ordered at additional price. Their tempura are all lightly flowered/battered. Served with radish/dipping sauce, sea salt, matcha salt and curry flavor salts Overall a good experience, everything was prepped with care and attention, service was very attentive. Unfortunately, for me, I guess I was looking for flavors that would pop and excite my pallet. The only thing I found here was their fried sliced potato. Everything was as expected at a Restruant at this caliber. read more

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We enjoyed this one and only (as far as we know) Tempura Omakase restaurant in Oahu. The restaurant is very clean and beautiful: the chef is very polite to greet us at the door when we come in and go. We started with sashimi and beautiful chawan mushi. Then we enjoyed nine tempuras (with which: the shrimp is separated to head and a beautiful body that stands=count as two here) For Uni, you have a choice of cooking with ohba, nori and one more. Their ohba is so fresh and flavorful so I recommend it with ohba. My favorite tempuras were snow crab wrapped with nori and Kisu (Japanese whiting). We finished up the course with tendon (tempura on rice) and ice cream. Though it is pity that we can't directly see how the chef is cooking, we are sure that you can enjoy his skillful dishes! Gochiso sama deshita. read more

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very unique place! omakase tempura, made fresh to order and served one at a time parking this place is always tough when it comes to parking, especially at night on the weekends a few metered stalls and valet parking on the weekends in the small lot really need to be lucky service wait staff was super courteous and polite and constantly cleaning after the chefs prepare each dish the waitresses bring the pieces out and serve it to everyone one at a time and explain the dish, like regular sushi omakase food tempura was very light and crunchy. dishes were simple and small. you dont know what youre getting until it shows up since they dont have an actual menu definitely someplace to try! read more

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We had a great experience here. First, when you walk in, its decor is amazing. Like a portal to Japan. Simple and clean. Service was attentive. Food was fantastic. No pictures; we were too engaged with the experience! Every course was timed well...presentation was nice. Will be back read more

TL;DR Stellar omakase experience. An absolute must-try for tempura lovers. ----- My wife and I had such a wonderful meal at Ichika. There is valet parking available, but I recommend parking at Ala Moana and walking across the street. We ordered a couple of Asahi draft beers and also a small bottle of sake to enjoy with our meal. The first course of the night was a sashimi dish, followed by a chawanmushi, and then onto the main event: 10 amazing tempura courses. I won't go into detail on every dish, but all the tempura selections were phenomenal. Not only was each piece fried perfectly, but the Ichika team also paired a specific seasoning/garnish/sauce mixture with each course to accompany the tempura. The flavors and textures were spectacular. The highlight of the night for me was the hotate tempura topped w/ uni and wasabi. Unreal. The omakase concluded with a donburi and miso soup, and then the last course was a wonderful matcha ice cream dessert! I loved not only the food at Ichika but also the attentive service, the calming atmosphere, and the clear dedication to delivering a high quality omakase experience. I will certainly be back! read more

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Authentic Japanese tempura in elegant surroundings capped with first rate service. All of the seafood was from Japan, fresh, and expertly prepared and paired with chef made salts. We thoroughly enjoyed the tempura omakase and highly recommend Tempura Ichiki. Each tempura dish is served hot immediately after frying and the taste is light and crispy. You don't leave here with your hair and clothes smelling of fried oil. Truly delicious with outstanding service! Located on the corner of Piikoi and Waimanu with a small parking lot with entrance from Waimanu street. read more

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I did the tempura omakase, man oh man. Chef Chikano is a chef on his own league. I can't remember exactly how many courses 14-16... They were one perfect to next, flavor, temperature and texture. Service is probably by far the best in Honolulu. Staff are informative, knowledgeable and on point. Overall, couple hundred dollars later...it was so worth it. And! The restaurant restroom deserves a review by itself. It's clean, and high tech. read more

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Tempura Ichika is an an Edomae tempura experience led by a Michelin-starred chef who honed his skills in NYC. For $160 plus an 18% service charge, you get a 17-course omakase meal with tempura and fresh seafood dishes. Each course is a work of art, with the chef skillfully preparing tempura dishes that highlight fine Japanese ingredients. Service at Tempura Ichika is top-notch. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. I was drinking iced tea throughout the meal that got refilled multiple times. You can bring your own bottle of sake or wine, as the restaurant is BYOB while they are working on getting their liquor license. The ambiance at Tempura Ichika is really what makes it a 5-star spot for me. I couldn't help but be in awe of all the details from their bowls, decor, and bathroom. I was definitely getting home decor inspiration while eating here! Parking can be a bit tricky during busy times. There is a a small private lot, but I parked on the street. It's about a 2 hour experience, and there is 2 hour max street parking available. read more

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If you're a fan of Omakase, then trying this tempura version is a must. Personally, I do not like seafood in general, but was pleasantly surprised with this offering. Setting was quaint, warm, and inviting. Service is the best I have ever experienced from any restaurant I've ever had (and I've been to MANY), so kudos to the manager and especially to all of her staff! Food was unique, like I said I'm not the biggest fan of seafood in general, so some of the stuff like shrimp head/baby fish was kind of outside of my preferences/comfort-zone. My only gripe was that the last two dishes (unagi and shoruri?) were just a tad overcooked, but still good nonetheless. Overall, I'd give them a 9.4/10. Give them a shot! read more

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$160 + 18% service, omakase only, edomae tempura experience from a NYC experienced Michelin starred chef. Should you go? 1. The restaurant's grand opening was the start of May 2024. There are growing pains. - Very limited reservations available. (Even if online reservations indicate two seatings (17:30 / 19:30), only half the restaurant is full at any time). - Cooking for just three parties (seven diners), timing is off. It takes 30 seconds to eat a piece of tempura, wait 60 more, fry the next piece. Instead the chef waited minutes between each piece resulting in a 2.5hr meal instead of the 1.5 allotted for two seatings a night. 2. BYOB and you better. Sake or wine is absolutely necessary in a tempura centric meal. They will provide all the glassware. 3. Someone who is not a seasoned restaurant operator made decisions for the restaurant. - Tea cups are unfinished trapping dish soap in it and making the hojicha taste like chemicals. - The chef is set back from the diners. You can't really watch him cook which is the purpose of going to a tempura counter. It creates a cold, standoffish feel. - Muzak? High end Japanese restaurants do not play music to focus the diner's attention on the food and chef. Now, the food. Good not great. Lacks seasonality and locally sourced ingredients. Sashimi unevenly cut (one piece a slice, the other a cube of poke), fish scale in the chazuke and a piece of cartilage in the snow crab. Use of MSG. Over cooked Okinawa sweet potato tempura. Overcooked shrimp because of all the time fussing over having it stand properly before being presented to the diner. That said, the fry on the enoki mushrooms, stellar. Ethereally crisp on the outside, retaining texture and moisture on the inside. Equally good, the kakiage. Hiragai, a pen shell the length of your forearm, is cut and sat on a bed of sweet onions before being fried. The sweet crisp onions adds to the sweet, springy pieces of hiragai. Perfect cook despite two different ingredients. Smart use of intermezzo throughout to make up for the lack of alcohol (which would do a better job at keeping the oil from overpowering the meal). Finally, a highlight of the meal, the chazuke. The very gentle dashi broth that gently cooked the sesame marinated snapper a perfect end. Do add the wasabi for the perfect flavor. Service is a work in progress. Japanese. Attentive. Not polished yet. Parking in lot behind the building. Online reservations only. They do not answer their phone. Reservations required. BYOB. So, would I go again? Maybe after the restaurant has time to work out the kinks and obtain their much needed liquor license. A three star experience ATM, but four stars for its potential. read more

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We had dinner yesterday. The food was so delicious and service was excellent. We will be back.

I had seen videos about Tempura Ichika on social media and was drawn to the idea of tempura omakase. I immediately went on their website and was able to snag a 5:30pm reservation for 2 people 30 days out. Upon arriving, there were only 2 other guests inside. We were greeted immediately and shown to our seats where there was a handy little nook below the table for our bags. For the duration of our stay, there were only 8 other guests in the restaurant, which created a nice intimate atmosphere. It felt like we were transported to Japan for 2+ hours! Service was super attentive - our tea cups were never empty for longer than a minute, and each course was meticulously arranged and served one at a time with an explanation of what everything was and what additional seasoning the chef recommended we pair it with. At first, I was apprehensive about the price tag, but I can confidently say that it was worth the money. Not only was the food absolutely delicious, but the entire experience was highly enjoyable! read more

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Amazing food and amazing service! I didn't know that tempura could be so light and wonderful! Not every item is tempura, so enjoy the meal set. I heard about this restaurant from several people, and so glad that we went. Cannot wait to return. read more

What a great place to enjoy birthday celebration; thanks to my loved one, you know whom I am talking about I have tried many omakase in the past, but never one with tempura as the main theme. Really impressed with its fabulous presentation and unparalleled services. No doubt, it is once in a lifetime experience that I will not soon forget. Oh, not sure how the chef did it, but like my fellow Yelpers commented: tempura aren't grease, which normally they are known to be. That alone is remarkable. Allow me to convey my most sincere thanks to all the staff, particularly the chef and the manager, for making my "special occasion" dining one highly rewarding experience. Hope to see you all again in the future. read more

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Now is the time to eat authentic tempura in Honolulu, made with fresh ingredients flown in from all over Japan. Exquisite tempura, delicately prepared with sophisticated service and professional skill. Manager Yoko says that there are only three restaurants, including one in Beverly Hills, that offer omakase tempura. It's a rare find in paradise Hawaii, where there's nothing to do at night. read more

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Everything I wished for in an Omakase experience. Chef Ken was outgoing, shared his passion and knowledge of what he prepared. Over the top. read more

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This time we are having sushi omakase, so yummy my friends are from Japan and they both really enjoyed a lot! Service is great staffs is very nice as you can see big smile on Chef Ken's face tea and drinks are refilled all the time. If you like good food and good service with nice environment, here is your choice read more

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Dined here a few weeks ago. First time at a tempura omakase place. Overall it was a good experience. Definitely a must try at least once. The price point for the tempura is reasonable to me so we might return if we want to experience something other than sushi omakase. Only caveat to me is the tempura courses are not as filling as sushi omakase cause sushi got the rice with most of the courses. But we thought the tempura was very good. Not very oily and each tempura was tasty with the chef's recommended sauce. Ingredients are from Japan, including the cooking oil (if I remember correctly). My favorite was the fish with the yuzu onions. Fantastic taste combination. The chawanmushi at the beginning was also delicious. The service we had was also very friendly and attentive. The presentation and explanation of each dish were appreciated. It's a smallish space, but the tempura side has enough room and, when we were there, they spaced the parties out so that there was at least 1 empty chair between the parties. It was a very comfortable, upscale dining experience. We ordered a bottle of sake to go with the tempura omakase that was recommended by our waitress. And to my pleasant surprise she didn't recommend the most expensive bottles on the drink menu! We got to choose our own sake glasses too, which is a nice touch. Side note, the private parking lot in the back of the restaurant is valet only. I remember it being $3 plus tip. Overall a good experience. Wouldn't mind returning. read more

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Such a fantastic dining experience. It was Michelin quality food and service. So much attention to detail and exceptional service! Definitely must try. Each serving of food is an exquisite bite!!! read more

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I tried the sushi omakase. It was alright but not really worth the price. There are better value omakase options in Oahu. On a couple of pieces of nigiri, I could taste some raw onion flavor, which was possibly due to an unclean knife??? I felt like something additional was needed to justify the cost. read more

A friend requested we try this new restaurant that provides top-quality tempura experience. I did not know what to expect. First of all, the details within the interior and staff authentically represented the quality my friend decribed we were to experience and upon entering, i felt like I was in Japan again! I have never eaten tempura like this before and left very impressed, more educated, and now have an appreciation for the art of tempura which I feel this chef created a wonderful edible art experience. Our dining experience was apx 2-2.5 hours read more

Tempura Ichika - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Food, service, experience - all amazing. This is such a top notch place. We loved every bite and the service (shout out to Alex) was amazing. All the dipping salts were fun to try and complemented each bite. Pro tip: don't miss out on the fried ice cream!! read more

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