It is always a good sign when you see Japanese people eating at a Japanese restaurant, or Mexicans at a Mexican restaurant, etc..... you know what I mean? That was the case at Kiibo and although there were many people waiting to be seated before us, we only had to wait for 10 minutes to get our table for 4. The space was clean and very zen. We ordered the kids tempura meal, the agedashi tofu, fried chicken, lots of sashimi and rolls... It didn't take long for our food and drinks to arrive. Everything looked beautiful and tasted so fresh and delicious (mouth watering as I write this). It was hands down one of the best restaurant experiences we had during our stay in Kauai. Our kids loved everything and so did we... I wish my stomach was bigger so I could try more of the dishes. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to come back during our vacation but now I know where I'll definitely visit next time I'm in Kauai. If you're visiting Lihue definitely stop here. read more

Love, love, love Kiibo!!!!! We not only enjoy their delicious food but we enjoy being served by Solo-Superman Server!!! He takes care of everyone efficiently with a smile and fun personality!!! We can't wait to visit Kiibo again!!!! read more

Came here to satisfy my Japanese food cravings and it hit the spot! I'd recommend making a reservation so you don't have to wait. We waited about 40 minutes then we were seated. The interior was beautiful and clean. It was hard to choose what to eat since everything on the menu looked so good. We got the agedashi mochi and matcha beer for starters. I got the Sukiyaki and my boyfriend got the tonkatsu. Both were really delicious! I can't wait to try other things on the menu! read more

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I appreciate this spot so much, because they accommodated our huge party of 20 people flawlessly! We had a lot of dietary restrictions as well in the group. The owners and staff are super sweet as well, and food is fantastic. I got the tonkatsu teishoku and it was super flaky and juicy. read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Fried chicken had no taste! Extremely expensive.$5 for a tiny bowl of rice!! Not much on the menu to choose from!

Restaurant Kiibo is our favorite restaurant on the island due to superb service, great atmosphere and wonderful food. Our favorite is the unagi. Fresh and expertly prepared traditionally over coals, each and every time. So rich and decadent it needs to be savored. It is a perfect dish. We also enjoy the tempura. Prepared fresh when ordered. The batter is light and crisp and perfectly fried. We love the mochi tofu appetizer. So unique and perfectly prepared it covers many tasting profiles: crunchy, chewy, salty and sweet. Delicious. If you get the opportunity to try Restaurant Kiibo, you must. read more

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This is probably our favorite restaurant in Lihue and definitely one of the best sit-downs on the island. My family came for dinner after looking for a meal a little different from Hawaiian BBQ and sushi. Our Katsu and Tonkatsu were tender with a light, flaky, well-seasoned crust. Butterfish was just flaky enough and rich; it was simmered in a light sweet soy-based sukiyaki sauce that was a tasty change from the typical miso marinaded black cod I've had. I've had Tofu Agedashi plenty before, but here I tried their concept of a Katsu Agedashi as part of the two dish combination with Butterfish -- dashi broth is sweet, lightly salted, and a nice light alternative to ordering Katsu curry or Tonkatsu. Both the authentic food, portions, and friendliness of our table service impressed us a ton. Might just be back for a second visit this trip. read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Butterfish - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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It's a Monday but also Labor Day and this restaurant was open. I had called prior to their opening but they called me back which was super thoughtful! They let me reserve and we showed up a few hours later. They really treat everyone like Ohana and the service is amazing. Really comfortable environment and cute decor. Many great options, we went with the curry katsu and the combo tempura and tonkatsu. The combo pick two comes with miso, salad, and ice cream and totally worth it! Also matcha IPA is amazing. Highly recommend to locals and visitors! :) read more

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Incredible Japanese food. Felt like I was in Tokyo. Lived there for 16 years. Very authentic Japanese food read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Katsudon. My favorite!! - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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I recently went to Kiibo... the server was great! The food was decent... however I cannot unsee this cook's foot on a soup pot that was on the floor... It turned my stomach and I will not be returning to that restaurant.. read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Take a look at the cook with his shoe on the soup pot that was on the floor - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

I had been to Kiibo a few times before their recent remodel. The food and service were always great, especially since authentic Japanese food is hard to find when we visit Kauaʻi (from Maui). I was back on Kauaʻi last week, and I remembered that their social media said they were now open for lunch. So, we decided to go... ...EXCELLENT CHOICE! The remodel is absolutely stunning--well-lit, chic, with an authentic and welcoming feeling. Something you'd expect to see in Honolulu or even Japan. The food was also excellent. Something as seemingly simple as good zaru soba and tempura are amazingly difficult to find in Hawaiʻi in general (the soba is often mushy, and the tempura is more thickly battered okazu style). But, at Kiibo, the soba was perfectly chewy...it, along with the tempura, was basically identical to what I often eat in Japan. My dining partner ordered the katsu and said it was basically the same what he has gotten in Japan...just a little larger. If you're on Kauaʻi, and you're craving delicious authentic Japanese food, I highly recommend Kiibo! read more

We're finally back again.We came for dinner.As always we were greeted with a smile n hello welcome!.No problems with service e.Always good but,The food always didn't disappoint as well!.This time I got the 2 choice of Teishoku.The beef Sukiyaki n teriyaki chicken.I was blown away of how much food there was!.It took some time n I finally finished the beef sukiyaki but I could not finish the teriyaki chicken so I took it home.Everything was so tasty n good!.So my girl friend got the Chicken katsu Donbori.It was good size bowl.She couldn't finish it as well so she took the rest home for her lunch for the next day.She enjoyed it.Great taste n filling.We left happy!.Can't wait to come back.Maybe next pay check??.So if want some good food?Good service?enjoy a nice n cool place to have a meal?.Come here!!.You won't be disappointed!.. read more

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Our go to spot for family dinners when we're back on Kauai. Food is hot, flavorful, tasty, and filling! Love the chicken katsu, agedashi tofu, ramen, honey shrimp. Recommend reservations as this place is busy even at 5pm on weekdays! Perfectly located across the street from lights on rice so the kids could get their kanak attack wiggles out. read more

Started our visit with a very helpful hostess and had an amazing dinner! We had the sukiyaki, katsu, and tempura. We are so lucky and happy we found this restaurant. We will be back. read more

Food, service and ambiance are wonderful. Price point a little higher than most but worth the quality of food and service.

Service from the owner/server was very good. The ambiance was nice. What we liked. The sashimi combo plate was fresh. Tekka maki was also good Along with the tamago nigiri. What was marginal. the chicken katsu was ok. Portions were just ok. What I didn't like. The $20 sake was expensive and very little value. I only got four tiny sake cups. I understand the inflation in the food and restaurant business. However, no matter how much the final bill is, I would feel better if I felt I got good value. read more

Probably one of the best places and best Japanese places to eat on Kauai. The food is really authentic. The service is also really good like you would expect from a good japanese restaurant (wink to our server Natsumi). Parking in front is limited but you should be able to find parking in the area. read more

Restaurant Kiibo is a small dining venue.....Reservations definitely recommended. We have dined here on several occasions and the food is a hit or miss. This time it was a miss. My girlfriend and I were disappointed with the beef sukiyaki. The flavor was good...but the sliced beef was cooked wadded up in a ball and overcooked. . Another friend said the Goma (sesame) ramen was tasty except he couldn't taste the sesame flavor until he was almost at the bottom of the bowl. He thought the top was basically chicken broth(?). Last but not least, hubby had the chicken tofu. His dish was probably the best. I only wish it had veggies. The chicken was tender and the broth was flavorful. read more

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We were in the mood for some home style Japanese food and read that this would be a good place. Since they don't take reservations for small parties we took a risk and drove down to give it a shot. It was about 7:30 and there was only one party waiting so we got seated after waiting for 15 minutes. The restaurant is quite small so seating is limited and tables are pretty close together. The menu had a good selection of traditional dishes but they only serve sushi during certain hours so I would advise calling if that is what you are craving. I ended up with combo with a deliciously grilled saba and vegetable tempura. The portions were very generous and included rice, salad, miso soup and even dessert. Everything was prepared well and service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant closes at. 9pm and by 8:45 it had emptied out. So we felt we needed to rush. Since it's Kauai and everything closes early we were forgiving and laughed it off read more

Great service but a bit overpriced for what it is imo. The agadashi mochi was great, so dinner started on a good note. I was looking forward to an authentic Japanese meals similar to my experience on the other islands, but I guess i shouldn't compare, or expect such a thing...everything else we had seems to be on the sweet side...all in all it is a good place, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it... read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Hands down the best chicken teriyaki I've ever had. So juicy! And really generous portions. On top of it all, the staff were incredibly friendly. read more

Food was amazing and service as well. Kevin was very helpful and accommodating with our large party. Definitely recommend it and will be back. read more

Love that they offer delicious sushi for lunch, now Their new hours are more convenient for us read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Kiibo Sushi Roll - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Absolute gem of a place. First of all, the restaurant was spotlessly clean, beautiful wall deco and nice music. Service fast and with care. Agedashi tofu - (4/5) Brothy savory sauce. The tofu itself was delicately fried and had a great texture. Wish there was more though. Katsu curry - (5/5) BEST katsu curry I've ever had. The katsu was fried with fine panko and just had such a refreshing crispness to it. The curry itself was rich and the perfect addition to the rice. Ramen - (5/5) The chicken broth was balanced and delicious; ramen noodles were cooked to perfection as well. Side note: their napkins are of such good quality. read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Katsu curry - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Went to Kiibo for a family dinner and our whole experience from beginning to end was great. Hostess was so friendly and helpful and our server was great too, checking on us making sure we had what we need. The food was so good too and we can't wait to go back again! Mahalo Kiibo read more

Delicious! We arrive a little after 5 pm on a Thursday evening. No res, no wait. We were lucky! Reasonable prices and good food. We had the Tendon Donburi, Chicken Tofu, and Agedashi Chicken Katsu. We also had agedashi tofu and agedashi mochi! read more

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Visit date: 7/25/24 I finally made it to Kauai and made this my first stop! There's plenty parking in the back if not in the front. The outside was clean and well put together. It's very private when you enter as there are curtains separating the entrance from the dining room. We had a reservation and were seated right away by Kevin. The inside had soft light which was nice and made the experience feel more intimate. It's a good sized restaurant with around 15 tables (don't quote me on that lol). Our server Natsumi came to our table and explained the menu. She was very helpful and even ordered me her picks for my main cuz I couldn't decide Everything was done in a quick and professional manner. Our order: Tamagoyaki- slightly sweet and topped with daikon. I wish I had gotten two cuz I didn't wanna share;p Agedashi tofu- very crispy bite sized tofu in a delicious broth. Great for sharing. Teriyaki mochi- dang this was so good lol. I'd say this is for sure a must try! Ton katsu teishoku- TWO big tonkatsu for the 1 choice teishoku. Very generous portion and delicious. Beef teriyaki + miso butterfish teishoku- my servers choices for me. The beef teriyaki was thinly sliced and tender. butterfish I LOVED because it wasn't slathered in miso like some other places. It was so soft and easy to find the bones cuz they fell right off. Also came with 3 pieces of delicious eggplant. Coffee ice cream- lapperts coffee ice cream was a great way to end our meal! Hot tea- the brand of hot tea they use is spectacular. If I wasn't so full I probably would have had a third pot lol Definitely recommend this place and can't wait to return to try more items! When I was looking around the tempura also looked very generous so I'll probably try that next. Oh and the fries! Hehe. read more

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Our fave! Love the honey shrimp, goma ramen, and oyako don. We've tried over half the menu, and you can't go wrong! Excellent service and consistent quality! read more

Everything went well. Yummy Japanese food and great customer service! I highly recommend. Check hours as they open at later times.

Visited for a day and had a whirlwind of a time. Ended up our escapade with a nice dinner at Kiibo. Although this was my first (and certainly not my last) time here, we were met with hospitable staff and the warmest aloha. As many have mentioned, this restaurant is a staple for the local community and continues to shine on through its' refresh. We shared the agedashi tofu and mochi to start. I ended up getting the agedashi chicken katsu with some shrimp tempura on the side. All of the dishes left my stomach grinning immensely. The flavors here are quite authentic and it was giving motherland realness with the decor and ambiance. Pricing is as expected for the quality of flavor and offerings, especially coming out of the pandemic. The nice thing is that they also offer take out for those who want to experience the good flavors to-go. However--it is strongly recommended to dine in to experience the food in real time. As the indoor seating is limited, be sure to call ahead and make a reservation. You will be glad that you did. Will be back for more the next time I'm in town. Thank you again! ご馳走様でしたー！ read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Agedashi Chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Had an incredible meal last night. Wanted to eat outside of the resort and also stay in Lihue so read about the restaurant and also asked some locals who vouched for it. I had a 2 item teishoku with shrimp tempura (5 pieces) and butterfish nitsuke with eggplant. My dinner partner and I shared agedashi tofu. The butterfish was meaty and not bony, simmered in a delicious shoyu broth and the eggplant served on the side. Shrimp tempura were large and delicious. Teishoku came with miso soup, salad and small dish of tsukemono cabbage. AND a huge scoop of matcha ice cream for dessert. I tried a Kyoto matcha beer that was green but tasty and my friend had her favorite sake. So delicious!' May need to go back before I leave! read more

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Me and my husband got married less than 24 hours ago before eating at Kiibo and meeting the amazing owners and staff! Great ambiance, vibe, clean, and most importantly, AMAZING FOOD!!! We got curry ramen, one with shrimp and 2 with chicken katsu, beef teriyaki, fried mochi, agedashi tofu miso soup and salad. Everything tasted great! So flavorful but not overbearing! Staff was the best!! Recommend a thousand times! read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Beef Teriyaki was delicious! The teriyaki sauce was amazing! Not too sweet or rich. - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

This restaurant has always been a classic for local people on Kauai seeking traditional Japanese food since 1976. The restaurant has recently remodeled with a modern interior. The Sata family that owns the restaurant is very passionate about their food and service and it shows! I came in for lunch and had the Agedashi Mochi as an appetizer which was crispy on the outside with a soft chewy mochi inside. For the main I got the Teri Fried Chicken which is fried chicken rolled in a delicious teriyaki sauce. Also tried the Matcha IPA beer. Everything was so Ono. I definitely will be coming back! read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Teri Fried Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Small place in Lihue near the airport. Quite a busy place, highly recommended to make reservations. Freshly made tempura items may take a little time, but it's worth it. Also, good donburi bowls. No sushi at the moment, Hope they bring it back. read more

Service is great, always smiling and friendly. Food is great and just the right portions.

What I ordered: katsu-don with the fried katsu and egg sauce separate + additional Japanese curry sauce cup on the side for a $5 surcharge, pick-2 combo of beef sukiyaki and beef teriyaki We were also served complementary pickled veggies, cabbage salad, miso soup, green tea, and barley tea for our meal. Spent just over $80 without tip included, none of the accoutrements are pictured unfortunately as our table was smaller than our appetite. What I thought: the most amazing service & food experience I've had on Kauai thus far, I cannot recommend this place enough. We walked in an hour before they closed and had a complicated order and they absolutely nailed what I wanted on the head, our server was a very nice Asian woman who I can't remember the name of. Bf and I ordered so much food we'll have delicious dinner leftovers for breakfast tomorrow! read more

Restaurant Kiibo - katsu-don with the fried katsu and egg sauce separate + additional Japanese curry sauce cup, pick-2 combo of beef sukiyaki and beef teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Fantastic authentic Japanese home cooking. Great service. Miso soup was amazing, mugicha with desert a really nice touch. Wish they were open on Saturday & would have come back for lunch before our flight out. read more

The food was excellent with a few things I've never had, like the chicken Katsu in age dash I sauce. The service staff were professional and friendly and the restaurant itself is very cozy. read more

Food was excellent ! Service was excellent ! The restaurant looks amazing, and wonderful Air conditioning -- we will definitely be going weekly !!! read more

Absolutely delicious food, friendly service, and great atmosphere/ambiance! Would definitely return!