Went to this restaurant at 6:30pm and I couldn't imagine a better time and place to be on the island. The food and staff were excellent. I had the perfect evening at this restaurant. Please dine here!!! read more

Staff is on top of it and food is seriously so good. Karaage is a must order. That crunch and flavor reminds me of growing up with my actual Japanese grandma. I was so so happy first bite. Don't sleep on their sushi. Super fresh and good quality, super delicious. Tuna sampler is a great price for what you get. Soba with tempura is yummy and fulfilled my craving. Dipping sauce was tasty. They know how to fry tempura the right way! Love that the seating is all outdoors. It's spacious and comfortable with the breeze. Lots of shade, no table is in the direct sun. We went early when they opened without reservations and found plenty parking and got sat immediately as a party of 4. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Tuna nigiri sampler - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

I love sitting outside and the garden was so adorable. Hamatchi the cat was very friendly and sat with us before dinner. Drinks came out after the meal came, which was a bit strange- BUT everything tasted so fresh, it was worth it. They had tamari (gluten free soy sauce) already on the table which was really nice. Staff was so kind and friendly, enjoyable experience. read more

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We tried Grandma Cafe recently and left pretty confused by the whole experience. The food was okay, but nothing particularly memorable. What really stood out was the pricing. The sushi was $10-15 per piece, which is the kind of price you'd normally expect at a serious high-end sushi restaurant in New York. The atmosphere, however, feels more like a casual café than a fine-dining restaurant. The setting is simple and relaxed, which would be perfectly fine if the prices reflected that. Another interesting thing we noticed was that every table seemed to be tourists -- we didn't see any locals. That might explain how they're able to charge those prices. What surprised us most was that after spending around $400 for two adults and two small kids, we actually left hungry. At that price point you'd expect both exceptional quality and a filling meal. read more

I was really looking forward to this place but unfortunately it was a bit disappointing. We went for dinner and the food was pretty basic for sushi. The portions seemed pretty small for the rolls and the food didn't stand out too much. Also for the price, I did think the sushi would be a little bigger. On top of that, I didn't prefer the service as well too. The server made us feel uncomfortable when we ordered rolls and apps. We wanted to give him our menu but he wouldn't take it. And we just felt uncomfortable there with him as our server. Maybe we just had higher expectations of this place because it was recommended but I don't think we'll come back again. The outdoor ambiance is nice but would not come back for the service or the food. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Japanese Grandmas Cafe is a treasure in the town of Hanapepe. The food and drinks are marvelous. My most favorite is the spicy poke and mixed tempura. I loved the Mai Tai with guava juice. The whole family loved their meals. Vegetables are from a local farm. The poke is super fresh! Another favorite of the table is the Chicken karaage. The server that helped us was Karen. She even gave us great recs for the rest of our time in Kauai. It's a super cute spot. I always come here when I visit Hanapepe and do not regret it read more

This was a cute little hidden spot. We were just walking around the area and needed a little snack before we headed back to the east side. We got some Maki rolls, miso soup and a cucumber salad and then my daughter got a guava mocktail and I just had a Japanese beer. Everything was pretty good. They had live music which was great if you're in a hurry, probably not the best place because it takes a little while, but that's the true island time. I loved the area because it was covered and had nice lights and a bar. I would definitely go back for more food. The service was good. We got sat right away with a reservation and everyone was really kind. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Cucumber, avocado salad, and miso soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

The vibe was very cozy with live music and backyard dining. Food was good but some were much better than other: our favorites are the rice appetizer and the spicy hamachi roll. We got the "fancier" rainbow roll and red dragon rolls but they were pretty mid. Cucumber was a good side dish (always is). No ginger of wasabi unless you order them separately for $3 (strange but not a big deal). read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Rice (yummy!!), cucumber, rainbow rolls, red dragon rolls, spicy hamachi (yummy!!) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Loved this place! Probably one of our favorite dinners of our trip. The fish was so fresh and everything tasted amazing!! Everyone was so kind and welcoming and I loved the outdoor seating. A casual place that is perfect for families or even a date night. We got the karage with teriyaki sauce, tuna crispy rice, otoro nigiri, hanapepe roll and the spicy tuna bomb roll. Literally would have tried everything if I could have. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

We came here because it had a ton of great reviews, but honestly, it fell pretty flat compared to my expectations. This was far from the best sushi or fish I've had, in fact, very mid at best. We entered through the front, where you order first and then they bring the food to your table. I'm not sure how others ended up with nice plates, but my food came in a to-go box. Also, the back dining area is much nicer than the front, so keep that in mind if you decide to come. Here's what I tried: Spicy Poke Bowl - Fish over rice with a bit of salad. The portion was pretty small, and I wasn't very full afterward. At $29, it feels like a stretch. That said, it did taste good. (4/5) Hanapepe Roll - Honestly, this was one of the most underwhelming rolls I've had. It tasted like a basic $10 supermarket roll. Nothing special, and for a whopping $25 it was like a joke. (2.5/5) Overall, some items are decent, but there were way too many flies in the front dining area, and in my opinion, this place is seriously overhyped & overpriced. You won't be missing much if this doesn't make it onto your itinerary. Parking: Side parking available in the back. read more

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Extremely tiny portions for the steep price! Our minds were blown seeing how much $20 got us - 3 slivers of tofu for a main dish hahahaha. Everything tasted great - just never seen such ridiculously tiny portions for mains priced at exorbitant rates for a casual dining, metal table random outdoor dinner. Food arrived super fast, and wait staff were polite. Grateful to have vegan options - the only saving grace. read more

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Great experience!! Sat outside in the garden with the lovely and attentive Amber serving us, although she was assisted by the rest of the staff, who were equally friendly and attentive. My lilikoi margarita was delicious; and my husband enjoyed his lilikoi old fashioned. We ordered a few items and they were all fresh. No room for dessert but look forward to returning. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - View from our table - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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We had a REALLY nice dinner at this restaurant. I splurged a bit and got some Toro Nigiri and truth be told it was the best I have ever had. Cocktails were amazing, food was amazing and service was superlative. I highly recommend stopping by for some of the best and freshest food ever. read more

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Japanese Grandma Cafe is a solid spot for sushi. What I really appreciated was the patio seating in the back, it's a nice space that easily accommodated our large group, and the service was attentive throughout our meal. Worth a visit if you're in the area, especially if you can grab a table on the patio. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Went for lunch and upon entering it was a bit chaotic and confusing. The waitress wanted us to order first and then we could choose our seat. We got the poke bowl and kurobota pork tonkatsu. We chose to sit in the outside back dining area - if I could choose again I would sit inside. There were some flies and the tables had rusted. Poke bowl was just ok for me - fish was definitely fresh but flavors were meh. However the pork tonkatsu was some of the best my husband and I have had stateside. We'll be thinking of that cut of meat for a loooong time. Food was served in takeout containers for lunch. I would recommend coming for dinner instead. read more

I honestly don't get the hype of this restaurant. There was no waiting in the afternoon and the outdoor seating is nice. Overall, my recommendation is you aren't missing much if you decide to skip this restaurant. It's not worth the overpriced food which doesn't taste as good as it looks. The service was kinda weird because the server was attending to people who came later first. We were attended to before our neighboring table and that couple was waiting to even receive the menu when we already got the chance to even place our order even though they came before us. They were also mixing up the order on some of the tables luckily ours came correctly and quickly but some people on the other table were not getting the right order. This is kinda basic when you are running such as popular restaurant which claims to be fully packed everyday for dinner and when we were dining in the afternoon it wasn't filled to half of the capacity. Let's get to the food, for appetizers we got the chicken karage with the yuzu sauce. It was fresh and hot but the sauce was better than the chicken. I liked the tangy flavor. For the sushi rolls, we went with popular hanapepe roll and classic spicy tuna roll. Both were okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't good enough to justify its price. The sushi rolls are extremely overpriced. Another thing that wasn't as pleasant was that the server was kinda pushy in asking if we wanted to order some drinks even after we said we weren't planning to. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Hubby's choice after a four hour strenuous hike. Located on a main street with plenty of parking on the street or nearby. Indoor dining closed. Dined al fresco in the back of the restaurant. Cute patio area with a bar. Unpretentious and prestine. Service prompt. Wait staff very friendly, welcoming, and recommend so many items that were truly outstanding!! Had to try the Liliko'i Old Fashioned. I loved it!! Not too sweet and Woodford Reserve Bourbon was the perfect choice for their Old Fashioned. I also had the Guava Mai Tai, which was the drink of the day. So refreshing!! All food items ordered were exquisitely plated and at the right temperature, not to mention perfectly seasoned!! We ordered another serving of Ahi Tuna Wonton Tacos because it was so delicious!! It was a truly pleasant dining experience!! I would definitely come back and highly recommend. read more

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My husband and I came over for a quick weekend getaway, and had a great time at Grandma's Cafe! Service was quick and pleasant and I loved the variety of non-alcoholic options available. The prices were fair and the food was delicious. Our tuna rolls tasted fresh and we will be back! read more

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Went for lunch and food arrived in takeout containers. For the price, I'd prefer real dishes. We were all disappointed. We met the owner at the adorable shop next door. Wish I would have mentioned it. Food was good but we will go elsewhere next time. read more

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Thought this was just ok. Sushi like the Kaua'i Sushi station deliver more on the sushi side. We didn't try anything else one the menu that was non sushi related. Cats and other animals allowed on the patio, along with lots of fruit flies that were in our drink and sushi. I wouldn't go back. read more

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Enjoyed thoroughly the Red Dragon, also some bowls that were fantastic. Service was impressive and the ambiance was very nice. Would highly recommend Japanese Grandma, it is special. read more

Delicious bowls and bento! Get there early if a Sunday or Monday as they get busy for lunch. We arrived 15 mins after opening and were served quickly but after that it takes longer read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Poke bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

The most adorable and peaceful eatery in all of Hanapepe. This was out first time stopping in and it was so nice! Love the outdoor seating and space, dog friendly! We ordered some chicken karaage and vegetable tempura and it was all so fresh and delicious! Will come back to try to the sushi! read more

Beautiful outdoor covered seating. I love that the tables were not so close together. Service was great our server was very attentive and they were very knowledgeable about the menu and took my wife's food allergy seriously. The saki list is excellent with many options to choose from. We ate mostly sushi and it was one of the best on the island. The fish was fresh and the cuts were perfect. The only disappointing dish was the crispy rice. I felt that the rice was not crispy but soggy from the oil. The tuna flavor was good but it did not meet my expectations. The tako was excellent and very tender. If you want quality sushi this place is for you. Also just to be aware there is a neighborhood cat that can come around begging for attention. read more

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Love stopping here whenever we're near Hanapepe. They have a cute garden seating area in the back that we ate at this time. Their fish is very fresh, and the rainbow roll and spicy hamachi were especially great. Their spicy poke bowl and steak bento bowl also had great flavor! read more

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Wonderful experience on every level. Excellent sushi, featuring well sourced seafood and solid preparation and presentation. Service is very attentive and pleasant. Fun setting in the charming old Main Street , with a deceptive store front that leads to open air dining in the back. Definitely recommend reservations. read more

Japanese Grandma's had promises of excellent poke bowls, and it surely did not disappoint. Don't be fooled by the quiet street (we almost were) - the majority of the restaurant is in the back (I don't even know what the inside looks like) and is well hidden from the street. It would be easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. The vibe is super casual and the food is really fresh. We both had poke bowls and a roll, and while the local beer was great, this was one of the best mai tais of the trip. It was very different than some of the others - a bit more fruit forward, but still packed plenty of punch (ha) in the rum department. It was a perfect late-afternoon lunch; I would say sit in the back, grab a few beers (and mai tais) and have some excellent poke bowls. We enjoyed our lunch here so much we actually ended up coming back for dinner, and had a salad, ahi tacos, some rolls, and ended up trying their beef short rib special which was fantastic. Super fresh food and great service, not to be overlooked while on the island. read more

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Nice outdoor setting and great place on Friday night when the art walk is going. Good drinks, good food and friendly servers.

Sushi and nigiri in Hanapepe The service was good since we got there almost at closing time. We ordered some sushi and nigiri everything was fine not big surprises here. Don't know why the sushi is served on plastic containers it seems like a mayor waste of money and also no good for the environment. We sat inside boy there is a big outdoor area which looked really cool it was just a bit warm today. read more

Hibiscus-Infused！Wonderful service and epic wanderings．Would definitely recommend．Hope this helps！Be well，Hawaii！ read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Good for any occasion. My kids have grown up coming here. It has become a little expensive for all of us but the quality and service are top tier. read more

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Lovely experience in their back garden area for lunch. This would be great for dinner, of course, too. Poke, salad, bento boxes, sushi, and high quality sashimi shine here. We tried 4 different cuts of tuna and loved each more than the last; most of which are local. Full bar, vegetarian options and free street parking. Very laid back, and high quality. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Some of the best sushi I've ever had with lots of gluten free options and knowledgeable/allergy conscious kitchen staff! Make a reservation if you can because the wait can be long, but it's worth it! We loved everything we tried, including the cocktails. The restaurant is set in a cute backyard style covered outdoor area decked out with string lights. All of the fish was *so* fresh and I absolutely can't wait to get to eat here again! read more

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Had a chance to try this place and overall it was a great experience. I ordered the karaage and the Hanapepe roll--both were absolutely delicious. The chicken was crispy and juicy, and the roll had a really nice balance of flavors. You can tell they use quality ingredients and take care in the prep. The only downside was the service--it was noticeably slow, even though it wasn't super crowded. Still, the food made up for the wait. I'd definitely come back, just maybe when I'm not in a rush. read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Karaage - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Great quality ingredients, albeit we only tried a few things this time. There is a guy singing, playing a guitar and doing a shtick that I could do without. It is worth the drive. read more

This place is so charming and tasty! They have a cute patio in back that has some covered and uncovered areas. We were able to get reservations the morning of to head there later that night (went in October). The waiters were super friendly and helpful and the food and drinks were excellent. I had the guava mai tai which had an amazing flavor. We also shared the crispy rice, a California roll and a tiger roll. All were delicious! read more

Food very mediocre nothing special. Slightly over priced. Then I guess its alright for Kauai. Mixed tempura came hot. Spider roll six pieces hardly any crab. Host and hostess not educated on menu. Kinda weird set up reminded me of Sizzlers where you order and pay when you come in. Service was average. Certainly not on my checklist to return. read more

We went on a Saturday night in April on the recommendation of a friend. Hubby had the ahi tacos and I had the chicken karaage (they were out of the ahi katsu). We had the edamame for an appetizer. I also ordered a cocktail that was on the special menu with ginger beer. The portions were not large for the higher price, but adequate. Total bill was $80 with a tip. After dinner we went out to the swinging bridge and saw the most amazing full rainbow! read more

Japanese Grandma's Cafe - Ginger beer cocktail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

We read so many "must try" reviews for Japanese Grandma's Cafe and thought we must pay a visit. It was referred to by many as the best food in Kauai and we were very excited when we made the reservations in advance. When we arrived at Grandma's, we realized there was a Friday night market and parking was difficult. We dropped off the family to find parking and eventually found a spot a few blocks away. During dinner time, the restaurant is situated in the back garden area, and the atmosphere was chill with laid back Hawaiian live music playing in the background. Our server was friendly and took our orders quickly. We ordered a Spider roll, Fresh Catch, Mixed tempura, Braised Short Ribs and Pork Tonkatsu. Most of the family enjoyed their dishes. However, I found my spider roll a bit loose as it felt apart with chopsticks. My fiancé mentioned he was still hungry after his Braised Short Ribs. There was a wait to get the check, but it's understandable as the restaurant was quite busy. Overall, I think the experience at Japanese Grandma's would be excellent if you ordered the right items, such as the mixed tempura bowl or the fresh catch. My fiancé and I both hope the food portion would be a bit more and I wish there was more care in making my spider roll. read more

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My husband and I were craving Sushi after our Na Pali coast raft adventure, and Japanese Grandma's Cafe was one of the only restaurants open on Sunday. Well we were very happy we went here because the food and drinks were delicious! We ordered the Hibiscus Mint iced tea and the Raspberry Lemonade for drinks, and the Hanapepe sushi roll and Chicken Karaage Bento Bowl. We devoured every last crumb. The seating was lovely - outside with string lights. Our server was attentive and fast. Highly recommend! read more