Tonkatsu Tamafuji, One of Honolulu’s Hardest-to-Get Reservations, Plans to Expand
Same address, different floor: The tonkatsu specialist widely regarded as Honolulu’s best is moving into a much bigger space.
Japanese
New & Coming Restaurants on O‘ahu
Notable openings include a new steakhouse, tempura bowls and matcha; plus the latest on Alan Wong’s and a coming beer bar.
After 21 Years, Mitch’s Sushi Just Opened Izakaya Mitch’s Next Door
Yes, it’s BYOB—until they get their liquor license.
Yonpachi Is a New Star Among Honolulu’s Udon Shops
Find chewy, silky house-made noodles, lunch sets and izakaya dishes at the corner of McCully and Young.
Frolic’s 7-Course Tofu Day Celebration Feast Coming to Jinya on Oct. 2
Tofu is going luxe in a kaiseki-style feast with lobster, a touch of truffle and more. *Bonus late add: appetizer trio with fall persimmon.
More Katsu: Hawai‘i’s First Beef Katsu Specialist Opens in Stix Asia
Seriously, four new tonkatsu spots this year is a lot for Honolulu. Kyoto Katsuda is the latest.
Tonkatsu @Honolulu Is Hawai‘i’s Newest Katsu Hotspot
It’s a taste of Nagoya-style miso katsu in Kaka‘ako.
All Our Favorite Musubi in Honolulu
Humble to loaded, white or brown, these rice balls fuel our foodie team at all hours of the day.
All Our Favorite Cold Noodles in Honolulu
When the summer heat hits, we reach for these refreshingly delicious cold noodle dishes.
Tororo Is a New Izakaya With a 6 to 8 p.m. Happy Hour
It means “grated mountain yam.” And there’s a chance dishes from shuttered Eastern Paradise might appear.
All Our Favorite Fried Chicken in Honolulu
Our Frolic and HONOLULU writers share their fave fried chicken finds.
Downtown Has a New Made-to-Order Musubi Shop
Onigiri Onibe’s 45 varieties are handmade to order (and yes, they come with nori).
Best of HONOLULU 2025: Food and Drinks on O‘ahu
Our editors picked 11 top categories plus 21 readers’ choices to establish the best food and drinks on O‘ahu this year.
12 Restaurants Are Creating Slimy Specials for Next Week’s Natto Takeout Dine-Around
Everything from natto eggplant bolognese and natto oyako donburi to guava natto white chocolate chip cookies.
Frolic’s 7-Course Natto Day Dinner Is Coming to Jinya on July 10
Seven original comfort dishes with oishii slimy twists, and only one rule: You must love natto.
All Our Favorite Matcha Drinks in Honolulu
Matcha is always on trend and everywhere in town. We asked the team where they get their matcha drink fixes.
8 Things You’ll Only Find at Don Don Donki in Kapolei
Beyond groceries and goods, the discount superstore has exclusives like freshly grilled eel, poke nachos and Portuguese sausage pizza.
Where Time Stands Still: Yanagi Sushi
It’s served my family sushi, combination meals and the perfect talk-story setting since I was just old enough to hold chopsticks.
A Former Sushi Chef Sells and Sharpens Knives at Aframes Tokyo in Kalihi
Revisiting that time we found an off-the-beaten-path stall selling top-line handmade knives and everyday knives at City Square’s open market.
Chillest Shave Ice Opens in a Permanent New Home in Kaimukī
The roaming pop-up once known as Ailana Shave Ice has set up a cool oasis on Wai‘alae Avenue.
Wagyu Ramen Comes to Don Don Donki’s Food Court
Affordably luxuriant Toriyama layers wagyu onto bowls of spicy garlic, miso, yuzu kosho and other ramen in Kapolei.
We Found the Ultimate Ramen—Did Your Favorite Win?
Thank you for voting in Frolic's Ramen Bowl 2025! See who took the crown—and we hope you loved every slurp along the way.
Where Time Stands Still: Yagura Restaurant
It’s more to me than just a place to get a good Japanese meal in the neighborhood.
