Many of you sushi nerds already know Onodera Sushi bc they have 2 omakase sushi spots in LA (which has a Michelin star) and in Honolulu. So when it was announced they were bringing in their Tokyo based kaitensushi spot to HI, sushi nerds rejoiced. Now HI diners can casually eat bluefin tuna supplied from the Yamayuki group. Some of you may have already become familiar with Yamayuki since they were featured Eater.com's Tuna King video on YouTube. The owner is a celebrity in Japan and is known for being one of the top tuna brokers in the world. They supply all types of tuna, of various quality, to clients ranging from Tokyo's elite omakase spots (like Sushi Saito, Sushi Arai, Sawada, etc.) to the reputable, quiet neighborhood joints that locals tend to gatekeep.
So fast forward to opening week (the last week of April 2024) and I was able to eat there 2x. Did it live up to its name? If we are considering kaitensushi (conveyor belt sushi) options in HI and even the US as a whole, then yes, I would even say this is the best kaitensushi spot in the US atm, especially if you prefer edomae sushi. Crazy statement, right? But my line of reasoning, although flimsy, is this: I was lucky to eat at their Tokyo spot a couple years ago. If the HI location is 70% as good as the Tokyo location, then it's still better than all of the kaitensushi spots in the US. Look, Sushi Bay in Kapolei is better than most of the sad kaitensushi offerings in CA and NY, and this place is two tiers above it. Those two states also got some 'higher end' kaitensushi options that I haven't tried but they barely look better than Sushi Bay. Yes, CA and NY is not all of the US, but in my opinion, CA, NY, and HI are the only states that matter when it comes to good sushi options for all price ranges. Its closest competitor in the US, Katsumidori (Waikiki), is not even kaitensushi, so we cant technically compare the two, but having said that, this place still ranks above them in quality.
OK, SO ITS GOOD, BUT IS IT WORTH IT? The higher price may be off putting for some but I feel it's worth it bc it fills a void among sushi options in HI (and the US as well). We now have the opportunity to eat authentic edomae sushi in a casual kaitensushi setting. I think it's priced accordingly given the state of inflation in our economy. Now if you talking about value or "cost performance", then I say it's pretty darn good if youre here for the bluefin. Thats all I care about if I'm being honest. The other sushi pieces range from average to excellent.
BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THE QUALITY AT [INSERT HIGH END OMAKASE SPOT] IS BETTER THO. Yeah, no s**t Sherlock. Here's the thing, sushi is one of those things where you get what you pay for. The best stuff will always be set aside to be sold to the best restaurants, or to that one connected person(s). You want the best tuna in Tokyo, you have to go to a place like Sushi Arai or Sawada bc Yamayuki will only offer his best to that type of client (established relationship, great reputation, $$$). Its similar in HI, the best local ahi goes to people or business that have the relationship and the money. And the only ones getting that quality for cheap/free are the close family and friends of these fishermen/seafood brokers. Everyone else pays market price which is passed on to the customer. Also, you pay for the experience and skill of the omakase sushi chef. Can the chefs here do just as good of a job? Maybe, but it would be near impossible to prepare that quality of sushi for the volume of customers during their longer operating hours (1030am to 1030pm), whereas omakase chefs usually only serve two seatings of around 5-10 people per day. This is a casual spot that intends to offer very good quality, not the best quality. Therefore comparing the quality here to an established omakase restaurant is an UNFAIR comparison. I went crazy during my first visit and ordered $170 worth of sushi on myself and it was a s**tload of food. The equivalent amount at an omakase spot would be $500 and thats assuming they let you order extra pieces after the fixed course. So yes, the quality is not A+ like their Kapahulu spot, but that's to be expected, and it's still good enough for me. And I get to eat more food.
BUT THE TOKYO LOCATION IS BETTER THO. True but that shouldnt be a knock on this place. Look, nothing will be better than the Japanese location. This goes for all Japan based restaurants. The reasons are obvious (closer proximity to seafood markets which means more availability and lower cost, more options for local food items/produce, deeper applicant pool for kitchen staff, etc.) DUH. These differences are impossible to overcome and should not be factored in the review.
FINAL SCORE: 4.25 stars read more