Was recommended while bar hopping. Couple weeks after wanted to try again-- the place has seating outdoors and indoors, the seating outdoors provides a variety of yakitori skewers while the indoor seating is featured for its hand rolls. Seating is first come first serve so it is pretty limited, indoor seating is usually taken up pretty quickly. We ended up coming on a week that was featuring Filipino fusion which ended up tasting amazing. A variety of skewer flavors from adobo, kare kare, and such but my favorite one has to be the pork belly-- so juicy and tender, filled with so much flavor. We also ended up getting the shrimp pancit which was also amazing but star of the show has to be OBAKEs take on banana turon, savored every bite. Drinks are unique and would definitely recommend to others looking for a place for friends or a date night. Personally loved the vibes in this place along with the music! read more

See all

This is a favorite place to either get your night started or have a chill hangout with friends or your date. The ambiance lately is just the courtyard with a koi pond in the middle. Lighting depends on where you sit, but overall it fits with the Japanese courtyard with a tropical twist theme. I will note that seating is at a premium. If you are a walk-in, it may take a while for you to be seated and/or get a table because this is pretty popular. Weekends have a yakitori with a wide array of selections. It may take a while to get them, but it's worth the wait. Drinks are also very well made, it can be sometimes hard to decide. I've always had great experiences every visit. Also great to bring out of town guests and non-townie friends. read more

See all

Didn't love it when they switched off from dry-aged fish for their hand rolls. Broke my heart when they stopped serving sushi altogether. And the matcha bar is gone too. But! But!!! The outdoor yatai is... simply the best. Everything is a hit. The giant freshwater prawn is a must-have. They got gizzards, and hearts to heal mine. And excuse me but the MUSHROOM DORIA? To die for!!! They somehow managed to get the best people working here too, just flawless service and warm fuzzies every single time. Much love! I didn't want to leave this review almost because I don't want to have to fight for a spot at the yatai but they deserve the business and the happy faces from the delicious food (and honestly the mushroom doria pushed me over the edge -- it's a new addition as of Black Friday 2024 and oh my DAYS it is SO good I'm going to be back with even more frequency just to have that one dish. They tell me I have to try the Pork Curry Poutine too which I MAY give up the doria ONE time to try it.) read more

Obake - Mushroom Doria, a STEAL at only $10. So fricken ono!!!!!!!!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Graffitied walls. Impressive hand roll bar. Thoughtfully curated cocktails. And don't even get me started on the dessert we had. We stumbled across this place because we happened to find street parking a few feet away... and their windows covered in intricate graffiti drew us in. Honestly, it doesn't take much to lure me in (e.g., shiny objects, interesting patterns, loud music, candy from a white van). THE FOOD. - OG Set (5 Hand Roll Sampler: Bigeye Ahi. Kona Kanpachi. Hamachi. Ora King Salmon. Obake Roll) | Each hand roll is a simple affair; a couple of choice ingredients, rolled in seaweed and delivered one at a time. My favorites were the Hamachi which was absolutely buttery and tender and the Ora King Salmon; silky in texture and high quality freshness. - Hojicha Creme Brulee | Mildly sweet, creamy, and a slight hint of smokiness. The star-shaped rice crackers with bit of dried seaweed unusually pairs well with the caramelized sugar top. Loved this and highly recommend. THE DRUNK DRINKS. - Twelve Levels | Sweet, zesty, and citrusy. A nice, refreshing cocktail. - Iron Fist | Strong with a smooth finish. Love the smokiness of this cocktail. It arrived in a smoky teapot which made me think I had ordered a hot drink, but it ain't. It's cold and complex, like my heart. - Stiletto | Bold flavors, quite sweet, and a little earthy. It's a strong one, so sip with classy sophistication. Would love to return and try other items on their menu! The service was exceptional and the vibe was on point. The bar seats could be a little more comfortable, but it's not a deal breaker. read more

See all

We were walked over by Christopher from their sister restaurant Skull and Crown Honolulu (I'm definitely making a reservation here next time) so that we could be the first in line. Going in, Jason took care of us. He introduced us to the menu and gave us solid recommendations. The pork belly skewers were my favorite, but I usually love pork belly so I may be biased. The mushroom skewers were really tasty too. All of the chicken skewers were delicious. This is definitely a good stop to get the night going or end the night. I was feeling too hungry to wait for a reservation so this was perfect to hold me over while we waited for dinner. It is an expensive snack because once you get started you just want more. It is a good location with great service, so I'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Great vibes, good service, and good cocktails! We were only here for a couple drinks so I can't leave a full review, but coming in to have some drinks and checking out their menu made me want to come back for an actual meal! It's quite a small place with bar-seating only. And it looked like they specialized in matcha and hand rolls. The staff rolls the hand rolls right in front of you, so we were able to watch him delicately roll the hand rolls. I'm looking forward to coming back and trying out their food. read more

See all

Inexpensive meat on a steak, Japanese Yakatori style. Friendly service, lovely atmosphere. It may be $9 for the chicken, but you'll have to order four of them to have a meal. It's great for a light snack and drink. I'd return. read more

Thank you to fellow Yelper, Karen C., for the very helpful two-star review. Lower rated reviews are usually the most honest ones! If not for the review, I'd for sure be an (O)baka-baka-baka. An easy way to have an enjoyable experience is to not order the same thing as the lower rated reviews. Luckily, it wasn't offered anymore. Obaka is a hand roll sushi bar, which seems to be a start of a trend now (along with inari bombs). It's located at the old Ethiopian Love Restaurant spot along Smith St, near Hotel St. It's open only 5pm-midnight Tuesday-Thursday, and till 2am Friday and Saturday. It also offers Yatai (Yakitori) in the courtyard only on Thursdays from 6pm till midnight and till 2am Friday and Saturdays. Use to have a Matcha Bar, but not currently. Walk ins only, no reservations. No parking, of course besides meters, private lots, and garages. Obake doesn't look very inviting when you look in with the black colored ceilings, graffiti art on the wall, and an old telephone booth. It kind of looks like you're outside in the back alleys of Chinatown, but cleaner of course. Like an urban art vibe. It's bar seating only. A cocktail or a glass of dark liqueur seems fitting for this kind of setting. The Letter From Yokosuka is not bad. I was hoping for more toasted rice and hojicha flavors to come out more since they're listed first, but I got more Jim Bean and Yuzu. It was a nice looking drink with the dried osmanthus leaves stuck to the side of the glass, but am I supposed lick that or move all of in myself? I didn't a bit of both. Not a bad drink. Just needed more hojicha flavor. We went with the Specialty Hand Roll Set (4). The first was the Obake Roll, which was chef's choice of fish with black tobikko, ponzu, yuzu kosho, and negi. It was a whitefish in the roll. I didn't quite catch the proper name. This was good. The black tobikko had a nice umami taste from the soy infusion. There could've been more yuzu kocho for more punch. There are also appetizers available (just 3 options). The Obake Soup arrived. This was quite fishy (in a good way) and umami with the dashi and wakame. Next was the Nanban Potato. Oh, this was goood. Not sure about the $10 price tag, but this was good! Crispy skin, soft and fluffy inside. The nanban sauce was tasty and creamy. Not sure where this "tofu remoulade" comes in, or if it's just a fancy way of saying tartar sauce with spices on top, but still good! The next hand roll was "Ho, Hayn". This was the best roll out of the set. We had order another one! Nice pieces of Kona kanpachi that was fresh and full of flavor. Definitely taste like traditional Hawaiian style poke, and the chili peppa watah really took it to another level. Added more flavor with a nice little sour and spice kick. Next was the King Thing. This was very good. The freshness of the king salmon was apparent. There were a lot of things going on this one, and they all worked. The fresh, grassy dill, sweet and spicy red onion, bright and tangy capers and lemon, savory truffle oil, aromatic zaatar, and herbaceous micro cilantro, which I surprisingly found very good (I'm not a fan of cilantro). Had to order another one these! Lastly was the Summer Toro. This was decent. More subtle flavors than the previous ones. A nice mix of spicy negi toro with sweet strawberry, and a nice texture from the bubu Arare that resembled as if I was eating a strawberry. The rice for the hand rolls were prepared well, and at a good temperature. The nori though? As a Yelper, my phone always eats first! So here lies the issue. The first couple of rolls, we took a bit of time for photos. Yes, the nori got soft and hard to cleanly chew through. Next rolls we ate quicker, and the rolls we ordered again, we just ate it right away (no photos). The experience was better because the nori was a bit more crispy, but not quite enough. Another roll we had was the Honey Kukui Nut Shrimp. A nice warm roll to balance out all the cold rolls. The shrimp was fried well with a nice crispy panko crust. The Mayo had a nice sweetness. Ended the meal with a Hojicha Crème Brûlée. This has the hojicha flavor I was looking for in my cocktail! Creamy custard with amazing hojicha flavor that had just the right amount sweetness. The caramelized top crust was thin and cracked easily. Also, who knew arare goes so well with this?? Overall, this was a good experience. All the food was nice prepared and enjoyable. Staff were very friendly, attentive, and informative. I'll come back for more hand rolls. I'll make sure I take no photos and sit right in front of the person making it. I'll for sure return to try their Yatai (yakitori). I got a glimpse of what they offer, and I'm sold. You also can't beat sitting in the courtyard. read more

See all

Really good handrolls and alcohol to choose from, and it's a really nice bar atmosphere to go with friends/coworkers to. Staff was incredibly chill and kind and explaining the ins and outs of the alcohol/rolls given to us! Would recommend the Letter to Yokosuka drink since I don't see too many drinks with Hojicha - Miguel Morales Photography read more

Obake - Letter from Yokosuka (@miguelmoralesphotography on Instagram) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My friends raves about this place so came to check it out. No reservations, first come first served. Cute & trendy ambiance and great place for dates. Street parking or the municipal lot on Nuuanu and Beretania. Classic hand rolls and signature combinations they create. Fun cocktails. I'd recommend ordering your rolls one at a time and enjoying them before ordering the next. The temperature of rice & topping plus texture of the nori is best enjoyed right away. Plus rolls are made to order while taking little time to assemble so you aren't waiting long. I had 6 different rolls. They were all delicious. Ala cart or there are suggested combinations. Get the soup. Shishito peppers are a nice snack in between rolls. They have a grilled yakitori items if you eat outside. I'll want to try that next time. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Matcha bar by day; cocktail bar by night. Matcha bar is open from 1000 till 1500, Tuesday thru Saturday . They serve ceremonial grade Matcha, hand whisked with a traditional bamboo whisk. It was frothy and with an acceptable amount of bitterness that one can expect..excellent. I've been served in a traditional setting and from what I can recall both the taste and preparation was authentic. A nice cha bowl was supplied. Requested an iced Matcha Latte with honey to go and once again it was excellent. They serve a Matcha Beer...the combination is counterintuitive but it must work...I don't drink except for the occasional draft beer or sake. Bar seating and they serve yakitori in the outside dining area - I don't recall if it was only on weekend evenings. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Their matcha latte and Hojicha honey latte are so yummy. And the people who make them are so friendly. Tried to go today (July 11, 2024) and unfortunately they had a sign up that said they're discontinuing their matcha program until futher notice. So saddddd. I still need to check out their dinner service! read more

See all

Shout out to Gabriel, the bartender who makes some inventive and unique drinks. The price for cocktails and mixed drinks was reasonable, ranging from $13 to $18, with a good portion of them being $13 to $15. For drinks that are more unique and at an accessible price point, I commend this establishment. Drinks ordered were, Letter From Yokosuka ($12), Twelve Levels ($13), Shinigami ($13), Iron Fist ($16), with the latter 2 being the favorites and most unique for us. The bar is a small section of 6 or so seats at the back of the place, with a dozen or so seats towards the front for the sushi bar portion. Music was a bit loud for my liking and a bit dark, but perhaps that is intended to cater to a younger, "hipper" crowd. The wall art, however, was interesting and unique and something worth checking out in its own right if you like street art such as some of the more aesthetically pleasing and unique art around Kaka'ako and town. Rolls came out at a reasonable pace and were constructed well. They are good, but not amazing in my opinion. I do like that you can order a la carte and choose what you like or get your fill level. The special of the day for $13 of a fried marlin in Ube roll sandwich, with house tartar sauce was the highlight of the food and something that I would return for. Bread was warm and perfectly thick, but not to hard or soft. Fish was also nicely breaded and fried. read more

See all

Stumbled upon this place just walking around and it is AMAZING! Such an awesome date night spot or dinner out with your friends. The skewers were incredible and I'm already making plans to go back Drinks were also nice and tasty Ambience is a 10/10 And so was service read more

Obake - skewer - chicken, tongue, sausage, mushroom - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Review of the outside area called Yatai (open fri and sat only). I did not try the inside bar area, since it was a 30 minute wait. They suggested the yard seating area with a different menu. At first, the tables were all open but were filled in no time. A cool night made the outside eating experience great. The backyard area is shared with Olay's and another Mexican restaurant, but clearly separated. There were two bars, one is the grill station and the other is the bartenders area. Sitting at the bar looks like that street vender experience. Get in close and talk to the chef. There are a few seats that we sat at, which worked better for a party of 4. Servers were on point and friendly. Bartender came and delivered the drinks and accommodated different drink requests off menu. A list of what I tried and shared. Hamachi crudo - Yummerz! Get it! Perfect for sharing. Scallop - 2 large scallops on one stick. Topped with uni butter. Pork Jowl - fatty goodness, but not as silky soft as the pork belly. Pork Belly - Holy God, order 5 of these! This is by far the best thing. The pork fat is perfectly rendered, so most likely slow cooked then grilled is my guess. No way you can just grill pork belly and get it this soft. A bite without needing teeth. OK, this pork belly is so good, a pescatarian friend tried it and ate the whole thing. All she said was, "Damn it, it was good." Then she proceeded to grab another pork belly stick... Beef tongue with lemon oil negi - thicker cuts of tongue with a interesting texture. Worth a try, but I wouldn't order more than 2. Ali'i Mushroom - This one had a slight truffle taste. Interesting. Chicken thigh and scallion - Juicy, like squired on my pants juicy... isn't pork belly good, but worth a try. A no frills winner at any grill. Tsukune- chicken ball - nicely sized and tasty. Toki highball drink - Serviceable. No frills highball. Fate Yanagi drink - A delicious li hing drink that hides the alcohol taste well. This is a Rap Reiplinger song. This is a perfect place to eat, drink, and talk story. I will come here again just for the pork belly! I should have taken more pictures, but it was so good I just forgot. I'm not in a rush to try the sushi bar side. I want to sit outside again! read more

Obake - Menu for Yatai (outside yard area) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Obake is a fun, hipster, trendy space specializing in hand rolls and specialty cocktails. Spray painted artwork on the walls. Reminds me of some spaces in NYC or LA. Very lively and energetic. We found ourselves here after an event in Chinatown. Friendly bouncer outside making sure things move smoothly. Hand Roll Set (5) -$36 - 3/5 Onaga/Opakapaka Bigeye Ahi Kona Kanpachi Ora King Salmon Obake Roll Additional order of the hand roll: Summer Toro: Spicy Negi Toro, Ogo, Sesame, Strawberry, Bubu Arare, Negi. One the sweeter side which was different. $9 Handrolls just didn't impress me. Pricey for what you're getting too. Pretty basic hand rolls. The set kind of all tasted the same too. They gave a small amount of ginger/wasabi but didn't refill when we ran out. We also tried the special of the day which was a fried marlin with tartar sauce on a taro bun and it was the highlight of the night! We ordered 2 of these. $13 each. I wish they could make this a regular menu item, it's that good! 5/5 We enjoyed their cocktails which are very reasonably priced for Chinatown bars. Shoutout to Gabriel the bartender who made sure we enjoyed our drinks! Cocktails: Letter From Yokosuka ($12) Twelve Levels ($13) Shinigami ($13) Iron Fist ($16) High quality drinks. Will definitely be back for more drinks. May try more speciality handrolls too next time. read more

See all

What a great addition to Chinatown! A server from Highway Inn told me about the matcha latte at Obake. I thought it was a sushi bar but apparently, they do tea service during the day, which is cool. I did want to check them out for drinks since we were already in the area. There's a long bar, and I believe there's also some patio seats. The staff was very friendly and welcoming and we got two seats at the bar. Interesting drink menu. I settled on the Stiletto since it was made with whiskey. I tend to drink whiskey when I'm out here. Man, the heel of this stileto could punch me out! Very good...but potent! K had a couple of Orions, and their beer selection is pretty good. Yun kept an eye on us as he worked a number of the customers. I do wish I was hungry because the food looked enticing. That will have to wait until next time! Mahalo Obake! (Hope you don't follow me home! LOL!) read more

See all

Pleasantly surprised for this place. I'll be honest... I came in with low expectations but a high craving for hand rolls. We each got the specialty set and a cocktail to catch up over. We were not disappointed! The handrolls had unique pairings and I appreciated the piece of seaweed on the bottom to minimize ingredients spilling out as you took your bites. Our favorite was the summer toro that had candied strawberries in it that gave a good jammy flavor to the fish. Cocktails were also really good. We were only going to grab one but ended up grabbing another before we left. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

We finally tried their Yakitori Bar and the overall experience was amazing! We sat by the bar and were able to watch the chef cooked all the Yakitori. We ordered a bunch of Yakitori and they definitely did not disappoint! Their pork belly was so juicy and the beef tongue was out of this world that we had to order a couple more. We also tried their obake crudo and their fish was so fresh! Their cocktails are also really good and unique. Definitely worth the try! Try and get in early, because it does get crowded and it is a first come first serve seating. read more

See all

I've been always eyeing this place out and I'm so glad I got to try it today! I Was lucky enough to snag a spot and try some drinks and rolls tonight. What we ordered*** **Hand Roll set (7/10) ~ I rated this a little mid because it's not bad for a basic hand roll set, but it's just really basic. Although, I definitely did appreciate the freshness of each hand roll! **Twelve Levels (8/10) ~ This highball was really refreshing and zesty! Although I wish I could taste more of the shiso :(. I felt like I only got a hint of it in the drink. Overall, Cute date night spot! The vibes remind me of 90s New York! I wouldn't mind coming back for drinks, but I think I would pass on food. read more

See all

Amazing find in Chinatown!! Obake is a nice hand roll and yakitori bar with Asian-inspired cocktails. My favorite cocktail is the "oolong, how do you do". The oolong tea flavor was very apparent, and what impressed me was how each sip maintained its oolong flavor. There is also a slice of lemon which helps mask the bitter alcohol flavor. Would 1000% order this one again. I also tried several skewers (pork belly, mushroom, and chicken) as well as the obake crudo which was yellowtail today. The skewers were all cooked and made to order and had a nice smokey flavor to them. The obake crudo was my favorite of the night. The fish was so fresh, and it had an amazing yuzu, ponzu sauce that complemented it very well. The hojicha creme brûlée was okay. Didn't really taste the hojicha flavor. I then went inside and tried the " letter from yokosuka" cocktail. I much prefer the oolong compared to this cocktail, since the alcohol taste was more apparent in this drink, and I didn't really taste any of the genmaicha or hojicha flavors. Overall though, this is a very solid place in Honolulu. The staff are extremely attentive and friendly. We had some staff that went up to us to ask us what we thought of the menu so it shows how much the staff cares. Apparently this place was inspired from Kazunori in LA. I didn't get a chance to try the hand rolls tonight, but I definitely hope to try it next time! Highly recommend stopping by this place! read more

See all

With its blend of cocktails and hand roll sushi, Obake promised something different, and we were eager to see what it had to offer. Located in Chinatown in the former Ethiopian Love Space, Obake focuses on dry-aged seafood. While this is a walk-in only, first come, first served, no reservations bar, we lucked out with available seating at the sushi counter. To kick off our hand roll adventure, we indulged in the Naban Potato appetizer--a medley of crispy, fluffy smashed potatoes paired with a tofu rémoulade. We then started with the Lunar New Year Specialty Hand Roll Set featuring three hand rolls with bold flavors and vibrant ingredients. The Cold Ginger Kajiki, with its minced ginger, scallion oil, tobiko, and fried garlic, was a refreshing burst of flavor that awakened the senses. Next up, the Honey Kukui Nut Shrimp hand roll dazzled with its panko-fried shrimp, honeyed kukui nut sesame mayo, and a hint of tsuyu, creating a harmonious balance of sweet and savory notes. Finally was the Obake Roll, a signature creation at Obake, comprised of a selection of chef's choice fish, adorned with black tobiko, and enhanced by the tantalizing flavors of Obake ponzu and yuzu kosho. Following the hand roll set, we wanted to try a few more hand rolls on the menu. We savored the King Thing hand roll, brimming with the richness of king salmon, capers, red onion, dill, and finished with a drizzle of truffle oil and za'atar. This was one of my favorites of the night! The Summer Toro hand roll was a spicy negi toro, ogo, sesame, and unexpected hint of strawberry, while the "Ho, Hayn!" hand roll captured the essence of the islands with its Kona kanpachi poke, ogo, kukui nut, sesame, and negi, perfectly complemented by a side of Hawaiian chili peppa watah. As for the cocktails, I tried the Iron Fist -- a masterful blend of Knob Creek Rye Whiskey, Noto ginseng and chrysanthemum syrup, bitters, and smoked with alfalfa hay. The presentation was as impressive as the flavor, a testament to the artistry of Obake's mixologists. We rounded off our culinary journey with the Hojicha Crème Brûlée, a decadent finale that left us lingering over every spoonful, savoring the delicate balance of flavors. Throughout our dining experience, the service was impeccable--attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about delivering an exceptional experience. Parking is available at the municipal or private paid lots in the area or on the street. Whether you're a connoisseur of cocktails or a lover of hand roll sushi, Obake is an experience not to be missed. read more

See all

My current favorite hangout is Obake Honolulu. Find me here in the morning for matcha latte to start my day or in the evening for the iron fist. There is so much to love about this place from when you first walk in. Street art on brick walls by Honolulu finest and a phone booth! (Quick side note-I take my calls in the booth for a little privacy.) Seating is only available at the counter. Service is nothing short of 5 stars. Their cocktail menu not only has creative names, but has a nice touch of Japanese flavors. Depending what you are feeling, they are all great options. I love the vibe here. read more

See all

This is the kind of place Chinatown Honolulu needs more of. Don't dress to impress, walk in, no reservations first come-first served. Matcha beverages by day, creative, fun Japanese inspired cocktails + hand rolls by night. Enjoy the works of multiple street artists and let your mind drift with the hip-hop/EDM overhead. By day. Yes you can get a chilled matcha latte. But, please give the Ceremonial Matcha drink, whisked to order, a try. Enjoy the slightly bitter, fresh, grassy beverage and admire the bowl it is served in. Order the Mizu Shingen Mochi, a delicate agar/water sphere accompanied by kuromitsu syrup and kinako powder. By night. If you like riffs on Old Fashioneds, get the Iron Fist. Poured from a frozen tetsubin filled with alfalfa hay smoke. If you like highball riffs, Letter From Yokosuka. I've enjoyed Gabriel's creative interpretations since his days at Heiho House. Order a cocktail. Trust me. Right now, the handroll are just okay. The dry aging is a nice twist on using kombu to dry out the moisture and intensify flavors. The problem is nori needs to be sharp and crisp - not tear with your teeth beef jerky tough. When they get the crispness right the flavors of the handrolls will really pop. Like nearby EP Bar, this is a chill place. I see myself dropping in on a whim and having a great night. Can you tell I like coming here? read more

See all

Who doesn't love a good hand roll? Obake brings the Temaki craze to HNL with an urban trendy vibe that sets a high bar. Choose a la carte options or pick a "set meal" sit back and let the good times "hand-roll". Service is warm and thoughtful,suggestive if you're looking for pointers. Don't sleep on their vegetarian options...The Girl with the Green Ribbon Roll (Yuzu Carrots, Cucumber, Chili Miso Marinated Tofu, Shiso ) was a favorite of the evening! Obake is a great spot for dinner or just drop in for a quick nosh and cocktail before heading out...and since they are open until 2AM....its a cool spot yo end the evening. We sat inside at the counter, but i believe patio seating is in the works. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

If you're looking for the hippest hand roll bar in Honolulu, check out Obake in Chinatown. The walls of the space are adorned with the artwork of local artists, the tunes 99.9% of the time have me shimmying in my seat, the drinks are palatable, and the food is delicious with adventurous flavors.  The space is small, with about 20 bar style seats available. They do not take reservations so get there early if you don't want to wait too long; however, if your schedule forces you to miss the opening rush, they do have a "waiting garden" so-to-speak. Waiting patrons can sit there and enjoy drinks while they wait. On certain nights, they have either live music or a DJ and an artist (or two) doing LIVE painting! Obake is about transformation! If you're looking for a tempura-cal-maki roll, spam musubi, dragon rolls, or tamago, you'd probably be happier at Genki. Prepare to have your tastebuds challenged and senses ignited with what is served up at Obake! If you're there in the later hours of the night, they also put out a late-night menu. Items on the menu vary but one night we had their fried scallion pancake with shrimp. They also serve up some tasty chirashi bowls.  Their drink menu is fun and their cocktails have cheeky names. My favorite is the Black Cat Eats Rabbit cocktail. I'm not a big drinker so I prefer cocktails that don't taste like they have alcohol in them. The Black Cat Eats White Rabbit has enough alcohol in it to get me giggly after one drink. The bartenders, chefs, servers, and back of the house crew are all talented and amazing at what they do!  If you're downtown and are looking for a new place to try out, check out Obake! read more

See all

Obake?!? When I hear that word, I see a ghost lady in a long white dress, with long black hair covering her face. Imagine The Ring or The Grudge esthetics. According to my trusty JED app (Japanese English Dictionary), obake, 御化け or おばけ in translates into "goblin, apparition, monster, ghost". What an interesting name for a bar! I saw the Frolic Hawaii article mentioning this new bar in Chinatown. And serendipity, we decided to check Obake out on its opening day, 4/1/2023. Owners also operate Skull and Crown located nearby along Hotel St. And are affiliated with the Haunted Plantation. How cool! Obake is located in the former location of Ethiopian Love, along Smith St. and Hotel St. It's a few feet away from the pho shop in the corner. We got there a bit before 9pm. There's a long counter top with bar stools and all the seats were full. Busy busy! The windows facing outside are decorated with white swirly patterns. Inside, the walls are decorated with graffiti style art. Very street. There's a decorative phone booth in the corner by the entrance. The AC was on at 62°F, though the doors were opened so it didn't feel cold. The music was more in the hip hop/ gangster genre but it was waaay too loooud. Woulda been nicer at lower decibels. Lol. It reminded me of my "clubbing days" when we'd stand next to the speakers on the stage. Definitely had to talk very loud to my friend and leaned in closer to hear anything. The menu is located on a QR code placed on a spray paint can. Very trendy. I really liked the simple dining ware set up. A wooden block with paper on it for hand rolls. Sturdy chopsticks. A dish for shoyu. Wasabi and pickled ginger were brought on a rectangular dish after irdering hand rolls. What I found really novelty was the dried white disc on a saucer that server poured water on. Which then grew like those snake fireworks into an oshibori. All of the drinks sound so interesting! I opted for the "Black Cat Eats White Rabbit" drink. (Pandan Steeped in Hakutake Shiro Shochu, White Rabbit and Pandan Tea, Amaretto, Lime). This was SUPER DUPER DELICIOUS! So much pandan flavor and a mixture of all these interesting notes! Plus, it comes in a black maneki kitty cup! So adorable! (: Definitely recommended! Gotta try this! For the dry aged hand rolls, our server Jason recommended the "King Salmon" that comes from New Zealand. The sushi chef seconded this choice too. It has a very interesting flavor. Don't make the same mistake I did and dunk it in shoyu right away! Taste the salmon first because the dry aging makes a difference. I triple recommend this King Salmon Roll!!! I also tried the "Sword Play" hand roll. (Local Swordfish, Smoked Garlic Toum, Calamansi Marmalade, Fried Garlic, Fresh Herbs). This one had a strong flavor from the calamansi and a bit of crunch to it. Very interesting concept this dry aging of fish. There are also 2 vegan options. The *Mushroom "Unagi"* (Grilled Maitake, Mushroom Kabayaki, Fried Shallots, Miso Tofu, Negi $8) and the *Mazel Tov* (Smoked Carrot Lox, Cashew Dill Cheez, More Than Everything Spice, Cucumber $8). Currently, there are no takeout orders for the hand rolls. Our server was super attentive and knowledgeable about the menu items. Which can't be said about all servers, so I really appreciated this. All the food from the sushi chefs came out perfectly. And I like that they explained what was in each roll they made. Makes for a different experience. Also the door man was on top of everything! He did his job so well. Quoted wait times and checked in with us intermittently and inform us about when a table would be ready. Great staff training despite being just opened! Bravo! :D *****Go check them out, you won't be disappointed. Side note, they only have hand rolls and cocktails at certain times. Here are their hours according to their website (https://www.obakehonolulu.com/) is: "Hours: Matcha Tuesday - Saturday | 8 am - 2 pm Hand Roll* / Cocktail Tuesday - Thursday | 5 pm - midnight Friday - Saturday | 5 pm - 2 am *Last call for hand rolls at 9:30 pm ________________________ Walk-ins only. No reservations." read more

See all

Nothing spooky here but the love you'll have with the Matcha bar!! Owners of Skull & Crown has brought this unusual concept of Matcha bar in the day with hand roll sushi bar at night is the perfect addition to this part of downtown, the artsy decor is so hip yet modern it brings folks of all types to relax and enjoy their day. Nelson works his magic making these drinks that will change your view of Matcha you thought you knew currently with four offerings on the menu... - Matcha (Matcha + Water) - Matcha Latte (Matcha + Milk) - Ceremonial Matcha (Marcha + Just enough water) - Matcha Beer (Echigo Koshihikari + Matcha) Yes of course I got the classic Matcha Latte with my favorite Oatmilk and Honey but here you can add some floral notes which I chose Jasmine...what a relaxing cup of heaven!!! Nelson doesn't stop just at drinks but also made this Mizu Shingen Mochi...what some known as Raindrop Cake made with agar which then is finished it with some kinako and kuromitsu which pairs just perfect with the Matcha which I see myself having it on a regular basis! The vibe here is so mellow and soothing with a touch of downtown flair you can't help but get lost from adulting and actually recommend to come early as I can get crowded BUT don't tell anyone that the have an outdoor area courtyard area as well with a koi pond that you're able to bring your takeout drinks to enjoy...there's just nothing like this ambiance! Nelson you're absolutely amazing creating this escape I never knew I needed, the zen here flows so effortlessly thank you for your gift of creativity! Thank you!! read more

See all

This is a review for the matcha bar during the daytime. Im by far no means a matcha expert, nor do i even like matcha either. I honestly really went for the vibes. LOL. I ordered the iced matcha with milk. I failed to notice that sugar was at an additional cost and didnt realize it until after i paid for my items. I was really worried that it would be really bitter. As funny as it sounds, it wasnt too bitter when i originally drank it, but it was super bitter towards the end. Maybe because it all settled on the bottom. I also picked up both of their desserts, but the juice from the jelly one leaked over to the mochi in the box. I do like that they have an outdoor garden area that you could enjoy. I took my little pup out there for a little while. There was another guy that was cleaning up the area and by chance was a dog trainer w/his dog there and gave me his card -_-;; You can either find street parking out front if you're lucky or park at the nearby municipal buildings. I havent tried the sushi bar yet, but i heard its quite busy at night. read more

See all

This is an amazing trendy bar/ handroll sushi / yakitori place. It's a cozy long bar style bar the serves up specialty cocktails and hand rolls and yakitori at night. I'll put details below. The service was impeccable, our server Malissa was so attentive and gave great recommendations. We wanted to try all their hand rolls so we got both sushi sets... however if we go again, I would get a hand roll set and order other items on their menu. We did however get the fries to share... and yes , they are a must . They were so nice that they gave us a knife if we wanted to cut and share the rolls... by the of the night we were stuffed... and for like $40/person that's an affordable date night nowadays. We were going to try go into the courtyard and try the yakitori also but we were too full, so I guess we got to come back... lol For drinks, my friend ordered Day of the Dead: Tres Generaciones Tequila Reposado, Hibiscus Beet Rich, Lilikoi, Campari, Orange Blossom I like that they had echigo and Orion , two of my favorite beers. Obake Set -$35 King Thing Summer Toro "Ho, Hayn!" Obake Roll* OG Set- $33 Bigeye Ahi Kona Kanpachi Hamachi Ora King Salmon Obake Roll* Obake Roll - Chef's Choice Fish, Black Tobiko, Obake Ponzu, Yuzu Kosho, Negi (Available Only with Sets) Cocktail / Hand Roll Wednesday - Saturday | 5 pm - midnight (In the Bar) Yakitori Thursday |7 pm - midnight Friday - Saturday | 7 pm - 2 am (in the courtyard) read more

SCARY GOOD The iced Pandan Matcha latte is a must try. The barista was scary talented. They have a wizard matcha whisk that can reach RPMs that send you back to the future. jigga waaatttt? The Ambiance is scary trendy. So many artists in once place. It's like visiting kakaako but in Chinatown? I don't know what I'm saying. I might have drank too much caffeine. I will definitely come obacke later. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Visited Obake in Chinatown, Honolulu last weekend after hearing some buzz from friends. It's a Japanese yakitori and handroll spot, but by day, they serve a variety of matcha drinks. The edgy vibe of the place is instantly noticeable with its graffiti and art-adorned walls - definitely adds a unique flair Ordered a matcha latte and a ceremonial grade matcha. Both were superb, not just in taste but also in presentation - they really know their stuff when it comes to matcha. However, the service left a bit to be desired. Despite being the only patrons, we had to initiate our order by approaching the cashier after our waitress chose to yell our order from across the room Also, a small nitpick for the matcha enthusiasts: they use an electric whisk for the preparation. It might seem trivial, but the traditional hand whisking is part of the charm and ritual, especially when you're going for ceremonial grade matcha read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Amazing vibe with great craft cocktails and top notch hand rolls. We love trying new places and this will be one that we will def be coming back to. Sean, Keith , Tina, Marissa, Christian, and Jason were all amazing treated us like family. Thank you. read more

Obake - Amazing team at OBake! Everyone working on 10/5 was courteous and friendly! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I went to Obake for their Okinawan Feastival specials and was delighted that they have so much more! Everything was delicious, from the fluffy potatoes to the sushi rolls. The Feastival special rafute ravioli was lovely! In fact everything I tried was a winner. The shishito peppers were toasty without being super spicy. Of course, Obake is a bar so the beverages should be top notch. They are! The worst thing about many bars is paying $16 for an Old Fashioned and thinking, "I could have made this at home (and with better bourbon)." That is NOT the case at Obake. Their cocktails are very reasonably priced, and they are also really creative with quality liquors and unusual ingredients (I mean, who has Sarsaparilla and Chinese dates in their pantry?). The service was not only outstanding, but Jason (Justin?) was super personable and helpful. Seriously out of his way, helpful! We also got to chat with Christian (chef at the companion Skull and Crown). The only reason I might take off 1/2 star is that it's loud. And I don't just mean loud, I mean LOUD. Like you can't have a conversation with the person sitting next to you loud. Of course, I'm old, so there is that. ;-) read more

See all

The walls! The walls are alive! Love it. It works. The music is a vibe. The staff is a vibe. The hand roll I ordered was foodgasmic. If I wasn't trying to kill time for dinner at another restaurant, I could've eaten 15 of these. My apologies as I do not remember what I ordered. This was 2 months ago in January. I have a pic if you can tell what it is by looking. The drinks were so decorative and nostalgic! The white bunny candy was part of the drink. Y'all know what it is. Look at pic. Cute right? read more

Obake - The hand roll that I can't remember - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We got sat right up at the bar when we first got in. The vibe was super chill for a Saturday and Kanako was great at making the drinks and explaining what she was doing. The skewers were really affordable and they were good quality. I honestly should've ordered more. We ordered a few drinks, the toki umeshu yanagi drink was probably my favorite of the night, and we also ordered an old fashioned. The drinks were strong and the night was still young so this was a great spot to hit up! read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Amazing experience here. Food was excellent and drinks were artfully crafted. The server was also very knowledgeable and provided a great recommendation for whiskey. Music was so on point too, 2000's R&B/hip hop essentials! Definitely will be coming back! Mahalo. read more

Obake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Obake is an intimate Japanese bar serving up creative hand rolls and delicious yakitori. They just revamped their cocktail program and are featuring amazing new libations utilizing seasonal ingredients. The flavor profiles in their drinks are incredible. The star of the show are their unique hand roll sets! We love the Obake set and my favorite one is the "Ho, Hayn!" that comes with their homemade chili pepper water. If you're looking for late night bites, you can visit their outdoor bar area for their mouth watering yakitori menu. Both experiences are a guaranteed great time and have become some of our favorite Chinatown spots. We love their team and they always provide such excellent service each visit. Between the fun ambiance, great music and awesome cuisine and cocktails, the vibes are always immaculate at Obake! read more

See all

Cool new Chinatown hand roll/cocktail bar. Nice place to come before dinner, clubbing, or after clubbing , partying ! Dry aged hand rolls with a beer or cocktail . Fish in the hand rolls are dry aged 6-25 days. Walk in only ...usually pretty busy here all night long. Day time is a matcha bar. Great prices! ...e.g., $10 old fashion, $5-6 hand rolls. They trying out some other menu options ...be patient . Work in progress! read more

See all

The most delicious skewers. The tako was my favorite. It was perfectly made and tenderized in milk. The chef could seriously be Michelin he is that good with flavors. Loved the adobo quail eggs, beef tongue I could easily order 2 of them. The dessert is so unique. I felt so privileged to eat this one of a kind cookie sandwich. Black sesame cookies with a furikake ice cream in between. After skewers I then moved on to the hand rolls side of the restaurant. I loved the uni ikura hand roll, named ya, you. The white rabbit cocktail was so good! They really nailed the white rabbit flavor. You would think that the flavor would be light but it wasn't! Creamy, sweet and flavorful. I can't forget about the staff. Everyone is so friendly here. It truly was an experience. read more

See all