My 13 year old loved this place so much (as did our whole family) that he felt inspired to write a review, which I leave here unedited: "My family and I are currently visiting Honolulu from southern California and stumbled across a small --tucked away-- Japanese restaurant. Inside, the attention to detail was truly amazing. By the time I stepped inside the restaurant, my mouth was watering almost at the precision, plating and the ambiance. We were seated by a very kind and professional seeming waiter. The sashimi we ordered was arguably the best I've ever had. I tried a single peace of oh-toro that melted in my mouth and ultimately blew my mind (coming from someone who's caught bluefin a tuna and tried it fresh.) We then proceeded to try a seared and thinly sliced beef tataki special that had my eyes tearing up because of the flavor. the desert menu was also off the charts. we tried the mochi ice cream which was also unsurprisingly awesome as well. as we left the chefs and waiters made time to say goodbye to us, unlike most restaurants you'll see nowadays. I left feeling inspired and overall a more colorful person, like you should leave anywhere." read more

Cute spot with authentic flavors in Waikiki. The fish was so incredibly fresh and the ambience was clean . read more

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I have been to 28 countries, including Japan, and this is now one of my favorite top 3 restaurants in the world. First, it is a very intimate hole-in-the-wall, tucked in the courtyard of an old Japanese-style hotel. Walk past the swimming pool, and you'll find it on your right. Next, the waiter was immensely helpful, giving very helpful explanations of items on the menu which we were unfamiliar. We went with a couple of his suggestions, and glad we did ... his suggestions, along with our other choices were all amazing. Even dishes which we've had before at other restaurants, e.g., the Hamachi Carpachio, were all taken up to a new level. There are only 11 tables, so be sure to make a reservation. You will NOT be disappointed! read more

Wasabi Bistro - Menu - Wasabi Bistro - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The boyfriend and I came for the sushi but definitely stayed for all of the other delicious goodies that this place has to offer. Tucked away and off the beaten paths of Waikiki, sits this hidden Japanese gem located in the Breakers Hotel. As you walk through the entrance of the hotel to get to the restaurant, I had flashbacks of Waikiki in the old days. The hotel itself gave me retro Waikiki hotel/motel vibes as the open aired rooms lined the pool before reaching Wasabi Bistro. Quaint and cozy, this restaurant is tiny. However, don't let the size of this place fool ya. Small in size, this place was overwhelming with taste and incredible service. We started with the papaya seafood motoyaki and spicy tuna crispy rice before indulging in their wasabi no. 1 special. Come hungry because these were definitely delicious. After indulging in appetizers that filled us up, we moved on to what we came to Wasabi Bistro for: the sushi! Delicious all around, you can best believe we left here at the end of the night stuffed. We all know that parking in Waikiki can be a pain. My best advice: park in the Bank of Hawaii lot right across the street. Wasabi Bistro validates here! Add to that incredible service, and you are truly in for a real treat. read more

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Some of the best/freshest sushi I have had in a very long time. We are from the mainland, on the coast, and unfortunately have yet to find sushi to the caliber of Wasabi Bistro. The Toro was the softest, smoothest, buttery my fiancé and I have ever had! The service was also fantastic, super attentive and very personable. If you are looking for sushi in Waikiki, I highly recommend venturing off the Main Street and eating at this spot. (It's a bit small so make a reservation prior to dining) Mahalo! read more

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Finding a Gem like this is what makes dining out more enjoyable. Given the current difficulty of securing a reservation. It was looking very gloom to even get a place to eat quality sushi in Honolulu. Let me break it down on why you must try this place. Granted they don't need the marketing or publicity because their service and food speak for themself. To the owner, be proud of your employees, treat them well as I've sincerely enjoyed being served by them. Treat your employees the best and they will in turn take care of your customers. Yuki, said he would call me back and let me know if there is a spot. At first, I felt like he wouldn't call me back and just forget me. However 15mins later, a call came and he said come down and we got a table. Sidney, served us well and kept it enjoyable. Never once made us feel any type of way. (This would require explaining but if you read my other reviews you will understand). all in all, the sushi here is excellent. I will try to be back and hopefully can secure a spot again. read more

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Chefs at the bar were amazing. Service was great, traditional Japanese style food. Cool environment to be around, in one of the oldest hotels left! Spicy tuna on crispy rice and the carpaccio were some highlights! read more

Wasabi Bistro - Rainbow roll, and spicy tuna on crunchy rice - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We came up on this place while taking a side street from the Outrigger Hotel. We were walking past a small older hotel and noticed Wasabi's in back. The menu - considering it being Waikiki - did not seem very pricey and had a variety of items on the menu. Being that it had 4 1/2 star rating we thought we would check it out that evening. First of all you should have reservations - place is very small and limited seating. We came right as it opened and were seated promptly. From the very beginning their service was impressive. They have several different combinations of food Including sushi and sashimi. I did not take a picture of the salad we ordered but it was delicious with a light vinaigrette. The food and definitely the service made it very easy to give this place five stars. We will be back again and again. read more

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Literally the best sushi I've ever had in my life. It's an intimate off the beaten path type place. We had a great time with the recommendations from our server. read more

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This is for sure a place to go to if you are craving sushi. Everything g is fresh and so tasty and presented in such a authentic way.... It reminded me of my trip to kamakura, Japan! read more

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This was a nice little spot in Waikiki! We had a lot of food! Our favorite was the steak and shrimp tempura but every single item we got was good. Most of the restaurants in the area seemed booked so it was hard to get a seat somewhere so we wandered into this small restaurant and we got lucky cause it was packed but they somehow squeezed us in. It is located within a hotel with a pool right in front. The host was so accommodating offering to bring us drinks outside while we wait for our table. The tofu we had for an appetizer was amazingly very filling. The waitress was also very nice. read more

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We absolutely loved the ambiance of this place. The restaurant is very small, so when we got there for our reservation at 8pm, we weren't able to be seated until 8:30. The wait didn't feel too bad because we were able to order drinks and just hang out by the pool. The staff there was super polite and even gave us complimentary Shishito peppers because we had to wait for so long. Food: My fiancé doesn't really care for sushi, so he ordered the chicken teriyaki, which was just ok; nothing special. I ordered the Sushi Regular Combo, Wasabi No. 1 Special, and Baked Scallop Special. The sushi regular combo was super fresh and just melts in your mouth. The Wasabi No. 1 Special was just as good as every other yelper says that it is; super creamy and flavorful. The baked scallop was served on top of a bed of rice and was also very creamy and flavorful. Would definitely order all of these again. Service: Everyone there was super polite, helpful, and attentive. We weren't seated until 8:30, and even they closed at 9pm, we didn't feel rushed or anything. read more

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This is such a quiet little hidden gem in Waikiki! The food, staff, and ambiance are all wonderful, you won't be disappointed.

Hidden gem located on property of Breakers Hotel on Beachwalk. It's in the back. Only thing is there is no parking- maybe if you're lucky, you can find something on Saratoga Road. Oh gosh the sushi was really good! We had the chef's choice sushi selection ($28). I also couldn't resist getting uni sushi. The fish was so buttery and soft. And the uni was sooo good and fresh! If you are an uni fan, you'll have to get this. The sashimi salad had large slices of fish on fresh greens for a surprisingly good price. The dressing was so light and tasty. Cousin's hubby ordered the grilled salmon (moist) for $12 and added the set of rice, miso soup and a small salad for $6.50 extra. Great deal! There was a dessert menu with Lady M cake, Royce chocolate, mochi ice cream among other things. Service was attentive and friendly. She was very informative about the different dishes. Enjoyed a really nice delicious for a reasonable price. read more

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Delicious! The food was top notch and the interior was clean. Service was very good and I appreciated the unique dishes like the Papaya Seafood Motoyaki and Crispy Rice & Spicy Tuna. Would come again! read more

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I never write reviews or add a tip for a business but beware waitress may harass you for a higher tip - even chasing after you when exiting the restaurant. Put a really sour taste in our mouths. For that- will not dine here because they clearly can't afford to pay their workers a liveable wage. read more

SO DELICIOUS! Stumbled upon this little gem and got lucky to be able to get seated. Staff were all very friendly, and it was such a quaint little setting. Loved it! read more

Maybe I'm just a simple commoner but oh. my. goodness. With each different item menu, each bite sent me to another dimension. My eating experience here is what doctor strange must be experiencing. We started with the carpaccio and the grilled papaya. delectable. delicious. Whet the appetite. Then we moved on to the tatsuraage, when I tell you that I had no idea chicken could TASTE LIKE THAT??? we ended up having 2 orders because that ish was certifiably bussin. The stars of the night for me though, were the o Toro (fatty tuna) and uni Nigiri. the otoro? absolutely melted like butter in my mouth. I savored every millisecond of that bite. The uni? it was like I was dropped into the middle of the ocean with the most calm tide. I could hear Ariel singing into my ear as schools of fish swam through my soul. Amazing dining experience and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful. Big shout out to the host and Thomas, our waiter. I am eternally grateful. read more

Wasabi Bistro - Uni - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Tried this place to celebrate the Mother's Day dinner and it was one good experience. Servers were great and dishes very unique and delicious (see uploaded photos). Didn't try their sashimi, but based on the price charged per piece, they must be of high quality, hard to obtain ingredients. They validate parking in the basement of the Bank of Hawaii building, a short distance from the restaurant, which is very convenient and will save customers around $12.00 for two hours parking. Be advised that their phone system is terrible. They called you, you missed their call, and tried to return calls = impossible! One thing is that they don't have their mailbox set up. I hope the management will rectify this most irritating issue, promptly. Otherwise, I am sure this flaw will deter some customers from going there. read more

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Hidden Gem in Waikiki. Everything was delicious. Kauai battered shrimp was awesome. Hamachi Kama, Soft she'll crab with Ponzu, Wasabi Hamachi carpaccio. Customer Service was Great. Small area so make sure you put in RSVP. read more

Wasabi Bistro - Mocha cheesecake - coconut mocha - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Amazing service. Our server was extremely knowledgeable and kind. Food came out quickly and very fresh. Highly recommend the yellowtail carpaccio. Overall amazing! Will definitely come back. read more

I'm a fan of Wasabi Bistro. I had been a fan of theirs even when they were located in Kapahulu on the corner where Sweet E's is now. They have been around for a number of years and I have always enjoyed their food. When they moved into Waikiki it was a little hard for me to get to but they now validate parking up to two hours at the Bankoh building so it works perfectly for Kamaaina like myself. They are located in the Waikiki Breaker's Hotel, which is a great quaint little hotel IMO if you're not wanting to stay in the concrete jungle which is most of Waikiki. If you head towards the back they are located on the right hand side of the hotel. It's a cool little getaway spot, very private, not too crowded and pre-pandemic you'll find a Japanese celeb or two dining there now and then. Since the pandemic hit, they've stepped up and taken some extra precautions with their layout, safety and cleanliness standards and some renovations. I think i last went there a few yers back but last weekend i took my wife there for her birthday and noticed that they have a sushi bar. Not sure how long that's been around but it's a nice touch because their sushi was excellent. The chef's are authentic and genuine. The side dishes were also quite tasty. We had the tatsutaage and salad and then of course stuffed our faces with the sushi. This is a great atmosphere for dates and families and i would highly recommend you go and check them out since parking is no longer an issue. They're also on OpenTable so it's easy to make a reservation. I suggest you do it since most of the staff primarily speak Japanese so that also tells you how authentic it is there. read more

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It has been a while since my last visit at Wasabi Bistro from their old location on Kapahulu. But their food is still good as always. Great service from friendly staff and a nice and cozy dining room in the heart of Waikiki. We had sashimi deluxe and it was very fresh and highest quality. We also had other dishes that equally good and we ended our dinner with crape cake and mochi ice cram, such a perfect combination before going back to sleep. read more

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Had the most incredible authentic Japanese style meal tonight. This was such a hidden gem and my expectations were BLOWN away! It was also 3 minutes down the street from our hotel?! Insane fresh quality and flavors all around. Hamachi Wasabi Carpaccio Crispy Rice Chips & Spicy Tuna Wasabi No. 1 Special Vegetable Tempura Spicy Bigeye Tuna Roll read more

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The staff is wonderful, the Individual attention they paid to each guest was impressive. When asked, they spent a lot of time educating each of the guests about the sake and menu items. In some cases helping match people to off menu combinations to personalize their experience. The sashimi was incredible. My picture was plate #2. Each dish was uniquely plated and beautiful. If you're new to sushi - you should come here to feel comfortable and learn about the dishes! If you're already a fan, the quality is tops! read more

Wasabi Bistro - Sashimi ala carte - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Closest thing to an authentic Japanese sushi spot I have been to. It is a hidden gem, food was fresh and tasty.

Relaxing ambiance, friendly service, and everything tastes fresh - even basics like miso soup and California roll were amazing!

Intimate, cute, delicious. Service is attentive and menu is diverse. It's fun and cool if you can sit at the bar and watch the sushi chefs cut and prepare fish. read more

This hidden gem of a place makes me feel like I left Hawai'i and stumbled into the alley ways of Japan. The moment you make your towards the restaurant, it leaves you feeling as if you are lost ahha in a good way! The decor is very humbling. There are clear plastic dividers between every table, I'm mean the world is not back to normal after all. Now for the moment you might be reading this review for, the food. I can break it down to three words dee-lish-shus. I'm mean otoro, hamachi, uni!!! Come on. read more

Wasabi Bistro - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Excellent service made our visit for our daughter's first birthday most memorable. Very accommodating, helpful and attentive. Lovely atmosphere, minimalist modern and soft lighting. Delicious food with high quality ingredients, even gluten free ponzu! Sushi platter excellent selection including uni. In addition to pics, also enjoyed grilled squid, rainbow roll, miso soup and dashi spinach. read more

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Amazing sushi restaurant along Waikiki. It's tucked away at the back of what I think is a hotel/motel. The bluefin tuna (fatty tuna) was phenomenal! The service and all the food was 5 stars! Highly recommend. read more

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Lowkey, off the beaten path, & almost hidden away in the middle of busy Waikiki. Walk ins are welcomed but I'd suggest making a reservation to guarantee a seat. The restaurant is intimate so it works better for smaller parties. They have daily specials & a full menu with many dishes catering to seafood lovers. I look forward to coming back again. read more

We just finished dinner here and it was amazing. The atmosphere is so nice. It's quaint and the food is wonderful. Thomas was our server and he gave us the best advice and made our evening even better. We took all of his suggestions and just ate the best sushi of our lives!! We were celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary and we were made to feel special. We will be coming back for sure!!! Might even fly in just for this place! It was that great. Oh and the saki did not disappoint!! read more

Wasabi Bistro - Hamachi carpaccio - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Always a must for us when we visit Waikiki. Servers are extremely attentive and take their time to explain what is being served. Food is always good and fresh. read more

Best (Price VS Quality) Japanese cuisine on Waikiki. Fresh sashimi, the Wasabi No 1 crab cake is a must to have. read more

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The food is so fresh, and the service is great. This is definitely a go to spot when we are in the area. You won't be disappointed!

stumbled upon this place while walking around waikiki. i'm so glad we found this place because it's definitely a hole in the wall place & the location is pretty hidden if you're not intentionally looking for it. everything was sooo good & unique. they added their own twist to all the dishes they have to offer. everything we ordered exceeded our expectations! the sushi was also super fresh & delicious. we will be coming back here in the future if you're coming here you should make a reservation in advance bc they are really busy & limited seating. read more

Wasabi Bistro - Japanese Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Went to this place for date night in Waikiki. Such a hidden gem found within the Breakers Hotel property. We went without a reservation but the host squeezed us in so we got to sit at the bar right at opening. BUT I would highly recommend making a reservation as it filled up quickly. The service, sushi, and sashimi were top notch. Our server Yun and the sushi chef gave the best food recommendations. We had the dynamite mushroom baked appetizer, hamachi carpaccio (delightful), and deluxe sashimi sampler (wow... scallops and urchins were like butter). The star of the night was the recommendation that was not on the menu. The perch was chef's kiss. Do not miss out on that! Thank you for a special night with some of the best food we have ever eaten. read more

Title: a surprise find! Pros: good food quality, good service, dining environment is good, price is good, air circulation is good (good for dining during covid-19) Cons: no parking, tucked into a small hotel (nothing major to complain about) A surprise find during COVID! Went there while I stayed in a hotel close by. I never expected anything this good at this price range. Sushi was delicious... oh that uni and hotate... o-toro was good... and some of the cooked dishes we ordered. One biggie was the environment and how it helps to prevent the spread of COVID 19. Look at the front and back doors. Air goes right through. Will go back again! read more

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The restaurant is located inside the pool area of the Breakers hotel so finding the entrance was a bit challenging. The decor is very minimalist and very much in line with the Japanese aesthetic. My friend who is Japanese did the ordering for us, we ended up ordering a mix of sushi, sashimi, fried chicken, fried crab, grilled mackerel and stuffed papaya. The portions are small so it was good that we ordered a bunch of different items to share. The quality and freshness of the seafood was very good. Everyone was impressed with the presentation and flavor of the food. My personal favorites were the tuna sashimi, fried blue crab, fried chicken and the Wasabi number 1, which tasted like a delicious flaky crab cake. The one dish that was disappointing for everyone was the seafood stuffed papaya, the flavors just didn't seem to blend well and the taste was just weird. The service was very attentive. I would definitely recommend if you're in the mood for some authentic Japanese. read more

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