Marjorie S.

Looking for good sushi, this is the place. The sushi is fresh and delicious. A bit pricey but worth it. The next table had sizzling scallops, its a must try item. Need to go again. So much good food. Parking is limited as there are other bars around. You will enjoy the food and good service.
(4)
Tom T.

Good sushi and very good staff. Will care about customer and always made sure we are having good time. It's little difficult to find but very delicious.
(5)
Austin N.

Overall impression: An authentic hole-in-the wall Japanese sushi experience that you will thoroughly enjoy. Just be ready to pay for it. Average price: probably $25-40 for dinner. Widely variable based on what type of sushi and sake you want Positives: -feels authentic -small and intimate ambience -air conditioned -sushi is close to the best quality I have ever had -open late -staff are nice Negatives: -parking difficult (a few free stalls) -in the middle of the red light district, so at night, feels kinda shady -pricey (but definitely well worth the value) We went here at about 1015-1130pm on a Thursday night. It's definitely a hole in the wall place located right between a few strip clubs so it felt sort of eerie to be there at night. The parking lot has only 2 stalls marked specifically for akasaka, but at least it was free! When I got inside, I immediately felt like I was in Japan. They have a izakaya style sushi bar, a few small tables, and then a more secluded spot with smaller tables and cushions where you could sit on the ground. We ordered the matsu special-7 pieces of nigiri sushi and a role of teppa maki. We also split a small hot sake. The total price came out to $36. I have to say though, this was close to the best sushi I have ever had in my life. Once you've had this stuff, you can't go back to eating genki and kuru kuru! Every piece of fish was so buttery, soft and flavorful. I can still taste it in my mouth. The fish to rice ratio was almost 3:1, with a much larger portion of fish compared to the rice (which is always nice in my book$$$). The hot sake was very delicious and we got the cheapest one so I'm sure the more expensive ones were much better. My friends had the spicy ahi role, which I heard was superb, and the sizzling scallops (I forget what it was called). They loved it. Heck, even the free soybeans were better than I've had at other places! Overall, I had a great time. You should definitely come here. They do everything well.
(5)
Brian K.

When you're craving sushi and scallops, this is the place to go! Overall the ambiance, service and food here was quite impressive. The specialty here is the butter scallops, which I would highly recommend. We also enjoyed the chefs sushi selection, but the butter scallops were the highlight of the meal. The sushi here was definitely top notch, and the variety was also impressive. I think it's also worth mentioning that it did take quite a while for our food to arrive, but I suppose sometimes good food takes time. One opportunity for improvement at this restaurant is the price point. I don't normally have an issue with expensive food, but i have to admit I nearly panicked when I opened the menu. This place is definitely at least a $$$ shop, so don't be surprised when you are spending around 100$ for you and your date. Enjoy!
(3)
andrew a.

Ranks up there with hiking koko head or swimming in the ocean when visiting HNL. just fight through your urge to flee when you pull into the parking lot... sure it looks sketchy but the place is awesome... This is how sushi is meant to be... Either you know what I mean or your about to order another california roll...
(5)
Angela C.

We have been coming to Akasaka for its fresh sushi and delicious food for the past year, and something happened yesterday made us never want to go back again. The night of April 11th, we went to Akasaka for dinner around 10pm. We sat at the bar and was served with chef's special by sushi chef Raymond. Basically, he makes us anything he wanted, and this was the second time we did this. Both times, the food was creative and delicious. We believed we found the one Japanese restaurant with the sushi chef that we can keep coming back to...but events took a dark turn when we were paying with our credit card. As my husband was signing the check, Raymond asked us to tip him individually $20 dollars in cash, and tip additional 15% in tips on the check to the restaurant, reason being, all the chef specials are his own creation, uniquely his, only he can create in this world. Also, Akasaka doesn't share tips with him unless we tip him in cash separately! Very bold and aggressive. Silly me, pulled out $20 cash, put it on the bar, it disappeared within one second. Then Raymond said, remember to put 15% tip down on the check... At the end, we paid over 40% in tip. We left quickly, before the dishwashers, the produce sellers, the fishermen rush out to try to get their tips in cash.
(1)
L K.

Akasaka is expensive, but well-worth its price .. The staff is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable about the fish they serve, and the fish is all so fresh. This place is 5 stars in my heart, but 4 stars because of the price.
(4)
Julia D.

All the fish was delicious and fresh; the sake was probably the best I've ever had from any Japanese restaurant anywhere. Minus one star, because the prices were higher than I was expecting for a "$$" restaurant. I guess that's okay, because the fish was quality, but a bit of a surprise.
(4)
Ashley M.

Such a long & overdue review for Akasaka. We came here for dinner on Valentine's Day, and since the boys were planning day, they decided to be men & wait til last minute to book a reservation for dinner, which resulted to everywhere else being booked, so we resorted to here. This place is literally a hole in the wall, tucked in between two strip clubs. Parking is okay, they have reserved stalls for the restaurant. We arrived as soon as they opened for dinner & it's fairly small but it surely had a Japanese feel to it. The waitresses were really nice, and suggested a whole bunch of us to try since it was our first time there. Food is GREAT. You can really tell the difference between the fish that they have here compared to Genki, which we go to a lot cause it's cheap. The fish is FRESH, literally melts in your mouth...SO GOOD!!! I'm actually getting hungry thinking about it, haha. By the time we paid for dinner, they gave us chocolates & the owner even gave us a gift certificate for the next time we come in which I thought was awesome of her to do so!
(5)
Sheryl G.

what: super cute japanese restaurant with a traditional look and flair. something good: i hadn't been here for so long that i forgot how amazing the food is! walking in, i immediately felt that cozy, familiar feeling that i had when i first walked in : ) the atmosphere is nice and still you have that feeling that you can have a few drinks here and have fun! the misoyaki butterfish is to die for! loved it! in fact, i came back to have the same thing a couple of weeks later because the meal was so heartwarming! i will be back soon! something not so good: parking -__-; but the food makes up for it!! something to try: butterfish misoyaki & scallop butteryaki
(5)
Reg Z.

Super fresh fish, attention to detail from the servers, and good recommendations for what else to sample. The standard fish (salmon, tuna, etc.) was very fresh, and the fatty tuna belly special sashimi was really good. We also had the nigiri and sashimi platters, plus a few random rolls ... All were high quality.
(4)
Sara C.

Love this place!!! Need to as for Chef Ray for his specialties! Chutoro is one of his creations and the flavors pop and is amazing!!!! The food is seriously delicious..will be back from Texas next year..Also Angie our server rocks!
(5)
Elise M.

Akasaka is one of my family's favorite Japanese restaurants. The food is delicious. My brother and dad like to get sushi platters. The sushi is made with fresh, tasty seafood. I love the teishokus, especially the tempura one. A lot of the meals come with miso soup. The atmosphere is cozy and homey. The owner knows my dad because he has been going there for so long, and always greats him warmly. Overall, I definitely recommend Akasaka if you are looking for a great Japanese meal.
(5)
Tracey R.

Such a cute little Japanese restaurant. It has a bar, cute little seating area where you can sit on the floor indian style, and regular tables. The decor gives it a full Japan feel. I hear this place always gets busy so for my visits I try to at least come right when they open. The hours btw are 11a-230p and 5p-12a. The service is very good, the waitresses take good care and are very helpful. My favorite is the miso butterfish, it's so soft and tasty and just melts in your mouth. It comes with a salad, miso soup, rice, seaweed salad, and edamame. I also tried the NY steak so good...it comes in a stone plate thing that comes smokin' when served. The steak is soft, lean, and very delicious. The steak dish also comes with the salad, miso soup, etc. Next we got the spicy tuna roll, rainbow roll, soft shell crab roll, and unagi and avocado roll. Each roll was made to perfection, the fish was very fresh. The presentation was also pretty all served on a wooden plate. I just love akasaka! I definitely recommend!!
(5)
Christopher D.

Diana and I arrived at Akasaka around ten PM. It is a hidden pearl. We had fish five ways, which was how we described the flounder, tuna, fatty tuna, giant clam, Spanish mackerel--fried or cured. We would recommend this restaurant if your are in the area. The devote is reserve red and humble, yet tasteful and seasonal much like the delicious food. Thank you for a great dining experience.
(5)
P. N.

cute spot in the middle of strip club central. great, fresh fish. good service. would definitely go back.
(5)
Nancy L.

This little restaurant is hiding in plain sight behind the Ala Moana mall. A Pearl City local recommended it, or else we'd never have given it a glance though their back parking lot faces a busy street. Inside is quite the Japanese gem (I'm sure it represents a certain region... I never though about the differences until some real Japanese were giggling about a little girl's cute Osakan accent 25 yrs. ago) crammed into about the space of your average Yoshinoya. Our party of seven dominated the room, and I felt so sorry for the other couple there. They created a sashimi salad for us which was terrific considering the waitress's apparent hesitation (could have been the language barrier). HG appreciated the beauty of his chirashi bowl and the seasoned rice. Some of the fish was extremely fresh - very evident in the taste, but I wouldn't say it was melt-in-your-mouth quality (we didn't order any toro). I had the butter scallops on a sizzling platter which were delicious. I wish they'd allowed to spread the sauce on myself because I found it too mayonaisey, so I would have gone lighter or not used it at all. One of the elders treated, but I felt the prices were a little high relative to quality and portion size. Definitely not a tourist trap fail though!
(4)
otto v.

A can't miss on every visitor to Oahu's agenda. World class sushi that tastes of the Hawaiian water the fish was grown in. Now being served with Japanese microbrews of the highest quality. Rich professional surfers and other in-the-know types gorge at this place after a hard day on the waves. Mama-san runs this place with an iron fist to make sure everyone gets sushied to their belly's content.
(5)
Loryn G.

I really, really wanted to like this place.Truly! I went with a handsome guy on a date night-- how could I not like cute date + sushi!?? Three reasons: 1) Location is sketchy - near strip clubs- dumpy, dark parking lot....not really romantic! 2) We sat at the sushi bar- I ordered uni ngiri- the sushi chef went to plate it and totally dropped the uni in front of me- wasting the entire thing. He added more uni on top of the rice- but it was sloppy and there was no apology. 3) Finally, I ordered the toro ngiri- usually my FAVE thing to order (and not cheap). There was a HUGE bone in the center that I bit down on. I was so grossed out that I totally lost my appetite, felt nauseous and we left! Bummer. That being said, I should note that the place was pretty packed (albeit small), and the host lady was super nice and smiley.
(2)
Josh P.

One thing that annoys me as a long time patron is being bothered with relentless upselling. Thankfully the food was delightful as always. The crunchiness of soft-shell crab and a colorful spread of various nigiri and maki supplemented our appetites with sweet house sake and hot green tea. For starters we opened with a half-dozen oysters on the half shell and edamame. The atmosphere was mostly pleasant.
(4)
Lori Y.

Love their chirashi bowl (dinner one)! We had this for lunch this week! The fish is so fresh and their sushi rice is just right! U gotta try it's a small place tucked away but definitely worth it:)
(5)
Taylor N.

We wanted to try a more secluded Japanese restaurant, and this is where we ended up. The parking is a little tricky here and it's behind an XXX store and a club, just to be aware... Coming in at 10 at night, we didn't expect seating to be an issue... However, I guess you should make reservations before coming here because even though a lot of the seats weren't filled, we were placed at the sushi bar. The food here is excellent, as we shared a Rainbow Roll and had a Ahi and Chicken Teriyaki Teishoku. However the portions are fairly small for the price... We left not hungry, but not fully satisfied.
(3)
Olivia T.

This use to be one of my go to sushi spots. Open late, in the middle of town and fresh sushi. Owners must have changed. I'm so sad to say but Tonight is the last time I will be coming here. First of all, prices went up. Example $17 for uni! Serious?! The seemed to be manager or owner was super Korean mama pushy. She rubbed me and my guest the wrong way. Her pushy ways totally killed any ambience. The sushi is no doubt great but I don't like being made to feel uncomfortable when I'm ordering.
(2)
ShoRay P.

Today my hubby and I ate here for dinner for the first time and we were very pleased with our order. Uni was really good, hamachi was fresh, oysters were way better than the one I had the night before at a different place, butter fish became my fave, grilled ika was on point at my husband's request, and the abalone ... Mmmmmm! That abalone dish was the best. Staff was great!!!
(5)
Olivia Jingya O.

Very friendly and welcoming staff. Served edamame and green tea icecream on the house. Delicious scallop. The tuna two pieces nigiri were fresh and tasty too. I will come again if I have the chance.
(5)
William E.

For the amount of money you will spend here, you can definitely do better. We averaged about $48 per person (which would include a glass of beer each, but we opted to go with BYOB-- and Yuko decided on an arbitrary $10 corkage fee, based on what math I don't know but it involved needing to look at our bottle of sake first). Nevertheless, here's why it isn't worth the moola: First of all, when we received our orders of nigiri, they were served with grastic. What is "grastic," you might ask? Simply put: Grass + Plastic = Grastic. Yes, it's that fake "grass" looking junk you get in bentou boxes and cheap fast-sushi restaurant party trays. Really? We just ordered six pieces ($45 worth) of nigiri and this is the garnish? Wow. Next, the portions are not larger than your typical Genki. Are they 5x better in quality? Do they feed the fish with 24k gold flakes? I doubt it. In fact, the oysters smelled like a boat harbor. Not an indicator of fresh, IMHO. Additionally, the ponzu sauce was weak, and the oysters were otherwise just plain with green onion and some radish. Boring. By the way, Yuko, we never received the Ama Ebi shrimp heads afterwards. Why? Probably because you were trying to hurry everyone up so you can seat more people. You had the waitresses asking the same people every 3 minutes if they were finished with this or that. My date was asked three times if she was finished while she still had fish between her chopsticks. Not classy at all, Yuko. Finally, the fish... Kerai Kaarage. Disgusting. It smelled like it just came out of a deep fryer with 2-week old used oil. I could barely eat it. Thankfully, there was soy sauce and lemon slices nearby. The only reason I give this review 2 stars is because our waitress, Amy, was very helpful and patient. Unlike Yuko, the Hostess. Honestly, Yuko, did you used to work at Sorabol? If you're the owner, I'm mortified. For two people our bill came to over $100 not including a tip, and we left still feeling hungry. Try these alternative places in the same area: Doraku Shokudo Yanagi Sushi ..or a bit further... Izakaya Gaku Izakaya Nonbei Back Alley Cafe ...and your hard-earned bucks will take you for a much more appetizing journey. Seriously.. GRASTIC!!?!?? *rolling eyes*
(2)
Christina A.

Nestled on an alley way by clubs is this hidden sushi restaurant. My favorite! Everything is amazing! Sit at the bar and watch the sushi chef. Service is great.
(5)
Haylee F.

Akasaka is one of my favorite sushi bars in Honolulu. It's a smaller restaurant that always has fresh fish and daily specials! Years ago I was introduced to the scallops butteryaki, and my life just hasn't been the same! Giant scallops are served seared on a sizzling platter, then topped with lemon and a butteryaki sauce table side. The dish can be served as a set with rice and miso soup, but I always tend to lean towards ala carte and a selection of nigiri sushi or sashimi! Service is always great! I think it might be a family-run business because I am always greeted by the same sweet and bubbly lady and served by the super nice guy!
(5)
Manuel C.

My wife and I came for dinner on a Friday at around 6pm. The service was superb. Our waitress was extremely attentive and was spot on with her recommendations. All sushi was fresh and tasty, cooked items were cooked to perfection, and all food came out quickly. All items are priced fairly reasonably, though you can spend more than you would expect after ordering one great dish after another. Most reviewers note the location isn't the best. It is indeed down an alley and next to an exotic dance club. However, the place is very safe and the experience is well worth it.
(4)
Aaron Z.

As far as food is concerned.... Perfect! Location & Decor.... Well this place is about the food. Don't be afraid....try it.
(5)
Rianne D.

Don't let the fact that this place sits between two strip joints/gentlemen's club/bar with dancing girls (whatever!), deter you from trying this place. This place is truly a hidden gem. My favorites were the butter yaki scallops and the shrimp sashimi. You can also get the shrimp head fried! Taste like shrimp chips. Yum. The place is tiny. So, it's definitely not good for large groups. But, it's great for an intimate dinner or a quiet place to enjoy a meal with a friend or two. And, if you're looking for good quality food, not wanting to deal with a bunch of tourists and are willing to pay for it, this is the spot.
(4)
Janet F.

One of my favorite places to eat sushi. Their butteryaki scallops are a must have as well. The service here is great, food is always on point & fresh... I always leave happy. If you love Yanagi sushi, you'll love this place even more. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Winnie C.

Amazing sushi bar and chef. Loved everything about it from the freshness to the price.
(5)
Rebecca Z.

This place is situated in an interesting spot. Went with my mom, who is also a sushi lover, and we loved the taste. We had the nigiri combo, the king salmon nigiri was the best!
(5)
Jeffrey A.

This place is THE BOMB! Would never have found this place without Yelp. It's nestled in a nondescript mini-mall near the Ala Manoa mall, between two strip clubs and a small used car dealership. Just ignore all that and walk in: the small restaurant (maybe 10 tables and a sushi bar) is clean and comfortable with a pleasant, relaxing decor, and most importantly, truly great, fresh, flavorful sushi. Nothing frozen here: just fresh fish. Trust the hostess to tell you what is fresh that day. For us, it was yellowtail (hamachi) and toro (fatty tuna belly), plus mackerel. The fish was perfectly sliced and prepared so that the flavor of the fish came through, with no need to drown it in mayonnaise or anything else. At $50 pp it was not an inexpensive lunch, but it was superb and well worth it.
(5)
Julie O.

This is one of the best Japanese sushi restaurant. Authentic food, fabulous presentations, fresh seafood quality, friendly staff and sushi chef, amazing japanese flavor. Great specials! A must try and coming back over and over again. Love this place!
(5)
Jo K.

I come here for sushi when possible. The sushi bar is always packed with only a small seating of 12 to 14 people at a time. We were quickly greeted for drinks and given a regular food menu. Sushi man has been here for years and after a few visits he's sure to recognize your face. Definitely must have when visiting .. Aji sushi and miso butter scallops.
(4)
Dawn B.

I've never been to Japan but I assume that the sushi served at this place is comparable to its origins. Absolutely loved every bite.
(5)
George L.

Friendly server and has the freshest fish. Family had a good time. We were seated in a room that was good for kids. Definitely recommend!
(5)
Lester C.

The Sushi chef we had was on point!! Ray the sushi chef was awesome!!! He was highly skilled at his craft!!! Overall experience was great service was good. The bill took us by surprise! But no biggie. Ask for Ray at the sushi bar it will be an experience like non other guaranteed!!!!!!
(4)
Effi W.

A very cute place with extremely fresh fish and the amazing specials and the best service. Loved the sashimi and the oysters. Would love to come back and eat here again!
(5)
Mitchell N.

I'll preface this with the food and sushi chef are great. It was one of my favorite places... I used to love going here - a small, intimate place with well presented, tasty sushi and excellent customer service. What happened? I can only guess the management changed, and until it changes again, I won't be patronizing or giving this place a recommendation. To start: the food was as good as ever. Everything was fresh, the sushi chef was excellent with terrific cuts. I usually site at the sushi bar and enjoy speaking with the chef, however, I choose to sit at a table for the first time. Mistake. The manager constantly interrupted us in the middle of conversations, encouraging us to order more and when I did order, one of the wait staff openly questioned my order. I could even hear across the room! Then, I could hear the wait staff (no one behind the sushi bar, who were excellent) griping about various topics. Whatever ambience there was, was sucked into this void. It's unfortunate, since I've been going here for awhile. The food and chef's are still great. Everything else, well, enough to share a 1 star review. It's a shame this happened at one of my favorite places and completely overshadowed the food.
(1)
Sky D.

My boyfriend Corwyn and I Yelp'd this place after we landed and situated ourselves at our hotel at Ala Moana. We assumed we'd be limited on options since it was 10pm, and we were starving. The restaurant was located just behind the hotel, on a shady street/ally, that led to Ala Moana Mall. The actual restaurant was surrounded by strip clubs. We found this more amusing than offensive, and where right to think so, because the food was amazing. This place has the best/most affordable oysters. So fresh and delicious too. They came with tobiko, green onions and some sort of soy sauce mixture on a bed of ice. My boyfriend and I happily devoured them with a couple Sapporo. We also had several other dishes, including a rainbow, a spicy tuna, and an unagi roll.
(5)
Victor W.

Excellent Japanese sushi bar near Waikiki. The premium sushi combo is a great deal. The also do raw shrimp nigiri really well (with the fish head fried included)! Staff is very friendly and overall everything is reasonably priced. It feel like an authentic Japanese spot though it's also inside a strip mall with some random establishments next door. I found it to be the perfect late night spot after a long flight to get to Honolulu.
(5)
Ally G.

Still craving some sushi and sashimi, we decided to give this place a try. This was my first time here, and considering the location, I was a little skeptical. We arrived at about 6 pm on a Saturday night. The parking lot was tiny, but since it was still early parking was not an issue. The restaurant was fairly empty and we were seated at the sushi bar. The waitresses were extremely friendly and very helpful. The restaurant was on the smaller side, and had the standard Japanese decor, but overall very welcoming. Since we didn't eat all day and were starving, we ordered a bunch of stuff to try. After checking this place out on yelp, we ordered the butteryaki scallops and the spicy ahi roll. I thought the scallops were cooked very good, but not a fan of the sauce. It was a bit overwhelming but still tasty. I would have preferred a little less sauce. The spicy ahi roll was good though. We also ordered hamachi sashimi, shrimp tempura, chicken karaage, ika karaage, misoyaki butterfish and a spicy negitoro roll. All very tasty. But the best part of the meal was the blue fin tuna sashimi, which was a special for $45, it was melt in your mouth, so good! The restaurant and parking lot was packed when we were leaving. Overall, I have to say this place was a definite diamond in the rough find. The service was excellent, the food was great and of course excellent company. Our check was $207 which included 4 bottles of ASAHI.
(4)
Diane K.

My Dad took my Mom to Akasaka on their first date several years ago. After tasting the Butteryaki Scallops, I have a feeling this decision definitely helped to start their lives together off on the right note. Nice choice, Dad! Don't let the surrounding business establishments deter you away from this gem, Akasaka delivers top quality and a truly memorable dining experience. My absolute favorites: - Butteryaki Scallops - Agedashi Tofu - Hamachi Nigiri (ALL of their sushi is divine!)
(5)
Virgilio G.

I went to Akasaka the night of June 10 for my grandmother's birthday. Angie was a terrible server. The way she spoke to us was unacceptable on any terms. She spoke to everyone like they were children and did not tend to the table unless asked. The service is unbearable and embarrassingly rude as they seem to think that their food compensates for it, however the food was mediocre and well overpriced. I will not be returning to Akasaka even if you paid me.
(1)
Borys S.

Pretty good experience but fell a bit short: I had to ask for the miso soup that was part of the deluxe chirashi dinner (they forgot?). Chirashi had too many ordinary items to be "deluxe". Service was slow.
(3)
Nat K.

Sashimi is fresh and delicious. I loved how it was a small cozy spot nestled right smack in between two strip joints. For those who decide to go to a place with a fancier or chic ambience, don't bother. If you're a true sushi fanatic such as myself, come here. Feels like a legit authentic japanese place. A great local spot and waikiki's hidden treasure.
(5)
Jasmine W.

Over the top amazing sushi! The sizzling scallops are to die for!! Out the way location with average ambiance and food that transforms you to sushi nirvana! Love love
(5)
Brandon K.

I love this place. Food is always good and the service is always excellent. Omakase comes out beautifully so always an expressive place to take guests. The ambiance is more traditional and so is the menu. They also have a large room upstairs for parties. Garlic butter clams, scallops, Tonkatsu, Aji tataki, sashimi, sushi , whatever Kama they have... All one of my favorites!
(5)
Jason L.

I love the places hidden behind places that could never be discovered unless researched. By far my girlfriend and my favorite sushi joint! Sashimi is always fresh and the chirashi bowls are always filled with goodies especially on good nights with special surprises by the chef. The Miso Butteryaki Scallops ARE TO DIE FOR! Worth every penny those things are (since they are a bit costly). When they have fresh oysters, order them on the half shell! Customer service is great, super personable and make you wanna come again.
(5)
A R.

The location is a little unique... Go see for yourself :-) The sushi and service we encountered here was top notch! Mimi and the other lady (she was very cool but I forgot her name!) were very kind to our group. Sadly, we went on our last day in Oahu but will go back for sure next time.
(5)
Doug R.

Fresh, very traditional Japanese restaurant in between two nudie bars. The inside has impeccable ambiance. Superb service, I had hamachi yellowtail sashimi, sushi special, and oysters. Dinner ran me about $50. I'm a big guy so YMMV on these traditional small portions. This probably more a place I'd take a hot date then to feed my face. Definitely high quality.
(4)
Ariana M.

Been here a couple times now, and I cant believe I have never reviewed it yet!! The parking here is limited but you can find some meter parking close by too. So not so bad. Sometimes its good to make a reservations cause this restaurant can get busy fast. I always prefer to sit at the sushi bar too. I must say that my favorite dish to eat is the scallops! OISHI AND A MUST ORDER!! SASHIMI yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ UNI NIGIRI yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ SCALLOPS yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ SALMON BELLY yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦
(3)
Michelle N.

I loved everything from the food to their staff. Sushi was really fresh and nicely put together. I liked their twists on traditional nigiri. The staff was so friendly and helpful! I will definitely be coming back here.
(5)
Vivian K.

My girlfriend and I decided we would take our husbands out for Father's Day dinner on Sunday. Lee settled on Akasaka Restaurant and I called on Friday to make reservations for 5:30 for a party of 6. Sunday morning we had to adjust to just 4 people and I had tried calling from the time they opened to an hour before our reservation to change it. No one answered the phone so we just showed up and told them to reduce it to 4 people. The hostess was very accommodating and we were seated immediately. Now the reviews: Pros. Food was great; price appropriate for quantity and quality; food came out in timely manner: waitress aka hostess was very friendly and made excellent food suggestions; we got free ice cream and 2 $5.00 gift certificates for Father's Day. Cons: Waitress aka hostess was very friendly towards our husbands (she paid more attention to our husbands and kept touching them on their shoulders), ignored me and my girlfriend, when we ordered 2 chawan mushi she got upset saying we should have told her earlier and something about the kitchen being small, blah blah blah, then says if we order 4 she can do it - so we said okay 4 chawan mushi and guess what happened - she got flustered and told us she would try but the kitchen staff will be mad (luckily we got our order of chawan mushi); after dinner we were served complimentary ice cream while we paid our bill, but not even halfway through dessert we were asked if we were done because they needed our table. Seriously? We spent about $200 there and even gave a big tip and you shoo us out the door? For food and value I give it 4 stars, but when you suggest we increase our order and then get upset when we do, ignore the women customers and get all touchy-feely with their husbands, and then shoo us out the door halfway through dessert I give it 1 star for service. Overall I give this place 2 stars.....will I go back? I will give it one more chance only because the food was great but treat me the same way and I will never come here again and when I tell my friends and coworkers neither will they.
(2)
Shannon B.

Food was awesome (and I don't eat sushi) service and cleanliness were super. Totally what you would not think from the outside but was a short block from our hotel and was a great dinner dinning experience for eating so late at night. Sent many ppl there way
(5)
Pooka L.

I love some Akasaka looooong time. food n peeps are too sweet.. 5 stars across the board. !! domo arigato ;)
(5)
Michael K.

We tried a lot of other sushi places in the area, and stumbled upon this one on yelp. The 4-star rating was promising, but it only had a bit over 100 reviews. We had to try it out to see what's up. It was pretty hard to find cause it's TINY. We got seating at the sushi bar because there was a huuuuuuge party of 30 that took over the place.. Most of us ordered either the Matsu Deluxe Nigiri Combo or the Chirashi Combo. The fish was really fresh and the cuts were great! Also, the Butterfish Misoyaki was cooked VERY well here, and tasted fantastic. It was just a tad bit too salty and needed a lot of rice to balance it out. A few warnings of things not to order are: Anything with spicy tuna (did not taste awesome) Ahi Teriyaki (Order raw fish, this cooked ahi just tasted like soft meat). It just wasn't worth the price. And their dumplings were very doughy and had small shrimp inside them that were not deveined. :/
(4)
Kawika M.

Food: 4/5 - Quality over quantity. Very fresh ingredients prepared in a traditional Japanese style. It's food that lets the pureness of the ingredient shine, with wasabi and kikoman being your only enhancers. Decor: 4/5 - Traditional Japanese style tables and settings, with a "step into Tokyo" feel. There's even a sushi bar displaying all of the ingredients and fully equipped w/ and Sushi Master, creating your food in front of your eyes as your order goes in. Service: 4.5/5 Friendly staff greet you as you enter the door, and treat you with the hospitality that you can normally expect in your Japanese friend moms house. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, it's basically a kind toned voice, patient, consistently waiting on you and happy, happy, happy personalities. Pricing: Med (Adult). High (College & Below) - About $7-30 dollars a person and maybe more depending on your appetite, so a little more in the pricey side. But if you consider that they have fresh seafood daily and in season, $8-$10 for high quality sushi is a pretty good deal. Overall: 4/5 - Came in this hole in the wall place, surrounded by sketch areas, but stepped into a little piece of what you would expect in Japan. Pricing is big (for college and under) and portions are small, but was blown away by the quality. Ordered the Ahi, spicy tuna and ebi. Ahi was sweet and melts in your mouth, ebi was plump and meaty (unlike what you find in your normal sushi joints). Spicy tuna and soba was good, but I eat that so much I'm used to it. Sweet waiters ask for your order as you admire the numerous awards this place has on it's walls, slowly creeping your eyes over to watch the sushi master create your order in anticipation. Acts 2:42 Thank you Jesus!
(4)
Rommel G.

Had a fun night watching "Ride Along", and the hunger pains set in...Its Saturday and everything worth driving besides Zippys or Anna Millers in Aiea was closed. So off to Waikiki we go. Driving aimlessly for 20 minutes, my bud says Scallops. So we beeline to Akasaka hoping it was open. Its almost 1am, as we drove up and walked in. There was one couple at the sushi counter, so we were safe for now. And just after we sat, in comes Terry (from HASR and Terry's place fame). So the last call was pushed back a bit. Real cool restaurant guy (maybe manager) informs us that last call is soon, so we quickly look through the menu. There were 5 of us, and 3 haven't been, so I offer suggestions. Mostly everything on specials menu was out and no Chawan Mushi but no matter, it was after all 1am. So we order, two bowls of udon, a sushi roll, a bowl of salmon chazuke and the scallop ButterYaki. Everything was great! Love chazuke and this one had a light broth with fresh salmon flakes. ButterYaki was good as ever, sizzling plate with sweet butter sauce on the side. A little pricey but we managed to get a pretty good variety under $60 for 5...
(4)
Sam W.

Was taken here on a first date. He was apparently a regular here (takes girls here often I guess). The staff was really sweet, food came right away and it was good!!! Honestly don't know what I got, he ordered for me, but it was a beautiful display of sushi and sashimi. The restaurant has a really great atmosphere, and honestly the food was good quality as well! I definitely want to visit again and try out more things on the menu.
(5)
Brandon S.

This place is a good excuse for the fellas. What do I mean by that? Well it's located near a bunch of strip bars and X-rated stores...none of which of course I'm familiar with (no really)...so you can take your time and hit those places and finish off at Akasaka....then when the wife or the GF asks you where you went with your homies tonight, you can say Akasaka! The only reason she'll get mad of course is the fact you didn't take her since the food here is good! I would probably hit this place more often if it wasn't so pricey and they had more parking. They have a sizable menu with a variety of difference choices - everything from fresh sushi, nabe, noodles, ochazuke and teishoku's. Don't let the size of the parking lot fool you, there's a lot of room in the restaurant. Not only do they have the sushi bar and dining room on the first floor, they have a ninja hidden second floor with more tables and for larger parties. The best time to go to beat the crowd and to avoid the louder "late" night nearby strip bar crowd is to go at lunch. The prices are a bit cheaper and you'll probably be able to get a table easily without reservations. The best deal is to get one of the combo teishoku's. Today my group and I ordered a bunch of two/three choice combos yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ I had the sashimi and the chicken katsu combo. Loved both. The sashimi was fresh and not this paper thin stuff. yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ The katsu was also fried to perfection, golden brown, light, and tender in the middle. yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ My friend had the tempura, sashimi and the salmon shioyaki combo. The tempura batter was light and crisp. You could tell it was fried in super hot oil as it should be. yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ The skin on the salmon was so crisp and so good I think it grew arms and punch my friend in the mouth. yelp.com/biz_photos/akasâ€¦ Great place for a family dinner, group outing or date night.....or of course if you're "that" guy, a place to fill your belly after patronizing the nearby "establishments" with the fellas.
(4)
Lily L.

Authentic Japanese restaurant... Very small so you might have to wait to be seated... (You can wait next door at the middle-aged "strip club") The service was superb. But don't expect to have Americanized sushi rolls... No spicy mayo, no volcano rolls... Nothing fancy. Just raw fish and rice wrapped in seaweed. Very authentic.
(3)
Li D.

The host woman forced people to order sashimiï¼Œand when we order 1 amaebi and 1 tunaï¼Œshe even change the each sashimi into 2 orderï¼Œ4 pieces amaebi was 40 dollars and 6 pieces tuna was 45 dollarsï¼And the price of sashimi is not posted on the Manu, the host woman just show us the picture of sashimi without price on it, and keep asking us to order. Finallyï¼Œthe price was 185 dollars for 2 peopleï¼worst experience in japenese foodï¼btw, the waitress was nice and friendly. After we order, the host woman was never come to help again!
(1)
Krissy S.

love there scallop misoyaki is so tastey. they put a mayo mix with miso omg you hav two try it if you ever come here one of my favs
(4)
Lei N.

It was a last minute decision to join others for dinner, I had no idea what he was talking about when he said "chazuke". Wtf? Anyways, past Ala Moana Center, onto a driveway, pass the Jazz place, it's behind that. I thought there wouldn't be parking, but there were a few stalls open. It's a small Japanese restaurant, and if like, there's a sushi bar area and a little room that looked more traditional (basically take off your shoes and sit either cross legged or Japanese style (seiza)). We sat at a regular table with the rest of our party that was waiting for us. Since I had to run out to retrieve my phone, I already had tea waiting for me. I was new to this place, so I just stared at the menu, not sure what to order. Everyone else had been here before so they started ordering and asking what's good to have. Yes, if you are challenged at using chopsticks, they have forks. Not to worry! We started off with some crab salad. Salad, not something I would eat, but it was in front of me and not so bad. Better with shoyu I heard. Next came the "Butter Yaki Scallops". You can hear it sizzling as the waitress brought it out to us. At first, I wasn't sure what that noise was until I saw the dish. It's on a cow plate on a wooden slab. So yummy! I wanted more, but there was four of us, so we had to share. Next time I should just order my own. Before eating, I didn't know it was scallops. Our waitress served us individually a scallop ball. Craving it... MUST GO BACKKK. As we were finishing up our scallops, she brought out the "Crab tempura" ? I don't know the name of the dish. It's a whole crab, cut in half and covered in tempura batter. It had an interesting taste, but didn't taste like crab to me! I just got weirded out because I'm eating half the crab! Our "Seaweed Chazuke" dishes finally came out. A broth with rice, yellow stuff and seaweed. ( instagram.com/p/fwuvTJHtâ€¦ ) I imaged the seaweed to look like that in miso soup, but it was longer strands. I thought I would've liked it but the broth and rice was good enough... Maybe if they have a meat option... This was interesting to try and something I would order again, though you can't get much per spoonful since they use wooden spoons. Our last dish that came out was the Shrimp tempura. Apparently it's small shrimp. Yet still good all the same. For dessert, Green Tea Ice Cream ( instagram.com/p/fwwyR6Htâ€¦ ). I didn't eat any because I wasn't feeling it and my buddy was sick. Ewww. Wouldn't want to share ice cream with someone feeling like that! But enjoy the picture. And of course, you need a group shot: instagram.com/p/fwyjS8ntâ€¦ . SMILE. Definitely, a place I would want to come back again. For the food they have, I'm surprised they weren't packed or busy. That's okay more for the rest of us.
(4)
Kristy G.

This hole in the wall Japenese restaurant was suggested by a friend of my husbands. We strictly went in for sushi that night and were not disappointed! We had the California, Rainbow roll, Salmon skin and Spicy Tuna. The Salmon skin roll was the best I've had in awhile. Parking is slim if you go in when they are busy, but well worth it!!
(4)
Michelle J.

The staff was friendly and accomodating. The food was fresh and yummy. The atmosphere was very cute and delightful. I appreciate the review that fore told of the location being between two strip clubs and basically in the center of a complex of strip clubs. It isn't a seedy area but it does make you do a double take in the parking lot. The also gave us green tea ice cream to encourage us to come back. Thanks so much. I will be back.
(4)
Raymond G.

Do not let the seedy businesses surrounding this restaurant discourage you from walking in. Make sure you park in the spots marked "akasaka" and not "red rose" and you'll be just fine. The decor of this charming little restaurant is simple and pretty authentic looking. The restaurant seats about 40 people, about 10-15 spots at the bar, 5-6 tables of 2-4 seats and two tatami tables which could sit 4 people snuggly. We came for lunch so there wasn't a crowd, but I can imagine that you would most certainly need a reservation for a Friday Saturday night. We got two lunch specials, one chiÃ§ken terriyaki and one sashimi, with a side order of uni (sea urchin) and hotate (scallops). The fish was very fresh and the uni was sublime. It had great fresh flavor and that buttery smooth texture that you expect. We chose to have the scallops with a simple sweet soy sauce and a pinch of fish roe on top, not the mayonnaise salad scallop. It was super fresh and had that natural sweet flavor. The lunch special came with an assortment of pickles, edamame beans, miso soup, and rice. The price reflected the quality ingredients and the attention to detail. Do not expect a cheap meal but know that the prices are extremely fair for the quality of the food.
(5)
Nicole M.

My little secret. Nestled between strip clubs, I eyed this little place when I traveled to Soul Signature next door to get a tattoo. I peered in and it looked so classic that I yelped it and brought mom here the next day. The first time we came, it was 7pm on a thursday and no one was there. The hostess told us it was very unusual for them. I ordered the Hamachi sushi just to give the poor old sushi chef something to do, but it ended up being AMAZING. She suggested I try it, it's "creamy" she said, which is weird for fish, but now I know what she means. And was a perfect cut, so smooth and no strings. She kept pushing for us to get the scallops, but my mom and I aren't too adventurous with our seafood because we don't like anything too "fishy" (yes I know, I love seafood but you know what I mean, "fishy" is a flavor some seafood doesn't have). We ordered something else. then here she came with a sizzling plate of scallops. On a hot hot metal plate, she said it was on the house, she really wanted us to try it. She spooned on a creamy sauce and served us each a scallop. My mom and I just shrugged and dug in... MY BRAIN MELTED. It was the MOST AMAZING flavor I had every experienced, the sauce and the scallop were so tender and flavorful and amazing. I had no idea, I had tried scallops once before and found it weird and chewy, but this... I dream of it at night. They also gave us a little coupon to come back and my mom raved about dinner the whole way home. We came here again on what would've been my dad's birthday (he passed away a few months before), because we're sure he would've found it amazing as well, and we reserve this place for only the most special occasions. That way we can dream of those scallops throughout the year, until we allow ourselves to return for a memorable meal.
(5)
Julie R.

We went there yesterday for diner. We were starving and after reading all the comments that were just near perfection, we decided it was the place to go. It was not. First of all, food quality was less than average. There is absolutely nothing special about their sushis. They hardly hold up together. The scallop butteryaki that some people talked about was ordinary at best. ( they were hidden in a thick whitish sauce so we never tasted the scallops). Even Sushi Shop have more originality and believe me, I'm not one of their fans. Secondly, it's overprice for the quality, really. Not much more to say about that. Last but not the least, the restaurant is the middle of many Gentlemen's clubs and some 24h "massage" salon. Since we read some reviews, we knew in what kind of neighbourhood it was located and tought it could be a special adventure leading to a well garded treasure. We ended up realizing we were actually eating overpriced less than average food in the middle of creepyland... I gave them 2 stars because the personnel was very kind and friendly and the place looked very genuine and authentic.
(2)
Tammie C.

My friend who knows what a scallop lover I am, recommended Akasaka to me a long time ago. She said I HAVE to try their Butter Yaki Scallops. My Hubby's family wanted us to pick a place to eat to celebrate my birthday. Hubby and I are major food nerds and love to try out places we haven't eaten before. I remembered my friend's suggestion, and looked them up on Yelp. Now that Hubby and I have become more active with Yelp, we are constantly looking up reviews and photos for different restaurants. They seemed to have a lot of rave reviews of their butter yaki scallops, so I was game! Hubby reserved a private tatami room in the back since there were 7 of us. Everyone loved their food, especially me (BUTTER YAKI SCALLOPS ARE AMAZING!). Only problem we had was my brother in law's sushi that he ordered was forgotten about and he didn't receive his food until we were all 3/4 done with our food. The lady helping us who I think was the Manager was very apologetic and even gave him a $5 coupon/certificate to use towards a future bill. The location is not a very desirable one. It's surrounded by strip clubs and bars, so I personally wouldn't want to go at night unless my Hubby or other male friends/family members were with me. The parking area also reeked of urine...but I have the nose of a blood hound, so maybe it's not as offensive to others. Prices are pretty reasonable, the servers were friendly and I definitely want to return soon for more butter yaki scallops!
(4)
Megan M.

Service is always prompt and kind. Food is always fresh and delicious. Don't be put off by its location between two "gentleman's clubs"; it is a treasure! We bring all of our friends and guests here and it is ALWAYS a hit. Try the scallop appetizer - definitely worth it. Garden salad is big enough to split for two. Mushroom miso is yummy!
(5)
Nanea M.

Really tasty Japanese food and sushi, and friendly waitresses earn this place big points. But the prices are a bit high and parking can be tricky, thus the 4 stars. My boyfriend and I checked this place out on a Friday night around 8:30 pm. He called ahead and was told we wouldn't need reservations for a party of 2. Sure enough, we got seated right away. (The place really cleared out around 9/9:30, so if you wanna avoid the crowd, go later. They're open late.) It was my first time here, but he'd been before, so he took the lead ordering and got: an app order of butter yaki scallops (lightly breaded and fried, five large scallops came served on a sizzling cast iron platter and were slathered by the waitress with a dressing/sauce that sorta tasted like thousand island); soft shell crab sushi roll (hands down best I've had on the island); salmon skin sushi roll (just so-so in my opinion); nabeyaki udon (broth seemed a little bland, but noodles were perfectly cooked and the garnishes were yummy); and sashimi (super fresh hamachi and ahi)/chicken teriyaki set. I think the bill came out to around $80 before tip. They gave a $5 gift certificate for use on our next visit. Overall, definitely worth circling the back roads of Ala Moana Center for parking (their small lot was full) and walking past the seedy strip clubs next door.
(4)
Lindsey J.

If you've ever been to the sushi bars around the Tsujiki fish market in Japan, then you'll know exactly what you are in for here, right down to it being crammed between sketchy stores (adult pleasure and tattoo places) as it likely would be in Tokyo. It is the most authentic sushi experience I've had outside Japan. Do not mistake me, no sushi compares to the delicate and freshness of the sushi in the restaurants in Tsujiki fish market, but this is a (very) close second, especially if you get the special of the day. And since this is a clearly a local's place, please don't expect Alan Wong's. The sashimi is fresh and the menu is limited (as it normally would be) to mostly nigiri as well as sashimi. They do have a fairly extensive selection of non-sushi based items that I would not have expected (like soba and udon). I'm guessing to appeal to a wider audience. As with any sushi place, I ordered the chef's choice and I was not disappointed. It was king salmon sashimi that day, and that's not even my favorite. And the service is Japanese superb. The price was in line with the fish quality. I spent $30 for chef's special sashimi with a Kirin (beer). Gratefully, my hotel concierge recommended this place to me when I said I wasn't interested in having $40 mediocre rolls at the places around Waikiki. It was a fair walk from the main strip but parking is ample if you choose to drive. I recommend driving, particularly after dark. Fyi, there are two entrances, so if you can't enter in one, go around the building to the other entrance. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a authentic Japanese sushi experience, a sushi for sushi's sake eat or a quiet and intimate date place (as long as you don't mind the next door neighbors). Why 4 out of 5 stars? It's up against Tokyo!!
(4)
Yuko A.

I got out of work around 7:30 and my grandma was starving. There were only a few Japanese restaurants open around the time I got to her apartment around 8:30 and luckily Akasaka was one of them. We both decided to get a Matsu Deluxe Nigiri and since we were both pretty hungry we also got a chawanmushi and I ordered a grilled shishamo (female smelt with eggs) The Matsu Deluxe came out first and at first didn't seem like much but it turned out to be pretty filling. All of the fish was fresh and my only complaint is that they used a little less rice but all in all I would definitely order it again. yelp.com/user_local_photâ€¦ Now on to the chawanmushi - some of the better ones I've had in a while. Although it was filled with lots of shitake mushrooms which aren't exactly my favorite, the shrimp in it was tender and fresh and not the least bit rubbery. The egg custard was soft with the right amount of dashi and cooked to perfection, not too hard. The miso soup that came with the Matsu Deluxe was actually pretty good, I never really drink miso soup but this wasnt the least bit salty and almost had a little sweetness to it. I was craving shishamo so I was happy to see it on their list of specials. It wasn't at all salty and filled with eggs. :) They also gave us a $5 gift certificate to use for our next visit. YELP 365: 196/365
(4)
Joann M.

Must order the mido butter yaki!!!! Must!!! So good! Great servers and great presentation on the food!
(5)
Jennifer L.

I have only been here for lunch! I come only with my colleagues every other month or so. Their personal favorite is either the chirashi or scallops. The latter smells really really good! I always go for the butterfish teishoku. I hear the portions used to be bigger but I wouldn't know. The service is efficient and there is nothing to complain about there. The tea is nice and I like the dressing on their salad that comes in teishoku set. The one thing that does concern me is the stairwell going upstairs. It is incredibly dark. I cannot see the first two steps at all!
(4)
Lauren A.

Service is awesome!!!! Don't let the surroundings nearby fool you.. It's around strip joints but the place is super clean and delicious!!! I got the tempura roll!! TASTY!!!!!!
(4)
Waikiki S.

Great little restaurant with high quality sushi & daily specials. The price is just right, & the service is exceptional. We love ordering their daily specials. Like the salmon sashimi, the abalone sashimi, their California roll the the best I had.
(5)
Elsie F.

Came here on a whim with a couple of friends because sushi ii was booked for the night. I've heard good things about this place so we decided to try it & it did not disappoint. The butteryaki scallops was my favorite dish. I loved the presentation of it, especially the sizzling platter. The fish was of good quality as well. The best thing about this restaurant was the service this one lady gave us. She was probably the owner or manager but she was really friendly & provided excellent service. Overall, the bill came out to be 200 for 3 people. I think that's a little too pricey for a meal but it's worth the experience! The place is quite small so it's best if you make reservations. I shall bring my bf back to try it too!
(4)
Milly C.

My family and I planned a family dinner but due to my forgetfulness, I forgot to make reservations! We wanted sushi - good sushi. So I called Kona Kai and Kin Chan for a reservation for six people on a Saturday night.. We then went to Michinoku but they were full too! I quickly yelp'ed "sushi" on my smartphone, praying a good restaurant out there was open and could seat us for some delicious sushi. Luckily, Akasaka answered my prayers! Nestled between a hoarde of strip clubs and bars was this little gem. We were greeted with smiles even though they were also really busy. We were seated in a cute little room with no chairs (floor seating only). The interior reminded me of Sushi Izakaya Gazu, very traditional and Japanese. We started off with complimentary edamame and imitation crab salad (so good! wish we had more of this...). We had two orders of the scallop butteryaki since everyone on Yelp raved about it. It didn't disappoint. The scallops were perfectly cooked, lightly battered, crispy on the outside and soft and succulent on the inside. They were covered with this amazingly rich sweet and tangy sauce and left me craving for more. They were slightly pricey at about $17 for five pieces but it's worth a try! To me, the best deal here is the chirashi special which comes with miso soup. The pieces of fish are extremely fresh. I think the quality is on par with all other highly rated sushi joints. The one thing that made Akasaka stand out was the cuts of the fish. They were so thick that I didn't feel like I was being ripped off. The chirashi deluxe special is about $25 and definitely worth it. The salmon skin salad was also delish, with the textures of the lettuce and crispy salmon skin dancing on your tongue. They give the dressing on the side, but it was sooo yummy that we just poured everything in! Our server recommended the misoyaki butterfish and that was good, but I'm not sure if I would order that over the chirashi! My family really seemed to enjoy it though since they devoured it in a span of five minutes. Our total bill was ~$230 (including tip) for six people but we all left full and happy. It is pretty pricey but you pay for the quality! At the end, we got a $5 gift certificate for our next return. I'm sure I'll be back... especially since I got a gift certificate! ;p
(4)
Jessica K.

Yes! So good we wanted to eat here twice! The only minor issue was they expected us to order drinks before we had menus and then they didn't come back to check again since we ordered from the sushi bar. But the food... Wow!!! We started off with the oysters which were great. We also split the small sashimi platter but I would recommend going for the medium! The squid was incredible. Most of it was like butter. I adored their seaweed salad. Their california roll was the best I've ever had, the real crab in it really did it for me. The spicy salmon was just as delicious. This was one of the more outstanding meals we had on the trip. It ended up being a touch pricey, but the quality made up for it. I left there a big, sushi stuffed fan!!!
(5)
Angela W.

never come back
(1)
Courtney O.

Butter yaki scallops, butter fish, hot sake, cold beer & fresh sushi... yum! This restaurant is very small so reservations are a must. There are a few stalls in front of the restaurant or you can park on Kapiolani Blvd. or at Ala Moana Center. The service is always good, and the food is just delicious!! They have a number of different teishoku's to pick from as well as the usual rolls and sushi and also yummy combination plates. Pretty much everything I've eaten here has been wonderful. Yes, the butter yaki scallops are a must, but don't stop there! Order family style and make a mini buffet. You won't regret it. Yes Akasaka is a little on the expensive side but the food is really fresh and prepared well so I don't mind paying top price.
(5)
Kellen Floyd A.

Love eating here! Great food and really nice workers! Butteryaki scallops are always on order. Seafood is very fresh. I usually get a chirashi or sushi, along with the scallops. Also go with some sake, Otokoyama.
(5)
Unyong N.

Yelp said they close at 2 am. They said 1 am. Yet when we walked in at 10:30 pm, they treated us like we walked in at the very moment they were about to close. Horrible rushed service. Food order incorrect. tempura was soggy. Fake tasting ponzu served with fried flounder. Servers talking about personal stuff loudly. NEVER AGAIN.
(1)
Vick G.

DO NOT COME. This is my first time going out of my way to write a bad review on a restaurant. Horrible customer service and they don't care about their business.
(1)
Stephen H.

Really?! Seriously?! That little sliver of fish is my butterfish? And those 2 little battered things my shrimp tempura? Yes, with a little chawan of rice for $24.95. Okay. So I figure maybe these petite portions reflect a Japanese-Japanese sensibility. I certainly could do with fewer calories. My hakama has been a bit snug around the waist lately. But I'm still VERY hungry. This was supposed to be a 2-combo dinner teishoku with a healthy fish option, and,...well,...uh,...an unhealthy deep-fried shrimp option. (Change in little steps I say.) I'm neither enlightened or satisfied. All I can think of is "yo quiero Taco Bell" or a bucket of the Colonel's. Or is the kitchen just skimping. Either way, the price:portion ratio here is high enough to be a concern. And the service? Our waitress and the hostess seemed to be running a relay to clear our table as quickly as possible. Hey wait a minute! I eat the shredded daikon. Where I should have been made to feel like the object of a concerted and coordinated effort to serve and please (that's a Japanese sensibility too isn't it?), I just felt rushed. Oh, and waitress---you don't stack empty plates on diners' tables to make bussing easy for you. At least not at this diner's table. Sayoonara (Japanese long goodbye as I won't be returning [anytime soon]).
(2)
Jennifer T.

Sushi rolls. I love sushi rolls. Spicy ahi california and tempura. Yummm. The sake didn't hurt either. Not too much parking here as it's nestled in strip town. The fish tasted very fresh and there was not too much mayo in the spicy ahi.
(4)
Mari K.

This place was just ahhhh-ok. Went as a group of 4 and was seated fairly quickly as we had reservations. The servers and owners seemed to be all Korean but spoke broken Japanese. They took the orders fast and had the food out in a timely manner, but somehow we just felt rushed throughout our dinner. The food was good, nothing great, and a little over priced. I feel you can get much better Japanese food and sushi at a cheaper price and with better service at other places. Our bill for 4 people came out to a little over $200. What took the cake was that there was a HUGE group of at least 25-30 people who came while we were dining and were taken to the upper room. I guess they didn't all fit so the leftovers came downstairs and were just waiting in between chairs and tables, walking in and out of the door, and really making all the patrons feel like we had to rush out. A few other tables finished their meal in a rush and left, and the big group slowly started to take over the room. We felt rushed too so we finished our meal fast, not even accepting some of the dishes we ordered in order to leave quicker. I don't think I will be back anytime soon....
(3)
Marc P.

The sushi was good and fresh but not phenomenal. The selection of sushi and rolls was very limited. It was freezing so we ordered miso soup which was some of the best we've ever had. The combination of price, quality, and selection is how we landed at 3 stars.
(3)
Kristen K.

3 stars for now...but maybe that will change when I go back to try just sushi and those scallops everyone raves about! Cute, small place....small parking lot. Wait staff was nice enough, but service was honestly quite slow. Given it was a Saturday night, but the restaurant was not fully packed....the waitress forgot our drink order and once reminded dropped two sake glasses and my beer, had to be asked again to bring my friend's sake. My two friends ordered sushi....one of them chose one of the Nigiri sets, and the other got a roll along with an order of hamachi nigiri (I think it was hamachi). Anyway, I'd love to have been a vulture and have tried some of theirs (even though they offered)....but I declined and will just come back again to try more items. I decided on the agedashi tofu and the salmon ochazuke. And I really wanted to order some toro....which happened to be market price...$25 for two (yes two) nigiri. I'm all for dropping $$$ on good food...but that's rediculous and would be gone in 5 seconds. So I opted out. The ochazuke was delicious and totally hit the spot. Overall, totally want to come back and try more menu options....
(3)
Christina T.

I eat a lot of sushi and fish and I was kinda disappointed eating here. The price is too high for the quality of fish you get. Service was sub par and overall I left unimpressed.
(3)
Kathy C.

Went because of the great yep reviews and the food, service and quality were exactly as described. Don't miss the oyster's - they are outstanding.
(5)
Richard H.

Traditional Japanese sushi bar in a "shady" part of Ala Moana, next to Femme Nu and Jazz Minds. They have very limited parking and be careful parking on the street. 24 hour tow away zones, and lots of homeless people walk around Kona street. The place is very small, but has a nice atmosphere on the inside. Generous portions of fish over small pieces of rice. The quality of the fish is exceptional, but as others have mentioned, this place is fairly expensive. If this is your first visit, I would recommend the Sushi or Sashimi deluxe plates for around $30, will give you an idea of the high quality Hamachi and Salmon cuts. The toro is around $45 per serving, and as I mentioned very expensive! I would also recommend the clams miso soup, for $4.95.
(4)
Rachael O.

I've been twice, once with my son who is a sushi chef on the mainland. I enjoyed the sushi, and my son commented that it was good quality, fresh fish. The people that work there were kind and attentive on both visits. It's a little bit cramped in the downstairs dining area, but that's probably more of an issue for the servers than the patrons. I'd say we got slightly more attentive service on our second visit, as we had a reservation and my son asked the server questions about the source of some of the ingredients. I'd guess that restaurants like for patrons to appreciate the care they take. Yes, it's tucked in between strip clubs, and parking is a little tricky, but not impossible. To me, sushi always feels like an expensive meal, probably because it's labor intensive to make. We tried the best items on the menu, in my son's opinion, and spent $165 for three people. I think that's probably on par for Honolulu.
(4)
Eric S.

Amazing! Truly authentic! The service and food were equally impressive! My wife and I went in with another couple and left with unexpected satisfaction ! We will definitely return.
(4)
Jody S.

So when a friend and I were deciding where to eat lunch after driving aimlessly on empty stomachs, she suggested a Japanese restaurant behind Femme Nu. I was like, REALLY?! Behind Femme Nu, the strip club. What if someone sees my car parked in the middle of the day next to a strip club, haha! HOWEVER, I knew from experience that there are actually a LOT of really good restaurants in Stripper-ville. So I was game....and intrigued by her suggestion. We parked, walked and now this is one of my NEW fave Japanese restaurants. I enjoyed tempura donburi--the tempura was light and not heavy and the rice was lightly seasoned with tempura sauce and not soaked, one of my pet peeves. Miso soup came with my meal and it was perfect--small bits of firm tofu, delectable greens and steaming miso broth--oishi! The service was fast, price was fair and food was delectable. Will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Curt S.

This was the best service I had anywhere. Very friendly staff spoiling my kids while we ate their amazing recommendations of fresh fish and scallops. I will definitely come here again. Don't be fooled by the strip clubs. Zagat rated three years running and the soft shell crab with avocado was an unusual sweet flavor that combined with the smooth avocado made it perfect.
(5)
Nat N.

When my friend chose this place for dinner, I freaked out. Some of the reviews on Yelp scared me (roaches?!) and whenever we pass by this place, my hubby reminds me about how he got really sick from this place and will never go back. Lucky for him, he's not invited to this dinner with my gal pal. :) It was pretty weird when we first got there - the place was virtually empty except for one girl that was dining alone and finishing up her meal. Eventually there was another Japanese couple that sat at the bar ,and another guy that dined by himself with a laptop, but that was it. I guess this place is popular amongst the later diners (from the neighboring bars/clubs). We ordered the agedashi tofu, sashimi, and sushi. The tofu was excellent, and the sushi/sashimi was melt in your mouth. And I'm happy to say, I did not see a single roach, and I didn't get sick either! It's quite pricey (came out to about $43 per person for the food and two drinks), but I don't mind paying a lot for good quality sushi/sashimi.
(4)
Cameron S.

This is my favorite Sushi restaurant in Honolulu to date. I've lost track of how many times I've come here now and Akasaka never disappoints. Authentic feel and super fresh, high quality sushi. I've yet to find anything here that I don't like. The dining area is quite small, so just bring a date rather than a big group of friends.
(5)
Conor I.

Akasaka is a great little Japanese restaurant in a seedy area. There are lots of adult entertainment clubs around here. Other than that once you are inside, you wouldnt have any clue what the neighbors look like We made reservations and were sat on time. We started off our meal with some Maguro and Toro Nigiri. Both were fresh and generous cuts of fish. Butter Yaki Scallops is what was recommended by a few friends of mine so we tried that and were not disappointed. The seafood tempura was also a winner. It came with crab, shrimp, scallops and some fish. Soo good! The food was good, the service was also great, prices are a little on the pricey side but most smaller Japanese restaurants are. I'm already ready to go back to Akasaka again.
(4)
Joy N.

I finally got to try Akasaka and it's definitely as good as everyone says it is!! I thought that I would be dissapointed since it was so hyped up... but I know why it's raved about in so many reviews! I still feel like I need to try a few more dishes so that I can give it a thorough review but from what I ate, along with my bf I feel that it's got to be a 5 star review! I called for same night reservations on a Saturday night and was happy to hear they had a few seats at the sushi bar available. I had to google the place because I knew it was in the back of a parking lot-- found out it is right behind Jazz Minds.. very limited parking tho so not too sure where we would've parked if it was all full! When we were seated the sushi chef was very attentive and asked us if we were ready. since it was out first time we were taking a look at the menu since there was so much to choose from! The sushi chefs were so patient and friendly and that made the experience extra enjoyable! My friend ordered the nigiri combination (deluxe) and devoured it!! My boyfriend ordered the chirashi and ate the slowest I've ever seen since he wanted to savor each slice of fish. I ordered the scallop misoyaki to share (melts in your mouth!!!!) and a few nigiri pieces of salmon, maguro and chu-toro. everything was very good and the quality was excellent!! Definitely will come back to try some of their other dishes and sushi!!!
(5)
Marci C.

Walked here from ala moana (due to the limited parking in front) a little after 5 and the restaurant was completely empty save for the waitress and the sushi chef. It's a small restaurant with a cute, traditional interior but limited seats. The waitress was very sweet and patient (totally great cause we had no idea what to order) and our food came out very quickly (we were the only ones there...). Based on other reviews, we went with the butter yaki scallops, and also chose the soft shell crab roll (cut into 6 pieces) and... the natto roll! The scallops were AMAZING but a bit overpriced, and the soft shell crab roll was also delicious. The waitress raved about the natto roll but I just couldn't do it. It was my first time trying natto and, according to my friend, was lucky to try it here, but never again. We were actually going to get the nigiri combo but decided otherwise when we learned it came with only 8 pieces of sushi for over $20. No no no! However, cause the food was so good, it's something to definitely consider trying next time. Overall great place with yummy sushi. A tad expensive, but very much worth it. Will come again soon!!
(4)
Mike L.

Loved it. Fish was incredibly fresh, Nigiri portions were a good size. Got very friendly service and was seated right away at the bar. Came at 8 on a Thursday in August, and it was just me and a coworker. It's a small, hole in the wall place. It is sandwiched between 2 gentleman's clubs, but don't let that scare you away. Restaurant itself seemed clean and had nice decor.
(5)
Kim M.

Akasaka is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant located between Kapiolani and Kona St. It's between Red Rose and that ever-changing bar (now called Edge Bar) by Jazz Minds. Akasaka is similar to Kabuki in that it features traditional Japanese fare while still managing to please to the local palate. The menu features both Teishoku (similar to a "combo" where it comes with miso soup, tsukemono, and rice) and other non-Teishoku dishes. You can also order from the sushi bar. The bf took me here for the first time for one of my birthday-weekend dinners. We had eaten just a few hours before, so we shared: Scallop Butteryaki Teishoku yelp.com/biz_photos/ncQUâ€¦ Amaebi Agedashi tofu The bf had excitedly told me several times before about Akasaka's popular sizzling scallops and how he knew I'd like it. (He knows me so well.) I'm so glad we ordered what we did; everything was tasty. The scallops came out just as he had described, sizzling on a hot plate. Our waitress squeezed some lemon and dressed our scallops in the creamy sauce that arrived in a side dish. The creamy-sauce-coated scallops were scrumptious. The lemon squeeze really brightened up the flavor! The Agedashi and amaebi were also very delicious. Sitting at the sushi bar really has its perks! We ordered our amaebi through the sushi chef and our order was made instantly! I know what I'm ordering next time :) Yelp 365 - #031/365
(4)
Brian M.

What kind of guy goes to a sushi bar by himself??..This guy!! I had to kill some time so it was either sushi or the strip club next door...Mmmmm.. Make my eyes or stomach happy?? STOMACH WINS! I step inside of this small, almost hole like in the wall place. It was a nice quaint and quiet place, took a seat at the sushi bar. Ordered a Large Kirin and a small botttle of hot Sake then the Sushi ,Otoro,Ikura, Hamachi,Uni and salmon. Everyone of the sushi dishes just melted away in my mouth. Winning!! I really enjoy sitting on the sushi bar and watching skilled sushi chefs. Just makes the total experience so much more better! Be back again in the future..sorry strippers I ate and drank your rain money....
(4)
Jason M.

Went here tonight for my birthday because the place we go for sushi was booked for a private party! Anyway reservations was at 7pm we walk in at 6:55pm and get seated immediately! Before the waitress leaves she ask if what drinks we wanted, everyone just said water for now. It's now 7:30pm and no water has come not even a menu has come to the table so we could be looking it over while we sit and wait for a few more guest. We are the only two tables upstairs and the restaurant downstairs is small already, anyway we here the lady telling the table that is next to us to get up and go outside of you don't want to order now!!! Lmao, that's awesome customer service! It's now a hour into our reservation and only soy beans and the chicken we ordered has come so my friend has to go downstairs and check on our food. He gets down there and sees a lot of sushi at the bar just sitting, he ask is that are order? Waitress says yes I'll bring it up!!! Who knows how long it was even sitting there guess it's a good thing he went to check... The moral to this review is the food is great and fresh and I give it a five star, but the wait help and the customer service is barely a two star.
(2)
Jan Y.

Yes this is def a hole in the wall type place, but I can't say the food is very good. Aren't holes in the walls usually good? Well in any case, the very very FIRST you need to know is that they only serve about 3-4 low grade cold sake which they serve in their small carafe that equates to 2 1/2 small cups for $25 (which is the most expensive one on their list). For such low grade stuff I can't believe they charge that much for so little bad sake? The food, the crab salad $14 is a joke; they threw a few pieces of rubbery crab legs on top of a reg salad. It's a total rip off not to mention I couldn't eat it, the crabs were def in the freezer for a very very long time, it should have been thrown away imo. The fried chicken was not good, dry, no flavor I say pass on that too. The sushi was mediocre quality so I give 1 extra star for that. IF you must go stick with the sushi and drink the beer skip the appetizers, cooked food and sake.
(2)
Kolter K.

The service is very friendly with a comfortable feel. The sushi is top quality and the sizzling scallops are a must! This would be a great place to take a date or small group. They have been know to accommodate a larger group in their upstairs seating areas. Price reflects the quality and the quality is top notch.
(5)
Yue C.

One of the best japanese restaurants in Honolulu. I went there last summer. Everything was awesome. The lady at the reception was really kind. The scallops were the highlight of the day.
(5)
Daniel G.

*READ THIS* FROZEN FISH eeewwe this restaurant is owned by Korean. I don't mean to be a racist but its not authentic at all. The old lady named Yuko (Korean women with a fake japanese name) says what's best for the day, do not trust what she says. She only recommends the most expensive and if you order something without knowing exactly how much it costs, a miso soup can be up to $15.... $15 a bowl! PLEASE, do not be another victim and pay $500 for what I could've had at $40 in Japan. There are thousands of other authentic Japanese restaurant here in Waikiki trust me. Just like japanese are better at japanese food, Koreans are better at Korean food, not Japanese. I don't mean to be rude but please do not go.
(1)
Laura S.

I brought 2 friends from the mainland for lunch because I'd heard such great things. The staff were very friendly, but they made some really odd mistakes, which I won't hold against them too much, mistakes happen. First, when they seated us they never gave us menus.. we waited about 10 minutes for them. Then another lady came and took our menus away, we hadn't ordered yet so thought we were supposed to memorize our orders. One of my friends was hoping to get a spicy tuna/avocado salad that we used to get at another Japanese restaurant. It wasn't on the menu, but they said they could do it no problem. That was very much appreciated, but the salad (on iceberg lettuce) was nothing like what was expected, and in a bad way. Other than that the food was okay, but very small portions for the prices. I may try again sometime to see if that visit was just a fluke.
(3)
Clarissa M.

This place was a first try for us on a Monday night after a movie. It stays open until midnight and is near Ala Moana. Entrance to the parking lot is on Kona street. Another entrance to the parking lot is from Kapiolani and it will be beyond the jazz club on the same side. There was only one server when we sat ourselves at 9:45 pm ish. And hardly any customers. The restaurant is very small and I can't imagine the wait time during lunch and dinner rush hour. Once seated we were given menus, water, and unsalted boiled edamame. It wasn't very long after that we placed our drink and food order. Everything came out fast! No wait time at all. We had the chu toro, salmon and avocado sushi, shrimp tempura & vegetables, saltwater eel, clam garlic butter, and sashimi combination deluxe. The tempura was my least favorite because the shrimp was skimpy and thin and the batter was not at all thick and crunchy (the way I prefer it). The clams were cooked well not too salty. The sashimi and sushi were okay. My taste buds were not overly impressed. Just simply satisfied. The amount of food was just the right amount for two people. Our total bill including tax was $101.26. Our server was attentive and efficient. There was a review of this restaurant from 1992 - it's got history. Well worth a first try at the very least.
(3)
Chyanne O.

This place is THE best sushi place if you like straight up authentic type of sushi. None of that dragon or cali rolls we are talking about here. Their selections are all fresh and I have to say that uni is top notch. It just melts in your mouth. One order is not enough. It's pricey but worth every penny. Don't mind all the strip clubs around- this place is a gem!
(5)
Marko C.

This is one Hawaii Local favorite sushi bar located on the outskirts of Waikiki (in back of Ala Moana Shopping Center). First, this restaurant is located in the "red light" district of town (i.e., lots of gentlemen's clubs in the area), but it is a really nice hidden gem of a restaurant. You walk into the restaurant and you are immediately immersed into Japan! The atmosphere here is quaint, vintage, and homey - just like it would be in Japan. There are about 8 tables, 10 seats at the sushi bar, and two tatami-style seating areas. Small, but cozy. The sushi here is AMAZING!!! Here's the scoop: Maguro / Island Ahi / Tuna: This fish is as fresh as it gets. The red color of the fish flesh is almost transparent and deep red. You can tell that the fish was caught in the last 48 hours of it being served. It was mouthwatering fresh and silky to eat. Note: Hawaiian waters are one of the best breeding ground for the Tuna. Grade: A. Awabi / Abalone: This was fresh small abalone, cut into bite sized pieces. The abalone wasn't chewy as it typically is served, because it was fresh (almost moving still). It was probably the Kona (Big Island of Hawaii) raised abalone. Those abalone are raised in water that is pumpped into tanks that the abalone grow in. The best thing about this dish was the the "guts" part of the abalone was put in a little bowl with ponzu sauce (citrus/soy sauce), grated turnip, green onion, and chilis. It was served as a side appetizer. Most sushi bars will throw this away. It was a treat! Grade: A. Hamachi / Yellow Tail: This was perhaps the best yellow tail tuna that I have ever eaten in my life. The tuna had a very fatty content because it looked beautiful like marble. It just melted in your mouth. You could tell it was high quality tuna from Japan that was probably flown in that morning. Grade: A+. Uni / Sea Urchin: What bad can I say about this? Nothing. The uni was super fresh and tasted very buttery. It was shipped in from Japan and it tasted freshly caught. Grade: A. Spicy Tuna Roll: Who would have thought that a basic sushi dish would be so complex? The chefs here get top grade maguro / tuna and cut it up to make the spicy tuna roll. Most typical sushi bars get the leftover maguro pieces and chop it up. Here, they get the quality pieces and use it in their rolls. It was served with hot sauce and green onions. DELISH! Grade: A. Unagi / Eel: YUM! I thought unagi was unagi, until I tasted it here. It was very buttery and well prepared with a thick teriyaki sauce. They added a bit of ground sesame and Japanese ground pepper to the top of it. Unique and delish! Grade: A+ Make sure you make reservations when you want to go here, because it can get crowded. The wait staff and sushi chefs are super nice. They take their time to make their sushi, so you know it is super good quality (but you wait a bit for the food to be made, which is not a bad thing). I'll be back here! Doomo arigato gosaimasu! Super ONO!
(5)
Rob T.

Always great, authentic and fresh japanese food, everything is delicious. Just try the scallops and you'll be hooked.
(4)
Olivia D.

I finally saw the movie Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Afterward, my friend and I were in the area looking for, well, some sushi. You know how you watch a foodie movie and it really makes you crave the featured item? Well, I have to admit that was not the case with this movie and me but my friend likes sushi and I thought it was an appropriate choice after watching a whole film revering it. Our first choice restaurant was not accepting walk-ins and I'd always heard good things about Akasaka, so we popped in to see if they had a table available. Even though they only have a few tables in the entire tiny restaurant and they all had reserved signs on them, the nice lady accommodated us. Good thing we were two girls, because that table was made for elves. I could just imagine my tall, somewhat clumsy boyfriend sitting at that table and knocking everything off! We ordered the much-touted butteryaki scallops and some nigiri sushi to share. I know I'm not a sushi eater, but damn! Sushi is expensive here! All those years I had it for free at my parents' house really spoiled me. Still, I really dislike raw foods and I just couldn't do the nigiri. My friend said the maguro and sake were really good. The sake came with a little bunch of kaiware sprouts tucked in, which offset nicely against the orange salmon. I did try the spicy scallop nigiri. It was good . . . but still raw . . . The infamous scallops were a letdown to me but my friend really liked them. I liked that even though they came out on a sizzling platter, they were not overcooked. However, the scallops were not seasoned at all. I wish they had put a bit of salt and pepper on them. The lemon wedge that came on the side was very thin. Although I squeezed the hell out of it, it wasn't enough juice to season the scallops. The sauce was a very sweet mayo. It might have been okay on the scallops if they were salted, but it just made the scallops too sweet. This place is good for hooker-watching and the staff is very pleasant, but with the prices and lack of variety (for a sushi hater), I don't think I'll be back.
(3)
Adrienne D.

It's a little hole in the wall but big flavors! Good prices for what you get. We managed to get in without reservations. Very traditional seating (kinda hard stool). The butter yaki scallops do look really good but I had the sushi. I think everything is good here!
(4)
Mike P.

8 PM on Wednesday night, a good friend and I shuffled around for parking and found a spot, walked past the karaoke bars and strip clubs to get here. tiny hole in the wall, been here years before and it still looks the same. I ordered 2 maki rolls, tempura and spicy tuna, My friend Vicki got an assortment of nigiri. everything was good, service was a little slow. sushi bar is cramped and tiny but still had a good time. all total it was $50 with tip. not too bad, but I think Iv'e had better elsewhere.
(3)
John N.

I wonder if I went in at an off night or what. The experience was okay but there's nothing spectacular about it at all. This place has been around for a while and the decor shows. We were seated upstairs where it felt like we were eating at somebody's attic. The air was musty. Service was a bit slow as it was upstairs too. The menu was fairly decent. It does remind me of Sushi King or Gyotaku. We got a few sets and some sashimi and rolls. Like I said earlier, the food was nothing to write home about. It was okay all around, but I feel like there's better choices out there in the same area.
(3)
Jean L.

DO NOT EAT HERE!!!My boyfriend who eats anything and does not get sick was throwing up and had diarrhea all night after eating dinner here. i don't know what kind of food poisoning it was but it was pretty bad!...DO NOT EAT HERE!!!
(1)
Haein P.

Snuggled neatly between a sign that reads "Exotic Dancers" and Jazz Minds, I understand why Akasaka may be somewhat easy to pass unnoticed. But, make no mistake friends & fellow sushi-fiends! This is definitely not a place to leave unattended. Don't let the multitude of surrounding flashy lights and so-called naked attractions beguile you into straying away from this gem. You'll see once you ease in through the Japanese-inspired doorway and are welcomed warmly by the Japanese-speaking Korean ajummas (middle-aged ladies). The BF and I prefer sitting right smack dab in the center of the sushi bar to get a close-up look at all the action. Especially since for us, going to Akasaka is all about eating their sushi. Since they recognize us now as somewhat "regulars," we're also additionally welcomed by Kinjo-san, the diligent and hairless sushi-chef who enjoys referring to me fondly as a Junior High School / middle school student (alas, my Asian genes and baby face delude others into believing I am not yet of age to drink. Hmph). At least they know, after having checked my ID carefully on a couple occasions, that I most certainly am of age to drink and am in fact, a post-college graduate. Take that, Kinjo-san! Now, where's my beer & sake?! I implore you to try the Premium Suntory beer (so refeshing with its delicate hops, full--body and slight bitterness to add depth), it's my favorite and it goes oh so very well with the sushi. The house sake (hot) is not a bad choice either. Though usually not too packed or too busy to take orders, Kinjo-san is usually behind the bar alone making sushi for the cozy restaurant. On busy nights, there will be two sushi chefs so patience is definitely a virtue you'd want to exercise in exchange for delectable cuts of fresh fish and seafood over perfectly packed parcels of sushi rice. Fortunately, however, everyone's so hard-working so you never actually feel like you're "waiting around." Upon seating, the kind Korean ladies bring water and edamame to munch on while deciding what to order. The BF and I always get the same slough of sushi each time we come. I can't go to a sushi place without having hamachi, uni, salmon, scallop mayo, saba, maguro, and tamago (hehe). The BF never fails to get his favorite kanpyo (squash) maki with wasabi inside, a simple but endearing childhood favorite. He also follows suit with the saba, maguro, salmon, and tamago but can't do without his ebi. They're all so delicate and delicious that I think I'm starting to drool as I type. I know I've had sushi comparable to and yes, even better than that of Akasaka, but I can't say it's not fresh and that I'm not hooked. Trust me, I'm sure getting hooked on Akasaka is much more rewarding (and satisfying) than paying a visit to some anonymous "exotic dancers." But hey, if not, you can always go next door for "dessert?"
(4)
Tropical T.

Well I don't know about other Sushi places in Honolulu but this place was some of if not the best Sushi I have ever had. It is located between two strip clubs but don't let that stop you. Once you get inside you will be dinning on some of the best Sushi on the island. Service is great and when we were there there were two old masters manning the sushi bar. The fish is fresh fresh fresh. We missed out on their famous Butter Yaki Scollops so you should try them. Almost every table ordered them. We just didn't know about them. Menu is extensive so be prepared. The platters were the stars of our selections, of sushi and sashimi. Wow. Just writing about it I want to be there eating. So please go and don't forget to make a reservation you will need to.
(5)
Michelle L.

Their combo specials are good! You can select two or three options for the lunch combo, and they have a large combination of things to choose from. I opted for the sashimi and ahi teriyaki. The tuna sashimi was okay... but the salmon sashimi was to DIE for. The Ahi teriyaki was a first for me, and it was moist and flavorful. The miso soup and salad were good too. If you come to Akasaka, I would opt for their sashimi and sushi. YUM (:
(4)
Julie N.

Been here a few times, but I don't see anything that WOWed me or that stood out for me. Nothing was so special to make me want to come back.. It was a bit pricey, but I felt the quality did not match it. When I'm feeling sushi, I usually head to Sushi II or Ninja Sushi or even Yanagi Sushi. The hours are late, so if all other sushi places are full or closed, then I know there's this place!
(3)
Diana C.

After reading the reviews on yelp, I decided to give it try. This place was busy, the waiter was rude, and there were bugs on the bar. The rolls were okay, but the place was not worthy of 3 stars.
(2)
Reney O.

I love Akasaka for being the juuuuust right for someone like me- someone who wants the real deal with super fresh and crazy delicious sushi, but doesn''t want to feel uncomfortable eating it in a really traditional restaurant that wants to give you the "authentic" experience. Akasaka allowed me and my bf to kick back, relax, and talk story with our mouths full of sushi....which is hard to do in a loud Genki or in a library-like traditional sushi place. Akasaka, you are PERFECT for a body like me! Sushi was worthy of return visits, and the service was quiet but very sweet and accommodating. The restaurant itself is small, two stories, and humbly decorated. The heavily wooded interior reminded me of that one hidden inn in the woods from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon- where Zhang Ziyi was fighting off all those bounty hunters and thugs on multiple floors. Overall a warm atmosphere where you can laugh loud, enjoy your beer, and satisfy your yummy-sushi cravings.
(4)
Teri K.

This might not be the fanciest Japanese restaurant. And the location is pretty funny. I do like their food, though. It's consistently fresh, tasty, and comforting. And Mimi is awesome - always has a smile and something to say that will make you laugh.
(5)
Cindy L.

This is one of my favorite Japanese restaurant, not because of the food, but because of the atmospher and tatami room. My H had the Matsu Nigiri set ($23.95), which comes with 9 pieces of nigiri and 6 pieces of maki. The sushi is always fresh and has a decent cut. I had the 2 choice combo ($24.95), butterfish and NY steak. The portions were a bit small for my combo, so I was dissapointed. My friend had the Scallop Butter Yaki, that looked really good, so I might try it next time, but keep in mind that it was only 5 pieces of scallop for $18.95. All dinner sets comes with miso soup and salad. We had a great time and conversation in the tatami room. The boys were a bit uncomfortable since they can't stretch their legs, but I really enjoyed it.
(4)
emilee d.

Beautiful people and absolutely the best sushi I have ever tasted! Everything was very fresh. We tried the scallops that came out on a sizzling grill/plate and the sauce was amazing! The ( itamae) Or sushi chief that was working the sushi bar was very friendly and so much fun. He said that he has been there since 88 and you can taste his experience in the sushi. Most go to place. Al though in a interesting location, but don't be scared off.
(5)
Yoshi M.

Not worth it. For the price you pay I could get much more for what I'm paying. Matsu sushi was weak, sushi is expensive for what you are getting. I'm so over it. Mirugai $20 for two pieces, Uni was abt $18 for two pieces, Chu toro was abt $18... And it was pretty red for Chu toro. Weak weak weak. Won't go there again. Im very picky with my sushi, well actually food in general. If u wanna go check it out, go right ahead. But im likely to save u some money if u know what I mean. go to sushi ii instead. You will be so much happier i promisssseee!!!
(2)
Damon A.

Best Sake (Salmon) Chazuke and Scallop Butteryaki. Great Staff and Always Makes Sure You Have Everything That You Need. Also, Sushi Chef is Totally Awesome with Great Quality Sushi!
(5)
T S.

Went for lunch with my Buddy and made the mistake of ordering sushi without seeing the menu which I normally do anyway. What a mistake that was! Only thing which we knew would be expensive was mirugai which came out to be over $19 for an order! Was not full at all and our bill was $189 without the tip!!!! I had Sasabune where the quality is better & I was stuffed for about the same price & I consider that place to be very high. Akasaka is definitely not worth the price because I wasn't blown away. Go to the Zippy's in Aiea for equal quality & WAY better prices!
(2)
Randall F.

If you want quality sushi with little to no fanfare, Akasaka will fit the bill. A local recommendation by the valet at the Outrigger. Don't expect the usual friendly, animated and lively sushi chef, that night was 'low key' night - order sushi, get sushi, order more, get more. A little on the high priced side but very good. Satisfying and hit the sushi target in the belly....oh, the sushi chef? He was going home as we were leaving the restaurant at 9:30 pm, we actually said 'thank you & good night' to him instead!
(3)
Denise K.

My second time visiting here was much better. My favorite piece of the night was the sake nigiri wrapped in thinly sliced white onions and daikon radish sprouts.
(4)
Elle V.

Ate here on a whim with my boyfriend a few months ago after we went shopping around town. It was probably almost 10 PM so our options pertained mainly to bars and late night hot spots. With careful yelping for sushi in the area we decided to come here and I'm glad we did. FIrst off, we were the only people in the whole place so we had the devoted attention of our very nice male waiter. My boyfriend asked if they served something as simple as an ahi bowl but with a sly grin the waiter said, "If we served you something like that it would be pricey because of our quality of fish." So we smiled back and said thanks and reviewed the menu. Everything looked delicious but we both settled on teishokus. I forgot what my bf had ordered, but I know I got the butterfish and we also had some nigiris on the side. I'm a HUGE tamago fan so of course I got that and mmmm it was so authentic. The butterfish was delicious and I remember telling my bf we are coming back because the rest of the fish tasted so fresh.
(4)
TurtleClub H.

A very cozy Japanese restaurant tucked away between Kona Street and Kapiolani Blvd in Honolulu. Yuko (host-owner) was very friendly and engaged with her customers. She definitely made me feel welcomed. I had the Misoyaki Butterfish dinner and I must say that it is probably the best I've had in a very long time. As I was dining, I saw at least 2 tables order their sizzling seared scallops. Yuko explained that they have won awards for this particular dish. Although, I live in California, I will be back for sure and will definitely try their scallop dinner. Their pricing is on the higher side but well worth it.
(5)
Gspot H.

Sizzeling Scalops is a must. The Butterfish is Great.
(4)
k L.

Small but comfy little place Waitresses are nice and attentive Food is good but like all the J rest... Is quite pricey Try the soft shell crab... 2 thumbs up!!!!
(4)
Tammy T.

For all the talk I heard about this place. I'm just OK with it. Sorry friends... Located: In the back of Jazz Minds and old school Backseat Betty's. Across from the infamous Craig's list misconnection 24 hour fitness. (the ala moana location) Smiles- They take reservations; we had 6 people. Food is alright, I enjoyed my veggie tempura, Crispy. We went at a time where there is street parking along Kapiolani. Eh- Their parking lot is small so street parking was the way to go. I think their 2 combo teishoku is over priced @ 24.95. Why do I feel I have gotten a 2 choice combo for less at other places. Our server never smiled. The only words said were "Are you ready?" (that's what she said) which was to take our order. Nothing more. I personally wouldn't go back (if picking a place to eat was my choice) but I would still go if invited by friends. Perhaps next time around I'll know what to get.
(3)
Trisha T.

Just went back. Scallops still amazing. That's all I needed to know.
(5)
Andrew H.

Great recommendation from the guy at our hotel; Ala Moana. We knew we wanted sushi, and Akasaka was right next door. Perfect! Excellent sushi. Great atmosphere. Will go again next time I'm in Honolulu.
(5)
Big Baby D.

Sushi was awesome. Very high quality. The price reflected it. No frills, just simple sushi done very well. Few if any of the chefs/wait staff spoke English or were inclined to do so if they were capable of it. Not a huge issue, but it would make this a difficult proposition to the novice sushi fan. Also not the greatest location... I walked here mid afternoon from my hotel and made sure to get the hell back to my hotel before the sun finished setting. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but the area is seedy for a few blocks around the restaurant. This seems to be the case throughout much of Honolulu. Wait staff was efficient, but absolutely not friendly.
(4)
Winnie L.

my uncle pulls up in a parking spot in front of Akasaka, flanked between a sports bar and an exotic dance club. "Nice, is this where you hang out and go next door when you get hungry?" "When things get heated, i come to Akasaka to cool down," he jokes. My uncle only eats at two Japanese places and this is one of them. He has been eating here for more than 20 years and today is the first time he takes us here. Kenjo-san and the waitress are like his homies. Kenjo-san bangs out my uncle's entire order in a heartbeat without having us to wait while he makes the others. The waitress gives us free green-tea ice cream. The nigiri is one of the best i've ever had. Great nigiri has a 2:1 fish to rice ratio and for some of these, the ratio was 3:1. Tiny block of rice and long slabs of fish. Wow. Within 15-20 minutes, we were holding our bellies full. How much did all the sushi cost? i have no idea, but take a look at my photos! I'd give this place 5 stars except my uncle had to kill a cockroach crawling on the counter. The restaurant probably fumigated recently b/c roaches usually don't come out during lunchtime! My uncle has killed two roaches in the last 20 years... i guess that's not toooo bad. as long as the roach doesn't crawl on the fish, i'm okay with that. next time J and I come here, we'll take a look at the menu and see what everyone else is raving about.
(4)
Alan H.

Overpriced, decent-quality Japanese food. Originally we planned to have a dinner at Shokudo, but the wait for a party of 10 is 4 hours.. We called up Yanagi Sushi and Gyukaku but they could not accommodate our party of ten. Searching Yelp for Japanese restaurants, we found Akasaka within walking distance of Shokudo. Listed price tag of TWO $$. Must be comparable with Sushi King right? Hell no. One order of 6 TINY pieces of California roll sets you back $11 One order of 6 TINY pieces of Soft shell crab roll is $14.95 One bottle of large beer is $9.95 Chicken Teriyaki Sukiyaki $14.95, very, very Salty broth. Misoyaki butterfish with miso soup and rice and shrimp tempura is $30.95 A SIDE of Tonkatsu is $12.95 One order of nigiri of Ebi (2 pieces) is $6.50 One order of Tekamaki (6 pieces) is $7.95 This place is a KOREAN owned Japanese place.. That's a sign for failure. All of us were very disappointed not only with the quality of the food but also the overpricing as well. If we wanted to pay these prices, why not go over to Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant and get the quality we pay for. Please do yourself a favor and go to Yanagi sushi, Sushi King, Sushi Sasabune, Sushi Izakaya Gaku, Imana Tei, or Aki nono. A lot more authentic Japanese for reasonable prices. By the way, I work as a server in a restaurant, hence we still gave a 20% tip on our bill. We had 2 pregnant women in our group that had no drinks offered, not even water since they didn't order beer.
(1)
Masumi K.

This is definitely what you call a hole-in-the-wall type of place. This place is hidden and surrounded by strip joints. (How lovely, right?) Going here was just a spontaneous type of thing. I was really hungry and it was 9 PM and was trying to figure out where to go that was still possibly open. I certainly did not want fast food that's for sure and wasn't really in the mood for Korean food. Walking to get to this place was interesting ... I saw at least two scantily clad strippers walking in the parking lot. WORD OF CAUTION: definitely not a place you want to bring your children for dinner. As soon as we walk in absolutely no "irasshai" greeting from the sushi chef or waiter that you would typically hear at any Japanese restaurant; authentic or not. The waiter just pointed to an empty table without asking if we wanted to sit at the sushi bar or not. I ordered tekka maki, miso soup, and sake (salmon) chazuke set. The food was satisfying. The waiter gave us an extra miso soup. We told him we didn't order two. He quickly apologized for his mistake and told us that he has OCD. (Awkward ...)The green tea that we had wasn't hot. It was really watered down. And the waiter just kept refilling our cups without ASKING first if we even wanted it refilled in the first place. When we left, the sushi chef didn't even acknowledge us leaving. At least the waiter said "Thanks guys, come again~!" In all honesty, this place was alright. Location? Not so great. Staff? Ok service for such a hole in the wall type of place. Food? Not bad, not bad.
(3)
Dreamcast P.

WAAAAAAAY Overpriced. For the money I paid, I could have gotten better meals. Even Doraku Sushi is better. Not impressed with the selection. Little or no local fish. Would not go back.
(2)
Daniel B.

Small little sushi restaurant sandwiched between two strip clubs... Hold the jokes though, this place has some seriously awesome sushi. Came here as a belated birthday dinner with Emily. You see I had this craving for sushi for a while then, but we had crazy busy schedules that... one evening decided, let's get sushi... and I decided I wanted the kind that screams "omg-broke-da-mouth-kine-oishii-desu-ne!" We parked in the back next to the strip clubs and yes we snickered because you can just hear the bass thumping from the inside... When we got in, the place is pretty small, you definitely could get a bit cramped inside... We sat at the sushi bar and our server was very helpful. Our order: Toro & Hamachi Nigiri, Butteryaki Scallops (thanks to all the Yelp reviews!) a Chirashi Deluxe... And a Softshell crab roll. Words couldn't even express how happy I was with everything... I was so full, you have no idea. To add our server gave us a $5 gift certificate for stopping in. Nice gesture, and definitely will be stopping by here again--in fact they're open for lunch! So glad I work at Ala Moana!
(5)
Flora W.

Service and great fresh fish makes this place 5 stars! We sat at the sushi bar, so that's why maybe we had such great (speedy) service. Mmm loved their hamachi, sake salmon and soft shell crab.
(5)
Rebecca C.

bf and i came here for a fast dinner before meeting some friends at kiki's. being prime dinner time on a friday we were seated at the sushi bar fairly fast. there were some reservation signs on tables. by the time we ordered the place was full. food came at a reasonable pace and was all delicious. we devoured tempura, karaage, spicy tuna, salmon skin, hamachi, and chu toro.
(4)
Art T.

This place is tucked behind an adult entertainment establishment on Kapiolani Blvd. It is definitely a great alternative for lunch if you want some decent Japanese food. Price: I gave it a 3 stars because I had been here for a few years. As prices for most places have been going up, I could see why it would have gone. However the quality also decreased. For the same price for two-choice teishoku, I could have at least the same quality and more food from places like Hinone Mizunone on King Street or Sushi King. Service: I would give it a 4 stars since the staff is very friendly. They refill your tea and water promptly. I imagine this place is popular since there are several bars and adult entertainment establishments in the neighborhood. I will continue to go since it is close to my office, but I don't think I would pick it as a dinner joint if I am craving for Japanese food.
(3)
Germaine M.

So very delicious! Must try the butter yaki scallops, their specialty. Service was excellent! Definitely on my list of favorites, I'll spread the word and go back again! Parking is limited though you could walk from AlaMoana shopping center. Maybe try it for lunch or dine with a larger group upstairs.
(5)
Robby A.

I've been here several times over the years and they never disappoint! The fish is always fresh and tasty!
(4)
Little D.

Weekend Lunch experience only: Used to visit here every week for a short time. I don't know about the quality but they make good sushi and I had enjoyed the taste. The price is good too. Catch: I have headache after eating here. It could be me reacting to something in the food or the place. The restaurant is pretty dark. If you pay attention, you can see a lot of dust around and something is really smelly - I suspect cat pee. YELP 365 - 85/365
(3)
Devan U.

I never write reviews on yelp, and based on the good reviews I thought this would be a good place to have dinner. My boyfriend and I attempted to eat here, and when we called to make reservations the lady who worked there said they don't take reservations for 2 people and to just stop by. When we arrived we were told the wait would be 10-15 minutes. After waiting for 45 minutes, 2 other couples who showed up said that they had reservations for 2, and they were seated promptly. If you're going to make a policy that you DO NOT take reservations for 2, don't make exceptions for certain people!
(1)
Ahni S.

This place is kinda hidden, but since I went with my cousin who lives in Hawaii, he knew the back streets. Anyway, we had the sizzled steak, scallops, spicy tuna roll, soft shell crab roll, edamame, miso soup, shrimp tempura. Everything was really good. Steak and scallops had just the right seasoning. All sushi was great. Service was fast, friendly. Price was not bad. Comparable to what's in the area. Definitely would go again on my next visit.
(5)
Elaine Y.

RIdiculously delicious and fresh. Similar to what the other reviewers mentioned, it's a bit difficult to find. Our taxi couldn't GPS the address and had to have all of us on our phone maps as well as call his buddy to figure out the location. For a WednesdayI still had to make a reservation to make sure we had a seat for 3 people. They were booked until 9 pm! The restaurant is popular, but it's also because it's very small. I was nervous at first because I heard two of the workers speak in Korean. I have a problem with Korean owned Sushi Restaurants (I can say this because I am Korean and have been to plenty o' them!). I am somewhat of a sushi snob and only like them Japanese owned. The sushi chefs, however, are Japanese. They definitely know their stuff and have very fresh fish. They handled and cut the fish properly. I was amazed by the mirugai (giant clam). I cannot find anything like this back in the states. I think it may be the best mirugai I have ever eaten! They also weren't very chintzy with the size of the fish. They gave me such a crazy big piece (see photo). I was especially impressed that the sushi chef knew to pop the piece of clam between his palms. My friend had the sashimi deluxe, which also was beautifully cut and very delicious. Overall, I loved this place and already miss the great food.
(5)
Kimi L.

Their food is tasty (chicken karaage, udon, tempura and agedashi tofu) but I've had better sushi. Their parking is difficult. Few stalls designated for their restaurant. But they also offer $7 paid parking lot right next. This place is hidden behind Jazz Minds and Centerfolds - you wouldn't know it existed if someone didn't tell you it was there or if you didn't know it was there already. I recommend trying this local, family run type of restaurant.
(4)
Marck N.

I feel in love with this place after my best friend introduced me to it. The sushi chef is just amazing. Sitting at the bar, we ordered and ordered all different types of nigiri. Everything was fresh and tasted as if it came right from the ocean. I cannot remember what type of fish my friend ordered, but it was a small fish imported from Japan. After the meat is removed, the bones are deep fried. The fish was incredible. Deeeee-licious, as Scooby would say. I will definitely be coming back here again and again.
(4)
Brent K.

I love these small places. It's kinda hidden. Off Kapiolani but well worth looking for. The service is good. And the sushi is so ono ! The regular food is good to. If you come here and like scallops. You must try the butter yaki scallops ! Out of this world ! Check out the pictures.
(4)
Maria B.

We went here & sat in the private tatami room. You gotta take off your shoes so make sure you wear ones that are easy to put on & off. We ordered... Scallops: yummy! They dress them with a delicious creamy sauce right in front of you. A must! Toro & Hamachi Sashimi: melt in your mouth good. Definately high grade & worth the price. Spicy Tuna Roll: Perfectly spicy & oh so good. Steak: came out sizzling & cooked well Butterfish: sweet & creamy Soft Shell Crab: So good we ordered 3!!! Finished it off with some green tea ice cream...I definitely recommend coming here. Very good sushi bar!!!
(4)
Kevin F.

I think because I'm an engineer, I like lists. I like things organized, methodical, and detailed. So when Honolulu Weekly came out with their best of Honolulu recently (where they mentioned Val as a top yelper), I loved it because yay!, I had a new list. A list that I could follow for the best use of $2 or the best use of wasabi in a drink or the best Japanese Restaurant... Akasaka. I have seen Akasaka, but indeed the location by the strip clubs makes you think twice about venturing in. You go in though, and boom, its stepping into Japan. Time warp (does rocky horror dance)!!! Traditional sushi bar, wooden stools, lanterns hanging up... heck, if you're Asian, you'll probably be greeted and spoken to in Japanese until you prove you can't. It's a small restaurant (well, theres an upstairs room too) and its a typical, traditional sushi bar experience. Sushi is excellent all around, spicy tuna, hamachi, ahi, ikura, and scallops were awesome. Oysters were tasty, and finally had the butteryaki scallops as the must-try dish. You can drink some sake or some asahi to round out this Japanese meal. I thought the Japanese food was delicious, and so I have to rate Akasaka well for that. However, the only bad thing for me was the price. Maybe I haven't eaten at a sushi restaurant in a long time, but I found the price quite high. Could I say the taste warranted the price? Perhaps, but at the same time too, every time I had to choose a dish, I winced because of the price. Like I really wanted to eat this sushi, but I skipped it sometimes it cause its like, dang, eating those two pieces are a "movie" or "20 tacos". But otherwise, I'd still recommend Akasaka.
(3)
Jacob L.

The food is grinds, but the portions are small. So it's your call.
(3)
Cecilia D.

Not the best location...and dark. They had their beach cooler of beer as you walk in!!! Eyesore!!! Fish was fresh but because we looked local and not japanese. it seams like service was slow. The other tables were catered to by the asian waitress. Listen folks...a paying customer is still a customer!!! Customers try Morio's off King Street. Small but great service!
(2)
Christa W.

I had to impress some international artists who wanted good sushi. So I asked where the best sushi was. I was told Akasaka. They were right. My guests were impressed. Those butter scallops were so good. Make sure you order them by name - they don't have them on the menu.
(5)
Christine A.

Food was delicious up until I saw a cock roach crawling in back of me on the wall! The worst part was that I was sitting on the ground in the back, so I was even more terrified. Then, I saw a dead roach on my left and then another on my right. They were crawling in and out of the craters of the wall. I notified our waitress and she just said sorry. They really need to just close this place down for however long it takes to kill these roaches before serving any more customers. It's not acceptable and not sanitary! At night, I got sick, and I can only think it was the food here.
(2)
Meggen D.

I appreciate sushi places that truly know what they're doing. It's nice to go into a place with a small group and tell the waitress that you'd like to try whatever she (or the sushi chef) recommends and know that the resulting feast will be to-die-for. Akasaka is that sort of place. I was in town for work, staying at the adjacent Ala Moana Hotel, and the hotel concierge recommended Akasaka. We never would've found the place if they hadn't recommended it. It's situated across a parking lot from a strip club along a back alley. Not the typical place I look for dinner, but it was well worth it! We ordered some sort of sushi sampler of the sushi chef's choosing, which was great. The fish was some of the freshest I've ever had. We also ordered some of the specials, all of which were outstanding. They really treated us right here. I went back a couple of nights later with only one other person, and the service wasn't quite as good. I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon Soup, and it was really good. I'm a little obsessed with noodle soups, so I was in heaven! All in all, this place is solid. If I make it back to Waikiki, I'll definitely have to drop in and grab some sushi and udon soup!
(4)
COURTNEY K.

Great sushi! Excellent service.
(5)
Sean B.

I come here all the time and my experience has been nothing short of superb each time. The family atmosphere the warm greetings given by the owners, combined with A-grade fresh cut fish make this the best place for sushi in my book. The prices aren't cheap but if cheap is what you're looking for head over to Genki Sushi in Ala Moana. The Chiraishi here is the best I've ever had, and I've eaten a lot of sushi, in Japan even. I would certainly recommend this place for anyone, for any occasion. Akasaka is a top notch sushi establishment and I will continue to come here for a very long time!
(5)
Bryan I.

First time going here and I'm instantly hooked. These hole in the wall places seem to have that effect though. The food here is amazing. The sushi is fresh, and their main entree's are full of flavor. Everything we had that night (2 rolls of sushi, the scallops and the tonaktsu) were delicious. I absolutely love their tea. Not a whole lot of places serve that here (that I have been to anyway) Service is fast and friendly. The owner will even pay for your metered parking! Now that is simply amazing. Now he doesn't have too, in which case I probably would have gave it a 4, but a person that goes out of their way that much and runs a top notch business deserves it. I definitely recommend this place to anyone that enjoys Japanese cuisine.
(5)
Claudia M.

Had the matsu chirashi sushi. Before I ordered the chirashi, I asked if they include hamachi...it was only in the matsu and not the cheaper chirashi. Well, the hamachi wasn't worth it...they gave such a junk piece that it wasn't worth the price. Sorry, but I've had better hamachi in my chirashi sushi.
(3)
L S.

Akasaka is a little hard to find but well worth it. Small, clean great service. The sushi chef was focused but friendly. The lady who greeted and took the order had a Disney smile. The was great. I would go back again. I had the sushi nigiri combo plate.
(5)
Mimi C.

i really really need to just finish up on my hawaii reveiws!!! lol i feel like it's taking me forever. dang! akasaka is located in such a strange strange place - amidst a bunch of strip clubs and bars (more strip clubs than bars). you almost miss it because it's so out of place! not sure you want to bring your kids here... but... once you get pass all that, you find a little restaurant with a nice sushi bar and a sushi chef who looks like he's dedicated his life to fish. we had made reservations 15 minutes before coming and were greeted with small appetizers laid out at our table when we came in. cute!! we ordered a sushi sampler plate and a charishi bowl ... each came with soup. hubby & i both agreed the fish in both our plates were really good. and... the rice was warm and moist....just the way i like it. hubby's plate had toro in it! lucky hawaiians and their delicious fish!!! the thing is... it is more expensive here. each of our entrees was ~$17. it's not totally unexpected since food costs more in HI and we were in a resort-y area. at least tax isn't as monstrous as in cali! =)
(4)
Apple Gem F.

WTF! That's the first time I had a bad service.. Our fave server wasn't working so those two idiots working that night was just ignoring us the whole Time!
(3)
Robbie K.

This place is located right between an exotic dance establishment and a jazz club. That's pretty cool by my reckoning. It is dark, clean, and welcoming as you pass thru the door. I sat at the sushi bar and was immediately given a hot towel. Then came some cold edamame (warm would have been nice) and daikon complimentary starters. I appreciate such a beginning. Unfortunately, the first cup of green tea I ordered wasn't hot and I asked for another, which I got without complaint or hesitation. The miso soup I got was excellent. Then came the chirashi sushi bowl which was my supper. The rice was excellent and the fish very fresh. The only problem was the fin fish didn't seem to be the tastiest cuts -- not tough or stringy but not very flavorful either. Service was impeccable, and when I pointed out that the miso soup wasn't on the bill, it was comped with a smile.
(3)
Mako S.

This place is good :) This place is just like a local Japanese restaurant . Nothing very special but we can enjoy eating Japanese food a lot , except Sake... their Sake price is really high lol I am hoping they do price down someday!
(3)
Mark N.

Awesome sushi! Very friendly, warm service. Waiters kept coming by filling my teacup, and making sure everything was good, but in a very unobtrusive way. Didn't try the scallops bit the unagi was to die for. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Doris D.

We had the omakase here, it was very good! Not the best, but definitely above the cut. Fish was fresh and nicely cut. Our chef tended to do a lot more cooked/grilled items than nigiri, which maybe had to do with that day's catch? I usually prefer more nigiri as I am at the sushi bar after all! All in all, a good experience.
(4)
Jesse C.

I skipped a single mixer to have a mother-son day. Its been a while since we've hung out and thought it would be nice to take her some place different. She read about this place, we were at the mall, so I yelped the address. I played it safe; ordered a nigiri combo, chicken karaage, misoyaki butterfish. They started us with a cucumber salad, miso and edamame; lightly salted. The combo had a nice spread: spicy scallop, ikura, ahi, hamachi, ebi, squid, red snapper and king clam. We shared the combo and she gave me the ikura. Thats my fav! Tried my hand at the chicken karaage. It's my weathervane. I can't recommend it. The batter and lack of taste was unpassable. There was only one bowl of rice so I'm going to assume that it was a compliment of the butterfish. This butterfish was worth it. It had nice taste of smokiness. I dug it. The staff was nice, friend and came to our table to answer our questionable facial expressions, "What's this? Red Snapper? Oh." I definitely would have to try some of other people recommendations but for now, Akasaka, you'll have to settle for an "A-OK" rating.
(3)
Joshua C.

The real fun in coming here is that it's so hidden away. Love the sizzling Tofu Steak...comes on one of those made for meat keep-it-cooking cast iron topped wooden platters. The interior has a hole-in-the wall Asakusa look to it, but feels a bit shady. Could be it's proximity to the strip clubs, but I don't know something in the air just feels a little different in there. The Unagi Don is okay. The Oyako Donburi is okay. I like the Yamakake (Moutain Yam with Maguro). Anyway while the sushi can sometimes be very good, it is ALWAYS expensive. As with most places the Chirashi is probably the best deal. I'd much rather eat at Sushi Masa or Izakaya Gaku. It's a good place (if you're in the area) to grab late night Japanese food, but for a dinner date or earlier evening meal there's definitely better options.
(3)
Alex K.

Maybe the only Japanese restaurant the didn't sweep me off my feet. I felt the portions were small, and had to order a soba noodle after my meal in order to feel full. The food was decent but nothing that would bring me back, with so many great sushi places nearby.
(2)
Brent S.

Extremely fresh fish. Solid preparation of Japanese staples, like Teriyaki Chicken and Tempura. Traditional decor for a Japanese restaurant, right next to Ala Moana. Consistent quality and service. Overall, a great place to have dinner!
(4)
Bow C.

Never changed since its early days. Menu standard no more much creative dishes like these modern type sushi places. It's not bad, service is always good. The butteryaki scallops still the main attraction seems like. Never really crowded so it's a good place to go when everywhere else is busy. The otoro at times doesnt seem to be the freshest for the higher price they charge compared to other places. But something bout this place makes me come back every so often. Give them a try.
(3)
Sergei N.

If you're not from Honolulu this place is a major pain in the ass to find. At least for me it was. After finding that its located between a bunch of strip clubs (one of which was ironically recommended to me by a friend, KNOWing that neither of us attend strip clubs) I barged in and grabbed a seat at the sushi bar. Luckily there was a tiny plexiglass window that allowed me to watch the magiks of the old school sushi chef (none of this 28 year old sushi chef bllsht, this dude was older than the printing press). I ordered the butter fish and a fat bottle of kirin and neither one disappointed. Butter fish is a fish that literally melts in your mouth. I've recently discovered it in So Cal but this was unlike any other butter fish I've ever had. Small portion but buttery as a baby girl coming off of a 3 month french pastry and fruit cake diet. Daddy buy! I want to give this place 5 stars but the restaurant itself is just not there. Standard. Wooden feel. Dudes behind me cussing up a storm. Great butter fish. 4 stars. To kill for butter fish. +.01 stars for all the dudes you see walking into the strip club next door to shell out their hard earned cash money in hopes of finding a friend for the night.
(4)
Jesse S.

Wow - amazing Sushi! It's right next to the Ala Moana, in an area you would never expect a good restaurant like this to be. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is it's in a relatively bad area with about 3 or four gentleman's clubs near by. I had the Rainbow Roll and it was delicious! No fishy taste, and very fresh.
(4)
Tyler B.

How I wish there was a sushi restaurant like this near my house! We only ordered nigiri sushi and the quality of it was excellent considering the price. For two of us, we paid about $50 after tax and tip. (The 4.5% tax compared to 9.75% in LA doesn't hurt either). We pay that much for sushi around SGV and the quality is CRAP. The tuna nigiri tasted practically like toro and in between our orders the sushi chef gave us free appetizers. Seriously, the quality and value of what you are getting is superb and I'm sad to say that I cannot think of a single place like this in SGV.
(5)
Dev C.

Went here for the first time with my friend Roland 4 years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Everything is consistantly good. The Scallop Butteryaki is amazing. Also try the sayuri sake in the pink bottle, it's become one of my go-to faves. Butterfish and unagi are also amazing. Make sure you keep an eye out for the specials menu tucked away in the corner next to the sushi bar. I always notice it way too late.
(5)
Mike C.

Walked here based on my hotel's recommendation, and although I thought I might fall victim to rape on my way, I'm glad I made it here. The strip club next door might make you wary, but the sushi here is quality, service good, and the place is quaint. The itamae served me a few off-menu items, which was a real nice touch and much appreciated. Definitely a good place to stop by, day or late night.
(4)
Emi H.

Had a post birthday lunch with my BF and our friend Ken at Akasaka. I'd read so much about it on Yelp and it's always fun to compare reality to what your mind creates while reading reviews. Akasaka is located in what I like to call "Strip Club Alley." It's parking lot adjoins strip clubs, drinky drinky bars, oh and Jazz Minds. Some may view this as a bit seedy but I think it gives Akasaka a bit of personality and "local flavor." We proceeded into Akasaka and it was much tinier than I expected. It's a tiny Japanese restaurant with small tables, a sushi bar and a Tatami room. It's definitely not new but you can feel the years and memories floating around the room. That's why hole-in-the-walls are so special because they hold a different honesty and sensibility that corporate franchises would never be able to manufacture. We went into the Tatami room and sat at a small table for four. There are few times in your life when being 5'2" comes in handy and this was one of those times. My friend Ken and my BF awkwardly sat on the floor and you could tell that neither of them were very comfortable. Our waitress came and I ordered the butterfish ($14.95), my BF ordered the nigiri set and Ken got the unagi. I will eat butterfish anywhere, anytime because that's how much I dig it! Everything came pretty quickly as we caught up on what was going on with our lives and gossiped about what was going on in other people's lives. Ken talked about how the strippers always come in and eat at Akasaka. I figured strippers have to eat too and it's probably pretty tiring when you have to dance for hours on end. I told him that one of my friends told me that some of those strippers aren't girls at all but that's really another time and another review. Besides I didn't want to ruin our appetites with discussions of transsexual strippers. Our meal was yummy and I gobbled down my butterfish. My BF only had one piece of nigiri left, the salmon eggs, and we both relegated to leaving it behind because those eggs just don't appeal to me in any way, shape or form. They just made me think of transsexual strippers. Overall enjoyed our Akasaka meal but in hindsight I wish the waitress had offered me dessert. I don't know if I would have ordered it but I would have liked the added option to plop on a few more rolls to my belly. My BF and Ken were probably happy that we didn't have dessert because their butts and legs were pretty sore from sitting on the floor in the Tatami room.
(4)
Danny C.

I saw this place in a review in Hawaii's SKRAP MAGAZINE. I got the magazine because some guy approached my lady about being it. Thank god all that happened cause this place is dope. Its on the pricey side but it gets my 5 stars because when we walked in. It was 12 midnight. The waiter, who I am assuming is the owner, welcomed us, and told us the things he suggested and was blunt but legit. We ordered our food and 12:30 came around for last call. He let us go on and on with our stories and conversations and I watched him as he put on his headphones, checked to make sure we were cool but never EVER pressured us to leave or tab out even tho he had our checks ready. He waited and waited until we told him we were ready to go. TRUE CLASS. I got my car towed this evening so it was a nice treat to have one good thing happen and that was AKASAKA. Good fresh fish. Do yourself a flavor and get the Scallop Nigiri. Amazing. Yum. Thats all for this joint... oh, and if strip clubs are your thing... Fem Nu is right next door. If strippers with no teeth are your thing... So is the Red Rose.
(5)
Reid H.

This was my first time eating at Akasaka; I love eating Japanese food and this place is good. I'll be commenting on upstairs dining room, where my party had our dinner. The atmosphere is very Japaneezy, with warm lighting, wooden errthang, and an overall cozy feel to the room. There's an a/c system that keeps the temperature breezy but not cold. I ordered the scallop miyosaki teishoku, which is scallop prepared with miyosaki butter and brought out on a sizzling iron plate. It was BAMB, and stayed hot throughout the meal. Crispy outside and tender inside with just enough miyosaki sauce to make every bite flavorful without overpowering the scallop taste. However, we didn't get drink refills until after we finished eating. Also, I found the portions to be slightly small (although this could be the perpetually hungry college student in me). However, I highly recommend this place. Great food, decent service.
(4)
Keola m.

I use to go there all the time with friends. love the scallops and miso butterfish. went there tonite by myself after the gym. Had strictly sashimi and sushi. only the best of course. hirame. chu toro, mirugai, aji, hamachi, ikura, also had 2 bottles of sapporro and a bottle of sake. My total bill was $140 with tip $170. a little expensive but, in my opinion a great experience. Remember, I eat A LOT! I f you go there look for Mimi.She is the personality of the restaraunt. It was really nice seeing her again after an absence of about 3 years.
(4)
Hungry W.

OHHHH I used to love eating lunch here a few years ago. How come their hours of opperation aren't posted up here on Yelp? They close up after lunch so that's why I've never eaten dinner here. Someone post their hours, thanks. Hot sake, hamachi & salmon sashimi is so good !!! Always get a private table upstairs if you have a group. So fun
(4)
Chie F.

Akasaka is right between all these strip show bars (?) on Kona St. (You can enter from Kapiolani as well.) I had the Take (Regular) Sushi set for about $20.00. It was good, but I still like Kahala Sushi the best! As a side order I ordered Yakitori and my friends got the Chicken Karaage. The Yakitori was good! The people sitting behind us had a sizzling plate of Butter Yaki Scallops! I want that the next time I go. It looked so good!! Check out the pics!
(4)
Cheryl S.

This used to be my little secret hole-in-the-wall Japanese Restaurant, but over the years it has grown quite popular and ain't such a big secret anymore. It is a small little restaurant with a sushi bar which adds to the ambiance. The food here is great. My personal favorites are the Tanuki Udon, California Roll, Fresh Oyster Shooters, and the sashimi. The grade of fish served here is beyond average which makes the sushi and sashimi so much better. The servers are always so nice and friendly. The location of this restaurant just makes it a little sketchy but once you get over their neighboring businesses it is so worth it.
(3)
Jason P.

What a hidden gem! Fantastic sashimi, super-friendly service. Don't let the sketchy location scare you, this is some great food, fair price, in a very traditional Japanese setting. Would definitely recommend and will certainly be back!
(5)
Hiromi N.

My first dining experience after landing in Hawaii. The atmosphere is classic, Japanese style sushi bar. We ordered a medley of things, including the sushi. The positive about this restaurant is that it is OPEN LATE. A girlfriend and I had wandered all over the place on June 12, 2009, looking for a place for late night eats. I think that for the sushi ordered, the price is moderate. There is nothing really fancy and the food is pretty classic and simple. For 3 individuals, we paid $84.40, not including tip.
(3)
Paul A.

Eating Sushi, what has it become? Modern decor, techno, rock, reggae music, an entire staff of barely 20's or teenagers working the floor, 90% fried rolls with this sauce and that sauce, and usually only a choice of tuna, yellow tail, salmon, and fresh water eel! Akasaka = The way Sushi is supposed to be! REAL wasabi, REAL ginger, REAL green tea ice cream, NEVER FROZEN hamachi kama, a selection of Chu Toro, OTORO (Delicious), Mirugai, Abalone, Uni, Anago, not to mention their butteryaki scallops on sizzling skillet with awesome sauce! Betcha the people at the sushi places that are similar to what I described in the beginning have no idea what these items even are, but hey, they look cool?! Asaka is a unpretentious tiny sushi restaurant where its all about great service and awesome fresh food! Is it cheap, NOPE! Is it satisfying, YESSIR!!! This is where you go for that REAL sushi experience, and if your hosting, entertaining, on a date, this is where you impress!
(5)
Brenda W.

I think I might have dreams about the food I ate here. After going through some restaurant listings on the GPS I yelped this place and while there were some reviews that put some doubt in my head about this place the reality had my stomach wanting more of their food. The BF and I started with an order of the hamachi and the toro. The fish was really fresh but the toro was beyond superb. I had the butteryaki scallops and BF had the miso butterfish and both, as recommended by a few yelpers here, were great. The butterfish melted in our mouths and the scallops were cooked perfectly. It's not a fancy place, it's not a cheap sushi joint but it's a good hole in the wall Japanese restaurant if you're willing to forgo fancy and cheap for flavor and freshness.
(5)
Kara M.

We went here on a recommendation from a bartender from the Ala Moana Hotel where we stayed in Honolulu. We walked from the hotel so I can't comment on the parking situation, although if you go at night it looks like you're gonna have to fight for spaces with the patrons of the surrounding strip clubs. Really...strip club, strip club, sushi joint, strip club, strip club, etc. It's almost funny. The menu is limited but if you have some favorites in your sushi repertoire they will make them for you if they have the fish it requires. Overall I thought the place was okay, nothing special. I found it to be overpriced but after spending a week in Waikiki I think everything there is overpriced so what to do... If you're in the area, don't want to get dressed up and know your sushi, by all means, try the place. At least they are accommodating, which isn't the case in some sushi places . If you're looking for ambiance, try somewhere more upscale.
(3)
Stanley S.

Local classic, old style sushi joint. The stools at the bar will make you feel like you're giant. The ambiance is average, the place can feel a bit cramped. The food is great, reasonably priced, good sushi. Usually no need to make reservations. Overall, one of my fav sushi places.
(4)
Rahul S.

I was in Honolulu after xmas and this was the first restaurant I went to! After walking over from our hotel (Hawaii Prince), I saw the small little space amongst a plethora of strip clubs... I was like wow, this is unsettling yet pretty awesome at the same time, hah! Call ahead and make a reservation cuz it fills up super fast! We could only manage a seat at the sushi bar for 2 of us. I ordered the spicy tuna, unagi (freshwater eel), and namasake (salmon). The fish was super fresh and came in quite a portion and not the wimpy little rolls some restaurants give! I washed it down w/ a cold Sapparo, but they also have a great selection of sake and other drinks. The guy I was traveling w/ ordered the salmon nigiri and some steak entree that looked delicious. This is an awesome place away from the glitzy alamoana blvd, a must try for foodies who don't want to appear so touristy. And hell, it's steps away from some great 'entertainment,' you can't beat that!!
(4)
S S.

Omg...I USED to love this place, but recently I've experienced horrible service and saw small cockroaches crawling next to my plates!!! Eekkkkk!!! I was so grossed out by it, I don't think I can return to this place ever again! I understand we live on an island, but it's very unlikely for me to come across a roach on my table RIGHT NEXT to my food! And customer service??? It took me half an hour just to get water and I had to ASK them to get me water. That day I also brought 2 of my friends, which was their first time. I was so embarrassed!!! It was horrifying! One of the sushi chefs apologized as we were leaving. I kindly smiled at him, but there is NO WAY I'm going back to Akasaka.
(2)
Charisse L.

Yummy butter fish. A little pricey for lunch, but it was good.
(4)
Jes L.

service has always been just ok, nobody except the lady is friendly, but food was sooo good. now i am super bummed to write this review. i totally loved this place. butter yaki scallops, sake (salmon) sashimi, agedashi tofu was my usual. however the last time i ate here i just couldn't enjoy the food.. my friend ordered the sushi chief's recomended sashimi over sushi rice. he was about halfway done and out from under the rice came a huge roach! not just a huge roach but a HUGE roach! it crawled all over the rest of the food while we tried to get the waiters attention. he said sorry with no emotion and told us our entire meal was comped, which was nice of the restraunt. as we sat in shock, we noticed two more roaches on the sushi bar just walking along minding their own business. a japanese couple sitting at the bar were staring at the bugs but didnt say anything. sadly, i dont think i will ever be eating here again. seems like this has happened before, as i read all the past reviews i saw a few others having similar problems with this place
(2)
Byoung Kyu S.

This place has the best Uni on the island. And the portion is large. This is a regular lunch spot for me. It can get pricey but you definitely get what you pay for. My last lunch came to be just around $40 total (including tax and tip) for Amaebi, Uni, and Hamachi. The Uni was super smooth and flavorful. The hamachi just melted in my mouth. The amaebi was super fresh and the size was larger than normal. The fried amaebi heads were perfectly crisp.
(4)
Carol T.

Wish I could give no stars! I must admit the scallop butter yaki is amazing. But we also ordered udon, and after nearly finishing the entire bowl we found sowbugs inside our soup curled up on a cabbage. Completely lost my appetite, didn't even touch our other food. Our entire meal should have been comped. They acted as if nothing happened... Will not be coming back!
(1)
Janette F.

OMG! I took my mother to dinner the other night and had the WORST experience at Akasaka. We are from Japan but have been in America for over 30 years. Of course, we love to go to all the Japanese restaurants. I used to like Akasaka and I was abroad for a few years so naturally I wanted to have some nice sushi at Akasaka. We walk in and no "irrashaimase" or anything and without asking whether we wanted to sushi bar, were almost railroaded to a table. I said we wanted to sit at the sushi bar, so we did. Most times the sushi chef will greet the customer but not this guy. Almost like it was an inconvenience. A sushi chef has to be personable and carry on a conversation. This guy (with a pock face and a pitiful ponytail that fell half way down his back) couldn't be bothered. Was it us? No, a caucasian couple sat at the sushi bar and wanted to know what they should get. Normal sushi chef would let them know what was fresh from Japan, locally or wherever. He says, whatever you want. They asked for a recommendation and he said, you can have whatever you want. WTF! I don't eat fish so I eat 4 things at a sushi bar (unlike my mother who loves her sushi--we go for her, not me of course). I eat Unagi, Avocado, Tamago and Ume Shiso maki. I travel the world and no where in the world have I sat at a sushi bar and been denied anything I wanted. I started with my Unagi. It took 13 minutes. I then asked for Avocado. Mr. Sushi Chef (or is he?) says, in a maki? I say no, Nigiri. Then he takes the paper that he marks the orders on and says, I cannot make it because it is not on this paper. Excuse me? I said put the avocado on the rice. He says, it is not on the paper. No smile, no I'm sorry, just buzz off look on his face. I stopped eating sushi in disgust, and tried to get the attention of the waitress to order from the kitchen but they were no where in sight. I was finally able to flag the woman down and order some noodles while I waited for my mother to finish her dinner. Well, that was a mistake because the stupid noodles took 20 minutes to be served. And, they were not even good! This is the last time I will EVER go to Akasaka. If they don't improve their service, they cannot survive on how we remembered them. TEN THUMBS DOWN!!! Save your money and go to Suntory or Sasabune.
(1)
Eddy N.

Food is ok but not what it used to be. Sushi chef very unfriendly and had little baby roaches crawling over my napkin!....Mimi, the nice waitress been there for ages..service is good but won't return again.
(1)
Jason F.

an amazing true sushi expierence. loved the toro, hamachi, marugai, sah-ke, uni, abalone sashimi kine, did I mention the TORO holy shit orgasmic broke da mouth!!! butteryaki scallops, ama-ebi, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!! so so so ono!!! will def be back! =D
(5)
Annika H.

Tucked between Ala Moana Shopping Center and couple of strip clubs, this tiny little restaurant has AMAZING Japanese food! They have this sizzling scallop plate, they dip them in this light batter and send them to you searing on a cast iron plate then they smear them with the most amazing sauce. I was completely blown away because I am generally not big on scallops but these I want to eat everyday! WORTH the search to find this little spot!
(5)
George F.

The prices were fairly expensive, and the portions were absurd. I paid nearly 30 dollars for 10 small strips of teriyaki beef, and a 4 inch cod fillet. Neither of these dishes were very good, and this was the best deal on the menu. Also, to add insult to injury, the staff was not very helpful or friendly. One star.
(1)
Drew W.

The fish is like buttah. Not buttah fish, but smooth and fresh. The place was slow for a Friday night. But then again it's tucked in between strip clubs. In fact, 2 of the 5 tables were dinner "dates" from the neighborhood. But the sushi was top notch and the service prompt.
(4)
Wendell D.

Ordered the Butter Yaki Scallops and they were ONO. We also had Sahimi Combination and the sushi Combination. Nice pieces on both trays. Also at a Spicy Tuna Roll and an Unagi Roll. Nice cold beer rounded out a very enjoyable and tasty outing.
(4)
Glenn N.

Been here over 24x. I consider Akasaka to be the 2nd best sushiya in the islands. You must always start off with their signature appetizer, the "butteryaki scallops." You will not be disappointed. The size portion of the sushi is amazing. Very large size compared to many other places. My favorites are the amaebi, unagi, and natto.
(5)
Geoffry B.

so you like spicy ahi and you get your fix @ genki...YIKES! you don't really like spicy ahi... Akasaka has THA BEST SPICY AHI!!! you have to get it tei maki/handroll...it's sooooooooooo good i get it wit no rice! atkins/carb conscious friendly and oishii...it is best described in the words of my faashjah, "meaty..." and he's a pescatarian/pescetarian so that says something...in additon, i'd go with the unagi i kno you're saying, "i eat this everywhere, whas tha difference," cucumber! that's tha difference...even if you don't care for cucumber you'll understand why after you have them in harmony @ akasaka...tha cucumber cuts tha sweetness of the unagi sauce and blends it with the sushi rice...their hot tea is like dranking real maccha...tha izakaya items could use some work...they are okay, but only just okay...it is like they are not quite finished...a sauce or two wouldn't hurt any food...also watch your spending, after all it is sushi based and that can get pricey... appeal: if your looking for sushi, especially late almost seven days, you can't go wrong with akasaka...
(4)
Grant C.

Butter yaki scallops are great. The maguro is ruby red--a little pricey but very good. The tempura is crispy and the soft-shell crab is awesome. I really love the giant slices of ginger they give with the sushi. The best so far..and the ginger is not pink or red. My favorite thing to get is the triple combo: beef teriyaki, tempura and sashimi. Maguro nigiri for desert! haha
(5)
Brandon Y.

I definitely love me some Akasaka. I used to work about a block away and one of my favorite ways to indulge during lunch was to get their teri-Ahi. I think it was $12 at the time, but it might have gone up. It was always fresh and never overcooked. Some of the other items on their menu can be pretty expensive, but I've always been successful with the lunch menu. 5 stars for the food, but knocking off a star for the location and atmosphere. Definitely worth trying for lunch and judging for yourself.
(4)
Cee J.

Our regular stop late night. Tempura roll a new favorite and when Mimi is off Aya takes good care of us!
(5)
Mag K.

Had to try out this spot since I was staying at the Ala Moana for work.... it's definitely in an odd location with the "dance club" next door. Never theless, dinner was good stuff! Tried the miso butter fish upon yelpers' recommendation - and didn't go wrong there! Sushi was super fresh and price was decent. Defnitely worth coming back!
(4)
Georgina S.

This place is a class act! I can't eat avocados and the chef very artfully switched out for cucumbers on a roll I'd ordered. The fish is super fresh and the eel melts in your mouth. I ate here 3 times in the 5 days I was in Hawaii; it was that good. Both chef's I met were so sweet and talented! Best sushi I had in Honolulu.
(5)
Angry K.

Yes, Akasaka is located in the weirdest place. You might not notice it in between all the adult toy stores and titty bars, but it's there. Service is always excellent, and the food is great. I really love this place since it's such a hole-in-the-wall. You MUST try the scallops butter yaki. They are the BEST!!!! Parking here does kinda suck though, but if you're patient, you'll find a spot.
(4)
Kim H.

YEP! simple, easy, traditional and fabulous! Tonight was my second visit and they are consistent! Talk about fresh, the Uni melts in your (my) mouth, and I don't think I've had Unagi that incredible before.... I had my regular, Hamachi, Salmon, Toro, sashimi, Uni and Unagi. If you've read my other reviews, I sometimes like sushi to be creative; Akasaka gets props for being oh so fresh and oh so traditional. The service is always so friendly and attentive. Mimi just does a great job (and she wears cool shoes); Kinjo the chef is also up for a conversation in between creations! He also hides some vegetables in your sushi for added nutrition, I love it! They also serve a cucumber salad as an appetizer. I stopped in tonight on my bike ride for a bite, and this is the perfect place for that, any attire will do (at least, if its cute, don't look like e a slob; but a cute biking outfit worked out well!) the only drawback is their Sake selection leaves a bit to be desired in my book, but, alas, they have to basics, hot or cold, and their beer is nice and cold!
(4)
Samantha S.

BEWARE! AVOID, AVOID, AVOID. This locals-only sushi sh*thole in the wall will rip you off if they even smell a whiff of tourist on you, even if you're the kind of tourist who makes an effort to seek out the neighborhood gems and sample the local flavor. This place had the nerve to charge us $35 for ahi sashimi. Market price my ass. Ahi Sashimi that is grown locally and abundantly in Oahu. The ahi was fresh and really good, but not THAT good! I would have given them a piece of my mind, but my boyfriend doesn't like it when I do that, so these thieves ought to consider themselves lucky. Warning: I will not always be accompanied by my even tempered boyfriend when in Oahu. Watch out, MF'ers! The menu was disorganized as was the service. There is nothing worse than poor service that is also rude and shady. The sushi chef didn't understand English or Japanese I guess because he made our spicy tuna roll incorrectly twice. I guess he must have needed to sneak a peek at the pre-fabricated menus sandwiched between plastic frames that show you what a spicy tuna roll is. This place had that weird 80's, Valley feel like all the places my parents used to go to when I was a kid. What seemed to be the regular clientele were also rude and appeared slightly sinister. You know it's bad when even the other diners get a bad rating! I'd advise anyone who likes to have a good time and knows great food to avoid this weird little place situated a little too close for comfort to the Femme Nu strip club. Something about raw fish that close to pussy is nauseating... If you'd really like some awesome sushi at fair prices and in a much more festive, CLEAN environment go to Sansei at the Marriot.
(1)
Brent K.

I love the sushi here! It's fresh and they have a maguro that looks and tastes awesome! The soft shell crab is excellent. Even the chazuke is pretty good here! My typical meal here consists of some maguro/hamachi nigiri, then the triple combo with tempura, sashimi and steak or unagi. Then top it off with some green tea ice cream for dessert. The waitresses and sushi chefs are friendly and will even crack the occasional joke. :) It's good to get reservations since this place can get pretty packed. The only down part to this place is the parking sucks. There are limited stalls and getting out of the parking lot can be a pain if you park on the Femme Nu side.
(5)
Chris C.

A better than average Japanese restaurant but you can say the same for many others on this wonderful isle. Having access to amazingly fresh fish is a big plus so the stand outs from this restaurant for me was the udon suki and the butterfish. Maybe I was looking for more of an izakaya place with a greater selection which would explain why I wasn't completely blown away but out of everything we ate, I could only point out the miso soup and the yakitori as a litle disappointing. Special mention for the al dente edamame. The simple things are the hardest to get right and class is all about the details.
(4)
Roger P.

Excellent Sashimi! Small space, but very high quality food.
(5)
Ryan S.

4 stars if you do take out. 3 stars if you dine in. Why? While we were eating there, one roach crawled across our table, we saw another one running across the floor, and a third running up the wall next to us. Ugh. We won't dine in there ever again. Sushi is great (we only get maguro and hamachi usually), as well as the scallops everyone talks about. Tempura was just so-so. But like I said, we'll only do take out from now on. We understand it's an old wooden building, but seeing live roaches while you eat is a real moodkill.
(3)
Dan K.

I lived in Hawaii for a year on a couple of shows and we had Don Ho in one of them. His favorite sushi place was Akasaka. It became my favorite too. Kinda cool it's got a back alley entrance and just don't look at the strip clubs if that sort of thing bothers you. I went there for the sushi and Akasaka never disappointed me. Friendly service, cool funky atmosphere, and great food. They stayed open late too as I remember. Not a bad thing when you're working 20 hours a day. Go there every time I'm on Oahu and I always will. Not to be missed.
(5)
Kevin W.

Omg, fresh fish, nice chefs, friendly waitress, reasonable price, 5 star no questions!!
(5)
Tessa t.

yum! this place is awesome and never lets me down! my boyfriend and i ordered 1) salmon chazuke 2) combo set w/ steak, butterfish, and teriyaki chicken and 3) salmon nigiri. the salmon chazuke is super yummy! the combo set is nothing special, but still good. now what it all comes down to is the salmon nigiri which is the BEST sushi i've had!! the fish is so fresh, the veggies that they pair with the sushi makes it even more delicious! the textures and taste is on point! as for service, they are usually very on it! tonight the poor server had to refill my water glass like 7 times!
(4)
Brad A.

What a nice little izakaya! The chefs are great here...really authentic feel to'the restaurant. They'even have a couple of tatami tables if you really want'to go authentic.
(4)
Zoe B.

Always good. Chicken sukiyaki a bit sweeter than most AND it comes with a raw egg to crack and put inside. Swirl it around and it cooks!
(4)
Aaron I.

Butter yaki scallops, hmmmm!
(4)
Jennifer H.

One of my favorite places to have authentic Japanese food. I love this place! Everything is so fresh and I feel as if I have been transported to Japan!
(4)
Richard G.

This is a great place I like to take clients for a meal. The decor is nice, the food is fantastic and the service is top notch.
(5)
Stacey C.

Some of our friends recommended this place. It's in this little dodgy street next to the strip clubs so they come outside sometimes on their breaks. But I loved this restaurant. I wasn't much of a raw fish eater before I came here, but their menu was more limited to raw sushi and I forced myself to give it a try. We ordered some sashimi platters and I thought the fish was really fresh, the kind of melt-in-your-mouth fish. I look forward to going back here everytime we go back to Honolulu. I can't really find that kind of good sushi quality at home.
(4)
Jim H.

I like the ambiance of Akasaka. Reminds me of a sushi bar you might find down an alley somewhere in Japan. The sushi I have had here when sitting at the sushi counter has been very good. Last night sitting in the small tatami room the sushi was nasty old, mushy and falling apart. The misoyaki scallops were tasty as well as the yakitori. WARNING: Don't park in the wrong stalls, you will be towed.
(3)
James W.

By far my favorite japanese restaurant the food is consistently good. ( butter yaki scallops are awesome) as is the service the sushi is always fresh in fact the last time I went they said they couldn't serve me the sushi I wanted because they didn't think it was fresh enough I probably would not have known but they did. The one big surprise I had on my last visit was the green tea ice cream WOW! It was so good and a.great way to top off another incredible lunch......
(4)
Mike W.

One of the better Izakaya style sushi places in honolulu, sandwiched between strip clubs and massage parlors. My best experiences have just been to sit at the bar and order "omakase" (chef's selection) from the sushi chefs. The cuts of fish are top notch! I have never ordered anything other than the sushi here. Really how good is teri-chicken or tempura shrimp ever going to get? As others have pointed out, it is kinda pricey, but it is a sushi bar after all.
(4)
Travis M.

Way too overpriced for so-so Japanese food. Not impressed at all, esp the waiter with his hollywood wanna be voice. Spent ~$100 with tip for my gf and I. Think the miso butterfish you buy at Times and cook yourself in less than 10 minutes is better, and way cheaper.
(2)
Natalie H.

I have been to many sushi places, but Akasaka is by far my favorite, super fresh and tasty. Great authentic feel and great service.
(5)
Gary C.

Nothing fancy, but the food is really good. Kinda weird location- nestled between strip clubs and adult stores but if you are a late night eater like me, this is a great alternative. If you are not into sushi, they have other things too. I recommend the Misoyaki butterfish.
(5)
Ezduzit S.

My second time at this establishment and it is good!! Yes, the selection is limited but if you order the right stuff, it is incredible. The miso butterfish melts in your mouth and the teriyaki chiken is hands-down the best I've had so far. Ask for the freshest sashimi that day and you will get a unusual large amount of slices. The decor is minimal and it is kind of hard to locate (behind ala moana mall). The service was good. Worth the search.
(4)
Wil T.

Ah, Akasaka. I've been many times, just getting around to review. Items from the kitchen can take a long time. I went last Friday evening had a good time, sat at the counter. The Tamago is outstanding, Uni was amazing, Hottategai was lush, Toro was very good, The Mirugai was too cool; still moving (SLAP). All in all, always an enjoyable experience. Have Fun!
(4)
S Y.

I love the fresh sushi here. We had the $21 sushi assortment, tempura, and tofu steak. I have to say the the food was great! I have been to this establishment 4 times (2-3 people) and not once did i have to wait for a table. We usually head over about 9pm to about 11pm. the parking is a bit limited but this joint is a great place to enjoy some good Japanese food...worth looking or waiting for parking. Lot is shared with a sports bar next door. (parking situation has been usually pretty good for me.) the sushi was fresh and the platter consisted of 1 tekka maki, 1 hamachi nigiri, 2 maguro nigiri, 1 shrimp nigiri, 1 kazunoko nigiri, 1 salmon, nigiri, 1 ikura nigiri, 1 scallop mayo with tobiko , 1 squid nigiri. The tofu steak is yummy, sort of like an agedashi tofu on a HOT hotplate...steaming. the tempura comes with 3 piece shrimp, 1 slice eggplant and 1 slice sweet potato. Tofu miso soup comes with some of the dishes. Service is timely and good. My experiences dining here has been consistently good and I look forward to dining here again soon!
(4)
Siu L.

Don't let the surrounding strip clubs and tattoo shops scare you away, because Akasaka is definitely one of those hole-in-the-wall treasures that you must try when you're in Honolulu! The food here is delicious and the service was great! I ordered the sizzling Butter Yaki Scallops and they were to die for! The yummy scallops were accompanied by this special house sauce which I smothered all over my rice when I ate all the scallops! mmm.... I'd definitely go back to Akasaka the next time I'm in Honolulu. :)
(4)
P L.

Went last Friday w/the wife. Been there several times so I'm quite familiar w/the place. This last was especially good. Super fresh and delicious uni, toro, ama ebi, maguro, hirame, hamachi etc. Up there with Yohei, Mitch's and the rest. No way it's only $$ price wise (I could only wish). You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Larry B.

This is my favoirte sushi bar on the island. I first ate here about 4 years ago, and it all started with an Asahi, and a chu toro hand roll. Since that night, I've probbally eaten here 20 or so times, and it just a place that I feel comfortable in. The prices are pretty comprable to some of the nicer Sushi joints like Imanas or Yohei, but I like this place better because of the atmosphere. I like the fact that only people in the know eat here. You have to be kind of brave to try a place nesteld between seedy sports bars and strip clubs. It's like going off the beaten path in the middle of Ala Moana. Last night, my gf had the Salmon Chazuke, 2 piece hamachi, 1 piece white ahi. I had the Sushi Deluxe, 2 piece uni, and we split an order of tenpura and sizling scallops. We washed our meal down with hot sake and cold Saporro beers. The bill was about $135 with tip, but what the hell...the meal, converation, and quality of suroundings were priceless. I just wish there was a way to eat sushi on a budget. I am however a realest and a firm believer that there is no replacement for perfect slices of fresh fish. I hope this place stays open for many more years, because I see myself being a regular here for a lifetime.
(5)
Brian P.

Very rarely am I as excited after a meal as I am before a meal when I enter a place having super high expectations. I left this place with a huge smile on my face because it was one of those rare times that I was not let down by other Yelpers' reviews. I've wanted to try this place out for awhile because all you Yelpers out there were raving about the Butter-yaki Scallops. PURE HEAVEN... and mind you, I don't even like scallops. Well, let me rephrase that. I never USED to like scallops. So thank you, Akasaka, for changing my mind about how wonderful scallops can be after all, and for ruining all future scallop meals I will have during the remainder of my life. The Butter-yaki Scallops come you on a sizzling platter, at which point the waiter squeezes some lemon on the 5 succulent scallops. When this happens, the scallops, which are already beautifully crusted by the chef, go through another round of sizzling and smoking from the acidic lemon juice. After about 5-10 seconds of anticipatory drama, the waiter then spreads the decadent creamy Miso sauce over the tops of each individual scallop. I'm sure the scallops would be divine with lemon juice alone, but make no mistake, the creamy Miso sauce makes those scallops SING! I cannot fully speak for the quality of the sushi as I did not order any (that will have to be saved for a future review). My dad ordered the Chirashi and liked the fish well enough but noted that the rice was over salted. But just to make sure the dead horse has been sufficiently beaten, the Butter-yaki Scallops alone make this place earn 5 stars. NICELY DONE, Akasaka, you have won a fan!
(5)
Doc J.

not sure how expensive it was because it was a business dinner, but the best fatty tuna I have ever eaten. the chef is from fukuoka, which i subsequently visited a week later, and knew his sushi. the food was great, a little divey, very intimate.
(5)
Jake S.

I asked our Bel hop at the Sheraton Waikiki - I wanted an excellent Sushi place but not a tourist price! He said to take a 10-15 min cab ride. We were 7 in our party (4 adults & 3 kids) and boy was in for a surprise. Excellent sushi! The place was clean (did not see roaches - in an old review), utensils were clean too. They even called us a cab for our drive back to the hotel.
(4)
Da K.

Tiny local Japanese restaurant with sushi bar and tatami floor table room available. Offers all the standard fare sushi and other entrees such as . Spent $54 with tip for 2 persons included nigiri combo, Miso Butterfish and Teryaki Beef, miso soup, edamame, and hot tea. Nothing fancy but good food and decent service. Behind Femme Nu strip club.
(3)
Christina N.

I found this place in some local newspaper recommended from a local reviewer. The restaurant is located in a somewhat shady area, but the sushi here was awesome. The saba I had here was the best I've ever had in my life! So good, I had to get three orders for myself! The grilled salmon belly was also excellent.
(4)
Grimeater A.

My GF loves this place but I'm not too impressed by it. The steak is good but the sushi is underwhelming. My mom love misoyaki butterfish so I ordered one for her. She didn't like it at all :( The location and parking here is pretty bad.
(3)
S L.

This is hidden and tucked away - you feel like you go into those small little Japanese restaurants in an alley way in Tokyo. You need a friend to show you how to get there becuase MapQuest may just give you the wrong directions LOL. The food here is delicious and the sashimi is fresh and the food that they offer is quite authentic. One look at the sushi chefs at the bar and you know that this place is good.
(4)
Sasha-sparkle y.

i have to agree with aaron i. butter yaki scallops are delish!!! they cook them in butter and come served on a sizzling platter. then they smear some mayonnaise stuff on it. if you're on a diet or are worried about your arteries clogging, don't order this. i think this is the only thing really worth ordering here. everything else is awight. p.s. parking sucks! it's so freaking hard to get out. you get in and then you can't get out. when you get there, you'll know what i mean.
(4)
Heather K.

The location is great for avoiding tourists, as it is sandwiched between strip clubs and massage parlors. The tofu steak was yummy and my dh really enjoyed his sushi.
(4)
P C.

Stopped by for a quick dinner last night. The wife had the combination nigiri set and I had the scallops teishoku. I forgot the name of the sushi set but it was the one that cost 22.95. It was well worth it. The set consists of miso soup and about 9 pieces of nigiri and some tekka maki. I think the contents will vary depending on what is in season or what's fresh. Last night it had maguro, hamachi, sake with sprouts, ikura, hokkagai (sp?), ika, ebi, scallop mayo, and one more but I can't remember what it was. The salmon (sake) and maguro were very good, so we ordered extra of those. The scallops were excellent as usual. My wife thought the sauce was a little too sweet, but I like em a lot. All in all, an excellent dinner.
(4)
Gunnar V.

Another Fodor's pick. WTF is with Fodor's? Anyway, it's kind of pricey, with what seemed to me to be a limited menu. I got some tempura don. That was pretty good, they didn't spray the whole ting down with the tempura juice like some places do so it was crisp and good. My GF got sushi Deluxe (lunch) which was supposed to be 8 nigiri (not cheap!). It seemed to be 7 pieces of nigiri with 2 gunkan jobbies. The nigiri was pretty solid. The tuna was actually pretty fine. It's very small, service was good. A nice little spot, decent food, but not out-of-this-world and a tad more expensive than some of the other options around.
(3)
babynorah t.

I went here b/c it was right behind the ala moana hotel. I had their triple combination lunch which include sashimi, tempura, and beef teriyaki. It was so-so. It wasn't good but it wasn't horrible. I'm getting tired of all these mediocre japanese restaurants!!
(3)
aloha a.

Every time I'm in HNL we have to stop here for dinner. It's always fresh and so good -- and the service is great.
(5)

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Address : 1646 Kona St,Ste B
Honolulu, HI, 96814
Phone (808) 942-4466
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Akasaka

1646 Kona St,Ste B, Honolulu, HI, 96814

Akasaka Menu

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