OH MY GOOSHHHH! This place has got to be the most underrated place on this island. Like why aren't more people talking about this hidden gem??? I know you guys drive by it and see it but have you dined in? If not, this is your sign. My friends and I walked in around 8pm and got seated right away. The place was packed (as it should be) but we were so lucky. The waiter took us to the back room where we sat on those "floor" tables... it was awesome! I felt like I was in Japan. Service was 10/10. Waiter gave us GREAT recommendations as it was our first time. Let's talk about the food. My top 3 dishes of the night -- 1) Uni charwanmushi - to DIE for. So much flavor, so much protein. 2) the beef skewers - incredibly tender. We ended up ordering another order bc it was so good. 3) sushi- Negitoro, torotaku, spider roll and spicy tuna... the rice and fish texture was just so perfect. The fish tasted fresh and the rice to fish ratio was a 10/10. Ambiance: chill, friendly, not too loud and everyone was so respectful. I'm craving it as I type this. So yeah, check it out. You won't regret it. read more

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An izakaya is a casual Japanese pub-style restaurant designed for socializing over drinks and shared small plates, acting as a staple of Japanese dining culture. Last meal on Oahu. An excellent offering suggested by my cycle buddy, Randy S. Randy had told us that they were the 2022 James Beard Best Restaurant semi-finalist is deserving recognition. I really can't tell you all we had because Randy took charge. Every bite worked well with the bottle of sake we had. I do know that one of the bites included firefly squid, those cute, small, bioluminescent cephalopods famous for their brilliant blue light. Regardless, it was a fun way to cap off the trip. Loved the food, love the company... what a great place! read more

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It was an amazing evening spent at this place. We return annually to the islands and make it a point to enjoy the cuisine at this comfy restaurant. The fish was fresh colorful and presentation didn't disappoint our evening. We were there when they opened adding a personal touch to our evening before the dinner crowd arrived. The sushi chef and his sous chefs worked together to get the food to their guests quickly. We were sitting at the sushi bar --- the dedication and smooth operation seemed fine to me. It was quiet loud when they welcomed guests which wasn't easy to handle but I understood why they were doing that. Loved the presentation of our choices which we took pics of. Thank you for a fun evening. We'll be back next year. read more

Delicious and great service. We had a semi private room for our group of five. We had appetizers, each a set of 7 types sushi, and shared a sashimi boat. Needed the meal by sharing desserts- mochi donut w ice cream and purple sweet potato cheesecake. read more

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Casual izakya eats. Came for a weekend dinner - was on a larger street and was easy to find. Had an RSVP and was sat immediately. Some of their dishes were not available that day, along with some of the sake we wanted to order - so a bit of a bummer there. So we went without drinks. We ordered a few various Izakaya dishes as well as some nigiri sushi. Most things were ok, not really outstanding. I'd say there's probably better places around town for the money, but perhaps with drinks flowing next time I'd have a better experience. read more

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Can't go wrong with anything I ordered in the picture. The quality of the food is top notch, however it is very pricy, for the same price, could have gone to omakase somewhere. Service is great, very friendly staff. Might need to call ahead because there's usually a long wait during rush hours read more

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This place is pretty nice. The parking was a bit of a struggle. Our server girl was very sassy. OtherJapanese restaurants have very courteous and polite staff, but this one seems to be over it. She didn't even introduce herself. Most of food was very tasty. However, the raw oysters were not checked thoroughly. Their shells still smell like the fish market, funky. Some were a bit smelly, so I didn't eat. read more

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - The funky raw oysters - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food is wonderfully authentic and the service is superb!! Bathroom is nice and clean. Parking in back or if lucky right in front of restaurant. read more

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - The sushi was sooo fresh! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Amazingly fresh and tasty sushi. Awesome service and quality. You can tell they care about their customers and what they put in front of you. read more

I had such a pleasant dining experience here! I haven't really had omakase before but the items I tried from Gaku's omakase such as the otoro was delicious. We also ordered the soft shell crab roll, unagi nigiri, chawanmushi and shrimp & vegetable tempura. Everything was such high quality and very filling! Although we ordered a lot of food I didn't want to stop eating even though I was full because of how good it was haha. The service was quick and efficient. I would definitely come here again to treat ourselves for a nice meal and great omakase! read more

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Spicy tuna roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is my first time at this restaurant and first time I had omakase! The ambience is quaint and service was very good. I drank the pineapple highball for starters which was very good but unable to make out any alcohol in it which potentially can be dangerous. They had an extensive sake list but I don't care for sake much. Other than that the drinks are limited. Mostly beer and the one choice of the homemade highball. I had 3 rounds of the plates of the omakase nigiri choices. The waiter explained to us what each nigiri was prior to consumption. The seafood was SOOO FRESH! It was silky, buttery and delicious. It melts in my mouth! I was so full after this but did share dessert and had the matcha ice cream and custard to try. The matcha with the mochi was the favorite. Overall it was an amazing experience.. a must try! read more

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There are so many good Japanese restaurants in Hawaii, but if you are looking for authentic Japanese cuisine that looks as beautiful as it tastes, then you must try Sushi Izakaya Gaku. A bit pricey, but worth it! The service was also top notch! read more

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Favorite sushi spot on the island. Fish is always fresh. Sushi chefs are all very nice. Favorite spot is the sushi bar where I can ask the chefs which fish is the freshest (flown in from Japan). Highly recommend read more

Great, friendly staff. Fresh sushi prepared exquisitely. Bonus: izakaya appetizers. (Parking in the rear) read more

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Excellent service and quality of food. Definitely call for reservations! We wouldn't have gotten in otherwise. They validate parking if you park in the building. I love uni and everything is so fresh! read more

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Every time we visit Honolulu, our best meal is always at Gaku. The sushi is simply perfect. Service is excellent. Ambiance takes me back to Japan. Food: Excellent dumplings, fantastic shishito peppers. Perfect sushi assortment. Perfect spider roll. For dessert we ordered oh toro, and it wasma perfect way to end our meal. We gorged on top quality sushi and really enjoyed our meal. Service: Great service Overall cleanliness: excellent Bathroom cleanliness: above average Value: The quality to price ratio yields an overall very good value Tip: Reservations required read more

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Ordered the Sushi Deluxe (8 pieces) and Sushi Special (12 pieces), both of which clearly included uni and salmon roe. However, we did not receive all the pieces as advertised -- we were initially only served one piece each of uni and salmon roe. Instead of completing the order properly, the chef/owner unexpectedly gave us two pieces of tamago to "finish" the set. When I asked about the missing uni, he explained that the price of uni varies, which is why he only served one piece. Only after I questioned this again did he reluctantly serve another piece. Overall, the sushi set was incomplete, inconsistently served, and did not match what was advertised. The order felt random and poorly executed. Very disappointing experience. read more

They did it again! I absolutely love this place and always enjoy coming back whenever I can. While the parking isn't great, street parking is usually not too difficult to find. The restaurant is small and easy to miss on the busy street, but they serve some of the most authentic Japanese food on the island. My absolute favorite is the Tuna Tartare--I had to order two of them just to satisfy my craving! We also enjoyed tempura, chawanmushi, some sashimi, beef tongue, and more. We were seated in the back of the restaurant, where it was more private, so we didn't notice the noise from outside. It did get a bit warm in our area, but that might have been because we had a larger group. Our waitress was fantastic--she was attentive all night, keeping our tea and water filled and offering helpful recommendations on what to order. It was a wonderful night, and I'll definitely be coming read more

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This place is amazing and it bever disappoints!!! The sushi is so delicious!! You will not be disappointed!!

We have come for the last four years, but something has changed about this place. We usually get the omakse for 2, and it's expensive but worth it. This time though, we waited 30 mins for the meal to start after being seated for our reservation. Then we waited 20-25 mins between pieces. Huge lulls, being given pickled vegetables to tide us over as we waited for one of the 2 chefs to feed us our next piece. No otoro, no unagi. Not even any tamago at the end. The chef offered his apology for our extreme wait between pieces, but there was no change to the bill. $550 before tip, and nothing to drink besides green tea. It may have been worth that price before. It sure isn't anymore. We felt like intruders, rather than guests. So disappointed. 私たちは過去4年間、毎年この店に来ていましたが、今回は何かが変わってしまいました。 いつもは2人でおまかせコースを注文していて、値段は高いもののそれだけの価値があると思っていました。しかし今回は、予約時間通りに席に着いた後、食事が始まるまで30分も待たされました。 さらに、一品ごとに20～25分も待たされました。料理が出てくるまでの間隔が非常に長く、次の料理が出てくるまでの間、2人のシェフのうちの1人が次の料理を用意してくれるのを待つ間、漬物が出されるだけでした。大トロや中トロ、うなぎもありませんでした。最後には玉子焼きさえ出てきませんでした。シェフは料理が出てくるまでの待ち時間が長かったことについて謝罪しましたが、料金は変わりませんでした。チップ抜きで550ドル、飲み物は緑茶だけです。以前ならこの値段に見合う価値があったかもしれませんが、今はもうありません。私たちは客というより、まるで招かれざる客のように感じました。本当にがっかりです。 read more

My SIL and nephew took me to one of their favorite restaurants, Sushi Izakaya Gaku on King Street. There are about eight parking stalls in the back, accessed by a narrow driveway through the building. We got there before 5pm (opening time) so we were able to pick our parking space. I left the ordering to my hosts but started with an Ohoro gin and soda. This gin comes from Hokkaido with sweet gale and mint as botanicals. It's strong for a gin at 47% alcohol but has a nice clean taste with a light aroma of citrus. My nephew went with Asahi draft. The first dish was Omatsuri Natto ... with natto as the base, pieces of salmon, ahi, squid, ikura, uni, yamaimo, chopped green onion and okra topped with a quail egg. It's mixed together and eaten on nori. I found it refreshing with the natto being very mild. Next was Uni and Oyster shooters, Seared Otoro with garlic sauce, Tako Basil, Gyutan (grilled beef tongue) Salad, and assorted nigiri. The uni and oyster shooters were excellent, as was the seared otoro. I thought that was the best dish of the evening. The beef tongue was tender and the salad dressing was great. I enjoyed the tako basil as well. I found the dishes to be very good ... My SIL thought some of the ingredients were of lesser quality than during her previous visits. She noted a change in staff though one of the "old timers" came by later in the evening to say hello. All in all, I enjoyed my dining experience. The place was filled with diners, so service was slow and inattentive at times. The kitchen put out dishes quickly despite the crowd. 4 stars for me. read more

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Went here to try the sushi/sashimi omakase for a late Mother's Day dinner. Upon entrance it felt like I was in Japan. In a bar. Felt kind of cramped in the front and then all of a sudden a huge rush of haole and Japanese people showed up. Very confused. I guess somehow the tourists show up here? Oh well. I think the first thing I want to say is that the sushi took a long time to come out. We sat at the table and I'm not sure why it took that long. Lots of people sat down after us and got their food and then the chef just forgot us I guess. That was a minus star. The fish itself was delicious, but I think you can get on par sushi grade quality to here at Kaiten Ginza Onodera. Also, omakase from my understanding is an art form supposedly.. I thought they would be serving the sushi one-by-one to allow us to taste the freshness of each fish but it was all served at the same time. The ikura also was spilled over a bit when served... At other omakases not a single egg falls over from the sushi - just a little thing to note. I mean I paid a hefty amount and I feel like I could spend that money elsewhere and get a better omakase experience. I think if you went as a single person at the counter you would probably enjoy yourself and get effed up with the alcohol and sushi but that would be for another time. read more

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Hmmmm.... This place, like pretty much all Sushi/Izakayas in Honolulu will cost you and arm, leg and kidney. Nothing spectacular really about this place but everything tasted fresh! It's a very tiny spot hidden across the abandoned HPD , next to One Kalakaua Senior living on Young street. If you blink you'll miss it. Also it good to mention that this place can get LOUD. Unfortunately we were dining the same time a huge group of loud obnoxious drunk people were and because this place was small and roof low that our ears almost burst from their screaming at each other. The service was also par for the course with super sweet "asian aunties" taking our order. The menu was not extensive but sometimes that's a good thing. Don't come here hungry on a budget. Will probably not be back. read more

I guess I have been missing out all these years bypassing Izakaya Gaku for some other place. Turns out the service and sushi chef's are wonderful. Most importantly, the food was great and I loved how everything was so fresh and tasted so good! The price point is a little steep but this intimate and small restaurant made me forget about the price as we just kept ordering and enjoying the food! read more

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No reservations so we had to briefly wait for a seat at the bar. Started of with sparkling water and green hot tea. Ordered the sashimi and sushi combo. Sashimi was really fresh with fresh real wasabi. Sushi was made freshly as we waited. Every piece was a delicacy finishing off with a small roll. Pricey but worth it. Service was adequate and the ambiance was very welcoming. Will be back! read more

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This sushi place are so aesthetic japanese. The price are a little pricey but its worth it. The chef are Japanese and they make our food 100% JP. This restaurant are 10/10. read more

Sushi Izakaya Gaku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Dear Restaurant and the Strict Owner, My family has been dining out more than eating at home for decades, and I rarely ever feel the need to write feedback like this. This is arguably one of the Japanese restaurants with the best food we've ever had -- far better than many places in Tokyo, Kyoto, or even other countries. The staff was cheerful and professional. But the strict owner with glasses was a different story. After paying, I thanked all the staff and turned to thank the owner. He only tilted his head down with a cold stare. I was surprised but still smiled and said "thank you" a second time -- and again, I received the same zombie-like glare. I simply smiled and left, as I always respect elders. But if it were someone else, they might have reacted differently to protect their feelings. I know some Japanese people may have negative views towards other Asians -- but as in every country, people are different. I was puzzled and only later found out the possible reason, something I truly didn't know. If I had known, I would have explained it to the restaurant. But at that point, it didn't matter -- because the way the owner treated a guest spoke louder than any reason. I can only hope that he's hard of hearing and didn't hear my "thank you" -- or that he simply didn't understand it from a Southeast Asian like me. 厳しい店主様とレストランの皆様へ 私の家族は何十年も外食の方が多く、こうしてフィードバックを書くことはめったにありません。 しかし、ここの料理はこれまでに味わった中でもトップクラスで、東京や京都、他国の多くの店よりもずっと美味しかったです。スタッフの皆さんも明るく、プロフェッショナルでした。 ただ、眼鏡をかけた厳しい店主だけは違いました。 会計後、私はスタッフの皆さんにお礼を言い、店主にも「ありがとう」と声をかけました。 すると彼はただうつむき、冷たい視線を送りました。私は驚きながらも微笑み、もう一度「ありがとう」と言いましたが、再び無表情のような視線が返ってきました。 私はただ笑って立ち去りました。年上の方には常に敬意を持っていますので。 しかし他の人であれば、自分の気持ちを守るために違う反応をしたかもしれません。 一部の日本人がアジア人を好ましく思っていないことは理解していますが、どの国にも色々な人がいます。皆が同じではありません。 後になって理由らしきことを聞きましたが、それは本当に私の知らないことでした。もし知っていれば、レストランにちゃんと伝えていたと思います。 ですが、店主の対応を見た今となっては、理由は関係ありません。 顧客へのその態度が、すべてを物語っていたのです。 ただ、彼が耳が遠くて私の「ありがとう」が聞こえなかったのか、または東南アジア人の私の「Thank you」が理解できなかったのか...そう願うしかありません。 read more

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09/22/23 It's been waay too long since we've been back here. We had a GC for $200 so I booked a reservation. We let too many GC expire or restaurants have gone out of business. We were fortunate to get a reservation for 7:30 at the sushi bar. The B pictures will say it all. We had omakase and I forgot to take picture of the Chu toro which was the first sushi but think I got the rest. I did not count, too busy eating. Hospitality and service were excellent! Lots if staff and very personable and attentive. I really appreciated that. The ordered dishes were really good. Besides the omakase we ordered soft shell crab karaage, Agedashi tofu with mochi, grilled king crab claw, clams in broth and a fish tempura. Sushi chef recommended the fish for that and it was perfect! Lightly battered and soft moist fish. I'll try to add the rest of the photos read more

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It's been 3 years since my last review and I can honestly say the food is just as amazing. This is still my favorite izakaya on island and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. The spicy tuna roll, udon, tempura are my go-to's but I will also order a special dish (which they change out regularly). I will always get dessert. I love that it's a small restaurant and that I can see all the food being made. The price is still reasonable. My only complaint is that it is hard to get a reservation unless you book it at least 2 weeks out (but it's understandable) read more

I'm not quite sure what's the hype is about. The food is ok, average. The tuna sashimi came out still frozen.... The fish cake is mediocre, the rolls are alright but definitely not the kind of food I would sing praises about. For a bit of background, we live in London and have travelled to Japan many times and love Japanese food. This place is alright, average, not amazing, not to mention Japan but we had much better even back home (London) read more

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I love Japanese dishes from this place more than sushi. I'm not saying sushi are bad at all and it was great but other dishes are exceptional. Great place to have a sake. read more

The best if the best izakaya place in Hawaii, I think same owner as Uosan, menu is similar. Great drink selection, cheers !

We had the opportunity to eat at this amazing restaurant and it did not disappoint! We got to the restaurant early, not knowing how crowded it might be and to give ourselves time to park. The vibe for us was an upscale Izakaya - not as loud but still with great energy. Our servers were amazing and very attentive! Definitely some of the best service ever! This has to be one of my very favorite Izakayas that I have ever been to. We ordered the 6 types of sashimi and it was so ONO! My personal favorite was the Omatsuri Natto (natto with uni, ikura, ahi, ika, yamaimo, okra & quail egg). All of my favorites in one amazing bowl! We also ordered the negi hamachi roll, kabocha karaage, Gaku's original tofu jelly (another amazing dish!) and tori karaage. If you like Japanese sashimi, sushi and Izakaya food, you will LOVE Izakaya Gaku. I highly recommend this fabulous gem! read more

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I tried Gaku in 2021 and was not impressed. I returned due to the overall high ratings and my return back to Hawaii. There is a small parking lot in the back but it is on King street so you have to go up one more street to access. We ordered: * Tofu jelly (one with ikura and another with uni) - 5 stars recommend. They also got rid of the Wasabi with ikura which I enjoyed. * King crab cake - served warm, and full of crab chunks! * Pork dumplings (shumai) - wow one of the best - they use high quality meat for the filling and STEAMED PERFECTLY * carpaccio of the day- this was just ok- I didn't like the oil vinegarette dressing * crab cream corn croquettes - came hot with a nice crust and creamy filling * tamago - can't go wrong * unagi - was good but not the best * homemade custard with fruits - this was just average to me * green tea ice-cream- basic * sushi omakase - my friend got all his pieces at once (they do that here) and he said it was pretty mid. "Not bad but not the best" - definitely not worth the price. I feel this place is a star due to their izakaya menu items ! They have a large selection and I would return for this items but not a place I would recommend for omakase. For all the food plus a bottle of sake, bill was around $300. read more

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Great food again and sake. Sat in the back in a sunken bay. The food was great, relaxed food. Had a wide variety of items. This is casual fare and setting. Butter fish best of the night. Ask for the special sake. Somehow they still have the 8yr aged Snow Hakkasan sake but I went a different way. read more

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Gaku will probably be one of my go-to restaurants. Not only is their sushi good, but their cooked food is amazing as well! It is very tiny, so be sure to make a reservation in advance because walk-ins are very difficult to get. They can also host bigger parties up to around 6 - 8, but space seems very limited. Service is always great! Servers are always attentive and the sushi chefs are always great to converse with when enjoying your email. Mary and Jimin are the best servers to have. I always return because of them! Some of my go-to dishes are the chawanmushi, the king crab bake, agedashi tofu, all sushis of course, and the gyutan. The sushi is very fresh and probably some of the best on the island with a reasonable price point! Gaku's sushi is a bit expensive, but their cooked foods are fairly affordable. Gaku will aways be at the top of my list for sushi. read more

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We really loved this restaurant. We sat at the bar. The food was so fresh and delicious. Definitely a must try.

Incredible sashimi dishes. All the fish was so fresh and so good. The service was wonderful as well. They have a great list of sake pairings too. read more

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While it is a pain to get a reservation here, the quaint spot with traditional seating and aesthetics makes this a very cute spot to dine in the heart of touristy Honolulu. Service here was very friendly and the food was well prepared. However, I would argue that well all things are well done, nothing stood head and shoulders above the rest as a "come here for this!". While we didn't leave hungry or disappointed, we also didn't leave enthusiastic to return. Overall, beautiful place for traditional Japanese food and experience, but not particularly a must go. read more

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Came on a recent visit. Circled the place 3 times trying to find parking -- when we finally did so, we approached with our party of 5 at 8pm on a Thursday. We opened the door, didn't even enter when the host just said "Noooooo, sorry, no room we are full!" with two empty tables and two hours to go. Was really an off-putting experience. I've been 5-6 times before and get that it is a local spot and all, but they were super rude. There was no online way to make a reservation (we tried) and the rudeness (perhaps at thinking we were tourists) was uncalled for. read more