4/2026 We have loved Nana Ai Katsu from the beginning of their Ohana Hale Marketplace in Ward! Absolutely love that they moved to Kaimuki much closer to us now! Service is always awesome LeiAnne is always friendly and smiling! Consistency... food is always top notch and focused on quality! Chef Mike always puts out quality food! There's never been an off day! Our favorites- Kasane Bento, chicken katsu bento, takoyaki, shrimp burger and when they have specials - menchi katsu burger, churry! They also have Japanese sodas for sale! They do dine in and take out. Tip: call or text ahead of going there so that you don't have to wait too long. They have a little shop inside with all kinds of Japanese snacks and toys cash only! Love that it's been consistently good from day one quality and service! Support local businesses so that they can keep in business! read more

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I really want to like this place. When we got our food, I was surprised by the portion size. However, the katsu meat is really thin and the breading is thick. The sauce they use for the katsu is a familiar taste; they use bull-dog sauce. The dressing tastes like the dressing from Sams Club. I don't remember it being this way. Maybe they changed? I feel like Koromo and Tamafuji are better. I guess maybe this place is considered a take out spot? It's pretty much serve yourself water, bottle drinks only and order at the counter. The place is clean and wasn't busy. You're most likely going to have to get street parking or go to the paid parking area and walk around a little bit. If you want an OK katsu place, I guess this is the place. read more

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Honorary 6 Stars! I first visited Nana Ai Katsu in 2022 and they weren't fully open to the public yet. We got some take out, ate at a park nearby, and had our minds blown. I loved all the food and wanted to make a return visit this time in 2025. We didn't have a car and it's a little off the beaten path, but it was a reasonable bus ride away. We arrived 30 minutes before close at 1:30PM and unfortunately they were out of their pork and chicken Katsu. A nice consolation prize was the Spam Katsu and the Takoyaki. The Katsu here ridiculously good. There is the normal panko exterior, but underneath, there is a shell of crispiness that I can't recall at other restaurants. This was on both the Spam Katsu and the Takoyaki. Both were also seasoned really well. Takoyaki had an interior similar to a croquette. Staff is very friendly as well. Really nothing bad to say about this restaurant except their food is so good that items run out. read more

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Great food. Tonkatsu is one of a kind made in layers. The layers of meat make it super tender and it just melts in your mouth. It is super crispy and just perfect. The only thing keeping me from giving them 5 stars is that the service is a little weird, not sure how to explain it. Also the hours are strange so sometimes it is hard to catch them when they are open. read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place has very limited hours making it difficult to go there. We ordered take out. We had the kasane tonkotsu, shiso roll katsu and the shrimp kastu. The store was small with limited seats and a lot of nick nacks being sold on the side like Japanese candy and rubber toys. Sort of odd to me. We took it home and had it family style. The Tonkostu was delicious as I enjoyed the layered feature and crunchy exterior. The shiso roll had an extra umami taste and shrimp tonkatsu was interesting as it was a shrimp paste rather than actual shrimp. However it was quite tasty. The only thing I didn't like was the rice as it was mushy. Overall very delicious and I would go back for more. read more

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I was having a friend get together and wanted to get something quick and easy. Nana Ai katsu was right down the street. I texted them my order: numbah tree chicken katsu bento, papa size tonkatsu bento, and my favorite the katsu okonomiyaki (without fish flakes). The order was ready a little after 530. The chicken was jidori breast, but sometimes it's jidori thighs. I really enjoyed it and my friends did too! Parking is in the municipal lot where you can enter through Nana Ai rear entrance. The parking ended up being free for me because I guess there is a grace period of 10 maybe 15 min? So convenient and so easy to preorder ahead, pop in for your takeout and be on your way! read more

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Finally got the chance to pick up some food here a little while back and gotta say, all my friends that told me how good the food here is was right. The items we got were the Papa size tonkatsu bento, the Numba tree chicken katsu bento, the Uzumaki shiso katsu roll bento, and an order of Takoyaki katsu. These were all fantastic but the one that stood out for us was the tonkatsu. The kurobuta pork is thinly sliced and layered then panko fried. The thin layers really made the texture of the pork super soft and succulent. I've never had tonkatsu like this before and it was amazing. The chicken katsu was a standout as well. This katsu is made using jidori chicken and was moist and flavorful. Honstly everything we ordered were standouts. The bentos come with rice, potato salad, some edamame and takuan. Also included are some ground up sesame seeds and great tonkatsu sauce made in Japan...not the kind of tonkatsu sauce a majority of places here serves which is a mixture of ketchup, sugar, shoyu, and worchesteshire. They also use a short grain Japanese rice (koshihikari) which really has a nice flavor and texture. Their attention to detail for all parts of their dishes is top notch! One thing I was a bit bummed out about was they didn't have any Churry (chili-japanese curry mix) and didn't have the Saba katsu either. When I called in my order the day before they said they wouldn't be serving either of these for two weeks. A good reason for us to come back here when those items are available. read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Papa tonkatsu, numba tree chicken katsu, uzumaki shiso katsu roll, takoyaki. All oishi! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've never tried Nana Ai Katsu, until my foodie co-worker asked me if I have been, she mentioned they got the best katsu ever and of course I have to make time to try it out. I also saw a Instagram reel from (@Tommy Eats) of the cute shop, featured pop up shop with treats from Japan by the owner's daughter. I love shops like this and I wanted to support her. Luckily my dentist was near by so I got to stop by just to check out the pop up shop, I got some some snacks for my son to try and he loved it. I went back again ( another dental appointment) and wanted to get him more of the same snacks but they were out. The goodies are cute, unique and cheap. Items varies and new items comes in every month, I asked the owner about it. Such a great entrepreneur! Now more reasons for me to visit Nana Ai Katsu. I finally get to try the katsu/bento, burger during this recent visit and OMG, WOW.. I fell in love. We arrived after 12:30 pm on a Friday, they were busy and only 3 items on the menu were available. Almost sold out, but happy I was able to try the bento & burger. I wanted to order the noodles and spam musubi but that was already sold out. There was a little wait for a table. We ordered at the front counter and waited for a table, self serve utensil, water- which is Menehune water dispenser. The shrimp katsu is huge, filled with 2 pieces of katsu and I can see the shrimp after cutting the burger in half. The shrimp bento is fancy in the bento container. We really enjoyed everything! Although I wanted to try the chicken, pork, and spam katsu musubi and they were all sold out, means I will look forward to more future visits and something to look forward to. I love the bottled drinks @$5., ( non alcoholic) that they have available, I tried the Yuzu ginger . I want to try the rest of flavors next time. Nana Ai Katsu is such a cute & welcoming shop, I loved the decor and welcoming vibe. Nana Ai Katsu is located at the Kaimuki, plenty of parking in the lot. Opens from 11-2 lunch and 5-8pm dinner. They are very popular so plan accordingly, this is my newest spot for katsu fix comparable to the other popular tonkatsu place without the wait. LOVE & Recommend! read more

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Looking for a place that makes you feel that you are eating in Japan? Then you gotta check out Nana Ai in Kaimuki. They use Kurobuta pork and Koshikari rice-and it tastes great. So if you are looking for great food at great prices then checkout Nana Ai. Plenty of paid parking in the back of the restaurant-we paid $2.25 but would have been cheaper if we didn't go someplace else afterwards. read more

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A small hole-in-the-wall spot about 10-15 minutes from Waikiki, this place came highly recommended by locals--and it totally hit the spot for our katsu craving. Now, this isn't your high-end tonkatsu joint, but don't get it twisted--the food is delicious! Served in a simple disposable container, the katsu comes out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Just a heads-up: unlike traditional Japanese tonkatsu restaurants, there are no refills on the cabbage. But the trade-off? No reservations needed, quick service, and unique offerings like the shrimp katsu burger and spam katsu musubi. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area and looking for a casual, satisfying meal. read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

09/11/25 Anytime my kids come home, it's Nana Ai Katsu for dinner. Delicious, easy and filling. The bentos are perfect!...nice crispy, tender tonkatsu with sauce and sesame seeds, Japanese potato salad, rice with furikake, takuwan and hash. So easy, order and pick up. read more

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Came here from a local's recommendation on their shrimp katsu burger. It was outstanding! The cashier was super sweet and friendly and I love the quaint decor -- felt very authentic and Japanese. There's even an honor system to paying for the candies and snacks inside the store too. We took the one burger to-go to try on our way to our other destinations and man it hit the spot! Freshly warm and crispy! Once you bite into it, the cheese starts melting with the heat inside; just yum watch out though, if you eat right after you get it, it can be a bit hot. It's $10.99 not including tips. Highly recommend! read more

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This was not my first time having their food, but my first time dining in :) My dad and I came here for lunch and ordered the katsu bentos. Their katsu is made with 7 layers of thinly sliced pork that makes it super tender and juicy! They have some tables to dine in if you want or you can take it to go. The katsu was piping hot when we ate it! It was pretty filling, so I ate about half and took the rest home so my mom could have some :) read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Had a takeout bento meal. The pork katsu was very good, soft & tender with thin layers of pork. We all enjoyed bento.

This is nicely done kasane tonkatsu, where thin slices of pork are layered or stacked before being dusted w potato starch, dipped in egg and coated in a crunchy panko batter. It isn't going to be meaty and juicy like a really nice piece or whole pork, but it works fine and satisfies. I can make their Papa size tonkatsu into two meals. Their brick and mortar operation allows you to dine in. There are self serve utensils and water, with comfortable seating. Since the food is served in disposable containers they are still best as a take-out choice. If you dine in take a look at their daughter's pop-up. Now that she is older they've given her a dagashi-ya where she can make some spending money. Dagashi is inexpensive sweets and treats - nothing fancy. You put your money in a honor box. Get yourself a treat and support Nanami. This is not high end tonkatsu. There is chicken, shrimp, and spam also made into various katsu. But stick with the mille-feuille pork and you won't go wrong. read more

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The tonkatsu bento here is so yummy! Crispy, perfectly fried pork with a savory sauce, served with rice and sides that complement it perfectly. Totally satisfying and worth ordering! read more

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AHHH-MAZING KATSU! I can't think of something we got here that I didn't LOVE! The portion sizes are so humongous, meat is SO juicy, service was excellent, AND they have the cutest little japan knickknack store inside (so kawaii) If you haven't already planned your next pre-order I would recommend doing that ASAP bc this is some katsu you don't want to miss! read more

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@fortunefoodfinds: "KATSU later! A Kasane "layers" Tonkatsu Bento, Premium Spam Katsu Musubis, n' a Shrimp Katsu Burger from Nana Ai Katsu in Kaimuki. Crispy n' comforting katsu, that the keikis can enjoy too!" Staff: friendly Interior: cozy, limited seating, was able to fit our stroller, offer self-serve water using coffee mugs, has a lil' snack/toy shop to the side Exterior: on Main Street, easy to find Wait time: 20 mins Parking: metered street or back lot Overall comments: the last time I had Nana Ai Katsu was when they were located at the OHM in Ward, which means it's been forever! Was excited to try out some of their current food items. My 4 y/o loves musubis so ofc we had to get their spam katsu musubis that came with tonkatsu sauce n' we all loved it. Da hubz had been eyeing their shrimp katsu burger n' we inhaled it, soo g0o0d! Had to get their kasane tonkatsu bento n' it was unique with the layers. You can tell a lot of heart was put into this. Appreciate a well-made meal! read more

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This resto is so kawaii!! Delicious katsu specialties in this super cute town of Kaimuki. The lady is so nice! There are all kinds of Japanese goodies here to buy. Go check it out! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Moshi!! - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came back again and was pleasantly surprised! I wanted to try something different. So I ordered their Uzumaki Shiso & Porkbelly Katsu bento as well as their Yakisoba Katsu Okonomiyaki. Both plates were delicious. Clearly, it made me super full and very satisfied. My favorite was the Shiso & Porkbelly Katsu! I loved the flavor combined flavor of the Shiso leaf with the pork belly. It's refreshing and hardy at the same time. Lastly, the breading had a perfect crunch and the rice was nice and fluffy!! Overall, They make the food pretty fast, customer service was great, and food was amazing! I'll be coming back :) read more

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One of the best pork katsus I've ever eaten!! So juicy and flavorful! It was around $18.50 for my bento. The first bento on the menu. Everything was 'ono and service was great. Just gotta order at the cashier and they'll call you when you're ready to pick up and eat. There's even a cute little shop inside with cheap Japanese candies and toys. Highly recommend! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Katsu plate - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hunby's favorite place for tonkatsu. I love the takoyaki there. We also got the ebi burger but did not take a picture of it. Food is always delicious there. The service is excellent. Nice cozy place to dine in. read more

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If you're ever going to a small gathering and want to bring the best platter, bring the Reid Platter! My family ate it for super bowl Sunday (which they're smartly open on that day but only sell platters), and it was da bomb! It includes 10 spam katsu musubis (the kids love it!), 18 takoyaki katsu balls, and plenty of tonkatsu pieces! Oh and now can I forget the teriyaki sauce that goes good with everything!All for $73.75. To be honest I'd say it can feed 5-7 people, but it was soo one! Loved the staff too. It was my first time ordering takeout from them and they were patient, kind, and informative despite them being bombed with out phone call take out orders. I definitely plan on going back to dry their dishes, but it's a place that you should check out too. 5 stars!!! read more

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Nana Ai Katsu is a cute, little place decked out with Japanese decorations and they even have a corner where they sell snacks and things from Japan. The lady at the cash register was friendly and helpful as we placed our orders which was the pork katsu that they're known for, and their chicken katsu. The wait was a little long (but worth it!!) so we spent the time looking at the snack corner and their cute fishes swimming in the tank. It also gave us a chance to read about the quality ingredients they use from the type of responsibly raised, non-gmo, no antibiotic pork; down to even the panko flakes from Japan which are larger and lend to a greater crispy crunch!! Our food came in disposable plastic bento-type containers with a salad and Yummy miso-goma dressing. The rice was so good, they carefully selected the type of rice from Japan they'd serve, too! The pork and chicken arrived piping hot and crispy! The layered pork was so tender and tasty and honestly, I didn't think it needed the tonkatsu sauce. Here's what sold me, though. I can't eat chicken or pork the next day because there's a strong gamey odor and taste, but that may just be something weird going on with me, lol! But I tried my leftovers the next day and the meat was still tasty, and no odor! Of course the panko wasn't as crisp, but it still had some crunch. I wish they served fountain drinks instead of canned, but other than that, the meal was wonderful! And now I can't eat katsu anywhere else, lol! Good thing they also have take-out, which I noticed was popular as I watched customers coming in and leaving with their bentos! I Nana Ai Katsu!! Also, I took a picture of a famous Kitty waiting for her order, too!! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We've been wanting to try Nana Ai Katsu for a while. Heard about it through my fellow Yelpers. They certainly lived up to and surpassed our expectations. We tried the Kurobuta Kasane Tonkatsu wonderfully crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside couple with their own Tonkatsu sauce it was amazing. We also tried the Spam Katsu platter. Battered and Panko crusted, deep fried to perfection coupled with their premium rice and Tonkatsu sauce totally satisfying. Since there were 3 of us we also tried the Ebi Katsu Burger. 2 Ebi patties with cheese and mayonnaise coupled with their Tonkatsu sauce it was delicious. Service was excellent. Friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. They have a cozy dining area, but they do a lot of take out business. read more

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Back Again and Still Blown Away! I couldn't stay away! I came back just a few days after my first visit, and it was totally worth it. This time we tried the shrimp burger and takoyaki, and once again... I CANNOT GET OVER IT. The katsu here is unbelievably crispy every single time. I don't know how they do it, but I'm obsessed with everything on the menu. We also had the chance to chat more with the owner, and she is an absolute sweetheart. Learned a bit about her family and even got a recommendation for a great embroiderer in Osaka (what a lovely personal touch.) Between the incredible food, warm service, delicious beverage selection, and those little personal touches, Nana Ai Katsu has my katsu heart. I can't wait to come back (again and again). Mahalo for another amazing meal! read more

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Katsu on another level... If you're bored with the traditional katsu you must give Nana Ai Katsu a visit and shame on you if you haven't lol! Located right on Waialae in Kaimuki there is street parking which is the most difficult find though there are a couple of municipal lots nearby the search is very much worth the effort. With items like the Kasane which means layers in Japanese is exactly that layers of kurobuta and one of my favorites uzumaki shiso which is shiso leaves rolled between pork belly and is coated and fried...yum! This visit has me eyeing #4 Noodle Katsu Okonomiyaki as growing up visiting family in Hiroshima it's all I've ever been immersed in and is the comfort food for me to this day. There's no meat but the crunch level was intense and drenched in sauce and mayo this heavenly bite was me eating in silence while I saver each bite. The vibe here is very busy here and phone orders are very recommended but the staff and kitchen handles it all with such flair as I see folks walking in one after another and to advise us about the wait time is very much appreciated. Irene Ai this Katsu spot along with my besties and here we cheers to a lucky meal celebrated with a full belly and happy heart. Thank you! read more

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Good food, takes a little long but great quality. Free seating available. Nice ambiance

Really delicious shrimp burger -- I got it because it reminded me of the shrimp burgers I get in korea from Lotteria! Amazing katsu -- It was really juicy! Also love the koi fish near the front door read more

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Nana Ai Katsu has been on my to try list forever now. I never made my way here till now. Boy was I missing out! I got the roll with shiso in it....sooooo good! It had so much flavor! Nice and tender pork with crispy exterior. It left me wanting more! Hours vary, so make sure to check first. Parking is street or paid parking lot in the back. There is a sit down area if you want to dine in. I will definitely be back again! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Uzumaki shiso roll - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A tonkatsu bento that can't be beat. A perfect to-go meal and an even better dine in experience. This place used to be in Ohana Marketplace, which served as a business incubator. I'm glad Nana got their own restaurant from their humble small stall. This is a juicy thinly sliced multi-layered pork katsu that is very juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Fatty pork, the wagyu of pigs has lots of inter muscular fat. Never a dry, tough bite for this tonkatsu. The bento is so good! No other place has katsu like this. It's even better if you eat it fresh in the restaurant. Order at the cash register. Everything is treated like take out. They will call you when it's ready to pick it up at the counter. Order a drink and find a seat. It's self serve, clean up your own mess. Their tipping system reflects the percentages that you'd expect for that type of service or don't tip at all. That's really up to you. Sitting in air conditioned space beats just sitting outside. Maybe they are a purist here, but a curry katsu option sounds good...I would order it. read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located on Waialae Ave, they have some street parking in the front or lots of public meter parking in the parking lot behind the restaurant. When I for dinner and was surprised to see Churry on the menu at first I thought it was chilli like most other places serving chilli, but this one had a twist of a chili with a curry flavor which was very good and tasty. They also serve there specially made tonkatsu and panko breaded spam musubi which was enjoyed by my Kesha & Matt! Pets are allowed they even have a board where customers of pets are posted! Family run local business read more

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I got food from here 2 times in a week, it was both takeout and I didn't pick up so I can't comment on the ambiance. The food was great and the portion size is on point and the price is right for sure! I highly recommend this place if in the mood for tonkatau! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - The bento box - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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It was amazing, it was yummy, it was more than what I expected. Definitely will come back. And the staffs were all super nice and friendly. There was a constant stream of people coming in to pick up their take out orders. I can see why. It's good!!!! We ordered the bento and a plate lunch. The bento is enough to fill a person but because we had Jidori chicken plate lunch too, we still had leftover. Yummy!!! read more

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Today I got to try the Chicken Katsu and it was very tasty. The restaurant is a boutique with very cute designs. The cashier/server was very friendly and helpful. read more

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If you park in the municipal lot, there is a rear entrance from the parking. This is all preparation for "Take Away", but there are tables if you want to nosh there. The pork is quite delicious and unique in its preparation. The Churry is my take away however. This stuff is delicious! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My niece brought some over for dinner and it was a treat! Best katsu ever - both the chicken and pork ones that we tried. Portions are generous so share a bento or if you buy 1 each, you'll have tasty leftovers. The katsu was so light and crisp. Next time we know to pre-order for takeout like the regulars who knew to do this read more

One of my favorite places to stop by! I love takoyaki and I love katsu, so imagine my surprise to find a place that not only combines both, but other katsu combinations as well? It was amazing, crunchy, and full of flavor - I genuinely recommend visiting them in Kaimuki if you have a chance to! It's a small cozy spot with friendly staff! - Miguel Morales Photography read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Takoyaki and Spam Katsu (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Located in Kaimuki in the same strip as Happy Days, Nana Ai Katsu is a small katsu restaurant. There is parking in the lot around the back. There is limited seating inside but it feels clean. We picked up our food but the service was prompt when we did. I ordered spam katsu musubis, which were quite good. The flakes were very crunchy and the whole thing was tasty. I believe that this restaurant was founded by a local family, which is super sweet. I definitely want to come back and try some more of the menu items! read more

Nana Ai Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Called today. They will be closed till the 8th of October. The food there is outstanding. One of the best chicken tonkatsu on the island! Numba tree chicken katsu! read more