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    Wasabi Bistro

    4.5 (316 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Wasabi Bistro Photos

    WASABI BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Wasabi Bistro

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    Reviews With Photos

    Side Salad
    Sharine d.

    Ambiance is nice, intimate setting in a motel courtyard surrounding the pool. Service was pleasant and helpful. Food was mixed... very expensive for single pieces of fish. Very pricey for special, which should have been made with real crab, not imitation crab. I also selected the butter fish, was good but slightly over cooked. All the fish I ordered was good, just much smaller quantity than average for the prices.

    Michelle D.

    I think my favorite month has to be my birthday month--such a good excuse to go out and have fun with my friends! My best friend took me to Wasabi Bistro to celebrate, and honestly, it was a bit tricky to find at first. It's tucked away inside a hotel, kind of hidden in the cut. First impression? Lots of tourists. Definitely has that out-of-town crowd vibe. As for the food... ehh. It was okay. Honestly, they should call it Lemon Bistro--they put lemon on almost every dish. Luckily, I love lemons, so I wasn't mad about it. What sets them apart from other sushi spots are their signature items. We tried the papaya seafood motoyaki, which was pretty unique. Think of it like a dynamite sushi topping, but served on a halved papaya instead. It had a nice balance of sweetness and savoriness--definitely a fun and different dish. Service was okay, food was okay--nothing mind-blowing but not bad either. The real downside is the parking. Unless you're a hotel guest, you'll have to look for street parking, which isn't always easy. There is a public lot right across the street, but be prepared--it costs an arm and a leg.

    Baked crab

    Absolute best sushi I've ever had. Service was great and every food item was phenomenal. The drinks were great too and everything came served a a great portion for the price! Debating returning before we leave!

    Front of the restaurant
    Digna B.

    Tucked away along Beachwalk Avenue near Kuhio, Wasabi Bistro is one of Waikiki's long-standing hidden gems. This cozy Japanese restaurant has been around for years -- and it's easy to see why locals and visitors alike keep coming back. The entrance is down a narrow walkway surrounded by tropical greenery, leading to a warm and intimate dining space. We started with an assortment of pickled vegetables, light and flavorful, then enjoyed the hamachi carpaccio -- buttery yellowtail with a hint of yuzu and jalapeño. The crispy gyoza were perfectly fried, the vegetable tempura was light and delicate, and the rainbow roll was fresh and beautifully presented. The highlight was the baked papaya with seafood -- creamy, savory, and full of flavor -- followed by the grilled saba, crisp on the outside and tender inside. Service was friendly and attentive, and the dishes came out at a nice, relaxed pace. Local tip: Park at Hawaii Bank -- they validate your parking at the restaurant, so it's free and convenient. (5/5) Favorites: Hamachi Carpaccio, Baked Papaya, Grilled Saba Perfect for: Date nights, small groups, or anyone craving authentic Japanese food tucked away from the Waikiki crowds.

    Tiana H.

    food - one of my favorite sushi spots on island, and one of the only places i'd go to waikiki for as a local! fresh quality sushi and other really good hot food options as well. service - quick and easy, and friendly staff! ambiance - tucked away in the back of a small hotel, i really like the more intimate setting here. this place reminds me of japan!

    Kathy A.

    Hands down the most exceptional sushi I've had in years. The chefs source the finest cuts of fish and prepare it simply without the sauces and fuss of other places. In fact, there are only a few rolls to choose from which suits us just fine. We are classic nigiri people. However the soft shell crab roll was outstanding. We went twice during our visit to Waikiki having found this gem as we walked out of the Ka Lai two doors down. Every bite we had was amazing - the crispy rice spicy tuna is different and better than I've ever tasted. The O-toro melted in our mouths and the hamachi was stunning. We also tasted the agedashi tofu and ika geso karage (fried squid) - both lightly fried to perfection. They als have a good selection of wines - the Sauvignon Blanc was really nice. We just don't have this quality at home. We loved the chefs and the service was excellent. Fair warning: it is a pricy venture but so worth

    Lady M's Crepe Cake with green tea mochi ice cream
    Debbie K.

    What a hidden gem! As a local, going to Waikiki is more of a have to than a want to. Received a last minute call from out of town friends that they were on island and staying in Waikiki asking if we wanted to join them for dinner and decided to take them up on the invite. Located in The Breakers on Beachwalk Ave. a little, unassuming hotel/motel. Walked in and felt like I was transported into a 1960's Elvis Presley movie with an open air front desk, a swimming pool with lounge chairs in the center of a 2 story walk up hotel, walking to the restaurant you pass the pool and rooms that you can see right into with sliding glass doors and wooden jalousies. Highly recommend making reservations, we got there soon after they opened at 5 pm but by the time we were leaving there was a congregation of people waiting for a table. It's a small place and I don't think there was AC, but it was a cool enough evening that it wasn't needed. The services was attentive and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Everything we tried was delicious! The spicy ahi crispy rice was so fresh, soft shell crab was so good, the grilled squid was delectable, not overly chewy and their specialty Papaya Seafood Motoyaki was to die for, never ate anything like it! For dessert had the Lady M crepe cake with green tea ice cream. They have a nice Sake selection, my husband ordered a flight so he could try different ones. A wonderful experience, definitely want to go back! Convenient parking across the street in the Bank of Hawaii building.

    Sharon P.

    Stopped here for dinner on our first night in Waikiki. What a great find! A little hole in the wall but place is charming, service was very attentive, food was excellent and sushi and sashimi was extremely fresh! We will definitely be back again! The baked seafood in half papaya was a huge hit!

    Specials - they serve Hokkaido Rice - very good quality
    Daniel C.

    We had an amazing Japanese dinner at Wasabi Bistro in Waikiki. Hawaiian is known for its seafood and sushi, yet I was still impressed by the food at Wasabi Bistro. The restaurant is located poolside at the Breakers Hotel. It definitely feels Japanese with its minimalist decor, open sushi bar, and cloth entry way. First thing to note is that they advertise Hokkaido rice in all their dishes. I'm not an expert on the differences between different grades of rice, but I did like the soft textures. Both the sushi and hot entrees were excellent. Nigiri combo had the preloaded wasabi under the fish, and included some premium items such as Hokkaido Scallop and Bluefin. Fish was fresh and melt-in-your mouth. For the hot entrees, salmon came in a huge, juicy filet that two can share. The Teriyaki Chicken was similarly huge and came with Japanese Yams and cooked veggies. Moist, juicy meat with just the right amount of sauce. Definitely safe room for dessert! Mochi ice cream with Japanese Cheesecake is a perfect way to clean the palate and end the meal on a sweet note.

    Wasabi tako special
    Ava I.

    The food here is amazing! I wasn't sure what to expect considering it being so close to a hotel, but they have great quality authentic Japanese cuisine here, and decently priced at that. Their misoyaki butterfish might just happen to be my new favorite. Staff is professional and attentive, atmosphere is good. The nigiri is very fresh. There is something for everyone when it comes to the menu

    Bo daddys menu

    I've been coming to this restaurant for years, and the food here is truly outstanding. All of the meats are excellent, and even the side dishes are perfect--there's not a single thing to complain about.highly recommended!!!!!!!!

    Sashimi set
    Angela W.

    A big pleasant welcome from the manager(?) when we checked in. Quiet ambience. We ordered a sushi platter and a sashimi platter to share. Both tasted fresh and presented elegantly- sushi to rice ratio perfect! Then we ordered a soft shell crab roll + a signature crab cakes hot dish to share. Simply prepared and without all the gluey syrupy sauce on top, like how most Korean restaurants serve them gigantic rolls! Prices are not cheap...we enjoyed our time there eating and being served by an unassuming lady who knows when to come and pick up dishes and refill your tea at the right time.

    Otoro, salmon and tamago nigiri. The fish was so fresh!
    Kimberly V.

    Definitely coming back! The cutest little spot with free validated parking!!! WHAT??? The entire staff was so friendly. Had the Wasabi #1, that secret sauce was amazing! Perfect portion to share and for $16 it's the best deal on the menu. Chikuwa tempura was really good. It's fishcake that's tempura fried. It's tender and tasty. The whole squid is something that if it's on a menu I'm ordering it. It was minced ginger and was prepared perfectly grilled. We had a few pieces of OTORO nigiri and salmon nigiri and the fish was so fresh and buttery. Last but not least but I didn't take a picture of it was the hamachi Kama. I actually ate it the next morning, cold right from the fridge and it was still so moist. I can imagine how good it would have been hot and fresh. If it's available I would recommend ordering. This may be my favorite spot!

    Rice cracker with spicy tuna

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    6 months ago

    Kyosei yaki butter fish was really good. Sashimi was in good quality. It was nice place inside of motel. Service was ok.

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    5 months ago

    I have never greeted so poorly at the door. Terrible welcoming by the manager so we decided not to stay.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Wasabi Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Wasabi Bistro

    Do they allow corkage?

    $25 for wine, $35 for champagne and sake

    Does it take reservations?

    Yes, and strongly recommend as it’s a relatively small place and popular. I used OpenTable so making reservation was easy.

    Where can I park?

    Bank of Hawaii. They validate

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The five star rating is two fold. First is that the food was absolutely delicious. The food…read morequality and portions were perfect. The fish was fresh and flavorful. And how do I know that it's fresh? Because as we were at the restaurant, deliveries were being delivered nonstop. My kids devoured the salmon bowl with the salmon roe. My 8 year old's bowl was wiped clean. My 7 year old had only 2 slices of salmon and a few ikuras left. The 5 year old polished off her few pieces of salmon and roe along with her miso soup. And momma's Fukuju? Absolutely demolished. I should have ordered it with extra ikura because the quality and flavor that it provided to the bowl was something that I've never had before. I am usually not a fan of ikura, finding it too salty, but the ikura at Totoya was perfectly balanced. Second, the service was great. I had to give it to the lovely staff who were able to keep it all together when a party of 5 adults and 7 kids (aged between 5 to 11) rolled in, and of course the kids all chose to not sit with their respective parents. The food came fast and kept the peace of very hungry children. The place itself is a small little restaurant with just bar seating, no more than 16 seats, so definitely cozy. My friend sitting all the way on the other side of the bar said she could hear my conversation perfectly well, even though all the kids were loudly chatting. We will definitely be back the next time we make it out to Honolulu. Thanks to the restaurant again for providing such a memorable meal. It was all I could think about on the flight home because it was that good.

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro - kurobuta tonkatsu

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    4.3(4.2k reviews)
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    I'm not sure what happened to my original review when I tried this spot 2 years ago but this update…read morewas well deserved! During both visits, the employees were so accommodating. Even with a decent amount of seating, there is minimal space so they ask that you leave your strollers outside. When we called the first time saying our daughter was asleep they arranged everything in order to fit the stroller inside. The second visit, I had an even bigger stroller because it was a double stroller for my daughter and son. When I said my son was asleep they again, quickly tried to arrange space for the stroller until we realized he woke up. I truly appreciate them being so welcoming because I've come across many establishments that are not especially towards kids. As for the food, the first time the tonkatsu was a miss for me. I was comparing it to a popular spot on the island that books out months in advance that I tried just before my first visit here and it just seemed a lot more oily and not as tender. We were actually going to eat at the other business again but with two kids and walking non stop on our trip already, I was so happy we had an option closer to us. Both times, we were coming from Hilton Hawaiian Village. They have the cutest car bento boxes for the kids, and they let you choose the car color. My daughter loved the mini umbrella that came with her plate. My son was days before turning 1 year old so a lot of things ended up on the floor and even then, they were so kind about it. The best thing though for my husband and I AND my son, was the loco moco which we were told was limited and a new item for dinner since it was primarily only served as a lunch option? The flavor of the gravy alone was sooo good and rich. My son ended up eating my whole portion of rice and gravy with no crumbs left behind or on the floor lol. The other katsu items we ordered were nice and lightly coated and were not heavily oily at all. The only thing that I felt lacked was their curry especially in comparison to their gravy. I would definitely recommend coming here and I can't wait to come back. That was one of our favorite new dishes this trip and we come every year!

    Such a great tonkatsu experience as if I was in Kyoto on a quick trip. The restaurant flavors felt…read morevery traditional and genuinely Japanese in the best way. I got the pork loin with shrimp combo (the mixed portion instead of the large), and everything was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and satisfying without feeling too heavy. One of my favorite parts was grinding the sesame seeds myself in the little ceramic bowl with the wooden grinder, then mixing in the tonkatsu sauce. It made the whole meal feel interactive and intentional, and the sauce was SO good on the pork loin. I also ended up getting a refill of the cabbage because the sesame dressing they served with it was honestly addictive. I went around 8 PM to avoid the dinner rush and was pleasantly surprised I got a table pretty easily. Taking my time with the smaller mixed portion made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable instead of rushed. Overall, really delicious food, great atmosphere, and one of my favorite meals I've had in Waikiki so far. Pictured are the before and after of my dish. Probably a better "go with friends place" than a date.

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

    Izakaya Mitch's

    4.8(42 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.

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    TL;DR This might be…read moremy favorite Japanese restaurant in town. Undisputed soba champion. ----- I'm surprised I haven't written a review for i-naba yet. This place has been a staple for my family ever since we moved back to O'ahu a few years ago. Bottom line? The soba noodles here are utterly fantastic. They are, in my humble opinion, the best on the island, and some of the best soba noodles I've ever had. I don't think anywhere else in Honolulu comes close. You come here to eat soba. Period. In addition to the soba being phenomenal, the other offerings at i-naba are also similarly great. Their tempura in particular is outstanding. I typically order the Jumbo Shrimp Tempura Bowl & Soba or the Dx Tempura Bowl & Soba. Plus an upgrade to a large size soba! The tempura is sooo good. It's crispy, light, and airy. The jumbo shrimp is especially succulent and tender. And the ingredients are always perfectly seasoned with the sweet and savory house sauce. Yummmy! If you're looking for the best soba and awesome tempura, this is your spot!!!

    Everytime I asked my Japanese clients which Japanese restaurant they enjoyed most in Honolulu,…read moreInaba consistently came up. And now I know why. I finally had lunch here a couple weeks ago and damn was my tempura and soba set broke da mout. The soba is housemade with a chewy consistency that I love. I had it cold with the dipping sauce and wow wow wow. So good. My friends suggested I get the shrimp and vegetable tempura as well which amazingly stayed crispy the whole time I savored each bite. Probably 30 minutes. Light crisp batter on perfectly cooked shrimp and veggies. Damn it was good. The service was great as well and I cannot wait to go back. Nice warm atmosphere and there's a free parking lot. It gets busy during lunch and dinner, so get there early or make a reservation. Enjoy!

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    Wasabi Bistro - japanese - Updated May 2026

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