What a gem that's flung far from Kona, in the middle of nowhere off the side of Highway 11. It's got 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. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

We tried out this legendary Japanese Hawaiian diner near the end of our trip. It is literally like a 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! read more

See all

After reading about the extensive history of this long-standing Japanese/Hawaiian family restaurant, we had to come check it out. I got the No. 3 Teishoko which comes with Miso Soup, Sashimi, Sukiyaki, Shrimp Tempura, Sunomono, Tsukenomo, and Rice. The tuna was so smooth and melts in your mouth. And I loved the flavor of the pairing of pickled vegetables with the sukiyaki (flavorful and tender). I do wish the shrimp tempura had a little more shrimp and less tempura batter though. Also, we didn't realize that our waitress was the great granddaughter of Grandma Teshima herself. She was so nice to us during our visit! I would recommend checking out this restaurant. Looking forward to trying out their breakfast the next time we come back! read more

Teshima Restaurant - No. 3 Teishoko which comes with Miso Soup, Sashimi, Sukiyaki, Shrimp Tempura, Sunomono, Tsukenomo, and Rice - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

The tempura shrimp had really light batter but the there was too much batter and it was way too greasy. The batter on my slice of tempura zucchini slice was more than double the thickness of the zucchini. The omelet fried rice with chicken was good. The panko butter fish was bland. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Omelet fried rice with chicken - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

This place is amazing and very authentic! The sashimi boat was so fresh and filling. I highly recommend this restaurant. The staff is friendly and also welcoming. Our toddler was treated like a king. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

Cute restaurant with homey japanese food. My hubby and I came here for breakfast, very chill with plenty of booth seating. We came for breakfast and they have various American, Hawaiian, and Japanese breakfast. Hubby got the Japanese breakfast which comes with fish rice miso soup and picked ($15). I got the regular Saimin ($10). We also shared a side of papaya. The lady working there is so nice and bubbly, coffee is free for dine in. Saimin was tasty with plenty of noodles and ham, very soothing dish. My hubbys fish was deep fried with hearty miso soup and pickles, papaya was super fresh. Overall solid diner that is relaxing. Would like to come back for dinner service next time. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Saimin - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

Came in at 5:18 pm on a Tuesday and was seated right away (line by time we left at 6:15). Dinner for 4 with dessert cost less than Da Poke Shack meal. Food was good (home cooking mom & pop place) and service excellent. Waitress gave us flower for our hair. The place has been there since the 50's but well maintained. Family friendly casual spot. read more

Food was yummy. Udon was fresh and not overly flavorful. Tempura was not too heavily battered, crispy, and I could tell there were veggies and shrimp. Service was excellent! Friendly and not intrusive. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Shrimp and vegetable tempura side order - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

My wife and I's favorite meal we had during our honeymoon that was so good that we came back and ate here twice! The food was authentic and absolutely delicious and the service was also incredible. Teshima was such an authentic Japanese food experience with a restaurant steeped in so much history that our server was gracious enough to tell us all about! We absolutely will tell everyone we know visiting the big island that Teshima is a must visit and we will definitely be back the next time we are in Kona! read more

The array of food was splendid. There was such a diverse collection of flavors and textures that it was impossible to get bored with any meal. Everything was exceptionally well made, and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. The service was the best I have experienced at any restaurant, and the ambiance was warm and cozy. The whole experience was absolutely decadent! read more

Teshima Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

From the time you enter till the time you leave, you are treated like family. Every time we come to Teshimas, the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. Our waitress was very polite and friendly with my grandchildren and helped them along with their orders. The food is always amazing and delicious. This is always a must for our family to enjoy. read more

See all

I got the beef sukiyaki and the Mac salad. The beef sukiyaki had very tender and soft beef with lots of tofu, bamboo shoots, and so much more. It was perfect for a cold night. The Mac salad was very unique as it had potato chunks inside which were very good. The service was great too and the inside felt very homey. I hope this restaurant continues to run as this is an institution with great history. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Beef sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

5 stars!! This place came recommended to us from 2 separate friends on Oahu. We had a lovely meal and would definitely go back. Food: We had the dinner combo of teriyaki beef and shrimp tempura which came with 2 shrimps and 2 vegetables. It also came with tea, miso soup and rice. The meal was delicious and we were all very impressed. Reservations: They have a sign up saying they don't take reservations. We showed up at 630 on a Sunday and there were some people waiting outside even though I could see empty tables inside. The people in front of us had been waiting for a bit before the waitresses came to grab them. There is seating in front of the restaurant that is covered if raining. Just assume you may have to wait, the food is worth it. Vibes: They have a video playing of the history of Japanese people on the island and the restaurant. It was very interesting and a nice touch to be able to learn the history. They also put a flower on every woman's ear who came it, it was a nice personal touch. Service: Everyone who worked here was incredibly nice. Thank you for a great meal! Parking: There are maybe 6 spots in front and a larger lot on the side which I'm not sure if the parking is for them or the bar next door. Bathroom: one women's bathroom. read more

See all

Delicious Sukiyaki and friendly service! Lots of locals eat here so we knew it would be good. read more

We ate here two nights in a row because the first experience was so good. The Steak and Shrimp Tempura Combo, Deep Sea Trio, Sashimi Tray, Saimin and Teishoku #2 are all amazing. If I had to recommend one dish, I would go with the Deep Sea Trio - it comes with all their top notch seafood selections. I enjoyed the Oreo sundae as well. Parking in front of the restaurant is limited and the overflow lot gets full as well. 3 stars because the second night (Saturday) was a birthday dinner for my fiancé. I told the lady to bring me the check and she ignored me. I asked for it again 10 minutes later and she ignored me and walked away again. Then she got the check and brought it to another family member. I don't expect servers to mediate who pays, but instead of ignoring me for 20 minutes she could've told me someone already spoke with her. Her service was slow all around. The young male server on Friday night was friendlier and more accommodating. read more

See all

Teshima is a staple in the neighborhood. It's been around forever and the quality is always consistent. Solid Japanese style dishes mixed in with a little Hawaiian style. Prices are good for the amount of food they serve. Service is attentive but not personal. I come in for the Oyako Donburi with sashimi pretty regularly. My other favorites are the sashimi plate, and the NY steak with shrimp tempura. The steak is always cooked well and is a pretty good quality cut. On weekends the line can get long. It's walk in only. No reservations. The food comes out pretty fast so the line usually moves quickly. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Oyako Donburi with Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

It was our second day on the big island and we were staying near ʻAnaehoʻomalu Beach. The Restaurant is 26 miles from where we were staying and approximately an hour away depending on traffic. I have to say it was definitely worth the drive. We were all starved and probably waited a little bit too long too go to the restaurant so we had one hangry kiddo. Had to wait about 20 minutes before we could get seated showing how popular the restaurant is -- when we first got there there was a line of about 10 people which moved pretty quickly so overall, we had to wait in 20 minutes. Just a note, I am gluten-free, the rest of my family are gluten consuming. My daughter had done some research on this restaurant and seen reviews for serving gluten free food so we decided to go for it. Lisa was our server. She was very knowledgeable about gluten-free food options on the menu. They do not have a gluten-free menu but are definitely gluten educated. That said, the gluten-free options were several kinds of protein, fried in gluten-free Panko -- I believe it was shrimp, Ahi, and pork chop. My experience with gluten-free Panko at home is that it is not very flavorful. It's just breadcrumbs with no spice or salt. To make it flavorful, you have to add something. And that ended up being the case here. My Ahi, came with rice, three fillets of fish, and a variety of vegetables on the side. And it wasn't very flavorful. When my daughter did her restaurant research, she read about the kitchen having Braggs amino acids and making a customer something very tasty using Braggs. I would say that my gluten-free option as it came, was not very tasty. It was kind of bland. And I was watching everybody else rave about how yummy their food was. But because my daughter remembered about the Braggs amino acids, we asked them if they had it and sure enough they did. So they brought the Braggs amino acids and Sriracha to our table, and my daughter made me her own version of fried rice by taking their rice and adding my fish, the amino acids and sriracha. She presented it to me, which felt quite a lot like a love letter. I tasted it and was so impressed. I think the restaurant could easily prepare this for any gluten-free customers. I was happy that they actually had any gluten-free options but adding flavor made me over the top happy. It would be great if he business could educate the staff to be able to provide flavorful options. That said, the rest of my family was super happy with their food. They got steak, fried rice, the number 2 Teishoku and the New York steak. Because my daughter was so hungry, Lisa brought her a bowl of miso soup from our meal early. That saved the day! Thank you, Lisa! The only strange thing, was that everybody's meal came out at a different time, my husband got his first. He had the number two. So every gluten consuming family member shared. Overall, it was a good experience. I docked one star because of the blandness of the gluten-free dish the way it came out. Gluten-free options isn't just about having an option, it's about flavor and care -- and that could easily have been improved. read more

Food was good, not the best I've had but worth the price. Service was amazing and so was the ambiance. It felt like we were at grandma's house. read more

Five HUGE stars!! After speaking with the hostess when they were about to open at 5pm, she was telling me that the ownership spanned six generations and the recipes are still original from the early 20th Century. Simply amazing history being eaten here and now. The staff were very friendly and super attentive. The food, man, I can't say enough about it! I would go into epicurean detail, but bottom line, you HAVE to try it for yourself. Eyeballs rolling to back of your head delicious and ono!! Think the movie Ratatouille and the epic scene of the critic sampling the Ratatouille. Bringing him back to his childhood days. The ambiance was truly old school and very comfortable to be in. A home away from home. All in all, highly recommend with a huge five star rating! read more

See all

Wow!!! It was such a gem! Totally loved the food! Big portions, fresh, delicious! Only downside is the wait. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

A truly wonderful experience dining at Teshima. Our server was so friendly and had great recommendations. I ended up getting the Thursday special which was some of the best tempura I've ever had. I got to sneak a few bites of my husband's sashimi as well and I wish I had ordered this as a side it was so good. They played a documentary inside of how the restaurant was started, that paired with all of the family pictures around the restaurant created a home-like feel to the place. I will definitely be back! read more

Teshima Restaurant - Thursday special - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

There were only two consistent restaurant recommendations I received in Kona, and Teshima was one of them. What a treasure it turned out to be! I just could not get over how lovingly the food was prepared. I had the same order both times (of course we went back): Teishoku (Set Meal) #3, which includes Miso Soup, Sashimi, Sukiyaki, Shrimp Tempura, Sunomono, Tsukenomo, Rice. The centerpieces are absolutely the sashimi, the softest, butteriest ahi you can find; the sukiyaki, hearty and yet delicate, miles better than I've had so many other times on the mainland; and the shrimp tempura, which achieves that truly air-crisp Japanese tempura that is so rare to find outside of Japan. I reference this in many of my most special Yelp reviews, where you have a meal and can instantly remember the taste of it, where the memory of eating it is locked in forever. Somehow it was even better the second time. The facilities feel historic and lived in - I can imagine thousands of meals consumed here - and the staff cares for the restaurant and the patrons as warmly as the chefs prepare the food. Thank you to the Teshima family for keeping the food and the feeling of this restaurant going. read more

Teshima's feels like returning home to Grandma's, and I'm not even Japanese. It was so good that in my 10 short days in Hawaii, I had to head there three times. Each time I had the No. 2 Teishoko. The variety of foods and how they combined into this entrée was perfect. The ahi tuna is incredibly good, the beef sukiyaki is tender, and there's clearly as much attention paid to the quality of the noodles as to the beef itself. The cabbage was just lightly pickled and salty. Even the rice played an important part in the meal. It's seasoned just right, not just serving as filler. For the table one night, we ordered the tempura Oreos. Those took some time to have prepared, we waited about 20 minutes for them. They tasted great and were worth the wait, but if you're interested in that for dessert, I recommend ordering it at the beginning to give them a fair amount of lead time. We sprung that request on them in the last minute. read more

See all

Traditional Japanese diner that has been around for almost 100 years. No sign in sheet - just a few benches outside forming the "line". Came here around 7pm on Sunday and at first the line moved really fast (4 parties sat within 10 mins). But then when we were the next up, it took another 20 mins even though we could see open tables. Not sure if they seat in "waves" but I was starving so it felt like forever hahaha. They are known for a few specific items, but the shrimp tempura is out of this world but probably the best I've ever had. The jumbo shrimp is huge, juicy, meaty, and the tempura batter light and crisp. The shrimp tempura dinner is a combo that comes with 4 pieces of shrimp tempura, a bunch of veggie tempura, rice, miso soup, cucumber salad, and cabbage salad. Was originally worried it wouldn't be enough food but oh boy I was wrong. My husband got the shrimp tempura and beef teriyaki combo and really enjoyed the beef as well. Our server was very friendly and gave great recommendations. Interior is a little worn out but totally makes sense given the history of the restaurant. read more

See all

Small family run restaurant with deep rooted hospitality and history. I always wanted to stop by and finally made it and decided to try Japanese Breakfast as I have seen other Yelp reviews. You have to wait to be sit and friendly staff will guide you your table as this is small family run restaurant. Soothing music other than it is located right beside the road but I thought it was very charming little place for Big Island experience. More local people here than tourists. Breakfast was great. read more

See all

Super legit authentic Japanese spot. We came on a Friday night and were seated immediately. We ordered 2 of the panko fried ahi, saimin, oyakodon with sashimi, and Oreo Sundae Panko fried ahi was buttery, light, and fresh. No sauce needed. Saimin was delicious and we especially loved the noodles!! My oyakodon was delicious and filling as well. My sashimi was fresh and high quality. Oreo sundae included fried Oreos, ice cream, and whipped cream. For icecream, we went with the Kona coffee flavor. These fried Oreos were unlike any other ones I've had before. Other fried others are thick , greasy, and covered in pancake batter. These were light and airy! They could sell this by the bag - they were that good! Combined with the icecream, it was a true delight. Everyone here is so nice - special shout out to our server Lisa. She is hilarious!!!! read more

See all

Old school since 1929. We came by for lunch right after they opened and had to wait around 15 minutes before being allowed in. The interior is vintage island diner style with Japanese touches and I hope they keep it just the way it is. I ordered my favorite meal which is Loco Moco with a sunny side egg. The food was delicious and the employees were very nice. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Old school since 1929 - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

First bit on Big Island, and boy did this place hit the spot. There is usually a line during the lunch rush, but the service is quick and efficient, so you won't have to wait too long. The saimin was delicious, chock full of spam and egg, quite different from the many bowls I've had in Oahu. I dare say this one was better than any other I'd had! Perfectly chewy noodles, and refreshing broth. I ordered the no. 3 Teishoko with veggie tempura on the side. The tempura was definitely the main event--perhaps the crispiest tempura I've ever had, but still characteristically light. Everything was portioned and delivered perfectly, from the fresh ahi to the sunomono. The only miss was probably the beef sukiyaki--pass on it if you can! read more

Teshima Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

Big Island, Hawaii I imagine that this is what dining at a Japanese grandmas house must taste like. Hinode rice...sometimes a little hard because it's been sitting in the pot for a bit, sweet clear noodles cooked with chicken( local Hawaii style uses a lot of sugar in their tare/ teriyaki sauce), Maru-hi white miso paste made miso soup, lightly battered bread crumbed fried fish....Saimin cooked with a fish base, fried rice rolled into an omelette. Places like this are nostalgic and people like it because it reminds them of their childhood. In this way, this place is a must visit...But if you're looking for delicious Japanese food, this isn't it. This is local Japanese food which I don't like...way too sweet. read more

My husband & I were on the big island for work. When we finished we had time to go eat at a very traditional authentic Japanese restaurant called Teshima. I knew from the moment I saw the velvet rope to gain entrance that this place was unique. It wasn't fancy by any means in design but in culture! The owner was so gracious & kind to us. She makes you feel welcome in her place. You feel at home in Japan. You can see her Grandmother ( the one who started it almost 100 years ago!! Wow! Ronnie was our sweet waiter. His energy & bubbly personality won us over. We just loved him. Now Most important .... The FOOD! OMG. I have traveled Japan ( family there) and must say I felt like I was back home. Everything we ordered was to perfection. The best tempura , the sushi was so fresh it melted in your mouth! I was so full by the generous portions . I couldn't get enough. It was my favorite place on the big island! Highly recommended. Ps the owner gave me a beautiful Plumeria flower and pinned it in my hair. It was the best/ sweetest gift ever. Thank you very much for allowing me into your place & for the excellent service & delicious food! read more

See all

Great family run restaurant. Smashing plate of ahi sashimi. 15 big 3-bite pieces. So fresh and perfect! (Do not drown in wasabi or you'll miss it!) Salmon soup a rich fresh local ramen style soup also wonderful. Kaimi was a wonderful gracious server with a kind glow about her. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Ahi Sashimi after I slowed down - so good! - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

Extremely friendly service :) We felt right at home with our waitress, and she provided recommendations about the menu. Stick to the Japanese options, as that's what this place specializes in! We loved the Deep Sea Trio, and having hawaiian music softly playing with a nice breeze coming in from outside created a very peaceful and calming atmosphere. The walls are adorned with various japanese cultural and family photographs, as well. read more

See all

A local favorite: yummy food, aloha vibes and a part of the history of the town. We ordered three entrees - our server didn't think we could finish it. We said bet! lol. The butter fish is my all time favorite. It just melts in your mouth, the flavor is salty/sweet....just trust me and order it! Tempura veggies - crisp, not oily, healthy *wink wink* The side veggies and pickled veggies are always a highlight as well. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Butter fish, tempura, all the goiooods - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

We decided to check out this diner because it has been around for almost 100 years. Parking was a little difficult to find, as the parking lot was small and there was no street parking allowed in the surrounding areas. After driving around in circles a few times, I was lucky to get a spot in front of the restaurant. We arrived around 6PM on a Sunday evening and waited in line for about 20-30 minutes. There was a bench to sit on, so the wait wasn't bad. My cousin got the teishoku number 3 and really liked it. Her favorite was the ahi sashimi, which was very fresh. The wasabi was also very fresh. The tempura was very crispy, even we ate it at the very end. The one thing my cousin didn't like was the sukiyaki. It had only one very small piece of beef. The rest was just konjac noodles and bamboo shoots, which was very disappointing. I ordered the nabeyaki udon. At $14, it is very reasonably priced and the portion size was good and satisfying (but not to the point of being stuffed). I do wish that there was a little bit more protein. My udon included one poached egg, two pieces of kamaboko fish cake, two pieces of another kind of fish cake (sorry, I don't know the name), cabbage, and what I think were mustard greens. In summary, my cousin really liked this restaurant and wants to go back. I personally thought it was good but not mindblowing. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Nabeyaki udon - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

Established in 1929! What a special place. Deep Sea Trio - The absolute BEST shrimp Tempura. GET THIS!!! Perfect amount of crispy batter with a beautiful thick butterflied shrimp. Not oily or greasy and tasty dipping sauce. The other pieces were tasty too but this stole the show. The fried fresh Ahi was pretty well done (I should had asked for rare). The fresh catch Ahi sashimi was excellent. 5++ stars!!! No. 2 Teishoku - Same tasty fried Ahi and excellent Ahi sashimi as in the Deep Sea Trio. The sukiyaki was very sweet and tasted like it had been stewing for a while but the meat was delish and super tender. Lots of noodle and not too much veg. Overall 5 stars. Loved the traditional Sunomono, tsukemono, rice, miso soup and hot green tea served with the combinations. This place was reminiscent of the mountain country restaurants in Japan. Simple but prepared right with quality ingredients. Super friendly servers and quaint atmosphere. Hope this place is around for another hundred years! read more

Teshima Restaurant - Teishoku #2 - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

Was on a little vacation. Decided to try Teshima for the first time. Received a tiare flower to wear in my hair from the hostess (loved that). Food was very tasty, reasonable prices. Had a couple of beers. Will definitely go back when in Kona read more

Okay so I'm from Oahu and I've gotta say, this place has really good value for what you're paying and the quality of the food is phenomenal! We didn't wait too long for our table and everyone here was super friendly. Seating felt more on the traditional side and I love that since we don't really have much of this on Oahu. My boyfriend ordered the Sat & Sun special the "puppy tray" and I ordered the No. 2 Teishoku which came with Miso Soup, Sashimi, Sukiyaki, Fried Fish, Sunomono, Tsukemono, and Rice. Everything was really so tasty, but if i had to choose then I would say that the tempura and sukiyaki really stood out to me. Even the sashimi felt really fresh! It's been a while since I had some good japanese food and this place really hit the spot. Can't wait to be back in Kona again read more

Teshima Restaurant - Pupu Platter(Top) No. 2 Teishoku(Bottom) - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

See all

This place is amazing. We came here for dinner and both of us ordered the Number 3 Teishoko, which includes miso soup, sashimi, sukiyaki, shrimp tempura with vegetables, sunomono, tsukenomo, and rice. Every dish was extraordinary. The sashimi was tender and fresh and generously sliced. The tempura batter was crunchy but not greasy. I would love to return and try some of their other offerings. Service was friendly and fairly fast considering it was a very busy Saturday night. We were checked upon regularly. One of the staff came by with a Polaroid and offered to take a complimentary picture for us. This is a casual place. Since it was our first time here, we didn't realize that the people sitting on the bench were in a line. I had thought that they had given their name and party size and were waiting to be called. The practice there is to wait in the line and when it's your turn, you give your party size. Once you do that, you have a very brief wait and then are seated. read more

See all

Great experience. We were seated quickly on a weekday for lunch. The place has plenty of seating. Each dish is about $20-30 and good value overall. read more

Teshima Restaurant - Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Kealakekua, Hawaii

Fabulous breakfast! Staff is always incredible kind. There's usually a wait during popular times like after church and weekends. However there's usually a lot of open tables if you go during the week during non peak visitor season. Everything is so fresh and our fave is the Japanese breakfast. Love this spot! read more