 |
 |
Sushi
Please Note: Since many sushi houses also carry izakaya-like dishes, and many izakaya's also include sushi, the sushi section of this site could actually be intertwined with the izakaya section, as well. Some restaurants, however, are strictly limited or heavily lean torwards one or the other. Check both sections if you're looking for drink-friendly Japanese establishments!
 |
 |
Two nigiri sushi pieces from Kin-chan at the Restaurant Row, an aji on the left and unagi on the right.
It’s all about premium rice and fresh, quality fish and seafood. At these fine sushi restaurants, strains of rice are chosen and prepared with just as much care as the fish. Chefs train for years making rice with a silky sheen, full-bodied texture, and aromatic presence, as well as in mastering a full working knowledge of such delicate items as uni (sea urchin), hotatte (scallop), ama-ebi (a sweet, deep-water shrimp), and of course, fish like hamachi (yellowtail), maguro (tuna), hirame (flounder), and sake (salmon). The fact that most of the items are served raw make freshness of vital importance, and that much trickier to acquire, prepare, and present.
There are many different kinds of sushi, some of which are maki (rolled sushi), inari (rice stuffed into aburage, or fried tofu), chiraishi (a shallow bowl of sushi rice topped with various types of sashimi), and gunkan (where nori is wrapped completely around the horizontal diameter of the rice, but is left open on top to form a sort of vessel that houses softer, harder to manage items like fish roe or small oysters). Perhaps the most simplistically powerful and widely recognizable type of sushi is nigiri sushi, or zushi, pronounced correctly. It is simply a hand-shaped oval of rice topped with raw fish or other items and is indicative of the zen-like minimalism and subtle, highly-refined qualities of Japanese cuisine.
These days, new-wave sushi and sashimi have become very popular. Sushi choices like temaki (cone-shaped hand rolls where contents are displayed on the open side), ura-maki (inside-out rolls), and rainbow rolls (an ura maki with various types of sashimi on the outside) have added modern appeal to traditional classics, while sashimi varieties can be presented in a fan-like shape and come swimming in exotic oils, excuisitely-cut garnishes, and delicate soy/citrus flavors. The original leader of the new-wave sushi craze in the islands is Sansei Seafood and Sushi Bar, listed in the Hawaii Regional section.
There are a few sushi restaurants that offer a moving conveyor belt that slowly makes its way around to diners situated around the open sushi bar. Simply take what you want, but remember that each item sits on color-coded plates that are priced accordingly so keep track if you don’t want to be left with a big surprise at the end of the night.
Full-service, quality sushi bars are also available in many Izakaya places, as well as a few Japanese family restaurants, as well.
 |
 |
Sushi bliss at Sasabune! Crab-stuffed squid and two different maguro, a bigeye from Midway and a Spanish bluefin in the foreground.
Sasabune. A Closer Look. 1419 S. King St. in McCully/Moilili. 947-3800. Dinner nightly except closed Sunday. Parking in lot behind restaurant or on street. Prices: $$$$. Map. This unbeatable experience can be a little intimidating, but be brave and chance it! The big sign on the window ominously says “TRUST ME.” This is the world of omakase, where you sit down and not only eat what you are told to eat, but how you are to eat it, and believe me - show the chef disrespect by eating your sushi with shoyu when you are clearly instructed not to, and you will get thrown out regardless of how important you think you are! Yes, this chef quietly prepares everything with an air of confidence and knowledge that lets you know that you are a visitor in his domain, and if you don’t like it - leave! The first time I tried the restaurant I was a bit apprehensive, but by the time the many courses were over, I was ready and eager to listen to just about anything he said! Actually, I was already impressed from the very first of many courses, which was a combination of ahi and hamachi sashimi bathed in a light citrus/soy sauce. The lobster sashimi that came later was fresh and crisp, yet tender and amazingly sweet, while the lobster dynamite, which came at the same time, was a little heavy on the mayo but perfectly cooked and flavorful. The house specialty, negi-toro sushi, was outstanding, consisting of chopped toro (high-grade, very fatty tuna) mixed in a light, slightly sweetened shoyu sauce and green onion. The menu changes according to whatever is fresh, but will always feature sushi and sashimi, along with a few other interesting items such as ika-meshi, which is a rice-stuffed squid. Remember that this omakase style is only for those choosing to sit at the sushi counter with the chef. You may also sit on one of the small tables and order your way, or from a menu, in a more, shall we say, relaxed, atmosphere? This is also the only place I know that serves sushi with rice that is still warm. The more I visit, the more I notice how much of a positive difference this makes.
| Sushi Bistro Shun is a relatively little-known spot that should be much more well-known than it is. |  |
Sushi Bistro Shun. A Closer Look. 1914 S. King St. in McCully/Moilili. 941-1333. Dinner nightly, except closed on Monday, late night till 12am Tuesday-Saturday (Sunday till 10pm). Parking outside store. Prices: $$$. Map. Definitely a hidden jewel of a place! Since 1999 this restaurant has been a “secret” of sorts, rarely showing up on the radar of any English-speaking publications or guidebooks. We have no idea how this place hasn’t gotten more attention! The stern sushi chef/owner is quite the force of nature, quick to bluntly correct his staff if things are not going perfectly with guest patrons, but that is the level of skill and precision he demands of his restaurant. The toro (belly part of the bluefin tuna) is simply amazing! As in the finest Kobe beef, this cut is not the bright-red of a typical maguro serving, but is white with fatty omega-3 goodness! Toro variations can be o-toro, which is the pinnacle of sashimi, or chu-toro, which has a slightly lower, yet still more than substantial level of fat. They are also one of the few places to regularly carry ankimo, or monkfish liver. The unagi is great for those wanting a break from anything raw, as it is served hot, delicious, and in the biggest portions I have ever seen! They even have a very economical all-you-can-eat nabe pot (explained later in the nabe section) for about $25, using rib-eye beef cuts. The restaurant itself is modern, clean, and orderly, and the chef is a lot nicer than his initial appearance may seem!
 |
The sizzling butter-yaki scallops at Akasaka are a must-try! |
Akasaka. A Closer Look. 1646 Kona st. right outside of Ala Moana S.C. 942-4466. Lunch daily except closed on Sunday, dinner nightly, late night till 12am on Sunday and till 2am every other day. Parking outside store. Prices: $$$. Map. I hate to start with negative’s here, but I gotta mention the hostess bars and seedy shops in the surrounding area. Just don’t hang out outside, is all! Once inside, it looks like a simple, traditional sushi bar, complete with small tatami rooms, but the American music that often plays confuses the mood. The sushi chef is quite gruff and a bit stern, but is nevertheless attentive to whatever you ask for. Despite these roadblocks, the quality of sushi is very good. The fatty hamachi is creamy-rich with a slight crispiness while the toro is buttery-soft and delicious. The butter-yaki scallops, which is the house specialty and simply outstanding, comes in a hot, sizzling pan that stays bubbly-simmering for quite a while. The slight translucence on the inside is barely apparent for the first bite, but by the time you reach your stride the residual heat has cooked the scallops to just the perfect degree.
Yohei Sushi. A Closer Look. 1111 Dillingham Blvd. in Kalihi. 841-3773. Lunch and dinner daily, except closed on Sunday. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$$. Map. I figured the further you get out of Waikiki or the town area, which is where most Japanese nationals live, the less traditional the sushi becomes. That is, until I went to Yohei’s! Deep within the heart of Kalihi you will find great sushi, fresh fish and other items brought in from Japan two or three times per week, as well as locally, in an ambience that is undeniably Japanese. The owner/chef has a brother who owns Maguro-ya, which is in Kaimuki (3565 Waialae Ave., 732-3775), and is a smallish, similar restaurant that also has a sushi bar, along with many other traditional dinner sets complete with sides of tsukemono, miso soup, chawan mushi, and more. Any fish choices here are sure to please, especially the karei karaage (fried flounder), and the hot-pot nabe is delicious, with its steaming bowl of crab, scallop, oysters, shrimp, fish, and veggies.
 |
 |
Nothing goes to waste! At Mitch's, you see the critter live first, right before its top gets boiled in miso soup or it's bottom chopped up into sashimi.
Mitch’s Fish Market. A Closer Look. 524 Ohohia st. near the airport. 837-7774. 11:30am-7:30pm daily. Parking outside store or on street Prices: $$$. Map. Quite the interesting name for a sushi restaurant, but this little hide-away stands up to and often surpasses the big boys of sushi in every way! The only drawbacks are that the parking is tight fronting the store and, because it has grown out of a wholesale fish market that holds a large variety of fresh fish and seafoods, it does still smell just a wee bit like, well – a fishmarket! For some, though, the whole ambience and industrial feel is absolutely delightful, reminding me of one of the small, unassuming sushi shops located in and around the large wholesale fish markets of Japan, such as the undisputed King - Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. They may look humble, but as for authenticity and sheer freshness of seafoods, they are tough to be beat! Owner Craig Mitchell, a warm and inviting chap from South Africa, has employed skilled chefs from Japan that present a wide variety of sushi and sashimi sliced as fresh and as large as you’ll see almost anywhere. Besides a great toro, they have a beautiful spiny lobster sashimi, a great abalone, and large party platters that should be ordered ahead of time. I definitely recommend getting reservations, as the shop is very small and quickly becoming a rising star.
Kin-chan Sushi. A Closer Look. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. at the Restaurant Row in Kakaako. 534-0088. Lunch and dinner Monday-Friday, dinner only Saturday. Parking in Center lot. Prices: $$$$. Map. This little shop at the row was recently closed down for a while, but as of the last year or so, opened up again, much to the delight of devoted regulars and sushi enthusiasts everywhere. The new shop is clean, well-designed, and attractive, giving off that hide-away type of sushi-bar-feel you just love to find! There are only a few tables nestled around the 15-20 or so seats surrounding the wrap-around sushi bar itself, where the kind Chef works feverishly to keep up with the action.
| The sushi bar action at Yanagi's gets hot 'n heavy, lemme tell ya! |  |
Yanagi Sushi. A Closer Look. 762 Kapiolani Blvd. in Kakaako. 597-1525. Lunch and dinner daily, late night till 2am nightly except for Sunday closed at 10pm. Small parking lot, valet only during busy hours. Prices: $$$. Map. For a long time Yanagi’s was undeniably the place to be, although these days, many other places have risen to crowd the upper echelons of the sushi world. Pictures of celebrities and dignitaries from around the world adorn the walls, and during dinner-time hours valet parking is mandatory and seating difficult without reservations. There are also many teishoku (set course) meals available, along with all of your sushi stalwarts like uni, ama-ebi, maguro, hamachi, and a live abalone that they pull out of a tank, quickly slice up, and serve while still alive and twitching! After 10:30 they carry a 20% off menu, which is much smaller (1 page) than the regular menu, but does offer a decent variety of favorites.
 |
Quality sushi at Zippy's? You bet! This chiraishi bowl (rice not pictured) is typical of the large slices of fresh fish used here. |
Zippy’s Sushi. 2 locations: 4134 Waialae Ave. in Kahala, 733-3737; and 806 Kamehameha Hwy. in Pearl City (map shown), 433-3715. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking outside both stores. Prices: $$$. Map. I know, I know - you thought you were picking up fried chicken and chili, right? Well, you can still find all your local favorites, but that's not all, folks! These guys have some truly gigantic slices (especially the Pearl City location) of a wide variety of sashimi, especially the fish choices like ahi, salmon, and hamachi. You can also order set dinners like shrimp tempura, chicken katsu, and even ochazuke bowls. The Kahala and Aiea locations are the only ones to offer full-fledged sushi bars, so don’t bother looking for sushi at the other Zippy’s restaurants.
| Soft-shelled crab sushi tucked-away in the Breakers Hotel on Beachwalk St. |  |
Wasabi Bistro. A Closer Look. 250 Beachwalk at the Breakers Hotel in Waikiki. 922-1133. Lunch Monday-Friday, dinner nightly. Parking at Bank of Hawaii (formerly ANA) Building on the corner of Kalakaua Ave. and Beachwalk after 6pm. Prices: $$$. Map. Part of a small chain of restaurants in Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia, this quirky restaurant can’t be seen from the Beachwalk road. You’ll have to find the Breakers Hotel, across from Ginza Bairin, then walk past the pool and into the small open-air location. The menu, service, and certain aspects of the dining room are elegant and upscale, but the part-tarp, part straw, part shoji roof, combined with the economy hotel surroundings and general quirkiness of the place make it a curious combination, indeed. There are teishoku sets, ala carte items like miso butterfish, chicken karaage, and tenpura, along with, of course, lots of sashimi and sushi, and not just traditional sushi – there are spider, dynamite, and several other fusion rolls that would even make Sansei proud.
Morio’s Sushi Bistro. 2443 Kuhio Ave. in the same store of Ruffage Natural Foods in Waikiki. 741-5121. Dinner nightly except closed Sunday. Street or public parking only. Prices: $$$. Map. The ultimate sushi hole-in-the-wall! Forget about the Zen and hush-hush of traditional Japan, as this tiny store with an 8-person sushi bar and a few more tables carries much more of a street-wise edge, with straight-talking jokester and Chef Morio-san often pushing the party himself with his personable attitude and sense of humor. To get here, find the pink building right across from Hy’s Steakhouse, then look for Ruffage Natural Foods, which actually shares the property by making room for Morio’s Bistro by night! Chef Morio is actually also a fish wholesaler like Mitch’s Fishmarket, so you can be assured the absolute freshest of seafoods! Prices are well below the norm for this quality of top-shelf sushi, along with a few izakaya-type dishes, and being byob, you’ll save even more money. Be sure to make reservations!
| Despite being a hole-in-the-wall, Gaan serves some very classy sushi and other exquisite, traditional Japanese dishes! |  |
Gaan. 2375 Ala Wai Blvd. at the Sand Villa Hotel in Waikiki. 922-3399. Dinner nightly except closed Monday. Valet parking in hotel or on street. Prices: $$$$. Map. This tiny cubby-hole at the little-known Sand Villa Hotel in Waikiki once carried sushi and izakaya-like small courses, but have since changed their menu to several omakase (Chef’s choice) courses ranging from $38-$80. Though the hotel may not be anything fancy, the store itself is an oasis of Japanese style and attitude, with menu choices all as exquisitely delicate and finely nuanced as you’d expect from a top-shelf sushi restaurant. Gaan takes pride in their traditional Edo-style sushi, using no additives or preservatives, specific types of red vinegar, the best rice, and the freshest of fish. Definitely a jewel in the rough sure to please hard-core sushi enthusiasts.
 |
An impressive Michinoku sushi platter. |
Michinoku. A Closer Look. 835 Keeaumoku St. in McCully/Moiliili. 942-1414. Lunch and dinner daily except 9am-5pm Monday. Parking fronting Store, in surrounding lots, or on street. Prices: $$$$. Map. Smack-dab in the center of Korea-moku, in the same parking lot used for Keeaumoku Supermarket, sits an authentic Japanese hole-in-the-wall formerly located on the non-Waikiki portion of Kalakaua Avenue. Their lunch-time menu is all under $20, with a few teishoku items like miso butterfish, salmon, and sanma, as well as chiraishi, limited sushi and sashimi sets, udon, soba, and a “Michinoku Special,” featuring bara-sushi (sushi rice w/various mixed items). Dinner is where they really shine as a sushi bar, as their fresh deliveries of fish and seafood come entirely from Japan and arrives in the afternoon, although that does limit choices a wee bit. Izakaya-like dishes such as mozuku, shishamo, tororo, hiyayakko, and ika natto are also served only at night, when prices for everything are steeper, but byob arrangements do help. Definitely a charmer of a tiny place, with friendly, though under-staffed service and a casual, old-school Japanese atmosphere.
| Various parts of the flounder are used in this creative dish from Zenshu, including fillet, fatty belly, liver, roe, and skin. |  |
Zen-shu. A Closer Look. 477 Kapahulu Ave. 739-7017. Dinner nightly except closed Sunday, late-night till 12am Monday-Thursday, late-night till 2am Friday and Saturday. Parking very limited behind store or on street. Prices: $$$$. Map. This combination sushi bar/sports bar/fusion izakaya is an interesting combination, indeed! Part-owner and Sushi Chef Ryuji-san came from Yohei’s and also a few other top-knotch restaurants, so you know you’re in good hands here. The menu is small, with either every kind of sushi you can imagine or small, izakaya-like dishes of such things as a delicious miso butterfish, pork stickers, seafood-stuffed Portobello mushrooms, and lemongrass pork chops. They do stray here from being strictly Japanese, with a mix of local, Korean, and Chinese influences, but if you want a strictly traditional meal, make sure to let Chef Ryuji-san know, as he knows what he's doing and will fix you up real good, in any style you want!
Sushi Masa. 1200 Ala Moana Blvd. at the Ward Center in Kakaako. 593-2007. Lunch and dinner daily, except closed at 5pm Sunday. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$$. Map. This small sushi bar on the first floor of the Ward Center comes with a joker of a chef with a quick wit and a sharp tongue. The last time we visited, he offered us “fugu-sake,” which was basically a fin from the infamous fish that was allowed to sit in some hot sake. I loved the grilled fish flavor that permeated the smooth sake and found it an interesting treat I have never experienced before. As for sushi, you will not lack for variety and freshness. A number of teishoku-set meals are also available.
 |
I believe the biggest draws here at Sushi King may not come from sushi, but great and affordable teishoku sets like this succulent salmon katsu, combined with curry and rice. |
Sushi King. A Closer Look. 2700 S. King st. 947-2836. Lunch and dinner daily, late night until 2am nightly, except till 10pm Tuesday. Parking outside store. Prices: $$$. Map. Decent sushi at decent prices, but it's their teishoku meals that are excellent here, such as teriyaki, tempura, karaage, katsu, and more. Late night special dinner menus after 10:30pm are also available and the late-night hours are always a plus. Customer service is often bad, but it remains a popular spot for mostly local crowds.
Kunio. Waikele S.C. in Waikele. 680-9188. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Kunio has a large menu of Japanese dishes as well as some locally influenced items, particularly the new-wave sushi choices like caterpillar rolls, rainbow rolls, and even BLT rolls. There are teishoku sets, donburi bowls, udon, sashimi, fried oysters, and steamed clams, to name a few. The “party boat” is a fun-filled creation of sashimi, sushi, teriyaki chicken, and other delicious items for a reasonable price of $17.95 per person, minimum of 4 persons. Can get crowded because it is a good choice outside of the town/Waikiki area, where good Japanese restaurant choices are more limited.
Tadashi. 98-199 Kamehameha Hwy. at the Pearl Kai S.C. in Pearl City. 485-8535. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Tadashi offers a wide variety of teishoku meals and other Japanese specialties, along with a sushi bar featuring both traditional and new-wave, fusion-type rolls like dynamite, lobster, hot Hawaiian, and Hawaii Five-0, which is an impressive mix of unagi inside and a covering of ahi, hamachi, salmon, avocado, tobiko, and teri sauce. You’ll find just about everything in the Japanese chef’s cookbook here, whether it be udon, nabe, sukiyaki, donburi, katsu, tempura, and much more. The dining room is spacious and casual, with a mostly local crowd and decent prices.
| Tokoname is the place to be for sushi in Kailua town! |  |
Tokoname. A Closer Look. 442 Uluniu St. in Kailua. 262-8656. Lunch Friday-Sunday, dinner nightly. Parking on street. Prices: $$$. Map. Yes, there is genuine sushi and authentic Japanese dining in Kailua! A casual spot mixing lunch bento, teishoku-set meals, izakaya-like small dishes, and a small but well-stocked and efficient sushi bar, Tokoname is a great night-spot to check out when perusing the Windward side. A good selection of sake and shochu, including sake sampler’s, are available, and discounted menus are found each and every day of the week! From Monday-Thursday at 4-5pm and Friday-Saturday at 1-5pm you’ll find $3 beer and 50 percent off select sushi items. Nightly from 4-5pm there’s $5 off every dinner teishoku, although dinner teishoku’s are priced a bit high to begin with. Perhaps the best offering is found nightly from 9pm-10pm, when there’s drink specials and 50 percent off all nigiri sushi! Along with nigiri, gunkan, temaki, and fancy rolls, there’s also dishes like furikake salmon, chicken tebasaki, ahi tataki, ribeye steak, miso salmon, and shrimp tempura, to name a few.
Banzai Sushi. 66-224 Kamehameha Hwy. at the North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa. 637-4404. Dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$$. Map. A change of ownership here has boded well for this Haleiwa town spot, with an infusion of more authenticity and energy. The open-air atmosphere is very casual, with optional tatami-style seating (kinda) with cushions on the floor, as well as a sushi bar. Besides raw fish and rice, there are some good poke dishes, shrimp tempura, Brazilian-style ceviche, and a few dessert choices.
| Conveyor-belt King Genki Sushi, with many outlets all over the island, is a popular spot for a fun-filled, relatively economical meal. |  |
Genki Sushi. A Closer Look. Various locations: 1200 Ala Moana blvd. at the Ward Center, 591-5600; 885 Kapahulu Ave. in Kapahulu (map shown), 735-7700; Ala Moana S.C.; 98-430 Kamehameha Hwy. in Pearl City; 94-799 Lumiaina st. at the Waikele S.C.; and 45-480 Kaneohe Bay Dr. at the Kaneohe S.C. Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: $$. Map. This is the most popular and widespread of our conveyor belt-type, sit-down restaurants. Sporting modern, spacious, and clean atmospheres, Genki Sushi is good for the price and very popular with the locals.
Kuru Kuru Sushi. Pearl Kai Center on Kamehameha Hwy. across Pearl Ridge S.C. and Kahala Mall S.C. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Conveyor belt-style and very similar to Genki, only pieces of fish are much larger and truer to tradition, making it very attractive to many. Both are family-friendly and casual hangouts.
Kat’s Sushi and Hakone. See buffet section.
