We've been coming back to Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro in Waikiki for years now, and…read morethere's genuinely a special place in our hearts for this spot simply because it's still here after all this time. In a city where restaurants come and go, that kind of longevity says something. The Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu set and Set A are our go-tos every time. The pork is consistently tender with that perfect crispy crust. And can we talk about the sesame seed crushing situation for a second, I half-joke that it should be a litmus test for any good tonkatsu place. If they hand you that mortar and pestle to grind your own sesame for the sauce, you know they're serious about the details. One practical note: seating is limited and it fills up fast, so I'd recommend making a reservation if you can, especially during peak hours. The first time we ever visited, our kid was still in the stroller and we were so embarrassed how much space we were taking up. But everyone here is just in for a good time. Too bad there's no downtime or else that's when we usually like to visit the restaurant without bother other guests. Just plan ahead. Ginza Bairin has stood the test of time!

My daughter got to choose our dinner on night 2 here on the island and she picked chicken or pork…read morekatsu. I found this place on Yelp, thanks Yelp! It did not disappoint. The staff is amazing and the food was delicious. It reminded my husband and I of this place in Kyoto. Don't get confused, there are two sides, one side requires reservations (which we didn't have) so they sent us next door and they were able to accommodate us. The interior was cute, very Japan. My daughter and I ordered the chicken katsu, it was yummy and my husband and son ordered the beef katsu with a side of pork katsu. I loved how they gave sesame seeds in a bowl for the kids to grind up to put in our sauces. That kept them entertained for a bit. Also, apparently this is a branch of a tonkatsu restaurant in Ginza. I recommend this place is you're specifically looking for a Japanese restaurant aside from sushi.

I finally got reservations for lunch and got to sit in their new expanded area. The restaurant it…read moreso beautiful and clean. The servers were very nice, fast and very accommodating. We ordered three different items: Jyukusei Pork Loin Katsu Set, Sizzling Plate Miso Sauce Pork Loin Set, and a side of the shrimp tempura. Everything tasted amazing. The tonkatsu was crispy, but juicy on the inside. The shrimp with that delicious home made tater sauce was delicious. And the unlimited salad is always a plus. They gave us tea to finish the meal and it was a nice way to end it. There is limited parking on the street or on the basement level of the building. They offer validation if you dine with them. Love coming here, it's always consistent.

My cousins highly recommended this place, and after seeing so many Instagram posts about it, I knew…read moreI had to give it a try. We attempted to make reservations, but they were completely booked until the following month. Since we didn't want to miss out, we decided to order their most popular tonkatsu meal to go instead. When we arrived, there were already a lot of people waiting outside. I went in to check on our order, and they let me know it would be another 10-15 minutes. Since it was a hot day, we wandered over to the crystal-themed shop next door while we waited. It had lots of interesting items to browse, although we ended up leaving empty handed. About 15 minutes later our order was ready, and we Ubered back to our hotel, which only took a few minutes. When we opened everything up, the portion felt a bit small for the price. The tonkatsu itself was tender, but for us it didn't quite live up to all the hype. I did appreciate that you can choose clam soup instead of the traditional miso soup, and there are different rice options as well, which is a nice touch. Overall, it was a good meal, but not one that completely wowed us given the price. It's possible the experience would have been different dining in, but with the long waitlist and the hot weather, takeout was the better choice for us.

As you can already see this place has 5 stars for several reasons…read more 1. Quality of the food. 2. Variety 3. Everything freshly made. 4. Super friendly and accommodating staff 5. Easy access with street parking Yes it's somewhat off the beaten path, but a path worth taking. Was so ono!!

Always a good time here! The kamameshi is a must try (I like the salmon and ikura)…read more Tonight we tried the A5 wagyu teppan, the scallops, salmon and ikura kamameshi, fried oysters, soft shell crab, and karei karaage special. Service is always great, ambiance is a neighborhood spot. Highly recommend.

Taste good and quality. Long line but fast served food. I will go back again. My daughter love udon…read morealso she will give. 5

Where do I even begin?!?! This place is an absolute gem!!! Marugame Udon offers some of the…read morefreshest and finest- handmade Sanuki udon on the island! Their noodles are made in-house (following authentic Sanuki traditions from Japan) and cooked daily. Customers order their noodles at the counter, pick their tempura from a self-serve station, and pay at the end. What's even more impressive- patrons can watch the chefs make the food right in front of them (making for a cool dining experience). Highly recommend getting there early- lines are insane! But for the most part, the line moves fast because meals are dished out quickly and guests eat and leave in a timely manner. And prices are relatively low compared to other places. I ordered the #2 Creamy Broth- creamy chicken broth topped with juicy pork chashu and a flavorful seasoned egg 10/10! This was absolute fire!!! My wife ordered the Chicken Katsu- lightly battered, well seasoned and packed with flavor. We also ordered a side of Shrimp Tempura and Potato Croquettes. Both were equally delicious, but the potato croquettes hit the spot with a well seasoned potato mash, encased in a golden deep fried breadcrumb 10/10! It's an absolute must!

Great food great service! And we recommend the beef udon and the yakitoris. Also the staff were…read moreamazing!!!

My coworker picked up some dinner here. It's located on royal Hawaiian avenue in Waikiki…read more They have an extensive Japanese menu ranging from izakaya type items to donburis and yakitori. We had a bunch of yakitori type items (skewered bbq). Highly recommend the miso pork belly and the chicken thighs with green onion.

Our very favorite Japanese Restaurant on O'ahu…read more NOT your standard Sushi and Sashimi Joint (although we love those) And NOT your standard Japanese BBQ (which we love too) This is SUPER UNIQUE and SUPER AUTHENTIC and UNREAL ONO Japanese Food HIGHLY. HIGHLY Recommend. Small though, so make reservations or be prepared to wait 30-60min.

Whenever I passed by this place on Kapahulu, there's always a line, and line's don't lie, right?!…read moreMade reservations (highly recommended) and found street parking as they do not have a dedicated lot. Once inside, you are warmly greeted. It's a little dim inside during the day. No paper menus; you need to scan a QR code to see what you want to order. Our group ordered the teishoku set which came with the main entree, rice, oxtail broth, and 2 appetizers (we opted for tofu and eggplant). We opted for the Aburi flank steak which was very very tasty and the Aburi chicken. The chicken was a touch on the salty side, but it came with a spicy dipping sauce which was phenomenal! All the meats had the delicious smoky flavor from the grill. The oxtail broth was kinda bland. We also ordered the oxtail ramen which was also a hit. Finished off dinner with ice cream + mochi. The mochi is also grilled but know that it's not sweet mochi.

Our second time there. This time for my wife's birthday. Excellent food, nice sake selection and…read morethey'll come around to pour it for you. They sang happy birthday to my wife and two others. We like it here, it's a happy place!

Tempura teishoku! I thought I wasn't going get full, but it…read morewas surprisingly filling and super tasty! The tempura was very fresh and the ambience was reminiscent of Japan. The service was great and I look forward to trying again !

My favorite soba restaurant. I love that they offer so many different preparations/toppings/sides;…read morethey can always satisfy whatever I'm in the mood for (hot or cold). They also have excellent tempura and sashimi. My favorite is the 'Hana' (cold soba w/tororo-unu-ikura-wakkame-nori-negi) but add ume & natto, and a side order vegetable tempura. (They also have incredible unagi tempura and a kakiage over hot soba) - plus they have yuzu ginger sorbet!! Service is always polite and friendly which makes it easy to become a regular here. Prices are well worth it for the quality.

I've become a regular for their weekend breakfast, and it's one of the few places in Honolulu that…read moreI genuinely look forward to every week. My usual order is the misoyaki gindara (sablefish) breakfast set. The fish is buttery, perfectly caramelized from the miso marinade, and somehow never overcooked. The rice is always cooked exactly right, the miso soup tastes like it was made that morning, and the assortment of small side dishes and sashimi makes the meal feel balanced instead of heavy. Every component on the tray has a purpose. I've also tried the mackerel Saba and hokke sets, but I keep coming back to the gindara. It's worth the small upgrade. The service is consistently warm, efficient, and quietly professional. You never feel rushed, even when every table is full. If you've spent time in Japan and miss a traditional breakfast, this is about as close as you'll find in Honolulu. Just get there early, because the Friday through Sunday breakfast service is popular for good reason.