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    Katsu Zen

    4.2 (31 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Two side shrimp 7.00
    Toma C.

    Went here hoping for an authentic Japanese experience. The atmosphere definitely gives you that Japan feel, but unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to it. The pork tonkatsu was dry, while the chicken katsu was fine. My picture makes it look really yummy, but honestly, it wasn't as good as it looks or like the pictures we saw. There is valet parking, but honestly, who wants to valet? We parked about two blocks away, which wasn't too bad. We went around 2:00 PM and the wait wasn't bad. The restaurant is on the second floor. One thing I didn't really like was that you have to scan to order and pay, so we ended up having to do two separate transactions for our order. When you order your main dish, it also asks if you want to add side items, like one shrimp. I didn't love that setup because there isn't really anyone there to help guide you through the ordering process. Overall, the atmosphere does a good job of mimicking Japan, but with the dry tonkatsu and ordering experience, I'm not sure we'd come back.

    Ann B.

    I had a really nice solo dining experience at Katsuzen Hawaii -- it almost felt like I was transported to Japan. Coming alone didn't feel awkward at all, since there were plenty of other solo diners and couples seated next to each other. The stalls have sliding panels you can open a bit if you're with someone, which is a thoughtful touch. I was seated almost immediately when I walked in (a few stalls were open). The greeter pointed out the bag holder under the table for my purse, showed me the QR code for ordering, and that was it. I ordered the 240g pork katsu, which comes with a bowl of rice, soup, cabbage, and a side of pickled veggies. Chopsticks and condiments were already set on the side. Food and drinks arrived in about 10 minutes through the little window -- you only see hands, not faces, along with a polite "thank you." It felt traditional, friendly, and efficient. Taste-wise, the breading does fall off a little and the pork is a bit dry, but the overall quality is still good. I genuinely enjoyed eating by myself and recharging. Once you're finished, there's a free dessert (a small fruit tart) as a nice treat. If you want more cabbage, rice, or water, just ring the bell and someone will help. Since you pay when you order, you can simply leave when you're done. The location is convenient: second floor of 808 Sheridan Street. Head up the stairs and the entrance is immediately on the left. Street parking near Walmart or parking at Walmart and walking over both work well. Would definitely come again. Great spot if you want a peaceful meal by yourself or just need a quiet break.

    Michelle D.

    I took my other half here last week after a very stressful week at work. I was honestly just looking for somewhere we could eat, relax, and not feel forced to make conversation with anyone...and bingo, I found Katsu Zen. First of all, I LOVE katsu. Second, I really love my quiet time. So this place already checked both boxes for me. When we first walked in, I immediately loved how introvert-friendly the setup was. You basically have your own little private dining space with dividers between you and the person you're with. I was going to zen out but I really wanted to talk to my partner so we moved the divider and just enjoyed each other's company. The service was still great despite how private everything felt. A gentleman walked us through how everything worked when we arrived. You order through the mobile app and ring the bell whenever you need service. Even the way they bring your food out feels like a little magic window appearing with your meal. And the food -- the katsu portions were MASSIVE and definitely worth the price. We also ordered the shrimp a la carte, and it was so buttery and delicious. I got the katsu bowl set, while my partner ordered one of the other sets, and we both really enjoyed everything. They even finished our meal with a cute, delicate complimentary dessert, which was such a nice touch. Overall, I would definitely come back, especially on those days when I want some peace and quiet and GOOD food. If you love katsu and occasionally want to be left alone while you eat it, this place is for you.

    Yuri H.

    I got the shrimp katsu don and the overall portion was big. Tonjiru was just ok. The shrimp were huge, but the quality was just okay to me. I tried my bf's tonkatsu and it was good. I would get tonkatsu here. I liked the seating setup, It reminded me of Ichiran where you can just focus on your food and not really have to interact with anyone.

    Dessert
    David L.

    Overall this was a good place to eat. I went with my son. You can fold the divider so you can talk to your dining companion. Food was excellent. I upgraded to the pork soup which was good also. The only negative was that we rang the bell when we were ready for dessert and didn't get a response. The second time we rang someone came. It seemed like there was only one person in the back doing everything. In

    Your space
    Myning C.

    Travel to Japan without the airfare! Authenric Katsu joint ....totally be Zen and not talk to anyone! You order from your phone and if you need anything - more rice- more cabbage you hand them a woodwn tag- generous portions - Wished the tea was complimentary tho! Overall good experience if you feel like dining solo!

    Katsu don
    Maki K.

    We came to try this Tonkatsu place! As you know their seatings are "ICHIRAN RAMEN" style. Interesting. You can move the separation. Menchi was 3pc for $9! Pretty good! Katsu don 240g was generous portion for $21. We were not sure if that katsu don is prepared in a same way as we know. The answer is yes and no lol hahaha basically bottom part is katsu don rice which rice and egg with katsu don sauce but not cooked with tonkatsu. Tonkatsu is just like topping over the katsu don rice. Does it make sense?? This way you can enjoy both tonkatsu sauce and katsu don. Anyway it was good to try new place!

    Located on the second floor of the 808 Center
    Nadine C.

    Lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... Katsu Zen is a Hot New Business that took the place of Little G Cafe (known for the pizza) on the second floor of the 808 Center. We went early to get one of the twelve seats. We put pur name on the list and got seated in about ten minutes. It was noon time and we beat the crowd! Note: I had found free street parking! Yay! If you want to park in the building, there's a valet for the structure. My seat was to the far right, next to the plexiglass wall. It was hot because the fan wasn't blowing in my direction and the doors were open. I do not recommend sitting in Seat #1. The gal at the door was very friendly and helpful. She called me "auntie", put me on the list, and let me know when two seats were available together. I got the tonkatsu 180g pork loin. It was thick and crunchy on the outside from the panko. The rice was fluffy, the miso soup was tasty, and we wished that we could have more tsukemono. Yum! We could have asked for more rice, water, or salad by handing the staff one of the cards that hung on our wall - but we were really full! Everything was right there in our separate cubby hole: napkins, chopsticks, sauce, and salad dressing. We also enjoyed pouring our own water and grinding our sesame seeds set before us! The opening of the window was the highlight! It was a fun experience! We used the QR code to order, pay, and tip. It was a very efficient system!

    Fruit tart
    Brad R.

    I'm really, really sad about this review, but it needs to be said. I was SO hyped to try Katsu Zen after seeing all the Instagram posts building it up. Maybe that raised the bar too high. Billed as "Hawaii's first solo dining experience serving tonkatsu and katsudon," it's basically a straight-up copy of an Ichiran, but with katsu instead of ramen. Very fun concept. Makes for some GREAT social media content. But unfortunately, that's about all you're getting here. You walk in and there are two kids manning the fort. No "Irasshaimase!" No explanation of how this supposedly "first-in-Hawaii dining experience" works. Just a nonchalant, "You can sit anywhere." I was fine, but I can imagine some people already being completely lost at this point. You sit down at one of the 9-ish individual dining stalls, scan a QR code, order, pre-pay (and pre-tip) for your meal. Then the screen rolls up. A faceless cook's torso silently slides you a cool aluminum cup and mini pitcher of water. Screen closes. At this point, the vibes are still vibing. A few minutes later (and to their credit, service is quick!) the screen rolls up again. A tray of food silently slides into your stall as you film your TikTok. Vibes still high. You're excited. But you're slightly disappointed when the headless worker doesn't bow before closing the screen. Such a small, seemingly insignificant micro-detail, but one that humanizes the typical Ichiran experience. And then you sit there. Silently. Alone. Plenty of time to start looking around. And that's when the cracks begin to show. The dining wall is cheap plywood with hundreds of construction staples completely exposed. You look up and wonder whether a sudden gust of wind will blow one of the fake potted plants above your stall onto your head. Or whether the entire Temu shelf is coming down with it. The water tastes a little funny. Then you look at your tray and literally laugh out loud at the GINORMOUS bowl of miso soup that could be a serving pot for a family of 4 in Tokyo. You reach for the katsu sauce and realize there's only one, when basically every other tonkatsu restaurant gives you 2 or 3 options (sweet, spicy, miso, etc.). You follow the "How to Enjoy" instructions in front of you. Step one: savor the first bite of katsu on its own. Okay. It's nicely breaded and fried. The pork itself is... okay. Not bad, but not particularly juicy or flavorful. Just okay. Next step: try it with salt or karashi. Great! Except there's no little plate provided for the salt. So you hastily devour the tsukemono and commandeer that dish instead. As you eat, you peek through the screen and realize you've made the tactical error of choosing a seat directly in front of the deep fryer about 4 feet away. Ah. THAT'S why it's so hot. You begin sweating in the tiny, un-air-conditioned room. Meanwhile, the two servers (? greeters?) are standing directly behind you because the restaurant is extremely narrow. Absolutely not their fault, but after a while it feels like they're breathing down your neck and watching your every move. And you begin to wonder what exactly their job is, considering the entire ordering, payment, serving, and bussing process is handled by a computer and kitchen workers through the screen. Then you reach your final piece of katsu. You chew it for a few seconds. And unceremoniously spit the entire thing back onto your plate when you realize that literally 1/5th of your entrée is one completely inedible piece of fat. Wonderful. You press the button to say you're finished and would like your included dessert. The screen opens. You cringe as the kitchen worker clearly notices the chewed-up, spit-out fat sitting on your plate and simply closes the screen, again without a bow. And then the dessert arrives. You uncontrollably laugh out loud again at the miniature 1.5" fruit tart. It's actually quite tasty! Nothing to write home about, but perfectly good, albeit Smurf-sized. Then you remember the MEGA XXL miso soup and literal LOL again at the comical juxtaposition. Finally, you stand up to leave and get an enthusiastic farewell from the two servers. Nice kids! Again, still not entirely sure what their job is, but genuinely nice kids. You walk out the door and immediately make a mental note to call in your next reservation at Tamafuji because you're still craving some good tonkatsu. All in all, Katsu Zen was a deeply disappointing experience. The concept is cool. The presentation is fun. The Instagram Reel practically makes itself. But once the novelty wears off, what's left feels less like a thoughtfully executed Japanese solo-dining experience and more like someone copied the most visually recognizable parts of Ichiran without understanding all the tiny details that make the original concept actually work. Culinarily and culturally, it's a confusing American attempt at an "authentic Japanese dining experience" that falls flat. Great for the 'Gram. But for the actual meal? Pass.

    Pork Loin set
    Rodney G.

    Solo dining at its finest. Katsu Zen Hawaii brings a very familiar Japanese concept to Oahu where you can eat alone in privacy, have zero interaction with staff (but staff is very nice) and not have the social anxiety of eating alone. Basically you have your own partitioned off table and a stool to sit on. Everything can be ordered and paid for through a QR code and then your food comes to you directly in front of you from the kitchen through a window which stays covered other than it being raised to deliver your food. Got the pork loin set which is a pretty safe bet when trying out a new Katsu restaurant and it didn't disappoint. I believe it was a bit discounted as well since it's their opening week and I also got a complimentary mochi ice cream at the end! There's about an 11 or 12 seat capacity and the partitions which provide privacy between each person looked like it could be folded in for the rare occasion that you wanna dine with someone else as well. Hahaha. I used the valet at 808 Center for parking. It was like $2 an hour. The valet guy (Kevin) is always really nice. Chill dude. Easy to talk to and he's really good at telling you exact directions on how to get to any business that's in the center; as it can get a bit confusing finding places in there.

    Dan A.

    I was hungry, so off to Katsu Zen in the 808 Sheridan Center. I don't cook and as a bachelor, I am not averse to solo dining as a concept. Actually, couples and groups dine here and the host will try to accomodate. Soft opening discount is still available. I ordered the 240g Katsudon set via QR code. I came hungry and I left 100% full...can't recall the last time I was that full outside of a buffet. I should not have drank the ice cold water provided - in a carafe and stainless steel cup. Dashi wasn't subtle enough in the sauce, but not enough to for me to not enjoy my meal. I came hungry; I left full. If you like tonkatsu, in general, you have to visit.

    Kyle J.

    The food was great for the price, we ordered the tonkatsu, shrimp side order and the donburi. This style is similar to the ichiran setting where you service yourself. It's a great for small group or yourself. Highly recommend, def try it out this place.

    Tonkatsu smaller set.
    K G.

    First off, I am 100% a fan of the hitori solo dining experience. I wish I could go through life never having to awkwardly talk to other people. Katsu Zen makes this very easy. That said, I did bring my other half with me, who is definitely more sociable than I am. So we were able to open the divider between our booths, which was nice. The door greeter who takes names for the waitlist is very polite, but also very short spoken. And all the ordering and paying is done on your phone. The food is served through a rollup blind. They even have wooden tokens for commonly reordered stuff, like more water or more rice. All the utensils, seasonings, napkins, sauces, and such are in a small area in the booth. So you truly can avoid all contact with people if you wish to. I ordered the menchi katsudon. The wife had the smaller tonkatsu set. Our food came with sides I upgraded to the pork vegetable soup, while the wife got the regular miso. And the set includes pickled vegetables, cabbage and both meals came with a free dessert. The menchi katsudon was very good, crispy panko and well seasoned, although the ground pork was still rocket hot after cooking. And the portion of pork was super big. The donburi bowl was also good. The egg and onions were cooked and seasoned well. The rice seemed a slightly higher quality than your usual plate lunch Diamond-G or Hinode stuff. And the pork/vegetable upgrade soup was well worth the extra $1.50. Soothing and perfect for a cold day or if your throat is hurting. But again, it was also very filling. I found myself tapping out before too long. The tonkatsu set we ordered was also well done and generous. I might have liked the Tokatsu Tamfugi a bit better when they still had the Japanese chefs working there. But this one is pretty close. The cabbage was fresh, clean (not all places have the patience to clean cabbage correctly) , and paired nicely with the sesame dressing. The pickled vegetables were also good. The desserts were perfect one-bites. Especially since we were both full. They were little tart-ish things that had (I think) ice cream inside and topped with a grape half and strawberry slice. So cute and just the perfect not-too-sweet little bite to end the meal. The restaurant is still waiting for its liquor license to come through. So the meal would have been great with a beer tbh. Guess I'll have to try back. But for now, this is a solid recommend, ESPECIALLY if you don't like to people. Hope they keep it up.

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    4.4(4.6k reviews)
    2.8 miKalihi
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    You have to put your name on the Yelp waitlist outside and they will call you. It was a 15 minute…read morewait for lunch on a Wednesday. Our last meal in Hawaii - a great way to end our vacation. The lomi salmon was fresh and added a great cold to our hot dishes. The ribs were tender and paired wonderfully with the white onion. The lau lau reminded me of southern collard greens - tender and delicious. The butterfish was my favorite. It was crispy and full of flavor. The haupia was complementary and it was soft and delicious - not too sweet. Service was quick and friendly. They explain how to eat each dish and what to pair it with. The owner of the restaurant was the cashier. He explained that his grandma opened the restaurant and they've kept it open for 80 years. He was so sweet. You simply cannot come to Oahu and never try this restaurant. Absolutely amazing experience

    I was looking forward to eating at Helena's Hawaiian Food, but unfortunately my experience with the…read moreservice was incredibly disappointing. When ordering, I mentioned that I probably wouldn't be able to finish all of my food and would take the rest to go. Because I said that, I was told I would NOT be allowed to eat inside the restaurant and that my entire order had to be takeout. I was honestly shocked. I was a paying customer ordering a full meal and simply said I would take whatever I couldn't finish with me--which is something people do at restaurants every day. I even added a 20% tip to my order. I tried to explain the misunderstanding at the front counter. I explained that I absolutely wanted to eat my meal there; I was only saying that because I knew I wouldn't be able to finish everything, I wanted to take my leftovers with me afterward. The employee at the front counter with tattoos refused to hear my explanation. Her answer was completely black-and-white: either my order was "to go" OR I could eat it there. There was no willingness to listen to what I was actually saying or resolve what should have been a very simple misunderstanding. Their customer service model simply doesn't make any sense to me. Why should a paying customer be forced to choose between eating their entire meal inside or ordering everything to go simply because they know in advance that they'll need a container for their leftovers? Taking home food you don't finish is an ordinary part of dining at a restaurant. I wasn't asking for anything unusual or special. I simply wanted to sit down, eat the food I had purchased, and take whatever I couldn't finish with me afterward. The interaction felt unnecessarily rude and incredibly unwelcoming. I had specifically come here because I wanted to experience a well-known local Hawaiian restaurant, and instead I was made to feel like I wasn't welcome to sit down and eat the food I had just purchased--even after leaving a 20% tip. Unfortunately, I never even got the opportunity to enjoy the restaurant because of how I was treated. Very disappointing experience and definitely not the kind of hospitality I expected.

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food - New larger inside dining area

    New larger inside dining area

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    Menu B: Kalua Pig And Pipikaula Short Ribs

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    Highway Inn Kaka'ako - Mochiko Chicken

    Highway Inn Kaka'ako

    4.1(2k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Highway Inn is highly recommended for their classic Hawaiian dishes. We made our way over at…read moreopening last Thursday for an early lunch. Our server was very helpful and even brought out a pamphlet explaining each dish. After reading it over, the three of us decided to each try one of the signature Hawaiian combo plates. LAU LAU COMBO (PORK) - 22.99 + poi + lomi salmon The set came out in cafeteria-style trays, almost like a grade school lunch. Our server recommended eating the main entree and lomi salmon with poi, a fermented taro paste. Judging by how it looked, I thoroughly expected the poi to be sweet, but it was actually much more sour, almost like yogurt. I didn't enjoy it too much on its own, but it worked incredibly well with the pork lau lau. The pork was mostly tender and juicy, with a fragrant, leafy steamed flavor that reminded me of the Chinese zong zi my mom makes. The leaner parts of the pork were a bit dry, but the steamed taro leaves helped. The lomi salmon (salted salmon mixed with onions and tomatoes) was refreshing, although the pungent raw onions were a bit much for me. The 'uala (steamed sweet potatoes) had a natural, earthy sweetness that we all enjoyed. Lastly, the haupia (coconut pudding) was incredibly tasty, with a strong coconut flavor that made me sad when I took my last bite. One of my friends got the chicken lau lau, which we actually enjoyed even more. The chicken was delicious, and there was so much of it. Overall, we enjoyed getting to try some authentic Hawaiian dishes at Highway Inn, especially our server and the pamphlet gave us a better understanding of what we were eating.

    When the tattoo artist tells you where to eat Hawaiian food... you listen!…read more While we were in Hawaii, we told my husband's tattoo artist that we really wanted to try some Hawaiian food. Not the touristy version. We wanted to actually experience some of the local food, and she recommended Highway Inn Restaurant & Catering. So of course, we had to give it a try! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt very laid-back and comfortable. Nothing overly fancy or trying too hard. It had that relaxed, home-style feeling where you could just sit down, eat, and enjoy yourself. Now let's talk about the food! I had the BBQ chicken with rice and salad, and that chicken was so tender! The barbecue sauce was absolutely delicious, and surprisingly, that salad was GOOD too. I loved the dressing they served with it. The hubby went more traditional and ordered the Lau Lau with pork, which gave us exactly what we came for, a chance to experience Hawaiian food while we were here. But y'all... I have to mention something completely random. THE COKE! I don't know what was going on with that Coke, but it tasted like Coke used to taste back in the day! I kept saying, "Now THIS tastes like a Coke!" Sometimes it really is the little things. The service was great. Our server was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. No complaints at all. As far as value, absolutely worth what we paid. Good food, good portions, friendly service, and a relaxed atmosphere. 4.5/5 Would we go back? Definitely. Especially if we wanted another casual spot for Hawaiian comfort food. And shout-out to the tattoo artist because she definitely didn't steer us wrong on this one!

    Photos
    Highway Inn Kaka'ako
    Highway Inn Kaka'ako - KALUA PIG NACHOS,FRIED RICE & SOUR CREAM

    KALUA PIG NACHOS,FRIED RICE & SOUR CREAM

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    Rainbow Drive-In - Solid little place for some local food

    Rainbow Drive-In

    3.8(6.1k reviews)
    2.3 miKaimuki
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    62 years in business

    There was something very right about this drive in!! I stopped by for a quick dinner with the fam…read moreand ended up enjoying this place a lot more than I thought I would. I didn't expect much from this small corner diner, but everything turned out real solid! The exterior is especially entrancing, with its bright, rainbow neon sign that glows out the darkness of the night! The hooded interior was clean and followed well with the rainbow theme, especially with its rainbow pastel, title wallpaper. I would also like to compliment the workers, who were very nice and approachable! We ordered the loco moco plate, mixed plate, and saimin. Both plates were very filling and came in huge portions! The plates are for sure a top choice if you want a nice, hearty dinner! I especially enjoyed my loco moco! The saimin was less filling and came in an instant noodle cup. Still yet, it wasn't half bad--and it actually seems like a fairly good piece if you are on a diet or budget; it wasn't as expensive as the other dishes and only came out as 220 calories! I also want to note that they have a variety of tasty dessert pastries and icee treats if you are looking for a treat after your dinner. Overall, I would say this is a great diner to try if you've got a big appetite and are looking for something to share with a friend or family! Great vibes and great Hawaiian plate meals!

    My family, across multiple generations, has been going here for decades, close to back when they…read morefirst opened. We have homes in the neighborhood. And we just can't go here anymore unless changes are made! We used to prefer them over Zippy's, but now they are less than 7-Eleven quality, while charging higher-end prices for the neighborhood. We have given them many chances, hoping it was just a fluke, but we have repeatedly been disappointed. Their chicken has become chewy and fatty, their rice is mediocre, and condiments such as mayonnaise are stripped down to the bare minimum quantity. Chile is poured so lightly that it is practically a minuscule amount. And their prices have continued to rise. I don't know if greedy people took over the restaurant who just don't care anymore, or what is going on. I remember when I used to take people here, and they would be impressed with the quality and quantity--plates just heaping with good cuts of meat, noodles, and rice. Those days are no more. As they say in Japan, the price performance is poor. Furthermore, their staff is rude. I can only imagine it was an owner working this day because it was a face I haven't seen that often. An older gentleman who appeared to be of Okinawan descent, working the cashier register, accosted us because I was privately discussing with my family about splitting different items with them. We were all ordering something, so he wasn't losing any money, but he told us about how prices are double in Waikīkī. First of all, it is rude to interrupt your customers that way. Secondly, we don't go to Waikīkī or care about Waikīkī. What happened to serving the locals? Third, Waikīkī has an assortment of restaurants, prices, and qualities, and they shouldn't be how you base your services. Lastly, I guarantee I could find a better deal in Waikīkī if I wanted to. Next time you're in the area, just go get a $6 bento or a $5 burrito from 7-Eleven next door. I assure you, the price performance and experience will be better. If Rainbow Drive-In is in the business of comparing themselves to other things, let's compare them to 7-Eleven and at least try to be better than them, right? I can get mochiko chicken from 7-Eleven for $6.99 that is similar in portion size and better quality. Meanwhile, they are serving their fatty, dry chicken for $16.75. Highway robbery! And they are not fancy, with their dirty picnic tables and plastic cutlery. They are just a step above a food truck, if that. Save yourself from the hype. They have gone downhill like a landslide. Go elsewhere.

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    Rainbow Drive-In - Rainbows mixed plate

    Rainbows mixed plate

    Rainbow Drive-In - Loco Moco Plate

    Loco Moco Plate

    Rainbow Drive-In - Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

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    Turns out I was wearing my GRAVY ALL OVER shirt so I had to get a pic with my loco moco!

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    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5(5.5k reviews)
    1.9 miWaikiki
    $

    Musubi Cafe is such a fun, local gem, but be ready for a wait. We went early, midday timing, and…read morethe line was already about 15 people with roughly a 30 minute wait. It moves steadily though, and it is worth it. Inside is tiny, just one small table, so this is really an order and go kind of place rather than somewhere to sit and eat. They have every musubi combination you could think of, unagi, avocado, cucumber, egg, bacon, ume, tofu skin, shrimp, you name it. I got the tuna mayo onigiri and wished they had packed in a little more tuna filling, but it was still tasty. I also tried the cucumber spam musubi, which was really good too. We came as a group of seven and everyone ordered something different, and everyone loved every bite. My tip: get at least two musubis per person. A few people in our group got four each and had zero regrets. One thing to know ahead of time is parking. It is street parking only and pretty limited, so plan for that if you are driving. Overall such an easy, yummy stop and a great local experience in Waikiki.

    We came here because it was highly rated and my sister saw it in a viral Instagram video. The first…read moretime, we ordered the tuna musubi, but it had so much rice and barely any tuna. We decided to come back the next day and order the "Double Tuna," thinking it would actually have double the tuna. Instead, it seemed like the same small amount of tuna with double the rice! We ordered around eight of them, so it was especially disappointing to find that they were mostly rice. The portions just don't feel balanced. If someone pays extra for "Double Tuna," they're expecting more tuna, NOT extra rice. Unfortunately, it felt like they were really skimping on the filling, and the quality didn't live up to the hype for us.

    Photos
    Musubi Cafe Iyasume - Inside the shop

    Inside the shop

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume - Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink

    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume - Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

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    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

    Fresh Catch - Ahi Limu and Spicy Salmon Poke Bowl

    Fresh Catch

    4.3(1.5k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    To start, Fresh Catch was my favorite poke spot that I tried during our Hawaii trip. We walked in a…read morecouple Saturdays ago for lunch, and the interior had no-frills, seafood-market, straight-to-the-counter-to-order kind of vibes. There was only simple bench seating and high-top counter tables with no chairs. We loved that we could sample some before making a choice. POKE BOWL +2 for white rice Since poke is charged by the pound, I went crazy. "A bit more!" I would say, after one gigantic scoop. I got a scoop-plus of both ahi shoyu and "old school" ahi, which is seasoned simply with sesame oil and salt. I ended up with about 0.7 pounds of fish (both 29.99/lb), which came out to around $22. The rice wasn't great since it was a bit mushy and clumpy, but the star of the show was the fresh tuna. The "old school" ahi was my favorite for its simplicity and addictive sesame flavor. It's one I could easily enjoy without rice. The shoyu was also great, but it got a bit too saucy and overwhelming after a few bites. Overall, I truly enjoyed eating all that fresh poke. It was easily my favorite poke of the trip. ICED LILIKOI PASSION TEA - 5 I asked for less sweet, and it was perfect. It was refreshing and smooth, making it great to sip on whenever I needed a break from the intensity of the poke. I'm so glad I got this to pair with my bowl. Next time, I'll get a poke bowl with the "old school" ahi and furikake salmon. I tried my friend's salmon, and it was nutty and umami-forward, with fatty, rich salmon that I really enjoyed.

    Poke was fresh and good! $15.89 ($29.99/lb) + extra white…read morerice $1.75 The new location is a bit complicated for me, but I would still go there if I'm in the area.

    Photos
    Fresh Catch - Visit 09/2025

    Visit 09/2025

    Fresh Catch - 5 different types of poke, side of rice with furikake, and cucumbers

    5 different types of poke, side of rice with furikake, and cucumbers

    Fresh Catch - Hawaiian ahi

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    Hawaiian ahi

    Katsu Zen - japanese - Updated September 2026

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