Top Best Japanese Restaurants in Oahu

"Don’t let the sweeping ocean views of Waikiki Beach at this open-air restaurant distract you too much—the only thing that rivals the views here is the menu. The kitchen at Hula Grill prides themselves on using the best local produce around. That means high-quality, fresh ingredients from Hawaii farms, and fish line-caught straight from the island waters."

"Located along Waikiki beach, practically right in the middle of Waikiki inside the Outrigger Hotel, is the Hula Grill Waikiki. This casual dining restaurant is very highly rated, and my family and I quickly learned why. Besides the cool atmosphere, and the great location, the food is some of the best seafood I’ve had in Waikiki."

"And for a delicious sit-down dinner, I can highly recommend the Waikiki Hula Grill. It’s a little on the pricier side, but it’s got great seaside views, good service and delicious food."

"Marukame Udon prides itself on serving customers freshly prepared, handmade udon noodles. The restaurant turns to the Japanese tradition of udon noodle making, a tradition that is especially important in the Sanuki region of the country. Sanuki-style udon is famous for its time-consuming process, which results in chewy, al dente noodles."

"Marukame Udon Waikiki is one of the most famous cheap eats in the area. Locals and tourists alike flock to line up the Udon chain from Japan. And the line wraps around the block all day long."

"I usually run from those touristic places, but this Udon place is amazing. Not sure if it is worth 1-2h in the line (we went at 3pm, with shorter line) b..."

"Ultra-fresh poke and sashimi lunch stall inside a market  It’s not the easiest place to find, but make your way to the back of the colorful Kekaulike Market and you’ll see the line, especially at around high noon when local office jockeys descend upon the small stall for the poke dreams are made of. Here you’ll find brothers Junichiro and Ryojiro Tsuchiya dividing and conquering with one taking orders and the other swiftly slicing crazy-fresh locally line-caught ahi brought in from the morning’s fish auction. The result is stellar sashimi and poke bowls (starting at just $6.50 for a small) ranging from basic shoyu to ume plum-and-shiso versions."

"They are all about fresh sashimi, chirashi, and ahi poke on rice. You can’t go wrong with any menu item. I usually order the king salmon bowl and add a side of ikura, natto, and/or uni."

"Yummy items include dk’s Crab Ramen with Asian Truffle Broth, Panko-Crusted Fresh Ahi Tuna, and the Matsuhisa Style Miso Butterfish. There’s a late-night happy hour Fri-Sat 10pm-1am with 50% off select appetizers and sushi (line-up early). *Reopens 15 July 2021."

"Offering Dine-In, Takeout Services, Uber Eats, Door Dash, Grub Hub, and Bite Squad. For the most up-to-date information please call in advance. Located in the heart of Waikiki on world-famous Kalakaua Avenue, Doraku (which in Japanese translates to "the road to happiness") is an exciting Izakaya-style restaurant known for serving traditional Japanese cuisine with a modern flair."

"Kimukatsu, a tiny establishment in Waikiki, serves up crispy katsu that’s melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Choose from zanier katsu flavors, like cheese, black pepper, and garlic."

"Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a 400 acre protected area that was originally built up as flood protection. It offers events like camping, drawing or painting classes, and specific catch-and-release fishing days on the weekends!. The garden is about 35 minutes from Waikiki (by car or service only) on the eastern side of the island."

"Let me start by saying we rarely bother photographing man-made nature, such as botanical gardens. There is nothing inherently wrong with it, but it feels a bit inauthentic; it’s like building a wildlife photography portfolio by going to a zoo. With that said, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens are absolutely worth the trip!"

"In one day, you can drive this 100-mile path with some beach hopping, but you might have to cherry-pick between the longer activities like the hike, Waimea Valley and the Polynesian Cultural Center if you don’t want to feel rushed. Depart early from Honolulu for your drive north through the farmlands and mountain views of the center of the island, to stretches of empty beachfront and the northwest terminus of the highway at Kaena Point. If you want to do some hiking, the Kaena Point Trail is a 3.5-mile, out-and-back path from the end of the road to the remote western point of the island inaccessible to vehicles."

"Tour Waimea Valley where you can learn about Hawaiian culture, admire a beautiful variety of trees, shrubs and plants and enjoy a swim at a waterfall. (See this link for TripAdvisor reviews of Waimea Valley.)"

"Paris.Hawaii is a rare fusion restaurant that serves Paris-inspired, locally influenced Hawaiian food in an elegant setting. The innovative, minimalist menu crafted by Chef Yuya Yamanaka is a must for foodies; when it comes to fine dining, it’s one of the best restaurants in Honolulu. Gastronomy buffs will appreciate the uniquely hybridized flavors (if not the moderately small portions, which allow you to savor them)."

"Known for its fine dining, thriving nightlife, and upscale shopping, Honolulu’s Waikiki neighborhood proudly welcomes its next big name in food. Established in 2018, PARIS.HAWAII brings the “City of Lights” to the Aloha State by utilizing locally sourced meats, seafood, and produce to create awe-..."

"The Doris Duke Theatre exposes a mind-bending array of art – house films, retro classics, and groundbreaking documentaries inside the Honolulu Museum of Art. The Doris Duke Theatre is located at the rear end of the museum documentary, independent and international films are screened. It also hosts lectures, concerts, performances by visiting and local performers."