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In honor of Asian Pacific Islander History Month we ate here at Tanaka Saimin. Tanaka Saimin on Nimitz Highway is locally owned by Joan and Paul Watanabe. They opened the restaurant in 2010, which originated from the historic Boulevard Saimin founded by Joan's grandfather, Kazuo Tanaka, in 1956. Family style dining here. Great value and large portions served here. Kapuna (Senior) and Keiki (children) meals available for under $10! Service is with a smile and you are treated well here. Do not forget to try the homemade desserts! Support this API and local business here! Bathrooms are available in the restaurant. Notes: Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, is celebrated in the United States throughout the month of May. It is an annual commemoration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of people with roots in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Significance of May: The month was chosen to coincide with two key historical milestones: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was built by a workforce largely composed of Chinese immigrants. Scope of Coverage: The celebration encompasses a vast, diverse population, including individuals with origins from the entire Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Origin and History: It began as a week-long celebration in 1978, signed by President Jimmy Carter. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a proclamation expanding it to a month, and it was permanently designated as a monthly observance in 1992. Thank you Wikipedia, AAPI and Google.
We went to have dinner there on Friday, I haven't been there in a while. The Friday special was Hawaiian plate which they said they made everything on their own, so I decided to give it a try. The Lau Lau was not too good and not tasty and the filling was more fat and little meat wrapped in taro leaf in the shape of a cigar. The Lomi salmon was good with good size chunks of salted salmon and diced tomatoes and onions and a little green onion. The chicken long rice lack flavor and the noodles were on the hard side like not fully cooked. The kalua pork was okay, but lack the flavor and smoke taste. The Haupia was good and tasty and the onion was fresh. The chili pepper water was good and tasty and helped with the Lau Lau. Restroom was clean and they have separate men & women restrooms. Entrance to get in you need to enter from Best Buy & Costco's you cannot enter from Nimitz Hwy.
Super yummy, comfort style food. I ordered the fried saimin with crispy shoyu chicken and it was absolutely delicious! Perfect breading and bit of sauce within the chicken itself that drained out perfectly to create a bit of shoyu for the noodles as well. The banana cream pie was pretty good not my absolute favorite and not sure if I'd get it again or not. It seemed to have almost a shortbread dense cake kind of bottom to it with a layer of real cut bananas, banana pudding and whipped cream. Boyfriend LOVED it! Overall 10/10 they accommodated our very large group at a later hour and had solid comfort food! I keep craving the shoyu chicken lol
I dont come here often, but when I do, its always a great experience. The food is ono and the service is always personable and inviting. I love when we get Ana. Shes definitely the best! Always a welcoming smiling face that greets us and any customers shes serving. She's just one of those that remembers your order by memory and brings the food out quick with all the necessary condiments needed. She engaging and always a pleasant interaction. Although the restaurant can be busy at times, the wait isnt too long. I love the local vibes you get once you step into the restaurant, that you're bound to run into someone you know.
It was our 1st visit and was ok - Service is fast - got seated at 4 pm on a weekday- had drinks & water immediately and had to ask for more time to review the menu. I'm sure most people know their menu and can get their order in within minutes of being seated! Saimin w/ one ton - noodles and soup good - one tons are huge and filling! The one ton wasn't a favorite but it was filling for sure. Hamburger- good it comes with all the trimmings - lettuce onions tomatoes and pickles- cheese is extra $1.99 Teri beef - lots of flavor Mac salad good Shrimp tempura - ok more breading than shrimp Overall a ok dinner most- likely won't return since the many other options in the area for saimin
Great restaurant where you find a lot of locals eating in. This place is almost always busy but friendly and fast service. Great comfort food. Must try: 1. Oxtail soup (9/10) 2. Mushroom burger with Swiss cheese (10/10) 3. Tanaka saimin (9/10) 4. Beef stew (9/10) 5. Mixed plate (8/10) 6. Lilikoi chiffon (9/10) Enjoy!
We decided to try something new today. Fried Chicken and waffles and Kids Hamburger Steak. The fried chicken are small pieces, prob the same as their crispy shoyu chicken with four fat mini waffles with powdered sugar sprinkled all over. The chicken is super crispy with a great crunch, albeit a few pieces maybe over cooked a bit as they were dry inside. The waffles were fluffy and great dipped in the syrup. The hamburger steak was a big and fat patty. We asked for gravy all over and son son loved it. Some of our other favorites are the Fried rice omelet with pork adobo, oyakodon, and our almost always usual the crispy spicy shoyu chicken. The servers are always polite and friendly, sort of reminds me of aunties. We'll definitely be back for more meals here.
This restaurant has been here for a very long time serving local Japanese and Hawaiian food. It's a big restaurant and must try! Good portions and good quality of food. I had the oxtail ramen and wuntun. Soup was flavorful and wuntun was chunky. My partner also enjoyed his koreamoco plate. Good food for good price. I'll be back to try out other menu items. There are so many options!
Service is excellent with our exceptional (Hawaiian) waitress. She was very attentive. My teapot was not empty of hot water. Weather has been chilly and cold! The saimin broth was tasty and comforting with five huge wontons, two fish cakes, nori, and big handful of noodles. It helped warm me along with the green tea. The vegetable tempura went great with Chinese mustard and shoyu. I was in heaven!!! The atmosphere was bustling with business with family and friends enjoying their meals in their own deep conversations...good company and food, great combination! Ciao!!!!
I was out here helping my parents and I wanted to go somewhere for dinner that was low key, since I was eating alone, which I like. I decided on Tanaka's because the parking is easy. The hostess was friendly and gave me a booth in the front. My server was great too! He said they had the best custard pie so of course I did that for dessert. I came here three times. I had to have the sizzling steak because it smelled so good when it came out to another table. Poured shoyu and worsteshire on it while it was sizzling. The second time, I had the Tanaka saimin. Came with a fried shrimp, teriyaki beef, and potato mac...sooo ONOOOO! On my third night, I had the combo teribeef and shrimp with fried noodles. I also had a side of potato mac, which my server forgot. I don't think she liked her job that evening...LOL! Someone else also refilled my drink. Oh, I also got the custard pie, which has a mac nut crust. Sooooo good! I had to have the fresh cherry, the owner pits the cherries himself, pie! Delicious! I also had the banana cream too! But if he's made the peanut butter chocolate pie, GET IT! It is sooooooo ONOOO! I love coming here. Lots of friendly locals, no frills, just good homestyle cooking! Mahalo Tanaka!
Nostalgia. That is what I would use to describe Tanaka Saimin. Granted I grew up eating at Dillingham Saimin (formerly called Boulevard Saimin as I remember it) every Sunday with my dad and brother. And although Dillingham has been closed for a while now, Tanaka more than keeps those nostalgic flavors alive today! We've been here a handful time since our move back to the island and it's always a pleasant experience. Service has always been great even on busy nights. The dining space is pretty spacious having a lot of tables. Chatter fills the restaurant but it isn't loud in the slightest. When it comes to their food; we are never disappointed. I won't describe any particular visit, but more so what we've ordered so far! My wife usually likes to order the Korea Moco and for good reason. Their kalbi short ribs are tender and packed with flavor and dipping it in that shoyu sesame dipping sauce elevates it. The fried mandoo also adds a nice crunchy texture to complete the plate. If you're indecisive like me, then the Tanaka Mixed Plate is always a great option. I always enjoy their hamburger steak because their brown gravy brings that nostalgic factor. Their shrimp tempura also tastes just as how I remember it. It is slightly batter heavy but to be honest, that's how I like theirs. Lastly their saimin is their staple and the light yet flavorful broth brings comfort for all Saimin lovers. It's no surprise that Tanka Saimin is always packed. Their service is great from what we experienced so far and their food never disappoints. Whenever we have visitors from the mainland, we usually take them here and they also enjoy the food. So if you're craving some great local comfort food, make your next stop Tanaka Saimin
Walked into Tanaka Saimin on a whim on a busy Friday night and was immediately impressed. Even though they were packed, we were offered counter seating right away as soon as we stepped inside. The service is what truly stands out. Management and every single server were incredibly attentive. The vibe felt homey and comforting -- almost like eating at a family gathering. Servers were calling regulars by name and chatting about personal updates at different tables, and it felt genuine, not forced. You can tell they've built real relationships with their customers. Food came out extremely fast, hot, and delicious with generous portions. Alina, our server, was especially kind and sweet, offering thoughtful recommendations and checking in consistently. We'll definitely be back -- especially to try the dessert they kept encouraging us not to miss.
Since Tanaka Saimin moved to the Nimitz location, they serve more dishes than just Saimin, burgers, mushroom tempura and beef sticks. I like it that they offer a variety of dishes to please the palate of many diners. It's a family restaurant with a lot of tables! We usually come after work on a Friday and place can get pretty packed with customers shortly afterwards. I love the crispy shoyu chicken! It's deep fried dipped in shoyu based with a more chili than sweet chili sauce. I like it and the chicken reminds of the dipped chicken I've once made decades ago. Little different from garlic or Korean chicken. They have a variety of sides that you can choose from such as rice, mashed potatoes, fried noodles, & toss greens. I usually take mashed potatoes and fried saimin. Some may like Korea Moco (like a local moco but with Kalbi ribs on Kim chee rice and crispy wun ton) or Hearty Man (Pork chops, crispy shoyu chicken, spam and rice) . Some friends like the oxtail soup which I also liked. Mondays, their baked stuffed chicken was different and yummy. It was stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, spinach, Mac nuts and topped with mushroom gravy. I rarely come on a Tuesdays, but they give Senior discount! Weekends have brunch specials and even Japanese breakfast! Lately we have been having their Friday Hawaiian plate special! It's really good. All housemade except the poi and lomi salmon. I'm not a Hawaiian food lover, but I do love their Hawaiian plate! Their Lau Lau wasn't dry. It's tasty and they use beef short ribs in their Lau Lau. The Haupia was so creamy and delicious. It also comes with pickled onions, chicken long rice, Kalua pig, lomi salmon, poi or rice. It's even better to add the beef stew for few more dollars. It's one of the better beef stew! It tasted like the stew mom used to make. It's not too tomato based stew. Meat was tender. I really like their affordable desserts too! They have those dessert squares with cookie crust! Homemade pies! Not many places make them anymore! If you come on a Saturdays, they have Dinosaur bone (ham shank with cabbage) special! That's one I would get if I dine in on Saturdays! I did tried their prime rib and sizzling steak platter! They have more variety than Zippy's and I'm sure you can find something to eat. Of course some dishes are okay but they are some dishes I come here for. Nice casual place! Not many Family type restaurants around and you receive great service from waiters and waitresses! They are all nice and personable! Tanaka Saimin have more than Saimin!
Friendly, pleasant and courteous service. Although it was crowded, the restaurant was still cool and not hot...the A/C was in good working condition . In the early evening, there were busy and a 20 minute wait but we were seated before the 20 minutes was up. We ordered prime rib, Tako saimin and Lilikoi Chiffon. My husband the prime rib rare when it was brought to the table it was rare not medium. Awesome job! It was delicious. I wanted oyako donburi and wanted saimin. Oyako saimin was perfect, got the best of both worlds especially since I wasn't in the mood for rice. It was delicious but couldn't finish it....there were more noodles than I expected. Plus, I wanted to leave room for dessert....Lilikoi Chiffon. The lilikoi chiffon was light, tasty and not too sweet. The crust was light, flaky and delicious. read more
3 months ago
I got the mix plate with shrimp omelet, potato mac salad, and crispy shoyu. Service was fast, which I appreciated, but the place had a bit of a fishy smell that took away from the experience. Solid meal overall, just not quite enough to earn more than three stars. read more
3 months ago
I was craving eggs benedict and this hits the spot. nothing more to say but overall it's good. read more
Retro flashback to the 1950s-1970s for this casual non-fancy working man's diner serving Saimin (Hawaiian-style Ramen noodles in a light broth). Simple straightforward entrees served quickly and courteously by waitresses that are true hardworking pros. PRO TIP: To park here, it's best to drive around the back sides of this massive building to park in the one-way angle-spaced parking lot in front of the restaurant. Inside you will find a huge dining room with vinyl booth seating that stretches seemingly to the horizon! Yes, the interior is dated and worn, but that's part of the retro vibe here. :) We had to wait a few minutes after arriving until the parties ahead of us got seated first. Lots of people go with the sizzling steak here which looked great, but I wanted something a little more healthy tonight. I went with the signature entree - the Tanaka Saimin. The Saimin was on point with good ramen noodles in a light broth with slices of Japanese fish cake. The Tanaka Saimin comes with a side plate that includes a few slices of tender and tasty Teriyaki Beef, one "Tempura" Shrimp that is really more of a breaded shrimp (not really the flaky tempura batter) and a bit of a side salad. It was more than enough food for a full meal. I wouldn't mind coming back again.. read more
1 year ago
We knew zippys would be packed after graduation so we came here instead. It was raining that evening so everyone in the 'Ohana was ono for saimin & hamburger. Tanaka saimin is the perfect place for this craving ! Remember to order a side of fries. Got to the restaurant around 845 and it was packed but luckily there were tables available and we were seated right away. Tanaka severs were very attentive despite the busy restaurant. Food came out quickly and cooked perfectly. Make sure to save room for dessert, their peanutbuttahhh chocolate pie was BROKEEEE DA MOUT ! read more
Great variety on the menu of Hawaiian specialties! Saimin is so fresh, noodles cooked perfectly with a rich dashi broth same for the udon. Our cousins love the oxtail soup. Tempura is crispy with seasoned large shrimp. Miso butterfish is delicious. They have a Tanaka combo special where you choose 2 proteins with sides (10 varieties: shrimp tempura, beef teriyaki, hamburger patty, much more). Fried saimin is a local favorite too. Save room for dessert because the lilikoi chiffon pie is da bomb as well as the banana or coconut pie - all homemade in house. They have daily specials from oxtail stew, prime rib (I think Saturday or Sunday) stews and much more. Service is always nice and friendly. No reservations so sometimes it gets really crowded. Casual atmosphere laid back Hawaiian style with local fresh food that is onoliscious!!! read more
6 months ago
Parking is free but can be challenging during peak hours. We came for lunch on a weekend. The wait was about 10 minutes before we got seated. They seated us next to the kitchen which was very noisy. I do not suggest this. The menu is large offering BLD. My lunch date and I both ordered the popular Tanaka Saimin Special. It included a large Wonton Min, a side of BBQ Beef, Breaded Shrimp, and Potato Mac Salad for $17 and change. The Wontons are huge. I wasn't crazy about the Breaded Shrimp. I did not eat a lot so I took the rest home. I was able to make 3 more small meals with the leftovers. The staff is wonderful. Bathrooms are clean. Good for large groups. read more
All I can say is, "I've been missing out" all these years. Now, I can make up for lost times...lol. I heard that TANAKA SAIMIN is just like the good 'ole BOULEVARD SAIMIN that was located on Dillingham in Kalihi. Not sure if this is accurate, but the owner of this restaurant is related to the owners of Boulevard Saimin. No wonder the food taste the same...still ono! Just like I remember growing up. The moment I first walked in, it reminded me of BS. A nostalgia, homey and comforting diner with old fashioned booths and open family style tables. My family was greeted with a warm greeting and a speedy service. Our waitress was so friendly, quick and very attentive to our needs throughout our entire service. She also joked with us before leaving the restaurant, she said " I'll see you folks tomorrow " lol. Now, on to the food. Looking over the menu, I noticed that they had a...TANAKA MIX PLATE that was similar to my favorite at BS (Boulevard Special plate) It included the following: Choice of 2 sides- *rice, mashed potatoes, fried saimin, mac-potato or tossed salad. Choice of 2 entrees- *shrimp tempura, shrimp omelette, teriyaki beef/pork, roast pork, beef stew, hamburger patty, yakitori chicken, chicken katsu, or crispy shoyu chicken I chose-fried saimin, mac-potato salad, teriyaki beef and shrimp tempura. This similar plate was my favorite at BS. Let me tell you, taking that first bite brought me back to my childhood. Omgeee...everything tasted EXACTLY the same...on point and so...ONOLICIOUS!!! My taste buds were doin' the HAPPY DANCE! You gotta try this plate! On my second visit here, I decided to try the TANAKA SAIMIN which includes: Large wun ton min, shrimp tempura, teriyaki and your choice of mac-potato salad or tossed salad. I choose the mac-potato salad. This dish was just as amazing! So, if you want yummy, local, comfort food with great service, come to TANAKA SAIMIN on Nimitz. You'll thank me for that! read more
8 months ago
A local favorite that was suggested by our local friends and this place did not disappoint! When we walked in, it was super busy, but the restaurant was pretty big so we're able to sit a large group of us and our friends. Service was fast and the menu was straightforward. We ordered the oxtail Saimin And also the miso butter fish and both of those dishes were delicious! The portions were very good and the food came out hot. Service was extremely friendly and was an overall great experience. Definitely felt like a local while eating there I would highly recommend it to anyone else. read more
Old time favorite when you just want to bring back some old time memories. My brother and I have been eating here for years and do now when I fly back home we always stop back in to get our favorite Tanaka Saimin. I know it's not the best saimin in the world but , but it's comfort food that hasn't changed. read more
Despite the rising cost of food, Tanaka Saimin has kept their prices affordable and that's so appreciated. My son loved his Japanese breakfast and the hubby and I shared the French toast breakfast "sandwich." Portions continue to be generous and everything tastes Ono-licious!! read more
1 year ago
Tanaka Simon is always a place I go to when I get home from a long trip. The food is great priced for portion size and they have so many options. Pretty much any local food you can crave is on their menu. Even ox tail! The waitresses and waiters are always attentive and pretty quick. The restaurant has many tables so they can serve a lot of people at once. You never really need to wait long even when they're busy. Definitely a local food must-try! read more
The food looked great but it definitely did not taste great. We were all pretty disappointed with what we got since it looked great! The Saimin had no flavor, felt like they just warmed up the udon and poured hot water in. The Oya mostly had rice in it and as well lacked the flavor it could've had. The Korea Moco tasted very smoky and burned. It didn't even taste anything like Kimchee Fried Rice. I'd say it was more so a Shoyu fried rice because of how strong the Shoyu taste was. We didn't get a single water refill unless you were able to stop a server. Overall we were all left sad at the outcome since we all haven't eaten all day. We ended up stopping at Soul Chicken around the corner since we were still hungry. Parking is good at least and we didn't have a wait time. We are more than likely not recommending... read more
Haven't been here since covid. Walked in and put my name on the wait list. Got called for a table in about 10 minutes on a Sunday lunch rush. Place hasn't changed since the last time I been there. Same great service and friendly service. Second time I ordered the ahi belly and was not disappointed. Well, the first time, my fish was slightly over cooked. But they made up for it this time. Alot of food that comes with miso soup. My lunch partner ordered the grilled mahi mahi sandwich with mac/potato salad. It was delicious, mahi was fresh with soft bun and with lettuce, firm tomato, onion, pickle. The mac/potato salad had too much mayonnaise for her taste. Pro: Always great friendly service and large portions. Con: Knowing it is a large restaurant. Service and food service may take awhile. Potatoe mac salad has a good taste but too much mayonnaise. Would I return? Yes. Great local food. read more
If you are in the Nimitz area, this is a must stop if you need a lunch or dinner that will satisfy your hunger. Let me just say if you go during rush hours, the parking is terrible. So I suggest going at an off time. When you enter, make sure to write your name on the list or if it's not busy just notify the hostess. A real cheat code is if your party is small, ask to sit at the counter if there is open seats. Once my hubby and I were seated, we were friendly greeted by our waitress and promptly take our drink orders. Once we got our coffees, we both got the Tanaka Saimin and my hubby got the corn chowder. Tanaka Saimin: Such a bang for your buck. Not only do you get saimin with won tons (I had like 5 juicy ones) but also a side of Teri beef, fried shrimp tempura, and Mac salad. Talk about yummy and plenty if you ask me. Corn Chowder: My hubby loved it. You cant go wrong with a corn chowder. Just a heads up it was a special for the day so it's not available everyday. Overall, I would rate this experience as top notch. I can see why so many people wait for this place. Ono food and friendly service. I can't wait to go back read more
lots of free parking outside. (note u have to drive around the building and parking is reserved for each venue). signed in at the front. short wait and was seated. the place was packed. shortly after a super nice waitress came and took our orders. Aunteh had the king cut prime rib (med rare) with salad. steak was cooked good had a mean meat to fat ratio. was such a good deal for the price. da mini-me wanted to tax my oxtail but i told her no wayz, get yo own so she got da saimin version. i got da oxtail soup. was nice and hot. broth was flavorful and filled anykine. had long rice, bok choi, shitake, peanuts and choke meat. was cooked good so da meat easy to slurp off da bone. just how i like. side ginger and rice to make da perfect mop sesh. dessert was also mayjah... we had try banana cream pie, creme brule'e, blueberry pie and lilikoi chiffon. all the desserts were good. rush em! read more
First stop in Oahu after landing at the airport! Lots of seating available at Wednesday lunch time. Service was fast as well as the food. Lots of options from combo plates various Japanese dishes to a variety of Saimin options. Prices were reasonable. The consensus is that we will have to come back for breakfast before our flight out as well! read more
They have a lot of different kinds of foods to choose from. I ordered the two choice mix plate. I went with the roast pork and crispy shoyu chicken. The plates also come with a choice of two sides, and I picked rice and potato macaroni salad. The portions were a decent size for the $16 I paid for it. I probably wouldn't get the crispy shoyu chicken again because it was on the dry side. We went at lunch and it was very busy. A very long wait if you wanted a table. We opted for the counter and we're seated right away. The waitresses were friendly and the service was adequate. The noise was minimal, despite it being very busy. The space was clean, cool, and comfortable. read more
Finally got to try this place although my gf has been here several times. Came on a Tuesday around 11:15am so we beat the lunch crowd. However, we had to circle the large building twice to find parking. From the outside, it's hard to see inside with the tinted windows. Once inside, I was surprised to see a lot of tables, high ceilings, and lots of framed pictures along the wood paneled walls that gave it a comfy casual vibe and the recessed, pendant and wall sconce lighting as well as ambient lighting made it feel open and inviting. We were seated right away in the large restaurant that was about 40% full. When we left around 12:05, there were maybe a dozen people waiting to get a table so it is recommended to come here early. The menu selection was huge. My gf ordered the Tanaka Saimin that came with teri beef, shrimp and mac salad. She says it had a generous amount of wun tun in the Saimin and said even the broth tasted good. No complaints about any of her food. I originally was going to order the Miso Butterfish plate but our server suggested getting the Japanese Breakfast instead that included the same amount of miso butterfish plus more food for about the same price since it was before 11:30am. The Japanese Breakfast is a great deal because it included the same portion of miso butterfish plus eggs (maybe 2 cooked like an omelette), konbu(seaweed), rice with furikake on top and miso soup. I was disappointed that the egg was plain- it didn't have any sweetness like a Japanese style egg. Our orders came out fairly quick and we were surprised on the portions of food. My miso butterfish didn't have a single bone in it so that was good. It was average tasting miso butterfish but notable was the portion size was good (2 decent size pieces). Our server was excellent, very friendly and made great suggestions. She checked on us twice after we got our food. We were too full to get dessert but the desserts looked interesting. The business name Tanaka Saimin is misleading because the large menu has much more than Saimin such as pancakes, omelettes, loco moco, burgers, kalbi, ribeye, oxtail soup, and desserts to name a few. They also have daily specials. For sure, way better than Zippy's. Definitely got to come back to try other things on the menu. But I'll be sure to come at off peak times. read more
The food is excellent we had a great dinner on a Wednesday I had the roast pork my husband had the beef teriyaki and both delicious compliments to the chef and staff. The service is great and the ambience is very chill. Everything I've ordered here is great tasting never disappointed yet probably never will be to tell you the truth. Dessert is to die for their pies are the bomb. If you have time go eat there you will be so happy you did you deserve a break from cooking. read more
Food was decent! Not that bad for the price for sure and definitely filling. Lots of great options to choose from. We forsure came here for the fried ice cream haha. There seem to be lots of seats inside. Although the only down side we had was slow service. We couldve been in and out of there if there were more servers. They are definitely short staffed and over worked. They didna great job trying to help one another. We got there around 6, seated by 6:30- and left pretty much at 8:45 or so. Which we spent most of our time waiting. The host was great though, he was kind and funny and informative. Other than that, great place to have dinner if you are in no rush at all. read more
We had an early morning flight from Las Vegas and were glad to find a spot like Tanaka Saimin open. We were seated right away, and there was plenty of space. The food hit the spot--perfect for my saimin craving. I also ordered the side of fried rice, which was very tasty and a large portion. Prices were reasonable, and portions were generous. Our friends got the Tanaka Saimin and really liked it too. The food came out quickly, and our waiter was kind and helpful. read more
Saimin is a popular noodle soup dish in Hawai'i that combines some chicken broth and dashi powder to create a simple clear broth that many locals enjoy for the ultimate comfort food!I told my mom I was craving some, so she brought me to check out Tanaka Saimin in Nimitz, HI! We decided on getting some saimin bowls, along with cheeseburgers and shrimp tempura The saimin was incredibly filling, as they provided a generous amount of noodles topped with fishcake, minced char siu meat and green onion. The cheeseburgers were not oily and the shrimp tempura had a nice crisp to the outside of a soft breading I definitely wanted to kanak attack (sleep) after this! Our waitress was nice and the interior had a Japanese inspired theme. There is not a whole lot of parking, so keep that in mind! read more
1 year ago
Dined here with my brother and his family. My first time here. Restaurant was crowded but we didn't have to wait long for a table. I love the family atmosphere, very warm feeling and the entire staff made you feel at home. My brother had the mahimahi and my sister-in-law and niece shared the saimin and wun tun combo. I had the two choice of teriyaki pork and yakiniku chicken (too hungry to take a picture ). Our food was delicious with generous portions. Overall we had a great time. Look forward to coming back. read more
Located by La Tour and Lowe's, Tanaka Saimin has some parking by the front. The restaurant was diner-like with many families inside. The people working were friendly and the food was ready promptly. There are a good amount of choices that seem to satisfy many local cravings. Many different types of meat, saimin, and mixed plates. We got the fried saimin, fried saimin with yakitori chicken and teri beef, fried saimin with short ribs, and mahi mahi. The fried saimin was tasty and they gave a good portion. The meat was also tasty and well marinated. However, the mahi mahi was a bit dry and lacking in flavor. There was also not as much food in the mahi mahi plate. I would stick with other mixed plate options and fried noodles. read more
2 years ago
I make it a mission to eat here every time I'm back home. This place takes me back to the glory days of Dillingham Saimin, which sadly bit the dust a couple years back. It's now my go-to spot for local saimin, with portions big enough to make any appetite happy. The menu is a nostalgic replica of Dillingham Saimin's, so I always know what I'm getting--a saimin with a Teri beef stick. It's the same order I've been having since I was a kid! My all-time favorite has always been the kimchee saimin, while my dad swears by the moyashi saimin with won ton. We've got our favorites, and this place never disappoints. The atmosphere has that old-school, local vibe, and the service is always friendly. Plus, the food arrives so quickly that I never have to wait long to dig in! read more
I always love the food here. Choices are endless, it's overwhelming in all the good ways. I always get a 2 choice: crispy shoyu chicken, hamburger steak with fried noodles, & rice. And a side of potato/mac salad. Our server worked really hard for our party of 11. Nobody was disappointed. A must when I find myself back home in Hawaii. read more
11 months ago
Love this place the staff is amazing the food is so ONO sevice is fast place to be when u hungry . read more
6 months ago
Everytime I tatse the broth from Tanaka Saimin, it brings me back to the Boulevard Saimin days at their old location where we would go from child hood days. read more
7 months ago
7 months ago
Busiest Restaurant that I've seen in a while. But, you get seated quickly and the service does take a while but it's worth it. Oxtail soup with the long rice inside is yummy. read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
This is like an old reliable place! Service was nice and quick, very attentive. We got the tanaka saimin combo which came with saimin, wunton, shrimp tempura, teri beef and mac salad- pretty good deal for $16. It was all good, although the shrimp was a little doughy. Definitely a good stop to come by if you need a quick n filling meal. read more
6 months ago
The Cheeseburger & Saimin Combo is ono!!! Next time I wanna try the other foods on the menu. The service was awesome! juliet was super nice, friendly, and funny! We were seated pretty quick for a party of 11. Thank you! read more
Wow it's been 11 years since my last review, i thought i better update my review! Its funny because I ordered the exact same item I ordered 11 years ago and my thoughts are the same. The difference is wow this place was packed with people! You know that's when it's going to be good. I ordered the Tanaka saimin which comes with six pieces won ton, and sides of shrimp tempura, teri beef and a choice of a green salad or potato/mac salad. I got the potato mac salad. Everything was so good. my order came out really fast and the soup was piping hot. The shrimp tempura is home made which I appreciate that's it not the frozen kind from the supermarket and the won ton is also home made. Everything tasted good and I ate the entire thing. Parking is still an issue during busy times as many of the stalls are reserved. You need to enter on Alakawa street and circle around the back to park in front. When coming back to the front, also look left for parking since that's where most of the Tanaka saimin parking is, most of the stalls in front of the building are reserved. I had to circle around twice to find parking. I can't wait to come back and try the ox tail soup next time. read more
More info about Tanaka Saimin
888 N Nimitz Hwy
Ste 103
Honolulu, HI 96817
Directions
(808) 524-2020
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https://tanakasaimin.com
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Tanaka Saimin - japanese - Updated July 2026
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