If you've been searching for a real Japanese restaurant in Waikiki — not a tourist trap with neon signs and frozen tempura — Shingen is the spot you've been missing. It's one of the best places for udon in Waikiki right now, especially if you want noodles you actually can't find anywhere else on Oahu.
It's a soba izakaya inside Stix Asia, the lower-level food hall at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. Shingen is owned and run by Hiroya, a former nurse from Japan who came to Hawaii to learn English. He worked his way through KCC, joined Shingen as staff, and took over the restaurant about a year ago when the previous owner moved back to Japan. Small operation, real ownership pride — you taste it in the details.
Here's everything you need to know about Shingen — and what to actually order.
Shingen's storefront and menu stand inside the Stix Asia food hall, lower level of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza.
Shingen — Quick Reference
| 📍 Location | Stix Asia, Waikiki Shopping Plaza (Lower Level) |
| 🌐 Website | stixasia.com/shingen |
| 🍜 Type | Soba izakaya — Japanese, handmade noodles |
| ⏱️ Hours | Daily 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (last order 9:30 PM) |
| 💰 Price | $20–$35 per person (lunch) · $40–$60 (dinner) |
| 🌺 Kama'āina | 15% off with valid Hawaii ID (locals) → |
| 🥡 Takeout | |
| 🔥 Must-Order | Three Noodles (soba, moringa, ube udon) + Wagyu Skewer |
| 🍱 Reservations | |
| 📞 Phone | (808) 926-0255 |
| 👥 Best For | Solo dining, date night, small groups |
What Is Shingen?
Hiroya in the back kitchen at Shingen — owner, chef, and the guy plating every bowl of soba.
Shingen is a soba izakaya. That means two things: handmade soba noodles as the heart of the menu, plus the small-plate, drink-friendly izakaya format you'd find on a back street in Tokyo.
The buckwheat flour is imported from Shintoku, Hokkaido — one of the most respected soba-producing regions in Japan. The noodles are made fresh in the kitchen here in Waikiki. That alone separates Shingen from 90% of Japanese restaurants in Honolulu, where soba usually comes from a wholesale bag.
Hot broth poured over duck soba — handmade Hokkaido buckwheat noodles, finished in the kitchen.
The space is small and warm. Wood paneling, lanterns, counter seating along the side, table seating in the middle. Hiroya works in the back kitchen — you don't see him plating, but you taste it. The space feels like a Tokyo back-street izakaya, not a food court stall.
Inside Shingen — counter and table seating in the small soba izakaya tucked inside Stix Asia.
If you're looking for the best Japanese restaurant in Waikiki for an authentic experience without flying to Tokyo, this is genuinely it.
The Three Noodles — Soba, Moringa Soba, Ube Udon
This is the part most reviews miss. Shingen offers three different noodle styles, and each one tells a different story.
Three noodles in one tray — soba, moringa soba (green), and ube udon (purple) — paired with a Chashu Don
Traditional Seiro Soba
The classic. Cold buckwheat noodles served on a bamboo tray with a tsuyu dipping sauce, scallions, and wasabi. The flavor is nutty, the texture is firm, the broth is clean. This is the noodle you order if you want to taste what Hokkaido soba tastes like — and honestly, it's hard to find handmade soba in Waikiki at this level anywhere else.
Moringa Soba
Shingen's healthy twist — soba noodles infused with moringa, a plant-based superfood high in vitamins and antioxidants. It has a slightly herbal, grassy note that pairs beautifully with the dipping broth. Note: it's limited quantity, so if you want to try it, order it before they run out. This is unique to Shingen — you won't find moringa soba anywhere else in Hawaii, or even in Japan.
Ube Udon
The one everyone takes a photo of. Bright purple udon noodles made with ube (Filipino purple yam) — thick, chewy, and unique to Shingen. You won't find ube udon anywhere else in Hawaii, or even in Japan. It's the noodle you order for the experience and the photo. But it actually tastes good too — the ube adds a subtle sweetness that works against a savory broth.
Close-up of the moringa soba with tsuyu dipping sauce — herbal, grassy, and unique to Shingen. You won't find it anywhere else in Hawaii or Japan.
If you've been searching for udon in Waikiki, this is the spot. And if you've never seen purple udon noodles in Honolulu, even better.
What to Order at Shingen
I went in for lunch with my wife. Hiroya let me back into the kitchen for a few minutes — that's where some of these photos came from. We ordered widely. Here's what's worth your money.
The Three Noodles ($16 Seiro / $16 Kake)
Order at least one. Honestly, order all three if you're with people. They're served as cold seiro (dipping noodles, $16) or hot kake (in broth, $16) — pick your noodle type for the same price. For your first time, go cold — that's how you taste the actual noodle.
The Lunch Special ($23) — Best Value
The Lunch Combo board — noodle of choice plus a mini rice bowl for $23.
If you're coming during lunch (11am–3pm), the Lunch Combo is the move. You get to pick your noodle type (soba, moringa, or ube udon), hot or cold, plus a mini rice bowl on the side — your choice of tempura, beef, or curry. $23 for what's basically a full meal. Add the goma dare sesame sauce for $5 if you want something richer.
Tempura
Tendon — shrimp, asparagus, and vegetable tempura over rice. Light, crisp, never greasy.
The tempura at Shingen is some of the best in Waikiki. Light, crisp, never greasy. The Shrimp Tempura Mix ($32) and Vegetable Tempura Mix ($25) are the headliners, but if you just want a single piece, the à la carte selection is great — large shrimp ($8), pumpkin ($2.50), sweet potato ($2.50), asparagus ($2). The fryer-to-table timing matters here, so eat it hot.
Premium Wagyu Flap Skewer ($18)
Premium Wagyu Flap — wagyu on a stick, grilled to medium, served with lemon and yuzu kosho.
We had the Premium Wagyu Flap — and yes, it's wagyu, on a stick, grilled to medium. Tender, marbled, served simply with a lemon wedge and a dab of yuzu kosho (a Japanese citrus chili paste) so the meat does the talking. If you're a fan of Japanese skewers in Honolulu, this is one of the most impressive bites on the menu — easily worth the upgrade from the standard Ribeye Skewer ($13). They also serve a Grilled Beef Tongue skewer ($17) that's a quiet favorite if you want to round out a skewer flight.
Chashu Don ($26)
Chashu Don — 180g of premium house-made chashu over rice, with onsen egg, red pickled ginger, and Japanese mustard.
The Chashu Don ($26) is built around 180g of premium, slow-braised pork belly chashu, sliced thick and fanned over rice with an onsen egg, scallions, red pickled ginger, white sesame seeds, and a dab of Japanese mustard. The chashu is the same one they use in the Chashu Soba ($30) — slow-braised in-house — so if you want it as noodles instead, that's an option too. There's also a Grilled Chashu plate ($20) if you just want the meat with mustard. Any of the three is a great pairing if you're ordering cold soba and want something warm and substantial alongside it.
Hiroo's Curry and Rice ($19)
Worth ordering at least once. Japanese-style curry named after Hiroo, the upscale Tokyo neighborhood — rich, slightly sweet, deep. You can add beef or oxtail for $3 more. Comes with rice, or you can order it as a Curry Tsuke ($23) with cold soba and curry dipping sauce, or Curry Namban ($23) with hot noodles in curry broth.
Don't Miss the Sobayu
The red lacquered sobayu kettle — the traditional way to finish a bowl of soba.
After your soba, the staff brings a small red lacquered kettle to your table — sobayu, the cloudy hot water the noodles were boiled in. You pour it into the leftover dipping sauce and drink it like a soup. Shingen even has a card on the table explaining the tradition: rich in rutin, gentle on the stomach, a relaxing way to finish your meal. Most tourists skip it. Don't.
The "How to Enjoy Soba-yu" card on every table — pour the broth into your leftover tsuyu and drink it like soup.
Worth Knowing
Free Moringa Chili Pepper for all dine-in customers — just ask.
🌶️ Worth Knowing
Free Moringa Chili Pepper for all dine-in customers — ask your server if you want some heat. They also do a House-made Warabi Mochi ($8.80) for dessert, and a Mulberry Tea ($5) or Mulberry Shochu Mix ($11) if you want something different to drink. Note: there's a 5% kitchen charge added to the bill that goes to the staff.
Why Shingen Is Worth the Trip — Even If You're Not in Waikiki
You can walk past Shingen ten times without noticing it. It's downstairs, inside a food hall, no big sign on Kalākaua. That's part of the appeal.
The Japanese food in Waikiki scene is dominated by big-name spots that lean tourist-heavy — fine, but predictable. Shingen does the opposite. The owner is in the kitchen every day. The flour is flown in from Hokkaido. The menu reads like a Tokyo back-street izakaya. There's no marketing gimmick — just food that's actually good.
I've eaten my way across Oahu for years. Shingen is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants in Honolulu I've found, and easily one of the best Japanese restaurants in Waikiki for anyone who actually cares about the food. If you're hunting for real udon in Waikiki — not the frozen kind every food court serves — this is where you go.
The Vibe — Date Night, Solo, or Groups?
Evening service at Shingen — the view from a corner table inside Stix Asia.
Shingen works for all three.
💑 Date Night
Small, warm, low lighting. Intimate without being stiff. Order the three-noodle flight, share tempura, end with curry. Easy.
🧑 Solo
This is one of the best solo dining spots in Waikiki. Grab a counter seat, order a beer and a bowl of seiro soba, leave full and happy in 40 minutes.
👥 Groups
Works up to about 4–6 people. Beyond that you'll want to call ahead. The izakaya format is built for sharing — order across the menu and pass plates.
Pricing runs about $20–$35 per person for a satisfying meal — the lunch combo at $23 is the sweet spot. Dinner with tempura, skewers, and sides comes to $40–$60. There's a 5% kitchen charge added to the bill that goes directly to the kitchen staff. Fair for the quality.
Location, Hours & How to Find Shingen
Shingen Soba Izakaya
📍 2250 Kalākaua Avenue, Lower Level 100, Honolulu, HI 96815
📞 (808) 926-0255 — call for reservations or take-out
🕐 Daily 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (last order 9:30 PM)
Hours last updated from Google: Apr 25, 2026
🅿️ Free 2-hour validated parking with $20+ purchase
🥡 Take-out available — eat on Waikiki Beach (5-min walk)
🌺 Kama'āina 15% off with valid Hawaii ID
How to Find It
Stix Asia is on the lower level of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, across from the Royal Hawaiian Center on Kalākaua. Take the escalator or stairs down — Shingen is one of six Japanese restaurants inside the food hall.
Takeout & Reservations
Shingen offers takeout for the full menu — call (808) 926-0255 to order ahead. Pro tip: order soba, ube udon, or the Chashu Don to go and walk five minutes down Kalākaua to Waikiki Beach. There's no better lunch view on the island than handmade Hokkaido soba on the sand.
Reservations are recommended for groups of 4+ during peak lunch (12 PM–2 PM) or dinner (6 PM–8 PM). Easiest way is to book online — or call (808) 926-0255 ahead. Walk-ins welcome the rest of the time, but the space is small so peak hours can fill up fast.
Kama'āina Discount — 15% Off for Locals
🌺 15% off with valid Hawaii ID
Shingen offers a 15% Kama'āina discount to Hawaii residents. Show a valid Hawaii state ID at the table. Easy way for locals to make the lunch combo or a Chashu Don even better value — the $23 lunch combo drops to about $19.55 after discount.
Parking
Stix Asia offers free 2-hour validated parking with a qualifying purchase of $20+ from any Stix Asia restaurant. Validation hours: Monday–Friday 5pm–10pm, Saturday–Sunday 11am–10pm. Bring your parking ticket inside.
Free 2-hour validated parking with $20+ from any Stix Asia restaurant.
Watch the Reel
I shot a full visit at Shingen including a chat with the owner, behind-the-scenes in the kitchen, and the three noodles being plated. Here's the short:
Also on Instagram → @nateeatshawaii
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shingen located in Waikiki?
Shingen is at 2250 Kalākaua Avenue, Lower Level 100, inside the Stix Asia food hall in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Honolulu, HI 96815.
What kind of restaurant is Shingen?
Shingen is a soba izakaya — a Japanese restaurant specializing in handmade soba noodles made from buckwheat flour imported from Shintoku, Hokkaido, alongside small plates, tempura, grilled skewers, and Japanese curry.
Where can I get udon in Waikiki?
Shingen serves three handmade noodles in Waikiki — traditional soba, moringa soba, and the signature ube udon. The buckwheat flour for the soba is imported from Hokkaido, and the ube udon is unique to Shingen. It's one of the best places for udon in Waikiki, especially if you want noodles you won't find on any other tourist menu.
Does Shingen serve ube udon?
Yes. Ube udon is unique to Shingen — purple udon noodles made with ube (Filipino purple yam) that you won't find anywhere else in Hawaii, or even in Japan. It's a signature item and one of the main reasons to visit.
Is Shingen good for solo diners?
Absolutely. The counter seating and casual izakaya vibe make Shingen one of the best solo dining spots in Waikiki. You can be in and out in 30–45 minutes with a great meal.
Do they take reservations?
Yes. Reservations are recommended for groups of 4 or more during peak lunch (12 PM–2 PM) or dinner (6 PM–8 PM) — call (808) 926-0255. Walk-ins welcome the rest of the time, but the space is small so peak hours can fill fast.
Does Shingen offer takeout?
Yes. Shingen does take-out for the full menu — call (808) 926-0255 to order ahead. Waikiki Beach is a 5-minute walk away, so picking up soba or a Chashu Don and eating on the sand is a great move.
Does Shingen have a Kama'aina discount?
Yes. Shingen offers a 15% Kama'āina discount to Hawaii residents with a valid Hawaii ID. Just show your ID at the table. The lunch combo at $23 effectively becomes about $19.55 after the discount.
What are Shingen's hours?
Shingen is open 7 days a week from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with last order at 9:30 PM.
How much does Shingen cost?
Most diners spend $20–$35 per person for soba and a side. The lunch combo at $23 (11am–3pm) is the best value — noodles plus a mini rice bowl. Dinner with tempura, skewers, or the Rainbow Special ($52) runs $40–$60 per person. A 5% kitchen charge is added to the bill. Beer, sake, and shochu cocktails are available.
Is Shingen kid-friendly?
Yes. The food hall environment is casual and family-friendly, and the menu has plenty of options for kids — udon, rice bowls, tempura.
Final Thoughts — Why I'd Send You to Shingen
If you want the best soba in Honolulu, this is the spot. If you want the only ube udon in Waikiki — or honestly, the most interesting udon in Honolulu, period — this is also the spot. If you want a real Japanese izakaya experience without flying to Tokyo, you don't have many better options on Oahu.
The food is honest. The owner cares. The prices are fair. Most people walk right past it.
If you're building a Japanese food list for your Hawaii trip — or you're a local trying to figure out where to eat in Waikiki without ending up at the same five spots — put Shingen on the calendar. Call ahead during peak times since the space is small.
The move: Lunch combo, ube udon (cold), Chashu Don on the side. Don't skip the sobayu.
Nate
Honolulu-based food and lifestyle creator. I personally visit every venue covered on Nate Eats Hawaii. The 'Nate Recommends' badge is editorial only — it cannot be purchased, sponsored, or earned through any commercial relationship. Sponsored content is clearly labeled. Pricing, hours, and details are confirmed directly with each business at time of publication.
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Prices, hours, and availability are based on my personal visit in April 2026 and may change. Call (808) 926-0255 to confirm.
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