Outstanding Tempura! Thin sliced vegetables with a light batter that came out crispy and softread more

Best sushi of our sushi snob lives! Over the years, we've…read moreturned into Sushi snobs. Not only that, but we nearly always have to get the Omakase ("Leave it to the chef") wherever we go. Until we came to Oao, our favorite had been Nobu, down the road in Wailea. Well, I am here to tell you that, hands-down, there is a new gold medalist in town! The quality, presentation and taste--every single course--knocked it out of the ballpark! And, much to our surprise, the last Main course of Wagyu beef was a veritable grand slam! We came for the Sushi, but never in my life have i tasted such heavenly steak! The exceptionally aloha-friendly staff, such as Ronson and Iggy, were above and beyond helpful. Add to my snobbery my pallet for a good sake. Well, Iggy was able to steer me to an exceptionally perfect Daiginzo brew to complement our Omakase feast of the evening. Be sure to include an order of mussels, and you can't go wrong with anything Hamachi, such as the carpaccio. The atmosphere is somewhat traditional sushi bar, with an aloha flair. It is not very spacious, and will fill up in both guests and noise. Tune those out and you'll be fine. By the way, be sure to make reservations! A Word of warning, this is a sushi bar in the heart of Maui, and is it priced accordingly. That said, it is well, well worth the splurge!

Back after 4 years to our happy place (Hawaii and here!). The hits still hit and I am happy to add…read morea few more! Okonomayki is still delish! Musubi - didn't have spam but pork rolled over the rice with a teriyaki glaze. One of the best variations I've had!! The kids couldn't get enough of it. Kamameshi - slow cooked rice casserole (like Chinese clay pot rice). Infused the rice with an amazing smoky flavor. I had octopus for protein which I enjoyed but my kids weren't able to appreciate it (they like it grilled). Miso butter fish - classic black cod dish. Did not disappoint! Scallop sashimi - very fresh and tasted like butter

My mistake suggesting this place to my friends who came in expecting yakitori skewers only to find…read moreout they no longer serve it. They also didn't have another item we wanted most likely because it was a couple hours before closing, so it another disappointment but the food we did end up getting was still amazing. The service was great anyways, and I highly recommend the beef sukiyaki!! Peach and grape chu-his were also really yummy and pretty dangerous as they were on the sweeter side so it's easy to drink! We also got the miso butter cod fish and kimchi cucumber which were both great

Incredible sushi…read more Me and my wife had the pleasure of dining here on a trip to Maui one night. Definitely pleasantly surprised. Flavors were intense, fish was fresh. Every roll hit the mark. Service was top-notch and the cozy vibe was perfect. We'll be back!

I don't need pretentious high priced dinners when I'm in Maui, I'm there to chill. That is why I…read morelove Miso Phat, you bring your own beer or wine (Conveniently there is a convenience store with lots of those options just a few doors down.) My wife doesn't enjoy sushi, but her baked fish was amazing and she was more than happy! Not pictured was a fresh, off menu roll I also enjoyed that was a daily special. But the TNT roll was amazing as well!

Great food. Excellent Service. If you're into Anime ~ you…read moreneed to come to this restaurant.

Had a great experience at Tajima Ramen Maui in Kihei -- this place lives up to the hype!…read more From the moment you walk in, the vibe is casual and welcoming, with a fun mix of modern décor and Japanese (lots of anime/manga) touches that make it feel like a cozy ramen hideaway. The staff were friendly, fast and attentive, which always helps elevate the meal. Their signature tonkotsu broth is rich, creamy, and packed with umami -- you can tell it's been simmered with care. Hubs ordered the White Ramen and it was perfectly balanced with tender chashu, a soft-boiled egg, and fresh greens -- all the ramen classics done right. The Black Ramen with burnt garlic oil was another standout, bold and flavorful without being overwhelming. We also sampled the toro-taku maki (fresh), then the takoyaki and karaage off the happy hour menu-- both crispy and well-seasoned -- and might i say-- it was great to have a Happy Hour menu with tasty bites to start. Atmosphere was casual and fun without being loud. Great spot for lunch or dinner -- locals and visitors coming and going. This place has satisfying portions and solid prices compared to other island eats. Overall, this is one of the best ramen experiences on Maui -- perfect for when you want comforting Japanese cuisine that hits all the right notes. Will definitely be back next visit!

Amazing mom and pop sushi spot in Maui!…read more I first came to this place years ago when my sister brought me here. Had to come back and I was not disappointed. I kept forgetting to make reservations a month in advance and called them on a Wednesday to see if there was any openings for two. Luckily, there was a 7:30pm spot for Friday . Pro tip: the nigiri comes in two. We completely forgot about that and double ordered everything. Luckily, we finished everything. Sushi was fresh and on point. The chef and staff were very friendly. We loved the entire experience. The nigiri were huge in fish cuts, and small in rice so it was perfect since we over ordered. Highly recommend this spot if you are in Maui. Please call ahead to make reservations as they do not allow walk ins. The place only hold 16 seats.

So worth it. I thought this might have been my best meal in Maui. I ordered to omakase and it was…read moresolid, and not badly priced. All the fish tasted delicious and the rice was good. I called to make reservations on the second day of the month and they were already booked for the week I was in Maui, but asked if I would like to be on wait list, I agreed and was called one day to be informed they had a slot that day and the next if we wanted it, so glad we went.

A wonderful five-star experience at Nobu at the Grand Wailea. We sat at the sushi bar, which made…read morethe evening even more special. Our server, Kelly, was extremely knowledgeable and helped guide us through the menu and sake options. Our sushi chef, Hong, was exceptional. She was warm and engaging, explained the fish when we had questions, and let us know which sauces best complemented her creations, which made the experience feel very personal. The sake selection was also excellent. We even tried the "musical" sake, which had Bach playing while it aged and during its shipment from Japan to the mainland--such a fun and memorable detail. I do agree with the other reviewer that the menu could have more detail in order to know the specifics of the rolls. All in all, it was a lovely five-star experience. Highly recommend.

Miso cod is super good but very pricey 65 USD Both crab and…read morebeef tenderloin are overpriced 89 usd.... Ahi tuna jalapeno is good!

5 tables/14 seats, 5 seats at sushi bar…read more We enjoyed the spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and rainbow rolls, starting with edamame. Each roll was beautifully prepared--fresh, simple, and full of flavor. The space is small and intimate, with limited table and bar seating, making it best suited for couples or small groups rather than larger parties. An understated, hidden gem that delivers excellent sushi in a relaxed, casual setting.

Stopped in for lunch and waited about 10 minutes for a table. No reservations, walk- in only. No…read moretake-out orders. My favorite is the scallops dynamite- that sauce over rice- YUM! We also enjoyed the rainbow roll, unagi role, shrimp tempura roll, baked California roll, beef curry, unagu donburi, tako sunomono, and tako poke. It was plenty for the four of us and we took some of our sushi home. They have some new hot items since our last visit. Chicken cutlet with gravy and hurricane chicken. You can bring your own booze(market just a few doors down). They offer hot tea and soda. Loved our lunch. Highly recommend!

Best view in Maui, especially at sunset! My Japanese wife…read moreloves the sushi, hot rock salmon, or Ahi, and the Staff has the most Aloha! Shout outs to John, Jude, Natalia, Maisie, and the manager, Ross! "Broke da Mouth!" Jai & Leilani ,

My cousins and I went to Pilina for Happy Hour. Happy Hour is between 4:30-5:30 pm. The selection…read morewas ok, wish there was sushi rolls available on the Happy Hour Menu although the Dinner Menu was available so we ordered Signature Sushi Rolls too. We ordered 3 items from the Happy Hour Menu: Tuna Crunch, Sunomono, and Kimchi Dip. Tuna Crunch and Sunomono was my favorite. The Tuna Crunch had garlic chips, chili crunch, and ponzu sauce poured over table side. The Sunomono looked simple with a stack of cucumbers but it also had the most addictive sauce of Garlic Tamari, Chili Crunch and Micro Cilantro. The Kimchi Dip was delicious but I'm not a huge fan of Yorkshire Puddings and would rather had crostini's or bread for dipping. My cousin ordered an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan and he said the drinks were made real good. Another cousin and I opted for Alcohol free drinks, my cousin had one with grapefruit and I enjoyed my "martini" with mango and lilikoi (passion fruit). The Signature Sushi Rolls were delicious. We shared the Anuenue (Rainbow) which included Crab, Ahi, Salmon, Hamachi and Ebi and the Nani (Beautiful) which included Spicy Salmon, Cucumber, Avocado, Yakiniku Sauce, Sweet Soy and Micro Greens. We also ordered the Katsu Pork Belly which our bartender recommended. There's 6 crispy pieces atop Rice, Katsu Sauce, Cabbage and Japanese Curry Mayo. My cousin got the Hot Rock Maui Nui Venison Striploin which was cooked on the Hot Rock for 15 seconds per side and served with 4 Homemade Tortillas and Shiso Chimichurri. Overall, food was pretty good but of course quite expensive and located on a tourist spot. Thankful for Kamaaina discount and the beautiful sunset views!

amazing sushi and apps... we love the firecracker roll,…read moretempura lobster and the tried rice!! good service on the beach and good vibes.... it's a must try!! oh and if u sit at the bar the bartender is the BEST!! mahalo

We found Isana on our last night in Maui and wish we had gone sooner…read more The space feels like it may have once been a teppan spot, but don't judge it on that. The food is what matters and it's excellent. You can truly taste how fresh the fish is, which makes sense given it's fisherman-owned. We had spicy tuna hand rolls and a mix of nigiri including kanpachi, sake, bigeye tuna, and hamachi. Everything was clean, fresh, and really well executed. Bonus points for having kizami wasabi. The bigeye with kizami wasabi was a standout. Our son ordered the tonkotsu pork ramen and loved it. Service was just as good as the food. Winnie took great care of us and made the whole experience even better. Friendly service, great ocean view, and seriously fresh fish. Definitely worth a visit.

I hate to give them a bad review, but it's all based on the circumstances…read more We were so excited to be able to get a reservation over 2 months ago. We were just about to leave our resort when I put it in Google Maps, but AI said they may be closed! Checked my confirmation...no, date is correct. Called the restaurant, left a message. Googled it: which took me to their instagram page: they're closed for renovations from 2/15 through 3/4! Maybe the storms the previous week caused this? I hope it's nothing serious, but we were just so disappointed, and no one has ever reached out to us. And yelp still shows they're operating normal hours!

Strip mall sushi for fine dining prices? It's BYOB, which would be fine if their website told you…read morethat. It doesn't, anywhere. Instead, you show up for your $100/plate omakase (or, God forbid, $185 20-course dinner) and find out you can pair it "with anything from Long's Drugs next door." Or, hey, they have Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite. It might still have been worth it if the sushi were great, but it wasn't. It was pretty good -- better than most places -- but not great. There was nothing particulalry creative about the nigiri, and it wasnt technically outstanding, either - one of us found a scale and another a bone. It simply wasnt worth the price, even on Maui. We drove down from Kapalua to eat here: I would absolutely not do that again. Left feeling disappointed and mildly ripped off. Shout out to the single waitress who handled the entire front-of-house; she was working hard.