First time there and enjoyed the experience. Staff was friendly and throughly explained each dish. Asked about different sake and recommended very good sake to go with dishes. Since I don't eat much the portions were perfect but maybe for others might need more. After living in Tokyo for many years it was a pleasant surprise read more

I was a little embarrassed to show up with my 3 kiddos that are picky eaters. Unfortunately they ONLY serve the "omekase" (there is NO menu to "order from"). But the staff was amazingly patient and attentive to the kids needs. On to the important part... the February menu was just perfectly assembled. Everything from the first course to the dessert. All deserving of Michelin stars (minus the daikon radish that my wife and I refer to as "fart radish" by no fault of the chef... that's just daikon for you). This is where I chose to celebrate my 40th birthday, and I'm glad to have spent it there. Arigatou gozaimasu! read more

A very neat dinning experience. As others have already stated, the menu changes every month, so you can't get attached to one dish per se, however you can get attached to the restaurant. The restaurant is located in an unassuming location, well, ghetto if you ask me. Their sign and frontage is very subdued. If you never heard/seen this place, odds are you never will, unless yelp or a friend suggests it. The layout of this place is really neat! The kitchen is in the middle and the patrons sit on the outside looking into the kitchen area. You are able to see the chef prepare your dish and it feels very comfortable. It also takes your attention away from the busy street outside. The food is great. Each of the 6 dishes were tasty in a clean and pure way. Nothing was heavy or overpowering and with that being said I was content with the portions at the end of my meal. As good as it is, my taste buds are more American than Japanese. The difference is huge. Japanese cuisine has very subtle differences and I may not fully appreciate those undertones. Each dish comes with an explanation of whats in it and I might not be tasting each flavor, which makes me believe I am not good enough to fully appreciate it. The service is great! The servers make a huge effort to make you feel comfortable. I see this effort made of Japanese tourists and locals, which is great. I sometimes see bias efforts made, but here is equal. The restaurant is mostly Japanese tourists or transplants, which indicates this place is legit. The parking is in front of the restaurant and people parks across the street too. I wish they had a better location, but it may be part of the experience. I think this place is worth a try and you might fall in love with it. This relationship will cost you about $75 per person though. read more

Nanzan GiroGiro - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Delicious meal. The chef and staff were very friendly and happy to share their food with us. The set menu is so tasty and the portions are filling. Recommend this place for a hearty Japanese meal. For COVID precautions- they have are very clean. Hand sanitizer is available at the door. The seats are separated for at least 6 feet between parties. Masks worn by staff. read more

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A taste bud party!! So many textures, smooth powerful flavors, and nice presentation. We had a six course meal that involved grilled Yuan meat with chrysanthemum leaf sauce, roast duck in an amazing foie gras sauce, and grilled black cod in a subtle clam soup (to name a few items in the 6 course meal). The staff projected that familiar, amazing Japanese service that I miss so much! They change their menu monthly... believe me, I'll be returning regularly! read more

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Ill give this place 5 stars for the food, service, and price. The chef here is very personable and takes pride in his work. The atmosphere and service feels like the same kind of service received in Japan. The restaurant has a set menu that changes every month. For a 6 course meal, its $58. Each dish is created uniquely bursting with flavors. The dessert is $12. Its well worth it. The menu changes every month. read more

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I've been "saving" Nanzan for my 200th Yelp review for some time now. According to my check ins I've been here 22 times. But I know for a fact that I've forgotten to check in more than once or twice when I've been here! I've dined at this Kaiseki restaurant every month with my fellow Elite Jacob N., and a small group of close friends for 2-3 years now. The menu changes on the last Thursday of event month (which is why we keep going each month). Chef Yoshihiro Matsumoto builds his monthly menus with the freshest ingredients and always tries to capture the flavors, textures, and tastes that will be the most balanced, refreshing, and comforting for the season. (Think heavier meat dishes in the colder months, cripsy chilled veggies in the spring and summer, etc.) The chef and his staff are wonderful and we're able to enjoy their hospitality as regulars. Being seated in the main room allows diner to watch the organized execution of their 6-7 course meal. The little magical containers of pureed this or jellied dashi that appear and disappear in a teasing fashion. You can see what's to come when other diner's meals are plated and drool in anticipation. The sake and spirits selection is well curated and the servers are friendly and knowledgeable about their offerings. (and if they don't know they will ask their other servers or the chef himself to come and explain) Because the menu changes monthly, when you do eat something completely amazing and delicious and wonderful try to savor it because you'll NEVER be able to eat it again. I know. Sad. The restaurant also offers a dessert course with matcha tea. I strongly recommend getting the dessert course because the flavors are completely unique. I'm not just talking about azuki beans...Spinach cake, tomato sorbetto, and sweet potato ice cream are just some of the types of dessert flavors you'll experience. read more

Feel like the restaurant is over rated on Yelp. Do not know why. The dishes taste ok but nothing surprised me, just on average. The cleaness of the restaurant is definitely a minus, the floor is not not clean and kind of sticky. The stuffed should have wear clean shirts.......The restroom smells pretty bad.....I would recommend you go somewhere else and do not be fooled by the Yelp rating. read more

Took wife out for her Birthday last night. We've been here before. Kaiseki style dinner where you get a prefixed course menu. Chef does use local ingredients and ingredients from Japan. Menu goes seasonally because that's Kaiseki style. Never been dissatisfied or disappointed. Always amazing and delicious! Oiishi! Check them out and if can do wine pairings, goes great with your meal. With sake on the side! read more

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DECENT FOOD WITH GREAT PRICE! WORTH TRYING! Food wasn't amazing but it was a good value for the price. One thing I would point out is that you can see servers wash dishes in the middle of the (open) kitchen and your dishes are actually still wet too. I noticed few of my plates were wet when I got some courses and it wasn't really pleasing. Couple of servers brought food wearing plastic gloves. I consider this restaurant as semi-fine dining so I would enjoy more if the plates weren't wet and servers dress properly. However the food was great! read more

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Treated my friend here for his birthday and definitely was not disappointed! The June selection was delicious, every piece you could tell was carefully selected and made. We got the 9-course meal ($143 per person) and ended getting very full by the end of it. I think next time we might just only do 6- course. The cool thing about this restaurant is the whole aesthetic of it. There's a small art gallery, as well as the dining area surrounds the kitchen. You can see how they make each dish. We had this one soup, which I forgot what it was, where on the lid it had droplets of water that they sprayed on. The waiter said it was to mimic rainfall. Wow! They really put a lot of effort into aesthetics of each dish in addition to the restaurant. My favorites were the duck and wagyu dishes. I've never had medium rare duck and didn't know this was something I needed in my life! We got lucky with parking for this restaurant, but I go Menya Le Nood and know how difficult it can get sometimes. Overall, great experience, would come back again to try out the 6-course meal. Also every month they change their menu, so it'll completely different experience each time! read more

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At $58pp this place is a steal if you've got a date night or some special occasion coming up. The food and atmosphere make it feel like a place which could easily cost twice as much. I think the menu rotates so I won't get too specific on the dishes, but there was an anago on chickpea puree and a duck breast katsu that really stood out. I think it's 6 courses and really all of them were excellent. Also, their website is terrible so don't bother checking it out. Like it's kinda cool looking but is unnavigable. read more

Hubby and I made reservations here upon friend's recommendation. We wanted to try one nice place. I hadn't read much about it and didn't realize til we got there that it was a multi course dinner. The price was super reasonable 6 courses for $58. The service was awesome as the staff were mostly young, laid back, happy crew. For each course they explain to u what u r about to eat. The seating is mostly around the kitchen and staff, so it's kind of fun watching, although most of the courses seem almost pre-prepared. I didn't like every single course but i enjoyed the minimalist display of each course. I was pretty full by the end. They change menu on monthly basis and each course involves some type of seafood. I would love to come back. read more

Nanzan GiroGiro - Modern minimalist Japanese - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Very interesting concept. The kitchen is in the center of the restaurant and you basically sit around the bar like you would at a sushi restaurant. they have 6 course or 9 course menu. The 6 course price does not include dessert, so the diff in price btwn thatvand the 9 course is the additinal 2 premium course with dessert. The diff is almost doubled, so if the price is pretty steep. Should you go with 6 or 9 course? I think it all depends on your budget. I very much enjoyed the 9 course meal but I'd probably go with 6 course next time. The servers are great at explaining the dishes down to the smallest details and are keen to remove plates for you and fill up your drinks. read more

My favorite Japanese restaurant. The menu is set, no decisions to make, so just enjoy the chef's selection for the month. Visually entertaining as the food gets carefully assembled in front of you (if you're seated at the counter), in any case visually enjoyable food presentation. I always appreciate the thought and care that goes into the food preparation. At first the portion is deceptively small, but the variety in flavors & the diversity of ingredients really satiate the palate, your belly will be full and satisfied. Quality seasonal ingredients, seasoned to enhance the natural flavors. The consideration and timing of the food delivery allows you ample time to enjoy each course, no rushing here. If you have room for desert the light & delicate sweetness completes the meal. Ahhhh... can't wait for next month's menu! read more

One of the places where you can enjoy authentic Kyoto cuisine. Their menu changes monthly to reflect the different crops in season so you generally never eat the same menu! It is a 5 course set for $58, you can add dessert for an extra $14. The dessert is small and I don't find it worth paying an extra $14. They also do have wine pairings to go with the course. I thoroughly enjoyed their May 2018 menu as I took my mother and younger sister out for Mother's day. I have heard others say that the serving size is small and that they do not leave full. However, I don't think so. It is just enough to enjoy each ingredient plated. read more

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Always good food. I go there whenever I come to Oahu. All staff is friendly and professional. It's a Japanese Kaiseki style course that you can enjoy variety of small portions. Chef uses fresh and seasonal ingredients with creative combinations. The smaller course even makes me full. read more

The chefs prepare traditional Japanese dishes in very non traditional ways. Lots of flavor and very artistic. Highly recommend sitting at the counter and watching them create their dishes. read more

Kaiseki was traditionally served to the aristocracy. At Nanzan Giro Giro, you can get a taste of how the Japanese nobility dined. Luckily, at $58 for a 6-course meal (+$8 for dessert), you won't have to trade your kidney for this luxurious experience. ...and what an experience you'll have. Although there are tables in the back for larger parties, most of the seating is at the counter which wraps around an open kitchen. The kitchen is the stage, and you are there to watch the chefs perform their nightly dance. The chefs work meticulously, with such precision and skill. Every piece is plated ever so carefully. Each ingredient has been deliberately picked so that the flavors and textures complement each other nicely. Sometimes the dishes might seem like gazing upon a score of Handel's "Messiah"- a lot of notes thrown together that don't seem to make sense- but when the orchestra plays, everything falls into place. In this way, sometimes the different components of the dishes that are served may seem peculiar, but beautifully harmonize in your mouth. The menu changes monthly so that you will likely never have the same dish twice. But knowing you will have something only once- doesn't that make the experience that much more meaningful? read more

Nanzan GiroGiro - 1. Banana & cheese macaron 2. sweet potato ice cream 3. zucchini cake - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This by far is the most unique creative omakase I have ever tried on the island of Oahu. Each dish was exceptional! The most stunning presentation too! This chef is very very intelligent as he creates the most natural tasting dishes with delicious fresh greens, fresh fish, and a lot of flavorful ingredients! The Service is 90% perfect! I have eaten here twice and received terrible service the second time dining here. I won't give them a 4 Star because the food is what makes this place and the ambiance! Some of the staff actually explain what each dish is and there was a blond haired man that just dropped our dish in front of us and walked away. I even got a comment from him when my 2 year old picked up the little dish... he told us... oh that dish is $50! And he walked away! So I think if he cares so much about telling me about a $50 little dish, he should have said the value of the food is this much and told us what we were eating. I really don't like his service and I cringe when I see him trying to drop a few dishes made by the chef on our table. I always have to ask another server if they can explain to me what the dish is. I love the food here! You must try it! But to all my Yelp followers, just ignore that one server! It's not worth it getting flustered by his rude comments like how I was. I just really hope there's a replacement for him soon. Someone with genuine customer service and isn't giving attitude to people with young children. You would think... if I can afford to eat there... then I can afford to buy all your little dishes and then some. Makes me think... why is this guy even working here?? This restaurant would be ultimately perfect minus that one server! I will definitely dine here again in the near future! Love this place! read more

Hustling hard for business and turnaround. We booked first reservation for 6pm seating. Apparently forgot to ask for the bar seating and was put in the small sectional on the left side of the entrance as you walk in. Seating in that sectional was terribly uncomfortable and we weren't offered seating preference. Another group came in and complained about that section and they got moved to the bar, oh well... 2 courses into the meal, the waitor came over and moved all our stuff to another table (same section, not bar). We asked what's the deal.. he didn't really want to explain, but said they needed the table for a bigger party. Shouldn't you tell us before doing it? Or shouldn't you ask if it's okay for us to move? Basically they need to flip as many tables as possible and dont' care for customers because they aren't making money from that 6 course meal. Food was above average, but portions were small like everyone said. Customer service lacked.. Be aware that tip suggestion is added on top of taxes. So your essentially giving more than you need to. read more

Amazing food, amazing service! Had our 2 hour meal at Nanzan Girogiro and I think everything was very fair tonight. My husband got the 9 course and I got the 6 course meals with their wine paring. The food was good but what was more amazing was every single wait staff we met tonight. They were so cool, nice, and attentive - just made tonight's experience that much better! I could sense that everyone works very hard to achieve a certain level of service and we really appreciated that. read more

Haven't been here since the beginning of the pandemic and so glad they reopened. Never anything negative about this place, nor the food, or the staff. Of course, with prices on the rise, the cost here increased at least by $10, but worth it. Every course a perfection in presentation and flavor. It's a set menu for the month and changes each month, but always a wonderful surprise, including the cleverly designed dishes, love the ones that has an animal face peeking over the edge. No other Japanese restaurant here can compare, it's very unique. Only negative is the parking situation on a very busy street, limited spaces and narrow, hoping the next car won't ding yours. But the food and presentation...Perfection with a big smile! read more

This place is awesome. It is authentic Kyoto style Kaiseki prepared by an chef from Kyoto, Japan. Portions are modest but there are many courses in the set. Menu is changed every month. Book in advance as reservations are full. Best Valentine's dinner ever! read more

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Amazing meal! We were absolutely blown away by the February menu. They are very skilled at incorporating tofu into their dishes. Each course was better than the next. My date and I ordered one 6 course meal and one 9 course meal, and just split the 3 extra dishes. It's a large amount of food, we came very hungry and left very full. I had to tap out at the second to last dish. We will be back again to try the new menus! read more

Hands down to one of my favorite places to eat in the island!! I've been coming to Nanzan Giro Giro for years now (maybe 4 years) in a row and when i say in a row i mean i've been coming every month and sometimes if the menu is good i would go 2 times that month!! Yes! Thats how much i like it!!! :) Nanzan Giro Giro is Kaiseki style and they change their menu in a monthly basis is a 6 course meal for $58 per person and you can do the wine pairing for $25.00 more and $8.00 more if you want dessert. I always get the whole set. As soon as you come in you will be greeted and you will sit in a big counter (Tip: Make reservation!!) but they also have a big table in the back for big parties (this one is booked with months in advance). The portions are small but they are delicious! And if you would like to repeat something, ask the chef and they can mostly do it and charge you a la carte. Ku is the best server you can get and if you do the wine pairing he has all these fancy words that makes your mouth all watery!!! Overall i will still coming back here and spoil myself with their amazing food!!!! read more

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The entire meal was delicious, and I wanted to lick my plate after each dish. If I lived in Honolulu, I would come back every month to try each new menu. read more

Great service and friendly staff. Only down side was parking was horrible and my beef was cooked medium/well done,which is just not my personal preference.The food was feast to the eyes as well as eat and I was very full by the end of the meal. Also love how my friend and I could a have a leisure dinner (2 1/2 hours) with no feeling of being rushed out the door . read more

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There are only a few places that I make it a point to go to regularly, and even fewer where I make my next reservation before leaving for the night. Nanzan GiroGiro is one of them. This is why I've chosen to write about Nanzan GiroGiro for my milestone 300th Yelp review. OH YEAH!! + Amazingly delicious food + Skillfully crafted dishes + Fresh high quality ingredients + Excellent service + A new menu every month + Unique dishware + Free parking + Well-rounded sake selection OH NO!! - Closed every Tuesday and Wednesday :( - A new menu every month OH MY!? ~ Whenever I drink my sake, there is a little man staring at my face... Kaiseki: A traditional multi-course Japanese set menu dinner of select food served to each member of a gathering. Tucked away in the mini warehouse district between Ala Moana, and Kaka'ako on the corner of Pensacola and Kona st. is a modern looking restaurant with large, nearly floor to ceiling glass windows facing the streets. At night, when all the other surrounding businesses are closed for the day, the lights shining out of these large glass panes serve as a beacon for diners. This shining beacon amidst the darkened neighborhood is Nanzan GiroGiro. As diners enter the well lit restaurant from the dark street outside, they are greeted with a robust chorus of "Irrashaimase!" as is the custom at Japanese restaurants. Most of the seats in the restaurant are at their large counter surrounding the open kitchen at the heart of the restaurant. There is also a small dining room towards the back, ideal for larger parties, or for those who want a bit more privacy as they dine. I've never actually eaten back there before, but I'm not sure that I would want to. You just can't beat the experience of watching the chef and staff doing their thing. Chef Yoshihiro Matsumoto was born, raised and trained in Japan, but came to Hawaii to create these freshly delectable pieces of art as the head Chef of Nanzan GiroGiro. Chef Matsumoto likes to make use of locally sourced ingredients other more exotic ingredients to create flavorful dishes unique to Hawaii. The dishware that are used to serve this unique food are also something to take note of. They are hand crafted by Nanzan, then namesake of the restaurant. In the waiting area by the Kona Street entrance to the restaurant is also a mini gallery of some of Nanzan's work. The service here is outstanding. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable. These skilled servers not only server your dishes to you, but inform you of what each dish is comprised of, and they can also be seen helping with some of the dish preparations, and even washing dishes in the open kitchen. The menu changes on the last Thursday of every month, so I won't go into any specifics as to the kinds of dishes there are, but there is always a wonderful variety of ingredients, flavors and textures with each changing menu. You will definitely notice the seasonal differences if you eat there enough. I also mentioned that this ever-changing menu is both a blessing and a curse because while the menus are always fresh and unique, once the month is over, it's gone forever. This is a curse when you eat something so wonderful and you know that you probably won't get to have it again. But I guess it's this impermanence is part of the Japanese aesthetic which makes these dishes, like the sakura in Japan, so precious. read more

Nanzan GiroGiro - The little man that watches me drink sake. Always there... Always watching... - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The short review: Nanzan GiroGiro is pretty much hands down the best kaiseki (set menu) I have ever had in my life! Easily 6 stars if Yelp would let me have the honor. The slightly longer review: I have been meaning to try Nanzan GiroGiro for a very long time. Since it opened, I have never found the time to visit, or when I tried to go they were booked for the night. But I've finally managed to find some free time and make a reservation! Getting a reservation is a MUST; it's very hard to get in without reservations. Nanzan GiroGiro is open from 6pm-Midnight and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For parking you may park in front of the restaurant or find street parking. Like you may have already heard, the main attraction is a $50 seven course kaiseki (set menu) with an optional $8 dessert, which changes monthly. They even have a nice selection of wine, Japanese sake, and beer which you may choose from (not included as part of kaiseki). The service and experience was spectacular! Yoshihiro (the head chef) was amazing and a delight to converse with. Yoshihiro is from Japan and English is his second language, but nonetheless his English is really good. Throughout the night I learned more about him and Nanzan, and he's a really funny guy! Food is served one course at a time and a brief description is given for each course. Yoshihiro tries to use as many local ingredients as possible and those that aren't local are from Japan. The presentation of each course is very artistic and the plates and dishes are beautiful and unique. Now if you have the appetite of a sumo wrestler or you're starving, this pricey meal may not be the best place to settle that rumble in your stomach. The portions are on the smaller side but they are spaced out nicely to let your food digest. This is at least an hour, hour half meal so be patient, converse, and enjoy the beautiful artistic creations from Nanzan GiroGiro! Also, make sure you get the $8 add on dessert! After all, the menu changes monthly so you'll probably never be able to have the same dessert ever again! read more

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My bf and I stumbled upon this place by accident, as we live around the corner to this place. We didn't know what to expect but we always saw Japanese chefs in there preparing meals for the people sitting around the bar area. The restaurant seemed to be on the fancy side, and I was sort of intimidated to go in and check it out in our very casual attire and no reservations. But my bf was very curious about the place so we decided to go in and check it out. We found out that it is a kaiseki style restaurant, in which they serve small courses of Japanese food, all prix fixe for about $50/person. The courses were really tiny but all were very good. I was even surprised at how full I felt at the end of the meal. Apparently the menu changes every month, so there's always new items to look forward to. Everything about this place is outstanding...the food, service, ambIance, decor, etc. I def recommend this place to anyone who's considering a meal like this. Great for special occasions, but also for a nice meal with your partner or friends. read more

OK WOW. This place is pretty fricken spectacular!! I thought it was so awesome, I came straight out of the restaurant and decided I must write this review ASAP. First of all, this place is located on pensacola, kinda hidden among the warehouses, but its a nice modern looking restaurant so it's easily spotted as it stands out from the other surrounding buildings. There are some parking stalls reserved for the restaurant, but once they fill up, you have to find street parking. It's a nicely decorated joint, with a sleek, clean feeling. There are a ton of waiters/staff members who are extremely friendly and helpful. This restaurant is not your typical restaurant. They serve a set menu, which changes each month. They served us a variety of dishes, about 6 of them and they were all delicately made in front of us and served fresh. I wish I was able to recall all the specific dishes, but my memory is not that great. Everything was pretty much super delicious, tasty and with all the different flavors and ingredients, they all blended very well together. The food was light, fresh and definitely packed with flavor. Even down to the dessert, which was amazing as well. What made this place even better was the friendliness of the staff. The owner was the one who served us and he very friendly and made the experience more personal, which was awesome. The other staff members were also just as friendly as well! It's not a cheap meal, but definitely work the splurge of $50 for a delightful dinner! Check it out! read more

Nanzan has been my list of restaurants to check out for a while....and I finally got the chance to check it out the other night... We had 6:30 reservations and I was surprised to see that only half of the restaurant was full...Definitely seemed feasible to walk in w/out reservations on a Monday night. I had gone a 3 mile run earlier and had skipped out on lunch, only snacking on ritz so I was starving.... We ordered some beer and sake and waited for our first course to come out... 1. Cold chawanmushi with sweet potato paste and topped with ikura. - I often order chawanmushi when eating Japanese food but have never had it cold! The silkiness of the egg custard and the sweet potato paste went well together but I think I still prefer my chawanmushi warm. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=BwgKeHH2i0_nyih-fW97Uw&userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww 2. First dish - Ahi wrapped in a takuan tartar - my favorite of the 3. Second dish - Chicken tsukune - might be better if it was warm 3rd dish - egg tofu topped with miso paste. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=tmXJfKO5CmY906yz7JiPBA&userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww 3. Mitzuba, matsutake, and shrimp tempura on somen in a monkfish broth. - YUM! The tempura was fresh and not at all oil. The broth had a slight sweetness to it so the tempura didn't even need any sauce....I could eat a big bowl of this stuff and I don't even really like somen! http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=HlB2L638H704kq51Dve6wQ&userid=QkQLnujuiBDP1mNChJYJww 4. Sliced short ribs a top a piece of shiso leaf with a beet puree. Tender slices of beef - yes please. I can't say I've ever been a fan of beets (I guess I never really gave them a chance either) but by the end I couldn't stop dipping my beef in the beet puree. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nanzan-girogiro-honolulu?select=tmXJfKO5CmY906yz7JiPBA#aDtdLSeSk9p8EibdJz_Crg 5. Moi (I think) and agedashi goma tofu simmered in miso....OMG the tofu was outstanding. My friend and I both almost asked the waiter for some more...Yes, it was that good. If you like goma tofu and agedashi tofu and miso you'll be in heaven. The fish was a little dry in my opinion but the tofu more than made up for it. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nanzan-girogiro-honolulu?select=tmXJfKO5CmY906yz7JiPBA#DdvXMpWlM3t-XdUwM3VwSw 6. Palate Cleanser - Uni/tomatoes/kahuku corn puree/chrysanthanum - interesting combination but definitely a palate cleanser. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nanzan-girogiro-honolulu?select=tmXJfKO5CmY906yz7JiPBA#P7f9jf3SMrKIa884UTk8Uw 7. Moi and eggplant chasuke with moi asari broth. Rice is always the best way to end a Japanese meal and this was no different. The broth was flavorful from the moi and the asari. I just wish we had a little more! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/nanzan-girogiro-honolulu?select=tmXJfKO5CmY906yz7JiPBA#yrqIarG40POIXhfhb8HoIQ 8. Walnut cream inside coffee yasuhashi, apple cheese panna cotta, and grapefruit macaroon. - Very different unique flavored desserts. I'm not a huge cheese dessert fan so the panna cotta was probably my favorite. The grapefruit macaroon was refreshing. The whole meal was beautiful....Every dish was carefully presented on hand made plates and described by the very attentive waiters who for the most part all spoke Japanese and English. This was fun since my friend and I were going back and forth from Japanese/English the whole night too. I wish I had eaten lunch because I was still a little hungry after the meal. If you are a hungry man, I'd advise lunch AND a snack before dinner or you might be ending up at Gyu-Kaku for a second dinner.... Definitely will be back! YELP 365: 239/365 read more

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Went for wife's birthday with friends and food was very good and wife tried 6 cource which was priced right but i had nine course to try. Although portions look small they were filling and liked creative dinnerware it was served in. Service was excellent. My only comment is the dessert was OK and wish they had a sake sampler but then again they wouldnt be able to serve in those cute sake cups. read more

Heard about this restaurant from a local so we came here on a whim. The menu is a unique omakase experience. Some of the grilled dishes were incredible. The seating area to the side was very spacious and the service was quick and attentive. The wine pairing was quite good. read more

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This was my first experience with "Kaiseki" dining (set menu), and being the picky eater than I am, the concept itself is quite frightening, since I don't get to pick and choose what I eat. But at $50 for 7 courses (plus dessert for an additional $8), the chinese in me is not going to let anything go to waste on my plate, no matter what it is. Unfortunately I can't recite anything we ate with specificity since they do not give you a printed menu, but generally speaking, our meal consisted of crab, tempura scallop, ahi poke with uni, fish, beef tataki, unagi, chicken, and some kind of dessert. The portions may appear small, but by the 7th course, I was almost ready to call it quits, but, of course I have to try the dessert. I love this style of dining. You get sample a bunch of different courses, and you get to see it prepared right before your eyes. You even get to see the dishes being washed! Will I be back to sample another menu? Most definitely. read more

This is a long overdue review, but to this day I must say eating here was such a memorable experience. Didn't make a reservation for two... The hostess was a little hesitant to seat us, but after getting permission from the chef they were able to accomodate us. So be sure to make reservation on your visit! The menu has fresh ingredients, and changes monthly. The presentation is so elegant and spectacular, and the flavors of each dishes were unique and special. And it was definitely amusing to see the chefs preparing the meals so up close! Chef Yoshihiro was so nice and pleasant. Since there were only few people left dining at his restaurant, we were lucky to be able to talk to him. He takes much pride for his work. The tasting menu is straight forward and very reasonable. You can even share one upgrade on desserts too. This is not a restaurant for you if you have a huge appetite. Don't expect quantity over quality. Be warned that the parking here can be a nightmare too. read more

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Dinner July menu..my first here...Great food, very delicate taste which I prefer - like cuisine in Japan. Chef Matsumoto actually came by to ask how we liked the menu and also asked if anything could have been better. Food was excellent, service by the young servers needs refinement on serving, description of presentation and liquor service. This is the only reason not a 5 star for me. The froi gras miso paste on the rice in the last dish is absolutely off the hook. I could eat that on rice everyday! Seriously read more

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Nanzan Giro Giro = Gastronomy, the art or science of good eating What an amazing Japanese kaiseki restaurant. I was blown away with the amazing food presentation, creative use of ingredients, perfectly executed and beautifully tasting food. Dish after dish came in well-timed succession followed by a detailed explanation of the dish and its intricately prepared components. Truly, the Chef is a master! Bravo! Course 1 Appetizer: 4 small appetizers served on a palette ceramic plate. Sweet potato puree with a seared cube of fish, eggplant topped with okra (my fav one), egg filled with miso chicken, and some dark brown (sesame?) sauce and vegetables. Course 2 Fish: sashimi (raw fish) rose wrapped around succulent sweet uni, fried fava beans, in a creamy asparagus puree with chrysanthemum. Course 3 Soup: charred fish (smoky and well seasoned), a slice of maitake mushroom, and a delectable fried ball of sweet corn with fishcake (?? not sure) in a delicious dashi. Course 4 Rice : abalone rice (my least favorite and probably the least successful of all the dishes). 2 slices of abalone over a bed of rice and teriyaki sauce. Course 5 Main: sliced beef, 2 sauces (bean sprout and beet) with arugula and a fried asparagus. Eat all components together, take a slice of meat, put both sauces and a few arugula leaves. Intermezzo (palate cleansing): served in a cute turtle dish. Can't remember all the components but it does contain crab, ginger, I think daikon, and yuzu. This was by far my favorite dish. Oishi! Course 6 Noodle: by this time I'm extremely full. The soba topped with tempura vegetables (healthy) in dashi according to the server, "easy to eat and very good for you." It was delicious. Dessert and green tea: a baked cake with pears cooked in red wine, over a sesame puree served with a mocha macaron. Personally all I needed was the macaron x100. The hot cake dish was tasty but the macaron was one of the best I've ever had. Although the green tea wasn't prepared properly (according to my friend, the bubbles were too big) it did provide a nice jolt of caffeine and was nice with the dessert. Service: Overall it was good. Everyone, EXCEPT one, was polite and made us feel welcome. I was a bit miffed by the fact that one of the cook assistants (young local boy, shaved head) was overly full of himself and downright rude. This is why I took away 1 star. He probably thought he was being funny making snide flippant comments to the other assistants, throwing stupid looks, and overall making us feel very uncomfortable. He must've thought he was invisible because he did not even try to hide the fact that he was acting like an arrogant snot nosed brat with no clue about customer service. I mean really, this isn't high school so grow up. Nanzan Giro Giro is a swanky, fine dining establishment with some really talented Chefs that clearly take their food, customer service, and the dining experience seriously. We were actually surprised that the head Chef and the other 2 Chefs didn't notice his foolish antics. Maybe they were too busy taking care of their guests and making sure we all had a memorable experience. Thankfully, that guy was the only "bad apple" in the bunch. This time I let it slide because we were celebrating a birthday and I didn't want to ruin a good mood. But the next time I visit, I'm going to make a stink to the Chef/manager. Price: Approx $60/person with dessert (they don't accept AMEX) Menu changes monthly. Parking in front is minimal. So if you don't mind walking, park at Ala Moana and walk over. It's not far at all, and after your meal, you'll need it. Overall, I'd say this is a wonderful restaurant and a must try for the adventurous eater. Come hungry because all of those courses really add up! read more

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Came here with a friend to celebrate her new internship and first paycheck--woohoo! This was a place the both of us had been itching to go to for a while. All I can say is mind blown. MIND BLOWN. Just like most people who walk into Nanzan GiroGiro for the first time. I had no idea what would be served. All I knew was that I'd be getting a 7-course kaiseki meal for $50. If I wanted to add on dessert it would be an additional $8. Since its the beginning of the month, and the server(s) politely emphasized that I should NOT take a photo of the menu if I planned on posting it online, all I can say--to respect the wishes of the restaurant--is that the course went: 1) Appetizer 2) Soup 3) Side dish 4) SIde dish 5) Palate cleanse 6) Main course 7) Side dish 8) Desert *optional* The portions were indeed small, but they added up, and by the end, I'd say both of us were pretty content. Not stuffed and bloated, but full. Each dish was presented beautifully. The bowls, the mini containers, the utensils all complemented the dish. The courses themselves were also like a work of art. Everything was so meticulously thought out, I was almost afraid to ruin it by eating it! Though I'm glad I did, because each dish was bursting with it's own unique flavor. The chef who prepares the menu each month is a genius!!! Maybe we got lucky, but when we were there, the timing of the dishes was perfect. The servers left just enough time in between courses to allow us to savor each dish and digest a little before moving on to the next course. I guess that let us feel gradually fuller as dinner progressed. The servers were all very friendly and cheerful. There wasn't one particular server assigned to a group, so we had a chance to meet all of them. Each of them took the time to explain what the dish was comprised of and how it was prepared. Other Yelpers mentioned that some servers had trouble remembering what the dishes were comprised of and the same thing happened tonight, but I wouldn't say it was significant enough to detract from the overall experience. Nanzan GiroGiro is about as good as it gets in my book. They had everything: service, atmosphere, presentation and most importantly, excellent food. Though my wallet is hurting right now, I have no regrets. Maybe one of the best culinary experiences I've had. To anyone who has reservations, you must go at least once in your life. read more