For the past 5.5 years, I've been trying eat here. How hard did I try? Not hard. When ever I was in the area, I would see if they would take me as a walk-in. I did ask while there if I could just make a reservation with them, but they told me call instead. At some point I questioned if this place was really a restaurant or a front for something else. Then, one Friday evening, we were talking about our "theories" of what it was a front for ... then a person in our group said, let's check it out. Opened the door and was greeted warmly and they asked how many! *gasp* what?! Really?! After 5.5 years, we couldn't pass it up! They offered 3 different styles of Omakase. I hardly listened from my excitement of just finally having an opportunity to dine there. I've never eaten Omakase style, anything, so I didn't understand that you tell them when you're done. The Sushi just kept coming. Thankfully, they noticed that I was passing my food to the other people of our party and asked me if I was done. While the others continued eating, I drank my Sake and looked around at the cozy ambiance of the small yet functional space. The gentlemen making the sushi was very quiet and I admired his care into making each individual sushi. The ladies helping us said that he's been working there for 35 years!! Okay, so finally everyone in our group was done eating. Now the bill. Then it finally dawned on me that we didn't ask how much it would be to dine there or even the cost of the Sake. As if I was rich, I took my card out to pay, but my other half ended up covering the bill. $530 for the 3 of us *choke* whaaa? ... okay, really, that's $180 per person. But still. We should have asked. Would I go back? Eventually. Honestly, the sushi was probably the best I've had. read more

See all

The best sushi and sashimi on the island. Be sure to make reservations in advance or you may not get to enjoy this wonderful restaurant. Two thumbs up! read more

We had an amazing dinner a Kinchan! It feels like you are at a 5 star sushi restaurant in Japan. Our sushi chef kept bringing out the freshest sushi one at a time. It was an awesome experience and I will definitely be coming back. Pro tip- the inside is small. So I would recommend calling in advance to secure a reservation! read more

Kinchan Sushi - Omakase style - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

The experience was quite interesting and different. As such, I wasn't sure how to write a worthy review. So I decided to point out things we enjoyed and things that would've been nice to know prior to visiting. 1. Reservations are highly recommended. We got lucky and were able to get seating without one, but saw numerous people turned away. It's a small space and seating is done at one time. 2. Dinner is Omakase ONLY. 3. THERE'S NO SET PRICING. Total is determined at the end of the meal based on how much you eat. Nice part is you can stop at any time or keep going. 4. Communication can be a little tricky, unless you speak Japanese. With that said, it took us a little time to figure out the ordering process. We were offered a complete Omakase with appetizer, sashimi and sushi. Or, sashimi and sushi only. Or only sushi. My recommendation is to go with the complete Omakasa. If you don't, you will be waiting a long time before eating (as plates are prepared in order) and miss out on some great preparations. 5. The quality of the seafood was excellent and the plates were prepared in a traditional manner. Reason I say that is it doesn't have the flare of some other spots that are known for the chefs creating their own salts, soy sauce, etc.. 6. It's a family operation with excellent service. 7. Okay, the one thing that can improve, chopsticks. For this price range, the chopsticks were quite cheap and splintery. I'm guessing the expectation was to eat the sushi by hand in the traditional Japanese way. Chopsticks were however needed for the sashimi and appetizer plates. Overall a positive experience, but not my top choice for Omakasa on the island. read more

See all

This little gem has got to be one of my fave sushi omakase spots. They are located in the Waterfront plaza across of the Row Bar. We had so many great plates including otoro, uni, scallops, and so much more. The cool thing is that you can tell them when to stop - or to keep going. They also have some good sake and beer that go well with the sushi. It can be pretty pricey if you keep adding plates but in regards to the quality of the fish, it's totally worth it. The chef/owners are really nice and the service was great. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Kinchan Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I never knew there was a sushi restaurant hidden in this little area! We stumbled upon this because we were hungry and thought that there may be food in the area. The bf and his friend wanted to go to the bar near by and thought we just find food in the same area. So we came to Kinchan sushi. I've seen the Yelp for this place but didn't know it was located at restaurant row! We got there and the place was empty so we were sat right away. Upon sitting down we didn't know that this place was only omakase style. Lol so we just decided to stay for it anyways knowing that it's probably going to be expensive but there weren't any other places to eat at that time. I've posted pictures of all the dishes we got and of course I don't remember any names of the dishes but it was all really good! Hehe we had 10 courses plus a salad in the beginning and dessert at the end. All dishes were my favorite but I really like the hand roll the best with the avocado and the crab meat! If you haven't tried this place out, I highly recommend to try it out because omakase are the best experience for sushi! You never know what's going to be the next course and surprising your taste palette!! I would definitely come back! I think it was about $600 something including tip for 3 people! FYI, if you're already feeling full you should definitely tell the sushi chef to stop. I believe he will keep going until he has either given you everything he has or until you tell him to stop. He was going to continue for we told him to stop after the 10th course because we were already full. But definitely give this place a try if you haven't already, it is a hidden gem!! read more

See all

My husband and I have been coming to Kinchan Sushi every year since 2015, and it's easily the best traditional omakase we've ever had. We've tried sushi in Oahu, the Bay Area, and even Japan, but nothing compares to the experience here. We always go for the sushi omakase. There's no menu--you simply sit at the counter, and the chef serves piece after piece of nigiri until you say you've had enough. The fish is unbelievably fresh. The ambiance is cozy and intimate. The restaurant is small, which means you get a lot of personal attention from the chef. It's the perfect setting for such a special meal. Just be sure to make a reservation because space is limited. Kinchan is truly a gem. If you love TRADITIONAL omakase sushi, this is an experience you won't forget. It's simple, authentic, and absolutely worth it. read more

This restaurant is a secret spot in restaurant row with a small, intimate, 13 seat sushi bar offering the most fresh authentic sushi experience. Portions are incredibly large and delicious! Seared salmon is incredible along with the toro sashimi and crab hand roll. This is not a sushi roll joint that offers fish smothered in sauce, but a Gastro experience with the most delicious fresh fish in Oahu . Order Omakasa prepared with expertise by sushi master Kin Chan. We have been coming here for 10 years and have never disappointed. Great sake choices also! read more

Super intimate experience where the chef prepares the dishes in front of you. It's a super small restaurant with limited seating (approximately 8), so we called to make reservations beforehand. Let's start off with what I liked: - Cozy atmosphere - Friendly chef - Pay according to how much you ate (feel free to stay STOP whenever you are full and that will be the end of the omakase meal) - The fish quality was up there (ootoro is amazing!) Things that I didn't like: - Some of the beginning dishes felt like filler (lots of different types of fish that are packed onto the plate - felt a bit messy) - Not having a set price/range is a little challenging as you don't really realize how it quickly adds up - Personally, I thought a lot of the nigiri had too much additional sauce added (on the saltier side and masked the natural taste of the fish) - Service was decent but I thought more selective attention was paid to other customers. Not sure if it is because we looked younger or because we mainly spoke English at first (before switching to Chinese). Overall it ended up being around $170 per person before tax/tip. Not super good value, but decent quality fish and experience. read more

See all

Terrible. This place is a scam. I tried to dispute the outrageous surprising price for very little low quality food. They have successfully stolen my money. read more

Best take out sushi period that I've had during COVID. When taking my order over the phone I picked the time I wanted to pick up. After arriving, I had to wait a few minutes while they prepared my order. My biggest complaint with most other places is the sushi is sitting ready for you (for who knows how long). Other places on the island I know have it ready 30 minutes before the pick up time because I would purposely go early and it would still be ready. This place is not like that and it's awesome. Sushi is supposed to be eaten seconds after the chef prepares it for you and take out is never going to compare to the real deal, however this is the best it can get. Everything was fresh and there was a good variety. I'd say the price was definitely fair. It was more than some other places but not the most expensive take out sushi I've tried, however they gave pretty decent portions and I was not hungry. read more

Kinchan Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Food was wonderful. However we were told there was no menu and it was strictly omakase. We had one glass of sake each and when the bill came it was over $400 for two people. Unexpected and uncalled for. I work close by and was considering that this could be a regular stop. That's not a consideration now. read more

The ambiance with the sushi chef and hostesses were very welcoming and friendly. The food was soo good. Great sushi, great spot for traditional Japanese sushi. They even played music. The sushi chef plays strings and was just a lot of fun. read more

Chef Kinchan and his wife run a wonderfully quaint sushi bar tucked away on the ground floor of 'restaurant row'. It's a strange name for a plaza that is 99% businesses situated in several smaller size towers but the ground floor is mostly restaurants, mini mart, Tamura's, Hokulani Cupcakes etc. Chef Kinchan's presentation is beautiful and the sushi is very fresh and delicious. A vast selection of sake is available and I had draft beer as well. It was great to have a weeknight Omakase meal with no one else dining in, so we felt comfortable having our baby sitting at the sushi bar with us. Chef Kinchan was also busy preparing many preordered takeout items. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

I don't normally post bad reviews but I had to share our experience with our fellow Yelper family. This place has NO menu and NO prices. True to form, they are an Omakase only diner which means you pay for the dishes that are eaten. My husband and I were interested in an omakase style dinner and had a good experience at another restaurant earlier in the week. Decided to give this place a try and boy, were we caught by surprise and disappointment! Our bill ended up being close to $475!!! With 2 glasses of sake (which we had asked for pricing in advance ~20/glass and the remaining was the omakase. Receipt was in Japanese and could not figure out what we actually paid for. Fish was mediocre and not fresh as some of the other places we've been to. They cooked and torched most of the fish, which makes you really wonder if it's fresh at all. Anyway, this is just a heads up. Be prepare to pay for an overpriced dining experience. read more

Quaint, laid back and no stress sushi bar with an owner who really enjoys his work / hobby in serving his sushi. Mom and pop shop ambiance with no fuss, just yummy fresh Omakase. Let Kin Chan make the decision of your Omakase and you will not be disappointed! read more

See all

I've been to many of the highly rated sushi restaurants in Honolulu (Sasabuni, Ii, Murayama, Mitch's) and this deserves to be on the list. Very authentic. Fish sourced from Japan. Excellent omakase experience. I'll be back. read more

What's your plans for lunch? First time here on a Tuesday during Lunch time. Our coworker knows the owners but also called in advance since the seating is limited. So, Call in to get seating! Of course our first time (most of us) we HAD to get the Chirashi bowl. It was a fresh variety of ahi, ika, hamachi, shrimp, tamago, and unagi. Everything was so incredibly FRESH. It was very delicious, and my favorite was the unagi O.O SO DAMN GOOD. But what's even crazier is I ate all of the rice!! The rice is some good quality rice. Now, we may take rice for granted but this place makes you appreciate good rice. What makes it good? The texture, the shine, and the taste. Beautifully polished, firm yet soft rice you really can't forget. Lunch menu specials are very reasonable! For what we got and it costs $18, I'd say that's a winner. They even have Teriyaki Beef Bowls and California rolls for $10! The couple who runs this place is so humble, so grateful, and so kind. I really appreciate their hospitality while we ate their and the customer service they give. Even the care they put into their dishes, with high aesthetic and taste quality, it is recognized by us and many. I would definitely like to come here for Lunch again, but I also heard Nighttime is a whole different atmosphere. This place is lovely and produces wonderful food. The owners will appreciate your patronage and will give you excellent service. read more

Kinchan Sushi - Lunch Specials - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

My heart is beating and stomach rumbling to the beat of a skinnnnn bump raising chantttt. Nestled in the Waterfront Plaza/Restaurant Row on the ground floor, under a black wooden banner inscribed with golden KIN CHAN SUSHI lacquer characters is one of Hawaii's most time tested omakase experience. Price point: $150/head, omakase Starter salad: Salmon skin salad. Honestly, I was not very impressed with this dish. The salmon skin was a bit soggy/chewy) (like it was out of a microwave) and a bit lacking in flavor and inspiration. Appetizer 1: Sampler plate of Nishime, abalone and squid-shiso leaf in tobiko and ikura. I enjoyed the textures of the quality nishime, the crunch of the abalone and the flavor profile of the ika against the shiso leaf. Appetizer 2: Ikura, avocado, okura and golden kiwi on top bed of Hokkaido scallop and maguro. I liked how the tart kiwi cut through the creaminess of the avocado and accentuated the flavor of the fresh scallop and maguro. It was a refreshing and well rounded dish. Sushi 1: Ootoro. Among the butteriest, fatty pieces of tuna I have eaten on the island. It melted on the tongue and was thoroughly enjoyable in every way. Sushi 2: Hokkaido scallop. Delicate, fresh and refreshing. Sushi 3: Butterfish shioyaki. I personally prefer misoyaki over shioyaki, but nonetheless, delicious in its own right. Buttery on the inside, salted on the outside. A bit on the thin side. Sushi 4: Seared salmon. Sushi 5: Amaebi with tobiko. This piece was okay - maybe in times of COVID it is difficult to catch really sweet amaebi. Sushi 6: Hirame with grated radish and ponzu. I always enjoy the texture of a good hirame! Sushi 7: Shima-aji shiso. I loveeeeee the addition of shiso!! The shiso against the shima- aji was so delicious. Sushi 8: Hokkaido Uni. Fresh and delicious. But I personally enjoy Santa Barbara uni more - a more robust, sweet, and creamy flavor profile. Sushi 9: Anago. Usually prefer unagi over anago - I like a good crispy exterior unagi! But for anago, it was decent. Sushi 10: Mirugai. Love this dish. Love mirugai!! Additional dishes (on request): - Ika filled with shiso and maguro - crunchy fresh ika against the herbal shiso and maguro. It was a delight. - California roll. One of the best California rolls on the island made with real Hokkaido crab and creamy avocado, coated with tobiko. Dessert: Hokkaido mochi filled with red bean. The service could've been slightly more thoughtful (granted, with empathy, given the age of the elderly couple operating the business). The atmosphere was very cozy and traditional, with a triangular shaped sushi bar, with unique Japanese trinkets and memorabilia lining the walls. Notably, the restaurant boasts a wide selection of sake. If you're looking for good value, this is likely not the place. However, for decent quality sushi at the convenience of Restaurant Row and on a time crunch if you're not looking to wait in line or be stuck amid a sea of people (they are quite flexible on taking reservations), you're paying for convenience and location. Not a go-to or favorite must eat spot, but a good place to keep in mind. Overall, I did enjoy a positive experience. Fun fact: the owner-couple resided in Taiwan and they speak both Chinese and Japanese. read more

See all

This has been my family's restaurant of choice for celebrating special occasions for over ten years! Chef and his wife create an intimate atmosphere, with incredible omakase dining experiences. I have never used or looked at their menu-- I don't even know if they have one. Trust the chef, let him know there are specific things you are craving, and enjoy :) read more

See all

Restaurant Row isn't a place I think of when I'm looking for fresh fish, but they do have a poke place and there's Kin Chan Sushi. With just 14 or so seats at their sushi bar, we sat down to work our way through a 12 piece Omakase. Overall, we enjoyed our meal, it was a line up of popular and traditional flavors--this isn't the place to come to if you're looking for anything creative or nouveau, this is the sushi you grew up with. The fish is fresh and prepared with care. Our total came out to $79 + Tax and Tip per person. There are less expensive options with sets off the menu and lunch specials. Kin Chan Sushi is also known to have a selection of sakes to sip on and validate parking. read more

See all

Sushi was great but the price was not even listed, sake prices were way over priced. My wife and I will never go back. We paid $600 including tip, for the two of us... read more

One of the best omakase I've ever had, with course after course of tasty seafood dishes. I love that omakase is the only option here, so the kitchen and sushi bar are not distracted by a la carte orders. The beer was extremely chilled, the sake recommendations were perfect and you don't have to stop eating until you are ready to. You could tell that frequent diners are treated like family, and though it was our first time, we felt comfortable and at home. read more

The food is good but you're not getting what you're paying for. The first time I went I only got sushi and got more pieces of sushi for 225 dollars for two people. The 2nd time I went I wanted to try sushi and sashimi we got less food and the tab came out to 325 dollars for 2 people. This is all without tip. All the negative reviews that state they were overcharged is true. They also don't have a set price for omakase. What kind of restaurant does that...I am local and still feel cheated and ripped off after eating here, but at least they are closing down in 2 weeks, so I could careless. read more

We chose kinchan sushi for our wedding anniversary. A famous Omakase traditional Japanese sushi Place inside Waterfront Plaza formally known as restaurant row. Very intimate still run by the same husband and wife for 20+ years and what a culinary experience. Everything is done by hand and you can tell the ingredients are on par with what you would get if you had the same dinner in Shinjuku. Price is a bit high but expect it because the quality of fish. Parking is free with validation and just overall wonderful experience and look forward to coming back again soon. read more

See all

I am not reviewing on the food since they refused to seat me. I was dressed casually since I was riding my onewheel. I walked in and the chef immediately said, "no no no we are closed". I looked at the sign and it said it closes at 10pm (it was around 9:15, lots of time). I said I would just like to order a few nigiri? The lady walked to the front and stood in front of the doorway so I couldn't enter and said "we are closed." I asked "Doesn't your sign say you're closed at 10pm?" She then said, "reservation only." There were seats available too!! I just left but I felt discriminated because I can not understand why they would immediately say no. Also disappointed since I live close by and I love sushi. I guess I'll go to my regular spots Sushi ii and Yoshitsune (FABULOUS AND CONSISTENT sushi bars!!!) read more

Me and the hubs decided to eat sushi for valentines and so I was looking on yelp for some places and decided to give this place a try. So we made a resv on Valentines! I rely heavily on outside pictures because it helps when looking for the face of the store, like it helps out a lot (: ! Definitely a very small place, when you walk right in theres the bar area that pretty much takes up the whole resto. So it's a very intimate sushi bar, I definitely wouldn't recommend for a group. The kind lady sat us down, it took a while for us to get our menus as there is only 3 of them during our time there. Before handing us our menus she asked if we wanted to do Omakase first which means it's chefs choice but we decided that we will order, so she handed us the menus . My husband decided to try the Kinchan Special which comes with sashimi and sushi, salad, and miso soup. We also got the dragon roll and the rainbow roll with 2 orders of Sea Urchin (Uni) and 2 orders of Salmon Roe (Ikura) and 1 order of Eel (Unagi)! LET ME TELL YOU EVERYTHING WAS AS FRESH AS CAN BE. The Uni was so delicious, it was so fresh and I don't know buttery? Idk it was bomb guys! Everything felt as if it melted in my mouth. I'm not a huge Unagi fan but man theirs tasted amazing! Also parking make sure to park at the waterfront plaza building and park on 2nd level? And follow the white cross walk it'll lead you to these stairs going down and turn left past that bar place it's right behind ! Definitely would come back! read more

See all

Best sushi that I've had in a long time. Fresh and high quality. Great presentation and complexity of flavors. Wow!

Insane prices! Very good food but very overpriced. The cost was over $500 for 5 people for a couple pieces of sushi each. 175$ for a bottle of house Sake read more

Kinchan Sushi - Insane receipt! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Omakase was the best I've ever tries. Ran by a husband and wife in a small bar setting. There is probably like 8-10 total seats and it's pretty tucked away in a plaza - kind of a hole in the wall sense. Amazing experience. Chef paced our appetites and took us on a sensational journey starting with lighter flavors moving onto more rich tones. Drinks were flowing and smiles all around in this intimate setting. read more

quaint little mom and pop type of hole in the wall sushi bar like you'd find in actual japan very limited seating, just counter and two 2-top tables lunch menu is very small: chirashi, beef sukiyaki bowl, inari sushi, california roll dinner menu is more extensive they also validate parking! every last day of the month they have a special. features sake tasting plus a set sushi menu, all for only $90. call ahead though to make reservations since seating is super limited food was very tasty. loved the quality and taste of the sushi rice in the chirashi. everything was put together so meticulously. cute how the carrots are even cut into flowers! i would definitely eat there again. just wish the hours werent so limited, and the lunch menu was bigger read more

Kinchan Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were walk-ins near opening hours and discovered that they take reservations only- but we fortunate and they squeezed us in. We were very lucky because we noticed them declining other walkins after us! The chef was superb- he was very diligent and careful in his preparation for our omakase meal. The restaurant itself only seats maybe 12 or so, so it's a very intimate experience. Everything was great! Don't forget to get your parking validated if you park in the lot here. read more

See all

Best Omakase I've had this year, small restaurant but very authentic food, we are very satisfied with food and service as well.

Lovely omakase! We got 20 pieces and it came out to be around $80/pp. big servings of fresh fish and seafood. read more

See all

I came here two days in a row. This small sushi restaurant is a hidden gem in Oahu. The sushi r super fresh and price is very reasonable. Highly recommended!! read more

Kinchan Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My friends and I were looking for a new sushi bar to try since we were craving good quality sushi. All other places were full and we were about to give up, but luckily we called this place and they had an opening! And it is located in restaurant row which is right down the street from my apartment.. score :) First off, this is a tinyyy place. It only has about 10-12 seats. I got the sushi combination set, and my bf got the California and dragon roll, and my friends also got the sushi set with an order of uni. SUSHI COMBINATION SET: ($35) it came with 2 maguro, salmon, hamachi, amaebi, ikura, unagi, scallop (first time having this... it was so buttery and sweet too!!), and some kind of white fish nigiri (which is not ika.. so I'm not sure lol), and also what looked like maguro maki (tekka maki), and a small piece of tamago with crab in it. Everything was SO delicious and it all melted in my mouth.. definitely one of the best sushi I have had in my life. The only thing was the ikura was really tiny lol CALIFORNIA ROLL: ($8) California roll is supposed to be with crab, avocado and cucumber... our California roll was so tiny and bad only avocado and cucumber... DRAGON ROLL: ($18) avocado and cucumber ROLL topped with unagi and then torched to make it a bit crispy .. pretty good the salmon nigiri was so amazing that I ordered another order so my bf could try.. again.. sooo buttery and yummy!! I also decided to order a negitoro roll ($10) because they were out of otoro for nigiri :( this sushi was also very buttery and good as well :) My friends also loved the uni which was from hokkaido and they said it was on par if what they ate in Japan recently. SERVICE: the reason for 4 stars is the service... it's not great. They were not super friendly, and it takes a while to get refills on water because the woman writes and adds the checks by hand so she is facing our back towards us while at the register... also, I ordered a set so it should have come with a salad, but yet she placed the salads right in front of my 2 friends and my bf and I didn't get anything. I think she realized later she was supposed to give a salad to me and the other salad to my friend who ordered a set... but she said nothing and I didn't get a salad to try :( lol For my bf and I, it came out to $88 . While the service wasn't great, this place has amazing sushi read more

Kinchan Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Kin Chan is the cutest OG さん sushi sensei you've ever met. Best service and omakase spot I've had. Better than Japan spots I've been to. The space reminds me of a quaint, clean home. It's personalized and cozy. This is a hidden gem. Bring on the ōtoro! read more

This place is INCREDIBLE! Ive been to Japan and tried their sushi. I gotta say Kin Chan killed it. The fish is so soft it melts in your mouth Super clean sushi bar and the service is great Make sure to make an appointment before walking in because its limited seating and it gets busy. read more

See all

Best Omakase I've been to! You can tell they serve quality types of sashimi only! Their cuts are also generous and the place is byob

OMG OMAKASE. When you start your sushi part of the omakase with hotate that is the buttery-est you have ever had...followed by otoro that seems to melt with each individual grain of perfectly cooked rice happliy dancing along in your mouth...and then that little pop of wasabi catches your tongue...you know that you are in for a GREAT sushi night. We had a great sashimi appetizer with maguro, avocado, radish sprouts, onions, ikura, bell pepers, and kiwi....my husband asked if I thought it was rude if he drank the ponzu sauce. It didn't matter my answer...he did. Everything we had was perfection. We also got to go to their sake and sushi pairing. A once a month event. It was very very very cool pairing. We brought friends, one who loves sushi and one who I never thought would ever eat sushi with me (other than ebi nigiri). We all loved it and I finally saw my friend expand her horizons and actually eat raw fish and enjoy it. It was worth every cent. We love the quaint nature of Kin Chan and will be back again and again. read more

See all