Such a lovely experience! My friend and I arrived at 6 pm on Saturday, with no reservation, but there were no other customers at the moment so it was all good. However, I noticed everyone else that arrived after us - 3 different groups, all had reservations, because it is in fact a very a small establishment, so I think in the future we would get a reservation! The servers/owners(?) were so nice, food came out relatively quickly, and it was so fresh and delicious, everything cooked to perfection! I ordered the cold soba (though this was kind of silly of me because I was already cold) and tempura plus salmon nigiri. Quite pricey (about $50 after tip) for a meal for one but I'm glad I tried it. My friend ordered the seared mackerel and honestly I was so shocked how delicious it was, just melts in your mouth! I would definitely go back :) read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Cold soba with tempura - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've come here regularly for lunch and dinner over the past couple of years and it NEVER misses! Most recently I came for dinner on a weekend with a friend. It's a small space and was busy - we got a reservation and were glad we did. It's fun to see the chef prepare your food in front of you, and the service is super friendly and quick. I got the salmon ikura snow crab bowl, and my friend got the chirashi bowl. They were soooooo good! The fish was super fresh and flavorful. They come with hot or cold soba, which is some of the best I've ever had. Prices are not super cheap, but you get a lot of food for it and it's amazing quality. Definitely a hidden gem!! read more

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Lunch at Koko Marina Center in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu, Hawai'i... My former coworker wanted to get together and let me decide where to go... I chose Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai because I hadn't been there yet. I read reviews on the location. It's on the Kona Brewery side... walk along the path near the water and the entrance will be on the right. The inside is cozy and intimate. There were two women sitting at the bar already and speaking Japanese language with the sushi chef. We sat at a table next to the wall instead of the table next to the window. The polite, friendly chef took our orders and brought our meals to us. Later, a female assistant helped him take the used utensils and dishware away. I enjoyed my Uni Ikura Hotate Bowl with half-sized house-made soba. Everything was tasty, beautiful, and fresh! I would return and get a chirashi bowl or the crab one... By the way... the scenery outside the window (of the marina) is gorgeous! read more

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A Cozy Spot for Japanese Brunch Cravings We were craving a Japanese breakfast, and Koko Inaba was a great find. Tucked away in Koko Marina, it is a small, quaint space with a counter where you can watch the chef work and several tables for seating. Soba, udon, sashimi, tempura -- you pick what you are craving. I ordered the udon with assorted tempura, and everything was done well. The tempura had the perfect fry and crunch, and the udon had a satisfying bite to it. A quiet, welcoming spot for a comforting Japanese meal in East O'ahu. read more

Loved the food but we had to split our group of four onto two small tables; one with fold out chairs from Costco. I guess it can't be helped. The previous group of 9 started at 5 and ended at 8 while our reservations were made for 7. I asked if he wanted us to come later but he thought the group would be done. There are inly 10 seats on the counter and two tables of two on the side. They probably spent a lot more than us so he couldn't ask them to leave. Food was great though. BYOB will keep your bill reasonable. Bathroom upstairs and public so a little iffy. Maybe he should have turned down our reservation. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Shrimp tempura bowl with half order of soba. You have choice of soba or udon - cold or hot but they are known for their cold zaru soba. - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went here as soon as they opened for lunch. It is a one-man show so be prepared to wait a bit for your food. I tried all the sushi items they had from Toyosu. Mind you, this was a Sunday when they say never go for sushi because it would be dregs. I was pleasantly surprised though because all my sushi was really good. You can really taste the excellent quality of the fish and it was done really well. My friend got the tempura with udon and loved it. It is a very small spot with maybe 8 spots at the sushi bar and 2 small tables for 2. However, the chef was nice and very helpful, despite being really busy. I think he might need help so someone can cook the hot food in the back and he can focus on the sushi and chirashi bowls but all in all, pretty good and I won't hesitate to come back. read more

I swear by this restaurant. One of the best meals I have had on-island. I have been to fancy omakase and other soba establishments, but this place covers all the checkmarks. The fish was so fresh and very well made. The chef himself has been trained in Japan by his sushi master, as well as working as a sushi chef at other establishments but Koko i-naba is his own place. It is him and his wife that work together to run the establishment. The sushi was excellent. Chef is extremely skilled and you can tell he had many years of great experience. Him and his wife chatted with us about his experience as a chef trainee in Japan. The soba was also delicious. I feel like this was some of the best soba I have ever eaten on-island. For the price you pay you are getting an amazingly good deal for the quality of fish. I will definitely be back here to support. This is one of my most favorite restaurants. read more

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Koko i-naba is a cute little hole in the wall in Koko Marina, I didn't even realize it was there until my friend told me how much she enjoyed it. The space is small, but not cramped, we sat at the counter and it was fun being able to see them preparing some of our food. The service was very friendly and they were very attentive. We shared the tempura and I got the chirashi soba set. Everything was delicious, the tempura and the fish were both fresh and the soba had a nice chew to it. It was no frills, but it was wonderful. I will definitely be coming back her for my soba fix! read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The seafood was incredibly sweet and fresh. The sushi rice was cooked perfectly -- great texture and flavor. The chef runs the entire restaurant himself, so be prepared for a bit of a wait, but it's absolutely worth it! read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Uni, Ikura, Hotate Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We went after a hike at the koko head stairs. The food and service here is very good. The soba noodles were perfectly chewy. The sushi was very fresh. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Toronto sushi and snow crab. - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I didnt want to post anything, worried we might not be able to get seated inntge future, but Im going to post this, its the right thing to do. 5 Solid Stars, you MUST book a reservation 1-2 days in advance. Weve been 4 times in 30 days, cant believe we never knew about this awesome Japanese Sushi Bar restaurant at Koko Marina. We walked past it 100s of times. Chef Yoshi works magic with fresh fish from Japan, his wife Tomoko the perfect partner in making your lunch or dinner marvelous! Its a small location, thus I suggest book a week or so in advance if possible. Great neighborhood gem, many friendly people dining there too, making it a fun & deliscious meal! You can see the marina & mountains from Sushi bar, gorgeous!! BYOB :-) read more

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This quiet hidden gem still serves up one of the best bowls on island - solid fave is the uni, ikura, hotate bowl - can't find it fresher. Served with a side hot or cold soba or ramen. Yum. read more

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Food was good, and service excellent! Ambiance was nice... overall I was very satisfied and will definitely will return!!! read more

Food is great. Service was fantastic. This one man show was respectful and delicate with our meal. I love this place! Will be back.

Authentic sushi spot. I ordered soba takeout since I had a sleeping toddler. When I picked up my food everyone was enjoying sushi and appeared to be local. Wish we could've tried the sushi dine-in experience. Tucked away inside commercial shopping area so you have to go behind koko nuts. Soba tasted fresh and authentic! read more

We went to Koko Inaba for dinner one night. My husband was away in California visiting his mom so my daughter and I had a "girls night". We always try to get into Koko Inaba but it's always full. I was lucky that night I got in. I just called when they opened 5:00pm and asked if they had any opening for that night. They said they did. I was so surprised because usually it's booked. Koko Inaba is actually pretty small. There's a sushi bar/counter that you can sit at and watch the sushi chef prepare the sushi in front of you and there are two side tables with two seats each. After my daughter's art class we headed down there. I made the reservation for 6:30pm and we were the only ones in there when we arrived. The man showed us to our table and we got one of the side tables with two seats. He brought us water and our menus. We both decided to get the combo: kani salmon ikura bowl with half sized soba. I saw lots of pictures online of this combo and it looked good. My daughter loves ikura. Seems like there's only two people running the restaurant: the waiter and the sushi chef. When the sushi chef was doing making our bowls, he had to wait until the waiter came out with the soba. Then we had both bowls at the same time. Maybe he was in the back preparing the soba. The food was really good. We took our first bites out of the sushi bowl. The crab, fish, and ikura was so fresh and I liked it over the sushi rice. But the soba was really good too. I loved the broth and the noodles. We made sure to take pictures and send it to my husband so he would be jealous that we were eating at Koko Inaba. And when he got home from his trip, we talked more about how good the food was, haha. We hope to definitely come back here again. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Kani salmon ikura bowl and half soba - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A hidden gem in Koko Marina Shopping Center! Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai is a very small and intimate restaurant serving Japanese cuisine - specifically sushi, chirashi bowls & soba sets, and an omakase menu! I've been three times for dinner -- twice having the soba set with chirashi bowl; and once for the omakase menu. I've enjoyed each visit. The food is excellent, fish is fresh, and quality you would expect made by a Japanese chef. There is seating at the sushi bar for approximately 7-8 people as well as two small tables seating 2 people each. Best way to experience this restaurant is by sitting at the sushi bar! Prices are competitive especially given the level of quality. The restaurant is also BYOB! Definitely consider giving this restaurant a visit for lunch or dinner. They are deserving of the business and success. You won't be disappointed! read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I'm not out in the Hawaii Kai area often so it was a treat to be out there and go and eat at Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai. While they have some similarities to the original I-naba King St location, I feel like they have some different options. I opted for the crab, salmon and ikura bowl with half soba. Everything is always fresh and delicious. The rice is seasoned just right. The soba is always on point and so fresh. The only downside about this restaurant is that there are very limited seats. There were about 8 seats at the bar plus one or two tables for two people. Soooo good! Easy parking in the shopping center as well. read more

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Everything was wonderful and amazing! Definitely recommend. The service was great and everyone was very friendly. We loved the quality and watching the dishes be made. read more

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Such an incredible experience. Truly such great cuts of fish and they treat you so well. Will come back read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Jan 2025. Ordered the beef gyudon for lunch set with side of cold soba for $27. The gyudon taste was good. But the beef was slightly dry and portion was very small. Slightly larger than a kids portion. Overall, Not a good value. At that price point, it should be very good and larger portion. The service was adequate. No aloha vibe at all. read more

This place was unreal Intimate little space with very attentive staff, food was quick, DELICIOUS and the quality was amazing. This is my new fav spot. 10000/10 thank you!! read more

Nice Japanese restaurant! The food is tasty, fresh, and the atmosphere is great. The service is friendly, though a bit slow at times -- that's why I'm giving 4 stars. Overall, a great place, I'll definitely come back! read more

A tiny hole in the wall tucked in the back of the shopping center. Finding it is quite a task but if you find the poke shop which you can see from the parking lot, it is in the corridor next to it. While the sushi chef wasn't a talker, he definitely knows his craft. I don't think I've ever seen someone prepare rice and presentation of the chirashi type bowls with the passion and excellence the way their chef does. Although their menu is not huge, what is offered is excellent and reasonably priced. The restaurant is tiny. There are only 8 seats around the chef with 3-4 tiny tables for two. The restaurant is quiet so if you're with a group that tends to get loud, in my opinion it would be pretty uncomfortable. We went with friends to celebrate their daughter's birthday so there was a total of 5 of us and conversation was a little uncomfortable as everyone around the counter heard everything. If you're going for a quiet meal, this is perfect and delicious! We would definitely return and I definitely would recommend visiting Koko I-naba restaurant. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Kani, salmon and ikura bowl comes with choice of soba or udon - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

food was super yummy. loved the soba and the chirashi bowl. restaurant is super small, like maybe 10 seats. also its byob. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Kani Chirashi Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Didn't love the omakase, but would come back to try their soba for lunch. Plenty of parking at the marina center where it is located. This restaurant is just a counter around the chef. Tucked away inside the area on the first floor. read more

Fabulous sushi spot in Hawaii Kai. It's a one man show and the owner is such a gem. We went for lunch and we got to set menus, both chirashi bowls and cold soba for one and hot udon for another. Fish was fresh and delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked. It's mostly bar seating that can fit 8 people, and two small tables. Definitely will be back to try the omakase. read more

Koko I-Naba in Hawaii Kai is a hidden gem that I'm reluctant to share because it's just so good and relatively easy to get a table (compared to the King street location). Apparently they opened during the pandemic and have been busy enough to survive. The restaurant is hidden from the parking lot. For those who remember the old McDonalds, it's next to that space. The signage is not visible unless you come in from the harbor side. This is a tiny 10 seat restaurant. 8 counter seats and a two top table on the side. The a/c here is awesome and a welcome respite from a hot day in Honolulu. The soba and udon dishes here are my favorite. The noodles are always perfect and I have never had a bad meal. My usual is the cold ume oroshi (grated daikon) and a side of tororo (grated mountain yam). I tend to order udon but have also been known to get the soba. I've had the cold yuzu oroshi and it is a close second. My parents had the Zaru Soba (5/5) and the Uni Ikura Hotate bowl with half side soba (5/5). Both said it was the best soba they've had outside of Japan. And my Dad said the uni ikura hotate was wonderful. I would agree! Everything that I've ever had here has been exceptional and delicious. Service is friendly, efficient, and hospitable. I would recommend calling ahead for lunch reservations to ensure a seat. Dinner reservations are a must. Parking is easy and plentiful. Much better than the King street location. From now on I'll probably frequent the Koko I-Naba location over the King street one because it's as good and so much easier to get a table. Overall a great place for a delicious lunch! It is so good I've come for lunch two days in a row! I'm hoping to squeeze in dinner soon. I'll definitely return! LOCATION: 5/5 FOOD: 5/5 SERVICE: 5/5 VALUE: 5/5 AMBIANCE: 5/5 PET FRIENDLY: not sure CLEANLINESS: 5/5 PARKING: 5/5 read more

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LOVE Koko i-naba!! My husband and I love the one on King St. but my friend took me to this location one day, so I immediately took my husband. The service is perfect, just like Japan and food is delicious. It's a very small restaurant, so you'll need a reservation. It is not suitable for a big group. They have a sushi counter and two two-tops. It's a bit crowded but I don't mind it for the service and the food you get. I'd recommend it for special occasions-a date night. read more

If you are in the mood for quality Japanese food as if you were in Japan, head over to Koko I-naba Hawaii Kai. I haven't been disappointed with the things that I've ordered. The attention to detail, the quality of ingredients and consistent taste, makes this place a great place to come for lunch or dinner. One of my favorite things is at the end of the meal, the server will bring out a tea pot of the soba hot water and you add it to the soba dipping sauce and drink then you drink it like tea. Great way to end a meal. Staff is great and the place in nice and cozy but in a good way. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Tempura bowl, with a small cold soba - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Super small spot but the best Japanese restaurant within 5 miles of Hawaii Kai. Fresh udon (skinny) and soba noodles, and good sushi.

Omakase dinner at Koko Inaba was exceptional! Sushi chef Maru is a delight both in terms of his professional talent and warm personality. The chef sushi selections were first class, fresh and creatively done and more than worth the price and in fact a great value. BYOB is a plus. Our family of six adults and three children enjoyed a private party in a great setting. We look forward to returning soon. read more

Visited i-naba hawaii kai for lunch today, sorry no pics tho, forgot my phone :(. I ordered the chirashi soba and husband ordered tendon and soba. The tempura bowl with hot soba looked tasty..husband enjoyed both. The chirashi with cold soba was excellent. The fish was so fresh and was melt in the mouth good. A bit pricey, but will definitely go again. The soba noodles, which i loved, was another reason to return. The soba was thin and very soft, which was a change for most soba I've tried. Most soba is thick and chewy and a bit dry.....not so i-naba.....lovely soft texture and nice and thin. The service was great and the server was pleasant and welcoming. The restaurant is tiny, two sit down tables seating two each. The is also counter service that seats eight. Very cozy and intimate. read more

We had the whole family visit for sushi last Sunday and had a wonderful time! First of all the sushi was top notch--the freshest fish and expertly crafted sushi. Other delights were the chicken tempura and noodle dishes and yuzu sorbet!! The service was incredible and incredibly friendly! read more

I have been trying to find a place that has Japanese soba. Noodles on the island have been unsatisfying. My friend recommended me Inaba so I went. The restaurant is small but very cozy. I never liked being in a crowded area so this was a great place for me. Service was fast and attentive. I had the crab/ikura bowl with soba. It was delicious! The price is a bit high but the quality was great. Soba was a bit on the smaller portion for me so I think I will upgrade to a larger size next time. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Crab and ikura bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is a branch of I-Naba on King Street. This one is located in Koko Marina near the shave ice and Teddys burger. Sign is only visible if you enter from the Marina side (see photo). It is pretty small with sushi counter and 2 small tables. Was only open for lunch (menu see photo) but now open for dinner also. Dinner menu (see photo). Turns out to be a good meal and variety with all the courses (see photos). Definitely worth trying out if you are a fan of their other branches and Japanese food. read more

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Yummy lunch spot to either eat there or take to go and enjoy at the beach. This time around we decided to dine in for lunch after a morning hike with friends at the Koko Crater trail. My wife and I decided on the Chirashi Bowl Lunch Set Menu. The wife ordered the Anago Chirashi Bowl with half size cold Soba and I had the Uni Ikura Hotate Bowl with half size cold Soba. The scallop was very sweet and the anago was very fresh. We both ordered additional uni on the side and the uni was also very fresh but was not as sweet as I had before. Probably just the luck of the draw. The soba was delicious and did not clump together. We also ordered the Futo Maki which was very good but a little expensive at $50 for 8 pieces. We all enjoyed our lunch but it could be a little bit on the expensive side. Service was a tad slow and our waitress was probably new and messed up on our bill a few times and took forever to ring us up after we gave her our credit cards. read more

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Some of the best soba in town out in an East Honolulu 'burb? But only for limited lunch hours? Believe it. Good Japanese food in Impossible to come by in East Honolulu. Open a nice upscale Japanese restaurant out in the suburbs ... watch the customers come in dressed in slippers, shorts, t-shirts looking for Americanized sushi rolls, sweet soy chicken wings, ramen, and cheap drinks ... then watch yourself slowly going out of business because your concept doesn't meet their expectations. I'm not sure why I-Naba decided that opening in Hawaii Kai was a good idea, but I'm happy with their decision. Their soba is consistently good. It's a shame that it's not featured more. Right now you can only get soba added to one of their bowls, and your options are limited to cold plain zaru soba or simple hot kake soba. There is one gyudon bowl option, but everything else is seafood. And before anyone starts raving about the chef assembling fresh seafood in front of your eyes, know this - the tamago and shrimp is not cooked on-site; the anago or unagi is a precooked, packaged, frozen product thawed as needed; the scallops were probably previously frozen; the blocks of fish are precut off-site; and most or all are transported back and forth between their McCully location each day because of a lack of refrigerated space at their Koko Marina site. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of this as long as proper handling and temperature control are maintained. No appetizers or side dishes. Oh ... and there's no tempura. To me, soba and tempura are a wonderful must have pairing. And no alcohol. The soba is cooked to order and paired with their wonderful mentsuyu. I love having I-Naba's soba. Just know that this location currently operates in the fashion of a pop-up with a limited menu. read more

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We were invited to this is a cute hidden gem in the Koko Marina shopping center. It has a partial view of the marina located next to Kona Brewing Co. The set up is like omakase style without the high price ticket. They have a set menu for omakase and other items to choose from as well. Great food and great service. We'll definitely be back. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Tempura bowl with cold soba noodles. Delish! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Inaba is one of my favorites to go to for Japanese food and amazing soba, so when I heard they were opening near my home, I was ecstatic! I went right as they had their soft opening and got the uni and ikura bowl. The quality of both the ikura and uni didn't disappoint. I am just waiting for them to roll out their full menu like their town location :) Btw, it's a little hidden - enter the walkway next to paina cafe (which will be on your left) and walk towards the marina like you are walking to Kona brewing restaurant. Inaba is easy to miss, but it's on your right hand side and the entrance is facing the inner walkway area. read more

Koko i-naba Hawaii Kai - Uni ikura bowl - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii