Blue Wave in Līhuʻe offers fresh, well-prepared sushi with an impressive dry-aging setup for their fish, definitely a standout feature you don't see often. The hand rolls were solid, tightly wrapped, and full of flavor. The karaage was also tasty, but under-spiced and cut into very large chunks. Smaller, crispier pieces would've made it much more enjoyable. The iced green tea was unfortunately watered down and lacked flavor. One major downside: we asked about aburi and were told it was an extra $1 per piece. After visiting hundreds of sushi spots, I've never been charged extra for a simple torch, it felt unnecessary and honestly a bit insane. Service was okay, not bad, not amazing. Overall, Blue Wave has some great things going for it, especially the quality of the fish, but a few odd decisions keep it firmly at 3 stars (maybe 3 and a half max) read more

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Domoishi!!!! Amazing sushi place on the island of Kauai! The nigiri tastes so good and Melyssa our server was excellent at recommending good things to have. Recommended the matcha banana cream for dessert, but we had packed away too much sushi . It's a small place so plan accordingly and sitting at the bar is fun (it's not omakase). Highly recommend! read more

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Teddy and his team do a phenomenal job showcasing the art of sushi! Everything we had was oishiii :) def get the ora salmon sashimi, that truffle sauce paired so well. The Lemon bliss roll was sooo good! And don't even get me started on the nigiri: soo fresh. Each piece is seasoned! Which really elevates the presentation and taste. Pro top: Do a little happy dance with your eyes closed to fully enjoy it ;) I can't wait for their omakase experience coming soon. Going to be game changing! Thank you for the amazing service PJ and Melissa :) highly recommend! I will definitely be back again soon read more

TL;DR: This is the One Congratulations, your search is over. If you've stumbled across this review, you have just discovered the sushi restaurant of your dreams. As a tourist, I cannot claim this establishment has the best sushi on the Island because I didn't go anywhere else. I can tell you that, being from Southern California, I've been to really good sushi places and this one stands head and shoulders above them all. Even the Wasabi was kind of a revelation. For some perspective, I'm not a sushi snob, but I love fresh fish. Everything here tasted extremely fresh. I tried the Toro, Uni, Aburi Hamachi, Sake with truffle, Unagi, and several special rolls. Everything was wonderful but my absolute favorites were the fresh salmon and Aburi Hamachi (seared yellowtail), which had a slightly smoky flavor and was to die for. And I'm not kidding about the wasabi. It was slightly coarser than I am used to with a depth of flavor (almost sweet) I didn't know existed. When I asked the staff, they informed me it was freshly grated. Speaking of which, the staff were incredibly friendly and kind, making for a wonderful experience from start to finish. I admit, I ended up spending more money than I had planned, which should tell you how dang good the food was. It was worth every penny. I only wish I lived here so I could come back. Highly, highly recommended! read more

This is our 1st time here!!.So finally we had the chance to go!.So excited!!.I heard so much good things about this place. We came on a Friday night and of course it was very BZ.We were lucky to find a good parking spot.We checked in and the wait to be seated was about a good 45 to an hour?.We expected that.When we were finally seated I was amazed of the interior of the restaurant!.It was very nice and not too overly decorated.It has a romantic feel to it.Also the refrigerator with the salmon in it!..Also it was nice and cool I loved it!.So we had a group of 5 so we ordered quite a lot of dishes.There was so much I could not recall the names of them.To start off I remember ordering the Chicken Karage that was good!.Then my n girl friend ordered the blue wave roll,the surf n turf roll n the soft shell crab.Oh my god!!!.Wow!!.So fresh,so original,tasty,Nothing like I had before!!.Amazing!!.Our friends also had the same experience!.We all were very happy to me it was worth the price!..The service was also top notch!.Very friendly,attentive and always smiling..We are already talking about when we will return!.I can't wait!..Also I just want to say thank to the staff that saw us outside n took our picture in front of the restaurant..Right on!!. read more

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The service and food were impeccable. We sat at the sushi bar so that was an experience getting to watch the sushi chefs meticulously make each dish. The sushi was the best we've ever eaten. read more

Visited Kauai and saw good reviews on this place. This sushi spot is fairly new, and it shows in the best way. The restaurant was clean, nicely set up, and had a calm, aesthetic vibe, not too busy or overwhelming. The food was fresh and tasty, and the service was attentive and quick. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and a place worth coming back to. read more

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My friend has been raving about this place since it opened and I finally got to try it, and let me tell you... BEST SUSHI EVER! Everything about the service, food, and vibes of the restaurant hit just right, and I'm definitely coming back. The quality of the food is so worth the price, and as someone who lives on the westside, it's worth the drive!! Plus, the owner, Teddy got to chat with my friends and I and he's super nice. Side note: YOU NEED TO ORDER THE MATCHA BANANA PUDDING! read more

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Great service! Not your average sushi place. Unique sushi with a twist on the flavors and sauces. I like that they provide wasabi and shoyu and pickled ginger if you prefer that normal flavor. We got the surf and turf and I think it was the blue wave crunch for our rolls. We got the pork bao buns. We also got the otoro. Everything was delicious. We'll definitely be back. Their hot tea also stayed hot! read more

This place was such a delight while visiting Kauai. We were craving some good sushi and wanted more of an omakase style and this place did not disappoint. The fish tasted fresh, fast service, cute little place, no reservation available so first come first serve. 10 out of 10 recommend! read more

The service was great! Our waiter was super friendly, gave great recommendations and was fast! Our food was amazing! Super fresh and delicious! Loved the atmosphere and vibe. Small but quaint. Will definitely be back! read more

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Delicious! Fresh! I got the yellowtail and blue crab roll. Enjoyed it very much, wait wasn't too long.

Amazing day fresh seafood and prepared by professionals. Had the Toro and A5 Wagyu sushi!!!! Day fresh Mahi Mahi and the scallops were to be remembered. This place is an experience you will not forget. Enjoy the Aloha put into the food. read more

Sushi Blue Wave - Scallop Aji Amarillo by Racyn - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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My family knows how much I love sushi so when I arrived in Lihue to join the rest of my family for our Christmas vacation, they had sushi from Blue Wave waiting for me. At first glance, the to-go containers looked sus but boy can looks be deceiving. THE SUSHI WAS KILLER. I have no idea what rolls they ordered for me but every roll was amazing. I especially enjoyed the roll with the smokey flavor. I'll def go back when we come back to visit family again within the next year or 2. read more

If you like sushi, this is the place to go!!! Do not go anywhere else, although it might still be good, this place will blow it out of the water. PJ was our waiter and he recommended multiple things and EVERYTHING was amazing. The price, atmosphere, and service were wonderful. The quality and presentation of the food was outstanding. If you need a nice sushi spot to go and want it to be affordable and great sized sushi. This is the place to be. Thank you PJ and the chefs of Blue Wave Sushi. read more

What a tremendous experience dining at Blue Wave while on vacation in Kauai. Recommended by a local tour operator, we would have grabbed a few meals on other nights if they were open-it was that good. You gotta love that they list the locale they source their different fish. They have great pride in quality ingredients and it shows. Everything and I mean everything was amazing. This was my first time eating aged (wet and dry) fish and I'm a fan. For example, the dry aged kanpachi crudo was denser and more rich from the aging process. It was sublime. As one would expect , the rolls were perfectly constructed and sushi rice perfectly cooked. For the quality, prices were reasonable. For beef eaters, the seared A5 wagyu was a decadent morsel. There are seats at the sushi bar and some tables filled out the smallish space. But trust me, any wait is worth it. Our server was super helpful when we needed direction. A great addition to Lihue. Visit and visit often. read more

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I asked one of the locals here what was his go to sushi spot and he said hands down Sushi Blue Wave. So me and the family stopped by to check this place out. I have to admit he was spot on. This place is amazing. The sushi was outstanding. The waiter recommended a few rolls for us to try and they were great. If you want great sushi this is it. read more

So delicious!!! Very fresh sushi and excellent service. Salmon sashimi & lemon bliss roll was my favorite.

Date night for sure. Solid sushi done right. Dim lighting, cozy energy, and easy to settle in, easy to linger. Food was way better than expected.....pause-mid-bite better. The fish tasted extra fresh, almost buttery, and had that clean, melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes you wonder if it's getting some kind of special, spa-level treatment before hitting the plate. Everything felt lush and thoughtfully prepared. Cute spot, great fish, good vibes. I'd happily go back. read more

This is quite possibly the best sushi restaurant I've ever experienced. Every single piece of nigiri was phenomenal. I've never had fish this fresh or this delicious. The owner greets everyone at the door and makes sure the dining experience is exceptional. I cannot wait to go back! My husband and I had dinner last week and we are taking our whole family for lunch tomorrow. There is no better sushi place on Kauai, or in all of Hawaii, for that matter. read more

Sushi Blue Wave - Amazing nigiri! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Amazing restaurant in Lihue. Beat sushi that we have had in Hawaii. The restaurant does not have a reservation system or online waitlist, so you have to show up and sign on to a paper waitlist. I'm normally not the type that would wait over an hour in front of a restaurant to eat, but this one was worth it. Prices are not inexpensive, but we were looking for good food and this place delivered. It's a better value than going to an omakase or a Michelin star sushi restaurant with the same level of food quality and taste. We sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed watching the chefs working. Definitely try the Toro, Uni and caviar combo and/or A-5 Wagyu, uni and caviar combo, especially if you are sitting at the sushi bar. I also recommend ordering the dry aged sashimi that they have available. Their sashimi pieces are very generous in size and they tasted amazingly fresh. We would make it a point to return every time we are in Kaua'i. read more

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Fantastic taste and service! Fish are fresh and dessert is tasty! They take pride in making sushi very artsy! Definitely will be back again! Aburi hamachi was my favorite soo good! read more

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Superb experience! We've heard great things but was also told to be there right at 5pm, so I was a bit worried that it would be a long wait around 6pm. We drove by crossing our fingers and found that there were only two couples waiting. Score! The wait was not long at all whether it was for a table or food. We had Taya as our server and she is FANTASTIC! She's very efficient and when you ask her for her recommendations, you can tell how much she loves the food. All her favorites were on point and just Wow! We ordered the chefs choice, aged salmon sashimi, kanpachi sashimi and bsc roll. Every bite was amazing and unique in its own way. Loved it! The sweet yuzu sake was also delicious. We can't wait to try out other dishes next time. read more

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The place is absolutely amazing. PJ is knowledgeable and attentive. As a self proclaimed sushi snob, this is one of the best sushi experiences I have ever had. All of the fish was better than I had imagined. Tastefully decorated on the inside as well. If I lived here I was be in once a week for sure. Can't wait to come back. read more

Service was amazing, friendly and food was out standing. Also had many other food but was so good didn't take anymore pictures. Sitting at the bar I recommend if it's just 2 people. Interesting and entertaining watching them prep all the different plates. read more

Sushi Blue Wave - Toro, uni and caviar - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

The planned sushi place was closed so we went here instead and we are glad we did!! Amazing sushi and staff!! The owner visited us at our table and was super nice!!! The ambience was great as well. read more

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I just ate one of the best sushi in Kauai from this restaurant. I ordered two rolls (BSC and Hot n Spicy) and 10 pieces of nigiri (ora king salmon and onaga). My meal was for takeout and it was the best sushi I've had in years. I even tried to call the restaurant to give my compliments to the owner and the chef. I would most definitely come back again. read more

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Last night we stopped in at Sushi Blue Wave by chance and are so glad we did! Great ambience that ramped up with friendly, attentive service and excellent sushi. Wonderful flavors and fresh seafood! Our must tries: truffle edamame, crispy jumbo soft shell crab bun, northern lights roll, baked crab roll, salmon avocado roll, blue crab + yellow tail roll. We topped off our meal with their matcha banana pudding, light and delicious. We highly recommend Sushi Blue Wave! read more

You have to try the blue wave crunch roll. So delicious. We heard about this place from a local. Highly recommend. read more

Sushi Blue Wave - We heard about this new sushi place through a local. It was some of the most delicious sushi. I really enjoyed the blue wave crunch roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

AMAZING food, great presentations, good vibes and good music played fitting for a sushi restaurant, amazing service also, the waiter verified orders and everything came at a timely manner, read more

I love sushi, but I'm a little bit of a traditional list. This place successfully stretched my boundaries and thrilled me with a selection of fish. I have never tried before. A lot of it comes from Japan, the owner and staff are Japanese. They explained everything perfectly made great recommendations and I enjoyed every bite. Try Agebt sushi? I have never even heard of it! I also ate my first Uni and that was a melt in your mouth pleasure. PJ was my God and mentor. What a great waiter and consultant! You do not want to miss this. Even though it's in Lihue, which is not my favorite place worth going for. read more

Excellent sushi, attentive waitstaff, decent prices for the amazing food! the lemon bliss roll was such fusion of flavors, it seemed to explode on the tongue. We had an excellent lunch date and good conversation with the sushi chefs. The island isn't know for excellent food, but this could change the dynamic. read more

Came to Kauai from California to visit a friend and she suggested trying this sushi place since I'm a big sushi lover. It ended up being such a memorable experience. We sat at the sushi bar, which I highly recommend over a regular table. The sushi chef was so sweet and knowledgeable. He guided me through different types of fish as I ordered whatever looked new or interesting to me. I'm used to all you can eat sushi, which can sometimes be lower quality, so this place was honestly eye opening. You can tell they take their time and put real care into everything they make. Watching the chef work felt like watching art come to life. We ordered a few hand rolls, a signature roll, and several pieces of nigiri. I also tried their plum wine, which was amazing. I just wish the pour was a little heavier because it was that good lol. We also had the Bluefin Toro with sea urchin and caviar, which was absolutely delicious. It was my first time trying caviar and it made the whole experience even more special. The space is small and intimate, so I recommend coming as soon as they open. Which was what we did, and so could have plenty of time to enjoy. Price seemed a little scary but was well worth the experience. I'll definitely will be coming back when I come back to visit. read more

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Sushi was fantastic! The toro just melted in our mouths. Service was great. An excellent choice for a sushi dinner when visiting the island. Prices were reasonable as well. Great value. read more

Looking for a sushi spot for dinner that is not a food truck, we stumbled here. Let's get to the point, this place has. decent fish--fresh enough, but nothing mind-blowing. Sadly it looked like it should have been good. They even have dry aging refrigerator. We had Oh Toro (was quite good), salmon, Kampachi, a whole bunch of other nigiri - was all ok, although would have expected some twist of either yuzu, soy sauce or some sort of garnish to enhance the flavor in some of the milder fish. The service is where it kind of falls short. It felt rushed, like they just wanted to serve the food and get you out. Hot tea came with no refills, not that we asked but a good server would check on the customer, and the overall vibe was more about turnover than hospitality. It's been a while since I have seen sushi chefs who look at you like a burden versus a customer and I go to many, many sushi restaurants all over the world. Overall, not a bad spot but not somewhere I'd go out of my way to return to. ‍ read more

Best sushi I've ever had! Fresh fish, beautiful presentation, and such unique flavors that will have you begging for more!

Kauai sushi lovers! I am a bit reluctant to tell you this, as this hot new find is small and already very busy...but my desire to share the good seems to be surpassessing my selfishness. We have a new sushi restaurant using dry aged fish ( and clearly the best sushi on kauai) called Blue Wave Sushi that recently opened where Kauai Pasta used to be in lihue. Nigiri sold by the piece not the pair. Unlike the usual, the sushi chefs at Blue Wave work slowly and meticulously. So expect a little wait. A wait that is well worth it. The unagi is hand torched rather than put in a toaster oven. The Wagyu beef is minutely scored and slightly torched. The crab is real. The hamachi is perfection. The menu is fairly extensive. With some tasty and creative versions of bao buns and other treats. The servers are great. The owner, Teddy, has outdone himself and is there to greet you and make sure you have what you need. They will also be opening for lunch and adding alcolhol in mid April. Lucky us!!! ( dry-aging fish removes the moisture, including residual blood and slime, that creates a fishy odor. Dry-aged fish is a cleaner fish. It is more tender but still moist to taste and has a bit more umami flavor. ) read more

I'm so happy a place like this finally exists on Kaua'i! It's taken over the old Kauai Pasta Lihue location and is the real deal--an authentic Japanese restaurant that truly stands out. I especially enjoyed the nigiri and sashimi, which were prepared with the same level of care and quality I've experienced at top spots in Japan and Hong Kong. The sushi bar was spotless, and both chefs were wearing sushi chef hats, which I really appreciated. The service was prompt and friendly, and it was a nice touch to see the owner personally welcoming guests at the entrance. I've already been recommending this gem to friends and clients, and I'll definitely be back soon. Mahalo nui loa! read more

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Excellent experience! Amazing food, attentive service and cool ambiance. Blue wave was recommended by our tubing guide and it didn't disappoint! If you're in Kauai and desire fresh, quality sushi, look no further! read more

horrible guest service. waiter was extremely rude. we feel like wasted our time just by the waiter keep talking nonsense and non stop. also we expect restaurant manager reach us but nothing happens... no apologies no reach out, just ignore us... read more