Honestly, for a little restaurant on the corner of the Kaneohe Bay strip mall, Kenko-Ya has some decent food! The sushi was fresh, the Japanese combo was standard, the portions were good, the prices were reasonable. I ordered: - Combo with Misoyaki Butterfish and Unagi - Tiger Roll (to share) - Sake (salmon) and Natto nigiri Everything was good, and it wasn't too crowded. My friend and I were able to have a good conversation there without feeling rushed. It's nice to know that there's a decent little Japanese restaurant in Kaneohe, for when I'm feeling hungry and not fancy. read more

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Their new site is beautiful..! We weee disappointed when they closed and are happy to learn that they moved to a new and better location. Food is as good as we remember and the help staff is excellent, outgoing, and outstanding... Ambiance is very high end including the restroom. Our only suggestion is to change the music. Does not fit the atmosphere... read more

This place has only gotten better since their move. No place on the island will you get a steak, lobster, and sashimi combination for this price. Butter steak is the way to go! Nothing more genuine than our waitress have a Japanese accent. read more

I have always enjoyed and returned to Kenkoya, but this recent visit has now changed my mind. I had a take out order, two combo plates. My plate was a combo Tempura/Sashimi. I picked up my order and left home. To my surprise, I was missing my sashimi. I called Kenkoya to see if I could get a refund on my plate. They did offer the option to come back and pick up the sashimi, but I was not willing to drive back while my food gets cold. The other option would be to have a free sashimi side for the next time I visit. I don't like that option, because then the responsibility is left with me to remember. So I opted to ask for a refund. I was told I still had to return because they needed my credit card to process the refund. I decided to return, which then I was told, that normally a refund isn't possible because I technically took half the plate. My options would be to take the sashimi now, or later, the next time I return (who's to say I want to return) That's where I got a little upset. I think a refund for, at minimum, my plate is a fair ask, especially for the inconvenience of having to return. At the end, I was given a refund for only half the value of my plate. Which is why I will give 1 Star. It's technically what I got, although they just lost a returning customer and I will definitely not recommend this place to my peers. read more

Enjoy the food along with the workers are very friendly and service was great love the sushi there the Dragon roll was amazing chicken Katsu was done to perfection. Can't wait to go back. read more

The food was so good and you can taste how fresh the ingredients were by the looks , taste, and aroma. The butterfish melted in my mouth and the sashimi was unforgettable. The tempura was on point and not overly breaded. Service and ambiance was perfect. It was clear that people were enjoying the food and happy to be there. read more

Kenko Ya - Butterfish and sashimi bento :) oishi! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Tourist Tip: old location was closed, but the sign let us know where the new location was. Staff was so friendly. The space was clean. Tables are well spaced. All our selections (Rainbow Roll, Salmon Sashimi, Nigiri Dinner, and Sashimi Combo) were fresh and delicious. Wish we were locals so we could make this a regular spot. read more

Kenko Ya - Sashimi Combo - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

The Service, food, eating area was amazing it so Japanese Style and a lot more room then the other area it was in before it was super spacious and very comfortable to relax and eat lunch at. read more

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Food is good depending on who the cook is. I've had times we go in there and sushi not good. Girls are nice and friendly

The food quality, quick service and attention to detail makes this place in Kaneohe a 5 star experience. The rolls and combination teishoku plates are very tasty and generous in portion. The owners are really cool too so go and check this place out! read more

This is one of a few places that is open all day for Japanese food. And when I mean all day, they don't break for lunch or dinner and it's a plus! And also, a good thing because when you take out your plates, they serve you a bowl of miso soup and toss salad too, not yo mention the prices are very reasonable compared to other Japanese restaurants in the area. The food is tasty. The only suggestion is doing phone orders especially during lunch and dinner rush hour. But due to Covid, it is highly recommended to do phone orders. I will be back to taste more of their food. We had the tonkatsu, tempura, salmon (could have been cooked a little more), steak, but food overall good and tasty! read more

Kenko ya is a small hole in the wall establishment that serves authentic Japanese food. Their prices are reasonably cheap. Their food is delicious! I love their shrimp tempura as well as their complimentary edamame. I couldn't stop eating the edamame! These little Japanese beans are so delicious. With a combination of all their food that is on their menu as well as their appetizers makes this place a top-notch establishment. The only reason why I could not rate this place 5 stars is that their alcohol is somewhat lacking... read more

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My coworkers and I have come to this restaurant multiple times for team luncheons, and have tried a bunch of different dishes from their menu as well as a selection of sakes. EVERY SINGLE PLATE HAS BEEN SO ONO! The staff is so efficient and friendly and the ambiance is nice and cozy! read more

We had group of 19 people here for lunch, the food is great, we had teshoku food is tasty

Great food, attentive service. Especially liked their Shrimp & Veg Tempura which remains crisp even after it has cooled down, unlike other places where it gets soggy. Nice place; clean bathroom. Will return. read more

The service is top notch along side the food! Onolicious indeed! Their combo meals are sure to please and leaving you full! Ahi tempura is an all time fave and the Volcano roll too! read more

My favorite go to Japanese restaurant on the Windward side. Their food is absolutely amazing. I go here often and they are consistent. Excellent service as well read more

Surprised to see they have moved locations. They have taken over the old Ichiriki spot, and I think it's all for the better. Much more spacious interior and upgraded facilities! What I really appreciated was how good the service was. Thanks to the very nice lady on the phone who allowed my family to tag onto my Aunty's reservation. We ended up with a pretty big party, but the servers were very good about communicating and making sure everyone had the correct dishes. They forgot to give me my miso soup, but I wasn't complaining since a lot of my family said it was cold and lacked flavor. This leads me to talk about the food: eh it's pretty average. Better Teishoku style restaurants could be visited for more reasonable prices. I ordered the Combination Plate, which comes with 2 choices and sides for over $23.95. I thought it was a better deal that the one choice Teishoku ($20.95+ depending on what you order), but I soon learned that ordering 2 choices really means, although you get served 2 different things, you end up with half portions. I should've remembered that ordering one choice is better from my experience at Kikuya in town last year. Case in point: My dad's one choice mochiko chicken plate was probably the best bang for buck: it came with SO MUCH! He couldn't even finish it. It was also the best tasting main that I tried. The sauce was especially good. My salmon severely lacked salt. Could've made it better at home. Same thing with the tempura. I liked how the panko batter was nice and crispy, but it still wasn't impressive, especially the tragedy they call their tempura sauce. Salad wasn't good. My portion came with little to no dressing while my dad's was drenched. My brother hated it. Of course, you never go to these places for the salad, but, like seriously, how hard is it to make a salad? Overall, I was conflicted on how to rate this place since the service was really good, but the food unfortunately didn't live up to those standards. I chose to go lower since I believe ultimately restaurants need to serve good food. Kenko-Ya has the foundations to be a go-to for me since I love Japanese food and Teishoku style menus. They just need to step up their game in terms of taste! read more

Kenko Ya - 2 Choice Combo Meal Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Broiled Salmon - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Authentic Japanese Food, and American. Service is excellent! Manager and waitress and waiters is always checking if everything is ok! Great place to hang out. I will recommend it to family and friends. read more

Happy Teishoku Tuesday! After striking out twice at two other Japanese restaurants in Kaneohe (one was on vacation and the other changed their hours to dinner only), I lucked out with Kenko-ya! Located in the Kaneohe Bay Shopping, there's free parking and friendly staff! I was able to take the seat of my choice! Service was extra attentive and personal as the wait staff chatted with customers! I ordered the Two-choice combination with Shrimp Tempura and Teriyaki beef... so yummy! The shrimp had a light batter and the beef was well marinated and tender! What a great lunch! Because this restaurant is so convenient, I'll be back again! read more

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A great find! My friend ate here before and suggested to me. It is best to make reservations because this restaurant holds maybe 40 people. I can see on a busy night the wait may be long. Kenko-Ya reminds me of some restaurants in town. It's nice to see these kind of restaurants on another part of the island. It's located across from Windward Mall near Safeway, L&L, and Pandas. They had a variety of dishes and combinations. I chose the combination plate - unagi (my fave!) and tonkatsu - about $19. My boyfriend got the poke bowls - about $17. We had miso soup and vegetables before our main dish and it was delicious. The prices were too bad and was a great treat for us. The staff were very friendly and work together. I thought they were working hard to get the food out, clear the table, refill water and tea. Our service was great and I look forward to coming back!! read more

Kenko Ya - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

My husband and I were craving sushi today, and Kenko-Ya did not disappoint! We had three rolls, from top to bottom it is the sunshine roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the spicy California roll. You also get a free appetizer of bean sprouts and edamame which was a nice starter. Not only was the food phenomenal, but the staff was super friendly. Definitely recommend this place if you need a sushi fix. read more

Kenko Ya - Appetizer of bean sprouts and edamame - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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This is my first visit to Kenko-ya and it will NOT be my last. My sister-in-law and I got there a little after 6pm. There was a party of six before us, so we were able to get in because there was just the two of us. We were warmly greeted by the waitresses. We had to have taken at least 7-10 minutes to decide what we wanted but the waitresses were patient and didn't rush us. My sister-in-law ordered the combination bento of sashimi and salmon. I ordered the spicy California rolls and a side order of gyoza. All tables were occupied and the waitresses were bustling around effectively and efficiently...great team work! It didn't look like they had assigned tables because they were refilling drinks, bringing out food, running the register, and cleaning tables in sync. They were all friendly, smiling, courteous, and as busy as it was, they weren't rushing people. I must say, because they exuded that kind of aura, people didn't over stay and plant themselves down. We all could see there were other people outside waiting patiently. So, I for one, didn't want to be rude. I wanted the next customer to take part in this awesome experience! Our food was SO DELICIOUS!! So much so, I forgot to take pictures. The only picture I got to take was when we left. To show that there were people still willing to wait to enjoy the delicious food and warm, welcoming vibe. Kudos to the awesome Kenko-ya team and a big mahalo to our waitress, Melissa. She was outstanding! My personal opinion, best restaurant in Kaneohe. I highly recommend Kenko-ya! read more

Kenko Ya - People willing to wait on a week night for some delicious food and GREAT customer service! - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Kenko-Ya is a simple hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. My boyfriend and I stopped by to have lunch after our weekend workout, and decided to support local. While the food is good but not something to write home about, we really appreciated the staff being firm but cordial about enforcing the policy of showing both a vaccine card with a photo ID to confirm vaccination status for dine-in patrons. The inside of Kenko-Ya is small and intimate so it would be difficult for everyone. I understand it's hard for local businesses since the pandemic, but even more so now implementing safety measures to keep customers safe, which not everyone wants to follow. I commend the staff and would recommend eating here to others who want to support businesses trying to move us out of this pandemic. read more

Kenko Ya - 2 Choice Combo Meal - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

second time going here so i tried something else. we had the most friendly waitress. sadly, i didn't catch her name. will definitely come again! read more

Kenko Ya - 23. Ahi & Vegetable Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

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Last night my boyfriend treated me to dinner at Kenko-Ya. I've never been before, and I'm not one to turn down sushi. Ever. Lol Wait time was about 15 minutes, apparently that's a great wait time, as this restaurant gets super busy, and a group could be waiting forever. I had an amazing bento box, with spicy ahi, delicious unagi, and an incredible piece of butterfish. This has got to be the best bento box I've ever had! And fully justified the wait time! I'm so glad my boyfriend brought me here. The food is delicious, albeit expensive. It's a great place to have a date night or celebrate a special occasion. read more

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Currently my very short list of excellent Japanese food in Kaneohe!! This place is small but certainly worth the wait. All of their ingredients and especially their fish is top notch. Complementing flavors with a little bit of spice is truly the secret their success. The only thing which is keeping this place from 5 stars in my book is the service. We visited this restaurant for lunch one day with a party of 5 and I felt like we had to ask one too many times for certain obvious items you would get at a tradition Japanese restaurant (ie. wasabi and pickled ginger) and refills on water. Maybe our waiter was having a bad day and it will not keep us from returning with friends and family, but I do rate based off of the full experience. And remember...Wasabi should never touch the shoyu!! read more

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Shrimp Tempura and Sashimi was excellent as well as equally rated service. Sorry for the lack of photos, I couldn't wait to taste the hot freshly served tempura which was also very fresh, light and delicate. read more

Sadly, I do not work on the Windward side anymore, but when I did, I always ate here for lunch! Their Shrimp Tempura was to die for, along with their Udon soup. Those are the things that I love to order. Their restaurant is small, but I loved it because a lot of senior citizens go their in the morning and just chill and have a good time with their friends. The staff is friendly also, and always had my food ready and on time. You can order online via Yelp or make a phone order. Either way, you'll never regret coming here. Friendly and great food all the time. read more

Food was great. Tempura batter was light and crispy, did not overpower the ahi or vegetables. Service was thumbs up, attentive, food came out in stages , not all at once, so you could relax and enjoy the meal. Atmosphere was relaxed, did not feel like they were rushing you to finish your meal. I would definitely go again. Thanks for opening your restaurant in Kaneohe read more

Excellent service, hubby had the donburi tempura which he said was excellent. I had spicy California rolls and should have gotten the spicy ahi rolls instead. Rolls were large and not tightly rolled, but definitely edible. Complimentary tea was delicious. Small edamame and sprouts are served with meals. Nice touch. Will be back to try other menu items. read more

Happened to be on the windward side craving sushi and stumbled upon this little hole in the wall located across the street from Windward Mall. The staff was really friendly and efficient and sat us right away even though it was crowded and a line outside. I guess it helps to sit at the bar as a party of two rather than wait for a table. I wasn't feeling very well so the waiter suggested miso soup to start. OMG! I immediately felt better after I ate the soup and wanted more but needed to hold off so I could eat some sushi. We ordered some soju as well to go along with our sushi. We ordered the uni which just melted in our mouths. We also ordered the sashimi sampler which came with ahi, salmon and Hamachi. The sashimi slices were large and so fresh. We also ordered the Hamachi kama which was a big portion size as well. Everything was so tasty and we will definitely be back when on the Windward side. read more

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Although the restaurant was clean , the food was just average and not worth the price . The Teri chicken was dry , the rice was not the good quality Japanese rice , the salad seemed like packaged salad & the shrimp tempura was small. The service was pretty good. I did not like how loud it got in there to the point where it was hurting my ears and I just wanted to get out of there, it was unbearable. read more

The food is the 1 star. Everything else was awful. The whole experience. During this time you would think restaurants would still be practicing safety measures but this restaurant does not. Almost every table was filled, over 20 people in this small establishment at one time. I went to use the restroom out back and it is connected to the kitchen. There was a pigeon in the kitchen! I would not come back. The service was almost non existent. I asked for a fork and wasabi. I never received any of those things. The lady that I am assuming was the waitress also was filling up everyone glasses with the same pitcher touching each glass. It was also extremely hot inside but that was the least of my concerns. read more

Good food and affordable:-). The servers work really hard and the wait is worth it. Congratulations on their new location.

My new favorite Japanese restaurant! Food is very reasonable for the amount served and tasty as well. No reservations unless there are at least 5 in your party. Workers are all very pleasant. Go for an early dinner or you may have to wait - but it's well worth it! read more

This place is great! I typically order take out, and every time I come in, the staff treats me like a dine in customer. Truly caring and awesome people! I love their food, though I typically get their combination meals (I'm not a fish fan). When I bring my family though, they love the sushi! My personal favorite is actually their miso soup. It's something small, but done so well! read more

5-star Japanese food!! Since Myles, his dad and I live in town, and my sis-in-law and her fam live in Kailua, we met at Kenko-ya in Kaneohe for dad's bday dinner. Yummy!! Most of us (6 out of the 7 people) had combination plates - I had the ahi and salmon sashimi with vegetable and shrimp tempura - but dad had the Wakame Udon. I loved it, he loved it, we all loved it! The service was great. Friendly servers and constant re-filling of tea and water :) It wasn't packed at 5pm when we got there, but there was a waiting list with people outside when we left. Now if that isn't the sign of a good restaurant.... read more

Kenko Ya - Ahi sashimi and Tempura... mmmmmmm - Japanese Near Me - Kaneohe, Hawaii

Small place, maybe 10 tables. I had the 2-choice set menu, with butterfish and tempura; my friend had the chirashi. Both dishes were really good. The butterfish was so tender it broke apart with the slightest pressure. Tempura was hot and fresh, crispy and not at all greasy. Fish (chirashi) had the the requisite variety and all were fresh and yummy. It wasn't a cheap lunch, but it was really good. Would be happy to eat here again, read more

This restaurant was amazing and so accommodating. I called mid day for a reservation for a party of 12 for later that evening. They couldn't guarantee the tables, so we went a bit earlier than the reserved time in case there was a wait. But making that call made all the difference! They got us seated and served right away. The servers were kind and welcoming. The food was amazing and fresh. The price was definitely reasonable. This restaurant is a gem. It is a bit small, pretty much a mom/pop restaurant. read more