review
Kamitoku Beef Ramen Review: Is This the Best Ramen in Honolulu?
Tottori beef-bone broth in the old Scratch Kitchen space · Beefy Wild $18.50 · BYOB · lunch specials from $14
By Nate · Published October 2026
4.5/5Nate's rating: 4.5 out of 5
I kept walking past the old Scratch Kitchen space at South Shore Market, and one day there was a new banner up: crossed bones, a cow, and 香味徳. That's Kamitoku — a beef-bone ramen shop out of Tottori, Japan. Not the old Ward Centre counter. A whole new room, with the kitchen open so you can watch every bowl come together.
Let me be real with you: Honolulu does not have many ramen shops this good. Beef-bone broth is a hometown style you won't find on most ramen menus — in most of Japan ramen is not beef broth at all. Here it is. And it's rich without being heavy, which is the hard part to pull off.
I talked to the owner and chef, Junichi Kamitoku.
Wanna see my visit?
| 📍 Location | 1170 Auahi St. #175, South Shore Market, Honolulu (old Scratch Kitchen space) · (808) 784-0292 |
| 💰 Price Range | Ramen $18–$28; lunch specials from $14; shareables $8–$32 |
| 🍽️ Must Order | Beefy Wild ($18.50) |
| ⏱️ Wait | Busy at peak — open kitchen counter and tables; no reservations noted |
| 💳 Payment | Cards and cash. BYOB (no liquor license yet). Free parking at South Shore Market garage (Auahi & Queen entrances); restrooms at market entrance, not inside; high chairs available |
| 👥 Best For | Beef ramen lovers, lunch deals, BYOB dinner with friends |
| 🕐 Hours | Lunch 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (last order 2:00 p.m.); Dinner Sun–Thu 5:00–9:00 p.m. (last order 8:30), Fri–Sat 5:00–9:30 p.m. (last order 9:00). Hours can shift — soft opening July 21, 2026 |
The Room & the Open Kitchen
Wood slat walls, round pendant lights, paper globe lanterns, and the kitchen right out in the open. It was busy when I went — counter seats facing the open kitchen, plus tables filling up fast. The banner reads 香味徳, the same brand mark Kamitoku uses in Japan: crossed bones, a cow, 'since 1949.'
The guy in the open kitchen, in the black Kamitoku polo, glasses, cap turned backward — that's Junichi Kamitoku, who runs the Hawaii shop. When a table gets up, he calls 'arigato, thank you' from the kitchen and waves. You can tell he means it. Staff were friendly all around.
The Story: Tottori to South Shore
Junichi told me Kamitoku is a family business, started in 1949 in Tottori, Japan, and that he's the one who opened the Hawaii shop. (A 2021 interview calls him third generation and says his grandfather opened the original Tottori store, with his mother still there — I'm printing what he told me at the table.)
He also told me why beef-bone ramen here makes sense: 'In most of Japan, ramen is not a beef broth. In Hawaii, beef is what people want.' He said ramen is his favorite food, he's been making it about 12 years, and the beef is 100 percent beef, cooked in house. The door sign puts it plainly: 'We'll bring the beef.'
The Ramen: Beefy Wild & Seabura
Beefy Wild ($18.50) is the one to start with. Creamy beef-bone broth, tender pulled beef, ajitama (soft egg), menma (bamboo), green onion, garlic chips, and a little chili oil. Not too rich — just right. The beef is soft and actually tastes like beef, which sounds obvious but isn't always true.
Seabura ($19.75) is the same family with extra beef back fat. Still balanced. Nothing oily for the sake of being oily. If you love a heavier bowl, this is yours; if you're deciding between the two, Beefy Wild is the cleaner pick.
Heads up: regular ramen comes with ajitama unless noted, but the lunch specials don't include it. Lunch specials run from $14 (Beefy Gold $14, Beefy Wild $15, up to Seabura/Miso $17) — a real deal if you come 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Nate's Pick: Beefy Wild ($18.50). Creamy beef-bone broth with a garlic kick — rich but not heavy, and the pulled beef is soft and genuinely beefy. THIS IS THE MOVE for a first visit.
Gyoza, Nachos & the Pink Dragon Fizz
Namban Gyoza, 5 pieces ($11.50), is homemade deep-fried beef gyoza with tartar sauce and a heavy pile of green onion. I ate every piece.
Kamitoku beef nachos ($16) are crispy tortilla chips, seasoned beef, peppers, guacamole, sour cream, and a yellow cheese drizzle the menu calls house cheese. Solid sharing plate. The Pink Dragon Fizz ($4) is dragon fruit, cold, and not too sweet — same idea as the food: good taste, nothing overpowering.
BYOB & Off The Wall Next Door
Kamitoku is still waiting on a liquor license, so there's no alcohol list yet — but BYOB is welcome. That's a genuine money-saver if you bring your own.
Next door in the same market is Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine (1170 Auahi St., Unit 140) — a self-pour wall with about 21 beer taps plus wine, and live music Thursday through Saturday. The food holds up on its own; my favorite there is the Hawaiian Ranchers ($24) with their house papas potato. Grab a beer there after ramen, or BYOB into Kamitoku. Either works.
Pro Tips
1. Come for lunch to save
Lunch specials run from $14 (11 a.m.–2 p.m., last order 2 p.m.). Just know they don't include the ajitama that regular bowls do.
2. BYOB is real
No liquor license yet, so bring your own. Or hit Off The Wall next door (Unit 140) for a self-pour beer after your bowl.
3. Park free, restrooms are outside
South Shore Market garage is free (Auahi and Queen entrances). Restrooms are at the market entrance, not inside the restaurant.
4. Start with Beefy Wild
If you're deciding, Beefy Wild is the cleaner, more balanced pick over the fattier Seabura.
5. Hours can shift
Soft opening was July 21, 2026, with a grand opening planned for October — call (808) 784-0292 to confirm before a special trip.
FAQ
Where is Kamitoku Beef Ramen?
1170 Auahi St. #175, inside South Shore Market in Honolulu — the old Scratch Kitchen space. Not the old Ward Centre counter. Phone (808) 784-0292.
What should I order?
Beefy Wild ($18.50) is the one to start with — creamy beef-bone broth with a garlic kick. Seabura ($19.75) is the richer version with extra back fat.
How much is ramen?
Beef ramen runs $18–$28; lunch specials start at $14 (11 a.m.–2 p.m.). Shareables and plates run roughly $8–$32.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
Yes — Kamitoku is BYOB while they wait on a liquor license, so there's no alcohol list yet. Off The Wall next door also has beer and wine.
What are the hours?
Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (last order 2 p.m.); dinner Sun–Thu 5–9 p.m. (last order 8:30), Fri–Sat 5–9:30 p.m. (last order 9). Hours can still shift after the October grand opening.
Is parking free?
Yes, South Shore Market garage parking is free; entrances are on Auahi and Queen. High chairs are available; restrooms are at the market entrance.
Final Verdict
Honolulu doesn't have many ramen shops this good. Kamitoku's beef-bone broth is the rare bowl that reads rich without turning heavy, the pulled beef is soft and genuinely beefy, and Junichi runs the open kitchen with real warmth — he waves and calls 'arigato' when you leave, and you believe it.
The gyoza and the nachos are a fun side, but the ramen is the reason to come. With free parking, BYOB, and lunch specials from $14, this one earned the Nate Recommends badge.
The move: go for lunch, order the Beefy Wild, and if you want a beer after, walk next door to Off The Wall or just BYOB. Arigato. Thank you.
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