My bestie and I come to Akira regularly. We usually celebrate our birthdays here or visit whenever we're craving seasonal Japanese food. We always reserve a BYOB tables. Honestly, almost everything on the menu is delicious! My favorites are the fresh oysters, Beef tataki, tempura, cream croquettes, miso butter fish, Kani-salad and of course, don't forget the lobster! The sushi rice can be a little firm on some days, but aside from that, Akira is without a doubt one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. I even had the chance to meet a famous Japanese chef and take a photo with him. A huge shout-out to Miyuki saaaaaaan! Thank you for your thoughtful and attentive service. You always make our visits extra sugoi special. read more

I was at the building visiting my dentist for teeth cleaning. I've always wanted to try their chirashi bowl but instead ordered the deluxe chirashi bowl which featured a lot more variety. Not just your average maguro, sake and hamachi. Don't get me wrong cause I love that. I just think that there's more to try out there. In Japan they have lots of variety so coming here to try the deluxe chirashi bowl got my hopes up. I wasn't disappointed. My chirashi bowl came with in no particular order, Tobiko, ikura uni, Saba, sake, tako, maguro, scallop, sawada and Japanese Shiba. It's so good. You just can't swallow it. You need to bite into it and savor it. So good. Enjoy every piece of deliciousness with a hint of wasabi and shoyu. The chirashi bowl changes frequently so what you see what i have ordered might not be there for you. You know what the problem with sushi is or i should say sashimi? It's never enough. You can always eat more cause it's so good. Doesn't really fill you up like a steak would. It's like ice cream. You always have more room for it in your tummy. I try to review restaurants where you can dine In and be served. This is no exception but I did take out. Rest assured I will be back to dine in and try the other authentic Japanese dishes that have to offer. While I did get take out, from what I saw it looks like a very cozy place to eat there. Didn't look very busy but their take out bento was being sold very quickly while I was waiting for my chirashi bowl. The bento are very reasonably priced. Limited selection probably cause of the high demand. Parking entrance is actually on Young street. It's right across Petco where Safeway used to be. You're on Young street but the parking sign will say I think building 1150 for 1150 King Street. It's on the Makai side of Young Street. read more

Akira Japanese Restaurant - Deluxe Chirashi Bowl. Tobiko, ikura uni, saba, sake, tako, maguro, scallop, sawada and Japanese Shiba. JUNE 23, 2026 - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Good Japanese food and a huge menu. Their prices are reasonable, there's lots of seating space but broken into cozy sections, and the service is excellent. We walked in on a weekday at around 5:45 and grabbed one of the few open tables. We each had one of the smaller bowls (I had a mini chirashi) and one other dish, and everything was good. I thought the prices were fair and quality was good. My only problem is the parking. It's convenient in the building and $2 with validation, but the lot is sooooo small! We were in a small car and were still a bit scared around some turns and in some spaces. While the food here was good, there's so much good Japanese food on the island, so I'd probably pick somewhere with easier parking next time. read more

Akira Japanese Restaurant - Daily specials (June 2026) - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came to Akira on a Monday night and made reservations in advance. There is an underground parking lot but there weren't too many customer stalls left when we got there. The lot is a bit tight with low clearance, but there was free validated parking. Inside of the restaurant is on the smaller side, so I'm glad we made reservations. I got the teishoku with karaage chicken. The chicken was super juicy but had a nice crispy outside. It also came with salad, rice, eggplant, and pickled vegetables. The udon part of the teishoku was served at the end of the meal. We also got a toro taku roll to share. I loved all the cute dishes here! Service was friendly, and I would definitely come back here. read more

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We have driven by this restaurant many times and had always wondered what it was like. From the outside it looks small, so we were always worried that reservations were a must One early evening, while deciding where to eat, this popped up as open and so we went to try. We did call before arriving, and they were able to accommodate us for an early seating. So the first great thing about this restaurant, is that they open at 430pm. For those of you that are partially finished with your day, and on your way somewhere else, this is a great option. There aren't a lot of restaurants, especially Japanese, that are open at 430pm The service was good here, they were pretty busy, even though it was fairly early. But the staff seemed very capable and were able to make everything seem like a smooth process. The restaurant is actually good size on the inside. We were surprised how many separate rooms there were. We were able to try a bunch of dishes off of the Happy Hour menu Chirashi sushi bowl Eggplant with grated daikon and ponzu Deep fried rock lobster with arare Deluxe tempura Corn cream croquette Crab cream croquette Salmon and avocado cut roll Beef and onion tataki salad Everything was very good. We didn't have anything that we disliked There were definitely highlights.... The eggplant was so, so good. I could eat that everyday. Soft, marinated and flavorful...it was difficult to share because I wanted to eat it all The deep fried rock lobster was crusted with bubu arare and was a dish that is not only extremely hard to execute, but also very tasty. The bubu arare almost turn into crispy and chewy mochi nuggets that make you smile as you chew. Very sofisticated and unique dish. We will definitely be back to try more food! read more

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Food was delicious. We ordered happy hour . It's 430pm-530pm. Service was good , pleasant. Parking entrance is on young street. They validate free parking for 3 hours read more

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The service was fantastic and the food was outstanding. Probably the best meat so butter fish I have ever had. Prices are amazingly affordable. Definitely will be back there.. read more

The food overall was good but nothing stood out to me as amazing. The sushi was pretty fresh but I think I enjoyed the cooked food more. The tamago with crab and tempura were probably the dishes I enjoyed the most. It is a bit pricey compared to other shops with similar dishes. I feel like I would come back again if someone wanted to go but I wouldn't choose it alone based on the value. read more

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Had an amazing Japanese teishoku set at Akira!I tried the miso butterfish and chicken karaage, each served with udon, rice, and side dishes. The miso butterfish was perfectly flaky and flavorful, with a rich, savory miso glaze. The chicken karaage was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned just right. The udon was comforting and the rice was fluffy, complementing the main dishes nicely. The sides added variety and made the meal feel complete. Service was attentive and the atmosphere was cozy, making it a perfect spot for a satisfying Japanese meal. Highly recommend! read more

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Happy hour with the girls... made a reservation for HH. Nice small restaurant friendly staff, nice sushi house. We ordered the special 3 piece nigiri . The nigiri was very tasty, the rice cooked perfectly. We also ordered ~ shrimp tempura roll, spicy ahi roll. Karaage chicken. Their house made creamy crab croquet was delicious. Shrimp and veg tempura was ok. Small selections of Sake but very good. Yuzu beer was a first and very smooth and tasty. We ended our HH as usual with Mango sorbet and a condensed milk ice cream with mochi balls, azuke beans and a special sauce. Very yummy! Next time we have to try their noodles and other sushi's. Reservations are recommended. Validated parking for 3 hrs. Nice place for HH or dinner. read more

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Love the late night happy hour here that starts at 8 PM. Service is always attentive, polite, and efficient. The restaurant is cozy and comfortable and the $3.50 draft Sapporo always hits the spot. We usually have the spicy tuna roll, shrimp and vegetable tempura, kake soba, chicken karaage, arabiki sausage, marinated eggplant.... these are off the happy hour menu. You can also order off the regular menu and there are daily specials too. The prices reflect the location... Neighborhood place with good food and good service. Street parking or three hour validation offered for parking in the back. Also open for lunch. read more

Akira Japanese Restaurant - Late night happy hour - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Fantastic service and very relaxed environment - perfect for a nice family dinner. Everything we ordered was fantastic, and we left feeling very satisfied. read more

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Atmosphere: so cute and clean with friendly staff. Food: delicious and their prices. Love that you can also order takeout bentos. Been here a couple time and always forgetting to write my review. I do have the pictures to show what I've had. It seems there's not a wrong thing to order at Akira. If there is I have yet to try it. My latest favorite place to go to right now. A true gem! read more

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Husband was craving tendon... Akira offers tempura and has late night Happy Hour. Let's go! Called last minute when we were only 15min away on a Saturday night. They took our reservations. Convenient parking in the building - $2 w/ validation. Short wait upon arrival... place was packed at 8pm - we took the last open table. Place is cozy and nice (my teen was impressed). Ordered drinks (true HH deals) and food from the HH menu. Four of us enjoyed... cravings filled. Bonus Tip: Akira is part of ASB's Debit card 'Buy Local Hawaii' discount program. Go and enjoy, Akira. read more

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No need to travel to Japan for the cuisine's authenticity and deliciousness. Akira will be our go to eatery whenever we fly into Honolulu. Highly recommend!! read more

My new fave izakaya when me and baby have date night. Convenient location. Choke parking plus secured. Workers super nice. Waitress said she remembered us...probs b/c baby so cute (in my completely biased opinion), and b/c I'm a chronic over-orderer. I leave with a $140 tab and 3 take out containers. I should just bring in a big re-usable container since I know it's happening. Baby loves the eggplant oroshi. I get it with ginger for her. She pounded daikon and tendon. Picked at some other things. My fave is still the ika mentaiko...baby didn't like it but insisted on trying like 3 times. Only thing that wasn't that good this time was the bubu arare soft shell crab. Was little koge. I still ate it, but could tasted that burntness. I do want their tasting take out one day...maybe this weekend. read more

Great service and food as always during our last visit. Here's everything we ordered (* are my favorites) *omakase sashimi beef tataki onion salad $12 miso butter fish $14 grilled hokke fish $14 *beef filet steak with oroshi ponzu $22 *agedashi mochi tofu $8.50 *deep fried soft shell crab $10.50 rainbow roll $17 negi toro roll $12 toro taku roll $12.50 unagi cucumber roll $10.50 hamachi and nodoguro sashimi $18 & $35 Chikashi deluxe bowl $38 hot kake udon $9.50 The Beef Filet Steak was so tender and had lots of flavor. portion is a little small, but the texture and flavors were great. The Agedashi Mochi Tofu is a must-order for us - we always get at least two orders because everyone fights over them haha read more

Having lived in Japan for many years I'm very picky with Japanese food. Akira has both authentic Japanese cooking and a Japanese style service which makes you feel at home yet your personal space is respected. As a vegan (occasionally the accidental vegetarian when eating outside) my options are limited of course but this place has vegan options that are worth returning for. This was my second visit. I selected Daikon, (sushi) vegetable roll, eggplant and agedashi tofu (all dishes fully vegan) and even though I wasn't hungry suddenly my mouth was watering and my appetite grew fast. My friends who's not vegan had tempura and also ordered what I had cos they loved the taste. There was an American guest that commented that the dishes were so small. But this is part of the joy of Japanese food culture! You eat several small dishes, and often share, and this way you get a balance of many flavors and nutrients and don't overeat. "Hara Hachibu" is a Japanese saying indicating that if you eat only until you 80% full you stay healthy and live longer. What a delicious evening. I'll definitely return and bring friends. read more

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Amazing traditional Japanese food and great happy hour specials! We tried over 15 dishes and everything was delicious! I would definitely recommend getting the 2 item combo which comes with 2 entrees, miso soup/kake udon, egg, pickles, rice, and a salad. The miso butterfish was tender, not fishy, and the miso glaze was just the right amount of sweetness. Some highlights were the chirashi bowl (fresh sashimi), the kake udon (perfectly chewy noodles), and the arare soft shell crab (extra crunch due to Japanese rice crackers). I would definitely come back for hh at 8-9:30 pm again! read more

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It was a little bit of a wait as we were coming in with no reservation and we had came right before LATE night happy hour. I do wish we were notified like a wait time or something. After that, he did come in and gave us a table near window. This restaurant is very intimate(small) and inside of a hotel. The staff was very friendly by the time service hit. Food wise... wow, they have a wide selection of items. I really enjoyed the spicy ahi roll and oyster ponzu for appetizers. I even had to try the deep fried lobster with arare, super crisp and tasty. Personally, i wish there was a dip for it like a tempura or any type of sauce for it like a ponzu. The yuzu chicken ramen was exactly what it was, noodles were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. A bit too citrusy for my tastebuds, very yuzu forward. As for dessert, I got the akira parfait without azuki! Wow, it was perfection in a bowl! The perfect blend of sweet, savory, creammy goodness! Matcha, kinako, mochi, and the syrup is chef's kiss! It was definitely a great experience and I will definitely be back for more. Price is reasonable for Happy Hour! Definitely going to have another Deep Fried Lobster again! Mmmmm! Yum read more

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Oh my goodness, this is another gem of a Japanese restaurant. It's in an office building and when it the sun is out it's nice and bright inside. I'm not sure how long it's been here but I'm glad we found this place. We also discovered they have an extensive happy hour menu (but it ends at 5:30). Our food items came out very fast and the service was great! There were a few things we ordered that I didn't take a picture of. We ordered the filet ponzu and the prosciutto and papaya salad and the wakasagi tempura. We will come again for sure. Oh and they take reservations. read more

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Tasty Japanese food and great service at Akira. Colleagues chose Akira for a birthday celebration. We all ordered the teishoku set; you may select one or two main entrees. Some entrees have an upcharge. Teishoku set includes a small appetizer, pickles, salad, white rice, and choice of mini udon or miso soup. We all opted for mini udon and tempura, which was crisp and crunchy. Some of my lunch mates ordered teriyaki chicken or karaage chicken. We all enjoyed our teishoku set. Service was excellent. Validated valet only parking is available in the 1150 building, entrance on Young Street near Pensacola. I chose on-street metered parking on South King Street in front of the building. read more

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This was one of those places where I never thought of trying. I usually look for prices way under what I paid here. But here I am to try it so I can let others know. The $120/person price tag was worth it! It was a bit of a suspense awaiting for what the chef would bring out. I think the anticipation heightened my taste buds. The dishes were delicious! Go try em. It's winnahs! read more

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Great Sushi! Akira is a small, family owned gem in Honolulu that I've heard nothing but good things about. Reservations are strongly encouraged (we saw a couple of walk-ins get turned away) and well worth it. Fish is very fresh, almost to the point where it feels like it was just caught and the quality was amazing. Sashimi was a personal favorite. 10/10 would recommend. read more

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This place is located on S. King St. We parked on the street, but they do have parking. There are lots of items on the menu, and everyone can find something. Don't drive too fast, or you might pass it. Give them a try. Aloooooooha and happy eating. read more

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Walking down King St looking for somewhere to eat lunch with my dad & we stumbled across this place. It's located in eleven50 building & they do have parking. We were the only customers the whole time we were there which was surprising because this was great. They have lunch specials so my dad ordered their nori bowl & I got their shrimp tempura bowl. We also ordered a zaru soba to share. Both of our dishes came with miso soup & a zucchini starter dish. All of the food was delicious & the soba was cooked perfectly. Just the right amount of chew. They do serve alcohol & they also had a large selection of sushi. The service was on point and the dining area was really cute & cozy. read more

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Was looking forward to trying Akira for the first time today. My daughter and I made reservations for lunch right when they opened at 11:45am. I would suggest parking in the meter stalls in front of the building on King St. We entered their parking lot on Young Street but their lot was full. So we ended up going back on King St and we lucked out finding a stall right in front. It has an interesting entrance but once you get into the restaurant, it is nice. I ordered grilled butter hotate, tempura/sashimi teishoku and my daughter ordered the sushi teishoku. The food was good and the presentation is very nice. I like that it doesn't come in those lacquer boxes and it's separate little dishes. The servers were nice, the only thing was that our food didn't come out at the same time and they didn't check on us or refill our water and tea. Would go back to try other dishes. read more

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Came here for Happy Hour.... This is the first time coming here. I didnʻt realize that they validate parking in Eleven50 building for $2 up to 3 hours during Happy hour/dinner time. We did street parking,but now we know for the future. Located to the left as you enter 1150 on South King Street, this restaurant has the vibes of entering a restaurant in Japan. We were able to get a table right away. Why 4 stars instead of 5? I think it was because they were getting rid of their old fish inventory, so their negitoro and hamachi sushi we ordered tasted more on the fishy side instead of fresh. My favorite dish that I had was their Happy hour chirashi bowl that came with the types of fish (we had hamachi, ahi and salmon) plus ikura and rice with sesame seeds. That fish tasted fresh and for $12, it was a bargain! Another favorite was their creamy corn croquette dipped in tonkatsu sauce. The creamy texture inside combined with the crunchy outside was music to my tastebuds. Their prices are reasonable for a the amount of food our party of 3 ordered. read more

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We've walked past this place a few times and always commented about how we should try it out sometime. This past week was the perfect time to do so. We had tickets to a show at the Blaisdell at 7:30, so we made a reservation at Akira for 5:30. We got there a few minutes early and they seated us right away and served our first round of beers before the end of happy hour. Yay! There were so many dishes we wanted to try, so we ordered a pretty large spread for 2 people: crab croquette, sea bass agedashi tofu, dashimaki egg, karaage chicken with miso garlic sauce, miso butterfish, spicy hamachi roll, and rainbow roll. Everything was so good, but my top 3 were the spicy hamachi roll, crab croquette, and the sea bass agedashi tofu. We also started a little list of other dishes we want to try the next time we come in, because there will most certainly be a next time soon. Excellent service, delicious dishes, and very reasonable prices! read more

Amazing choices for teishoku - good size servings. Service - a couple times had to remind them we asked for more rice and more water. Quiet setting - we were seated next to a big group and a small group but you don't really know they're there . read more

This review is not about the food--the food was authentically Japanese and absolutely excellent. This review is about the service, and more importantly, how we were treated when we arrived for our reservation. The host and servers clearly need serious disability sensitivity training. When my father-in-law made the reservation, he specifically noted that our party would include a wheelchair user. Yet when we arrived, the host claimed they "weren't aware" and said if they had known, they would have opened the back door. This was our first visit--we had no idea where the back door was, and there were five stairs blocking access to the seating area. My father-in-law asked if they could open the back door. From the top of the stairs, I couldn't see what was happening, but I could hear the hesitation in the host's voice. Instead of coming over to speak directly to me, he asked my FIL if I "had a cane to help walk down the stairs." Let's be clear: if I had the ability to walk, I wouldn't be using a wheelchair. Assuming that all wheelchair users can "just use a cane" is not only ignorant--it's insulting. After delay and reluctance, the host finally agreed to open the back door so I could be seated in their so-called "upstairs" section. This turned out to be on the exact same level as the lobby--just a few feet from the entrance. In other words, this "accommodation" was nothing more than unlocking a door. Yet he acted as though it was a major inconvenience. To make matters worse, he insisted our party squeeze into a single table, claiming more guests would be arriving soon. In reality, during our entire meal, only three of the six tables in that section were occupied. There was no need to make us feel like an afterthought. If you're going to run a customer-facing business, don't make assumptions about disabled people's abilities. And don't treat accessibility like a burden--it's a basic responsibility. read more

Family had the Tasting Menu and was very satisfied!!! 9 course meal with nice variety of selections! Service was excellent!! Nice ambiance and quiet. Would return for another go around!! read more

Akira Japanese Restaurant - Mango Sorbet - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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4/6/25 OhSoOno! Broiled Salmon Belly; Fatty n Crispy Order early on cause it takes a while... Must Try Mizu Tako; Sashimi Octopus... Suckers n Sliced Legs-another winner Negi Toro; So Fatty! Yakitori; Gyu "Beef" Tongue n Shishito Peppers (this batch had a little heat!) Yes to Yakitori Chef Aburi Engawa Nigiri... again another oily fatty dish Service 5 Stars too! read more

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First review of 2024 and well-deserved. I just got my lashes done and my esthetician mentioned she needed to check out the eats around their shop. She suggested Akira as it was next door. I initially thought it was a hole in the wall. Far from it. I did a takeout order (chicken karaage bento) and as I waited to be rung up, I took in the atmosphere of the restaurant. Warm, bright, quiet and relaxing. They have a narrow seated area (or you can wait outside) for your takeout order. Either way, the wait wasn't long. Why the five stars: 1. Helpful and friendly staff 2. Ambiance is quiet, warm and relaxing. 3. Price: Reasonable 4. Food: Favorable, portion was perfect and the presentation was appealing to the eye. Recommend: Absolutely (if you're dining in, I suggest making reservations) read more

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Forever my favourite Japanese restaurant in town. Can't beat the value of the teishoku sets that leave you absolutely stuffed, but not feeling like a kanak attack. We had the deluxe tempura and karaage chicken, along with 1 miso and 1 udon which we split between us. I love the thin udon noodle and clean broth; they remind me of Jimbos udon which was my favourite before it closed. Impeccable service that was very accomodating to our handicap diner and opened up the upstairs doors for ease of access. Will be back again and again. read more

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Great place to have lunch and dinner ! A little tight on seating but otherwise a good place to eat read more

This place was recommend to us and it was so yummy yum yum. We got the okamase and happy menus. You have a better chance if you don't walk in please make reservations. The butterfish was my favorite along with shrimp tempura. See my photos of the things we got! read more

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I and my friends dined at Akira again recently and like before, the service and food was excellent! We had the deluxe tempura, chicken nanban, and teriyaki chicken, and the most popular dishes were (not surprisingly) the miso butterfish and agedashi mochi tofu. Looking forward to eating there more often. I have foodie relatives who order a lot of takeout around town, and they have all raved to me about Akira's takeout bentos. Uber Eats will deliver. read more

Upon entrance I felt like I was walking into a Japanese person's house. It was very homey and calming. Definitely surprised me in comparison to the grand juxtaposition from the outside. The omakase was really cute, and very well-presented. Sushi is just so sexy to me and for me that was the highlight of the omakase. Sushi melted in my mouth and was the perfect ratio of fish to rice. Still dream about it. read more

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I love Akira for their sushi and izakaya-style dinner, but I LOVE their Happy Hour even more! From 4:30-5:30pm & 8-9:30pm, they have slashed the prices on some of their really popular items, making this a really affordable spot to chill, eat, and have a beer or two (or three!) Here's everything I got: - Chirashi Bowl ($12): this was easily their best deal! For $12, you get two pieces of ahi, salmon, and hamachi, as well as a healthy spoonful of Ikura. Really delicious! - Hot Kake Udon ($8.50): this one hit the spot for my late night cravings. I also like that their udon broth is light, and the noodles are thin and slippery. - Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura ($9.50): the perfect pairing to what would have otherwise been plain udon. - Butterfish w/ Grated Daikon ($12): Not on their happy hour menu, but it's worth the splurge imo. The butterfish was incredibly tender and soaked up all the seasoned dashi so well. - Draft "Yuzu" Beer: Never had this anywhere else, so good and refreshing! Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Akira and will definitely be back again! It's now one of my favorite spots for Happy Hour! read more

Akira Japanese Restaurant - Chirashi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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