This was the best food and dining experience we had on our entire trip!! The portions were perfect, and everything was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is extremely comfortable and the ambiance was really nice. All the staff were extremely friendly, and our server was very helpful with recommendations. We had the vegetable tempura, the tempura zaru soba, and the agedashi mochi (which was my personal favorite of the meal.) They also made the beef sukiyaki for us with just vegetables, which was awesome for the vegetarians in our group! I wish we lived locally so we could come here regularly. This was the perfect note to end our trip on :) read more

Impressed that they called me right back after I called and no one answered. Place looks modern, nice upgrade from the old. There was a hiccup with the expediter, so our food came out separately. They apologized and gave us a free appetizer. I like when they own the problem Food was good and it was reasonable. read more

Excellent. This is not a sushi restaurant. It is a Japanese Lunch and Dinner restaurant mid-upper class. The waitresses are polite and fast. The food and portion size was excellent. Reservations are mandatory for 4+ and seating is limited so it is a wise idea for any dinner. Among the dishes we found worthy were the tonkatsu (pork loin), Nistsuke Butterfish (large and excellent piece), the Sukiyaki and the tempuras . There was a bit of sharing at our table. I would have preferred the rice a bit moisture, but I did note it was of exceptional quality. In other words, it is expensive for the proprietor. read more

Food is Japan quality, so so Ono!! They are all so friendly and fast!! Beautifully renovated and clean!! Mahalo Kiibo staff!!

Love the new renovation! Beautiful interior. Simple elegance. I am transported back to Japan. So happy for the owners of Restaurant Kiibo. I have been a patron for at least 40 years. They are hard-working and dedicated. I have been waiting so patiently for Restaurant Kiibo's re-opening for dining in. Best to reserve a table! Take out available. There is nowhere on Kaua'i that serves better Shrimp Tempura! Nor on O'ahu. Truly. Even the eateries in Japan I dined at did not come close to Mr. Hiroshi Satta's Shrimp Tempura right there at 2991 Umi St., Lihue. My other personal favorites are Teishoku style includes tsukemono (pickled cabbage), rice, miso soup, and finely shredded cabbage salad served your choice of the main dish. I love the Butterfish Nitsuke with Eggplant, Teriyaki or Fried Chicken . . . heck, just about everything they serve is excellent! Mahalo to son Dean Satta and his brothers for keeping the family restaurant going despite the hardships. Good to see Kevin again, managing the front. Very friendly staff. read more

Food and drinks were fantastic and service is outstanding!! Will definitely be back next time I'm on the Island!! :)

What a nice little place to eat! I had dinner with customers after work. The Unagi Don was tasty. We ordered sake as well. I typically order a cold sake, but the warm was recommended and our server told us traditionally it is served warm. It was definitely gods warmed, but lost a bit of its appeal after it cooled off. I guess we should have drunk it faster! read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Unagi Don - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

See all

Great service and delicious food. They were kind enough to hold a table for us. Udon noodles are better than Oahu read more

Restaurant Kiibo - Butter fish - Japanese Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Kiibo, a restaurant in L'hu'e that has been in business for over half a century but was closed for more than a year due to renovations, has only just reopened. Classic Japanese comfort food is executed with precision on the new menu, as exemplified by the oyako don, which consists of slices of chicken and onion cooked into a layer of fluffy egg and a sweet sauce that soaks into the rice below. The restaurant's new interior is modern and understated, which complements the menu. read more

Chicken Katsu Donburi / Tempura Shrimp / Udon Noodles / Sushi Rolls Found this nice, clean, and friendly place in downtown Lihue. Staff was warm and attentive. Food was well prepared and tasty. We went a week later and were still quite pleased. We'll be back again. read more

Went here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The service was fast and very friendly. The food was great. I ordered the combination tempura and the beef sukiyaki and it tasted very good. They said they are closing for awhile for renovations and I can't wait for them to open back up. Great value... read more

We waited for Kiibos to open, since they closed for renovations. It is now open, updated and modern! We only really noticed that they took away floor seating with cushions/stage thing. Pros: - take reservations even for small parties - JAPANESE FOOD! So yummy! Reminds us of being in Japan again. We got agrdashi tofu, combination tempura, 2 choice teishoku with shrimp tempura and saba, and children's plate (teriyaki chicken and shrimp tempura) - nice renovated bathrooms Cons: - need reservations to dine in - food took a bit long this time but our server was very good about updating us and telling us why (we appreciated the communication- if there was no communication I would dock a star) - cold temperature, so bring a jacket *only got a video to post but Yelp doesn't allow, sorry! read more

As you can see from the photos, there is no sushi or sashimi served. Not even Poke. Just your standard cooked dishes. I had the sukiyaki which was served in a flat bowl. Though tasty as expected, it tended to be a bit sweeter than those typically in the mainland. There was sufficient slices of beef but could have been better served if added at the end so that the beef was not as over cooked. It would help with more ingredients as well. Ambiance is cozy as this is a small establishment. Service was friendly though did not pay attention to the need for tea or utensils. read more

Let me first start by saying...WOW. We found this place on Google. I am of Japanese descent and I am very particular about my cuisine. Not all of the fancy stuff, but the comfort food that I grew up on. We were welcomed when they opened without a reservation. The staff is so down to earth and friendly and very informative about the menu. We recognized many locals of Hawaiian and Japanese descent. This was a good sign to me. I ordered something less than fancy and when I told the waitress why, she nodded and understood. My wife ordered fancy and it was fantastic. The flavors were spectacular. Believe me when I tell you, my late mother spoke to me during this meal. It brought me to tears because the flavors were just as I remembered. My wife laughs at me because my mom told me to never waste rice or you will go blind. Obviously she grew up during the rice famine in the war and she let me know. The staff even commented in the fact that we killed it. We laughed and joked and we felt right at home. From seating to leaving was 50 minutes. Small place, in demand, fast service, friendly conversation and out. We did not feel rushed but later realized how efficient this place was. You have to eat here. Eating in an old school Japanese family is all about the meal and nothing else. Here we got the meal and much more. Get a seat here as soon as you can. You won't regret it. read more

Great choice of dishes that are all well made and delicious. Large portions and great service.

I wanna give HUGE brownie points to Kevin! Boyfriend and I had dinner here tonight. I'm allergic to pork and shellfish. We checked with Kevin on which Ramen was safe for me. He recommended the safe ones. When we went to order the waitress said that a different one was safe instead, so we ordered that one. Upon our order reaching the back, Kevin checked on it and noticed it wasn't safe. He found us and asked what I got and we told him what we were told was safe. He then went to the kitchen area to have my ramen redone to where it was safe for me. I definitely want him to be recognized for this. Cause if I had taken a bite I would get an allergic reaction and food poisoning. Way to go Kevin on keeping an eye out for us and making sure we got "safe" yummy food! read more

This restaurant never ever disappoints!! Food is always amazing and friendly service. Thank you Kiibo

I'll make this short and sweet! The breading on the tonkatsu and shrimp tempura is the best I ever had! Even better than when I went to Japan! read more

have eaten several times at Kiibo over the years. Newly remodeled building in same location, including new bathrooms very nicely done. Our dinner was very good, sukiyaki with beef and an order of tempura shrimp and veggies. Washed it down with cold Kirin beer! The service was excellent. Restaurant is very clean. This business is family owned and we can tell they put their heart and soul into this gem. It will continue to be a favorite on Kauai for years to come. read more

Great little place! Had very good and very authentic Japanese food! Also most of the staff spoke Japanese! We got tempura for an appetizer. I got unagi don. We got brown rice tea and green tea ice cream for dessert. It was a little expensive but so worth it! Will definitely go again! read more

This place definitely caters to the locals. The restaurant didn't even open on time, the bathroom was a hole in the wall....the lights didn't work and I could barely find the toilet in the bathroom that consisted of one toilet and one urinal. 10 tables total with 1 waitress servicing all. Given all of that.....they have no sushi menu but the sashimi was very fresh....given they only had tuna. We had a variety of food...agedashi tofu, spicy chicken, tonkatsu, soba noodles with tempura....etc. I really had high hopes for this restaurant since this was my father's last night in Līhue for a while...but it was ultimately a complete let down. If you really not a local, don't bother coming. FYI BYOB... Completely understand why locals come here though. For what you get if you're local....it's a steal. I really don't know how this place could have gotten 4 stars though....yelp and it's review could be a bit deceiving if this restaurant was rated 4 Stars read more

See all

The service was great. All of the food was authentic and so delicious. The tone of the restaurant was super cute and positive. The butter fish melts in your mouth and the best we've ever had. Not a single thing we ordered disappointed. So glad we came here. Absolutely would recommend to anyone visiting Kauai or Lihue! Lastly the holiday ice cream was delightful and a refreshing way to end our meal:) read more

Modern decor and friendly staff. Food was delicious and great place to bring the family. Excellent service !Clean updated bathrooms but you have to walk outside to use. Highly recommend read more

This is my grandpas favorite place to eat. The food is always good. The staff is always friendly. There's really nothing more I can say. Did I mention the food is always good? read more

See all

I enjoyed eating at Kiibo. My relatives recommended the place. If you want authentic Japanese food. This is the place to go. Make sure to make reservations. read more

Good food and the Server Monica was very friendly and made some suggestions to help us to enjoy our meal and we had leftovers also! The wife had Katsu Curry and I had the Shrimp Tempura meal we also had the Nishime and Agedashi Tofu for our appetizers. All together great experience! read more

Fantastic. Love their food. Great service. Reasonably priced. Will go again for sure!

Absolutely love KIIBOS!!!! My go to is ala carte 5 pc shrimp tempura and Oyako Don. They have this eggplant side dish, not sure what it's called but that's another fav The seating is tight, but not to where you can't have a private conversation. It can be a long wait time, but to me, it's worth it! Service is always great, be prepared to wait a while for food if you're there when there is a large party. My husband loves getting any teishoku on the menu. Quality, quality, quality! read more

My husband and I order the 2choice of teishoku saba and Beef sukiyaki for me and my husband ordered shrimp tempura . It was so ONOlecious... . I Highly recommend kiibo if you are craving authenticJapanese food. read more

See all

The salmon shioyaki is absolutely delicious. The customer service is always good (sometimes they are busy, but I can tell the servers are always trying their hardest to take care of everyone) even if it gets a little slow when they get hit with large tables- that's to be expected. I haven't had something I haven't liked here. Everything is cooked deliciously and my usual complaint is my stomach doesn't have enough room for everything I want to eat. I'm so happy they started a take out option. Now I could have them for lunch or an easy take away dinner. Once in a while food will be inconsistent with ingredient or maybe slightly over cooked in a few cases, or out of stock completely. We are on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, and I'm very aware how hard sourcing and consistency can be in that situation. This is more a disclaimer to anyone reading this review to be kind and understanding, this is not a complaint. AND this place is still my absolute favorite restaurant on island. read more

Came back to Kauai and definitely can not miss any local foods. How can a local girl miss the good eatz of my homeland? Best as i can describe it, broke da mouth! read more

Great service! Great food and terrific atmosphere!! My favorite is Oyako Donburi, Tempura and Chicken Tofu. And don't forget the green tea ice cream! Yummy!! read more

Authentic Japanese restaurant. Price is reasonable. The interior is much larger that I thought from the outside. Tempura shrimp is excellent. Udon noodle is not that great. Restrooms needs help. read more

Service was excellent. Our food was delicious! Normally I do not like bread pudding, but everything was so tasty we ordered it to share. My gosh... it was fantastic! read more

aloha!! if your looking for authentic Japanese food no sushiiiii but hey everything else chee so ono. my buddy the katos come here very often so workers here personally said hi on multiple occasions and asked if everything was to our liking so excellent service as well if your looking for a regular dinner spot for that special someone this is the place! service is major aloha spirit ! read more

REVIEW NOT FOR FOOD....DIDN'T EAT HERE If you're coming here arer sushi, I suggest you call ahead. Made the drive all the way into Lihue to find out they only have a sushi chef 2 days a week and one of the days this week he is busy so maybe next week. WTF? read more

Good food and not so expensive. It's a great place compared to a lot of the restaurants in the island

Born and raised on Kauai, Food was okay, but the service from the male host was so very rude. I never had a restaurant tell me that I had an 1 1/2 to eat my food, he wanted to make a clear before we sat down that we understood we had only an 1 1/2 to eat. After we waited an hour to be seated. He told us that we had to rush to eat but not to rush too much so we will not choke on our food. I was shocked! very favoritism., I noticed people was there before we came in and they was still there after we left. I guess they didn't have time limit. I will never go there again. Small Island, that male host is the owners husband. read more

Food and service were both very good. The place is relatively small and it was busy with a large group table, so it was very noisy. Minus one star for not being able to hear each other at our own table. Several of us had a "Donburi" bowl that came with a nice miso soup and shredded cabbage salad. Generous serving enough for leftovers (for our Senior appetites). Other entree was broiled Saba ( mackerel) that was very good. Tried their "agedashi mochi" which we've never seen before....interesting but not earthshaking. This is really "down home" Japanese food. Nothing fancy. No fru-fru sushi rolls, etc. read more

It was a bad first impression. We walked in knowing reservations were "recommended" yet not required as it says so on their website. My other half and I risked it hoping we could walk-in. Host asked "Did you make a reservation?" I replied saying no and that I tried calling a few times in the afternoon but walked in to see if we could get a seat. He responded with "Well as you can see I'm the only one here and I won't answer. Best time to call is after hours." I had no knowledge of being able to call after hours and when I told the host that, he responded with "Well now you know." He offered a table but we had 1 1/2 hr (until 7pm) because thats when the next reservation would come in I'm assuming. To me, I didn't appreciate as a customer, with the tone of his voice and it came off as a negative vibe. The place didn't look busy but in respect, I didn't make any comments, nor did I complain or yell or anything. The cooks were all staring at my other half and I, making like we were making a scene. Mind you it was our very very first time there, but the greeting did not make us feel welcome. I've heard such great things about the food and all we wanted to do was try but there would always be a next time if they were booked/had no open tables. Because of this situation that could've been handled in a more respectful way, I would not go back anymore. I'm not going to apologize for my review. Nor will I care if they bash out on my opinion. I worked in a restaurant and I know how it feels, both local and visitors but I would never make them feel like how they made us feel as residents of Kauai. read more