かんたん カツ ビールはない。 …read more Premium quality katsu w/ unlimited cabbage. At the Kapiolani Blvd entrance of STIX Asia food court, believe it when everyone says dining here will "transport you to Japan." . I had no idea what to expect besides noted YEE reviews. I was hungryyy after work. The combos didn't sound filling but was instantly relieved seeing 1 wagyu beef katsu curry option. The katsu arrived perched on a bed of rice partly dipped in a thick curry pool. The wagyu was prepared rare but with an outer layer fried perfectly, giving a wonderful savory crunch blended into the tender meat. I was happily impressed the quality of my katsu was no less than the rest of fancy combo orders my friends had. . My photo of the wagyu katsu curry does Not give the dish justice. Idk why I ever expected grabbing a beer and a local plate lunch kine katsu drowning in curry from here. KG Katsuda's approach is much more attentive in showcasing the meat while embellished as a katsu. My idea of "quality katsu" is now forever elevated...lol (boujie-fied). 10/10 recommend (:

This is my first having gyukatsu and Kyoto Gyukatsu Katsuda did not disappoint!…read more Yelp BFF and I were looking to celebrate and what better way than with gyukatsu? I ordered the US beef katsu set and BFF ordered the tenderloin set with ahi. Our server let us know that the beef comes out rare. Rice and salad comes with unlimited refills (yay!) Alongside your meal, you will get 3 different dipping sauces: curry, dashi, and sesame seeds (goma) to grind up. On the table, there's instructions. You can add katsu sauce to the ground up goma. Add wasabi to the dashi, add wasabi and salt, or just enjoy dipping your gyukatsu into curry. I don't think I've eaten that much salad in my entire life, but the dressing is addicting! The gyukatsu meat was so tender with a crispy and thin coating. My favorite sauces are the curry and katsu sauce. I added wasabi and it elevated the dish to another level. We had great service and noticed this is one of the busier food vendors in Stixs. Kamaaina get 20% off, so don't forget to flash your ID Thanks for reading my reviews! Let me know what I should try next!

Tried the omakase at Sushi Tokiwa, and it was such a hidden gem. It's actually located inside…read moreRestaurant Suntory, which is divided into three different sections: a teppanyaki side, a regular Japanese dining side, and the omakase sushi counter where Sushi Tokiwa is. If you didn't know it was there, you could easily miss it. When my friend and I arrived, there was no one else inside, which made it feel almost like a private omakase experience. The atmosphere had a very authentic Japan-like feel quiet, minimal, and focused on the sushi. For a moment it honestly felt like I forgot I was in Hawaii. Some of my favorite bites were the crab and the firefly squid, both incredibly fresh and nicely prepared. Every piece was clean, simple, and well executed. I had no idea this place even existed before, but it's definitely a spot worth discovering if you enjoy a more traditional, low key omakase experience

Had the most amazing omakase experience here with Chef Tomoya Makabe. Really nice guy!! There was…read moreonly 4 of us so we got to chat and talk about food and life in the Islands. The sushi was perfect. Very traditional just the way I like it. We added Uni and Wagyu which was a great finisher. Definitely coming back. Thank you Chef!!

I'm going to let you in on our little secret omakase spot in Waikiki! Fukurou is an intimate dining…read moreexperience hiding inside of a Mexican restaurant on a rooftop. You'll be greeted at the rooftop Mexican restaurant and guided down a nondescript hallway to an unmarked door. Inside you will find 8 seats around a wood bar and minimalist decor (it's about the food). Behind said wood bar, you will find Chef Young who is a ball of energy and creativity! The dishes are pre-fixe including both local Hawaiian fish and Hokkaido delicacies. All of the highest quality, wonderfully thought out and presented. Sake selection is very good, ask for recommendations. Give Fukurou a try next time you are on island, you won't be disappointed. Cheers!

We had bookmarked Fukurou from reviews and bloggers that we had seen and decided to celebrate our…read morefriend's birthday with this omakase dinner. Some reviewers said the restaurant is tucked away down a hallway in the rooftop restaurant, Buho, on the fifth floor of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza building. The evening before, we decided to check out the location and found the restaurant. A Buho server asked if we were looking for Fukurou and told us that for tomorrow, we check in with the Buho hostess. The next day, we checked in for our 5:30 seating and waited in the Buho bar area. When another couple arrived, the six of us were walked to the restaurant. It was quaint room with eight seat bar. Expecting Chef Miki, our chef was Chef Young and assistant, Brendan. Chef Young was engaging and personable. We asked about the meaning of Fukurou and he said Fukurou and Buho meant owl in Japanese and Spanish. Both restaurants are related. Hence, Fukurou's omakase is a Japanese kaiseiki with a subtle Mexican flair on each course. Our omakase menu consisted of 12 courses: Firefly Squid Sushi Rice wrapped with Bluefin Tuna topped with a quail egg. Their specialty course. Spanish Mackerel Madi Red Sea Bream with cilantro oil Hokkaido Scallop with finger lime Uni Toast with wasabi guacamole Chawanmushi with short-neck clam topped with Mexican corn Otoro A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Taco with crispy nori chips Wild King Salmon topped with garlic chips Blue Fin Toro hand roll Local Abe's Hawaiian ice cream, purple sweet potato bean paste and churro with brown sugar. Each course was meticulously prepared. They were all delicious, but my favorites were the firefly squid, bluefin tuna topped with the quail egg, Hokkaido scallop, and the uni toast. Our friend got a special scoop of ice cream where he rolled in a try of matcha powder that had Happy Birthday inscribed on it. We thoroughly enjoyed our omakase experience and the courses with a slight Mexican flair. $100 for this 12-course omakase was very reasonable. Hope to be back on our next visit to Hawaii.

One of our favorite dinners in Waikiki. The quality of the meat was incredible, and I honestly…read moredon't think you could go wrong with any of the cuts. Definitely order the garlic rice and avocado kimchi too. Both were amazing and paired so well with the meat. Our server Chayce was also incredibly friendly and made the whole experience even better. Amazing quality, great service, and such a fun dinner. I would absolutely recommend making a reservation here.

First of all, my reservations were apparently for a different location but they were able to…read moreaccommodate us, practically on a walk-in basis. Basis. We really really appreciate that. Service was true. Very quick. We both chose the variety combo. This is more than enough for two people. Oddly enough, one of the most favorite parts of our meal was at the end when they served us corn tea. Now my husband and I have never had corn tea and had no idea what to expect. This was the perfect end to a meal. Truly tasted like corn. Weird...but really good. We declined dessert as we had no room left in our bellies. Literally a 4 min walk from the Aqua Aloha Waikiki. Kudo's to the hubby for a great find!

Doraku has one of my favorite happy hours from 4-6pm everyday. I recently came by with some friends…read moreto catch up and talk story, and Doraku is the perfect spot for that. I love their small shared plates (especially during happy hour)! Craft cocktails are $4 off and my favorite is their lychee martini or the smoky negroni. On the happy hour for food, my favorites are the salmon carpaccio, spicy salmon handroll, agedashi tofu, shishito peppers, and the chicken karaage. Other must-haves are the hamachi garlic roll and misoyaki butterfish. I love the ambiance here and the service is always great too.

Oh man... I'm sorry to say I was not impressed. While we were seated right away service was slow…read moreand though the food was beautiful and fresh it wasn't delicious (we would have rather had delicious sushi at a $ or $$ place instead of mediocre fancy looking sushi at this $$$ place). I also don't understand how Yelp lists this place as a "good for kids". It's not. There wasn't a kids' menu and the dishes were not kid-palate friendly (other than maybe the basic California style hand roll). For example, the fried tofu had shredded ginger on top that permeated the dish and the karaage had a very mild (but present!) note of spice that reminded me a bit of buffalo sauce. Our waiter didn't even give us a heads up or point us in the direction of any dishes to consider for the kids (surely we must not be the only family who has brought kids to this restaurant). Lastly, I understand that the tempura brownie is popular but after tasting the "tempura" on the tofu I'm sure the brownie is just the star that shines through. The "tempura" on the tofu was gummy and not the authentic Japanese tempura we are used to (my husband, who is part Japanese, said to me "What is this?! Cornstarch?"). This is probably a great restaurant for drinks and hanging out with some adult friends but the rolls and appetizers were just not to our tastes. We were also sat outside when the restaurant was near empty inside and out (we went around 4PM) and it was a hot day (though the AC wasn't particularly cool enough for my preference inside either).

Absolutely positively my favorite, Sushi Restaurant not Justin Waikiki, but anywhere! Quality of…read moretheir seafood spot on, and their artistic presentation is a delight to the eyes. The owners and Chef are warm and welcoming, and you will soon feel like you're a part of the family rather than just another customer. My favorites are anything with tuna, the Sunset roll is perfect and my absolute favorite is scallop Nigiri. Enjoy and tell everyone that Peter and Jamie sent you!

This is truly a hidden gem. Limited seating and intimate space, but builds on the charm and…read morequaintness of restaurant. My boyfriend and I stumbled on this place one night and was the best find for sushi in Waikiki. The fish is fresh and delicious, and the omakase set is well priced. The service is great and the owners are so sweet. It was so good, we went twice in our week stay.

TUCKED AWAY GEM! 5.0…read more What a hidden gem! After doing a little research, we discovered this wonderful traditional Japanese restaurant tucked away along a street we visit often. From our stay at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, it's an easy walk across Kalākaua Avenue and down Beach Walk toward the ocean. We know this area well, as another of our favorite restaurants, Ginza Bairin, is located just across the street. Wasabi Bistro is nestled behind The Breakers Hotel. Enter through the front entrance to the hotel, past the pool toward the back of the property and you'll find this casual, unassuming restaurant. The décor is simple, creating a peaceful setting that feels pleasantly removed from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. No Japanese meal is complete without sake, so we started with a carafe to accompany our dinner. It's always the perfect pairing. For dinner, we ordered: * Gyoza * Sashimi Deluxe (eight varieties of fish, two pieces each) ~ exceptionally fresh, generously portioned, and colorfully presented. * Black Cod ~ One of my all-time favorites, and this version was perfectly cooked with excellent seasoning. * Papaya Seafood Motoyaki ~ A baked papaya filled with shrimp, scallops, vegetables, and their savory miso motoyaki sauce. It's one of the restaurant's signature dishes, and for good reason. It was absolutely delicious. * Assorted Mochi Ice Cream ~ The perfect sweet ending to a wonderful meal. Every dish was nicely prepared and well seasoned, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. The service was warm and efficiently paced without ever feeling rushed. With so many dining options in Waikiki, Wasabi Bistro easily stands out as a restaurant we'll happily return to on future visits. If you're looking for authentic Japanese cuisine in a relaxed, tucked-away setting, this is a place well worth seeking out.

I was craving fresh/high quality sashimi and sushi in Waikiki and found this semi hidden spot…read more Despite being slightly hidden they had a good amount of people. We were seated fairly quickly and we got to ordering, we got: - Otoro Nirigi (fatty tuna): 10/10. This was good. Exactly what I was craving/ felt like I needed. I WOULD say not if you're like not a sushi/sashimi snob but is js craving the fatty sashimi flavor, salmon would typically sufficient, or even Hamachi, - Rainbow Roll: 9.3/10 this roll definitely hit. The crab in the (California) roll itself is made of real crab which completely changes the flavor profile in a positive way. - Chicken Karaage: 7/10. The karaage was good, nothing mind blowing but I always say that the sauce makes the chicken and they did not give us any sauces. I ended up requesting for siracha and mayo which I then mixed together but even then. - Vegetable Tempura: 9/10 I really enjoy vegetable tempura in general and this was no exception. The assorted vegetables had various textures and flavors which made it very enjoyable to eat. - Washugyu Ribeye Steak: 6/10. I don't recommend ordering this. It wasn't bad per se but for $58, I expected more. There were a couple of completely inedible pure fat pieces. Overall, I don't know if I would go out of my way to come back here again (especially with it being located within Waikiki). The service was really good, the waitress was extremely attentive. Besides that though, nothing stands out.

great!! food was delicious and the experience was the best I've seen so far. Great for a small…read moredate !!!

If I could give 100000 stars, I would! This is one of the best tonkatsu place I have ever been to…read more Some local Hawaiian natives also recommended this spot to us. Luckily, I had made reservations right when they opened online (a month in advance). They go by QUICK! Inside was decorated so clean and definitely highlights the Japanese culture. Our reservation was at 5 PM so we were seated super quickly when they opened for dinner service. We got our menus and then some side Japanese side dishes. The burdock roots were really good and they provided free plums (Ume) to have with rice. We ordered the pork loin katsu, pork tenderloin katsu, and a side order of oyster katsu. Each order of katsu came with choice of rice and miso soup. I saw the workers fry the katsu, so everything was fresh! While we were waiting for the food, they gave us the sesame seeds to grind for our Katsu sauce. All Katsu tasted sooooo good! I enjoyed the pork loin katsu sooooo much! Still thinking about it till this day haha. The tenderloin was the most tender I have ever had. It was my first time trying oyster katsu and it was both crispy from the Katsu but juicy from the oyster. Service was great as well. Staff were walking around asking if we wanted more salad or side dishes. After we finished our meal, they gave us some hot tea which is good for digestion. Overall, this is a MUST when visiting Oahu! It deserves all the hype.