Food: We got the premium AYCE option and it was great. I really liked the garlic fried chicken and arabiki taro dogs. The meat options are also good and I like how thin they cut the meat. My favorites were the pork belly and short rib. They have a variety of broth and I tried the sukiyaki and tonkotsu. The sukiyaki went well with the meat. They also give you either a sorbet or ice cream at the end for dessert. Service: the servers were very attentive and brought out the meat quickly. Ambiance: the feel of the place is pretty homey and simple. Price: the price has gone up over the years, but I still think its worth it for the variety of options and quality of meat. read more

Time for an update... ROKARU STILL TAKES THE WIN!! We've been to several other hot pot spots around the island over the past years, and we can confidently say Rokaru is still our favorite. The broths (Rokaru broth in particular) are the most flavorful, the protein selection is the best, and the service is consistently outstanding. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and quick to refill or help with anything you need, which really makes the whole experience enjoyable. The self-serve veggie bar is our fave too since they've added fresh enoki mushrooms. For me, I load up on equal parts veggies & meats, so I don't feel too bad going hard on the AYCE haha! It feels like there's something for everyone on the Premium AYCE. Seafood, veggies, appetizers, meats, starches, then the best part is ending with Dave's Ice Cream dessert! Yummy :) We also recently learned they offer a 5% military discount, which is another thoughtful bonus. After trying other places, Rokaru continues to stand out for us with its combination of flavor, freshness, variety, service, and overall value. It's still the hot pot place we recommend first to anyone looking for a solid dinner option. It's become one of those places we keep coming back to because every visit is consistently great. Highly recommend if you're craving hot pot! read more

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This place is a true hole in the wall shabu spot, but don't let that fool you. The meat quality here is actually top tier. I went with the premium AYCE menu and both the ribeye and short rib were beautifully marbled, super tender, and sliced at the perfect thickness for shabu. Honestly, way better than the meat I've had at Shabuya. The portion sizes per serving were also just right, so nothing felt wasteful or skimpy. They offer a solid variety of broth options and the spicy garlic miso was hands down my favorite. The vegetable bar is on the smaller side, but it had enoki and pumpkin which are my personal must haves, so no complaints there. For sides, the garlic miso clams were a standout and definitely worth ordering. I do wish they had a sauce bar since the sauce options were pretty limited, but the quality of the meat and the friendly service more than made up for it. Overall, a low key spot with surprisingly great shabu and solid value. Definitely coming back. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - ribeye, local beef, beef belly - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Five stars. Great food for a Shabu Shabu hotpot restaurant. Choices of meats and veggies, as well as appetizers. Service was great. The staff was very attentive and efficient. Bravo! Ambiance was cool & comfortable. Indoor AC cooled down the hot boiling pots steam. Good stuff! read more

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We were greeted by a friendly staff as soon as we walked in, and our table was ready right away. The restaurant has a simple setup with a single gas stove at each table for hot pot. Ordering is easy -- you just scan the QR code and access the menu on your phone. The prices are reasonable, and there's a good selection of proteins and side dishes, although I do wish there were more vegetable options. We chose the Goma broth, which had great flavor. We ordered one shabu shabu set for two people with one refill of protein and broth, and it was just the right amount for both of us. You also get one trip to the vegetable bar, so make sure to fill your bowl. Overall, this is a solid choice if you're looking for a simple, satisfying hot pot dinner. What really made it a 4-star experience for me was the excellent service. Even in a modest restaurant, great service truly elevates the experience and makes you want to come back. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Veggies - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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My sister took me to Rokaru on Sunday for my birthday. It was our first time at Rokaru. The food was 5 stars and the service was good. However the music that was being played was inappropriate for a restaurant setting. It was full of profanity and sexualy explicit. Even though the food is 5 stars I would not go back to Rokaru until the staff learns to play appropriate restaurant music. read more

The food was just so so. The presentation of the meats was horrible. It was all stuck together. Still a little frozen. Part of it was sliced and the other half was just piled there. Shrimp was frozen. The only thing good was the clams. read more

AYCE standard comes with a good amount of appetizer selections, fries are good also comes with unlimited soft drinks. I asked for my drink to be changed twice bc I didn't taste the carbonation in the soda, still no improvement by the 3rd cup so I just drank water. Sukiyaki soup base was great tasting, not too sweet like other places. Veggies could have been washed and cleaned better. There were some dirt still on the baby bok choy so I decided not to get more of that. Service was okay, not as attentive but friendly staff. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Self serve veggies, brisket, aribiki sausage, tongue, pork belly - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

Ok for about $40, we got the all you can eat with premium meats. The veggies are salad bar style, they bring your soups, meats and pupus. In the meantime you go get your veggies. Cones with a. Matcha Green tea ice cream or strawberry sherbet. We went about 3:30 in the afternoon and no crowd so we were out by 4:30. It was great and everyone was friendly. read more

We did takeout. It was fair but not much food for the money. I had a combo 5 garlic shrimp and chicken. But the chicken was a very small portion that probably amounted to a little over a drumsticks worth. Cut into small sliced up pieces and the same was for the pork on my wife's combo with fried ramen. As far as service, they charged 2% additional funds for the cook. There was no ambiance to speak of we were just doing take out. We will not be in a rush to do take out again but we hear the shabu shabu is pretty good. Not the best portion for the price. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Garlic Chicken and Miso Garlic Shrimp Combo Plate... - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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We had sooooo many points from eating in, used it for take out tonight! Quick and easy phone order. It was delicious! Doesn't that look amazing!? Smells as great as it tastes! read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Garlic Chicken and Miso Garlic Shrimp Combo Plate... - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

After a short wait our party of 6 was seated. We ordered several broths and meats. All you can eat. It was so fun trying all the different meats and mixing with different broths and veggies. Makes for great conversations at dinner. The restaurant itself reminded me of a dinner and not as intimate as other hot pot restaurants but still good. read more

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Rokaru has always been, and will always be, my favorite shabu shabu spot on the island. They offer way more broth options compared to other places, but my all-time favorite is the Rokaru broth. It's rich, creamy, buttery, and slightly sweet. I'll find myself specifically craving it because nowhere else comes close. Their meat is on the thinner side, which I actually love since it's tender, never chewy, and so much easier to enjoy. We usually stick with the standard set because it already comes with plenty, but for just $5 more, you can upgrade to the premium and get some incredible pupus. Every now and then, I'll splurge just for the arabiki corndog or the beef belly. Both are absolutely worth it. Service is consistently fast and friendly. The staff checks in often so you never run out of starch or meat, which makes the whole experience stress-free. Their new location is a big plus too. It's spacious, comfortable, and perfect for large groups. Rokaru, we love you!! See you again soon for our monthly shabu fix! read more

Small local businesses with friendly staff and an excellent selection of dining choices . Shabu shabu is hard to get on the mainland and this was perfect for us . read more

I have not tried their shabu shabu as of yet but I wanted to try their take out bentos first . I failed to take a picture of the bento because I just plainly forgot . It did look good at first until I took that first bite of the thin tonkatsu which did not even look like the picture . It was cardboard thin and very tough like cardboard and cold. It felt like it was pre-made earlier and therefore cold and very dry . I guess they don't eat and try their own food because it was terrible. Now the Teri beef had a good taste but all bits and pieces only and lots of it so it looked like a lot but not. Now the good part ... the fried chicken was the best part . It was still warm .. very moist and tender and very tasty ! Bento also included one Arabiki and one gyoza . You could also order white rice or multi grain rice at no extra cost . Well ...a bit disappointed but thank goodness the chicken was good . Next time I'll try their shabu shabu as I was seeing people enjoying it and it was a bit busy . Hopefully it'll be much better than the bentos . read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Sample of what the bento should look like - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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First off it's located in Waimalu Shopping Center, parking is ample. We had reservations but I could imagine this place gets pretty busy, plan ahead for sure. Good size place and they use the portable burners which in my mind is good, not everyone sitting around the one or two burners on the table. The server was very nice and explained the options very well. We all went with the premium all you can eat. For me the appetizers were very good and the portions were large, didn't have to reorder much and the quality of the meats were very good. I'm not a big shabu Shabu guy but I actually enjoyed it and would go back for sure. read more

Craving Shabu Shabu, we stumbled upon Rokaru in their new Waimalu Shopping Center location--and wow, what a find! Upon arriving for dinner, the restaurant wasn't overly busy, with several tables open and the relaxing sound of local music playing in the background. Their AYCE menu is a steal, with endless broths, pupus, proteins, seafoods, and a fresh salad bar. For just $5 more, the premium upgrade is absolutely worth it. I went with Tonkatsu broth, brisket, beef tongue, pork belly, soba, and zucchini ramen--every bite was flavorful and satisfying. Christina and the staff were friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Bonus: AYCE includes ice cream! Close to home, great value, and top-notch service--10/10, a new regular spot! Mahalo to Christina and staff!! read more

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TLDR: 5/5 s! Great pricing, great staff, and great broth! ~ My first hot pot experience in Hawaii was Shabuya at Ala Moana, and that was awesome but I think I would definitely make Rokaru my go-to based on location/convenience! Rokaru is in the same plaza as the Safeway/Office Depot in Aiea, so it's super convenient if you live or work in the area! ~ I really love Rokaru because it's super great pricing and there's no time limit/crunch to your dining; additionally, the staff is so friendly and it is. very homey vibe inside the restaurant! My boyfriend and I went after a shopping day and were super hungry; when we showed up there was a big party dining in, but they still seated us within 10 minutes which was awesome. ~ We got the Shabu Shabu Set for One to share and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH for is after adding one extra meat choice! We got the Chuck Roll & Beef Belly with the Spicy Tonkotsu Broth & Ramen, and it was a great combination! You could definitely feel the broth soak into the veggies & meat and I LOVED it. Additionally, when we ran out of/were running out of broth to cook up the rest of our food, the staff came by and topped off our pot to help us cook the rest, which was AMAZING! Granted, it was just regular Tonkotsu broth, but they offered to add spice for it if we wanted! If you're looking to try any of their appetizers, I would highly recommend the Garlic Chicken! the chicken fell apart so nicely and the seasoning wasn't extremely salty, which is what I'm used to for garlic chicken. For dessert, you get a complimentary ice cream, catered by Dave's--I also love this restaurant because they support local businesses, which is awesome to see! ~ Overall, we had SUCH a great experience at Rokaru, and we 100% are going to come back! Give them a shot; you won't be disappointed!! They give you a sizeable amount of meat (honestly we were so full off of just the first meat choice!) and even though they have a smaller veggie bar, the bowl they give you is big enough (we only got one trip since we did the Shabu Shabu Set). The only recommendation I would make is maybe one day expanding the veggie bar, but everything they had to offer was more than enough already! read more

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Havent been here for years. The food is still good. It feels like it has improved. Did they get a better meat slicer? The meat is thinner than years ago. In shabu shabu you want thin slices of meat otherwise it will be chewy. My husband and I agreed even though its been a while it felt like the food tasted better. We ordered the AYCE premium. I like that the portions are just the right size for starches. Before it used to be too much and as much as the business I also don't like food waste. Service was spot on. Someone always came to take used plates, napkins, trash away as soon as it was finished. Another server came to ask if we needed to order more or refilled drinks. We will definitely come again. read more

Tuesday April 22, 2025 we came here for dinner at 8:00pm and it was packed in there. A few tables left open. We were seated in 5 minutes. We ordered drinks, appetizers, ribeye, brisket, pork belly, chose our broth then headed to the vegetable bar to get our vegetables. Choose the Premium option for unlimited everything!! Ambiance is casual and comfortable. We had room for dessert. Lol. We will be back again. As I highly recommend this place!! read more

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I recently dined at Rokaru Shabu Shabu, and it turned out to be one of the more satisfying hot pot experiences I've had on Oahu. Located in the Pearl Kai Shopping Center area of Aiea, the restaurant has a modern and comfortable dining space that feels both lively and welcoming. The layout is well suited for group dining, which makes sense given the communal nature of shabu shabu. The moment we were seated, the staff were attentive and helpful in explaining the menu and how the ordering process works for guests who may be less familiar with the style of dining. What immediately stood out was the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Shabu shabu is a cuisine where ingredient integrity matters significantly because the cooking process is very simple. Rokaru clearly prioritizes fresh vegetables, well-prepared broths, and thinly sliced meats that cook quickly and evenly in the hot pot. The beef selections were particularly impressive, with slices that had excellent marbling and tenderness. Once briefly cooked in the broth, the meat developed a rich flavor while still maintaining a delicate texture. The broth options were another highlight of the meal. Each broth offered its own flavor profile, allowing diners to customize their experience depending on their preferences. The broths were flavorful without becoming overly salty or heavy, which allowed the natural taste of the meats and vegetables to come through. As ingredients were added throughout the meal, the broth continued to develop deeper flavor, which is one of the pleasures of well-executed shabu shabu. The sauce bar also added an enjoyable level of customization. Having the ability to mix dipping sauces allows each diner to tailor the flavor balance of each bite. Whether leaning toward something more savory, slightly spicy, or bright with citrus, the sauces complemented the cooked ingredients well without overwhelming them. Service throughout the meal remained attentive and efficient. Staff checked in regularly to ensure that broths were maintained, orders were correct, and diners had everything they needed. The pacing of the meal felt comfortable, allowing our group to take time enjoying each round of ingredients without feeling rushed. The overall atmosphere contributed positively to the experience. The dining room had an energetic but controlled environment that made it easy to enjoy conversation while cooking and sharing food together. Shabu shabu naturally encourages a social dining style, and Rokaru does a good job creating a space that supports that experience. Overall, Rokaru Shabu Shabu delivers a well-executed hot pot experience with fresh ingredients, flavorful broths, and attentive service. The restaurant demonstrates a clear understanding of what makes shabu shabu enjoyable: quality ingredients, balanced broths, and a welcoming environment where diners can take their time and enjoy the process of cooking their meal. read more

Perhaps they need more servers, but it is not really acceptable to call this All You Can Eat. They only came 4 times to take orders. My party was constantly waiting to order more meat. They were busy a bit after we came, but only 2 people were taking orders. The guys who cut meat are nice, but they need to find a way to have people get servers' attention. It was okay on the inside, but not as nice as the previous location. Maybe I'll try it one more time in a few months to decide if it is worth going back. The broths are still good though. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - From the outside - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Never been to hot pot before. Rokaru is located in the waimalu shopping center in the old Pho97 spot across the parking lot from safeway. The insides is clean with good air conditioning and solid tables and wooden chairs. The staff Shidell Tina and selena despite being very busy (private party full house) was very pleasant attentive efficient and cool. I was impressed how they all provided very good service and covered all the tables very efficiently. The steps in ordering would be to pick your broth (check menu) then your starch meat vegetables. I Preferred chuck roll and ramen but everybody has different tastes. Appetizers was also included which consisted of Arabiki sausage edame and shumais and that was also all you can eat. You can order anything but only in quantities of two. All in all a clean restaurant that was comfortable with staff that was dillgent and cool. Good food at affordable prices. A cool experience. read more

There is a lot of parking in the shopping center. They moved from Pearl Highlands to Waimalu Shopping Plaza. For pupu's we got fried chicken, fried shumai and gyoza. All were good the fried chicken was really tasty! For broths my husband got the tonkotsu and I got goma (pork and chicken broth). Mines was okay but my husband's was a lot better. They give you plates to grab veggies. They have a good amount of vegetables to choose from. They also give a sesame dressing and I think ponzu sauce. And they give free dessert too! Our choices were strawberry and mint, we got strawberry it was like guriguri. If we're ever in the area we will be back to try other broth's! read more

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Went here for lunch yesterday morning Tall asian lady was super nice and quick, definitely coming again, food was really good. The place was really nice. read more

Shoutout to the awesome crew at Rokaru that went above and beyond to accommodate my family after a miscommunication about our reservation. We have been coming to this restaurant for years and can always count on a good meal and good service but I was so impressed on how things were handled on our last visit. Big mahalo to the whole team. read more

Attentive service and that's really appreciated at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The AYCE menu has a great selection and variety of appetizers, meat, soups, veggies, rice and noodles and there's even a premium option that increases tour choices. It also comes with dessert. And if you're not looking for a buffet of choices, they have several different sets to choose from The quality of meat is stellar and I would pay them another visit in the future. The seating and tables have ample space and you won't feel cramped. Definitely make reservations as they can get busy, but we risked it and were seated right away. Plenty of parking out front in the Waimalu lot. read more

Drove all the way from town to try Rokaru and it was totally worth it. They have a decent variety of broths, meats, apps, veggies, and seafood to get! ***What we ordered ~ **Sukiyaki Broth (7.5/10) ~ This Sukiyaki broth was definitely different. I thought it would be a balance of sweet and savory, but it was definitely more on the sweet side. Honestly it's not bad, but I think I'm going to try a different broth next time. **Beef Tongue, Pork Belly, Chuck Roll, Pork Loin (10/10) ~ All the meats were really good and I thought the quality was spot on! Nothing was too fatty nor did they really skimp out on anything **Arabiki Sausage (deep fried) (10/10) ~ You can't go wrong with this and honestly it was really good with the broth. We kind of let it soaked in a little and it absorbs the flavor really well! **Vegetables (10/10) ~ The quality of the vegetables and the portion was great. I personally LOVED the kabocha, kamaboko, and Won Bok. If you have it soaking in your broth and then dip it into the house goma sauce, it's chef's kisses! Overall, I will definitely be coming back. It's worth the price, the food is great, and honestly the STAFF IS AMAZING. Everyone is super attentive and friendly. We loved it. Can't wait for round 2! read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Outside - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

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Tried to take advantage of the Valpak 10% online coupon code but website didn't acknowledge it so I ordered 2 bentos over the phone at $15.95 each. Order taker was very pleasant and thorough when taking my order. Upon picking up my order, i mentioned that the coupon code didn't work, hoping they'd apply the discount. No luck there. The bill also applied a $.64 kitchen fee that I didn't notice till I looked at my receipt at home. The food: The tonkatsu was very thin, like how meat Jun is. It was also a bit chewy. Tonkasu sauce packets are included. Gyoza: ok. Like any other Teri beef: good this tasty pieces Sausage: standard fare The menu also offers other plate lunch specials but not sure I'd try them given my so-so experience with the bentos. Final say: Value-wise=3 stars. might try their sit down shabu shabu one day. I ate at their former Pearl City location and was pleased with the food and service there. read more

Rokaru Shabu Shabu - Bento with tonkatsu. gyoza, teri beef, fried chicken, arabiki sausage - Japanese Near Me - Aiea, Hawaii

I came here for dinner with family on a Saturday night and it was busy. We had to wait about 20-25 minutes, but the hostess was so sweet and tried to keep us informed of how long more we would have to wait. Once seated, we ordered our first round of meat and veggie choices. I love the variety of vegetables and noodles. Since they were very busy we had to wait a while for our dishes to come out. Overall, we had a great meal and the service was good even with the wait. Happy eating! read more

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We chose Rokaru Shabu Shabu to celebrate Mother's Day, and it exceeded all our expectations! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly for our reservation, setting the tone for a fantastic dining experience. The highlight of our meal was, without a doubt, the Crispy Calamari Salad. The calamari was perfectly cooked, with a delightful crunch that complemented the fresh and vibrant greens. The flavors were well-balanced, with a tangy dressing that tied everything together beautifully. It was so delicious that we are still talking about it! The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring that our special occasion felt even more special. Rokaru Shabu Shabu made our Mother's Day celebration truly memorable with their outstanding food and exceptional service. We can't wait to return and try more of their delectable dishes! The restaurant is a little tight but we did fit comfortably. read more

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We ordered the premium AYCE. They start by taking your appetizer order, you can order 2 at a time. Highly recommend the arabiki sausage dogs! There's a large selection of broths and veggies to choose from. We ordered the spicy goma and Japanese curry. Both were delish but a bit salty (this might be something you like tho!) Overall, the food was delish. Reason I gave it a 4 was because service was a bit slow but the servers were apologetic and friendly. read more

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Friendly service, could accommodate our group of 11 easily, they worked with us to figure out each pair's order and also split the bill how we asked. For AYCE, you're given a vegetable plate and there's a vegetable bar you can load up on your veggies. Lots of broth options - the Rokaru option comes with a piece of butter. Located in the Waimalu plaza where Safeway is, so parking is plenty. read more

Great food and friendly service! Broths are tasty. We had shoyu and tonkatsu. Veggies and meat are quality and fresh. read more

I would give this place 3.5. I made reservations for 6 people for 5:30 pm. Because the party was for 5 and more they asked for my credit card number. We got there on time and got seated by the window. The window frames was full of dusk. The server was nice. She was able to serve us pretty quickly but at one time I had to find her to put in another order of meats. I could see that the veggie bar was consistently filled which is good. It did take awhile to get our meats but I understand because they were slicing in the back. I got the goma broth it was a bit salty which was fine but I did prefer my boyfriend's broth, Rokaru which was much lighter. The crowd was picking up around 630 pm so I would recommend putting reservations or coming early to eat. Overall the place was okay , I would come back to give it another try. I did like the selection for the pupus, broths, and meats and a drink and small free dessert was included. The only thing that really bothered me was the window stool/still was dirty and dusty especially since it's black you can see everything. I would've given it a 4 if it wasn't for that. read more

The food is amazing while the staff is very friendly and helpful. We left wishing we could enjoy more but knowing we could not fit anything else into our stomachs. Will definitely return soon. read more

This is my favorite hot pot place on the island. Not only is it affordable, the sheer amount of variety that you get with your meal is completely worth it. I always take new people to this restaurant so they can have good Shabu! read more

I always enjoy coming here! My experience is always wonderful. I took my family here and they're so impressed with their selection of food choices, which is way more than some other hot pot places. The ambiance is noisy but who cares everyone is enjoying themselves. I won't be complaining. I always will be coming back to eat here! read more

Great service and vibes. Get the PREMIUM AYCE it's pricey but well worth it. The broths are great too, spicy goma if you like some spice and creamy read more

Food was delicious Service was great! Thank you to the workers at closing last night (4-26) for your kindness and patience! For first timers we really enjoyed ourselves! Although it was busy, the wait wasn't too long and it wasn't as crowded inside as it looked from outside! Definitely worth going back again! read more