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    Sushi Sam’s

    4.6 (187 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Sushi Sam’s Photos

    SUSHI SAM’S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Sam’s

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    Volcano Roll
    Melissa B.

    I'm not the best at making reservations, so I've actually been turned away at Sushi Sam's a few times. The food was delicious, beautifully prepared, and every bite lived up to the hype. Service was personable and quick without feeling rushed. It's just as scrumptious as all my neighbors and friends have been telling me for years. Sushi Sam's has definitely earned its reputation.

    Avocado bomb
    Nhung M.

    Ran in here for quick bite, and so glad we did! They were full for dinner and had two seats left at the bar for a 630p reservation and sat us for dinner, giving us 30 minutes to eat. Their sushi chefs were so quick, We were done in 20. Yellowtail hamachi with jalapeños was so fresh, thick juicy cuts and perfect ponzu sauce. The avocado bomb was a pleasant surprise. Chopped spicy tuna tucked under thinly sliced avocados on a bed of crunchy tempura flakes. The combination of different textures and sweet from sauce and spicy fish was so good. The volcano roll was a great addition to round out our meal. Just enough food to hold us over before going to dinner. Fresh fish, clean restaurant. Service was fast, and I mean lightning fast, super kind and hospitable and greeted and thanked by everyone. Would love to come back the next time we have more time. Definitely make a reservation though, I can see why they are always so busy! Highly recommend.

    A5 Wagyu appetizer.
    Erlynn T.

    The highest quality sushi in Kona is found at Sushi Sam's! The restaurant is small, minimalist, and clean. Service is helpful and attentive. Reservations are a must to secure a table here, though walk-in seating at their bar might be available. You honestly can't go wrong with any choice here. The fish is astonishingly fresh and delicious. The raw scallop nigiri and baked scallop gunkan were my favorites, while my partner enjoyed the salmon skin roll and squid and eel nigiri the most. We both highly recommend the A5 wagyu if you want to treat your taste buds to something incredible. So rich and wonderfully unctuous! While prices are high ($5-10/nigiri), you get what you pay for in terms of quality and taste. The sushi at Sushi Sam's tastes just as good as the sushi we had on our trip to Hokkaido. If we didn't live in Hilo, this would be our go-to sushi spot!

    Special roll
    Karen V.

    Great service. Such good sushi. Had toro and yellowtail sushi then a special roll. My son had miso soup which he loved, chicken teriyaki and rice. We shared edamame. Staff was friendly and everything was yummy..

    Tuna app
    Brittany B.

    This place is awesome. It's so clean and perfect inside. We ordered the hamachi and tuna app which was great. We also got the collar tuna (not my fav) we got the special roll and another roll I can't remember the name of but they were so good. We also got grilled eel which was amazing. The service was amazing. She was very informative. I would def come back!

    rainbow roll

    best sushi on the island! my best friend and i had our first meal here and ended up coming back 2 times after that! hands down the best miso soup i've had outside of japan. when we sat down a local said, "you can come here or you can go to japan".. and that's 100% right. amazing service and staff, they even remembered us! definitely recommend to anyone staying on the big island!

    Lunch Bento Box
    Mika H.

    They started the lunch service so I had to check it out! We ordered a la carte as well as the lunch bento box. Everything was delicious!

    Assorted sashimi
    Laurin H.

    Hands down the best sushi i've ever had. The fish was so fresh!! The service was also amazing. Make reservations ahead of time!!!

    Updated menu
    Just T.

    I saw Ray reviews. I was craving a mommy and miso, the miso was delicious but small for my preferences, I recommend it the flavor is unique and one I'll remember

    Oysters on the half shell
    Erin R.

    We had dinner at Sushi Sam's again last night and decided to sit at the sushi bar. So glad we did. Had an amazing dinner and enjoyed a pleasant conversation with the chef as well as another frequent customer Chris. The food is always delicious and so fresh. We had the hamachi with serrano and ponzu truffle, seafood sunomono, ahi tataki, tempura, oysters on the half shell and a super California roll with real crab and unagi on top. Everything was executed perfectly and the flavors were divine. Two draft Sapporos and a delightful house sake completed an excellent meal.

    Special Roll

    They prepare actual fresh wasabi here which was an unreadable surprise to me! I thought I would have to go to Japan to experience real wasabi! The special roll was one of the best scallop rolls I've ever eaten. The sushi here is actually fresh and they do specials here of locally caught fish. The waiter and waitress were very warm and welcoming.

    Delicious food!
    Meg D.

    Really love this place! Super intimate, def pays to make a reservation. Loved the sake as well

    Ribeye Steak

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    21 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Really great sushi made with fresh, quality ingredients. Good service. Convenient parking. Consistently good.

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    This Sushi is a must !! The fish is fresh and the Chef is amazing and delivers with every bite!!

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    3 months ago

    Loved food and service. We remember Sam from Monstaros and so happy to have his sushi again.

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    9 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Great service and good...authentic and a must when you're here and a sushi fan! The quality was great and no fake rolls but authentic rolls!

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    Ask the Community - Sushi Sam’s

    Do they do gift cards?

    Yes. You can purchase a gift certificate at the restaurant.

    Do they do take out?

    No, it is dine in only.

    How far in advanace can you make a reservation for the sushi bar?

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    Izakaya Shiono Kona

    Izakaya Shiono Kona

    4.5
    (398 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We went with a friend for dinner a month ago and the food was excellent. Started with some gyoza,…read moreand tempura, chicken karaage and then sushi which was fresh and beautiful, and black garlic ramen was superb. We had leftovers that were great the next day for lunch as well. This is a popular place so be prepared. We ate inside not having a reservation but I'd suggest calling for a reservation outside. Also keep in mind that rents are high in Kona, it's a challenge to find people that can afford it and work in our restaurants, so be kind to them. Parking is also a challenge but patience and determination will get you there. Currently if you are a Costco member you can purchase gift cards for $80 that will get you $100 at the restaurant, so effectively a 20% discount. Those discount cards seem to rotate in and out at Costco so that will probably change. We've gotten two takeout dinners since then and it's a definite favorite of ours. Mahalo.

    We got takeout and had the Vege Tempura, Vege Ramen, Vege Roll and Avocado Cucumber roll…read more This seems like a lot but it's good for 2 adults. Food is very light, tasty and well made. We also had the Matcha Shiratama Zenzai for dessert. It was awesome. Great combination of flavours. Everything is reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend it. Parking is street side and based on availability.

    Photos
    Sushi bar area with Japanese chefs. #authentic
    Sushi bar area with Japanese chefs. #authentic
    Dragon roll
    Dragon roll
    Sushi staff

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    Sushi staff
    Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

    Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

    4.1
    (3.1k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    PARKING: Free in the large lot or on the street…read more VIBE: Various table sizes throughout the restaurant, spread out, not squished, which is nice. I came with a group of 8 SERVICE: Full restaurant service, plates, silverware MENU: Updated pictures are attached. Their shirts that say "F*ck Frozen Fish" should tell you how fresh things are! If you go to the small market side, the current market price for fresh poke is $28/pound PRICE: Fair, but a little pricey. It's the price of small businesses in Hawaii!

    My husband was craving for some delicious fresh fish so we decided to check out this restaurant…read more They had a parking lot with free parking, this definitely made things easy because it is usually hard to find free parking in this area. I got the veggie poke bowl and my husband got the catch of the day. They had both indoor and outdoor seating. We decided to sit in the patio area. They had mist blowing fans in the patio area to help cool off. Our food arrived pretty quickly. The presentation was good. The food looked appetizing! My veggie poke bowl was packed with sesame ginger flavor and tastes delicious. The side of salad was a good add on. My husband's dish looked great. The fish was soft and the flavor was nice. He liked the side of mac salad as well. I was a bit skeptical initially about the veggie bowl. However, it was great and I'm glad I tried something authentic food. We also got the chocolate lava cake for dessert. It came out pretty quickly. It was coated with strawberry syrup. The menu did say that it was going to come with whipped cream but I believe they ran out. However, the dessert was spectacular! All in all, loved the food! Highly recommend it, especially for those looking to try authentic veggie food.

    Photos
    Interior with sports bar on the side
    Interior with sports bar on the side
    Kona Mixed Plate with Korean Chicken, Boneless Kalbi Short Ribs, White Rice, and Mac Salad.
    Kona Mixed Plate with Korean Chicken, Boneless Kalbi Short Ribs, White Rice, and Mac Salad.
    Fresh catch (grilled ahi)

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    Fresh catch (grilled ahi)
    Taka Sushi Grill Chinese Cuisine

    Taka Sushi Grill Chinese Cuisine

    4.5
    (107 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    The reviews are not lying ! Wow this place is phenomenal ! I was suspenseful with no people being…read moreinside , which is blowing my mind this place deserve all the clout! Service is 10/10 Food 10/10 Sake 10/10 PRICE 10/10

    The food was good I would give it a 3.5 but since I can't i'll give them a 4…read more I got a Rainbow & Dragon rolls, also Chicken Chow men and chicken something... +/-$63.00 The chow men - was an asian spaghetti style noodle. Not quite how I have ever had jt but it was flavorful. The chicken something - had the tase and consistency of wonton soup without tons of liquid, more like clear slime broth. Not in a bad way just not water and definitely not dry. The rolls were good - fish was good small average size The restaurant is definitely not fancy.. It consists of a single sushi bar and a few tables. This doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the food but made the experience a little less desirable... I got the food togo and was a little disappointed in the paraphernalia that came with the meal. Before paying i could make out the plastic white togo bag looked a little lean. I asked for plates napkins and etc and she said that the stuff was already in there and they don't give out plates. After I walked out the door I stopped and decided to take a look in the bag since something just didn't feel right. 2 chopsticks & forks & 1 napkin was what was included with the meal. So I had to go back in and get 2 more chopsticks and some soy sauce since there was 4 of us. I also said that I needed more napkins and she provided 3 more. They were the thickness of 1 ply toilet paper... It was less than comfortable to share dinner in the hotel with no plates, flimsy forks and 1 tracing paper napkin.

    Photos
    Private Room
    Private Room
    Tigereye Roll
    Tigereye Roll
    Hot and sour soup.

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    Hot and sour soup.
    Broke Da Mouth Grindz KONA

    Broke Da Mouth Grindz KONA

    4.4
    (2.7k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Sadly missed out on trying this the last time I was visiting Hawaii but glad we made it out this…read moretrip. Excellent food. We did the 3 meat combo: Garlic Chicken, Short Rib, and Panko Fish w/ adobo fried rice + sesame corn on the side. I typically would order a mac salad and garlic shrimp but wanted to switch it up randomly for this occasion. Also grabbed two of the Hawaiian Sun drinks for $3.50 per drink which was expensive, but convenient, as we were driving out to catch the sunset and star gazing immediately after picking up our food. If I were to reorder, I'd do the same 3 piece combo, highlighting that the panko fish was surprisingly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside so this was a great option. I'd probably go with mac salad and give the kimchi fried rice a try. A friend did let us try the purple sweet potato salad side. This was a nice change of pace similar to the traditional mac salad.

    If you're looking for a quick bite that hits the spot, Broke Da Mouth is a super convenient option,…read moreespecially for a fast lunch break or grabbing takeout for a beach day. Plus prices are also set at a fair setting. The vibe inside is cozy but definitely on the smaller side with limited seating, so it tends to get pretty crowded, and you might experience a bit of a wait. While the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, the food itself left a little to be desired. I ordered the Animal Burger expecting something a bit more flavorful, but it ended up tasting pretty ordinary. Some might disagree and absolutely love it, and while it wasn't anything too special for me, it's still a solid, friendly spot. I'd still recommend it if you need a quick, convenient stop for a casual meal!

    Photos
    Worth the wait
    Worth the wait
    Animal Cheeseburger upgrade to Pork Bell Fries
    Animal Cheeseburger upgrade to Pork Bell Fries
    Garlic shrimp braised short ribs and Korean chicken.

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    Garlic shrimp braised short ribs and Korean chicken.
    Teshima Restaurant

    Teshima Restaurant

    4.4
    (1k reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $$

    What a gem that's flung far from Kona, in the middle of nowhere off the side of Highway 11. It's…read moregot this old Hawaii meets Japanese comfort food charm that evokes a wistful presence from yesteryear. There's something about a flower being pinned to your hair as you're seated to eating a bowl of saimin as Unchained Melody plays in the background that brings a nostalgic smile to your face and makes you feel right at home. Oh - and if you ask the server what's in the Kona Beef Curry Stew... it's beef and curry. Ha. Tellin' them city folk like it is.

    We tried out this legendary Japanese Hawaiian diner near the end of our trip. It is literally like…read morea slice out of history! Not to be missed! They have a TV showing historical clips of the Japanese immigrants who moved to Hawaii. We learned so much just dining there! The servers were very nice and friendly. They even offer free, hot green tea. It wasn't crowded when we went there for lunch. The server said we could order from the dinner menu too. The restaurant is decorated with a bunch of old family photos. It's not a fancy food location, but a place that is in the locals' hearts. Also, it's not standard Japanese American food, so don't come in looking for rolls and such! Instead, they serve fresh, perfectly prepared Japanese food with a Hawaiian twist, favorites like saimin and shrimp tempura. The large saimin ($16.17) was delicious and really hit the spot. Toppings were Spam, eggs, and veggies. Simple, but tasty! Shrimp tempura appetizer ($14.85) was a pretty large sized dish. The pieces have a lot of crunchy batter and the kids loved it. It was a bit greasy, but that's to be expected. DH got a Oyako Donburi with sashimi ($21.93). Wow, the sashimi was truly amazing! So tender, it just melts in your mouth. The eggs were cooked with bamboo pieces which kinda threw DH off. I liked them, but DH would've preferred it without. The flavor is sweet/salty and pretty mild. It came with miso soup and some pickles. Parking is right in the front and backs into the main road. It can be spicy getting out if traffic is heavy. They don't have a lot of bathrooms, so there might be a wait. Those are the downsides. Otherwise, a wonderful local place to eat!

    Photos
    The main dining room
    The main dining room
    Fried ahi meal
    Fried ahi meal
    Interior

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    Interior

    Sushi Sam’s - sushi - Updated June 2026

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