15 Best Japanese Restaurants in Honolulu

🚗 Skip Waikiki, Drive to Aiea

The 15-20 minute drive to Pearlridge Center in Aiea is worth it. You'll find better food, lower prices, shorter waits, and a more authentic local experience. Parking is free and plentiful — unlike Waikiki where you'll pay $5-10+ for parking.

Pro tip: Take the H-1 West to exit 20A (Pearlridge). KOROMO is in the Makai (ocean-side) section of the mall.

⏰ Timing Matters

Most Japanese restaurants in Honolulu get busy during standard meal times. For the shortest waits, aim for these off-peak windows:

• • Lunch: Before 11:30am or after 1:30pm
• • Dinner: Before 5:30pm or after 8pm
• • Weekends: Expect longer waits everywhere — go early or late

💡 How to Spot Tourist Traps

In Waikiki especially, watch out for these red flags:

• • Pictures of food on the menu with prices not listed
• • Staff aggressively trying to get you inside
• • Empty restaurant during peak hours while others have lines
• • "Tourist menu" or prices seem too high for what you get

Rule of thumb: If locals aren't eating there, there's usually a reason.

🍜 Japanese Food Etiquette in Hawaii

Hawaii's Japanese restaurants are generally relaxed, but here are a few things to know:

• • Slurping noodles is acceptable (and expected) at ramen shops
• • Tipping 18-20% is standard, same as mainland US
• • Sharing dishes is common and encouraged at izakaya and yakiniku spots
• • Counter seating at ramen shops is often faster than waiting for a table

🍜 Ramen

Japanese noodle soup with rich broth, wheat noodles, and various toppings. The most common styles in Honolulu:

• Tonkotsu: Creamy pork bone broth, rich and hearty. The most popular style in Hawaii.
• Shoyu: Soy sauce-based broth, lighter and more traditional.
• Miso: Fermented soybean paste broth, savory and slightly sweet.
• Spicy: Any base with added chili oil or paste for heat.

What to add: Extra chashu (pork belly), soft-boiled egg (ajitama), extra noodles. Most shops offer spice levels — start medium if unsure.

Try it at: Onoya Ramen (Kapahulu), EZOGIKU (Waikiki), Momosan (upscale)

🍲 Udon

Thick, chewy wheat noodles served hot or cold with various broths and toppings:

• Kake Udon: Simple hot broth with noodles — the purest form.
• Tempura Udon: Topped with crispy tempura shrimp or vegetables.
• Curry Udon: Japanese curry sauce over udon — hearty and filling.
• Zaru Udon: Cold noodles with dipping sauce — refreshing in Hawaii's heat.

Pro tip: At Udon Yama, you can customize your noodle firmness and broth temperature.

Try it at: Udon Yama (Waikiki)

🍱 Tonkatsu

Breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet, served with cabbage, rice, and tonkatsu sauce:

• Rosu Katsu: Pork loin cutlet — leaner, more traditional.
• Hire Katsu: Pork tenderloin — tender and lean.
• Kurobuta: Premium black pig pork — more marbling, richer flavor.
• Katsu Curry: Tonkatsu served with Japanese curry sauce.

How to eat it: Grind the sesame seeds at your table, mix with tonkatsu sauce. The cabbage is unlimited at most places — it helps cut the richness.

Try it at: KOROMO (Aiea) for my top pick, Ginza Bairin (Waikiki)

🥩 Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ)

Grill-your-own meat at the table. Most popular cuts:

• Harami: Skirt steak — flavorful, good marbling, most popular cut.
• Kalbi: Short rib — tender, well-marbled, Korean-influenced.
• Beef Tongue (Gyutan): Thinly sliced, unique texture — a must-try.
• Wagyu: Premium Japanese beef — expensive but worth trying once.

Pro tip: At Gyu-Kaku, the all-you-can-eat option is usually better value if you're hungry. Start with lighter meats, save rich wagyu for later.

Try it at: Gyu-Kaku Kaneohe (less crowded) or Gyu-Kaku Waikiki

🍙 Musubi

Hawaii's iconic Japanese-influenced snack — rice with toppings wrapped in nori seaweed:

• Spam Musubi: The classic — grilled spam on rice with nori. A Hawaii staple.
• Bacon Egg Musubi: Breakfast version with bacon and egg.
• Furikake Musubi: Rice seasoned with furikake (seaweed/sesame seasoning).
• Specialty Musubi: Creative versions with teriyaki chicken, salmon, or vegetables.

When to eat: Perfect for beach snacks, quick lunch, or late-night cravings. Musubi is Hawaii's answer to the sandwich.

Try it at: IYASUME Ala Moana or IYASUME Beach Walk

🔥 Teppanyaki / Pepper Rice

Interactive dining where you cook your own food on a hot iron plate:

• Beef Pepper Rice: The signature dish — rice, beef, corn, butter, and special sauce on a 500°F plate.
• Salmon Pepper Rice: Same concept with salmon instead of beef.
• Curry Beef Pepper Rice: Beef pepper rice with Japanese curry.
• Combo Plates: Mix of proteins for variety.

How to eat it: Mix everything together quickly while it's sizzling. The crispy rice at the bottom is the best part. Add the honey brown sauce for sweetness.

Try it at: Pepper Lunch Hawaii — Hawaii's first location

🚗 If You Have a Rental Car

A rental car opens up the best Japanese food options on Oahu. Here are driving times from Waikiki:

• • Aiea (Pearlridge): 15-20 min via H-1 West — KOROMO
• • Moanalua: 12-15 min via H-1 West — Pepper Lunch Hawaii
• • Kaneohe: 25-30 min via Pali Hwy or H-3 — Gyu-Kaku
• • Waipahu: 20-25 min via H-1 West — Restaurant Kunio
• • Kapahulu: 5-10 min — Onoya Ramen

Parking tip: Pearlridge, Moanalua Shopping Center, and Windward Mall all have free parking. In Waikiki, expect to pay $5-15 for parking.

🚌 Without a Car (TheBus)

Honolulu's bus system (TheBus) can get you to some spots, but it takes longer:

• • Waikiki restaurants: Walking distance from most hotels
• • Ala Moana: Bus #8, #19, #20 from Waikiki (15-20 min) — IYASUME
• • Kapahulu: Bus #2 from Waikiki (10-15 min) — Onoya Ramen
• • Aiea/Pearlridge: Bus #20 or #42 (60-90 min) — long ride, not ideal

Reality check: For the best Japanese food outside Waikiki, you really need a car or rideshare. Uber/Lyft to Aiea from Waikiki runs about $25-35 each way.

🚶 Walking in Waikiki

If you're staying in Waikiki without a car, these Japanese restaurants are within walking distance:

• • Udon Yama — Waikiki Beach Walk area
• • Ginza Bairin — Waikiki Beach Walk
• • Gyu-Kaku Waikiki — Near International Marketplace
• • IYASUME Beach Walk — Waikiki Beach Walk
• • Morimoto Asia — Waikiki Beach Walk
• • EZOGIKU Ramen — Multiple Waikiki locations
• • Ramen Nakamura — Waikiki

🌅 Best Days of the Week

• Tuesday - Thursday: Shortest waits, best service. Most restaurants are fully staffed but not overwhelmed.
• Friday - Saturday: Expect 20-45 minute waits at popular spots, especially in Waikiki. Make reservations where possible.
• Sunday: Many restaurants close early (7-8pm). Check hours before heading out.
• Monday: Some restaurants closed for rest day. Always verify before visiting.

⏰ Best Times of Day

🎉 Special Considerations

• Holidays: New Year's (especially Japanese New Year), Golden Week visitors from Japan can make restaurants extra busy.
• Cruise ship days: When large ships dock in Honolulu, Waikiki restaurants get significantly busier.
• Happy Hour: Many spots like Gyu-Kaku and KOROMO offer happy hour specials (typically 2-5pm) — great for value.
• Rainy days: Mall locations (Pearlridge, Ala Moana) get busier when weather is bad.

🍺 Take Advantage of Happy Hour

Many Japanese restaurants in Honolulu offer significant happy hour discounts, typically 20-30% off select items:

• • Gyu-Kaku: Happy hour specials on appetizers and drinks
• • KOROMO: 20% off during happy hour (typically 2-4pm)
• • Momosan: Discounted ramen and drinks during off-peak hours

🚗 Eat Outside Waikiki

The same quality food is often 20-30% cheaper outside of Waikiki:

• • Aiea (Pearlridge): KOROMO offers better value than Waikiki tonkatsu spots
• • Kaneohe: Gyu-Kaku same prices as Waikiki, but free parking saves $5-10
• • Kapahulu: Local ramen spots often cheaper than Waikiki equivalents

📱 Use Apps and Loyalty Programs

• • Gyu-Kaku Rewards: Free appetizer on signup, points for every visit
• • Check Yelp: Some restaurants offer "Check-in Offers" for discounts
• • Birthday deals: Many restaurants offer free items or discounts during your birthday month

🍱 Order Smart

• • Share plates at yakiniku/izakaya: Order family-style and split the bill
• • Skip drinks: Beverages at restaurants are marked up significantly. Stick with water or tea.
• • Lunch specials: Many restaurants offer the same dishes cheaper at lunch than dinner
• • All-you-can-eat: At Gyu-Kaku, AYCE is often better value if you're hungry