Always enjoy Wasabi Bistro. We went with a party of 12 and everyone highly enjoyed the meal. Everything is absolutely spot on. This is a MUST GO! read more

Staff would not allow us to come in restruant due to not enough room. There was 6 out of the looked like 12 tabels only being used. Just so happened to be only Asian people in the restruant and we are White. Horrible place to eat. #Racist read more

First time ... Man I had to tap out ... So ono the food . The portions were great ,the ambiance is wonderful ... A hidden jem in Waikiki . read more

We were lucky to be given a seat without a reservation; they went out of their way to make some room for us! The meal was excellent - delectable sashimi plate and maki. We also loved the special #1 and the eggplant miso - definitely give them a try! read more

Like someone else on here said--i'm reluctant to review this place because I want it to stay one of those hidden gem types of places. I've spent a week here this trip and come to Waikiki a couple times per year and this may be the best place I've come to. Food is very high in quality and our service was terrific. The soft shell crab and the grilled 'Saba' (Mackerel) are fantastic. The Kaaui shrimp was sensational too. Best poke I've ever had--the poke right across the street at Shingen was good but this poke was far superior and a much larger portion for the same price. The coffee jello and ice cream dessert was also very cool and different. If you are like me you HATE touristy spots where people go for the same old same old. I'm shocked seeing people travel thousands of miles to an island and then head in droves to Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs--What the F_ _K is wrong with people? If you are here looking to experience culture and something different from the regular corporate packaged crap then check this place out and for another option check out Yakiniku Kuhio which is just about a 1/4 mile walk from Wasabi Bistro. These are two of the best 'hole in the wall' but awesome spots I've encountered in Waikiki. You're welcome. The open air setting is very quaint; you almost feel like you step back in time 50-60 years when you walk through the pool area of the Breakers Hotel. PS: I saw lot's of people drinking wine here but their wine prices are WAY TOO HIGH! $18 for a single serving 'split' of Mumm's sparkling wine is completely ridiculous. It should be $10. Other than this outrageous wine pricing you can't go wrong. read more

Overall, a BIG disappointment. Positives included well put together sushi rolls with average taste. Service was excellent. On the bad side, portions were small. Everything on the menu was extremely expensive (even for Waikiki). This is an average restaurant located in the Breakers Hotel and is not a $50-60 per person type of meal. You can do much better elsewhere for a lot less money. Recommendation - Avoid, as prices on the menu do not reflect the quality of the meal. read more

The apps are the best, just like Japanese mom;s home cooking. This is one of the few places you can get authentic and Japanese-Hawaiian fusion dishes without emptying out your wallet. It's moved from its original location on Kapahulu to the Breaker's Hotel in Waikiki. It's definitely a more convenient spot in town. Don't forget to leave some space for the authentic and oh-so very delicious desert concoctions. read more

I went to Wasabi Bistro for the first time last night. I'd never gone to the original location in Kapahulu, so I didn't know what to expect. My boyfriend had gone before and said it was really good, so we went. Food: Pretty good, though a bit pricey. We had the Wasabi sushi roll moriawase (shrimp tempura roll, cali roll, & spicy tuna), agedashi tofu, chicken tatsuta-age, tofu salad, and maguro yamakake. The Tatsuta-age was the most memorable; if you go, i recommend that! The yamakake was not that good...i could have made it myself at home. Service: Very good. The servers were really attentive to our waters, reorders, etc. Ambiance: Not good. They had converted the hotel's pool bar into the restaurant, so the place is TINY. The restaurant was enclosed with some kind of straw enclosures (as far as I could remember)...not that nice. And, it's outside, so it was kind of hot...no fans... i guess i would go back. read more

I wanted my 100th review to be a positive one, so I've waited and waited and waited.... Without further anticipation from my loyal readers, here goes: We wandered into Cafe Wasabi for lunch because a) it was off the beaten path (relatively), b) the ambiance looked great, and c) we were starving. Like most tiny, tucked away places, Wasabi was a a great hidden treat! It's located in an old-school Japanese style motel. We're told that the owners have refused to sell to the likes of people such as Donald Trump who seem to buy up all the property in Waikiki to build massive, unattractive, taller-than-clouds buildings. I am definitely glad! And I'm betting that the regular customers (who completely surrounded the pool in the hotel's courtyard--note, no one was actually in the pool, just surrounding it--kind of reminded me of Miami....) were glad, too! We were also told that most of those regular hotel guests have been coming for centuries (OK, maybe not that long, but it sure did look like it). So, I digress, as usual. We went into the cute little tucked away restaurant and looked at the menu. My boyfriend got the day's lunch special (I think it was only about 14 bucks), which came with salad, miso, rice, a whole fish, and dessert of traditional tapioca and red beans. For just slightly more, I ordered a chirashi-like sushi dish with nato on top (also came with miso, salad, and kimchi-like side). Now, a word on the nato. We weren't sure what this was at first and the waitress, who was absolutely incredibly nice, tried to describe it to us. She described it as "slimy, sticky stuff--you westerners usually don't like this kind of thing". She ended up going into the kitchen and bringing us a little dish to try it. I actually really liked it a lot! It's kind of like boiled soy nuts with indeed a slimy film on top. Anyways. This lunch was probably one of the best meals I had on my vacation. I'm hoping it doesn't get too much attention so that when we go back it will still be the quiet, secluded, secret spot for us.... read more

One of my clear favourites in Honolulu. I have been 4 times and everything I have ordered so far have been totally satisfying. Every time I brought friends and family they have loved the food too so I never hesitate to bring anybody. In my usual way I order the same meal repeatedly and enjoy it every time (routine is good discipline right ;). Some of the meals I have only had in Japan before and was pretty happy to discover I could have it over here too. Vegetarian sushi was yummy, noodles and curry too. Didn't enjoy the tempura too much as I found it a little too oily with too much batter. But really enjoyed the additional side dishes like sesame spinach, miso eggplant and potato croquettes (coroque). Maybe I have to admit that my favourite of all is the desert; Coffee Jello! Ha, there I admit it! The fact that Wasabi is tucked away just adds to the atmosphere of this place. I feel that I am in Japan but in a more relaxed setting. A comfortable balance of attentive service and friendliness. Always feel at home when I can speak Japanese too. I will go back again... read more

I has been and I had an amazing dinner the other night at wasabi bistro. We met Maki, Who served up the most amazing and delicious dishes we could imagine. Please ask for Maki, as she is delightful. I had the seafood sunomono, and everything was so very fresh and tasty! I also had the Age Dashi tofu, and it was the best I have ever had. The place is is very quaint, cool and quiet, and it is in the middle of Waikiki! We will certainly be back quite often, as we had a fantastic experience. read more

By far, an excellent dining experience. The location is tucked away inside the pool area of a hotel. Half of the dining room is under a thatched roof so there is a constant breeze flowing through the dining area. This place makes for a great lunch get away off the beaten path. read more

This sushi is so fresh! I have never been a big fan of sushi, but Wasabi Bistro has changed my mind!

We ordered the wasabi sampler, and they told us that the rainbow roll was sold out for the day. We asked if we would receive a substitute in place of the missing rolls, but they said no substitutions and we would have to pay the same price for the sampler. 10 minutes later the tables next to us received their multiple orders of their rainbow rolls. It also feels like they were discriminate against my family because we aren't Japanese tourist. I'm certain that if they received that type of service while they were dining, they would find it unacceptable. Our waitress didn't come back to check to see how we were doing or fill up our water. Definitely not coming back and wouldn't recommend. read more

Hidden Japanese gem that you can't see from the street or find unless you are really looking. Used to be at another location on Kapahulu and should be back sometime soon, but now they're are a hidden restaurant my wife and I visit for good dinners. A must visit. dont eat too many fried shrimp, because I think it causes numb feet and nightmares. My issue, not that of the restaurant. This is probably the most authentic Japanese in Waikiki without catering to what is expected of 'Japanese' food. go her. read more

The food here was very good. I started with a miso soup and then had the the wasabi sampler, which came with half-rolls of rainbow roll, dragon roll, and shrimp tempura roll. Everything was fresh and well made, so no complaints about the food. I'd eat here again. However, the atmosphere was a little funky. It was past the courtyard and pool of the Breakers Hotel, so a little hard to find. There were only a few people eating there and I was concerned about having the waitstaff hover over me (as other reviewers had noted), but I chanced it since there was no wait. I found the service to be good, my waitress was attentive without being obtrusive or hovering. The decor is pretty dated but isn't majorly tacky. During my entire time eating, I was the only Westerner dining there, so that must say something about the authencity of the menu and quality of the food. Prices are pretty typical for Waikiki for dinner. Spent around $45 for my beer, meal, and tip. read more

A hidden oasis... Sorta... A bit intimidating to go to this restaurant because it's inside of a hotel. The food is average but the service is great! Be nice to the waitress's with small talk, and we received free dessert. The sashimi is ok, the scallop dynamite was tasty. A bit pricey but it's Waikiki. You can spend $50 for two and not be full, sadly. read more

Charming little place, the servers are nothing short of adorable! It was fresh, home-cooked wholesome goodness. I'll definitely try it's other branches. read more

Wonderful service and great daily lunch specials, kama'aina $10. It can be a bit pricey if you're a big eater, but the food is good. read more

What a gem! First off, thank you to the previous reviewers, which helped me find this place. Who knew that a block away from the mediocrity of Beachwalk was an understated little gem. I loved everything about Wasabi Bistro. The service is great. The staff made excellent food and sake recommendations. The ambiance is a welcome break from the craziness that is Waikiki. The menu has pictures which are helpful for some of those unfamiliar dishes. I stuck with gyoza, sushi, and sashimi, but the Japanese patrons were gobbling up the hot entrees that all smelled wonderful. The dynamite roll (spicy tuna roll) is made with chillies and it super spicy. I loved it, but other people at my table thought it was too spicy. Sashimi of the day was fatty tuna, YUM. Glad the waitress talked us into this. The quality was far above what I have ever had. Prices are reasonable for what you get and in line with the rest of Waikiki. read more

I love this place!! I always get their lunch special bento where you can choose from different meats and pick how many choices you want. The quality of the food is really good and the price is really reasonable, especially for waikiki. I always come here for lunch and will continue doing so ^_^ love it read more

The absolute best service along with the freshest fish. Everything was fabulous. Every roll was fresh & perfectly prepped.

Excellent! The service, atmosphere, and food was above par. We had the #1 and several plates of sushi, omgggg it was amazing! Is it pricey, maybe but you get what you pay for. read more

I discovered this place when I walked down the wrong street going somewhere else. It is located in a small hotel hidden by a large hotel right next to it. You can almost walk by it thinking it is something other than a small two story hotel. I saw the sign out front and decided to give it try realizing it was going to be a hit or a complete miss. It was a major hit. The place is small located in the back end of the hotel. When I walked up a lot of the tables were reserved but since I was dining alone, I sat the small bar. It was pretty empty when I arrived. I had the whole bar area to my self during my entire dinner. I ordered the sashimi and sushi sampler and they were excellent. The sushi sampler was a sample of rainbow row, shrimp tempura, and dynamite roll. They also have a selection of sake and some lesser know Japanese wine spirits. I really liked this place. It is a little pricey but service was very good. It is a little out of the way but very easy to get to. It is small and quaint and not pretensions. read more

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Great service. Great food. Have the wagyu beef entree ir the butterfish. The Lady M dessert is a 10.

Food was excellent- best yellowtail I've eaten! You need to try their signature baked scallop too! Plus the atmosphere is like being in a little Japanese yakitori bar. read more

Waitstaff was great and the sushi was great. I asked our waitress which sake to try and her recommendation was perfect. We walked in and were able to get seated, but you should make a reservation to be safe. Menus are in English and Japanese. We'll be back next time we're in the area read more

We enjoyed the food and the ambience. Nice open air dining experience, set in what looks like a small Japanese village (breakers hotel). Cool spot, we brought our baby w/ stroller and they were very accommodating. I usually don't write reviews, but it was a great dinner all around. read more

(Note: I don't slam restaurants unless they really do something stupid. See my other reviews.) My husband and I had our dinner reception here with our families. If we had ordered by a certain time, we could have received a big discount. Even though we arrived an hour prior to the deadline, nobody at the restaurant bothered to share this information with us. So by the time they took our order, the time for special discount had passed by a 2 minutes. We asked the restaurant if they can make an exception for us but they refused. read more

The food is ok, but it is over priced. The setup of the place is like typical $ or $$ place, but the price is like $$$ or higher. What surprised me is that they added 17% tip to our bill even though we only have 3 people including a 10 year old. First time I had this in my life and one of few that we didn't put 20%+ tip for our dinner. read more

Cool little spot, tucked away in the walkway of a small hotel. (Don't be turned off by the plastic chairs). Food was very good and the service was as well. We were there about 25 minutes before closing but they were very welcoming. read more

Wonderful little place with great service staff and a real love for the food they make. They claim to be the originators of the rainbow roll as well. Took a little while to get our food in between appetizers but overall had a nice experience here. read more

What a great lunch option! I've been there several times for lunch as always pleased with the selection. The lunch specials are served teishoku style and are large portions. They change them everyday so you are always in for a treat. Yesterday they had a grilled salmon (the skin was crispy and delicious) and chicken katsu. All this for $9! A must lunch spot in Waikiki read more

Holy moly! I feel out of place here! Everyone is Japanese.. like the touristy kind that lurks around Waikiki with their shopping bags and their fanny packs! Oh wait, I'm Japanese too. It's quite loud here with all the drunk Japanese people. This restaurant is kind of hidden within the Breakers Hotel (an old retirement looking motel on Beachwalk). I only found this restaurant because it's on the way to work and one of my friends work here. The food is expensive and the restroom is far away. When you drink a lot, it's important to have a restroom nearby.. -___-. Anyways, the food was good, as all Japanese food usually is :P Nothing really stood out to me here, oh except for the bill at the end! read more

They never acknowledged our presence. We were ignored for 5 minutes so we left. What's up with that? No one liked in our direction or said hi, nodded or anything:( We left and went down the street. read more

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. It smells like rotten fish. The seating is made up of lawn chairs. The sushi was fishy tasting, which tells me it wasnt fresh. The rolls had wayyyyy too much filler of crab and veges instead of the raw fish which it advertises. It tasted like grocery store sushi and therefore was EXTREMELY overpriced!!!! The smell is enough to lose your appetite. read more

The food was terrible and overpriced, beautiful space and service. We really wanted to like it.

This was our first dinner at Wasabi Bistro while visiting Waikiki . A friend who had lived in Tokyo for 10 years and who now resides in Waikiki brought us there. The restaurant is tucked away inside The Breaker Hotel which resembles an old Palm Springs Hotel with a courtyard in the middle. The restaurant was far from fancy - the chairs were plastic lawn chairs but the place was clean. We ordered gomae (spinach with sesame seeds), gyoza (potstickers), tatsuta, agedashi tofu, potato croquet, vegetable tempura, butterfish misoyaki, dynamite roll and the #1 Special (crabmeat and avocado wrapped in white fish with special sauce). Everything was good but I will defintely come back for the butterfish (black cod) and the #1 special. The waitress was friendly and attentive. This place is a hidden gem and I highly recommend it! read more

This place is off the beat and path, and a bit hard to find, but worth it when you do. Especially enjoyed the quite atmosphere, and the sushi. The poke and teriyaki chicken was good. read more

Wanted to find a local place that wasn't too intimidating while traveling alone. The location was fantastic. Loved the combination of bamboo roof and chandeliers. The sushi was super fresh, melted just like butter in my mouth. The servers were attentive and pleasant without being pushy. Loved it read more