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    Yakitori Hachibei

    4.3 (463 reviews)
    PriceyJapanese
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Yakitori Hachibei Photos

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    YAKITORI HACHIBEI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise

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    Thinly sliced beef with green onions
    Edmond T.

    Tucked away in downtown Honolulu, Yakitori Hachibei is a true hidden gem that food lovers must discover. Opened by a renowned Japanese chef from Tokyo, this spot brings an authentic taste of Japan to the islands, and you can taste the passion and expertise in every skewer. The star of the show is undoubtedly the chicken Tsukune, served with a side of raw egg for dipping. The combination is simply divine, with the savory meatballs perfectly seasoned and incredibly tender. The momo (chicken thigh) is another standout, boasting a juicy texture that melts in your mouth with each bite. And don't overlook the chicken wings--these are an absolute highlight, grilled to perfection with a crispy exterior and succulent inside. For those looking to indulge, the Wagyu beef with uni is a heavenly match. The richness of the beef paired with the creamy, briny uni creates a luxurious flavor experience that you won't forget. Yakitori Hachibei is a must-visit for anyone in Honolulu seeking top-notch yakitori in an inviting atmosphere. With expertly crafted dishes and a chef who knows how to elevate traditional flavors, this place is a culinary treasure waiting to be explored. After your dinner make sure you go to EP (Japanese Cocktail Listening Bar) but don't forget to make a reservation!

    Hatsu and Sunazuri
    Naoto U.

    Good food but it is not mainstream Yakitori. They need to increase the variety of chicken choices. Not beef or pork. This choice of menu is most likely for the tourist from the continent. They should also consider valet service, it is not particularly safe location. Once you in the restaurant, it is a very nice setting.

    Momo
    Sandee M.

    We arrived for dinner before and Hawaii Theatre show. Loved the decor and comfy aura. Service was superb! Everything was explained very well and our servers were very conscious about our show time. We decided to get the 9 course happy hour omakase. Every dish was very tasty and beautifully cooked. They have truly mastered the yakitori preparation! We will be back.

    Toki highball
    Nathan K.

    Fantastic restaurant in Chinatown. Reminds me of a yakitori joint you'd find in Tokyo. Lively atmosphere without being too loud. The food is delicious and service is attentive. Be sure to sit at the counter for the full experience. If you're the omakase type, I highly recommend ordering their 11-course menu. It's a great deal at $50/person and the food is excellent. I already want to go back.

    Tsukune
    Justin H.

    TL;DR Delicious yakitori! ----- Hachibei is a solid yakitori option conveniently located in the heart of Downtown. I've been to this restaurant several times, and I've always enjoyed my meals here. If you're lucky, maybe you will be able to snag street parking nearby. If not, there's always several paid parking lots on the block. I'd consider Hachibei to be a fancy-ish yakitori spot, so pricing wise I feel like the value is average. The best bang for your buck will either be the 11 course omakase for $50 or the 8 skewers for $45. My wife doesn't eat beef and pork, so we opted for the 8 skewers as well as the cream cheese tofu, the local corn karaage, and the sumiyaki oyako don. I won't go into too much detail, because honestly everything was fantastic. The appetizers were both phenomenal, all the skewers were delicious, and the oyako don felt like a warm bowl of grandma's house. You can't go wrong here. I was a fan of every dish. Salty charcoaled meats and beer are two of my favorite things, so it's hard to miss. This is a nice little date spot. I'll definitely be back!

    Onigiri
    Kevin Y.

    I am so sad to hear that this place is closing soon in Dec 2025!!!! I only had the chance to come here once and I am so glad that I at least got to try it one time before they shut down. If you are reading this....please find a way to keep them open!! The A5 Wagyu was some of the best I've ever had. The staff are all super friendly. Loved the omakase style Yakitori. So much fun to see all the food on the grill while you wait. The lychee non alcoholic drink was also amazing.

    Leslie M.

    A Downtown Hidden Gem! We had an amazing dining experience at Yakitori Hachibei in Chinatown, Honolulu. From start to finish, everything was thoughtfully curated and delicious. We opted for the $50 omakase course, which came with 11 courses and it was worth every penny. Each dish was made to perfection, showcasing high-quality ingredients with incredible balance of flavor and texture. The pacing of the meal was just right -- enough time to savor each bite and get excited for the next. Parking was surprisingly manageable -- we found street parking nearby, but there are also garages close by if needed. This place is a great spot for date night or a foodie adventure. I'll definitely be coming back to try more! Highly recommend.

    Happy hour Suntory on draft
    Chantal C.

    Stick Fix . Park at a flat rate garage. Cheaper than the outdoor lots and street metered parking ($3/hr). I paid $16 for 3hrs at the N. Pauahi lot... . Happy hour special of $35 OMAKASE is such a steal! Pairs perfectly with their draft Suntory. It's an izakaya in the middle of chinatown with welcoming service and mouth-watering aromas that'll have you walking out smelling like the grill - in a good way lol. When skewers hit the fire, I immediately began craving the cheesy plates I'd wipe out in 日本, but YH unfortunately doesn't offer those - thus my 4 star rating. ): Nonetheless, 全部で とてもうまい - everything was delish! Sitting at the bar is the way to go, tho I recommend avoiding seats front of the smokescreen. . かんぱい- kanpai (:

    Yvonne C.

    Made reservation at 6pm for their dinner. Our server was very friendly and efficient. The restaurant itself was great and clean. We ordered their Omakase menu. Everything tastes good except the Sumiyake Jidori Don. Tastes like gas!! I would recommend to order Oyako Don. The most outstanding item was pork belly. Highly recommend.

    Joseph M.

    This is a place I've been looking forward to for a while on my Hawaii trip because I've had omakase plenty of times. But I've never had a yakitori focused omakase before so here I am. I ordered $65 13 yakitori omakase course. I also ordered an add on of A5 Japanese Wagyu and octopus. Everything was soo good. My favorites were the octopus and the tsukune. The service here was pretty decent. Our courses all came out in a timely manner. The restaurant is also nicely decorated. Overall, it's definitely one of the more unique omakase experiences I've had. I definitely recommend checking this spot out if you haven't already. Try it out if you like. :)

    October 2017 Monthly Specials
    Lori L.

    Yakitori Hachibei has a new, refined menu. While you won't find a bunch of different cuts, they do offer the most common skewers and they do those skewers well. If it's your first time, or you want to get a good variety, their omakase is the way to go. Our Restaurant Week Pre Fixe had 12 courses starting with a crudo of ahi in cold ginger sauce. If you like the ginger scallion poke at the supermarket, you'll like this. The punchy ginger overpowered the mild ahi. Next was a flashed fried corn riblet dipped in tare. The corn was cooked until firm and dry, giving it a starchy chew. The vegetable course was grilled tender eggplant and shishito topped with bonito. Butabara pork belly was next. The pork was lean and topped with seasoned salt. Sukiyaki featured tender grilled beef wrapped around chrysanthemum and enoki and served with an egg yolk for dipping. Juicy chicken tsukune was brushed with tare and served with mustard. Lean chicken breast is dipped in shoyu wasabi. The soy was slightly sweet and the wasabi had a lovely floral note. The atsuage was firm fried tofu, grilled, the. topped with ginger and bonito. The tofu was dry and didn't taste like much on its own. Grilled Kauai shrimp was crispy enough to enjoy the head. It had a nice char and was simply seasoned with lemon and salt. Cucumber salad was a simple palate refresher served with the salty momoyaki and rice. This heavily seasoned chicken thigh was juicy and had a crispy skin. They ran out of the goma pudding, so our meal ended with chocolate ice cream. The courses came out at a good pace and overall I enjoyed the variety of the set. If it's been awhile since you've been to Hachibei, this is your sign to check them out again.

    Corn rib and tuna appetizer
    Nikki C.

    A good date spot to go to with nice ambience and service. We had the Happy Hour menu for $40 each plus a scoop of ice cream (not depicted). It was good but the portion is on the smaller side.

    Pork belly skewer
    Casey H.

    Let me first say that the happy hour omakase is so worth it. You get 10 courses for $35 and it's a great representation of what they offer. The rest of the happy hour menu is amazing. I got way more than the omakase, and was never disappointed with whatever I got. Personal highlights were the: corn karaage, sukiyaki, tofu, tako karaage, Hokkaido scallops, beef tongue, miso eggplant, and pork belly. The ambiance, presentation and service is an elevated experience -- that of an award-winning or higher end restaurant. You can definitely go casual (t-shirt and shorts), but you can also go really trendy for a date night. The service is excellent. I never had a water glass go past 3/4 empty and the staff was great with recommendations and answering questions. Overall, excellent experience and I would recommend to anyone who is going to Chinatown.

    Purple sweet potato salad. Yummy

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    Page 1 of 12

    Yakitori Hachibei Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Yakitori Hachibei

    Do they allow walk ins?

    They do but but that will most likely based on last minute cancellations. you are better off making reservations in advance!

    Best location or closest location to park?

    There is street parking on Nu'uanu and Smith St. or the Chinese municipal parking lots throughout Chinatown.

    Do they permit you to bring your own bottle and what is the corkage fee?

    Yes, you can bring your own but the corkage fee is high because they preferred that you don't bring.

    Is there happy hour at 5pm on Saturday?

    Yes, there is a Happy Hour menu from 5-6PM

    Is there a Happy Hour?

    Yes there is...early evening at 5. Certain menu items are $5 at 5pm.

    Do they allow walk ins or can you eat here only with a reservation?

    They allow walk ins but they have been so busy you can't get a table without a reservation. Better to make a reservation so you won't be disappointed if they are fully booked when you go.

    What does a typical meal for 2 run?

    $80

    View All 12 Questions

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    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro

    4.3
    (4.2k reviews)
    3.0 mi
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    Free parking
    19 years in business

    We've been coming back to Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu & Yoshoku Bistro in Waikiki for years now, and…read morethere's genuinely a special place in our hearts for this spot simply because it's still here after all this time. In a city where restaurants come and go, that kind of longevity says something. The Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu set and Set A are our go-tos every time. The pork is consistently tender with that perfect crispy crust. And can we talk about the sesame seed crushing situation for a second, I half-joke that it should be a litmus test for any good tonkatsu place. If they hand you that mortar and pestle to grind your own sesame for the sauce, you know they're serious about the details. One practical note: seating is limited and it fills up fast, so I'd recommend making a reservation if you can, especially during peak hours. The first time we ever visited, our kid was still in the stroller and we were so embarrassed how much space we were taking up. But everyone here is just in for a good time. Too bad there's no downtime or else that's when we usually like to visit the restaurant without bother other guests. Just plan ahead. Ginza Bairin has stood the test of time!

    My daughter got to choose our dinner on night 2 here on the island and she picked chicken or pork…read morekatsu. I found this place on Yelp, thanks Yelp! It did not disappoint. The staff is amazing and the food was delicious. It reminded my husband and I of this place in Kyoto. Don't get confused, there are two sides, one side requires reservations (which we didn't have) so they sent us next door and they were able to accommodate us. The interior was cute, very Japan. My daughter and I ordered the chicken katsu, it was yummy and my husband and son ordered the beef katsu with a side of pork katsu. I loved how they gave sesame seeds in a bowl for the kids to grind up to put in our sauces. That kept them entertained for a bit. Also, apparently this is a branch of a tonkatsu restaurant in Ginza. I recommend this place is you're specifically looking for a Japanese restaurant aside from sushi.

    Photos
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Tonkatsu, katsu-don, gyukatsu
    Special Katsu-don set
    Special Katsu-don set
    Katasu-don

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    Katasu-don
    Tonkatsu Tamafuji

    Tonkatsu Tamafuji

    4.6
    (2.5k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$$

    I finally got reservations for lunch and got to sit in their new expanded area. The restaurant it…read moreso beautiful and clean. The servers were very nice, fast and very accommodating. We ordered three different items: Jyukusei Pork Loin Katsu Set, Sizzling Plate Miso Sauce Pork Loin Set, and a side of the shrimp tempura. Everything tasted amazing. The tonkatsu was crispy, but juicy on the inside. The shrimp with that delicious home made tater sauce was delicious. And the unlimited salad is always a plus. They gave us tea to finish the meal and it was a nice way to end it. There is limited parking on the street or on the basement level of the building. They offer validation if you dine with them. Love coming here, it's always consistent.

    My cousins highly recommended this place, and after seeing so many Instagram posts about it, I knew…read moreI had to give it a try. We attempted to make reservations, but they were completely booked until the following month. Since we didn't want to miss out, we decided to order their most popular tonkatsu meal to go instead. When we arrived, there were already a lot of people waiting outside. I went in to check on our order, and they let me know it would be another 10-15 minutes. Since it was a hot day, we wandered over to the crystal-themed shop next door while we waited. It had lots of interesting items to browse, although we ended up leaving empty handed. About 15 minutes later our order was ready, and we Ubered back to our hotel, which only took a few minutes. When we opened everything up, the portion felt a bit small for the price. The tonkatsu itself was tender, but for us it didn't quite live up to all the hype. I did appreciate that you can choose clam soup instead of the traditional miso soup, and there are different rice options as well, which is a nice touch. Overall, it was a good meal, but not one that completely wowed us given the price. It's possible the experience would have been different dining in, but with the long waitlist and the hot weather, takeout was the better choice for us.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Making the sauce
    Making the sauce
    Mix Katsu Set

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    Mix Katsu Set
    Kaimuki Shokudo

    Kaimuki Shokudo

    4.2
    (462 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Delicious soba and donburi! Fast and friendly service. Takes reservations. Large and spacious…read moredining area. Lunch and dinner menu are completely different. Will need to come back for dinner. Lunch and teishoku set available.

    I was really hoping to be wowed by this place because I have been eyeing it for some time…read more But... it was overall mid. We had the saba, which I would say was good. 3/5 Beef curry, which was ok, but the rice was dry. It seemed a tad bit undercooked. Enough to notice and be disappointed by texture and lack of moisture, so I didn't really eat the rice. Curry and beef was quite ordinary. 2/5 Chicken karaage was the only thing I did really like. Best I've had? No. But still great. 4/5 Rump cap was just really disappointing. No flavor and it was not tender. 1/5 Unagi chazuke had good flavor but again the rice was dry. Here is where the service did not impress me. The man who came to pour the broth did it so fast like he was in a rush, maybe he was, that droplets of the broth ricocheted onto my outfit went through and reached my thighs and actually hurt. I didn't react because... well... I didn't want to seem whiny. But that was not ok to be in such a rush that you cause harm or pain to a customer. 1/5 for the service, 3/5 for the dish Overall, wanted to love this place but it sadly disappointed. I didn't even bother to order the honey toast because everything else was overall just ok.

    Photos
    Just an opening 11/15/25. The restaurant was filled within minutes. Featuring Yelp Elite All Star Donna O.
    Just an opening 11/15/25. The restaurant was filled within minutes. Featuring Yelp Elite All Star Donna O.
    Chicken kaarage
    Chicken kaarage
    Their famous " Honey Toast"

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    Their famous " Honey Toast"

    Yakitori Hachibei - japanese - Updated July 2026

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