Wonderful Dinner tonight! The staff was amazing and the food was fantastic!! Debated to go to other Japanese establishments in Kaneohe and we are happy we decided to eat here! read more

Kenko Ya - Tiger sushi was fabulous! So fresh! Inari Nigiri so good! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This quaint, quiet little restaurant is tucked in the corner of Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center. Stopped in for lunch while we waited for our tire to be changed, and was NOT disappointed! The staff was welcoming without being overbearing, and we got a table quickly. They have a pretty extensive menu that ranges from like bowls to steak & lobster that all comes with a complimentary bowl of Miso soup. They also have an awesome sushi menu. Speaking of the food, can we say AWESOME!! I ordered a "Ten Don" bowl. That's a bowl FULL of rice that's topped with shrimp and vegetable tempura. Very simple, yet flavorful and filling. If you're in the Kaneohe area and want GOOD Japanese food, definitely give this place a try. read more

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Every time i come to Kaneohe i always eat lunch or dinner in this place! Its so good!! Here the reviews: -Ambience: cute small place but at the same time can host big groups! -Service: staff is friendly! :) -Restrooms: You have to go out the restaurant and go all the way to the back, it wasnt that clean... -Food: Now here comes the good part! I think Kenko-ya has one of the best butterfish in the island so if you decide to come here, this is a must!! I always order the combination meal (2 choices - $17.95) (3 choices - $22.95) I always pick butterfish Misoyaki and something else out of their 17 choices. This time i chose Spicy ahi! It was a little too spicy for me but with rice it was just perfect! Overall, i will still come back to this place and keep getting that Misoyaki butterfish! Its delicious!!! read more

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We had a $50 gift certificate from Christmas 2014 that was never used so we took my parents to Kenko-Ya. It's as small as you'd expect from looking from the outside. I'd say there are about 12 tables ranging from 2-6 in a party. I'd say this is a smaller Gyotaku in regards to their menu. One of the first things that I noticed when sitting down at the table. Most Japanese restaurants have shoyu, togarashi, and maybe pepper on the table. Well at Kenko-Ya, they have a small shelf mounted on the wall to have more table space. If you're right handed, I'd suggest you not sit by the wall as that shelf gets in your way. Better suited for a lefty. Nothing really special on the menu that sets them apart from any other restaurants. The food was good. I had the shrimp tempura and spicy ahi teishoku. I thought the taste was good...2 shrimp, 2 green beans, 2 eggplant, 1 carrot and 1 sweet potato. The spicy ahi was the way I like it...not too much mayonnaise. The wife and boys got the udon. The soup was warm and noodles were a little overcooked but the soup base was like Marukame Udon. Overall an average dining experience. But let me get back to the gift certificate I spoke about at the beginning of this review. On the certificate, it expired one year after it was purchased which was last December. I checked on the Hawaii DCCA website to make sure a new rule about gift certificates and gift cards. Remember that all gift certificates are valid for 2 years and gift cards 5 years. Check out this link to verify. http://cca.hawaii.gov/blog/gift-certificate-law/ The waitress didn't want to accept the gift certificate but I let her know about the 2 year rule. After explaining and her speaking to someone behind the counter, she let me use it. Would I go back again...yes. read more

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This is my go to place when I come home for a visit. I like the new space which is a lot bigger. The butterfish misoyaki is my fav! The owner and staff are so nice! read more

First time here & we enjoyed ourself. Customer service was really nice. Loved their Miso soup & everything we ordered in picture (: read more

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Lunch was a very pleasant surprise!!! When you enter, it looks like a fast food restaurant with tables on both sides. Tables are separated with little Japanese "fences"....really quite charming and gives the tables some privacy. The reasonably priced combinations were quite good and filling.....I had the grilled salmon and the tempura combo. Service was good, portions generous, atmosphere pleasant. Great place for a nice Japanese lunch....I would DEFINITELY go there again.... read more

Decided to head over to the Windward side with friends who have been to Kenko Ya before. Waited about 15 mins so not too bad for 4 people. A couple friends shared a few sushi rolls & seemed to like them. I got the combo with Misoyaku Butterfish & Tonkatsu. It was yummy & enough to fill up my tummy. Price not bad either. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat there but was a fun "road trip" from town. read more

Hmm went here on a tip from a friend. 2 choice Teshokus for around $12 is quite a bargin! Choose from Shrimp & Veg temura, Veg tempura, sashimi, Misoyaki butterfish, salmon, mochiko chicken, teriyaki beef or chicken, grilled saba. (theres more, thats all i could think of) i got the Sashimi and mochiko chicken, it was so good.. 5 pieces of sashimi (3 ahi & 2 salmon) ahi was super soft and perfect, salmon was just ok (regular) wish it was all ahi. Mochiko chicken was crispy tender and sweet.. yumm.. Someone from another table even came over and asked "What did you order? That looks so good." and it was. my brother got the 6 peice spice tuna nigiri.. it was SUPER good. best spicy tuna i ever ate.. better than genki which seems to be the gold standard when it comes to spicy tuna. Advice: its a small restaurant, and i hear that there can be quite a line forming outside during dinner time.. i went at lunch on a week day, it was fine no line, no problem getting a seat. If youre a fan of spicy tuna sushi, this is a must! i might have given it 5 stars if i could eat here more often and try more stuff off the menu. read more

There are some restaurants that resonate so strongly with our sense of tranquility that it allows us to savor and appreciate momentous scenes of jollity. Allowing an individual to be insouciant in their temperaments, the grandeurs of delectable food aid in de-stressing someone and enveloping them in the warmth of comfort. Located in the beautifully lush Kaneohe, Kenko-ya provides an atmosphere of exceptional peace with excellently crafted Japanese cuisine that has delighted many. In the confines of a congenial atmosphere, Kenko-ya allows visitors a delightful area to have carefully crafted meals that are brilliantly presented in pleasantly adorned, traditional Japanese bento boxes. As soon as you enter the quaint, picturesque restaurant of cultivated Japanese culture, you are greeted with a feeling of familiarity that sets the tone of a homely atmosphere. A petite area houses a tightly set seating area that encapsulates the feeling of snug comfort rather than spacious dissonance. Calming music like the assonance of smooth jazz and the atmospheric, ambient Bossa nova fill the room in fluid, pianissimo ambiance that allows one to relax and relish in the calmness this place exudes. The attention to detail is prominent as the titivated decorum on the walls enhance the ambiance of a fine, exquisite setting which provides the collective introduction to the food that will be partaken of. Virtuosos of Japanese cuisine, Kenko-ya provides affectionately composed, box-lunch stylized meals that reminded us of youthful comfort food. Do not commit to the faux pas in the impropriety of misunderstanding, this is not casually constructed food and the caliber of their work is extraordinaire. Taken to a vast menu, we were hard-pressed to pick a delectable combination from the riveting selection that included traditional favorites such as soft-shell crab, unagi (freshwater eel), chicken katsu, and sashimi (raw fish). Upon ordering from the extensive menu, a balmy green tea with a side of marinated bean sprouts and soybeans were delivered; enough to satisfy our initial food cravings. We were pleasantly surprised at the methodically organized box that contained each item ordered in a sophisticatedly systemized manner. Edgy flavorful saba, complimented by crunchy impactful mochiko chicken, and estranged next to sharp spicy ahi provided gleeful sustenance in the form of breathtaking flavors of varying disposition. To many, the conflicting flavors would seem disharmonious, but the simultaneous savory hints were complimented in a melodious fashion that was congruous to our palate. With such luscious food in front of us we had to constantly battle the desire to devour more food with the fullness of our stomachs. Kenko-ya allows for individuals to enjoy a Japanese meal of exceptional quality with riveting ambiance. A small eatery with huge character, this restaurant is pivotal if you are a true connoisseur of Japanese cuisine and culture. There are few places that provide a sorrowful feeling upon completion of a meal which attests to the level of tranquility this restaurant provides in the atmosphere they exude and the magnificent food they create. read more

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An unpretentious restaurant that is plain in it's decor. Covid complaint and not intimidating in adhering to it. Meaning, they didn't try to point a temperature gun to your head, which i extremely object to. Their food was superb. I am not a big eater so my husband and I ordered the rib-eye steak, lobster with vegetable tempura. We shared the one order of it and appreciated we were allowed to do so. We left the restaurant extremely satisfied, happy and we will return to this restaurant every month. It is unfortunate we did not take pics of our order. We were so hungry and immediately got into devouring our meal. The steak was cooked to our specs: medium well. It was juicy and well seasoned with a butter slab (you can choose a teriyaki sauce). I highly recommend the butter sauce and enjoy it's meat flavor. AND, the lobster tail. OMG! We split in half and it was plentiful enough in enjoying more than 4 moutful intake of it. It came along with shrimp/vegetable tempura. Two shrimp, eggplant and carrot. Along with a side edame/bean sprout side dish, miso soup and ranch dressing salad. For the total cost of 50.21. IT is well worth the splurge. Excellent service. read more

My favorite Japanese restaurant!! My favorite thing to order is the shrimp tempura with the beef teriyaki, although my kids love the butterfish misoyaki, mochiko chicken and the soft shell crab as well. So happy to have such an ono Japanese place in Kaneohe!! read more

I would recommend getting the combination meals. ~$14 for two choices of entrees. It also comes with miso soup, rice and salad. A little on the pricey side, for me anyways, but I was still impressed by the meal. I ordered mochiko chicken and vegetable tempura. The mochiko chicken was quite tasty. The portions were decent. Not a lot, but definitely not skimpy. The chicken was very filling considering I didn't finish all of it. And the tempura was very crunchy, which I love about tempura. Service was good. Water never ran low. Definitely will consider coming back if I'm on that side of the island! read more

Kenko Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Decided to eat here while waiting for my Mom to finish her shopping. Busy but still got seated right away. Ordered the combo, misoyaki butterfish and beef teriyaki. Came with miso soup, soy beans and veggies. Food and service was good. read more

Kenko Ya - Miso soup, soy beans and veggies. - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This was a terrific recommendation from a regular Diner... The restaurants was packed entire time that we were there... the service was friendly and hustled. During the prime dinner hour 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. there were always people waiting outside the front door for their To-Go order... My broiled salmon in combination with vegetable tempura with shrimp tempura was a winning combination. Fresh fish did not need any sauce and it was cooked perfectly. Tempura vegetables and shrimp were plentiful and lightly battered so the full flavors came through. Including tea and tip and we were out the door for less than $40 for 2 persons. read more

Been coming here for years...always friendly staff however the food thiis past time wasn't up to usuaal standards...had mochiko chixken and pirk tonkatsu which was burnt and dry....shouldn't have been served...hopefully it was an off night read more

Always Amazing Service had Melissa 2x and Both times shes been amazing, Sushi is Bomb, Miso is Bomb, Mochiko Chicken is the best I've had hands down! Tempura as well as udon is bomb...go check um out go!!!!! You wont be disappointed I promise read more

Kenko Ya - 2 choice Bento Box ,I couldnt finish it came with pickled veggies,edamame and Miso soup ,also had the hamachi sushi and the ahi crunch roll - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Overpriced and just ok. We needed a quick bite to fill the belly before heading over to do some sightseeing at the nearby temple. So we stopped in here for a light snack. I got the avocado and cucumber roll, friend got something with meat, and Alessandro got the natto roll and miso soup. The soup was really salty but everything else was reasonably good. Service was kind and efficient, parking is in the lot out front, and the ambience was clean and pleasant. Nothing much to rave or complain about. Three stars. read more

Kenko Ya - Hungry! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

I made reservation for 2 tables with 12 people in total. Confirmed the reservation the day before. When arrived, the waitress claimed no reservation was made, I showed them the calls that I made. Another elderly waitress accommodated us and took our orders. The food was great and the price are reasonable! All of our guests enjoyed the meals. read more

Word of advice: Dine in, don't do take out, especially over the phone. I was really excited to have Kenko-ya, even it was take out, since I've tried this place a couple times before hand, but after an exhausting phone order, I wasn't so happy. Now I get that this is a Japanese restaurant, an authentic one from my taste buds, but please, give the phone to someone who speaks english. She got my pork katsu order correct, but when it came to the sushi I swear I was yelling at her, and she still couldn't hear me, and after telling her three times that I wanted the spicy tempura roll, she kept asking, repeatedly "spicy ahi bowl?" So I finally said "You know sushi?!" and she finally got the message. Learned my lesson the hard way... Anyways, about the food. Got the pork katsun donburi. Lets just say it was interesting. The pork katsu was soggy but I'm assuming it's due to the fact that it was take out, and not the greatest katsu I've had. Next was the egg, usually donburi covers the entire top, they hardly had any egg. The sushi wasn't bad either, nothing spectacular either. The food here isn't horrible, the portions are good, but like the stars say, I've experienced better. read more

Kenko Ya - Pork Katsu Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Been here several times before but tonight was ehhhhhhh. Food was cold. Walked in at 8pm not busy yet slow service

I've been coming to this restaurant since the very beginning when they first opened. Back then they weren't as busy as nowadays, and their service was always great! With one of the owners manning the front she provided the best customer service and they have great food to compliment this! Coming here now is the same as before. The food quality is still awesome and service great, although the owner isn't working the front anymore. I ordered the combination with sashimi and tonkatsu. I normally don't order the sashimi, and was very happy with what was received. They give three pieces of ahi and two pieces of salmon sashimi, and quite hefty pieces I might add! The salmon sashimi was so soft and buttery, it just melts in your mouth. Also the tonkatsu was delicious as always being tender and moist. My boyfriend ordered the spicy ahi and unagi which he said was very good, with the unagi being very tasty! Five stars for great service, great food and up keeping these for a long time :) read more

Kenko Ya - Combo meal tonkatsu and sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Ordered the Pork Katsu Donburi. I really wanted to like it, but it just didn't have as much flavor like I've had in other donburis. Will give this place another try and order something different. read more

Oishi!! It was the perfect dinner for a quick stop. Will definitely come back recommend to others.. service was outstanding!

The absolute best Japanese place in Kaneohe! We always order take-out from here, and occasionally dine-in, and it's always delicious! The employees are super nice and the service is great. I definitely recommend this place!!! read more

Possibly the best rib eye i have had, bar none. Everything else was excellen!

This place kinda reminds me of Kunio's in Waikele. The food is very similar (if not the same) in quality. This restaurant is really small, so you could potentially be seated uncomfortably close to the next table... which sucks when some Chatty-Kathy chick is seated next to you but the food is great, and the hamachi tasted really fresh. Will definitely be back to try more! read more

Kenko Ya - Combo bento w/ teriyaki chix and fried oysters. Spicy hamachi crunch. Combo bento w/ grilled salmon and shrimp tempura. - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Please tell your employees not to remove their mask to shout to the customers that their order is ready. Especially if they are not behind the protective glass and a customer is standing there to order. read more

Yummy food nice variety. BYOB Tried tempura, gyoza, tonkatsu, and one udon bowl. All excellent flavor. Service pleasant and efficient. Food came very quickly and was very flavorful. We will be back read more

Casual neighborhood spot in a strip plaza, pretty busy. Service was fairly prompt though I never got a tea refill. Combos seem solid. Edamame and bean sprout salad were as expected, and miso soup okay. Quality and knifework on the sushi and sashimi were fine, definitely runs heavy on rice with the former. At least they know how to cook rice. Regular salad was boring. The real winner of the night is the butterfish, and probably the only thing worth writing home about. Skin was grilled for Asian eating and the fish was moist and tasty. Portion was right for conservative eaters. I'm not exactly racing back here since everything else was average and we were just looking for a grub spot, but I know I'd get that butterfish again. read more

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Easy call in ordering and pick-up. Fresh, delicious food with fairly large portions. Ordered the ahi with vegetables and rice. Enough for two meals or a meal and late night snack of the leftovers. read more

Awesome japanese food!lived oahu my whole life,never knew this place was here!been here twice now. I love there food!! read more

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Just left this place. Waited an hour no service. Everyone who was seated after us (which was more than half the restaurant) was served. Was told multiple times our food was on the way but It never came. They were only gonna give 15% off for their terrible customer service.. Not worth it. Worst restaurant on the island. Never been treated so badly. Never go there. We asked to speak to the manager but the manager didn't show up. Such an infuriating experience. This place doesn't deserve any star. read more

Love this place! Have been coming here for the last 10+ years! Service is awesome... all the staff are friendly and attentive. Food is top notch and so ono! read more

Had a great sushi and tempura date night here. Food was yummy and fresh. The real star was the service. Our server Melissa (Marissa?) may have provided the best service I've ever had. Super friendly, attentive but not intrusive. As we sat there and more customers came in she seemed to know them all by name. Will be adding it to our frequently visited restaurant list. read more

A hidden gem in Kaneohe. Great service from a very friendly staff and incredible sushi. The spicy ahi bowl is fantastic. This was one of the nest meals we had during our trip to Oahu, Japanese or otherwise. Highly recommended. read more

I am in love. Yup. In. Love. The husby and I came here 05.16.15 for dinner - I ordered the chirashi at the recommendation of a friend (who said it was a lot of food and filled him up!). He was not wrong! The husby ordered their 6 pc salmon sushi, the crunchy spicy ahi roll, and a side order of vegetable tempura. My chirashi was the best I have ever had. It came with 2 pieces tako, 2 pieces ika, a mound of ikura, 2 pieces tamago, 2 pieces hamachi, 2 pieces shrimp, 3 pieces of salmon, 3 pieces of maguro and 3 slices of takuan and miso soup - all for $18.95!!! It was delicious and filling. I felt so stuffed after trying to finish off the whole thing (the husby had to polish off a few pieces of hamachi and salmon for me). The husby LOVED his salmon sushi! The spicy ahi roll was spicy! The heat just kept building... in a good way, so long as you like heat. The husby also seemed to have an allergic reaction to the tempura (as it's the first thing that came to the table that we ate) and we're guessing it's cause everything (vegetables and shrimp are dipped in the same batter and fried in the same oil) and he's allergic to shell-fish. But other than that, our experience here was awesome! We intend to be back... and often! Just no tempura for him! read more

Kenko Ya - Chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Last week I ordered 3 combo plates, 2 shrimp tempura w sashimi & 1tonkatsu sashimi. My tempura had a hair in the batter. The sashimi usually comes w wasabi & lemon- it didn't today. I was charged for Tonkatsu but got chicken katsu. I called & was told a manager would call me back, however it's been a week. We get take out all the time from here it's very good. Today very bad! Maybe the one worker was overwhelmed, the phone rang continuously. I had to wait for 1 plate because they only made 2 of my plates. I don't know what the problem was that day BUT I think the manager should have called to talk with me. read more

Another restaurant that only cares about the bottom line and not taking care of their regular customers! I came in today and ordered the 7 piece Ahi Sashimi for $15.50. I was told I could only order the Ahi Sashimi if I ordered the Combo Sashimi C for $26.95 which includes 5 (pcs) of Ahi, 5 (pcs) Hamachi and 5 (pcs) Salmon. I was told by the waitress there was an ahi shortage. So they only wanted to sell you the ahi if you buy the more expensive menu option even though I only eat ahi. Not feeling the love and like they are taking care of their return loyal customers. It's not that they don't have Ahi on the menu. They just want to sell it with the more expensive menu choice. It really depends on who you get at this place. The friendly auntie will usually serve me the 7 piece ahi at the $15.50 price no problem. As much as I Love the food here, I will need to find another Japanese restaurant that cares about there customers and the return and consistent business they give. Bye bye Kenko-Ya read more

Kenko Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Great local sushi/Japanese cuisine eatery. Large menu to choose from. Been doing take-out quite frequently since Covid-19 started. Happy to support local small business. read more