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    Restaurant Kunio

    3.7 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 10:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Restaurant Kunio Photos

    Business Info

    RESTAURANT KUNIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Terence N.

    My go to haunt when I want Japanese food and don't wanna drive into town. Place is often busy and wait time can be long at times. Tonite we waited about 45 minutes to be seated so be warned. Service is excellent even thru the rush. You can opt for the sushi counter or a table when signing in. If you are seated in the party room in the back of the restaurant you'll have to remove your footwear so again be warned. Food is consistently good and usually quick to your table. If you're shopping at waikele (or nearby) and in the mood for Japanese cuisine here u go!

    Oyako Donburi
    Craig T.

    Update on Restaurant Kunio today I had a nice lunch with my sister . We both were craving some kind of Donburi. So I mentioned let's go to Waikeke where this Japanese restaurant called Kunio is located . We got there and surprisingly it wasn't crowded because every time we go there it's a sign up sheet . We both enjoyed our Donburi it had a lots of chicken pieces along with onion, fish cake , egg . Service is always pretty good there support local

    Beef sukiyaki
    Deborah P.

    Update 6-25-26. I had lunch with my brother. Without my husband lol... We both wanted to eat their oyako don. It was good. The service was fast as we sat and talked stories. I thought they open at 11am but they open at 10:30. That's why my brother said where's the line not knowing they're inside already.

    Butterfish
    Bryson S.

    Delicious Japanese spot in waikele shopping center. I grew up coming here with my family and it never misses. Nostalgic or not, their butter fish is one of the best on islands, with no extra charge! They offer sushi, surf and turf, udon, and teishoku combos just to scratch the surface. Amazing portions, friendly staff, this is somewhere you have to try out. The line does get long for dinner, especially weekends so plan accordingly.

    Menu 06/16/2026
    debi k.

    Hungry for Japanese lunch - the restaurant was busy with a lunch rush but we got seated after 20 minutes! Seated - water & drinks served and order taken! Food came out quick with a bit of wait for the Oyakudon but it was served really hot! The AA combo was good but wish the shrimp tempura was served hot. It was still crispy and the selection of veggies good. I especially liked the tempura potatoes and eggplant. The butterfish was excellent and we enjoyed the salad that came w/ the combo. The Ouakudon was excellent- loved the meat and veggies and egg cooked to perfection. Overall a good lunch

    Terrible tonkatsu. Smelled "off", tasted worse.
    Sandy C.

    The last two visits have been a disappointment. Forgetting to bring part of the order, terrible tonkatsu and bland miso fish and Teri beef. I hope it gets better.

    Miso Butter Fish and vegetable tempura.
    Gabriel P.

    Girl's Day luncheon with family. My meal was a step down from the great food experience I come to expect from Restaurant Kunio. Service was on the slower side. A few minutes after the water was brought out the server came back and said ,you no what you want? With no smile. The tempura was the talk of the table. It came out white with no crunch. One guest mentioned that shrimp was not cooked through. I also had the Ikura maki sushi. The serving board was wet, only under the ikura. The other pieces of maki was ok. will try again. Enjoy

    The Funamori Party Boat
    Mabeline M.

    When there is a lot of you, the party boat is a must have! It was fulfilling for my whole family. 2 adults, 4 children! Great service. Made sure we had everything we needed. As that our waters and tea were topped off when empty. Food was fresh and presentation great.

    Maxine P.

    Took a friend here for a belated birthday lunch. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Comfortable atmosphere , prompt service and Ono food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The three of us all chose the combo with Miso Butterfish and a different second choice. The Butterfish was good although it was different than the last time we had it. Not as moist. One with beef, tempura shrimp and tempura veggies.

    gyudon
    Taylor F.

    Great japanese restaurant in waikele! Waikele doesn't have many food options so Kunio is always a solid option for good japanese food. I haven't been in years because the wait is always pretty long since they don't take reservations, but we went on Sunday around 2pm and didn't have to wait long. We ordered the gyudon and chicken katsudon. The chicken katsudon was great and was super flavorful, especially the rice that soaked up all the sauce. The gyudon was ok, some of the meat was pretty tough and there wasn't really a sauce on it so the rice was pretty plain. The noodles on top were a nice touch though. Service was really fast and very attentive.

    kona coffee ice cream
    Gwen C.

    Went in at 1040AM and was seated immediately. There were about 4 other tables already seated. Our order was taken immediately and food came out very quickly. By the time our food came out, the whole restaurant was already filled :)). Everything tasted YUMMY. My only complaint was the hamchi/tobiko roll I ordered was only 5 pieces, LOL. But it was good.. I felt like I was ripped some pieces, hahaha..

    Combo AB tonKatsu w/ miso butterfish
    Bob S.

    The food is top notch here. The word is out as the lines are long even at 730 pm on a Monday. We decided the lines are wait was too long so we bought 2 gift cards. They sell gift cards in increments of $25 dollars. We asked for 2 with $100 on each. It was quick and painless and will use them in the future when the wait isn't over 30 minutes. I suggest you could spoil a friend or family member with a nice gift that they'll be grateful for. I guarantee it!

    Kunio boat
    Cheryl A.

    My favorite place to go..I love coming here,they're located at the waikele shopping center however they get really busy & they do not take reservations so i recommend you to come early & put your name on that list!!food is amazing & never dissapoints,my kids love to get the salmon box & udon,if you want a variety of things & there's 4 of yall or more then the kunio boat is the way to go!!it comes with a variety of sashimi,sushi,shrimp/vegetable tempura.Shrimp,chicken katsu,steak,& lobster..it's also serve with salad,miso soup,& 3 different sides.They have so much food options to choose from & the employees are very friendly!

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    11 years ago

    Pretty good place. High quality food. It's Waikele so there's plenty of tourists but hey where aren't there tourists?

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    11 years ago

    I just finished lunch here and am so glad I did! Great bento box variety and my husband said his sushi was great highly recommend.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    The tempura was hard and too much batter. Not worth the money we spent. Won't go to this restaurant any more!!!

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    11 years ago

    Deliciousness over and over again. Price is worth it! I even get take out here. Only wish they also gave plastic utensils.

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Good but always got long wait. Wish they took reservations but otherwise best Japanese food in central/west Oahu.

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Best japanese food in the area my favorite for a late lunch or late dinner ....long lines

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    Page 31 of 34

    Restaurant Kunio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Restaurant Kunio

    Are u open for lunch on Jan. 1,2025?

    They are open on New Year's Day.

    Keeps showing as AYCE, but not showing on your menu?

    Sorry it's not AYCE

    Do you need 4 people in your party to order the boat? Or ok for me and my bf to order it?

    Nope! But either way, you still need to pay the full price

    What is the best time to dine in on Sunday?

    Best time to dine in or take out is at opening.

    Anyone know if Kunio is doing fine in during COVId-19? Lunch hours? Serve boat during lunch?

    They are actually temporarily closed. It looks like they are renovating.

    Is the restaurant still closed (As of July 13 2020?

    Yes, closed for renovations.

    Are they open for dining? Tried calling past few days but no answer.

    Closed for renovations.

    Are they open?

    No they are closed. I'm pregnant and have limited foods I can eat. I went two weeks ago and it was temporarily closed. Then today, I saw a girl posted on yelp saying it was open so I drove there today even while nauseated. It is not open. It is… 

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    Waikele Country Club Restaurant

    Waikele Country Club Restaurant

    3.7
    (338 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    My first time dining at Waikele Country Club Restaurant was for a high school graduation party. I…read moreremember absolutely nothing about the food and remember it being a tight space for the size of the party. They somehow made it work and even had a small space for a dance floor. On my last visit, there was a lunch party going on and the space they were in was a bit odd. They had several long tables set up in what is normally the lobby/waiting area, right next to the restrooms. There was also another party going on the smaller party room behind the reception desk. I guess they just know how to make things work and try to configure seating the best they can! My latest two visits were pretty memorable with regards to the food. Both times were with tables for over 10 people and I must say, I'm surprised that both times, I was pleasantly surprised at the speed we received our food. I ordered the Bi Bim Bap and a plantation iced tea on my first recent visit, and Chirashi set with a Moscow mule on my second recent visit. The Bi Bim Bap was pretty good, and the plantation iced tea wasn't overly sweet like many can be because of the pineapple juice. The real winner was the Chirashi set. It had a lot going on and contained ingredients I don't usually get with other Chirashi bowls. It had unagi for one, and another surprise was a tiny portion of uni. We splurged on dessert on my latest visit with Brown Butter Cake, Creme Brulé, and Chocolate Molten Cake. Both came with a side scoop of vanilla ice cream. All were very good and little on the pricey side. The Brown Butter Cake and Chocolate Molten Cake were $17 each. Were they worth $17 each? I guess considering it's not every day I buy a $17 dessert, sure, it was worth it. My favorite of the three? The Brown Butter Cake! I'm looking forward to dining at Waikele Country Club Restaurant again and recommend it if you're looking for a local meal that's a little more upscale than the norm.

    First visit here. Grounds & the restaurant are classy but a little dated Made reservations and…read morewere seated promptly. We unwittingly came on a day when they had live music. It was very loud and I would not follow the band to any other venue. The music was loud enough we could not hold a conversation in the dining area. Outdoor dining was an option if you are agreeable with the heat & bugs. The menu was expansive. Lots of choices and the Yelp photos helped us decide what to eat. They were slammed busy so no compliments on service. The bartender was friendly & helped us with drink refills. I'd like to give this place another shot without the band.

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    Buffet time!
    Buffet time!
    Waikele Country Club Restaurant
    Waikele Country Club Restaurant

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    Matsuzaka-Tei - Pearl City

    Matsuzaka-Tei - Pearl City

    4.1
    (432 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Matsuzaka-tei in Pearl City for a quick bite and was very happy with the selections…read more The thinly sliced sukiyaki-style beef was tender and coated in a delicious, savory-sweet sauce. The two ontama (soft-boiled) eggs on top were the perfect addition--their creamy yolks mixed beautifully with the beef and rice, creating a rich, luscious sauce for the entire bowl. It's hearty, flavorful, and definitely a must-try. We ordered a side of takoyaki (octopus balls) and they were executed well. Nicely crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

    Just as fast as you could get a burger and a drive-thru, you can get a well-rounded meal here. Plus…read morethe service is amazing! Yes, the prices aren't as cheap as you can find for the same dishes in Japan but hey- Japan prices can't really compete with anywhere on Oahu. They do offer a 10% discount for military, students, and kapuna (60+). Plus, I do believe that they are a "no tipping" establishment, or at least the tipping option didn't come up when I paid with card. There bowls come in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large. The medium was more than enough food for me and I can't even imagine how much food the large is. I love their beef bowl with the soft boiled egg-- the medium size comes with 2 eggs, while the small only comes with 1. I'm also a big fan of mapo beef bowl, which is a mix of tofu mapo curry and their signature beef. Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a quick and filling meal!

    Photos
    They have Japanese comics
    They have Japanese comics
    Side order 8pc takoyaki
    Side order 8pc takoyaki
    Shrimp Tempura Beef Rice Bowl

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    Shrimp Tempura Beef Rice Bowl
    Mamaya Express

    Mamaya Express

    4.6
    (9 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I honestly haven't really been to Mamaya before. I think they have a couple locations. This maamaya…read moreexpresss is located in Waipahu kind of randomly in an industrial area. It's close to where I work, and they are open early so I sometimes stop to get a quick breakfast or lunch. The workers are really nice. They are patient when I'm indecisive and they offer weekly deals like free sodas with a purchase or $2 off certain plates. The menu is pretty simple. They have breakfast meats with rice and eggs for breakfast and plate lunches for lunch. They also free manapua and Shumai. It's maybe not the most healthy food to eat, but it's convenient and they're nice. I like that they have a little cover to protect customers from the sun and rain. There isn't really any designated parking, but there is usually street parking that you can find pretty easily. Everything I've tried here has been good. I'll probably be back :)

    Excited to have a lunch truck near my job as there is nothing walking distance otherwise. Their…read moregrand opening offering 20% off until 2/14/2025. Prices are reasonable regardless. Hours are 7am-1:30pm I believe and things do sell out (i.e. spam musubi) before lunch. Only accepts cards no cash or no American Express. There isn't an area to sit and street parking may be tight but most people who come here are on foot. Did not give 5 stars only because not many healthy or vegetarian options. But the portions are good and quality as expected for lunch truck/bento. Breakfast sandwich is made ahead of time and quick to grab and go under $5. They have loyalty rewards stamp card too. I hope they change up the menu with daily specials.

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    Mamaya Express
    Mamaya Express
    Card Only. Say Less

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    Card Only. Say Less

    Restaurant Kunio - japanese - Updated August 2026

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