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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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
TUCKED AWAY GEM! 5.0 What a hidden gem! After doing a little research, we discovered this wonderful traditional Japanese restaurant tucked away along a street we visit often. From our stay at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, it's an easy walk across Kalākaua Avenue and down Beach Walk toward the ocean. We know this area well, as another of our favorite restaurants, Ginza Bairin, is located just across the street. Wasabi Bistro is nestled behind The Breakers Hotel. Enter through the front entrance to the hotel, past the pool toward the back of the property and you'll find this casual, unassuming restaurant. The décor is simple, creating a peaceful setting that feels pleasantly removed from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. No Japanese meal is complete without sake, so we started with a carafe to accompany our dinner. It's always the perfect pairing. For dinner, we ordered: * Gyoza * Sashimi Deluxe (eight varieties of fish, two pieces each) ~ exceptionally fresh, generously portioned, and colorfully presented. * Black Cod ~ One of my all-time favorites, and this version was perfectly cooked with excellent seasoning. * Papaya Seafood Motoyaki ~ A baked papaya filled with shrimp, scallops, vegetables, and their savory miso motoyaki sauce. It's one of the restaurant's signature dishes, and for good reason. It was absolutely delicious. * Assorted Mochi Ice Cream ~ The perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal. Every dish was nicely prepared and well seasoned, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. The service was warm and efficiently paced without ever feeling rushed. With so many dining options in Waikiki, Wasabi Bistro easily stands out as a restaurant we'll happily return to on future visits. If you're looking for authentic Japanese cuisine in a relaxed, tucked-away setting, this is a place well worth seeking out. read more
I was craving fresh/high quality sashimi and sushi in Waikiki and found this semi hidden spot. Despite being slightly hidden they had a good amount of people. We were seated fairly quickly and we got to ordering, we got: - Otoro Nirigi (fatty tuna): 10/10. This was good. Exactly what I was craving/ felt like I needed. I WOULD say not if you're like not a sushi/sashimi snob but is js craving the fatty sashimi flavor, salmon would typically sufficient, or even Hamachi, - Rainbow Roll: 9.3/10 this roll definitely hit. The crab in the (California) roll itself is made of real crab which completely changes the flavor profile in a positive way. - Chicken Karaage: 7/10. The karaage was good, nothing mind blowing but I always say that the sauce makes the chicken and they did not give us any sauces. I ended up requesting for siracha and mayo which I then mixed together but even then. - Vegetable Tempura: 9/10 I really enjoy vegetable tempura in general and this was no exception. The assorted vegetables had various textures and flavors which made it very enjoyable to eat. - Washugyu Ribeye Steak: 6/10. I don't recommend ordering this. It wasn't bad per se but for $58, I expected more. There were a couple of completely inedible pure fat pieces. Overall, I don't know if I would go out of my way to come back here again (especially with it being located within Waikiki). The service was really good, the waitress was extremely attentive. Besides that though, nothing stands out. read more
1 hour ago
Everything was amazing. We ordered sashimi platter, miso butter fish, vegetable tempura, and a few sushi pieces. The service was wonderful and the inside is so cute but nice and quiet. Love it read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
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. read more
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! read more
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. read more
3 months ago
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. read more
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! read more
9 months ago
4 months ago
This is the second time we've eaten here and it was fantastic. The food is fresh and the service is welcoming. read more
11 months ago
5 months ago
Amazing food & Wonderful service!! This restaurant was quiet, clean and attentive. Would definitely go again! read more
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 read more
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. read more
6 months ago
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! read more
My goodness. Wasabi Bistro was fantastic. We had a reservation to come in, and i recommend doing so! The ambiance inside was so nice, soothing, and welcoming. Staff was friendly and if you can, i'd recommend sitting at the sushi bar. You can watch the sushi chef work his magic! Definitely piqued our taste buds too. Their sashimi combinations were very reasonably price, and all the fish were super tender, fresh and just delicious. What surprised me was their squid sashimi, usually it's crunchier and is more tough to chew, but the one wasabi bistro was serving was super tender, slight crunch, and melt in your mouth! Absolutely decadent. Their tuna and salmon sashimi were also mouth watering! Another star was the crispy rice with spicy tuna! Even if you can't eat spicy food, it's not too spicy, amazing small bites filled with flavor! Absolutely loved this place, next time we come to hawaii, we're definitely coming back! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
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 read more
2 years ago
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! read more
8 months ago
Stubble upon this place and it's a nice hidden place in waikiki. It's cozy and had friendly staff. Food was delicious! We shared the sashimi, butterfish, tofu, this scallop rice fish. All was yummy. Fish was fresh and who doesn't love butterfish??? If you don't, we can't friends. It's perfect place for intimate dinner, first date, somewhere to hide from your kids. If you asked me for directions, I don't know how to explain cause I followed the leader LOL. read more
11 months ago
9 months ago
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!!!!!!!! read more
1 year ago
I went to Wasabi Bistro on my one month trip about 29 times for dinner. The food is a great example of Japan and was just mind blowing, after I had a bite I said,"I will never stop eating this!" The service is spot on great! Our server was Yun and he was so friendly and kind to us! He was very polite and helpful too! Yun is a great server at Wasabi Bistro!! The ambiance is amazing, dark, not too dark room, music playing, and a view of the chefs! I recommend the Crispy rice the most. Every time we come we get 3 orders!! I also recommend the hamachi, that's my go to meal! But make sure to get Miso soups and edamame, I can't stop eating them! And don't forget to mochi, their mochi is so delicious! Wasabi Bistro is my go to when I'm in Hawaii!! read more
2 years ago
Delicious food. Great service. We ordered only sashimi and it was amazing. Had to get round 2. Small cute place inside of the small Japanese style hotel. read more
Made a last-minute reservation here, and it was really good. Well versed server, he even spoke Japanese, may have been the manager or owner. We ordered several rolls to share, sashimi, and a couple of the recommendations. Small and cozy inside with an ability to see the chef from almost anywhere. Very fresh and wonderful seasonings. The tempura was so fluffy! Beer, wine, sochu, sake The location is a walk past a pool at maybe a hotel, sharing an entry with The Breakers on Beachwalk in Waikiki. Meter parking on the street or a couple of lot options for parking. Very accommodating, friendly, helpful, AND great food. read more
We made reservations a week in advance at 5pm. It was very hot that day and there was no built-in AC and only small AC fans. We were immediately greeted as we were one of the first ones there. They offered popular menu options to us and took their time to explain each of the daily menu dishes. The restaurant itself was very cozy and small, with a bar to see the 2 sushi chefs. They have daily menu options that change each day based on the chef's choice and we decided to order the Fried Shrimp Karaage. I thought it was delicious but my partner said that it needed some salt. We also ordered the soft shell crab roll (which was my favorite, the sushi regular, the Wasabi No.1 Special, and the bluefin toro cut roll. Each of the dishes were as fresh as they can be and overall delicious. The sushi here is not cheap but not super expensive and our bill was around $130 for the 5 dishes for 2 people. I would recommend coming here if you are willing to splurge a little extra 4.5/5 read more
Wasabi Bistro is a cute and quaint restaurant in a little courtyard. It's small and intimate, so definitely great for date night. FOOD: We ordered the "sushi regular," which was basic sushi - it did the job but wasn't special. We also got the Wasabi Bistro No. 1 and Papaya Seafood Motoyaki, which both were the two reasons why we came here in the first place. Both were flavorful. The Wasabi Bistro #1 had a lot of crab meat and the papaya was both savory and sweet with cheese and vegetables in a half papaya. Highly recommend either dishes. We ended our dinner with a passion fruit mochi ice cream, which was INCREDIBLE. It was flavorful and the mochi texture was so chewy. I'd come back to try their other mochi flavors. SERVICE: We were actually 30 mins early to our reservation, but they still seated us. Great service, food came out fast. Our servers were also great with providing recommendations. read more
Went here for dinner. The black cod is amazing! Every single bite/flake has so much flavor. Eat it slowly so you can enjoy it longer. We also liked the hamachi wasabi carpaccio, the crispy rice and spicy tuna, the wasabi special no 1, and the tuna tataki. Skip the eggplant. read more
Hamachi Wasabi Carpaccio ($21): this was my favorite - the fish & sauce were so delish! Sashimi Regular ($28): 5 kinds of sashimi, 2 pieces each. They also have a Deluxe size ($68) which consists of 8 kinds, 2 pieces each. The salmon was my fave - so buttery and soft! Wasabi No. 1 Special ($14): one of their signature dishes that consists of crab meat, avocado, and white fish baked with their secret sauce. I liked how there was a lot of crab meat inside. Baked Scallop Special ($16): another signature dish made with scallops and mushroom over rice - had an interesting creamy sauce. read more
Location: Breakers Hotel near the pool Ambiance: Beach casual. Fairly small so make a reservation if you want to come here. Food: Everything was pretty good but not high end amazing. I love sashimi and it was all fresh but not melt in your mouth savory. My favorite thing here was the avocado tempura- it was SO good!! Service: Efficient and friendly, yet not overbearing. Overall, if you're looking for affordable casual sushi in Waikiki then definitely try this place out. read more
1 year ago
I came to this spot with my family over 5 years ago and remember how delicious the food was and how fresh the fish was! I went back with my partner a few days ago during our Hawaii vacation, and I'm happy to share that the food quality, service, and ambience are just as impeccable as I remember! Get the sashimi here and one of the signatures -- we get the papaya dish and loved it! read more
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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.
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