We tried out 22Kailua last year in September! It was a little tricky to get a text reservation, but we ended up with a Sunday 8:30pm timeslot. Street parking is pretty easy. They share an interior with a coffee shop, and have a sushi bar set up in the back for the omakase experience. We loved chatting with Dustin and Malia throughout the meal. They served us a variety of goodies. I missed some names at the beginning unfortunately! * Chawanmushi * Veggie sushi: Daikon, mustard green, and eggplant with ponzu and katsuobushi * Kampachi with misoyaki, honey, and yuzu: Loved this soooo much, even looking at the pictures now sends me down that flavor journey again. * Squid with tobiko and shiso: Not usually a squid fan but this was great! * A5 wagyu * Hotate with yuzu kosho: One of my favorites for sure. * Isaki (chicken gruntfish) with ume shoyu * Foie gras sushi with unagi * Negitoro with yuzu and oyster shoyu * A5 wagyu with truffle shoyu and green onion * Somen with kurobuta pork sausage and foie gras rendered fat read more

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My wife and I just ate here for her birthday dinner. We were the only two in the restaurant for the later 8:00 pm seating so it was nice to have the personal attention. We conversed with the chef throughout the meal and he was very nice and talkative. The food was great. I had a hard time keeping up with what we were eating but all of it was very tasty. I even liked the chawanmushi, which I usually don't care for. I've included a few of my better photos. Some of the other photos were not so great after a few beers. read more

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This sushi bar omakase restaurant is a cute secret restaurant in kailua town parking is abundance and then when you enter you feel like you're someone else as you can see I order the $100 dinner which is quiet sufficient as you can see you get about 15 difference Entrees which is quite lol sufficient each entree was delicious ! There are three level of. Omakase $100 $150 & $200 I ordered the $100 and was sufficient -as you can see especially cause it's byob read more

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So, as the rest of the Nation has been relaxing COVID 19 restrictions, Hawai'i has slowly and cautiously been lifting SOME of its public health and government recommendations. Our restaurants got the big OK for dine-in operations to return on June 5 as many of the restaurants busily installed more sanitation and social distancing measures. During our lockdown, my husband and I have stayed home to cook for ourselves and immediate neighbors and just recently "dipped our toes" into takeout meals. My excitement to return to dine-in was amped up when I received an invitation from Nadine to 22Kailua. Thanks to Nadine, I got to dine at this Japanese sushi bar which has been on my bookmark list since last year after reading Nat's reviews. 22Kailua came to my attention more recently after seeing Nadine's omakase bento takeouts. Well, to me, as good as Nadine's takeout meals looked, I held out for the dine-in experience as to me, the omakase "menu" is best enjoyed prepared in front of you and the freshness and temperature of the raw seafood and shellfish and rice are just seconds from the sushi chef's (itamae) hands. I emphatically replied "I'm IN" and waited until a couple of days prior to our reservation to select their $120 (base + higher grade items) kaiseki menu tier. At the same time, I requested the $20 sashimi add on. We arrived at 22Kailua shortly before our 5 PM dinner reservation and because it was a State Holiday, metered street parking was FREE. Paul was the designated driver but I added my "Parking aumakua" when we nabbed the first parking space just half of a block away. We were welcomed by Dustin and a sweet golden labrador named Pualani. 22Kailua only accepts 2 seatings per evening 5 PM and 8:30 PM and you HAVE to make reservations if you want to dine here. From the exterior of 22Kailua, you'd not even know that there is a sushi bar located here. In fact, when you walk into this business, you'll undoubtedly smell the delicious aroma of coffee as there is a coffee bar at the entrance. Then as you walk further in, 22Kailua has a cool boutique with beach-inspired items from local artists. And then...you enter the "inner sanctum" or sushi bar through the noren curtains. Dustin, Malia, and Sushi Chef Taka graciously invited our group of 6 to be seated at their glass counter. All three wore face masks, washed their hands thoroughly, and stayed behind their preparation area to ensure 6' social distancing while we diners were allowed to doff our face masks. I liked the intimate and comfortable space as well as the friendliness from the 3 chefs behind the counter. We were treated to 14 different fresh menu items ranging from raw to cooked, each with varying textural components and flavors. Each course was meticulously put together and plated as we all allowed our camera to eat first. Mine and my dining mates' taste buds were sent up to the stratosphere in this quaint sushi bar as this was everyone's FIRST dine-in experience since the restriction relaxation. 22Kailua is comfortable and cozy yet serves top-quality sushi using the freshest available ingredients. I'd return in a heartbeat but I'm told that the next open reservation is over a month away so I'll have to enjoy reliving the experience as I look at the photos. read more

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So glad I stopped by in August before they reopen in November. With reservations at 5:30/8:30 and there only being a select few seats, this place is a must. Located inside an unobtrusive coffee shop on a busy road, 22 Kailua is a true hole in the wall. I got the $100 omakase option and these are a few pictures I took before drinking way too much sake (it's BYOB). Left out: A5 wagyu, Uni, Ama Ebi, and several others. Everything was portioned well, brought out in a perfectly timed manner, and I felt perfectly full and happy paying for what I received. Taka took good care of us and we are looking forward to visiting him again, once 22 Reopens at their new location. read more

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At one point, I thought Nadine C. (aka Auntie) was house shopping in Kailua to take advantage of our low interest rates. She was checking in and patronizing multiple businesses in Kailua. I mean, if you're going to consider living in an area, you should be pleased with the surrounding businesses. One day I saw Auntie check in from 22Kailua and she posted her Omakase bento that got my attention. Since COVID-19, I did Omakase takeout from a sushi restaurant in town only to be underwhelmed. I asked if 22Kailua was worth trying as I'd have to pick it up in Kailua and then drive it back to town and eat with my family. Auntie recommended not to do takeout but to do Omakase there. She was willing to coordinate so I was all in. I waited patiently. Nadine then texted me informing of the reservation date of 6 people and I immediately marked my calendar. I was so excited. Located on the main drag of Oneawa St near Jack-in-the-Box, 22Kailua is a very unique business where during the day they serve coffee in a boutique shop setting and at night they offer 2 Omakase seatings at 5pm and 830pm. After entering you need to walk through the coffee shop and boutique to reach the beautiful sushi counter. We were immediately greeted by their 3 staff. We had to pre-order our meal as Auntie forwarded us the tiers of Omakase levels, where I chose the $120 base + $20 for sashimi. It's BYOB here, which is a great, but as the designated driver and had to cross the Pali back to town, I had no alcohol but Lyla was so thoughtful to bring sparkling water to share. The VERDICT: Food was really good. My advice is to come here hungry if you select what I had. Food quality and quantity exceeded my expectations. There were so many winners so it's difficult to select what stood out. Dinner started off strong with the red miso soup with botan ebi head and asari clam. It was so tasty. I also liked the housemade steamed egg tofu, tempura course and the beef sukiyaki. I also liked the fresh seafood he brings in overseas - - Hokkaido scallop, New Zealand king salmon and the oyster on half shell. Service was outstanding. We were informed of each dish as it was served to us. Head chef "Shaka Taka" was so amusing entertaining us. One of the stars of the night was former Yelp Honolulu CM Emi H.. Spending time with Emi and Michael was priceless. Great to see Emi sit down and enjoy a meal with us rather than have her work at the event. The other star that stole our hearts was Pualani, Chef Taka's golden retriever. She greeted us as we entered the restaurant and is such an adorable dog. Well trained and knows how to work the crowd. If you dine here, bring some doggie snacks and you'll win her heart. Pualani has a fondness of shrimp tempura tails so save them for her. Dustin may just show you one of Pualani's tricks. Overall, an excellent dinner in the books that is so memorable. An amazing meal spent with great friends and their incredible staff of 3. read more

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Takeout Omakase and bento in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii... Frolic Hawaii's email this past week listed a whole bunch of Mother's Day specials. I thought that I should take advantage, so I selected 22Kailua for lunch. I messaged them my order via Instagram and they replied promptly. When I went to pick up my order, I didn't know where to park. I saw a driveway near the restaurant and illegally parked there. It's an employee parking lot and I blocked in several cars. Sorry! I was quick! I went into the cozy shop with quaint decor. I called out that I was present and my meal was brought out from behind the curtained area. The gentleman was polite and friendly. He processed my credit card payment efficiently and didn't laugh when I wanted to open the package and take photos of my food. I knew that I'd be eating in the car, so I planned to get some nice pictures before I messed up the presentation. Wow...the bento container and omakase box was stuffed full of goodness! Everything was fresh, beautiful, and delicious! I moved my car to the deadend street next to Zippy's and parked a while there to taste as much as I could before my next appointment. I'd like to return for the real omakase experience after this Pandemic Social Distancing period is over. The only obstacle would be the parking... Note: there's metered street parking around the corner from Walgreens - on Uluniu Street. Pay until 6pm. read more

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This place is great! Three choices for omakase $100, $150, $200. The best part about this place...? It's small (fits group of 10), personal, and BYOB! Chef is very energetic and interacts with guests all night. The differences between the $150 & $200 omakase are very settle. The assortment of various foods offered was diverse and great (not just a nigiri offering). This is the only omakase on the west side. It's located right next to K's Bento. Parking in the front or across the street. A definite for a private party 10 or less. Recommend the 500 seating, so you can stay and drink without any rush. Reservations are made by text. read more

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It was a fun experience but it's definitely overpriced for what you get... we got the middle deal and after that we had to go get a second dinner. They were really nice, and it's a pretty personalized experience, but I don't think I would come back. read more

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Chef's kiss to alllll of the dishes served during dinner Omakase. The hospitality of chef and wife team was amazing!

Phenomenal experience. Beautiful space, friendly chefs and staff, and the food is SO incredibly delicious. The highest quality, freshest seafood, meticulously prepared in front of you. They have absolute mastery of their craft. The flavors are perfectly balanced and every bite is a masterpiece. Menu is selected by the chefs based on freshest ingredients, so come with an open mind. We did the $100 menu and my 8 and 11 year olds ate everything, even foods they wouldn't ordinarily order. Trust the chefs and enjoy! We hope to be back soon! read more

22Kailua - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

What a fantastic omakase! We did the basic omakase so no sashimi. You can upgrade to include sashimi. Taka, our chef, is amazing, talented, and funny. Most of dinner included cooked small dishes. There are also raw components like scallops and uni from Hokkaido. Everything was fresh, delicious, and well thought out. You must make reservations. There 2 seatings, one at 5 and one at 8:30. There are only 6 seats at the bar for each seating. During the day it is a coffee/clothes & accessories shop and at night it turns into a restaurant. What a fun concept to walk into a coffee shop then clothes shopping section to finally get to the sushi bar dinner area. I got to shop during my meal too! Earrings there are so cute! I cant wait to go back to try the coffee! Will be back again to try their omakase with sashimi! read more

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Kudos to Dustin and Malia for the 22 experience. I appreciated the intimate atmosphere and conversations throughout the meal, that made it feel more like hanging out with friends for dinner rather than a fancy omakase meal. I thought they did their hot dishes very well, but unfortunately felt like the sushi experience fell a little bit short. While some really enjoyed the bite size portions, this was definitely the smallest pieces of sushi I've ever had, especially for the price point. That said, I think they did a good job for the sushi, especially for being self taught. The reservation process can be quite intimidating, but set up your post notifications, draft up a text, and be ready to send it once the time comes. I texted about 6-8 minutes after they released their reservations and got confirmation in the middle of the night. read more

Great experience with chef Taka! We had the $100 tier omakase dinner as a family and it was fun to watch all sorts of delicious sushi and other yummy dishes be prepared and served. My favorite was a shitake egg custard dashi soup (I forget what this was called but it was so so good), waygu carpaccio, seared salmon and toro though everything was so ono! Wish we came more hungry because the dishes kept coming and being so full it was hard to savor each bite as it deserved. read more

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I love omakase and 22 Kailua did not disappoint. Operated by the chef owner couple, there are two seatings a day - one at 5pm and the other at 7:30. There is limited seating - perhaps 8-12 max. Everyone sits at a long counter and the chef starts the meal starts once everyone arrives so that he can prepare each course for everyone together. The interior is simple and cozy. The chef owner couple are kind. The food is delicious. You must make reservations via text and they offer three price points for menu ($100/$150/$200 per person) and extra sashimi ($20 per order). We got a little lost because google address was not updated with new location. Their new location is 326 Kuulei Rd same parking lot as cinnamons. read more

yum! super friendly husband & wife team behind the sushi bar, very reasonably price omakase. byob helps keep the bill a bit more reasonable! read more

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I was looking for good omakase places and was surprised and delighted to find one in Kailua. This place is reservation only. Their Instagram page releases when they are ready to accept reservations for the month. You have direct message their business on Instagram and then they will give you a phone number to text. You have to let them know very specific information to include preferred dates in order of preference, preferred times (5pm or 8pm), amount of guests, which menu, what tier ($100, $150, $200 price per person) you want, and allergies. That is all to get a seat. Seems complicated, but it really wasn't. We got really lucky and were able to get a seat the next day after asking about 6 different days, including same day and next day. We got there and parking was in this lot with meters. It's the same parking lot that is shared with the chocolate factory. We were about 15 min early but they let us be seated. There were two chefs, Chef Yutaka and I forgot the lady's name. They were very nice and funny. There was a handmade crane with my name on it (since I made the reservation) on the table. The restaurant is small, only seating at the bar. I want to say there might be room for 8 but there were only 6 people dining in total during our 8pm time slot. The place was very cute. With paper lantern lights and a big ahi tuna on the wall. There were cute little copper wire bonsai trees as decoration everywhere. I loved the atmosphere. Oh important to note, this place is byob. We brought our own water and wine. Now the food... amazing. So we had chosen the omakase option, which means something like "chef's choice." So there is no menu, so everything was a surprise. We decided to do the $200 a person option. As we were sitting down, there was already sashimi waiting for us. So the first course was Sashimi- King salmon, Thai snapper, Ahi otoro, and take (octopus) from Hokkaido. Next was an appetizer of monkfish liver and cream cheese. Then we had Steamed egg custard with Unagi, fish cake, mushroom, snow pea, bamboo shoots, topped with a dashi gel. Next was an A5 wagyu carpaccio with a vinegar and dashi gel on top. After you finish eating one item, he sets down the next item on your plate. It's basically individual pieces of something. So next was a piece of otoro ahi, which appeared during the sashimi part but it was so good I didn't mind it again. It is so soft it melts in your mouth. I asked him about it and he said it is one of the fattier cuts of an ahi but that's why it melts in your mouth. Next was a scallop from Hokkaido, then Red eye snapper, King salmon with white miso that he blow torched, negito, Kampachi which is an amberjack yellowtail, shrimp miso soup, sea water eel, Thai snapper, Squid, Mackerel, Sweet shrimp, Maguro wit yuzu pepper, Salmon roe and sea urchin from Santa Barbara, A5 Wagyu with truffle oil and wasabi, Fois gras, and finally the dessert course of Mochi with soy bean powder and brown sugar syrup, and also toasted rice green tea. We were so full at the end. It was wonderful. The quality of the fish was excellent. The wagyu was delish. Everything was so soft and tender. I love this place and can't wait to come back. read more

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Amazing omakase experience in the back of a store. Chef Dustin and partner Malia were super fun and nice to chat with! They run a judo shop by trade and started this sushi joint about 3 years ago serving guests by reservations only! Be sure to note the seating times (5:30 or 8:30) and which omakase experience ($100 or $150) you want. The portion was just right for me because they use a smaller ball of rice. Each fish was seasoned slightly differently and you see them prepare it right in front of you! The red vinegar jelly is a pretty interesting combo. Recommend this place if you want a fun experience！ read more

After reading an article about this restaurant, I told my husband that we had to go here for our one year anniversary. I messaged 22Kailua on Instagram to see how I could make a reservation and luckily after texting with Chef Taka, I was able to make a reservation on our anniversary. Directions for where to park that they gave was great because I probably would have had a hard time finding parking. When we got there, his assistant was waiting at the front door. Our reservation was at 5pm and we only got there a few minutes early. The front of the place is a coffee shop and little store and in the back was the sushi bar with only another couple there. Chef Taka basically prepared all 12 courses we had during our meal. One cool thing is that he makes one dish for everyone at a time. So there was actually 7 of us total with 3 people sitting on a table on the coffee shop side and 4 of us at the sushi bar. I definitely recommend sitting at the sushi bar because you get to interact with Taka and see him prepare all the dishes. Some of my favorite dishes from that night were the chawanmushi and the tempura. There were some things that were very interesting and are not in usual omakases. Everything tasted really fresh which I really liked. At the end of the night, Chef Taka walked us out and a couple days later, he texted me to ask how everything was and sent me the photo of my husband and I that he tooked. read more

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What an amazingly relaxing shop! I was looking for something new and different and 22Kailua came up on Yelp! At first I thought they might be closed because it was empty. When I walked in, I said hello and then walked to the back where I saw the kitchen. One of the guys told me to order in the front. I think my confusion was due to the fact that it is also a small shop for some hip clothing and wares. This is how I met Takashi. Ordered the tonkatsu sandwich and a cold brew. I sat inside since the weather this month was really warm. This is when I met Pualani. After I got my lunch, she sat up on the couch with her ball. I think she wanted me to play fetch with her...LOL! I loved my sandwich! The great thing was that it was warm and I could eat it immediately. Some places, the tonkatsu is really hot and you have to wait for it to cool down. A nice cabbage salad and some pickled vegetables came with. This was a very relaxing meal! One of the workers told me about their omakase dinner which sounded interesting. And then low and behold, I saw an article in the Honolulu Magazine. This will have to wait until next time....and I can't wait to come back! Mahalo! read more

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I can't believe I've never heard of this place until now. Such a UNIQUE INTIMATE omakase experience ($150pp, BYOB). This private sushi bar, seating a max of 8 people, is a hidden gem tucked in the back of a coffee shop. Each dish was FRESH and DELICIOUS, made with such care. The sushi itself are bite-sized, with the protein to rice ratio ON POINT. I am super partial to all the rich yummy goodies such as the A5 Wagyu, Foie Gras, Chutoro, and Uni. OMG, and those fried capers on the beef carpaccio was a game changer that I need to fry my capers from hereon lol! We were perfectly full and content by the end of the night. The atmosphere is casual, intimate and cozy. A big thanks to chefs Dustin and Malia for the AMAZING experience! I can't recommend it enough! read more

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Honestly this is the best sushi you will eat anywhere in the world. We have been lucky enough to be in places with some amazing sushi but this beats it hands down. The chef was so amazing and really made the experience memorable. Amazing service and touches, they made every guest feel special. Definitely one of our favourite restaurants we've ever been to this is an absolute must if you are in Oahu read more

I didn't realized this place existed until I came across it on Yelp. It's indeed a cute place with a homely feeling to enjoy your coffee with their golden retriever relaxing too. I've made an extra effort to try 22Kailua for a taste of their coffee jelly. I was thinking it was like the coffee jelly drink at the La Palme Dior but it's actually a coffee jelly/jello with cream not the drink. I was disappointed to find out they were out! I settled for their cold brew from the remaining 3 items on the menu. While waiting, I took a look around at their dining area in the back. It's by reservations only for a Omakase style (sushi) set menu. It was Nice & cozy dining area with a bathroom stall on the side. Be careful as you entered the bathroom, as I didn't realized there was a drop down entering the bathroom walking backward when I took a photo. I don't think a wheelchair can fit inside. They have a lot of clothing and items within probably on sale. I believe it's cash only but best to bring small bills or exact change since he didn't have enough change for my $20 and was going through his tips. I'm glad I had enough quarters to pay him. The guy seems really nice but too bad he didn't have eco friendly straw or any straw for my cold brew in his eco friendly plastic cup with a lid. Probably will come again to try their coffee jelly when in the area. No parking for this place except street parking or block away behind in metered parking lot underneath the condo. The 22Kailua is just before a dead end lane before Zippy's. read more

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Well curated, elegant and delicious. What I like about the price point is the options you have. If you wanted something more simple vs something more grand, you can choose the $100 dinner option. The interiors of the new location is also beautiful and relaxing as well. It felt like a calm intimate experience and I will definitely be back. Thank you Taka-san!! *This location is also BYOB ;) Parking: There is a public lot right in front of their new Kailua location. There will be plenty of stalls available since the businesses in that area operate during the day. read more

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Discovered this gem on Instagram by chance and I'm so glad I did. I love the vibe of this place - it fits into Kailua perfectly. The owner Takashi is super sweet and so is his golden retriever Pualani. There are four things on the menu - Hawaiian coffee, today's coffee, coffee jelly, and cold brew. Simplistic and minimal - exactly how good coffee should be. Every cup is prepared utilizing the pour-over method and made to order, so sit back, relax and enjoy watching him brew your cup of happiness. Omakase-style sushi dinners are by reservation only, and I just booked a reservation in April! read more

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Oh my word, what a gem. Like you've gone to a friend's house and they've made you coffee and asked you to take a load off your feet. Limited pour-over options - usually three or four beans from which to choose. Kona was $5.50, Colombia or Kenya was $3.50. I've had Kona and Kenya and both were delicious. Served black, but you can ask for dairy, which arrives on a precious tray. Literally, it feels like you're in someone's house, with the hospitality of the owner and their pooch Pualani, the cozy sofas, and great coffee table magazines. The perfect place to sit and sip a while. Street parking is tricky - your best bet is the garage a block behind it. read more

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Such a wonderful evening! Worth every cent for quality of food and ambiance! Chef was lovely!

We love stopping by 22Kailua for their lunchtime poke bowls! They mix the flavors fresh in front you. A bit pricey but it is worth it. I get the Ahi Punch every time and absolutely love the torch-burnt mayo! My husband sometimes needs to eat healthier and asks for salad underneath, but poke without rice don't sound right to me. Next on our list is to try 22Kailua's evening omakase experience! read more

22Kailua - Tuna Punch all the way! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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One of the best Japanese food experiences ever! You have to book at least a month in advance or be lucky when you call. It is located in a small coffee shop which turns into a sushi bar by night with only 6 seats! It's a 3 hour experience with about 8-10 different courses including a delightful coffee jello dessert at the end. Now to the food. Rather than describing each dish please take a look at the pictures I posted. All I can say is EVERY dish was outstanding!!! Since there are only 6 seats, you be be sitting next to strangers but for us that was a great experience. We met a lady from San Francisco and the conversation just flowed. There were a group 3 young men who were fun as well. The sushi chef was the main star as he was very nice and made masterpieces every time. PLEASE NOTE: he doesn't drink alcohol but does appreciate a Coke! It's also BYOB for you drinkers. Definitely will be back and I highly recommend it! This restaurant gets the T.Song vote of approval!! read more

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Y'all. The ambiance is AMAZING it is seriously the cutest most amazing quaint restaurant I've ever been to. Came here on a whim, and I'm SO GLAD I DID!!!! Wonderful and super friendly service and I cannot emphasize enough how absolutely gorgeous this place is. The food itself? BOMB dot com y'all. Get yourself a poke bowl at this yummy spot!!! :) read more

22Kailua - Main area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Best omakase experience, intimate, fun and most importantly authentic, fresh and delicious food. We have a great time here and I'm still dreaming of the high quality fish. Perfect omakase experience. read more

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Delicious coffee Cute handcrafted gifts Welcoming vibe Delicious omakase prepared by master chefs .... and this cute lil furry friend! What more can you ask for read more

22Kailua - Pua! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

We were looking for sushi but found this place and I have seriously never had such good tasting poke bowl. The ahi was so fresh and delicious and the rice and flavors were perfect. I absolutely recommend this place!! Don't miss out! read more

Remember before social media? When you only heard of a place because your friend's sister's boyfriend's friend went there and said it was well worth it? Well, this is that place. But with a social media twist. Scanning Yelp, I found this place and was intrigued. Their IG/FB let's you know when they are open for reservations, but you need to get their phone number from them. Not from your aunty's friend's roommate's cousin. After you get their number then you can hunt down the elusive reservation time. I was able to get a decent date and time! Yes, now I can be that friend you can tell your cousin or girlfriend that I thought it was well worth it. They have three different price points but the same courses. The price difference is for the grade of fish that you get to eat. Being unsure if I'd like it or not, we opted to just get the $150. That's $150 per person. Other price points are $80 and $120. There are also add ons such as $10 per dish or $20 for sashimi. There were also two other offerings of $200 and $300. You need to let them know your choice ahead of time so that they have the proper fish especially if you go out of the standard three price points which need at least 2 weeks notice if anything. There are two seatings, 5p and 8:30p. I got the 8:30p reservation which worked out perfectly since on-street parking is free. But watch out for the randoms along Oneawa. I was walking and this lady yelled that she liked my outfit. Which was great! When we got there, another couple was waiting outside the door. We waited a bit before we were let in by Dustin. Dustin does most of the talking and explaining of the place and the dishes. Malia diligently worked and would add her comments as necessary. Taka (Shaka Taka) was fun to watch while he prepared our dishes. The timing of the food was great and oh my goodness I was so full after we got through 12 courses and 15 dishes! Unfortunately, Pua was just cruising on the other side of the sushi bar so we did not get a chance to interact with her. Words cannot fully express how impressed I was with everything. The food was wonderful! The place is BYOY with no corkage fee. And being the last seating, did not feel like I had to rush out. It's amazing how a tiny place is run by 3 people. They were synchronized to ensure that we enjoyed the kaiseki dinner. I will definitely return here. I wonder if they would take me as a party of one? read more

22Kailua provided such an amazing Omakase experience. The attention to detail and quality of the fish was outstanding. We loved the intimate experience & care from the chef. It was fun to bring our own drinks in and just let the chef guide us through everything he loved. This hidden gem should be on everyone's list to try! read more

22Kailua - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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BLUF: Amazing omakase take out in the age of COVID-19!!! We knew about 22kailua eat-in omakase for months now, but we had always been unable to get reservations as they have been booked out for months out. However, with the COVID crisis, they have been offering bento boxes with either sushi omakase, cooked omakase, sushi roll, or beef stew. Wife and I together, over the course of several weeks, tried the sushi, cooked bento, and sushi roll. The quality of the sushi was through the roof!! The presentation was delicate, made with love- the fish, from the scallops to the squid tasted so fresh, so buttery. The raw scallop melted in my mouth like a tender, buttery dollop of the sea, the shrimp tasted like it had just leaped from a coral reef into my mouth OMG! And the sushi rolls were were a perfect compliment of raw whitefish,tuna, cooked crabmeat, mellowed with a dollop of mayo mixed in the crab meat. And the side dishes were so intricate, from the cutting of the vegetables, the little slices of seaweed and picked ginger, to the chawanmushi that is both smokey and meaty and eggy. Amazing. Well done, a great showcase of your abilities for $22. read more

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We absolutely loved dining with these talented chefs. They were so kind and welcoming, making this more of an experience than just a normal dinner. You have to reach out on Instagram DMs to make a reservation and highly recommend making it in advance! read more

Awesome! Welcoming, friendly staff with yummy food. I like that it's smaller too. Makes for a nice intimate meal.

Super fun experience! Taka San's humor, personality, and energy was definitely the highlight of the meal. We were late to our reservation due to flight delays, but he waited for us and made sure we enjoyed the meal. Every single piece was delicious. read more

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I'm always on the hunt for special experiences. This was one of those. To make the reservation, I slid into 22Kailua's DM on Insta. They gave me the low down on how to get in touch with Taka to try to score a reso to this very exclusive, intimate, 6 seater omakase dinner. I picked a date and took my husband here, jokingly telling him that we were going to McDonalds to keep the surpise on the DL. Even walking through the coffee shop left him confused until of course, we walked to the back and were greeted with the dexterous and charming Taka, who was busily working away behind the counter. The first thing I noticed when taking our seat were the handwritten welcome signs. I kept it and it's now hanging up in my house. Next thing I noticed was the adorable four-legged hostess, Pua, a golden retriever who is sure to make your dining experience a calming and amusing one. We had about 10ish courses that ended in the delightful coffee jello dessert, a perfect exclamation point to the end of the meal. I highly recommend this place, and can't wait to come back. If you live on the adventurous side when it comes to dining, enjoy special, unique dining experiences, and love supporting passionate, local small businesses and the humans (and dogs) behind it, this is it. Just remember to BYOB and request a separate water glass; Taka runs the whole show so just ask for what you need and he will deliver! read more

22Kailua - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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