Wow, an outstanding Japanese meal on O'ahu!…read more Totoya is has a the traditional Japanese restaurant bar set up. There is about 10 seats and everyone sits next to each other. We got there about 10 minutes before open, and there was already about 8 people in Queue. The food is spectator and a must try!

Was looking for some authentic Japanese food and found it here!…read more I would recommend one of the Negitoro bowls with the egg in ponzu. We came on a Tuesday afternoon around 1 with no one else inside, so thankfully no wait. It is cute bar seating with self service ginger (a plus!) and water. Loved the vibe in there. No frills, but everything you would need.

Every time our family is back here in Hawaii, immediately make reservations to come back here…read more Their speciality Kurobata pork is what makes coming here worth it. We came during happy hour this time and I was able to try their Buffalo Fried Chicken Tenders. The buffalo sauce was on the side which was nice since some of us didn't enjoy spicy food/sauces. I of course ordered the specialty pork set which came with cabbage, rice, and miso soup. The cabbage is refillable and definitely a must with the sesame dressing. The staff was great and made sure to check on our table often for any refillables or condiments. Definitely coming back here every time we're in the area.

I've been coming here for quite some time. It originally started as a Tonkatsu restaurant right…read morenext to a Soba spot. Later they took over the Soba side and opened the Yoshoku section, and now it seems like they've merged everything -- though the menu feels mainly Tonkatsu-focused. I made a mistake this time and didn't order my usual Pork Tenderloin Katsu. I tried the Oyster Mix Katsu (Oyster, Shrimp, Pork Loin), and the seafood pieces had way too much breading -- the actual seafood was maybe half the size of the whole piece, which was disappointing. My partner ordered the Bairin Mix Katsu, so I got to try the Minced Pork Katsu, and that was amazingly delicious. Service was great, and we got a 20% Kamaʻaina discount plus parking validation for the Bank of Hawaii lot for 1.5 hours. One lady made it sound like she was giving us extra time, but the website says 1.5 hours anyway. Note to myself: stick with the Pork Tenderloin Katsu or the Minced Pork Katsu next time.

Still the best tonkatsu in town. They recently moved to a bigger space downstairs in the same…read morebuilding, and even with the upgrade, it still gets crowded fast. We've been lucky enough to be seated when they open without a reservations. It does fill up fairly quickly after opening. Service remains excellent, the food is consistently delicious, and they do validate. You won't be disappointed. My family go‑to is the pork tenderloin with two shrimp and mixed rice, chicken katsu, or tonkatsu - always a favorite.

We somehow snagged a last minute reservation for the next day, but reservations are definitely the…read moreway to go here. They release reservations about a month in advance, and I highly recommend booking if you're able to as soon as you can. Even with a reservation, there was still a wait. We arrived around 6:45 PM for our 7 PM reservation and they had already stopped accepting walk ins. We were seated around 7:10 PM, so definitely expect some extra waiting even with a reservation. Once we were seated, though, the food was absolutely worth it. We had the chicken katsu, sizzling miso, minced pork, shrimp and chicken, and a katsu sandwich to go. The chicken katsu was AMAZING and easily the best katsu we had on the island. The sizzling miso was also amazing, and the shrimp and chicken was great. The minced pork was probably our least favorite, but still decent. And the katsu sandwich we took to go was amazing as well. I also really enjoyed the sesame at the table. You grind it yourself and then mix in the sauce, so you get that fresh sesame flavor right before eating. It was a fun little part of the meal and made the whole experience feel more interactive. The only real downside was how cramped the table for two felt once all the dishes, side dishes, sauces, and everything else arrived. There is a lot going on at the table, so there isn't much room to spare. My only real complaint was actually how they handle the waiting area. The space is tiny and was absolutely packed with people waiting to be called. They told us to wait inside, but there was plenty of room outside where people could have waited instead. It would have made the tiny indoor area much less crowded and easier for everyone.

As you can already see this place has 5 stars for several reasons…read more 1. Quality of the food. 2. Variety 3. Everything freshly made. 4. Super friendly and accommodating staff 5. Easy access with street parking Yes it's somewhat off the beaten path, but a path worth taking. Was so ono!!

Always a good time here! The kamameshi is a must try (I like the salmon and ikura)…read more Tonight we tried the A5 wagyu teppan, the scallops, salmon and ikura kamameshi, fried oysters, soft shell crab, and karei karaage special. Service is always great, ambiance is a neighborhood spot. Highly recommend.

Absolutely amazing noodle spot! There was a long line when we arrived, but it moved incredibly…read morefast. As soon as we got inside, we knew this place was going to be something special. Being able to watch them make the noodles in the back, combined with the incredible smell throughout the restaurant, made the whole experience even better. I ordered the curry udon, while my wife got the creamy broth, and we also shared the tempura shrimp. Everything was absolutely delicious. Honestly, this was probably our best food stop on the island. I'll be thinking about this restaurant for a long time. Where we're from, there's nothing even close to a place like this. If you're visiting the island, this is definitely a spot you need to try!

Marugame Udon had been one of my favorite spots to eat until today. I had visited this spot past…read morethe busy hour, and the restaurant was not half full. The line was short and efficient. I was able to get in my order immediately. I had ordered kitsune udon with gyoza and tempura shrimp sides. The total is around $16 for anyone who is wondering what price to expect. The quality of the food has been consistent. It's a bit warm inside, but you'll find some good table areas that are cooler. I was disappointed by the service today, especially because there was less people between 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM when I went. The staff had automatically thrown in green onions and tempura flakes, which was not requested. They were just throwing in things without the usual ask they do. Especially, this hurt most when there was a rude lady staff passing out toppings. My family member had kindly requested for green onions a few times, and mind you again, we did not have a line when we entered in, but this lady snickered and ignored her request. I had to sternly request for green onions which eventually happened. The service should not be this way. This is an amazing restaurant, but the experience was utterly ruined from that service experience.

Really good food and very sweet staff, even though they were busy they made sure to accommodate us…read moreno matter what. Definitely would come here again

Hamachi carpaccio with their Negitoro don buri bowl!…read more Very delish!!! I really enjoyed the hamachi carpaccio as it was definitely new to me because I normally get yellowtail or salmon carpaccio at other restaurants. The ponzu they use is very common but like most places, I feel they used a milkman citrus ponzu which I love so I really enjoyed it, don't quote me on that though. as for the negitoro don buri bowl, first time I've ever had a dish like that and it did wonders in my mouth. DEFINITELY MUST TRY DISHES THERE!

Whenever I passed by this place on Kapahulu, there's always a line, and line's don't lie, right?!…read moreMade reservations (highly recommended) and found street parking as they do not have a dedicated lot. Once inside, you are warmly greeted. It's a little dim inside during the day. No paper menus; you need to scan a QR code to see what you want to order. Our group ordered the teishoku set which came with the main entree, rice, oxtail broth, and 2 appetizers (we opted for tofu and eggplant). We opted for the Aburi flank steak which was very very tasty and the Aburi chicken. The chicken was a touch on the salty side, but it came with a spicy dipping sauce which was phenomenal! All the meats had the delicious smoky flavor from the grill. The oxtail broth was kinda bland. We also ordered the oxtail ramen which was also a hit. Finished off dinner with ice cream + mochi. The mochi is also grilled but know that it's not sweet mochi.

So thankful for restaurants that open late. We thankfully found street parking and this was the…read moreonly place open. How lucky for us! Customer service was terrific. Since it was late, we noticed the back of house staff help the front. Everyone was so friendly and food comes out fast. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food was a bit too flavorful - we all agreed that everything was slightly salty. I could also say portion of some items may not match price, but I understand inflation is increasing at an alarming rate. So I'll leave money out of this. Crushed cucumbers were interesting. We couldn't decide if eating it with chopsticks or spoon was better. With chopsticks, you might not get enough sauce. But you could taste the layers of flavor. With a spoon, you get too much saltiness. The spice hits at the end. The tako karaage were a little too chewy for us. Beef tongue was so tender. A definite must order. I dont think it needs rice though. We also ordered the late night nikumiso but it didn't come with an egg, which the menu said it should. We tried handful more items but we'll be back to try the oxtail items, as it sounds like that's their specialties, but takes extra time to prepare.

Traditional Japanese style, imported ingredients with a lively atmosphere. The Negitoro was…read moregenerous and the nori was crisp. Very high quality fish, the hamachi sashimi was really good. The Wagyu beef bowl was a good portion size and had good flavor. Overall a little pricy, but the quality was unmatched. Close quarters seating and a little loud. A great spot for trying new things. Not a very fancy restaurant but it was more of a homey atmosphere. Great service and it was nice sitting at the bar.

Izakaya Tenkichi Japanese Izakaya Restaurant…read more Overall: 8.6/10 Food: 9.2/10 Service: 8.5/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Value: 7.7/10 Izakaya Tenkichi was a perfect way to spend a late Friday night dinner. You instantly feel like you're teleported to Japan once you step inside. The atmosphere is lively and the staff are all very friendly. We ordered the Seared Mackerel, Garlic Shoyu Cabbage with Crispy Noodle, Pork Belly Tempura, Maitake Mushroom Tempura, Seared Salmon Belly Handroll, Negitoro Avocado Handroll, Seared Scallop Handroll, Negitoro Bowl, and Yuzu Draft Beer. Everything was amazing , but the highlights were the pork belly tempura with yuzu shiokosho, Maitake tempura, Negitoro bowl, and the yuzu draft beer. This is a yuzu lovers dream! They also provide three types of salt to use on the tempura. The servers were very attentive and sweet. The price of the dishes are a little higher but is normal for an late night izakaya. Can't wait to come again!

Came here for Sunday breakfast with the kiddies, and we arrived a little after 8:00 a.m. There was…read moreplenty of parking and seating available, and we were greeted and seated right away. We were promptly served water and hot tea while we looked over the menu. My boys love salmon, so they chose the Grilled Salted Salmon Set. Knowing they probably wouldn't finish their meals, I ordered the TKG Set and added natto and mentaiko on the side. Each set comes with miso soup, rice, and an assortment of delicious sides. Everything was so good! One of my favorite touches was at the end of the meal when our waitress brought out dashi with seaweed, wasabi, and green onions (comes with the Salmon Sets) for us to pour over the remaining rice. It was the perfect way to finish the meal. We cleaned our plates and enjoyed every bite. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back to try more of their breakfast dishes and to experience their lunch and dinner offerings as well.

My favorite soba restaurant. I love that they offer so many different preparations/toppings/sides;…read morethey can always satisfy whatever I'm in the mood for (hot or cold). They also have excellent tempura and sashimi. My favorite is the 'Hana' (cold soba w/tororo-unu-ikura-wakkame-nori-negi) but add ume & natto, and a side order vegetable tempura. (They also have incredible unagi tempura and a kakiage over hot soba) - plus they have yuzu ginger sorbet!! Service is always polite and friendly which makes it easy to become a regular here. Prices are well worth it for the quality.

Food was excellent, very tasty!!! Portion sizes were small but definitely worth going back to try…read moremore dishes! Corn, rib eye sticks, Kalbi bao buns!!!!

Little Plum is always an enjoyable experience. First of all, the restaurant is quaint and…read morecomfortable. The dining area is one open area, the table setting is cozy with its crochet coaster and wooden chopsticks rest. There's an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs put love into each dish. My server even pointed out who will be making my crispy pork belly. The wait staff is so helpful and welcoming. They made sure our vegan friend was well-taken care of. She suggested the mushroom jook where they would put the chicken on the side. They even added more mushroom to elevate his dining experience! Today we ordered family style, which they happily accommodated for us. They served the rice on the side. Our menu included short rib bao and shiitake bao (vegan), ume tomato, namul, spicy miso eggplant, crispy pork belly, menchi katsu, and mushroom jook. The standouts were the crispy pork belly with its watercress tomato onion salad, the ume tomato on whipped tofu, and spicy miso eggplant. The mushroom jook is so comforting, hearty and full of flavor served with chicken confit and a soy egg. The two desserts offered are both winners. The mochi churro with kinako and anglaise is crispy, light and creamy. The pineapple orange pudding is so cool and refreshing. And, 100% of dessert sales go to the culinary team! What?! Love this place. Plus, with you check are some fun asian candies -white rabbit and haw flakes! I haven't been there for dinner yet. That'll be next.